"A father of many nations have I made you," said God to ancient Abraham. We don't know his mental or physical health, but we do know this much -- the old patriarch, now about 100 years of age, cannot begat a child. Even if he could, his wife Sarah, past 90 herself, cannot contribute to the process. But there is a third character in this scenario, and that makes all the difference. It is God. Not just any god. Not even a fertility god, such as the Canaanite baals. This is Jehovah God, the Creator of heaven and earth. The God who "gives life to the dead and calls into being that which does … [Read more...]
Debate: Prof. Jonn McKinley and Dr. Edward Fudge
Presentations by Prof. Jonn McKinley (for eternal torment) and by Edward Fudge (for conditional immortality), at Biola University in Los Angeles in May 2011 http://youtu.be/pwOEk5cgOps … [Read more...]
THE RIGHTEOUS RULER
For nearly 2,000 years, Christian believers have differed concerning the proper role of earthly governments and what, if anything, Christians should seek to accomplish through them. For more than four centuries, they lived under the authority of imperial Rome, which sometimes looked like God's agent (Rom. 13:1-7) and at other times like an enemy beast (Rev. 13). Jesus acknowledged Caesar's limited realm (Luke 20:19-25) but reminded Pilate that all authority came from God (John 19:10-11). Some believers would use the state as an arm of the church. Within a century after Constantine legalized … [Read more...]
Reconciling the Bible and Science A BOOK REVIEW
God has no controversy with evolution and evolution poses no threat to faith in God. That is the message (though not a direct quote) of Reconciling the Bible and Science: A Primer on the Two Books of God, by Lynn Mitchell and Kirk Blackard (self-published, 2009, softcover, 266 pages). The fight is not between creation and science, these authors insist. The fight is either between creation and scientism (which they say claims too much for itself and assumes there is no God), or it is between science and creationism (which they say misuses the Bible by wrongly reading Genesis as if it were … [Read more...]
SPRINGTIME IN SEARCY
April 13, 2010 -- The deadness of Winter has given way to the greening of new life, and the fields and forests of Arkansas are now lavishly adorned in a living palette of jonquils, firepinks and wisteria, complemented by redbuds, dogwoods and flowering trees of all kinds. Contributing the audio to this visual splendor, a host of robins, bluebirds and martins cheerfully announce the arrival of Spring. Meanwhile, the Grand Artist is also moving among the community of rescued humans, in whose lives he is working a rebirth and transformation fully as awesome as his work in nature. Sara Faye and I … [Read more...]
OKLAHOMA OKAY
(03/28/2010) Today, God willing, I am speaking twice at South Brooke Church of Christ in Tulsa, Oklahoma, talking about Jesus our great high priest, the Son of God who became a man to make men and women children of God.This weekend follows three full days of The Tulsa Workshop, which offers far more than any one person can take in. Much of the joy and benefit of such gatherings is the opportunity to meet, renew acquaintances and enjoy fellowship with a host of brothers and sisters from around the world. On this occasion that included international gracEmail subscribers Jacob Agak from Kenya … [Read more...]
WHEN CHURCH LEAVES YOU DRY
A gracEmail subscriber in the Bible Belt writes that the church with which he is affiliated is "very traditional and stagnant." He wants to be "free" -- but he is also "concerned about God's authority and abiding in it." He asks, "Can you give me any advice?" * * * "God's authority" states that believers in Jesus are "free" from law, from human tradition and from the condemnation of others. That means that we are "free" to serve Christ, to live in the Spirit, to walk in love, to imitate Christ in selfless faithfulness to the Father. (See 2 Cor. 3:17; Gal. 5:1, 13; 1 Pet. 2:16). God's truth … [Read more...]
MINISTRY IN MASSACHUSETTS
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...]
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...]
