Introduction When molten lava covered the old city of Pompeii, four prisoners with their feet fast in stocks were overtaken by the flood. They could hear the roar of the lava. Nearer and nearer the wave of death came until it spread to the door of the cell. In his fright the jailor fled, deaf to the cries of the men he had been appointed to guard. There was the door of escape, which the jailor had left open, and on the threshold of the doorway lay the key which the jailor had dropped in his flight. The key would unlock the stocks which held their feet so fast. If only they could reach the key! But it was ever just beyond their reach. It was mockery to their hopes. They fought and shrieked and tore their flesh in madness until the fumes from the distant volcano filled the cell and put an end to it all. And there lay the key just beyond their reach. How like that old prison cell of Pompeii is sin. Fast in the stocks of evil, men are bound by the devil. They see the fat...

    Introduction When you hear or see the word, ‘addiction’, your mind immediately goes to substance abuse like: tobacco, alcohol, or drugs; or other devices like: gambling, pornography, or sexual intercourse. But anything in a person’s life, even if legal, can be an addiction and thus lead a person down the path to sin. Nowadays, it’s chocolate, caffeine, video games, social media, and anything associated with the internet. Most seem harmless, but when you become obsessed with it, it’s an addiction.   Definitions Habit: a settled tendency or usual manner of behavior Addiction: a strong inclination to do, use, or indulge in something repeatedly. Obsession: a persistent disturbing preoccupation with an often unreasonable idea or feeling . For example, if you drink coffee in the morning every day because you enjoy it, and it gets you going, that’s a habit. If you drink coffee every morning because you know you can’t function without it, that’s an addiction...

Introduction         Over the last few decades the concept of “being offended” has increased exponentially. People are removing statues of military leaders of the southern states during the time of the civil war and removing all Confederate Flags as well. The reason? Since ‘The South lost’, all of these things should be removed so as not to remind us of what we went through. People are suddenly offended by these and other things because it makes them feel uneasy. What if this same idea came into the church? The Bible has to Go!         Much like the removal of those statues, should the church be rid of the bible? Maybe not the entire bible, but suppose we do away with all of the Old Testaments? After all it’s full of idolatry, harlotry, deceit, corruption, and no women in the position of leadership. Never mind the fact that Deborah was a judge (Jud. 4:4-5:31) and Esther, a Jew, became queen...