Does this passage teach that our salvation is strictly a matter of God’s arbitrary election before the world was made, irrespective of any choice that we might exercise in the matter?

Does the privilege of prayer apply equally to every one? Are there limitations on objectives for which one may pray? Are there conditions regulating the effectiveness of prayer? Let us reflect upon these challenging questions.

Atheists frequently make bogus arguments in defense of their position; sometimes, theists do too. One needs to learn the difference between a good argument and one that is flawed.

In his letter to the Christians in Rome, Paul describes a certain level of human activity as “inexcusable” (Rom. 1:20). Does this imply that some conduct, even that which is bad, is “excusable”?

In the book of Revelation there are several references to the seven spirits. To what, or whom, does this expression refer?

What values are our children really learning from our parenting? Are we really concerned with instilling respect for God and his will in our children’s hearts, or are we more concerned with making sure they have the appearance of a successfull family environment?

Every Old Testament book, to some extent, focuses upon the coming of Christ. This is no less true of the book of Hosea.

Cyrus was motivated by Isaiah’s prophecy concerning him. This may be an interesting example of the workings of providence.

The prophet Hosea described ancient Israel’s goodness as like the morning dew. What did he mean by this strange analogy?

A kindly friend comes calling with a tract on “How To Have a Home In Heaven.” Unquestionably they are sincere. But is sincerity a valid substitute for truth? Jason Jackson addresses this issue.

Reckless charges are frequently made against the Bible. One of these is the allegation that the Scriptures contain irrelevant data, i.e., material too trivial to justify its inclusion into a body of literature that purports to be inspired of God.

Richard Dawkins, prominent atheist, classifies religious faith as a “virus of the mind.” He and others of his kind desperately need to contract this virus!

Sennacherib sent a great army to Jerusalem. Through his military officials, he made a series of threats, the design of which was to bully the Hebrew king.

Have you ever heard or read a statement that made you wonder how it ever could have been conceived? For example Bill O’Reilly, Fox News guru, said on national television that “the Catholic Church invented marriage” (WorldNetDaily, 2/10/2010). How does anyone that obtuse deserve a national audience? But he is not alone. Consider a few more quotes that are “simply outrageous.”

Sometimes Christians are intimidated by the massive propaganda campaign advanced by the followers of Charles Darwin. One indication of this is the common acceptance of evolutionary chronology, i.e., the idea that the Universe is billions of years old. Some, in an effort to find biblical support for the “long-ages” of history presupposition, have argued, on the basis of Hebrews 4:9, that the “days” of the creation week were vast ages. This week’s Penpoints examines this argument.

What a thrilling concept it is to transition from being a stranger to becoming a citizen, indeed, a family member and a “friend.” Our Lord once said: “You are my friends if you do the things which I command you” (John 15:14).

This is a review of Rosemary Reuther’s book which attempts to defend new “marriage” relationships.

The first king of Israel’s fall from grace can serve as a warning for us today.

What happens to the “soul” at the point of death? Is it conscious, or does it exist in a state of “sleep,” totally oblivious to its environment?

In response to a recent article in which we argued that instrumental music in Christian worship is without divine authority, a critic replied by suggesting that we practice many things in Christianity that are bereft of authority. One example he cited was the use of Bible translations. In this week’s Penpoints, we refute this baseless quibble.