Kingdom Matters

I have stumbled across a new favorite Bible translation.  It is the New English Translation with Notes.  I downloaded it into my " Olive Tree " app on both my Iphone and my Ipad.  The New International Version Study Bible is also loaded in Olive Tree and for a while I used the NET with the NIV notes.  This is also a great combination.  But, I did not fully appreciate the value of the notes that come with the NET.  The notes explain the translators' word choices.  They even tell you the Greek and Hebrew words found in some of the different manuscripts, and how they have been translated in other verses. The reason I gave the notes closer examination is the words used in the first verse of my favorite Psalm.  I love the 40th Psalm.  In the NIV it begins, "I waited patiently for the Lord, he turned to me and heard my cry..."  The NET reads:  " I relied completely on the   Lord ,  and he turned toward me and heard my cry for...

One of my favorite movies of all time is The Outlaw Josey Wales.  And Clint Eastwood's (Josey Wale's) dialogue with Will Sampson (Ten Bears) may be my favorite movie conversation of all time.  Kind of reminds me of Deuteronomy 30:11-20: "11  Now what I am commanding you today is not too difficult for you or beyond your reach.  12  It is not up in heaven, so that you have to ask, “Who will ascend into heaven  to get it and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?”  13  Nor is it beyond the sea,  so that you have to ask, “Who will cross the sea to get it and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?”  14  No, the word is very near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart so you may obey it. 15  See, I set before you today life  and prosperity,  death  and destruction.  16  For I command you today to love  the  Lord  your God, to walk in obedience to him, and to keep his commands, decrees an...

Jason Bybee grew up at the College Hills church in Lebanon. He served as our Intern/Youth Minister during a most challenging summer for our Youth Ministry. He more than equaled the challenge of stepping in for a penitent, but disgraced Youth Minister. I learned to deeply appreciate Jason then, especially because my son was one of the kids being ministered to. Since then, he has faithfully served in Kingsport, TN and now at Mayfair in Huntsville, AL. I try not to miss any of his lessons on their web site and am always blessed by what I hear. Through listening for Jason I have also grown to love Gary Bradley. Mayfair has a unique situation with a seasoned and solid Gary Bradley taking the lead and building a most effective ministry team with a younger but equally solid Jason. Grab this opportunity to hear what I am talking about. Click on this link:   Mayfair  and select lessons that will bless your life. May God continue to use His family at Mayfair to bless all who w...

"Om" is a mantra often suggested by teachers of Eastern religions.  Just sit cross-legged, meditate on as little content as possible and say "Om".  The objective is to be one with "Brahman" for the Indian influenced portion of the world and "nothing" for the remainder of Asia. Westerners like us don't find either "Brahman" or "nothing" very appealing ... for the most part.  The only real attraction to these religions is the lack of boundaries and rules.  When the God you are drawn to includes a code of conduct many people look for another god. You may not notice too many of the people you know being drawn to Eastern religions.  But you probably will notice a few showing interest in ideas that are expressed in conversations, books or authors suggested by Oprah Winfrey.  Or maybe they are just watching the dramas, "reality shows" or situation comedies which push the boundaries and code of conduct suggested by ...

Below you will find a portion of a letter composed by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in August of 1963. It is a remarkable document. Dr. King wrote with such kindness and patience, yet still was able to defend his reasons for peaceful, non-violent demonstrations.  He wrote the letter in response to a newspaper article he was given.  The article was a "Call for Unity" penned by a group of 5 Christian ministers, inexplicably seeking to make a "Christian Case" against the civil rights movement. Here are some of the powerful words Dr. King wrote from jail...: But more basically, I am in Birmingham because injustice is here.  Just as the prophets of the eighth century B.C. left their villages and carried their “thus saith the Lord” far beyond the boundaries of their home towns, and just as the Apostle Paul left his village of Tarsus and carried the gospel of Jesus Christ to the far corners of the Greco-Roman world, so am I compelled to carry the gospel of freedom beyon...

Books are such a joy!  I've been thinking lately about how books and friends lead me to other friends and books.  The pleasure I find in reading good books is enhanced when I can share a new find with a friend who appreciates a particular author or genre.  And, I appreciate new books and authors suggested by friends who think of me when they read, and pass them along. Here is what I think is an interesting path.  When Max Lucado began to be published I could not wait for his subsequent books:   On the Anvil  and  No Wonder They Call Him the Savior  were such treasures that I have given countless copies away over the years.  But, soon after they were published I began this path which has been a thrill to travel.  I grew up in the Church of Christ and tended to read authors who were also members of the Church of Christ.  But back at the time I was reading these books I noticed that not only did Lucado quote from authors outside our...

H. David Wright is a marvelously talented realist.  Check out  this example  of his work and explore the other prints and information about him.  His subject and his passion is history.  He has indicated that his paintings and prints have a story to tell - and do they ever tell it well.  He paints "heroes".  We stand on the shoulders of the heroes who have gone before us and need to be grateful to them.  We also need to know as much as we can about their mistakes and successes.  It is pointless for us to repeat their mistakes.  It is admirable to emulate their successes. Be good to yourself