Straight to Jesus
Zechariah 1.3: God declares a timeless principle.
“Therefore say to the people: The Lord of Heaven’s Armies says, ‘Turn to me,’ says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, ‘and I will turn to you,’ says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.” Zechariah 1.3 NET.
Here is the great principle: God is waiting for us to turn to him. If we want him to deal differently with us, we must act differently toward him, by repenting. Continue reading “Here’s the deal”
A short prayer about thinking and doing good, with an accompanying Bible verse.
From you, O God, come all good things.
So grant that we, your grateful church,
May by your power think on the good,
And do as well in loving acts,
In Jesus’ holy name, who lives
And reigns with you in Heaven above,
United with the Holy Spirit,
One God, both now and ever more.
This teaching psalm is valuable for everyone.
BY GERALD COWAN — Psalm 37 is a “teaching psalm” of practical instruction. It is credited to David, apparently written late in life but not connected to any particular event or circumstance. As such it is valuable for teaching everyone. It is easily divided into three major parts. Continue reading “Make Psalm 37 your personal motto”
The editor offers four areas where restoration is still needed.
The Forthright columnists who were able to do so were invited to write this month about “Continuing Restoration.” The theme came to mind some weeks ago when Brett Christensen from Melbourne, Australia, reviewed the book Church Reset. A summary of what we mean by restoration can be found here.
Gratitude first requires us to acknowledge those who came before. Through an arduous process that encountered much opposition, brethren of previous years threw away the shackles of denominational doctrines and sectarian creeds to read the Bible again with open eyes. Continue reading “More restoration needed”
By the Holy Spirit, who can say the following?
QUESTION: “How important should my family be to me?”
ANSWER: Not as important as Jesus Christ and His family. Continue reading “How important should family be to me?”
Hugh Fulford wrote: He had wielded a tremendous influence for good in the Carolinas for decades.
BY HUGH FULFORD — An email from Peggy Pharr, wife of well-known and longtime faithful gospel preacher, David Pharr, informed me that David passed away. (Her email was posted at 12:43 CST). Continue reading “David Pharr has died: ‘Tremendous influence for good’”
We are not out to win people to what we want but to win people to serve and be faithful to Jesus.
Although Christians don’t want to be known for causing fights and conflicts, at times such are inevitable. Paul wrote to the Romans that Christians are to “Live in harmony with one another … If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone” (Romans 12:16, 18 NIV). And most Christians get that. But we also realise, as Paul stated, there are times we may be doing all we can to live at peace but others are determined that there will be no peace – “as far as it depends on you”. Continue reading “Disagreeing as a Christian”
What will God lovers who have restored a right view of the Bible?
The Bible has become a source for trivia lovers. Some part of it often serves as a category for game shows. Christians need to do all within their power to restore a proper view of the Bible. We would do well to heed the advice of the Lord. “Thus says the Lord: ‘Stand in the ways and see, And ask for the old paths, where the good way is, And walk in it; Then you will find rest for your souls’” (Jeremiah 6:16).
There are several reasons to restore a proper view of the Bible. Continue reading “Restoring a proper view of the Bible”
Dad wanted to anchor his life upon God and Christ.
During World War 2 in the South Pacific, a young man stood on the deck of the USS Appalachian, a disguised flagship, where he watched battleship shells pound island after island shredding their forests into organic debris. Then the marines would land. Eventually the most disgusting smell he had ever experienced would reach his nostrils ─ the burning of human corpses.
The heart of this young man told him that there must be more to life than what we experience. There must be more. Thus the seed was sown for my dad’s journey. Continue reading “Would My Dad Have Stayed Where You Worship?”
God sends, Jesus calls, here’s how to respond.
When I say that the year 2023 is for me the Year of the Mission, what do I mean? It’s not that other years weren’t mission years, nor that future years won’t be. It is a way of organizing my plans and my teaching. Something I do each year, using a theme for emphasis. Continue reading “Is 2023 the only Year of the Mission?”
