The Direction of Your Life

The Direction of Your Life – Part 1The Direction of Your Life by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Matthew 6:19-24   I.         Whenever I taught someone to drive, I was reminded that people have a tendency to go in the direction they are looking.             A.        When a person first learns to drive, they tend to look at things…

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How Can I Control My Emotions?

by Jefferson David Tant Adapted from “Questions Young People Ask” What’s your thought? Is fire good or bad? You probably would say that it depends on the circumstances. On a cold winter night, logs burning in a fireplace can provide warmth. That’s good. Uncontrolled, however, the flames can quickly spread and destroy the entire house.…

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The Root Cause of Violence

by Jeffrey W. Hamilton “For it is because of these things that the wrath of God will come upon the sons of disobedience, and in them you also once walked, when you were living in them. But now you also, put them all aside: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive speech from your mouth. Do…

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Why Does It Matter to You?

by Doy Moyer “Why does it matter to you what people do in their own privacy? Why not just leave them alone? They aren’t hurting you. It’s their life; it’s none of your business.” In one sense, it doesn’t matter to me what others do privately.*  I have no interest in spying on people or…

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Angry Words

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/Angry-Words.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Ephesians 4:25-5:2   I.         The Bible speaks of two types of anger             A.        The quick, fly-off-the handle, hot tempered anger             B.        The slow, methodical, vengeful anger             C.        Both are dangerous for different reasons             D.        Colossians 3:8                         1.         Orge (anger) is the slow building type of anger                         2.         Thumos (wrath) is the passionate hot-tempered type of anger…

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Fools

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Fools.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Luke 11:37-54   I.         We see fools all around us,             A.        But no one wants to be thought of as a fool                         1.         (1995) In Wesley Chapel, Florida, Joseph Aaron, 20, While repairing a car, found he needed to bore a hole in the pipe. When he couldn’t find a drill, he…

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The Wise Teacher Guards His Tongue

by Jefferson David Tant “He who restrains his words has knowledge, and he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding” (Proverbs 17:27). Those who preach and teach are people of words. That’s obvious, as that’s how we proclaim the message. But how we use our tongue can have a great influence on…

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How to Ruin Your Influence

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/How-to-Ruin-Your-Influence.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Luke 14:34-35   I.         Your reputation, your ability to influence others is valuable             A.        Ecclesiastes 7:1 – Better than expensive perfume             B.        Proverbs 22:1 – Better than great wealth             C.        Christians are expected to influence the world – Matthew 5:13-16             D.        But if we ruin our ability to influence others, what good are we?…

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Jonah – Wrath of Man / Mercy of God

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Jonah-Wrath-of-Man-Mercy-of-God.mp3 by Ross Ward We all know the story, but have we really gotten the point? Story The book is about Jonah Not gentile city Outline of book Ch 1 – Jonah runs from God Ch 2 – Jonah’s salvation Ch 3 – Nineveh’s salvation Ch 4 – God’s mercy on Jonah Jonah’s faults Wrath…

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Can I remarry if my husband divorces me?

Question: Hello, I have a question about divorce. My husband and I are both in our mid-twenties. We’ve been married less than two years. We are both in the body and have been for some time now. Because of my upbringing, I have anger management issues. So throughout our marriage, my husband has been saying…

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I Will Give Thanks to You Forever

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/I-Will-Give-Thanks-to-You-Forever.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Psalms 30   I.         When nice things happen, we know we ought to be thankful             A.        Yet, in our happiness we too often forget – Luke 17:12-19             B.        However, in one of David’s Psalms, David contemplates other times we might not think of being thankful to God II.        In the depths of despair…

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Some Thoughts on God’s Wrath

by Doy Moyer One way in which God’s wrath is spoken of in Scripture is that God sometimes removes His protection and allows people to feel the consequences of the sins to which they have given themselves. Rather than intervene, He lets the “reap what you sow” principle work. Sometimes God’s wrath is carried out…

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Fighting Sinking when We Are Hit by Sorrow upon Sorrow

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Fighting-Sinking-when-We-Are-Hit-by-Sorrow-upon-Sorrow.mp3 by Wayne Fancher Philippians 2:27 For indeed he was sick almost unto death; but God had mercy on him, and not only on him but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow. Being Hit By Sorrow Matthew 14:10-12 So he sent and had John beheaded in prison. 11 And his head…

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Love Is …

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Love-Is.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: I Corinthians 13:1-8   I.         Many passages are used for needlepoint samplers. A popular choice is I Corinthians 13:1-8             A.        Have you considered the meaning of the many phrases?             B.        We often associate this passage with weddings, but Paul was writing about what love between brethren is like             C.        However, it can be applied to…

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I get so mad at my former boyfriend that it is affecting my life

Question: Hello, I am a member of the Lord’s church. I have been going through a rough cycle of hurt, anger, and unforgivable times with my daughter’s father. After we broke up a few years ago, it started to be rough with co-parenting with him. I called off my relationship with him because I knew…

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The Winepress of God’s Wrath

by Steve A. Hamilton “So the first went and poured out his bowl upon the earth, and a foul and loathsome sore came upon the men who had the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image” (Revelation 16:2). The date was 541 A.D. Roman Emperor Justinian was reigning in his 14th year…

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I’ve been angry about my ex-boyfriend entering into an adulterous marriage

Question: Hello, My old boyfriend got into an affair with a married woman (with children). They have been pronouncing their love for each other for several years now, and they just got married this last weekend. During this time, I have been dealing with such deep anger toward the people who condone this. His family,…

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Jamaica Patois Wisdom – Meddling

by Jefferson David Tant The Jamaican Patois dialect is colorful, unique, and humorous. It is my desire to share some of the philosophy shown in this mix of colorful phrases that are witty as well as thought-provoking. I hope the readers both profit and enjoy. In my quarter-century plus of teaching there, I have come…

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The Cleansing of the Temple

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/CleansingOfTheTemple.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: John 2:13-25   I.         Under Jewish law, all males were required to travel to Jerusalem three times a year for special feasts – Deuteronomy 16:16-17             A.        Sacrifices had to be made and offerings given, but it wasn’t always practical to ship animals or food all the way to Jerusalem – Deuteronomy…

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Should I not go to church if I have not confessed my sins to others?

Question: Does Matthew 5:23-24 mean I should not go to church if I have not confessed to men my sins against men? Answer: “Therefore if you are presenting your offering at the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your offering there before the altar and go; first be reconciled…

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My wife embarrassed me in public and I ended up slapping her

Question: I just came across this ministry column. I read a few emails and responses and I need your help too. Recently my wife provoked me badly in front of my friends, screaming and asking for ‘her’ car keys. Keys to a car we recently acquired together and which has caused us many arguments since…

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I’m so mad! I’m afraid someone is going to get killed!

Question: I’m a Christian, I’ve had the born-again experience. I know that we all slip sometimes, but I’ve done more than slip. I have ruined my testimony to my family, which I’m sure doesn’t matter to them anyway. They’ve all been in church their whole lives and treat Jesus like he’s a fairy tale. I…

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What can I do about my bitter and angry wife?

Question: Dear Minister, Is it OK for my wife to be bitter, hate me, and punish me regularly, but then says she forgives as a Christian? Over five years ago, “out of nowhere,” my wife had a sex affair because she was “mad at me,” when I had done nothing to her to provoke any…

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I fear I’m becoming a lukewarm Christian

Question: I have been a Christian for about five years now. Recently I have found myself becoming a slave to sin instead of a slave to Christ. I don’t like to talk about my emotions and things, so instead of dealing with them, I choose to bottle them up until it finally feels like I…

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Did Jesus contradict himself by calling people fools?

Question: Hi, Jesus tells us to be very careful how we talk, and what we say. “… and whoever says, ‘You fool,’ shall be guilty enough to go into the fiery hell” (Matthew 5:22 NAS). So why would Jesus say “You fools” in (Matthew 23:17 NAS)? It strikes me that Jesus is not practicing what…

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The Temple-Cleaning Jesus

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/2013Fall4TheTempleCleaningJesus.mp3 by Terry Wane Benton Let Me Tell You About My Jesus

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My marriage is ending in divorce because of my anger and I need advice

Question: Hello, I have a marital question and I am desperately seeking God’s guidance, hopefully through your advice. I have been married for about five years now. We are a young couple in our early twenties. Since the beginning of our relationship, we have always had a special bond and got along great prior to…

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What is the difference between venting and gossiping?

Question: I have a friend that shares with me about other coworkers that have either said something that she did not like or hurt her feelings, in the past and currently, and I was wondering what exactly is the difference between just venting and gossiping.  She sometimes begins by saying “I am just venting,” which sometimes I know that I do,…

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I repeated my fornication after getting baptized. Am I unforgivable?

Question: I once was living a very sinful life. I wasn’t going to church. I was committing fornication with my girlfriend as well as many other sexual sins. I was willfully and deliberately sinning. Over the winter break I realized that if I did not change my way of life, I knew where I was…

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Controlling Our Temper

by R. J. Evans Brother John Clark once related a story about a woman who told a preacher she had a bad temper, but that it was over in a minute. “So is a shotgun blast, but it blows everything to pieces,” was the preacher’s reply. And far too many of us who are Christians…

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How do I deal with the sins of myself and others?

Question: If “obscenity, foolish talk, or coarse joking” are immoral (which I agree with), then how do we as Christians, who encounter these jokes every day, continue to live a pure life, staying away from these things? How do we continue to be kind to those who do such things and steer far away from…

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