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by Philip C. Strong (08/29/10)
I have often said that “The greatest power of the human mind is the ability to justify self.” We humans have the uncanny ability to convince ourselves that some course of action is right, necessary, expedient, or just “the lesser of two evils” no matter how wrong it is- if it is what we really want to do in the first place. The further the proposed activity is from what is right, the more prowess is summoned to be able to justify it. But we still manage, if we want it bad enough. (As an example of this ability, some can even justify the taking of an innocent, unborn human life because it is inconvenient to do otherwise.)
by Philip C. Strong (08/23/10)
I am a Preacher- not a Psychologist, Psychiatrist, Politician, or Policeman. My job is not easy, but it is fairly straightforward. I attempt to educate folks on what the Bible (and therefore God) says, and encourage them as best I can to do what it says. But it is not within my purview to enforce the Bible. I couldn’t even if I wanted to do so. People must be drawn rather than driven to obedience- hence the emphasis on educating and encouraging instead of enforcing. So my purpose in broaching the subject of alcoholic spirits is not to (en)force my personal feelings about the matter on anyone. Instead, I’ll tell you some of what the Bible says regarding the subject. But really, my ultimate purpose in this article is to get you to think about the comparison posed in the title.
by Philip C. Strong (08/15/10)
My dad was a vocational agriculture teacher for 35 years. Given that there were four of us kids, he and mother had to be frugal with his teacher’s pay to make ends meet. I can remember him saying to me after I had fallen and skinned my knee, “Boy don’t tear your britches- that hide (meaning “skin”) will grow back on its own, but we have to buy those britches!” He was/is a great kidder also, and wasn’t nearly as calloused as that statement makes him sound.
by Philip C. Strong (05/30/10)
It just seems like such an inflammatory thing to say. Even a fellow who already knows he is “loose with the truth” is likely to be ready to fight when and if he’s confronted with his own reality. Why is this?
by Philip C. Strong (05/25/10)
As most of my family, brethren, and friends have learned, I don’t “do” texting unless it is by email. If you want to send me a “text” message, it had better be via email if you expect a response- otherwise, just call me….I talk much faster and easier than I type anyway.
by Philip C. Strong (03/30/10)
I hate green briars. I know were supposed to our reserve hate for only the things that God hates- but I hate green briars! When God cursed the ground because of Adam and Eve’s sin, He said, “…Cursed in the ground because of you; in toil you shall eat of it all the days of your life. Both thorns and thistles it shall grow for you…” (Gen3:17-18). When I read or think of this passage, I see green briars as being one of the results of this curse.
by Philip C. Strong (12/27/09)
This time of year, most of us are either thinking about what we want (presents), or what we have (the blessings of "family"). In the first case, we typically think “it” (whatever “it” is) will make us happy. In the latter case, we know that regardless of whatever else of a material nature that we have or don’t have, our families bring us true joy and happiness.
by Philip C. Strong (12/08/09)
“Original Intent” is a phrase utilized mostly in matters of law. It has to do with trying to discover what the originator of the law, or whatever (usually) written document is under consideration, intended with the words utilized. Obviously, original intent has much to do with hermeneutics– the study of interpretations of written texts, and especially biblical hermeneutics. We all need to correctly interpret God’s original intent!
by Philip C. Strong (11/18/09)
I have said many times before that “we humans don’t ‘create’ anything– we just assemble the pieces and parts God provides into other things.” It’s still true. Think about it. Even the most abstract thing we can imagine always seems to be made up of components that have a basis in reality. We’re still, even in our wildest imaginations, just putting existing bits together in a new or different way. We’re really not creating, though we are making, or forming.
by Philip C. Strong (09/02/09)
This past Thursday evening, Bro. Barry Pennington spoke in the final installment of the Eastside Church of Christ’s (Palestine, TX) Summer Series of lectures for this year. He told a story regarding his father, who, though departed now, was also a gospel preacher. It seems that in the sixties, when miniskirts and go-go boots were all the rage, that a young girl was about to walk into the assembly where Barry’s father was then preaching. One older man, an Elder at the congregation if I remember the story correctly, stopped the young lady and said something to the effect of, “Young lady, we don’t dress that way to worship the Lord here!” She did an abrupt about face, and never returned.
by Philip C. Strong (08/16/09)
Many years ago and where we lived at the time, there was a movement within the school system toward what was termed “outcome based education.” As I understood it then, and please pardon what I’m sure is a vast over-simplification, the idea was that “education” was best accomplished when the “right” answer was achieved, regardless of how it was achieved. Certainly the notion did not allow or excuse cheating, but instead encouraged “free thinking” over formulas, and “creativeness” over the memorization of tried and true methods. In short, as long as you got the right answer eventually, it really didn’t matter how you did so, or how many times you got the wrong answer first (and by the way, there really weren’t any “wrong” answers, just ones that weren’t “as correct”). Having long-time educators in both mine and Donna’s family, this just didn’t seem right to me. I had always thought that it did matter how you got there, and that “getting there” with the least amount of mistakes was important too. This article isn’t about the school system, or the debatable value of current or past methodology. But it dawns on me now that many people approach religion, or more specifically, Christianity, with the same type of outcome-based reasoning.
by Philip C. Strong (07/26/09)
Isn’t it funny how the same word can mean so very different things to different people based on who and what they are? For instance, to a young female, the word “engaged” refers to the promise of forthcoming marriage. To someone who likes to talk, “engaged” refers to someone who is engrossed in a conversation. For me, and those who think in more mechanical terms, the word “engaged” usually first means that one gear is meshed with another, or a another group of gears, to produce a specific movement or activity. All of these various comprehensions of the word are correct, depending of course on how the word is being used at the time. I’m told that this is what makes English one of the most difficult languages to learn– that the same word can have such vastly different meanings and applications.
So what does any of this have to do with spiritual matters?
by Philip C. Strong (07/12/09)
For a few years now it seems, we here at Southside have had “more than our fair share” of serious illnesses, deaths, and various other hardships and tribulations. Such is a normal part of life, I suppose, but it does seem that for a group of our size we’ve had an abundance. It makes you wonder at times if there is an Achan (cf. Joshua 7) or Jonah (Jonah 1) in our midst! Nah, I don’t believe that- I was just teasing. We have a good group of sincere people trying to do what it is right here at Southside. But we have had many opportunities, as a result of these trials, to learn and grow together. So what should we be learning? A few things, actually...
by Philip C. Strong (06/21/09)
This may seem like an odd title and subject to address in a bulletin article which appears on Father’s Day– and it is just that. But if you will remember, through forgetfulness and poor planning, an article entitled “Acknowledge Such Men” appeared in this same publication on Mother’s Day! I promised then to try to make amends by returning the favor on Father’s Day. So in an effort to be true to my word, and give proper recognition to the ladies….
by Philip C. Strong (05/24/09)
The word “homely” has a decidedly negative connotation in our modern vernacular– especially when used as a description of someone’s looks. But Webster’s first lists its meanings as “suggestive or characteristic of a home; frequently encountered; of a sympathetic character”. May I suggest to you that our homes today need exactly those kinds of Dads?
by Philip C. Strong (05/17/09)
There are many characteristics and attributes that make a clear distinction between “man” and “beast”. Obviously, and perhaps most importantly, “man” was created “in the image of God,” Genesis 1:26, and thus possesses qualities that separate him from the animal kingdom. And from that same passage, it should also be noted that man was given “dominion” to “rule over” all the animals that God placed upon the earth He had fashioned. But one of the often overlooked distinctions between humans and the lower forms of life God created is the concept of “time.”
by Philip C. Strong (05/10/09)
“Acknowledge such men” was the prescription given by Paul to the Corinthians. It was to be administered toward those who had “refreshed my (Paul’s) spirit and yours (the Corinthians), 1Cor.16:18. “Therefore, acknowledge such men.” He does not elaborate on exactly what the acknowledging of these men might entail. Surely, he intended that they be taken note of, recognized, and made aware of how much they were appreciated. Here at Southside, we have some men who I believe deserve the same kind of acknowledgment from us, for they have refreshed our spirits....
by Philip C. Strong (05/05/09)
Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote, "All I have seen teaches me to trust the Creator for all I have not seen." “Trust” is a constituent part of faith, Hebrews 11:6, “And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.” Trust is included in this verse because of the part about “rewards.” While a faithful life is replete with blessings in the here and now, its true reward is only achieve after death. Thus, we live “by faith” in that we trust God as a “rewarder of those who seek Him.”
by Philip C. Strong (03/29/09)
The words of mere men, though uninspired, may cause us to be awakened to the truth and meaning of those words which are divinely inspired. Men of mental prowess, who have great commitment to study biblical Truth, can help bring us to better understanding of what God would have us to be. The Hebrews writer seems to speak to this very point in 6:12-13, “And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence so as to realize the full assurance of hope until the end, that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.” Similarly, the Apostle Paul often encouraged brethren to hold in high regard those who labored for, and led them, cf. Phil.2:29; 1Cor.16:18; 1Thess.5:12-13.
by Philip C. Strong (03/08/09)
Surely we understand that the phrase “My Church” can only be literally used by Jesus, as He did in Matthew 16:18 in conversation with Peter. But, that isn’t to say that it is wrong for us to use the phrase today in speaking of the assembly of saints with which we belong in fellowship. We just use the term accommodatively rather than literally.
by Philip C. Strong (03/08/09)
These are the words of a familiar refrain written by Bro. Tillit S. Teddlie, who was, in my opinion, one of the greatest authors of our hymns. His songs are singable, melodic, and always seem to carry a thought-provoking and or inspirational message. Such is certainly true of this great anthem. But my question is this: "Is it really true for you?" Or otherwise stated, "Can you honestly and enthusiastically sing this particular song?"
by Philip C. Strong (12/14/08)
The way we present ourselves to, and how we conduct ourselves in, worship services says much about why we attend and what we hope to accomplish.
by Philip C. Strong (12/09/08)
Most people who consider themselves to be Christians realize they are supposed to "put God first" in their lives- though they may not know exactly either what that means or how to do it. But do we realize that "putting God first" also means that we are supposed to put our brethren above everyone else save Him?
by Philip C. Strong (11/23/08)
Is the world turning “upside down”? It sure seems like it to me!
by Philip C. Strong (10/26/08)
This may seem like a “loaded” title and topic, but it is certainly not intended to be so. Neither is the purpose of this article to call into question the individual judgment of sincere Christians on either side of the issue. Instead, it is only hoped that some consideration of biblical principles will be gained which could lead to better understanding of why we do what we do, and the effects our actions may have on others.
