Forthright is published by a group of friends for people who want new treasures from God's storeroom on their way to the Cross. The daily e-zine is published online and by email, with original content.

Copyright © 2002-2004 by Forthright Magazine. All rights reserved. Articles rights revert to the authors after publication. Randal Matheny, editor.

About us

A. A. Neale

Neale is a Christian writer mesmerized by God's mercy. With that, he can't think of much else to say about himself.

Except that he also has a sense of humor.

He writes in the Thankful column when his ticker will let him.

Barbara Oliver

Our Assistant Editor works with J.C. and Betty Choate, long-time missionaries to India. Barbara serves as layout editor for The Voice of Truth International and its Spanish edition, La Voz de la Verdad Internacional. She also does layout and design for most of the books for J.C. Choate Publications. She enjoys working with computers and loves to read. An avid beekeeper, you can find her buzzing around at beezoliver.com.

Barbara makes sure you get Forthright's great articles in your email box. She also turns into a writer on Tuesdays for Oliver's Twist.

Barry Newton

Barry was a missionary in Florianopolis, Brazil, for several years and is married to Sofia, a Brazilian from Belo Horizonte. He now works with the Central church in San Jose, California, and uses his thinking cap to produce articles that get down to the nitty-gritty of our faith.

Barry writes on Wednesdays in the Hands-on Faith column.

Don Ruhl

Don has been preaching for 24 years, starting with the North Long Beach Church of Christ in Long Beach, California 1980-1983. He worked with the Nile Street Church in Klamath Falls, Oregon 1983-2002. He preaches for the Savage Street congregation in Grants Pass, Oregon.

Don keeps us twice blessed daily with his short devotionals.

Emmett Smith III

Emmett preaches for a small congregation near Paragould, Arkansas, where he was born and raised. He is a 1975 graduate of Crowley's Ridge College in Paragould (Bible), an alumnus of Harding University in Searcy (Bible/Chemistry), and a 1988 graduate of Arkansas State University in Jonesboro with a BS in Engineering. He and his wife Jeanina have three daughters, two of whom they still home-school. The eldest daughter is studying at Faulkner University. In addition to his interest in scriptural studies, Emmett is also a Professional Engineer and is working towards certification as a Professional Land Surveyor.

Sundays are Emmett's day to write in Understanding the Times.

Gregory Alan Tidwell

Greg has served as a minister for the church of Christ at 1130 Fishinger Road in Columbus, Ohio, since 1984. He and his wife Peggy have identical twin sons, David and Jordan. Greg holds a MA from Vanderbilt University. He serves as Acquisitions Editor and Columnist for Gospel Advocate Company.

Greg writes Fridays in Outlines of Faith.

Dr. Jimmy Jividen

Jimmy speaks across the country frequently, is a prolific author, and just doesn't stop when it comes to getting word out about the gospel. He works with the Oldham Lane congregation in Abilene, Texas.

On Tuesdays, Jimmy prefers to speak where the Scriptures Speak.

(Jimmy has been battling illness lately, but hopes to appear now and again.)

Kevin Cauley

Born in Abilene, Texas, in 1968, Kevin was adopted into the Charles and Bobbie Cauley family as an infant. They moved to Austin, Texas, where he was raised. He graduated from the Southwest School of Bible Studies in 1989, with a degree in Philosophy and Greek from the University of Texas at Austin in 1994. In 1991 Kevin married the former Mary Lynn Forehand. He worked in the computer industry from 1995-2001 and was laid off after 9/11, when he also decided to preach full time. During his education and employment, he preached part time. He is currently preaching in his first full time work at the Berryville, Arkansas, church of Christ.

Kevin has two boys, Austin, 7, and Charlie, 5. There's never a dull moment in the Cauley household.

On Saturdays, Kevin serves up tasty bites in Basic Greek.

Michael E. Brooks

Mike is Minister of Missions and Evangelism with Highland Park Church of Christ in Muscle Shoals, Alabama. He began preaching the Gospel in 1967. Since 1988 Mike has been involved in foreign missions in South America, Africa, and South Asia. Beginning in 1999 he devoted full time to missions, primarily in Bangladesh and Nepal.

Decatur, Alabama, natives, Mike and Brenda (Campbell) have been married for 36 years, with three children and five grandchildren. Mike is a graduate of David Lipscomb University (BA) and Harding University Graduate School of Religion (MAR). He authored In Search of Perfection: Studies from Job.

As Director of Khulna, Bangladesh, Bible College, Mike divides his year between Asia and the U.S. He campaigns in Bangladesh and Nepal. In May 2003 he spoke on the first annual Bible Lectures of the School of Biblical Studies in Jos, Nigeria.

Mike jots down Field Notes on Saturdays.

Mike Benson

Mike has been married 21 years as of Dec. 18, 2004, to Molly Lanore Claiborne of Dalton, Georgia. They have two daughters, Bethany (16) and Kathryn (13), and a cat, Lucky (5).

Mike is a 1983 graduate of Freed-Hardeman University with a BA in Bible. He and his family reside in Evansville, Indiana.

Mike's articles have appeared in Carolina Messenger, Power, Words of Truth, Gospel Gazette Online, The Voice of Truth International, The World Evangelist, The Gospel Journal, Biblical Notes, and Fulton County Gospel News. Mike is editor of KneEmail, a Monday-Friday brief, devotional message.

Mike fosters Fidelity every Thursday.

Mitchell Skelton

Mitchell, a Middle Tennessee native, born 1969, is the husband of Sheryl Skelton. They have three beautiful children, ages seven, three and two. Mitchell preaches at Midway church of Christ in Lawrenceburg, Tennessee. He is a 1992 graduate of Lipscomb University and is pursuing his degree in Bible at Heritage Christian University in Florence, Alabama. Mitchell is also a small business owner operating a convenience store and Subway sandwich shop in partnership with his father.

On Thursdays, Mitchell opens The X-Files, an "x-pository" focus on unity and other Biblical issues.

Dr. Philip D. Sanders

A Shawnee, Oklahoma, native born in 1951, Phil married Jackie in 1974. They produced four daughters. He has studied at Oklahoma Christian, Harding Graduate School of Religion, Oklahoma University, David Lipscomb University, and the Theological University of America. He served churches in Oklahoma, Mississippi, Texas, and Arkansas, and currently ministers with the Concord Rd. church in Brentwood, Tenn. He teaches in the Nashville School of Preaching and Great Commission School. Among his writings and books is Adrift: Postmodernism in the Church, released February, 2000, by the Gospel Advocate Co. He shares his sermons on SandersSermons.

Phil chimes in Sundays with his column From Friend to Friend.

J. Randal Matheny

Randal teaches Jesus in Brazilian homes several nights a week. During the day, he writes and publishes material for churches in Brazil. He travels across the country to teach and preach, currently with the courses "Total Transformation" and "This We Believe." He and his wife Vicki will celebrate 20 years in Brazil in November, 2004. They have three terrific kids, the oldest in college. He just happens to edit Forthright. You can read his weblog or mission reports online at randalmatheny.com . Cloudburst Poetry is his pasttime.

Randal says his piece on Mondays with Final Phase.

Richard Mansel

Richard is the preacher of the Lone Star church of Christ in Falls of Rough, Kentucky. He has been preaching full-time since 1995 following several years of secular work in education and retail. He attended graduate school at Freed-Hardeman and Southern Christian where he obtained Masters degrees in Ministry and Divinity.

He has been writing for many years and has had articles in several brotherhood publications and edits a weekly newsletter entitled Culture Wars, examining social issues in the news. He is married to Deirdre and they have two daughters, Chelsea and Sarah.

Richard appeals to those not familiar with Christianity on Tuesdays, with Square One.

Stan Mitchell

Stan was born in Abilene, Texas, the son of Loy and Donna Mitchell, missionaries to Zimbabwe. His upbringing was thus in southern Africa. He has a BA and MA from Abilene Christian University, and a Master of Divinity from Pepperdine. He did mission work in Zimbabwe for ten years and preached for ten years in California. For the last six, he has served as pulpit minister for the church of Christ in Borger, Texas. He is married to the former Marjorie McCarthy, and has one daughter, Tracy.

He has authored two books, The Wise Get Wiser, and the Foolish More Foolish, and Give the Winds a Mighty Voice: Our Worship in Song.

Stan does a Reality Check on Wednesdays.

Tim Hall

Having grown up in Cumberland, Kentucky, as the son of a coal miner, Tim graduated from Freed-Hardeman University in 1976 with two BAs in Bible and Communications. He received a Masters in 1979 from University of Wisconsin, Madison. Tim has served the Central Church of Christ in Johnson City since June of 1983.

He is married to Joyce Edlin, whom he met at FHU. They have two sons, Nathan and David, one daughter, Rebecca, and one daughter-in-law, Amy. Tim has published the e-mail devotional HEM-Lines since May of 1997.

With Tim, every Friday is Good Friday. Catch his Heavenly Connections to set you up for a great weekend.

UPDATED 2004 JULY 7.

New Additions