I praise God for the privilege of presenting the gospel message last week in Boston, Massachusetts, in the course of seven sermons/lessons from Hebrews in two separate venues. Thursday through Saturday, I had the honor of extolling the accomplishments of Jesus Christ our Savior four times to pastors, delegates and spouses of the Eastern Regional Association of the Advent Christian Church, meeting in annual convention in Peabody, Mass. On Sunday, I was privileged to do the same thing three times at the Church of Christ in Burlington, Mass., a congregation planted by a group of Southerners who … [Read more...]
Archives for 2009
BREADFRUIT AND THE BREAD FROM HEAVEN
Two of our new friends at the Maui Church of Christ are Akira and Carlyna Tosie, natives of Micronesia and long-time residents of Hawaii. Earlier this month we were honored to join their extended family of 16 for a Micronesian home cookout, to celebrate Akira's 71st birthday and grandson Steven's fifth. Because Akira and Carlyna tend the church building and grounds, we have enjoyed their company at our place also. One day Akira, who served as a legislator on his home island, cut off a coconut growing in our backyard, made two swipes with his machete, and handed me a fresh sampling of nature's … [Read more...]
MEMBERS WORKING TOGETHER
We arrived at the Kahului airport on Maui last Wednesday evening where retiree and associate minister Bob Harp met us warmly, wished us "Aloha," placed leis around our necks and led us to "the cottage" (parsonage) that is our home this month of September. At Bible study that night, Tim Shiroma led us in singing before I led our discussion. On Thursday, the primary window unit A/C in the cottage began leaking water inside the house, and Tom Hickox "jerry-rigged" it on Friday to get us through the weekend. On Saturday, several vehicles pulled into the church parking area, and people scrambled … [Read more...]
CHRISTIANITY IN HAWAI`I
Curious about the origins of Christianity in Hawai`i, I researched via internet and found confusing and sometimes-contradictory information. After sifting for attempted accuracy, the following account seems to be generally reliable history. About 400 A.D., or so it is thought, a gentle people emigrated from Southeast Asia and Polynesia to what we know as Hawai`i, and there they lived peacefully for perhaps 500 years. Between 900-1100 A.D., Tahitian invaders enslaved the Hawai`ians, ruling with terror and torture for nearly 1,000 years. When British explorer Capt. James Cook "discovered" … [Read more...]
The Declaration of Independence Simplified
This unusually lengthy gracEmail is political rather than spiritual (although it contains some spiritual allusions). This Saturday is Independence Day here in the USA, marking the signing of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. Because of the Declaration's significance, and because of its elevated formal language, I thought it might be interesting to restate it in simple modern English. Although the signers themselves did not live up to their fundamental premise of human equality, or even of universal liberty, they set in motion an ideal which has borne much fruit during the 233 … [Read more...]
PENTECOST THOUGHTS
Today, May 31, 2009 is Pentecost Sunday, a day remembered by Christians because of the events recorded in Acts 2. Also called the Feast of Weeks, the feast fell 50 days ("Pentecost" is Greek for "50th") after the dedication of the first barley sheaf to God (Lev. 23:16-17). The Jews also observed Pentecost in commemoration of the giving of the Law at Mount Sinai. On this Pentecost 2009, the following reflections come to mind. In keeping with its agricultural origins, the Pentecost of Acts 2 marked the "first fruits" of the gospel harvest, in the conversion of thousands of people from nations … [Read more...]
ASHES — OR JUST ‘A-FIB’
Feb. 26, 2009 -- This past Wednesday in many Christian traditions was Ash Wednesday. It is the first day of Lent, a 40-day period (not counting Sundays) of repentance and prayer that ends in the victorious climax of Easter Sunday. Some churches ignore, avoid or even oppose the liturgical church calendar because it is not mentioned in the New Testament. However, a person would be hard pressed to object to the traditional themes and details those special days incorporate -- words and actions that are solidly biblical and spiritually strengthening as well, when celebrated with faith resting on … [Read more...]
WHAT, WHO, WHY, HOW
A gracEmail subscriber writes, "My 18-year-old daughter asked me exactly what Jesus did for us by his death on the cross. I told her that he took on our sins and died in our place. She then asked, 'But if the penalty for sin is eternal death, how did Jesus' death remove that penalty, since Jesus was raised from the dead and lives forever?'" * * * Because of his great mercy, and through the life and death of Jesus Christ his Son, God has graciously set us right with himself. New Testament writers use a variety of metaphors to express this divine act -- metaphors familiar to their readers … [Read more...]
INAUGURATION 2009
Following are my personal reflections on the inauguration of Barack Obama as President of the United States. I did not vote for Mr. Obama, but as a Christian who grew up in segregated Alabama, it feels profoundly right to me to witness a Black family moving into the White House. I was pleased that Rick Warren, a Bible-preaching Southern Baptist minister whose view of God's agenda extends to helping the poorest, weakest and most despised of the world's population, was asked to offer the invocation, that he did so, and the way he did (Col. 4:2, 5-6). I disagree with President Obama's support … [Read more...]