By Mike Benson

Mrs. Brown always resented having to arrange her own hair and sew her own clothes, especially while her more "well-to-do" friends boasted of patronizing the finest shops in town. So when the Brown's financial ship finally came in, Mrs. Brown wasted no time in getting a complete salon treatment and buying a whole new wardrobe including the most stunning dress she could find.

Thus attired in sophistication and expensive perfume, she presented herself to Mr. Brown for his approval. "Well, what do you think?" she asked. "Honey," he said, "now you look like a million." "Really?" she asked coyly. "A million dollars?" "No," he said, "a million other women!"

Ladies, the Bible says, "Do not let your beauty be that outward adorning of arranging the hair, of wearing gold, or of putting on fine apparel, but let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible ornament of a gentle and quiet spirit..." (1 Peter 3:3,4). You know, any husband is proud of his wife when she is attractive, but real beauty comes from the heart -- not the store.

Think about it.

By Mike Benson

Back a few years ago I went to see good friends in Eastern Europe. The purpose of my visit was to support this Christian family in their missionary endeavors. On more than one occasion I had the opportunity to speak with and teach members of the local congregation there in Bratislava. However, all of my efforts were through the assistance of a Slovak translator since I was unable to speak the local tongue.

Recently a local charismatic preacher told me he would be leaving soon for foreign mission work in South America. His last preparatory work before leaving the states was to secure a translator. I found this interesting. I inquired of the preacher as to why he found it necessary to employ an interpreter since he himself claimed the miraculous gift of tongues. He had no response.

Dear reader, my purpose is not to be unnecessarily injurious, but consider -- if miraculous speaking in tongues (i.e., speaking in actual foreign languages -- Acts 2:4, 6-11) still exists today, then WHY do foreign missionaries require translators?

Think about it (1 Thessalonians 5:21).

By Mike Benson

Let's face it guys, we know our own bodies pretty well, don't we? We know how much we weigh. We know how many cups of coffee it takes to keep us awake at night. We know how long we can stoop in the garden before our knees give out. We know when a pain requires a doctor's attention, and when it doesn't.

But now, consider. Just how well do we know our wive's bodies? The Bible says, "So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies."

Men, imagine how many of our marriages would improve if we tried to know and treat our wives with the same devoted care we bestow our own flesh.

Think about it.

by Mike Benson

I read about a French atheist who died and willed his house and farm to, of all people, the Devil. The courts deliberated on the curious case for quite some time. Finally it was determined that the best way to carry out the wishes of the deceased testator was to allow the farm to grow up in weeds and briars and to leave the house to decay and ruin.

It occurs to me that the same thing can be said about our soul salvation. It's not necessary to commit some terrible sin, nor to engage in great evil in order to be lost. All we have to do is nothing. "Allow the farm to grow up in weeds and briars and leave the house to decay and ruin." Dear reader, neglect, indifference, and unconcern will just as surely condemn us in the Judgment as murder, theft, or immorality.

The Bible asks, "How shall we escape (eternal punishment) if we NEGLECT so great a salvation...?" (Hebrews 2:3a). The answer is, "We won't."

Think about it.