5 Posts I Wish More People Had Read
Hard to believe, but this is our 500th blog post! And it’s still 18 days till the first anniversary of the “Forward to the Kingdom” blog. My thanks to all the guest bloggers and all you readers!
Bear with me for this brief recap. First, consider the top two posts:
The End of Camelot: The Death of Ted Kennedy with over 1,500 views.
Earth Day Reflections: Martha, the Last Passenger Pigeon, with nearly 700.
Both of these surprised me. They both seemed like posts that would do well on the day they were posted, or not at all. I remember being disappointed that only a few people looked at them on their first days. But amazingly, they both continue to draw new views from Web searchers.
Now, here are 5 of my personal favorite posts that I wish more people had read:
The Broken Bottle Heard Around the World (Jesus said her example would be told wherever the gospel is preached).
“Not One of Them Is Forgotten Before God” (I became kind of attached to the little guy!).
The Most Important Thing (my dad’s favorite, and it’s his birthday tomorrow…).
The Last Words of Jesus (a powerful message for this time of year and any time).
3 Bible Tips: Welcome to the Kingdom! (some wonderfully encouraging Scriptures, but only four visitors so far!)
Check them out!
And, what do you think? Should I spring for a T-shirt for the first five who have read all 500?
3 Bible Tips: God’s Mysteries, Part 1
The Bible mentions intriguing mysteries and secrets. Let’s explore some of them. But first, here’s something God says is not a mystery.
1. God’s commandments and the choices He offers us are not too mysterious.
God's laws and the choices He wants us to make are not too mysterious.
“For this commandment which I command you today is not too mysterious for you, nor is it far off… I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live” (Deuteronomy 30:11, 19).
2. We should highly value what God has revealed, but realize there are secret things that belong only to God.
“The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but those things which are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law” (Deuteronomy 29:29).
3. God reveals His secrets to those who fear Him.
“The secret of the Lord is with those who fear Him, and He will show them His covenant” (Psalm 25:14).
For more on God’s mysteries, see “Answering the Great Mystery: Why Did God Create Man?”
What Bible tips would you add?
These “3 Bible Tips” and Bible study lessons are posted at the Bible Study Guides Web site.
Answered Prayer: The Doctor Was Shocked With Disbelief!
By guest blogger Diana Isbell
I wanted to share my story about answered prayer for my husband, Daniel Isbell. In 2002, he was diagnosed with a brain tumor. To make a long story short, he had surgery and then went through three months of radiation only to have his tumor return, half the size that it was before, in 2004.
The surgeon said he would have to do surgery again, but this time he would have to be more aggressive than he was before. Translation: He could not guarantee that Daniel would come out of the surgery as Daniel this time. (Daniel already has balance, hearing and memory problems due to the first surgery.)
We told him we wanted to wait until after the Feast of Tabernacles to decide. He told us he would do another scan after we returned in December and we would go from there.
Well, Daniel was anointed by an elder (as taught in James 5:14), and we had everyone we know pray about it. When we returned and had the scan, there was no tumor! The doctor was shocked with disbelief! (I will never forget the look on his face.)
Well, we were very delighted and thankful to God for His mercy. I am still thankful to this day. God is good!
See other stories in this Answered Prayer category.
Signs of Perilous Times: Slanderers
By guest blogger Whitney Smith
In 2 Timothy 3:1-5 the apostle Paul warned of 19 attitudes that would be especially prevalent in the troubled end times. In this series we are now on the 11th sign—that men will be slanderers. Paul used the Greek word diabolos, accuser, from which we get the English word Devil. Satan the Devil is the epitome of this evil approach as “the accuser of our brethren” (Revelation 12:10).
A slanderous statement is a malicious, false and defamatory report. This type of mudslinging is common when politicians or celebrities seek to gain advantage or power by demeaning their rivals. These accusations sometimes result in long court cases and huge damage awards if the spoken or written statements are proven to be false and malicious. But often lawyers advise those who have been slandered of the difficulties and dangers of trying to clear their name in court, so many cases are never filed.
Consider some recent news items about slander:
- The Wall Street Journal reported Jan. 29, 2010, that former French Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin “was acquitted in a high-profile slander case that could backfire on French President Nicolas Sarkozy… The judge said in his ruling that there was no evidence that Mr. de Villepin had tried to discredit Mr. Sarkozy or that the former prime minister had acted in bad faith. Three other defendants were found guilty of similar charges, and were made to pay Mr. Sarkozy symbolic compensation of one euro.”
- Amanda Knox, the American student charged with the murder of her roommate Meredith Kercher in Italy, also faced charges of slander for her claims against the police officers. She accused the police of physically pressuring her to make testimonies about her involvement in the murder.
- “Duke University has created a permanent website about the ‘Duke lacrosse case’ of 2006-07, in which three players were falsely accused of assaulting a Durham woman.”
Accusations, even when they are later proven to be false, can easily ruin reputations and destroy political or business careers. As easily as a public figure’s reputation can be tainted, the reputation of a common individual can be smeared. Proverbs 10:18 warns: “Whoever hides hatred has lying lips, and whoever spreads slander is a fool.”
Gossip can fall under the category of slander...
We should be watchful of what words we allow to enter our minds and leave our mouths. Gossip can fall under the category of slander that is spread throughout the office, school or at home. James speaks of the power of our tongues in James 3:5-8. Our words can destroy another person’s reputation, as well as his or her emotional well-being.
Spreading rumors about others, whether it is done out of anger or innocently out of excitement for gossip, is dangerous. One of God’s Ten Commandments says, “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor” (Exodus 20:16). Taking a moment to think about what words we should repeat will help us to avoid spreading slander.
Paul’s warning should cause us to ask: Is hearing the latest celebrity gossip truly necessary? How often do we find ourselves repeating what we hear about others without checking the facts first?
To read more about the harmful effects of gossip and spreading slander read “My Name Is Gossip.”
To see the other articles in this series on signs of the perilous end times, see the “Signs of Perilous Times” category.
What’s your favorite proverb?
Question of the week: What’s your favorite proverb in the Bible?
Join the conversation!
3 Bible Tips: Working Together to Do God’s Work
God has given His Church a mission—a job to do. How does He tell us to work together to accomplish it?
1. Remember, it’s God’s work, and we are to work together for God.
"I planted the seed, Apollos watered them, but God made them sprout and grow..."
“I planted the seeds, Apollos watered them, but God made them sprout and grow… Apollos and I work together for God, and you are God’s garden and God’s building” (1 Corinthians 3: 6, 9, Contemporary English Version).
2. Seek the unity to glorify God as if with one mouth.
“Now may the God of patience and comfort grant you to be like-minded toward one another, according to Christ Jesus, that you may with one mind and one mouth glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 15:5-6).
3. God wants us to unitedly preach His message of good news.
“Above all else, you must live in a way that brings honor to the good news about Christ. Then, whether I visit you or not, I will hear that all of you think alike. I will know that you are working together and that you are struggling side by side to get others to believe the good news” (Philippians 1:27, CEV).
For more about working together to preach the gospel of the Kingdom of God, see “Why Preach a Gospel With Urgency Today?”
What Bible tips would you add?
These “3 Bible Tips” and Bible study lessons are posted at the Bible Study Guides Web site.
Boy Scouts of America Celebrate 100th Anniversary
by guest blogger Don Hooser
Congratulations to the Boy Scouts of America on your 100th anniversary! The BSA officially began on Feb. 8, 1910.
Boy Scouting was later expanded to include Cub Scouting for boys ages 7 to 10, Boy Scouting for boys ages 11 to 18 and Venturing (formerly Explorers) for young men and women ages 14 to 21.
I’m happy to salute the Boy Scouts as I was active in scouting through my junior high and high school years. My scouting experiences were major highlights in my life. Many successful men give credit to their Boy Scout experience for helping to shape their lives.
Lots of years later, my wife and I served as scout leaders when our sons were in Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts. In those positions we could help plan weekend activities in a way so we could properly celebrate the Sabbath. One of our Sabbath activities would be nature walks to observe more of God’s wondrous creation.
The aims of the Boy Scouts of America are to help boys build character, develop citizenship and patriotism, and learn a wide range of practical skills. Emphasized are outdoor skills and experiences, including camping, hiking, outdoor cooking, first aid, wilderness survival and aquatics. They also emphasize service to others.
Boy Scouts of America: Teaching courtesy for 100 years.
Scouts make the following commitment:
“On my honor, I will do my best
“To do my duty to God and my country;
“To obey the Scout Law;
“To help other people at all times;
“To keep myself physically strong, mentally awake and morally straight.”
The Scout Law is:
“A Scout is trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean, and reverent.”
And the Scout motto is:
“Be prepared.”
Thankfully, the BSA has survived harsh attacks and even lawsuits from its critics. Some atheists have been critical since Boy Scouts pledge reverence for God. But the U.S. Supreme Court has affirmed that, as a private organization, the BSA can set its own membership standards under the constitutional right to freedom of association.
I have great memories of exciting experiences in my scouting years: lots of camping and hiking in east Texas; going each year to the Boy Scout summer camp in Arkansas; spending a couple of weeks in 1956 backpacking at Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico; and attending the National Jamboree in 1957 at Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, with 50,000 other scouts. I became an Eagle Scout and was inducted into the Order of the Arrow, the honor society of the Boy Scouts that engages in service projects.
If imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, consider that the United Church of God uses many of the lessons learned by the Boy Scouts in our own United Youth Camps program.
Thanks for pioneering the way, and keep up the good work, Boy Scouts of America!
Integrity: The Courage to Meet the Demands of Reality
Book review by Dr. Rick Avent
On rare occasions when reading a book, the thought suddenly hits me that “this author gets it.” Dr. Henry Cloud in his book Integrity: The Courage to Meet the Demands of Reality (2006, ISBN: 100060849681) is one of those authors. A clinical psychologist and business consultant, his focus is oriented toward the business world. However, it is clear that much of what he discusses has applications in any field of endeavor.
Integrity: The Courage to Meet the Demands of Reality by Dr. Henry Cloud
For example, in his introduction he lists three character pitfalls: (1) hitting a performance ceiling, (2) hitting an obstacle or situation that derails you and (3) reaching success only to self-destruct. Throughout the book I found myself thinking of spiritual parallels to the points Dr. Cloud was making.
Dr. Cloud defines integrity in terms of six character dimensions. What I found particularly interesting was how he used his experience as a business consultant to show the practicality of developing these traits. His many examples not only showed the negative results of those who failed to use these principles, but also showed the positive impact of building real character.
The First Character Dimension: Establishing Trust
While on the surface it may seem that little explanation would be required on the topic of trust, Dr. Cloud dedicates three chapters to this character trait. In the first chapter, the key point is that in building trust through connection, you must make sure that the other person understands that you understand. To quote his theme: “The human heart will seek to be known, understood and connected with, above all else. If you do not connect, the ones you care about will find someone who will.”
In the second chapter, he discusses the importance of giving, as in the sense of going the extra mile and watching someone’s back.
In the third chapter, he discusses the need to recognize and admit when we have made a mistake. Throughout the book, he uses examples from his business consulting experience to illustrate the subtleties of building integrity.
The Second Character Dimension: Oriented Toward Truth
Several thoughts from the two chapters devoted to this topic struck me. Dr. Cloud observed that “in fact, truthfulness is really measured in terms of our tendency to tell it when it hurts in some way.” He also states that “the premise here is that telling the truth is foundational, but not enough for success in love and life.”
Dr. Cloud discusses the importance of not just telling the truth but seeing reality in yourself, in other people and in the external world. His writing is sprinkled with examples that amplify his point that truthfulness is a lot more than just not telling a lie.
The Third Character Dimension: Getting Results
The title for this chapter reflects an orientation toward the business world. However, after reading this chapter I felt that a better title would be “Fruitfulness.”
Throughout the book, key thoughts are highlighted in a pithy way. One used in this chapter is: “Things never work. When they don’t, that is the time to make them work. Then, if you do, they work.” Dr. Cloud emphasizes that hard work is not enough. Other attributes such as humility, perseverance, losing well and being able to make hard decisions are all necessary ingredients in getting results, i.e., becoming fruitful.
The Fourth Character Dimension: Embracing the Negative
Perhaps because I was reading this book with a more general perspective than business, I thought a more descriptive title would have been “Embracing Challenges.”
One of Dr. Cloud’s examples was Tiger Woods (of course, this was pre-scandal). After winning his first Masters Golf Tournament (by an unprecedented 12 strokes), being named PGA’s Player of the Year and Associated Press’s Male Athlete of the Year, Tiger did the unthinkable. He changed his swing. He decided that if he was going to reach his goal of becoming the greatest player ever, he needed a better swing. Tiger embraced it further, and his choice illustrated a major point of this chapter: No matter how good the lemonade, you can always find ways to make it better.
The Fifth Character Dimension: Oriented Toward Increase
It quickly became apparent that Dr. Cloud was talking about possessing the drive to grow. His theme is, “You will not grow without attempting things you are unable to do.” I found this chapter particularly interesting. While we talk about growth, we sometimes do not talk about the drive required to produce growth.
The Sixth Character Dimension: Oriented Toward Transcendence
While only indirectly referring to God, Dr. Cloud emphasizes the importance of recognizing that there are things bigger than you. His subtitle is, “When you’re small, you’re bigger.” The indicators of this kind of character are awareness, self-denial and self-correction.
Usually in reviewing a book of this nature, a few cautions are in order. In this case, I cannot think of anything significant. The six character dimensions form a series of stepping stones to character growth. As I read this book, the scriptural parallels jumped out at me.
This book is a worthwhile read. It gave me food for thought in looking at my personal character development and led me to Bible study on the topic of integrity. I initially thought that some of this material would be useful in a sermon. I ended up giving six on the topic.
Sneak Peek at Revised Beyond Today Set
Today the Beyond Today presenters, Darris McNeely, Steve Myers and Gary Petty, were in town to record new television programs for the proposed April launch of the program on broadcast television. In preparation, Peter Eddington refreshed the set with a new look.
Beyond Today set gets a new look.
Plans are to remodel the set again during the summer break.
As a contrast, below is a look at the old set (with a possible new presenter?):
Old Beyond Today set (with a new face!).
3 Bible Tips: Avoiding Strife
Fighting, arguing, quarreling, heatedly disagreeing—whatever you call it, strife is destructive to relationships. What tips does the Bible have for avoiding strife? Here are three:
1. Love is an antidote to strife.
“Hatred stirs up quarrels, but love covers all offenses” (Proverbs 10:12, New Living Translation throughout).
2. Humbly taking advice can help us avoid strife.
“Pride leads to arguments; those who take advice are wise” (Proverbs 13:10).
3. Being slow to anger is another antidote to strife.
"A hothead starts fights..."
“A hothead starts fights; a cool-tempered person tries to stop them” (Proverbs 15:18).
For further study about avoiding strife and building friendships, see “Why Can’t We Just Get Along?”
What Bible tips would you add?
These “3 Bible Tips” and Bible study lessons are posted at the Bible Study Guides Web site.
