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A Time for Everything mebrooks, December 17, 2004 at 11:00:00 PM GMT
By Michael E. Brooks "To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven" (Ecclesiastes 3:1). The death of a very good friend prompted reflection on this verse and the remainder of its context. This was one of his favorite passages, and one which was born out by his life. He died at the age of 92. Consider the various "times" of his life: He was a bachelor for 52 years, then married to the same woman for 40. He was a soldier/airman for 30 years, a farmer for 40. He was not a Christian until he was over 50 years of age, yet served as an elder of the church for 20 years. He was a member of the last mounted cavalry band in the U.S. Army. He was in the crew which flew the last active B-36 bomber to its final resting place. Not only is there a time for every purpose in this world, but there is often time for a variety of purposes in each of our lives. We often become trapped and limited by the conception that we are of few talents or opportunities. Ours is the age of specialization and we may feel that if we can accomplish one thing, that is enough. Or we may feel that we cannot reasonably expect more than that. The truth is that life often holds many and varied opportunities and we may be able to take advantage of them all. History is filled with the stories of men and women who completed one or more "careers" before attempting that which earned them greatest fame. Grandma Moses, Colonel Harlan Sanders, Winston Churchill, and many others were great achievers at times when most are well into retirement. Others tried and succeeded in differing vocations earlier in life. A favorite advice column letter from several years ago read, "I would like to be a doctor, but if I started medical school right now and completed it in six years I would be 36 when I graduated." The answer was, "If you don’t go to medical school, how old will you be in six years?" There is indeed a time for every purpose under heaven, and many of us have the time to fulfill more than one of those purposes. Paul urges us, "Redeem the time" (Ephesians 5:16). ... subscribe
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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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