The Jewish feast of Purim has its origin in the book of Esther.

Skeptics dismiss miracles and the operation of divine providence by appealing to the uniformitarian principle, i.e., the present is the key to the past. However, when the atheistic agenda is at stake, exceptions to the uniform operations of nature are allowed. Study this matter with us in this week’s Penpoints article.

A critic writes that if human beings have true “free agency,” then God could not punish them for their “sins.” He sees a conflict between the ideas of freedom and responsibility. Let us briefly consider this matter.

The revelation of God – from his mind to ours – is an intricate and inspiring process. Study it with us.

The context of this passage makes it perfectly plain that the Lord Jesus is not of the angel class.

Paul identified the book of Job as Scripture.

The article discusses the extinction of the woolly mammoth, theories about its sudden demise, including climate change and the concept of uniformitarianism, and how catastrophism and the Genesis Flood provide alternative explanations. The possible existence of an Ice Age is also discussed.

A recent news item highlighted a case where an inmate was refused the privilege of being immersed for the remission of his sins. A chorus of sectarian voices argued that “hard cases” like this negate the belief that baptism is a necessary condition for salvation. Is this quibble valid?

Did Noah’s Flood really cover the entire earth? And was it really possible for him to carry all the animals in his ark?

Are public worship forums the place for “fashion” eccentricities? Some seem to think there should be no restrictions as to what one may wear when functioning in a teaching and/or leadership role in church assemblies. This “hot button” topic is discussed in this week’s Penpoints article.

By what standard should one evaluate a political leader? Does the Bible shed any light on this question?

How amazing it is that the deep and manifold longings of the antique pagan world were so wonderfully satisfied in the advent of God’s Messiah.

Faith, virtue, knowledge, self-control, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness, and love are all qualities the apostle Peter identifies as qualifying one’s salvation.

When the conditions God are happily met, one may be assured of the merciful pardon of Heaven.

In the autumn of 1924, a team of scientists went into the Hava Supai region of the Grand Canyon area to document strange carvings on one of the canyon walls. One of these carvings, which seems to depict a dinosaur, has been largely ignored by the scientific community. Read about this remarkable discovery in this week’s Penpoints.

Psalm 95, and echoes thereof in the New Testament, speak eloquently to the man and woman of today. Those who “have ears to hear,” should do so with great dispatch. Are you listening to God’s voice?

Song of Solomon is a beautiful work of inspired literature that extols the bliss of genuine love after the divine order.

The Roman emperor, known as Julian “the Apostate,” represents but another “glitch” on the panoramic screen of history in the futile efforts to discredit Christianity.

There are three characteristics of love evident in the Apostle John’s inspired statement.

Bible critics have charged the sacred book with mistakes in that the King James Version mentions both “unicorns” and “satyrs” — both of which are mythical creatures. How does the student of the Scriptures respond to this alleged difficulty?