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  • mtmcvb 11:42 pm on February 9, 2010 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: ,   

    The raising of Lazarus vs Jewish belief of the spirit 

    The Jews had a belief that the spirit of the dead kept vigil by the tomb for three days, watching for a chance to come back into the body; but on the fourth day, when the disintegration of the body has fully set in, the spirit flies away. (1926 Peloubet’s Select Notes on the International Sunday School Lessons, page 66) By waiting until the fourth day to raise Lazarus, Jesus was dismissing the validity of this belief. Obviously there was much more addressed in the miracle, but it is interesting that the Jews had this superstition.

     

  • mtmcvb 2:34 am on January 18, 2010 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: , ,   

    Do we give? 

    I am sure there are others on this list who have been to mission fields where one must be careful when making comments of praise when in homes. I had been told to be careful with praise when in Ukrainians’ homes. If you make a highly praised comment about a picture or item of clothing you just may leave with that item. It is considered proper hospitality to offer something the guest finds attractive or interesting. And it is taken as an insult if you refuse to take it.

    On my second trip to Ukraine I was invited to a non-Christian’s home. This young couple had met me on my first trip. They had even named their first child after me (I still do  not understand that one…).  They lived in a very small apartment. It had 2 rooms. They had very little earthly possessions. They were so excited that I accepted their invitation and had prepared a wonderful meal. While the wife was serving our soup, I noticed she was using one of those very colorful painted spoons that you normally see in gift shops or as decoration on walls. I made a comment that it was the first time I had seen such a spoon used. She asked me if I thought it was pretty. I acknowledged that I did indeed find such spoons beautiful. When I was preparing to leave their home, the woman brought me the spoon and told me it was now mine. I told her that I never intended to give her the idea that I wanted the spoon (she only had one more). She insisted I take it as thanks for being in their home. While I wanted to argue and refuse the spoon I knew I could not without insulting them. I treasure that spoon as much as anything I have ever obtained overseas.

    Our Lord physically visited our world. He lived as a man so that he might die as a man for our sins. What do we give him as thanks? Does the gift of the non-Christian Ukrainian woman make our gifts of thanks appear small and trite?

     

    • Mike Riley 3:12 am on January 18, 2010 Permalink | Reply

      Wow! This lady obviously understood what true hospitality is all about – sharing what you have with someone else, even though you don’t much to share. The Widow’s 2 mites comes to mind, as well as Mary anointing Jesus’ with precious ointment (Mark 12:41-44; Mark 14:3-9).

  • mtmcvb 10:24 pm on December 28, 2009 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: , ,   

    A New Year
    Adam B. Cozort

    If two thousand ten is like two thousand nine,
    Opportunities will abound for the Lord’s work to shine.
    But if the latter year is not like the first,
    Will it be better or will it be worse?
    The good news, my brethren, is it does not matter,
    For our God will be with us for worse or for better.

    As we usher a new year in once again,
    God will remain with us as He has always been.
    However, our God requires action from us.
    Will you be counted among those He can trust?
    Will you stand with the faithful on the front line of battle,
    or will you try to just stand in the back and prattle?

    As we start this new year the time is at hand,
    To present God’s Word to all that we can.
    Will you stand faithful and use all your might,
    To stand for what is godly, true, and right?
    There is no individual God does not want.
    None who cannot help with the task from the front.

    In this new year our task should be clear:
    To spread the Gospel both far and near.
    Will you resolve to put God first in your life,
    Whatever the conflict, whatever the strife?
    To resolve to fulfill our Lord’s commands,
    Even if it makes you unpopular with friends.

    The new year approaches, it has reached the front door.
    It is time to decide what you will use this year for.
    Will you come with me and stand by my side,
    To hold up the banner, to fight and not hide?
    With God on our side who can stand in our way?
    Only ourselves, if we choose not to stay.

     

  • mtmcvb 12:27 am on December 27, 2009 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: , , religious education format   

    Not sure if this has been discussed here. http://www.courier-journal.com/article/2009912220363
    This article discusses how many 'seminaries' are looking to decrease the number of students on campus and go to long distant/internet education formats. I know Jody Apple works with VBI, there is OABS, East Tennessee School of Preaching is looking to this format, and I am sure there are others. With the probable economic collapse in the next few years, do you see preaching schools (and degreed programs) having trouble surviving and others going to other teaching formats?

    Citation

     

  • mtmcvb 12:21 am on December 27, 2009 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: , , narcissism, ,   

    "[T]he only foundation for a useful education in a republic is to be laid in religion. Without this there can be no virtue, and without virtue there can be no liberty, and liberty is the object and life of all republican governments."

    --Benjamin Rush, On the Mode of Education Proper in a Republic, 1806

     

  • mtmcvb 12:15 am on December 27, 2009 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: , heritage, , ,   

    "Let the American youth never forget, that they possess a noble inheritance, bought by the toils, and sufferings, and blood of their ancestors; and capacity, if wisely improved, and faithfully guarded, of transmitting to their latest posterity all the substantial blessings of life, the peaceful enjoyment of liberty, property, religion, and independence." --Joseph Story, Commentaries on the Constitution, 1833

    In much of the above we could apply it to our spiritual citizenship.

    Citation

     

  • mtmcvb 8:30 pm on December 9, 2009 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: , , , , university   

    http://www.reporternews.com/news/2009/dec/08/acu-prepares-to-welcome-and-interview-finalists/

    Not sure if this is the kind of news folks want to read. ACU is interviewing President candidates for the school. Notice this quote from the article “Is that (Church of Christ affiliation) something that should be preserved or do the candidates think it is time to move away from that connection?” Pamplin said he wants to know. “Specifically, should the church of Christ membership requirement for board members and faculty members be maintained or not?”

    I believe the school has been going the wrong way for decades. But this is an outright admission that they are officially thinking of dropping the relationship. Yet they also state they want to be the premier Christian University in the nation. That statement tells a great deal.

     

    • Richard Mansel 8:47 pm on December 9, 2009 Permalink | Reply

      Unbelievable. I mean it isn’t surprising from the way they have conducted themselves. But, still, to see it in print in such a blatant repudiation of truth is still staggering. They apparently believe Christians are in denominations, as well. *sigh*

    • Mike Riley 8:49 pm on December 9, 2009 Permalink | Reply

      About 40 years ago, this question would have not even surfaced among faithful followers of Christ. We can now plainly see what two generations of not strictly adhering to the spiritual principles found in the saving gospel of Christ, is doing to the Lord’s church.

      It’s obvious to me that the leadership at ACU wants churches of Christ to be like the denominations around about them (cf. 1 Samuel 8:1-7). They may not say it outright, but that’s what they are promoting by this statement in the article: “it is time to move away from that connection.”

    • Randal Matheny 9:49 pm on December 9, 2009 Permalink | Reply

      I emailed Dr. Pamplin and asked him for clarifications about his statements in yesterday’s newspaper report.

      • Randal Matheny 11:43 pm on December 9, 2009 Permalink | Reply

        I already heard back from Dr. Pamplin. I’ve asked him permission to share his clarification in places I haunt on the Internet. Suffice it to say, however, that he does not support the removal of the requirement that board members and faculty be members of the church.

    • Weylan Deaver 10:20 pm on December 9, 2009 Permalink | Reply

      More evidence that a school should die with its founder?

      • Randal Matheny 12:08 am on December 10, 2009 Permalink | Reply

        I’ve often thought about that, Weylan. And other ministries, as well. Mine, for instance.

    • Kim Pamplin 3:36 pm on December 10, 2009 Permalink | Reply

      Here is a question sent to me by Emily Peters, the Abilene Reporter-News writer, together with a portion of the exact text that I emailed to her.

      Peters: “What kind of questions might the faculty want to ask incoming presidential finalists?”

      Pamplin: “Some of the questions that faculty members will ask relate to how the candidates perceive ACU’s continued relationship with the churches of Christ. Is that something that should be preserved or do the candidates think it is time to move away from that connection? Specifically, should the church of Christ membership requirement for board members and faculty members be maintained or not?”

      I and many of my colleagues are not encouraging a move away from CofC. However, we want to know what the candidates’ views are because their opinions will greatly affect the future of the university. I’m sure you agree that we absolutely must ask these questions of these candidates.

      mtmcvb: The title of this post, “Must Christian College President be a Christian,” seems to be extended from my comments. However, I believe you will agree that I never made any statement regarding whether or not the current presidential candidates should be members of the church of Christ. In fact, the prospectus for the position is very clear about this requirement.

      Your statement, “But this is an outright admission that they are officially thinking of dropping the relationship,” attaches “official” to my words in the interview. I should clarify that the requirements for full-time faculty and board members to be active members of a church of Christ are set by the board, and only they can make that change. At any rate, I can only speak as a faculty leader. I cannot speak officially for the university.

      Mr. Riley, I can see how my comments might have been misinterpreted, but I can assure you that I absolutely did not mean to imply that I think “it is time to move away from that connection.” I personally believe that the CofC requirement for faculty and board members should be retained. I think we must ask these questions to candidates, and I’m guessing you would ask these questions also if you believe that the CofC relationship is important to maintain.

      Thanks to Mr. Matheny for bringing me into this conversation. I would be happy to continue to discuss my views with you if you like.

      Kim Pamplin
      Chair Elect of the Faculty Senate
      ACU

      • Richard Mansel 7:34 pm on December 10, 2009 Permalink | Reply

        Thank you for your reply Dr. Pamplin, but it fails to solve all of the problems.

        You say that you believe that the next President should be a member of the Church of Christ. That is good. But it by no means resolves the problem. The fact that it is under consideration that the next President does not have to be a member of the Lord’s Church is a serious issue. That it is even under consideration may have serious repercussions.

        It may create a perception in the minds of their students about how they should view the importance of the church. If you want to be one of the premier Christian universities in America and the President isn’t a Christian, then do you not open yourselves up to saying that people outside of the Church are Christians? How is that Biblical?

        There is a much different definition of the Church and of a Christian emerging in the Church and that is very worrisome. This is opening a door that you may not be able to close again.

        • Kim Pamplin 2:01 pm on December 11, 2009 Permalink

          The next president of ACU must be an active member of a church of Christ. This requirement is not under consideration. It is firm. No one has suggested that our next president might not be a member of the Lord’s church.

  • mtmcvb 2:03 pm on December 8, 2009 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: ,   

    Lifenews reports that an abortion center in Michigan says that abortion is a God-given right.

     

  • mtmcvb 2:01 pm on December 8, 2009 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: , ,   

    A child was taken away from its family and given to the Mother’s former lesbian lover.

     

  • mtmcvb 2:00 pm on December 8, 2009 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: , Jefferson,   

    "We are firmly convinced, and we act on that conviction, that with nations as with individuals our interests soundly calculated will ever be found inseparable from our moral duties, and history bears witness to the fact that a just nation is trusted on its word when recourse is had to armaments and wars to bridle others." --Thomas Jefferson, Second Inaugural Address, 1805

    Citation

     

  • mtmcvb 12:40 pm on November 26, 2009 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: G. Washington, , ,   

    George Washington's 1789 Thanksgiving Proclamation

    Whereas it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favor; and Whereas both Houses of Congress have, by their joint committee, requested me to "recommend to the people of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer, to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many and signal favors of Almighty God, especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness:"

    Now, therefore, I do recommend and assign Thursday, the 26th day of November next, to be devoted by the people of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being who is the beneficent author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be; that we may then all unite in rendering unto Him our sincere and humble thanks for His kind care and protection of the people of this country previous to their becoming a nation; for the signal and manifold mercies and the favorable interpositions of His providence in the course and conclusion of the late war; for the great degree of tranquility, union, and plenty which we have since enjoyed; for the peaceable and rational manner in which we have been enable to establish constitutions of government for our safety and happiness, and particularly the national one now lately instituted for the civil and religious liberty with which we are blessed, and the means we have of acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge; and, in general, for all the great and various favors which He has been pleased to confer upon us.

    And also that we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations and beseech Him to pardon our national and other transgressions; to enable us all, whether in public or private stations, to perform our several and relative duties properly and punctually; to render our National Government a blessing to all the people by constantly being a Government of wise, just, and constitutional laws, discreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed; to protect and guide all sovereigns and nations (especially such as have shown kindness to us), and to bless them with good governments, peace, and concord; to promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and the increase of science among them and us; and, generally to grant unto all mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as He alone knows to be best.

    Given under my hand, at the city of New York, the 3d day of October, A.D. 1789.

     

    • Royce Pendergrass 2:45 pm on November 26, 2009 Permalink | Reply

      Today basically ends the Thanksgiving holiday in this country. This is a unique American tradition and I had always considered it to be a New Plymouth Colony celebration but I am now learning the Jamestown Colony had a similar observance a year earlier. Then, this week, I learned it was a native American observance from long before the first European Colonies were established. This leads me to believe I was wrong in thinking that the pilgrims instituted this celebration, inviting the native Americans to join them. It seems is was the opposite. Regardless of its historic and secular origin, Thanksgiving is a wonderful holiday and is certainly one which we need to consider the importance of and continue to enjoy keeping in a true thankful attitude each year.
      Thanksgiving must, however, be more than football, turkey and parades. It must be a time when a nation of citizens blessed beyond measure at least stops to express appreciation to God for all of His wonderful blessings. Oh, some folks in this great country do not believe in the Most Holy God and some maintain some warped view of Him and the role He plays in their lives. Consider this statement by the Apostle Paul in Romans 1:20-21 “Since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened.”
      So many in our society do not glorify God and maintain a faith in Him and are therefore unable to express thanksgiving to Him for all His wonderful and gracious blessings. Again, let’s look to the Apostle Paul for this truth: “For all things are for your sakes, that grace, having spread through the many, may cause thanksgiving to abound to the glory of God” (2 Corinthians 4:15).
      All of God’s creation should recognize God and honor Him for His grace that has been provided for us – grace that brings us all great and wonderful blessings. We often sing a song that says “Count your many blessings, name them one by one. Count your many blessings, see what God has done.” We may be unable to do anything else to worship and express our adoration of God but we can be thankful for the blessings He has provided.
      This week (or any week) should not be about holidays, great sales at the stores, parades and ball games. Every day should be about worshipping God as He would be worshipped and being thankful for His manifold blessings. For some time in our country, this past Friday has been referred to as “Black Friday.” Instead of remembering the holiday for such a time as this, let’s look back with thanksgiving to the “Black Friday” over 2,000 years ago when the Son of God died on a Roman cross. Let’s remember that “Christ died for our sins” (1 Cor. 15:3). His blood was shed for all mankind “for the remission of sins” (Matthew 26:28). This great gift of His love provides us with the hope of living in an eternity with God, Jesus, the angels and the saints of all ages! How could anyone ever come up with an idea of something for which to be more thankful? It’s not possible. When we realize the importance of the sacrifice Jesus made, Thanksgiving won’t be just a wonderful holiday but every day. In Christ, Royce

  • mtmcvb 1:06 pm on November 24, 2009 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: limited federal powers   

    "This government is acknowledged by all, to be one of enumerated powers."

    -- Justice John Marshall
    (1755-1835) US Supreme Court Chief Justice
    Source: McCulloch v. Maryland
    http://quotes.liberty-tree.ca/quote_blog/John.Marshall.Quote.A3D9

    "If any state in the Union will declare that it prefers separation...
    to a continuance in union... I have no hesitation in saying,
    'let us separate.' "

    -- Thomas Jefferson
    (1743-1826), US Founding Father, drafted the Declaration of Independence, 3rd US President
    Source: letter to W. Crawford, June 20, 1816
    http://quotes.liberty-tree.ca/quote_blog/Thomas.Jefferson.Quote.2551

    "We start with first principles. The Constitution
    creates a Federal Government of enumerated powers."

    -- William H. Rehnquist
    Chief Justice, U. S. Supreme Court
    Source: United States v. Lopez
    http://quotes.liberty-tree.ca/quote_blog/William.Rehnquist.Quote.ECFF

     

  • mtmcvb 1:04 pm on November 24, 2009 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: federal powers   

    "The regular distribution of power into distinct departments; the introduction of legislative balances and checks; the institution of courts composed of judges holding their offices during good behavior; the representation of the people in the legislature by deputies of their own election... They are means, and powerful means, by which the excellences of republican government may be retained and its imperfections lessened or avoided."

    --Alexander Hamilton, Federalist No. 9, 1787

     

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