When I walked into the Big Spring Federal Prison Camp 25 years ago next month, I had no idea that God was going to change everything about my life. I had no burden for inmates…I was only going to teach a Bible class in prison because I could not get out of it. For six years I drove 120 miles round trip every Friday night for that class. The last two years of the six we drove back over on Saturday afternoon after visitation to work with the families. It was during this time that the prison system began to expand at a rapid pace. When we started into the prison in Big Spring, it was the only...
Blogs by Leland Maples
By Leland Maples
July 15th, 2008
“…there is no new thing under the sun.” Ecclesiastes 1:9
We live in rapid changing times…and whatever the old way was, it is now obsolete. This is especially true about computers and churches. While computer technology is progressing, churches seem to be regressing. Every religious survey reports that major denominations are losing members. On the one hand, we hear about mega churches increasing, yet membership as a whole is dwindling. May I insert here that growth or lack of it is not a barometer for spirituality or dedication to truth. I do not understand any Christian that would...
By Leland Maples
February 15th, 2007
I have been thumbing through my Bible trying to find verses that instruct us to sneak up on lost people. Today’s mainline churches are going incognito and wearing camouflage! When a law enforcement officer goes undercover, he does so to impersonate the bad guys. Why would a Christian do that? As best I understand it, God wants us to “come out from among them,” not imitate them.
Recently in our newspaper there was an article about Christian (?) rock (an oxymoron, if I ever heard one.) One of the musicians was quoted, “We’re Christian…but we don’t want to be labeled.” As far as I know...
By Leland Maples
February 15th, 2011
If we listen to the “big preachers,” the “popular ministries” or the “accepted by the scholars” modern day preaching, we get the idea that every dedicated, “sold out for God” Christian will be a financial and personal success. It seems the only thing standing between us and God’s abundant blessings is our lack of faith. If only we would really mean business with God He would pour out more blessings than we could imagine; poverty would vanish, illness would disappear and everyone would “live happily ever after.”
There is no doubt that this kind of teaching appeals to our flesh. Who...
By Leland Maples
October 15th, 2012
James wrote in his book,
“Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.“ James 2:19
It seems the devils have a little better theology than most of the world. Our world has multiple gods. The first mention of more than one God was by Satan in his promise to Adam and Eve:
“For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.” Genesis 3:5
The last mention of “gods” is by Paul:
“Howbeit then, when ye knew not God, ye did service unto...
By Leland Maples
June 13th, 2013
"Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God." 1 Corinthians 6:9-10
The Bible has always been fairly specific when it comes to naming sin. Today we have crafted euphoric terms to define sin. We have the "unauthorized use of a motor vehicle" instead of car theft. Whether the speaker be Paul, Jesus or another, they called sin...
By Leland Maples
November 15th, 2007
Every month I promise myself that I will just write about good things, try not to be controversial and be positive like the popular preachers are. Something always jars me back to reality and the seriousness of God’s calling. Five years ago doctors diagnosed me with a rapid growing lung cancer and gave me a year to live. God Almighty changed that, gave me additional duties and this year the doctors announced me cancer free. Seven times each week God lets me stand before different classes and tell them about His Son. I get to serve as a jail chaplain and a police/fire chaplain. Sometimes I...
By Leland Maples
November 15th, 2011
“Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. [22] Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, [23] And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.
[24] Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: [25] Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and...
By Leland Maples
February 15th, 2014
Valentine's Day is a religious holiday that only one religion connects any religion to it. The background and research is so flimsy that Valentine could have been one of three saints or no saint at all. The holiday is depicted by boxes of candy, red hearts, little make believe angels called cupid (angels in the Bible have no wings.) Nothing about salvation, heaven, hell, resurrection, the cross, etc., are connected to this day. Even though Valentine Card sales are only #2 in regard to Christmas cards, the day does not leave much impression outside of erotic, romantic or frivolous.
... By Leland Maples
September 15th, 2008
What a fascinating time in which to live. In my short lifetime I have seen some 180 degree turns in America’s culture, philosophy, politics and religious beliefs. I can remember when most of the aforementioned were pretty much black and white. There were little, if any, gray areas. In matters of faith today, most are ecumenical, i.e., meaning “one size fits all.”
Recently the U.S .Religious Landscape Survey Report II (6-23-2008) was released. That survey, which interviewed 35,000 Americans, revealed some vast changes over the past few years.
For instance, only 51% believed in...