THE TWENTY-NINTH DAY OF APRIL IN THE YEAR OF GRACE TWO THOUSAND AND FIFTEEN REPORT FROM NEPAL The country of Nepal was struck this past Saturday, April 25 by a massive 7.8 earthquake, and significant aftershocks continue. The monster quake flattening homes, churches, businesses and other structures. CNN Cable News reported more than 4,600 people confirmed dead as of Tuesday, April 28, and the country's Prime Minister cautions that the death toll may reach 10,000. Fox Cable News adds that 1.4 million people in Nepal are now without water, food, or other basic necessities. GracEmail … [Read more...]
Archives for April 2015
SPIRIT SPOTLIGHTS JESUS, NOT US (1)
THE TWENTY-SIXTH DAY OF APRIL, IN THE YEAR OF GRACE TWO THOUSAND AND FIFTEEN In his Gospel, Luke relates Jesus' teachings and doings while in person on earth. In Acts, his second volume, Luke describes Jesus' work accomplished from heaven and performed through his Spirit on earth (Acts 1:5). The word "Spirit" appears 70 times in Acts, almost twice as many as in the New Testament book with the second-highest number. Throughout the Book of Acts, the Holy Spirit is busy, either bringing together a gospelizer and a ready hearer, or filling the gospelizer with boldness to speak the word … [Read more...]
EVANGELISM WITHOUT EVANGEL IS AN ISM
THE NINETEENTH DAY OF APRIL IN THE YEAR OF GRACE TWO THOUSAND AND FIFTEEN My late friend J. D. Clanton faithfully attended the opening Sunday morning service of his congregation's annual "Gospel Meeting," but he also held them to their advertising. Each year the visiting "gospel preacher" decried the evils of sin, the horrors of hell, and the list of things an "alien sinner" must do to be saved. J. D. knew that the New Testament word for "gospel" meant "good news," and he knew that the sermon he just heard would never be mistaken for that. So every year, as J. D. shook the "gospel … [Read more...]
Family Notes 15/04/2015
THE FIFTEENTH DAY OF APRIL IN THE YEAR OF GRACE TWO THOUSAND AND FIFTEEN UPSIDE DOWN MAYBE? My April issue of The Christian Chronicle, "An international newspaper for Churches of Christ," arrived in today's postal mail delivery. Emblazoned across the top of page one, the banner headline screamed, "Church in decline: U.S. culture to blame?" Before I could consciously consider its meaning, another headline raced through my mind as likely stating more truth: "U.S. culture in decline: church to blame?" MEET THE FAMILY Yes, GracEmail is now in its 20th year and subscribers really do … [Read more...]
IS THIS EVANGELISM?
THE TWELFTH DAY OF APRIL IN THE YEAR OF GRACE TWO THOUSAND AND FIFTEEN Today we are accustomed to hearing the gospel presented as if it were addressed to one person at a time, assuring him or her of Gods provision for sin through Jesus death and resurrection, and urging that person to make a decision for Christ, to profess faith in him, to be baptized and begin to live as a disciple of Jesus Christ. The payoff or reward for this will be to escape the punishment that awaits the unredeemed, and to enjoy eternal life with God and with his people forever. It is not that those details … [Read more...]
Family Notes 08/04/2015
THE EIGHTH DAY OF APRIL IN THE YEAR OF GRACE TWO THOUSAND AND FIFTEEN BRAZIL ENCOURAGEMENT Jesus man and gracEmail subscriber Larry Zinck reports from Rio de Janeiro that more than 500 brothers from all over Brazil were present on a recent weekend for an annual mens retreat, spending two uplifting days singing and praying together. Teaching was encouraging and also challenging. It was a time of renewing old friendships and making new ones. Larry comments: "Times like this make us stop and think how wonderful heaven will be!" WORLD RELIGIONS 2050 The Pew Research Center has … [Read more...]
HE IS RISEN INDEED!
THE FIFTH DAY OF APRIL IN THE YEAR OF GRACE TWO THOUSAND AND FIFTEEN The acknowledgement came slowly and with much hesitation, but the sequestered disciples finally said it: The Lord is risen." Indeed (Lk. 24:34). This from Jesus hardcore survivors. Roughly ten dozen of them--if anyone is counting. Unlike other rabbinic clusters, this one includes women right alongside the men. To Jesus they all are the same, but most males in the company will die before they share his thinking on this point. So here they are this Sunday morning, 120 men and women waiting together for God knows … [Read more...]
WHEN IS THE RESURRECTION?
THE FIRST DAY OF APRIL IN THE YEAR OF GRACE TWO THOUSAND AND FIFTEEN A gracEmail subscriber recently attended two funerals at which the pastor said the deceased had experienced their resurrections. This subscriber believes that the resurrection will take place at Christ's return. "Is there a biblical basis," he asks, "for believing that Christians who die now experience their resurrection before that?" * * *Unless I am badly confused, Paul states unequivocally that all the redeemed, now living and dead, will be caught up together one day to join the Lord. That … [Read more...]