Updates from July, 2012 Toggle Comment Threads | Keyboard Shortcuts

  • TFRStaff 6:21 pm on July 31, 2012 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: , , ,   

    Market mentality in modern religion (Hugh Fulford) 

    Hugh Fulford wrote today in detail about how he and his wife like the new Kroger Marketplace. Then he makes a spiritual application:

    Modern religion in many respects has mimicked modern marketing techniques. Churches now strive to meet all the “felt needs” of their constituents and prospective constituents. In effect, they have become religious supermarkets. They build kitchens, fellowship halls, gymnasiums, swimming pools, spas, and bowling alleys. They install coffee bars and juice bars. They sponsor softball teams, baseball teams, basketball teams, Boy Scout and Girl Scout troops, fitness programs, drama productions, and dance classes. (Yep, one church of Christ in Texas a few years ago conducted a Monday night class on Ballroom Dancing.) They conduct financial seminars, retirement planning seminars, AA classes, divorce recovery classes, weigh-down programs, and all kinds of self-help programs. Counseling is available on a wide variety of matters.

    The subliminal message that is sent by all of this activity is that “we may be a church, but we are not a bunch of stuffy old religious fuddy-duddies; we are as ‘cool’ as any social or civic club in town, so come on down and join us, and we’ll show you how church can be fun” (in other words, we really won’t “preach” to you all that much)! Some churches have bought into the notion that “if we build it, they will come,” only to be terribly disappointed that not only did they not come and the church did not grow, but it actually declined, leaving it with a big debt and facilities that are unneeded and unused.

    Don’t misunderstand me. Some of the above things are good. I’m not against helping people live more fruitful, productive, happy lives. Our world is in a mess and many people’s lives are in a mess, including the lives of many who are Christians. But we need to remember that Christ came into the world to save sinners (I Timothy 1:15). He came to seek and to save the lost (Luke 19:10). He came to call sinners to repentance (Matthew 9:12-13). In Him alone can mankind find redemption (Acts 4:11-12). The gospel of Christ is God’s only power to save (Romans 1:16). Without obedience to the gospel, a person is eternally lost in torment (II Thessalonians 1:6-9). The church is the pillar and ground of the truth (I Timothy 3:15). If the church does not preach the gospel to sinners, who will? If the church does not concern itself with the mission that was the mission of Christ, who will? The church is the manifestation of the manifold (multi-faceted) wisdom of God (Ephesians 3:10). It has a greater and more enduring purpose than simply helping people enjoy a better life here on earth. How unutterably sad it is when spiritually hungry people ask for a fish and are given a stone instead.

    I love our new Kroger Marketplace and all that it has to offer. I love churches that are committed to Christ, to the practice of New Testament Christianity, and to the mission that Christ gave to His disciples. That mission is clearly spelled out in Matthew 28:18-20.

     

  • TFRStaff 2:58 pm on July 31, 2012 Permalink | Reply  

    Any info on the Firm Foundation magazine? 

    The last issue of “The Southwesterner,” bulletin of the Southwest congregation in Austin TX had this note: “Buster Dobbs … fell at his home and suffered a severe head injury. He is in a Houston hospital.”

    Besides prayer for this brother, this note prompts the question if anyone has information as to the status of the Firm Foundation magazine of which brother Dobbs is or was editor.

     

  • J. Randal Matheny 1:41 pm on July 31, 2012 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: , , ,   

    No connection between salvation and the church? 

    Not often do I get stern about false teachers among us, but yesterday’s Forthright Magazine article, “Pull the Plug on Progressives,” touched on the harm they’re doing in, among other places, Brazil.

    • Evangelicals are loathe to see a connection “between soteriology and ecclesiology.” Salvation and the church, never the twain shall meet in the Protestant mind. So they certainly don’t mind making up rules about what you must do to get in their churches. One writer, in an otherwise good article about new members’ classes, doesn’t blink an eye about making such classes requirements for membership. Never mind about binding what hasn’t been bound in heaven, or in the Bible.

    • In the Lord’s church, progressives have bought into this evangelical garbage. They are determined to remake the church and get it to swallow this poison. And some supposedly faithful brethren are giving them a hand, holding the equipment as false teachers get the saints to imbibe of it.

    • We can’t have it both ways, friends. We will either go the way of the general religious world or we must fight tooth and nail for the truth. It is not a battle we want to fight, but it is one that has been foisted upon us, and we must not shrink from it.

    • While the battle seems lost from the start, and the numbers of the enemy swell, we will find strength in weakness and solace in our God that the cause of truth is right and worthy of our every effort.

    Related articles
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    • John Gaines 7:18 pm on August 1, 2012 Permalink | Reply

      Thom Rainer has given us a lot of helpful information about church growth, but he is a Baptist. It isn’t surprising that his views about church membership are consistent with those who for many years (and many still do) vote on whether or not to accept candidates for membership. If there is no connection between salvation and church membership, his position is sensible. If it is the case that the Lord adds the saved to the church, then we have no right to add arbitrary requirements.

      • J. Randal Matheny 7:00 am on September 29, 2012 Permalink | Reply

        John, I missed getting in my reply to your comment, and I apologize for that. Your sentiments are dead on. And they call us legalists!

  • Ed Boggess 9:28 am on July 31, 2012 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: , redefining marriage, rewriting history   

    Age of rewriting & redefining! These days if you don’t like how things happened in the past, then you rewrite the history book and if you don’t like something classed as sin then you redefine it. So then Sodom and Gomorrah weren’t destroyed because of their wicked perverseness but because they didn’t have a welfare program for the poor! And marriage is not a God-made life-long covenant between a man and a woman but includes a temporary agreement between two gays or two lesbians and God is left our entirely! To borrow a term coined by the KJV translators: “God forbid!” Webster’s Dictionary has been replaced by the Ellen DeGeneres Show.
    Here is what the scriptures says of such: Is 5:20 Woe to those who call evil good & good evil; who put darkness for light & light for darkness; who put bitter for sweet & sweet for bitter!

     

  • Richard Hill 8:07 am on July 31, 2012 Permalink | Reply  

    100 Days of Scripture – Day 66 

    Day 66
    Acts 10 – 12

    http://stoneofcompetence.blogspot.com/

    Read or listen at:

    http://www.biblegateway.com/

    Another site for reading and study:

     

  • Ron Thomas 5:00 am on July 31, 2012 Permalink | Reply
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    Esther 3 

    1. An eventful occasion arose for the empire when a man was elevated from his position of responsibility to a position that was the equivalent of Joseph’s (cf. Genesis 41:41ff). The position required due deference to any who came in contact with him (Haman). Mordecai, however, was not willing to bow before the man; no reason is given, but Mordecai had a conscientious objection to it. Haman was not going to let that stand (if you will); in fact, he appealed to the king that all the Jews who were in the empire be eradicated. This perplexed the people greatly.
    2. Application: The chapter does not make the king look good at all, but it makes him appear as a stooge – one who is led around by those serving under him. Of course, this is not accurate, as we will come to learn, but it does give one the impression. Moreover, what is to be said about Haman, but that he was insecure and radical in his “solution” to the problem of one failing to give due deference. The opportunity to have an amicable solution was put to a blustery wind and blown away.
     

  • Richard Hill 7:48 am on July 30, 2012 Permalink | Reply  

    100 Days of Scripture – Day 65 

    Day 65
    Acts 8 & 9

    http://stoneofcompetence.blogspot.com/

    Read or listen at:

    http://www.biblegateway.com/

    Another site for reading and study:

     

  • Eugene Adkins 6:23 am on July 30, 2012 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: , , , ,   

    Funny Way to Make A Serious to Point 

    Here’s a short, but good and funny article from Harry Middleton of the Lebanon Road church in Nashville, TN.

    It’s titled: Search the scriptures!!! I thought someone may want to use it for a reference or a bulletin article.

    Great truths may sometimes be stated in amusing ways. I found the following statement of truth amusing and thought provoking. It is taken from “Wells of Thought.”

    Jacob Ditzler and J. S. Sweeny were having a debate on the scriptural mode of baptism. Ditzler showed a secondary meaning of the word BAPTIZE to wash or sprinkle.

    In reply, brother Sweeny showed that a secondary meaning of BELIEVE was to have an opinion and a secondary meaning of SAVE was to be pickled.

    Then he gave the resulting translation of Mark 16:16, “He that hath an opinion and is sprinkled shall be pickled.”

    He then raised the question, “Is it our aim to see what we can make out of the scriptures, or is it to find out what God has said?”

     

  • Ron Thomas 5:00 am on July 30, 2012 Permalink | Reply
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    Esther 2 

    1. The king now decides to replace his queen with a “beautiful young virgin.” Gathering up “many young women” to Shushan, there was one Jewish girl Hadassah (Esther) who was also present. As was custom the women were scheduled a time with the king; a time in which the king was to value or not value his time with the particular young woman. When Esther went in the king found her to be the most pleasing of all the young women he encountered. To vouch for the choice he made, the queen actually saved the king’s life at a later point (with her uncle Mordecai actually giving the information that saved him).
    2. Application: The weakness of the male, among many, is the female. Whatever bravado he musters she can temper him. Whatever toughness he displays she can soften him. Esther’s virtue was not only her modesty, pleasing disposition, but also her loyalty. She was loyal to the one who raised her and she was loyal to the one to whom she married. Her position was one of great significance and though she did not know it on this early occasion, the saving of the king’s life resulted in the saving of her people as well.
     

  • Richard Hill 7:37 am on July 29, 2012 Permalink | Reply  

    100 Days of Scripture – Day 64 

    Day 64
    Acts 6 & 7

    http://stoneofcompetence.blogspot.com/

    Read or listen at:

    http://www.biblegateway.com/

    Another site for reading and study:

     

  • Richard Mansel 9:28 pm on July 28, 2012 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: , free speech, , ,   

    Tolerance today means Hypocrisy 

     

    I am so very tired of seeing such hate leveled at me and my fellow Christians who are some of the best, most loving people on the planet. Yet, we are painted as monsters.

    It is so sad that people who talk the most about tolerance are some of the most intolerant people around. Moreover, these same folks are huge proponents of free speech but they will do whatever they can to get Christians to be quiet.

    How can anyone see and hear these people without seeing the work of Satan? They are being used in such a transparent way that it is pathetic.

    “You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it” (John 8:44, NKJV).

     

     

    • Charla 12:10 am on July 29, 2012 Permalink | Reply

      This is so true and it’s so sad. I, along with many others, are really worried about the direction that this country is taking. Free speech now no longer means free. People today are okay with what you believe, as long as you believe the same way they do or the way that’s popular. If you don’t, then you’re automatically branded with the label “Hate group” and what you said gets blown up way out of proportion and the smear campaign begins. The bible says that these things must happen but it’s also time for the church to stand up and not compromise.

    • David Kenney 10:37 am on August 1, 2012 Permalink | Reply

      I sometimes comment to Christians that if you have not been called a narrow-minded bigot lately, then go around and quote Jesus’ words in the gospels. You soon will be. I like to use this one as an illustration–”Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me’” (John 14:6, NKJV.)

  • J. Randal Matheny 2:06 pm on July 28, 2012 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: , irony, , New Testament church   

    Just show up 

    City anniversary and holiday yesterday, 245 years of official establishment of SJCampos. Though the history of the town goes back to the 1500s. Some government services were closed, maybe even some businesses, but we kept on working.

    • The Missus and I watched The Movie that Refused to End last night. Ever see one of those? Ours was three hours long. And a long three hours.

    • Woody Allen, not my favorite personage, said 80% of life is just showing up. That’s true spiritually as well, in the church, in the world, for the people of God. And when you do show up, watch God work.

    • Phillip Eichman has a free, extensive work at this link on “The Church in the New Testament” (html format). Though he misses, as most do, the literal meaning of the word church (reaching back to etymology), it appears to be a good, solid work that will serve as a good reference. We have three of Phillip’s book on FPress.

    • Ironic now that the Internet has freed up physical limitations of space, people use abbreviations more than ever. What has gotten cramped is our time. And we know what haste makes …

     

  • Richard Hill 7:48 am on July 28, 2012 Permalink | Reply  

    100 Days of Scripture – Day 63 

    Day 63
    Acts 3 – 5

    http://stoneofcompetence.blogspot.com/

    Read or listen at:

    http://www.biblegateway.com/

    Another site for reading and study:

     

  • Eugene Adkins 11:21 pm on July 27, 2012 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: , , , Olympics,   

    The Greatest Gathering of Nations for All Time 

    I just finished watching the entrance of the nations for this year’s Olympics! I love watching the entrance ceremony. All the different flags. All the different nationalities. All the different individuals. All the smiles in the same spot together. It truly is a great gathering of the world’s people.

    The Olympic Games brings nations together on a scale that no other event has rivaled. At least not yet. But a gathering of nations is coming that will cause the Olympics to pale in comparison. When will this event happen? It’s not my responsibility to tell when. My responsibility is just to teach that it’s coming, and that there won’t be a nation that’s not represented when it begins.

    “When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory. All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats.” (Matthew 25:31-32 , NKJV)

    This sight is unimaginable, but it will become a reality. This sight is incomprehensible, but the reason will be understood. This sight is unapproachable, but we will not be able to refuse its beckon.

    At this gathering every nation will be present, but there will be no competition. At this gathering every nation will be present, but there will not be a universal celebration. At this gathering every nation will be present, but the glory will belong to only one Victor.

    But honestly, this wasn’t the thought that entered into my mind as I watched all the nations usher in the Olympics of 2012. The thought that entered into my mind was another gathering of the nations that I can’t wait to see.

    This gathering will begin on a high note, and stay there. This gathering will combine people from all of Earth’s nations into one eternal home. There will be no language barrier. There will be no envy. There will be no hate. There will be no harm. There will be no night. There will be no sadness. There will be no fear. There will be no end to this gathering; and thus this gathering, in my humble opinion, will not only be the greatest gathering of nations of all time…it will be the greatest gathering of nations for all time!

    “After these things I saw a great army of people more than might be numbered, out of every nation and of all tribes and peoples and languages, taking their places before the high seat and before the Lamb, dressed in white robes, and with branches in their hands, saying with a loud voice, Salvation to our God who is seated on the high seat, and to the Lamb.” (Revelation 7:9-10, BBE)

    The context is for those who came through the persecution, but the comfort is one of encouragement for all Christians. Just imagine what the entrance and gathering of the nations in Heaven is going to look like!

     

  • Ron Thomas 5:00 am on July 27, 2012 Permalink | Reply
    Tags:   

    Esther 1 

    1. The occasion was a festive occasion. The king had present with him the nobles of his court and for seven days there was a festive spirit. The queen also did the same. The festive occasion, however, ended in a sour and embarrassing note for the king. He sought to parade his wife for her beauty, but she refused to be used in such a manner. The embarrassment caused the king to take drastic action, and that action was the disposing of his queen for another, coupled with a new law stating that the man is the master of his house. This new law made clear that no woman of the house was to usurp his authority without consequences.
    2. Application: This notable chapter is a great example of a law “run amuck.” The law of man – whatever it is – has authority, but its authority does not hold sway above a dignity that God has instilled within each person. It may be that a person will compromise their dignity, but a moral law greater than man is to be recognized. More than that, however, is the fact that if a man-made law has to be set in place for a wife to honor her husband, then there is a flaw in that law and in a society that demands as much. Following after God’s ideal the wife and the husband will have a mutual relationship that is honed with respect and a willingness to serve in God-ordained roles.
     

  • J. Randal Matheny 4:54 pm on July 26, 2012 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: church as army, , metaphors of the church   

    The church militant 

    As I prepare to teach an intensive course next week in a ministry training course on the church, I’m looking at a module of the church as the army of God. Your suggestions are welcome. Obviously, passages such as Eph. 6 are paramount. Revelation must come into play, as the 2 Cor. passage on the nature of our warfare and weaponry. Jesus’ declaration about the spiritual kingdom will fit well here also. Timothy and others as soldiers.

    It merits mention that this is a metaphor that doesn’t permit physical violence on the part of the church as God’s army.

    Older versions call Jesus a “captain” in Heb. 2.10, a word with a wide range of meaning, so I’m trying to wrap my head around the sense of the writer in that verse. Any ideas?

    What else would you emphasize here?

     

    • Ron Thomas 5:03 pm on July 26, 2012 Permalink | Reply

      Some that come to mind, Randal, are Jude 3, Acts 17:3 (in action via the individual), 14:22, Philippians 1:27, Hebrews 12:3-4 and you might consider 2 Timothy 2:3. Just a few that come to mind. With the idea of “captain”, you might see if Acts 27 could play a role. Of course, we know the idea there in Hebrews 2, that Jesus is the Captain of his ship. About the only quick idea that comes to mind.

      • J. Randal Matheny 7:19 pm on July 26, 2012 Permalink | Reply

        Ron, I’m not familiar with the idea of Jesus being captain of the ship in Heb 2.10. What’s your evidence there? Very interested to see it. NLT Study Bible says, “The term translated leader had a wide range of meanings in the ancient world, including founder, hero, champion, prince, captain, leader, or scout. Jesus is a leader in that he blazed a trail for those who are saved, leading them to glory.”

        • Ron Thomas 4:59 am on July 27, 2012 Permalink

          What I had in mind, Randal, is the use of the word “captain” and tying it in with a ship – not that there was anything necessarily connected. Jesus is the head (captain) of his body (ship), and where he lead I will follow. That is all I had in mind. Sorry for my confusing choice of words.

        • J. Randal Matheny 6:11 am on July 27, 2012 Permalink

          Hey, Ron. Thanks for the clarification. When I saw captain in the verse in the older versions, and in the lexicons, I thought of the Roman army captains, so your suggestion was new to me. Still digging …

    • Eugene Adkins 5:15 pm on July 26, 2012 Permalink | Reply

      There is a large amount of material to be found. I did a sermon series one time titled, “In the Army now.” I can’t remember how many lessons I did, but I think it was at least 13 (maybe a little more) by the time I included one lesson for each part of the gospel armor.

      And I know that when I was finished with some of the eariler lessons I was thinking that they could’ve easily been separated into different sermons too.

      I’ll email you later.

  • Ron Thomas 8:00 am on July 26, 2012 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: God's existence, meaning of life,   

    An agnostic tells us what God wants 

    http://etsop95.wordpress.com/2012/07/26/does-god-want-us-to-do-morally-right/

     

  • Richard Hill 7:08 am on July 26, 2012 Permalink | Reply  

    100 Days of Scripture – Day 61 

    Day 61
    Luke 22 – 24
     

  • Ron Thomas 5:00 am on July 26, 2012 Permalink | Reply
    Tags:   

    Nehemiah 13 

    1. This chapter has Nehemiah, having returned to the king, now back in Jerusalem. What was before him was much corruption. He set himself to cleansing and getting the people back to where they needed to be.
    2. Application: This chapter is a chapter of separation. As we read Ezra 10 and take note of that chapter as a chapter of separation, we see separation in other areas here: a) Separation of association with regard to assembly (13:1-3); b) Separation of association with corrupted people (13:4-9); c) Separation with regard to failing to support the Levites (13:10-13); d) Separation with regard to failure in observing the Sabbath (13:15-22); e) Separation with regard to marriage (13:23-27); f) Separation with regard to those who are properly serving. In all this Nehemiah did it with much anxiety and determination (cf. 13:14, 22b, 29).
     

  • Richard Mansel 5:13 pm on July 25, 2012 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: alexandria, ancient history, , , ,   

    You know you love history when… 

     

    Yeah, that would be me!

    What happened? 

    The loss of the ancient world’s single greatest archive of knowledge, the Library of Alexandria, has been lamented for ages. But how and why it was lost is still a mystery. The mystery exists not for lack of suspects but from an excess of them.

    Alexandria was founded in Egypt by Alexander the Great. His successor as Pharaoh, Ptolomy II Soter, founded the Museum or Royal Library of Alexandria in 283 BC. The Museum was a shrine of the Muses modeled after the Lyceum of Aristotle in Athens. The Museum was a place of study which included lecture areas, gardens, a zoo, and shrines for each of the nine muses as well as the Library itself. It has been estimated that at one time the Library of Alexandria held over half a million documents from Assyria, Greece, Persia, Egypt, India and many other nations. Over 100 scholars lived at the Museum full time to perform research, write, lecture or translate and copy documents. The library was so large it actually had another branch or “daughter” library at the Temple of Serapis.

    What a tragedy that was. The destruction of that library did inestimable damage to the pool of knowledge which we possess about the ancient world. Undoubtedly, we would  have a lot more knowledge about Bible times and manuscripts that would flesh out current knowledge.

    I saw the photo above on Pinterest and had to share. For someone who passionately loves history, books and libraries it is one of the greatest tragedies in recorded history.

     

  • J. Randal Matheny 10:24 am on July 25, 2012 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: ,   

    No emphasis on the church? 

    Would you agree with this statement by J.C. Hoekendijk, written in 1952? Please share your reasons for agreeing or disagreeing.

    In history a keen ecclesiological interest has almost without exception been a sign of spiritual decadence; ecclesiology has been a subject of major concern only in the “second generation”; in the “first generation,” in periods of revival, reformation or missionary advance, our interest was absorbed by christology, thought-patterns were determined by eschatology, life became a doxology and the Church was spoken of in an unaccented and to some extent rather naive way, as being something that “thank God a child of seven knows what it is” (Luther). This child of seven should constantly cross our path whenever we set out to “engage in ecclesiology.”

    Quoted in G. W. Peters, A theology of church growth, p. 45.

     

    • Ron Thomas 10:32 am on July 25, 2012 Permalink | Reply

      What does he mean by “spiritual decadence”?

      In today’s environment, because so little attention is properly placed on what the NT says about the church – there could be some aspect of truth in his words, but it is not associated with spiritual decadence (as I interpret his use of the term).

      However, that is not necessarily the case. If one teaches as the Lord and the apostles taught, then proper emphasis will placed on the “whole counsel.”

      • J. Randal Matheny 6:57 am on July 26, 2012 Permalink | Reply

        Dunno, Ron, might even be a bit of circular reasoning there on his part. Good point on the whole counsel.

    • Dave Rogers 9:57 pm on July 25, 2012 Permalink | Reply

      I guess that by Hoekendijk’s standard, the apostle Paul must have been one of those benighted “second generation” Christians, since he wrote rather extensively about ecclesiological matters in the book of Ephesians. Oh. but wait! Maybe he wasn’t so bad after all, since he also concentrated on christological things in Galatians!

      • J. Randal Matheny 6:59 am on July 26, 2012 Permalink | Reply

        Dave, thanks for the comment. Yup, and add to that Colossians with its high Christological teachings.

  • Chad Dollahite 9:53 am on July 25, 2012 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: , , heroes of faith,   

    The Bible is right! You can leave this meeting & go home mad, but the Bible is still right! You can fuss at Keeble all night, but the Bible is right! All men can die & go to hell, but the Bible is still right!

    Marshall Keeble, quoted in “His Hand & Heart,” by Willie Cato
     

    • Eugene Adkins 5:24 pm on July 25, 2012 Permalink | Reply

      Great little quote from a great little book.

      • Chad Dollahite 8:07 am on July 26, 2012 Permalink | Reply

        For sure…I don’t know how I missed this book, but I’m just now reading it. I have met one of Keeble’s students, Eddie Brinkley, and spent a lot of time with him. I have heard recently that another of his students is living right here in the town we just moved to, but I haven’t verified that yet or found a way to get in touch with him.

  • Ron Thomas 9:00 am on July 25, 2012 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: Gospel Gleaner,   

    Gospel Gleaner 

    For a number of years the Gospel Gleaner was in publication promoting the Lord’s Way. Of late, however, the publication ceased. It will soon begin again. Andy Erwin is the new editor of the publication. Scheduled resumption of the monthly periodical is January 2013. Below are a few things Andy said to some of us in an email in June:

    • Let me begin by saying how thankful I am that Bill Dillon has entrusted me with the stewardship of the Gospel Gleaner.  Let us not forget the remarkable work he did in editing this paper for nearly thirty years.  The Gleaner presently has a mailing list of approximately 8,000 issues, which makes it one of the most read papers in our brotherhood.  Thank you, Bill, and Godspeed.
    • The Gospel Gleaner will have the look and feel of an “old time” religious journal.  It will be readable, interesting, and present a wide variety to its subscribers.
    • The paper will become a monthly publication.  A yearly subscription of $10 will be charged.
    • The Gleaner will not be overseen by an eldership, but will be a private enterprise of brethren devoted to the purpose of Christian journalism.
    • Now let me introduce the new staff of the Gospel Gleaner.  Ron Bryant, Jim McGill, Jim Lewis,  Wayne Kilpatrick, Sam Hester, Guy Hester, Ron Thomas, Mike Kiser, Earnest Underwood, Grady Miller, Gerald Cowan, Roger Shepherd, Brandon Renfroe, Rod Rutherford, and Johnny Polk.
    • One last thing that I will ask of each of you is for your help in distributing the paper.  I am not asking that you peddle the paper, but that you spread the news in your home congregations, gospel meetings, etc.  Let’s get the word out there about what we are doing.

    -Andy Erwin

     

    • J. Randal Matheny 10:05 am on July 25, 2012 Permalink | Reply

      The address for GG is http://gospelgleaner.com/. Ron, I may have asked this before, dunno: Are there any plans for an electronic edition?

      • Ron Thomas 10:16 am on July 25, 2012 Permalink | Reply

        Yes, there is, Randal. A little confusion on who will be tending to it. Larry was contacted, but he just told me a moment ago that he is not sure of his status regarding it. He has attempted to contact Andy, but has failed in connection.

        Ron

  • Richard Hill 6:32 am on July 25, 2012 Permalink | Reply  

    100 Days of Scripture – Day 60 

    Day 60
    Luke 19 – 21

    http://stoneofcompetence.blogspot.com/

    Read or listen at:

    http://www.biblegateway.com/

    Another site for reading and study:

     

  • Ron Thomas 5:00 am on July 25, 2012 Permalink | Reply
    Tags:   

    Nehemiah 12 

    1. “This chapter is made up of two portions: (a) lists of the leading priests and Levites at different periods Neh. 12:1-26: (b) the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem Neh. 12:27-47. This latter passage is certainly from the pen of Nehemiah, and was written probably about 433 B.C. The lists included in (a) are four: (1) the chief priestly and Levitical families which returned to Jerusalem Neh. 12:1-9; (2) the succession of the high priests from Jeshua to Jaddua Neh. 12:10-11; (3) the actual heads of the priestly families in the time of the high priest Joiakim Neh. 12:12-21; (4) the chief Levitical families at the same period Neh. 12:24-26. Of these lists, List 1, List 3, and List 4, may have been drawn up in the time of Nehemiah, but List 2, in its present form, must be much later. See the introduction of the Book of Nehemiah” (Barnes, E-Sword).
    2. Application: A day of thanksgiving by those of Judah has an appropriate quality to it even for our day.
     

  • Richard Hill 10:04 pm on July 24, 2012 Permalink | Reply  

    100 Days of Scripture – Day 59 

    Day 59
    Luke 16 – 18

    http://stoneofcompetence.blogspot.com/

    Read or listen at:

    http://www.biblegateway.com/

    Another site for reading and study:

     

  • Richard Mansel 11:56 am on July 24, 2012 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: , , , james holmes, shooting   

    Perspectives on the Aurora Shootings 

    My current article at Forthright is about the tragic shooting at the theater in Aurora, Colorado by James Holmes. Like many others, I preached on the shootings on Sunday using the thoughts in today’s article.

    My Forthright articles every week are written to spur discussion. Accordingly, I am interested in your thoughts on the spiritual perspective on this case.

    Pundits and law enforcement experts are all over the American media trying to find answers to why the shootings occurred.

    Everyone wants to know:

    • Why did this happen?
    • Should we ban guns?
    • How can we prevent these kinds of crimes from happening?

    However, my premise is that they will never find the right answers because they persist in asking the wrong questions. If they were looking at the tragedy through spiritual eyes, they would find the answers they seek very clearly.

    Through your eyes as a student of Scripture, how would you answer those three questions?

     

    • Eugene Adkins 6:41 am on July 25, 2012 Permalink | Reply

      Why did this happen? – Because of a lack of love toward his fellow man, and because of his lack of fear toward God (Luke 10:27; 1 Peter 2:17). I do not believe there is anything else that would be considered “unique” to his situation that could not be found in someone’s life that did not commit such evil.

      Should we ban guns? – No. I think we should ban mass killings! But would that work? I believe the issue isn’t the tool, but rather the one who used the tool.

      Multiple, multiple thousands are killed every year by drunk drivers. A friend from High School was hit and killed by a drunk driver a month ago…isn’t drunk driving illegal? What would happen if alcohol was banned? People would make another way to get drunk like they did in the past!

      What would happen if guns were banned and someone wanted to kill a multiple amount of people? They would find a way to accomplish it. Bombs, vehicles, knives, arson, planes, etc.

      Laws will not prevent law breakers! When it comes to the issue of owning a tool that is capable of being used for violence, I believe the Bible leaves the responsibility up to the person and not the tool (Luke 22:38).

      How can we prevent these kinds of crimes from happening? – I don’t know if prevention is the key; maybe deterrence would better fit in my mind. The despicable act seen in Colorado isn’t a new phenomia. People guilty of committing multiple murders (and the mindset(s) needed) have been around for millenia.

      As far as prevention goes, maybe getting back to teaching about the value of life from top to bottom would help. Look at what part of the target audience in that theatre included – children! The man had to know that there would be children present, but it sure doesn’t seem like that phased him. I don’t believe we will be able to ever make a person love another person against their own will. Particularly if the person has no love for God (1 John 4:20; Matthew 15:19; Mark 15:7; Romans 1:29-31).

      To me, this third question is the most difficult to answer; I agree with your premise about it. While thinking about these things and searching the scriptures, Mark 15:7 and the whole situation around it really caught my attention.

      Great questions, Richard. Hope you find these answers useful for your studies and thoughts.

  • Don Ruhl 11:06 am on July 24, 2012 Permalink | Reply  

    I have seen before where someone took Psalm 23 and demonstrated parallels in the ministry of Jesus, but I did not keep the material, and it was so long ago that I do not remember who did it. It was in the days before the Internet. Has anyone seen such a thing, or have an outline of it. I would love to see it.

     

  • TFRStaff 5:58 am on July 24, 2012 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: , spiritual riches, ,   

    The richest man 

    A rich landowner named Carl often rode around his vast estate so he could congratulate himself on his great wealth. One day, while riding around his estate on his favorite horse, he saw Hans, an old tenant farmer. Hans was sitting under a tree when Carl rode by. Hans said, “I was just thanking God for my food.” Carl protested, “If that is all I had to eat, I wouldn’t feel like giving thanks.” Hans replied, “God has given me everything I need, and I am thankful for it.”

    The old farmer added, “It is strange you should come by today because I had a dream last night. In my dream a voice told me, ‘The richest man in the valley will die tonight.’ I don’t know what it means, but I thought I ought to tell you.” Carl snorted, “Dreams are nonsense,” and galloped away, but he could not forget Hans’ words: “The richest man in the valley will die tonight.”

    He was obviously the richest man in the valley, so he invited his doctor to his house that evening. Carl told the doctor what Hans had said. After a thorough examination, the doctor told the wealthy landowner, “Carl, you are as strong and healthy as a horse. There is no way you are going to die tonight.”

    Nevertheless, for assurance, the doctor stayed with Carl, and they played cards through the night. The doctor left the next morning and Carl apologized for becoming so upset over the old man’s dream.

    At about nine o’clock, a messenger arrived at Carl’s door. “What is it?” Carl demanded. The messenger explained, “It’s about old Hans. He died last night in his sleep.”

    Matthew 6:19-21 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

    “Thoughts For Today to Brighten Your Day” by Glenn, Mercedes and Lauren Hitchcock

     

  • Ron Thomas 5:00 am on July 24, 2012 Permalink | Reply
    Tags:   

    Nehemiah 11 

    1. With Jerusalem having been rebuilt, with the wall surrounding the city rebuilt, they now needed residents.it was only natural that some would desire to go to the home of their ancestors, but there was a greater need for the community to have people stay in the capital city, the city that houses the religious center.
    2. Application: The one noteworthy thing that stands out to me is the acceptance of doing what is right for the larger group than for self. Reflect on this for a moment. Would you not want to go to the land where your father resided? Surely you would, but as you considered the prospects for the important city – what are you willing to do?
     

    • Eugene Adkins 6:44 am on July 24, 2012 Permalink | Reply

      Made me think of, “Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.” Philippians 2:3-4

  • Richard Hill 9:12 am on July 23, 2012 Permalink | Reply  

    100 Days of Scripture – Day 58 

    Sorry for the delay.   I'm on a trip and Posterous wouldn't post either yesterday morning or evening.  Hope this one goes through.  

    The next 2 days I might not have internet access.  Just follow the first link.  All chapters are posted there.  

    God's blessings to all,

    Richard

    Day 58
    Luke 13 – 15
     

  • Ron Thomas 7:13 am on July 23, 2012 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: , ,   

    WHY? 

    Brief sermon outline preached in Sullivan IL yesterday:

    When tragedy hits a community like the one in Aurora, Colorado, we wonder WHY. Our tragedies are small in comparison with the tragedies faced by others in the varied parts of the world; but though they are small (in comparison) they are just as hard hitting as anything else faced by others. How does one address it?

    Psalm 38 is a psalm that speaks to the hard-hitting anguish of life’s experiences. Consider it as we consider:

    I. WHY? (Why does such evil occur, and where is God when it does occur?)
    II. WHERE? (Where is man’s safety?)
    III. WHEN? (When will man know?)

     

  • Larry Miles 7:00 am on July 23, 2012 Permalink | Reply
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    We Must Be Fully Committed To The Lord! 

    Every person is committed to something. This includes Christians and unbelievers alike. There are many areas of our life that demand our commitment. Those of us who claim to be a member of the Lord’s Church should place commitment as a high priority in our lives.

    We should strive to be the best citizen, best parent, best worker, etc. One of our goals as a Christian should be to draw nearer and closer to the Lord Jesus daily as we walk with Him.

    Christianity is a “here and now religion” If we are willing to put Jesus first in our lives, He will equip us for the task of serving Him and putting our faith into action. If we are willing to make a commitment to Him, He will bless us beyond measure. He came that we might have an abundant life!

    Our commitment to Jesus will include taking the Gospel to the lost and strengthening the saved. It will lead us in being an encouragement to our fellow believers. Paul wrote the following in regards to our commitment in Rom. 12:1-2: “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”

    My fellow believers, it is in the mind that we decide how we are going to act. Let’s allow the Holy Spirit to work in our lives. Again, if we are willing to make the commitment to serve the Lord Jesus, He will not let us down; He will equip us for service and we will “grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ.”  (2 Peter 3:18) We must be found abounding in the work of the Lord.

     

  • Eugene Adkins 6:56 am on July 23, 2012 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: , , , , ,   

    “Proverbs Are The Piths” (10) 

    In Proverbs 5:1-14 Solomon has warned his son about the end result of adultery; now he gives a solution to help extinguish the tempter’s fire in Proverbs 5:15-23. And what is this solution? Feed the fire that burns at home and you won’t have time to feed the ones out on the street!

    Verses 15-17: If you don’t go around drinking from any ole’ water source, then why trust just anybody with something that goes straight to the heart? The consequences are rampant even today. Illegitimate children who suffer because of bad decisions made through lust, broken homes and STD’s aren’t just modern casualties of illicit sex! But modern-day TV shows reveal hearts by having no shame in profiting from the spectacle of people not knowing who has fathered their child, marriages that get dissolved before they ever began and circus-like atmospheres that supposed adults create for our culture to be spoon-fed with all because someone decided to take a drink from a stagnant and deadly source. Stick with running waters and the source we can trust and there will be no sickness that others suffer with.

    Verses 18-20: Solomon urges his son to be “intoxicated” with his wife and he won’t be poisoned by adultery! Sex was designed by God and God designed marriage to be the place where the passions get played out. Any other avenue results in grave danger (Hebrews 13:4). There is intended to be much more involved in sex than just the physical pleasure. Notice how Solomon does not leave out the word “love.” To reduce the act of sex to the physical act alone, is to reduce the one with whom the act is shared with down to a physical object that can be replaced, removed and resold! There is no safety in the arms of someone who seeks only the fleeting physical pleasures of sex and not the lasting bond of love, care, concern and happiness through God’s ordained marriage covenant.

    Verses 21-23: Why listen to this marriage counselor? Why think with the mind and not the flesh? Because our Creator is watching! The immoral person couldn’t care less about the soul that we must give an account for. This lesson that’s worth remembering for our culture today has a lot more to do with the Law of Heaven than it does with the Law of the Land! Instruction has been given, but the results and deadliness of not heeding it can sadly be seen in every generation.

     

    • Don Ruhl 7:52 am on July 23, 2012 Permalink | Reply

      “Feed the fire that burns at home and you won’t have time to feed the ones out on the street!” Nice wording, brother.

      • Eugene Adkins 4:08 pm on July 23, 2012 Permalink | Reply

        Thanks, Don.

        Use it to teach brother. It should be an analogy that’s easy enough for anyone to understand. Might even help us and others to understand what to do if/when that “old flame” appears in person or over the web.

        Solomon isn’t done with the fire analogies either. More advice to come; some that he’s probably giving from personal experience when he got burned on several (hundred) occasions.

  • Ron Thomas 5:00 am on July 23, 2012 Permalink | Reply
    Tags:   

    Nehemiah 10 

    1. After the prayer for the nation that had returned from exile – a nation that was but a fraction of itself when the Lord brought them from Egyptian bondage – that same nation had now committed itself to do those things the Lord outlined long ago.
    2. Application: Making a commitment is something that many people do, but fail to hold on to. I have heard and observed through the years people expressing a strong desire with regard to themselves, a determination to do they know needs to be done. They are convinced that they have the necessary “stick-to-it” attitude that will pull them though and even over the waves they will experience; they made a commitment. One’s determination, however, can be clouded with distractions and when that occurs then one’s initial determination begins to “grow” weak. Ultimately, then, for some, the commitment is lost. That which is necessary to hold on to a commitment are the following: a) a deep abiding trust in the Lord, b) a volition that refuses to allow outside distraction to intercede, c) brethren to exhort us along the way.
     

  • J. Randal Matheny 5:55 pm on July 22, 2012 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: ,   

    Sermon after Aurora shooting 

    Neal Pollard mentioned on the Forthright Radio podcast yesterday, and posted on Facebook as well, his changed sermon for this morning, as he wrote, to “address a shaken Denver-area community:”

    “Getting From Dark Night To Bright Morning”

    Text: Heb. 6:11-19

    I. GOD’S HOPE WILL KEEP US DILIGENT (11)
    II. GOD’S HOPE WILL KEEP US FOCUSED (18)
    III. GOD’S HOPE WILL KEEP US GROUNDED (19)

     

    • Ron Thomas 5:19 am on July 23, 2012 Permalink | Reply

      Mine was also changed. I preached on “WHY?” It was received well.

      • J. Randal Matheny 6:45 am on July 23, 2012 Permalink | Reply

        Might want to share it here on TFR or elsewhere, Ron.

        • Ron Thomas 7:03 am on July 23, 2012 Permalink

          I haven’t given any thought to it actually. The audio will be online, I suspect, by Wednesday or Thursday (sent to Larry Miles who post for us). I will post a brief o/l like you did with Neal’s.

  • Eugene Adkins 8:17 am on July 22, 2012 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: Foot Washing, , ,   

    Who’s Feet Are You Going To Wash Today? 

    “Then, after washing their feet and putting on his robe again, he took his seat and said to them, Do you see what I have done to you? You give me the name of Master and Lord: and you are right; that is what I am. If then I, the Lord and the Master, have made your feet clean, it is right for you to make one another’s feet clean. I have given you an example, so that you may do what I have done to you. Truly I say to you, A servant is not greater than his lord; and he who is sent is not greater than the one who sent him. If these things are clear to you, happy are you if you do them.” (John 13:12-17, BBE)

    This section of scripture never ceases to amaze me, or at times rebuke me!

    It reconstructs the average idea of what service really is. It reconstructs the average idea of what happiness really is. It reconstructs the average idea of who I am really supposed to be…if I have eyes to see, and ears to hear.

    The lesson has much more to do with helping each other remove the grit and grim from our lives through service than it does with removing the junk between our toes. We are quick to say that we understand this! Do we really? Do we perceive it the way Jesus wanted his apostles to perceive it?

    I must ask myself the question, “Who’s feet am I going to wash today?” Are you willing to ask yourself the same? If not, why not?

    Why are we afraid to get our hands dirty like Jesus did? Share your thoughts if you like.

     

  • TFRStaff 12:54 pm on July 21, 2012 Permalink | Reply  

    Love the Lord your God (article and audio) 

    The next lesson in the series on the love of God has been added to the Old Paths Archive: “Love the Lord your God”

    http://www.oldpaths.com/Archive/Davison/Roy/Allen/1940/046-LoveGod.html

    Here is the Dutch version:

    http://www.oldpaths.com/Archive/Davison/Roy/Allen/1940/046-HebtGodLief.html

    Thanks to all of you who are holding up our hands through prayer and contributions as we make the message known in Flanders, in Holland and via the Internet in all the world.

    Just now when I checked my e-mail there was a request for the DVDs “Can we be the church of the NT?” from Cameroon. Thanks to the Strathmore congregaton in Toronto for mailing out these lessons. When I have several requests I send them a list and they copy and mail the DVDs.

    May the Lord bless you abundantly. Roy Davison

     

  • TFRStaff 7:12 am on July 21, 2012 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: , , , shootings,   

    Stay tuned: Forthright podcast today 

    We’re talking around a bit, and possibly may put together a LIVE podcast on the Aurora, Colo., shooting, through the talkshoe website. Stick around as we put it together. We’ll talk about such shootings described as “tragedies,” how people try to use such moments, and what we should learn from it.

    UPDATE: Neal Pollard of the Bear Valley church in Denver has confirmed he’ll be our guest.

    UPDATE 2: TFR Fellow Ron Thomas will also join us as a guest host.

     

    • Eugene Adkins 3:08 pm on July 21, 2012 Permalink | Reply

      I thought it worked out pretty well. Thanks for being my “Aaron” and asking my questions for me, Randal.

    • J. Randal Matheny 3:11 pm on July 21, 2012 Permalink | Reply

      Except for my technical problems, it worked out great. So that was you popping the questions! They were great, thanks for them. Neal was tremendous, we appreciate him taking out the time to share those things with us.

      • Eugene Adkins 3:15 pm on July 21, 2012 Permalink | Reply

        yeah that was me and my typos :) I’m glad I was around to check it out. Neal and Ron (and you too) did a great job with the questions I believe.

  • Richard Hill 6:55 am on July 21, 2012 Permalink | Reply  

    100 Days of Scripture – Day 56 

    Day 56
    Luke 8 – 10
     

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