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Treasure and Trash Together
randal, Monday, 21. June 2004, 18:49
by J. Randal Matheny
In my email program, I have two kinds of folders. The first are the automatic ones, like Inbox, Sent, Drafts, Trash, and Junk Mail. These stay at the top of the list. The second set I created, for people, lists subscriptions, and ezines. In that second set is a folder called aaineedthis, for emails important to me. Perhaps a special message dear to my heart. Or something I want to read with some frequency. Hence, the "ineedthis" part (I need this). I added the two "aa's" at the beginning to place this folder at the top of the alphabetical listing. When I named that folder, a funny thing happened. The last automatic folder is Junk Mail, where my spam filter throws dubious messages. The first created folder is aaaineedthis. So the two folders, Junk Mail and aaineedthis, are neighbors, one right below the other. The content of each is drastically different. Life is like my folders. The junk and the treasures often lie side by side. Trash is often thrown beneath -- or on top of -- the treasure. Next door to the church building may operate the strip joint or the alcoholic's bar. On the bookshelf a commentary faithful to the text may stand next to a work marred by skepticism and faulty scholarship. The catch is knowing the difference. Because in real life, the junk may be named treasure and the worthy may be called trash. (This is not a new problem, says Isaiah 5:20-21.) So Scripture tells us to watch out, to discern between what's good and what's bad. "... test everything; hold fast to what is good; abstain from every form of evil" (1 Thessalonians 5:21-22, NRSV). "... weigh what is said" (1 Corinthians 14:29). "A discerning man keeps wisdom in view, but a fool's eyes wander to the ends of the earth" (Proverbs 17:24, NIV). "Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free" (John 8:32). Let's make sure our junk file doesn't hold something precious. And that our "aaineedthis" file, or whatever you may name it, doesn't harbor trash. For our freedom depends on it. |
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Update on FMag
Forthright Magazine continues, more dynamic than ever! We have groups created for FMag on Facebook and the Churches of Christ Network. Announcement blog is up and going on Preachers Files. Email lists about FMag and FPress are available both on Yahoo and GoogleGroups. And, to top it all off, we're twittering for both on Twitter.com. by randal @ 2009.01.20, 11:55 Titanic and How We Leave the Lord
Just wanted to thank Richard Mansel for all his articles. I used this one in my sermon today at church. I'm not a regular preacher, but we are taking turns until we get a new one. Thanks again. A Christian Friend, Ron Reynolds by ronreynolds @ 2008.04.27, 21:18 Persuaded Without Knowledge
Yesterday my cousin died,she and I were taught the gospel,neither of us obeyed at that time,she and I wer both baptist,we found comfort in the once saved always saved and we both didn't undestand Paul being so chavinistic,that was back in the mid 80's,Years latter I was taught the Gospel again and I obeyed but she never did.One of the scrptures that influenced my decesion was Ephesians 5:19,For years music was my spirit uplifter more so than preaching,and denominations know ... more ... by helenh205 @ 2005.10.13, 12:51 How to Make Sure That Your Judgment Is Flawless
by Don Ruhl Read the Bible in a Year This evening read John 5:24--47 How to Make Sure That Your Judgment Is Flawless Yes, it is popular to say that we are not supposed to judge, but the truth is we all make judgments about many things daily. Otherwise, we would never succeed in life. The real question is what is our guide for judging. Why can we not simply follow the example of our Master and Lord? He said, 30 ... more ... by diane amberg @ 2005.05.18, 04:08 Do You Ever Feel Like Just a Name?
by Don Ruhl Read the Bible in a Year This morning read First Chronicles 1--3 Do You Ever Feel Like Just a Name? Think on the manner, in which the Book of First Chronicles begins, 1 Adam, Seth, Enosh (1 Chr. 1:1). In this way begins the longest genealogy in the Bible. The names continue to the end of the ninth chapter! Were these just names? Adam; who is he? You know there is more in the Bible than the mere ... more ... by diane amberg @ 2005.05.18, 04:05 ...
by Don Ruhl Read the Bible in a Year This evening read John 5:1--23 Jesus healed a man. Praise God! However, Jesus healed him on the Sabbath. Uh oh. Some people were ready to kill Jesus for this perceived violation of the Sabbath Law. 16 For this reason the Jews persecuted Jesus, and sought to kill Him, because He had done these things on the Sabbath (Joh. 5:16). Jesus did a good thing. Yet, people criticized Him severely for it. And ... more ... by diane amberg @ 2005.05.18, 04:03 They Were His Servants
by Don Ruhl Read the Bible in a Year This morning read Second Kings 24 and 25 They Were His Servants As the writer of Second Kings explains whom the Lord sent against Judah, the writer said that this was 2 ...according to the word of the LORD which He had spoken by His servants the prophets (2 Kin. 24:2). Those great men we have honored for centuries were nothing more than servants of the Lord God. What does that make ... more ... by diane amberg @ 2005.05.18, 04:01 ...
by Don Ruhl Read the Bible in a Year This evening read John 4:30--54 The disciples went into a town to buy food while Jesus remained out of the town. There He engaged a woman in conversation. When the disciples returned, here is what happened, 31 In the meantime His disciples urged Him, saying, "Rabbi, eat." 32 But He said to them, "I have food to eat of which you do not know" (Joh. 4:31, 32). As you read the Gospel ... more ... by diane amberg @ 2005.05.18, 03:59
last updated: 2009.01.20, 11:55
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