THE SIXTH DAY OF NOVEMBER IN THE YEAR OF GRACE TWO THOUSAND AND SIXTEEN. Sybil Short Fudge Dewhirst is a gracEmail reader and zealous encourager of all things good and of everyone whose heart is set on doing good things. She also happens to be my mother. Now in her 94th year, Mom fills each day with devotional reading, Bible study, praying for family both physical and spiritual,and more often than not, writing them emails to encourage, console, guide and revive. (She also has her hair done and nails tended, eats food, and does light housekeeping -- no wings and halo, just a mortal … [Read more...]
Family Notes 02/11/2016
THE SECOND DAY OF NOVEMBER IN THE YEAR OF GRACE TWO THOUSAND AND SIXTEEN. UNDERSTANDING REQUIRES LOVE "I have found the following big picture ideas helpful as a framework for Christian interpretation of Scripture in God-honoring ways," writes gracEmail subscriber and blogger Bobby Valentine. (Read the entire article excerpted below at: stonedcampbelldisciple.com/ Creation rebelled and . . . erected a barrier between Creator and Creation. God is working within creation to redeem, restore and even glorify his creation. The Gist of that Story is this: God created the universe as an act … [Read more...]
THE MOST AWESOME DAY (Part 2)
THE THIRTIETH DAY OF OCTOBER IN THE YEAR OF GRACE TWO THOUSAND AND SIXTEEN. The Hebrew verb translated "atone" in the Old Testament is kaphar. The word originally meant "to cover" or possibly "to wash away," but by biblical times it simply meant "to forgive." Leviticus 16 tells what it looked like when God removed the guilt of Israel's sin from them and removed the stain of their sin from his sanctuary. For New Testament writers it is a drama in which Jesus himself plays all the parts. He is the temple, the high priest, the atonement-sacrifice, and, in Romans 3:25, the Mercy-Seat or … [Read more...]
THE MOST AWESOME DAY (Part 1)
THE TWENTY-THIRD DAY OF OCTOBER IN THE YEAR OF GRACE TWO THOUSAND AND SIXTEEN. This year it began in the evening of October 11 and ended in the evening of October 12. "Evening and morning" equals one day. That is how the Creator reckoned time at Creation, and so still do the Jews and several million Christians as well. But this year's October 11-12 is not just another ordinary day. It is the most awesome (or awe-full, if you prefer) day on the calendar during this year that we name 2016. It is the day that God named Yom Kippur, "the Day of Atonement." Leviticus 16 records the … [Read more...]
Family Notes 19/10/2016
THE NINETEENTH DAY OF OCTOBER IN THE YEAR OF GRACE TWO THOUSAND AND SIXTEEN. ZOE WORSHIP CONFERENCE Register online until Nov 1st, for the Zoe worship conference and hear featured presenters Constance Cherry, Luke Norsworthy, Mike Cope, Heather Hodges, Jack & Jill Maxwell, Jeff Barker, and Amanda Roberts. Visit: www.zoegroup.org COPY ON FACEBOOK A reader asks if he may cut and paste a gracEmail for his Facebook friends. Yes, indeed -- any time, and without further permission! FREEDOM! Feedback like the following from "Rebecca M." brings joy to us and … [Read more...]
GOD AND THE GOVERNMENT (Part 2)
THE SIXTEENTH DAY OF OCTOBER IN THE YEAR OF GRACE TWO THOUSAND AND SIXTEEN. As citizens of the USA prepare to choose a new president and many other officials, we who are also Christians note some fundamental scriptural principles about God and earthly governments. Scripture tells us that God raises up governments and puts them down -- both to bless and to punish. The Most High rules over the kingdoms of men (Daniel 4). Pilate's supposed power depends on God (John 18). God assigns governments certain responsibilities, and he holds them accountable for their performance (Rom. … [Read more...]
Family Notes 11/10/2016
THE ELEVENTH DAY OF OCTOBER IN THE YEAR OF GRACE TWO THOUSAND AND SIXTEEN. POLITICAL CHRISTIANITY: AMERICAN STYLE In today's super-charged political world, the difference between the two major presidential candidates is often defined in terms of which is the greater scoundrel (if not felon) and respected Christian spokespersons are found endorsing them both -- in voices equally judgmental and equally dogmatic. In such times as these, Scot McKnight, in my opinion, is one of the most biblical, balanced, and evenhanded observers and commentators to be found. His blog post, named above … [Read more...]
GOD AND THE GOVERNMENT (Part 1)
THE NINTH DAY OF OCTOBER IN THE YEAR OF GRACE TWO THOUSAND AND SIXTEEN. For several years, Sara Faye and I have requested absentee ballots in advance of election day (this November 8), enabling us to vote for our candidates of choice while avoiding the traffic jams and long lines that mark the day. I have carefully avoided stating my personal opinion regarding political candidates or parties, although many Christians consider their preferences to be not only clear and obvious but the only moral conclusion. I prefer to look for biblical principles equally applicable to all sides, an … [Read more...]
Family Notes 4/10/2016
THE FOURTH DAY OF OCTOBER IN THE YEAR OF GRACE TWO THOUSAND AND SIXTEEN. EDDIE SNYDER (1957-2016) I attended the Chattanooga seminar on the gospel in the late 1970s, excited to meet its sponsor-speaker, Australian Robert Brinsmead, who had helped me understand the gospel through his "Verdict" magazine (earlier "Present Truth"). Also at the conference were Eddie and Leah Snyder, who were to become my lifelong friends. Later they drove from Tennessee to join us at the church in the barn in Athens, Ala. Years later I visited them on a speaking trip in Pennsylvania, and again during a … [Read more...]
PROVING THE BIBLE
THE SECOND DAY OF OCTOBER IN THE YEAR OF GRACE TWO THOUSAND AND SIXTEEN. I was talking recently with a gracEmail subscriber who is using the Bible to teach some Chinese physicians conversational English. Must a reader know and ascribe extraordinary authority to the Christian scriptures in order to benefit from them? If so, how can one person convince another person of the Bible's unique authority? * * * As believers, our first task is not to convince people that they must follow the Bible; it is to introduce people to Jesus Christ. The Bible contains the story of God and his people, … [Read more...]