Submitted by odlerp61 on Thu, 02/09/2012 - 18:37 from Bob and Terry Odle, View Original Posting
Just read this from the Christian Chronicle, “An international newspaper for Churches of Christ.”
According to their numbers, there are over 100,000 fewer “men, women and children in the pews of Churches of Christ in the U.S.” than there were just 9 years ago.
Tough stuff.
As a Preaching Minister for A Cappella Churches of Christ, it is even tougher, especially after reading through the comments to the Christian Chronicle piece and after sifting through yet another “church growth study,” not to feel guilty, depressed, responsible … something.
Submitted by odlerp61 on Tue, 02/07/2012 - 22:50 from Bob and Terry Odle, View Original Posting
Jesus hates religion? Well, perhaps.
Then again, maybe not.
As in all complex conversations, it all depends on what we mean by the term, Religion.
On January 10, 2012, Jefferson Bethke uploaded a video clip on You Tube. Bethke says that the video is, “A poem I wrote to highlight the difference between Jesus and false religion.”
The video has gone “viral.” As of today’s date (February 7, 2012) it has been viewed 18,483,750 times.
I watched the clip and found myself agreeing with much of it.Then I found myself questioning whether I really agreed with it. Then I wondered what I really think about the issues being raised.
Submitted by odlerp61 on Mon, 01/23/2012 - 20:07 from Bob and Terry Odle, View Original Posting
God’s power has broken in on our world. God’s presence is once again in the midst of human beings. God’s new creation has been inaugurated and will one day be consummated in all of its glory.
All of these realities find expression in and are confirmed by the resurrection and enthronement of our man, Jesus.
Jesus was raised from death. He was not merely resuscitated–brought back to mortality, only to die again. He transcends mortality, he has vanquished death, he has removed sin, he has gone before us into God’s new world as the first-fruit of many more to come. He restores all that was lost in the fall of humanity.
Submitted by odlerp61 on Tue, 01/17/2012 - 00:10 from Bob and Terry Odle, View Original Posting
Christianity had a humble beginning indeed: from 12 to 120 to thousands upon thousands. And now? The largest religion in the world.
But when we take a close look at its beginning we ask, “How did it even get off the ground?” And when we look at its internal problems we ask, “How has it survived and flourished for 2000 years?”
Resurrection power, that’s how. The power of God that was not expected has been unleashed. And it changes everything.
Submitted by odlerp61 on Tue, 11/29/2011 - 18:27 from Bob and Terry Odle, View Original Posting
After landing in the New World, the Pilgrims experienced nothing but hard times. Starting their new lives from scratch, they had to work hard just to satisfy their basic needs. Simple shelter and food came to these families only after strenuous toil and back-breaking labor. Many men, women, and especially children died of starvation. Their difficulties were real and their losses were many.
Yet, with an abundance of reasons to complain, they gathered together in thanksgiving. In the midst of almost unbearable hardship they maintained the ability to be thankful. That is precisely what God is asking us to do—be thankful. And being thankful is a choice—a choice we make in the midst of our human hardships; a choice we make in spite of the difficulties presented to us by our human experience.
Submitted by odlerp61 on Wed, 11/09/2011 - 13:17 from Bob and Terry Odle, View Original Posting
The term eschatology comes from two Greek words: (1) eschatos, last, and (2) logos, speech, word, or discussion. Eschatology then is a discussion of the last things or the final age of human history. It is also a mindset, a way of looking at time.
Obviously it is difficult for those of us who have never known anything but time to speak the language of the One who lives beyond time. And yet the Timeless One entered into time to teach us something about time. It behooves us to make a sincere effort to embrace His teaching about time.
Submitted by odlerp61 on Wed, 10/26/2011 - 12:48 from Bob and Terry Odle, View Original Posting
The experts tell us that the key to holding the attention of an audience is variety. A monotone speaker puts most of us to sleep. A similar writing bores us with its monotony. The key to effective public speaking and to interesting writing is variation.
Paul certainly would have pleased the experts with his writing in 2 Corinthians chapters 8-9. He uses the Greek word charis (grace) in so many different ways in these two chapters that falling asleep would have been impossible for the alert reader/hearer. Paul’s rhetorical expertise is not so obvious in the English. A Greek reader, on the other hand, is forced to stop and ask, “How is he using that word this time?” This is a highly effective way to make a point—and to keep an audience on its toes.
Submitted by odlerp61 on Thu, 10/20/2011 - 14:19 from Bob and Terry Odle, View Original Posting
We often approach Scripture trying to “prove” something (often some relatively minor thing). For example, we “study” Romans 6:3-4 in order to prove that baptism is by immersion in water. We may be able to fashion such an argument and then prove it with Paul’s discussion in Romans 6; however, approaching Scripture in this manner deprives us in two fundamental ways:
