Communion
By Ethan R. Longhenry

            “The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not a communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not a communion of the body of Christ? Seeing that we, who are many, are one bread, one body: for we are all partake of the one bread” (1Cor. 10:16-17).
            As we come together on the first day of the week to break bread (Acts 20:7), we emphasize that the Lord's Supper represents the memorial of our Lord's death (1Cor. 11:23-26). This is, indeed, the primary purpose of the Supper. It is good and right for us to gather together on a weekly basis to consider what the Lord suffered so that we could be redeemed and added to His Kingdom (Rom. 5:6-11; Titus 3:3-8; Col. 1:13).
            Yet the Lord's Supper is more than just the memorial of our Lord's death; it also represents the communion of all the saints, both with the Lord and with each other. The communal aspect of the Lord's Supper is often neglected but is quite powerful and necessary in its own right.
            The Lord's Supper represents the communion of the saints with their Lord. The church is the “body of Christ” (Eph. 4:4-5, 5:22-33; Col. 1:18). When Christians partake of the Lord's Supper, they are to discern the body and blood of Christ in the bread and the fruit of the vine (1Cor. 11:29). Thus, it can be said in a figure that the body of Christ partakes of the body of Christ: the church coming together to partake of the Supper. As Jesus says:
            “Jesus therefore said unto them, ‘Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink his blood, ye have not life in yourselves. He that eateth my flesh and drinketh my blood hath eternal life: and I will raise him up at the last day. For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. He that eateth my flesh and drinketh my blood abideth in me, and I in him’” (John 6:53-56).
            Much violence has been done to this text and many others in gross literalization of the ideas involved. This abuse of what Jesus is trying to say does not, however, mitigate the powerful message that Jesus is sending: we have to consume the Word of God in order to live. This consumption is not physical as much as it is spiritual, learning of God's word and the practice thereof in life (1 Corinthians 9:24-27, Hebrews 5:12-6:4). Yet, in the Lord's Supper, we have a reminder of our dependence on God and the basis of our association with Him: the body and blood of His Son, discerned in the bread and the fruit of the vine. The Lord's Supper represents a physical representation of the communion we enjoy with God in His Son.
            The Lord's Supper also represents the communion that saints share with each other as demonstrated in 1Corinthians 10:16-17. As 1Corinthians 11:23-33 indicates, the Lord's Supper is an individual action done collectively: we each must purpose to assemble to partake of the Supper and we each must individually examine ourselves before we partake. And, as Paul indicates in 1Corinthians 10:16-17, it is the shared partaking that is such a powerful demonstration of the unity of the faith.
            Understanding of the nature of our communion has also suffered because of gross literalization and extremism. Our communion is not dependent on eating the exact same piece of bread, nor is it dependent on eating the bread simultaneously. In 1Corinthians 10:17, Paul says that “we” who are many are “one bread” because “we” partake of the “one bread,” and he can say this even though he is physically in Ephesus and his audience is in Corinth (1Cor. 16:8).
            The unity of our communion, therefore, is realized mostly in our shared practice of coming together on the first day of the week and participating in the Lord's Supper. This wonderful unity begins while we are engaged in Saturday evening activities when our brethren in Australia and Japan come together to remember the Lord. As we rest during the evening, our brethren in India, Africa, and Europe come together to partake of the one bread. While we are getting ready in the morning, brethren in Brazil do so. After we partake and go about our Sunday afternoon, brethren to our west come together and remember the Lord. As brethren often come back together later on the first day of the week, other saints participate in this communion.
            We all may speak different languages, wear different clothing, have different cultures and perspectives on things, but we all come together to partake of the one bread. We all spend some time on the first day of the week focusing on the Lord's death. It does not matter how wealthy or poor we are, what race or culture we belong to, or any other difference: we are the one bread. We are the People of the Bread and the Fruit of the Vine, according to 1Corinthians 10:16-17.
            We may not always think about these things, but they take place on a weekly basis around the world. It ought to provide us great comfort and encouragement. We are one with brethren throughout the world; we may not know them, and they may not know us, but we have joint participation in the Kingdom through the blood of Christ (1John 1:7). We demonstrate this by coming together on the first day of the week to partake of the bread and the fruit of the vine.
            While 1Corinthians 10:16-17 shows that our communion is shared with all of our brethren around the world, there is a reason why we partake of the Lord's Supper as a local congregation of God's people. The abstract unity of all believers in the faith throughout the world is most concretely realized in the functioning of each local congregation of God's people, where most of our effort is expended (Rom. 12:3-8; 1Cor. 12:12-28).
            It would be quite difficult to imagine the unity of all the believers in communion if we partook alone and in isolation! In a very concrete way, we demonstrate our shared participation in God's Kingdom in the local church by coming together and sharing the Lord's Supper with one another. In so doing, we proclaim our unity. In any given local congregation there are people of different classes, socio-economic backgrounds, ages, and talents. Yet, in the Lord's Supper, all partake of the “one bread” and the “cup of the Lord.”
            This is why, ideally, all the saints will come together on the first day of the week to break bread: to remember the Lord's death and proclaim His victory, but also to demonstrate our shared unitary faith. As we are one bread, let us partake of the one bread!

Outer Darkness

            “Then the king said to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth” (Matt. 22:13).
            Some years ago my family visited a cave in the state of Kentucky. The guide led us through many beautiful and winding subterranean passageways. Suddenly, he turned off all the lights and said, “I'm the only one who knows how to get back to the entrance. If I left you here, you'd probably never find your way out. Anyone lost in this cave would no doubt become insane within a week from the oppressive loneliness. Be quiet for a moment and feel the darkness!”
            I remember my youngster clutching my arm. After about 30 seconds, someone in the party could endure it no longer and cried out, “Turn on the lights! I'm going crazy now!” The guide laughed, but we'll not soon forget that frightening experience. I thought of the “outer darkness” of Hell and shuddered! (Author Unknown)

A Moments Wisdom

When the prayers of the righteous ascend, the blessings of God descend.
Alcohol will kill the living and preserve the dead.
A small leak will sink a great ship.
To create, the Son of God spoke, but to save He suffered.
If you have more dollars than sense, you are indeed poor.
Long leaps are involved in jumping to many conclusions.
No one on his death bed ever repented of being a Christian.
When a man concludes that he is utterly useless, he is.

What Goliath Found In Death
By Kent Heaton

            He stood over nine feet tall and probably weighed the equivalent of a small Volkswagen. He wore a bronze helmet and had bronze armor to protect his chest and legs. The chest armor alone weighed about one hundred twenty-five pounds. He carried a bronze sword strapped on his back, and his spear was so big that the iron spearhead alone weighed more than fifteen pounds. A soldier always walked in front of him to carry his shield. He was called Goliath from the town of Gath. (1Sam. 17:1-7)
            Southwest of Jerusalem in the Valley of Elah, the army of Israel stood in battle array against the insurgency of the Philistines. For forty days the behemoth challenger of the Philistines stood between the armies and offered a contest of one-on-one battle with the victor subduing the opposing army. The army of Israel was dismayed and greatly afraid. (1Sam. 17:8-19)
            An unlikely hero appeared to battle the giant Goliath. His name was David. The shepherd boy was dismayed himself; not at the fierce presence of Goliath but the lack of action for someone from Israel to stop the blasphemous cursing of Goliath against the God of Israel. Armed only with a sling David ran toward Goliath, striking him with a stone and then killing the champion of Gath with his own sword (1Sam. 17:48-51).
            The story most often will focus on the heroic action of David over Goliath. Yet, a great number of lessons are missed when we see the battle from Goliath’s viewpoint. He was raised a warrior from his youth (1Sam. 17:33). All he knew in life was to fight. By the time he met David, his height is over nine feet tall. Shaquille O'Neal (7’ 1” / 325lbs) is small compared to Goliath. He became the champion of the Philistines and with little doubt lived an extravagant lifestyle as the bully of his world. No one stood against him. Whatever Goliath wanted in life, he took. But then he met a youth in the valley of Elah and Goliath learned about God.
            Goliath learned in death that the accolades of men will only last a short time. When David slew the giant, the army of Philistia fled. He was no longer a hero. The Philistines used Goliath for their own purpose but in death he served no purpose. Goliath had lived for himself but now he met the Almighty God. The giant cursed David and disdained him as but a youth but in death he found his challenger to be right. “Then David said to the Philistine, ‘You come to me with a sword, a spear, and a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have taunted’” (1Sam. 17:45). Goliath ceased his taunting in death.
            We learn that evil will not prevail. Those who lived during the reign of Hitler thought the evil would never end; it did! The presence of Goliath gave fear and dread for many years but then it ended.  Righteousness always wins over unrighteousness. The souls in Revelation 6 cried out, “How long?” The answer came in chapter 19.
            Goliath stood ready for battle and then he felt a terrible pain in his forehead. He fell to the ground in darkness. A sword pierced his body and then his head was removed. The spirit of Goliath returned to God who gave it (Ecc. 12:7). In death he opened his eyes to see the one of whom David spoke and he knew God. He also knew that he would dwell in an eternal fire for believing in himself and not the true God of Israel. There are many Goliath’s in the world today. Evil will not last and evil men will find their reward in death. Life is not about the now but about eternity. Do you know God?

Pursuing Trinkets or True Treasure?
By W. Frank Walton
 
            “The kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls. When he found one priceless pearl, he went and sold everything he had, and bought it” (Matt. 13:45-46, HCSB).
            During the holiday season of gift-giving, we must be reminded what is the greatest thing a person can obtain? Are we living our lives in search of trinkets or the true treasure?
            It was shocking to hear that on the big sale day after Thanksgiving, a Walmart employee (34 year old Jdimytai Damour) in New York was trampled to death by 2,000 shoppers when the doors opened at 5 am. They stampeded into the store to buy heavily discounted items like a 50” Plasma HD TV ($768), a 10 mega pixel digital camera ($69), vacuum cleaners and microwaves ($29), and recently released DVD movies ($9). When fellow employees tried to save Mr. Damour, they were also aggressively jostled by the mob. Even worse, when the store closed for several hours and shoppers were asked to leave due to the tragedy, many bargain hunters complained that they had waited in line since the prior day or that they came to have fun shopping and not be bothered by someone dying. How sad!
            I confess, I was at the local Huntsville Walmart at 5:05 am, after the main mob had entered the store. I grabbed a disabled cart (all the good ones had been taken) and pressed back to electronics to look at a TV. It was so crowded and impossible to get any employee to help, that I soon left. Someone told me that she had a friend shopping at the Madison Walmart that managed to get the last $69 10 mega pixel digital camera, but someone cut her and grabbed it from her. All for some transient trinket!
            Yet, do we more earnestly seek for the far greater treasure found in the Son of God?? In Christ alone “are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” (Col. 2:3 NASB). He is “Lord of all, abounding in riches for all who call on Him” (Rom. 10:12). This faith is “precious” and “unfathomable” (2Peter 1:1; Eph. 3:8). So, Jesus Christ must be valued above all or not at all! We live life only once, and the eternal life that Jesus gives is truly the bargain of eternity.
            It is not enough for us to have a good opinion of Jesus and then give Him lip-service (Matt. 7:21). Many who sing, “Oh, come let us adore Him,” then ignore obeying Him the rest of the year. Jesus is the ultimate treasure, the greatest good of the soul, the priceless pearl to invest our lives in forever. We must value Him supremely, in order to “strive to enter the narrow door,” because Jesus said, “many…will seek to enter and will not be able” (Luke 13:24). This spiritual pursuit is worth it all.

Changing Views on Marriage

            “And he answered and said unto them, have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female, and said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh? Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder” (Matt. 19:4-6).
            According to a study just released by the University of Chicago, feminists have succeeded in changing people's attitudes and practices regarding marriage. The study is about families. It shows that there is a decline in marriage itself (56% of adults were married in 1998 versus 75% in 1972); barely half of children live in a household with their two parents (51% in 1998 versus 73% in 1972); more children live with single parents (18.2% in 1998 versus 4.7 in 1972); and, apparently, there is much more tolerance for divorce. Therefore, both women and men need to avoid the insidious counsel feminists offer concerning marriage and speak out and stand up against these negative trends in society, remembering He who created marriage.

A Moments Wisdom

Multitudes are making a good living, but not good lives.
A smile is a curve that can help set things straight.
The world is moved by men who cannot be moved by the world.

What Goliath Found In Death
By Kent Heaton

            He stood over nine feet tall and probably weighed the equivalent of a small Volkswagen. He wore a bronze helmet and had bronze armor to protect his chest and legs. The chest armor alone weighed about one hundred twenty-five pounds. He carried a bronze sword strapped on his back, and his spear was so big that the iron spearhead alone weighed more than fifteen pounds. A soldier always walked in front of him to carry his shield. He was called Goliath from the town of Gath. (1Sam. 17:1-7)
            Southwest of Jerusalem in the Valley of Elah, the army of Israel stood in battle array against the insurgency of the Philistines. For forty days the behemoth challenger of the Philistines stood between the armies and offered a contest of one-on-one battle with the victor subduing the opposing army. The army of Israel was dismayed and greatly afraid. (1Sam. 17:8-19)
            An unlikely hero appeared to battle the giant Goliath. His name was David. The shepherd boy was dismayed himself; not at the fierce presence of Goliath but the lack of action for someone from Israel to stop the blasphemous cursing of Goliath against the God of Israel. Armed only with a sling David ran toward Goliath, striking him with a stone and then killing the champion of Gath with his own sword (1Sam. 17:48-51).
            The story most often will focus on the heroic action of David over Goliath. Yet, a great number of lessons are missed when we see the battle from Goliath’s viewpoint. He was raised a warrior from his youth (1Sam. 17:33). All he knew in life was to fight. By the time he met David, his height is over nine feet tall. Shaquille O'Neal (7’ 1” / 325lbs) is small compared to Goliath. He became the champion of the Philistines and with little doubt lived an extravagant lifestyle as the bully of his world. No one stood against him. Whatever Goliath wanted in life, he took. But then he met a youth in the valley of Elah and Goliath learned about God.
            Goliath learned in death that the accolades of men will only last a short time. When David slew the giant, the army of Philistia fled. He was no longer a hero. The Philistines used Goliath for their own purpose but in death he served no purpose. Goliath had lived for himself but now he met the Almighty God. The giant cursed David and disdained him as but a youth but in death he found his challenger to be right. “Then David said to the Philistine, ‘You come to me with a sword, a spear, and a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have taunted’” (1Sam. 17:45). Goliath ceased his taunting in death.
            We learn that evil will not prevail. Those who lived during the reign of Hitler thought the evil would never end; it did! The presence of Goliath gave fear and dread for many years but then it ended.  Righteousness always wins over unrighteousness. The souls in Revelation 6 cried out, “How long?” The answer came in chapter 19.
            Goliath stood ready for battle and then he felt a terrible pain in his forehead. He fell to the ground in darkness. A sword pierced his body and then his head was removed. The spirit of Goliath returned to God who gave it (Ecc. 12:7). In death he opened his eyes to see the one of whom David spoke and he knew God. He also knew that he would dwell in an eternal fire for believing in himself and not the true God of Israel. There are many Goliath’s in the world today. Evil will not last and evil men will find their reward in death. Life is not about the now but about eternity. Do you know God?

Pursuing Trinkets or True Treasure?
By W. Frank Walton
 
            “The kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls. When he found one priceless pearl, he went and sold everything he had, and bought it” (Matt. 13:45-46, HCSB).
            During the holiday season of gift-giving, we must be reminded what is the greatest thing a person can obtain? Are we living our lives in search of trinkets or the true treasure?
            It was shocking to hear that on the big sale day after Thanksgiving, a Walmart employee (34 year old Jdimytai Damour) in New York was trampled to death by 2,000 shoppers when the doors opened at 5 am. They stampeded into the store to buy heavily discounted items like a 50” Plasma HD TV ($768), a 10 mega pixel digital camera ($69), vacuum cleaners and microwaves ($29), and recently released DVD movies ($9). When fellow employees tried to save Mr. Damour, they were also aggressively jostled by the mob. Even worse, when the store closed for several hours and shoppers were asked to leave due to the tragedy, many bargain hunters complained that they had waited in line since the prior day or that they came to have fun shopping and not be bothered by someone dying. How sad!
            I confess, I was at the local Huntsville Walmart at 5:05 am, after the main mob had entered the store. I grabbed a disabled cart (all the good ones had been taken) and pressed back to electronics to look at a TV. It was so crowded and impossible to get any employee to help, that I soon left. Someone told me that she had a friend shopping at the Madison Walmart that managed to get the last $69 10 mega pixel digital camera, but someone cut her and grabbed it from her. All for some transient trinket!
            Yet, do we more earnestly seek for the far greater treasure found in the Son of God?? In Christ alone “are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” (Col. 2:3 NASB). He is “Lord of all, abounding in riches for all who call on Him” (Rom. 10:12). This faith is “precious” and “unfathomable” (2Peter 1:1; Eph. 3:8). So, Jesus Christ must be valued above all or not at all! We live life only once, and the eternal life that Jesus gives is truly the bargain of eternity.
            It is not enough for us to have a good opinion of Jesus and then give Him lip-service (Matt. 7:21). Many who sing, “Oh, come let us adore Him,” then ignore obeying Him the rest of the year. Jesus is the ultimate treasure, the greatest good of the soul, the priceless pearl to invest our lives in forever. We must value Him supremely, in order to “strive to enter the narrow door,” because Jesus said, “many…will seek to enter and will not be able” (Luke 13:24). This spiritual pursuit is worth it all.

Changing Views on Marriage

            “And he answered and said unto them, have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female, and said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh? Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder” (Matt. 19:4-6).
            According to a study just released by the University of Chicago, feminists have succeeded in changing people's attitudes and practices regarding marriage. The study is about families. It shows that there is a decline in marriage itself (56% of adults were married in 1998 versus 75% in 1972); barely half of children live in a household with their two parents (51% in 1998 versus 73% in 1972); more children live with single parents (18.2% in 1998 versus 4.7 in 1972); and, apparently, there is much more tolerance for divorce. Therefore, both women and men need to avoid the insidious counsel feminists offer concerning marriage and speak out and stand up against these negative trends in society, remembering He who created marriage.

A Moments Wisdom

Multitudes are making a good living, but not good lives.
A smile is a curve that can help set things straight.
The world is moved by men who cannot be moved by the world.

How To Be Safe From A Spiritual Heart Attack
William B. Wright

            The number one killer today is said to be heart disease to which many heart attacks are attributed. Heart disease is “a disease in which the arterial walls are abnormally thickened and hardened.”  My first experience with heart disease was with my father-in-law and his brother. They died of it in their fifties. A little later my father had a heart attack. Add another decade plus, and it became my turn. One of the questions I raised very early was, “How can I be safe from a heart attack?” As a Christian I realized that the very best heart program cannot do more than delay death. But man is of TWO parts: PHYSICAL BODY and SPIRIT. He has a spiritual heart which can become “hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.” (Heb 3:13) I believe that caring for and dealing with the physical heart has its parallels in dealing with the spiritual heart. Let’s look.
            First, we are not fully conscious of what is happening to our heart. The human being is unaware of the process going on within him which, after thirty years, say, will lead to a heart attack. He has an uneasy feeling that he ought to be living differently, but he does not change. Then one day, suddenly, he has a heart attack. By analogy, the same thing happens to the spirit. We slide spiritually being only vaguely conscious that something is wrong. (Gal  6:1; Acts 1:25; 1 Cor 9:27; 10:12)
            Second, we must cooperate fully with our physician. Several physicians have told me that success in my fight against disease is largely up to me. They can examine, prescribe, and treat but it is up to me to the DOER of the word and not a HEARER ONLY. (Jas :1:22) The problem with most patients is the doing. But is it any different in the spiritual realm? The Spirit issues this warning: “Take heed, brethren lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. But exhort one another daily, while it is called today; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.” (Heb 3:12, 13)
            Third, cooperation with the Great Physician requires self-examination. Women are taught to examine themselves for signs of cancer in their bodies. Men are to look for danger signs indicating heart disease. Are you just out of shape when you huff-and-puff or is it something worse? What about resting chest pains and a burning sensation in your throat? Paul counsels the Christian who would partake of the Lord’s Supper in a meaningful way, “But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body.” (1 Cor 11:28, 29) Make no mistake about it!!! Our bodies, both physical and spiritual, warn us, but we must pay attention to them. We must examine self.
            Fourth, we must pay attention to what the physician says. A man I knew went to his physician but received only a very quick examination. When the man’s wife asked, “Why?” the physician replied, “He doesn’t do what I tell him to do, so why waste the time on him?” What does the Great Physician prescribe for his patient? RADICAL SURGERY; “That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. (Eph 4:22-24) What does the Great Physician prescribe? SPIRITUAL EXERCISE; “For bodily exercise profiteth little but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.” (1 Tim 4:8) What does the Great Physician prescribe? A NEW DIET; The writer of Hebrews says the word of God can be tasted. (Heb 6:5) It will make us complete. (2 Tim 3:16, 17) Amos tells us that the absence of God’s word results in a famine. (Amos 8:11) The length of our lives now and in the world to come depends on our will and the physician to whom we listen.
            Fifth, what am I to do if I have a spiritual heart attack? I need to commit myself to the intensive care unit! In the physical realm, when people have hear attacks it is often because they have violated sensible rules of conduct physicians and health care specialists have given them. The heart attack victim in the physical realm is placed under the constant observation of trained medical personnel. They are given medication designed to keep them alive as they recover. If they refuse to accept treatment, the will, likely, forfeit their lives. In the spiritual realm we have a heart attack when we willfully separate ourselves from God. When we have a spiritual heart attack we need to HURRY home to the church, the intensive care unit of the soul! There, the spiritual heart attack victim is under the care of those who care deeply and under the protection of the ONE “Who will never leave us or forsake us.” (Heb 13:5) There he receives the spiritual oxygen, the word of God, “which is able to save the soul”.

The Lord is My Shepherd

Ps 23:1 The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
2 He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters.
3 He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name's sake.
4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over.
6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the LORD Forever.

Eliminating Those Inner Rats
By W. Frank Walton
 
            “Put to death whatever in you is worldly: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desire, and greed, which is idolatry. Because of these, God's wrath comes on the disobedient, and you once walked in these things when you were living in them. But now you must also put away all the following: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and filthy language from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his practice” (Col 3:6-9, HCSB).
            Paul addresses the urgent need to eliminate sins of inner temperament and uncontrolled lusts. Such carnality is prompted by the world’s corrosive value system. Paul didn’t say to gloss them over, keep them at a reasonable level, make excuses for them, or carefully hide them from public view. Rather, we must kill the filthy vices of these inner rats lurking and hiding in our hearts, or they will kill us.
            C. S. Lewis well observed, “Surely what a man does when he is taken off his guard is the best evidence for what sort of a man he is. Surely what pops out before the man has time to put on a disguise is the truth. If there are rats in a cellar, you are most likely to see them if you go in very suddenly. But the suddenness does not create the rats: it only prevents them from hiding. In the same way, the suddenness of the provocation does not make me an ill-tempered man; it only shows me what an ill-tempered man I am. The rats are always there in the cellar, but if you go in noisily, they will have taken cover before you switch on the light” (Mere Christianity, pp. 164-165)).
            So, a true disciple of Jesus must get rid of those inner rats or suffer the wrath of God. Yet, this change isn’t mere a moralistic shout, “Just try harder!” How do we get control of ourselves to eliminate sinful habits?
            The key to exterminating those “inner rats” lurking in the soul’s “cellar” is to replace them by putting “on the new man, who is being renewed in knowledge according to the image of his Creator” (Col 3:10). Lasting change comes from the inside out. Resolutely filling our lives with the good, in penitent faith, will kill off the bad hidden in our hearts. We change our inner nature and tastes by turning to heavenly meditation on spiritual realities (Col 3:1-4). This comes by consciously flooding our hearts with the riches of “the word of Christ” (Col 3:16).
            By letting the will, the word, and the ways of Christ control our hearts, the inner recesses of our soul will be a purified sanctuary where the holy, loving God of heaven is pleased to dwell: “Therefore, God's chosen ones, holy and loved, put on heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, accepting one another and forgiving one another if anyone has a complaint against another. Just as the Lord has forgiven you, so also you must forgive. Above all, put on love--the perfect bond of unity. And let the peace of the Messiah, to which you were also called in one body, control your hearts, and be thankful” (Col 3:12-15, HCSB).

Give It Back
Author Unknown

            When our kids were little, we had a rule... “If you can't say thank you, give it back.” Maybe the little one just wanted to keep his cookie or his gift, so he at least went through the motions. Hope was that habits were formed and manners cultivated. A thanksgiving heart was the ultimate aim.
            Each day we are overwhelmed with blessings, both spiritual and physical. We do not realize just how many of our prayers are answered unless we make a list of our requests... to be reviewed at a later time.
            Have you had a drink of water today or a meal? Do you have a shirt to put on? Are you safe? Do you have a measure of health? Do you have love? Does anyone love you? Is salvation in your grasp? Have you any blessings at all?
            How do you suppose Jesus felt when he cleansed ten lepers, and only one returned to glorify Him? (Luke 17). He asked, "Where are the nine?" What an ungrateful lot they were! Leprosy was incurable, and He healed them.
            Maybe it is a good thing the "give it back" rule is not a broad rule. If we had to give back blessings we didn't thank Him for I guess we would always be standing in the exchange line -- giving back our blessings.

Doing What Makes No Sense

            “For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it” (Matt. 16:25). “He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life” (John 12:25).
            In the movie “The Poseidon Adventure,” the ocean liner S.S. Poseidon is on the open sea when it hits a huge storm. Lights go out, smoke pours into rooms and, amid all the confusion, the ship flips over. Because of the air trapped inside the ocean liner, it floats upside down. In the confusion, the passengers can't figure out what's going on. They scramble to get out, mostly by following the steps to the top deck. The problem is, the top deck is now 100 feet under water. In trying to get to the top of the ship, they drown. The only survivors are the few who do what doesn't make sense. They did the opposite of what everyone else was doing and climbed up into the dark belly of the ship until they reach the hull. Rescuers hear them banging and cut them free. (From Men of Integrity, Vol. 1, No. 2)
            There are a few good people who do what makes no sense. They empty themselves in order to be full; admit they are wrong so they can be declared right; die so they can live; forsake in order to have; give so they can keep.

A Moments Wisdom

You will never develop eye strain by looking at the bright side.
There is no right way to do wrong.
It is more difficult for a man to lose his shirt if he keeps his sleeves rolled up.
Your bank book does not reveal your real wealth or worth.
A small deed is worth more than a big intention.
What we are afraid to do before men, we should be afraid to think before God.
Reflect upon your present blessings, of which every man has many; not on your past misfortune, of which all men have some.
A bad conscience embitters the sweetest comforts; a good one sweetens the bitterest crosses.

“My Little Angel”
By Paul B. Blake (Sr.)

            So many people today refer to their children or grandchildren as angels. And it is understandable why they call them that; they love them so. (This is the same love we are to have one toward another as Christians).
            While I was a child growing up, I never knew any children around me that had wings. I would hear other fathers and mothers say, “They are my little angels.” I was kind of dumb then; I would look for their wings. Or they would say, “My little child would never do this or that.” I was dumb as a child, but not that dumb. I knew what their children were doing because I was right in it with them.
            Then I grew up and started a family of my own. And I still heard parents say, “My little angels wouldn’t do that.” I started thinking, “I must have the worst children in the world because they do that.” And you know what I noticed? Their children didn’t have any angel wings, either. Then I started to teach Bible class. What an experience that was! If the children misbehaved, it was my fault; their children wouldn’t do that. Sometimes I took a child back upstairs to their parents, and I still heard, “My children wouldn’t do that.”
            Then I got older and became a grandparent, and I still hear the saying, “My grandchildren are little angels.” And I still haven’t seen angel wings yet.
            Remember, they are children, and children will be children. They have to grow up just as you and I did. But let us not as grandparents become children in our thinking. Remember that when we call our children or grandchildren angels, we are putting an expectation on them that they cannot achieve. They are human like every other child. They are going to make mistakes, just as you and I did. So when our children or grandchildren make their mistakes, don’t blame someone else. Don’t cover up for them. Remember that children are aware of what other children are doing, and they are learning from it. Instead of saying, “My little angel wouldn’t do that,” love them and correct them. Help them to grow up.
            Do not make the mistake of being partial when making judgments about children. You know what I mean. If your children do something, then it’s not so bad. But if someone else’s child does it, “Oh my, how bad that child is!” Do you really know what your child is doing?
            We are all God’s children, and are we perfect? How many mistakes do we make in a day? Each day we ask God for forgiveness, and the next day we may do something else wrong. And we will ask for forgiveness again each day. We need love, grace, mercy, and longsuffering from God. And so do your children and grandchildren. So do my children and grandchildren. They need the same love, grace, mercy, and longsuffering from us that we get from God. As parents and grandparents, we are not perfect; and, neither are our children and grandchildren perfect. They need our love correction, and forgiveness, not our cover-ups or tolerance of their mistakes. Training them will not be a one or five year job. It takes a whole lifetime.
           
Great Civilizations

The average age of the world’s great civilizations has been 200 years. These nations have progressed through this sequence:
From bondage to spiritual faith,
From spiritual faith to great courage,
From courage to liberty,
From liberty to abundance,
From abundance to selfishness,
From selfishness to complacency,
From complacency to apathy,
From apathy to dependency,
From dependency back to bondage.
(Alexander Fraser Tyler, 1742-1813)

The Heroic Dimension

            “Then Jesus said to His disciples, If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me” (Matt. 16:24).
            Three military recruiters showed up to address high school seniors. Each recruiter, representing the Army, Navy, and Marines, was given fifteen minutes to speak. The Army and Navy recruiters got carried away, so when it came time for the Marine to speak, he had just two minutes. He walked up and stood silent for a full sixty seconds, half of his time. Then he said, "I doubt whether there are two or three of you in this room who could even cut it in the Marines, but I want to see those two or three immediately in the dining hall when we are dismissed." He then took his seat.
            Later, when he arrived in the dining hall, he was greeted by a large number of students who were interested in becoming Marines. The recruiter knew that commitment comes from appealing to the heroic dimension in every heart. (By W. Frank Harrington)
            Likewise, Jesus appeals to the heroic dimension in every heart. Let us deny ourselves, willingly take up our crosses, and follow Him.

Someone Is Watching
By Ellen Kyle

Someone is learning
From you today,
They look at your life
As you go on your way.
They see the things you do
As daily you walk,
They take in what you say
When they hear you talk.
They may try to imitate
The life that you live,
Are the things they get from you
What you really want to give?
Do you reflect Christ's life
In all you say and do?
Are you truly an example
For that someone watching you?

A Moments Wisdom

Enthusiasm should prompt both action and accuracy.
Charity should begin but never end at home.
Common courtesy should be more common.
We do not need better methods and better funding; we need better men!
It is better to light a candle than to curse the darkness.
No person is strong enough to carry a cross and a prejudice at the same time.
Pride and grace dwell never in the same place.
A pessimist is a man who thinks everybody is as nasty as himself, and hates them for it.
An optimist is one who takes a frying-pan on a fishing trip.
God must have loved the plain people; He made so many of them.

Welcome, Mr. President
By Kent Heaton

            Election Day has passed, and the nation has elected a new president. Every four years our country is subjected to the grueling process of selecting a candidate to fill the job of President. He now takes the reins of leadership for this country. A great deal of people will be disappointed in the selection; more will be pleased. Save the coming of the Lord, the sun will rise upon a new day and life will go on. Life is funny that way. When the year 2000 heralded the coming of a new millennium, people thought the world was going to come to an end. During this political year many believed that with the election of the president the country would disintegrate into a whirlpool of chaos. Life goes on.
            After the flood the Lord proclaimed, “While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and winter and summer, and day and night shall not cease” (Gen. 8:22). The circle of life goes on regardless of the political, economic or social upheavals of our time. This election will change the country as much as any other election. At the day’s end, man still has the same needs. The view one has of the President, his view of himself, and his view of God will determine what life will be like.
            Peter commanded through the Holy Spirit to “fear God and honor the king” (1Peter 2:17). Rome did not have elections like we do, and the king under consideration (probably Nero) was not the most wholesome person to have in power. However because governmental authority is established by God (Rom. 13:1-7) then we have an obligation to be subject to the king, or President as in our case. The wise man wrote, “Fear the Lord and the king” (Prov. 24:21).
            Peter wrote in the context the manner of life of the Christian should be a model for others to follow. “Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul, having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation. Therefore submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake, whether to the king as supreme, or to governors, as to those who are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and for the praise of those who do good. For this is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men—as free, yet not using liberty as a cloak for vice, but as bondservants of God” (1Peter 2:11-16).
            Whether we like the one elected President or not, we are to be subject to him. People of God do not revile and bring accusation against those in authority (2Peter 2:10-11; Rom. 13:1-7). “Render therefore to all their due: taxes to whom taxes are due, customs to whom customs, fear to whom fear, honor to whom honor” (Rom. 13:7). Jesus taught the same lesson in Matthew 22:21.
            The election of a President does not change our obligation to serve the true and living God. Peter proclaimed this truth in Acts 5:29 – “We ought to obey God rather than men.” We are to offer up “supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior” (1Tim. 2:1-3). This is what is important in life. Welcome, Mr. President. All our prayers are with you. God bless America.

Serving Caesar and God
By Thomas Thornhill
 
            Christians are citizens of two different countries. One is earthly, and the other is heavenly (Rom.13:1-7; Phil.3:20-21), and Christians need to recognize that God has assigned them responsibilities in both realms. Most of the time a Christian can fulfill his responsibilities to each without conflict. But there are times when submission to the earthly becomes distasteful because it benefits the wicked at the expense of the Christian. The Christian is then placed in a dilemma, knowing that obedience to earthly authorities will not make it easy to serve God. What should a Christian do in such circumstances?
            I believe Jesus gives us the answer in Matthew 22:15-22. The Jews bitterly detested the fact they are under the domination of Rome and had to submit to their rule. They didn’t like it, but felt powerless to resist. So, they posed a question to Jesus whom they despised even more than Rome. “Tell us, therefore, what do You think? Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?” (v.17). They felt that either way Jesus answered it, He would be in trouble. He will either seem to be an insurrectionist against Rome or will be seen by the oppressed Jews to be a Roman sympathizer.
            Jesus took a coin with Caesar’s inscription and pointed out to the people that while they were subject to Rome they were also subject to God. So, they were to render the taxes that were due Rome regardless of how they used the money. Paul, later in Romans 13:1-7, teaches Christians (then and now) they must respect and be obedient to whatever government they are under, and pay taxes even if it is used to persecute them. In fact, he later tells Timothy (and us also) to pray for those in position of leadership regardless of who they are, or how they act (1Tim. 2:1-2). Even if we don’t agree with how the government acts, we show our respect for God by being good citizens in our earthly country. We conduct ourselves as Christians on earth so we can show ourselves to also be good citizens of the heavenly kingdom. Remember, we are Christians whether the people around us are or not. 

A Moments Wisdom

If we ever forget that we are one nation under God, then we will be a nation gone under. (Ronald Reagan)
Without money, a person is broke, but without love, he is broken.
If you are not prepared to live, you are not prepared to die.
In our great pride at being the arsenal of democracy we must remember that we are also regarded as the arsenal of hope. Great leadership in such a righteous cause requires that a nation be humble -- before God and its fellow men. (Omar Bradley)
They are no friends of Christ and his disciples, who make lawful that which God has not made so.

“And the Lord Listened and Heard Them”
By Paul R. Blake

            Malachi 3:16-18 - “Then those who feared the LORD spoke to one another, And the LORD listened and heard them; So a book of remembrance was written before Him For those who fear the LORD And who meditate on His name. They shall be Mine," says the LORD of hosts, On the day that I make them My jewels. And I will spare them As a man spares his own son who serves him. Then you shall again discern Between the righteous and the wicked, Between one who serves God And one who does not serve Him.”
            The basis of true religion - “those who feared the Lord...” One of the most often misunderstood phrases in the Bible is “the fear of God.” Often when one reads this, he translates the meaning from its intended purpose into something dreadful and unproductive. Fearing God does not take the form of an abused slave's response to a whip-cracking master; God does not abuse His people, nor is He arbitrary in punishing them. Instead, God's children reverence Him with a filial-type of fear -- a fear, not that God will harm them vindictively, but that they might displease God, the object of their love and reverence. Filial fear is being afraid of sinning against the Father, not being afraid of suffering. When one sins deliberately against God whom he claims to love, then his fear ought to be of punishment (Heb. 10:26-31; Rom. 11:22).
            The fellowship of true religion - “…spoke often to one another.” God created man to be a sociable being. In the Garden of Eden, He observed that it was not good for Adam to live alone, and so God made him a wife, a lifetime companion. God commanded that Christians in a given locality gather together to worship and to function collectively as a church. Through the Hebrew writer, He instructed His children to come together to provoke each other to love and good works, and to edify one another (Heb. 10:24-25). In Hebrews 3:13, He told the disciples to exhort each other on a daily basis for spiritual self-preservation. As social beings, what interests us most is what brings us together, and what brings religious people together is religion. However, worship services need not be the only reason God's children should speak often one to another. Our bonds of friendship and love are increased and strengthened by frequent association. When we consider the fruit of constant association with godly people, we cannot help but be moved by the spiritual advantages and blessings in those relationships.
            The product of true religion - “And the LORD listened and heard them.” Can there be a more pleasant sound than that of Christians engaged in edifying, uplifting conversation? It appears that God took note of the fact that His children were spending time talking with one another, and He listened to them. What an amazing verse! When His children are in conversation with each other, God, who is very likely the object of conversation, becomes part of the conversation by participating as an avid listener. Paul's admonition to the Ephesians to speak only edifying words takes on a greater meaning when we realize just how far our words are reaching... all the way to the ears of God in heaven. We can be comforted by the knowledge that in every conversation there is a Listener who cannot misunderstand us, nor can He forget what it was we said.
            The blessings of true religion - “they shall be Mine...” God's response to the truly religious takes several forms: First, He claims them as His own. Those who follow the will of their Father do not embarrass Him, so that He is not ashamed to call them His children. Like a father who has a loving, obedient child and doesn't hesitate to tell anyone who will listen, so it is with God and His children who honor His will. What a sense of belonging one has when God says of him, “this is a child of Mine”! Secondly, God makes them His own special treasure. No one would dare to neglect guarding and protecting what is precious to him. Likewise, God watches very carefully over the jewels that are His children. Thirdly, God will spare them, setting them apart from the unrighteous. His children are accorded special treatment, and God will not permit the punishment that is designed for the wicked to fall upon the righteous. Lastly, God will make manifest the difference between His children and those who do not serve Him. Serving Him is the basis of this distinction. In all ages of time, men have tried to blur the differences between good and evil, making it subject to the fashions and whims of the individual. Regardless, God makes it possible to discern between those who serve God and those who serve sin. God's law governing human behavior is such that the righteous can no more hide his righteous life than the ungodly can hide a life led by vileness.
            Those who fear the Lord speak often one to another, and God listens with interest to what they have to say. Spend time enjoying the double blessing of conversation with good people.

Spiritual Manna
By Ethan R. Longhenry

            Why "spiritual manna"? While Israel lived in the Wilderness, God fed them with manna (Ex. 16). It fell like dew from the heavens, and it could be gathered up, cooked, and eaten as bread. Israel had no idea what it was, and thus called it "manna" ("what is it?"). Without it, Israel could not have survived the Wilderness.
            As Moses reveals to Israel in Deuteronomy 8:5, God so fed them to teach them to rely upon Him. God provided the manna so that Israel would learn that man does not live by the bread that he gains by his toil alone (Gen. 3:17-19): they can only survive by trusting in the LORD and His blessings.
            So it was with the physical manna with which God fed Israel. Yet, as Jesus indicates in John 6:49, all of those who ate that manna died.  He came to provide a better bread, as He explains in John 6:47-51: "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth hath eternal life. I am the bread of life. Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. This is the bread which cometh down out of heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die. I am the living bread which came down out of heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: yea and the bread which I will give is my flesh, for the life of the world."
            The manna that Israel ate is the physical copy of the spiritual reality in Jesus Christ. It came down from Heaven, as did Jesus.  Israel ate of it and lived; we must spiritually partake of Jesus to live. God intended the physical manna to direct Israel to the mouth of God; we must subsist upon the Word of God, the Bread of Life, if we desire to live eternally.
            Therefore, as recipients of the promise and inheritors of the Kingdom, we must partake of the "spiritual manna." We must "digest" the Word of God, who became flesh and dwelt among us (John 1:1, 14), that is, Jesus and His instruction. We must learn of Him and trust in Him as Israel was to trust God in the Wilderness.
            As we persevere in the wilderness of our lives on earth, heading toward the Promised Land of rest that is set before us (Heb. 4:1-11, 12:1-2; 1Peter 1:3-9), let us take strength by feasting on the Word of God, that we may never lose hold of life indeed!

A Moments Wisdom

To pity distress is human; to relieve it is godly.
A pessimist is one who feels bad when he feels good for fear he'll feel worse when he feels better.
A refusal of praise is a desire to praised twice.
We cannot expect our children to grow up a godly seed if there is no family prayer.
The soul would have no rainbow had the eye no tears.

Expendable
By Robert F. Turner

            During WW II, when British troops were facing Dunkirk; when our boys were pushed from Bataan; someone applied the term "expendable" to forces left to cover the withdrawal. They were considered certainly lost -- given to the enemy -- their death or capture, the price paid for what was hoped to be some greater gain. There were examples of men accepting, even choosing this role, because they too believed in the greater end. One must believe in and greatly love his country to freely make such a sacrifice.
            How many soldiers of the Cross are willing to consider themselves (their pride, their comforts, not to mention their life) expendable in order that the greater purposes of His kingdom might be achieved?
            Do we dare consider that "giving ourselves" to Christ means just this? The Apostle Paul could ask others to pray that Christ be magnified, whether by his life or his death (Phil. 1:19). He considered himself expendable. He had long ago "died with Christ" (Rom. 6:6-11), so that his own life, his earthly desires and appetites, were "hid with Christ in God" (Col. 3:2-3). The greater end, service to his Master and the eternal reward, so dominated his thinking that no demands were too great. He was not his own (1Cor. 6:19; 7:22-23), but was, and urged others to be "a living sacrifice" (Rom. 12:1-f.).
            Had you rather suffer wrong than see Christ's cause suffer? Will you swallow your pride rather than see the greater work damaged? That's what it takes when one is expendable. But this is no easy role to accept. We find ourselves reasoning that others get by without making the sacrifice -- why me? "If any provide not for his own…" is always good for rejecting the financial pinch; and we "live to fight tomorrow" in the more important battles -- which somehow never come.
            To us "expendable" says "worthless" but to Christ it was the way to find one's life, (Matt. 10:39). He "died for the people, that the whole nation perish not" (John 11:50-51; 12:32). Full service to Christ begins the day we see ourselves as "expendable." (Via Plain Talk, February 1974)

Repaying the Parents

            Once upon a time there was a little old man whose hands trembled uncontrollably; when he ate he clattered the silverware distressingly, missed his mouth with the spoon as often as not, and dribbled a bit of his food on the tablecloth. He lived with his married son, having nowhere else to go, and his son's wife didn't like the arrangement.
            "I can't have this," she said. "It interferes with my right to happiness." So she and her husband took the old man gently but firmly by the arm and led him to the corner of the kitchen. There they set him on a stool and gave him his food in an earthenware bowl and a wooden spoon. From then on he always ate in the corner, blinking at the table with wistful eyes.
            One day his hands trembled rather more than usual, and the earthenware bowl fell and broke. "If you are going to make a mess like a pig when you eat," said the daughter-in-law, "you must eat out of a trough on the back porch." So they made him a little wooden trough, and he ate his meals from that.
            These people had a four-year-old son of whom they were very fond. One evening the young man noticed his boy playing intently with some bits of wood and asked what he was doing.
            "I'm making a trough" he said, smiling up at his father for approval, "to feed you and Momma when I get big."
            The man and his wife looked at each other for a while and didn't say anything.  Then they cried a little. Then they went to the corner and took the old man by the arm and led him back to the table. They sat him in a comfortable chair and gave him his food on a plate, and from then on nobody ever scolded when he clattered or spilled or broke
things.
            One of Grimm's fairy tales, this anecdote has the crudeness of the old, simple days. But perhaps crassness is perhaps a good descriptor for our youth worshipping culture. This story makes a strong point: honor your parents, lest your children dishonor you. Or in other words, a society that destroys the family destroys itself.
            A man of honor repays his parents. A Christian is honored to do so. The elderly are a link to a past you and I will never see; and their wisdom is a light that shines into the future so that we need not wander blindly forward. Cherish the aged as a treasured blessing.
            1Timothy 5:4 - “But if any widow has children or grandchildren, let them first learn to show piety at home and to repay their parents; for this is good and acceptable before God.”

No Roots

            “...Yet he has no root in himself, but endures only for a while. For when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he stumbles” (Matt. 13:21).
            “I was talking with a farmer about his soybean and corn crops. Rain had been abundant, and the results were evident. However, his comment surprised me. He said, 'My crops are especially vulnerable. Even a short drought could have a devastating effect.' 'Why?' I asked. He explained, 'Though we see the frequent rains as a benefit, during that time the plants are not required to push roots deeper in search of water. The roots remain near the surface. A drought would find the plants unprepared and quickly kill them.'” (Neal Orchard)
            Likewise, some Christians receive abundant blessings, fellowship, and teaching. However, when hardship, tribulation, or persecution enters their lives, they suddenly quit the Lord. Their roots have never pushed below the surface. Only roots that are deeply grounded in the Lord will endure in times of drought in our lives.

Old Walls and Christians

            And old carpenter was hired to tear down a concrete wall so the owner might build something else in its place. The old man walked around the wall several times, stopping every now and then to inspect it. Finally the owner, growing impatient asked him what he was doing and why he didn't begin working on the wall. The old carpenter replied, “I've already started! You see, this wall is very solid and will require a lot of hard work. If I can find a weak spot to begin the destruction, it will make my job a lot easier;
All it takes sometimes is just a small crack. Once I find that, the rest of the wall will come down easily.”
            Jesus taught the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak (Matt.26:41). Satan when trying to lead us astray also knows this. So he looks for weak spots in our faith. And he will always find them because he is an expert at finding our most vulnerable place. And that's where he always attacks. David asked God to “examine me, O Jehovah, and prove me; Try my heart and my mind” (Psalm 26:2, ASV). David wanted all of his sins out in the open where he could deal with them. And so should we. We should study God's word daily (not just read it) and ask him to show us where these weaknesses are. Then, be busy shoring them up. (J.D Williams)

A Moments Wisdom

Although a rumor has no legs it travels very fast.
You cannot walk with God while you are running with the devil.
A man can make money, but money can never make a man.
Faithful cross-bearing ends with eternal crown-wearing.
A word of wisdom: Make friends before you need them.
Anger is momentary madness, so control your passion or it will control you. 

How’s Your Giving?
By T. Sean Sullivan

            This part of our worship is perhaps the least esteemed of all. This must be because of a lack of understanding. When we get to the time in our service when we take up the collection, do we just then think about giving something? We might then find ourselves reaching into our pockets to find no money since we spent it all last week without regard for God and our need to give some back.
            This area of worship: the collection, the offering, or contribution is very much a part of worship, and we must look for a better understanding of giving and a desire, as in all things, to increase. Let’s open our Bible and search the details involved in this aspect of our worship.

Purpose for Giving: A Historical View
            Giving has been in the life of God’s servants from the earliest of times. God is the provider of all that we have (Genesis 1, 2). God is aware that we have needs but also expects us to put Him first in our lives. This means that from our blessings God needs to receive the first and the best.
            The records of giving to God are from as early as Cain and Abel. The first record of giving was not of money but it was a sacrifice of “something of value”—the first (the best) of the flock (Genesis 4:4). Abel was offering to God something of God’s choosing. His offering proclaimed his desire for God. This practice of giving continued throughout the Old Covenant history.
            There has also been a giving of monetary means. The earliest record of this was recorded of Abram who went to Melchizedek the King of Salem: the priest of God and gave him a tenth of all he had won in battle rescuing Lot from Chedorlaomer (Genesis 14:15-20). This was the first recorded offering of monetary things to God. Abram was giving to God an offering of appreciation for his recent victory. This pattern of giving continued through the Old Covenant history.
            This system of tithe or one tenth was on all possessions, properties, and persons. Each would be given a monetary valuation and then one tenth or a tithe was to be paid (Leviticus 27).
            There is no mention of the tithe on this side of the cross—under the New Covenant. We have been released from those types of boundaries and no set percentage is assigned. There were collections taken (1 Corinthians 16:1-2). Those collections were an offering to God to be used for the work of the church—the needs of the saints.

Attitude toward Giving
            Let’s first look back in time. Genesis 14:19-24 Abram was devoted to giving the full and proper amount to God. Even when Melchizedek offered him some back Abram refused, seeing fit to give to God first—without concern for self.
            Achan teaches us a lesson in giving. When the Children of Israel approached the city of Jericho they were instructed to give God the first fruits: “all” the bounty of this city was to go to God (Joshua 6:19). This was God’s claim to the plunder of the very first battle in the land. All of the people listened to God except one. Achan coveted some for himself (Joshua 7:19-24). What lesson does this teach? If Achan would have waited and given to God the first he would have had more than enough (Joshua 8:2; 11:12-15). All too often we begin to covet this world’s goods and we begin to put them first. Are we going to fall the same way as Achan? If God is forgotten and we rather focus on our own selves, what does that say to God?
            The Children of Israel teach us a lesson in freely giving (Exodus 35:5-9, 21-29; 36:5-7). Under the Old Covenant the people gave their tithe (tenth). They did this willingly and willfully. However, when building the tabernacle a “freewill” offering was requested beyond their tithe (Exodus 35:5-9). The people rallied for the cause and gave freely (Exodus 35:21-29). To the point where they were told to stop because more than enough was brought for the work. For their excitement and love for God they were willing to give and give with no stipulation of minimum. Can you imagine the elders having to stand up and tell the people to stop giving? The Israelites were given an opportunity to give without minimum and they gave to the maximum—they freely expressed their devotion to God.

The Five W’s of the Offering Today:
            Who: Those who love and appreciate God—Christians (1 Corinthians 16:1-2)—the orders were given to churches. Also it is those who have prospered.  We are to give of our prosperity. 
            What: Though there are many things to give: time, care, compassion, love, etc. The requirement of this offering is monetary. The word used by Paul, that we interpret “collection” is “Logeiai”—common first century term denoting a religious collection of money.
            When: On the first day of the week. This is a time when the saints would be gathering to worship so this part of worship would of necessity be obliged that same day (Acts 20:7). This means every first day, of every week.
            Where: In the local congregations—for their needs and the needs of other saints as needed and as able.
            Why: To express our love and appreciation to God: (2 Corinthians 9:7-12). For the needs of the local work: Evangelism, edification, and benevolence: We need to support our local preacher to devote his time to preaching/teaching. We also need to provide for training with the purchase of teaching materials. We can spread the gospel elsewhere by supporting other faithful men. We also must care for and supply a local place of worship—this building and grounds need to be cared for properly.
            Conclusion: The offering today is not a tithe: there is no set number given by God for us under the New Covenant. We have a freewill offering today. Let’s consider the Israelites who gave abundantly more and more when loosed from the bonds of the tithe. Without a set minimum the Israelites gave to the maximum. 
            We do not have a set limit or a “tithe” today; this enables us to give even more freely. It is sad to think that anyone might approach this part of our worship with the mind of minimalism. Think about this: If God gave to you; exactly like you give to Him; what would your life be like? The ability to say thanks and show our appreciation to God is wonderful, let’s do it abundantly and cheerfully.

It’s Not…

            “For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother” (Matt. 12:50).
            “It is not what we eat, but what we digest that makes us strong; not what we gain, but what we save that make us rich; not what we read, but what we remember that makes us learned; and not what we profess, but what we practice that makes us Christians” (Author Unknown).
            In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said, “Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock...” (Matt. 7:24).

A Moments Wisdom

We need faith that will not worry or whine but watch and wait.
It’s strange, but a big head is the sign of a small man.
It is much harder to stamp out half a truth than a whole lie.
Doubters insist that they need faith as big as a mountain in order to move a mustard seed.
He who has no vision of eternity has no hold on time.
The created world is but a small parenthesis in eternity.

Surviving the Financial Crisis
By Kent Heaton

            A financial crisis occurs when the crisis of man’s soul is dependant upon the financial condition of his heart. Samuel Johnson said, “The love of money has been in all ages, one of the passions that have given great disturbances to the tranquility of the world” (Rambler, October 6, 1750). How remarkable man is as the only creature that puts such worth and value upon printed paper. An animal foraging through a wilderness will pay no attention to shiny pieces of gold to search for food and water; knowing that food and water give life, not gold or silver.
            Dee Bowman said recently that more people are upset about their earthly treasure than they are about their heavenly treasure. If people worried as much about their souls as they do their money, what a change would take place in the world. Jesus plainly reminds us of the value of both: “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matt. 6:19-21).
            If the focus of our life is only upon the treasures of this life then we are men most miserable. We can gain great wealth one day and lose it the next day. There are no guarantees when it comes to riches. The value of our riches can only be measured by the fear we have of losing them. Riches in heaven can not be taken away by man. Our reward in heaven does not fade away and no one can steal it away. Paul affirms, “I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day” (2Tim. 1:12).
            There is nothing within the arsenal of money that can give you what God can give. The possession of riches is not sinful but securing our hearts to the temptation of riches is what will bring about woe and misery. “But godliness actually is a means of great gain when accompanied by contentment. For we have brought nothing into the world, so we cannot take anything out of it either. If we have food and covering, with these we shall be content. But those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs” (1Tim. 6:6-10).
            How do we survive the financial crisis? Trust in God! “Be ye free from the love of money; content with such things as ye have: for himself hath said, I will in no wise fail thee, neither will I in any wise forsake thee” (Hebrews 13:5). “The image of Caesar is money, the image of God is man. Give money to Caesar, and give thyself to God” (Tertullian, De Idol. 15, c.211 A.D.). Our hopes and dreams should not be gauged by the flow of Wall Street or our local bank. The sure deposit of our hearts within the gates of God’s house will bring about security that is everlasting.
            Life is not about riches and certainly in death riches remain. The proverb says, “Shrouds have no pockets.” The man Job lost all his earthly wealth but retained his godly wealth – and died a richer man because of it. Where our heart is will be where we find our treasure.

God-Centered Homes
By W. Frank Walton
 
            “Better is a little with the fear of the LORD than great treasure and turmoil with it” (Prov 15:16).
            President Dwight Eisenhower said, “The problems of the nation are the problems of the home a million-fold.” With trouble in society and panic in the financial markets, how do our children and grandchildren see us coping with the challenges of a fallen world?
            They should see a God-centered home as our refuge of strength amid the chances and changes of life. “The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous runs into it and is safe” (Prov 18:20).
            Our faith in the Lord gives us the strength to go on and not give up. “For a righteous man falls seven times, and rises again, but the wicked stumble in time of calamity” (Prov 24:16). Loving interaction is the rule of conduct in godly homes. “Better is a dish of vegetables where love is than a fattened ox served with hatred” (Prov 15:17). Such selfless, sacrificial and strong love is only learned from our loving and gracious God (Deut 6:4-9, Song of Sol 8:6-7, 1 Jn 4:7-8).
            I recently jotted down these quotes from a recent sermon on “Commitment to the Home” by Tim Stevens:
“No success in the workplace can compensate for a failure in the home place.”
“If a child is allowed to be in control in the home, then the home is out of control.”
“If we don’t teach our children the right way, someone will teach them the wrong way.”
            Does God live in our daily home life? Do our children see us making decisions based on Christ-centered values? Let us remember as Christians: “Christ is the head of this home, the unseen guest at every meal, the silent listener to every conversation.”
            Our spiritual commitment to a God-glorifying home life will honor God, attract outsiders to Him, strengthen our children, and bless us in our fond memories of home.

What We Practice

            "For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother." (Matt. 12:50)
            It is not what we eat, but what we digest that makes us strong; not what we gain, but what we save that make us rich; not what we read, but what we remember that makes us learned; and not what we profess, but what we practice that makes us Christians. (Author Unknown)
            In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said, "Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock..." (Matt. 7:24)

A Moments Wisdom

Unless you stay humble, you will stumble.
A strong faith weakens fear.
When you share joy you multiply it.
Strength of character may be acquired at work, but beauty of character is learned at home.
There is no danger of developing eyestrain from looking on the bright side of things.
We have no more right to consume happiness without producing it than to consume wealth without producing it.

A Beautiful Life
By Gilbert Alexander

            The finest adorning in life is not an outward adorning of the body, but rather dressing oneself in the beauty of holiness and righteousness. While the outward adorning of the body is pleasing to the eye and physically appealing, the inward adorning of a meek and quiet spirit appeals to the heart and soul and makes one's life rich indeed.
            David speaks of "the beauties of holiness" (Psalm 110:3); and Paul, quoting from Isaiah 52:7, says, "How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, who bring glad tidings of good things!" Again, the Psalmist says, "For the Lord takes pleasure in His people; He will beautify the humble with salvation." Isaiah says, "I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for He has clothed me with the garments of salvation, He has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels" (Isa. 61:10). How shallow and hollow indeed is a beautiful countenance behind which is a corrupt and immoral life. We often sing, "Let the beauty of Jesus be seen in me," but we know that the prophet has said of the Christ, "He has no form or comeliness; and when we see Him, there is no beauty that we should desire Him" (Isa. 53:2).
            The beauty of selfless sacrifice is seen in its finest hour in the suffering and death of Christ. "Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends" (John 15:13). Of the life of Jesus, Peter stated it simply, "...who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him" (Acts 10:38). The people of God can do little to improve their physical appearance, but each one can adorn his life with meekness and holiness, doing good and sharing, "for with such sacrifices God is well pleased" (Heb. 13:16).
            The beauty of the Lord's church is in its purity as a cleansed body, and the continued purity of the church depends upon the purity of the lives of all the saints. "A little leaven leavens the whole lump"; therefore, we must "purge out the old leaven" so that we may be a new, unleavened lump (1Cor. 5:6-7).
            How beautiful is a life of "golden deeds," of kind and compassionate words and works, of pure and wholesome speech, of a meek and submissive attitude (1Peter 3:3-6), of a genuine respect for others and un-pretended love of the brethren, of a holy and harmless life of doing justly, loving mercy, and being ready unto every good work, of a heart in which is no guile! How beautiful is the simplicity of worship: hearts that are attuned to the will of God, voices blending together in songs of praise, heartfelt prayers of supplication and thanksgiving, the solemn yet joyful fellowship of the Lord's Supper, the earnest exhortation and edification of the church through teaching, and the sacrifice of our financial resources to the Lord's work! Let the words of "A Beautiful Life" ring in our hearts as each of us gives himself diligently to the task of being "a worker who does not need to be ashamed" (2Tim. 2:15).  Surely the "beautiful people" are the godly people who shine as lights in a dark world of sin and degradation! (Via The Bulletin of the Church of Christ at New Georgia, June 1, 2008)

Blue or Gray, One Side or the Other

            “He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters abroad” (Matt. 12:30).
            At the outbreak of the Civil War, a certain individual could not decide which cause to support, the North or the South. He had friends on both sides; thus, he decided to be neutral. He wore a gray jacket and blue trousers, thereby dressing for both the Confederacy and the Union.
            One day the neutral man was caught in the middle of a skirmish between the two armies. He stood up and shouted that he was neutral in this fight and expected to be allowed to leave the field before the battle closed in on him. However, Union sharpshooters, seeing the gray jacket, riddled it with bullets. And, Confederate marksmen, seeing the blue pants, filled them with lead.
            We have no way of knowing if the above story is true or not; however, the point is well taken. In important issues one cannot be neutral. He must make his stand one way or the other.

Youth
By Samuel Ullman

            Youth is not a time of life; it is a state of mind; it is not a matter of rosy cheeks, red lips and supple knees. It is a matter of the will, a quality of the imagination, a vigor of the emotions; it is the freshness of the deep springs of life.
            Youth means a temperamental predominance of courage over timidity of the appetite, for adventure over the love of ease. This often exists in a man of 60 more than a boy of 20. Nobody grows old merely by a number of years. We grow old by deserting our ideals.
            Years may wrinkle the skin, but to give up enthusiasm wrinkles the soul. Worry, fear, self-distrust bows the heart and turns the spirit back to dust.
            Whether 60 or 16, there is in every human being's heart the lure of wonder, the unfailing childlike appetite of what's next, and the joy of the game of living. In the center of every heart there is a wireless station: so long as it receives messages of beauty, hope, cheer, courage and power from men and from the Infinite, so long are you young.
            When the antennas are down, and your spirit is covered with the snows of cynicism and pessimism, then you are grown old, even at 20; but as long as your antennas are up, to catch waves of optimism, there is hope you may die young at 80.

A Moments Wisdom

You made your bed, now lie in it. You can lie there and complain about the fleas, or you can get up and change the sheets.
Not everyone gets to do great deeds in this world, but everyone can do little things with great love.
It is easier to say what you think than to tell what you know.
Sin will cause the cup of joy to spring a leak.
The world crowns “success”, but God crowns faithfulness.
If one does not respect the person he sees in the mirror, will not respect others.

“That’s More Than I Am Supposed To Do”
By Harry E. Rice

            Practically all progress in the world has been made by those who did more than their share, “more than they were supposed to do.”
            Our independence was won by George Washington and his men who “did more than they were supposed to do” as they suffered privation at Valley Forge while others were living in luxury not far away. Many a lad has been set up in business or given a college education by parents who “did more than they were supposed to do” while neighbor boys are left without a start in life by satisfied parents. Many a sick child has been brought back to health by a sacrificing mother who did more than her share.
            The church of the Lord has been established in many places in America by sacrificing Christians who did far more than their share - they could have worshipped down the street - but they did more than they were supposed to do (according to the opinion of men) and established the Lord’s church.
            Most of the work around the church building is done by Christians who “do more than they are supposed to do” while many are perfectly willing that they should do it. (This reminds me of something I heard one time. A preacher was asked it there was anyone at the church where he preached that were willing to work. He said, “Everyone in this church is willing, five percent are willing to work, and the other 95 percent are willing to let them do it.”). If it were not for those who do more than they are supposed to do by giving themselves, this congregation wouldn’t grow, but would stagnate and die.
            After all, “doing more that we are supposed to do” as men judge is the very crux of Christianity. It means ‘going more than half way,’ ‘turning the other cheek,’ ‘loving one’s enemies,’ ‘praying for those who persecute us,’ ‘giving money to the needy,’ ‘working for the Lord while others are engaged in pleasure.’ Yes, it means all this and more. But this will bring eternal life for the faithful, all of whom “did more than they were supposed to do.”

Is It Later Than You Think?
By Marshall Patton

            Someone has prepared a very interesting time table. He made a mathematical parallel of a life span with 24 hours. Study it carefully, it will cause you to seriously reflect on your life, causing you to see what you have accomplished or left unaccomplished so far.
If you are 15 years old it’s 8:15 a.m.
If you are 20 years old it’s 11:08 a.m.
If you are 25 years old it’s 12:25 p.m.
If you are 30 years old it’s 1:25 p.m.
If you are 35 years old it’s 2:59 p.m.
If you are 40 years old it’s 4:16 p.m.
If you are 45 years old it’s 5:43 p.m.
If you are 50 years old it’s 6:50 p.m.
If you are 55 years old it’s 8:08 p.m.
If you are 60 years old it’s 10:11 p.m.
If you are 70 years old it’s approaching midnight.
            When the bell tolls for you at the midnight hour of death, on which side of God’s judgment seat will you stand? It is later than you think!

Self Imposed Suffering

            "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest" (Matt. 11:28). "Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed" (John 6:36).
            A Japanese soldier by the name of Shoichi Yokoi lived in a cave on the island of Guam to which he fled in 1944 when the tides of war began to change. Fearing for his life, he stayed hidden for twenty-eight years in the jungle cave, coming out only at night. During this self-imposed exile he lived on frogs, rats, snails, shrimp, nuts and mangoes. Even when he figured out the war was over, he was afraid to come out for fear he would be executed. Two hunters found him one day and escorted him to freedom. He was living all this time under the indictment of sins that had all been dealt with--but he simply had not appropriated the atonement that was available. (From Illustrations Unlimited, by James S. Hewett, p. 36)
            If only people today would appropriate the atonement provided in Christ! They could be freed from their sins, have salvation, and the hope of eternal life.

“Compared to Others…”

            Researchers from Virginia Tech University, along with police administrators, recently determined that distracted drivers put others in more danger than aggressive drivers. Drivers who eat, discipline children in the backseat, or talk on the phone are the most hazardous.
            When residents in Grand Rapids, Michigan, were asked about the bad habits of drivers that made the highways unsafe, most felt that others caused more problems than they themselves. One woman said that she talked on her cell phone a little, but at least she didn’t dial the phone numbers while on the road. She concluded her comments by stating that others “aren’t following the rules of the road... They put us all at risk.”
            It’s our nature to point a finger at others. The apostle Paul talked about fellow teachers who avoided looking at their own behavior and instead attacked him (2 Cor. 10:12-18). He wrote, “They, measuring themselves by themselves, are not wise” (v.12). When we don’t look at our own actions but instead compare ourselves with others, we often come out looking good. But, as Paul said, it’s the Lord’s commendation that counts, not our own approval of ourselves (v.18). If you must compare yourself with someone, compare yourself with Christ.
The faults I see in others’ lives
Are often true of me;
So help me, Lord, to recognize
My own hypocrisy. (Anne Cetas)

A Moments Wisdom

We should pray more for a change in character than in circumstances.
Before we forget the lost, we had better count the cost.
Life’s greatest challenge is not being a man’s man, but in being God’s man.
If no one would listen, no one would gossip.
Others may destroy your reputation, but only you can destroy your character.
Salvation is free, but it is not cheap.
The man who has to eat his own words never asks for another serving.

Facing Accusations
By Steven Harper
 
            When striving to live a godly life, the disciple of Jesus Christ will likely face some sort of accusation of wrongdoing by those who walk in the ways of the world. To one who lives an ungodly life, there is often no stronger condemnation of his life than seeing one who lives godly. Knowing that it is possible defeats his excuse for not obeying, and he will try to bring down the godly with the false hope that it will somehow make him look better. With this in mind, the disciple of Jesus Christ should be ever aware that his or her life will be scrutinized by the opposition, much like opposing political candidates in the current Presidential campaign, and should always be aware some may be looking for something with which to accuse.
            But for the one who is striving to live the godly life, how should you face the accusations? Do you try to answer every accusation? Do you simply ignore the false accusations? If you are accused falsely, what recourse do you have? Must a Christian who has been falsely accused simply accept the wrong — especially if it has been done by a fellow believer? Let's consider a few points, using some Bible examples when individuals were accused and how they dealt with the accusations, that we may know the way pleasing to God.
            If The Accusation Is True. When Nebuchadnezzar “made an image of gold” (Dan. 3:1) and then demanded everyone fall down and worship it when the music was played, under threat of death (v. 4-6), Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego refused to bow. In time, someone noticed their disobedience and reported it to the king (vv. 8-12). Nebuchadnezzar had the men brought before him and asked them about it, and even gave them opportunity to escape punishment if they would do so the next time the music was played, but threatened them with certain death if they did not (vv, 14-15). What could they say? The accusation was true!
            In similar fashion, when some of the presidents and satraps of the Babylonian kingdom sought to accuse Daniel, they found nothing except his devotion to God (6:1-5). We know that they then tricked Darius into making a law that would render Daniel a guilty man when he petitioned God in prayer, as he regularly did (vv. 6-10), and we also know that when Daniel prayed to God, the accusers were ready, and brought the matter before the king, demanding punishment be carried out by the immutable law of the Persians (vv. 11-15). What could Daniel say? The accusation was true!
            In each of these cases, the accusations were true — but not anything of which to be ashamed! Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego all refused to bow to the golden image because they served the one, true God and to do so would have been sin; the threat of death did not deter their resolve, either (cf. 3:16-18). Daniel prayed to God because that is what was right in the sight of God and to bow to pressure — even when it was the law of the land — would not be pleasing to God.  Let us learn from these examples that when the accusations are true — but accusations of righteous acts — then there is no need to apologize or change our ways. Continue doing the right thing and be ready to accept the consequences.
            On the other hand, we may remember the story of Simon the sorcerer who, not long after his conversion, offered money for the power the apostles had to give the Holy Spirit (Acts 8:18). Peter confronted him and told him his heart was not right in the sight of God and demanded he repent and pray to God for forgiveness (vv. 20-23). In this case, the accusation was also true, but it was an accusation of wrongdoing that was, indeed, a sinful act. Simon needed to repent or he would remain separated by God because of his sin. Let us learn from this example that when the accusation of sinful activity is true, then we must also repent and pray for forgiveness that we may once again be right in the sight of God. Making excuses will get us nowhere (1Sam. 15; King Saul).
            When the Accusation is False. I believe most of us could properly face accusations that are true; if we are accused of doing righteous things we would not change, and if we were accused of sin, we would all hopefully repent quickly. But when the accusations are false, we sometimes get so emotionally wrapped up in the fact we have been wronged that we forget to do what God tells us and then act as if anything we do is acceptable because the charge is false. But, once again, let us consider some Bible examples and how they dealt with false accusations that we may learn to do what is pleasing to God.
            I imagine we all think of Jesus right away when we think about false accusations, remembering the farce of a trial He faced and how He stood silent. But I want to caution you to be careful in using that scene to make personal application today. In that situation, Jesus had come to the point in His life where he knew He was going to fulfill the will of the Father in dying for our sins and he did not seek to delay the inevitable. He remained silent not because silence is the only proper answer to false charges, but because at that time there was a greater plan in action. What we should learn from that series of events is what Peter pointed to when he reminds us that Jesus, “When He was reviled, He did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but continued entrusting Himself to Him who judges justly” (1Peter 2:23). From this, we should learn that, if we are falsely accused, we cannot return the 'favor' and falsely accuse those who falsely accused us. Unfortunately, I have seen a few preachers who resort to this when libelously called a false teacher. We do no one any favors by stooping to worldly passions when falsely accused. Repay evil with good (Rom. 12:17).
            On other occasions, when Jesus was falsely accused of doing wrong on the Sabbath [healing; Matt. 12:10-13; Luke 13:10-16], Jesus was not silent. In each case, Jesus turned the accusation back on the accuser and rightly pointed to their hypocrisy. On one of these occasions, His adversaries were rightly put to shame while He was glorified (Luke 13:17). In the other case, those who sought to accuse Jesus left and began plotting His death. Some people may be shamed and some people may simply harden their hearts further, but we do not have to remain silent. [Paul also answered his accusers, and used government avenues by which he could absolve himself of all guilt; Acts 24-26.]
            When we answer the false accuser, we do not do so for their benefit; we do so for our own reputation. One who is striving to live the godly life will be hindered in the work if a false reputation precedes him. Answer from Scripture, point to the inaccuracies of the accuser[s], and then continue living the godly, righteous life that they may see and be ashamed (1Peter 3:16). At no time, however, should we stoop to their tactics.
            Sadly, some false accusations will be leveled by our own brethren. When this happens, continue to do right and pray for their hearts and souls. The false accusations leveled against Jesus led to His death, but He still prayed that they might be forgiven (Luke 13:34). Our aim should not be retribution, but forgiveness.

A Moments Wisdom

If a man cannot be a Christian in the place where he is, he cannot be a Christian anywhere.
Christianity that is shared is Christianity that is convincing.
Many of us who profess to be Christians are so busy with the mechanics of our religion that we have no time left for the spiritual part of it.
Church membership does not make a Christian any more than owning a piano makes a musician.

Reverend Is His Name
By Kent Heaton

            The book of Psalms is a powerful testimony to the majesty, praise, glory and awesome power of Jehovah God. Isaiah wrote the words of the Lord, "To whom would you liken Me and make Me equal and compare Me, that we would be alike … Remember the former things long past, for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is no one like Me” (Isa. 46:5,9). How majestic is the name of the Lord and holy. The Lord instructed the children of Israel not to take His name in vain as He prescribed the Ten Commandments at Mount Sinai. "You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not leave him unpunished who takes His name in vain” (Ex. 20:7).
            The name of God is “Jealous” (Exodus 34:14) because the Lord God is a jealous God. To be jealous is to be “intolerant of rivalry or unfaithfulness; hostile toward a rival or one believed to enjoy an advantage” (Webster). The Lord is intolerant of those who would seek to put other gods before Him or take His name in vain. No one can be equal with Jehovah God!
            An unnamed psalmist penned the words of Psalm 111 to declare the power of the Lord in creation. Seen clearly in the psalm is the overshadowing power of the providential care and grace of the Lord to the faithful. All men must stand in awe of the Creator of this world to declare the name of Jehovah God as the great “I AM” (Ex. 3:14). How great is our God and yet how small is man.  In verse nine of the text the psalmist declares the name of the Lord is “Holy and Reverend (awesome)”.
            The holiness of the Lord is unquestionable. Peter exhorted the early disciples to be holy because God was holy (1Peter 1:16). The name of God is “reverend” because it is a name to be feared and worshipped. The Lord is worthy of reverence because of His greatness, His grace, His sacrifice and His love. What man among men can take the name “reverend” to be feared, worshipped or adored?
            Charles Spurgeon (1834-1892) wrote in The Treasury of David: “The whole name or character of God is worthy of profoundest awe, for it is perfect and complete, whole or holy. It ought not to be spoken without solemn thought, and never heard without profound homage. His name is to be trembled at; it is something terrible; even those who know him best rejoice with trembling before him. How good men can endure to be called ‘reverend’ we know not. Being unable to discover any reason why our fellow-men should reverence us, we half suspect that in other men there is not very much which can entitle them to be called reverend, very reverend, right reverend, and so on. It may seem a [small] matter, but for that very reason we would urge that the foolish custom should be allowed to fall into disuse.”
            Spurgeon suggests that this is a small matter, but God considers it a matter of greater importance. Asaph wrote in Psalm 50:21, "These things you have done and I kept silence; You thought that I was just like you; I will reprove you and state the case in order before your eyes.” The triviality of man’s respect for the name of God will not go unnoticed by the Creator. “Holy and awesome is HIS NAME” (Psalm 111:9).

Unevenly Yoked

            You live a lonely life. You’re a single Mom in church. You watch other husbands hold their wives hands when we pray together in church, and yours is no where to be found. You worry about what you have to teach your kids, and whether he will let you. I know you think you’re strong, but sometimes he brings you down. You feel so weak, you want to give up. It’s hard being unevenly yoked.
            You feel like you are being punished. But don’t blame God. You chose this man, not Him. You pray for him constantly hoping someday you’ll have a Christian husband. The road is very rocky; you hope you will survive. But until then, you live two separate lives: one with him; one with God. (By an unevenly yoked wife who chooses to remain unknown)

Ordinary Life As a Test of Faith

            It is a rare life that is given to a man to live in palaces with an abundance of earthly blessings. It seems a charmed life. More often, nearly always, we are given to live a life that more closely resembles dipping in the River Jordan… “If you had been told to do something great, would you have done it? How much more then, when he says to you, ‘Wash and be clean’?” (2Kings 5:13). (Coral Blake)

Ain’t It Funny

How we set our clocks to arise at 5:00 A.M. to be at the job by 7:30; yet, when Sunday comes we can’t get to the church building for the 9:30 A.M. Bible study to learn more about the one who gave us our jobs.
How we call God our Father and Jesus our brother; but find it hard to introduce them to our family and friends.
How small our sins seem; but how big “their” sins are.
How we demand justice for others; but expect mercy from God for ourselves.
How much difficulty some have learning the gospel well enough to tell others; but how simple it is to understand and explain the latest gossip about someone else.
How we can’t think of anything to say when we pray to God; but don’t have any difficulty thinking of things to talk about to a human friend.
How we are so quick to take directions from a total stranger when we are lost; but are hesitant to take God’s direction for our lives. (Are these things really funny?)

Duck Church

            One fine Sunday morning, the ducks gathered for duck church. They waddled into their duck pews, sang from their duck song books, and listened to their duck preacher. The duck preacher said, “Ducks, you don’t have to waddle. You have wings like eagles. You can fly! Fly, ducks, fly! The ducks all said, “Amen, Amen!” Then, when the service was over, the ducks got up and waddled home.
            New Testament Application: “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was.” (James 1:22-24)

A Moments Wisdom

God puts the church in the world, but Satan puts the world in the church.
To grow tall spiritually, a man must first learn to kneel.
Revenge is sort of like biting a dog because the dog bit you.
People look at preachers out of the pulpit to see what they mean when they are in it.
If we let God guide, He will provide.
Even folks on the level will have their ups and downs.

So… How Well Do You Listen to the Sermons?

            A minister and two of his friends from the congregation went bear hunting, and all three of them saw a bear at exactly the same moment. They raised their guns, fired, and the bear fell. Then came the discussion about who shot the bear. The mystery deepened as they searched for bullet holes and found none. Finally, the man up near the head whistled in amazement and said, “I guess the preacher got him.” “Why is that,” the second man objected. “Well, the bullet went in one ear and out the other,” he replied. (No bears were harmed in the telling of this story.)

Anger Management by God
By Frank Walton

            “Scorners set a city aflame, but wise men turn away anger” (Prov 29:8). The news reported several months ago that a 12 year old girl in Peru, Indiana set fire to her sleeping mother’s bed. Then, she took off in the family car, faking abduction with her two younger siblings. Thankfully, the mother awoke before she was burned up. The children were found by police after the 12 year old had driven 15 miles from her home.
            What enraged this 12 year old that she wanted to kill her mother? She was angry that she had to do chores around the house! Her emotional outburst resulted in being jailed on charges of arson and attempted murder.
            Uncontrolled anger is a destructive weapon, like playing with a fire. Playing with fire means you eventually get burned. “As charcoal to hot embers and wood to fire, so is a quarrelsome man for kindling strife” (Prov 26:21). A lack of self-control spits hot anger out quickly like a blow torch. “A fool's anger is known at once, but a prudent man conceals dishonor” (Prov 12:16). Keep your temper, no one wants it!
            Self-centered people demand the right to wallow in their anger for life not treating them as wonderfully as they want. A lack of self-discipline is never healthy. “An angry man stirs up strife, and a hot-tempered man abounds in transgression” (Prov 25:28).
            We live in a selfish, reckless world. We need God’s anger management to keep from destroying ourselves. Uncontrolled rage makes us vulnerable to hurting others and ourselves. “Like a city that is broken into and without walls is a man who has no control over his spirit” (Prov 25:28).
            A maturing faith sees the big picture and long-term consequences of our feelings. God’s wisdom by the Spirit’s guidance helps us bear the fruit of “self-control” (Gal 5:22 -25). His Word helps us to see things in His light. God’s word strengthens us from the inside out, so we can wisely manage our emotions. “He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit, than he who captures a city” (Prov 16:32 ).

Too Much to Carry

            Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble” (Matt. 6:34). “No man ever sank under the burden of the day. It is when tomorrow's burden is added to the burden of today, that the weight is more than a man can bear” (From Better Than Gold, by Gordon MacDonald, p. 45). Let us not add the imaginary troubles of tomorrow to the burdens we are already facing today.

Love is Commitment

            A man went to his preacher for marriage advice. In his hands were pages of complaints against his wife. After hours of uninterrupted listening, the preacher couldn’t help but ask, “If she is that bad, why did you marry her?” Immediately the man shot back, “She wasn’t like this at first!” The preacher, unable to hold back his thoughts, asked, “So, are you saying that she became like this because she’s been married to you?”
            Whether or not this story is true, it does suggest an important lesson to be learned. At times, feelings toward a spouse may grow cold. But love is much more than feelings—it’s a lifelong commitment.
            Although most people choose to marry only because of love, in some cultures people still get married through matchmaking. In the lives of Isaac and Rebekah recorded in the book of Genesis, love came after marriage. It says in chapter 24 that Isaac married Rebekah and then he loved her (v. 67).
            Biblical love is about our willingness to do what is good for another. Husbands are instructed to “love their own wives as their own bodies” (Eph. 5:28). So, walking in obedience to the Lord, let’s keep our marriage vows to love “till death do us part.” Love is more than a feeling, it’s a commitment. (Albert Lee)

A Sense of Futility

            I once heard interviews with survivors from World War II. The soldiers recalled how they spent a particular day. One sat in a foxhole; once or twice, a German tank drove by and he shot at it. Others played cards and frittered away the time. A few got involved in furious firefights. Mostly, the day passed like any other. Later, they learned they had just participated in one of the largest, most decisive engagements of the war, the Battle of the Bulge. It didn’t feel decisive at the time because none had the big picture. Great victories are won when ordinary people execute their assigned tasks.
            When followers of Ignatius (1491–1556) endured periods of futility, he always prescribed the same cure: “In times of desolation we must never make a change, but stand firm and constant in the resolutions and determination in which we were the day before the desolations.” Spiritual battles must be fought with the very weapons hardest to wield at the time: prayer, meditation, self-examination, and repentance.
            Perhaps you sense you’re in a spiritual rut. Stay at your assigned task! Obedience to God—and only obedience—offers the way out of our futility. If you sense your faith is unraveling, go back to where you dropped the thread of obedience. (Philip Yancey)

A Moments Wisdom

When a man starts throwing dirt, you can be sure he is losing ground.
Once time has been killed, it cannot be resurrected.
Just because a sheep bleats a lot does not mean he produces a lot of wool.
Fewer wants, not greater wealth, will bring contentment.
You had better prepare for eternity. You will be there a long time!
The problem with our giving is that we give the widow's mite, but not with the widow's spirit.
Blessed is the man who, having nothing to say, abstains from giving us wordy evidence of the fact.
A determined soul will do more with a rusty monkey-wrench than a loafer will accomplish with all the tools in a machine shop.
The average man's idea of a good sermon is one that goes over his head and hits his neighbors.
The sermon will be better if you listen as a Christian rather than as a critic.

The Highest Desire of the Soul
By W. Frank Walton

            “O God, You are my God; I shall seek You earnestly; My soul thirsts for You, my flesh yearns for You, in a dry and weary land where there is no water” (Psalm 63:1). 
            David writes this psalm on the run from Saul in the wilderness of south Judah. In this dreary desert, note his spiritual priority. Despite suffering an unjust exile, he is thirstier for a relationship with God in this parched land than for a drink of water.
            Is the highest desire of our soul a thirst for God?
            Listen to this description of thirst by a WWI soldier in the Negev desert: “Our tongues began to swell…our lips turned to a purplish black and burst…The desperate force battled on to Sheria. There were wells at Sheria, and had they been unable to take the place by nightfall, thousands were doomed to die of thirst. We fought that day as men fight for their lives….The first objects which met our view were the great stone cisterns full of cold, clear drinking water…I believed that we all learned our first real Bible lesson on that march from Beersheba to the Sheria wells. If such were our thirst for God and for righteousness, for His will in our lives, a consuming, all-embracing, pre-occupying desire, how rich in the fruit of the Spirit would we be” (McArthur, Kingdom Living, p. 93). 
            David learned that when all is stripped away, and that we have nothing left, we then discover that God is all we need. In this faith, He drew closer to God and triumphed over his unjust sufferings. “Whom have I in heaven but You? And besides You, I desire nothing on earth” (Psalm 73:25).
            Only He who made the human heart knows how to satisfy it.  The is the basic desire of the soul. He alone can quench our spiritual thirst (Matt 5:6). Indeed, “God made the human machine to run on Himself” (C. S. Lewis).

A Christian Is

            A little boy once asked his dad what a Christian is. The father replied that a Christian is a person who loves and obeys God. He loves his friends and neighbors and expresses his appreciation for other Christians. He even loves his enemies and prays for them that they might be blessed. He prays often and blesses God’s holy name in reverent worship. The father explained that a Christian is kind and considerate, gentle and courteous in his speech and in his selfless attitude. He lives a life that is pure and holy and is a Christian through and through. The little boy thought for a moment and then asked another question: “Daddy, have I ever seen one?”

A New Poem
By Judy Snider
(Written when Corey preached for the first time)
 
With a grin so wide
My chest swells with pride.
I say to them,
“That's my son!”
 
His arms opened wide
Nailed to the cross He died.
God said to all,
“That's My Son!”

Big Rocks First

            “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you” (Matt. 6:33).
            The teacher pulled out a bucket and set it on the table in front of him. He then pulled out several fist-sized rocks and carefully pilled them into the bucket. When the bucket was filled to the top, he asked his class, “Is this bucket full?” Everyone in the class said, “Yes.” The teacher said, “Really?” He reached under the table and pulled out a sack of gravel and dumped some into the bucket, and shaking it, he caused the pieces of gravel to work themselves down into the spaces between the big rocks.
            He smiled, and again asked the class “Is the bucket full?” By this time, the class was onto him. “Probably not,” one of them answered. “Good,” he replied. Again, he reached under the table and brought out sack of sand. He started dumping the sand into the bucket and it went into all the spaces left between the rocks and the gravel.
            Once more he asked, “Is this bucket full?” “No,” the class shouted. Again, he said, “Good.” Then, he grabbed a pitcher of water and began to pour into the bucket until it was full to the brim.
            He then said, “I'm trying to teach a lesson on priorities. What is the point of this illustration?” One eager beaver raised his hand and said, “The point is, no matter how full your schedule is, if you really try hard, you can always fit some more things into it.” The teacher replied, “No, that's not the point. The point is: if you don't put the big rocks in first, you'll never get them in at all.”
            Let us put the kingdom of God and His righteousness first in our lives.

A Moments Wisdom

He who is a Christian in little things is not little.
Face the sunlight and the shadows will fall behind you.
It takes a lot of courage to say, “Get behind me Satan!” and mean it.
A man can make money, but money can never make a man.
No one is ever too old to learn, but may keep putting it off.
A lot of happiness is overlooked because it doesn’t cost anything.
The best way out of a difficulty is through it.
The three things most difficult are: to keep a secret, to forget an injury, and to make good use of leisure.
Every noble acquisition is attended with its risks; he who fears to encounter the one must not expect to obtain the other.
Settle one difficulty and you keep a hundred others away.

What is an Egotist?

One whose only good feature is that he seldom gossips about other people.
One who's always me-deep in conversation.
A self-made man who worships his creator.

The Hinge of History
By G. K. Chesterton

            There was a Man who dwelt in the East centuries ago and now I cannot look at a sheep or a sparrow, a lily or a cornfield, a raven or a sunset, a vineyard or a mountain without thinking of Him. The hinge of history is on the door of a Bethlehem stable.

Whose Fault Is It When People
Remain In Sin?

A Moments Wisdom

When the Children Have Grown Up
By Luther Bolenbarker

            One of these days you’ll shout, “Why don’t you kids grow up and act your age?” And they will. Or, “You guys get outside and find yourselves something to do, and don’t slam the door.” And they will.
            You’ll straighten up the boys’ bedroom neat and tidy: bumper stickers discarded, spread tucked and smoothed, toys displayed on shelves, hangers in the closet, animals caged, and you’ll say out loud, “Now I want this room to stay this way.” And it will.
            You’ll prepare a perfect dinner with a salad that hasn’t been picked to death and a cake with no finger traces in the icing and you’ll say, “Now there’s a meal for company.” And you will eat it - alone.
            You’ll say, “I want complete privacy on the phone. No dancing around. No pantomimes. No demolition crews. Silence? Do you hear!?” And you’ll get it.
            No more plastic tablecloths stained with spaghetti. No more bedspreads to protect the sofa from damp bottoms. No more gates between the door to stumble over. No more clothespins under the sofa. No more playpens to arrange a room around. No more anxious nights under a vaporizer tent. No more sand on the sheets or cartoons on TV or comic books. No more iron-on patches, wet-knotted shoestrings, tight boots, or rubber bands for pony tails.
            Imagine a lipstick with a point on it, or a workshop with all the tools in their proper place. No more baby-sitters. Washing only once a week. Seeing a steak instead of ground beef. Having a dress that’s not wrinkled or wet because of the baby on your lap. No PTA meetings. No car pools. No blaring radios. No hair washing at midnight.
            Think about it. No more birthday presents made out of toothpicks and paste. No more sloppy oatmeal or juicy kisses. No more tooth fairy. No giggles or pillow fights in the night. No knees to heal or boo-boo’s to kiss and make well. No responsibility.
Only a silent voice keeps crying loudly, “Why don’t you grow up!?” And the silence echoes back, “I did!”
            Moms and Dads, are you taking time to really enjoy your children? You should! Oh how quickly they grow and go.

Whose Fault Is It When People Remain In Sin?

            A Preacher and an atheist barber were walking through the city slums. “This is why I can’t believe in God,” said the barber. “If God is as you say, He wouldn’t permit all these bums to be addicted to dope and other bad habits. No, I can’t believe in an all powerful God who permits these things and allows people to live like this”.
            The preacher was silent until they met a bum with filthy long hair caked with mud and other dirt, and with an equally foul half-inch beard on his face.
            The preacher then said to the barber, “You can’t be a very good barber to permit a man to live in this condition in your own neighborhood, especially when you have the facilities to bath, clean, and groom him.”
            The barber replied sharply, “You can’t blame me for his condition. I can’t help it if he’s never given me a chance to help him. If he’d only come to my shop, I could fix him up with a bath, haircut and shave, and make him look like a million dollars.”
            The preacher looked at the barber and said, “Then don’t accuse God of allowing people to continue in sin. He is constantly inviting them to come and be spiritually cleansed and released form the bondage of these habits. The reason these people are in this condition is that they are slaves to sin and evil habits, and because THEY refuse the One who died for them.” The Barber saw the point!

Swallows and Dates

            “Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?” (Matt. 6:26).
            While driving to a speaking engagement in Southern California, a preacher passed through San Juan Capistrano. The line “when the swallows come back to Capistrano” immediately came to his mind, and he began humming that old song. He recalled that for more than 150 years those golden-breasted birds have spent their summers in the eaves of the old mission located there. They always arrive on March 19 and leave on October 23, never missing those dates. Not once have they varied over the years. Even leap year does not change the times of their coming and going. And the swallows invariably start out before daylight on their southern flight.
            Now, how would you explain this unusual phenomenon? Nature's guidance? Luck? Coincidence? Evolution? Well, let me tell you. The swallow's Creator has put within those little creatures an instinct that tells them with uncanny accuracy when to head south and when to return. Their survival depends on this innate sense of timing. What meticulous care God exercises to guide the swallow and all the fowls of the air! But consider how much greater value we are to God than these tiny birds. (From Bible Illustrator)

A Moments Wisdom

It is not so much being free from faults and imperfections as overcoming them that is an advantage to us; it being with follies and weaknesses and errors, as with the weeds of a field, which, if destroyed on the soil where they grow, enrich and improve it more than if they had never sprung up there.
Lord, may the words that come out of my mouth today be sweetened with your love, because, tomorrow I may have to eat them.
No child of God is fully clothed unless he is clothed with humility.
If you trim yourself to suit everybody, you will soon whittle yourself away.
If there is true righteousness in the heart, there will be beauty in the character.
Shadows are proof of a shining sun.
No man has the right to do wrong.

I wanted so much to be liked by my friends,
That I was constantly giving in.
It’s only one drink, one of them said,
One became four and it went to my head.

Come on lets dance - they pulled me out on the floor,
I tried it once and danced some more.
I felt my influence slipping away,
I told myself I’d fix it another day.

I talked like them and laughed at their jokes,
I was acting just like other folks.
I knew I wasn’t living in a Godly way,
But I wanted to go along just one more day.

I kept giving in just to belong,
Now I am singing a mournful song.
I was liked by my peers so very well,
That alas, for eternity, we’re together in hell.

A Godly Man in Wicked Surroundings
By Bill Hall

            Elijah was a man who reached true greatness in the Lord's service. He was always ready to go where God would send him (1Kings 18:1, 19:15); to pray whenever prayer was needed (1Kings 17:20, 21, 18:36, 37), and to confront evil whenever confrontation was necessary (1Kings 18:17-24, 21:17-19). He was translated without seeing death, and he, along with Moses, was chosen to appear with the Lord on the mount of transfiguration.
            The remarkable thing about Elijah is that he attained this greatness while living in a wicked and hostile environment. Had he lived in Judah during the righteous reign of Hezekiah or Josiah, we might not be surprised at Elijah's attainments. But he lived instead in Israel during the wicked reign of Ahab. He was subjected to the cruel intents of Jezebel. He was under constant harassment and threat of death. He became so discouraged at one point that he asked to die, but he never denied his God.
            In this wicked environment Elijah was able to influence others. The widow of Zarephath was blessed through Elijah (1Kings 17:8-24). The multitudes on Mount Carmel were led to cry, “The Lord, He is God!” through his courageous efforts (1Kings 18:39).
            Elisha, his successor, must have been greatly influenced by him. And even Ahab was brought to humility on one occasion, clothing himself in sackcloth as a result of Elijah's rebuke (1Kings 21:27-29). The message of Elijah is clear. You can live a godly life and influence others for good in a wicked and hostile environment.
            When one hears the excuses people make today, it is obvious that Elijah's message is badly needed in this generation. People excuse their failure to teach others the gospel with, “People are so prejudiced around here they just won't listen”; when the truth is, little effort has been made. If they are approached about their ungodly conduct, they explain that “You just don't know how terrible the people are that I have to work around every day.” If their children go astray their explanation is, “Our children are
faced with pressures that we didn't have growing up.” Such statements, repeated often enough, become to many a license to do wrong and a salve to soothe their troubled consciences.
            We must throw aside our excuses and make up our minds to do right. Elijah could serve God in wicked surroundings. And so can we. (Via The Bulletin of the Church of Christ at New Georgia, May 25, 2008)

Finding Fault

            “Now when they saw some of His disciples eat bread with defiled, that is, with unwashed hands, they found fault” (Mark 7:2).
            Let us suppose I am looking for a field of corn to buy. I travel around seeking for a field which contains good corn. Finally, I see a field which strikes my fancy. The owner says that he will sell it. I then enter the field to see if the corn suits me. As I pass down the rows, the stalks are tall and strong. Almost every stalk has two massive ears hanging from it. However, I pay them little attention. I am looking for something else. Finally, I find it. Over in a low wet corner I find a scrawny little stalk with one little nubbin on it. I pull up the stalk, nubbin and all. I take it to the owner and say, “This is very poor corn. Just look at that nubbin!”
            Anyone can easily see that I wasn't being fair. I wasn't really looking to see what the field of corn was like. I was just trying to find fault with it. It would seem that I was not really interested in buying the field. I was just looking for the nubbin, and in my search for the nubbin, I overlooked all of the good corn. There is an old proverb which says, “He who is looking for faults in his brethren will surely find them.” (Via The Gospel Messenger)

I Wonder About a Lot of Things
By Bill Hallstead

•             I wonder why people who punish a child for lying, tell the same child when someone calls, “Just say I’m not home.”
• I wonder why people who can get to work by 7:00 or 8:00 can’t get to church by 10:00.
              I wonder why people are ecstatic if a ball game goes into overtime, but upset if church services do the same.
• I wonder why, when the preacher says, “In closing...” he doesn’t.
  
• I wonder why people disregard thoughtless things that are said at work, by friends, or in a store, but not if the same things are said by someone at church.
  
• I wonder why so many feel free to skip church for things they wouldn’t dream of skipping work to do.
  
• I wonder why people wouldn’t dream of stealing money from the collection plate think nothing of skipping their church contributions. Or why people who expect their church to always be there for them when they need it, give their money to other places instead.
  
• I wonder why those who work the hardest in the church, give the most, and are the most consistent in serving the needs of others, are the ones who appreciate the church the most, but the ones who do and give the least find the most fault.
  
• I wonder why parents who wouldn’t dream of letting their children decide for themselves whether or not to attend school, go to the dentist, or wear clean clothes, think it’s proper to let them decide for themselves whether to attend Bible class and church services.
  
• I wonder why people who say, “Money isn’t everything,” act as if it were.
  
• I wonder why people still remember things they forgave 10 years ago.
  
• I wonder why other people’s sins are always so much worse than our own.
  
• I wonder why other people’s children are so naughty, but our own are cute when they’re doing the same things. Or why it’s the fault of the other children’s parents when the children do wrong, but our own do wrong in spite of our having taught them better.
  
• I wonder why people who say “I can quit anytime I want to” can’t. Or why people keep themselves enslaved to a habit in order to prove their independence.
  
• I wonder why people who stand before God and vow “Till death shall part us,” later decide that it must mean, “till the going gets tough,” or, ““till I find someone I like better.” Then I wonder why they say it’s God’s will for them to break the vows they made to Him. Does that mean He really wants us to lie to Him? I wonder, does God bless us for lying?
  
• I wonder why people apologize to the preacher when he hears them use God’s name as a swear word. Doesn’t it seem like they should apologize to God?
  
• I wonder why we don’t sing “Sweet minute of prayer.”
  
• I wonder how long after death it takes for atheists to know they were wrong.
  
• I wonder how long it takes for those who decide to “end it all” to discover they just started it all.
  
• I wonder why the fertilized egg of a Sea Tortoise is deserving of all the protection of law, but a fertilized egg of a human, or a live human baby yet unborn, has no such rights.
  
  I just wonder about a lot of things. Don’t you? I wonder if God doesn’t wonder about us a lot, too.

  A Moments Wisdom

  One is not truly living unless he is living for others.
  A man is what he is, and not what he has.
  Persons are to be loved; things are to be used.
  Prosperity is not a proper scale; adversity is the only balance to weigh friends.
  Hasty decisions often bring lifelong regrets.
  A man who is ‘half drunk’ is only “half sober.

The Temptation
By Bob Waldron

            After Jesus was baptized, He was led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. The account of the temptation of Jesus offers some of the richest lessons in scripture. In studying the temptation, many have sought to explain why Jesus did not follow Satan's suggestions by various, sometimes ingenious, ideas. These ideas may be true, and are definitely worthy of thought. Jesus, however, knew best why He could not do the things Satan wished Him to do. We shall be guided in this study, therefore, solely by the replies Jesus Himself made.
            Jesus was in the wilderness for forty days during which time He fasted. Both Matthew and Luke indicate that Jesus felt no hunger until after the forty days. "And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, He afterward hungered" (Matt. 4:2). "And He did eat nothing in those days: and when they were completed, He hungered" (Luke 4:2). Hunger fell upon Jesus more as a blow than as something to which He had slowly grown accustomed. Mark indicates that Satan had been tempting Jesus already. "And He was in the wilderness forty days tempted of Satan" (Mark 1:12). Now Satan comes again.
            "If thou art the Son of God, command that these stones become bread" (Matt. 4:3). Now we know that Jesus had the power to change one substance into another (see John 2 where Jesus changed water to wine). We also know that several times Jesus used His power to provide food (Matt. 14; 15; John 21). Why not this time? Satan seemed to be tempting Jesus to prove His Sonship, but Jesus' reply was not, "Satan, I do not have to prove my Sonship. Both you and I know who I am." The temptation was more subtle than that. Jesus replied, "It is written, `Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God'" (Matt. 4:4). If we are to understand what Satan's temptation was, we will do so only by understanding Jesus' response.
            When Israel was encamped in the plains of Moab, poised to invade Canaan, Moses preached to them. He said, "All the commandment which I command thee this day shall ye observe to do, that ye may live, and multiply, and go in and possess the land which Jehovah sware unto your fathers. And thou shalt remember all the way which Jehovah thy God hath led thee these forty years in the wilderness, that He might humble thee, to prove thee, to know what was in thy heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments, or not. And he humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know; that He might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by everything that proceedeth out of the mouth of Jehovah doth man live" (Deut. 8:1-3).
            If the Israelites had been asked to list their necessities, they would have said food and water. We cannot be critical of them without some self-examination. If someone were chosen at random and asked to list the necessities of life he would list: (1) food, (2) water, (3) shelter. The Israelites had to learn that God was more important to their survival than bread. They had to learn that the first necessity is to obey the words that proceed out of the mouth of Jehovah. Oh, how we today need to learn to include that necessity at the top of our list.
            How, though, does this point tie in with Jesus' refusal to turn stones into bread? Satan was telling Jesus to use the power He had for His sole benefit. It was not the Father's will that Jesus' power be used in that manner. Though Jesus knew He needed food, He also knew one thing He needed more -- to do the Father's will. God did not give Jesus His great power so that if He had a headache He could merely wish it away, or if He became thirsty He could cause a glass of water to pop into His hand. He always used His power for the sake of others to produce faith in them. Thus it would have been contrary to the "word that proceeded out of the mouth of God" for Jesus to use His power for His benefit. Therefore He would not and told Satan why. "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God."
            We go to the pinnacle of the temple to learn another lesson from Jesus' temptations. "Then the devil taketh Him into the holy city, and he set Him on the pinnacle of the temple" (Matt. 4:5). If this pinnacle were the southern wall of the temple enclosure, then, according to Josephus, the wall was "vastly high" in elevation while the valley immediately below was "very deep, and its bottom could not be seen." The exact location of the pinnacle is not important. A fall from such a height would be fatal. Imagine standing there looking down into the depths of the valley below. Satan says, "If thou art the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, `He shall give His angels charge concerning thee': and, `On their hands they shall bear thee up, lest haply thou dash thy foot against a stone'" (Mt. 4:6). Is the true content of the temptation here the Sonship of Jesus? What does Jesus reply? "Again it is written, 'Thou shalt not make trial of the Lord thy God'" (Mt. 4:7). Jesus knew what Satan was tempting Him to do. Satan was trying to make Jesus show a lack of confidence in God.
            As in His response to the first temptation, Jesus quoted from Deuteronomy, "Ye shall not tempt Jehovah your God, as ye tempted Him in Massah" (Deut. 6:16). Obviously Moses was reminding the Israelites of a former occasion when they had tried God. The time to which he referred happened within the first few weeks after the Israelites had left Egypt. The people were thirsty and murmured. God told Moses to smite the rock, and he did so, and water came forth. "And he called the name of the place Massah, and Meribah, because of the striving of the children of Israel, and because they tempted Jehovah, saying, `Is Jehovah among us, or not?'" (Exod. 17:7). The Israelites saw the plagues God brought upon Egypt. They saw God divide the waters of the Red Sea while His pillar of fire stood between the Israelites and the Egyptians. He had enabled Moses to sweeten the waters of Marah and had fed the children of Israel with manna, but these were not sufficient grounds for faith for the Israelites. God must needs continually prove Himself. This attitude is one of perpetual doubt, a spiritual vacuum. This is the attitude we see in people today when they can look upon the handiwork of God, behold His providential works, have an abundance of material things, a family, health, and then say, "You know, sometimes I wonder whether God really exists." Tempting God in this manner is caused by a blindness which refuses to accept the evidence God has given to support faith and which continually asks for proof.
            Satan was really attempting to get Jesus to express doubt as the Israelites had done before. "You say you are the Son of God. Well God said He would give His angels charge to guard you and to keep you from dashing your foot against a stone. Why not test God and see if He will?" Jesus, however, saw the trap and replied, "Thou shalt not make trial of the Lord thy God." If Jesus had done as Satan requested, He would have manifested a lack of confidence in God. If He, the Son of God, had manifested a lack of confidence in God, any grounds for our faith would have been totally destroyed.
            We need to draw a practical lesson for ourselves. Let us not say, "I wish God would do something now to show that He really is." How can we stand on the peak of God's revelation, and see the path of redemption from the Garden of Eden until now, and observe the daily operation of God's creation, and say, "Do something, God, so that I will know you are there"? "Thou shalt not make trial of the Lord thy God."
            In the third temptation of Jesus recorded in Matthew 4, "the devil taketh Him unto an exceeding high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; and he said unto Him, 'All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me'" (Matt. 4:8,9). Satan sought to get Jesus to worship him. If ever the bald-faced audacity of Satan was ever manifested, it was then. The very idea of supreme Deity worshiping Satan is mind boggling. If Jesus had seen fit to fall down and worship Satan, then surely we who are far less in power could do no less than to follow His example. As I said, the consequences of such an action would have shaken the foundations of reason itself.
            What was the appeal of this temptation? God had promised Jesus the "obedience of the peoples" (Gen. 49:10); "the nations for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession" (Psa. 2:8). For Jesus to follow God's way to the throne on the "holy hill of Zion" led to the cross. It was the hard way, the sacrificial way. Satan's way was easy. All Jesus had to do was to fall down and worship him. If He had done that, being who He was, Deity would have been divided. Deity would have submitted to an inferior being's power. The scheme of redemption would have been completely thwarted.
            Jesus answered Satan, "Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, 'Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and Him only shalt thou serve'" (Matt. 4:10). For the third time Jesus quoted from Deuteronomy (6:13). Moses warned the people that when they went into the land, they were not to follow after the idols. One may make a god out of anything. Satan wanted to exchange himself for God and let Jesus worship him, but Jesus refused. "Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God and Him only shalt thou serve."
            It will be profitable to look at a few reasons why Jesus was perfect. They are exemplified in the temptation accounts. We blame sin on our human bodies, but Jesus had a human body and did not sin. Sin comes from the heart. It is the heart which allows the desires of the body to become lust. Surely the divine nature of Jesus is the ultimate explanation of His complete, lifelong perfection. There are, however, two things which we may study with great benefit. One reason why Jesus never sinned is that He was not ignorant. He knew everything that was right. Many times we sin because we do not know. We have not studied and learned. The more we know of God's way the better we will be able to walk in it. Another reason why Jesus never sinned is that He always did what He knew was right. How often do we get to the end of a day and say, "I should have done this or that," and did not do it? We can improve our service to God without learning anything else if we will immediately begin to do more of what we already know we should do. We can then further improve by studying the scriptures more diligently. Let us be imitators of Christ and "resist the devil and he will flee from you" (Jas. 4:7). (Via Truth Magazine XXIII Part 1: 31, pp. 504-505, August 9, 1979; Part 2: 32, pp. 520-521, August 16, 1979; Part 3: 33, p. 533, August 23, 1979)

A Moments Wisdom

“And Seeing You Will See And Not Perceive”
By Paul R. Blake

            “And seeing, you will see and not perceive...” (Matt. 13:14ff). Thus spake the Savior in the parable of the sower. He taught that people would hear the truth, but would fail to recognize and understand it; that folks would see evidence of the Divine, but fail to identify and distinguish it. They would hear with ears of flesh, but their souls had self-inflicted deafness. They could see with eyes of flesh, but the eyes of their heart and mind were shut tight. The will of God and its attendant blessings were right in front of them, and they would not see either. How sad.
            The apostle Paul told the Corinthians that “we walk by faith, not by sight” (2Cor.  5:7). They were having the same difficulty with this principle as did Christ's audience. How it is that one cannot see what is right in front of him. Perhaps he is not looking for it.                       
            The human mind is a wondrous organ, perhaps the pinnacle of God's physical creation. We have been given the ability to focus our attention on one item, and at the same time screen out nearly all other movement, sounds, and input around us. Visualize sitting under a tree in the summer while studying the Bible. What is going on around you? There are birds singing, children playing across the street, a lawn mower running at the end of the block, a breeze blowing, dappled sunlight through the leaves making spots on the pages, ants a few feet away dragging a grasshopper home for supper, a robin tugging a worm from the flower bed nearby. How do you get any studying done? Simple; your mind filters out all of these distractions. You have decided to read, and your mind complies by screening out all of the extra things going on around you.
            How does this work in spiritual matters? Quite the same way; in fact, Paul told the Corinthians that they were looking at and concentrating on the wrong things; they needed to shift their focus. Instead of looking at things that were visible, they should have been concentrating on invisible matters.
            “Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal” (2Cor. 4:16-18).
            This principle is easily understood when we realize that one of our five senses can distract the others from its full functional awareness. When listening to a particularly beautiful sound, we instinctively close our eyes for fuller appreciation; that way our mind can focus on hearing without the powerful distraction of vision. Likewise, when we are trying to see by faith, our physical sense of sight distracts our focus and reasoning. Our eyes get in the way of our faith. For example, the evolutionist peddles his moldy bones in the classroom. Our physical eyes see those bones as alleged evidence for Darwinism, and this distracts our vision by faith; that is, God created all things. Similarly, our eyes see the factory being shut down and our job vanishing, and this vision distracts us from seeing by faith that God has promised to care for His own. Therefore, when we focus our attention through our physical senses, our walk by faith becomes addled and confused by the extra input. We need to focus our attention and thinking on seeing the unseen by faith, and block out the senses of the flesh in spiritual matters.
            Why should we direct our attention to the invisible while living in a physical world? First, for the sake of security. For precisely that reason: we live in a physical world. A physical world changes, it decays, it dies. God does not change, heaven does not decay, and the soul does not die. In a short space of time, relatively speaking, this world will be gone. In an even shorter period of time, our bodies will be dead. The physical is ephemeral, delicate, and limited. The spiritual is profound, powerful, and permanent. The body dies easily, but no force exists that can harm, let alone destroy, the soul.
            Second, for encouragement. Paul said the outward man is perishing while at the same time the inward man is being built up. The eyes of flesh become discouraged when the outward man declines, but the eyes of faith focus on the growth and strength derived from the suffering of the flesh. It is inevitable that the flesh will age and that the Christian will suffer. Our souls were created by God in such a way as to obtain power and health from the privation of the body. By faith, we rejoice that our spirit grows as our body shrinks.
            Third, for perseverance. With the eyes of flesh, we see only the trials and the effect that such pressure has on our lives and bodies. It makes us want to quit; after all, who wants to deliberately harm himself or witness harm to himself? Without the vision of faith, we would not see the reward that awaits and makes the suffering worth the sacrifice. The undistracted eyes of faith allow us to see that our physical trials are "light" and "momentary," while our reward is "far more exceeding," "eternal," "weighty" and "glory." Seeing this way, we can put up with light, momentary afflictions in view of what is to come.
            And fourth, for greater vision. One who only sees with his physical eyes is limited and spiritually impoverished. He cannot see beyond this earth and has no hope of the riches in Christ. One who walks by faith can see the unseen and set his affections on things above this plane of existence. To him, this world is a brief stretch of highway on his pilgrimage to the heavenly presence of God.
            Kind reader, walk by faith. Do not allow the eyes of flesh to distract you from the beauties of the eternal and unseen.

A Moments Wisdom

Many people fret because they must do without what their parents never had.
Money can fill a man’s billfold, but it can’t fill his spirit.
Unbelief in the face of evidence is either stupidity or sin.
God’s power is able to perform what God’s purpose plans.
A man who has only money is poor indeed.
A stab of conscience is the most painful wound in the world.
Those who give most are least concerned about returns.
Atheism, philosophically, is religious, for it makes a huge religious ceremony of denying God.
An atheist is a man who looks through a telescope and tries to explain what he can't see.
We are the personification of the things we really believe in.

A Challenging Declaration
By Ethan R. Longhenry

            “To him therefore that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin” (James 4:17).
            When human beings think about sin, they normally think about “sins of commission,” doing wicked things. We recognize those who commit sexual sins, murder, lie, cheat, steal, or do other such things as “bad” or “evil” people. If we are able to avoid committing such sins, we often pride ourselves on being “good, moral people.” Many people believe that as long as they are these “good, moral people,” avoiding these terrible acts of sin, God will accept them as they are and save them.
            This is nothing new. In the days of Jesus, the Pharisees also defined themselves in this way. They prided themselves on their righteousness, which mean that they did not commit acts of wickedness and they scrupulously held many of the laws that God had made (Luke 18:11-12). Their fellow Jews certainly respected them and accepted the notion that this righteous exterior was acceptable to God. The Pharisees and others were the “good, moral people” of their day and age. But is God pleased when people just avoid acts of wickedness?
            Jesus condemns those very Pharisees who considered themselves to be good and righteous people. He did not condemn them for the things they did in accordance with God's will; they were condemned for not accomplishing the “weightier aspects” of the Law (Matt. 23:23). How can this be?
            In James 4:17, James demonstrates that the definitions of sin and morality that
many people accept are quite flawed. Yes, it is true that sins of commission are wrong, and will condemn a person if they do not repent of them (1Cor. 6:9-10). Nevertheless, James indicates that there are also sins of omission, to fail to do the right thing is sinful!
            This is a much more challenging definition of sin, and Jesus exemplifies it in the story of the Good Samaritan in Luke 10:25-37. The priest and the Levite would be reckoned as “good, moral people,” and yet they sinned by violating the command to love your neighbor as yourself when they did not help the man in need (vv. 31-32; cf. Lev. 19:18). The Samaritan, who would not fit the Jewish definition of a “good, moral person,” nevertheless proves himself by helping the man in need (vv. 33-37). The priest and the Levite would have abhorred the sins of the robbers who beat the man. In the end, however, they are just as guilty of sin by not helping the man in need as the robbers for beating him!
            It is not enough for us just to avoid terrible sins; we must also seek to do the right thing. We must not only avoid hate; we must also show love. We must not just steer clear of conflict; we must work to make peace. We should not do anything to harm our neighbor; we should also love him as ourselves. We must avoid the works of the flesh of Galatians 5:19-21; we must also strive to manifest the fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5:22-23. Doing the wrong thing and not doing the right thing are equally sinful before God! Let us strive not to only avoid evil but also to do good when we have opportunity, and exhibit true righteousness!

Treasures in Heaven

            "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also" (Matt. 6:19-21).
            It is estimated that if the widow's mite had been deposited at the "First National Bank, Jerusalem" to draw four percent interest semi-annually, the fund today would total $4,800,000,000,000,000,000,000. If a bank on earth could multiply the widow's mite to such an astronomical figure, think what treasures this dedicated woman will have in heaven where "moth and rust doth not corrupt."
            "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal" (Matt. 6:19-20).
            When one is staying in a motel overnight, he doesn't go into the room, frown at the decor, and start redecorating. Why? Because he doesn't live there. He has a permanent home in another place. While he is away, he will manage only on what he needs, and will save his money to furnish his permanent home. Likewise, let us not work at trying to make our lives more comfortable in this world, but let us spend our time and energy in enhancing our eternal home. (From Bible Illustrator)

A Moments Wisdom

To repent of sin is divine, but to continue in sin is devilish.
Self praise is no recommendation.
If we don’t crucify the love of the world, the love of the world will crucify us.
When there is much drinking, there is little thinking.
Some family trees produce a variety of nuts.
The liquor peddler loves the drunkard, but not as a son-in-law.
The true Christian will sift facts from rumors, and he will stand with facts.
May we never climb so high in our own estimation that we lose sight of the way to heaven.
People seldom become famous for what they say until after they are famous for what they do.
It is curious that physical courage should be so common in the world and moral courage so rare.
I only have three faults: what I say, what I do, and what I think.
If you neglect another day, you have a day more to repent of, and a day less to repent in.
Let God completely control your life and you'll always be in the right place at the right time.
Pitch the Good Book to your child while he is young, and they won't throw the book at him when he is older.
Idol worship is often done during idle time.
When death knocks, you will come as you are.
Haste is engaged to save minutes, usually after hours have been wasted.
God is the only one in a position to look down on others.
If you think of this world as a place intended simply for your happiness, you might find it quite intolerable; think of it as a place of training and correction and it's not so bad. --C.S. Lewis
It takes both hands to lay hold of eternal life; you will have to let everything else go.
A thankful heart speaks more eloquently to God than the most persuasive tongue.
It is not enough to do good; one must do it the right way.
You have not converted a man merely because you have silenced him

What Happened to the Potted Plants?
By O. J. Russell

            This story is true, except for the names and places. A congregation moved into a new building with gleeful delight and some degree of pride over the elegant material surroundings in which they would worship. Someone supplied two beautiful five foot plants to adorn the front of the auditorium.
            Some months following the opening service in the new building, to the dismay of the elders and building committee, the plants disappeared. Said elders and committee sound- ed the alarm! The congregation was bombarded with announcements. Men were deputized to seek the whereabouts of the plants. Apologies were made to the donors of the decorative plants. For two months, the missing potted plants became the center of conversation in the church at worship and at home. The search was intensified and the announcements and pleadings seemed unending.
            The quest ended quite abruptly when the local preacher dared to solve the problem. It took nerve to do it! Since the potted plants had not been found and obviously were not going to be, he arose following a long announcement about the lost decorations and said: "We have heard a great deal about the missing plants that were lost. For two months at every service, announcements have been made, and people have earnestly looked for that which is lost. For years we have known that sheep have strayed from the flock. Prodigal sons are away from the worship and the Bible declares that they are lost. Each soul missing here today is more valuable than the whole world; and yet, we have not heard one announcement nor have we seen anxious concern about Mary Smith, John Brown, or Sam Jones, whose eternal welfare may hang on our concern. If we had put forward one-tenth of the effort in locating the lost souls of this flock as we have the lost potted plants, surely angels in Heaven would rejoice!" Suffice it to say, no other announcements were made about the plants.

What Makes A Pattern In Christianity?
By B. G. Hope

            The sum total of what God has said about anything becomes the pattern for it. Examine the following statements. Are they true or false?
            1. All that God has said about the plan of salvation is a pattern for salvation to every person.
            2. All that God has said about the New Testament Church is a pattern by which it is identified.
            3. All that God has said about becoming a member of the Lord's church is a pattern for everyone.
            4. All that God has said about the acts of worship is a pattern.
            5. All that God has said about the day to observe the Lord's Supper is a pattern for Christians.
            6. All that God has said about the church and the support of preaching is a pattern to observe.
            7. All that God has said about the church and helping the needy is a pattern for Christians today.
            8. All that God has said about following Christ in Spirit, etc., is a pattern for us.
            I count it safe to follow the information we have in the Bible. I commend what it says to everyone. James said, “For whosoever shall keep the whole law and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all” (James 2:10).

A Moments Wisdom

Doing an injury puts you below your enemy; revenging one makes you even with him; forgiving him sets you above him.
The man who toots his own horn soon has everyone dodging when he approaches.
A good leader is someone who takes more than his share of the blame and a little less than his share of the credit.
Having problems is not so bad. There is a special place reserved for people who are problem-free. It is called the cemetery.
I thank Thee, O Lord, that Thou has so set eternity within my heart that no earthly thing can ever satisfy me wholly.
Tolerance of evil is a dangerous error, for no one is free to behave just as he pleases.
He who neglects to drink of the spring of experience is apt to die of thirst in the desert of ignorance.
Unless we are willing to help a person overcome his faults, there is little value in pointing them out.
No one on his own deathbed ever repents of having been a Christian.
What you do for self will soon be forgotten, but what you do for others will be long remembered.
One who sets out a seedling has others besides himself in mind.
The Good Samaritan didn't wait for the media to arrive before he did his thing.
One never loses what he gives away when there is love in the giving.
There is a difference between charity and giving away what you no longer want.
He whose goal is to please his audience usually fails God, and he who pleases God cannot please all his audience.
Kind hearts are the garden. Kind thoughts are the roots. Kind words are the flowers. And, kind deeds are the fruits.
Prayer digs the channel from the reservoir of God's boundless resources to the tiny pools of our lives.
The big jobs of tomorrow are for the man who is doing today's small jobs as best as he can.
A small house can hold as much happiness as a big one.
The child's first school is the family.
Mothers write on the hearts of their children what the world's rough hand cannot erase.
Success is sweet, but its secret is sweat.
You don't get much done by starting tomorrow.
As long as we are sure of the crown, we will not become weary of the cross.
Although the price of wheat and oats rise and fall, the price of sin remains high.
The ignorance of ignorance is the death of knowledge.
Too many people think service means ‘serve us’.
Two great tests of character are wealth and poverty.
The clenched fist is not attached to the arm of love.
A true friend is one who comes in when others go out.

Leaving A Vacancy
By Irvin Himmel

            Eddie was a clerk in a hardware store. He made a name for himself as the most inefficient and contentious sales-man ever. The atmosphere when he was absent one day was like the tranquil beauty of summer weather after a bad thunderstorm. One regular customer remarked on the difference. "Eddie ain't just away for the day," said the proprietor, "He don't work here no more."
            "Do you have anyone in mind for the vacancy?" asked the customer. "Nope," said the proprietor cheerfully, "Eddie didn't leave no vacancy."
            This little story reminds us of some folks in the church. It is so seldom that they attend services that no one really misses them when they are absent. They are such that no great loss is felt if they move to another city. Like Eddie, they leave no vacancy. Others can be absent for only one or two services and they are missed. Why? Because they are dependable. When their seat is vacant people take notice.
            Church attendance is not the only matter of importance in the life of a Christian. However, it is a pretty good index to the temperature of one's fervor for the Lord. Non-attending members are usually non-participating in other aspects of the Lord's work. One must fill a place, render needed service, and be a participant before he can leave a vacancy. (Guardian of Truth XL: 7 p. 4, April 4, 1996)

Three Dangerous Questions

            It has been said that in the hands of a teenager these three questions are very dangerous, especially to parents who follow their instructions to the teens with "Because I said so."  It is annoying to have one's authority questioned.
#1  What Do You Mean?
#2  How Do You Know?
#3  So What?
            The first is the definition of terms.  The second is the basis of authority. The third is the relevance of the discussion.  A teenager  can be lethal with these and especially the third one.  When the parents think they have well defined exactly what they mean and established their basis of authority and the kid still ends up saying something like, "So what? What does what you're saying have anything to do with me?" "Because I said so" is often a good way for weary Moms and Dads to answer recalcitrant teens.
            These three questions are also dangerous in the realm of religion.  Religious leaders view these queries as a threat to their dominion. However, God's children need to be asking continually:  1) Explain what you mean more clearly, 2) How did you get that information, and 3) How does that fit in with God's word?

Repaying Good With Evil

            Playwright and US Congresswoman Clare Boothe Luce (1903–1987) once said, “No good deed goes unpunished.” Sadly, it sometimes seems as if this aphorism is true.
            David, soon to be king of Israel, had an experience that corroborates this idea. While hiding from Saul, he and his men watched over the property of a rich landowner named Nabal. But later, when David asked a favor of Nabal, he was met with scorn. “Surely in vain I have protected all that this fellow has,” said David. “He has repaid me evil for good” (1Sam. 25:21).
            Before David could carry out revenge, Nabal’s wife intervened and kept David from acting rashly. Soon, God struck Nabal dead (v.38). Then David praised God for keeping him from evil and for returning “the wickedness of Nabal on his own head” (v.39).
            Perhaps you’ve had an experience when kindness was repaid with ingratitude, a generous gift was treated as an entitlement, kind actions were interpreted as an attempt to control, or well-intended advice was received with scorn. David’s story reminds us that even when it seems as if we’re being repaid with evil for doing good, we don’t have to take matters into our own hands; we can trust God with the outcome. (Julie Ackerman Link)

Do It Anyway

            “But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven...” (Matt. 5:44-45).
People are unreasonable, illogical and self-centered. Love them anyway.
If you do well, people will accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives. Do well anyway.
If you are successful, you will win false friends and true enemies. Succeed anyway.
Honesty and frankness make you vulnerable. Be honest and frank anyway.
The good you do today will be forgotten tomorrow. Do good anyway.
The biggest people with the biggest ideas can be shot down by the smallest people with the smallest minds. Think big anyway.
People favor underdogs but follow only top dogs. Fight for some underdogs anyway.
What you spend years building may be destroyed overnight. Build anyway. (From Illustrations Unlimited, by James S. Hewett, p. 54)

A Moments Wisdom

If things don’t seem to be going your way, perhaps you are on the wrong road.
Loyalty to kinship or friendship is not necessarily loyalty to truth.
The heart cannot be pure when the tongue is unclean.
Truth is worthless to the person who doesn’t practice it.
Doubt sees the obstacles, but faith sees the way.
Action is the true test of faith.
To admit I was wrong is but to say that I am wiser today than I was yesterday.
The best thing for gray hair is a sensible head.
It is the quality of marriage not marriage itself that brings happiness.”
Sickness which contributes to the health of the soul is good.
Poverty that increases our eternal riches is kind.
A person who knows everything has a lot to learn.
God looks most where man looks least — at the heart.
Saying what is right is always easier than doing what is right.
One is indeed foolish who increases his speed after he loses his way.
Those who think it is permissible to tell white lies will soon grow colorblind.

What’s Wrong With Dancing?
By Kenneth J. Fleeman

            I have known several Christians who have either asked this very question or made the statement “I don’t see anything wrong with dancing”. Indeed, the world does not see anything wrong with dancing. Salsa dancing was introduced to my nine year old daughter’s third grade class as “exercise”. “Dancing With the Stars” is considered “entertainment” and earns top network ratings. Our school district believes holding a sixth grade dance is a “reward” for good behavior and the high school prom is an unquestioned institution. It is unfortunate that many Christians’ moral senses are not developed so to be able to discern good from evil. (Heb 5:14)
            Sin is progressive and dancing is a stepping stone in Satan’s broad path. Immodest dress (1 Tim 2:9) coupled with lascivious movements arouse evil lusts and passions (1 Pet 4:3).  The temptation is irresistible and the intemperate give in to licentious behavior. Such was the behavior of the Gentiles. Christians should know better (Eph 4:17-20)!
            Dancing accompanied the unrestrained behavior exhibited by the Israelites while Moses was away on the Mount receiving the Law (Ex 32:19). It was also an element leading to the murder of John the Baptist (Mk 6:22-26). Many of the consequences of dancing are obvious. Fornication and unwanted pregnancy frequently result. Exposure to drinking and smoking is also a danger. Unseen is the damage to one’s influence. It doesn’t matter that you were clothed modestly or that you didn’t dance. Your presence at a dance indicates approval.
            Parents are to provide moral direction. (Eph 6:4).  School is not the place for children to learn morality nor are children the authority in the home. Christian parents need to demonstrate virtue and wisdom  with this critical issue. Your children’s souls depend on it.

“I Like Polyester”
By Brent Lykins

            I like polyester. No, I don't wear leisure suits, but I'm actually referring to the properties of polyester: strong, resistant to most chemicals, wrinkle resistant, and abrasion resistant. Polyester is often used in outerwear because of its high strength and durability. It is a strong fiber and consequently can withstand strong and repetitive movements. Polyester is used in pants, shirts, suits, and bed sheets because of its wrinkle-resistant property and its ability to retain its shape. Since these garments are frequently worn and washed, its stain resistance and durability are also desirable. Stick with me for a moment; this horribly cheesy introduction actually has a purpose.
            I can compare the congregation where I attend to a piece of polyester fabric: strong, closely woven, and having the ability to retain its closeness. Maybe it's the size of the group, maybe it's because I'm starting to mature and understand more, maybe it's a combination of the two; however I am greatly edified by our spiritual family and the worship services that we participate in. I am very happy that Katie and I have become part of the group. It's a great feeling to be associated with such a group of caring people who are all striving for the same goal.
            However, just like polyester, once a rip is introduced, the closeness and fabric of the relationship can be torn apart. We each have to strive to keep that relationship intact. Just like an earthly family, we have brothers and sisters that we need to take care of. Galatians 6:2 says, "Bear one another's burdens and so fulfill the law of Christ." Another passage talking about Christian support is Romans 15:1-2, which says, "Now we who are strong ought to bear the weaknesses of those without strength and not just please ourselves. Each of us is to please his neighbor for his good, to his edification." I'm sure these passages could be extended for application to both spiritual and physical weaknesses. Not all of us have the same spiritual downfalls. Not all of us are perfectly healthy or have family members who are perfectly healthy. Each of us needs to be aware of those weaknesses.
            A little on the contrast, we need to rejoice with those who rejoice. In the past month, we have had a baptism, we have had successful surgeries, we have seen family members go home from the hospital when the outlooks were dim; the blessings are innumerable. Yes, we should bear one another's burdens, but let's also be joyful when others are experiencing joy! Romans 12:15 says, "Rejoice with those who rejoice..." Likewise, 1 Corinthians 12:25-26 says, "...that there should be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. ...if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it."
            As I close, I want to offer thanks to God and also offer thanks to all of the members  for being part of my family. Let's all strive to bring one another closer to our own hearts and to help each other reach heaven. We all share that goal.
            Just like polyester, our congregation is made up of individual “fibers”. Let’s make sure our fibers are strong, resistant, and knit closely to one another.

A-C-T-S
By David McPherson

            Christians are to “pray without ceasing” (1Thes. 5:17). Some have trouble doing this simply because they forget what to do in prayer. The acronym "A-C-T-S" is one way to remember.
            A -- Adoration. Prayer is a time to adore/praise God. David prayed, “Thine, O Lord, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty...” (1Chron. 29:11). Don't just ask things of God, acknowledge His awesomeness.
            C -- Confession. Prayer is also a time to confess sin. John wrote, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins...” (1John 1:9). One whose iniquities have separated him from God should exercise this privilege. Admit your wrongs!
            T -- Thanksgiving. In prayer, we should express our gratitude to God. It is “with thanksgiving” (Phil. 4:6), that our requests are to be made known to Him. Do you appreciate the good things you have, love, and hope for? Tell God “thank you.”
            S -- Supplication. This is where we make our requests. There are many things for which Christians ought to ask -- wisdom, peace, patience, opportunities to teach, etc. Brethren, don't forget to pray. (via The Beacon, Electronic Edition, 1/24/06)

Holes In The Darkness

            “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matt. 5:14-16).
            At age twelve, Robert Louis Stevenson was looking out into the dark from his upstairs window, watching a man light the streetlamps. Stevenson's governess came into the room and asked what he was doing. He replied, "I am watching a man cut holes in the darkness." I see this as a marvelous picture of what our task should be as sharers of God's light - people who are busy cutting holes in the spiritual darkness of our world. (From Illustrations Unlimited, by James S. Hewett, p. 178-9)
            Paul said, “That you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast the word of life” (Phil. 2:15-16).

Are There Any Mules You're Not Talking To?

            One day a visiting farmer leaned on the old fence around a farm while he watched another farmer plowing with a mule. After a while, the visitor said, “I don't like to tell you how to run your business, but you wouldn't have to work so hard if you would just say, 'gee' and 'haw' to that mule instead of straining and tugging on those lines.”
            The old farmer stopped and pulled a big handkerchief from his pocket and wiped his face. Then he said, “Reckon you're right, but this animal kicked me five years ago and I ain't spoken to him since.”
            Some of us hold a grudge for a long, long time. We can remember distinctly the words that were spoken to us, or the way we were mistreated, and “we'll never forget it” let alone forgive it. Unfortunately, grudges don't hurt others nearly as much as they hurt us. But no matter how hard it may be, we'll tug on those reins until the day we die rather than seek reconciliation.
            “Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ forgave you” (Eph. 4:31-32). Are there any mules you're not talking to?

No Place I'd Rather Be
By Coral Blake

No need to ask me, Lord.
No need for a command for me
When the saints come to worship
No place I'd rather be.

No work to put my hands to,
No celebration sways me,
No business task demanding my hand
No place I'd rather be.

No mourning the daily losses,
No recreational game to see,
No meetings with the world, Lord,
No place I'd rather be.

The loving sweet communion,
The songs of calm repose,
The words of Your kind guidance,
The fellowship so close;

For here Lord, when we meet
Is where you promised to abide;
What place could be more worthy
Of my presence and my time.

It is for you, Dear Lord, that I come
And the songs and prayers I sow
In hope that heaven will be my home,
No place I'd rather go.

A Moments Wisdom

You may betray Christ by your speech — or by your silence!
Choice, not chance, determines man’s destiny.
We should be channels of blessings, not mere reservoirs!
A half-hearted follower of Christ can never render whole-hearted service.
Your reputation is valuable, but your character should be priceless.
Satan doesn’t care how we worship so long as we do not worship as God says.

Forsaken Roots of America

            Did you know that 52 signers of the Declaration of Independence were Bible Believers and possessed membership in established religious institutions? The other three all were believers in the Bible as the Divine Truth, the God of scripture and His personal intervention. This same Congress formed the American Bible Society. Immediately after creating the Declaration of Independence, the Continental Congress voted to purchase 20,000 copies of scripture for the people of this nation.
            Patrick Henry said, “An appeal to arms and the God of hosts is all that is left us. But we shall not fight our battles alone. There is a just God that presides over the destinies of all nations. The battle sir, is not to the strong alone. Is life so dear or peace so sweet as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it almighty God. I know not what course others may take, but give me liberty, or give me death.” Much of this statement has been deleted from our school text books… The following year, 1779, he wrote this: “It cannot be emphasized too strongly or too often that this great nation was founded not by religionists, but by Christians; not on religion, but on the gospel of Jesus Christ. For that reason alone, people of other faiths have been afforded freedom of worship here.”
            Consider these words that Thomas Jefferson wrote on the front of his well-worn Bible: “I am a real Christian, that is to say, a disciple of the doctrines of Jesus. I have little doubt that our whole country will soon be rallied to the unity of our Creator and, I hope, to the pure doctrine of Jesus also.”
            Consider the words of George Washington from his personal prayer book: “Oh, eternal and everlasting God direct my thoughts, words and work. Wash away my sins in the immaculate blood of the Lamb and purge my sins in the immaculate blood of the Lamb and purge my heart by the Holy Spirit. Daily, frame me more and more in the likeness of thy Son, Jesus Christ. That living in thy fear, and dying in thy favor, I may in Thy appointed time obtain the resurrection of the justified unto eternal life. Bless, O Lord, the whole race of mankind and let the world be filled with the knowledge of Thee and thy Son, Jesus Christ.”
            John Adams our second President, who also served as chairman of the American Bible Society, in an address to military leaders said, “We have no government armed with the power capable of contending with human passions, unbridled by morality and true religion. Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.”
            Our first Supreme Court Justice, John Jay said, “Providence has given to our people their rulers, and it is the duty as well as the privilege and interest of our Christian Nation to select and prefer Christians for their rulers.”
            John Quincy Adams, son of John Adams, was the sixth U.S. President. He was also the Chairman of the American Bible Society, which he considered his highest and most important role. On July 4, 1821, President Adams said, “The highest glory of the American Revolution was this: It connected in one indissoluble bond the principles of civil government with the principles of Christianity.”
            In 1782, the United States Congress voted this resolution: “The Congress of the United States recommends and approves the Holy Bible for use in all schools.”
            Of the first 108 universities founded in America, 106 were distinctly Christian, including the first, Harvard University, chartered in 1636. In original Harvard Student Handbook, rule number one was that students seeking entrance must know Latin and Greek so that they could study the scriptures: “Let every student be plainly instructed and earnestly pressed to consider well, the main end of his life and studies is, to know God and Jesus Christ, which is eternal life (John 17:3); and therefore to lay Jesus Christ as the only foundation of all sound knowledge and learning. And seeing the Lord only giveth wisdom, let everyone seriously set himself by prayer in secret to seek it of Him (Proverbs 2:3).” For over 100 years, more than 50% of all Harvard graduates were preachers.
            It is clear from history that the Bible and the Christian faith were foundational to our educational and judicial system. However, in 1947, there was a radical change of direction for the Supreme Court, ignoring every precedent of Supreme Court ruling for the past 160 years. The Supreme Court ruled in a limited way to affirm a wall of separation between church and state in the public classroom.
            This event led to the removing prayer from public schools in 1962. In 1963, the Supreme Court ruled that Bible reading was unconstitutional in the public school system. The court said, “If portions of the New Testament were read without explanation, they could have been psychologically harmful to children.” Bible reading was now unconstitutional, though the Bible was quoted 94% of the time by those who wrote our Constitution and shaped our Nation and its system of education, justice, and government. In 1965, the courts denied as unconstitutional the right of a student in the public school cafeteria to bow his head and pray audibly for his food. In 1980, Stone vs. Graham outlawed the Ten Commandments in public schools. The Supreme Court said, “If the posted copies of the Ten Commandments were to have any effect at all, it would be to induce school children to read them. And if they read them, mediated upon them, and perhaps venerated and obeyed them, this is not a permissible objective.”
            It is not a permissible objective to allow our children to follow the moral principles of the Ten Commandments? James Madison, the primary author of the Constitution of the United States, said this: “We have staked the whole future of our new nation, not upon the power of government; far from it. We have staked the future of all our political constitutions upon the capacity of each of ourselves to govern ourselves according to the moral principles of the Ten Commandments.”
            How can God bless a nation that has departed so far from Him? Most of what you are reading in this article has been erased from our public school text books. Revisionists have rewritten history to remove the truth about our country’s Christian roots. You are encouraged to share this with others, so that the truth of our nation’s history will be passed on to our children and grandchildren. Indeed, “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord” (Psalms 33:12). (From Pilgrim Tract Society, May 27, 2008, condensed)

A Moments Wisdom

A belief is not merely an idea the mind possesses; it is an idea that possesses the mind.
The height of your accomplishment will equal the depth of your convictions.
They conquer who believe they can.
One person with a belief is equal to a force of 99 who have only interests.
The power of a waterfall is nothing but a lot of drips working together.
The world is moved not only by the mighty shoves of the heroes but also by the aggregate of tiny pushes of each honest worker.
Snowflakes are one of nature's most fragile things, but just look at what they can do when they stick together.
Even quick thinkers should be slow to speak.
The surest steps to happiness are the steps that lead toward God.
There is more hope for a self-confessed sinner than a self-conceited saint.
A man is known by the company he keeps — and keeps out of.
The teeth may be false, but let the tongue be true.
To be true to God, one must be true to God’s Word.

“When I Am Weak…”
By Paul R. Blake

            (I was recently asked for the meaning of 2Corinthians 12:9 which states: “My strength is made perfect in weakness.” I was happy to respond, as it is a Bible principle dear to my heart.) You asked a good question. Keeping the passage in its context (2Cor. 12:1-10), Paul had just been given a wonderful revelation that had the potential to make him overly proud by thinking that God had singled him out as special. Such pride would hinder his effectiveness as a servant of the Lord. So, a limitation (not known exactly what it was) was given to him to remind him to be humble. Paul obviously chafed under the thorn and asked the Lord to remove it; perhaps he believed he would be more effective for the Lord without it. However, Jesus was clearly of a different opinion.
            Paul himself had written that he understood his role for the Lord when he said, “we have this treasure in jars of clay” (2Cor. 4:6-7). He was talking about the gospel (treasure) entrusted to him and his fellow evangelists (jars of clay). When you put a treasure in a clay jar, the glory of the treasure stands out even more by virtue of the plain commonness of the simple pottery container. The clay jar does not distract attention away from the treasure; instead, it enhances the treasure by itself receding into the background unnoticed. The focus of the observer is drawn to the treasure and not the container.
            So it is with the gospel given into the hands of ordinary (and sometimes flawed) men. The power of the gospel is clearly seen by the hearer who is not distracted by the appearance, talents, or splendor of the speaker. In fact, when the wonder of the gospel comes from an ordinary man, the hearer is more likely to think, “This man is an average Joe like me. This message is greater than the man; it must be from God.”
            It is possible that Jesus is repeating this lesson to Paul by having him keep that limitation (thorn). When people hear Paul preaching the wonderful gospel in spite of the limitation (thorn, disability, etc.), they will know that it is of God and not from this flawed, weak man. In addition, it adds to the glory of the gospel for hearers to see that it has power in spite of the condition of the vessel that brings it. In short, for Paul to preach while bearing with the thorn made him a more effective servant of Christ. Jesus was stronger in the hearts and minds of the hearers because Paul, Jesus' messenger, was weak.
            It's like the story of how the marathon began. A messenger sent from one Greek leader to another at a critical moment for the nation ran over 26 miles to carry his message. When he arrived dirty, sweaty, exhausted, he delivered his message and then died. The leader who received the message would not focus on the dirt and sweat and say his message can't be worth much; rather, he would be impressed with the importance of the message that a man would go through so much to deliver it. So it was with Paul. The message must be important for a man so hindered by the thorn to deliver it in spite of the limitations he bore.
            Let's make an application of this. Suppose someone who has known of you and your trials over the years listens to you speak with them of the gospel and your hope of heaven, and they are aware of how much energy and will you must expend to do so. They are going to think, “This message must be important for her to make the effort to teach me. I must learn what it is about this gospel that enables her to do this.” Do you see how strong the Lord appears to others when magnified by one who has a thorn in the flesh?
            In reality, we all have thorns to one degree or another (some have a whole thorn bush!). But we all work to overcome our thorns, we pray to have the Lord remove them, and when He says to bear with the thorn for now, we find a way to work His will with the thorn still in our flesh. It is one of the paradoxes of the Bible and it seems so counter intuitive to us, but how glorious is a Savior who can take flawed clay vessels and use them to magnify the treasure of the gospel! When I am weak, then He is strong.
            It shouldn't surprise us that this is the case. After all, Jesus had to descend into His weakest and most vulnerable condition in order to be an effective offering for our sins and to wrest the power over death away from Satan. He had to be rejected, beaten, die on the cross and enter the realm of death in order to do so. As the cross glorifies Jesus, so our thorns bring glory. We might even call our thorns “splinters from the cross.” I hope this helps. Thank you for asking!

A Child At Stake

            If a child attends Bible classes regularly, 2 out of 3 are converted. If a child does not attend Bible classes regularly, 1 out of 343 are converted. Are you gambling with the soul of your child? Start regular attendance NOW! 

A Big Name Preacher

            A congregation had invited a “big name” preacher to preach for them one Sunday. As it turned out, however, he couldn't go and he sent his brother to speak in his place. As word got around the congregation, several people started to leave. The fill-in preacher then stood up and made this announcement: “Those of you who came to hear my brother speak may leave at this time; those of you who came to worship God may stay on.”

Beware Of Dog!

            Upon entering the little country store, the stranger noticed a sign saying, “DANGER!  BEWARE OF DOG!” posted on the glass door. Inside he noticed a harmless old hound dog asleep on the floor beside the cash register. He asked the store manager, “Is that the dog folks are supposed to beware of?”
            “Yep, that's him,” he replied.
            The stranger couldn't help but be amused. “That certainly doesn't look like a dangerous dog to me. Why in the world would you post that sign?”
            “Because,” the owner replied, “before I posted that sign, people kept tripping over him.”
            When we mentally make a list of the worst sins in the Bible, laziness doesn't usually come to mind. But sometimes those people most dangerous are the ones who just lie around and do nothing but get in the way. Solomon had much to say about the sluggard or lazy person.
            “The lazy man says, 'There is a lion in the road! A fierce lion is in the streets!'  As a door turns on its hinges, so does the lazy man on his bed. The lazy man buries his hand in the bowl; It wearies him to bring it back to his mouth” (Prov. 26:13-15). Talk about lazy! When one is too lazy to eat, there's no hope for him. Absurd pictures, but pictures designed to make us think, to realize how dangerous it is to become lazy. So, what are you doing just sitting here reading this? Get up and do something constructive!

A Moments Wisdom

God does not measure our prayers, but he weighs them.
It is easier to find and learn God’s will than it is to do it.
Instead of being ‘Latter Day Saints,’ why not be every day saints?
Christ is not against men making money, but against money making men.
Genuine faith is assuring, insuring, and enduring.”
Criticizing another’s garden does not keep the weeds out of your own.
Praise of self is good only if and when it comes from another’s mouth.
If everyone swept in front of his house, the whole town would be clean.

A Prayer For Those Who Live Alone
Author Unknown

I live alone, dear Lord.
Stay by my side;
In all my daily needs,
Be Thou my guide.

Grant me good health;
For that indeed, I pray,
To carry on my work
From day to day.

Keep pure my mind,
My thoughts, my every deed.
Let me be kind, unselfish
In my neighbor’s need.

Spare me from fire, from flood,
Malicious tongues,
From thieves, from fear,
And evil ones.

If sickness or an
Accident befall,
Then humbly, Lord, I pray,
Hear Thou my call.

And when I’m feeling low,
Or in despair,
Lift up my heart,
And help me, is my prayer.

I live alone, dear Lord,
Yet I have no fear,
Because I feel Your presence
Ever near. Amen.

How Beautiful Heaven Must Be
By Karen Dulaney, 1/24/08

We’ve heard the phrase so many times
How beautiful heaven must be,
Its beauty’s beyond comprehension
With human eyes we cannot see.

John told us all about it
He described its beauty there,
It must be quite incredible
So lovely and so fair.

You know I often sit and think
Of all those mansions there,
Christ made them eternal
So beautiful and so rare.

Our life there in heaven
I really look forward to,
There’ll be no tears in heaven
Or bills that are overdue.

There’ll be no death or sorrow
No loved ones will depart,
We’ll all be joined together
Nothing there will break our hearts.

There’ll be no cloudy days there
Neither will there be any sun,
Because God, Our Father
Lights the way for everyone.

We see lots of lovely things
As we travel along life’s way,
Nothing can compare to
What we’ll see in heaven some day.

Our Christian friends and family
Who have finished their earthly race,
The saints of all generations
We’ll meet them face to face.

We’ll stand before HIS mighty throne
With lots of angels around.
We’ll sing the “New Song” with them
Oh, what a lovely sound.

Thank God for Christ our Savior
Our Counselor, Guide and Friend,
You see He’s made it possible
If we’re faithful ‘til Iife’s end.

A new body God will give us
No physical forms are there,
Dressed in robes of white forever
We’ll worship without a care.

If you’re not ready dear lost one
When He comes that glorious day,
You’ll be lost forever and ever
When your family goes their way.

To heaven, the beautiful place
That we call “THE PROMISED LAND”
We’ll be happy for ever and ever
As around the throne we stand.

A Cause to Fall
By Paul R. Blake

            "Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather resolve this, not to put a stumbling block or a cause to fall in our brother's way" (Rom. 14:13).
            Many years ago, a brother and friend came forward during the invitation song to acknowledge that he had done wrong by reacting in an un-Christ-like manner over unfaithful men who were being used in worship services. Although he was right in principle (erring men should not lead the congregation in worship to God until they have repented), he recognized his own mistake in handling the situation improperly. His conscientiousness was commendable. A few days later, a wise brother pointed out that this occurrence represented an occasion where the weak placed a stumbling block before the strong, causing the stronger brother to fall. I had always known that erratic attendance is a stumbling block that leads the weak astray and is a bad influence on the young, but this time the “Sunday-morning-only” attenders tripped up the devout.
            We certainly must be aware of the potential to fall in each of us, regardless of age and strength. The apostle Paul wrote: "Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall" (1Cor. 10:12). James wrote: "For we all stumble in many things..." (James 3:2). It is vital that we remain alert to tripping over stumbling blocks.
            What is a stumbling block? The name gives it away. Paul told the Romans in 14:13 that it is "a cause to fall." Sins are stumbling blocks to others, not just to the sinner himself. False teaching constitutes a stumbling block. And based on the context of Romans 14, even Divinely granted liberties in matters of individual conscience can become stumbling blocks to others. Anything one does that influences another to commit sin can be called a "stumbling block or a cause to fall in our brother's way."
            For all intents and purposes, unfaithfulness in attending services is a stumbling block. It teaches the weak and the young in faith that attendance, church work, and Bible study are unimportant and unnecessary to pleasing God with proper Christian growth. It suggests to visitors and non-members that the Lord's church is no different than the denominations of men. Based on the opening illustration, weak attendance can even lead the strong to stumble by means of discouragement, a sense of unfairness, and overwork.
            Yet, other practices have proven to be stumbling blocks as well. Debating questionable matters in public Bible classes, matters that due to the nature of the subject and the composition of the class perhaps should be reserved for a private study. It solves nothing and confuses the weak and visitors when professed Christians argue in Bible class over what Jesus wrote in the sand or where Cain got his wife. The weak have enough trouble with the Devil trying to lead them back into the world without the spiritually stubborn and ignorant trying to prove pet doctrines in unrestrained public debate. I have heard brethren fuss over unrevealed matters in Bible classes to the point where the class itself became a stumbling block. It is incumbent on the teacher to take control in class by turning it away from things that tear down and turn the discussion toward matters that edify and strengthen.
            In addition, stubbornness itself is a stumbling block. Christians who insist on having their own way may be named Bud or Tom or Gerald or Sally or Paul, but their actions spell Diotrephes (3John 9-10). These, by obstinate attitudes, ultimatums, and threats of leaving, have hindered the Lord's work and have caused others to stumble since the first century. Yet, some persist in demanding their own way in all matters to the detriment of their own souls and the souls of others influenced by the controversy. Are they earnestly contending for the faith, or merely being contentious like spoiled children? Permit me to list some of the ponderous issues over which some feel justified in casting about stumbling blocks: the color of the carpet or the paint on the wall, the temperature of the auditorium, someone who took another's customary seat or parking space, Bible classes that are too early, sermons that are too long, preachers with whom one has a personality conflict, members who bear grudges for imagined insults. The list goes on and on. What spiritual good is accomplished by demanding one's own way?
            Suffice it to say that if any activity of a professed Christian is instrumental in leading another into sin, he needs to cease that action immediately, repent, and then work to restore the one he led into error. God keeps a record of our un-repented stumbling blocks. Do we want to hear Him read it back to us on Judgment Day?       
            Let us put aside stubbornness and self-will because we respect God's word that instructs us to cast no stumbling block in our brother's way. Do it because we love our brother and want no harm to come to him. After all, isn't that what we expect of him in his treatment of us? "Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets" (Matt. 7:12). "We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren... Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren" (1John 3:14, 16). "And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing. Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil..." (1Cor. 13:2-5).

A Moments Wisdom

Pray to God but continue to row to the shore.
God does not want your cleverness -- or your ignorance.
Men to whom God is dead worship one another.
God is not a cosmic bellboy for whom we can press a button to get things.
Have courage for the great sorrows of life, and patience for the small ones. And when you have laboriously accomplished your daily task, go to sleep in peace.  God is awake.
God doesn't have to put His name on a label in the corner of a meadow because nobody else makes meadows.
There are two kinds of people: those that say to God, 'Thy will be done,' and those to whom God says, 'All right, then, have it your way.'
Man is born broken. He lives by mending. The grace of God is glue
God's gifts put man's best dreams to shame.

The Prayer That Rocked the House

Some Plain Facts for Young and Old

            This permissive age has produced a generation which neither knows nor cares about Bible principles of morality. Chastity the sanctity of marriage, and purity of heart almost seem to be relics of another age. Our young people are growing up under constant suggestions from the media and many of their friends that in moral matters “each can do his own thing.” Many people of more mature years are also affected. Here are some plain facts for young and old. Fornication is sin. This means every kind of illicit sexual activity. The Bible is plain: Those who practice fornication cannot go to heaven. (Gal. 5:19-21)
            Pornography is a medium for lust and lasciviousness. This applies to suggestiveness, lewdness, nudity, etc., whether in printing, movies, or television. Jesus said, “But I say unto you, that whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart” (Matt. 5:28).
            Things done in secret are never hidden. Actions too shameful to describe are sometimes done in secret (Eph. 5:12). Modern situations which provide privacy still do not hide anything from God (Prov. 15:3).
            Every secret thing will be brought into judgment (Ecc. 12:14).
            Love is not an excuse for sin. A typical defense for illicit sex is, “We love each other.” In the highest sense of love, one will not cause the one he/she loves to do that which will put him/her in danger of the fires of hell. One should be honest enough to calls things by their right name. It's not love. It's called lust (Rom. 13:14).
            Married love is God's plan for sexual fulfillment (Heb. 13:14). The duties and privileges of the marriage relationship are clear (1Cor. 7:3-5). Husbands and wives are required by law (God's law) to love each other (Eph. 5:25; Col. 3:18-19). Couples who “fall out of love” are not following God's plan.
            Marriage is for life. No teaching of Christ is more plain than this (Matt. 19:3-9). Regardless of what counselors, lawyers, or judges might say, one who causes the break-up of their marriage for any cause except fornication sins against God. If he/she marries another (except when the mate put away was guilty of fornication) it is adultery.
Marriages which are guided by the principles of Christ are happy marriages. Because human beings are involved there are often some stresses and strains. But principles as in Ephesians 5:22-23; 1Peter 3:1-8; Ephesians 4:32; Acts 20:35; and Matthew 6:33 will show the way to overcome problems and to build happiness. (by David Pharr, Harrison, AR)

The Prayer That Rocked the House

            There was excitement in the Kansas House of Representatives recently. Someone told the truth! But it wasn't one of the elected officials.
            Joe Wright had been asked to lead the prayer that would start the session. It is reported that one House member walked out and another sat down in protest of the prayer, “and the House came alive with the flutter of agitation that comes from offense and its often loud response.”
            Joe Wright responded by saying, “Prayer is prayer. I'm praying to God when I'm praying. I'm not up there to put on a show. I'm there to pray. I don't do it any differently in public than in private.” I wonder if Joe Wright's prayer should not be prayed all over the nation today. Here is the full text of the prayer:
            Heavenly Father,
            We come before you today to ask your forgiveness and seek your direction and guidance. We know your Word says, "Woe to those who call evil good," but that's exactly what we've done. We have lost our spiritual equilibrium and inverted our values.
            We confess that we have ridiculed the absolute truth of your Word and call it moral pluralism.
            We have worshipped other gods and called it multi-culturalism.
            We have endorsed perversion and called it an alternative lifestyle.
            We have exploited the poor and called it the lottery.
            We have neglected the needy and called it self- preservation.
            We have rewarded laziness and called it welfare.
            We have killed our unborn children and called it choice.
            We have shot abortionists and called it justifiable.
            We have neglected to discipline our children and called it building self-esteem.
            We have abused power and called it political savvy.
            We have coveted our neighbor's possessions and called it ambition.
            We have polluted the air with profanity and pornography and called it freedom of expression.
            We have ridiculed the time-honored values of our forefathers and called it enlightenment.
            Search us, O God, and know our hearts today; try us and see if there be some wicked way in us; cleanse us from every sin and set us free.
            Guide and bless these men and women who have been sent here by the people of Kansas, and who have been ordained by you to govern this great state. Grant them the wisdom to rule and may their decisions direct us to the center of your will. I ask it in the name of your son, the Living Savior, Jesus Christ.            Amen. (via Paul Harvey, Christians & Society Today, March 1996)

Following the Crowd

            “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God” (Rom. 12:2).
            There is an old legend about a fly that buzzed past a spider's web. The spider called out to the fly, "Come in and sit for a spell." The fly said, "No, sir. I don't see other flies on your web, and I am not going in alone." But, presently, he saw on the floor below a large crowd of flies dancing around on a piece of brown paper. He was delighted! He was not afraid because lots of other flies were doing it. So he came in for a landing. Just before he landed, a bee zoomed by, saying, "Don't land there, stupid! That's flypaper!" But the fly shouted back, "Don't be silly. Those flies are dancing. There's a big crowd there. Everybody's doing it. That many flies can't be wrong!" The fly landed and eventually died on that very spot!
            Exodus 23:2 says, "You shall not follow a crowd to do evil..."

Wanted

People who are as interested in the church on Sunday and Wednesday night as they are on Sunday morning.
People who are as liberal with their money as with their advice and criticism.
People who love God more than pleasure (2Tim. 3:4).
People who are willing to let church work interfere with work and pleasure.
People who are willing to spend at least half as much time studying the Bible as they do watching television.
People who can be half as enthusiastic about a gospel meeting as about the World Series or the Super Bowl.
People who are willing to practice in their lives what they say they believe in their hearts. (via The Key Word; Memphis, TN)

A Moments Wisdom

Leisure is a beautiful garment, but it will not do for constant wear.
Habit is either the best of servants or the worst of masters.
The world owes you a living only when you have earned it.
It is a short road to some people’s wit’s end.
The best way for a person to have happy thoughts is to count his blessings and not his cash.
The little oil of courtesy will save a lot of friction.
No one is ever too old to learn, but many people just keep putting it off.

Not a One!
By Paul R. Blake

            (I wish I had written this story; I love it! - prb) Little Chad was a shy, quiet little boy. One day he came home and told his mother that he'd like to make a valentine for everyone in his class. Her heart sank. She thought, "I wish he wouldn't do that!" because she had watched the children when they walked home from school. Her Chad was always behind them. They laughed and hung on to each other and talked to each other. But Chad was never included. Nevertheless, she decided she would go along with her son. So she purchased the paper and glue and crayons. For three weeks, night after night, Chad painstakingly made 35 valentines.
            Valentine's Day dawned, and Chad was beside himself with excitement. He carefully stacked them up, put them in a bag, and bolted out the door. His mother decided to bake him his favorite cookies and serve them nice and warm with a cool glass of milk when he came home from school. She just knew he would be disappointed, and maybe that would ease the pain a little. It hurt her to think that he wouldn't get many valentines--maybe none at all.
            That afternoon she had the cookies and milk on the table. When she heard the children outside, she looked out the window. Sure enough, there they came, laughing and having the best time. And, as always, there was Chad in the rear. He walked a little faster than usual. She fully expected him to burst into tears as soon as he got inside. His hands were empty, she noticed, and when the door opened she choked back the tears. "Mommy has some cookies and milk for you," she said.
            But he hardly heard her words. He just marched right on by, his face red, and all he could say was: "Not a one. Not a one."
            Her heart sank.
            And then he added cheerfully, "I didn't forget a one, not a single one!" (Author Unknown)
            It’s not about ourselves, folks; it’s about others. It is not what we get out of church services, but what we put into them. It is not about what we think life owes us, but rather what we owe the Lord.
            Jesus didn’t come into this world to be waited on; He came to serve. We cannot pretend to be His disciples if our first concern is what we get out of it. For the true Christian, it is not “I deserve my rights,” but rather, “how can I help meet your needs.”
            What word is common in the language of contemporary mental health: self-actualization, self-esteem, self-interest, love yourself, be good to yourself, self-fulfillment, ad infinitum et ad nauseum? SELF! Me-ism gone to seed. This manner of reasoning may seem plausible to the worldly, but it is alien to the mind of Christ.
            The little child in the story above perfectly illustrates our service to God and our fellow human beings, that is, we receive so much joy and fulfillment from what we give to others that we have little time or interest in dwelling on what we think others might owe us. And the little lad’s mother’s fear demonstrates what so many expect, that is, one will be hurt or even damaged if he does not get what he thinks is his due. May this world soon be peopled with little boys who are ecstatic because they remembered to give everyone a valentine, and may there be fewer folks who are upset because they might have been overlooked.

A Consuming Desire

            What's the greatest novel ever written? Many readers would vote for Leo Tolstoy's War and Peace, which, depending on the edition, can run well over 1,000 pages. Even after his novel was finished, Tolstoy continued to write—often until he was on the brink of exhaustion, unable to sleep, and on the verge of a breakdown.
            One day a friend asked him why he kept writing and driving himself to the edge of exhaustion. He reminded Tolstoy that he was a wealthy Russian count with servants at his beck and call, and that he had a secure future. Tolstoy explained that he kept writing because he was the slave of an inner compulsion and had a consuming desire deep within his bones. He felt that he had to keep writing or else he would go mad.
            The apostle Paul experienced a similar compulsion, except that his drive was God-motivated. As he explained to his friends in Corinth, "the love of Christ compels us" (2Cor. 5:14). His was a burning passion, an emotional fire, a spiritual force that made him share the good news of Jesus and His death and resurrection. Such dedicated zeal has characterized many of our Lord's followers throughout the years. May a spark of that fire burn in our own hearts.  (Vernon C. Grounds)

Broken by the Plow

            Why must I suffer disappointment, sorrow, and tribulation? What have I done that God should send me trials? Is He displeased with me? These questions are constantly asked by God's dear children.
            Much of this fear and questioning is due to our misunderstanding of God's dealings with His own. He has His good reasons. And one of those reasons is for our spiritual discipline. We should be far more afraid of being left alone than of God's chastening, for He wastes no time on worthless objects that give no promise of fruitfulness.
            On the shores of Lake Michigan are great barren sand dunes that have never felt the point of a plow. But in the rich lowlands beyond them, the farmer is constantly cultivating the soil. The farmer knows what he is doing, so he keeps on breaking up the soil. The deeper the plow works and the more the sharp harrow, the more precious the crop will be when harvest time comes.
            God's plow goes deep, but it is only that in the end we may forget the plowing and rejoice in the blessing of bearing much fruit for Him. "No chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it" (Heb. 12:11).

A Moments Wisdom

Do what you can, where you are, with what you have.
The more love we give away, the more we have.
Kindness is the language the deaf can hear and the dumb can understand.
Happiness is a by-product of goodness.
The Bread of Life never becomes stale.
We rise by the things we put under our feet.
He who would have friends must show himself friendly.
Christianity must function or it will fizzle.
Fooling with sin is only indulged in by fools.
The sunlight of love will kill all the germs of jealousy and hate.

A Moments Wisdom

Truth and Assumption
By T. Sean Sullivan

            Assuming is often a dangerous thing. Assumption is not accepted in most areas of life. We do not want our Doctors to assume we are healthy. We do not want our mechanic to assume the wheels will stay on. But then how many people simply hand their souls over to “someone’s assumption” of what is right in religion everyday? We need to get past assumptions.     
            The Bible teaches only one truth and we can know that truth. In John 14:6 Jesus says, “I am the way, the truth, the life, no one comes the Father accept through Me.” The Bible provides only one gospel; any other is “…not another” (Gal. 1:6-9). The Bible instructs us by only one doctrine (2John 1:9 “Whoever transgresses and does not abide in THE doctrine of Christ does not have God”). These things must be understood but also we must understand that we can know the truth (John 8:31-32). Let’s look at some of these “assumptions” according to what the Bible really says.
Many Assume that TIME Makes a Practice Right.
            The reliance on traditions is very important to many. Sometimes it is family tradition: “Mom and Dad believed” or “Grandma and Grandpa believed”. Consider this, if they always believed and practiced something other than the truth you can’t make it less wrong by repeating their mistakes. This is a simple case of what Jesus calls, “the blind leading the blind” (Matt. 15:14). If they did not search the scripture to prove their beliefs but chose to follow them anyway; they shut their eyes to the truth. If you then declare that you will follow them you have closed your eyes as well.
            Sometimes it is traditions in their religious group. There are groups today that deny the Bible and use their own traditions as authority. If you ask members of different groups why they do certain things, a common answer would be, “We have just always done it that way”.
            In Matthew 15:1-9 Jesus condemns these false practices of tradition over truth. He declares that this worship is “vain” [empty] when they “teach as doctrines the commandments of men”. If something transgresses God’s will today then it will not fall in line tomorrow. Consider the letters to the seven churches in Revelation 2 and 3. If traditions were acceptable why did Christ command them to repent or else?
Many Assume that FEELINGS Determine the Truth.
            There are those that have assumed that religion is a “feeling”. Many seek and enjoy the conjured atmospheres of certain “religious” places—large cathedrals with its robes, regalia, dimmed lights, maybe incense or candles.  There are others who are seeking the rush of live bands and strobe lights to make them “feel” motivated.
            The pattern of worship in the New Testament is simple: Matthew 28:19 “Go and teach…” not “bring the feeling”. Feeling is heavily marketed today. Dynamic speakers stand up with tear laden messages and the audience just eats it up. Where is the gospel? Poems and testimonials are not “preaching Christ and Him crucified” (1Cor. 2:2).
            The apostle Paul warned of times when people would not stand for the truth. In 2Timothy 4:1-4 he said, “They will heap unto themselves teachers having itching ears”.
            If we preach anything other than the gospel of Jesus Christ we will be accursed (Gal. 1:1-9). The preaching of “Christ” as recorded in the New Testament was presented in such a way as to bring a humble response not a loud rock concert. There are three words that focused the purpose of proper preaching: convincing, convicting, and converting.
Some Assume Truth Changes With The Times.
            Many think times have changed; people have changed. This is not true. People have not changed we still have the same basic needs and the same basic desires. We have come a long way technologically but we are still just humans.
            Sin has been around since the Garden. The sins committed in cities like Corinth and Rome in the first century would make the most brazen of our age blush. Sin has not changed: it has always followed the same pattern: The record of the Garden of Eden in Genesis 3 shows the same pattern of temptation as in the record of Matthew 4:1-11 and the statements of 1John 2:15-17. Temptation comes in three forms: “Lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes, and the pride of life”. There is no sin that falls outside of one of those categories—not then, not now; not ever.
            The Bible is never-changing. The Scriptures themselves declare their permanence even as Jesus says in Matthew 24:35 “heaven and earth will pass away but My word will by no means pass away.” The Bible was, and is, the power of God to salvation. It was enough to convert, cleanse and save those in Corinth (1Cor. 6:9-11 “you were washed, sanctified and justified”). It is still the only source of salvation today“(Rom. 1:16 It is “the power of God unto salvation”).
            Conclusion: What man “assumes” has very little to do with truth. Traditions do not make truth. Feelings do not define truth. Time does not change the truth. The truth is real, consistent, and sure; it has been around for a long time and it is still as powerful today as ever. The truth is what you can safely place your trust in. Do you want to be saved? You can be saved according to truth today! On the back of this bulletin there is a chart that outlines the plan of salvation. Please take the time to read it and the passages that it refers to and please obey God today.

“I Assumed the Car Was Stolen”

            The story is told of the stressed-out woman who was tailgating a man as they drove on a busy boulevard. When he slowed to a stop at a yellow light, the woman hit the horn, cussing and screaming in frustration and gesturing angrily. As she was still in mid-rant, she heard a tap on her window and looked up into the face of a police officer who ordered her to exit the car with her hands up. He took her to the police station and placed her in a holding cell.
            An hour later, the officer returned and said, "I'm sorry, Ma'am. This has been a big mistake. When I pulled up behind you, I noticed your 'What Would Jesus Do?' license plate holder and your 'Follow Me to Sunday School' bumper sticker, and I assumed the car was stolen!"
            Satan doesn't care if you're a Christian as long as you don't act like one. If he can get you to live by his signals, he can damage and disarm you every time and dishonor the name of Christ in the process.         Instead, Jesus calls believers to be "salt" and to "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven" (Matt. 5:16).

A Moments Wisdom

Men do not reject the Bible because it contradicts itself, but because it contradicts them.
The Bible is for our information and our transformation.
Many people enjoy the shade but only a few people are willing to rake the leaves.
Money may talk, but it does not give itself away.
If you are too busy for God, you are busier than God wants you to be.
We overcome our deficiencies by taking unto ourselves the excellencies of Christ.
Some men prefer to grind their ax than to bury the hatchet.
Be what you want other people to be, but beat them to it.
If a sermon pricks your conscience, it has some good points.

It’s Not Easy
By T. Sean Sullivan

It’s Not Easy
By T. Sean Sullivan

            The longer we live the better our memories become. We tend to magnify everything that we have accomplished or endured. As Christians we can sometimes over simplify the transition from sin to salvation when we think that everyone should simply throw of the shackles of their past just as we did and do what is right—right now. The truth be known; this transition is not easy. There are many factors that provoke resistance against conformity to truth and conversion. Things that are hard to understand unless you are experiencing Sthem. Things, however, that can be overcome.
It Is Not Easy to Deny the World
            The world, as an influence, is strong. The reason for this is simple—“human pleasure” is the center of its trap. All human passions if uncontrolled can become addictions—we can become mentally and physically bound to those hungers. Some people are swallowed up and destroyed in their addictions.
            From the time of the “Garden” Satan has used the motivation of “nobody can tell you what to do; just do what you want” (Gen. 3:1-5). When this desire for “freedom from God” is fed with worldliness it is often hard to tame. Sadly, even more so for those who have tasted the truth and then stray to the world (Heb. 6:4-6).
            It is not easy to deny the world, but we are instructed by God to do it. Ephesians 1:17-32 teaches us to not live like the rest of the world (vs. 17-19) because Christ’s way is different—and better (vs. 20-21). We are to put off the old patterns, the sins of our past (v. 22). By changing our mind we change our actions (v. 23) to the better actions of “true righteousness and holiness” (v. 24). Our life must not contain lying—rather speaking only truth (v. 25)—or unresolved anger (v. 26). We must guard ourselves from temptations in (v. 27). No more stealing. No more vain words. With all these proper changes we seek to not jeopardize our salvation (v. 30). Our conduct is to be cleansed (vs. 31-32).
            Are the “rules” of God’s will a burden? They are not designed to be (James 1:25 “perfect law of liberty”). They are what is best for you: A better life here and now (Gal. 5:22-23); a better way (John 14:6); a better future (Rev. 21:20-27).
It Is Not Easy To Walk Away From Past Belief
            If we have been raised to believe “two plus two” equals “four” we are certainly going to be very hesitant to believe any other end result of that equation. Why won’t we change what we believe on this matter? We test the equation and the answer “two” is correct in every way—it passes all the tests therefore we will not accept any other answer.
            Let’s change the scenario to this: You were raised to believe that becoming a Christian is accomplished by simply “acknowledging Jesus as your personal Savior”.  Someone then teaches you that belief in Jesus must also be met with repentance and baptism in water for the remission of sins. It is not easy to accept and conform to this new knowledge. What we must do is put it to the test: The Bible is the only source of information concerning salvation. We must go to the Bible and test the equation. We must see which concept passes all the tests. First century conversion examples are an appropriate test. Acts 2:22-42—these people were not Christians—they were Jewish. They encountered the gospel of Jesus Christ as Peter preached (vs.22-36). Upon hearing the gospel they believed the message (v. 37). The message of the gospel contained instructions to “repent” and “be baptized for the remission of their sins” (v. 38). They followed those instructions and became Christians (v. 41). They also continued in the practice of truth (v. 42). Knowing this we can see that there is more than belief and “acknowledging Jesus” to be saved.
            Two more examples to test by: Acts 8:12 these people were not Christians they were Samaritans. They encountered the gospel as Phillip preached. They believed the gospel (v. 12) and to act on their belief they were baptized (v. 12). Now consider Acts 8:34-39 the Ethiopian Eunuch only knew the practice of the Old Law. He was searching the scriptures (vs. 30-34). He was taught the gospel of Jesus Christ (v. 35). He desired salvation and was instructed in the way of salvation by Phillip (vs. 36-37). He obeyed—upon the confession of his belief in Jesus as the Son of God, he was baptized (vs. 37-38).
            Not one of these examples showed the concept of simply accepting Jesus as one’s personal Savior. The test proves the need for belief, repentance, and baptism. Even though the idea of “more involved in salvation” may be new to you, it does pass the test and should be accepted.
            It is not easy to leave behind things that we have always believed. However we are instructed to, “to test all things; hold fast what is good”—do what is right (1Thes. 5:21). We must evaluate every teaching; testing it as to its “goodness” and its accordance to God’s will.
It Is Not Easy To Admit The Need For Salvation
            There are a lot of different factors that can play a role in this situation. Some are embarrassed that others will know that they have sinned. This can be embarrassing but reality is we already know since Romans 3:23 states that we all have sinned.
            Some may think: “I have waited too long”, “I should have obeyed earlier in life, now it is embarrassing to admit the need”. It is never too late until you are dead (Hebrews 9:27). Swallow you pride and do what you know you should.
            If I am baptized I will lose my family. Many will suffer this way; Jesus was aware that this would happen to some (Matt. 10:36-39; Mark 10:28-30).
            The reality is that obedience to the gospel is necessary. Matthew 7:21-23 declares that only those who do God’s will, will enter Heaven. God is able to save you—His power to save is the Gospel (Rom. 1:16). God has spoken so that we might listen and do (James 1:17-25).
            We need to: deny the world and live for God. We need to deny false beliefs and seek God’s will in all things. We need to stop stalling and admit our need for salvation. The problem is that not one of these things is easy.
            This one fact must be considered: What will cost me more: staying the same or obeying God today? God has prepared a reward beyond measure for those who do His will (Heb. 11:6). God has also prepared a punishment beyond measure for those who refuse Him (Matt. 25:30). Are you willing to do something that is difficult but incredibly rewarding? The gospel plan of salvation is yours to do right now. Will you?

A Moments Wisdom

God brings people in deep water, not to drown them, but to cleanse them.
Keep both feet on the ground and you won’t have far to fall.
No one knows of your honesty and sincerity unless you give out some samples.
The devil is never too busy to rock the cradle of a sleeping saint.
If you aren’t big enough for criticism, you are really too small for praise.
Some folks look ahead, some look back, but most folks look confused.
Every moment you are angry, you lose one minute of happiness.
Children are innocent and love justice, while most adults are wicked and prefer mercy. --G. K. Chesterton
We evaluate our friends with justice, but we want them to evaluate us with compassion.

Peer Pressure
By Bob Waldron

Peer Pressure
By Bob Waldron

            Much of God's covenant with Israel of old dealt with human relations. Various and sundry laws pointed out how the Jew was to conduct himself among his peers. One of these admonitions was, "Thou shalt not follow a multitude to do evil" (Ex. 23:2). This was a very important decree; it showed the danger of peer pressure and pointed out very explicitly the dangers of being led astray by evil men. Peer pressure was an important factor in their lives; it has been from that time to the present. And perhaps as never before, peer pressure is an issue we have to wrestle with.
            A leading educator noted that peer pressure is the strongest influence exerted on young people today. He stated that in most cases it is twice as strong as the influence of home and family, and yields a far greater influence than religion. I share this educator's convictions. All young people want to be accepted by their peers. And if to do so means disobeying parents and selling out personal convictions, some are willing to do so just to be a part of the bunch. In dealing with young folks and their problem of peer pressure, we often quote and expound on 1 Corinthians 15:33 -- "Evil companionships corrupt good morals." I contend this is a very important verse dealing with this subject. This admonition does caution against the dangers of peer pressure being exerted by those who are void of spiritual convictions and virtues. Let us continue to warn our young people of the dangers of their associates that rob them of their virtues.
            But is all peer pressure centered in young people? Does this pressure cease when we become adults? Well, certainly at all stages of life there are peer pressures put on us by those with whom we mix and mingle day by day. The Bible is not silent on this matter. Men and women of God have always faced immense pressures in dealing with their peers. And when God has spoken, He has always done so with a stern warning against letting our associates rob us of our moral integrity.
            One of the most striking examples of this occurred in the life of Peter. Peter is one of our favorite Bible characters. He was truly one of Christ's most ardent followers. We hear him saying, "Even if I must die with thee, yet I will not deny thee" (Matt. 26:25). We hear him declare, "Lord, with thee I am ready to go both to prison and death" (Luke 22:33). But on that fateful night of the arrest and mock trial of the Lord, Peter "followed afar off" (Matt. 26:53); he stood with the wrong crowd, the enemies of the Lord (Matt. 26:69). And upon being asked of his allegiance to Christ, he cursed, swore, and denied that he even knew Him (Matt. 26:69-74). Peter, when alone in a crowd of unbelievers who were the enemies of Christ, relented to peer pressure.
            What a lesson for the Christian today. I contend that when we are alone, with the wrong crowd, those with no regard for the Lord nor spiritual values, we are at the most vulnerable moment of our spiritual life. And so often, like Peter, the pressures from our peers lead to our downfall.
            There are numerous other examples in the New Testament on this subject. Peer pressure played a leading role in the rejection of Christ by the rulers of the synagogue (John 12:42, 43). The Scriptures tell us they believed on Him, "but because of the
Pharisees they did not confess it, lest they should be put out of the synagogue. For they loved the glory that is of men more than the glory that is of God."
            Likewise, peer pressure was the deciding factor in the heinous crime of Herod (Matt. 14:1-12; Mark 6:23). Herod feared and respected John, but his oath, along with "them that sat at meat with him" (his peers) prevented him from backing down on his promise, and resulted in the vile deed of having John the Baptist put to death. In this we see the influence and power of wicked men and the insidiousness of peer pressure.
            But there is another side of the coin of peer pressure. Not all the characters of the Bible collapsed under the pressure of their associates. Many stood, often alone, in the face of severe pressures put on them by others.
            Let us ever be aware of the immense pressures put on us by our peers, especially those with no regard for God and spiritual values. And let us profit from the mistakes others made and redouble our efforts to not yield to these peer pressures as they did. (Via The Bulletin of the Church of Christ at New Georgia, February 24, 2008)

A Moments Wisdom

Try Jesus. If you don’t like Him, the Devil will take you back.
The best thing to spend on your children is time.
Every saint has a past; every sinner has a future.
Lord, keep your arm around my shoulders and your hand across my mouth.
Eternity: will that be smoking or non-smoking?
A Bible that’s falling apart often belongs to someone who isn’t.
The tongue weighs next to nothing, but few can hold it.
When things go wrong, don’t go wrong with them.
One little word can save you a lot of trouble: it’s “no.”
Dust on your Bible can lead to dirt in your life.
Do some math; count your blessings.
We are too blessed to be depressed.
“Stop, drop, and roll” won’t work in hell.
Judging others leaves little time to love them.
Swallow your pride; it contains no calories.
For a healthy heart, exercise your faith.
Tomorrow’s forecast: God reigns and the Son shines!
An evil conscience can not be cured by medicine.
A Christian can not be a blank. He is either a blessing or a blot.
What a man possesses is not nearly as important as what possesses him.
Two people can not hate each other if they both love God.
It’s what we learn after we know it all that really counts.
He who stands high in his own estimation is still a long way from the top.
When it comes to giving, some people stop at nothing.
Godly talk does not always imply a godly walk, but it should.

The Meeting House
By Steven Harper

            Some people call it ‘the church building’ out of habit, and I guess that would not be wrong; after all, it is for the church. Others just call it the ‘church’ out of misunderstanding [the church is the people, not the structure]. Whatever you call it, though, I am speaking of the building where Christians in particular locations meet to worship God and to study His word.
            Have you ever stopped to think about why we have such buildings? I imagine that this wasn't a question the early church had because they met wherever they could (Acts 2:46, 16:13-15), and secular and religious history tells us that the formal meeting place did not come into being for several centuries. When the early Christians worshipped together as a church, they usually met in one another's homes (Rom. 16:3-5); the term ‘church building’ would be completely foreign to the first Christians.
            But back to the question: Why do we have such facilities? Simply put, it is a matter of convenience. Because the Scriptures show that brethren gathered in a variety of places [see previous passages], we can rightfully conclude that the place where we meet is not restricted by God. In fact, Jesus pointed to this when speaking to the Samaritan woman (John 4:21-24); what God wants is man to worship from the heart and not a superficial demonstration that is concerned only with the outward show. Sincere, spiritual worship can be offered up anywhere, and that is the point.
            Centuries ago, men decided it would be more convenient and more beneficial if there was one location where the believers could meet. In all reality, some religious leaders wanted to do this to maintain control of the brethren and what they taught and practiced, and this centralized location would go a long way in making that possible. [Anyone not ‘at the church building’ would be noted and the religious leaders could then question those absent as to their reasons. At times and in places, attendance was by intimidation, rather than out of love for God.] This flatly contradicted the words of Jesus that worship could be offered up anywhere, but the idea, by force and intimidation, became common practice. At a time when the Roman Catholic Church exerted both spiritual and political power, one did not casually oppose such centralization of power and authority. Many sincere believers gave their lives simply because they sought to do things in ways the religious leaders did not approve, though those things were Scriptural.
            Even after the Reformation, the ‘church building’ as a meeting place for believers to come together to worship continued; why cease doing the things that worked and which were authorized? A central meeting place was convenient and it did not go against Scripture, so it has continued in practice, for the most part, since that time. Some today protest local churches purchasing and owning property, but the protests are few and the arguments are logically flawed. Though some have certainly abused the right and freedom to purchase and maintain places where brethren may worship, it does not change the fact that it is authorized.
            For the last 150 years or so, though, some have begun to look at ‘the meeting house’ as much more than that. Since the middle 1800s, some believers turned to the idea of the church [the collective of believers] being the cure-all for social ills and have focused on humanitarianism more than spiritual matters and have added various programs and ‘missions’ to the local church's work and, as a necessity, they added structural facilities to accommodate those works. Those who believed it was ‘the church's work’ to feed the poor needed a kitchen and storeroom; those who believed educating children was “the church's work” needed schools; those who believed it was ‘the church's work’ to keep families together and provide places for their entertainment and amusement soon added grand auditoriums, gymnasiums, and cafeterias that doubled as skate parks or stages on which they could present musical concerts and dramatic shows. Not surprisingly, the churches that focused on these things quickly ceased focusing on Christ or His doctrine or worshipping Him and those things became a side note to their reason for coming together.
            Ever since some individuals began arguing for these things being ‘the church's work’ there have been those who pointed to Scripture to refute these human-derived concepts, yet it seems that those who will not hesitate to act and teach without authority persist in finding new ways to usurp or simply ignore the authority God vested exclusively with His Son, Jesus Christ (Matt. 28:18; Col. 1:18). The church is, and has always been, a spiritual entity (Eph. 2:22), with a spiritual people (1Peter 2:5, 9) and a spiritual purpose (John 4:24; Mark 16:16); those who add to the church's work either never understood this or simply do not care. But let us not forget that when we presume to act without His authority, we are elevating ourselves to the position reserved for Him alone, and we will one day have to give an account.
            Now, back to that building: What is it for? Well, since the money that built it usually comes from the monies collected from the local church's members, we must necessarily conclude that however it is spent must be used in the divinely-authorized and revealed work of the local church; anything other than is without authority. Those who stand on these Biblical principles are not opposed to brethren eating together; it's just that we understand that is not the ‘work of the church’ to either provide a place for them to eat or the food which they eat. It is not that we think it is a sin if one crumb or morsel is consumed by anyone once they cross the threshold; again, we look to purpose and intent when and if something was eaten. There is a huge difference in a mother giving her infant Cheerios to calm its hunger during a sermon and a 40,000-square-foot gymnasium and cafeteria to feed the members every Wednesday evening. Those who do not make the distinction are either willingly ignorant of logical argument or simply trying to justify what they have already decided they want to do. [And that goes for both sides of that argument.]
            But let's get back to the question one more time: What is the building for? If it is indeed used for the work and worship of the church, it is for those things that it is to be used. Members of the local church come together here to worship God in song, to partake of the Lord's Supper and give of their material blessings each Sunday, to hear a lesson from God's word that they can be edified, and to study God's word together that we might all learn more and better understand God's word. If visitors happen to come to the building when we do these things — great! But here is the point of this article: We should not sit in these pews once or twice or even three times a week expecting that by doing so we have somehow gone “into all the world and proclaim[ed] the gospel to the whole creation” (Mark 16:15). To “Go into all the world” we must, of necessity, go. Sitting and waiting for someone to drop in is not "going." Some brethren have actually said, 'We have a building and a sign that says where we are,' thinking that is how they "go into all the world" to teach the sinner the good news of salvation. How sad.
            Please don't get me wrong: I am glad you come to worship here — many of you need to be here more often! But do not think that coming here and sitting on the pew relieves you of any responsibility to go and teach the lost. Jesus didn't sit at home and tell the world, "Here I am!" He went to where the lost souls were. Let us do the same.

“I Feel Like I'm Saved”

Death Notice

The Miracle of Restraint

Hymns Rewritten

“I Feel Like I'm Saved”

            A gospel preacher was talking to a woman who said she knew she was saved.  The preacher said, “How do you know you are saved?” She made the following reply, “I was attending a religious service one time and all of a sudden I felt light as a feather; I felt I was floating; I felt I was saved.” The preacher questioned the woman as follows: “Were you light as a feather?” “Of course not,” she said. “Were you really floating?” “Certainly not.” “Were you saved?” “Oh, yes, I was saved.” The preacher then asked this significant question, “Lady, if you could not trust your feelings about the first two things, why do you trust your feelings about the third thing? Even though you felt light as a feather, that didn’t make it so. Even though you felt like you were floating, that didn’t make it so. And because you felt like you were saved, that didn’t make it so.”
            God’s word tells us how we may know for sure we are saved. “Faith comes by hearing the word of God” (Rom. 10:17). We are to walk by faith. The following texts will help to answer the question of how I can know I am saved: 1John 5:13; John 6:45; Mark 16:16; Romans 10:9-10; Acts 2:38; Hebrews 5:8-9. Are you walking by faith or feelings?

Death Notice

            I. Cant died last week. He had long been a member of the church, but was never faithful. Brother Compromise was the only one available to direct the service. Services were held in the parlor of Maybe Tomorrow Funeral Home. Attending as pallbearers were Neglect, Indifference, Never Try, and Get Somebody Else, all close relatives of the deceased. The body was buried in the Never Done Cemetery.

Eulogy for John

            If you’ve ever been asked to say a few words at a memorial service, you know how difficult, yet important, it can be. Cyrus M. Copeland, compiler of two books of tributes to famous people, said: “A great eulogy is both art and architecture—a bridge between the living and the dead, memory and eternity.”
            The Bible contains little that corresponds to our modern eulogy. Yet Jesus paid a great tribute to John the Baptist when he faced the looming threat of execution by Herod. From prison, John sent his disciples to confirm the identity of Jesus the Messiah (Matt. 11:2-6). Jesus talked with them, then told the listening crowd, “Among those born of women there has not risen one greater than John the Baptist; but he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he” (v.11).
            Jesus’ tribute captured the essence of the desert-dwelling, straight-preaching John, who was maligned and misunderstood as he prepared the way for the Son of God. John’s greatness was more than personal; it was wrapped up in the kingdom of God. He wrote his own eulogy by his actions. As we ponder what we might say about others at their passing, it’s also good to ask, “What will people say about me when it’s time to say goodbye?” (David C. McCasland)

The Miracle of Restraint

            In Dostoevsky’s novel The Brothers Karamazov, Ivan Karamazov refers to “the miracle of restraint”—God’s choice to curb His own power. The more I get to know Jesus, the more that observation impresses me.
            The miracles Satan suggested to Jesus (Luke 4:3,9-11), the signs the Pharisees demanded (Matt. 12:38; 16:1), the final proofs I yearn for offer no obstacle to an omnipotent God. More amazing is His refusal to perform, to overwhelm. God’s terrible insistence on human freedom is so absolute that He granted us the power to live as though He does not exist. Jesus must have known this as He faced the tempter in the desert, focusing His power on the energy of restraint.
            I believe God insists on such restraint because no pyrotechnic displays of omnipotence will achieve the response He desires. Only love can summon a response of love. “I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself,” Jesus said (John 12:32). He said this to show the kind of death He would die. God’s nature is self-giving.
            Why does God content Himself with the slow, mysterious way of making righteousness grow rather than avenging it? That’s how love is. Love has its own power—the only power capable of conquering the human heart. (Philip Yancey)

Hymns Rewritten
(Author Unknown)

(The way some might sing some well-known hymns if they were being completely honest)

• I Surrender… Some
• There Shall Be Sprinkles of Blessings
• Oh Fill My Spoon
• Oh, How I Like Jesus
• I Love to Talk About Telling the Story
• Take My Life and Let Me Be
• There Is Scattered Cloudiness in My Soul Today
  
• Where He Leads Me, I Will Consider Following
  
• Just As I Pretend to Be
  
• When the Saints Go Sneaking In
  
• Sit Up, Sit Up for Jesus
  
• A Comfy Mattress Is Our God
  
• Self-Esteem to the World, The Lord Is Come
  
• Oh, for a Couple of Tongues to Sing
  
• Amazing Grace, How Interesting the Sound
  
• My Hope Is Built on Nothing Much
  
• Pillow of Ages, Fluffed for Me
  
• All Hail the Influence of Jesus' Name!
  
• When Peace, Like a Trickle
  
• We Give Thee But Still Think We Own
  
• What an Acquaintance We Have in Jesus
  
• My Faith Looks Around for Thee
  
• Joyful, Joyful We Think Thee Pretty Good
  
• Blest Be the Tie that Doesn't Cramp My Style
  
• Sweet Moments of Prayer

A Moments Wisdom

Let us live each day as though the Lord were coming for us that night.
Live good and honorably, then when you become older you can think back and enjoy it again.
People always get into trouble when they think they can handle life without God.
Success is not an accident — it is hard earned.
You don’t need references in order to borrow trouble.
To take the wind out of an angry man’s sails, stay calm.
Share your faith with others but keep your doubts to yourself.
The caliber and color of a lie do not change its real character.
If you think too little, very likely you will talk too much.
If so many people were not so glad to carry it, gossip wouldn’t travel so fast.

The Power of a Young Person's Influence
By Steve Klein

            Children are natural imitators, not only of their parents, but also of each other. Paul alludes to this inborn mimicry when he commands us to ‘be imitators of God as dear children” (Eph. 5:1). So, children are “imitators.” We know this. But we get so focused on “peer pressure” as a negative thing that we forget that young people can and should influence one another to do good. Yes, it is possible for them to imitate good. In fact, the Bible commands it! The Bible says, “Beloved, do not imitate what is evil, but what is good” (3John 11).
            There are important reasons for young and old alike to work at imitating good. For one thing, we'll have much less to fear in the way of negative consequences for our behavior. In 1Peter 3:13, Peter asks, “And who is he who will harm you if you become followers of what is good?” It's just not very likely that you'll ever get in much trouble or be punished severely for following a good example. Besides this, the Lord will love and appreciate you if you will allow yourself to be influenced to do good. Proverbs 15:9 says that, “The way of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD, But He loves him who follows righteousness.”
            The fact that young people can be influenced BY others necessarily implies that they can also be influences ON others. The Bible commands the young to be good examples, so that others will have something worthwhile to imitate. The young man Timothy was told, “Let no one despise your youth, but BE AN EXAMPLE to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity” (1Tim. 4:12).
            So, to the young we say BE INFLUENCED and BE AN INFLUENCE:
Let yourself be influenced to obey the gospel, and then influence someone else to do the same.
Let yourself be influenced to use pure speech, and then influence someone else to do the same.
Let yourself be influenced to dress modestly, and then influence others to do the same.
Let yourself be influenced to reverently participate in worship (no note passing, giggling, whispering), and then influence someone else to do the same.
Let yourself be influenced to be kind to others, and then influence someone else to do the same. (Via The Exhorter, 8/22/99)

Get Up and Rebuild

            On May 31, 1889, a massive rainstorm filled Lake Conemaugh in Pennsylvania until its dam finally gave way. A wall of water 40 feet high traveling at 40 mph rushed down the valley toward the town of Johnstown. The torrent picked up buildings, animals, and human beings and sent them crashing down the spillway. When the lake had emptied itself, 2,209 people were dead, and 30 acres of buildings were destroyed.
            At first, stunned by the loss of loved ones and property, survivors felt hopeless. But later, community leaders gave speeches about how local industry and homes could be rebuilt. This acted like a healing balm, and the survivors energetically got to work. Johnstown was rebuilt and today is a thriving town with a population of approximately 28,000.
            The Bible tells us that when Naomi despaired over the loss of her husband and sons, her daughter-in-law Ruth refused to leave her. Instead, Ruth focused on God, her relationships, and the future. God rewarded her faith by providing for them and making Ruth an ancestor of Jesus Christ (Matt. 1:5-16). After a tragic loss, we should look at the resources and relationships that remain and trust God to use them. This can inspire the hope of rebuilding our lives. (Dennis Fisher)

“Do-it-yourself” God

            I enjoy do-it-yourself projects—as long as there’s a good hardware store nearby. But some people take this do-it-yourself thing too far. They create their own God. A report in Newsweek magazine said a youth pastor asked his teens who they think God is. One said He was like his grandfather: “He’s there, but I never see him.” Another suggested He is “an evil being who wants to punish me all the time.” The last teen concluded that everyone is right because that’s what they really believe.
            Do we decide who God is by taking a poll?! Is He a being we can make up as we go along? This create-your-own-deity idea is increasingly popular today. And it is extremely dangerous. It robs us of knowing who our heavenly Father really is—as Scripture describes Him. He is, after all, the One “who made heaven and earth” (Psalm 146:6) and “the only true God” (John 17:3).
            One historical declaration of faith says: “God is a spirit, infinite, eternal, and unchangeable in His being, wisdom, power, holiness, justice, and truth.” Examine the Scriptures. Find out who God really is. Then trust and obey the one true God. (Dave Branon)

Rumors Travel Fast!

            "A talebearer reveals secrets, but he who is of a faithful spirit conceals a matter." (Prov. 11:13). Several years ago, Dr. Albert H. Cantril, a professor at Princeton University, conducted a series of experiments to demonstrate how quickly rumors spread. He called six students to his office and in strict confidence informed them that the Duke and Duchess of Windsor were planning to attend a certain university dance. Within a week, this completely fictitious story had reached nearly every student on campus. Town officials phoned the university, demanding to know why they had not been informed. Press agencies were frantically telephoning for details. Dr Cantril observed, "That was a pleasant rumor - a slanderous one travels even faster."

A Moments Wisdom

Circumstances don’t make a man; they serve him.
You are truly poor if you have more dollars than sense.
There is no free tuition in the school of experience.
A God-forsaken man is a man who has forsaken God.
Nothing will ever be attempted if all possible objections must first be removed.
Great ability without discretion usually comes to a tragic end.
God brings men into deep waters not to drown them, but to cleanse them.
When one teaches, two learn.

I Am Resolved

            In 1722, Jonathan Edwards drew up a list of 70 resolutions, dedicating himself to live in harmony with God and others. The following resolutions give a picture of the serious purpose with which Edwards approached his relationship with God. He resolved:
To do whatever is most to God’s glory.
To do my duty, for the good of mankind in general.
Never to do anything, which I should be afraid to do, if it were the last hour of my life.
To study the Scriptures steadily, constantly, and frequently.
To ask myself at the end of every day, week, month, and year if I could possibly have done better.
Until I die, not to act as if I were my own, but entirely and altogether God’s.
            In Nehemiah 10, God’s people made an oath, vowing to follow all the commands, laws, and regulations of the Lord. This oath was so serious that they were willing to accept the curse of God if they failed to keep these commands.Any resolution to follow God is not a casual promise. Rather, it is a solemn and serious declaration that with the help of the Lord we can renew every day. (Marvin Williams)
            Many people make resolutions on New Year’s Day, promising themselves (and sometimes God) that the next year of life will be different. We determine that habits are going to be changed and new patterns of behavior developed. Resolutions like these are highly commendable and can often serve as a stimulus to spiritual growth. But not always. Sometimes our resolutions are carried out only for a little while and all too soon are forgotten.
            Samuel Johnson, a deeply committed Christian who lived in the 18th century, frequently wrote resolutions in his journals. Here is a typical entry: “I have corrected no external habits, nor kept any of the resolutions made in the beginning of the year, yet I hope still to be reformed, and not to lose my whole life in idle purposes.”
            It is good to engage now and then in self-examination. We should face up to the changes that need to be made, and then make plans for the way we’re going to implement them. For example, if we realize that our devotional habits are weak and inconsistent, let’s resolve to spend some time daily in focused fellowship with God. Today is a good day to start.

Kneeling in Prayer

            The ancient Greeks and Romans rejected kneeling as a part of their worship. They said that kneeling was unworthy of a free man, unsuitable for the culture of Greece, and appropriate only for barbarians. The scholars Plutarch and Theophrastus regarded kneeling as an expression of superstition. Aristotle called it a barbaric form of behavior. This belief, however, was never held by God’s people.
            In Psalm 95:6, the psalmist indicated that kneeling expressed a deep reverence for God. In this one verse he used three different Hebrew words to express what the attitude and position of the worshiper should be.
            First, he used the word worship, which means to fall prostrate as a sign of honor to the Lord, with an associated meaning of allegiance to Him. The second word he used was bow. This means to sink down to one’s knees, giving respect and worship to the Lord. The psalmist then used the word kneel, which means to be on one’s knees giving praise to God.
            According to the psalmist, kneeling in God’s presence is a sign of reverence rather than a barbaric form of behavior. The important thing, however, is not just our physical position but a humble posture of the heart.

Money Can’t Buy

            Money is a necessary part of living. Without it, we couldn’t secure the necessities or luxuries of life. But there are things money can’t buy. As W. A. Criswell said, “Money will buy luxuries, but it will not buy spiritual power. Money will buy advancement and preferment, but it will not buy the recognition of God. Money will buy favor and accolades, but it will not buy soul respect.”
            The greatest good—so great that it is in a category all by itself—cannot be bought. If the entire human race were to bankrupt its resources in an effort to buy forgiveness of sin and eternal life with Jesus, it would be infinitely insufficient. All the wealth of the whole world cannot purchase the supreme blessing of forgiveness and heaven. We’ll never accumulate enough riches to purchase a place in the paradise of God. But there’s good news! Salvation can be ours “without money and without price,” according to Isaiah: “Everyone who thirsts, Come to the waters; And you who have no money, Come, buy and eat. Yes, come, buy wine and milk Without money and without price… Let the wicked forsake his way, And the unrighteous man his thoughts; Let him return to the LORD, And He will have mercy on him; And to our God, For He will abundantly pardon.” (55:1, 7). (Vernon C Grounds)

Welfare Religion
By Ellen Kyle

When God gave a way of salvation,
He gave from the love in His heart,
But it is a gift that will never be mine,
If I don’t do my part.
Do I sit and demand all the blessings
That God has promised to me,
Then complain when I’m told that I must work
If any blessings I see?
Do I always expect one hundred percent
Of everything God has to give,
And then continue doing my will,
And not in God’s way try to live?
Do I say “let the preacher’s sermons
Give me the faith I need,”
And then say that God’s asking too much
If for faith I must study and read?
Do I constantly ask God for handouts,
Yet never do my part,
Do I pray, “God please take care of me,”
But never yield my heart?
Do I say “let others do God’s work,
I don’t want to serve,”
And then complain when ever I think,
I don’t have what I deserve?
Lord, help me to honestly look at myself
And see what I should do,
Help me stop asking for handouts,
And to go to work for You.
Help me not let my religion,
A welfare religion be,
Remind me you sent your Son to die,
The rest is up to me.

A Moments Wisdom

Tact is the ability to close your mouth before somebody else wants to!
Bad habits are like a comfortable bed; easy to get into, but hard to get out of.
By the way some people talk, one would infer that they really enjoy poor health.
The Devil is an artist. He paints sin in very attractive colors.
Only he can truly teach who is him self teachable.
The abundant life too often is smothered in the abundance of things.
Anger is the wind that blows out the light of reason.
No power on earth or under the earth can make a man do wrong without his consent.

Sand and Stone

            Two friends were walking through the desert. During some point of the journey, they had an argument; and one friend slapped the other one in the face. The one who got slapped was hurt, but without saying anything, wrote in the sand: “Today my best friend slapped me in the face.
            They kept on walking, until they found an oasis, where they decided to refresh themselves in the cool water. The one who had been slapped got stuck in the mire and began to drown, but his friend saved him. After he recovered from the near drowning, he carved these words on a stone: “Today my best friend saved my life.”
            The friend who had both slapped and saved his best friend asked him, “After I hurt you, you wrote in the sand and now, you write on a stone. Why?”
            The friend replied, “When someone hurts us we should write it down in sand, where winds of forgiveness can erase it away. But, when someone does something good for us, we must engrave it in stone where no wind of forgetfulness can ever erase it.”
            Learn to write your hurts in the sand and to carve your blessings in stone.

Information for Its Own Sake
            In Acts 17, Paul went to Mars Hill to declare the truth of the resurrection. Many listeners gathered there were not spiritual seekers. Luke, who wrote the book of Acts, records that they spent their days simply wanting to discuss the latest new ideas, with little interest in acting on what they learned (v.21).
            Too much information can be dangerous. All the ideas can blur together and become incoherent, leaving us unchanged by what we know.
            Centuries ago, the historian Plutarch warned of the danger of living on a purely informational level. He wisely said, “The mind is not a vessel to be filled, but a fire to be kindled.” You cannot start a fire in another’s heart till it is burning in your own. (Bill Crowder)

Written in Blood

            In the twisted wreckage of a Metrolink train crash, firefighters from Los Angeles Fire Station 27 found a message that brought tears to their eyes. A survivor of the crash, thinking he was dying, had used his own blood to write on the seat in front of him that he loved his wife and kids.
            Normally, we use the words “written in blood” in a less literal way. It usually conveys a willingness to stand behind our words with our life.
            As Paul ended his letter to the Galatians, he was, in a figurative sense, writing his story in blood. He wrote a message of love and grace that would arouse the anger of other religious leaders. He knew he would be hated for honoring the death of Christ above the ritual and moral law of Israel. He would be punished for teaching that Christ’s death and resurrection were more important than the law of circumcision that represented the whole Mosaic way of life. His suffering for Christ would literally include shedding his own blood (2Cor. 11:23-25).
            Paul wasn’t willing to play it safe. He knew the crucifixion of Jesus was the center page of history. Putting his own life on the line, Paul proclaimed the inexpressible heart of God, who gave His Son to express the ultimate words of love, written in blood at the cross.
The Father wrote His autograph upon a cross of shame,
With pen Divine, all dipped in blood, “Forgiven in Jesus’ name.” (Mart De Haan)

Important People

            If you’re like most people, you think that when God does something important, He uses important people to get it done. The rest of us just fill space until Jesus comes. But that’s not true. Most often in Scripture, we see that God uses ordinary folk to get things done. Just take a look at the unlikely prophets of the Old Testament and the disciples of the New Testament. The girl in 2Kings 5 was just an ordinary servant. Yet she bravely suggested that Naaman go to the prophet of Israel for healing. What sounds like a simple request was actually a bold suggestion. For Naaman to go to Israel, it would mean turning his back on the local pagan gods, inviting criticism from his countrymen for putting the military might of his nation at risk.
            This nameless servant could have paid a steep price for making a suggestion like that, but she knew where the true source of healing was. Because of her deep concern for Naaman’s well-being, she courageously put herself at risk to direct him to that source—the one and only living God. Like this young servant girl, let’s be willing to be used by God to guide family and friends to the true source of hope and healing.
God can take a lowly vessel, shape it with His mighty hand,
Fill it with a matchless treasure, make it serve a purpose grand. (Joe Stowell)

Unique for a Purpose

            Bison are made in such a way that their natural inclination is to look down; the design of their necks makes it difficult for them to look up. In contrast, giraffes are designed in a way that makes looking up easy; the way their necks were made makes it difficult for them to look down. Two creatures created by the same God but with distinctively different body parts and purposes. Giraffes eat leaves from branches above. Bison eat grass from the field below. God provides food for both, and neither has to become like the other to eat.
            As we observe the animals and people around us, we’re reminded that God made each of us unique for a purpose. One person’s natural tendency is to look up and see the “big picture,” while another looks down and focuses on details. Both are important. One is not better than the other. God gave us individual talents and spiritual gifts so that we can work together as a body.
            Human beings are the crowning jewel of creation, and we shine the brightest not when we see our own likeness reflected in others but when each of us performs the unique functions that God designed for us to do. “Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them” (Rom. 12:6). (Julie Ackerman Link)

The Top Ten Predictions For 2008

1. The Bible will still have all the answers.
2. Prayer will still work.
3. Bible study will still enrich hearts and minds.
4. God will still watch over the souls of His people.
5. There will still be preaching of God’s word.
6. There will still be singing of praise to God.
7. God will still pour out blessings upon His people.
8. There will still be room at the Cross.
9. Jesus will still love you.
10. The Gospel will still save the lost.

A Moments Wisdom

Easy street and the strait and narrow path do not intersect.
Christians should be humbly grateful instead of grumbly hateful.
An immoral man is dangerous whether he is armed with a gun — or with a Bible.
You cannot enrich others without enriching yourself.
God does not promise “loaves” to “loafers.”
No amount of riches can atone for poverty of character.
If you want to do something to make a better world, improve yourself.
No man is strong enough to carry a grudge all of his life.
You don’t need references in order to borrow trouble.
Since a man always lives with himself, he should be sure that he has good company.
There is a lot of history that isn’t worth repeating.
In order to increase in faith, you must grow in knowledge of God’s Word.
What you are going to be tomorrow, you are becoming today.
You cannot keep your shoes shined if you continually walk in the mud.
The Devil is willing for a man to preach the truth as long as he doesn’t practice it.

What Traditions Are You Following?
Marc W. Gibson

            A tradition is defined as “the handing down of customs, practices, doctrines, etc.: something so handed down” (Webster Handy College Dictionary). The Greek word translated “tradition” is paradosis meaning “a handing down or on” (Vine). There are many “traditions” in our world. Knowing the source of our religious traditions is very important.
            1) Divine Traditions - “Therefore brethren, stand fast and hold the traditions which you were taught, whether by word or our epistle (2 Thessalonians 2:15): “… withdraw from every brother who walks disorderly and not according to the tradition which you received from us” (3:6): “Now I praise you, brethren, that you remember me in all things and keep the traditions as I delivered them to you” (1 Corinthians 11:2). Divine traditions handed down from the apostles were the revelation of the mystery of Christ (Ephesians 3:3-5). We are to hold to and obey these traditions because they were given to us from heaven.
            2) Human Traditions - “Thus you have made the commandment of God of no effect by your traditions” (Matthew 15:6): “Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ” (Colossians 2:8). Human traditions are not revealed by God but originate in the mind and desires of men. Many follow these vain traditions today.
            God has revealed His authorized traditions in the Bible, but man has substituted his unauthorized human traditions. What traditions are you following today? Can you find them in the Bible? Cast away every human tradition and obey God’s perfect word. - MWG

Phylacteries

           For years those involved with Judaism have used phylacteries. This is basically a box strapped around the forehead that contains pieces of scripture. There are probably several reasons these boxes are worn. Some might feel this helps them spiritually to remember their relationship to the scriptures. Others probably from simple tradition wear the phylactery. Still others wear it for prestige or to "be seen of men".  Mat 23:5 But all their works they do to be seen by men. They make their phylacteries broad and enlarge the borders of their garments.
            Many claiming to be Christians have  invented things similar to phylacteries. Some may have worn their “phylactery” for similar reasons. Some might wear robes. Others might decide everyone in their group wears the same style clothing. You can certainly think of religious groups who have decided to do this very thing.
            Even though Christians do not wear phylacteries of this nature, we in a sense each have a "phylactery". This would be our "communication" according to the King James Version. This is the interaction we have with other people or our way of life. It would include speech, attitude, and so on.
            Although you don't have a box strapped to your forehead, when people look at you they can tell your relationship to the scriptures. They can see if you are moral or immoral. They know if your speech "betrays you".
            It is possible that a Christian has contacts that do not know he is a Christian. He has never had or taken the time to talk to these people. However, surely no Christian is thought of as worldly by those who meet him every day. His "phylactery" would not allow such to happen.
            Strive to be clothed with righteousness and to have "put on Christ". Many hymns suggest this concept. "Let the beauty of Jesus be seen in me." "We are the only Bible, the careless world will read." and "Thou art the potter, I am the clay" are a few examples. (by Rick Fleeman)

Leaven of the Pharisees

            Jesus warned his disciples to “Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees” Luke 12:1. “BEWARE” is a term associated with DANGER! What possible danger could these very spiritual persons pose? All appearances indicated that the Pharisees were righteous. They were strict in keeping the law. They were rulers and teachers of the people. Jesus describes them differently. He calls them “Painted Tombs” Mt 23:27-28, “Graves not seen” Lk 11:44 and persons whose “hearts are far from me” Mk 7:6.
            The Pharisees were not at all righteous. Everything they did was designed to “seek glory from men”.They gave alms to be seen Mt 6:2. Their prayers were intentionally long and eloquent Mt 6:5, Mt 23:14. They only pretended to fast Mt 6:16. The Pharisees would go to great lengths to make converts. Only the ones made proselyte were converted to HYPOCRISY, not Judaism Mt 23:15! Further, the Pharisees paid tithes meticulously but would not lift a finger when it came to doing the work Mt 23:23. Lastly, Jesus says they built tombs and decorated the monuments of the very prophets their fathers had murdered  Mt 23:29. They were, as we would say, ”All style and no substance”.
            Jesus knew that the Pharisees were spiritually deficient. It was easy for them to criticize the righteous Lk 13:15 and focus on other’s faults while overlooking their own Mt 7:5,  Lk 6:42. Their spiritual blindness made them unable to discern the signs of the approaching kingdom Mt 16:3. In fact, their opposition to Jesus denied their fellow Jews entrance into the kingdom Mt 23:13. In their greed the Pharisees would foreclose on Widow’s houses Mt 23:14. They were so busy with pretenses that they neglected the more important aspects of the law; Things like judgement and mercy Mt 23:23. Yes, they appeared to be righteous. However, those appearances were deceptive. The Pharisees were careful about their image but had not cleansed their hearts Mt 23:25.
            Hypocrisy is not limited to the Scribes and Pharisees. False teachers fall into this category 1 Tim 4:1, 2. Hypocrisy is after all, professing one thing while practicing another. The ultimate hypocrite was perhaps Judas Iscariot. Judas was a deceiver, a thief and a traitor and his fellow disciples didn’t  have a clue Jn 12:6, Jn 13:26. Lest we think that we are immume, we need to remember that Peter and Barnabus also participated in this sin Gal 2:13. Thus the instruction in Rom 12:9, “Let love be without hypocrisy”. Christians are commanded to “Lay aside hypocrisy” in 1 Pet 2:1.  Beware, our practice must match our profession! (By Ken Fleeman)

Burning Bridges
By Kenneth J. Fleeman

            Bridges are marvelous devices which connect isolated land masses. They provide safe passage over uncertain waters. A bridge can be as simple as a fallen tree or rough sawn plank over which a narrow stream may be crossed. Others are more elaborate spanning countless miles of open water. My favorite bridge was the swinging bridge crossing Archer’s Fork near my great-grandparent’s home. Archer’s Fork was only ankle deep most of the time but come spring that rickety foot bridge was the only access for days, sometimes weeks, at a time.
            It has long been sound military strategy to isolate an enemy by destroying infrastructure. Bridges are often targeted as they provide extremely limited means of access. When supply routes are cut off it is only a matter of time until the enemy is subdued. We would do well to employ the same strategy in our war against Satan. Burning the “bridges” to our past behaviors will help us isolate and subdue our passions. All links to our life of sin must be severed. Old acquaintances, old haunts and old habits are all bridges which we must “burn” in order to start down and remain on the narrow pathway (Matthew 16:24, 19:29, Colossians 3:5).
            Burning bridges may also be employed as a defensive strategy. I worked a number of years ago for a supervisor who was fond of saying “We’ll burn that bridge when we get to it.” In the business setting it was a humorous way of saying that we would nip a particular issue “in the bud” before it could blossom into a crisis. The problem with burning a bridge prior to crossing is that there will eventually come the day when the bridge is needed. The fault for its absence will then be our own. It is a sign of desperation indeed that one would destroy a necessary resource thinking we will keep the enemy at bay. Every time we sever a vital link to our salvation we become weaker. We play into Satan’s hands when we apply his own tactics!
            Despite this knowledge Christians routinely burn the very bridges that provide direct access to Heaven while Satan prowls incessantly in anticipation (1 Peter 5:8). Prayer, study and worship are forsaken (James 5:14, 1 Peter 3:12, 2 Timothy 2:15, Hebrews 2:1-3, 10:25). Profitable relationships with fellow Christians are neglected and severed (Romans 12:10, 1 Corinthians 12:18-26). Faith wanes and the spirit dies, only to awaken in torment. Friends, no bridge spans that great gulf (Luke 16:26).

Holding the Master’s Hand
By Patrick L. Minnis

I pillowed my head that cold day
I had gone the last mile of my way.
I completed the Master’s plan,
And with a soft touch He opened his hand
And took my hand to lead me to the Promised Land.
Holding on so tight I knew was taking my final flight
To a land so fair and bright.

Even though I’m out of sight,
I’ll be watching over you day and night.
Resting from the labors of my hands,
I’ll sing with the mighty angel band
Over in the Glory Land
Sharing joys beyond compare
With the Master over there.

My Dearest Loved Ones,
The joys here are beyond compare;
You too can be an heir.
Do the Master’s will, not in part but whole,
And I’ll meet you in that home of soul.

I’ll be waiting for you, the Loved Ones I’ve left behind.
In that land of endless time
I’ll stand with the Master and His outstretched hands
To walk with you in the Promised Land

My Dear Ones, work with all your might,
Keeping heaven in your sight.
The Master and I will be watching over you day and night.
So that you can live in the land where there is no night.
(A tribute to Kal Harold)

A Moments Wisdom

If a man could have half his wishes he would double his troubles.
Knowledge is proud that he has learned so much; wisdom is humble that he knows no more.
Wisdom is only found in truth.
He who learns the rules of wisdom without conforming to them in his life is like a man who ploughs in his field but does not sow.
He who provides for this life, but takes no care for eternity, is wise for a moment, but a fool forever.
Wisdom outweighs any wealth.
No man can tell whether he is rich or poor by turning to his bank account. It is the heart that makes a man rich. He is rich according to what he is, not according to what he has.
Money is not required to buy one necessity for the soul.
We never know the worth of water till the well is dry.
If you want to be miserable, think much about yourself; about what you want, what you like, what respect people ought to pay you, and what people think of you.
Understanding is the reward of faith. Therefore seek not to understand that thou mayest believe, but believe that thou mayest understand.
Man is always inclined to be intolerant toward the thing, or person, he hasn't taken time adequately to understand.

My Christian Resolutions
By Ann Suddoth Rudolph

I resolve to keep my mind clean,
And pure and good.
For a mid that’s clean can only say
The words a Christian should;
I’ll try to never say
The words that hurt another.
And always say kind things
About a sister or brother.

I resolve to be more faithful
To my Lord and Savior dear,
And to pray more and more each day,
To keep Him ever near;
To always, if I’m able
To lend a helping hand,
And try to be more thankful that I
Am blessed as richly as I am.

I resolve not to love
The pleasures of this life,
Nor wear the kind of clothing
That for a Christian is not right.
To be the kind of Christian
God would have me to be.
To truly live so others
Can see Christ living in me.

I resolve to tell others
About the Wonderful Gospel of Christ,
So that they too may know
The richness of this life;
That they may learn to live
The life of truth and love,
And someday meet up there
In Heaven up Above.

Apathy is defined as "a lack of feeling or concern: indifference." We've often heard others complain that "nobody cares" about the underprivileged or the righting of wrongs in society. Uncured social apathy has long been with us. Helen Keller said that, "Science may have found a cure for most evils; but it has found no remedy for the worst of them all -- the apathy of human beings." That being said, religious apathy has not always been as widespread as it is now. American history is filled with examples of religious passion. But today, apathy is a growing problem in our country and in the church.
One indication of the problem is seen in the increasing lack of concern for attending church. Recent studies by the Barna Group have shown that from 1992 to 2003 the average attendance at a typical church service has dropped by 13% whereas the population of America has increased by 9%. Their research also indicates that at the present rate of change, most Americans will identify themselves as non-religious or non-Christian by the year 2035. Corresponding to these figures, other studies have shown a continued decline in general Bible knowledge among the American population. The sad reality is that if we asked the typical American, "Is the biggest problem in the religious world today ignorance or indifference?" most would probably respond by saying, "I don't know and I don't care!"
The Scriptures command that Christians be "fervent in spirit, serving the Lord" (Rom. 12:11). The word "apathy" should never describe our service to the Lord. Yet, how much concern are we showing in our service? Are we attending as we should? Do we involve ourselves in church work according to our talents? Do we study our Bibles? Do we talk about God's truth with others? Are we striving fervently to live godly lives? If we're honest, most of us would probably admit that we do not show enough concern for these things.
What is the cure for spiritual apathy? To my knowledge, there is no support group that one can join to overcome apathy. There is no such thing as Apathetic's Anonymous, and if there were, no member of the group would care enough to tell you who they were or where they meet.
So, what's the cure for apathy? Peter tells us in second Peter the third chapter. The coming of the day of the Lord will cure apathy! Peter reminds us that the day of the Lord will come, and that just as surely as God once destroyed the earth with water, He will destroy it again with fire. He says, "The day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up" (2Peter 3:10). If we accept that, we won't be apathetic! Peter goes on to say, "Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God" (2Peter 3:11-12).
Everyone will have their religious apathy cured by the day of the Lord. Either you will swallow the cure in this life by accepting the reality of His coming or the cure will be forced upon you on that day. When the Lord returns and the earth is destroyed, everyone will care about their service to Him. (via The Bulletin of the Church of Christ at New Georgia, November 25, 2007)

Doing More For The Lord In 2008
By Lalo Enriquez

More Daily Walking With Jesus In 2008: Faithful members of God’s family will “walk with God” as “Enoch walked with God” (Gen 5:24), and “Noah walked with God” (Gen 6:9). Walking with the LORD simply means that we live and act (and react) every day as He instructs us in His Word. At work, school, home, or at play - wherever we find ourselves, we respond to daily responsibilities and/or pleasures according to the principles taught in the Bible.
More Daily Bible Reading In 2008: Faithful members of Christ’s church who desire to keep a spiritual “edge” will read their Bibles as often as possible. Even busy people can (busy people especially should) develop daily Bible reading habits. Pick up a reading chart and make it a point to spend a few minutes each day reading God’s holy book. It could be int he morning before going to work, or at lunch-time for just a few minutes, or at night before retiring to bed, or anytime in between these. If you miss one day, don’t miss the next. Statistics show that it takes 21 days before daily Bible reading becomes a habit, and only 3 days to break it. Commitment and consistency are keys to success. “And they searched the scriptures daily....” (Acts 17:11).
More Faithfulness In Assembling In 2008: Assembling with those of like precious faith at each appointed assembly should be of utmost importance to every Christian. The times of worship and Bible study should be AUTOMATIC in a Christian’s weekly schedule. These are times when we are spiritually (and mutually) built up and encouraged. Christians should depend on one another to attend faithfully at all the assemblies set aside by the congregation.
More “Christian” Social Activity In 2008: Christians need to regularly associate with other Christians aside from the scheduled assemblies of the church. We need each other to encourage and strengthen each other. Over one hundred times the New Testament writers use the term “one-another, love one another, comfort one another, exhort one another, serve one another, use hospitality one to another,” etc. Christians should make friends from those of the world (to evangelize), but our closest friends should be of those in Christ!

A Moments Wisdom on Work

Happiness depends chiefly on our cheerful acceptance of routine, on our refusal to assume, as many do, that daily work and daily duty are a kind of slavery,
Blessed is the man who has some congenial work, some occupation in which he can put his heart, and which affords a complete outlet to all the forces there are in him.
To find one's work is to find one's place in the world.
It is better to undertake a large task and get it half done than to undertake nothing and get it all done.
It is not doing the thing which we like to do, but liking to do the thing which we have to do, that makes life blessed.
The greatest composer does not sit down to work because he is inspired, but becomes inspired because he is working.
The only place where success comes before work is a dictionary.
There are two changeless sources of solid happiness: first, the belief in God, and second, the habit of hard work toward useful ends.
If you want to be not only successful, but personally, happily and permanently successful, then do your job in a way that puts lights in people's faces. Do that job in such a way that, even when you are out of sight, folks will always know which way you went by the lamps left behind.