THE SEVENTEENTH DAY OF MAY IN THE YEAR OF GRACE TWO THOUSAND AND FIFTEEN When God was ready to liberate his Old Testament people from bondage in Egypt, he COULD have organized an "underground railroad" of safe places, secret rendezvous points, and anonymous carriers, and then spread the word among the Hebrews that he would be rescuing slaves every Friday night if they wished to sign up and follow orders. He COULD have sent messengers door-to-door wherever Hebrew people were found, distributing maps of Egypt and the Desert, along with step-by-step escape instructions to be used if and … [Read more...]
A CONSUMING PASSION: Essays on Hell and Immortality
THE THIRTEENTH DAY OF MAY IN THE YEAR OF GRACE TWO THOUSAND AND FIFTEEN A CONSUMING PASSION: Essays on Hell and Immortality BY CHRIS DATE Posted to: www.RethinkingHell.com website on May 6, 2015. In April 2014, shortly before the inaugural Rethinking Hell conference at the Lanier Theological Library, we published our first book, Rethinking Hell: Readings in Evangelical Conditionalism. A year later, we are excited to announce the upcoming publication of our second book, A Consuming Passion: Essays on Hell and Immortality in Honor of Edward W. Fudge. Wipf & Stock, who published … [Read more...]
TRIBUTE TO MY MOM
THE TENTH DAY OF MAY IN THE YEAR OF GRACE TWO THOUSAND AND FIFTEEN Sybil Belle Short Fudge Dewhirst -- or "Mother," as my five siblings and I are privileged to call her -- always was up to most any challenge. Perhaps it had something to do with her beginnings; born in 1923 to missionary parents in the interior of Africa, raised in general isolation 50 miles in the bush from "modern civilization," as a child going to sleep at night with lions roaring outside the family's house and sometimes a venomous black mamba snake inside. How does one begin to describe this woman, whose … [Read more...]
Family Notes 06/05/2015
THE SIXTH DAY OF MAY IN THE YEAR OF GRACE TWO THOUSAND AND FIFTEEN DVD NOW IN WALMART STORES Shoppers in 3,500 Walmart stores throughout the USA can now purchase DVDs of the award-winning film "Hell and Mr. Fudge" on their next trip to the friendly neighborhood superstore. Using its massive purchasing power, Walmart recently negotiated a fantastic wholesale purchase from the distributor of the prize-winning movie. Now Walmart is shattering the Price Barrier by offering the $20 movie for just $9.69! This is the time to stock up on this once-in-a-lifetime film, then share the DVD of … [Read more...]
SPIRIT SPOTLIGHTS JESUS, NOT US (2)
THE THIRD DAY OF MAY, IN THE YEAR OF GRACE TWO THOUSAND AND FIFTEEN Evangelism that is Spirit-powered and Spirit-led testifies to what Jesus did and what he suffered--the perfect doing and dying that set us right with God--instead of what we do in response to that work. We see more evidence today in Acts chapters 8-20. The gospel message goes beyond the Jews through Philip, whom Luke says "went down to a city of Samar′ia, and proclaimed to them the Christ" (Acts 8:5). The Spirit then sent Philip hitchhiking down the Jerusalem-Gaza Highway on which a pious government official from … [Read more...]
Family Notes 29/04/2015
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...]
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...]
