.....A fellow disciple asked the following questions: "Does the Bible say we are not to call people 'fools'? Jesus called people fools. Would we be wrong if we called people fools?"
Matthew 5:22 - "But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire."
.....The context of this passage limits its scope to speaking in anger to one's brother. Notice that it says: "whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause… whosoever shall say to his brother..." One cannot call a brother a fool. It is a sin.
.....However, God said: "The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God…" (Psalm 14:1). An unbeliever is not a brother. God has identified him as a fool for his unbelief. A brother is a fellow believer, and so he cannot be identified as a fool based on this criterion.
.....Furthermore, in the Matthew 5:22 text, Jesus is condemning speaking in anger to a brother. Not just "fool," but any pejorative word used to put down a brother is a sin. Christians do not engage in angry name-calling, even with unbelievers. Calling a persistent, outspoken unbeliever a "fool" is not name-calling, but rather is an accurate description of who and what he is.
.....While it is not a sin to describe the behavior of some sinner or erring brother or
misbehaving child as "acting foolishly," it is wrong to call a fellow Christian a fool. There is no sin in calling an unbeliever a fool, but only as it relates to his refusal to believe in God in spite of all of the evidence.

.....Prayer is a wonderful thing and we should never lose sight of how valuable it is. However, like most every other Bible subject, it is often abused and practiced contrary to the truth of the word of God. We must never overlook what the scriptures relate regarding prayers being acceptable in the sight of God. Prayers are the privilege of righteous people. James wrote: "The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much" (Jas.5:16). Peter speaks of whom the Lord hears: "For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil" (1Pet.3:12). The righteous are those who keep the commandments of the Lord. "For all thy commandments are righteousness" (Psa. 119:172). Righteous people are those who obey the gospel of Christ and observe the commandments of the Lord. "For therein (in the gospel) is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith" (Rom.1:17). People may pray, but are they righteous people and do they have God's promise that He will hear their prayers? Prayer can be so abused that individuals use such to exempt them from obeying other commandments of the Lord. Every commandment of the Lord has its definite purpose in the lives of those who obey. One commandment obeyed does not suffice for those that are disobeyed or neglected. However, it appears that even some members of the church are not in agreement with this conclusion. They are inclined to praise people and view them to be righteous due to the fact that they pray.
.....Why does one pray? What purpose does one have in mind when he prays? The Lord spoke of the prayers of hypocrites. He told His disciples: "And when thou prayest thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward" (Matt.6:5). The Lord knew the hearts of men and He knew there were those praying to be seen of men or to have their praise. Prayer was nothing more than a figurehead for them. Their purpose was not right and pleasing to the Lord. We may not be able to scrutinize the hearts of men as Jesus did, but we can safely conclude that there are those who pray today to be seen of men. It is a token of esteem for others to say of them "but he prays." Hear again the words of Christ: "Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows' houses, and for a pretence make long prayers: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation" (Matt.23:14). These hypocrites were taking advantage of widows, and to cover their ungodliness, they were making long prayers. Did their prayers make their ungodly deeds right before God? Certainly not! It is possible for the same to exist today. Men committing ungodly deeds and endeavoring to hide their guilt by making long prayers. What good is any prayer to God when the hands of men are covered with blood? Isaiah wrote: "And when ye spread forth your hands, I will hide mine eyes from you: yea, when ye make many prayers, I will not hear: your hands are full of blood" (Isa.1:15). God calls upon men to obey His will and as penitent children to fervently pray to Him.
.....Quite often, we observe those over television and other news mediums stating that they hoped and prayed for people suffering in disasters or tragedies of life. Their sentiment sounds good and it is far better than their saying that they cursed them or wished them additional harm, but do they really mean what they are saying? Do they really practice prayer and believe in it? Or is it just an appropriate phrase that amounts to nothing more than some figurehead? I may not be able to answer these questions, but what good is prayer that does not come from the heart of the Christian or righteous soul? Yet, people who should know better, have been known to say that others are righteous and their prayers acceptable simply on the basis that they advocate praying.
.....There have been politicians who have impressed voters on the basis that the candidate spoke of prayer. Whatever might have been said for or against him, their approval was on the basis of "but he prays." Years ago, as a young man in Tennessee, I recall a political race for governor of the state. One of the candidates was reputed to be a Bible reader and believer in prayer. His opponent spoke of him carrying a Bible in one hand and a deck of cards with liquor in the other. People are prone to ignore this and dwell on the fact "but he prays."
.....We are to live consistent lives with our prayers. What we pray for is what we should be working to accomplish. "And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?" (Luke 6:46). When we consider praising any official or anyone on the basis of their praying, we need to think about what they are doing in keeping with their prayers. Individuals can be like the hypocrites that devour widows' houses and for pretence make long prayers.

.....1Timothy 5:24-25 - "The sins of some men are obvious, reaching the place of judgment ahead of them; the sins of others trail behind them. In the same way, good deeds are obvious, and even those that are not cannot be hidden."
.....It is better to be alone, than in the wrong company.
.....Tell me who your best friends are, and I will tell you who you are.
.....If you run with wolves, you will learn how to howl.
.....A mirror reflects a man's face, but what he is really like is shown by the kind of friends he chooses.
.....The simple but true fact of life is that you become like those with whom you closely associate - for the good .....and the bad.

.....An important attribute in successful people is their impatience with negative thinking and negative acting people. As you grow, your associates will change. Some of your friends will not want you to go on. They will want you to stay where they are. Friends that don't help you climb will want you to crawl. Your friends will stretch your vision or choke your dream. Those that don't increase you will eventually decrease you.
Never receive counsel from unproductive people. Never discuss your problems with someone incapable of contributing to the solution, because those who never succeed themselves are always first to tell you how. Don't follow anyone who's not going anywhere.
.....Be careful where you stop to inquire for directions along the road of life.
.....Wise is the person who fortifies his life with the right friendships.
.....What you give while you live, is all you know where it goes.

.....Happy moments? Praise God
.....Difficult moments? Seek God
.....Quiet moments? Worship God
.....Painful moments? Trust God
.....Every moment? Thank God

........................................................The Bible is hard to explain without God.
.....How do you explain the unity of the Bible? The books of the Bible were written over a period of about two thousand years by about forty men. These men lived in different countries and worked in different occupations. Yet, how do you explain the unity of the Bible's theme and message?
.....How do you explain the objectivity of the Bible? The Bible presents its heroes realistically. Their negative points are listed as well as their positive ones. How do you explain such frankness?
.....How do you explain the brevity of the Bible? The account of the creation of the universe is contained in only one chapter. The birth of Jesus and the crucifixion is spoken of in a few sentences. How do you explain the incredible restraint of the writers of the Bible?
.....How do you explain the matter-of-fact manner in which miraculous events are recorded? The flood of the world, the crossing of the Red Sea, the healing of the blind, and the raising of the dead are recorded in a style no different from the story of a Bible character walking from one town to another. How do you explain the absence of dramatic descriptions of supernatural events?
.....How do you explain the relevancy of the Bible? It addresses the problems, fears, and needs that people have today, though it was written hundreds of years ago. How do you explain the continuing value of its counsel? How do you explain the historical accuracy of the Bible? The Scriptures contain a huge amount of historical data. This information harmonizes with other ancient documents and archaeological discoveries. How could so many different people writing in so many different situations get all the people, places, and dates correct?
.....How do you explain all of these things? It is impossible if you believe that the Bible is merely a product of human beings. However, it is possible and even simple to explain if one understands that God was behind the writing of the Bible. That is exactly what the Bible claims for itself: "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God..." (2Tim. 3:16). "Knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation..., but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit" (2Peter 1:20-21). Without God, the Bible defies explanation. (via The Manslick Road SPEAKER, June, 1995, p. 1).

.....It used to be that if you wanted to get people's attention, you put the word "Free" all over the place. Nowadays, all anybody talks about are carbohydrates, so perhaps you will enjoy reading this carb-friendly article. No carbs, as far as I can tell. Of course, I neither watch my carbs nor know what they are.
.....There is something to be said about maintaining one's health. The human body is itself a gift from God and responsible use of it is a matter of good stewardship (1 Cor. 6:19-20). Introducing dangerous and deadly substances into it is foolish and sinful. Marijuana, cocaine, speed - illegal, deadly and sinful. Tobacco and alcohol, while perfectly legal, are proven to do irreversible damage to the human body, bringing on disease, premature death, and having impact upon innocent others.
.....Other substances like meat and sweets are not sinful, but without a dose of moderation, can be dangerous to the human body. Before Dr. Atkins came along, we were all warned that eggs and beef would kill us. Now we are supposed to gorge ourselves on them! The real solution when it comes to sinless substances is moderation. Meat, sweets, even carbohydrates, can be added to one's diet and enjoyed moderately without harming the body. Moderation is part of good stewardship, but God does not expect us to return our bodies to him in pristine condition. They should be used, but not abused (Prov.23:2).
.....Yet moderation is only part of the answer for those who obsess over dieting and the condition of their bodies. If people would put as much energy into their spiritual diet and souls as they do into their physical frames, we would see a religious revival exceeding anything before.
.....What does the Bible say? "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God" (Matt. 4:4). Beyond those carbs, we require the milk and meat of God's word. "As newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby, if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious" (1Peter 2:2-3). "But solid food [strong meat, KJV] belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil" (Heb. 5:14).
.....Beware physical gluttony (Titus 1:12), but crave the spiritual nutrition of God's abiding word. Feast upon it and live (Rev. 10:9).

Wear it out, but keep it
Keep it in your heart.
The words of our dear Savior
And never from Him depart.

Wear it out, but keep it
How can this come about?
Just listen to my message
You're sure to find it out.

I'm talking about the Bible
It's the book of books you know.
Its cover and pages will crumble
As the years come and go.

But the words found on its pages
Will last an eternity though.
They show us the way to Heaven
Yes for me and you.

Take your Bible out of the cupboard
Or take it down from the shelf.
Wear out its cover and pages
To gain wisdom, knowledge and health.

Tell the story of Jesus to others
It's the blessed story of old.
He's promised to take us to Heaven
And that wonderful city of gold.

So wear out the cover and the pages
Keep the words deep in your heart.
They will keep you so near to Jesus
You'll never want to depart.
(By Anna Suddoth Rudolph, 1969)

.....A tiny but dignified old lady was among a group looking at an art exhibition in a newly opened gallery. Suddenly one contemporary painting caught her eye. "What on earth," she inquired of the artist standing nearby, "is that?"
.....He smiled condescendingly. "That, my dear lady, is supposed to be a mother and her child."
....."Well, then," snapped the little old lady, "why isn't it?"
.....I've seen some of that "modern art", so I can relate. But it makes me stop and wonder: Does the same thing ever happen spiritually in my life? I'm "supposed" to be a Christian, a child of God, a person whose life dedicated to serving God. Peter reminds me: "You ought to live holy and godly lives" (2Peter 3:11). But is there anyone who looks at my life and says, "I know what he's supposed to be, so why isn't he?" (TFTD by Alan Smith)

.....A North Carolina farmer was talking to a Texas rancher. The Texas rancher was bragging that his spread was soooooo big, that he got in his pick-up in the morning and didn't reach the end of his spread until nightfall.
The North Carolina farmer replied, "Yup, I had me a pick-up like that once."
.....That's the trouble with bragging -- no one seems to appreciate it as much as we do! But how will everyone know how important we think we are unless we tell them? So we tend to focus on ourselves -- we talk about what we have accomplished, we talk about who we know, we talk about what we have just bought.
.....Can I offer a suggestion? Just for today, forget about yourself and focus on someone else. Take an interest in what someone else has accomplished, or better yet, take an interest in a problem that someone else is experiencing.
....."Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus" (Phil. 2:3-5).
.....But, if you do this, won't others fail to realize just how important you are? Perhaps. But, more likely, they'll recognize true greatness in your humility. (TFTD by Alan Smith)

There is no danger of developing eyestrain from looking on the bright side of things.
Those who bring sunshine into the lives of others cannot keep it from themselves.
He who sings frightens away his ills.
You find yourself refreshed by the presence of cheerful people. Why not make earnest effort to confer that pleasure on others.
The happiest people seem to be those who have no particular cause for being happy except the fact that they are so -- a good reason, no doubt.
I am not bound to make the world go right, but only to discover and to do, with cheerful heart, the work that God appoints.
We ought to be as cheerful as we can, if only because to be happy ourselves is a most effectual contribution to the happiness of others
Happiness adds and multiplies as we divide it with others
We have no more right to consume happiness without producing it than to consume wealth without producing it.
Happiness is essentially a state of going somewhere wholeheartedly.
A happy man or woman is a radiant focus of good will, and their entrance into a room is as though another candle had been lighted.
If good people would but make their goodness agreeable, and smile instead of frowning in their virtue, how many would they win to the good cause?

.....There are very few things in life that we absolutely must do. A person does not even absolutely have to eat. One, of course, must eat if he wants to live, but he can quit eating and die if he is determined to do so. However, there are two future events that we cannot avoid. They are death and the Judgment. Hebrews 9:27 says, "And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment." These are two "appointments" that all of us must keep.
.....First, consider death. Our life here on this earth is at its longest, still very short. In James 4:14 it is referred to as a vapor "that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away." To live is to eventually die. Since it is true that we all must die, the second mandatory appointment (the Judgment) should concern us all.
.....All of us must face the Judgment which will occur after the second coming of Christ. According to 2Corinthians 5:10, we will be judged according to the "things done in the body." The Judgment cannot be avoided, so we should certainly prepare ourselves for it.
.....If you are not a Christian, you need to become one. The Bible teaches that a person must believe (Heb. 11:6), repent (Acts 2:38), confess Christ (Rom. 10:10), and be baptized (Acts 2:38). After a person becomes a Christian, he must remain faithful (1Cor. 15:58).

.....A study of Moses' life is fascinating and beneficial, not only by considering his faith, but also by noting his shortcomings. When God appeared to Moses in the burning bush and commissioned him to go to Egypt and lead the Israelites to freedom, Moses began to offer up several excuses recorded in Exodus 3-4. These excuses, and God's response, teach valuable lessons for we today who would be tempted to justify ourselves like Moses tried to do. See if any of these sound familiar.
.....LET SOMEONE ELSE DO IT. When God instructs Moses of his duty, Moses responds first by asking, "Who am I?" (Ex. 3:11). In effect, Moses was telling God to let someone else take his place. To answer Moses' question, he was the individual to whom God was giving instruction! As we study God's word we need to view His instruction personally, understanding that I have a personal duty before God which cannot be passed off to someone else. Pure and undefiled religion involves my personal attention and faithfulness (James 1:27; 2:14; Gal. 6:10). Many in God's kingdom have been guilty of using this excuse. It didn't impress God when Moses used it. Neither will it when we use it today.
.....I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO SAY. Moses second excuse to God was, "What shall I say unto them?" (Ex. 3:13-22). In this passage several points are made by God to answer his question. First, Moses was to speak a message of God's authority (vs. 14, 18). He was to speak to God's people, as well as to their enemies (Pharaoh) the commandments of God. All that we say and do today must be by the authority of Christ (Matt. 28:18; Col. 3:17). Second, Moses was to speak a message of God's deliverance - salvation (vs. 16-17): "I have surely visited you, and seen that which is done to you in Egypt; and I have said, I will bring you out of the affliction". Our message to sinful man is one of salvation. Today, God will bring man out of the affliction of sin, to which he is in bondage (Rom. 7:24; John 8:32; Mark 16:16). Third, Moses was to speak a message of duty (vs. 18): "And they shall hearken to thy voice..." His message demanded a response; those who heard had a duty to obey. Christians have a duty to steadfastly labor in God's kingdom (John 9:4; 1Cor. 15:58). The sinner has a duty to obey the gospel of Christ (Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38). Fourth, Moses was to speak a message of judgment (vs. 19-20): "And I will put forth my hand, and smite Egypt with all my wonders which I will do in the midst thereof..." When Paul preached Christ to Felix and Drusilla, he reasoned with them concerning "... the judgment to come" (Acts 24:25). Today, we must warn of God's judgment and the eternal consequences to those unprepared (2Cor. 5:10; Matt. 25:46). Fifth, Moses was to speak a message of victory (21-22): "And I will give this people favor in the sight of the Egyptians ... and ye shall despoil the Egyptians." Because Jesus was victorious over Satan by His resurrection from the dead, He has given us assurance of this same victory (Acts 17:31). Our message to the world is one of victory, as we "show forth the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light" (1Peter 2:9). The next time you want to use the excuse, "I don't know what to say," think of Moses.
.....IT WON'T DO ANY GOOD. Moses said, "They will not believe me, nor hearken to my voice" (4:1-9). Moses' problem in pre-judging how others would respond was in the fact that he left God out of the equation. God showed him that His great power would be with him in the miracles he would perform. Today, many are similarly guilty of pre-judging that people will not believe - they are either "too old" or "too young"; "too educated" or "not educated enough"; "too busy" or "too lazy"; etc. We must remember that though we cannot work miracles (1Cor. 13:8), we do have God's power unto salvation in the gospel we preach and teach (Rom. 1:16). To use this excuse is actually a reflection on God. It says that He cannot accomplish with His word what He has purposed. Remember, God's word does not return to Him void (Isa. 55:10-11).
.....I CAN'T. "I am not eloquent ... I am slow of speech..." (4:10-17). Moses was looking at this all wrong. Accomplishing God's purposes in his life didn't depend on his own strength and abilities, but on God working in him. The unbelief of the ten spies Moses would later send into Canaan illustrates this same problem (Num. 13:25-33). If they had remembered God was with them, like Joshua and Caleb did, it would not have mattered how big the giants were - God is bigger! Paul understood that whatever good accomplished by his service in God's kingdom was not of himself, but by God being with him: "I planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase" (1Cor. 3:6). God continues to work through those who trustingly surrender to serve God (Phil. 2:12-13; 1Thes. 2:13).
.....The fact that we have limitations, even handicaps, does not mean that God cannot use us. Though Moses had a problem speaking, God gave him his brother Aaron to speak for him. How many today use this excuse because they focus on their weaknesses instead of their strengths. Can't speak? Then give someone a Bible tract or a cassette of last Sunday's sermon. Can't go? Then mail someone a tract, cassette, Bible correspondence course, or give someone a word of encouragement on the telephone. There is work that we all can do.
In conclusion, remember how Jesus condemned the use of excuses to justify oneself in not doing God's will (Luke 14:15-23). They won't carry any weight on judgment day either (Matt. 7:21-23; 25:44-45). May we have ears to hear.