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Starry, Starry Night baoliver, September 29, 2004 at 11:30:00 AM BST
by Stan Mitchell How many stars did God need to make? The sun -- which is our solar system's star -- we need that one! It provides life, energy and warmth. It keeps us in place, preventing us from spinning aimlessly through a universe that is vast beyond analogy. The others? The naked eye can count only a fraction of the stars a powerful telescope can see. And the most powerful telescope has yet to reach the boundary of the universe. Exactly how many stars are there out there? And if we actually could see them, could we count them? Go outside tonight and look at the stars. It brings sudden perspective. When a dog gazes at the stars, he's thinking about lunch. When a rabbit gazes at the stars, he probably just became lunch! Which of God's creatures is capable of going out and wondering at the starlit sky? Only man can appreciate how small he is. Only man needs to appreciate how small he is. "Can you count the stars of evening that are shining in the sky? Can you count the clouds that daily, over all the world go by? God the Lord, who doth not slumber, keepeth all their boundless number. But he careth more for thee, but he careth more for thee" (Johann Hey, 1837) God told Abraham to "look up at the heavens and count the stars" (Genesis 15:5). That's one command Abraham couldn't have obeyed if he had tried the rest of his life! Yet, as Gospel preacher Charles Hodge remarks, "in all his positive thinking, man has no plans to build a star" (Gospel Advocate Magazine, August 2002). Man is pretty presumptuous most times, but even he knows better than to build a starry, starry night! We learn two things from this: First, if this is all an accident, then you'll also believe that Bob Dylan is a war monger, Osama Bin Ladin is a peace activist, and that the Chicago Cubs have a good chance of winning the World Series this year. Second, we learn that though we are vastly, infinitesimally small, we are also very important in God's sight. "What is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him?" (Psalm 8:4). Better start counting! ... 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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