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Thursday, 29. August 2002
A Shady Spot randal, August 29, 2002 at 7:57:00 PM BST
by Randal Matheny
At one Jerusalem site, the "Christian" groups are so acrimonious, they delivered the building key to a Muslim. They trust a pagan over a not-so-friendly fellow believer in Jesus. First reaction? How petty! And so it would appear. But those groups have their reasons, however wrong-headed, for clashing over inches of property believed to be sacred. Would to God that we were so careful to know and do the Savior's will! And to teach it. So many wrong ideas have their tooth-and-toenail defenders, while the truth goes fallen in the street. So Paul instructs Timothy. "Be diligent." Make every effort. This is priority stuff. Give it your best shot. "To present yourself." You do need to be concerned for other people's souls, but you're the only one whose will you control. It's you and Him. "Approved to God." It doesn't matter what others think. Do it to get His good seal of approval. "As a workman." Do a good job. Do the right job. He's watching and wanting to give you a pat on the back. So hoe that row! "Who does not need to be ashamed." You'll be able to look Him in the eye when He comes to examine your work. "Handling accurately." Deal honestly and straightfowardly with the gospel message. Don't play games with the truth. Get to the point. "The word of truth." Remember there are real lines drawn in this world. Don't move your chair over it for sake of a shade. Stay within the bounds of the revealed will of God. Second Timothy 2:15 isn't the only instruction to spare no effort for sake of the truth. Others may think you petty. You may be called names and persecuted. But rejoice and be exceedingly glad you chose not to move your chair in the shade. |
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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 @ 1/20/09, 11:55 AM 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 "I can of Myself ... more ... by diane amberg @ 5/18/05, 5:08 AM 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 mention of his name in ... more ... by diane amberg @ 5/18/05, 5:05 AM ...
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 they were not people ... more ... by diane amberg @ 5/18/05, 5:03 AM 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 us? Do you do something ... more ... by diane amberg @ 5/18/05, 5:01 AM ...
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 According to John, watch ... more ... by diane amberg @ 5/18/05, 4:59 AM Having a Tender Heart by Don Ruhl Read the Bible in a Year This morning read Second Kings 22 and 23 Having a Tender Heart When Josiah heard the word of God for the first time, he tore his clothes, knowing of the wrath that was upon Jerusalem for the idolatry of his forefathers. Therefore, he sent messengers to a prophetess to inquire of the Lord. He did have a message for Josiah. God said through the prophetess, 19 "...because your heart was tender, and you humbled yourself before ... more ... by diane amberg @ 5/18/05, 4:56 AM
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At the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, where Jesus was supposedly buried, violence erupted in July between two care-taker groups. All furniture and space, including the roof, have been entrusted to various so-called Christian organizations. The scuffle ocurred when a monk of the Coptic Christian Church of Egypt moved his chair on the roof into the shade -- and invaded an area overseen by the Ethiopian Orthodox Christian Church. Ethiopian monks responded by throwing rocks, iron bars, and chairs. Seven Ethiopians and four Egyptians were injured.