Many years ago, I came across a quote made by Samuel Langhorne Clemens (1835-1910), better known to us as "Mark Twain" (his nom de plume), that stated quite well one of the principles that I had come to grasp at a rather early age. In a speech titled "Theoretical and Practical Morals," which he delivered on July 8, 1899 before the New Vagabonds Club of London, Clemens stated, "Reflection is the beginning of reform!" This would become the guiding light of my own ministry, especially my writing ministry, for I truly believed, and still do, that any truly practical and responsible reform must be preceded by and predicated upon an enormous amount of personal reflection upon truths and realities that transcend our own personal and/or party perceptions, preferences, practices, and precepts. As we honestly evaluate the latter in light of the former, doing so carefully and prayerfully, those things in need of reform will soon become painfully apparent. We will then face one of life's greatest tests of character: will I retreat back into the comfort of "the cherished familiar," fearful of the consequences of change, or will I boldly embrace the "greater light" revealed to me, daring to become a reformer seeking to bring about much needed change? When individuals truly engage in genuine reflection, such will make one of two things of most people: It will either make men reformers, or, in the words of William Hazlitt (1778-1830), it will "make men cowards." Many fear the changes necessary to effecting reformation, thus they flee from any form of contemplation and reflection that might challenge their "comfort zone" and call them to "come forth" from out of it. The few who don't cower in the face of much needed responsible change will rise up to become God's called and commissioned reformers. It was the latter I chose decades ago, with a fair amount of "fear and trembling," yet I have never regretted that choice.

If you have never read the poem titled "The Road Not Taken," which was written by Robert Frost (1874-1963) and first published in the August 1915 issue of The Atlantic Monthly, you owe it to yourself to do so. "Its central theme is the divergence of paths, both literally and figuratively," and is said to be based on a conversation Frost once had with a friend who later chose to enlist in the military and was subsequently killed in battle. We often stand at a fork in the road and ponder which path to take, wondering at the nature of the journey and the destiny that lies at the end of each. We even at times wonder if we made the right choice (a thought also present in Frost's poem). Yet, in the end, regardless of the cost, most come to accept they took the right path for them in their journey through life. Let me be personally transparent here: where I am today is not where I would have chosen to be 50+ years ago. I had radically different plans for my life, and a life devoted to Christian ministry in any form was not even on my list. Had someone told me what I would be doing half a century later, I would have laughed in their face! But, through a series of "Damascus Road"-like circumstances, God made it clear that HE had other plans for me. In retrospect, I can now say I'm glad He did. Have I always been "thrilled" with the path I am on? Has it always been pleasant and peaceful and enjoyable? No, I haven't ... and No, it hasn't. Frankly, I've hated it at times. But, again, in retrospect, it was the right path for me, even though it was not one I myself would have chosen.

It was almost 47 years ago (late spring, 1976) that I stood at that fork in the road. I was not happy with the path to which God pointed ... but I took it. Being a "preacher" - "minister" - "pastor" wasn't "my thing." I did fine, I guess. People seemed to appreciate my ministry, and (knock on wood) I have never in all those years been fired or asked to leave a position. But I never felt comfortable in that role. By nature, I'm an introvert (not high on the list of qualities for a located preacher), so visitation, personal studies, socializing, and the like are painful for me. Again, I'm being painfully blunt and honestly transparent here! I do enjoy teaching, however, and especially love the research that goes into preparing for such classes (I think I would have done well as a university professor), but preaching (delivering sermons) is something I've never really cared for. Pastoral counseling is also an area of ministry where God has opened some doors to me for effective service to others, and I have hopefully been able to help some people during difficult times. I'm thankful to God for those opportunities. However, it wasn't until about halfway through my long journey on this path that I finally came to realize (although I had suspected it for a number of years) what my true passion and calling really was/is - writing. It is here (with teaching and counseling a close second and third) that I believe God has been most effective in using me in His service.

Twenty years ago this month, on December 1st, 2002, I mailed out the very first issue of my Reflections. It was an article I titled "Musings on a Movement" (Reflections #1), and it was a response to an individual who had taken exception to some of my public teaching on the Stone-Campbell Movement. Before I gave my response to that person, however, I introduced this new writing ministry with these thoughts: "I would like to welcome you to this first issue of a new email outreach devoted to effecting responsible reformation among the people of God who are scattered throughout the many sects and factions of Christendom. It is my firm conviction that it is past time for the disciples of Jesus to lay aside their weapons of warfare, and their inflammatory rhetoric, and to begin coming together as FAMILY in sweet fellowship. The reflections that will be presented in these periodic mailings will seek to touch the hearts and minds of my extended family in Christ and to instill within each of you a greater desire for oneness and harmony. The dismemberment of the Body of Christ must cease, and we must begin the patient process of healing which can only come through a greater awareness of His grace and daily demonstrations of love one for another. I urge you to join with me in this endeavor as we work together for a unified Body. Tell your friends and loved ones about this effort. Forward these reflections on to as many as you feel would benefit from being challenged to begin working and praying for responsible reformation. My prayer is that this periodical can reach throughout the earth for the purpose of promoting peace among the redeemed. Let me hear from you. Encourage others to subscribe. Let's cease cursing the darkness and begin holding high the LIGHT for all to see."

I will be honest here - I never expected these personal written "musings" or "reflections" on various topics and texts to ever catch on like they did. I started out sending them to a few family and church members, and a handful of friends. They, in turn, began sharing them with others; then these "others" would do the same. In time, the subscription list started to grow, and people began writing and sharing their own yearnings for reform in the One Body. Then congregations began requesting them and using them for small groups and Bible classes. A few college professors asked if they could use my writings as resources and handouts for some of their classes. Then I started getting invited to speak at workshops and college lectureships. In time, subscribers numbered in the thousands ... then tens of thousands. A few years back, at the Tulsa Workshop, at which I was one of the teachers, Edward Fudge and I were informed that his internet blog site (GracEmail) and mine (Reflections) were neck-and-neck as the two most popular and accessed sites on the internet among readers from the Stone-Campbell Movement. Edward and I became close friends during this time, and he later would write the Foreword for my fourth published book ("From Ruin to Resurrection"), and he also mentioned me (and my writings) in the 3rd edition of his own book "The Fire that Consumes," stating that I am "perhaps the most influential popular presenter of this 'Conditionalist' (biblical) understanding in the Churches of Christ today."

My twenty years of Reflections articles (which number close to 900) have clearly opened some doors for me; and more importantly, they have opened doors of opportunity for God's message to be heard by a great many people, and for them to consider, along with other like-minded disciples of Jesus, the need for reform within the One Body, and more specifically: within my own denominational heritage (that segment of the Stone-Campbell Movement known as Churches of Christ). These writings over the past twenty years (as well as the books I published during that time, and the lectures I was invited to give) have motivated a good many individuals and even congregations to embrace some significant and much needed changes. They have also caused some individuals and congregations to "mark" me as an "apostate" and "an enemy of the church." The "Contending for the Faith" crowd, in their 2010 Lectureship ("Profiles in Apostasy") in Spring, Texas, "exposed" me and my first book ("Down, But Not Out: A Study of Marriage, Divorce and Remarriage in Light of God's Healing Grace," with the Foreword written by Olan Hicks) as being one of the most dangerous threats to the church in recent times! I wrote about this event in my article "2010 Lucifer Lectures: Satan's Sad Spring Spectacle" (Reflections #434). Although there have been a number of such "attacks" due to some not liking my writings and teachings, most of the responses over the years have been very positive and encouraging and affirming. For that love and support I thank you and I especially thank God. You have both made the "road taken" far more satisfying.

For those who may not be aware, all of my written materials (even my four books) may be acquired in digital formats on special thumb drives. My Bible classes, sermons, and lectures are recorded (audio) in MP3 format. My four books (if one desires to have them in digital form) may be acquired in either Adobe (.pdf) format or Word (.doc) format. And yes, they are also available in Kindle format through Amazon. My many Reflections articles may all be read for free on my Reflections Archive web site. Every article from the past 20 years can be found there. There are also topical and textual indexes provided on that site. For those who might like to have all of those articles, as well as the two indexes, on a single thumb drive, ordering information can be found on the above Archive page. For those who might like to order the audio materials I have, they too are provided on a single thumb drive (I no longer provide CDs). Ordering information for these materials (and there are many) can be found on my internet web site: https://www.zianet.com/maxey/.

SPECIAL ANOUNCEMENT - Books Back in Print: On this same site you will find how to order the second edition of each of my four books in printed/paperback form (some people prefer to actually hold and mark a book, rather than have the book digitally). I have plenty of copies of each of them on hand, so feel free to order as many as you like. On the above site you will find a link to further info about each of those books, and those links are also provided below:

From a Reader in Georgia:

Al, your Reflections articles of so many years are truly wonderful, insightful, tightly cohesive works of well-worn wisdom ... each one of them! Thank you for these relentlessly righteous journals of your Holy Spirit-led mind. You're truly one of a kind. Peace, brother!

From a Reader in Missouri:

Congratulations on 20 years of Reflections!! I have really enjoyed them through the years, and appreciate so much being able to go back and read/study them again and again on the Archive page for your Reflections. Thank you for all the time, energy, and study that you put into producing them! Love to you and your family.

From a Reader in Colorado:

Congratulations, Al. I am an avid reader of your Reflections, and I thank God for your wonderful insights! May God bless your continued work.

From a Minister in New Zealand:

God bless you, Al, for twenty years of unbiased, thought-provoking, truth-seeking, God-glorifying writings and information!!

From a Reader in Colorado:

Congratulations, Al. It is hard to describe just how much your writings have helped me in my faith-journey. Your book "From Ruin to Resurrection" is my favorite! Thank you for doing the hard work so that others can better understand the Scriptures. I look to many more years of your writings!!

From a Reader in Texas:

Dear Al, please send two thumb drives of your offer "Reflections: The Complete Collection," which contains all of your Reflections from the past 20 years. I plan to give each of these thumb drives as a Christmas present. Also, I hear that you have all of your written debates on a thumb drive. If so, please send that also. My check is enclosed to cover the cost of these materials. Bless you and your work, Al. You have enriched my spiritual life!!

From a Reader in Florida:

Al, I see from your Textual Index that you have dealt with parts of the Lord's Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7) in approximately 188 of your Reflections articles. The question I have is this: considering the many topics and issues Jesus addressed, what do you believe the core or underlying message of this "sermon" to be? In other words, what was Jesus trying to tell us in Matthew 5-7? Many blessings to you and yours. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. May God bless you and keep you always, my friend.

• Jesus was speaking to a people who had been in bondage to a religious system for centuries: one that had far more to do with tradition than Truth, with outward ceremony than inward character. Jesus sought to steer the people of God away from a focus on the externals to a renewed focus on the internals. In a word: He came preaching LOVE over LAW. Men thought that by doing certain things in certain ways and at certain times they could merit the favor of God. Yet, the inner motivation of love that should have prompted those acts diminished and died over time. This common human failing prompted Paul's remark in 1 Corinthians 13:1-3. In His "sermon," Jesus was calling men (both then and now) to refocus - to pursue loving relationships with their God and one another, rather than pursuing a rigid religiosity. Many of their "acts" were not necessarily wrong in themselves, they were simply wrongly motivated. They were done out of a sense of duty to fulfill some legal requirement so as to appease an "angry" Deity; they had grown weary of their "religion," but they were unaware of the joys of an intimate relationship with a God they feared rather than revered. Jesus walked them through the various aspects of their daily lives and in each case called them to something higher and more intimate. The apostle Paul grasped this concept and shared it in his letter to the Roman brethren (Romans 13:8-10). James, in his letter (which some scholars believe is primarily a commentary on this "sermon" by Jesus), redefines "religion" for his readers: it is personal purity and the practice of evidencing genuine love for others (James 1:27). In the great judgment scene from Matthew 25:31ff, Jesus again emphasizes what it is the Father seeks, and it has nothing whatsoever to do with any aspects of ceremonial religion and its countless traditions. It is entirely focused on how we show love to one another during the many phases and challenges of our life's journey, which, I believe, is the very message of the Messiah in His "sermon." My previous article may prove helpful here as well: "The Will of My Father: What is it? How is it Done?" (Reflections #857). -- Al Maxey

From a Reader in Georgia:

Al, most of the time your Reflections provide a spark of enlightenment on a topic that obviously I needed more familiarity with, but occasionally they cause me to wander off on some rabbit trail that also provides a little refreshing. Your last article, "The Will of My Father: What is it? How is it Done?", caused me to step back and consider that the God who spoke creation into existence has a will for me. I'm not sure how anyone could ever begin to get their mind around that thought and NOT be continuously thankful. And in that thankfulness, I know I am thankful for the many studies you have written, and for the personal notes you and I have exchanged over the years. My life has been blessed by yours!!

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