The Death of Dixon Cartwright

Mr. Reginald Killingley of Texas informed me today that Dixon Cartwright died yesterday. Many of my readers will remember Dixon as the publisher of The Journal, News of the Churches of God - a long running newspaper tracking schools of thought and happenings within the Armstrong Churches of God. He edited, reported and wrote for the paper until he retired some years ago.

I will always remember Dixon as a friend, and as the person who encouraged me to write about my experiences and views regarding human sexuality - especially concerning issues surrounding homosexuality and the Christian faith. Indeed, Dixon published several articles by me on this subject in his newspaper. True to form, Dixon was unafraid of controversy and invited the expression of different perspectives on a host of topics.

I remember many long conversations on a host of theological questions over the years, and some over political views where our disagreements were sometimes very profound. I had the honor of hosting Dixon in my home when he attended the funeral of Tom Justus of Arkansas many years ago. Despite the sad circumstances, Dixon and I thoroughly enjoyed our time together, and I will never forget that occasion.

May God bless Dixon on his journey, and may God bless his family and friends as they grieve his loss. Bottom line, everyone who experienced the Armstrong Church of God culture owes Dixon a debt of gratitude for his indefatigable and clear-eyed reporting on it.

Hebrews: Jesus, Outside of the City Gate

13:8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. 9 So do not be attracted by strange, new ideas. Your strength comes from God’s grace, not from rules about food, which don’t help those who follow them.

10 We have an altar from which the priests in the Tabernacle have no right to eat. 11 Under the old system, the high priest brought the blood of animals into the Holy Place as a sacrifice for sin, and the bodies of the animals were burned outside the camp. 12 So also Jesus suffered and died outside the city gates to make his people holy by means of his own blood. 13 So let us go out to him, outside the camp, and bear the disgrace he bore. 14 For this world is not our permanent home; we are looking forward to a home yet to come.

15 Therefore, let us offer through Jesus a continual sacrifice of praise to God, proclaiming our allegiance to his name. 16 And don’t forget to do good and to share with those in need. These are the sacrifices that please God.

New Living Translation

Hebrews: Jesus, the Focus of Our Faith

In the eleventh chapter of Hebrews, we are given a definition of faith followed by a long list of individual examples of the phenomenon.

11:1 Faith shows the reality of what we hope for; it is the evidence of things we cannot see. 2 Through their faith, the people in days of old earned a good reputation.

32 How much more do I need to say? It would take too long to recount the stories of the faith of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and all the prophets. 33 By faith these people overthrew kingdoms, ruled with justice, and received what God had promised them. They shut the mouths of lions, 34 quenched the flames of fire, and escaped death by the edge of the sword. Their weakness was turned to strength. They became strong in battle and put whole armies to flight. 35 Women received their loved ones back again from death.

But others were tortured, refusing to turn from God in order to be set free. They placed their hope in a better life after the resurrection. 36 Some were jeered at, and their backs were cut open with whips. Others were chained in prisons. 37 Some died by stoning, some were sawed in half, and others were killed with the sword. Some went about wearing skins of sheep and goats, destitute and oppressed and mistreated. 38 They were too good for this world, wandering over deserts and mountains, hiding in caves and holes in the ground.

39 All these people earned a good reputation because of their faith, yet none of them received all that God had promised. 40 For God had something better in mind for us, so that they would not reach perfection without us.

Then, at last, we come to the purpose of this discussion of faith in the twelfth chapter of the book.

12 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. 2 We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne. 3 Think of all the hostility he endured from sinful people; then you won’t become weary and give up. 4 After all, you have not yet given your lives in your struggle against sin.

**Passages taken from the New Living Translation of The Bible.