Final Phase
Ides of March
By J. Randal Matheny (March 15, 2010)
The editor winds down the day with several thoughts about the rich man and Lazarus, starting over again, support for evangelists, Twitter and Facebook, birthplaces and the Ides of March.
Giving the Key of Knowledge
By J. Randal Matheny (March 8, 2010)
The religious experts of Jesus' day made it more difficult for people to enter the Kingdom of God, rather than making it easier, probably by their rejection of Christ. Here are seven practical points how we can give people the key to spiritual knowledge.
Tree-huggers and John the Baptist
By J. Randal Matheny (March 1, 2010)
To speak of cutting down trees with axes jars on modern ears. So do the words of John the Baptist have anything to say to our environmentally friendly society today?
15 minutes of fame down to 5
By J. Randal Matheny (February 22, 2010)
In 1968 Andy Warhol said that everyone would have 15 minutes of fame. It was a criticism of the modern fascination with celebrities and the ever-moving lens of the television camera. Today, the fifteen minutes has been reduced to five.
No Explanation
By J. Randal Matheny (February 8, 2010)
Manna. The people had never seen it before. They did not know what it was. So comes the question: why didn't God tell them ahead of time? Why did he send the manna with no prior explanation of how he was going to supply their nutritional needs?
Progress of the Gospel
By J. Randal Matheny (February 1, 2010)
The Brazil national flag sports the phrase, "Order and Progress." Though the underlying philosophy behind the phrase is long dead, the words remind us of a Biblical principle. When God's order or structure is followed, progress results. Philippians is not only the letter of joy which Paul writes from prison, but the letter of the gospel's progress as well.
The Church, What the World Can Never Be
By J. Randal Matheny (January 18, 2010)
The church is the society that the world wants and tries to be, but never can be. There's a reason for that, too.
Preaching the Forgiveness of Sins
By J. Randal Matheny (January 11, 2010)
Zhang Zhixin was a young Chinese woman who opposed Mao Zedong's communist government. She was executed in 1975 for her struggle for human rights. Before her death, in order to ensure she could not speak out again at the last moment, the authorities cut her vocal chords.
Of Times and Seasons
By J. Randal Matheny (January 4, 2010)
Everything has its moment, we say, and it's true. The start of a new year is time to make plans, to plant the seeds of goodness, righteousness and love, to evaluate what we've done in the past and who we've become and to chart a new course or make corrections in a good course already begun.
What Good Is a Year?
By J. Randal Matheny (December 28, 2009)
I go to bed and sleep in the new year, rather than staying up to usher in Day One of the newborn. Though the ceremony has lost its luster, the excitement and trepidation of using a new year for the Lord continue to stir the imagination. I went to the New Testament and asked, "What good is a year?" Here are a few items to consider as 2010 nears.
What Part Do You Not Understand?
By J. Randal Matheny (December 21, 2009)
My friend Mike is an elder who visited us last year with his wife Mary. After he got tired of the carnality of his barbecue signature to sign off his emails, he decided to get spiritual. So now his email signatures ask, ...
Baby Jesus
By J. Randal Matheny (December 14, 2009)
Christmas season softens the heart and allows mushy feelings to surface. For a few weeks, that's a good thing, I suppose. We do could a lot worse. A bit more of it all year 'round might smooth the hard edges of the world's societies.
The Honeymoon's Over
By J. Randal Matheny (December 7, 2009)
The one who forgives an offense seeks and promotes love. The key to intimacy comes in forgiveness. God's pardoning of our sins is the enabling model in our relationships with others.
Get Out of My Life!
By J. Randal Matheny (November 30, 2009)
The editor traces the joining of two themes in Psalm 119 and applies them to life in Christ -- keeping the commandments of God and removing the influence of evil people from our lives.
Nudges Toward Self-Control
By J. Randal Matheny (November 23, 2009)
The editor shares his experience of the last couple of days as he was bombarded with messages for the need for self-control. What's the catch for getting mastery over the self?
Church Planting or Split?
By J. Randal Matheny (November 16, 2009)
The church in Vilonia, Ark., was established two years ago in one of the state's fastest growing cities. With good success in its outreach, recently the saints there moved and renovated a barn to serve as a meeting place while they make plans for the future.
It's Not My Fault!
By J. Randal Matheny (November 9, 2009)
The truth of accountability has been discarded, but it remains as a strong motivation to do the will of God, since all will have to stand before him as judge and answer for every thought, word and action.
Breakfast in Alabama
By J. Randal Matheny (November 2, 2009)
This morning, on my Twitter and Facebook accounts, I wrote, "Breakfast in Alabama, Internet now in Mississippi, lunch in Tennessee, bed in Arkansas. I wanna go home!"
Have You Heard?
By J. Randal Matheny (October 26, 2009)
The editor takes a question of the Lord to Jeremiah to consider how we should listen to God rather than people.
Seeing Is Believing
By J. Randal Matheny (October 12, 2009)
When they came to the disciples, they saw a large crowd around them and the experts in the law arguing with them (Mark 9:14 NET).
Seeing is believing, some say. In Mark's account of the disciples' failure to cast out a demon, he uses the verb "to see" three times and directs our attention to Jesus through the act of seeing.
Full of Goodness
By J. Randal Matheny (October 5, 2009)
The editor shares his impressions of reception by churches in the U.S. as he travels to replace funds lost in his ministry. Don't miss his motto for his two months in the States.
Here and There
By J. Randal Matheny (September 14, 2009)
The editor takes to the skies and hits the road in the U.S. for two months. But the work goes on, and you're invited to take part, follow along, even meet up with him.
Unity in Seven Words
By J. Randal Matheny (September 7, 2009)
God gave us the seven elements of Ephesians 4:4-6 as the basis for unity. To preserve and promote unity, we must maintain these elements just as the Lord gave them to us.
Preserving the Unity of the Spirit
By J. Randal Matheny (August 31, 2009)
The editor takes another look at how to preserve the unity of the Spirit in Ephesians 1:1-7. He mentions the conformity of unity, the attitude of unity, the effort for unity, the basis for unity and the diversity for unity.
The Whipping Jesus
By J. Randal Matheny (August 24, 2009)
Everybody loves the Jesus of the wedding in Cana. The story has all the elements of a warm fuzzy, the ancient equivalent of Chicken Soup for the Soul. But the very next story is a slap in the face, after the tingling feeling of the wedding.
Necessary Obedience
By J. Randal Matheny (August 10, 2009)
One of the disputed subjects in the church today is the necessity of obedience for salvation. Is obedience necessary? Clear statements in Scripture demonstrate that this dispute has an agenda behind it, since the Bible leaves no doubt.
Jesus Is Lord
By J. Randal Matheny (August 3, 2009)
In his book Jesus and Power, David Prior saw little use in a distinction between the terms "power" and "authority." The importance of that distinction can be seen in Micah 2:1 where evil people carry out their plans to sin "because they have the power to do so." Certainly, no authority inheres in their plans or activities.
Bibleless
By J. Randal Matheny (July 27, 2009)
Many see going paperless in the office or home as an advantage. And many churches and Christians think going Bibleless in their faith as a positive thing as well.
A Hot Faith
By J. Randal Matheny (July 20, 2009)
My lunch was cold today. I like my food hot. I like my faith hot, too. Not the whipped-up emotions or loyalty of traditionalists, but the zeal of a biblical faith.
Contentment and Sundry
By J. Randal Matheny (July 6, 2009)
Contentment is a direct line between God and me. I permit no one to come between us, for that will be the end of contentment.
Can You Be Stopped?
By J. Randal Matheny (June 29, 2009)
I find this version's rendering of the verse almost humorous. Often, the mere threat of suing someone is enough to stop the person from pursuing a course of action.
Spiritual Aspirin
By J. Randal Matheny (June 22, 2009)
We live today a false dream by thinking that happiness means the absence of pain. Perhaps the sign of our society is the aspirin or the painkiller. But Jesus tells us that the pain, the suffering of the Cross, the spending of self for him, are part and parcel of the Christian life.
The Missionary Church of Christ
By J. Randal Matheny (June 15, 2009)
Jesus established the church as his missionary project. In four words, John's account of the Great Commission remind us who we are as Christ's missionary church.
Through the Gates of Heaven
By J. Randal Matheny (June 8, 2009)
Our recent trip to the U.S. had its share of ceremony. First, the college graduation of a son and a daughter-in-law. Then, that son's wedding. Both events were marked with special clothing, music, decoration and the paegentry and ceremony deserving of such important moments in one's life.
Access to God
By J. Randal Matheny (May 25, 2009)
Abraham Lincoln allowed the public to roam the White House and seek an audience with the U.S. president, but those days are long gone. Most of us will never have the opportunity to talk to a president, prime minister, king or even a congressional representative or parliament member. Not so with God.
Be a Friend to Jesus
By J. Randal Matheny (May 18, 2009)
In the place of gimmicks, marketing and sell-outs to the religious world, we must rediscover our singular mission of preaching the gospel to save the lost and teach the whole counsel of God for the redemptive obedience of faith.
Full and Robust Wisdom
By J. Randal Matheny (April 6, 2009)
Keeping all your options open means losing the one that offers it all. And choosing any other option besides Christ means giving up all that matters.
From Strength to Strength
By J. Randal Matheny (March 30, 2009)
Traveling is tiring. As helpful as modern contraptions like the automobile and airplane are, taking a trip still tuckers me out!
Decide and Do
By J. Randal Matheny (March 23, 2009)
Doctor Luke decided and then went out and did what he'd decided to do. By deciding and doing, he wrote a gospel account of his Lord, which then allowed him the opportunity to write a second volume, the book of Acts.
The Visit and the Speech
By J. Randal Matheny (March 16, 2009)
The three of us stood in front of the apartment building, as Jorge depressed the buzzer to #2. As the chosen spokesman for the brethren, I silently rehearsed my little speech while we waited for the tinny little speakerphone to come to life.
Mindful of God
By J. Randal Matheny (March 9, 2009)
To be mindful of God means to be aware of his presence, knowledgeable of his will, conscious of his help, confident of his reward. It means to react to this world's opposition based on God rather than self or others.
Don't Give Up
By J. Randal Matheny (March 2, 2009)
When I was a kid, my grandfather had a Boston Terrier, a small dog with square bulldog jaws and a sweet temperament. We'd throw the tip of a rag in his face, and he'd grab it for a game of tug-of-war.
Lessons from the Heat
By J. Randal Matheny (February 23, 2009)
From his home in the Southern Hemisphere, our editor swelters under the summer heat and ponders spiritual lessons from the New Testament on this, er, hot topic.
Fixing the Living Room
By J. Randal Matheny (February 16, 2009)
The cards I like best are from kids. Sometimes Bible school teachers have their students write the missionary. The poor kids don't know us from Adam, but they often do a good job of brightening our day.
Beyond Description
By J. Randal Matheny (February 2, 2009)
We have been given a universe full of galaxies, systems and worlds that invites our imagination and, perhaps, one day, our explorations. Man has created space journeys and star adventures and unearthly creatures, from H.G. Wells to C.S. Lewis to Isaac Asimov to Stephen Spielberg. Such mental exercises should not find it strange, therefore, the new mode of existence in another, perfect form of reality.
The Cycles of Life
By J. Randal Matheny (January 26, 2009)
The ceiling fans, one over the dining room table, the other above the coffee table in the living room, whir almost inaudibly. The aquarium pump hums in the corner, and water gurgles up as the fish dart across their little world. The computer fan just behind me is the loudest noise in the night. Even the dogs lie still and quiet on the rug. The wife sits across the room reading.
Miracle on the Hudson
By J. Randal Matheny (January 19, 2009)
When U.S. Airways Flight 1549 landed in the Hudson River last Thursday, people gave thanks that the lives of all 155 people aboard were saved. But the statements of some marred the celebration of the moment.
Untainted Man, Untainted Message
By J. Randal Matheny (January 12, 2009)
Chuck Norris, move over. Jesus was the ultimate tough guy. At times Jesus refused to give people what they asked for. Sign-seekers got a flat no. Jesus was not every man's gofer, nor was he the solver of every problem.
Getting Inside God's Head
By J. Randal Matheny (December 29, 2008)
Luke Bower, youth minister with the Baker Heights congregation in Abilene, Tex., told of a visit he, his father and uncle made to a small modern art museum in San Angelo. "I don't think we went by any painting or sculpture when I didn't hear some sarcastic remark," he said.
The Dreams of God
By J. Randal Matheny (December 22, 2008)
Some dream of large, fine houses decorated with new furniture and thick carpets. I dream of a family devoted to the Lord Jesus Christ, whose lives are ...
A Continual Feast
By J. Randal Matheny (December 15, 2008)
Of all the self-inflicted wounds, mental injuries resulting from negative thoughts vie for the worst. The hand-ringers, the finger-pointers, the sour pusses, the chicken littles, all have one thing in common: their very own thoughts keep them from enjoying life, God, blessings and peace.
Can People Find You?
By J. Randal Matheny (December 8, 2008)
Make sure people can find your congregation and have updated information. It may be the age of the Internet, but not even Google can find you if you don't put your information out there.
To Be the Church
By J. Randal Matheny (December 1, 2008)
To be the church which belongs to Jesus means to obey him as Lord, acting according to his will and not our own desires. Read 1 Peter 4:1-2.
Keep Seeking
By J. Randal Matheny (November 30, 2008)
Like a broom, the Lord's Supper sweeps away all the detritus, accumulated junk and lesser concerns of our lives. At the table, we see clearly the One Thing in this world that really matters.
Swift Judgment a Reason to Obey Now
By J. Randal Matheny (November 24, 2008)
A few kilometers down the highway, in a small congregation, a regular visitor contributed weekly. The brother in whose house the saints meet told the 79-year-old woman she didn't need to feel obligated to contribute, since she was a visitor. Contributing was a responsibility of the members of the body, he explained.
Strategies for Challenges
By J. Randal Matheny (November 17, 2008)
How to succeed in meeting life's challenges, be they in our personal lives or in the church? A young worker, left alone to put things in order in a complicated society, was given three essential strategies for dealing with difficult problems -- and difficult people.
Get Busy!
By J. Randal Matheny (November 10, 2008)
Before modern scientific man began his studies of sociology and anthropology, observers had already noted specific characteristics of different people groups. One of the famous ancient poets wrote about his own people. Twice quoted in the New Testament, Epimenides spoke harshly of his own Cretan people.
Commonly Good
By J. Randal Matheny (November 3, 2008)
The word "common" has become a bad word among us. We speak of a common criminal, probably one of those dumb kind who writes his bank threat on the back of his checkbook deposit slip, with his name and address.
Good Measure
By J. Randal Matheny (October 27, 2008)
A few years before my grandmother Burley Matheny's death at age 94, I asked her what was her favorite Bible verse.
The Grace of Jesus Christ
By J. Randal Matheny (October 13, 2008)
Grace is free or it is no grace at all (see Romans 11:6). We can do nothing to deserve God's grace. No act of ours can obligate the Lord to grant salvation. "The gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 6:23b; see 3:24 NET).
No Brother Left Behind
By J. Randal Matheny (October 6, 2008)
"No child left behind" is a government program designed to improve the American educational system. It appears to be the old idea of throwing money at a problem. (Churches do the same thing in missions.) While the sentiment of not letting any child fall behind in school is laudable, the execution may well lack in its effectiveness.
The Permanence of God
By J. Randal Matheny (September 22, 2008)
Yesterday morning I was reminded how the disciples here have been shocked by the defection of one of the congregation's founding brothers. In January, this brother arose after the Sunday meeting and announced he was forsaking the Lord and the church. After some 20 years in the faith.
Emotionally Refreshed
By J. Randal Matheny (September 15, 2008)
You know the feeling. Drained. Empty. Maybe even sad or frustrated or tired. You have nothing left to give. The output has exceeded the input. Now your spiritual account is in the negative.
Faith in the Invisible
By J. Randal Matheny (August 25, 2008)
Faith contains the element of the invisible. It believes in what it cannot point at. Its light comes from walking in the dark. In this sense, pardon the expression, faith is based on ignorance, in the sense of not knowing by personal experience.
Won't Happen to Me
By J. Randal Matheny (August 18, 2008)
Last Friday, Cliff May started his article, "Future Shockwave," this way: "If you don't live in Washington, New York, or another big city, you may think: 'Even if the terrorists do strike again on American soil, my hometown and my family probably aren't in danger.'"
The Prize Independent of Performance
By J. Randal Matheny (August 11, 2008)
The Olympic Games have begun. Watching the athletes compete in the various sports excites people around the world. The athletes are judged and awarded medals according to their performance. The games work by this principle applied to most areas of life.
The Trampling Crowd
By J. Randal Matheny (August 4, 2008)
I avoid crowds, but have been caught in some rowdy multitudes. When Brazilian President-elect Tancredo Neves's body lay in state in Belo Horizonte in 1985, the crowds got worked up and several people were trampled to death. I had seen the mood turning dark, so skipped out for home and watched the tragedy unfold on a national TV network.
Centered in Christ
By J. Randal Matheny (July 14, 2008)
Obvious. A commonplace. Almost a cliché. Whatever it may be, the truth that all Christian teaching should be tied to Christ and to the heavenly Father is sometimes left in the lurch. In his letter to the Colossians, Paul dealt with the problem of bumping Christ from the faith.
John's Strange Ending
By J. Randal Matheny (July 7, 2008)
It seems a strange phrase with which to end a letter about love. Especially considering that in his letter John never mentions idols or idolatry. So why end it where the last word is "idols"?
Flight into the Sun
By J. Randal Matheny (June 30, 2008)
In Greek mythology, Icarus, taking flight with wings made by his father, wanted to fly close to the sun. When he flew too high, however, the sun melted the wax that held the feathers. Feathers flew, and Icarus didn't. The ambitious son plunged to his death.
Doctrine is Teaching
By J. Randal Matheny (June 16, 2008)
The term "doctrine" has a simple meaning, that of "teaching." In English, the term has acquired a negative connotation that is not present in the Greek language of the New Testament.
Unfruitful
By J. Randal Matheny (June 9, 2008)
One of the worst adjectives that can be applied to a Christian is "unfruitful. "Paul tells Titus what "our people" (what a charming phrase!) can do to avoid fruitlessness.
The Wish Button
By J. Randal Matheny (June 2, 2008)
While I was in the padaria this morning for a mid-morning piece of toast, the TV was tuned to some stupid cartoon from the U.S. or Japan. On my first glance, a child's finger hit a star-shaped wish button on a machine that looked like a copier. ...
The Scene at Calvary
By J. Randal Matheny (May 26, 2008)
Those were the words I jotted down yesterday during and after the Lord's supper. To hold in one's mind the picture of the crucifixion of Christ is to be amazed again at the price of salvation. ...
The Two Greatest Commandments
By J. Randal Matheny (May 19, 2008)
When Jesus declared, in conversation with a scribe, the two greatest commandments in Scripture, he provided us with great insight into the heart of God and the new covenant. ...
From Carnal Consumer to Spiritual Producer
By J. Randal Matheny (May 12, 2008)
by J. Randal Matheny, editor The announcement was unplanned. The employer went to the microphone and appealed to the congregation to help a poor employee who had lost her home and belongings in a flood.
Associate With Them
By Richard Mansel, managing editor (May 5, 2008)
by J. Randal Matheny, editor We will put up with things in the world that we cannot tolerate in the church. We do it because we have been sent into the world to preach the gospel of salvation.
The King is Dead! Long Live the King!
By J. Randal Matheny (April 28, 2008)
Darwinism is dead. Evolution has expired. Not many will admit it. The cadaver is propped up on a throne, his eyelids taped open to his eyebrows. The scientists are chatting normally, jocundly, even, and glance his way as if to keep him in the conversation. ...
No Settling Down Here
By J. Randal Matheny (April 21, 2008)
The decision was unanimous. We would vacate the rented building which for the last five years had served as our place to meet, study and fellowship. The building is spacious and of fairly easy access. But it came at a price. Both financial and spiritual.
Take Your Pick
By J. Randal Matheny (April 14, 2008)
I have yet to hear a preacher get it right. I'm sure there's one out there who's on target, but every time a speaker uses the passage, he misses the point. Not that he's preaching false doctrine. By no means. The point he makes is valid, except that's not exactly what the passage is saying. ...
Nibbling Their Way to Lostness
By J. Randal Matheny (April 7, 2008)
Straying happens almost by chance. Ignorance, inattention, distraction, drifting. It's the straying of the sheep (Ezekiel 34:6), who "simply nibble their way to lostness." ...
Words During the Supper
By J. Randal Matheny (March 31, 2008)
If, as we often teach, the main purpose of the church's meeting together on the first day of the week is to eat the Lord's supper (Acts 20:7), then the brother does well who not only prays at the breaking of bread, but who reflects upon its meaning for the church.
Giving
By J. Randal Matheny (March 24, 2008)
In Scripture the most common subject of the verb "to give" is God. The greatest gift God ever gave was his only Son Jesus Christ. And the Son follows the example of his Father.
God in the Jordan River
By J. Randal Matheny (March 10, 2008)
First, the announcement. Joshua wants the people to know what is going to happen and by what power. The explanation of the event is as important as the event itself. Joshua's explanation merely highlights the message already contained in the miracle, but this preview is needed, not because of the miracle's ambiguity, but because of the people's slowness to comprehend. Three things Joshua says about God in these verses cry for our consideration. ...
David Inquired of the Lord
By J. Randal Matheny (March 3, 2008)
Time and again, David inquired of the Lord. When he didn't, he wound up in trouble. Certainly, he would back up or repent. But when he inquired of the Lord as to his next steps, ...
How to Get a Life
By J. Randal Matheny (February 25, 2008)
"I need to get a life!" People get frustrated with their lives or feel things are not going the way they should. They sometimes express their frustration with the above phrase. It suggests that one can go out and buy a new life. Or switch it out as you would replace a car part or a piece of equipment. ...
The Issue: Who Jesus Is
By J. Randal Matheny (February 18, 2008)
The problem was not that the Jews failed to understand Jesus' teaching. They understood him all to well. Indeed, Jesus' claims were preposterous for a mere man. Such claims demanded that he be greater than Abraham and the prophets. The Jews stumbled at Jesus' identity, not his teachings. ...
He Showed the Love of God for All
By J. Randal Matheny (February 4, 2008)
It was a special trip, for one purpose only. I had driven down the Natchez Trace Parkway, from my mother-in-law's house in northeast Mississippi, to Winona just to visit him and his wife. For years I had read books he had published ...
Purple Rubber Non-Complaints
By J. Randal Matheny (January 28, 2008)
I found the purple rubber bracelets on the Internet. A group promotes their use to help people learn not to complain. If you complain, you have to change the bracelet to the other wrist. By the changes and the presence of the bracelet, one should eventually learn to quit complaining. ...
When the World Crumbles Around You
By J. Randal Matheny (January 21, 2008)
The bomb fell on Sunday morning. The saints were confused, frightened and shocked. I was dazed. The announcement came from nowhere, and all our work would be affected. ...
The New Year with Jesus
By J. Randal Matheny (December 31, 2007)
By January 31st seven out of 10 resolution makers will give up on their resolutions. Some people react by showing disdain for resolutions. But the new year does provide a special moment. God gave us the heavenly bodies to mark the seasons, days and years (Genesis 1:14 ESV). Hence, we do well to think of passing from the old year to the new as a new chance, a clean slate, another opportunity for growth and service. ...
A Holiday Prayer
By J. Randal Matheny (December 24, 2007)
The editors and writers of Forthright Magazine wish you and your family a Christmas full of joy in Christ and replete with the blessings of God. As a token of our holiday prayers for you, the following poem is yours to enjoy and share. ...
Christmas and Christ
By J. Randal Matheny (December 17, 2007)
If an extraterrestrial were to observe many lawns where Frosty and Santa share space with a nativity scene, he might be confused when the home owners tried to explain that they believe Christ was born of a virgin, but that Santa and Frosty were, well, mythical characters.
Christmas and the Family
By J. Randal Matheny (December 3, 2007)
Christmas is a time for family and friends.
Destined for Success
By J. Randal Matheny (November 25, 2007)
He said it as we were pulling out of the garage, headed for the second congregation's Sunday meeting. I almost stopped the car. Almost, not quite. But I did have him repeat it to me, because I wanted to remember it just as he said it. ...
What Confession Means
By J. Randal Matheny (November 19, 2007)
Confession means I declare that I'm a sinner and that I now repudiate my sin. It recognizes and acknowledges that God is right and I am wrong. Confession is uncovering the hideousness of what I have done. It is the opposite of covering up. ...
A Day in the Life of Christ
By J. Randal Matheny (November 12, 2007)
Time-planners could take a cue from Christ. Jesus welcomed interruptions. The synagogue scene made him content to serve. A sick mother-in-law was for him an opportunity. Night-time queues of sick didn't catch him grumbling that his supper was getting cold. For Jesus, interruptions meant meeting people's needs and pointing them to the greatest need of all.
Be Perfect
By J. Randal Matheny (November 5, 2007)
Nobody's perfect. You'll hear this cliché on the lips of saints and sinners, excuse-makers and mature disciples. Our modern definition of perfect is to be without sin. And by that the phrase, "Nobody's perfect" is correct, even though the use of it often seeks to get people off the hook and excuse sin. In the Biblical sense, however, "perfect" does not mean to be without sin.
Love's Pursuit
By J. Randal Matheny (October 29, 2007)
I ask this, not of you, for I will love you with or without your permission, but of God, from whom comes the example, the overflowing and the power to love.
Work, Responsibility not Right
By J. Randal Matheny (October 15, 2007)
We continue to treat the questions of a popular compendium of a catechism. Question no. 415, "Right to Work," asks, "To what type of work does every person have a right?"
Protect the Embryo ... and Human Life
By J. Randal Matheny (October 8, 2007)
Question 471 of the compendium asks, "Why must society protect every embryo?" Christians, more than pagans, have always valued human life, because they know that man, alone of all creatures, was created after God's likeness.
One Fixed Stake
By J. Randal Matheny (October 1, 2007)
by J. Randal Matheny Yet, in the maddening maze of things, And tossed by storm and flood, To one fixed stake my spirit clings; I know that God is good. --John Greenleaf Whittier, "The Eternal Goodness" Life is a series...
Invent Your Own Jesus
By J. Randal Matheny (September 24, 2007)
by J. Randal Matheny Some years back Nestle's Brazilian product Neston (some sort of cereal product, I think), had this advertising: "There's a 1000 ways to prepare Neston -- invent your own." So in my seminar on "The Jesus that...
They Tied Him Up
By J. Randal Matheny (September 17, 2007)
by J. Randal Matheny "Then the squad of soldiers with their commanding officer and the officers of the Jewish leaders arrested Jesus and tied him up" (John 18:12 NET). They tied up the one who was the Agent of creation,...
What Jesus Sees
By J. Randal Matheny (September 3, 2007)
He takes it all in. The pilgrims come from afar, to participate in the feast. The bleating and braying of the animals. The exchange tables set strategically in the temple precincts. The lines of worshipers for animal defect inspections. And he knows. This is not what my Father planned. He didn't mean for it to become a marketplace, a cheating stage, a public plaza for business, but a sacred meeting ground, the sandal-off, barefoot holiness of the presence of God. ...
Faulty Memories
By J. Randal Matheny (August 27, 2007)
A week ago Saturday a gentleman died after an emergency surgery at Rhode Island Hospital to stop hemorrhaging on the brain. A nurse had omitted some necessary information on the chart, and instead of checking the exams, Dr. Frederick Harrington relied on his memory and began operating--on the wrong side of the patient's brain. ...
My Gospel
By J. Randal Matheny (August 20, 2007)
Paul wasn't claiming ownership of the gospel, since he acknowledged his call and his separation by God for the gospel proclamation (Romans 1:1). The gospel didn't belong to him; he belonged to the God who created the gospel. What then did Paul mean when he said the gospel was his? In what sense could he say "my gospel"?
God's Word in the Heart
By J. Randal Matheny (August 13, 2007)
by J. Randal Matheny A company is selling shoe inserts imprinted with Bible verses. The company slogan: "Stand on the Word." Apparently, the effort is to demonstrate graphically what should happen spiritually. The Bible should serve as our foundation for...
Free in Christ to Serve
By J. Randal Matheny (August 6, 2007)
Paula, a sister in Christ here in Sao Jose dos Campos, shared with my wife yesterday some challenges of ministering to the poor, as she works with other Christians in a sweater campaign. A few months back, at the beginning of winter (we live below the equator, remember), they contacted several care institutions with an offer to donate clothes. Most of these raised a number of requirements, such as meeting with a social worker, before they would consider accepting the donations. ...
True by an Objective Standard
By J. Randal Matheny (July 30, 2007)
The pope provided a good illustration this month of believing in an objective standard of truth, as we spoke last week in a special study on "The True Biblical Baptism."
Home to Bless
By J. Randal Matheny (July 16, 2007)
Worship always prepares us for service. Praise and celebration before the Lord equips us to go back home and bless our families. The religion that has no impact on behavior at home is useless.
The faith that lives with its head in the clouds needs its feet on the ground. ...
Keeping Up Your Courage
By J. Randal Matheny (July 9, 2007)
"But the Lord hardened the heart of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and he chased after the Israelites. Now the Israelites were going out defiantly." Exodus 14:8 NET Behind them, Egypt. Ahead, liberty. With the spoils of Egypt in their pockets,...
Interested in History
By J. Randal Matheny (July 2, 2007)
The Christian studies history. Not so much human as divine history. Not dates, names, wars or inventions of men, but rather the movement, miracles, answers, rescues, words, and promises of God are what fascinate.
The Forces of Nature
By J. Randal Matheny (June 25, 2007)
Driving east on U.S. Highway 412, I'd hoped to scoot across the Missouri Bootheel and cross into Tennessee ahead of the storm. But well before I reached Hayti and I-55, I saw the winds coming up the Mississippi Valley from the south. It was hard to tell what were clouds and what was dust whipped up from the flat, open fields. I would not have been surprised to see a tornado dip down out of the darkness to my right. Whirls of topsoil danced and twisted as high straight-line winds swept northward across the highway, downing road signs and threatening to rip the the wipers from the windshield. ...
Advice to a Friend
By J. Randal Matheny (June 18, 2007)
At some point a Fixation will take hold of your mind. It will tell you that This is what you must have to make you happy or secure. The more you think of it, the greater its positive qualities grow. It will assume an importance far beyond its true place in your life, if indeed, it should have a place at all. It may be any number of things, valid or not, licit or forbidden for the Christian. Money, relationships, sex, success, drugs, alcohol, gambling.
When at First You Don't Succeed ...
By J. Randal Matheny (June 11, 2007)
Today, I'm telling one on my wife, with her permission. Some years back, after long encouragement from me, Vicki accepted an invitation to speak at a women's retreat here in Brazil. She was comfortable with children's classes, one-on-one, and small groups. She did not like the idea of speaking to large audiences. ...
Differences Between Two Men
By J. Randal Matheny (June 4, 2007)
Jesus appeared before Pilate, ostensibly to be judged by him. Actually, it was Pilate who wound up being judged by Jesus. The encounter between the two showed the great difference between them. See the differences between these two men in three areas.
More Striking
By J. Randal Matheny (May 28, 2007)
After last week's article, a number of readers asked for more things that struck me as I returned to the U.S. for a visit. Following, a few more items. * The enormity of fast-food beverage cups, of restaurant plates and...
Striking
By J. Randal Matheny (May 21, 2007)
I’ve been back in the U.S. for a day. Here are some things that often strike me, a two-decade expatriate living in South America, when I return to American soil. * The beauties of the changing seasons. In tropical Brazil,...
A Retreat of Global Progress
By J. Randal Matheny (May 14, 2007)
This past weekend I spent three days with 87 missionaries and mission-minded saints from the world over. In a few days, we'll link to more news of the event, but for now, I'd like to reflect on my impressions of...
To Love Their Husbands
By J. Randal Matheny (May 7, 2007)
In a Christian discussion list, a lady asked recently what type of love toward husbands Paul referred to in Titus 2:4. Considering what the world saw in the Mary Winkler trial, the question is very appropriate. In verses 3-5 Paul...
The Purpose-Filled Prayer
By J. Randal Matheny (April 30, 2007)
Paul not only talks about prayer (1 Thessalonians 3:10), he prays (v. 11-13). He prays not only in private and public, but in writing. I can imagine Paul's secretary writing furiously as he feverishly speaks his mind. Then, he pauses, opens his hands to heaven and prays this prayer: "Now may God our Father himself and our Lord Jesus direct our way to you." ...
The Root Problem Is Spiritual
By J. Randal Matheny (April 23, 2007)
Whether it's a preacher's wife shooting her husband in the back or a student venting his rage by killing 32 people on the campus of Virgina Tech, the root problem is spiritual. Police, investigators, juries, and reporters seek to answer questions, explore motives, see justice done. Legal, psychological, and social aspects can't and shouldn't be ignored. But the determining factor is still spiritual. What do I mean when I say that the root problem is spiritual? ...
Mary Winkler, Fred Thompson, and Good News
By J. Randal Matheny (April 16, 2007)
Mary Winkler's trial began last week in Selmer, Tenn. Fred Thompson is a potential presidential candidate. Both have connections with the Lord's church. Because of them, the media is focusing on the church, and most of the attention is negative. But there is good news. ...
Encouraged by the Power of God in You
By J. Randal Matheny (April 9, 2007)
I always mark the Friday and Saturday before Easter Sunday as reserved in my agenda. Every year this time is held the National Christian Men's Encounter at the Mt. of Olives Christian Camp, near Sao Paulo. Some 400-500 men come...
To Which You Were Delivered
By J. Randal Matheny (April 2, 2007)
As we waited for some non-Christian friends to come to the house last night, I watched Roy Davison's seminar, "Can We Be the Church of the New Testament?"/1 Roy showed the pattern that existed in both the Old and New...
Absent Fellowship
By J. Randal Matheny (March 26, 2007)
Absence makes the heart grow fonder, goes the saying. Paul said that separation intensified his desire to see the saints in Thessalonica. They had sent him and Silas off by night to Berea because of intense persecution. Possibly they had...
Fear's Strange Behaviors
By J. Randal Matheny (March 5, 2007)
Then Sarah lied, saying, "I did not laugh," because she was afraid. But the Lord said, "No! You did laugh." Genesis 18:15 NET Fear leads us to do the strangest things. It led Sarah to lie to the Lord when...
How to Displease God
By J. Randal Matheny (February 26, 2007)
The Christian seeks to please God. He wants to be like Jesus who heard the Father speak over him, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased” (Matthew 3:17 NET). So he takes to heart Jesus' words,...
Through Ahaziah's Visit
By J. Randal Matheny (February 18, 2007)
Through Ahaziah's visit to Joram, God brought about Ahaziah's downfall. 2 Chronicles 22:7 NIV God doesn't need miracles in order to do his will and fulfill his purpose in the world. He uses common events and situations to walk history...
Better Than We Ask
By J. Randal Matheny (February 5, 2007)
"So when God destroyed the cities of the region, God honored Abraham’s request. He removed Lot from the midst of the destruction when he destroyed the cities Lot had lived in." Genesis 19:29, NET At first sight, Abraham did not...
The Questions We Ask Ourselves
By J. Randal Matheny (January 22, 2007)
I was backended this morning at a stop light in front of Colinas Mall, about 10 minutes from our house, and my car was thrown into the car in front of me. At the moment, I feel OK, except for...
Daring to Serve
By J. Randal Matheny (January 15, 2007)
"I had never done anything daring for the kingdom before." So said John as we sat at the table while the evening darkened the sky above us and the breeze from the ocean picked up. Vicki, Leila, and I listened...
The Essential Outline: Less Basic Not Unnecessary
By J. Randal Matheny (January 8, 2007)
Read the first two installments of "The Essential Outline:" (1) The Main Points, (2) The Bottom Line. After exploring its main points and considering what those mean to us, we acknowledge that Romans 1:2-4 is still a bare outline. If...
That You Might Know God
By J. Randal Matheny (January 1, 2007)
"By this we know that we know him, if we obey his commandments" (1 John 2:3). For the year 2007, I have only one prayer for you: that you might know God. Some of our dear readers do not know...
The Essential Outline: The Bottom Line
By J. Randal Matheny (December 4, 2006)
Read the first installment, "The Essential Outline: The Main Points." If Barclay is right that Romans 1:2-4 is a "most essential outline" of the gospel, what do these main points have to say to us? 1. God is unwavering in...
The Essential Outline: The Main Points
By J. Randal Matheny (November 27, 2006)
"Give it to me in a 100 words or less." Considering the sound-bite post-modern that he was, I suppose it could have been worse. But how to reduce the gospel to a paragraph? Now that I think of it, the...
Motives Matter
By J. Randal Matheny (November 20, 2006)
To prosecutors in the courtroom, motives matter. To the rich young heiress in search of love, motives matter. To the mate betrayed by infidelity, motives matter. The why behind the doing matters as much to God as to any human...
If It's Not One Thing, It's Another
By J. Randal Matheny (November 13, 2006)
Sunday morning, 12:30 a.m. The wife and I slumber soundly. Our two mutts, Wally and Mina, began barking wildly. Incessantly. Seems our neighbors are in their kitchen in a loud conversation. (Houses are close together here.) After the third attempt...
Hard to Enter
By J. Randal Matheny (November 6, 2006)
"Then Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, 'How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!'" (Mark 10:23, NET). He had just left. Saddened by Jesus' command to sell everything. To give his money...
Never Intended It
By J. Randal Matheny (October 30, 2006)
"If you here stop, and ask yourselves, why you are not as pious as the primitive Christians were, your own heart will tell you, that it is neither through ignorance nor through inability, but purely because you never thoroughly intended...
Getting Out the Vote
By J. Randal Matheny (October 23, 2006)
Run-off elections for Brazil's presidential race are set for October 27. President Lula, up for reelection, expected to sweep the country in the first round. Corruption scandals tightened the race, Lula refused to join a televised debate, and elections wound...
COMING SOON TO A CHURCH NEAR YOU
By J. Randal Matheny (October 16, 2006)
I'm writing far from home, on a teaching trip in the northeast region of Brazil. I was privileged to be invited to a congregation concerned about strange developments in this area. As a subscriber of Forthright, you've noticed our commitment...
Not a Cause, but a Kingdom
By J. Randal Matheny (October 9, 2006)
Sometimes we hear people -- and we ourselves -- talk about "the cause of Christ."
But the faith is not a cause, but a kingdom.
Used in this sense, a cause is "(a) a principle or movement militantly defended or supported (b) a charitable undertaking Mid-air Collision
By J. Randal Matheny (October 2, 2006)
On Friday a new Embraer Legacy jet took off from my city of São José dos Campos on its way to its new American owner. Over the thick Amazon jungle, it collided with a Boeing 737, Gol Airlines Flight 1907 from Manaus to Brasilia. While the new jet landed safely with its seven people aboard, the 155 passengers and crew of the Gol flight plummeted to their death.
Taking Our Place
By J. Randal Matheny (September 25, 2006)
In Broken Chains, Doug Batchelor wrote about Filipino identical twins, who made their living in Manila by driving jeepneys, the local taxi. One was married and had children; the other was single. One day, the married brother accidentally struck and...
How You Turned
By J. Randal Matheny (September 18, 2006)
The earliest book of the New Testament, 1 Thessalonians, begins by celebrating the conversion of the recipients in glowing terms. Around A.D. 51, Paul reached Corinth, after he'd been chased from Thessalonica and Berea and passed through Athens. Having stayed...
Religion of Relationship
By J. Randal Matheny (September 11, 2006)
"Would it be correct to say that Christianity is a relationship and not a religion?" So asks a sincere inquirer. Since James calls the faith religion, we cannot dump the word as a description of the Way. "Pure and undefiled...
Fixing a Situation
By J. Randal Matheny (September 4, 2006)
A baggage handler removing the luggage from the Sao Paulo-Rio flight picked up a passenger's pet carrier -- and saw the dog was dead./1 He quickly called his superior, who, recognizing the situation was ripe for a legal suit, paged...
A Single Concern
By J. Randal Matheny (August 14, 2006)
We, the editors and writers of Forthright Magazine, share a single concern: the soul's salvation. We want more than anything to be saved, in order that we may enjoy God's presence, both now and eternally. We also want every single...
A Different Kind of Lectureship
By J. Randal Matheny (July 31, 2006)
People came from Ohio, Missouri, Texas, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and Arkansas. I traveled from Brazil specifically for the event. Besides the common faith they share, the participants had something else in common: though most had never met before, they are friends...
Leave
By J. Randal Matheny (July 24, 2006)
Artists often present pictures of Jesus as an effeminate and delicate person. Nothing that would frighten anyone.
But in the region of the Gerasenes, Jesus restores a wild man possessed by a legion of demons. "No one was strong enough to subdue him" (verse 4). But Jesus puts him right. And the Lord is indirectly responsible for the death of two thousand pigs when he permits the demons to leave the man and enter the animals.
The Lord Needs You
By J. Randal Matheny (July 17, 2006)
Jesus had sent two disciples into Bethany to get the colt for what we call today the triumphal entry. He told them where to find it and what to say to the owners: "The Lord needs it." In one sense, the Lord needs nothing of ours nor of us. To an Israel addicted to formal religion he declared: ...
Swiftly
By J. Randal Matheny (July 10, 2006)
My backseater Walt and I were screaming across Southern California 13 miles high in a SR-71. We were monitoring radio transmissions from other aircraft as we entered Los Angeles airspace. Though they didn't really control us, they did monitor our movement across their scope. I heard a Cessna ask for a readout of its groundspeed. "90 knots," Center replied. Moments later, a Twin Beech requested the same. "120 knots," Center answered.
Who Touched Me?
By J. Randal Matheny (July 3, 2006)
"And Jesus said, 'Who was it that touched me?' When all denied it, Peter said, 'Master, the crowds surround you and are pressing in on you!' (Luke 8:45, ESV). Dozens, perhaps hundreds, of people touched Jesus as he made his...
Intimacy and Fathers
By J. Randal Matheny (June 19, 2006)
Saturday, the world's largest annual homosexual march took place in São Paulo. Over two million people converged on Avenida Paulista, the city's financial center, to chant the theme that "homophobia" should be considered a crime. Sunday, the U.S. celebrated Father's...
Rules of the Road
By J. Randal Matheny (June 5, 2006)
Do you know the rules of the road? Not only to driving a car, but walking in the Way of the Lord? Some of the rules for motorists also serve well the saint in his walk with God. 1. Don't...
Lord and Savior
By J. Randal Matheny (May 22, 2006)
"Jesus is Lord and Savior." It's a favorite phrase of certain religious groups where I live and work. But few really understand what the phrase means. It is Peter in his second letter who uses the whole phrase. And only...
State of Siege
By J. Randal Matheny (May 15, 2006)
Violence has spread in our state of São Paulo, the capital city of the same name, and even in our city of São José dos Campos. The authorities were moving some mafia-type gang leaders to a prison upstate, away from...
Groan
By J. Randal Matheny (May 8, 2006)
We all get them. Cute stories or jokes from well-meaning friends, who we afterwards wish weren't so friendly. One friend sent me ten puns, all in one email. He must have really been wanting to wrap up a long-time relationship....
From Entertaining Fiction to Accepted Reality
By J. Randal Matheny (May 1, 2006)
In the 1960s Frederik Pohl and Jack Williamson wrote "The Starchild Trilogy," three connected works of science fiction which presented a sentient universe and stars and planets that were alive. Today, people believe the earth is Gaia, a living entity....
Cling to God
By J. Randal Matheny (April 24, 2006)
"Problems should make us run TO God, not run FROM him." So I wrote to Darrin a few days ago. His wife has cancer. His mother-in-law, not the meekest of people, has been living with them for months, to lend...
Concern for Loved Ones
By J. Randal Matheny (April 3, 2006)
As of this writing, the news reports say the town of Marmaduke, Arkansas, is half gone. The remaining structures have minor to moderate damage. One of yesterday's 63 tornados devastated the town. The photo on the Fox News website shows...
The Tragedy Among Us
By J. Randal Matheny (March 27, 2006)
Many of us have felt distraught as details emerged of Matthew Winkler's death in Selmer, Tennessee, and his wife's confession. Members of the Winkler family are known to many, and their ministries have blessed, and will continue to bless, multitudes....
My Second New Radiator
By J. Randal Matheny (March 20, 2006)
In January I had to put a new radiator in my car. Today I had to put another new radiator in my car. The mechanic had already called the parts store about the guarantee on the new radiator, thinking it...
Benedito
By J. Randal Matheny (March 13, 2006)
Benedito, a brother in the Lord, and Sr. Joaquim, a friend of his, have just left my office. He and I have had five studies with Joaquim, whom he has known for many years. Benedito is the best evangelist-inviter in...
Difficulty as Discipline
By J. Randal Matheny (March 6, 2006)
"Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons" (Hebrews 12:7, NIV). No one likes to undergo hardship. We flee from problems and flinch from pain. But hardship can help us. The Hebrew Christians' brand of hardship was persecution....
Restoring Marriage by God's Original Plan
By J. Randal Matheny (February 6, 2006)
[For the introduction to this article, see "Retroculture and Original Events."] Challenged by the Pharisees on divorce, Jesus uses the restoration concept to teach the original divine truth about marriage. He answered, "Have you not read that he who created...
Retroculture and Original Events
By J. Randal Matheny (January 30, 2006)
In a cultural and political spoof, William Lind imagined a Retroculture Movement arising in the 1990s that revitalize and revolutionize American culture by 2050. The idea was to return to old values, especially those of the Victorian era, to restore...
The Dam Breaks
By J. Randal Matheny (January 23, 2006)
Dan and Charlotte* belonged to a church they liked, where they had lots of friends. But Charlotte questioned some of the things her pastor said. The pastor, not about to have his authority challenged, called her to the front at...
Waves of Temptation
By J. Randal Matheny (January 2, 2006)
"The Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness. And he was in the wilderness forty days, being tempted by Satan" (Mark 1:12-13a ESV). Waves of temptations often follow deeply spiritual moments and fall upon those who launch great works....
Real Resolutions
By J. Randal Matheny (December 26, 2005)
A year ago we were contemplating our resolutions for 2005. Some of us are now celebrating their completion. Others of us feel stuck in the same rut of good wishes gone sour. A few of us can't even remember what...
Public and Private Pain
By J. Randal Matheny (December 12, 2005)
We sat in the dining area of Colinas Mall on Sunday afternoon. At a table at the edge of the area sat a family of four, dad, mom, daughter, and son. As we wound down our meal, the discussion at...
There to Protect
By J. Randal Matheny (December 5, 2005)
It happened just across the square from my office. Last week two doormen from a security company kidnapped and killed 38-year-old Iara, a resident of the building they were hired to protect. They forced her to sign a check for...
Feelings of Joy
By J. Randal Matheny (November 21, 2005)
I've still got jetlag after getting home last week, and the good feelings from the Cold Harbor Road Lectureship still linger. Those good people invited me, without knowing me from Adam, to share three lessons with them on taking the...
Optimistic Children
By J. Randal Matheny (October 31, 2005)
Martin Seligman, author of Learned Optimism, writes that when he and his wife divorced, his son David was five. Every explanation failed to get across to the child that the divorce was final. At length, Seligman told his son straight...
Requirements for World Peace
By J. Randal Matheny (October 17, 2005)
Our fifth answer in the series of religious questions proposed by a forthcoming compendium deals with world peace. The question: "What is required for peace in the world?" The biblical answer: The end of the world. While the world stands,...
How Should "Other" Christians Be Regarded?
By J. Randal Matheny (October 10, 2005)
This is our fourth biblical answer to religious questions proposed by a catechistic compendium. It asks how "Christians" should be regarded who do not belong to their particular group or denomination. It is common for those involved in religious groups...
Salvation Outside the Church
By J. Randal Matheny (October 3, 2005)
This is our third biblical answer to religious questions, from an upcoming compendium based on a catechism. The compendium asks: "What is the meaning of the affirmation: 'There is no salvation outside the Church'?" There are two extremes to avoid...
Unity Between the Testaments
By J. Randal Matheny (September 19, 2005)
This is the second biblical answer to religious questions, from an upcoming compendium based on a catechism. What unity is there between the Old and New Testaments? The unity between the Old and New Testaments is that of the one...
Knowing God by Reason
By J. Randal Matheny (September 12, 2005)
A new religious catechism has been released in question-and-answer form. Ten of them have been translated into English so far. In the next weeks, we'll provide biblical answers to several of these religious questions. The first question published is this:...
I'm Encouraged
By J. Randal Matheny (September 5, 2005)
In Texas, a young married couple with no children, friends of ours, has taken into their home a single mother with two children, refugees from New Orleans. A congregation is caring for a family displaced by Katrina, in a house...
Full Explanation
By J. Randal Matheny (August 29, 2005)
"The woman said to Him, 'I know that Messiah is coming' (who is called Christ). 'When He comes, He will explain everything to us'" (John 4:25, HCSB). The Samaritan woman was more right than she could have imagined. First, without...
The BTK Killer, Any One of Us
By J. Randal Matheny (August 22, 2005)
The BTK killer has been sentenced to 10 consecutive life sentences. After terrorizing people in Wichita and the state of Kansas for decades, he has finally been put away. One reporter called Dennis Rader a "non-descript" man, an average, balding...
Travel Advice
By J. Randal Matheny (August 8, 2005)
Brazilians have a saying. "Having health, we have it all." Aside from not being true, like most people, they don't seem to take care of their health much better than anybody else. Physical health is important, but most people, be...
The Corruption and Restoration of Religion
By J. Randal Matheny (July 25, 2005)
Brazilians are depressed, says a national weekly newsmagazine. The hope for change in government has crumbled with almost daily revelations of corruption in most of the political parties ... and it started with the president's own party. The main question...
God Is So Good
By J. Randal Matheny (July 18, 2005)
Is God so good that he will not punish the wicked in hell eternally? People have grappled with this question for years. Several answers have been offered. 1. Universalism says God will save everyone. If hell exists, it is for...
Going Back to Church
By J. Randal Matheny (July 11, 2005)
Several times over the past few months I've heard someone talk about "going back to church." Or actually do it. Many would be quick, as I often am, to point out that there is a more basic duty than that:...
When Men of God Fall
By J. Randal Matheny (July 4, 2005)
Christians are deeply saddened when men of God fall into sin and bring reproach upon the church of the firstborn. When they do, let us pause and reflect on what this means for God's cause in this world. • We...
Going Beyond
By J. Randal Matheny (June 27, 2005)
"I have applied these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, brothers, that you may learn by us not to go beyond what is written, that none of you may be puffed up in favor of one against another"...
We All Need the Gospel
By J. Randal Matheny (June 20, 2005)
When Sr. Benedito and I arrived that first night at Dona Cleuza's house, the unpaved streets were muddy from rain, and the drizzle settled on our heads as the lady of the house delayed to open the front gate. This...
Because of Me
By J. Randal Matheny (June 13, 2005)
"And they glorified God because of me" (Galatians 1:24, ESV). So said Paul of the Judean churches who did not know him, but yet had heard it said, "He who used to persecute us is now preaching the faith he...
"You're Wrong!"
By J. Randal Matheny (June 6, 2005)
Does the Christian have the right to tell a person he is wrong? Sometimes when discussions arise about what the Bible teaches, someone objects that no one has the right to tell another he is in the wrong. Once again,...
Identity Theft: Stealing the Church's Identity
By J. Randal Matheny (May 30, 2005)
Some weeks ago, I left the office at the end of the day. On the street corner, I glanced down and saw some papers I had thrown in the trash the previous day. Papers with personal information on them. Here...
The Dark Side
By J. Randal Matheny (May 23, 2005)
Science fiction fans welcomed the release last week of "The Revenge of the Sith," the final movie in the Star Wars series of films. Third in a series of six (produced out of order), the film reveals how Anakin, the...
Why Jesus Came (II)
By J. Randal Matheny (May 16, 2005)
(Note: This article is continued from the first part and is based on John 4:27-37.) 3. SUCCESS A foible of many of us is not to finish what we start. Perhaps that's why the Preacher said that "The end of...
Why Jesus Came (I)
By J. Randal Matheny (May 2, 2005)
Thought to be extinct for over 60 years, the ivory-billed woodpecker was recently sighted in the Cache River National Wildlife Refuge in eastern Arkansas, a few miles from my hometown of Paragould. The sighting generated great excitement, so much so...
Completely Yours
By J. Randal Matheny (April 11, 2005)
"Totus tuus." Completely yours. This was the last pope's personal motto. About his motto, John Paul II wrote in "Crossing the Threshold of Hope," "Totus Tuus. This phrase is not only an expression of piety, or simply an expression of...
Procrastinating with Sin
By J. Randal Matheny (April 4, 2005)
I got out of bed this morning and looked at myself in the mirror. "Randal, old boy, you're a sinaholic, just like the rest of the human race. As James said, 'We all stumble in many ways.' But just for...
Lines from My Notebook
By J. Randal Matheny (April 1, 2005)
* Maturity is being able to live with decisions you don't agree with. * The Man who made the best use of his time never knew what a minute was, much less a second. * Technology comes from "techne," art,...
In All the Cities
By J. Randal Matheny (March 28, 2005)
Jesus was born in the city of David (Luke 2:11). He went and dwelt in the city of Nazareth (Matthew 2:23). He taught and preached in all the cities (Matthew 9:35; 11:1). He denounced the cities for their failure to...
Mad at God
By J. Randal Matheny (March 21, 2005)
One proud grandmother tells that one Sunday the preacher raised his voice and hit the pulpit. Startled, her three-year-old grandson asked loudly, "Mommy, why is he mad at God?" His mother explained, but he wasn't convinced. "Yes, he is, he...
How to Flirt with Sin
By J. Randal Matheny (March 15, 2005)
1. Look but don't touch. 2. Only this once. 3. At least, I'm not doing THAT! 4. Jesus ate and drank with sinners. 5. It's just innocent fun. 6. Even many Christians I know do it. 7. It won't go...
Eating and Drinking
By J. Randal Matheny (March 7, 2005)
I had plenty of reasons not to go. It was Sunday night. I had led singing Sunday morning. Jorge and Paula came home for lunch. Then we all went to the Taubate church -- a forty-minute drive --, where I...
Jesus Sang
By J. Randal Matheny (February 28, 2005)
The throat vibrates in cadenced tones, but the heart took flight days before and the mind disengaged itself as the first words slipped into automatic. The eyes scan the auditorium, alighting anywhere besides upon another pair of pupils. Other voices...
He Won
By J. Randal Matheny (February 14, 2005)
I am all bruised. This morning, I tugged with a worthy opponent. We wrestled for an hour and a half. I wiggled. I squirmed. I twisted. But he held on firmly. I tried some fancy footwork. It didn't work. I...
What It's All About
By J. Randal Matheny (February 7, 2005)
As I sat in the small living room last night, an hour away from home and comfort, after a long day of activities, I was alert, awake, and content. Jorge was preaching an articulate message on Jesus' words in Luke...
Young Reminders
By J. Randal Matheny (January 31, 2005)
My wife and I just returned from directing an entire week of Christian camp, with 35 young people between the ages of 14-17. It was a marvelous week, with one young lady accepting Christ through baptism. I taught the Total...
Did God Drown in the Tsunami?
By J. Randal Matheny (January 24, 2005)
When thousands of people perish in natural disasters like the tsunami that hit Asia on 26 December 2004, questions naturally arise. Why did this happen? Was this a direct punishment from God? If so, who was he punishing? And why?...
Whatever Is Just
By J. Randal Matheny (October 4, 2004)
Good manners or etiquette is concerned with doing the proper thing in the proper place at the proper time. More important than good manners is right conduct before God. Doing the right thing. This is a part of what the...
Whatever Is Honorable
By J. Randal Matheny (September 27, 2004)
"Awesome!" has become a modern catchword for any small bit of news that makes the hearer glad. But it once took grandeur and majesty to inspire awe. The Christian rejects the jaded, cynical turn that finds everything awesome and nothing...
Whatever Is True
By J. Randal Matheny (September 20, 2004)
Who is your father? Seems an easy question, doesn't it? The Jews thought so, too. But Jesus assured them that Abraham was not their father, or they would have done the works that Abraham did. Their father was the devil,...
The Poster on the Light Post
By J. Randal Matheny (September 6, 2004)
by J. Randal Matheny "Even though you intended to do harm to me, God intended it for good, in order to preserve a numerous people, as he is doing today" (Genesis 50:20, NRSV). The picture appeared on the front page...