Years ago, when I was preaching in Jefferson City, TN, our congregation held worship services every Sunday at Jefferson County Nursing Home. One lady with whom I became acquainted while doing this was Ms. Perna Noland, a sweet and gentle southern woman who loved to see a man wearing a suit and complimented me every time she saw me. While not a member of the Lord’s church, she was a woman who respected the Bible and came to every service she could before she passed away. In Ms

Some time ago I saw an article in an airline magazine highlighting the religious beliefs and practices of the natives of Tana Toraja, Sulawesi, Indonesia. Life in Tana Toraja is guided by an ancient animist religion. Some of the more notable features of the religion are: a caste system that divides and stratifies the village, ancestor worship, animal sacrifices to departed ancestors as well as to the earth, and, interestingly, a yearly practice of bringing dead bodies out of

Love and affection for something or someone is based on reason. Think about it. Why do you love your spouse, or children, or parents? Why do you love your favorite vacation spot? Why do you love that one restaurant you always go to? The answer to these questions centers around one or multiple reasons. What about the church? Should we love this nearly 2,000 year-old institution? Absolutely! But why? Following are several reasons why I love the church. I love the church because