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Saturday, 27. December 2003
Good News mebrooks, December 27, 2003 at 3:00:00 AM GMT
by Michael E. Brooks "Then the angel said to them, 'Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people.' …And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: 'Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men'" (Lk. 2:10,13,14). When one is traveling in distant places, few things are as welcome as good news from home. No news has ever equaled the "good tidings of great joy" brought that night in Palestine so many years ago. The angels were the first proclaimers of the gospel in what is now known as New Testament times, and their proclamation included the essential elements of the message God had purposed from the very beginning. The news of Jesus is a message of great joy. There is much misery and sorrow in this world. War, disease, poverty, and death fill our consciousness and shape our lives. Yet we are not doomed to unhappiness. God loves us and desires to redeem us from the evil that has overtaken the world. Christians rejoice, for Christ has come. The news of Jesus is a universal message. The message of joy is to be for all people. No one is excluded on the basis of race, color, social status, wealth, or age. Christ has come for all. Paul states, "For whoever calls on the name of the Lord will be saved" (Rom. 10:13). There are no exceptions. The news of Jesus is a message of peace. He is the means of reconciliation of man to God, man to man, and man to self. Through Jesus we find "the peace of God, that surpasses all understanding" (Phil. 4:7). In this world of constant war, terrorism, and crime, peace is the goal we all strive for. In Christ we find it. The news of Jesus is a message of Divine Glory. He is God's act of redemption. Man did not compel him to descend to the earth. Man did not earn God's love. Jesus is the gift of grace, showing God's infinite love, wisdom and justice. Because of the good news of Jesus we praise God and bring eternal glory to his name. |
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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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