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      • 40. One of the Greatest Need America
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      • 42. George W. Bush Verses Saddam Hussein
      • 43. Learning to Listen
      • 44. The Problem with Gambling
      • 45. Memorial Day
      • 46. My Ecounter with an Orthhodox Jew
      • 47. Scott Free
      • 48. What My Auto Accident Taught Me
      • 49. The Decline in Family Living
      • 50. Give Me a Problem
      • 51. Decoding the Da Vinci Code
      • 52. Thanksgiving is not a Holiday
      • 53. What a Christmas Present!
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      • 54. What Do You Mean by that?
      • 55. What are Parents to Do?
      • 56. "The Passion of Christ"
      • 57. Martha Stewart's Greatest Lesson
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      • 59. A Tribute to a Servant
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      • 62. Kerry's Logic
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      • 67. Tribute to My Mother
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      • 71. Do We Need a Pope?
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      • 79. The Redemption of Tookie Willaims
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      • 80. Is Religion a Problem?
      • 81. The Rights of the Born
      • 82. Did You Hear What She Said about Muslims?
      • 83. Judas: Betrayer or Best Friend?
      • 84. Weekend or Week--Beginning?
      • 85. A Tribute to My (Spiritual) Father
      • 86. Your Relationship to the Word of God
      • 87. What an Opportunity!
      • 88. America's Four Gods
      • 89. How to Deal with Your Enemies
      • 90. The Case for Systematic Exposition
      • 91. Don't Miss the Message
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      • 92. I can Afford it!
      • 93. The Gospel according to Patricia
      • 94. The Functional Church
      • 95. Who wants to Deal with a Taxman?
      • 96. Vital Virtures
      • 97. Have You Grown up Yet?
      • 98. A July 4th Reminder
      • 99. The Volume of Silence
      • 100. Biblical Illiteracy
      • 101. A Modest Political Propospal
      • 102. How to Handle Credit Cards
      • 103. When it is Tough to be Thankful
      • 104. Romney's Religion
    • 2008 Articles 105-114 >
      • 105. Continue
      • 106. A Tribute to Jack
      • 107. Why Good Ftiday?
      • 108. Happy Birthday
      • 109. The Most Important Room in the House
      • 110. The 80-20 Rule
      • 111. Be Sensible
      • 112. To Be Like Christ
      • 113. Sweet Reasonableness
      • 114. The Other Benefit of Christmas
    • 2009 Articles 115-126 >
      • 115. What Determines who Obtains Eternal Life?
      • 116. The Healing Touch
      • 117. The Function of Dysfunction
      • 118. When Your World Falls Apart
      • 119. 24-7-365
      • 120. To Complain or not to Complain
      • 121. "Suggestions"
      • 122. Making a Mark
      • 123. God's Timing
      • 124. Jesus Wept
      • 125. Andrew
      • 126. The Cost of Service
    • 2010 Articles 127-138 >
      • 127. Don't Ask; Don't Tell
      • 128. A Forest Dark
      • 129. The Rule of Law
      • 130. The Hits and Miss of Grace
      • 131. People Need the Lord
      • 132. Examples Worthy of Notes
      • 133. A Hassle Reduction Strategy
      • 134. Gossip
      • 135. My Favorite Poem
      • 136. Let's Put the Cross in its Place
      • 137. "Don't Spare Me"
      • 138 The Unseen Message of Christmas
    • 2011 Articles 139-147 >
      • 139. What Parents Should Teach their Children
      • 140. How to Avoid Having to Serve
      • 141. What Happen to Mike?
      • 142. An Atheist Recommends God
      • 143. Surprise
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      • 145. Union, Unity, and Uniformity
      • 146. Get in the Way
      • 147. "Let George do it."
    • 2012 Articles 148-160 >
      • 148. Truth or Consequences
      • 149. Don't Leave Home without it
      • 150. Take a Break
      • 151. The Worth of an Individual
      • 152. A Tribute to Nana
      • 153. Jesus Crossed the Line
      • 154. Thomas Jefferson
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      • 157. A Grandfather's Wish
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      • 159. Is There a Santa Claus?
      • 160. A Tribute to Sumner Wemp
    • 2013 Articles 161-172 >
      • 161. How to Finish Well
      • 162. Rewards
      • 163. Spiritual Binging
      • 164. There is no way out of this one
      • 165. Half Empty or Half Full
      • 166. Nones
      • 167. Greet One Another with a Holy Kiss
      • 168. God's Answer to Atheism
      • 169. Obedience
      • 170. The Problem of Fellowship with God
      • 171. Character Development
      • 172. For Mercy's Sake
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      • 173. Lies
      • 174. Endure to the End
      • 175. Teaching Children How Money Grows
      • 176. The Principle of Delay
      • 177. By Their Fruit
      • 178. Sermons that Changed My Life
      • 179. If Paul Harvey were the Devil
      • 180. The Principle of Practice
    • 2015 Articles 181- >
      • 181. In Wrath Remember Mercy
      • 182. Choosing the Right Shepherd
      • 183. The Lord's Requirements
      • 184. Your Ear Lobe. Thumb, and Big Toe
      • More articles will be added as they are written
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  • 1185. What is Your "Attitude" tiward Scripture?
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A Tribute to Jack

Recently, a dear friend of mine went to be with the Lord. Because of some common experience and interest, Jack Moulton was a friend like no other I have ever had.

I met Jack several years ago, but it was in the last year or so that we became fast friends. At the time, he lived in Dallas. Later, when he married Glenda, the love of his life, he moved to Scottsdale, Arizona. We were phone-pals. We talked on the phone frequently and at length.

At times, like two old soldiers, Jack and I told war stories. He told me about his numerous campaigns—in Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona, a few of his defeats and his many victories. In the battle of life, Jack was a veteran of many crusades. I told him about my battles, scars, and a few successes. I will miss listening to his war stories.

At other times, like two specialists on the floor of the New York stock exchange, Jack and I shared trade secrets. Actually, this was very one-sided. Jack was the veteran with decades of experience. I was the kid sitting at his feet with awe and wonder. When Jack began investing in stocks, better than thirty years ago, the fee per trade was $250. In the last year, he became a day trader paying fees of $1.00 per trade. I listened and learned a lot. I will miss listening to his financial exploits.

Most of the time, like two “theologians,” Jack and I grappled with difficult theological issues. We covered a wide range of theological problems. The last one we struggled with was by far and away the one we delved into the most.

In some circles, the theological issue being debated is how much a person has to know in order to come to Christ. More specifically, must people know about the cross and, if so, how much must they understand about it. Some are saying it is not necessary to know that Jesus died, only that He is the One who grants eternal life.

Because of my involvement in evangelism, people ask me about this issue. As a result, a few months ago, I began an in-depth study of the word “believe” in the Gospel of John. When I told Jack what I was doing, he and I began to discuss it by the hour—on the phone. As I shared with him my conclusions, he shared his insights with me.

For example, one day Jack called to remind me that Paul spoke of the offense of the cross. Indeed, Paul wrote, “I, brethren, if I still preach circumcision, why do I still suffer persecution? Then the offense of the cross has ceased” (Gal. 5:11). Jack’s point was that since it is the cross that offends people, if it is possible to led people to Christ without telling them about the cross, Paul would have done it, but he did not. He was willing to suffer persecution rather than not tell people Jesus died for their sins on the cross. Excellent point Jack, excellent point!

Jack died clinging to the cross. We should all learn that lesson from my friend, Jack.

                               © G. Michael Cocoris, 2/25/2008
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