You are still run , Bobby

Bobby gripped the steering wheel and held the car tight to the narrow road.  On his right, snake-like rows of cotton, once farmed by his family, flashed by. He didn't seem to notice.  His gaze was fixed on the horizon, as if on some distant finish line.

"I never did struggle to run," he said.  "It was a relaxed feeling for me.  It was always natural.  I was a poor starter, though.  I was always behind at the start."

The name Bobby Morrow will not mean anything to most of my readers.  But to the sports world of the mid-1950s his name was a high profile name.

In 1956 at the age of 20, Bobby Morrow won three Gold Medals for the United States at the Olympic Games in Melbourne, Australia.  He ran the 100 meter in 10.5 seconds, took the 200 meter in an Olympic record of 20.6 seconds, and anchored a world-record 400 meter relay of 39.5 seconds.  His three Gold Medals were the most any man had won in track and field since Jesse Owens took four at Berlinin 1936.

Bobby Morrow was a member of the church of Christand an outstanding student athlete at AbileneChristian College (now University) in Abilene, Texas. Bobby returned to Abilene from Melbourne a hero. Don Morris, president of the college, called him a "conquering hero."  Four years later—in 1960—still in his prime, Bobby was snubbed for the Olympics inRome.  He was stunned.  So was his A. C. C. coach, Oliver Jackson.  Jackson never asked for an explanation.  Neither did Bobby.  Never a romantic about his ability, Bobby simply quit.  He never ran again.

Bobby Morrow's story was detailed in a major article in the Dallas Morning News in July 1990.  I was living in Dallas at the time and read the story with great interest.  The details set out above, as well as some of the verbiage, are taken from the story.  I was a student at Freed-Hardeman College in Henderson,Tennessee in 1956 when Bobby won those three Gold Medals in Melbourne.  On Sundays I would go out to preach in country and small town churches—places like Broadmoor, Bakerville, Dyer, New Providence, Yorkville, and Humboldt.  I had a sermon on "The Christian Race" that I especially enjoyed preaching. And I used Bobby Morrow as an example of what it takes to be a winner—physically and spiritually. 

When the story came out in the Dallas Morning News in 1990, I prepared and presented another sermon, giving it the title of this essay.  I have preached it a couple of times since.  It was/is designed to encourage those who once were running the Christian race but have dropped out to re-enter the race.  Sadly, there are many who have become "drop outs." But they need to know that forgiveness is available, that restoration is possible, that renewal of spiritual vitality is accessible, and that a new start is possible.

By his own admission, Bobby Morrow was a terrible starter.  "I was always behind at the start."  But as Oliver Jackson his coach said: "He had that second gear.  He could float.  About the last quarter of the race, he'd turn it on.  He was poetry."  His former wife, Jo Ann, now married to a former Abilene Christian classmate—himself a track coach—said of Bobby: "I've seen a lot of track in my lifetime, but I've never seen a runner as pretty as Bobby," allowing herself a moment to enjoy the memory.

"Therefore, seeing we also are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God" (Hebrews 12:1-2).

Speaking Schedule:

September 2: Bethlehem Church of Christ, Lebanon, TN (all services)

September 5: Bethlehem Church of Christ, Lebanon, TN

September 9: LaGuardo Church of Christ, Mount Juliet, TN (a.m. only)

Hugh Fulford

August 21, 2012

Coming Home

Those of us old enough to remember World War II will recall the days of anxiety our families went through waiting to hear from loved ones on the battlefield and anticipating their safe return home. The following is an incident related by my mother (and of which I have some memory) that took place in the summer of 1945, the summer the war ended. It has to do with the grave concerns my maternal grandparents had for one of their sons—my uncle Frank—who was in the war and who had not been heard from in sometime. 

Our immediate family was living in Panama City,Florida where my father worked in the Wainwright Shipyard.  My mother was worried about her brother.  She took my sister and me with her on the Coastal Stage, a local bus-line that served the Gulf coastal areas of Florida and Alabama, back to our hometown of DeFuniak Springs.  From there we got a ride with a neighbor of my grandparents who worked in town to the remote area of northern Walton County, Florida where my grandparents lived on a rented farm.  I do not recall how many days we stayed with them, but one day, according to mother, after dinner (the noon meal) we were all out on the front porch when we heard a car coming up the dirt road to the house.  We knew somebody was coming but we did not know who.  A taxi drove up into the outer part of the yard and a young man still in his twenties and dressed in a military uniform emerged from the back seat of the cab.  My mother and grandfather (Big-daddy) bounded from the porch and almost knocked each other down as they both tried to get through the small gate in the fence that separated the small dirt yard around the house from the larger yard outside the fence.  "It's Frank," they cried.  What hugging, what crying, what joy we all experienced that day at Frank's safe return home.  My grandmother (Big-mama) pulled back the table cloth from over the food that had been left on the dinner table, and I am sure that a big fresh pot of strong coffee (the only kind Big-daddy ever drank) was made on the old wood-burning cook stove.  There was no killing of a fatted calf, but there was every bit as much rejoicing over the safe return of Frank as there had been when the prodigal son came home.

This is the 67^th summer since that event took place, but some of its scenes are still etched in my memory. My grandparents have now been dead for many years.  My grandfather died two weeks to the day after my wife and I were married in 1957.  My grandmother lived on until 1982, dying at the age of 89.  My mother lived until the age of 93, dying in 2008.  Frank was discharged from the military inTexas and lived in Texas for the rest of his life.  His life was not always an easy one.  In the late 1980s, when Jan and I lived in Dallas, we took a trip to San Antonio for a few days of R & R.  On our return home, we pulled off I-35 at the little town of Cibolowhere I had learned Frank was living.  I stopped at a service station/garage (the garage was no longer in operation) and asked the man at the front if he knew Frank Pope and where he might live.  He said, "If you'll step back into the garage you'll find him back there with several other fellows."  I walked back into the rear part of the building and saw a circle of older men visiting with one another.  I looked the group over and spotted the one I was looking for, though it had been many, many years since I had seen him.  I said, "I'm looking for that fellow right there," and pointed to Frank.  He did not know who I was.  I said, "Let's step outside a moment."  He got up from his chair and followed me outside.  When I told him who I was he was utterly dumbfounded and broke down, sobbing.  I'm sure I cried too as we embraced. I took him to the car and introduced him to my wife.  We talked and reminisced for a good little while.  That was the last time I saw him.  He passed away in 1995 shortly after I moved to Selma.  His daughter called me from San Antonio to tell me of his death and to ask if I could come and serve as a pallbearer. Unfortunately, I was unable to do so.  At one point in his life Frank confessed his faith in Christ and was baptized into Him.  But over the years his life took many twists and turns.  However, I know that at least on one occasion he experienced a happy homecoming at a remote farm house in Walton County, Florida. 

Speaking Schedule:

August 19: Cottontown Church of Christ, Cottontown, TN (all services)

Hugh Fulford

August 14, 2012

Madison Street Church - Clarksville, Tennessee

This past Sunday my wife and I returned to theMadison Street Church of Christ in Clarksville,Tennessee for a "Family and Friends Day."  I spoke to the adults during the Bible School hour and preached at the morning worship service.  This was followed by a wonderful congregational meal in the church's fellowship hall.  For Jan and me it was like a Homecoming.

In September 1964 we moved to Clarksville with our two young sons—Bryan, 5, just beginning the first grade, and Brett, 2.  Jan and I were in our mid-twenties and flushed with excitement about our new work with a large church in a college town that offered the opportunity for both of us to do additional school work at Austin Peay State University.  During our years there Jan completed her degree in Elementary Education and I took several courses in the History Department but never completed the requirements for a degree.

Great preachers preceded me at Madison Street—C. W. Brannan, J. O. Jones, and Robert Larimore Brewer (nephew of G. C. and Charles Brewer), my immediate predecessor.  The church was blessed with great leadership from a strong eldership and an active corps of deacons.  Dr. Joe Morgan, president of the University, was an elder; Tillman Taylor who taught in the History Department of the University was an elder; H. G. Blackwell, president of an insurance company, was an elder.  Dr. Wentworth Morris, Chairman of the History Department, and his family were members of the congregation, as were other faculty members and staff.  Located just three blocks from the main entrance to the University campus, we had a number of students who attended our services. During most of my four plus years as minister of the church (1964-1968) I taught the Sunday morning college class and had an opportunity to influence a number of young people. But the church was not a "college" church; the members represented a healthy cross-section of Clarksville life, including a number of military families from nearby Fort Campbell.

Madison Street was an active, and, therefore, a growing church.  We hosted area-wide "Training for Service" series, having such men as Alan Bryan and John Allen Chalk as keynote speakers, as well as specialists for various classes concerning Bible Schoolwork, personal evangelism, leadership, etc.  We hosted Missions Conferences, bringing in men we supported in various mission fields and others who could inspire us to greater evangelism—men such as Wesley Reagan, Ira Y. Rice, Jr., Bob Davidson, Forrest Suddeath, Alan Highers, and others.  We conducted great gospel meetings, featuring some of the finest  preachers of the day—Burton Coffman, Batsell Barrett Baxter, Willard Collins, and Jimmy Allen.  We brought Bill Banowsky from Lubbock,Texas for a special engagement (following his debate with Anson Mount of Playboy Magazine fame) to speak to us—especially the college crowd—about the Playboy philosophy.  Marshall Keeble, the great black evangelist, came to Madison Street twice, attracting the largest crowd in Madison Street's history during his second engagement.  During our ministry, the leadership of the congregation brought about the integration of a small black congregation (30-40 members) with the Madison Street church.  The times were ripe for all of these things to occur and for them to be successful.

Soon a new chapter will be written in Madison Street's history.  Their present property has been sold and they have plans to relocate to thirty-five acres in northeast Clarksville left to them from the estate of one of the church families.  The master plan for the construction of new facilities in several phases has been developed.  Geoffrey Sikes has served as the church's minister for the past twenty-five years, and has been a diligent servant.  We anticipate bright days ahead for the church at Trenton Crossing!  It was good to be with them this past Lord's Day and to renew old friendships in the Lord.

Speaking Schedule:

August 8: Meads Chapel Church of Christ, Nashville,TN

August 12: Science Hill Church of Christ, Readyville,TN (P.M. only)

August 19: Cottontown Church of Christ, Cottontown, TN (all services)

Hugh Fulford

August 7, 2012

OUR NEW KROGER MARKETPLACE

OUR NEW KROGER MARKETPLACE

A year or so ago, a new Kroger Marketplace opened down at the end of the road we live on.  We had been doing most of our grocery shopping at Wal-MartSuper-Center, but we decided we owed it to ourselves to check out this new place, and are we glad we did! Buddy-roe, let me tell you—it is something else! Neither Feenie Allison's nor Cull McHenry's Grocery Stores back in DeFuniak Springs, Florida where we did our grocery shopping when I was a boy—with occasional forays to the Piggly Wiggly—could hold a light to our Kroger Marketplace!

In addition to aisles and aisles of all kinds of grocery items, lockers full of an unbelievable assortment of frozen food items, and a meat department bulging with all kinds of steaks, chops, roasts, hams, seafood, etc., the Marketplace features a beautiful array of fresh fruits and vegetables, along with a bakery and a deli.  But that is just the beginning.  It has a walk-in clinic, an optometry department, a pharmacy, a floral shop, a Starbucks, and a bank where my wife does all her banking.  It even has a furniture department, a home goods department, and a jewelry store.  Outside, up at the front of the parking lot, are several bays of gas pumps where we buy gas for our vehicles, usually at a savings of several cents per gallon, based on how much Jan spends inside the store and how many points she has accumulated. (True to her feminine logic, she thinks the more she spends inside the more she will save at the gas pump!) And talk about convenience! 

Plus, the first Wednesday of each month is Senior Citizens' "Discount Day" when we older folks are able to pick up a lot of "specials" at some pretty good deals.  Besides that, on that day they serve free coffee, orange juice, fresh fruit, doughnuts, and other goodies.  Jan does not like for me to go with her on those days because I embarrass her by taking advantage of all the freebies, going back for seconds, etc. Too, she fusses about how all the "old people" clog up the aisles with their shopping carts as they park them helter-skelter, socialize in the aisles, and take forever to move on. 

Modern religion in many respects has mimicked modern marketing techniques.  Churches now strive to meet all the "felt needs" of their constituents and prospective constituents.  In effect, they have become religious supermarkets. They build kitchens, fellowship halls, gymnasiums, swimming pools, spas, and bowling alleys.  They install coffee bars and juice bars. They sponsor softball teams, baseball teams, basketball teams, Boy Scout and Girl Scout troops, fitness programs, drama productions, and dance classes.  (Yep, one church of Christ in Texas a few years ago conducted a Monday night class on Ballroom Dancing.)  They conduct financial seminars, retirement planning seminars, AA classes, divorce recovery classes, weigh-down programs, and all kinds of self-help programs.  Counseling is available on a wide variety of matters. 

The subliminal message that is sent by all of this activity is that "we may be a church, but we are not a bunch of stuffy old religious fuddy-duddies; we are as 'cool' as any social or civic club in town, so come on down and join us, and we'll show you how church can be fun" (in other words, we really won't "preach" to you all that much)! Some churches have bought into the notion that "if we build it, they will come," only to be terribly disappointed that not only did they not come and the church did not grow, but it actually declined, leaving it with a big debt and facilities that are unneeded and unused.

Don't misunderstand me.  Some of the above things are good.  I'm not against helping people live more fruitful, productive, happy lives.  Our world is in a mess and many people's lives are in a mess, including the lives of many who are Christians.  But we need to remember that Christ came into the world to save sinners (I Timothy 1:15).  He came to seek and to save the lost (Luke 19:10).  He came to call sinners to repentance (Matthew 9:12-13).  In Him alone can mankind find redemption (Acts 4:11-12).  The gospel of Christ is God's only power to save (Romans 1:16). Without obedience to the gospel, a person is eternally lost in torment (II Thessalonians 1:6-9).  The church is the pillar and ground of the truth (I Timothy 3:15). If the church does not preach the gospel to sinners, who will?  If the church does not concern itself with the mission that was the mission of Christ, who will? The church is the manifestation of the manifold (multi-faceted) wisdom of God (Ephesians 3:10).  It has a greater and more enduring purpose than simply helping people enjoy a better life here on earth.  How unutterably sad it is when spiritually hungry people ask for a fish and are given a stone instead.

I love our new Kroger Marketplace and all that it has to offer.  I love churches that are committed to Christ, to the practice of New Testament Christianity, and to the mission that Christ gave to His disciples.  That mission is clearly spelled out in Matthew 28:18-20.

Speaking Schedule:

August 1: Green Hill Church of Christ, Mount Juliet,TN

August 5: Madison Street Church of Christ,Clarksville, TN ("Family & Friends" Day) (morning and afternoon)

August 5: Neelys Bend Church of Christ, Madison,TN (P.M. only)

August 8: Meades Chapel Church of Christ,Nashville, TN

August 12: Science Hill Church of Christ, Readyville,TN (P.M. only)

Hugh Fulford

July 31, 2012

THE RESTORATION PLEA AND A LITTLE "HUGH-MOR"

Over the last few weeks I have been writing about church history, the restoration plea, and the concept of going back to the New Testament and being what the followers of Christ were then—Christians only, without denominational affiliation—people who constituted themselves into autonomous (self-governing) churches of God/Christ (I Corinthians 11:16; Romans 16:16).  It is freely admitted by all church historians that there were no different denominations in New Testament times, or for several centuries thereafter.  Faithful churches of Christ today are pleading for a return to that same state of spiritual affairs.

Strangely, it is believed by many that it is impossible in the 21^st century for people to be what the followers of Christ were in the first century. It has never dawned on some that undenominational Christianity is possible today.  It reminds me of the story of a young schoolboy whose given name was Dammit (a family sir name).  His class was participating in a spelling bee, and the teacher was going down the roll, giving out the words to be spelled.  It came Dammit's turn.  The teacher gave out the word—"Eucalyptus"—then quickly added, "But, Dammit, I know you can't spell it."  Unknown to the teacher, the principal was standing just outside the door.  Momentarily forgetting about the boy's name, and not realizing what he was saying, he stepped inside the room and exclaimed, "Well, (bleep), I think you ought to at least let him try!"  

I do not approve of profanity and I certainly mean no offense or disrespect toward anyone, but the principal had a point: if there are those who think we cannot be Christians only, members of the body/church of Christ only, without also being members of a denomination, and if there are those who no longer accept the premise of the restoration principle and the restoration plea, so be it.  But, please...at least let the rest of us try!  I find it passing strange that in our post-modern culture of pluralism in which it is asserted that we have many viable religious options, the ONE thing that some say is NOT possible is to be simply a New Testament Christian without denominational affiliation!  

On another humorous note: One of the great old preachers of the ancient gospel was Joe H. Blue (1875-1954) whose labors were confined primarily toArkansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Texas.  The story is told of the preacher of a black church who ran off with all the church's money.  Some of the leaders contacted brother Blue and asked him what he thought they ought to do.  Brother Blue said, "Go after him, bring him back, and prosecute him."

A few weeks passed and one day brother Blue ran into one of the members and asked if they had found the prodigal preacher.  "Yes, sir," the brother replied, "we found him and brought him back.  He done spent all the money, but we gonna let him preach it out!"

Another of the grand old heralds of the restoration plea was Jefferson Davis Tant (1861-1941).  Fanning Yater Tant, in the biography of his father—J. D.TANT: TEXAS PREACHER—tells the story of his father being in a debate with a particular denominational preacher who denied that baptism is essential to salvation.  When brother Tant introduced I Peter 3:21, his opponent ridiculed it by saying, "Baptism is just a picture of salvation, but it doesn't have anything to do with actually being saved.  One is saved, and then is baptized to 'picture' his salvation."

Brother Tant responded, "Well, it's a pity Peter did not know that on the day of Pentecost.  Otherwise, he would have said to those inquiring sinners, 'Repent, and get your picture taken...in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins' "(Acts 2:38).

Sometimes a little humor can disarm the cavils of those who wish to take issue with plain gospel facts and simple gospel truths.

Speaking Schedule:

July 29: Oak Grove Church of Christ, Red Boiling Springs, TN

August 1: Green Hill Church of Christ, Mount Juliet,TN

August 5: Madison Street Church of Christ,Clarksville, TN ("Family & Friends" Day) (morning and afternoon)

August 5: Neely's Bend Church of Christ, Madison,TN (P.M. only)

August 8: Meades Chapel Church of Christ,Nashville, TN

August 12: Science Hill Church of Christ, Readyville,TN (P.M. only)

Hugh Fulford

July 24, 2012

NEUTRALIZING THE RESTORATION PLEA

Over the course of nearly sixty years I have read many books, articles, lectures, and sermons concerning the restoration principle, the restoration plea, and the restoration movement. I also have heard many lectures and sermons regarding these matters.  I have endeavored to make my own contributions—both in preaching and in writing—to the noble effort to restore the simplicity of original New Testament Christianity, free of the apostasies and corruptions that have been introduced into Christianity down through the centuries.

It now comes as somewhat of a surprise to discover that a revisionist attempt is underway (and has been for some time) to undermine and reduce the impact of the restoration plea and the restoration movement by asserting that the restorers were actually only a later generation of reformers and that what we know as the Restoration Movement was really just a later version of the Protestant Reformation Movement of the sixteenth century.

Several years ago I read what purported to be a history of The Stone-Campbell Movement.  It was quite obvious from the beginning that the author was seeking to revise the concept of restoration and to cast it as just further reformation.  In the Introduction to the work (page vii) it was asserted by one of the endorsers of the work that "Some needed corrections of common misunderstandings are included in this text.  The earliest leaders referred to themselves as 'reformers,' not 'restorers.'  Their work was a continuation of the sixteenth century reformation, not a restoration of the first century church."  In the "News and Notes" section of one his recent essays (June 23, 2012), the author of the above book stated, "The distinction I draw between restoration and reformation, and that our heritage is reformation and not restoration, is one of its (The Stone-Campbell Movement) challenging thesis" (sic).

It is certainly true that Alexander Campbell and other leaders of the Restoration Movement sometimes referred to themselves as reformers and to the effort they were about as "the current reformation." Obviously, when restoration takes place change/reformation also occurs.  So, there is a degree of overlap between the two concepts. But make no mistake about it—the early restorers were concerned with "a restoration of the ancient order of things"—a complete return to apostolic Christianity as set forth on the pages of the New Testament! The early leaders of this effort used "Reformers" and "Restorers" interchangeably, but never in their mind did the former exclude the latter.

Beginning on February 7, 1825 (The Christian Baptist, Vol. II, No. 7) and ending on May 5, 1829 (The Christian Baptist, Vol. VI, No. 10), Alexander Campbell wrote a series of thirty-one essays titled "A Restoration of the Ancient Order of Things."  Campbell believed there was something missing from the "Christianity" of his day that was badly in need of being restored! 

In 1836, Walter Scott, one of the great heralds of the restoration plea, wrote a book titled The Gospel Restored.  Moses E. Lard, one of the outstanding scholars and leading lights of the Restoration Movement, credited Scott's book with first teaching him the ancient gospel, the gospel as originally set forth in the New Testament.  Therefore, to assert that these men were only reformers and not restorers is without historical warrant.

Through the years, the effort to go back and be what the first-century followers of Christ were—Christians only, without denominational affiliation—has been rightfully referred to as the Restoration Movement.  Revisionist efforts to make it simply an extension of the Protestant Reformation Movement, and to cast the autonomous churches of Christ as  "another denomination among denominations" is designed to neutralize the force and impact of the restoration plea.     But such a revisionist approach is a patently false characterization of what the plea and movement was and is all about. 

Speaking Schedule:

July 11: Highland Heights Church of Christ, Lebanon, TN

July 29: Oak Grove Church of Christ, Red Boiling Springs, TN

Hugh Fulford

July 10, 2012