Blogs by Leland Maples

Solving Problems in the Flesh
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...

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When God Waited
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...

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Churches... They Are Changing
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...

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Define the Terms
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...

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Get Rid of Jesus
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...

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Paul Meant Business
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...

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Barna's Report
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...

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Christmas 2014
By Leland Maples
December 15th, 2014

Christmas is here again.!  I love this time of year and…yes…I am familiar with all of the problems, both real and imagined.  There is the commercialism, the falsehoods presented for facts and the multitudes who pay no attention to Christ's birth.

No, I do not believe that the tree in Jeremiah 10:1-5 is the Christmas tree.  I have never seen a tree with real "silver and gold," only silver and gold tinsel, and if you think they are the same, I would like to trade some silver and gold tinsel for your gold and silver.

No, I do not believe that S-a-n-t-a is an acronym for Satan...

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Contemporary Services
By Leland Maples
October 15th, 2014

We are often asked our opinion regarding "contemporary worship services."  I pray that I will answer this according to God's word and will.  I want to be careful because I feel there are many "babes" (1 Corinthians 3:1) that are sincere, but deceived about this matter.  One can be a "babe in Christ" without being a new Christian.  I spent many years with little or no growth in my Christianity, so the length of time one has been saved has nothing to do with their maturity in Christ.  I want to be kind, but more so, I want to honest and scriptural.  Love is never Godly love if it is...

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Come Out
By Leland Maples
September 15th, 2014

"Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you."  2 Corinthians 6:17

Separation from the world and worldly people has always been the sign of a saint of God.  In the Old Testament, God required His people, Israel, to be set apart from the other people on earth.  Some of His harshest penalties happened because His people comingled with the nations of the world.  Paul, author of over half the New Testament, was very emphatic about Christians being separate in all of his writings.  Paul said we are to...

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