Roger Rush – Posts (Titles and Excerpts)

Posts by Roger Rush

(Titles Only or Titles and Excerpts)

Limited to most recent 50 posts

• Doubting Thomas

  A hundred years from now what will others remember about us? Probably nothing! That is the truth unless we do something really noteworthy. Men come and go almost without notice. Only a few are remembered long after life has ended, even among the most successful. Perhaps I can illustrate my point. Who was president a hundred years ago? Vice-president? […]

• Last Words

  If you had just one more opportunity to speak to someone dear to your heart, would you choose your words carefully, or would you be casual and flippant in your speech? Would you speak of the important or the trivial? Those are not difficult questions to answer. We would not waste our time on unimportant […]

• Avoid Hypocrisy – Walk the Talk

  “The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat: all therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not” (Matthew 23:2-3). Jesus offered those words of warning regarding the strictest of the Jewish sects. He was not complimentary and pointed out […]

• Not Fair

  It was not fair. He had a large and adoring family, was one of the richest men in his community, and was as honest as the day is long. A decent and God fearing man, he seemed to have it all. Suddenly, disaster struck. All ten of his children died in a single accident. His wealth […]

• Form or Substance?

  The apostle Paul wrote to the young preacher Timothy: “But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without selfcontrol, brutal, haters of good, treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure […]

• Pure Religion

  The modern approach to religion is to argue that there is good and bad in every religion. As long as one is religious, it matters little what religion is chosen. However, the New Testament clearly differentiates between religion which God accepts and that which He does not accept when it refers to pure and vain […]

• It Came to Pass

  When asked what their favorite verse in the Bible was someone replied, “My favorite verses are all those passages where the words “it came to pass” are found.” The expression is actually used 453 times in 452 verses in the King James Version of the Bible. In most cases the phrase simply expresses the elapse […]

• Is The End Near?

  Every time hostilities erupt in the Middle East, the prophets of doom and gloom kick into high gear. “It’s just what the Bible predicted. It won’t be long until the Lord returns. The signs are pointing to His coming!” I am sure those who make such predictions about the end of the world are sincere, […]

• Dealing with Discouragement

  On leaving office, in an address to members of his administration (August 9, 1974), President Nixon gave the following advice. “Always give your best, never get discouraged, never be petty; always remember, others may hate you. Those who hate you don’t win unless you hate them. And then you destroy yourself.” Pretty good advice for […]

• Church Scandals

  For several years now the Catholic Church has been rocked by scandals. Literally hundreds of individuals have come forth claiming to have been sexually abused by their priests. Many of them were children at the time the abuse occurred. It seems that the crimes not only happened, but that a deliberate attempt was made to […]

• Danger of Extremes

  When eyeglasses were first introduced they created quite a stir. Doctors opposed them as harmful to the eyes, and the clergy insisted that trying to restore failing eyesight by artificial means was an act of defiance against God. Both saw them as a danger to the wearer. Around the turn of the 20th century, a […]

• Confidence in the Gospel

  Early disciples were bold, full of faith and had confidence. They were not self-conceited, presumptuous, arrogant, head-strong, or offensively boastful. They merely possessed the confident, calm assurance that faith provides. Notice these examples from the pen of Paul: “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those […]

• Christian Example

  Set A Christian Example Paul admonished Timothy: “Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity” (1 Timothy 4:12). Everyone sets an example. It is impossible not to. But, what kind of example do we set? Is it […]

• Pillar of Truth – The Church

  The church is the pillar of truth! “These things I write to you, though I hope to come to you shortly; but if I am delayed, I write so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and […]

• Blinded by a False Theology

  Starting with a False Theology in mind blinds us to the Truth of God’s Word. One would be hard pressed to find any doctrine in the New Testament more clearly set forth than the doctrine of baptism. Both Jesus and his disciples spoke plainly about it. This is seen in the fact that, with the […]

• What Lies Ahead?

  What lies ahead for us? What is our ultimate fate? Is there anything beyond this realm? The answers depend on who is asked! Which are correct? Some argue what lies ahead is reincarnation! Buddhism and Hinduism teach that each of us had innumerable human or animal lives in the past and will be reborn into […]

• Preaching has a Purpose

  Preaching must meet with the approval of the Almighty and accomplish His purpose. The clarion call of the apostle Paul was: “PREACH THE WORD” (2 Timothy 4:2). But what exactly does preaching entail? And, what is the role of the preacher? Preaching is not entertainment and preachers are not entertainers! Standup comics have their place, […]

• Proof of God’s Love

  Does God love us? YES! Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written: “For your sake we are killed all day long; We are counted as sheep for the slaughter.” Yet in all things we are […]

• Attitude is Better Than a Pill

  The good attitude of a merry heart can be better medicine than a pill. “A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones” (Proverbs 17:22). We are what we think. Solomon said of man, “as he thinketh in his heart so is he” (Proverbs 23:7). Attitudes determine actions. It’s […]

• Take Comfort

  In these unsettling times remember that God is alive and in control. Take comfort. Nightmares can really be scary. Ask old king Nebuchadnezzar. On more than one occasion he was bothered by his night visions and could not take comfort. The fourth chapter of Daniel is a case in point. That night things were well […]

• Be Thankful

  Recognise your blessings and be thankful. Paul wrote: “In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you” (1 Thessalonians 5:18). Genuine gratitude must be expressed. When we are truly grateful, we cannot help but say so. But, often we don’t say “thank you” enough. Be thankful and express […]

• Personal Bible Understanding

  Christians are to be careful Bible students and gain personal Bible understanding. Like Timothy we are to study to show ourselves approved before God (2 Timothy 2:15). We should be like the Bereans and search the Scriptures daily to make certain that what we are taught is what the Bible teaches (Acts 17:11). Our failure […]

• More Thankful

  Decide To Be More Thankful – With Thanksgiving, Let Your Requests Be Made Known To God Many years ago I heard a story about two young men riding a motor cycle up a hill when the motor suddenly died. At that very moment a truck crested the hill headed straight for them. It was clear […]

• No Compromise – Be a Daniel

  Be a Daniel – No Compromise “…he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime” (Daniel 6:10). Daniel was one of God’s finest Old Testament servants. His enemies […]

• Oaths – As Good As His Word

    Let Your Yes by Yes and Your No be No. Jesus taught, “…you have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘Do not break your oath, but keep the oaths you have made to the Lord.’ But I tell you, Do not swear at all: either by heaven, for it is […]

• The Age of Tolerance

  Some Behave Line There is No Other Sin but Lack of Tolerance If I had to describe this period in our history in two or three words I would say we are living in the “Age of Tolerance.” I believe there are vast numbers of people who are convinced that the worst sin in the […]

• Ye Must Be Born Again

  Nicodemus, a Pharisee, came to Jesus one night. He said, “Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him” (John 3:2). Jesus responded: “Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see […]

• Are You Ready to Die?

  “And it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment” (Hebrews 9:27). Approximately every twenty-two seconds someone in this country dies. In the time it will take you to read this brief message more than two hundred deaths will have occurred worldwide. Death is one appointment we will all keep – […]

• Perspective

  Use Wisdom From Above To Keep Your Perspective As I have gotten older, I have come to realize more than ever how important it is to keep things in perspective. We cannot allow our circumstances to determine our attitude. Our attitude determines how we relate to our surroundings. Paul found contentment, not because of his […]

• Non-Denominational Christianity

  Non-Denominational Means Unity Non-Denominational Christianity means no factions. It means Unity. The acceptance of denominationalism has done more to prevent Christian unity today than any other single factor. The word denominationalism implies division. It is a disposition or mindset toward the formation of factions. The whole spirit of denominationalism is contrary to the spirit of New […]

• Antiquated or Outdated?

  Is the Bible Outdated or Antiquated? Times have changed since Jesus walked the paths of Galilee. How could his message be relevant in a modern, technological society? The Bible is outdated! You’ve heard the arguments before. At first these assertions sound plausible, but look more carefully. Is the Bible outdated? Things aren’t that much different. Sure, […]

• Self-Examination

  “To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under heaven…” (Ecclesiastes 3:1-8). The implication from the text is that there is a time for everything. The list the author provided was not intended to be exhaustive, but representative. There is a season for everything, and a time for every purpose under […]

• And He Died…

  He died… “And all the days that Adam lived were nine hundred and thirty years: and he died” (Genesis 5:5). Seven times in the fifth chapter of Genesis we read the words “and he died.” Someday the same will be said of each of us. Therefore, some observations are in order. Death is certain. “For […]

• Freedom

  Value Your Freedom Today (7/4/15) our nation celebrates Independence Day. I am grateful for the holiday and what it represents. I have difficulty imagining what it would be like to grow up in any other environment. It is the longing of the human heart to be free. But, there is a freedom even more precious […]

• Heaven’s Heartbreak

  Let us not be the cause of God’s Heartbreak The story of Hosea and his heartbreak is one of the most insightful in the Bible. Hosea married Gomer. To this marriage three children were born: Jezreel (the Lord sows or scatters), Loruhamah (no mercy), and Loammi (not my people). This marriage was used as a […]

• An Easy Job

  Fault-Finding is an Easy Job Someone has written: “Nothing is easier than fault-finding; no talent, no self-denial, no brains, no character are required to set up in the grumbling business.” Fault-finding is an easy job because it requires no preparation and little effort. Yet, many have made it their life’s vocation. They become so wrapped […]

• Jesus, An Accurate Picture

  We need an accurate picture of Jesus in order to be like him. According to the thinking of some religious people, Jesus found fault with very little in society. He only found fault with the fault finder. He only criticized the critical. He had intolerance only for the intolerant. As a result, we may be […]

• Choices

  Our most important choices are regarding Jesus. A young man applied for a job on a farm. The farmer had one question for him. “Are you willing to work hard?” The young man assured the farmer that he could count on him to do an honest day’s work, so the farmer hired him. The first morning he […]

• A Good Example

  A good example says more about us than what we say. The apostle Paul wrote to two young preachers. Both were encouraged to set good examples. Timothy was admonished: “Let no man despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity” (1 […]

• Make the Most of Today

  Make the Most of Today Dale Carnegie observed, “One of the most tragic things I know about human nature is that all of us tend to put off living. We are all dreaming of some magical rose garden over the horizon instead of enjoying the roses that are blooming outside our windows today.” In a […]

• The Wrong Questions

  Are We Asking The Wrong Questions? When disaster strikes, we ask, “Why?” When suffering comes into our lives, we ask, “Why me?” These are the wrong questions. We should be asking, “What can I learn from this?” Or, “How do I deal with it?” No life is free from adversity. It is foolish to think […]

• Threats to the Family

  The Demise of Home and Family The children of a prominent family decided to give their father a book of the family’s history for a birthday present. They commissioned a professional biographer to do the work, carefully warning him of the family’s “black sheep” problem: Uncle George had been executed in the electric chair for […]

• Sober Facts About Sin

  Think on these sobering facts about sin. Clarence Macartney called it the “saddest word in the Bible and in human speech.” He was talking about the little word “sin.” Sin is the fountain of woe, the mother of sorrows, as universal as human nature and as eternal as human history. It can be labeled as […]

• Acceptable Worship

  Acceptable Worship in God’s Eyes “God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth” (John 4:24). To suggest that all worship is acceptable and approved by God would be contradictory to the teaching of Jesus. He accused the Pharisees of drawing near to God with their lips, […]

• Facing the Future

  Are you facing the future with confidence? Over the years I have learned to expect the unexpected in facing the future. Many a family outing, vacation, or dinner out has been interrupted by some unexpected development. James, the brother of our Lord, addressed the matter of facing the future when he wrote: “Now listen, you who say, […]

• A Voice from the Past

  What can the voice from the past teach us? Isaiah, a prophet of Israel and a voice from the past for us, seven centuries before Christ, warned his nation of impending disaster. The moral foundations of Israel were crumbling, and without a strong moral foundation no nation can long survive. As I read Isaiah, I […]

• Citizens of the Kingdom

  You are a citizen of a kingdom, not an island affecting only yourself. There was a time, not that long ago, when news traveled slowly. That time is no more. Now we are inundated with information almost instantly about anything that happens anywhere in our world. It drives home the very real nature of our […]

• Why I Am a Believer

  Why am I a Believer? When it comes to the great questions of life regarding origin, purpose and destiny, each of us chooses to be a believer in one of two explanations: We are the product of divine intervention, or We owe our existence to a freak accident of nature sometime in the distant past. […]

• Sound Familiar?

  Pay attention to the warnings form the past. They should sound familiar and we should learn from them. Isaiah, a prophet of Israel, seven centuries before Christ, warned his nation of impending disaster. The warning should sound familiar. The moral foundations of Israel were crumbling, and without a strong moral foundation, no nation can long […]

• A Time to Die?

  There will be a time to die for each of us. None of us like to think about it, but we know there is no escape. Someday we are all going to die, and we have no way of knowing when that day will come. Death is both certain and uncertain. In a way, I […]