by J. Randal Matheny

"Even though you intended to do harm to me, God intended it for good, in order to preserve a numerous people, as he is doing today" (Genesis 50:20, NRSV).

The picture appeared on the front page of the Jundiai newspaper. A simple poster glued to a light post. The article criticized at length the visual pollution created by people who went about town sticking handbills to everything that didn't move.

Never mind that the city government permitted posters on light posts.

The handbill condemned by the newspaper?

The School of the Bible, sponsored by the Jundiai congregation, offering theology courses (as an evangelistic outreach). With a telephone number in large letters.

With that negative exposure, the School of the Bible never had so many people call asking about the course, and it turned out with a record enrollment.

What man meant for harm, God intended for good.

Fear not what man may do to you. God will use it for the good of the Kingdom. If you are watching out for his interests, your difficulties and sufferings will be his opportunities.

"We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose" (Romans 8:28).

by Phil Sanders

I really dislike the opening and closing ceremonies of the Olympics, but I admit loving the competition itself.

I was touched Sunday night by Carly Patterson, the gold-medal winner for the women's all-around competition. She took time to encourage her teammate by sitting by her side, helping chalk-up the uneven parallel bars, and talking her through her routine.

I was touched by Michael Phelps who gave up his place in the swimming relay race to Ian Crocker. Crocker had finished just behind Phelps in a race. Phelps had won seven medals and was set to win his eighth, tying the all-time record for medals won in any Olympics. He gave up his place so that Crocker could be on a gold-winning team. Phelps still won his gold in the race, because he was on the preliminary team, but he opened the way for his friend to shine.

I learned that 2 Timothy 2:5 is still true. "And also if anyone competes as an athlete, he does not win the prize unless he competes according to the rules."

An American sharpshooter was far ahead in the standings. Though he shot a perfect bull's-eye, he shot it on the wrong target and could not get credit for his shooting.

Russia's Irina Korzhanenko was stripped of her shot put gold medal, the first athlete of the Athens Games to lose an Olympic title because of doping. Korzhanenko, the first woman to win a gold medal at the sacred site of Ancient Olympia, tested positive for steroids.

The only Olympics that really matters is the one we run for God. Paul said, "Run in such a way that you may win. And everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things. ... Therefore I run in such a way, as not without aim; I box in such a way, as not beating the air; but I buffet my body and make it my slave, lest possibly, after I have preached to others, I myself should be disqualified" (1 Corinthians 9:25-27).

by Kevin Cauley

One of the things that I've noticed about Forthright is the magazine's motto: "Straight to the cross." In the English language, we have a homonym which is often confused with the word "straight," namely, the word "strait." The word "straight" means "extending continuously in the same direction without curves" (American Heritage Dictionary). The word "strait," on the other hand, means "Narrow; not broad" (Websters). This homonym got me curious about the Greek word for "strait."

Jesus said in Matthew 7:13,14 "Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it." He was speaking of the narrow and difficult gate as opposed to the broad and easy way. The Greek word for "strait" is STENOS, and this word is only used in the Greek New Testament in Matthew 7 and in the parallel passage in Luke 13:24. The word, however, is found in the Septuagint (a.k.a. LXX, an ancient Greek translation of the Old Testament made around 200 B.C.). It is illustrative of the meaning of the word to note a few passages from that translation.

In the LXX we find STENOS in Numbers 22:26, "And the angel of Jehovah went further, and stood in a narrow place, where was no way to turn either to the right hand or to the left." You may recognize the passage as being part of the story of Balaam and his insubordinate (?) donkey. This is a good illustration of the literal meaning of STENOS, a narrow place. Another literal usage is found in 1 Samuel 23:29 which reads, "And David went up from thence, and dwelt in strong holds at Engedi." The word for "strongholds" in the Septuagint is our Greek word STENOS. An English translation of the Septuagint in this passage is: "And David got up from that place, and dwelt in the narrow places of Engedi." If you have ever seen the land around the oasis of Engedi, then you know exactly what this passage is discussing. The land is full of cracks and crannies and numerous narrow places to hide.

STENOS, however, also has a figurative meaning which is reflected in the English word "strait" as well. The American Heritage Dictionary defines it: "A position of difficulty, perplexity, distress, or need." We see this meaning illustrated in 1 Samuel 13:6 when the Philistines threatened some of the people of Israel: "When the men of Israel saw that they were in a strait, (for the people were distressed,)then the people did hide themselves in caves, and in thickets, and in rocks, and in high places, and in pits." Here, the word indicates a difficult circumstance. You might say they looked for "straits" (the literal meaning) due to a "strait" (the figurative meaning). 2 Samuel 24:14 is also illustrative. The prophet Gad had told David that he had been given a choice of three punishments for his sin of numbering Israel and that David had to make the decision which. "And David said unto Gad, I am in a great strait: let us fall now into the hand of the LORD; for his mercies are great: and let me not fall into the hand of man." David was in a "difficult circumstance" no doubt.

The Greek word STENOS can be understood both literally, (i.e. in relationship to physical surroundings) and figuratively, (in relationship to difficult circumstances). When considering the "strait" gate vs. the broad way, perhaps Jesus had a more figurative thought in mind, something akin to what Paul said in Acts 14:22, "... we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God." In that regard, not only would the word "straight" serve well in the motto "straight to the cross," but "strait" too.

by Michael E. Brooks

"Then I asked her, and said, 'whose daughter are you?' And she said, 'The daughter of Bethuel, Nahor's son, whom Milcah bore to him.' So I put the nose ring on her nose and the bracelets on her wrists" (Genesis 24:47).

In many parts of the world, "arranged marriage" is still the normal practice. Young people do not just meet, "fall in love" and decide to marry. Their families help with the selection of the spouses and the arrangements pertaining to marriage. There is variety in how this is done and what all is entailed, but in many cases it does not mean that the young people have no say. It does mean that they do not have all the responsibility for making the choice. Often the help of parents and even extended family is welcomed and actively solicited.

I recently had the opportunity to attend the engagement luncheon of one of our Khulna Bible College students. We met in a place arranged by the family of his fiancé, and after some time of visiting together the young lady herself joined us. After introductions and further visiting they were ready to make the engagement formal. This was done by a brief devotional and prayer, followed by the father of our student presenting an engagement ring and placing it on the finger of the girl.

I found this simple ceremony to be extremely moving and significant. It was a way of saying, "We are in this together. You young people aren't the only ones involved in this marriage. You are not the only ones whose lives it will affect. You are not the only ones who will help see that it happens or that it is successful. We are a family. We want to help." No, those words weren't said in exactly that way, but that was the message. And I found it to be a very meaningful and appropriate one.

Historically, humans have repeatedly discovered the truth of the first recorded anthropological observation, "It is not good that man should be alone" (Genesis 2:18). We live together in villages and cities. We organize into governments, societies, agencies and social units. Few of us spend much of our time truly alone. Nor do we desire to. We need others, and we seek out others in almost every area of life.

How appropriate, therefore, to solicit the help of others in the extremely important area of marriage. No, I am not recommending arranged marriages for every nation and culture. But I am saying that those of us who do not use this system can learn from those who do. There is a support system in place that in many cases works extremely well. Applications can be made without transporting the entire custom. Just as Rebekah was betrothed to Isaac through the assistance of extended family, and later was loved by her husband, so the involvement and assistance of those who love us can be of great benefit in our homes and marriages. Less pride and selfishness is the recommendation. More listening to and learning from others, and more involvement of loved ones in our lives -– in all parts of our lives. We will be blessed if we seek out such involvement and also if we offer to help others when they need us.

by Tim Hall

"Don't believe everything you hear" is an adage I've heard all my life. It's good advice, even when the thing I've heard is something I want to hear. In fact, that may be the most important time to apply this wisdom.

Consider an e-mail I received just yesterday. The message talked about a political candidate that I personally hope is defeated in November. The message reported a speech in which the candidate was attempting to display his piety by citing John 3:16 as his favorite verse: "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life" (NKJV). A problem arose, however, when the candidate gave the reference as John 16:3, a passage in which Jesus says "And these things they will do to you because they have not known the Father nor Me."

It is quite ironic, isn't it, that such a slip would occur? The message went on to say that this miscue might be seen as a Divine sanction against the candidate. To quote from the e-mail: "The Spirit works in strange ways, doesn't He?" Indeed, it might seem providential -- if it was true.

There's good reason to suspect that this incident never happened. According to information on Snopes.com, the incident has been attributed to both of the major candidates for President, just as it was attributed to Al Gore in a smear attempt in 1999. If Snopes is right, then the message I received is not true.

Can we trust Snopes.com, or other similar sites on the Internet? I often do. When I receive an e-mail from a government official in Nigeria offering me several million dollars in exchange for my help, I'm naturally suspicious. When another e-mail informs me that the logo for Proctor & Gamble is a Satanic symbol, I want to know if that's really the truth. Another message urges me to boycott Duncan Hines cake mixes because of that company's connection with a political candidate; a quick check reveals, however, that there is no such connection.

E-mail has benefited us in many ways, but it has also opened up new possibilities for those who wish to deceive honest and good people. We who are the targets of these schemes must exercise vigilance in what we accept as truth. Before we become willing participants in someone's slander, shouldn't we make every attempt to verify the claims?

Let us hear again Paul's admonition in Ephesians 4:25: "Therefore, putting away lying, each one speak truth with his neighbor, for we are members of one another." Does this apply only to words spoken with our lips? Or might it also apply to handwritten letters or electronically transmitted e-mail or text messages? Any communication that Christians pass along ought to first be filtered for inaccuracies.

The message I've just received confirms my bias against a certain person. I'm tempted to forward the message to all my friends so they will share my views. But before I click the forward button, I must honestly try to ascertain if it's based on truth.