Live Without Sinning: Recently I read the amazing account of a man who submitted to a scientific hypnosis experiment. While under the influence of a light hypnotic trance the subject was ordered to pick up a glass from the table. Although he was a strong, athletic type, the man could not budge the glass from its position.

Why could he not do it? Because the scientists, after placing him in the trance, had told him that it was impossible to pick up the glass...What a dramatic demonstration that no person can really obey commandments which he believes to be impossible of performance!

Is it a SIN to be TEMPTED: No growing Christian in the world can be unconcerned about the traumatic problem of temptation. There is no age level when moral choices and struggles of the spirit do not confront us. Temptation may attack at different points on different issues, but it will always be with us as long as we are in the flesh.

Life in the Spirit: The greatest need of the church today is for a genuine spiritual revival and reformation. This is what true Christians have been praying for through the years - in the family circle, alone in the closet, and with the church body on Sabbath. There is a deep sense of inadequacy when we sit in a home giving a Bible study or stand before an audience where hundreds need to make a decision for Christ. We know that there is no human way to win a soul or convict of Truth. Only the Holy Spirit can.

The Power of a Positive No: As most Bible students understand, Peter and Paul did not always agree with each other over methods of communicating the gospel. At one point they had a public disagreement in which one verbally chastised the other for being hypocritical. Nevertheless, in terms of believing and living the message of their beloved Master, they were in perfect agreement.

Are We Victims of Circumstance?: Things are not always what they seem to be, and this was especially true of Nazareth. History adds a sad footnote about the hometown of Jesus, the carpenter son of Mary. It was distinguished by its depravity and evil reputation. All over the Near East it had become a byword for sin and iniquity.

Dead to Sin: Many Christians are frequently overcome by temptation because they have never been taught to use God's resources to fight the enemy. The Bible says, "Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee." Psalm 119:11. The Word of God is the most commonly neglected resource in resisting the clamoring of the lower nature. Discovering how to resist evil temptation through claiming the power of God in Scripture has been one of the most valuable things I have learned since becoming a Christian.

A Perfect Christian?: I tossed and turned a bit last night trying unsuccessfully to acquire a good night's sleep in this hotel bed. In the process of thrashing around, I managed to twist up the sheets exposing the company name on the mattress: Serta "Perfect Sleeper." I can hardly say I had a perfect nights sleep. Most people have come to accept that perfect does not always mean flawless in such a perfectly imperfect world.

The Peril of Smooth Things?: Soft food and soft living make us physically weak, a diet of overly refined and fiberless spiritual pablum produces a church full of weak, infantile invalids. Physicians are constantly reminding us that to be healthy, we must have sufficient roughage in our diets. This also applies to our spiritual diet. Unfortunately, many Christians have been gumming baby mush for so long that they are offended by real food.