Category: Subject Index

Last month, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) held its annual Robotics challenge. The main competition was a testing of android like robots in skills such as walking across uneven surfaces, opening doors, turning knobs, and flipping switches.
There is a youtube video that is making the rounds, showing the robots failing miserably at the assigned tasks. Type in this URL: http://tinyurl.com/p563vz6 to see the video.

Now, to be fair, some of the robots probably did a good job, but it is interesting to note just how difficult it is to get these kinds of robots to perform successfully the simplest of tasks. This, despite amazing technological advances that have been made.

Continue reading “In the News: Drunken Robots” →

The apostle Paul wrote to Titus, “For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age” (Titus 2:11-12). In these words are found the response of every Christian to the gift of grace. We have the hope of salvation because of what God has granted to us. Our response is an ordering of our lives: “we should live soberly, righteously and godly.”

The definition of the word godly is minimally helpful. The term refers to piety, devotion and reverence. More helpful are the verses that describe the kind of life that characterizes the Christian profession. For example, when considering the proper role model for a godly life, we consider Jesus Himself. Peter wrote, “But as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, ‘Be holy, for I am holy’” (1 Peter 1:15-16). Jesus was guileless (cf. 1 Peter 2:21-24), and pure (cf. 1 John 3:1-3). In His life, and in His death, He always sought to do the will of His Father in heaven (cf. John 15:10).

Continue reading “Living Godly Lives” →

These verses immediately follow Jesus’ command to His disciples to tarry in Jerusalem, and wait for the “promise of the Father” (4). He ascended to Heaven, and the disciples returned to the city to wait as instructed.
Consider the difference in their outlook. After Christ’s crucifixion, the disciples were despondent. Their understanding was flawed, and they despaired that their Lord had been killed.

But, after His resurrection from the dead they had a much better idea of what the future held for them. The text names each of the remaining eleven apostles by name, and describes their anticipation as they waited with “the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers.”

We are told they continued in prayer and supplication. In only a few days, events would unfold on Pentecost that changed forever every man’s relationship with His God.

A man’s perspective makes it difficult for him to understand the concept of eternity. We think in terms of seconds, minutes, hours, days, years and decades. The longer the time span, as it expands beyond our own lifetime, the more difficult it is to comprehend. Job had it right, “Man who is born of woman is of few days and full of trouble” (Job 14:1).

There is another word that is used when defining terms like eternal and eternity. It is perpetuity. The word perpetuity is defined by Webster, “a state or quality of lasting forever.” The British government has in the past issued bonds called “consols.” The person who bought these bonds is entitled to receive annual interest payments “in perpetuity” or forever. Actually, the bonds will only be good so long as the British government and economy continue to exist.

When Burt Reynolds starred in his movie, Smoky and the Bandit, he popularized Trans Ams to the extent that the Pontiac company promised him a new Trans Am each year in perpetuity. In reality, the promise was only kept for five years.

God has promised, to the faithful, life in perpetuity. Fortunately, He is the one who can and will make good on His promise. “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23). It may be hard for us to grasp, but we don’t have to fully understand to appreciate and strive for that reward!

Hebrews 3:12 is one of many exhortations to faithfulness. It is possible for a Christian to depart from God. When one does, several things happen:

* You depart from your duty to worship Him

* You depart from your duty toward your brethren.

* You depart from the words of life.

* You depart from the living hope

Audio

Powerpoint Slides

We all can be inconsistent in speech, sometimes saying what is needful and helpful, and sometimes sinning with our tongue. This “ought not to be so” (cf. James 3:10). Some good and bad speech is discussed in the lesson.

Audio

Powerpoint Slides

In the previous verse, the apostle John affirmed that Jesus, the Word, came to earth and lived among us. He now states that John the Baptist testified that Jesus is indeed the Son of God (cf. vs. 34).

John the Baptist was the forerunner of Jesus, prophesied about in Isaiah 40:3, “The voice of one crying in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord’” (vs. 23). His ministry heralded the coming of the Christ.

The apostle now affirms that we have received the unmerited favor of God in the sending of that Christ, Jesus (16). Just as Moses was the means through which God gave Israel His law, Jesus is the means through which God grants salvation by Grace (17). It is through Jesus that God is manifested to man. Without Jesus, we can not know God. With Him, all things are made clear, including His plans for our redemption.

In this short article we wish to deal with a presupposition commonly made in our day. It has been stated (in Josh McDowell’s, The New Evidence that Demands a Verdict) as anti-supernaturalism.

The bias can be expressed in several ways. The most common is the belief that there is no God. If God does not exist, all that remains is a natural explanation for the existence both of the universe, and life on earth. Another belief is that while there may be a god, this god has no interest or involvement in the affairs of men. His existence is unproven and unprovable, and therefore we are still left with naturalism as an explanation for everything.

Continue reading “Anti-Supernaturalism” →

A Successful Life
(Psalm 119:59-60)

“I thought about my ways, And turned my feet to Your testimonies. I made haste, and did not delay to keep Your commandments.”

Take Inventory
“I thought about my ways…”
(1 Corinthians 11:28; 2 Corinthians 10:12; Luke 15:17)

Go to the Right Source
“And turned my feet to Your Testimonies”
(Romans 1:16; Proverbs 16:25; Psalm 119:105)

Do Not Delay
“I made hast and did not delay”
(Colossians 3:23; 2 Corinthians 6:2; Acts 16:33)

Do the Will of God
“to keep Your commandments”
(Matthew 7:21; 1 John 5:3; Hebrews 5:8-9)

A successful life will be rewarded by the Almighty! “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful” (Hebrews 10:23).

The latest cover for Vanity Fair Magazine has been revealed, and features former Olympic decathlete Bruce Jenner, who now gender identifies as a woman. The caption — “Call Me Caitlyn.”

With surgical advancements, some have determined to change their physical characteristics from male to female, or female to male. With hormonal therapy, augmentation, amputation, reconstruction — it is possible to mask a person’s sexual characteristics, and look like the opposite sex. The first time I became aware of this was way back in 1975 when a man named Richard Raskind had what is referred to as sex reassignment, or sex change surgery. From that point on known as Dr. Renee’ Richards, he petitioned to play in the ladies bracket of the U.S. Open tennis tournament in 1976, and was denied. He sued, and won, and actually played in both singles and doubles in 1977. He played on the women’s tour through 1981.

Continue reading “In the News: “Sex” and “Gender”” →

God has promised a crown of life to those who obey Him. “Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life” (Revelation 2:10).

There are number of references to that crown, with it described as:

• An imperishable crown(1 Corinthians 9:25)
• A crown of joy/rejoicing (1 Thessalonians 2:19)
• A crown of glory (1 Peter 5:4)

In the passage from Revelation 2:10, there is the implication that our crown may be taken away. Thus, the exhortation, “Be faithful until death.” May we all run the race of life in such a way as to obtain the “imperishable crown” (1 Corinthians 9:24-25).

Click below to…

Affixing labels is sometimes helpful. It can aid in quick identification. Politically, the terms liberal and conservative give a general, albeit imprecise, picture of the convictions a person holds.

The same can be true regarding spiritual beliefs. However, the spectrum is broad, and what may be “liberal” to one man may be extremely “conservative” to another. The terms are relative.

Instead, why not consider the following three possibilities:

1. A person who binds where God has loosed…
2. A person who binds where God has bound, and looses where God has loosed…
3. A person who looses where God has bound…

Of the three, only the second, “A person who binds where God has bound, and looses where God has loosed,” is acceptable to God. We have no right to be more restrictive than God, nor do we have the right to be more permissive. It is our place only to obey His word, which thoroughly equips us “for every good work” (cf. 2 Timothy 3:17).

To obey may lead some to say we are liberals, or more probably for others to say we are conservatives. The less kind may call us legalists or antis! But, to obey is to please God, and that is our purpose. (cf. Galatians 1:10).

To see The Patternists Page on Facebook, click here, and Like!

Invitation delivered by: Stan Cox

The first few verses of 1 Timothy 2, show that prayer for the governing authorities is important so that we might continue to serve God in peace.

Audio

On Wednesday a family friend passed from this life to his reward. His name is Jay Bowman, and I have known him since I was 9 years old. Jay came to preach for the small Westridge congregation in Odessa where my family and I had recently started to attend.

A number of years ago, Jay contracted Parkinson’s disease, and over the last several years his health had declined. He broke a hip a month ago, and from that point deteriorated rapidly. He was buried in Lubbock yesterday.

You probably have heard of his brother Dee Bowman. Dee holds lots of meetings, and is well known as a charismatic and interesting speaker. Jay was not as well known, but labored faithfully for congregations in Odessa, Abilene and Midland, TX before retiring. His Parkinson’s affected his voice, and made it difficult to preach full time.

Jay, and his wife Glenda were greatly respected and loved by many, including my family. Jay was a very quiet and unpretentious man. He was a true scholar, one of the preeminent Greek scholars in the brotherhood. He was a capable speaker, though almost an opposite in style to his brother. Most of all, he personified what it means to be a Christian man. He was kind, compassionate and good. I have often said that his example served as a primary motivation for me to become a preacher. He will be missed.

His wife Glenda, son Philip, and Philip’s wife and kids, live in the Lubbock area. I would appreciate your saying a prayer for the family at their great loss.

Invitation delivered by: Stan Cox

In numerous places in scripture, there are references to a Judgment Seat.  Pilate sat on one (John 19), as did Gallio (Acts 18).  Paul reveals that one day Jesus will sit on the Judgment seat (2 Corinthians 5:9-11), so we should aim to please Him!

Audio