THE FOURTEENTH DAY OF AUGUST IN THE YEAR OF GRACE TWO THOUSAND AND SIXTEEN. It is undisputed that when God judges all humankind, he will judge them individually and based on the heart. No one will finally be redeemed or condemned on a "group plan," and what interests God most about each individual is not visible on the surface. God is supremely fair, and he will judge or measure each person by the light of divine revelation that the person possessed--whether creation, conscience, prophetic oracles, the Jewish scriptures, or the Gospel. But regardless of the light possessed, no … [Read more...]
Family Notes 10/08/2016
THE TENTH DAY OF AUGUST IN THE YEAR OF GRACE TWO THOUSAND AND SIXTEEN. MAKING WORLD PEACE--ONE MIND AT A TIME Sometime tomorrow, August 11, God willing, sixty young leaders from 15 countries stressed by ethnic, racial, national, religious and political conflict will assemble for two-and-one-half weeks in the picturesque town of Fuzine, Croatia. The occasion is the 2016 Renewing Our Minds (ROM) Gathering, an international leadership movement created and run by gracEmail subscriber and veteran peacemaker Tihomir Kukolja. Mr. Kukolja's own experiences during and after years of bloody … [Read more...]
WHY BOTHER TO PREACH?
THE SEVENTH DAY OF AUGUST IN THE YEAR OF GRACE TWO THOUSAND AND SIXTEEN. In an earlier gracEmail, I stated that God will judge all people by the light they had and not by truth they could not know. A dedicated missionary in South America and a former missionary to Africa ask, If that is so, am I wasting my time here? Why preach the gospel today? Are you saying that people are saved apart from Jesus Christ? * * * No one will enjoy eternity with God apart from the atonement that Jesus made for sinners. But the redeemed sinners who will enjoy the benefits of that atonement throughout … [Read more...]
Family Notes 03/08/2016
THE THIRD DAY OF AUGUST IN THE YEAR OF GRACE TWO THOUSAND AND SIXTEEN. ZOE WORSHIP CONFERENCE Registration is now open for the 2016 worship conference "Stand," to be held this November 4-5 at the Otter Creek Church in Nashville, Tennessee. Expected to speak at plenary sessions and/or to lead breakout sessions, God willing, are Mike Cope, Constance Cherry, Luke Norsworthy, Jack and Jill Maxwell, Heather Hodges, and Jeff Barker. Randy Gill will again be leading "New Music Nashville," at which he will introduce a folio of new worship songs that will bless and invigorate your … [Read more...]
JUDGED BY THE LIGHT THEY HAD
THE THIRTY-FIRST DAY OF JULY IN THE YEAR OF GRACE TWO THOUSAND AND SIXTEEN. I love discussing scripture with my new friend, Neal. He receives the Word eagerly and "with joy inspired by the Holy Spirit" (1 Thes.1:6). He is one of those who "draw water with joy from the wells of salvation," the theme verse of my website (edwardfudge.com). At our last meeting, Neal asked about people who never heard of Jesus. Can they also possibly enjoy eternal life, and if so, how? God assures us that he will judge fairly, or "in righteousness" (Acts 17:30-31). Among other things, that means God will … [Read more...]
Family Notes 27/07/2016
THE TWENTY-SEVENTH DAY OF JULY IN THE YEAR OF GRACE TWO THOUSAND AND SIXTEEN. MIND AND BODY Ron Highfield -- Sometimes the soul needs to listen to the body. Nine days ago I underwent surgery for an inguinal hernia and . . . Ive been exhausted the whole nine days. What surprised me is how much my physical trauma manifested itself in my psychological moods and thoughts. I kept thinking I would use the physical recovery time to read and . . . write a little But instead I felt two disturbing moods come over me. I felt no energy for work and . . . [I felt] a burden of guilt for not … [Read more...]
GOD’S WORD BRINGS JOY
THE TWENTY-FOURTH DAY OF JULY IN THE YEAR OF GRACE TWO THOUSAND AND SIXTEEN. I first met Neal two years ago while shopping for a hat at Shudde Bros Hatters, his century-old family business situated in the Brookwood Community, about 40 miles west of Houston. We quickly connected as fellow-believers and soon were discussing the hope of immortality that we share in Jesus Christ. From childhood, Neal was taught that God will also keep the lost alive forever, to suffer everlasting conscious torment. Neal said that teaching had always struck him as out of line with the gospel and … [Read more...]
Family Notes 20/07/2016
THE TWENTIETH DAY OF JULY IN THE YEAR OF GRACE TWO THOUSAND AND SIXTEEN. SCHOLARLY SEMINARS--FOR EVERYONE For the past five years, the Lanier Theological Library in Houston, Texas has provided, without charge to the public, a series of seminars featuring professors, scientists, and expert practitioners on current events, topics of special interest, and biblical subjects in the news. Following are the titles of seminars conducted in 2015 and 2016, and the participants in those seminars. For infomation regarding seminars from 2012-2014, or to view videos of any of these seminars at … [Read more...]
Peace not of this world
THE SEVENTEENTH DAY OF JULY IN THE YEAR OF GRACE TWO THOUSAND AND SIXTEEN. Guest Writer Sara Faye Fudge Sara Faye writes a devo-newsletter called "Love-Notes" for the women's Bible study group at our home congregation in Houston. The following was in the issue for last week. When she read it aloud to me, I told her I needed to have that for a gracEmail. After some modest demurral, she consented, and we are in her debt. -- Edward. As [Jeff Christian, our preacher] is leading us into deeper appreciation of the gift of peace, I find that the word seems to pop up quite often on … [Read more...]
Family Notes 13/07/2016
THE THIRTEENTH DAY OF JULY IN THE YEAR OF GRACE TWO THOUSAND AND SIXTEEN. DON'T SAY IT! Oh, how we love to express our opinions, prejudices, and fancies--especially on religion and politics! The power of words is deceptive. They are so easy to utter! But they can unleash hell, war, and murder. In a culture where we can speak to the whole world through the media at our finger tips, allow me to say it again: “Please, please don’t say everything you think!” Don’t say it yourself, and don’t “like” or “share” any words you would not say yourself. Liking or sharing or forwarding anything is … [Read more...]