“Come on people, nowSmile on your brother;Everybody get together,Try to love one another right now.” So went one of the more popular songs of the 1960s, a song that still plays often on “Oldies but Goodies” stations. Note the sentiment of the song; that if people will just love, they will be drawn together. While that may seem to be a great thought, it seems to fall short of reality. What most often draws people together? Tragedy. Most of the time, we see the news stories of horrific tragedy and, almost immediately, we are inundated with stories of people helping people. Race and gender issues are pushed aside, as are…

About 2:40 this afternoon the phone rang. It was my mother with a phone call I knew would be coming. She informed me that my grandfather, John Turner Sr., had passed away about 20 minutes earlier. There is no doubt he is in a much better place now; a place where pain will never be a problem. Tom Brokaw called his “The Greatest Generation.” I am fortunate to have had three grandparents from that generation, and still have one. This generation helped bring our nation out of the Great Depression in their youth. Then they went overseas as young men and women and fought Mussolini, Hirohito and–most evil of all–Hitler.…

The Lads to Leaders program was created in 1969 by Jack Zorn in Warner Robbins, Georgia. Now operating out of Pelham, Alabama, the program has grown to include over 15,000 participants in scores of congregations. Lads to Leaders has grown to the point that four conventions are needed for the events and awards. Those conventions will be held in 2006 in Atlanta, Orlando, Indianapolis and the largest convention–Nashville. The program stresses the need for our children of today to become the leaders of tomorrow, which is a lofty and worthwhile goal, but there are many who claim that the Lads to Leaders program is not the method by which this…

Today, I’d just like to call attention to a couple of items that have come my way in the past few days. Both ultimately deal with being grateful, so they are both included here. First, brother Hayden Childs, who preaches for the South Haleyville church of Christ, gave me a short poem originally written by Grover C. Beard. It appeared in the Gospel Gleaner (Vol. 15, #2), and is entitled “God Give Us!” God give us eyes,that we may see the needs of others about us. God give us ears,that we can hear a new born baby cry. God give us lips,that we can sing Thy praise, honor and glory.…

A couple of weeks ago, we were wondering how many who want to make sure that “Christ is in Christmas” would be at worship on December 25th. Some “mega-churches” are making that decision easier on families. They have simply decided that, since Christmas falls on a Sunday, they should cancel services. The Associated Press originally wrote a story about the decision on December 6. The original article may be read by clicking here. One quote from the story comes from Calley Parkinson, who works at the Willow Creek Community Church in Northern Illinois. Of canceling their services on December 25 she said, “If our target and mission is to reach…

A student group at the University of Texas-San Antonio recently started a campaign that has garnered a fair amount of media attention (which is probably what they wanted in the first place). The atheist group advertised a booth where you could drop off your “sacred text” and, in return, get a pornographic magazine. I first heard of this “effort” by watching “The Situation with Tucker Carlson” on MSNBC Monday night. Please take the time to read the transcript of the interview with Thomas Jackson, president of the group. In reading the interview, you will probably be appalled by at least two things: (1) the idea of doing such a thing,…

To say this book is helpful is a great understatement. So many have read this book that it seems a bit silly to “review” it. However, there are many who have it on their shelf and have never read it. (Sadly, I had this book for several months before I read it. I try to read books in some order. I now wish I had moved this book “up the list”.) For this volume, brother Guy N. Woods collected questions which were submitted to him at the open forum session of Freed-Hardeman University’s annual Bible lectureship. The range of topics covered in the 366 pages is truly incredible, and will…

At midnight on Saturday, November 26, Gospel Broadcast Network went live. This was truly an historic and exciting moment in the history of churches of Christ. GBN is a 24-hour-per day, 365-day-per-year television network devoted to preaching and teaching the Gospel by members of churches of Christ. It is under the oversight of the eldership of the Highland church of Christ in Dalton Georgia (the same congregation that oversees “Preaching the Gospel” with James Watkins). The station is based out of Chattanooga, Tennessee. The network features such programming as “In Search of the Lord’s Way” with Mack Lyon, “Devotional Hour” (an hour of hymns with beautiful scenery and scripture) and…

The 9th Avenue church of Christ is very excited about hosting her annual youth rally on January 6-7, 2006. Brother Van Vanzandt from Leoma, Tennessee, will be the key-note speaker. You are invited and encouraged to attend. The 9th Avenue church always provides breakfast and lunch on Saturday, as well as lodging on Friday night free of charge. The youth rally costs nothing to attend. The rally’s theme this year is “If God Really Loves Me, Why Is My Life So Difficult?” We hope to address this theme through brother Vanzandt’s lessons, as well as through specially designed classes. There will also be a special series of classes for adults…

I want to give Steve Higgenbotham credit for the idea behind these questions. He used the same idea in a recent e-newsletter. And I want to thank my sister, Amber Tatum, for sending them to me.Two questions about Christmas and “the reason for the season”: 1. I just wonder how many who are singing “Silent Night” and “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen” will decide that they are too busy opening presents on Christmas morning to attend worship. 2. I wonder how many denominational congregations with nativity scenes out front will call off their evening services, seeing as how Christmas falls on Sunday this year. Let’s make sure we put God…