Author Archives: TFRStaff

TFRStaff 5:14 am on 2019-05-07  

Hugh’s News & Views (Great Gospel Preachers . . . (Pt. 9)

GREAT GOSPEL PREACHERS OF THE PAST

(Part 10: E. R. Harper and Jack Meyer, Sr.)

E. R. HARPER (1897-1986). Ernest Rosenthal Harper was born on August 27, 1897 in Enola, AR, the oldest of four sons born to William and Sarah Harper. Following the birth of the third son, William Harper was converted from denominationalism to original, New Testament Christianity. Ernest himself was baptized into Christ in 1914. He grew rapidly in the faith and wanted to attend a Christian college and become a gospel preacher. He rented five acres of land, and with the help of his family he raised enough cotton to enter Freed-Hardeman College in Henderson, TN where he laid the foundation for the great work he would to do for the rest of his life. Continue reading →

TFRStaff 2:29 pm on 2019-05-06
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If the Lord is with us: Judges 6.13

“Gideon said to him, ‘Pardon me, but if the Lord is with us, why has such disaster overtaken us? Where are all his miraculous deeds our ancestors told us about? They said, “Did the Lord not bring us up from Egypt?” But now the Lord has abandoned us and handed us over to Midian.’”

Judges 6.13

Gideon had difficulty in reconciling Israel’s situation and the Lord’s promise of blessing for his people. A common expectation is that God only blesses.

In the new covenant, the Lord’s blessing is spiritual, not material. Suffering is part of the work we do. Especially today such questions as Gideon’s are inappropriate.

#votd #Judges #suffering

TFRStaff 8:59 pm on 2019-05-05  

Who has created these things?

New articles have been added to the English and Dutch websites on the truth about God.

“Who has created these things”? (Isaiah 40:26)
http://www.whatisthetruthaboutgod.com/creator.html

“Wie heeft dit alles geschapen”? (Jesaja 40:26)
http://waarheidovergod.eu/schepper.html

You might consider advertising these websites in local newspapers and in house to house distribution of literature:

WWW.WHATISTHETRUTHABOUTGOD.COM
WWW.WATISDEWAARHEIDOVERGOD.EU

To get contacts, include information about your congregation.

Please pray that this material will strengthen and bring about faith in God.

May the Lord bless you.

Roy Davison

TFRStaff 3:26 pm on 2019-05-05
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Christopher Underwood’s Encouragement note May 2019

No love is greater than the love of God demonstrated by the life and death of the only Son of God.

Hope and pray that you show and say love of God to those you meet every day (and even those you do not see).

Pray to receive all that you need to receive love and give love in the walk to eternal life in heaven.

Be strong in the faith.

Have a great day

#encouragement-note #love

TFRStaff 7:22 am on 2019-05-04
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Lend to the Lord: Proverbs 19.17

“The one who is gracious to the poor lends to the Lord, and the Lord will repay him for his good deed.”

Proverbs 19.17

The Lord prizes helping the poor. Indifference brings judgment. Kindness brings God’s reward.

Do I ignore the poor? Is that but a step removed from mistreatment? Why should the poor appear on my radar?

#votd #Proverbs #poor

TFRStaff 3:11 pm on 2019-05-02
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The biggest mistake churches of Christ have made in the last 50 years

By Jeremiah Tatum — I bet by the title of this article you are at least reading the first sentence to see where this is going. Let me tell you first where this is not going. This is not going in the direction that is going to malign the church of our Lord. This is not going to be a rejection of the old paths. This is not going to be a 21st Century, “I am smarter and more enlightened than the people who lived 100 years ago,” type of article that I see being written by so many of our younger preachers today.

What this is going to be is honest. And honestly, the churches of Christ as a whole have really been making a huge mistake for a while now. Continue reading →

#church, #denominationalism

TFRStaff 6:55 am on 2019-05-02
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The hidden to be revealed: Luke 12.2

“Nothing is hidden that will not be revealed, and nothing is secret that will not be made known.”

Luke 12.2

Why guard against hypocrisy, such as the Pharisees demonstrated? v. 1 Because it will all come to light in the future. Fear of man causes dissimulation, v. 4, but fear of God should lead to honesty and transparency, v. 5.

Human drama derives from secrets. (Read any novel.) Divine redemption occurs from revelation and knowledge. We move from one to the other by confession.

#votd #Luke #revelation

TFRStaff 11:46 am on 2019-05-01
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HCU book: Always Near

Brad McKinnon sent a release from Heritage Christian University about a new book whose title, description, and author catch the eye. We’ve not read it, but know the author and believe it would be well worth one’s time.

May 2019. Cypress Publications (an Imprint of Heritage Christian University Press). 264 pages. $19.99.

ALWAYS NEAR shares one self-confessed odd Christian’s ongoing efforts to hear and honor God in the events of daily life. Bagents offers personal reflections that process events and observations through the wisdom of Scripture. He invites us to join the adventure of listening for subtle spiritual messages that both bless and challenge. Continue reading →

#books, #hcu, #presence-of-god

TFRStaff 3:26 pm on 2019-04-29  

Hugh’s News & Views (Preaching The Church)

PREACHING THE CHURCH

On December 4 of last year I sent out an edition of “Hugh’s News & Views” titled “Bible Facts About The Church Of Christ.” Afterwards, one of my readers sent me the following comment. I believe it speaks for itself. The person wrote: “I grew [up] hearing lessons like this in nearly every gospel meeting, but we have stopped preaching these Biblical truths, by and large. We have one or maybe two generations in the church today that have not heard them. Is it any wonder that we are losing our young people? I wonder how many Bible departments of our Christian schools even have a course on the NT church any more. Thanks for reminding us of these essential fundamental facts.” Continue reading →

TFRStaff 9:33 am on 2019-04-29
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God took him up: Hebrews 11.5

“By faith Enoch was taken up so that he did not see death, and he was not to be found because God took him up. For before his removal he had been commended as having pleased God.”

Hebrews 11.5

Not much is said about Enoch in Genesis, but his experience was unique. He walked with God. It meant God was pleased with him because he lived by faith. God freed him from the cares of this world.

What a wonderful legacy to leave to the world! If Enoch lived this way in primordial times, may we also live at the end time. Do we look forward to being taken up at Christ’s return?

#votd #Hebrews #faith

TFRStaff 9:41 am on 2019-04-28
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Your ambition: 1 Thessalonians 4.11

“and to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life and attend to your own business and work with your hands, just as we commanded you,”

1 Thessalonians 4.11 NASB

Ambition is considered something that makes a person appear more in public and win success and recognition. Paul sees it differently.

Complete this phrase: My ambition in life is ___. A Christian’s goals are far different than those of the world.

#votd #1-Thessalonians #ambition

TFRStaff 1:40 pm on 2019-04-27
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They sent Peter and John: Acts 8.14

“Now when the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them.”

Acts 8.14

Some think Peter and John went to Samaria to keep things under their control. Better to consider that they went to provide support and encouragement.

Do I want to control or encourage? Biblical “sending” is for the gospel. For what purpose am I sending, or being sent?

#votd #Acts #sending

TFRStaff 12:59 pm on 2019-04-26
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From them came the Christ: Romans 9.5

“To them [the Israelites] belong the patriarchs, and from them, by human descent, came the Christ, who is God over all, blessed forever! Amen.”

Romans 9.5

Listing the advantages of the Israelites, Paul mentions the greatest of all: Jesus was born of them. They had the best position to appreciate and follow him.

The Jews rejected Jesus. Some today seem to forget he was a Jew. They also forget he is God in the flesh. They make him out to be what they want. Do I do the same?

#votd #Romans #Jesus

TFRStaff 8:27 am on 2019-04-24
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I am everywhere: Jeremiah 23.24

“‘Do you really think anyone can hide himself where I cannot see him?’ the Lord asks. ‘Do you not know that I am everywhere?’ the Lord asks.”

Jeremiah 23.24

Can God see me? If he sees, does he care? If he cares, will he do anything about it? Won’t he forgive any wrong? Man thinks all sorts of wrong things about God.

What wrong things do I think about God? What Bible truths do I neglect, forget, or twist? How do I justify my sin?

#votd #God #Jeremiah #sin

TFRStaff 8:00 am on 2019-04-23  

Hugh’s News & Views (The Nashville Road Church . . . )

THE NASHVILLE ROAD CHURCH OF CHRIST, GALLATIN, TENNESSEE

Jan and I are very pleased, privileged, and honored to be members of the Nashville Road Church of Christ, 3.4 miles from our home here in Gallatin, TN. After 42 ½ years of full-time ministry, we moved to Gallatin in 2000 where I continued to preach at other congregations on a part-time basis for over 18 years. During these years we have always considered Nashville Road our home base. Now that I am retired from every Sunday preaching (though still active in gospel meetings, lectureships, special speaking engagements, and writing), we are happy to be full-time members at Nashville Road. Continue reading →