Category: Subject Index

This headline seems like it should be on the front page of the National Enquirer, (and it probably was), but it is being reported as legitimate by national news agencies such as ABC News.

Barbara Walters was granted an exclusive interview with Thomas Beatie and “his” wife Nancy on Friday, November 14th, on 20/20 Magazine. It was the first public interview granted since the birth of their daughter Susan. Beatie has since announced that “he” is again pregnant.

You notice the quotations around the words “his” and “he” in the paragraph below. As Matthew Gilbert of the Boston Globe reported:

Of course, it’s a little inflammatory to call Beatie “a pregnant man.” The more accurate description would be “a pregnant female-to-male transgender who identifies as a man but whose female reproductive organs are intact,” but that probably wouldn’t sell as many tabloids or draw as many viewers to “Oprah,” “20/20,” or, tonight at 9, the Discovery Health documentary “Pregnant Man.” When it comes to grabbing eyes, detailed descriptions can be inconvenient.

Continue reading “In The News: Man Pregnant Again!” →

An eyewitness of account of Union General John Sedgwick’s death on May 9, 1864, told by his chief of staff, describes clearly the danger of overconfidence.

It seems that the previous evening, at one place on the battlefield, several officers had been cut down by sniper fire. The general was warned of the danger by his chief of staff, but in the process of instructing his men walked to that place.

Sniper fire broke out from 1,000 yards away, and bullets whizzed by. Others ducked, but the general admonished them, saying, “What! what! men, dodging this way for single bullets! What will you do when they open fire along the whole line? I am ashamed of you. They couldn’t hit an elephant at this distance.” According to his chief of staff, the admonition was repeated a second time upon another fusillade of bullets, then suddenly the general was hit below his left eye, and quickly died.

Overconfidence can often lead to disaster, and this is true with regard to an individual’s spiritual standing as quickly as any other. As the apostle warned:

“Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.”
(1 Corinthians 10:12)

1 Peter 3:15 tells us as Christians we are to always be ready to give an answer for our hope. Are you able to tell why you do the things that you do religiously. Well, are you?

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In James 4:1-10, James points out that pride leads to worldliness. Therefore, the cure for worldliness is humility.

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The gospel is God’s power of Salvation, both in the conversion of men, and in the maintaining of their standing before God.

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Recently our church received in the mail an invitation to a beach party for area college students, hosted by the Altamesa Church of Christ, College Ministry. The brochure read:

Activities include: 3 Beach Volleyball courts (bring your own team of 6 people), Tug-of-War, Frisbee Throw, Bocce Ball, and more! Come for fellowship, Devotional, Burgers and Roast Pig! Excellent opportunity to meet new friends for the summer!

The brochure went on to mention that the singing group “The Light” from ACU would be performing, asked for an R.S.V.P. to the Church office, and informed that the church would be charging $8 per person for the event.

Continue reading “A Disturbing Trend” →

The Hebrews epistle describes differences between the Old Covenant, and the New Covenant. Such differences establish clearly the superiority of Christ and his covenant.

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“I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, And that my soul knows very well” (Psa. 139:14).

In the June 29, 2001 issue of the Daily Texan (The University of Texas’ daily student newspaper), staff writer Devin Griffiths reported on an Austin based company, Cycorp, which is a leading force in the development of AI, (artificial intelligence). Simply put, AI is the capacity of a computer to reason and learn on its own, without any outside help. Readers may be familiar with the 1968 film 2001: A Space Odyssey, which had as a lead character a thinking, feeling, lying, and ultimately killing computer named HAL.

Continue reading “AI – Evidence of Design” →

Guest Speaker Dennis Scroggins goes to 2 Chronicles 18, to establish through the story of Jehoshaphat and Ahab, the danger of compromising with evil.

Lesson 9 of 9 in Gospel Meeting Series

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Guest speaker Dennis Scroggins establishes from scripture that God hates divorce, and intends for a marriage to last for a lifetime. One man, one woman, for a lifetime is the teaching of scripture. We need to emphasize this rule in our preaching.

Lesson 8 of 9 in Gospel Meeting Series

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Guest speaker Dennis Scroggins ranges from James chapter 4 to Ecclesiastes to establish the ephemeral nature of our temporal lives, their purpose, and the vanity of life lived without God.

Lesson 7 of 9 in Gospel Meeting Series

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Guest Speaker Dennis Scroggins alludes to the parable of the tares, from Matthew 13:24-ff to point out that often, the ungodly are not manifest immediately. If we are able, through righteous judgment, to determine what is detrimental, we are able to deal with error. But, we must be sure to judge righteously in these matters.

Lesson 6 of 9 in Gospel Meeting Series.

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Guest Speaker Dennis Scroggins delivers a balanced treatment on the subject of discipline. Discipline is a necessary part of every Christian’s life, God’s dealings with mankind, and the work of the local church. It must be present, and is tempered by love and compassion.

Lesson 5 of 9 in Gospel Meeting Series

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Guest Speaker Dennis Scroggins establishes that Zeal alone, if it is not guided by a knowledge of God’s will for man, is not sufficient to save a man.

Lesson 4 of 9 in Gospel Meeting Series.

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It is extremely important that brethren everywhere contend for the truth and refute error. When such is done, because so many are tolerant of error and antagonistic toward the truth, there will be conflict. Some will say “Who set you up as brotherhood watchdogs, or arbiters of truth, or modern day prophets.” We have heard such, and the whining we hear when the false teacher is exposed is indicative of the whiner’s arrogance. Concerning the intellectual arrogance that can beset Christians, Paul warned, “For we dare not class ourselves or compare ourselves with those who commend themselves. But they, measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise. We, however, will not boast beyond measure, but within the limits of the sphere which God appointed us; a sphere which especially includes you” (2 Corinthians 10:12-13). Paul also wrote, “…Knowledge puffs up, but love edifies. And if anyone thinks that he knows anything, he knows nothing yet as he ought to know” (1 Corinthians 8:1-2).

Continue reading “Defending the Truth” →