Text: "A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold In pictures of silver"’ (Proverbs 25:11).

One kind word is more important then the entire space program. It is more valuable than all the archeological finds ever made. The reason this is so is because God is interested in people, not in things. One kind word sanctified and made efficacious by the Spirit of God may bring a son to repentance; and, of how much value is one human soul! There is joy in heaven over one sinner that repents (Luke 15:7).

God is more interested in people than He is in animals. He made man in His own image, and breathed into man the breath of life, and man became "a living soul" (Genesis 2:7). God made the animals to serve man (Genesis 1:28). It is a perverse society that reverses this order.

One word of kindness is more important than a clean house, or a sink free of dirty dishes because God is in the people business. When people get their priorities out of whack, they become irritable, and offensive to people just as Martha did when she was "cumbered about much serving" (Luke 10:40). But, what is meant by a "kind" word?

A kind word may be a word of comfort, but contrary to the effeminate modernist, a kind word may be a stinging rebuke, or warning. Solomon says, "Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful" (Proverbs 27:6). The truest friend we have is the person who is honest with us.

A word of kindness may arrest a wild career, and point a man to the celestial city. It may bring comfort to the bereaved, or encouragement to a struggling youth.

One soul is more important to our Lord than all the magnificent chapels and stately church edifices in the land. A kind word—how good it is!

The historian may cry, "Pope John VII is dead!" But he will hardly forbear to add under his breath, "Long live Joanna!"

No one can deny that a procession passed the Arch of Trajan and the Flavian Amphitheater, pressing on until it reached the Lateran Square. No one can deny that overpowering heat and dust overcame some in the procession, and the unhappy Joan could hardly hold herself upon the back of her mule, so acute had pains in her stomach and back become.

No one can deny that she stumbled twice as she ascended the steps of the magnificent throne from which she was to anathematize the swarms of locusts, ruing the farm crops. No one can deny that the cross-slipped from her weakening fingers breaking into pieces. No one can deny that soon afterward, Joan herself fell down, pale as death on the steps of the throne. No one can deny that archdeacons and others sprang forward to help her to her feet, as she lay writhing and groaning.

No one can deny that the attempt to bury the entire story, supported still by many reliable sources, ahs been eminently successful. No one can deny that history has, again and again, been written, so that the average man on the street finds himself obliged to accept what papal editors allow him to hear, and thus deceive multitudes to the destruction of their souls!

The Roman Catholic institution is still extremely sensitive about Pope Joan, the papessa. Historical records are still as stubborn as can be, and refuse to give up the assertion of a female pope reigning in Rome.

"Emperor Lothair died... and in two months his reign coincided with that of a new pope. A coin was minted bearing the likeness of both Lothair and Benedict. This is one of the briefest of many proofs that give the lie to the absurd story" (Chambers, Popular Encyclopedia).

In spite of all denial Pope Joan is firmly imbedded in the testimony of history, and her name cannot be eradicated without injustice to history itself. David Blondel and Cardinal Baronius, both outright opponents of the she-pope insistence, were nevertheless faced with an irresistible tradition of a papessa (Privileges and Rights of Emperor and Kings; Joan VIII, An English Woman; Dollinger, Historie de France; The Catholic Encyclopedia). They were driven into attempted explanations of a tradition, such as would dispose of the fact of a lady pope, but the story itself could not be wiped from the blackboard of history.

(The Papessa, Whose Name Was Joan, appeared in the Protestant Challenge, the Voice of The Canadian Protestant League, September-October 1994; Jonas E.C. Shepherd, Editor; 600 Woodview Road, Burlington, Ontario L7N 3A3. Reprinted with permission)

Text: "For every high priest taken from among men is ordained for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins: who can have compassion on the ignorant, and on them that are out of the way; for that he himself also is compassed with infirmity" (Hebrews 5:1,2).

"For there is not a just man upon the earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not" (Ecclesiastes 7:20).

Throughout the centuries men have looked for things they could use to argue in defense of their sin. The more carnal and materialistic an age becomes, the more carnal and materialistic become the excuses.

In our day, some argue that a person who is overweight has no right to rebuke a liar or a profane individual. Others think that unless a person can give a respectable showing in the triathlon he has no right to withstand an adulterer or a thief. This little bit of absurdity is another attempt to intimidate Christians into hiding their testimony under a bushel. It is simply carnal nonsense. The righteous ought to be bold as a lion. Now, "there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not"; nevertheless, God has chosen His people from among the sons of men, and such as have infirmities as other men. "For the law maketh men high priests which have infirmity" (Hebrews 7:28a).

The argument is simply another attempt to dim the light, and to dilute the salt of the testimony of the people of God.

Unspeakable wickedness is being promoted by Christians every time they make a telephone call using MCI or Sprint. Thousands of people have already stopped using AT&T because of its active pro-homosexual sponsorship.

In 1989, AmeriVision was founded in Oklahoma City by Carl Thompson and Tracy Freeny as a "fundamentalist Christian, right-wing organization."

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Text: Ps. 127:3-5

This is the Builder’s Psalm. Here, the Psalmist devotes 60 percent of the Psalm to the place children serve in a godly home. The concept of a marriage in which children are not welcomed is completely unbiblical. It is a degenerate society that weighs the prospect of having children according to "economic affordability" or whether their lifestyle will be disrupted, and their peace and comfort disturbed. Christians have imbibed the reasonings of the heathen.

It may be asked, "How will we afford to give our children braces for their teeth?" Children do not need braces unless parents can afford them. Children are more valuable than many braces!

"But, how will we be able to send our children to college?" Is a college education more important to us than our children themselves? The world is too much with us when we would rather leave stocks and bonds behind us than we would children.

Wealth can never take the place of children. God has ordained that children, not bank notes, would be a comfort to men in their old age. But, with many, their children are their curse, for the Psalmist here speaks of affectionate, and obedient children, what the Apostle calls "dear" children. How much can men accomplish by their children if their children are properly taught!

In the text, children are likened to arrows that must be shaped and straightened, then aimed, and released. It is not enough they be shaped: they must also be discharged. But, before they can have the desired affect, before they are released, children must be straightened. They will fly where we aim them. Humanly speaking, children are what we make them using care and discipline.

Children that are well shaped, and well aimed, when released, will be defend and comfort their parents, but if they are allowed to fly aimlessly, they will shoot their parents in their heart, as well as in their purse. Children are like wood: it is their nature to grow crooked, and knotty, and until they are straightened, they are useless. Once out of our hands, it is too late to aim them.

The man who has orderly, decent, godly children to gather about him is worthy of respect. What a blessing are children who are straight, sharp and directed! But, what a disgrace is it for a man to have children who, Instead of making a contribution to society and to the Church, are instead a threat to the community! Who will argue with a man, whose children follow his words, determined to carry out his wishes. Dear children are the strength of parents, but other children bring white hair upon them, and dig an early grave for their parents.

Children are given by God as a blessing. God may not give a family children, but that family is carnal and selfish that will turn up its nose at the thought of having children. To interfere with the kind of happiness God would give will make even their marriage labor and sorrow.

What have we that God has not given? And, if God gives children, will He not also provide for them food and raiment? With food and raiment, we are to be content (I Timothy 6:8). We should not worry about the care of our children because they are God’s heritage.

Children are only a blessing to godly parents. If they forego having children in order to have better furniture, or a newer automobile, they are ungodly. But, children are a grief and sorrow to their parents if they are vain, or vicious, or otherwise shameful. Such children are barren, and serve no good purpose.