We stayed at home where it is safe. We didn’t do anything exciting, except when the clock struck we went outside and the family made some noise, as we watched people on the hill near our house have a huge bonfire and make noise of their own. Our house is disassembled as we are in the final stages of preparing to move. We’ll load the truck this coming Tuesday. Happy New Year!
Updates from December, 2010 Toggle Comment Threads | Keyboard Shortcuts
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joyjensen
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Richard Hill
Consider it ushered. We had a party at church from 6:30 to 9 and we finished about 10 minutes early! How pathetic is that! We did have lots of fun and enjoyed the time we had together. We used to celebrate New Year’s with NY so we could go to bed at 11. Now I guess we’re celebrating with Greenland. Who will we celebrate it with in 15 or 20 years!
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Mike Riley
Happy New Year to you and yours, Richard!
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J. Randal Matheny
With Greenwich, UK! I went to bed at 11:30 p.m., never have been much use after 10/10:30. But it’s nice and quiet this morning. :)
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Richard Hill
Happy New Year, Mike and to all the fellows and readers!
Mine has started off with a pressing challenge. While I can’t be specific, I will be resurrecting my old blog to do some writing on unity and division as a way of preparing for what is ahead.
As I write I will try to link to the site here. Your reactions, comments and advise to what I write will be of great value.
I should say this. Except for their prayers and encouragement this does not involve my home congregation.
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J. Randal Matheny
I hadn’t read your comment here when you and I talked earlier, Richard. Will be praying about the situation.
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James M.
Happy new year
Friends and Fellows, may 2011 be the year of great blessing from God, that you might be an even greater blessing to people than you have been so far, to the glory of God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Great things come to those who throw themselves into the hand of God and into his service, so I am confident that he will uphold and uplift you in wonderful ways. Thanks for walking with me during a part of this journey. I look forward to our stepping together further along the path in the next year.
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Mike Riley
Thanks, Randal, for your encouraging words! With God’s help and direction, I’m certain we’ll be up to the task. We pray for more great things to happen regarding the Lord’s work there in Sao Paulo and the surrounding area during 2011.
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John Henson
May God continue to bless you, brother, in the New Year, showering you with blessings and his love. Walking with you through this year has been a blessing and a privilege.
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Chad Dollahite
Gathering with the Saints
We’ll gather with some of the brethren at the building at 7:00 tonight, play games, & fellowship for a while, but likely not until midnight. I have family in town also, & we’ll come back & spend the rest of the evening with them. I’ve had pretty boring New Year’s Eves the last few years, which is just fine for me. Tonight will be nice, between spending time with brethren & also with physical family (who are all also brethren…a bonus). Happy New Year to all the good people here at TFR!
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Mike Riley
Happy New Year to you and yours as well, Brother Chad!
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John Henson
Happy New Year to you, Chad, and thanks for being a part of TFR, bro!
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James M.
Bible reading: 2 Thessalonians 3
In the final section of the letter, Paul moves from doctrine to conduct, dealing with the undisciplined among them, after requesting prayer and expressing his confidence in their obedience.
3:1-5. Request for Prayer. As in the first letter, Paul asks the Thessalonians to pray for them, that the Lord’s message may spread quickly. Paul was ever concerned that the gospel reach more and more people (2 Corinthians 4:15; 10:15-16). All his efforts were devoted to the Great Commission as an extension of the Lord’s work in the world. Even though he is an apostle, the reciprocal nature of the faith applies equally. Prayer is the great leveler and feeds the solidarity among God’s family. Likely Paul uses athletic language here, of running, and winning the applause of the bleachers. For the message to be honored would mean received by the hearers and finding a place in the heart for the truth (see 2:10), as it was among the Thessalonians. Those who have honored the gospel can pray for it to be honored by others. The second part of Paul’s prayer request reflects that the gospel advances in the midst of opposition: that we may be delivered from perverse and evil people (v. 2). He asks not for the removal of persecutors, but that their efforts may have no effect on the progress of the gospel (see Philippians 1:12ff). (More …)
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Richard Mansel
New Year’s Eve
We always have a congregational New Year’s Eve Singing, so I am looking forward to that. Then, I will sleep and spend the afternoon cheering on Alabama in their game against Michigan State on New Year’s Day.
Received the program for the 2011 Freed-Hardeman Lectureship on the Minor Prophets. It looks good. I wish I could be there. For those who are able to go, enjoy!
BTW, I can’t wait for 2010 to be gone. I look forward to 2011 and expect a much better year!
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Mike Riley
We pray that 2011 will be a more profitable year in doing the work of the Lord!
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Mike Riley
Ushering Out The Old – Welcoming In The New
How will I usher out 2010 and welcome in 2011? About the same as Ron. To me, one day is just like another, no matter what the calendar might say. More than likely, I’ll be up composing my next article for my blog, either in my mind or on paper.
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Stephen R. Bradd
Gathering with brethren
For the last 15 years or so, it has been a tradition to gather with the saints at 6 PM on Dec 31st for a fellowship meal, devotional, and visiting/games until midnight. The party always breaks up by 12:05 and quite a few leave before then, but it’s always a good time!
Tomorrow will be a good start to the new year–taking out some friends for a nice meal.
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John Henson
May God bless you in the New Year, brother. Thanks for your work on TFR.
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James M.
Staying out of the way
Me, I’ll be staying out of the way of four young girls. The Missus invited three of her friends from out of town (one, out of state), whom I heard talking last night around 3 a.m., to spend the weekend and celebrate the New Year. So that ought to be fun.
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John Henson
We’ll be singing
The Grand Blanc congregation will be doing some singing tonight. While I don’t know if we’ll get to the magic midnight hour, but we will praise God in song for as long as we can. I’m looking forward to seeing our members and the members of area churches, not to mention some of the best food. Everyone has been invited. Why, even Randal, if he starts now, may be able to make it. There are flights into Detroit and Flint, Michigan. Just tell us when you’re landing.
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Ron Thomas
Mundane
It is likely I will usher the old out by being in bed, though I may stay up as late as 10:00. I will try to sleep in on Saturday, but even if I have success at that, I will be up early (as most people think of it). If I am up real early (by body clock), I will come into the office and do a bit of work. When my wife wakes we will go in to Crackerbarrell (a favorite for the waist). Then, I will observe my “religious” Saturday by watching games throughout the day.
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James M.
Daily Nudge: New Year celebrations
Anybody going to Times Square to welcome the New Year’s arrival? What are your plans for the New Year’s Eve celebration? Have any traditions at this time of year? Tell us where you’ll be at midnight tonight, what you’ll be doing.
People celebrate the passing of the year in different ways. Here’s a Wikipedia article on it, for fun. Just don’t get too many ideas: some people do stupid stuff …
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James M.
Read the New Testament in one year
Here’s last year’s schedule adapted to 2011, for slow readers, weekdays only, one chapter a day. Join along! It’s a PDF file of one page you can print out and stick in your Bible.
This is a flexible plan that you can use with others, like Ron Thomas’s Old Testament readings to begin in 2011, also weekdays, one chapter per day. Ron will be posting the readings and his comments here on TFR.
UPDATE: I’ve replaced the link from my personal site to the FPress site, since the former has disappeared on me twice. Grrr!
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Ron
On that note, I was able to encourage S Bradd to accept an invite to post thoughts on OT readings in Joshua through 2 Samuel. After I finish with Deuteronomy, he will start with Joshua. He will do a great job!
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J. Randal Matheny
Very good! Seems my website is down, there have been serious problems with the server of late. If it’s not back in a few minutes I will post the schedule to another site.
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J. Randal Matheny
If the link in the post is ever down, you can also access the reading plan here:
http://forthrightpress.com/2010/12/30/2011-bible-reading-plan-new-testament-in-a-year/
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John Henson
I’m putting copies of this schedule into our bulletins this week. Thanks, Randal!
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J. Randal Matheny
Great idea, John, I wish I’d gotten this out sooner so that others could do that as well.
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Mike Riley
The 2010 Goal Reached
In 2010, I achieved and reached the goal of 2,000 articles on my Bible article blog: http://mbriley.preachersfiles.com/. It took ten years to achieve that goal.
The next goal is 3,000 articles, if the Lord allows me to live that long.
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John Henson
A worthy goal, Mike. May God give you time and ability to reach it.
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Mike Riley
Thanks, John! Your encouragement means a lot to me!
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Richard Mansel
That is very impressive! Your hard work is a glory to God!
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Mike Riley
Thanks Richard! All of the glory does go to God, for He is the One who allowed me to write and post those articles (Deuteronomy 8:18; Acts 17:24-25).
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Ron
Impressive! Good job, Mike.
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Mike Riley
Thank you, Ron!
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James M.
Bible reading: 2 Thessalonians 2
2:1-2. Don’t Be Disturbed. In 1 Corinthians, when in various moments Paul writes, “Now regarding,” it is taken as a reply to questions contained in a letter from Corinth, from the cue in 7:1. With no such cue here, no conclusion can be reached from his use of it in 2:1, although it seems to indicate his main concern in writing this second letter. Evidently Paul has received information since his first letter that motivates him to write and address the false message which taught that the day of the Lord is already here (see 3:11). Paul has already taught in his first letter about the arrival of our Lord Jesus Christ and how that all saints will be gathered to be with him. He pleads that they not be easily shaken from their composure, or state of “mind,” which would render them incapable to judge, or disturbed by what they have heard. All spirits or teachings must be examined. Just because someone says so does not make it so. Satan passes himself off as angel of light, his servants as workers of righteousness (2 Corinthians 11:14-15). So it is no wonder that some spirit or message or letter allegedly from Paul might be a satanic forgery. (More …)
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Ron Thomas
The Lord’s mercy
Isaiah 57:11, 16 (ESV)
“Whom did you dread and fear, so that you lied, and did not remember me, did not lay it to heart? Have I not held my peace, even for a long time, and you do not fear me?”
“For I will not contend forever, nor will I always be angry; for the spirit would grow faint before me, and the breath of life that I made.”
Clearly, we get a sense of why the Lord extends His mercy as he does in these verses.
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Ron Thomas
Would we miss them?
I recently wrote (and submitted) two “letters to the editor” in area newspapers. Reading Isaiah 57:1-2, I was unable to go further in my reading without reflecting on those letters I wrote. Isaiah’s words are a lament and a bit of reassurance.
When one passes from this life into the next there is mourning, but does the world lament a righteous man’s passing? No doubt some do, and many will miss the influence of the righteous in this dark world. But in the “world’s bucket” the righteous man who passed is merely a drop in the bucket. Maybe it would be good to ponder on the many righteous people who pass, how much would the world then miss?
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Mike Riley
Ron, the world would only miss those righteous people when they saw God’s judgment coming to pass (Genesis 6:11-13; Genesis 7:21-23). Unfortunately, it would be too late.
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Ron
Mike, I think that is exactly correct. Thanks, brother.
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James M.
Daily Nudge: 2010 goal accomplished
What goal important to you (aren’t they all important to us, if they’re goals?) did you accomplish in 2010? Richard posed the question yesterday, so let’s make it a nudge today. Again, it can be in any area, spiritual, family, physical, professional, anywhere is good.
Finishing a goal gives one such a good feeling. “The end of a thing is better than the beginning thereof,” says the Preacher. Besides the actual step of progress that its accomplishment represents.
Note I didn’t put “and news” in the post title, since no one has been sharing news of the saints. Should I omit it from now on?
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James M.
Bible reading: 2 Thessalonians 1
The Thessalonians were evidently forward-looking people. In both letters Paul discusses the future. In the first, the state of the righteous dead at the coming of Christ. In the second, the relief from persecution they will have at Christ’s coming, and the false teaching that the day of the Lord is already here. The time between the two letters is unknown. Though liberal scholars doubt that Paul wrote 2 Thessalonians, external evidence is strong for his authorship, especially for the second. Those who believe Paul wrote 2 Thessalonians estimate that no more than weeks or a few months interval passed between them, placing the date in the early 50s.
Paul treats three topics, all apparently related: suffering for the Kingdom of God, a false teaching about Christ’s coming, and the undisciplined life of some saints. Apparently, he had received new information (2:2; 3:11), whether by letter or visit is unknown, about the situation in the congregation and was moved to write further on these topics. (More …)
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Stanley Adams
Thank you for your work in Thess. There is much to know from these books. If sometimes my notes seem senseless and that there are words misspelled, or improper, that is all part of an illness that I suffer from and have gone to disability on. I also want to do a daily thought, blog or semi-weekly that would allow me to share the knowledge I have gained over 40 years of academic work, teaching, preaching and living.
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TFRStaff
Thiselton on Paul
Anthony Thiselton, author of a massive, excellent commentary on 1 Corinthians, has written The Living Paul: An Introduction to the Apostle’s Life and Thought, published 2009 by InterVarsity. See on this page two reviews. Though not a large work, it has Thistelton’s erudition behind it. From the first review, his position on women in leadership may be weak, but probably the second reviewer is not far from the mark when he says, "Surely, The Living Paul deserves the label as the definitive new introduction to Paul’s thought."
Our brethren have, rightfully so, a high appreciate for Paul and his writings, and this book will likely enhance that appreciation.
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John Henson
I look forward to reading this book. Ordered it today from InterVarsity. Can always use a quality book.
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J. Randal Matheny
I’m toying with buying it. Reckon there’s cheap used copy out there somewhere? Probably wait for someone coming this way or our going that way to order, though, if I do.
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John Henson
I could send you my copy once I’m through with it. Email your address, won’t you?
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J. Randal Matheny
Hmm, now that’s a good offer. But you’ll want to keep your copy, for sure; I imagine I’ll want to keep mine, too. :)
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TFRStaff
Dead the announcer of “Hi-Yo, Silver! The Lone Ranger rides again!”
Fred Foy’s ‘Lone Ranger’ lead-in became the best-known introduction in radio history.
Fred Foy, whose voice at one time was better known to the average American than the voices of Presidents Harry Truman or Dwight Eisenhower, died Wednesday at his Woburn, Mass., home.
He was 89 and a genuine legend in the radio and television world – because in the 1940s and 1950s he was the voice who introduced the Lone Ranger.
Foy’s breathless cry of "Hi-Yo, Silver!", which introduced the Lone Ranger’s daily and weekly adventures, became the best-known introduction in radio history and one of the most imitated and parodied broadcast monologues ever.
The full introduction went like this: (More …)
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John Henson
More Like Moses
When Israel decided to forsake following God, in Exodus 32, the Lord decided he’d had enough from the stiff-necked Israelites and decided to destroy them and “make a great nation from Moses.”
Instead of standing back, Moses implored the Lord not strike down the people. He begged for mercy for them (Exodus 32:11-13).
The statement has been made, “If God doesn’t judge America, He will need to apologize to Sodom and Gomorrah!”
Every good person knows the evil in the world and abhors it. But do we honestly think that if America isn’t destroyed, God should apologize to Sodom? By what authority does a person make a statement like that?
None of us have been commissioned by God to bring condemnation down on anyone. Certainly we need to warn people who live in sin there will come a judgment, but we are not the ones appointed to hasten their destruction.
Before we pray God to strike down a people or a nation because of their acceptance of sin, shouldn’t we think about Moses’ example? Shouldn’t we at least try to teach them the truth so they could be saved from sin? Isn’t this our duty?
To say that if America is not judged (destroyed) or God should apologize is reprehensible and unworthy of repetition by a Christian. It implies that human beings should sit in the judgment seat instead of God. The statement is, in short, blasphemous.
We need more people like Moses.
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Ron
Good job, John. I wrote an article for Carolina Messenger titled: “Your Name Is Moses.” He printed it in the November issue.
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John Henson
Thanks, Ron.
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Mike Riley
You are right, John. We need to leave the judging responsibility to God and take care of the responsibility God has assigned us (Matthew 28:19-20; Mark 16:15-16).
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John Henson
Goals for 2011
My goals for 2011 are simple:
1. Increase the preaching of the gospel for an increased harvest.
2. Increase the time spent on my knees in prayer.
3. Increase the number of quality books by brethren in my library.
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Ron
I like these.
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John Henson
Thank you, brother.
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Weylan Deaver
I have a goal to be more disciplined in my reading of non-biblical literature. I need to read more classics–maybe even some fiction (Richard, you would be proud!).
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Richard Mansel
Proud of you! Reading fiction is wonderful. The Men’s Christian fiction field is big, if interested.
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James M.
Definition of goals
If it’s any help, on my personal blog today is my definition of a goal. Working, tentative definition, I should say. But it might spur some thought. Look for it at the bottom, after the main topic of “The Use of Double Names Across Cultures,” where Saul/Paul gets mentioned, among others.
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Mike Riley
A 2011 Goal
One of my goals in 2011, is to share the gospel of Christ with more people with whom I come in contact with, both in person and online.
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Chad Dollahite
I’ll second that! A great goal for every Christian to have!
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Ron Thomas
Modest
I have modest goals; they are the same every year. I don’t read as much as Richard (others) perhaps, but my reading is important to me like it is to them. As Richard does, I read the NT every month and read the OT at least 4 times each year. My goal in this is only 2 Peter 3:18. Another goal I have, similar to yours, is to be a better husband, father, grandfather, and servant. I don’t make resolutions, but if I did I suppose it would be to lose 20-25 pounds. I could definitely stand to do that – as I pop another tootsie roll!
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Richard Mansel
I absolutely need to lose weight but since I have been disabled, and hence burning no calories, it is very difficult to lose weight. :)
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Weylan Deaver
Ron, that reading plan sounds ambitious (rather than “modest”) to me. I go through the Bible every year, but 12 times through the NT and 4 times through the OT in 12 months puts me to shame. In fact, I may have to use you as an example in an article I need to pen for the bulletin…
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Ron
Weylan, you are kind in your remarks. Interesting you say that because I have noticed your writing and say to myself – many times – I wish I was as sharp as you.
I learned the NT in 12 from R Taylor some years back in one of his lectures at ETSOP. I felt, however, I was pitiful in the OT, so I modified my reading habits to have some sense of “catch up.” The down side to this (if there is a downside) is that it takes me at least three hours, sometimes up to four (I am a slow reader). Another downside (again, if there is one) is that my reading of other material has lessened a good deal. What I am currently reading – piecemeal – is Dave Roper’s Life of Christ and F.F. Bruce’s Canon of NT. I read about 30 minutes combined in those two.
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Richard Mansel
Resolutions
I hope you had some success with yours for 2010. I did manage to listen to the New Testament every month this year. However, I failed in other areas. I wanted to read/listen to 100 books, but I fell a little short. I also planned to finish my novel, but my health situation precluded that plan.
How did you do with your resolutions?
I plan to attempt all three of those again next year. It is just two books a week to reach 100. But there are some big books I would like to read, so I get behind. :)
Maybe I can post here more often, as well.
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TFRStaff
I Do It … You Do It
I DO IT … YOU DO IT
"See how I hold the bat straight up? Do you know why I do that?" the coach asked. "Because the bat is lighter when held straight up. Less surface for gravity to pull on."
"Hold your bat back like I am. As the pitcher throws the ball, respond with your body the way mine is. Pivot your front foot, twist your hips and shoulders, bring your arms around. If you decide you like the pitch, bring the bat around with you. If not, hold up. Understand?"
We didn’t. We were a bunch of eight year olds being drilled in the art of batting. And the coach, my dad, was tasked with making sure we had some idea of what we were doing.
But, would that be enough? Is it ever enough to just tell someone, "Clean your room. Don’t do drugs, alcohol or sex. Make sure you do well in school. Treat a girl right. Drive carefully. Make sure the boys respect you."
We might think that just verbalizing these instructions is enough, but do any of us catch on to abstract concepts or even concrete behaviors that easily? Don’t we need someone to go beyond the verbal instructions to show us what the ideas look like or how the behaviors are performed?
My dad taught us in his batting clinic. But, he did more. He showed us. "Hold the bat like this."
John Maxwell identifies four biblical steps to training someone. The steps are: (More …)
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James M.
A work goal for 2011
Though I’m still putting it all together, working on goals and means for next year, one of my work goals is to finish and publish, in Portuguese, a dictionary of biblical words/concepts. This idea started over 20 years ago, but disappearing editors, delinquent writers, and crashed hard drives (no comments, please, Laura) have delayed efforts. I think it can be completed in 2011, Lord willing, and the Lord not coming yet.
Eventually, I’d like to take the Portuguese-language work as the basis for one in English, since I have some good people both here and in the US who’ve written for it. But that’s a goal for another year.
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Richard Mansel
Sounds good, Randal.
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Ed Boggess
2011 Goal?
My personal goal is to become more familiar with the challenges of atheism, which I believe will continue to grow more and more aggressive towards faith. As a “dyed-in-the-wool faith-head” I hope to become sufficiently fluent in atheistic fundamentalism’s terminology and apologetic to be able to engage in discussion intelligently. -
Stephen R. Bradd
Outdoor goals 2011
Here’s 3 goals for me:
- Cover another section of town doorknocking & passing out info packets on the church.
- Build a real treehouse for my sons as I promised if they saved up $300 towards materials (we’ve got a basic design planned in a backyard tree–the base platform will be about 11′ off the ground)–they just crossed the $300 threshhold. Once April arrives, they will be expecting something great to happen. :)
- Get a new roof on the house (either myself or hired done–I’ve done just enough roofing work before to be overconfident–we’ll see how it goes).
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TFRStaff
How to live in 2011
Our good buddy and Fellow Jeff Jenkins (where are you, Jeff?) shared three important lines of thought in his sermon, "Living with Fewer Regrets," on Sunday morning in Lewisville, which he credits to Lance Cordle. (I was Lance’s RA in college; maybe something of his goodness rubbed off on me.) Here are the three items, which you’ll want to read in its entirety.
- Live Life According to God’s Will.
- Live Life with Commitment.
- Live Life Forgiving & Accepting Forgiveness.
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James M.
Daily Nudge: a 2011 goal — and news
Share at least one goal that you want to accomplish in 2011, either personal, professional, spiritual, or even physical (exercise, diet, etc.). Goals and plans are important, since the Creator made plans and works toward fulfilling them.
The final countdown for 2011 is down to hours. God bless! And share some news of the saints.
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James M.
Bible reading: 1 Thessalonians 5
1:1-11. The Sudden Coming of the Lord. Again, Paul tells them something that they have no need for anything to be written, because they already know quite well what he is about to write. But his writing serves as a source of encouragement (v. 11). Basic truths often need repeating. Paul continues the topic of Jesus’ coming, but focuses now on the times and seasons of his arrival, specifically, that the day of the Lord will come in the same way as a thief in the night, that is, suddenly, unexpectedly, without warning. Some disparage his coming, by saying that nothing will happen: There is peace and security. Don’t worry! Be happy! But they will soon discover that sudden destruction comes on them. Its suddenness is compared to the labor pains that begin, often at an inconvenient moment, for a pregnant woman. Their unpreparedness means that they will surely not escape. They deliberately ignore what the Thessalonians know quite well and could be known by any who so desired. But the new converts are not like them, choosing to remain in the darkness. They all are sons of the light and sons of the day. That Paul continues in verses 4-7 to speak of those whom the day would overtake and who belong to the night and who are of the darkness, highlights the great divide between those in Christ and the outsiders, between the faithful and the forgetful. Paul does not reveal who they are to whom he refers, who counsel relaxation when what is needed is the greatest vigilance. They might be Jewish opponents who still attempt to derail the Christians’ faith. They might even be Christians lulled into a false sense of security by being in Christ. (More …)
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Stanley Adams
The resurrection part of the Gospel of Christ cf. 1 Cor. 15. So these brethern were already familar with it, see the first two chapters, so then, there is no reason to not be aware of it now. The final ‘Day of the Lord’ is coming. When, no one knows, but it will be a day of celebration 2 Cor 5:10 for the suffering and and say of the suffering for the delinquent.
Good reading today brother M.
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Stanley Adams
sorry for the miss-spellings, it is part of my illness where I sometimes have issues like this, espcially in the morning.
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J. Randal Matheny
Thanks, Stanley, for reading and comment. Don’t mind the misspells. We all make them.
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Don Ruhl
I organize this way:
1. I used the Ready Record compiled by Jim Bill McInteer since 1980, but now they have changed the format so that I no longer find it useful for preaching. Therefore, I am switching to Action Day.
2. I use Palm Desktop for Mac even more than the old Ready Record.
3. I also use iCal.
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James M.
Rejoice with us. Fabia was baptized about 3:30 p.m. local time. This is where I’ve been all afternoon.
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Mike Riley
Wonderful news, Randal! We pray that Fabia will increase in wisdom, stature, and in favor with God and men (Luke 2:52).
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John Henson
Great, brother! Praise God for the power of God — the gospel —- and how it can change a person’s heart!
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Chad Dollahite
Always good to hear of a new brother/sister in the Lord. We pray he will grow in grace & in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior (2 Pet. 3:18).
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Chad Dollahite
I hate typos! No matter how hard you try… My apologies to Fabia, as “he” above should be “she”
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J. Randal Matheny
We’ll keep this secret just between us, I won’t tell Fabia. ;-)
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TFRStaff
Baptism 365
Here’s a fine idea, from a new website by a brother in Christ:
What’s more exciting than the birth of a child? Announcements are purchased, pictures are taken, gifts are bought, and encouragement is given. It is an exciting time!
Likewise, how many babes in Christ will be born in 2011? Will you hear about them? Wouldn’t you like to?
On the day of Pentecost, about 3,000 were added to the body of Christ at the preaching of the gospel. The Scripture tells us that the Lord was adding to the church “daily, those who were being saved" (Acts 2:47).
It is our contention that some soul is being added to the kingdom every day, somewhere.
Wouldn’t it be encouraging to get up each morning, check your email, and read about some soul being won from the hands of the enemy, and resting in the grace of God? In this age of technology, there is no reason for this not to happen!
Will you help contribute to baptism365 in 2011? Here’s how you can help: READ MORE-
Chad Dollahite
A great idea…very encouraging, both to the new brothers/sisters and to us!
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TFRStaff
How to speak up in a meeting
Do you think many of these suggestions, given for business management meetings, are good for meetings of Christians where the work is being discussed?
- Have we thought about… If you have an idea to add but aren’t overly confident about it, phrase the suggestion as though you are contributing to the conversation, rather than putting a firm stake in the ground.
- To play devil’s advocate… It can be hard to disagree without sounding like a jerk. Finesse your comments by explaining that you are playing a certain role.
- This may be a dumb question… You may hesitate to speak up when you don’t know what’s going on in a meeting. Don’t stay lost — ask for clarification. You may help others who are in the same position.
Read a lot more of these in this article. And speak up. Tell us which ones you think are good and which ones aren’t for Christian meetings.
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Mike Riley
All of the suggestions in the article are good for any kind of meeting. We have to consider the other person’s ideas and thoughts to have equal footing with our ideas and thoughts, and then come to a consensus.
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Mike Riley
Organize In 2011?
How will I organize in 2011? The same way I organized in 2010. Keep my bills organized as to date due, my personal files in alphabetical order, and prioritize my many other duties, one day at a time. I don’t use a planner, pda, or anything else. Mostly, just keep it in my head.
Stanley Adams is discussing. 
Mike Riley 11:26 pm on December 31, 2010 Permalink |
Happy New Year to you as well, Joy. We pray that your move will be successful and profitable as you continue to work in the Lord’s kingdom in 2011.
John Henson 12:55 am on January 1, 2011 Permalink |
Happy New Year to you, George and the family. May God richly bless you all.