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The Grateful Refrain randal, June 17, 2003 at 6:14:00 PM BST
by J. Randal Matheny The author of Psalm 136 sounds like a broken record. (Now that's an outdated cliché!) For every imperative to give thanks for the Lord's goodness and for every mention of his action in creation or salvation history, he inserts this short declaration. "For His lovingkindness is forever." Everything God has done or now does shows his motivation. God acts because he is love. "For His lovingkindness is forever." We need that same refrain playing in our ears. In a world where men kill themselves to destroy hundreds and thousands in the name of religion, we need to know that God sent his Only Son to die to save billions of souls. "For His lovingkindness is forever." In a day when you define right and wrong to fit yourself, the God who calls people to his holiness and destroys the unjust calls us to rejoice. "For His lovingkindness is forever." In an era of mass communications when one can never be sure the reporter is telling the truth or that the network isn't slanting the news, seeing God's indelible and undeniable footprints in history is an exercise in objectivity. "For His lovingkindness is forever." In a dog-eat-dog, me-first work climate, where people are names to be networked and rungs to climb the corporate ladder, the giving, unselfish, gracious Lord "gives food to every creature." "For His lovingkindness is forever." In a make-me-happy maze of relationships, where importance is judged by how fulfilled one feels, the Almighty's calling by his name, not by our usefulness, brings us eternal value. "For His lovingkindness is forever." In a society that sees lack of commitment as the norm, the God who "led his people through the desert" after 40 years of rebellion stands out. "For His lovingkindness is forever." In a worldview that sees history as an unconnected series of dots or a meaningless jumble of events, the God who plans, executes, and consummates his purpose answers our whys and wherefores. "For His lovingkindness is forever." No wonder, then, that Psalm 136 begins and ends with a call to "Give thanks to the God of heaven." For of all things, eternal love in action begets gratitude. To borrow A. A. Neale's phrase, I'm thankful for that. "For His lovingkindness is forever." ... 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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