Tag Archives: hughfulford

TFRStaff 4:40 pm on 2020-01-13
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Hugh’s News & Views (A. G. Freed)

A. G. FREED

Arvy Glenn Freed was born August 3, 1863 in Saltillo, Indiana. His parents were Joseph and Elisa Hayes Freed and his mother was a relative of President Rutherford B. Hayes. He became a Christian early in life, but the date of his baptism into Christ does not seem to be known. Soon after obeying the gospel he began to preach.

A. G. Freed was educated in the common schools of Indiana and graduated with distinction from Valparaiso University. In 1889 he moved to Essary Springs, TN to help start Southern Tennessee Normal College. He began to preach and to debate extensively throughout west Tennessee and north Mississippi. On June 1, 1895 he married Cora Belle Baynham of Lafayette, KY, one of his former students. Two children were born to this union—Arvy Baynham Freed on August 10, 1898, and Martha Belle Freed Primme who lived for several years in New York City but whose date of birth I have not been able to identify. Arvy Baynham Freed lived only fifteen months and died on November 13, 1899. The baby is buried in Henderson, TN. Continue reading →

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TFRStaff 8:50 am on 2020-01-07
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Hugh’s News & Views (Truth)

TRUTH

Truth is a precious and indispensable quality in every arena of human endeavor. In a court of law a witness is required to swear or affirm to “tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.” A family cannot thrive where falsehood and pretense exist and truth and honesty are not practiced. In the fields of medicine, mathematics, physics, aeronautics, history, finance, and all other areas of human activity truth must be known and followed. A nation cannot long survive that is not dedicated to the pursuit of truth and righteousness in all things. Continue reading →

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TFRStaff 3:23 pm on 2019-12-30
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Hugh’s News & Views (Wild Resolutions . . .)

WILD RESOLUTIONS FOR TAME LIVING

In almost 43 years of fulltime preaching, followed by 16 years of part-time preaching, near the beginning of a new year I would sometimes preach about New Year’s resolutions. One sermon that I occasionally preached had the above title. I do not know from whom I got the idea or the points for the sermon, but they were not original with me. I am using the sermon’s points for this week’s News & Views with the hope that they will stir us and spur us to a closer walk with God as tomorrow we enter a new year and a new decade (or at least the decade of the 2020s). In the coming new year I resolve to … Continue reading →

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TFRStaff 6:17 am on 2019-12-24
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Hugh’s News & Views (Christmas Memories)

CHRISTMAS MEMORIES

From my earliest childhood I have always loved Christmas. Soon after Thanksgiving every year (but never before), my sister (two years younger than I), my brother (nine years younger than I), and I would start talking about Christmas. Within a few days, daddy would come home from work and tell us he had heard on the radio that Christmas was going to be cancelled that year. That became one of his standing jokes, and we soon learned to expect it every year. He sometimes teased the neighborhood kids with it, but the fact is that he enjoyed Christmas as much as anybody. Continue reading →

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TFRStaff 4:59 pm on 2019-12-16
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Hugh’s News & Views (A Series Of . . .)

A SERIES OF OBSERVATIONS

From time to time, I post on my Facebook page various observations. In the interest of a wider reading audience, this week’s edition of “Hugh’s News & Views” consists of some observations I have made over the past few weeks.

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From November 14, 2019: Given the new way some are now saying we ought to read and interpret the Scriptures, I wonder why the churches of Christ should continue to exist. According to this new way, “how” (and perhaps even “if”) a person is baptized, how the church is to be organized, how it is to worship, the frequency of (and even the day for the) Lord’s Supper, the matter of the kind of music that is to be offered in worship, how the Lord’s Day contribution should be used (or even if there should be an every Lord’s Day contribution), and various other matters are only “secondary matters” (perhaps even legalistic and sectarian matters) that have no real bearing on the Bible’s main “story line” of the incarnation, ministry, death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus. As long as a person accepts these few basic essentials he is alright with God, and the other things do not really ultimately matter. Continue reading →

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TFRStaff 7:53 am on 2019-12-10
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Hugh’s News & Views (Exhortations From . . . Hebrews)

EXHORTATIONS FROM THE BOOK OF HEBREWS

The New Testament book of Hebrews draws a striking contrast between the obsolescence and ineffectiveness of the old covenant and the beauty and power of the new covenant to actually and fully provide justification from sin (Hebrews 10:1-10). In reality, the book is a written sermon consisting largely (though not exclusively) of exhortations as to how those who have been justified by Christ and His blood are to live (Hebrews 13:22).

The human author of the book (sermon) is unknown, though I personally lean heavily toward the apostle Paul as being the author. Origen (185-254) said that only God knows who wrote Hebrews. Whoever wrote it was guided by the Holy Spirit and the book is a part of God’s divine revelation to man (II Timothy 3:16-17). Its message needs to be read and digested by Christians today and its exhortations need to be followed. Consider the following. Continue reading →

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TFRStaff 2:24 pm on 2019-12-02
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Hugh’s News & Views (. . . Limits Of Influence)

THE RESTORATION LEADERS AND THE LIMITS OF THEIR INFLUENCE

The men who down through the ages have pled for the original ground of the New Testament are certainly deserving of our respect and appreciation. Their insights into biblical teaching are worthy of our reading and study, and from them we may learn much concerning the will of God. But we must remember that they were fallible men, capable of erring with reference to various matters. Neither Stone, Campbell, Scott, Smith, McGarvey, Lard, Lipscomb, Harding, Boles, Brewer, Hardeman, Wallace, Nichol, Nichols, Cogdill, Woods, nor any other mortal man is our authority in religion. That right belongs to Christ and to Him alone (Matthew 17:5; Matthew 28:18; Colossians 3:17; Hebrews 1:1-2). Continue reading →

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TFRStaff 9:25 am on 2019-11-26
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Hugh’s News & Views (Unusual Things . . .)

UNUSUAL THINGS FOR WHICH TO BE THANKFUL

I do not know the origin of the following, but since we are celebrating another national day of Thanksgiving this week I thought it would be an appropriate reminder of so many of our blessings which we often tend to overlook.

Be thankful that you don’t already have everything you desire… if you did, what would there be to look forward to?

Be thankful when you don’t know… it gives you an opportunity to learn.

Be thankful for difficult times… during those times you grow. Continue reading →

#hughfulford, #thanksgiving

TFRStaff 5:52 pm on 2019-11-18
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Hugh’s News & Views (A Sack Full Of . . .)

A SACK FULL OF “GOLD NUGGETS” FROM MY READING

From time to time I post on my Facebook page some “gold nugget” that I have run across in my reading. This week for my “News & Views” I am sharing several “nuggets.”

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“The story (of Christ and salvation, hf) was plain and easy to tell. There was nothing to do but open my Bible and let it tell to a perishing world the way of salvation. It was not necessary to warp or twist a single sentence” (Samuel Rogers [1789-1877], pioneer gospel preacher, Biographical Sketches of Gospel Preachers, H. Leo Boles, Gospel Advocate Company [1932], pp. 52-53). Continue reading →

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TFRStaff 5:41 am on 2019-11-12
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Hugh’s News & Views (I Am A Christian)

I AM A CHRISTIAN

(Note: The following article was written by Dr. Cecil May, Jr., dean emeritus of the V. P. Black College of Biblical Studies at Faulkner University in Montgomery, AL. It appeared as his “Finally, Brethren” column in the October 2019 issue of the Gospel Advocate and is used here by the express permission of the Gospel Advocate company. I highly commend Dr. May’s provocative article to all).

I am a disciple of Christ; I seek to learn from Him and follow Him…but I am not a Disciple of Christ.

I am a methodist; I try to follow the biblical method…but I am not a Methodist.

I am a baptist; I have been immersed in water for the forgiveness of my sins…but I am not a Baptist.

I am catholic; Christ added me to His universal church…but I am not a Catholic.

I am part of an assembly of God; we assemble each Lord’s day…but I am not of the Assemblies of God.

I am presbyterian; my congregation is shepherded by elders (Greek, presbuteroi)…but I am not a Presbyterian.

I am episcopalian; my congregation is overseen by bishops (Greek, episcopoi)…but I am not an Episcopalian.

I am a member of a congregation which is Christian and independent…but I am not of the Independent Christian Church.

I am a member of the church of Christ; He built it and purchased it with His blood…but I am not Church of Christ.

I am a member of the church of God; He purposed it before the worlds began…but I am not Church of God.

By the grace of God, I am a Christian.

Hugh Fulford, November 12, 2019

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TFRStaff 3:23 pm on 2019-11-04
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Hugh’s News & Views (Reflections On Prayer)

REFLECTIONS ON PRAYER

I have always been a person of prayer and have always believed in the power of prayer. More importantly, I have always believed in the one true God of heaven and earth who hears the prayers of His children. Even before my father became a Christian he taught my sister and me the childhood prayer, “Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray the Lord my soul to keep. If I should die before I wake, I pray the Lord my soul to take. If I should live for other days, I pray the Lord to guide my ways. In Jesus’ name, Amen.” At all three of our meals (always eaten, by the way, at the family table) my father led us in a prayer of thanks for our food. After he obeyed the gospel, it was the practice of our family for my father to read a chapter from the Bible (with the rest of us following along in our own Bible) and to lead us in prayer before we went to bed for the night. It was these home Bible readings, along with the study of the New Testament book by book and chapter by chapter at the little congregation we attended, as well as my own reading, that formed my first acquaintance with the contents of the New Testament. Our congregation had no divided classes (not that we were opposed to them), but we were so small that everyone (children and adults) met in one large class on Wednesday nights and we studied through the New Testament in the above fashion. I think there is much that could be said in favor of ten, eleven, and twelve year old boys sitting in a Bible class with adults, reading the scriptures with them, both asking and answering questions that arise from the text, and making appropriate comments on the text being studied. I know that I will always cherish those sweet and precious memories! Continue reading →

#hughfulford, #prayer

TFRStaff 7:51 am on 2019-10-15
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Hugh’s News & Views (What Happens When . . .)

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN ONE OBEYS THE GOSPEL?

The expression “obey the gospel” may not be familiar language to many, but to those acquainted with the Scriptures it is recognized as the expression of a great spiritual truth. Peter wrote, “For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God (Christians, the church – I Timothy 3:15, hf). And if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God?” (I Peter 4:17). As if in anticipation of that question Paul had earlier warned that at the second coming of Christ He would take “vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ” (II Thessalonians 1:8). In his letter to the Romans Paul plainly stated: “But they have not all obeyed the gospel” (10:16). The American Standard Version says, “But they did not all hearken to (heed, NASB) the glad tidings” (another term to refer to the gospel, hf). Continue reading →

#hughfulford, #obedience

TFRStaff 5:28 pm on 2019-10-07
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Hugh’s News & Views (Gospel Meetings)

GOSPEL MEETINGS

Beginning this coming Sunday, October 13 (D.V.), I am to preach in the first of three consecutive gospel meetings. These evangelistic endeavors will be with the Hartsville Pike Church of Christ here in Gallatin, TN where we live (October 13-16), the Sylvia Church of Christ in Dickson County, TN (October 20-23), and the Adams Church of Christ in Adams, TN (October 27-30).

Some might ask, “What is a gospel meeting?” A gospel meeting is simply a series of religious services in which the gospel is preached for anywhere from a few to several successive days and/or nights. Some religious groups refer to them as revivals. Many churches need a spiritual revival. So, to speak of a “revival” or a “revival meeting” or some other related term is not inappropriate. Most churches of Christ refer to such events simply as gospel meetings, with the purpose being to preach the gospel of Christ in such a way as to lead the lost to Christ and His church and to strengthen Christians in the faith. Continue reading →

#gospel-meetings, #hughfulford

TFRStaff 5:37 am on 2019-10-01
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Hugh’s News & Views (God’s Gracious Plan . . .)

GOD’S GRACIOUS PLAN OF SALVATION

From time to time, perhaps at least twice a year, I want to present to my readers God’s gracious plan of salvation as set forth in the New Testament. A number of my readers have never obeyed the gospel of Christ and are therefore in a lost state (II Thessalonians 1:6-10). I have a deep and sincere love for them and their souls and a compelling desire to share God’s wonderful plan of salvation with them. I want all of them to hear and understand the pure gospel of Christ, as opposed to a perverted gospel (Galatians 1:6-9), and I want all of them to know God’s simple plan of salvation as opposed to corruptions of that plan by the doctrines, commandments, and traditions of men (Matthew 15:8-9; II Timothy 4:3-5). I urge all to read all the passages cited in this essay.

Salvation begins with the recognition that one is a sinner, and therefore lost and in need of salvation (Romans 3:23; Titus 3:3). God, in His matchless grace (His graciousness), gave His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, as the atonement for our sins (John 3:16; Titus 3:4-7; Ephesians 2:8-9). Christ died, was buried, and was raised from the dead that we might be saved. This is the gospel (I Corinthians 15:1-5). And it is this gospel that is God’s power to save those who will believe and obey it (Romans 1:16-17; Romans 6:16-18). Now follow these Bible steps. Continue reading →

#hughfulford, #plan-of-salvation

TFRStaff 2:16 am on 2019-09-24
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Hugh’s News & Views (Leaving The Church . . .)

LEAVING THE CHURCH OF CHRIST

(Note: The following was posted on my FB page on September 12, 2019. I have expanded it and send it forth to a wider reading audience as this week’s edition of “Hugh’s News & Views.” It speaks to an extremely important issue, and is somewhat of a sequel to last week’s essay on “Why Do The Liberals Among Us Stay?” Read closely, carefully, prayerfully, and reflectively the following and let it sink in).

When a member of the church of Christ leaves it for a denominational body such as the Disciples of Christ, the Baptist Church, the Methodist Church, the Episcopal Church, the Catholic Church, etc., in their mind they are not abandoning the body (church) of Christ as they view it, nor or they abandoning Christianity. Rather, in their mind they are simply switching from one denomination to another. They see themselves as moving to another church—one that is more in keeping with their changed and/or changing religious views. But such a move on their part reflects that they had a fundamentally flawed concept of the church of Christ to begin with. They started out viewing it simply as a denomination—one of many—one from which they could switch and go to another if they so chose. They never viewed the church of Christ from its New Testament perspective as the exclusive body of Christ, composed of all who have obeyed the gospel of Christ by following the New Testament plan of salvation, and only those who have done so! They never understood it as being the one and only body of Christ to which the Lord adds all the saved (Ephesians 1:22-23; Ephesians 4:4; Acts 2:47). Continue reading →

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