News reports and headlines report that the moral and spiritual plummet in the United States are increasing daily. In the midst of the problems the Roman Catholic Pope comes to America and speaks of immigration, global warming and unity, totally ignoring the bloodshed and miscarriages of justice all around us. Prior to his visit here, he signed a treaty with the "State of Palestine" saying he hoped this recognition would stimulate peace with Israel and Israel said it would do the opposite.
The Supreme Court's sanction of gay marriage has created a firestorm among God's people....
Blogs by Leland Maples
By Leland Maples
September 15th, 2015
What part did local churches play in the Supreme Court's decision on gay marriage?
Have the people who claim to be Christians been for or against such action?
"For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?" 1 Peter 4:17
Before we attempt to answer the question, we need to define the "the house of God." When Jesus referred to it in Matthew 21:13, He obviously meant the Temple:
"And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house...
By Leland Maples
August 15th, 2015
Can you believe how stupid some highly educated people are becoming? The Supreme Court of the United States takes it upon themselves to reverse nature. For 6000+ years marriage has been between a man and a woman. They are the only two beings that could obey God's commandment:
"So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over...
By Leland Maples
July 15th, 2015
Every religious survey in the past 20 years has shown a downward spiral in church attendance. Granted, there are some mega churches that have been started and are showing growth, but these are more due to population growth than leadership. The truth of the matter is that their growth has not kept up with the population growth. Others have grown, then plummeted when their "rock star" pastors were unmasked.
Another astounding statistic is that 85% of the unchurched are actually "de-churched," i.e., they used to attend church on a regular basis and quit! Why did they quit? In...
By Leland Maples
June 15th, 2015
The best students of prophecy are confused. By all calculations, Jesus should have come by now. Even for the unschooled, the year 2000 marked a milestone of something calamitous…yet nothing happened! Is it like the scoffers said?
"And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation." 2 Peter 3:4
Peter's answer to this group referred back to Noah and the flood:
"For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth...
By Leland Maples
May 15th, 2015
I was thinking about the church where I was saved in 1953. We had Sunday School (Bible teaching) and a preaching service on Sunday morning. On Sunday night we had Training Union (Christian training) and a preaching service. On Wednesday night prayer meeting and preaching. Most everyone, children included, brought their own Bible. We could even have what they called "Responsive Reading" (a person would read a verse of scripture and the congregation would read the next verse in response.) Wouldn't that be something today? It would sound like Babylon with everyone having a different...
By Leland Maples
April 15th, 2015
Many years ago I was invited to conduct a weekly "spiritual hour" at one of the drug/alcohol rehab facilities in our town. Realizing that the term "spiritual hour" could take on many different definitions and be very ambiguous, I wanted to clarify with the director of the facility what he could expect from me. We both agreed that "spiritual hour" at his facility would simply be "Jesus Christ and the Bible." It would not include a specific church, denomination or religion. I can thank the inmates in the Big Spring Federal Prison who attended my Bible class for making me aware of...
By Leland Maples
March 15th, 2015
This decade has witnessed an increased hatred in our world toward Jesus Christ. During most of our lifetime, opposition and animosity toward Jesus Christ has been low-key and among the minority. Today, more and more are becoming openly vocal toward the Lord of Lords and King of Kings. Jesus told His disciples, when questioned about the end time, that they would be hated by all men for His name's sake (Matthew 24:9.)
This is a paradox; why would men hate the One Who healed the sick, gave sight to the blind, hearing to the deaf, made the lame to walk and restored life to the dead...
By Leland Maples
February 15th, 2015
The gospel given to Paul by Jesus Christ was of the utmost importance to Paul. He took it very seriously; he did not allow it to be changed or, as he said, be "perverted."
"I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven preach any other gospel unto you that that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.
As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any...
By Leland Maples
January 15th, 2015
The Barna Research Company just released the results of an ongoing study regarding American attendance to the Christian church. Please remember that their definition of the "Christian church" includes many non Christians by Bible standards. Barna's Christian church includes Catholics, Protestants and other religions.
Barna's research revealed that 156 million U.S. residents are not engaged with a Christian church. To put that number into context, that is roughly one half of the U.S. population. In the last decade the number of adults who are unchurched has increased by more...