Paul W. Powell Legacy Library

George E. Jones, former deputy editor of U.S. News, once raised the question, “Whatever became of belief in America?” He went on to point out that belief in America is being replaced by pessimism, distrust of leaders, and laxity in standards. The old certainties are passing away and skepticism and cynicism abound everywhere. Then he called belief “th...

Do you own a Bible? If so, you own the greatest book in all the world. It is a priceless possession for which people have suffered, bled, and died through the ages. It is the inspired, eternal, authoritative, powerful word of God. In the light of its importance we ought to do four things with the Bible. 1. We ought to believe it. If you believe what you like in the B...

A man who belongs to another denomination said to me, “I’d really like to join your church, but it’s the dunking [baptism] business that gets me.” That gets a lot of people! They don’t understand what we believe about baptism or why we do what we do. Let me explain: First, the most important thing is to be a Christian. This is a matter...

Whenever people ask me why I believe in God I answer, “I believe in him because I can’t help it.” Swiss Reformed theologian Karl Barth (1886-1968) was right when he said that man has an “incurable God sickness.” Atheism is of the lip rather than the heart. People may deny God with the tops of their heads but they believe in him with the...

  5 Then cometh he to a city of Samaria, which is called Sychar, near to the parcel of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph. 6 Now Jacob’s well was there. Jesus therefore, being wearied with his journey, sat thus on the well: and it was about the sixth hour. 7 There cometh a woman of Samaria to draw water: Jesus saith unto her, Give me to drink. 8 (...

5 Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. 6 Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded. 7 Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: b...

With all of our vast knowledge of the order of our universe and how it works, can we still believe in prayer and miracles? Men have long prayed for rain, but can an honest man who knows anything about meteorology continue to do so? Men have long prayed for the restoration of the health of loved ones, but how can this be done by honest men who know something about mode...

Robert Louis Stevenson wrote a story about a handsome, kindly Dr. Jekyll who discovered a drug that had the supernatural power to change a person’s personality. When taken, it immediately transformed him into Mr. Hyde, a monster who delighted in evil deeds. He spent the rest of his days living the double life of the good Dr. Jekyll and the evil Mr. Hyde until he...

Man needs some authority in his life. Without duly recognized authority, chaos would soon result in every realm of life. For example, there is in Washington, D.C., a Bureau of Standards to uphold the perfect measurement for every weight and measurement that we use in the United States. There is a perfect inch, a perfect pound, a perfect ounce, etc. They are the author...