Leftovers
Live organ donations, household tips, Harry Potter, and dealing with the Press. What do they have in common? Nothing... except that articles on all of them (and a lot more) are on this page. These are the ones that did not fit into the other ten books that we have printed up on various topics. If you like variety, you've come to the right place.
My Love for Leftovers
The world is full of unfinished projects and leftover remnants. Learn how to use what others do not want, and you'll never go hungry.
(See also Bottom Squeezers)
Bottom Squeezers
No, this is not an article about men who take liberties on crowded buses. It's about how faithfulness in little things creates an overall spirit of order that spreads to everything that you do.
(See also Job Lists, Budgets and Schedules, and accountability, part 2.)
The Xmas Spirit
This parody on Jesus' rebuke of the Pharisees targets the merchants and advertisers who have desecrated the name of Jesus with their greedy Christmas promotions.
(See also The The Christmas Dilemma .)
The Christmas Dilemma
The lesson in this one is good year round. Society often engages in things that are a mixture of good and evil, truth and deception. We need wisdom to extract the good without being sucked in by the evil. This article relates this need for wisdom to our dealings with the churches as well.(See also Non-Christian Religions.)
Birthdays and Holidays
Do we or don't we celebrate birthdays and holidays? Yes and no.(See also The Christmas Dilemma .)
The Donor
This imaginary dialogue between Jesus and a would-be supporter gives some humorous insights into how donations are often used to turn the heads of those who seek to live by faith. Don't let it happen to you.
(See also The Cross, and self-righteousness .)
How Do You Get Your Money?
Our critics argue that no matter where our money comes from, it does not come from God. They insist on knowing the details, so they can "disprove God" by giving society, Caesar, or the government mint credit for our material support. We disagree.(See also Living by Faith -- How to Do It.)
Take up the Press and Follow Me
The mass media represent great possibilities for preaching the gospel; but they can also crucify us. Ultimately, however, even the persecution will, like the cross, get the message to the masses.
(See also Media Interviews, and Cannibals for Christ.)
Harry Potter
Have you seen the movie? Read the books? Is it all harmless fun? Or is it part of a diabolical plot?(See also No More Masks.)
God Has No Grandchildren
You cannot sneak into heaven on the basis of membership in our group (or any other group). God wants personal contact. Jesus is the only mediator.
(See also The True Conscience, and Constant Prayer.)
Sociology Lessons
Dave covers three principles that he learned from years of studying sociology, and he relates them to our Christian walk. They are (a) the fundamental attribution error; (b) the self-fulfilling prophecy; and (c) in-group vs out-group biases.(See also Cognitive Dissonance, We See What We Want to See, shibboleths, and Singles or Doubles?)
Instant (and Cheerful) Obedience
Insubordinate soldiers can destroy an army from within; and so it is necessary for members to overcome resistance to obedience if we are to have any unity on the spiritual battlefront.(See also Losing Your Identity, malcontents, and Pride Smashing.)
A Letter to a Student
Dave answers a list of questions sent in by a student who was researching live organ donations. Some people will be surprised to discover that our position includes serious warnings about the need to regulate organ donations.(See also A Letter to a Doctor.)
Courage
A tribute to the courage of a former member. Includes applications to our practice of organ donations.(See also A Letter to a Student, and A Letter to a Doctor.)
A Letter to a Doctor
Sue writes to a medical ethicists about her convictions with regard to an anonymous live kidney donation. The same doctor later published an article in which he quoted Sue at length and said that she had changed his thinking with regard to Good Samaritan organ donations.(See also A Letter to a Student.)
Alternative Medicine
This letter to a Catholic nun, challenges the current concept of "natural" amongst people who promote alternative medicine. It also questions the honesty of alternative healers who do not follow the same strict guidelines that are required for Western scientific research.
(See also Heal the Sick.)
Cupid's Arrows
Fran describes a vision he had which reminded him that criticism from those who love us is actually an expression of love. Very good reading!
(See also Unconditional Love?, criticism, and disagreements.)
Reality in Utopia
We are not the kingdom of heaven. We are only an imperfect (and dispensable) tool to point people toward the kingdom of heaven. This article examines the paradox of an invisible kingdom in a real world. It's a bit like trying to put the wind in a box. Wind is real, but NOT when you put it in a box.
(See also The Kingdom of Heaven or Religion?.)
Inspired Distributing
Ross, who has been the most successful recruiter of new disciples in the community, gives some tips on how to turn a simple exercise in literature distribution into a personal evangelistic crusade.(See also tracts.)
Follow-Ups
The whole concept of follow-ups stems from a misunderstanding of what the 'gospel' is all about in the first place.
(See also System Worship, and The Kingdom of Heaven or Religion?.)
Christians and the Law
This article makes specific reference to the Bobby Kelly case as well as to The Family, and shows how blind obedience can lead to problems in large groups as well as in small groups. The law, it says, must be laid aside at times in order to arrive at real truth.(See also Civil Disobedience.)
Backsliding
The devil's greatest trick to get people to backslide, is to get them sympathising with other backsliders and passing judgment on those who refuse to backslide. At the root of it all is a scheme to get you to stop judging yourself and to blame your own sinfulness on someone else.(See also The Benefits of Not Backsliding, Adam's Sin, and Mark Those Who Cause Division.)
More on the Poor
The poor may be exempted from requirements for salvation which are essential for those of us with more material comforts. Like infants and mentally handicapped people, God may wink at the spiritual immaturity of the poor. On the other hand, our material aid may bring with it certain spiritual responsibilities on the part of the recipients.(See also The Dark Side, and The Problem with the Poor.)
Thirty is a Dangerous Age
Comparisons are made between groups over 30 members and people aged over 30, and how idealism tends to fall off in both.(See also Corporate Adolescence.)
Running by Faith
Martin discusses his approach to running, and how it inspires him spiritually. Some good lessons with regard to enjoying all forms of discipline.(See also Let Go and Let God Do It!.)
Household Guidelines
Cherry lists some practical tips for safety and consideration when living together.(See also A Visiting Guide.)
A Visiting Guide
Cherry lists 15 practical tips to consider when visiting other people (whether system friends or other Jesus Christians). Good common sense expressions of Christian love.(See also imagination, laziness, and Why Communes Fail.)