THE TWENTY-FOURTH DAY OF APRIL IN THE YEAR OF GRACE TWO THOUSAND AND SIXTEEN. A gracEmail subscriber writes, "I like your way of using the great church families to emphasize the Father, Son and Holy Spirit in worship. Would you spell that out again." * * * Different streams of the worldwide Church point us to Father, Son and Holy Spirit respectively, and we would be enriched to appropriate the good which each has to offer. The great Catholic expression of the Church (Orthodox, Roman and Anglican) preserves the rich liturgical tradition from early centuries, highlighted in the … [Read more...]
Archives for April 2016
YOU ARE FORGIVEN–LET’S HEAR IT
THE SEVENTEENTH DAY OF APRIL IN THE YEAR OF GRACE TWO THOUSAND AND SIXTEEN. This visit to the cardiologist is supposed to be routine, and that is what it proves to be--routine. We like It when a medical visit turns out to be routine. On this occasion, Dr. Doyle asks a few heart questions to bring my cardiac history up to date. His nurse shoots an EKG and the doctor reviews it. He feels my ankles and carotid arteries, then listens to my lungs and heart all over the chest and back. We chat a little and he rejoices that I have dropped a few pounds. Finally he stands, smiles, shakes my … [Read more...]
Family Notes 13/04/2016
THE THIRTEENTH DAY OF APRIL IN THE YEAR OF GRACE TWO THOUSAND AND SIXTEEN. C. S. LEWIS' TOP TEN TIPS FOR WRITERS C. S. Lewis was first known as a university professor of English literature and literary criticism. Over the years, he offered some useful tips for Christians who wished to become skilled writers. Here, then, in reverse order, are what I consider the top ten tips for writers from C. S. Lewis. My summary is inserted at the beginning of each suggestion in bold face type. Lewis' tip, or rule, or suggestion is indented, in quotes, and/or in italics. My comments follow at the … [Read more...]
THE BOOK AND THE AUTHOR
THE TENTH DAY OF APRIL IN THE YEAR OF GRACE TWO THOUSAND AND SIXTEEN. We Christians accept the Bible as "scripture" and as "canon", the Greek word for "measuring stick or ruler." By doing so, we affirm that the Bible, the combination of sacred writings of the Jews called the Tanakh, a name created by combining as an acronym the Hebrew words for the Law, the Writings and the Prophets, (our Old Testament) and 27 Christian writings (the "New Testament"), is our final test of all other messages or writings said to have come from God. This acknowledgement concerning Scripture gives rise … [Read more...]
THE CORE OF OUR MESSAGE
THE TWENTY-SEVENTH DAY OF MARCH IN THE YEAR OF GRACE TWO THOUSAND AND SIXTEEN. A gracEmail subscriber wants to know what message the Apostles and other first-generation Christians spread, so potent that those who spread it were accused of turning the world upside down. * * * The Book of Acts reports the summaries of a dozen or more of those very messages, beginning in Acts 2, in which Peter tells the curious Pentecost crowd that Jesus is the Messiah whom they murdered but whom God raised from the dead (Acts 2:22-36). Peter and John heal a lame man and a crowd gathers. "You killed … [Read more...]
Family Notes 06/04/2016
THE SIXTH DAY OF APRIL IN THE YEAR OF GRACE TWO THOUSAND AND SIXTEEN. Scott and Lisa Harris and their daughter Mariah, missioners in Mozambique serving with African Outreach Ministries (AOM), urgently request your prayers for healing of physical and emotional injuries they recently sustained. They were overpowered, tied up, and assaulted by three masked men who broke into their home about 8 p.m. on March 17, 2016. The thieves escaped with approximately $10,000 worth of personal property, including cash, jewelry, and electronic gear. The incident spurred Scott to take precautionary … [Read more...]
Family Notes 04/04/2016
THE FOURTH DAY OF APRIL IN THE YEAR OF GRACE TWO THOUSAND AND SIXTEEN. OUR ONENESS WITH THEM Drawing from John 17 and filled with the Spirit of God, Joe Curtis spoke on this theme recently to the Seven Mile Post Road Church in Athens, Alabama. His sermon was beautiful and biblical, Christ-centered and with conviction, passionate and powerful. When you have 25 minutes to use to bless yourself, you might want to listen to this. Just go to: www.7mpr.org/sermons-2/ and scroll down to Joe Curtis and the title Our oneness with them. LET'S JUST FACE IT Charles Prince is a … [Read more...]
THE BIBLE–WHY AND WHAT?
THE THIRD DAY OF APRIL IN THE YEAR OF GRACE TWO THOUSAND AND SIXTEEN. To read the Old Testament scriptures with enlightened mind is to discover a preview of Jesus the Messiah--his supernatural birth and faithful life, his substitutionary passion and atoning death, his mighty resurrection and glorious ascension, his present intercession and his coming kingdom (Luke 24:27, 44-47). Because they point to Jesus, the Old Testament scriptures provide wisdom that leads to salvation through trusting in him (2 Timothy 3:15). For those who follow Jesus to whom they point, the Old Testament … [Read more...]