By: Mike Riley

Sometimes trials seem to come one right after another. You wake up in the morning and your car won’t start. This unfortunate event makes you late for work, your boss chews you out, and your whole day is ruined. You later find out that your car won’t be repaired for another week and the bill makes you think you’re buying a new one. On top of this, you learn that a member of your family has been diagnosed with cancer. During times like these, we are prone to ask, “Why me, Lord?” “Haven’t I been living faithfully?” Why do good people have to suffer bad things in their lives? Many people throughout the ages have pondered this very question. It seems that the righteous suffer while the wicked seem to prosper. Job saw this clearly during his time of affliction (cf. Job 21:7- 15). In this article, let’s look at three biblical reasons why God allows good people to suffer.

By: Mike Riley

A few years ago, this writer was an employee of a major gas transmission company. Located in every department of that company were two large binders containing its “Manual Of Standard Operating Procedures” (MOSOP). Contained in this MOSOP were the rules and regulations with regard to all operating procedures and functions of the company (company policies and procedures). These rules and regulations were set up by the “authorities” of that company. In order to fully understand an MOSOP, we must first define the word, “standard”. A standard is that which is set up by authority as the criterion or test or as a source. Webster’s New World College Dictionary, Third Edition, Page 1306, in regard to moral standards, gives us this definition: “the type, model, or example commonly or generally accepted or adhered to; criterion set for usages or practices [moral standards]”.

By: Mike Riley

You have heard the saying, “Give a man a fish, and he’ll eat for a day; teach a man to fish, and he’ll eat for a lifetime.” Relative to God’s word, we might express this principle this way: “Teach a man what the Bible says, and he has knowledge for a day; teach a man to study the Bible, and he has knowledge for a lifetime.” Many people’s approach to Bible study is the “Let George Do It” method. They say to themselves, “I don’t have to study the Bible “ That is what we have the What’s his name for.” Several problems arise from this method: George is not always right. That does not mean George is intentionally deceptive. It just means he does not know everything, and some of what he says may be incorrect (James 3:1-2).

By: Tom Moore

One of the best ways for anyone to fully grasp and appreciate a word, an idea, or an event is to use the five “W’s” of journalism: what, who, when, where, and why. When Jesus said, “Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick, and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven” (Matthew 5:14-16), He was speaking of our influence. Influence is a very integral part of a Christian’s life, and this can be clearly seen by using this great tool of journalism.