Shepard was a twenty-one-year-old student at the University of Wyoming. He openly professed homosexuality. Apparently, he was lured from a bar and taken to a remote place; there he was tied to a fence, pistol-whipped, and left exposed in the cold. Eventually, he died.

There are several ways in which one may respond to illness. One is to try and learn from the experience and attempt to develop into a better person. Another is to become bitter and “sour” on life, making others around you miserable. The former is much to be preferred. Reflect with me on this matter.

Every sensitive soul is troubled from time to time by regrets that linger regarding past deeds in his life. There is a wrong way and a right way to deal with regret. Think about this matter with us in this week’s Penpoints article.

The English word “atonement” derives from an Anglo-Saxon term that practically signifies “a making at one.” Though the English term “atonement” is common to the Old Testament, it is found only once...

The English “elect” derives from a compound Greek term, eklektos (ek — “out of,” and lego — “to gather”). It suggests the idea of being selected or chosen. 

The New Testament uses the term in va...

Earl Edwards, long-time missionary and professor of Bible at Freed-Hardeman University, discusses some of the qualities needed by those who enter the mission field. He draws from his own rich experiences at a missionary to Italy for sixteen years.

As I was studying recently through the Gospel of Mark, I was reintroduced to this wonderful individual—the Syrophoenician woman. I know that we can learn from this episode in the life of Jesus. Consider with me why our Lord described this Gentile lady as a woman of great faith.

During his earthly ministry, Jesus promised that, following his death and ascension back to heaven, he would “come again” eventually (Jn. 14:3; cf. Mt. 24:37ff; 25:31ff). When he left the earth, an...

The Holy Spirit is a divine being who is spirit in nature (Luke 24:39) and holy in character.

• The Holy Spirit is not a mere force (as some cultists insist, e.g., the “Jehovah’s Witnesses”); rat...

We receive a wide variety of mail each day. A recent communication from one who characterizes himself as “Pastor Bobby,” recounts his association with the “Holy Spirit” in his preaching endeavors. His claim should be of interest to our readers.

What values are our children really learning from our parenting? Are we really concerned with instilling respect for God and his will in our children’s hearts, or are we more concerned with making sure they have the appearance of a successfull family environment?

When is divorce permissible? May a marriage partner divorce his or her spouse simply because they have tired of the marriage? Is “authorization” from God required for a divorce? Study this challenging issue with us.

Justice may be viewed from two vantage points. Divine justice is that which is between God and man. Human justice exists between men. 
Divine Justice

Divine justice has to do with the harmony bet...

A comprehensive exposé of the Jehovah’s Witness denial of the deity of Jesus Christ.

The concept of eternal life is outlined in an abbreviated form in the Old Testament (cf. Dan. 12:2). However, it comes into full bloom in the New Testament revelation. Life and immortality are brou...

A recently-published book, Rescuing Jesus from the Christians, seeks to throw the spotlight on some of the alleged “errors” in the beliefs and teaching of Jesus Christ. The fact is, Clayton Sullivan, the author, has revealed how very little he knows about Gospel history. Wayne Jackson briefly reviews this new volume.

Certain religionists, especially those who subscribe to the dogma of DISPENSATIONALISM (see), maintain that the “signs” of Matthew 24:1-34 indicate that the return of Christ is very near; they cons...

For some twenty centuries critics of the Bible have sought to discredit the scriptural narrative regarding the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. These efforts have all been characterized by a similarly frustrated and futile line of baseless argument. One such endeavor in recent decades was Hugh J. Schonfield’s infamous, The Passover Plot. In this weeks Penpoints, Jason Jackson reminds us of this anemic enterprise.

We have all sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). Often we deceive ourselves, thinking that we can escape immediate consequences. After all, we can change someday — some convenient season. Actually, we can not avoid the destructiveness of habitual sin (Hebrews 3:12-13). Let us learn from several who were caught in the act that we might always take sin seriously.

Are dead people able to view the activities of their loved ones who are still alive?