Test Your Potency

#1 · August 28, 2003, 11:05 am

Quote from Forum Archives on August 28, 2003, 11:05 am
Posted by: forthrightmag <forthrightmag@...>

Forthright Magazine
www.forthright.net
Straight to the Cross

----
This is Freshman Week at Forthright. New
students are getting a taste of college life, and
we wish them well on their start. Several articles
this week have them especially in mind.
----

COLUMN: From Friend to Friend

Test Your Potency
by Phil Sanders

"You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt
has become tasteless, how will it be made salty
again? It is good for nothing anymore, except to
be thrown out and trampled under foot by men. You
are the light of the world. A city set on a hill
cannot be hidden. Nor do men light a lamp, and put
it under the peck-measure, but on the lampstand;
and it gives light to all who are in the house.
Let your light shine before men in such a way that
they may see your good works, and glorify your
Father who is in heaven" (Matt. 5:13-16).

Most of the salt in Palestine came from the Dead
(Salt) Sea area. But the salt was of varying
quality. Because of impurities and the occurrence
of chemical changes, the outer layer was generally
lacking in flavor. This salt was useless for
anything but to be thrown out and trampled under
foot. A hidden lamp was no good to anyone; it
blesses no one. It is absurd to think of someone
lighting a lamp and then covering it up so it
cannot shine. Christians are to make an impact on
the world around them, to shine a light and to
flavor the world for God!

How potent are you?

Does anyone know you are a Christian? I am amazed
that many Christians live their lives in
anonymity; their friends and coworkers never know
they are members of the church.

Does your life proclaim that the Lord matters to
you? Have you ever taken a moral stand or a
theological stand in the discussions of everyday
life? What a shame that some Christians allow evil
to rule the day because they are unwilling to
stand against it! We are seeing the moral decay of
our society and shamefacedly keeping our mouths
shut. Fearing the censure of others, we are
letting evil rule. I am amazed how some Christians
have never once yet taken up their crosses.

Does anyone want the Christian life you have? Some
Christians have such little joy and peace in their
lives, they can hardly attract anyone to the
faith. Some are so cynical and pessimistic, that
one might question if they believe anything very
much. The fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22-23) ought
to gleam from our lives and spirits. We cannot
expect others to wish to become Christians if our
Christianity is sour.

Do you have a light people need? If others were
searching for truth, would they come to you? Have
you shown in your life that you are a blessing? If
others are seeking someone to imitate, would that
person be you?

Be salt for Jesus, be a light for the Lord, shine
out, and flavor this earth with the love and the
grace of God.

COLUMN: Managing Time

Freshman Week
by J. Randal Matheny

In a phone conversation some weeks ago with Jim
Brown, Admissions Director at Freed-Hardeman
University, he mentioned that one of the greatest
challenges for incoming freshmen is time
management.

Indeed, time is of the essence for a positive and
successful college experience.

Here are my best ten tips for making the best use
of your time in college.

1. Don't skip class. The class is the main event
of college study. Here, teacher and student have
their maximum opportunity to pursue learning. See
the class period as the real reason you're at
college.

2. Review class notes often, soon after the class.
Weekly reviews will help you to retain the
information needed and avoid last minute
cramming for tests.

3. Plan ahead. Late-night stints to finish
research papers and reports won't garner many good
grades. Do assigned readings early, and pace
yourself in getting assignments done.

4. Be on time. For class, with assignments and
papers, for appointments, with deadlines.
Punctuality keeps you on top of your schedule and
your life.

5. Prioritize and balance your schedule. Put study
and classwork up front. Fit in service and social
clubs and other recreational activities behind
your main task. Buy and use a week-at-glance
planner.

6. Know what's expected. The class syllabus starts
you off well, and tips from the professor and even
former students will give you a good idea of his
expectations and approach.

7. Choose your friends carefully. They will either
encourage you in your studies or hinder your
progress. Your roommate may be a key figure as
well.

8. Choose your associations well. By that, I mean
clubs and groups. Go for the professional groups
in your area of study, the religious clubs that
will encourage your spirituality. College is a
time of great fun, and it should be, but why pay
tens of thousands of dollars for just a good time?

9. Take advantage of advisors and mentors. In many
universities, especially Christian institutions,
so many good people are cheering for your success.
The advisor's job is to help you overcome the
challenges. Often, teachers are looking for
capable students to take under their wing and
mentor for future service. Search them out, and
don't be afraid to ask for help.

10. Keep the end in view. When you walk across the
graduating stage, what kind of record do you want
to have left behind? The way you use your time
today will determine your college history
tomorrow, as well as future opportunities for
employment, service, and success.

Lots of time management tips are out there, but
the main issue is self-discipline. Mom and Dad are
no longer standing over to prod and remind. If you
didn't learn how to pace yourself at home, get up
at certain hours, sleep at a decent time, you now
have the challenge of using your time responsibly.

Self-discipline can be learned. It is part of the
fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22-23). As we crucify
self and allow the Spirit of God to work in our
life, we will produce the self-control needed for
the tasks ahead.

That means Moses' prayer is also appropriate in
this context. "So teach us to number our days that
we may get a heart of wisdom" (Psa. 90:12 ESV).

It may seem there is so much time to do things.
Numbering our days means, among other things,
recognizing that the minutes are ticking and what
needs to be done should be done as soon as
possible.

No matter how old you are, Paul's words apply to
all of us:

"Besides this you know the time, that the hour has
come for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is
nearer to us now than when we first believed. The
night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let
us cast off the works of darkness and put on the
armor of light. Let us walk properly as in the
daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in
sexual immorality and sensuality, not in
quarreling and jealousy. But put on the Lord Jesus
Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to
gratify its desires" (Rom. 13:11-14).

Time is the currency of life. Spend it well.

----You can help us get the word out. Here's how:
forthright.antville.org/stories/340415/

---- Please read below

Interested in receiving a brief, thought-provoking
devotional article once a week? Then subscribe to
mercEmail (pronounced: "mercy mail"), a weekly
devotional from Steve Higginbotham, minister for
the South Green Street Church of Christ in
Glasgow, KY.

To subscribe send a blank email to either of the
following addresses:
[email protected] (HTML Version)
[email protected]
(Plain Text Version)

Archives can be viewed at
www.glasgow-coc.org/mercEmail.htm

---- End ad
--
Forthright Magazine
Randal Matheny, editor
www.forthright.net
[email protected]

--
www.fastmail.fm - A no graphics, no pop-ups email service

Posted by: forthrightmag <forthrightmag@...>

Forthright Magazine
http://www.forthright.net
Straight to the Cross

----
This is Freshman Week at Forthright. New
students are getting a taste of college life, and
we wish them well on their start. Several articles
this week have them especially in mind.
----

COLUMN: From Friend to Friend

Test Your Potency
by Phil Sanders

"You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt
has become tasteless, how will it be made salty
again? It is good for nothing anymore, except to
be thrown out and trampled under foot by men. You
are the light of the world. A city set on a hill
cannot be hidden. Nor do men light a lamp, and put
it under the peck-measure, but on the lampstand;
and it gives light to all who are in the house.
Let your light shine before men in such a way that
they may see your good works, and glorify your
Father who is in heaven" (Matt. 5:13-16).

Most of the salt in Palestine came from the Dead
(Salt) Sea area. But the salt was of varying
quality. Because of impurities and the occurrence
of chemical changes, the outer layer was generally
lacking in flavor. This salt was useless for
anything but to be thrown out and trampled under
foot. A hidden lamp was no good to anyone; it
blesses no one. It is absurd to think of someone
lighting a lamp and then covering it up so it
cannot shine. Christians are to make an impact on
the world around them, to shine a light and to
flavor the world for God!

How potent are you?

Does anyone know you are a Christian? I am amazed
that many Christians live their lives in
anonymity; their friends and coworkers never know
they are members of the church.

Does your life proclaim that the Lord matters to
you? Have you ever taken a moral stand or a
theological stand in the discussions of everyday
life? What a shame that some Christians allow evil
to rule the day because they are unwilling to
stand against it! We are seeing the moral decay of
our society and shamefacedly keeping our mouths
shut. Fearing the censure of others, we are
letting evil rule. I am amazed how some Christians
have never once yet taken up their crosses.

Does anyone want the Christian life you have? Some
Christians have such little joy and peace in their
lives, they can hardly attract anyone to the
faith. Some are so cynical and pessimistic, that
one might question if they believe anything very
much. The fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22-23) ought
to gleam from our lives and spirits. We cannot
expect others to wish to become Christians if our
Christianity is sour.

Do you have a light people need? If others were
searching for truth, would they come to you? Have
you shown in your life that you are a blessing? If
others are seeking someone to imitate, would that
person be you?

Be salt for Jesus, be a light for the Lord, shine
out, and flavor this earth with the love and the
grace of God.

COLUMN: Managing Time

Freshman Week
by J. Randal Matheny

In a phone conversation some weeks ago with Jim
Brown, Admissions Director at Freed-Hardeman
University, he mentioned that one of the greatest
challenges for incoming freshmen is time
management.

Indeed, time is of the essence for a positive and
successful college experience.

Here are my best ten tips for making the best use
of your time in college.

1. Don't skip class. The class is the main event
of college study. Here, teacher and student have
their maximum opportunity to pursue learning. See
the class period as the real reason you're at
college.

2. Review class notes often, soon after the class.
Weekly reviews will help you to retain the
information needed and avoid last minute
cramming for tests.

3. Plan ahead. Late-night stints to finish
research papers and reports won't garner many good
grades. Do assigned readings early, and pace
yourself in getting assignments done.

4. Be on time. For class, with assignments and
papers, for appointments, with deadlines.
Punctuality keeps you on top of your schedule and
your life.

5. Prioritize and balance your schedule. Put study
and classwork up front. Fit in service and social
clubs and other recreational activities behind
your main task. Buy and use a week-at-glance
planner.

6. Know what's expected. The class syllabus starts
you off well, and tips from the professor and even
former students will give you a good idea of his
expectations and approach.

7. Choose your friends carefully. They will either
encourage you in your studies or hinder your
progress. Your roommate may be a key figure as
well.

8. Choose your associations well. By that, I mean
clubs and groups. Go for the professional groups
in your area of study, the religious clubs that
will encourage your spirituality. College is a
time of great fun, and it should be, but why pay
tens of thousands of dollars for just a good time?

9. Take advantage of advisors and mentors. In many
universities, especially Christian institutions,
so many good people are cheering for your success.
The advisor's job is to help you overcome the
challenges. Often, teachers are looking for
capable students to take under their wing and
mentor for future service. Search them out, and
don't be afraid to ask for help.

10. Keep the end in view. When you walk across the
graduating stage, what kind of record do you want
to have left behind? The way you use your time
today will determine your college history
tomorrow, as well as future opportunities for
employment, service, and success.

Lots of time management tips are out there, but
the main issue is self-discipline. Mom and Dad are
no longer standing over to prod and remind. If you
didn't learn how to pace yourself at home, get up
at certain hours, sleep at a decent time, you now
have the challenge of using your time responsibly.

Self-discipline can be learned. It is part of the
fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22-23). As we crucify
self and allow the Spirit of God to work in our
life, we will produce the self-control needed for
the tasks ahead.

That means Moses' prayer is also appropriate in
this context. "So teach us to number our days that
we may get a heart of wisdom" (Psa. 90:12 ESV).

It may seem there is so much time to do things.
Numbering our days means, among other things,
recognizing that the minutes are ticking and what
needs to be done should be done as soon as
possible.

No matter how old you are, Paul's words apply to
all of us:

"Besides this you know the time, that the hour has
come for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is
nearer to us now than when we first believed. The
night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let
us cast off the works of darkness and put on the
armor of light. Let us walk properly as in the
daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in
sexual immorality and sensuality, not in
quarreling and jealousy. But put on the Lord Jesus
Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to
gratify its desires" (Rom. 13:11-14).

Time is the currency of life. Spend it well.

----You can help us get the word out. Here's how:
forthright.antville.org/stories/340415/

---- Please read below

Interested in receiving a brief, thought-provoking
devotional article once a week? Then subscribe to
mercEmail (pronounced: "mercy mail"), a weekly
devotional from Steve Higginbotham, minister for
the South Green Street Church of Christ in
Glasgow, KY.

To subscribe send a blank email to either of the
following addresses:
[email protected] (HTML Version)
[email protected]
(Plain Text Version)

Archives can be viewed at
http://www.glasgow-coc.org/mercEmail.htm

---- End ad
--
Forthright Magazine
Randal Matheny, editor
http://www.forthright.net
[email protected]

--
http://www.fastmail.fm - A no graphics, no pop-ups email service