GoodWords, Providence, RI (2026)

08/10/2021

We've been quiet for a while, but that doesn't mean we haven't been optimistic! God is still good! Maybe this good word ;-) will encourage someone today. A TABLE.

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05/21/2021

THE BATHWATER BUT NOT THE BABY

In a war in 1675*, a good man named John Eliot was going to feed and clothe some Indians stranded on an island, but some religious Puritans smashed his boat to pieces!

Sadly, we could multiply examples of so-called godly people committing hateful atrocities — history is littered with them.

And the temptation is to throw the baby out with the bathwater and give up on God Himself. But God never approves of sin — listen to this strong condemnation in the Bible: “When you spread out your hands in prayer, I will hide My eyes from you; Yes, even though you multiply prayers, I will not listen. Your hands are covered with blood” (Isaiah 1:15).

God. Hates. Sin.

So please, don’t you give up on God just because others who claim to be godly don’t follow His instruction.

God is and God helps. And message me to find out more about studying the Bible!

*King Philip's War, aka Pometacomet's War

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05/11/2021

SOCIAL JUSTICE

Someone* wrote, “In history, actions of honor and dishonor do appear plainly and distinctly…but in the present age they are so disguised." It’s true: The world is in chaos; and it’s often difficult for us to know if what’s happening is right or wrong.

But don’t worry! Because God doesn’t share this limitation — consider this scripture: “There is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do” (Hebrews 4:13): God knows everything about every person and every action.

Four things about this:
1. Justice will be done!
2. Isn’t it good that God is the judge — He knows all the facts and He’ll make the right decisions.
3. Don’t ever think you are tricking God.
4. We ALL need to learn what God thinks is good.

God is and God helps.

*Thomas Hobbes, preface to his (1628) translation of Thucydides’ "Peloponnesian War"

Find out more at https://goodwords.live.

04/01/2021

MARRIAGE MADE IN HEAVEN

Recently, in a North Carolina hospital, Doris and Sherwood, having been married 61 years, died only minutes apart while holding hands.*

In a Florida hospital, Bill and Esther, having been married 66 years, also died minutes apart. Their daughter said that “They were always, always together.”*

What a blessing— to have such beautiful marriages. And God always wants this for us!

Listen to one marriage in His word (from the Song of Solomon):
- “My beloved is mine, and I am his” (6:3). “May he kiss me with the kisses of his mouth! For his love is better than wine” (1:2).
- “Most beautiful among women” (1:8). “Your lips are like a scarlet thread, and your mouth is lovely” (4:3).

How beautiful. And how exciting!

One passage says: “Enjoy life with your beloved wife during all the days of your fleeting life that God has given you on earth during all your fleeting days; for that is your reward in life and in your burdensome work on earth” (Ecclesiastes 9:9; NETBible).

God is and God helps.

*To read about these couples, click the links at the bottom of #31 at goodwords.live.

Find out more at https://goodwords.live.

03/20/2021

PUPPY DOG TALES

Recently there was a news story about a little Australian girl who wandered off alone in the outback and was lost for 35 hours.* The family dog that was mostly deaf, mostly blind, and mostly gimpy followed her, stayed with her, cuddled with her, kept her warm through the night, and then led rescuers to her. How amazing! How comforting for the sad little girl!

And the next time we see someone who needs comforting, maybe we shouldn’t be so quick to underestimate how much we can help them: Sometimes they just want to know that they are known. Sometimes they just want someone there. Of course, the best comfort is found in God’s Word, which says, “Anxiety in a man’s heart weighs it down, but a good word makes it glad” (Proverbs 12:25).

God is. God is here. And God comforts those who believe and obey His Word.

*You can find the story here (I think I confused the 35 hours with another similar story. Oops!): https://www.independent.ie/world-news/australasia/blind-deaf-dog-max-rescues-girl-3-stranded-in-outback-36838151.html

https://soundcloud.com/goodwordslive/puppy-dog-tales

Find out more at https://goodwords.live.

03/12/2021

INTERPRETATIONS

One ancient historian* writing about the war between the Spartans and Athenians** said, “priests were giving out prophecies of all kinds, and everyone made the interpretation” he himself preferred.

It is so common for "spiritual" people to believe what we WANT to believe. And the result is chaos.

But this is not God’s fault and it is not His plan. Consider what He says about the Bible: “Know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one’s own interpretation, for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God” (2 Peter 1:20-21).

When it comes to God and the Bible, our role is not to determine what it means but to DISCOVER what HE means — whether or not it’s to our liking.

God is and God helps.

*Thucydides, "The Peloponnesian War," book 2, chapter 21; Hobbes
**And their confederacies.

Find out more at https://goodwords.live.

03/05/2021

PARENTING

After Edward, Prince of Wales, visited the United States one time, he quipped: “The thing that impresses me the most about America is the way parents obey their children.”

This may be funny to hear about, but it’s not funny for the family spiraling out of control — it’s anguish for the mom, for the dad, and for the children.

One book, the Bible, says: “Children, obey your parents” and “Honor your father and mother” “so that it may be well with you, and that you may live long on the earth” and “Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger” and “Her children rise up and bless her."*

It may not always be easy, but it is possible!

God is and God helps.

*The first four quotes are from Ephesians 6:1-4 (there is more in the verses); the last quote is from Proverbs 31:28.

Find out more at https://goodwords.live.

02/26/2021

CLEAR AND SIMPLE

A man sees a sign through a shop window that says, “Shirts pressed here.” He goes in and begins taking off his shirt. The shop’s owner reacts, “Stop! I don’t press shirts. I make signs.”

It’s a funny illustration of something being simple but not clear.

And though it may not always be clear, life is pretty simple. For example, consider the instruction from the Bible to “make it your ambition to lead a quiet life and attend to your own business and work with your hands” (1 Thessalonians 4:11).

How clear. How simple.

Here is another instruction from the same book: “Treat people the same way you want them to treat you” (Matthew 7:12).

Clear. Simple. And at the same time, profound: Life-changing. (Even society-changing, if everyone joined in.)

For everyone looking for clear and simple, go to the Bible!

God is and God helps.

Find out more at https://goodwords.live.

02/19/2021

"Some temper!" "This is just the way I am." Does this describe you or someone you know? In this Sound Bite, the tempest and the temper!

WHIPPING THE SEA

According to Herodotus ("The Histories," 7.35), when Xerxes, king of Persia, invaded Greece he built a pontoon bridge across the Hellespont River, but the bridge was immediately destroyed by a storm. Xerxes became very angry and commanded that the river be whipped with three hundred lashes, and a pair of fetters be thrown into the river, and the river be branded with a hot branding iron, and they were to say, “Bitter water, our master thus punishes you.”

How ridiculous!

There is a proverb, “He who is slow to anger has great understanding, But he who is quick-tempered exalts folly” (Proverbs 14:29). Can we find a better illustration of this truth than Xerxes?

This also illustrates that it’s really easy to see this folly in others. But if we’re being honest, we might just see it in some things that WE have done.

But we can overcome!

God is and God helps.

Find out more at https://goodwords.live.

02/11/2021

Politics on the mind?

GOD IS NOT CONSERVATIVE

During WWII, our nation had to conserve resources, and the government made posters saying, “Use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without.” It’s catchy, but it doesn’t really inspire confidence.

Now listen to what scripture says: “To Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think…to Him be the glory” (Ephesians 3:20-21). Note that, not only is God able to do more than all we ask, but more than all we ask or think, and far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think!

What a contrast between messages. What a contrast between powers.

We need government. But God offers us so much more.

God is and God helps.

Find out more at https://goodwords.live.

02/04/2021

Today, the sun shines! What a glorious sight to behold after all the snow we've received for days and days and days. Remember, the SON always shines!

GOLDEN APPLES

Someone (G. K. Chesterton) wrote that nursery tales “say that apples were golden only to refresh the forgotten moment when we found that they were red. They make rivers run with wine only to make us remember, for one wild moment, that they run with water.”

Apples are beautifully red. Rivers flow with swirling water. And life is wonderful…even in difficult times.

Thousands of years ago, a poet (King David) wrote to his God, “What is man that You take thought of him, And the son of man that You care for him? Yet You have made him a little lower than God, And You crown him with glory and majesty!” (Psalm 8:4-5)

There is more to life. You just have to look for it.

God is and God helps.

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