Forthright Magazine http://www.forthright.net Straight to the Cross COLUMN: Fidelity Feed Him by Mike Benson Bob Lewis relates the story of a Christian woman who owned two prize-winning chickens. One afternoon, the chickens worked their way out of her yard and into her neighbor's garden. The neighbor, known for his hot temper, captured both birds, wrung their necks and then threw their lifeless carcasses across the fence into the Christian's yard. The woman was understandably hurt and considered giving her neighbor a piece of her mind. Instead, she took the chickens home and prepared two chicken pot pies. Whereupon she took one to her neighbor and then apologized for not being more watchful of her chickens. The man was speechless. The chicken pot pie coupled with an apology filled him with such a sense of burning shame that his whole life began to change. The Bible says, "...If your enemy hungers, feed him...for in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head" (Romans 12:20). Dear reader, when you are hurt by another, which do you bestow - pot pie, or a piece of your mind? Give it some thought. ---- Read this article online, tell us what you think, see who's commenting, click here: http://forthright.antville.org/stories/697595/ ____ COLUMN: From Friend to Friend Your Friends Need the Lord by Phil Sanders Every person you meet or know needs the Lord for many reasons. Those who know the Lord cannot imagine life without Him. Jesus said, "apart from Me, you can do nothing" (John 15:5). Here are some reasons why everyone needs the Lord. You and your friends need a Savior (Matthew 1:21). Sin is the universal problem of all men (Romans 3:10,23; 1 John 1:8,10). Not only do we need our personal sins washed away, we also need a new and better life. Jesus came to deliver us out of this present evil age (Galatians 1:4) and to give us new and better lives. In Christ we become "new creatures" (2 Corinthians 5:17). God's plan in Christ is that "you lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit, and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth" (Ephesians 4:22-24). Without Jesus we have no hope of life beyond this life. He is the resurrection and the life (John 11:25-26). Jesus said, "everyone who lives and believes in Me shall never die." Without Jesus we would stumble around in intellectual darkness, not having the Way, the Truth, or the Life (John 14:6). Jesus gave us an example, so that we can follow in his steps (1 Peter 2:21). Without Jesus we would never fully know what it means to love (1 John 4:7-11). Because of him, we know that we are loved and how to love others. Thank God for Jesus. ---- Read this article online, tell us what you think, see who's commenting, click here: http://forthright.antville.org/stories/734690/ ____ You can help us get the word out. Here's how: http://forthright.antville.org/stories/340415/