News Articles by Judy Woodward Bates

DORA, Ala. (BP)--I don't think there's a Baptist alive that hasn't heard Hebrews 13:5: "... I will never leave you or forsake you." But that's actually only the last eight words of that verse. How many of us know the entire passage?

DORA, Ala. (BP)--"Whoever lives with integrity fears the Lord, but the one who is devious in his ways despises him" (Proverbs 14:2).       Is there such a thing as a "sneaky" Christian? Unfortunately, yes, but it's not the sort of behavior our Lord wants us displaying.

DORA, Ala. (BP)--"Keep your shirt on!" A couple of centuries ago, only a very well-to-do gentleman owned several shirts, so getting into a fight was no reason to ruin what might very well be your one and only.

DORA, Ala. (BP)--Exactly what is the "fear of the Lord"? Is it to live in terror of God’s power and authority which we definitely know is unending and unlimited? No, it’s to live with a healthy respect and awe of what He is capable of, is doing and will do.

DORA, Ala. (BP)--“Better a dry crust with peace than a house full of feasting with strife” (Proverbs 17:1). Or to put this proverb another way, “Better to have little materially with peace than material abundance with strife.”

DORA, Ala. (BP)--What is it with today’s society? We seem to be embarrassed by aging rather than being thankful for our longevity. Old age is a good thing, particularly when you consider the alternative! Yes, we who have put our trust in Christ can say with Paul that “to be absent from the body” is to be “present with the Lord” (2 Corinthians 5:8), but still, most of us aren’t in a hurry to get to heaven, are we?

DORA, Ala. (BP)--Even Christians tend to put a lot of emphasis on “stuff,” don’t we? We like to drive up to church in the best vehicle, walk in wearing the best outfit, and have everyone know we live in the nicest house or neighborhood. But is this what the Bible teaches us to be like? Not even close, y’all.

DORA, Ala. (BP)--Did you know that body language accounts for over 90 percent of conversation?

DORA, Ala. (BP)--Where does God not exist? Nowhere! The Creator of the universe is omnipresent –- that is, everywhere at the same time. God is astounding.

DORA, Ala. (BP)--What does God respond to? One thing should be a no-brainer, but for most of us it’s a very neglected aspect of our lives: listening to Him.