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  • J. Randal Matheny 5:30 am on February 23, 2012 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: , assisted suicide, drunk drivers,   

    Shedding innocent blood 

    Ron, your final question causes shudders, as I think of abortion having caused millions and millions of deaths; of the elderly who have been thrown aside and often terminated, under the guise of compassion; of the so-called assisted suicides; of what seems to have become a trend in killing small children whose parent or caretaker deems them an inconvenience; of senseless murders by robbers and home invaders and addicts; of drunken drivers who negligently kill with cars. God will not hold such people guiltless. Nor will he excuse a country that turns a blind eye to such.

     

    • Ron Thomas 5:42 am on February 23, 2012 Permalink | Reply

      My opinion is pessimistic; still, I will do what I can.

      I will write my letters to the editor; I will write my weekly articles; I will engage in the community to the degree that I have an interest and time; we will promote the cause of the Lord with campaigns, benevolence. In the confines of the building we will teach the Lord’s way.

      I (we) will do what I (we) can.

  • J. Randal Matheny 7:01 pm on February 19, 2012 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: , communion meditation, ,   

    Sunday night depressurization 

    I pigged out on meat at lunch. I never do that. Why did I do that today? I’m a “flexitarian,” as House-to-House pub calls vegetarians who like their sausage now and again. (The spiritual point was negative.) Still lunch was unusual for me. Haven’t figured that out yet.

    • The Maiden has gone over the holidays with a group to a Christian retreat. We’re getting a feel for what it’s going to be like before long, when she leaves for work, school, life.

    • I love this passage, used it this morning for the communion meditation:

    18 “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. 19 See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland. 20 The wild animals honor me, the jackals and the owls, because I provide water in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland, to give drink to my people, my chosen, 21 the people I formed for myself that they may proclaim my praise. Isaiah 43:18-21 NIV

    Want to take a shot at how I connected it to the Lord’s supper?

    • Don’t tell anybody, but I have on one of my Twitter accounts a Catholic who posted today’s liturgy (English version here). Out of curiosity, I clicked on it, saw this passage, and thought it a good one to use. So while I read this passage this morning in the church, it was also being read to thousands of the pope’s followers.

    • The speakers this morning and this evening were both good, as they usually are. We don’t have a single preacher in either congregation. The men rotate in the pulpit. What we may lack in continuity of thought (not a lack of continuity of doctrine; we speak the same thing), we gain in richness of each man’s perspective.

    • Some outside interference has been thwarted for now. Amazing how some authoritarians want to show up and run the show. Our people here have the spirit of cooperation. We pray it may always be so.

     

    • John Henson 7:35 pm on February 19, 2012 Permalink | Reply

      Our spiritual drink is Christ, we honor and worship Christ, who is our spiritual drink. We are his chosen, his people who proclaim his praise. I LIKE IT!

      • J. Randal Matheny 3:55 am on February 21, 2012 Permalink | Reply

        Glad you liked it, John. I took the idea of living in the past, as not letting past sins weight one down, but rather, when we look back, seeing Christ rather than our sins.

  • J. Randal Matheny 4:42 am on February 18, 2012 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: , , TV evangelism,   

    Of tweets, numbers, Bible sites and 2 questions 

    Over on Twitter I asked and got no answer, perhaps because my tweet was in the midst of a flurry of others, perhaps because it was on a Friday night. So here goes my question: Prof. John Hick died a few days ago. Was he not in a debate with one of our folk? I have a book with his name on it in my library, which I’ve not seen in a few days, but can’t remember if it’s a debate book with a brother. Do you know?

    • My personal Twitter account hit 7000 tweets last night. I noticed quite by accident, as I went looking for John H.’s username to recommend on the Friend Friday feature. (He’s got a numerical digits in his, so I have a hard time remembering it.) I thought it was a lot of tweets, only to discover that not a few friends (hi, Richard) have surpassed me by not a little. To tell the truth, I was actually relieved that I didn’t appear too chatty. Or wordy. Or wasteful of time. And, it must be added, I’ve been on Twitter for quite a long time. (Does Twitter anywhere show when we signed up?)

    • Of course, if we were looking for big numbers and records, I could add up all my tweets across the various accounts. I’m embarrassed to name them all. There’s one for BNc, one for FPress, a couple, just a couple, in Portuguese. That’s all I’ll admit to right now. Oh, and I must get Quick Bible Truths in there. It has the most followers.

    • A lot of congregational tweets suggest Bible readings: “Today’s reading is such-and-such book, chapter 555.” But no link. Why no link? If people are reading the tweet on the Internet, stands to reason that they might, just might be more likely to read if they have a link to a Bible chapter on the Internet as well. What do you think?

    • Another question for you that got asked here before, but got no replies. Besides the NLT, are there any Bible sites out there with just the version—and a modern version at that, not the KJV or ASV—minus any manmade teaching materials or articles?

    • The NLT publisher is smart: They set up a site for their version with a short URL perfect for posting, attractive, flexible, legible, easy to use, with just the Bible text (no articles or teaching material), and with no fancy, heavy graphics. It’s about as good as you can get. Though the NLT is not always my favorite rendering, I use the site a lot, because of the site quality.

    • A last item, to recommend: David Kenney has broadcast the first Bible Talk of the Wadsworth congregation. Check it out, I’m sure he’d be encouraged by your visit.

     

    • Ron Thomas 4:56 am on February 18, 2012 Permalink | Reply

      Randal, I have over one hundred debate books and booklets. The only “Hicks” I have in any of those – as best I can recall – is Olan Hicks on MDR. **** With regard to tweeting, I am so “wet behind the ears” on that, that I do more perusing than anything else, and then I am not consistent.

      • J. Randal Matheny 4:58 am on February 18, 2012 Permalink | Reply

        Maybe that’s the one I’m remember, Ron. As soon as I get to my library, I’ll pull that Hick book out and see what it is. In my mind, I see a white circle on the cover. Funny what one remembers.

        I’m migrating more to Twitter after unpinning the FB tab on Firefox.

        • Ron Thomas 5:05 am on February 18, 2012 Permalink

          Of the three Hicks debates books I have there is no image of a white circle, but there is on the Warren-Fuqua debate (same topic).

        • Ron Thomas 5:09 am on February 18, 2012 Permalink

          I am confused about the quality of one over the other – whether it is google, twitter, FB, or any others.

        • J. Randal Matheny 5:13 am on February 18, 2012 Permalink

          I’m almost certain I don’t have the Warren-Fuqua debate.

          Once Friendica gets a few bugs worked out, I’m headed that direction. Not ditching the others completely, but liking it a lot for its non-commercial nature. (http//friendica.com) FB and G+ are data harvesters, which I don’t like. They all have their pluses and minues.

        • Ron Thomas 5:19 am on February 18, 2012 Permalink

          Thanks for the info. I will have to entertain some additional thoughts on that. **** Time to work on Zen Buddhism for a preacher’s retreat in June. Want to come again?

        • J. Randal Matheny 5:24 am on February 18, 2012 Permalink

          They’re all good for getting the word out, FB probably the best, then Twitter.

          Would love to be there. What’s the date? I just might be in the US still around the first part of the month.

        • Ron Thomas 5:29 am on February 18, 2012 Permalink

          I think it’s June 4-6, but I went to the Fairfield website to do a confirm, and I got an “oops!” I FB’d Justin to let him know.

        • J. Randal Matheny 5:56 am on February 18, 2012 Permalink

          That date might just work, if I’m not having to be halfway across the continent reporting. Maybe I could work out with Eureka …

        • Stephen R. Bradd 7:06 am on February 18, 2012 Permalink

          June 4-6 is correct for Dahlgren retreat. It’d be great if you can make it Randal.

          I recall reading about a John Mark Hicks (a rising “star” back in the 70s, I think). I don’t remember any debates, however.

        • J. Randal Matheny 7:12 am on February 18, 2012 Permalink

          Let’s see how our itinerary goes. Thanks, Stephen.

          John Mark and I were in the same class and dorm at FHU. He’s a progressive now. Wouldn’t be the same guy.

        • Richard Hill 7:14 am on February 18, 2012 Permalink

          No problem. I should be toward the end of the spring work. You can come “work out” with me. Maybe we could go on a little hike again. It’s only been about 35 years since the last one!

        • J. Randal Matheny 7:17 am on February 18, 2012 Permalink

          I’d really hate to show you up on the work-out, since you’re all out of shape. Ditto for the hike. But we could do a mountain instead of the Grand Canyon. If that doesn’t cause breathing problems for you rarefied air. Oh, wait, no mountains Ill.

        • Ron Thomas 7:22 am on February 18, 2012 Permalink

          We have “mountains” in IL (north of Marion) – they are all “mountains” where they bury the garbage!

        • J. Randal Matheny 7:19 am on February 18, 2012 Permalink

          Hmm, WP bleeped out “in” twice in my previous reply. I used the toolbar to reply. Must be buggy.

        • Richard Hill 7:24 am on February 18, 2012 Permalink

          Seriously, that is a time we should be able to work something out. Just let us know.

        • J. Randal Matheny 7:25 am on February 18, 2012 Permalink

          That comment sounded almost political, Ron. :) Those mountains would be a challenge to climb, for sure.

    • Will 7:33 am on February 18, 2012 Permalink | Reply

      John Hicks??? I have no idea of whom you’re speaking… give some background please…

      • J. Randal Matheny 7:35 am on February 18, 2012 Permalink | Reply

        Will, there’s a link in the text to Hick’s obituary.

        • John Henson 9:54 am on February 18, 2012 Permalink

          Hicks (not Hick) debated Andrew Connally. I had that book and lost it on the move here. Funny how that happens. I don’t know of a debate by Bro. Hick.

        • J. Randal Matheny 10:00 am on February 18, 2012 Permalink

          Prof. Hick (I had it spelled wrong in the post) isn’t a brother. It’s probably a book he wrote that I have, not a debate. Age is stealing my memory. (At least, now, I have that excuse.)

  • J. Randal Matheny 7:48 am on February 17, 2012 Permalink | Reply  

    Target targets customers 

    How Target Figured Out A Teen Girl Was Pregnant Before Her Father Did. (Forbes)

    Yet another reason to cut up credit cards and pay cash. Privacy is no more. The more you buy, the more businesses and government are able to profile you.

     

  • J. Randal Matheny 7:27 pm on February 16, 2012 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: , , seekers   

    Couple searches for church serious about the truth 

    The Missus and I visited a young couple tonight, well versed in Scripture, who visited the church last Sunday. They found us through our congregational website. Providence, they said. They’ve been dissatisfied with the churches where they’ve been. We’re to start studying with them Saturday. Pray they may be receptive to the Word. Very likeable family, two children.

    May the Lord help us to connect with others like them as well, who search for truth in the midst of so much religious nonsense.

     

    • Ron Thomas 4:22 am on February 17, 2012 Permalink | Reply

      I looked at your website and saw that was an OOPS! Fortunately, google translated it in English for me. So the OOPS turned into something good.

  • J. Randal Matheny 8:09 am on February 16, 2012 Permalink | Reply  

    Outline on what to pray for 

    Pray for others, for knowledge, for wisdom, says J.D. Wright, who shares his sermon outline for Colossians 1.9-10. Material on prayer catches my eye, since it’s something I have to work hard on. On preachersfiles.com #prayer

     

  • J. Randal Matheny 7:28 am on February 16, 2012 Permalink | Reply  

    Far beyond our dreams: meditation and readings 

    God answers the prayers of the righteous in marvelous ways. Read this translation from the Portuguese meditation site. Today’s devotional comes from Luke 1, as we start the third gospel in our daily Bible readings. Why not join along? We’re following a plan for slow readers: one chapter a weekday.

     

  • J. Randal Matheny 6:49 am on February 16, 2012 Permalink | Reply  

    Mom hops on moving bus, saves driver, kids 

    ALBUQUERQUE, NM- School bus driver has seizure, mom runs after moving bus, hops on, stops bus. #heroics #supermom

     

  • J. Randal Matheny 4:35 am on February 15, 2012 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: , , ,   

    Mr. Coleridge’s record is safe, etc. 

    • After nearly forgetting about the One-Liner Dictionary, I’ve added another entry today, this one on inertia. It came to me as I lay in bed this morning, contemplating the energy required to rise. Check the Definitions category for a few other entries as well.

    • If you don’t see your blog in my friend-link list, it’s probably because (1) I just overlooked it, or (2) you’re not posting with enough regularity.

    • Did you catch my longish poem yesterday on Christian Poets, “With Fragile Soul“? Longish for me, anyway, with five stanzas of four lines each. No “Rime of the Ancient Mariner” or anything like that; nope, no breaking of Mr. Coleridge’s record as the longest major poem in the English language. So you can read it in about, say, three minutes. Afterwards, reflection might require a bit more, and a comment to assuage the agony of the author, another minute.

    • Before long, writers will have to put at the head of their posts and articles a line like this: Average Reading Time: Three Minutes. People are too much in a hurry, wouldn’t you say? I confess to being as much a scanner as the next surfer doing the typical hop, skip, jump on the Internet, but sometimes I’m tempted to write a header, “If you’re scanning, don’t bother.” Because my words carry great import, obviously.

    • How long before the Valentine’s-Day flowers fade and the chocolates are gone? But let the kiss linger and the look of love continue. Marriage isn’t eternal, but romantic love ought to last a lifetime. It may seem paradoxical, but romance has to be worked at, cultivated, prolonged by regular effort. Some like it sappy, others more subtle, here and there a literary strain, but whatever your style, develop and sustain it. Even foods get garnished.

     

  • J. Randal Matheny 8:51 am on February 14, 2012 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: , ,   

    Americans spend on Valentine’s Day 

    “Today is Valentine’s Day, which means Americans are about to spend an average of $103 per person (2010 figure) on massive amounts of chocolate, flowers, cards and assorted stuff which proclaims our undying love.” —PreachingNOW

     

  • J. Randal Matheny 6:37 am on February 13, 2012 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: , , Whitney Houston   

    Anybody talk about Whitney Houston yesterday in a sermon or Bible class? I did, since the sad note fit into a sermon point quite well. See my outline, through Google Translate’s bad rendering: http://is.gd/whitneyhouston

     

    • Ron Thomas 6:40 am on February 13, 2012 Permalink | Reply

      I did not talk about her, but I did give much thought to the brevity of life to such a one as young as she.

    • Paula Harrington 6:41 am on February 13, 2012 Permalink | Reply

      She wasn’t mentioned here. Did pray for her daughter though.

    • Richard Hill 7:52 am on February 13, 2012 Permalink | Reply

      Oddly enough, we didn’t. The topics we covered in the Galatians class didn’t fit with the incident and the sermon didn’t either. One of the members suffering from severe depression for decades had gone to yet another doctor, this time up in Chicago. He prescribed a new medication, actually more like a supplement, that has kept her depression free for over 2 weeks. We are all pretty excited/emotional over this and it eclipsed anything else. We’re thanking God for answered prayer.

    • Weylan Deaver 4:10 pm on February 13, 2012 Permalink | Reply

      I did mention her death, but not her name, since I was commenting on John’s statement that, at the Judgment scene, he saw “the small and great.” On earth, some are greater than others in fame and influence. The passing of most of us will draw little attention down here.

    • Eugene Adkins 6:18 pm on February 13, 2012 Permalink | Reply

      I didn’t hear about it until after we got home from evening worship.

    • J. Randal Matheny 2:43 am on February 14, 2012 Permalink | Reply

      Thanks for chiming in, y’all! Her death seems to be getting lots of attention in the media. Perhaps a teachable moment there?

  • J. Randal Matheny 1:37 pm on February 11, 2012 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: , , , , Ronald Reagan   

    Why I love my wife &c. 

    Rob Lester did a series on Facebook about the reasons why he loved his wife, many of them humorous. Here’s one of mine. I go into the kitchen after my Saturday afternoon nap for a drink of water (The Missus had forwarded an email to me the day before about the need to drink water to keep the kidneys in good shape), and she prepares me a homemade cappuccino and two, not one, but two brownies. Ah, life is hard.

    • Been busy with some poetry in the past few days. Today, a love poem for The Missus (she said she assumed I’d written it for her): “To Speak of Love.” Yesterday, last night actually, before I hit the sack, a piece here on TFR: “So Let’s Dance in the Aisles.” And also yesterday, an almost melancholy piece, “In Wings and Walls.”

    • The first two were written on the fly, popped ‘em out and posted. The latter I wrote a few days earlier, tweaked it a bit, then posted. Maybe I should give the poems a rest next week, reckon? But then they appear at their own behest, not mine.

    • My dad spent the night in the hospital Wednesday. He passed out in church. Apparently, a combination of sinus infection and dehydration. Drove himself home the next day (Mom had gone for a checkup on her pacemaker), I talked to him last night, seems to be OK. But I’d appreciate a prayer for him. He’s only 81.

    • Do you like the sound of your voice? I don’t. Maybe I should take voice lessons? Some supporters are interested in me doing some audio/radio. I’m interested too, but for that dislike.

    • I read somewhere once that Reagan used to drink hot water before he spoke. Relaxed his throat. Have you ever tried that?

    • And last, a link I shared on Twitter, for a big Saturday-night helping of ignorance. “Christians must stand up for gay marriage.” Lots of “I believe,” with no evidence to back it up. Such is our world. And such is our task, to shine light upon the darkness. Go shine! Isa 60.1!

     

  • J. Randal Matheny 7:52 pm on February 10, 2012 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: ,   

    So let’s dance in the aisles 

    by J. Randal Matheny © 2012

    We are tired of the hymns, with the limits we’re bored,
    So let’s dance in the aisles, as we sup with the Lord,
    We will tear up the carpet and throw out the old,
    In this city where everything’s big, we are bold.
    The young women are swooning, the men good to swing,
    Play a tune with a beat, we refuse just to sing.
    You’ve not seen it all yet, we’re not done as we change,
    We reject what’s familiar, and import the strange.
    Swing the doors for the crowds, tweak the church to the max,
    In with gospels and grace, down with crosses and Acts.
    We’re all brothers in Christ, matters not what your group,
    What’s important is staying in a bigger world’s loop.
    We’re progressives for Jesus, nothing heavy — we’re hip,
    As we travel to heaven, on one big, happy ship.
    We’ll be bigger fish swimming in bigger fish ponds,
    So we dive for the new, as we cut the old bonds.
    We got love overflowing, with sinners we’re cool,
    But no patience with fogies—out with rules is the rule!

     

    • John Henson 9:48 pm on February 10, 2012 Permalink | Reply

      Wow.

    • tina 1:12 am on February 11, 2012 Permalink | Reply

      Scary

    • Mike Riley 10:07 am on February 11, 2012 Permalink | Reply

      Randal, sounds like the Postmodernism mantra – throw out all those old out-of-date rules!

    • Weylan Deaver 10:52 am on February 11, 2012 Permalink | Reply

      You wish poetry could be made of happier stuff, but great job pinpointing the inconvenient truth that you really can’t run from rules, conceptually. All you can do is decide which rules you’ll go by–your own or the Lord’s.

      • J. Randal Matheny 11:06 am on February 11, 2012 Permalink | Reply

        Thanks for the comments, y’all. Mike, yup, that’s their idea. Weylan, reckon when we get to heaven our poetry will be like that, all sugar and spice and everything nice? :)

        • Weylan Deaver 11:09 am on February 11, 2012 Permalink

          I know we will have songs there–nothing I know of precludes the presence of poetry. After we sing the “New Song,” maybe we can collaborate on a new “New Song.”

        • J. Randal Matheny 11:11 am on February 11, 2012 Permalink

          Sounds like a plan to me, brother! Maybe we can start with, “Heaven was certainly worth it all!”

  • J. Randal Matheny 1:53 pm on February 9, 2012 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: , sense of humor   

    Nudge: What kind of sense of humor do you have? 

    Sense of humorMaybe the first question should be, do you have a sense of humor? Then, if yes, what kind of a sense of humor do you have?

    There are good and bad styles of humor, says PsychToday. But we’re thinking more in terms of types, like dry or slapstick.

    Is there any correlation between humor and spirituality? Hmm.

     

  • J. Randal Matheny 9:20 am on February 9, 2012 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: , ,   

    Man drowns for girlfriend who’d already escaped sinking car 

    EvangelismNear Bridgeport AL on the Tennessee River, a man jumped into the water when he arrived and saw his girlfriend’s vehicle sinking. Except that she’d already escaped and been helped from the water 20 yards downstream by fishermen at a boat ramp.

    Was his sacrifice needless? Did he give his life for nothing?

    That sad news story prompts three thoughts.

    One, for the great multitudes of millions on earth, Jesus’ sacrifice will be for nothing, as far as their salvation is concerned. They will perish, most of them, without ever hearing the true gospel of Christ. They will not experience the redemptive effect of his death. They will die in their sins, in that real place called hell, as if Jesus had never been crucified for them.

    Two, for the remnant, so small, it would appear, in comparison to the world’s billions, Jesus did not die in vain. Somehow, it is God’s design to save a few, and these to him are precious.

    Three, the man gave little thought for his life, because his sight was set on (the assumption of) saving one he loved. He presumed she was in danger, when she was actually safe. He could not see her drowning, but the mere thought of it caused him to dive into the swift water. How many of us are willing to evangelize in order to save people whom we know for a fact are perishing and who will perish unless we act, as long as it doesn’t inconvenience our lifestyle?

     

  • J. Randal Matheny 7:52 am on February 8, 2012 Permalink | Reply  

    Server back up 

    The server for BNc, FMag, and my blog is back up. Please visit at will, and let your praise be effusive.

     

  • J. Randal Matheny 7:44 am on February 8, 2012 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: habits,   

    Nudge: Something you’ve stopped doing recently 

    Hello, friends and TFR Fellows! Here’s a Nudge from nowhere for you to ponder and answer: Tell us about something you’ve stopped doing in recent days or weeks. It could be something as innocent as playing tiddlywinks or watching some dorky TV program (sorry, that was redundant). Or you might want to delve deeper into your psyche to dish up some serious habit or practice that was doing you in. Do give us a why as well. And if there’s a lesson in it somewhere, all the better.

    TFR Fellows are reminded to please place your replies in a new post, unless it’s a one-word answer, which would be a shame. Other friends and visitors can reply in the comments section below.

     

    • Alice Farough 9:27 am on February 8, 2012 Permalink | Reply

      I have given up eating sweets. I started about 3 weeks ago and it has been relatively easy because I am trying to be example to someone who needs to give up something even more important. I needed to give up sweets anyway because I am gaining more and more weight and I have a real penchant for sweets. This has worked so well that pretty soon I am going to try and give up another bad habit I have – wasting time.

    • Eugene Adkins 9:16 pm on February 8, 2012 Permalink | Reply

      Um, between preaching, working and helping to take care of my new baby girl over the last 3 months…I have stopped sleeping :)

  • J. Randal Matheny 6:45 am on February 8, 2012 Permalink | Reply  

    Our server is down for the moment, so count off the seconds 

    So that means that BNc, FMag, my blog are all down. But give it a few minutes, ought to be back up. But TFR, Christian Hub, GoSpeak, and others are going strong, since they’re not (yet) on our server.

    Ironic that I just sent the cash in yesterday to renew our server for another six months.

     

  • J. Randal Matheny 6:25 pm on February 5, 2012 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: , , ,   

    Photos: preaching trip, Taubaté Christians 

    The photos are from last Sunday and today. Click to see them in larger size.

    Pimentas church

    Partial view of Pimentas congregation where we went Sunday, Jan. 29, where I preached and taught on “How to Be Happy.” The Maiden and The Missus are singing in the foreground.

    Yours Truly speaking to the Pimentas congregation.

    Randal preaching

    Y.T. preaching in the Pimentas congregation.

    Taubaté church

    Some of the Christians of the Taubaté congregation that we work with on Sunday afternoons.

     

  • J. Randal Matheny 10:51 am on February 4, 2012 Permalink | Reply
    Tags:   

    Visit Forthright Press stand at FHU Lectures 

    Barbara Ann will be manning the Forthright Press booth at the Freed-Hardeman University Annual Bible Lectureship. Go by and say hi to her. And buy a book.

    • Got any insight into what Paul meant when he said that it pleased God to reveal in him the Son (Ga 1:16)? I’ve written an article on it, but still would appreciate any insights you might have. Not an easy phrase, that.

    • As I mentioned yesterday, we got company coming, and they’re about to drive up. I’m grateful that we have people like this couple who have the heart of mission to reach places that have no gospel message.

     

     

    • Eugene Adkins 12:43 pm on February 4, 2012 Permalink | Reply

      I think Galatians 2:20 would fit well.

    • Ron Thomas 6:02 am on February 5, 2012 Permalink | Reply

      You’ve probably seen this, Randal, but the NET has a translator note: “tn Or “to me”; the Greek preposition ἐν (en) can mean either, depending on the context.”

  • J. Randal Matheny 4:12 pm on February 3, 2012 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: , children's home, ,   

    Plans to establish a new church, Jackie Chan in town, rebranding &c. 

    A Christian couple is coming tomorrow to talk with the SJCampos and Taubate churches about support, so they can establish a new congregation in a capital city in the north of Brazil that has no faithful message there. I find it exciting. But if you think it’s hard for missionaries in the US to find funds, try raising support among churches that are relatively small and new themselves, and often limited in means.

    • Anybody got a clear, positive article on Proverbs 31, especially verse 10, on the worth of the noble wife? No more than 600 to 700 words max. And applicable to other cultures, easy to translate. (Meaning no heavy American references or illustrations.) I need it for a magazine theme on the worth of man. Yesterday. UPDATE: The Maiden just accepted the task of writing the article. Thanks anyway!

    • If I don’t choose your suggestion, it won’t mean it’s not good, only that it won’t fit our specific needs, either in terms of space, approach, or context.

    • The Missus and I are on the board of a children’s home here, where we provide mainly moral support and serve as contact for stateside supporters, of which there are a few. As we try to establish our “brand,” as the marketers call it, in the US, I was slow to figure out that nobody will remember “Lar Cristão Children’s Home.” So we’re rebranding it as Brazil Kids. As soon as the domain is done propagating, or whatever it does (and it’s taking a while to do it), we’ll have the new website up at BrazilKids.net. UPDATE: Now working.

    • Weylan was kind enough to publish a little piece of mine, “For Man God Made.” I’m still owing him a longish article that I’ve entitled “The Enduring Principles of the Limited Commission.” Be sure to also check out his recent article on “What the Bible Says About Animals.” Very good, so good in fact that, since it fits somewhat the theme of our Brazilian mag on man’s worth, I’m translating it into Portuguese. (Lessee, did I ask his permission yet? Weylan?) Check out the other good writers there also, such as our own John H. and Ron T.

    • Reckon we’re as prepared for the invasion of false teachings in our congregations as this man was for the burglars who broke a back window and entered his home? Seems like some brethren are adopting a wait-and-see attitude. By the time they wake up and decide to see what’s in front of them, it will be too late. All the valuable souls will have been stolen.

     

  • J. Randal Matheny 7:45 pm on January 30, 2012 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: , homemade sausage, ,   

    Did I tell you about my grandbaby? 

    Let’s start with personal item (aren’t they all?): The second grandchild, says today’s ultrasound, is a boy. Due to drop in around June 21. Big sister Eden, age 1+, didn’t seem so keen on it. She confided to me that she’d been hoping for a baby sister to play with. But mom and pop, and Auntie L., vovô and vovó are happy. Please say a prayer, since there are a couple of health concerns, blood pressure, things like that.

    • Today’s Bible (NT) reading is James 1. Have you seen the chiastic structure for the letter I posted some time back? Considering most commentators despair of finding any sensible outline to the letter, this represents real possibilities.

    • Rick Kelley’s mom’s kidney transplant is on-again, off-again. Keep praying for his mom and his sister who’s donating the kidney.

    • I watched “National Treasure” again with The Missus and The Maiden the other night. It’s very dated. The main character was searching the Internet on Yahoo rather than Google.

    • We chomped down on more of The Missus’s homemade sausage tonight. Good stuff. Brazil doesn’t have the breakfast sausage like you get in the US. Just as well, but we certainly enjoyed her special treat.

    • Lessee, let’s scare up a little ditty to finish up with.

    Malicious hands abuse, molest,
    A hug can end in your arrest;
    The world sees either too little, too much,
    But Jesus has the healing touch.

    • Oh, have you checked The Christian Hub lately? Great stuff going through there, all the time.

     

  • J. Randal Matheny 4:03 pm on January 28, 2012 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: church web hosting   

    Any interest in a brotherhood web-hosting service? 

    What are congregations looking for when they consider putting up a website? Are current services satisfactory? Or do many just plop into WordPress.com or Blogspot? Is there a need for a good service out there?

    I’m asking for a brother who is apparently considering offering this service. I have no investment or connection, other than as a friend, so no disclosure needed here, as pundits often do. He asked me what I thought, and I said I’d ask around.

    Please everyone reply in the comment area below. I’m directing my friend to this post.

     

    • Manly Luscombe 4:18 pm on January 28, 2012 Permalink | Reply

      There are a few in the church who offer web hosing services. My site and the church for which I preach are on one operated by the preacher in New Madrid, MO. To me the issue is one of cost per year, and services offered. Most churches have a small site with local information and do not require a lot of bandwidth.
      The second issue to consider is how to advertise and promote it.
      In summary – if the price is reasonable I believe there would be a demand for the service.

    • Brad 4:45 pm on January 28, 2012 Permalink | Reply

      Unless he is going to be offering specific features that would aid the congregation in having a pleasing site, I’m not sure what the difference would be. Of course, there is that “preferring one another” verse.

      With a lot of non-computer-savvy congregations, he would need to offer some sort of templates where they simply punch in their name, directions, contact info, and the template takes care of the rest. Also, for those interested, he’d need to offer ftp service (which apparently some webpage providers don’t offer) and extremely simple explanations on how to do it.

      I may be mistaken, but wasn’t there a group that attempted to offer this same service a few years ago?

    • Tim Hester 7:04 am on January 29, 2012 Permalink | Reply

      I don’t know if their would be much demand for this. Preachersfiles has been offering both a blog or to host a website for sometime now. It is only one of the options available to churches. One of our members at Waynesboro host ours on his site. It would be a good thing but he would need to find something that would make him standout among the other options out there.

    • Richard 11:24 am on January 29, 2012 Permalink | Reply

      There is already one that I know of and it has been active and around for a long time–if interested I can give you the site http://internet-ministries.net/ He also has a facebook page but its pretty non controlled
      https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Church-Of-Christ/151003081320?ref=ts&sk=wall#!/pages/The-Church-Of-Christ/151003081320?sk=wall

    • Weylan Deaver 9:00 am on January 30, 2012 Permalink | Reply

      These folk take care of ours website (shermandrive.org): http://www.cocwebdesign.com/ . They specifically work with churches of Christ.

    • Jeff Rich 8:30 pm on February 4, 2012 Permalink | Reply

      It is something the church here keep smaking a lot of noise about, but things just never seem to happen. I think a high quality option would be blessing. Not unlike House-ot-House/ Heart-to-Heart does in the mailing area.

    • J. Randal Matheny 3:52 am on February 5, 2012 Permalink | Reply

      Our brother decided to go live with the offer. You can see what he offers here: http://www.the7ones.com

  • J. Randal Matheny 7:40 pm on January 27, 2012 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: , , slippery slope, sweat the small stuff   

    Making light of small matters, &c. 

    A bad plan is better than no plan at all. A bad plan has a chance, however small, of going somewhere. No plan guarantees going nowhere. Likely, perfectionists will be the main objectors to this.

    • “… one who makes light of small matters will gradually sink,” says Ecclesiasticus (not Ecclesiastes) 19:1 NJB. Methinks there’s a truth here, applicable to the slippery slope where men slowly slide into false doctrine. (All that alliteration was unintended.) Remember the old illustration (which is almost certainly false) of the frog in the pan?

    • Epaphroditus was sent by the Philippian church to minister to Paul’s needs, besides carrying some financial help (Php 2:25-29). Instead, he got deathly sick. When he returned to Philippi, the saints might have thought him a failure, since instead of his ministering to Paul, Paul would have had to take care of him. But the apostle will have none of that. He gives him a rousing recommendation as he sends him home. Even shares his title of “apostle” with Epaphroditus, though of course in a different sense, of being the Philippians’ messenger or envoy. Some scholars think this passage is the heart of the book.

    • The envoy who looks like a failure is really a success. Sound familiar? Read earlier in the chapter, verses 5-8.

    • Anybody done any real work on the meaning of “work out” in Philippians 2:12? Obviously, it must relate to the obedience mentioned in the same verse. NLT has a definite twist in its rendering, making one wonder if this is accurate or slanted by evangelical faith-only doctrine. NCV sounds better to my ears (“Keep on working to complete your salvation”), but either might be right. Got an insight here into the contextual meaning?

    • People love Fridays so much, because they can flee work for a couple of days. Is it a sign that work is not considered a legitimate means of service to God? Makes one wonder.

    • Finally, a scrap of poetry, on a matter not so small.

    Never did a human hope
    Take quicker wing to headier heights,
    Nor did a hand reach greater scope
    Or covetous eyes see grander flights,

    Than Eve before the Knowledge Tree
    Of good and evil in Eden’s midst—
    No harm so deep to humanity,
    That fruit in her rebellious fist. —JRM

     

  • J. Randal Matheny 5:21 am on January 27, 2012 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: church organization, eldership, plurality of elders   

    Plurality of elders: Scriptural to have one elder? 

    eldershipOn a group discussion list, a good brother asked in his sincere study of the Word,

    If we say that “children” (in the qualification for elders) can mean one or multiple children, then would the same rule apply to the word “elders”? Would it be Scriptural to have just one elder if he truly met the qualifications laid out in Scriptures?

    Ron T. replied,

    I would suggest not on the basis of Philippians 1:1, Titus 1:5, Acts 14:23. The plurality in these verses will not allow for a singularity of application.

    I liked Ron’s expression here, besides agreeing with him. I might add Acts 15:2, 4 to the list.

    I’m beginning a study of the eldership in preparation for a study in another state, at the request of a congregation now in the process of selecting supervisors and servants, so this exchange got my attention.

     

    • Stephen R. Bradd 11:08 am on January 27, 2012 Permalink | Reply

      I, too, agree that Ron’s answer is correct. However, for the sake of discussion, is it not the case that there are small congregations (perhaps many) that are “shepherded” by one man primarily (often the preacher but not always)? It is true that we do not call the leader an “elder” in that case, though he may very well be functioning as one (merely without the formal “title”).

      We had 3 elders in Clinton 20+ years ago. 2 died within 6 months. The 3rd man formally resigned and the eldership dissolved. However, for the next 12 years or so, this man still behaved as a shepherd in most ways until he passed away. He let go of the title but still, in a practical sense, was a shepherd. I think such is good and proper.

      The work of a shepherd is necessary in every congregation–and it needs to get done. This is true no matter how many or how few men there are that could formally qualify to serve as “elders.”

      • John Henson 12:14 pm on January 27, 2012 Permalink | Reply

        I love ya, Stephen, but I disagree. As Ron said, a plurality of elders is biblical. They call a single leader a “Pope.” Do we wish to do what the Bible says, or do we allow for the situation to dictate what we’ll do?

      • Stephen R. Bradd 2:15 pm on January 27, 2012 Permalink | Reply

        Hi John. I don’t think I advocated anything above that is outside the parameters of NT authority. Perhaps I have been unclear.

        There is no doubt that a plurality of elders is biblical. But, what about when there isn’t an eldership in place (which is sadly the case in many congregations)? What then? Should no one do any “shepherding” because no one has been formally appointed to the office? I would answer that question in the negative. Does Gal. 6:1 only apply where there are elders? Of course not.

        What is “shepherding”? It is many things, but it includes feeding, protecting, & caring for the flock. These are things that I do currently, and I have not been appointed to the office of bishop. Should I not feed the flock since I am not an elder? Should I not go after the brother who is drifting since I am not an elder? Should I not provide some spiritual leadership since there are no elders here currently? I believe I should (because of what the Bible says)–and I do so (without being a “Pope”).

        You stated that “they call a single leader a ‘Pope.’” My question to you is: Was Titus a “Pope” since he behaved as a leader and did some spiritual shepherding in a congregation where there were no elders yet appointed? If you say “no,” then you must acknowledge that someone today could follow Titus’ example and not be a “Pope”–which is precisely what I am arguing for.

        • John Henson 3:16 pm on January 27, 2012 Permalink

          TItus was acting under the authority of Paul, an apostle, one who was sent with authority, brother. I’ve helped established congregations and worked with them in all circumstances and I realize there are times as you described, but I do not support the idea of one person in charge. I have never found authority for that. Have you?

        • Ron Thomas 3:22 pm on January 27, 2012 Permalink

          In my view, if there are no elders because men are not qualified, then spiritual leadership will reside in the men who are spiritually in tune with the Lord’s will. That said, I think there is a “default” position of leadership in the congregation, and that will be the preacher. This may not be ideal, but it may be necessary until men are trained to serve in the capacity of elders. Simply because the preacher is a leader in this capacity does not mean that bad things happen. I am not of the opinion that just because men are present in the local coingregation they are spiritually interested in the well-being of the local church. They could be, but this will be demonstrated by their actions. If so, then there will be a collection of men, but if not, where will spiritual leadership reside?

        • Stephen R. Bradd 5:20 pm on January 27, 2012 Permalink

          Hi John. I am not in favor of one person being “in charge,” and it has not been my intent to argue for such. I am in favor of the flock being fed, tended to, and cared for–even if there are no appointed elders to do such. If that means a preacher and/or any other spiritually-minded men take the initiative to do so, they I believe such is good. Serving the church in that capacity doesn’t make one “in charge,” though some will look to such a one for leadership.

  • J. Randal Matheny 12:43 pm on January 26, 2012 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: , , Reprints   

    Weylan in Bulletin Digest 

    Congrats to Weylan Deaver, who has an article published in Bulletin Digest, January’s issue, I think. I don’t have the copy with me at the moment. The article is “No Matter What … God Is Not Mad at You.”

    My print copy came in the mail, with December 2011′s issue, a couple of days ago.

     

  • J. Randal Matheny 2:00 pm on January 25, 2012 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: , ,   

    Nudge: impressing others 

    Impress othersHere’s a Nudge for you, peeps. From today’s reading in Php 2, the NLT renders a thought in verse 3 this way, “don’t try to impress others.” I’m not here to discuss the accuracy of that rending, but it leads me to the nudging question.

    Share an embarrassing moment when you witnessed someone (yourself, even?) trying to impress others. No names, please.

    Or, if you prefer, when someone could have taken advantage of a moment to impress others, but showed the humility to which verse 3 urges us.

    Just a thought, also: Is there an instance in Scripture of someone trying to impress others?

    Fellows, please reply in separate posts. Visitors, feel free to reply in the comment area.

     

    • John Henson 2:15 pm on January 25, 2012 Permalink | Reply

      Oh, man. You REALLY don’t want me to get started on this!

    • Eugene Adkins 9:19 pm on January 25, 2012 Permalink | Reply

      It seems as if the Amalekite in 2nd Samuel ch 1 was trying to impress David with his story of “killing Saul.” It didn’t work out too well for him.

      • J. Randal Matheny 6:36 pm on January 26, 2012 Permalink | Reply

        John, that was a great post. Responses on FB to it back me up on that.

        Eugene, great connection there, with the case of the Amalekite.

  • J. Randal Matheny 4:52 am on January 25, 2012 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: Christian examples,   

    Gunshot to the head, saying no, young example, &c. 

    How would you illustrate, say, for a magazine cover, the theme of the Christian name? I went with this idea for our Brazilian mag, delivered today to the printer.

    • Sometimes I dream of a Forthright print magazine, with news articles pulled from BNc, devotionals, and articles from our online zine. Then on days like today, after wrapping up the Brazilian mag, I give thanks we don’t have one in English.

    • Several challenges lately on some of our websites. I don’t consider it down-time, just part of the process to keep everything working smoothly. But Murphy’s Law guarantees that it all happens at once.

    • Say a prayer for the family of the nephew of our neighbors, who happen to be also The Maiden’s (former) music school teacher. The young man was killed by a gunshot to the head, in front of his house, apparently, by robbers. He was 26, engaged to be married.

    • In years past, and some this year, I’ve traveled across the country to speak. A lot. My dream is to say no to all travel, stay in my little region of the country (with some 3 million people) to write, publish, and evangelize around here. Can I start today, with future invitations? Can I?

    • Last Sunday, a young dating couple showed up at church. They’re from the greater São Paulo area, were up in the mountains on vacation with the girl’s mother, who’s not a Christian. The two of them, in their early 20s, made the hour trip to come to church. They’ve been Christians for three or four years. What an example!

    • Since the church’s mission is to teach the gospel to the whole world, which scenario should we be seeing: churches lined up to find missionaries to support, or missionaries scrambling and crisscrossing the country trying to find support? You know which one we see. What does that say about us?

     

     

    • Mike Riley 7:57 am on January 25, 2012 Permalink | Reply

      Randal, regarding your last comment and question about the church lining up to find missionaries to support. That will more than likely never happen because (1) many members are not willing to “deny self” (Matthew 16:24) and (2) creature comforts (nice church building, etc.) are more important.than sending monies to someone members may or may not know in a foreign land.

      We sing, “This World Is Not My Home” but we act like it is………

  • J. Randal Matheny 4:57 am on January 22, 2012 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: church membership, , ,   

    How do you answer: how to become a part of the church? 

    There are a number of ways to approach the question, obviously. But how do you (I don’t ask “would,” since you have probably answered it by now) answer when someone asks, “What do I do to become a part of the church?”

    I’m thinking of writing on this for next Sunday, so I’d like to get some perspective. Not that I don’t have one or haven’t answered it before. But it’s no trick question. Always looking to learn more from experienced saints.

    Fellows, feel free to make a separate post. Tag it as “church membership,” I guess.

     

    • Ron Thomas 5:07 am on January 22, 2012 Permalink | Reply

      I will generally reword their question to this: “What do I need to do to become a member of the body of Christ?” From there I continue on with the relevant Biblical passages. I sometimes answer this way: “To become a member of the Lord’s body one needs to become a Christian.” And then, finally, I have answered it this way also: “What do you mean by ‘church’?” These replies come according to the context of the conversation.

    • Eugene Adkins 6:44 am on January 23, 2012 Permalink | Reply

      My answer: Ask the Lord, listen to his answer and let him take care of it (Acts 2:47).

    • Stephen R. Bradd 8:19 am on January 23, 2012 Permalink | Reply

      The replies from Ron & Eugene are very good.

      It has been my observation that some are prone, in my opinion, to require MORE of a potential convert than the Lord Himself does (at that point in their walk). Let me clarify: If those on Pentecost could learn enough in 1 sermon and if the eunuch & jailor could learn enough in 1 Bible study to obey the gospel & be added to the family of God, then let us be careful not to require more knowledge than those did who were guided by the Holy Spirit into all the truth. After one becomes a disciple, then there is much more learning to take place (Matt. 28:19,20). If one is willing to commit Himself to Christ and to living by His word, he is ready to be immersed for the remission of His sins. God will add such a one to His church–even if there may be some misunderstandings to be dealt with on some of the finer matters of NT doctrine.

  • J. Randal Matheny 12:33 pm on January 20, 2012 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: , , Republican Party, American elections, religious institutions   

    Who knows what it means to prime a pump? 

    Prime the pump

    A hand pump, like we had on our back porch

    Another little poem’s up on the Christian Poets website, “Thought, Deed, and Motive.” I thank John H. for his TFR plug of the last one. No poem was planned for today, but sometimes they just pop out. A statement here, a rhythmic line there, and off goes the mind to register its flow.

    • Its’ called priming the pump. Probably nobody under 50 knows what that means, has ever poured the last bit of precious water into a hand pump to draw the cool liquid from the depths of the cistern.

    For me, priming the pump is reading broadly, wildly, even. Finding a phrase to match the mood, to strike the match to catch a flame.

    Oops, I switched metaphors on you. But what’s a metaphor for, if not to use and drop and swap?

    • Let me get on my soapbox for a minute. Unlike churches, religious institutions are often self-perpetuating, with their “development” departments to raise funds and provide a constant stream of income. That’s why they’re especially dangerous, with their tendency to stray from their original purpose and compromise their commitment to truth. I’ve found them to be like presidential candidates: they show lots of promise, but ultimately disappoint. (More …)

     

    • Eugene Adkins 6:52 pm on January 20, 2012 Permalink | Reply

      I’m under 50 and I know what it means to prime a pump…but maybe that’s because I grew up in the country.

      You said, “The older I get, the more I believe that the key to the church’s health and growth is contained in the one-on-one discipleship and the personal interaction within a congregation.”

      I would agree greatly! The growth that we have had at Keltonburg over the last 3-4 years has come from that very principle. It’s something that I encourage everyone to remember (along with my self).

      Politics??? Hasn’t changed much – at least the politicians themselves – since biblical times has it?

      Have a good un’ Randal.

      • J. Randal Matheny 5:38 am on January 21, 2012 Permalink | Reply

        Hey, Eugene! I didn’t think those kinds of pumps were even around anymore.

        Glad to hear about Keltonburg. I’d like to know more. God bless your efforts there.

        • Eugene Adkins 3:17 pm on January 21, 2012 Permalink

          I have to admit that I don’t know about “priming a pump” because I’ve used one that had to be started that way; I know about them because people in this area were familiar with them.

          What I said about Keltonburg is very true. Over the last few years we have helped to grow the kingdom although we have not grown in the congregation very much numerically speaking because we have had several families who obeyed the gospel because of personal work move away from the area due to jobs and other stuff like that.

          But in all reality, the new (2/3 years old) Christians at Keltonburg are due to people’s willingness to talk to others and their wilingness to invite them to worship where the rest of the congregation can help “kill them with kindness.” We have a good reputation for being kind to visitors. We don’t “gloat” over it but we strive to maintain it together! :)

        • J. Randal Matheny 3:20 pm on January 21, 2012 Permalink

          Ah, I see. The one I used at times was, shall we say, left over from older times, but it still worked, and it was a standby.

          Glad to hear that about Keltonburg. The churches that dwindle and die make news, mostly, I think, because progressives gloat in it, but the quiet, steady workers who advance the gospel don’t get seen much. So this is a great glimpse into the work of God.

  • J. Randal Matheny 7:00 am on January 19, 2012 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: church visitors, Don Petty, , translation of prepositions   

    We say, ‘Come;’ God says, ‘Go!’ 

    Our good brother Don Petty died last night. He and his wife Sylvia participated most recently in the Lewisville TX congregation. I’ve asked Jeff Jenkins to write up an obituary for BrotherhoodNews.com. Don worked in Iran when the Shah ruled.

    • Jeremiah Tatum has a good reminder about “Where Visitors Go to Die,” in a new Bulletin Digest article. Have you ever been in a church that ignored you? Most of us have, unfortunately. And were more than ready to get out. Reckon the Lord thinks that way too?

    • It’s a shame American churches (and others, of course) depend mostly upon their Sunday meetings for evangelism. They’re so ineffective. Not what the Lord intended, at all, to be church building- and preacher-centered. We say, “Come;” he says, “Go!”

    • A quote, from the last issue of our Brazilian magazine, on Phil 4:13, which says, “for the one bringing forth in you both the desire and the effort – for the sake of his good pleasure – is God” (NET). The quote, my translation: “The Lord works in the inside and on the outside. He it is who makes things happen, even within us.”

    • A translation item: In Portuguese the preposition for “in” and “on” is one and the same: em. The preposition is the most hairy part of language, to my mind. No rhyme or reason in their use. You just have to learn their contextual meanings. More so than other parts of language, it seems. A slavish literalism in translation has to go into denial when dealing with prepositions.

    • How about a parting quote? From The Memoirs of Glückel of Hameln. “A penny honestly earned is hard to part with. But man must learn to control his greed. For ’tis a universal proverb, ‘Stinginess never enriches and measured generosity never makes one poor.’ To everything there is a time—a time to get money and a time to give.”

     

    • Don Ruhl 5:01 pm on January 19, 2012 Permalink | Reply

      Randal, while I totally agree with the “come” versus “go” idea that you mentioned, it is true that Revelation 22 shows the bride, the church, saying, “Come,” but that is more of a welcome and invitation rather than just sitting back and waiting for people to arrive.

      It breaks my heart that we visit congregations where sometimes no one talks to us, and then we wonder why the church is not growing!

    • Eugene Adkins 10:01 pm on January 19, 2012 Permalink | Reply

      Randal, that is one gut-checking title. Thanks.

  • J. Randal Matheny 6:21 am on January 16, 2012 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: cleansing of the temple, , triumphal entry   

    The King on the colt looks and leaves 

    Doesn’t it seem to be an anti-climax after the triumphal entry that Jesus goes to the temple, looks around and then leaves, headed back to Bethany, from which he’d just come? He doesn’t drive out the sellers and buyers and upturn the tables until the next day.

    Then Jesus entered Jerusalem and went to the temple. And after looking around at everything, he went out to Bethany with the twelve since it was already late.

    What was the Lord’s point in doing this? The text doesn’t say explicitly, so we have to search for clues, if there are any. What do you make of Mark 11:11?

     

    • Steve 7:31 am on January 16, 2012 Permalink | Reply

      “already late” Could it have been that those who made a market at the temple had already left for the day? Possibly a poor comparison, but I contrast it with a farmer’s market which typically lasts until a predetermined time or until a vendor has sold out of product.

      • J. Randal Matheny 7:32 am on January 16, 2012 Permalink | Reply

        Hi, Steve, no doubt, but wouldn’t Jesus have know that? Did he get to the temple and suddenly go, “Oops, I see they’re closing shop for the day, so we’ll want until the morning to get out the old whip”?

    • Don Ruhl 7:55 am on January 16, 2012 Permalink | Reply

      The Lord does not always immediately act, such as when He sent angels to Sodom, and it was not until the next day that they destroyed Sodom. He looks things over. He is not in a hurry to punish and destroy. He knew that His time was short on earth, and He knew that the temple’s time on earth was short.

      • Roy Coffman 8:10 am on January 16, 2012 Permalink | Reply

        In looking at this little sotry we have to understnad that it is no longer safe for Jesus to sleep in the city. If we look close we can figure out that he will not spend another night in the city until his last fatal night.

    • Steve 8:30 am on January 16, 2012 Permalink | Reply

      Good point, Randal. To tag with don’s comments, how about this hybrid thought? So much conjecture could be made, but since Jesus wants none to perish, could he have thought his presence might have influenced the sellers, if still there? It is uncertain if the 12 entered the temple, but if so, possibly he viewed it as an opportunity to teach/show them what was wrong? I must constantly remind myself of two certainties: not all Words and Thoughts of the Lord are recorded; and, some questions can be answered only when we meet face to face with the Lord. This is not meant to be a cop out, but possibly an understanding of just one of the differences between me and the Lord. I appreciate so much your thought questions! And your encouragement!

    • J. Randal Matheny 4:00 am on January 18, 2012 Permalink | Reply

      Sorry to be so slow in getting back, gentlemen. Don, very true your observation, interesting connect with the destruction of Sodom and the Lord’s visit there to investigate. Steve, good thoughts to take into account as well.

      I wonder if we can connect his “looking around” with the seeing the fig tree and looking for fruit on it, which extends naturally to chap. 12 with the parable of the vineyard owner who sends to receive from the tenants his portion of the crop. The fig-tree story frames the purification of the temple in Mark’s gospel, which serves as commentary on it. So maybe the inspection of the tree might be connected to the inspection of the temple. Whatcha think?

  • J. Randal Matheny 3:05 pm on January 11, 2012 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: , portrayals of Christ, religious icons   

    Representations of Jesus 

    Feminine Jesus

    Remove the beard, and you have a woman

    I tend to shy away from posting or linking to representations of Jesus, first, to avoid any suggestion of veneration or idolatry and, second, from aversion to portrayals that artists make of him. So it is with a bit of consternation that I note I did it today, twice. On my English translation of the Portuguese devotional and on my Facebook profile.

    On the latter, at least, the Byzantine mosaic shows him as a beardless youth—after all, he was not yet 50, as the Jews delighted to point out. So that gives one something different to mull over about our Lord’s appearance, which, in the end, matters not at all. But some portrayals of him don’t agree with the written record at all. The feminine Jesus is one horrible example of that, coming as it apparently does from the distaff-driven Catholicism.

    In our youtube—MTV—cinema world, it stands as no small difference that the gospel is based, not on images, but on words. There are no reliable descriptions of any of Christianity’s major players, much less a graphic image of them. But there are no less than four accounts of the ministry of Christ. That is significant.

    Does anyone else tend to avoid graphic representations of Christ? Is this a hangover from my religious background? Or is there good reason for it, as I’ve hinted at above?

     

     

    • Chad Dollahite 3:45 pm on January 11, 2012 Permalink | Reply

      I also have an aversion to them, Randal, mostly for the same reasons as you. I still can’t figure why He is often presented in such an effeminate, almost weak, kind of way. Just going on His early work as a carpenter, as well as the immense physical torture He endured (which killed many before ever getting to the cross), He undoubtedly would have been a rather stout man. In fairness, I have seen some images which present Him as such, but I still shy away from them, again, for the reasons you have given. I love your thoughts here, though…good stuff (as always)!

    • Eugene Adkins 9:07 pm on January 11, 2012 Permalink | Reply

      I admire the hardwork/artwork that’s done of “Jesus” in a respectable way, but I myself am not fond of most interpretations of him nor of the adoration given/offered to them.

    • John Henson 3:13 pm on January 12, 2012 Permalink | Reply

      This is not a very big deal to many people in this country, mainly because they haven’t seen the influence this kind of thing has had on people of other countries. In Russia, the icons of the Orthodox Church are venerated. The images themselves, to them, are divine. In this, the same warnings of Jeremiah 9 and 10 apply: these figures are not God. They are not alive, they have no power, they are not divine.

    • johntpolk2 12:46 pm on January 13, 2012 Permalink | Reply

      Randal,
      I agree with your point. God always condemned images of Him or His Creation that would become objects of worship and devotion:
      “Take careful heed to yourselves, for you saw no form when the LORD spoke to you at Horeb out of the midst of the fire, lest you act corruptly and make for yourselves a carved image in the form of any figure: the likeness of male or female, the likeness of any animal that is on the earth or the likeness of any winged bird that flies in the air, the likeness of anything that creeps on the ground or the likeness of any fish that is in the water beneath the earth. And take heed, lest you lift your eyes to heaven, and when you see the sun, the moon, and the stars, all the host of heaven, you feel driven to worship them and serve them, which the LORD your God has given to all the peoples under the whole heaven as a heritage. (Deuteronomy 4:15-19 NKJV) Even in the New Testament it is plainly stated: “Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.” (1 John 5:21 NKJV)
      Notice in the Deuteronomy passage, God emphasized that none had seen the “form” of God, thus there should be no attempt at “picturing” God to de-emphasize any attempt to worship the “form” and not God, Himself.
      Then came Jesus Christ who “became flesh” (John 1:1-4, 14), but in “image” (eikon) was like God, and “form” (morphe) like God and man. It is worthy of note that, not one drawing, illustration, depiction of Jesus’ physical body survives from the 1st century. There are representations of Romans and others from that time, but God kept physical depictions of Jesus completely out of the ruins of the day.
      Therefore, only out-dated, completely subjective, and mistaken representations of the physical appearance of Jesus Christ are available today! Christians must bear the “image” (eikon) of the heavenly “Adam,” but all humans bear the “image” (eikon) of the physical “Adam” (1 Corinthians 15:49).
      Since God is not to be physically imaged, and Jesus is God, then surely it should give pause to all those who attempt to picture Him “whom no man has seen or can see” 1 Timothy 6:16.

  • J. Randal Matheny 11:40 am on January 11, 2012 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: cowboy wisdom, , ,   

    Welcome to ‘Old Cowboy’ Roy Coffman 

    Please welcome TFR’s newest Fellow, Roy Coffman, who will be sharing some old cowboy wisdom with us. He tired of Facebook (a common tendency these days), so we invited him to share his posts here.

    Roy is from Oklahoma, lives in Omaha, Nebr., and is a preacher with experience in broadcasting.

    We look forward to learning from Roy’s old cowboy experience and insight.

     

  • J. Randal Matheny 6:27 am on January 3, 2012 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: bad weather, , fair weather friends, follow Christ   

    Fair-weather discipleship 

    DiscipleshipPundits and pollsters are watching the weather in Iowa today. Today is the GOP caucus, the first real test of the Republican presidential candidates. Bad weather might keep people at home, rather than coming out and voting for a candidate. Bad weather tests people’s commitment. At some level of inconvenience, many people will give up on the idea of getting out to vote and will opt instead to stay home.

    Some people’s faith is like their political commitments. Bad weather causes them to toss the towel, for a day, at least. Getting one’s feet wet is enough to keep a person from meeting with the saints, from serving a neighbor, from teaching a lost soul. But that day may be crucial. Spiritual destinies may be at stake on that day. A soul may lose out, because bad weather kept a Christian in.

    We’re not talking death for one’s faith. No, not even persecution, nor ridicule, nor loss of property. We’re talking bad weather.

    To such people, Jesus says, “Don’t bother!”

    The Lord doesn’t want fair-weather friends. He refuses to accept people who wait around to bury their father, to conduct their business, to take care of their affairs, before they get around to following him. He didn’t negotiate with the rich young ruler. He let him walk away, that prime specimen, that fine candidate for a disciple.

    He negotiates with no one. He lowers the bar for none. He extends no grace to the half-hearted.

    Jesus wants people who will get up and move when he calls.

    If you’re not going to come out during bad weather, if you’re not going to pay the full price, if you’re not going to give up all to follow him, don’t come at all.

    Just stay at home and watch the caucus results on the telly.

    Maybe some elders and preachers ought to say as much to those sitting in the pews.

     

    • michaelcollins1 7:45 am on January 3, 2012 Permalink | Reply

      Thanks for a straightforward position on the major problem in the lord’s church, as a preacher I’ve been appalled at people’s lack of spiritual fervor, zeal, dedication and commitment to the Lord’s day; Truly amazing to me. Especially knowing what the Lord Jesus endured in giving his life for mankind and then understanding the ultimate price that the Apostles and the early Christians paid with their own blood. Thanks again for a biblical perspective in lieu of the political climate here in 2012. Godspeed My Brother.!!!

    • John Henson 1:09 pm on January 3, 2012 Permalink | Reply

      True, true. Many times people describe their conviction, or lack of it, with their feet. After all, feet are supposed to be ruled by the thinking part: the mind. Nothing declares the message more loudly and influences people more readily than that of feet that stay away from the service of God.

      • J. Randal Matheny 6:33 am on January 4, 2012 Permalink | Reply

        Thanks to you both for the comments. Let’s set ourselves on fire for the Lord, and perhaps others will catch it. (Not implying you haven’t already.)

    • Mike Riley 11:25 am on January 7, 2012 Permalink | Reply

      Another good article, Randal! If our mind goes first to the assembly, our feet will have to follow.

  • J. Randal Matheny 8:32 pm on December 31, 2011 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: , stats   

    2011 in review 

    The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2011 annual report for this blog.

    Here’s an excerpt:

    The concert hall at the Syndey Opera House holds 2,700 people. This blog was viewed about 44,000 times in 2011. If it were a concert at Sydney Opera House, it would take about 16 sold-out performances for that many people to see it.

    Click here to see the complete report.

     

  • J. Randal Matheny 7:42 pm on December 31, 2011 Permalink | Reply  

    Happy new year! 

    As Brazil counts down the minutes to midnight, I wish a very happy new year to all, and the blessings of God on you and yours.

     

  • J. Randal Matheny 4:21 pm on December 30, 2011 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: , ,   

    Nudge: What must the wise know beforehand? 

    I read this in some recent research: “The wise man must not know after but know before.” —Epicharmus (460 BC), cited in C. Spicq, TLNT, 2:472

    I used it on my blog, also, but here’s a question for you to answer in the comments or, if you’re a long-winded Fellow (which is a good thing), in a separate TFR post: What must the wise man know beforehand?

    Yup, I made a Nudge out of it.

     

    • Barbara Ann Oliver 4:25 pm on December 30, 2011 Permalink | Reply

      That he does not know.

    • Eugene Adkins 6:16 pm on December 30, 2011 Permalink | Reply

      How about what he himself would do in a certain situation? Or maybe even the real source of wisdom? (Psalm 111:10; Proverbs 9:10) Of course this is from a Christian perspective. I have a hard time giving opinions from any other perspective now…but if you ask my wife she says I do very well with seeing things from a “man’s perspective” especially when it comes to stinky things like perfume :) But she knew that before she married me – there’s another answer for your question!

      Good question.

  • J. Randal Matheny 3:53 pm on December 29, 2011 Permalink | Reply  

    Writing goals for the new year 

    Yesterday, I wrote 2163 words; today, 1420 on 2 separate projects. Goal for 2012 is to write 1000/day. Is a can-do.

     

  • J. Randal Matheny 4:24 am on December 25, 2011 Permalink | Reply
    Tags:   

    Santa sighting on the moon 

    Santa on moon

    The old man made the rounds last night, didn’t he?

     

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