Christian blog: Bible comentary, free sermon outlines, free daily e-devotionals!

Has anyone ever seen God?

2012-01-28T18:20:00.000-08:00

FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION

            "For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities - His eternal

             power and divine nature - have been clearly seen, being understood from

             what has been made, so that men are without excuse." Rom. 1:20 (NIV)

During last Wednesday evening's Bible study I asked the class if they had ever seen God. The question was asked in making a point regarding faith. Of course, in the actual sense of the question, the answer was no. But it caused me to recall a little story I once read, and since I didn't have time then to tell it, I thought I'd do so here for you to consider.

This little story I'm going to cite to you closely relates to the above passage from Romans. I feel that this passage, combined with the story, shows us that, even if some have no faith in The Almighty or claim to be atheists or agnostics, this very world and all therein, removes any excuse they have for their unbelief. See if you don't agree.

The story is really just a few thoughts, penned by an unknown author, and entitled:

                                                            "WHISPERS"

The man whispered, "God, speak to me" and a meadowlark sang.

    But, the man didn't hear.

So the man yelled, "God, speak to me" and the thunder rolled across the sky.

    But, the man didn't listen.

The man looked around and said, "God, let me see you" and a star shone brightly.

    But, the man did not see.

And the man shouted, "God, show me a miracle" and a life was born.

    But, the man did not notice.

So, the man cried out in despair, "Touch me God, and let me know you're here."

    Whereupon, God reached down and touched the man.

        But the man brushed the butterfly away and walked on.

Today's editorial is going to consist of two short lessons and this will begin the second. It too has a scriptural lead-in to this portion and it reads as follows.

                    "That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be

                      sincere and without offence till the day of Christ." (Phil. 1:10)

The topic of our second lesson is related to the word "sincere" seen in the above verse. Sincere is a word synonymous with "genuine" or "pure or true." Something that, in reality, is what it claims to be. Not phony or deceitful.

I once read an article that explained the roots of the word we now know as "sincere." Reportedly it came from ancient Rome and even though I sometimes feel that old, I wasn't there to confirm the veracity of the article. In any event, it does provide us a good illustration for our lesson subject.

The origin of the word "sincere" is said to have come from Rome's marble quarries and the subsequent business of selling the marble. There were some unscrupulous stone dealers back then who made a practice of covering imperfections in the marble with wax. Because of this deceitful practice, the Roman government intervened and made it illegal to do this.

After addressing this shady practice by the dealers, the Roman Empire began certifying its marble as being "sine cera" or "sincerus," meaning that it was "genuine" or "without wax." It's from there that we derive our word "sincere." So, let's look for a moment at this word "sincere" and apply it to Christians.

Just like our passage reads, Christians are to be "sincere." To be "genuine." The real thing and not phonies. Not just putting on a front or, as the story said, covering up the blemishes with wax, but we are to truly be what we tell the world we are - disciples of Christ. And this means "at all times." Not just "sometimes" when we think someone might be watching us.

In Titus 2:7 we read these words, "In all things showing thyself a pattern (an example) of good works; in doctrine showing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity." Titus is referring here to the very nature of a Christian. The character and manner of living seen in "all things" Christians do in living their lives.

The word "always" occurs in the New Testament 29 times (by my count) used in relation to things such as prayer, being thankful, hearing the Word, good works, remembering Christ's death, burial & resurrection, being ready to teach and in obedience. In like manner, in order to be "true" Christians, we have to be "sincere" at all times. Why? Because the world will be watching us. Can we "sincerely" represent Christ to the world if we are not "sincere" ourselves?

Let me tell you one more little story to help illustrate this point. Back when President McKinley was in office, he had to make a decision as to who to appoint as ambassador to another country. There were two candidates for the position and, on the surface, both were equally qualified. While he was weighing his decision, he recalled an occasion when he was still in Congress and had an opportunity to observe the conduct of one of the candidates.

McKinley recalled being on a streetcar during rush hour and had been lucky enough to get the last available seat. Shortly thereafter, an elderly woman carrying a basket of clothes got on and walked the length of the car looking for a seat. No one offered her theirs.

She ended up standing right in front of one of the men who later turned out to be one of the two ambassadorial candidates. McKinley noted that he deliberately shifted his newspaper so that it would look like he didn't notice her. McKinley got up, walked down the aisle and took the woman's basket from her and gave her his seat.

Here's the point of the illustration: no matter what other qualifications this candidate possessed, due to this one act of disrespect and uncaring attitude towards others, it cost him the ambassadorship and the receiving of a great honor because President McKinley chose the other candidate.

Conclusion: if you say you are a Christian, then you have to "practice what you preach." And that means "always." At "all times." If you "do not" or "are not" such, believe me it will be known sooner or later. Moreover, God "always" sees and "knows." If we are not "sincere" in our Christianity, I believe that we'll be like the losing candidate and miss out on a great honor.

Ron Covey

Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?

2012-01-24T12:18:00.000-08:00

Have you ever thought of how we get locked in to one way of thinking about
things? Really, while most of us may feel that we are open minded or at
least not locked into only one way of thinking, we sometimes are. It is
sometimes the little things in life that help us to refocus, things that jar
us out of our rut and cause us to re-think things.

There is a cute story I ran across that illustrates this point (I think).
Notice the "other point of view" seen here: While I sat in the reception
area of my doctor's office, a woman rolled an elderly man in a wheelchair
into the room.

As she went to the receptionist's desk, the man sat there, alone and silent.
Just as I was thinking I should make small talk with him, a little boy
slipped off his mother's lap and walked over to the wheelchair.

Placing his hand on the man's, he said, "I know how you feel. My mom makes
me ride in the stroller, too."

That story brings to mind the words of Jesus found in Matthew 18:1-4. "At
that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, "Who is the greatest in the
kingdom of heaven?" He called a little child and had him stand among them.
And he said: "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little
children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever
humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of
heaven."(NIV)

Throughout the four Gospel books Jesus confronted the Scribes and Pharisees.
In general I don't believe it was because they were bad people, but they
could only see a thing from the context of what they had been taught was the
way to believe and act. They could not understand that the one they claimed
to serve was standing in their midst, they were in a rut, locked into seeing
only through the filter of men's teachings.

I will readily admit that I am somewhat fixed in my thinking. I know what I
believe and more importantly, why I believe what I believe. I admit that I
have a filter through which I see and interact with the world in general. It
is the filter of the Word of God. I know that I sometimes fail, but my goal
it to be like the Bereans in Acts 17:11 and search the scriptures every day
to see that my beliefs are in line with God's Word. I strive to filter my
relationships in the same way that I might see others as the child in the
story, without prejudices, only with a desire to help. I know that I don't
always succeed in this, but that is my goal.

I pray that God will help each of us humble ourselves, if necessary to see
things and people differently, so that we might be worthy of His kingdom.
How do you see the world around you?

--Russ Lawson

Sir John Franklin, a British explorer

2012-01-14T13:53:00.000-08:00

An interesting map is on display in the British Museum in London. It's an
old mariner's chart, drawn in 1525, outlining the North American coastline
and adjacent waters. At that time most of the new continent's interior had
not as yet been explored with but a few hundred miles of coastline being the
only evidence of what lie beyond.

The handful of explorers who had visited the Americas had relied upon the
scattered Indian tribes for information about the land. In many cases, since
the natives had no wish that these strange visitors from the sea should
venture forth over their land, they had created fanciful tales and legends
as being an accurate description of what the new land held in store for
anyone adventurous or foolhardy enough to take the risk.

With these tales in mind, the cartographer made some intriguing notations on
areas of the map that represented regions not yet explored. He wrote: "Here
be giants," "Here be fiery scorpions," and "Here be dragons."

Eventually, the map came into the possession of Sir John Franklin, a British
explorer in the early 1800s. Musing over these fanciful, even mythical
inscriptions, he scratched them out one by one and in their stead he wrote
these words across the map: "Here is God." *

What lies in store for us along the "coastlines" of our lives is known only
to God. But, He has not been so unkind as to give us no hope for tomorrow.
He has mapped out a course that He desires that we should follow. This Map
(God's Word) identifies:

Where we are: lost in sin and doomed to destruction (Romans 3:23; 6:23).

Where God wants us to be ultimately: in heaven with Him for an eternity
(Romans 6:23; 1 Peter 1:3-4).

The Way to eternal life: "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God
is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 6:23). Jesus said, "I am
the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through
Me" (John 14:6)

When we were lost in our sins, God sent His Son, Jesus, to die on the cross
to pay the price of redemption for us (Ephesians 1:7). He has promised to
save those who will place their faith and trust in Jesus (Acts 16:30-31),
turn from their sins in repentance (Acts 17:30-31), confess Jesus before men
(Romans 10:9-10), and are baptized (immersed) into Christ for the
forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38). Then He wants us to continue to "fix our
eyes on Jesus" and follow Him faithfully all the way to heaven (Hebrews
12:1-2).

If we trust and obey Jesus and follow Him faithfully, the promise of
tomorrow is bright. NO dragons, NO scorpions and NO giants; only God - "who
desires ALL men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth" (1
Tim 2:4).

Won't YOU trust Christ and follow Him?

David A. Sargent

Governor Haley Barbour pardons 210 prison inmates

2012-01-13T08:15:00.000-08:00

There's a storm brewing in Mississippi. Just hours before Governor Haley
Barbour left office as governor of that state, he issued pardons for 210 prison
inmates. Some of those who were pardoned were convicted of rape or robbery. To
be pardoned means that they are now considered as having paid their debt to
society. They don't have to serve any more time in jail; they don't even have
to report to a parole officer.

Families of the victims of these crimes are understandably upset. No
explanation was given for the pardon of most. In many cases there was no notice
given that the convicts might be pardoned, something required by Mississippi
law. Authorities are looking into the matter, and it may be that some who have
been released will have their pardons revoked.

A similar situation happened in Tennessee in 1979. Outgoing Governor Ray
Blanton issued pardons to a few convicts on January 15, including a man who had
been convicted of murdering his ex-wife and her boyfriend. Fearing more pardons
were about to be handed down, Governor-elect Lamar Alexander was sworn into
office on January 17, three days ahead of the scheduled inauguration, thus
depriving Blanton of the power to pardon any others.

As we grumble over examples of powerful people pardoning the unjust, shouldn't
we look upward as well? Isn't that precisely what God has offered to do for
each of us - to forgive our sins (or, in legal terms, to pardon those who are
guilty of breaking the law)?

It is well known that Jesus came to earth to make forgiveness possible. But
this tendency of God is found before Christ's appearing on earth. Here is how
the prophet Micah portrayed God: "Who is a God like You, pardoning iniquity and
passing over the transgression of the remnant of His heritage? He does not
retain His anger forever, because He delights in mercy" (Micah 7:18). Doesn't
this put God in the same bad light as the governors mentioned above?

Here's the difference: In the Mississippi and Tennessee cases, justice had not
been served. In our case, justice has been served. But how? I've never been
punished by God for sins I've committed.

Paul gave the explanation in Romans 3:24-26. Jesus, Paul wrote, is our
"propitiation". That's a word that means appeasement. Things have been made
right with one who has been offended. Jesus, who lived a perfect life, shed His
innocent blood to pay the price for the sins of mankind.

This helps us to understand a most important point in verse 26: "To demonstrate
at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier
of the one who has faith in Jesus." Even though God regularly pardons those who
have broken His laws, He is just in doing so. Jesus paid the price for us.
Justice has been served for you and me.

But God's offer of pardon has to be accepted. And accepting the offer of
salvation involves more than just believing: "And having been perfected, [Jesus]
became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him" (Hebrews 5:9). If
obeying Jesus means that my violations of God's laws will be pardoned, I'll be
happy to obey anything He says!

Come to the light God offers! Study His word, the Bible. Worship Him in spirit
and truth (John 4:24). Get in touch with us if you'd like to discuss these
ideas further.

Timothy D. Hall

Colony Collapse Disorder

2012-01-06T08:24:00.000-08:00

Some years ago, I wrote a Daily Bread article comparing the ecological crisis known as Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD), which in many places is causing the honey worker bees to disappear, to our hardworking church members whose absence makes all the difference in what gets done or does not get done in a congregation. I wrote:

"Think about how many in the church are like the honey bee. They work almost undetectably, behind the scenes and unheralded. Without them, however, much work would go undone. Occasionally, these workers may get discouraged by opposition, unappreciation, and criticism. In some instances, they may be prone to give up and 'disappear.' Yet, think about what happens to the life and work of a congregation that loses or lacks these quiet workers. Bulletin boards aren't decorated. Kitchens aren't cleaned. Tract racks aren't stocked. Shut-ins and the sick aren't contacted. Cards aren't sent. People aren't encouraged and new Christians and new members aren't exhorted. Visits aren't made. Individually, these workers may not be able to do much, but collectively their impact is huge!"
(from "Missed When Absent," Neal Pollard)

I ended by writing to those who are those hardworking, behind-the-scenes members, "We notice you, and we need you."

I found it interesting that buried in today's Denver Post is the probable cause of Colony Collapse Disorder. Scientists in northern California think "a parasitic fly hijacks the bees' bodies and causes them to abandon hives" (1/5/12, 11A). The fly has been a known parasite in bumblebees (ibid.), but may now be the culprit decimating honey bee hives in the United States and overseas.

If that is true, what an illustration of a warning God gives His workers in Hebrews 12. "Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith..." (1-2a). Be it discouragement, lack of endurance, personal sin, or some other "parasite" of faith and faithfulness, we must keep them away and fix our eyes on Jesus. No matter what tempts us to veer off course or how difficult the challenge is to stay at the work, that is exactly what God wants us to do and what we must do!

--Neal Pollard

Important events from 2011

2012-01-06T07:59:00.000-08:00

It's amazing how eventful this last year has been. Every time we turned around, it seems something huge was happening. Just take a look at some of the events in 2011:

January 11: Massive flooding and mudslides in Brazil (killing 903).
February 11: Egypt's leader, Hosni Mubarak, is forced from power.
March 11: A 9.1 magnitude earthquake and tsunami hits Japan (killing 15,840), and results in a nuclear crisis.
April 29: An estimated 2 billion people watched the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton.
April - May: Huge tornados hit the Southeast and Midwest.
May 2: Osama Bin Laden is killed.
July 21: NASA's space shuttle program is ended.
July 31: Massive flooding in Thailand, affecting over 12 million people and causing $45 billion dollars in damage.
August 27: Hurricane Irene hits the east coast.
September 17: The "Occupy Wall Street" movement begins.
October 20: Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi is killed.
October 31: Global population reaches seven billion.
December 15: End of the Iraq war.
December 17: North Korea's leader, Kim Jong II, dies.

This list only scratches the surface of the events of 2011. This doesn't talk about people who died, our bad economy, record high unemployment numbers, or other events that impacted us this last year. Our world is not the same as it was one year ago. Chances are, neither are you. This may have been a terrific year for you, or maybe it was one of the worst.

Only the Lord knows what will happen in 2012. He knows who will live and who will die. He knows what disasters will occur. He knows who will be President in 2012. He even knows what will happen in your life this year. God knows exactly what this year will be like. Which is all the more reason to put Him first.

There is no other way to ensure a great 2012 than serving the Lord. Joshua's words are just as true then as they are now,

"If it is disagreeable in your sight to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves today whom you will serve...but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD" (Joshua 24:15). Chose to serve the Lord, it will be the greatest choice you make all year long.

--Brett Petrillo

Strange church building in Mitterfirmiansreut, Germany - God's Igloo

2012-01-05T09:21:00.000-08:00

If finding warmth in a place of worship is your preference, be forewarned: a new
church in Mitterfirmiansreut, Germany may not appeal to you. Constructed
entirely out of snow and ice at a cost of $200,000, this structure opened just a
few days after Christmas. More than a novelty, this building commemorates an
actual event 100 years ago. Denied permission to build a church in 1911,
villagers constructed a place to worship using nothing but frozen precipitation.

The life of this house of worship is naturally limited. Its opening was delayed
by an unusually mild December, and it will melt away with the onset of spring.
Until then, however, some will worship here, but even more will be moved by
curiosity to see this chilly church building. (To see photos of this
phenomenon, go to http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/12/28/life-idUSRTR2VOPZ)

This curious ice cathedral, dubbed "God's Igloo", would undoubtedly be a
interesting site to see in person. Let's use it just now, however, to lead us
into some thoughts about what Jesus had in mind with His original concept of
"church".

First, a church is not a building. The word Jesus used in Matthew 16:18 in
announcing His plans to "build My church" is ecclesia. That Greek word had
already been used for non-religious purposes. When the people of a town were
called together to hear the decree of a king, for example, the gathering was
called an ecclesia - the "called out". The people had been called out of their
homes for some important purpose.

Peter had that idea in mind when he spoke of the identity of Christians: "But
you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special
people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness
into His marvelous light" (1 Peter 2:9). Those who choose to follow Christ
(Christians) are the church because they have responded to the Lord's call and
have come out of darkness. Nowhere in the Bible is "church" used of a building.

Second, Christ's church is not threatened by heat, as "God's Igloo" will be when
spring arrives. Jesus made this affirmation in Matthew 16:18: "... on this rock
I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it."
Jesus' ministry on earth would be brought to an abrupt end by His arrest and
execution. But His death would not prevent the establishment of God's kingdom
(the church). Death stops the plans of all mankind, but Jesus was more than a
man.

Death was a serious threat to Christ's early followers, too. Persecution by the
Roman Empire took the lives of thousands of Christians. The apostle John urged
Christians to remain steadfast: "Do not fear any of those things which you are
about to suffer. ... Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of
life" (Revelation 2:10). Such promises emboldened many early saints.

In 197 AD the persecution was still raging, but Tertullian was able to make this
claim to the officials of the Empire: "the blood of the martyrs is the seed of
the church". Though the government applied its fiercest "heat", the church did
not melt.

God's plans lead to victory! Those who are wise will align themselves with Him
and His Son.

--Tim Hall

Mysteries in life

2012-01-02T14:08:00.000-08:00

Life it seems; is full of mysteries, (Things you can't fathom or
understand). Sometimes it is the little everyday things that can be the
greatest mystery. For example, my wife's purse! We have been together for
close to 46 years and it is still a mystery to me. I'm not saying that I
don't appreciate that she carries one and all of the things she has with her
when I or she need them. What I find a mystery is first, how she gets so
many things inside of that small bag and second, how she finds the things
she needs. Some of the most dreaded words for me are, "it's in my purse,
just get it." I have sworn off looking for anything in her purse. The
scenario generally goes something like this: "It's in my purse, just get it
yourself." I pick up the purse, peer inside, move around the various items
for awhile and eventually give up with these words, "I can't find it."
Frustrated at my inability to find the thing she takes the purse and in a
few moments she delivers the item which had evaded me.

Another thing I find a mystery is the kitchen drawer with plastic storage
containers. I find it an overwhelming task to match a container with a lid
that fits. Many times I have opened to drawer, stared blankly into it for a
few moments, closed the drawer and just walked away. It is a mystery to me
how my wife can find a matching set. Somehow my wife has the mysterious
ability to perceive some things that I cannot.

Another mystery for some folks is the Word of God. They look at the bible as
a mysterious book full of unfathomable stories or tales. It is
incomprehensible to them that they could find the answers they need for
dealing with life's problems, much less find God speaking to them through
it. To be honest, much of the confusion surrounding the bible is fostered by
men (and women) who claim to have some special understanding of it.

Just yesterday, one of our church members shared with me that a friend at
work had made a statement about something which their church practiced. They
were adamant that if another church did not practice that thing then they
were wrong. They could not tell them where in the bible the idea was found,
but "their preacher said, so it had to be true."

Well, that's another mystery to me I guess. Why would anyone blindly take
the word of another person (even if they wear the title of preacher or
pastor) about something that affected their life in eternity? It is a
mystery to me that people do not just read the bible for themselves. You
see, I am on a life long mission to urge people to read the bible. It is God
speaking to us about the most important thing in the world, our living with
him.

You might say, "But the bible is a mystery to me, I can't understand it."
That statement is just not true, but then don't take my word for it. Notice
what the apostle Paul had to say about it (in the bible). "God himself
revealed his mysterious plan to me. As you read what I have written, you
will understand my insight into this plan regarding Christ.." (Ephesians
3:3-4, NLT)

I kind of like the way this paraphrase of this passage puts these verses:
"As you read over what I have written to you, you'll be able to see for
yourselves into the mystery of Christ. None of our ancestors understood
this. Only in our time has it been made clear by God's Spirit through his
holy apostles and prophets of this new order. The mystery is that people who
have never heard of God and those who have heard of him all their lives
(what I've been calling outsiders and insiders) stand on the same ground
before God. They get the same offer, same help, same promises in Christ
Jesus. The Message is accessible and welcoming to everyone, across the
board." (Ephesians 3:4-6, The Message)

Yes, the Bible clears up the mysteries, "the Messages is accessible and
welcoming to everyone, across the board." There is only one catch! You have
to read it to understand it!

--Russ Lawson

Time is the life of the soul

2011-12-31T19:23:00.000-08:00

"Time is the life of the soul." (Henry Wadsworth Longfellow)

Isn't that an interesting observation as it regards our life on this earth? I thought about that quote by Longfellow when I began

Isn't that an interesting observation as it regards our life on this earth? I thought about that quote by Longfellow when I began considering how to present our editorial lesson for today, the first day of 2012. TIME - where does it go? Didn't we just start this year that, all of a sudden, is ending? I think that I can easily sympathize with old Job when he said, regarding time: that it goes by "swifter than a weaver's shuttle." (Job 7:6)

I guess that it's natural for preachers, teachers and editorialists to think about the subject of time at the ending of a year and the beginning of another so that's what my thoughts will be about today. Our lesson will consist of some things that relate to the subject of "time."

The first thing I'd like to mention is a music video I watched a short time back. It was a performance of that most famous and beautiful hymn, "Amazing Grace." It was performed by a group of four tenors known as "IL DIVO." It is a most beautiful rendition of the song, but it wasn't the singing of it that makes it applicable to this lesson.

Rather, it was the location of the performance that got my editorial juices flowing. It was being performed in front of a live audience in the ruins of the Roman Coliseum. To say that their singing ability enthralled the audience would be an understatement. Think about this setting though for a moment, if you will.

A vast crowd of people, listening to and appreciating a hymn about the "amazing grace" of God, being performed by a group of singers in the arena, the location, where untold thousands died for nothing more than sport. Where professed Christians were put to death in some of the most horrible ways that the evil mind of man could dream up.

And now, about 2000 years later, one of the recognizable and emotionally provoking hymns ever written is being sung not only to an audience present there, but being broadcast around the world to untold millions. What an amazing thing for us to witness and to think about how the passing of time changes things.

Don't you see this as proving what Christ said in Matt. 16:18 about the "gates of hell" not prevailing against His church. And I can't think of a better worldly picture epitomizing the "gates of hell" than what happened in the Roman Coliseum against the followers of Christ. Think of it this way: the "Amazing Grace" of God was given to mankind in the form of His Son, Jesus Christ and He still reigns.

Continuing on with our thoughts on "time" consider this: there was a "time" when a promise was made by God that a Savior/Messiah would be coming. One that would save man from his sins. Then occurred the "time" when this Messiah did come in the flesh. A "time" when He lived, taught, died, was resurrected and ascended back to heaven. And lastly, a "time" when He'll return.

I don't know when that "time" will be and neither does anyone else. But that hasn't stopped many prognosticators over the years from predicting a certain "time" or date. They've all had one thing in common - all have been wrong

It's interesting (to me anyway) that, in making their predictions about the end of "time" and Christ's 2^nd coming, they take some passages from the Bible, tie them to things said or written by uninspired men in order to arrive at their wrong conclusions. What I find interesting about this is, they obviously believe some things said in the Bible but, just as obviously, refuse to believe God's Word when it tells us that "nobody, not even Jesus Christ himself, knows when that will be." (Mt. 24:36) What an interesting antithetical way of arriving at their misconceptions.

Well, as we wrap up the old year and start out on our voyage through the new, I feel there are some things we need to consider about this coming "time." I think that first and foremost is the understanding that we don't know how much of this new year that we'll see, do we? Will it run it's entire course? Maybe. If it does, will we run the entire course with it? Again, maybe.

You see, there are some things regarding "time" for which we don't have answers. However, there are some things that we can know about "time." We know that it is short, it's passing, it's uncertain and that it's irrevocable when it's gone. And another thing we know from reading God's word is, that we are accountable to God for what portion of "time" we're given.

The passage in Rev. 22:12 says that when Christ returns he'll have our "reward" with Him and it will be bestowed on all mankind, "according to his doings." That phrase, "according to his doings," relates directly to how we use the "life of our soul." And also understand this: that the concept presented by the word "reward" is, oh lets call it, a two-way street.

A well-known hymn writer (Tillit S. Teddlie) once wrote these significant words about "time." He said that, "Yesterday is forever gone. Tomorrow may never come. Today is the day of all days." In Eph. 5:16 God, through the Apostle Paul says: "make the best use of it." I think that should lead us into our final thought about this subject of "time."

When we look back at the words of Longfellow, where he says that "time is the life of the soul," I'm reminded of a couple of scriptures that relate to our passage in Eph. 5:16, the making the best use of our soul's time, and to the picture painted by Longfellow's words. The first one is the preceding verse in Ephesians where, added to verse 16, it reads: "Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time because the days are evil." (ESV)

Then we should look at the words of Solomon, found in Eccl. 8:5, where we're told "Whoso keepeth the commandment shall feel no evil thing; and a wise man's heart descerneth both time and judgment." (KJV)

If you are one to make New Year's resolutions, why not make one that says we're going to be wise in the use of the "time" that our soul is allowed. Because, when you get right down to it, this is the only "time" we have to affect the condition of our soul before it returns to God. (Eccl. 12:7)

Ron Covey

　

Begin the New Year on a solid foundation

2011-12-31T06:52:00.000-08:00

Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not love, I am become as sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. Though I'm the highest paid preacher and the most sought-after speaker, and can command thousands by my great oratory skills, if I have not love, in the ears of God, my voice sounds like a baseball bat striking an empty metal bucket.

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 love, I am nothing. Even if I could predict with precision events of the future; and though there was not a single mystery that I could not solve, nor was there any question that I could not answer; and though I could accomplish great feats with my positive leadership skills, if I have not love, 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 love, it profits me nothing. Though I empty my bank account and sell everything I have to buy food for the poor, and even if I become a martyr for my cause, if I have not love, it profits me zero.

Love suffers long; Love is kind; Love does not envy; Love does not vaunt itself; Love is not arrogant; Love does not behave rudely; Love does not always demand its own way; Love is not easily provoked; Love does not keep a scorecard of wrongs; Love rejoices in Truth, not iniquity.

Love never gives up; Love is always hopeful, and Love endures through every circumstance.

Love never fails, it never quits, and is everlasting because God is Love and God is everlasting.

And now abides Faith, Hope, and Love, these three, but the greatest of these is Love. Faith will cease when we see Him (Hebrews 11:1); Hope will cease when we receive what we hope for (Romans 8:24), but Love is eternal; that's why "the greatest of these is Love."

Begin the New Year on a solid foundation. Learn of God by studying your Bible. The more you know God, the more you will Love Him.

--Toby Miller

Committee to Save Merry Christmas

2011-12-31T06:30:00.000-08:00

     I'm sure you've heard a lot of talk about the fact that some retailers seem to be getting away from saying "Merry Christmas!" and instead are substituting phrases like "Season's Greetings!" or "Happy Holidays!" in their decorations and their advertisements. Someone has even written this politically correct Christmas greeting:

     "Best wishes for an environmentally conscious, socially responsible, low stress, non-addictive, gender neutral, winter solstice holiday, practiced within the most joyous traditions of the religious persuasion of your choice, but with respect for the religious persuasion of others who choose to practice their own religion as well as those who choose not to practice a religion at all."

     Many Christians are outraged at this shift and view this as one more attempt to remove all references to Christ from our culture. In response, a group has been organized called the "Committee to Save Merry Christmas". Here are some of their thoughts:

     "This deliberate and intentional substitution of 'Merry Christmas" with un-celebratory phrases are thoughtless, condescending and hurtful. Should you -- the purchasing public -- who honors the American tradition and culture of Christmas, continue to purchase Christmas gifts from these stores when they deliberately and intentionally refuse to acknowledge Christmas? Our committee believes you should not! We, instead, encourage you to shop where the values and meaning of Christmas are cherished."

     I have some concerns. On the one hand, I am concerned about attempts (sometimes blatant attempts) to remove all references to God or Christianity from our society. But, on the other hand, I have to remember that God did not give Sears (or any other store) the responsibility of telling people about Christ. He did not give our American government that responsibility. He gave it to those of us who are Christians.

     I think it's ironic that a lot of Christians are upset that Target doesn't greet them with "Merry Christmas!" when they walk through the door, but they will make no attempt to talk about Christ in their own lives. We prefer to say "It's a beautiful day!" instead of "What a beautiful day God has given us!" We prefer to say, "I've been lucky or fortunate" instead of saying "God has blessed me." We would never dream of saying "Christ is the only way of salvation." for fear of being labeled a fanatic. But then we'll get upset at a store which has a banner proclaiming "Happy Holidays" and refuse to do business with them.

     Folks, let put the responsibility where it belongs. God has given those of us who are Christians the task of sharing Christ with a world that doesn't know him. God "has given us the ministry of reconciliation...and has committed to us the word of reconciliation." (2 Cor. 5:18-19). If we're going to get upset, let's start getting upset about the fact that WE'VE not been doing that like we should!

Alan Smith

What is a watershed?

2011-12-22T09:18:00.000-08:00

In recent years I've noticed a new signs along Interstate highways that announce
entry into a particular watershed. For many this will be a mystery; what in the
world is a "watershed"? The web site for the Environmental Protection Agency
gives this definition: "A watershed is the area of land where all of the water
that is under it or drains off of it goes into the same place."

Waterways have been significant in determining locations of new settlements in
our country. Water is one of the most essential resources for human sustenance,
as well as transportation and agriculture. Look at a U.S. map and note how many
cities are situated on the banks of major rivers or at ocean ports. People need
water, and they naturally settle where they can find it in abundance.

Not surprisingly, the word has become a metaphor as well. A "watershed event"
is one which changes the course of things afterward. The signing of the
Declaration of Independence changed the loyalties of colonists of the New World.
The Emancipation Proclamation forever changed the way in which some in the
United States viewed their fellowman as mere property.

An interesting list, found at http://listverse.com/2010/08/28/top-10-watershed-
moments-in-history/, states the top 10 watershed events in human history. Some
of the events I might have predicted: the invention of the printing press and
the development of the smallpox vaccine. Other items on the list remind me that
I'm not as well-versed in world history as I need to be.

I was pleased, however, to see the number one item on the list of watershed
moments in human history: the birth of Jesus Christ. A quick glance at our
calendars will affirm this claim: this is the year 2011, AD ("in the year of our
Lord"). All years before AD years were BC ("before Christ") years.
(Regrettably, there are strong efforts to change those designations from AD to
CE ("common era") and BC to BCE ("before common era").)

The coming of Christ means that God's grace has been shed abundantly upon
mankind. Paul stressed that fact in Titus 2:11: "For the grace of God that
brings salvation has appeared to all men." No one is left out of the
opportunity; any who wish may come to Christ for salvation.

But there's more to Paul's statement that needs to also be understood: "Teaching
us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly,
righteously, and godly in the present age" (Titus 2:12). Jesus' appearance on
earth continues to amaze us. But let us not fail to grasp the reason for His
coming: to lead us out of the darkness of sin to the light of righteousness.

John used this image of light when speaking of Jesus coming to earth: "That was
the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world" (John 1:9).
Later in John's gospel, Jesus used a different metaphor: "He who believes in Me,
as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water"
(John 7:38).

There's the watershed we've been looking for! Jesus, the Water of Life, can
give us what our souls need most. As settlers of old who set up their camps
beside flowing rivers, let us pitch our lives beside the ever-flowing living
water. In that way alone will we find everlasting, satisfying life!

Timothy D. Hall

Peace on Earth

2011-12-21T08:28:00.000-08:00

How many times will Luke 2:8ff be read or quoted this month? Perhaps we especially like verse 14: "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased" (NASV). I can't read this passage without picturing Linus on stage quoting these verses. Isaiah pictured the reign of the Messiah as one of peace, for those who would "walk in His paths" (Isa. 2:3-4).

It is easy to have peace among those who submit to the Lord's rule. But what about "peace on earth" between those who follow the Prince of Peace and those who do not? Paul wrote in Romans 12:18: "If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men." How can we have peace with those who do not submit to the kingdom of Christ?

Here are some ideas... Speak gently with them. "A soft answer turns away wrath" (Proverbs 15:1)."Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person" (Colossians 4:6).

Second, try to understand them. Seek first to understand. Then, to be understood. Proverbs 25:12 says, "Like a gold ring or an ornament of gold is a wise reprover to a listening ear." Third, be patient. Jesus says, "Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you" and Paul tells us that "Love is patient and kind" (Matthew 5:44 and 1 Corinthians 13:4).

Fourth, apologize for any misunderstanding or error on your part. That follows from speaking gently and trying to understand. Humility requires us to do such. "For the LORD takes pleasure in his people; he adorns the humble with salvation" (Psalm 149:4). Fifth, control your reaction. This is one of the hardest, perhaps. Control your tongue. Control your thoughts. Control your actions. "A man without self-control is like a city broken into and left without walls" (Proverbs 25:28).

Finally, always entrust your life, your happiness, your future into the hands of your loving Father in heaven. You may get slighted here on earth. But God will take care of you forever. "Therefore let those who suffer according to God's will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good" (1 Peter 4:19).

"Strive for peace with everyone" (Hebrews 12:14).

--Paul Holland

What is reconciliation?

2011-12-19T12:03:00.000-08:00

There are certain words in the Bible that astound the mind and thrill the heart. Words like "redemption," "forgiveness," "grace," and "salvation" are among those words. The worldly minded can never appreciate the magnitude nor the depth of those words as they relate to matters eternal. But those who have been rescued from the bondage of sin have an appreciation that cannot be expressed in words. The word "reconciliation" is another word that falls into that category. It is not a difficult word, nor is it hard to understand. Webster defines the word "reconciliation" as meaning "to restore to friendship or harmony, to settle or resolve." When applied to people it means to get two separated people back together again. It may refer to a husband who wants to be reconciled to his wife, or a father who wants to be reconciled to a wayward son. But when we use the word to refer to a sinner who wants to be reconciled to God we have come upon the richest use of the word in all of human language. Reconciliation occurs when sinners are brought into a state of favor with God. You may speak of material blessings, abundance of riches, or great and abundant possession in this life. But when you talk about reconciliation with God you have exhausted the meaning of what it means to be blessed.

While it is not difficult to understand the meaning of the word, it may be difficult to put reconciliation into practice, so far as human relations are concerned. It can be difficult, and even sometimes impossible, to get two family members who are at odds with one another to be reconciled to each other. Alan Smith shared this humorous story with his readers some years ago: A man once went to a preacher because he was having some family problems. He wasn't a very well-educated man and sometimes got his words confused. He said, "Me and my wife need a re-cancellation." What he meant to say was reconciliation, but the word re-cancellation wasn't a bad choice. Because there can be peace for those who have been separated only when sin has been canceled. As sinners before a righteous God, we need a "re-cancellation". And that's exactly what Jesus made available when he died on the cross (Alan Smith, www.TFTD-online.com).

Our English words "reconcile," "reconciled," or "reconciliation" appear ten times in the New Testament (Matt. 5:24, Rom. 5:10, 1 Cor. 7:11, 2 Cor. 5:18, 5:19, 5:20, Eph. 2:16, Col 1:20, 1:21, and Heb. 2:17). Some of these passages speak of reconciliation between two human individuals; some speak of God's act of reconciling the lost to Himself; and some speak of man's responsibility to "be reconciled" to God. It is 2 Corinthians 5:18 that I want to focus our attention on for this article: "But all things are of God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ, and gave unto us the ministry of reconciliation" (emphasis mine, TW). Let us notice the following truths relative to reconciliation as presented in this passage.

First, Paul speaks of the ministry of reconciliation. The very focus of our labors in the kingdom is that of reconciling men to God. So often we lose sight of our purpose as the body of Christ. God has given unto us the task of saving the souls of men. This should be the focus of our labors in all that we do. If we manage to encourage one another, to uplift the body, or organize and conduct a dozen or more fellowship meals each year, but neglect the salvation of the souls of men we have not accomplished what God wants us to accomplish. Ours is not a ministry to improve the physical man, maintain a soup kitchen, cloth the naked, pay electric bills, water bills, or stock and operate a pantry for the homeless. Paul clearly points out that God has given us the ministry of reconciliation. Our task is to save the souls of men. If we neglect that part of our work as the body of Christ, nothing else really matters.

Second, Paul sets forth the terms of reconciliation. "If any man be in Christ he is a new creature" (5:17). In another passage Paul tells us that we are reconciled unto God "in one bodythrough the cross" (Eph. 2:16). The important word in both of these passages contains only two letters. It is the word "in." It is IN Christ that we are reconciled to God; it is IN Christ that we become a new creature; it is IN Christ that men come to have salvation. If we are to fulfill the "ministry of reconciliation" we must be about telling men how to get INTO Christ. If we do not fulfill that responsibility, then it will not get done. The religious world does not teach the truth on this matter and men in general have no idea as to how to get INTO Christ! When Paul told the Romans that they were baptized "into Christ" (Rom. 6:3-5), and the Galatians that those who are baptized "into Christ" did put on Christ (Gal. 3:27) he forever settled the question as to the importance of baptism in God's scheme of redemption.

Third, Paul sets forth the results of reconciliation. "Wherefore if any man is in Christ he is a new creature: the old things are passed away; behold, they are become new" (5:17). Love of the world gives way to the love of God and Jesus; old views are replaced by new ones; new aims take the place of worldly goals; treasures are laid up in heaven rather than upon the earth. A man once said that since he had become a Christian that all things had NOT become new because he still had the same wife, and same old sun shone every morning. That man missed the thrust of Paul's words. All things have become new in that the new creature no longer lives unto himself, but unto Him Who died for him (2 Cor. 5:15).

Fourth, Paul tells us about the method of reconciliation. "Him who knew no sin he made to be sin on our behalf; that we might become the righteousness of God in him" (2 Cor. 5:21). If a man is estranged from his wife, he might be able to bring about reconciliation with some flowers and a large dose of humility. But when man sins against God, his "iniquities" will hide God's face from him, and separate him from his Father in heaven. All the flowers in the world cannot atone for sin. We were not purchased with "corruptible things, with silver or gold, from your vain manner of life handed down from your fathers; but with precious blood, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot, even the blood of Christ" (1 Pet. 1:18-19). The vicarious suffering of our Lord is the method by which God would save man. Thus, as the innocent suffered for the guilty, suffering what sin deserved to suffer, God could be just and the justifier of them that believe (Rom. 3:26). Voluntary substitution is in perfect harmony with justice, provided every step is voluntary - the substitute in offering, the government in allowing, and the criminal in accepting. Seeing that none of us have it within our power to pay the price for our sins, the very offer from the eternal God of grace to provide a substitute should drive us to our knees in grateful appreciation for this method of reconciliation! C.C. Crawford once wrote:

This principle of vicarious suffering is the foundation upon which civilization has been built - in fact upon which all society has been built, civilized or uncivilized. It is also the essential principle of human progress towards that one, far-off event, towards which the whole creation moves. Not so many years ago there went forth from our homes thousands of fine young men. They crossed the rolling deep and pitched their tents on Flanders fields and in the valleys of the Argonne. When they started out, many thought it would be a lark. But the poetry of war soon vanished, and nothing was left but the prose. They lived in dug-outs. They marched and ate and slept in mud. They rushed into living hells. They had ribs fractured, eyes put out, lungs filled with gas, limbs shot away. Thousand cried for water as they lay dying on the battlefields, and received it not. They were cold and weary and homesick. No one but Almighty God knows the length and breadth and depth of the awful anguish and suffering of those who fought, bled and died on those European battlefields. Why did fathers leave their homes and go to the front? Why did young men, postponing the day of marriage, press the last, long, lingering kisses upon the lips of the sweethearts, and then rush away into war with its uncertain future? I am still convinced that they died for a principle. I refuse to believe that it was all in vain - that a sacrifice is ever in vain. There may have been greed, graft and corruption mixed up with all of it, but there was nobility, too! Autocracy had to be overthrown, lest our own wives and daughters might have to suffer what the innocent women and children of Belgium and France suffered. The war had its sordid side, of course; but surely all this bloodshed was not meaningless! A thousand times; yea, ten thousand times - no! I still believe that these men suffered to advance the cause of democracy and freedom. As for me I glory in the crimson line. I am thrilled when I read its suggestive meaning in the cup of the Lord's Supper. I am moved with an unexplainable ecstasy when I see the ancient altars dripping with the blood of the slain lambs. Now I understand why the destroying angel who passed over Egypt at the hour of midnight, passed over those houses where the blood was sprinkled on the door-post. Now, I know to whom Isaiah refers, when he writes of One "in red apparel coming in dyed garments"; whom John the Revelator refers to, when he describes that heavenly chieftain whose vesture was dipped in blood; what Simon Peter means when he writes of that precious blood which cleanseth from all sin; and what the writer of our text has in mind when he declares that "apart from shedding of blood there is no remission." I want to say to you, with all the power of emphasis and persuasion of which I am capable, that by the precious blood of Jesus you will be saved, or you will never be saved at all. In all ages God has never pardoned a single sin-sick soul except on the merits of our Savior's precious blood, and He never will. That lonely hill back of Jerusalem was the battleground of which the Prince of heaven fought with the powers of darkness, and won. There God turned an evil thing into a channel of blessing. There, Sin, in slaying the Son of God, slew itself.

Beloved, if mere men are willing to suffer for the betterment of mankind, how grateful that our Lord was willing to suffer and die for us. How wonderful, indeed, is the ministry of reconciliation that has been placed in our hands!

--by Tom Wacaster

Working With Jell-O

2011-12-14T10:06:00.000-08:00

Senator John Boehner used this analogy some months back when referring to attempts to "negotiate" with the President and his staff in matters concerning the economy, taxes, and balancing the budget. More precisely the Speaker of the House pointed out, "Dealing with them the last couple months has been like dealing with Jell-o," Boehner said. "Some days it's firmer than others. Sometimes it's like they've left it out over night." I have been preaching for almost four decades now, and I can attest to the frustration that comes with trying to reason with folks in a logical, analytical manner. Some folks simply cannot be taught; not because they are incapable of receiving the facts, but because they have become so close-minded that the truth cannot penetrate their thick skull. Pride and selfishness play an important role in hardening the heart and closing the mind to truth. It is even possible for a person to so harden his heart that he no longer loves the truth (2 Thess. 2:10). When a man reaches that point in his life, "God sendeth them a working of error, that they should believe a lie: that they all might be judged who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness" (2 Thess. 2:11-12). Frankly, that frightens me!

I used to say that reasoning with some folks is like trying to wrestle with an octopus - about the time you get hold of one arm in an attempt to tie the creature down, another one grabs you from an altogether different direction. Liberalism has a way of avoiding truth while making you think it is addressing the issue. Politicians are good at this. If you have some time to waste, tune in to CNN or C-SPAN and listen to the news conferences with any of our leading politicians on any issue whatsoever. Try to pin a politician down on any issue and you will quickly learn that it really is like trying to work with Jell-O. You might take a moment to tune in to one of many talk show programs. It is astounding how a liberal can call in, be asked a simple "yes" or "no" question by the host, and in an attempt to answer the question actually avoid the question all together! Every attempt to press the point of the discussion is like - well, like working with Jell-O!

Liberals in politics have their counterpart in the sphere of religion. Trying to reason with purveyors of false doctrine is like working with Jell-O; you can't pin them down on any single issue, and simple "yes" or "no" questions are avoided like the plague! I have had opportunity to conduct two public debates in more than forty years of preaching. One thing I have learned from those debates is the inability (or unwillingness) of my opponent to stay with the subject. It is like working with Jell-O, and most of the time it is Jell-O it its liquefied state! Reason flies out the window, emotion takes hold of the disputant, and you end up chasing rabbits more than addressing the subject at hand. It can be frustrating!

This week I had the opportunity to discuss a religious matter with someone I met while eating breakfast at Whataburger. I have learned from practical experience that "arguing" with someone over a religious topic accomplishes little. So, when I come across a prospective student, I attempt to get an appointment to come into their home and have an open Bible study. This will provide opportunity for the student to see what the Bible teaches, rather than listen to what I might think on the matter. On this particular occasion I asked the question, "Why do you suppose there are so many strange churches popping up everywhere?" Rather than address my question, he took the same kind of approach a politician might take on a sticky issue, and commenced to discuss how his fiancé has some really "weird" ideas about religion. When I asked him what might motivate a person to pursue such radical and far-fetched ideas, he asked if I believed in prophets today. Attempting to keep him on the subject and move toward an in-home Bible study, I asked if he would like to see what the Bible had to say on the matter. He changed the subject again - this time he wanted to discuss the unreasonableness of some women when it comes to having a normal conversation on husband and wife responsibilities. I felt like I was trying to work with Jell-O. It was difficult (if not impossible) to pin him down on any single point, and our conversation ended with an invitation to visit our worship assembly or public Bible study opportunities. As expected, there was no definite commitment, but the typical response, "I might just do that someday!" "Someday" - but then that's a topic for another discussion.

Some weeks back I watched a portion of Walt Disney's "Alice In Wonderland." It reminded me, in an amusing way, of how illogical some folks can be. Some years ago Jefferson Airplane produced a song titled, "White Rabbit" - a definite reference to Alice in Wonderland and the complete lack of logic demonstrated in the story. The last stanza of the song is thought provoking:

"When logic and proportion

Have fallen sloppy dead

And the White Knight is talking backwards

And the Red Queen's "off with her head!"

Remember what the dormouse said;

'Keep YOUR HEAD'"

Next time you are in a discussion with someone who cannot seem to stay on the subject, "keep your head," and remember - trying to reason with some people is like working with Jell-O!

By Tom Wacaster

ASK YOUR "DOCTOR" ABOUT PROGRESSIVOR TODAY

2011-12-07T08:01:00.000-08:00

Are you tired of walking in "the strait and narrow way"? Are you finding that to "abide in the doctrine of Christ" is too restrictive? Does the mere mention of "the old paths" make you nauseated or send you into fits of rage against "antiquated thinking"? Are you finding it dull and boring to do all "in the name of the Lord Jesus"? Would you like to be able to enjoy greater freedom and more flexibility in your moral life . . . to loosen up and have more fun? Would you like to enjoy a more entertaining atmosphere in worship (whenever you may decide to attend worship)? Would you like to have a more broadminded and inclusive attitude toward the different religious beliefs and viewpoints that are out there in today's world? Then ask your D.D. ("Doctor of Divinity"), pastor, preacher, or priest about Progressivor. This medication has been on the market for several years, and has helped many to a more carefree, less restrictive religious life. It also is available in a generic brand known as Liberaluce.

This drug has worked wonders in the lives of thousands. It has enabled people to throw off old fogy moral values and to enjoy a wide range of sexual pleasures, including sex before marriage, sex outside of marriage, sex with others although married, sex with those of the same gender, as well as a variety of other sexual activities (whatever floats your boat). It permits a person to divorce and remarry as often as he or she chooses to do so, and for whatever reason is convenient, or simply to live together without being married at all. In short, it allows a person to be religious without having to be righteous.

Regular doses of Progressivor have proven to broaden one's tolerance of all kinds of religion, including Hinduism, Shintoism, Buddhism, Islam, Secularism, "New Age-ism," as well as the various "brands" of Christianity. Progressivor aids in the adoption of a "salad bar" type of religion which allows one to pick and choose bits and pieces from various religious traditions and to reject those parts that do not meet with one's own wisdom and approval. Progressivor immunes one from strict adherence to the Bible because the developers of Progressivor have determined that the Bible is wrong about many things.

Progressivor allows for entertaining worship services that really resonate and "rock" in today's culture. Guitars, banjos, fiddles, saxophones, trumpets, and percussions are all allowed. Just sit back and enjoy the show. There is no charge for admission. At some point a plate or basket may be passed through the audience and you will be invited to "pay," but you should feel free to "pay" only what you feel like "paying." ("Church" really can turn out to be a rather cheap way to enjoy some good entertainment). And the program is likely to feature a very entertaining speaker (either man or woman) who is able to deliver "one liners" as well as (or better than) any late night TV host you have ever heard. In short, Progressivor is a modern religious "wonder drug." Be sure to ask your "Doctor" about it today.

Potential harmful side effects of Progressivor include blurred vision, resulting in not being able to see at any distance. Total spiritual blindness has been known to occur in some cases. Progressivor is also known to result in deterioration of the backbone, weak knees, indistinct and misleading speech patterns, confused thinking, and ultimately eternal death (Romans 6:23). Be sure to check with your "Doctor" before taking Progressivor. Depending upon his view of God, the Scriptures, religion, and life in general, as well as his respect for the Great Physician, he may or may not recommend it. Progressivor is not for those who want to please God and live forever with Him in heaven. But for those who do not believe in either Heaven or Hell, or who believe in the former but not in the latter, Progressivor may be just the religious medication you have been looking for.

Hugh Fulford

Tis the Season for Fools

2011-12-06T07:47:00.000-08:00

Have you seen or heard of the billboard in New York and other places, put up by American Atheists? It has wise men traveling toward a manger beneath a star. It reads: "You KNOW it's a MYTH. This season, celebrate reason." The American Atheists have been "celebrating reason" since 1963. Apparently before that, they were fools too...?

Christmas and Easter are the seasons for the fools to come out of the proverbial wood-works. Not the ones who are celebrating Christ's birthday - although it's safe to say that God is not concerned that we celebrate the birth of Christ. If He was, He would have told us to celebrate it. We ought not to do God's thinking for Him nor think that we can "out-spiritual" God by creating celebrations, for His sake, that He did not command.

Having said that, the incarnation is at the heart of Christianity. Contrary to the beliefs of certain religious groups like the Muslims and Jehovah's Witnesses, if God did not become flesh, there could be no salvation. It's only because of the incarnation that we have a perfect sacrifice for our sins.

No, the fools to which I refer are those who incessantly attack Christians for believing that this world didn't happen by accident or for believing that - yes - Jesus was born without a physical/human father and yes - He did raise from the dead.

I'm referring to fools like Dr. Stephen J. Hawking - professor of physics at Cambridge University and best-selling author. His most recent work, The Grand Design, purports to show that the universe could have come into existence by itself. What? That is a totally stupid idea. How could anything produce itself? Where did the energy come from that produced the thing in the first place?

Perhaps you've heard about the billboard above - Celebrate reason this season. Yes - please! It is reasonable to believe that either mind is eternal or matter is eternal. Hawking does not believe the latter; why can't he see the former?

"The fool as said in his heart, 'There is no God'" (Psalm 14:1).

-Paul Holland

I'm Losing Control of the World"

2011-12-02T06:46:00.000-08:00

Perhaps the quintessential Thanksgiving cartoon is Charlie Brown's Thanksgiving. It's the episode when Peppermint Patty invites herself and Marcie and Franklin over to Charlie Brown's for Thanksgiving dinner. You probably watched the episode. Charlie Brown - because he's "so wishy-washy" in the words of sister Sally - can't tell Peppermint Patty "No." They're supposed to be at their grandmother's for Thanksgiving; they won't even be home.

At one point in his conversations with Peppermint Patty, Charlie Brown hangs up the phone and laments, "I feel like I'm losing control of the whole world." Do you ever feel like that? Have you ever felt like you are not in control of anything? Sometimes we feel like we're not even in control of ourselves.

The great thing is - the liberating thing is - we are not in control. I cannot control anybody except myself. The deception many people fall into is that they believe they can't even control themselves. That is decidedly false. On the other hand, we do not control the world nor anything in it - except ourselves.

The great thing is that God is in control. He always does what is right. He always does what is best. He always does what is the good for us, His children. That is liberating and ought to make life much more worry-free.

In the following verse, meditate on what God says about Himself and what He tells Abraham to do: "When Abram was ninety-nine years old the LORD appeared to Abram and said to him, "I am God Almighty; walk before me, and be blameless" (Genesis 17:1).

--Paul Holland

Is Jesus the reason for the season?

2011-12-01T12:40:00.001-08:00

One of the often seen quotes at this time of the year is, "Jesus is the
reason for the season." Of course that is in reference to the coming
Christmas Holiday. I realize that for a lot of folks that is a very true
statement. The question is, should it be that way?

What makes the month of December any more holy or inspiring than any other
time of the year. Samuel Johnson wrote this about this season: "(We as a
people or) the Church does not superstitiously observe days, merely as days,
but as memorials of important facts (or events). Christmas might be kept as
well upon one day of the year as another; but (I feel) there should be a
stated day for commemorating the birth of our Saviour, because there is
danger that what may be done on any day, will be neglected."

Are we in danger of neglecting remembering the day of the birth of Jesus?
Well, in all honesty you have to admit that the church we read about in the
bible never celebrated that day. Was it a momentous occasion? Absolutely! It
received a detailed description of the day in the gospels. The problem as I
see it is not the keeping of Christmas, but remembering Jesus every day.

Our daughter-in-law Mylinda shared these words of wisdom from our adorable 4
year old grand daughter Allison: One morning Allison told her mom: "Jesus
lives in your heart. That's where I keep MY Jesus, in my heart, all day
long!"

You see, too some Jesus is the reason for this particular season; yet those
with more insight realize that Jesus is the reason for EVERY season. My
prayer is that like that 4 year old little girl; I can keep Jesus in MY
heart all day long. Not just this season or this month or on the 25th of
December, but every day.

From now on, whenever I hear the phrase, "Jesus is the reason for the
season," I'm going to try to respond, "No, Jesus is the reason for every
season, "because I have him right here in my heart all day long.

Russ Lawson

The book special someone

2011-11-28T13:42:00.000-08:00

I've been rereading a book that about a year ago my daughter-in-law and son
gave to me. Looking back on it I figure they are making a statement about
me, and they may not be far off the mark. The title of the book is, "When
I'm on old coot, witticisms for people who refuse to grow old gracefully." I
got to thinking about that and thought I'd do a little research. Just in
case you are not familiar with the word, "coot," it is defined in this way:
"a harmless simple minded person," Used in this way, "Don't mind him, he's
just a crazy old coot." (Webster's Dictionary)

Humm, makes me begin to rethink the nature of the gift? No, really, I know
it was just a gift that was given in fun, I think! Actually, I know why they
thought of me with a book with this title. It is because I don't usually
make the expected decisions or the do the things that "folks of my age," are
normally expected to do. I know that more than one person has thought my
decision may at the least be questionable (by accepted, safe, comfortable
standards).

I also got to thinking about the word, "gracefully." It is defined as:
"pleasing or attractive in line, proportion, movements or actions." Humm,
again not me! I don't fit into any of those categories.

So, let me see if I understand this: I'm an old crazy person who is not
always pleasing or attractive in my actions. Probably a few of you can
identify with me in these things (or not). The truth is, I don't mind being
different (if you hadn't guessed), but especially I don't mind being
different from the world, seen as crazy, don't fit in, not pleasing or
acceptable in my attitudes or actions to the worlds views. If fact, that is
even biblical!

Take a look at what Peter wrote to Christians in 1 Peter 4:3-6: "You have
had enough in the past of the evil things that godless people enjoy, their
immorality and lust, their feasting and drunkenness and wild parties, and
their terrible worship of idols. Of course, your former friends will think
you are crazy when you no longer plunge into the flood of wild and
destructive things they do. So they'll call you a crazy old coot or simple
minded. But remember that they will have to face God, who will judge
everyone, both the living and the dead. That is why the Good News was
preached to those who are now dead, so although they were destined to die
like all people, they now live forever with God in the Spirit." (Paraphrase
by R.L.)

Forgive my taking a few liberties with the scripture, but I believe it
contains the thoughts of the original message. As I said I don't mind being
different from those around me, when it comes to pleasing God. What about
you?

Russ Lawson, Messages From The Heart

In case you are wondering where to get this book for your "special someone,"
you can find it at www.gibbs-smith.com

Russ Lawson

Bulletin article for Thanksgiving

2011-11-24T05:58:00.000-08:00

You know the story of that very first Thanksgiving Day in the English
colonies, right? You know, the one where Captain John Woodlief and those 38
colonists who had just had arrived in the Virginia colonies from Berkeley,
England and set aside a day of giving thanks to God at the Berekley Hundred
(later renamed Berkley Plantation) on December 4, 1619 where Woodlief
proclaimed--

"Wee ordaine that the day of our ships arrivall at the place assigned
for plantacon in the land of Virginia shall be yearly and perpetually keept
holy as a day of Thanksgiving to Almighty God."

Oh, you haven't heard that story? That because those Johnny-come-lately
Pilgrims from Massachusetts arrived at Plymouth Rock with a publicist, so
that now everyone just "knows' that the first Thanksgiving was in
Massachusetts with the Pilgrims after the whole colony almost froze to death
following that first bitter winter in 1622. But the very FIRST Thanksgiving
Day was in Virginia. OK, so actually the first Thanksgiving in the New World
was one led by Spanish explorer Juan de Onate held one near El Paso, Texas
in 1598, but that one doesn't count because it was in Texas! They probably
had chili and burritos and guacamole or something (actually, that sounds
pretty good).

At any rate, the idea of a Thanksgiving Day was not held as a "perpetual"
celebration in either Massachusetts or Virginia. Thanksgiving Day was never
more than a local and sporadic event until until Abraham Lincoln made it an
annual national holiday observance in 1863. Which means that "first"
thanksgiving in Massachusetts took place after a bitter winter almost
destroyed a whole colony and the first national Thanksgiving Day was
observed DURING the tragedy of the Civil War that almost destroyed our
nation. We still observe Thanksgiving Day, but it has little to do with
struggle and more to do with eating ourselves silly and then complaining
about how stuffed we feel!

But that's not the real problem with Thanksgiving. The real problem is that
we set aside this one day to reflect on and give thanks for our blessings
(in which we overindulge) and then ONE DAY later. we rush out for "Black
Friday," the biggest shopping day of the year. We forget all about
Thanksgiving Day in our rush to run out and get more stuff. The idea of
Thanksgiving was born from struggle and the awareness of God's goodness
despite our difficulty and hardship. Now we seem to believe that we deserve
all the good things we have, and we can't even have of day of reflection on
Thanksgiving without turning it into an excuse to shop until we drop getting
more, more, more. Will Rogers drew this contrast between Thanksgiving Day
then and now:

"In the days of our founders, people were willing to give thanks for
mighty little, for mighty little was all that they expected. But now neither
government nor nature can give enough but what we think is too little. In
the fall of the year, if the founders could gather in a few pumpkins, some
potatoes, and some corn for the winter, they were in a thanking mood. But if
we can't gather in a new car, a new radio...and some government relief, why
we feel that the world is against us."

It's ironic that the more and more we have for which to be thankful,
the harder and harder it is seems to get to be truly thankful. As the late
Andy Rooney would say, "Why is that?"

--Charles Tucker, Jr.

Have a great day! ( and a great Thanksgiving!)

Alan Smith

Not everyone is thankful at Thanksgiving

2011-11-22T20:23:00.000-08:00

You may not have stopped to think about it, but not everyone is thankful at Thanksgiving. Some are like the suffering person in the note below.

"I really don't get this 'Thanksgiving thing.' I don't have the 'Leave it to Beaver' family, never did. Sure it's a big time for families, but I'm alone on Thanksgiving, so what's the big deal. My kids don't live near me; I'm not close to my brother or sister, my husband left me, so what's to celebrate, Being alone? Being miserable? I'll just snuggle up in my blanket on the sofa with my TV dinner while the rest of you go on with your fairy tale lives." (Anonymous)

Now, you may think the above note is a little extreme, but is it really? Think about your life and the lives of folks you know. How many of them are truly happy? How many times do you or they worry about things in this life? There may be a family member who is sick or who had a bad report from the doctor. You may be looking at the loss of a job, a cut in your hours at work. It may be that your employer may be downsizing, or you worry about the drop in the value of your home or your savings or retirement funds.

For some people, it is difficult to celebrate the holidays in November and December. I read somewhere that there are more suicides at this time of year than any other. Why? Probably because people are reminded that they don't have the storybook lives they would like to have and they feel like they never will.

You may be wondering what worry has to do with Thanksgiving. The way it connects is that the inability to give thanks comes from the same weakness and struggling in our spirits that causes us to worry. It is a basic losing of our faith in the one who sustains us.

Did you know that at least 9 times in the New Testament we read the words, "May God be with you." Do you really believe that God is with you today? Do you recognize his power and strength around you? Could it be that you are spending so much time focusing on the negatives things that might happen, that you forget to count your blessings for today?

You see our sense of well being; the ability to give thanks is in proportion to our faith in God. Paul writes these words in Ephesians 5:19-20, "Speak to one another with psalms, hymn always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Perhaps right now, this moment, would be a good time to begin singing the old song that tells us to, "Count your blessings, name them one by one, and it will surprise you what the Lord has done."

Is it a time for Thanksgiving? YES! I definitely think so!

--Russ Lawson

The University of Alabama and Louisiana State University

2011-11-18T20:13:00.000-08:00

Many hailed the game as the one to determine which of the two teams would go
on to win the National Collegiate Athletic Association Football
Championship. It featured the top-seeded teams in the United States: the
University of Alabama and Louisiana State University. LSU won the game 9-6
in overtime. No touchdowns were scored in the game by either team; all of
the points were scored by field goal kickers. There were also missed
opportunities to score by the kickers for the team from Alabama. These
kickers, Cade Foster and Jeremy Shelley, have received a lot of criticism
and blame for missing 4 out of 6 field goals between them.

A previous kicker for the Alabama Crimson Tide football team, Leigh Tiffin,
expressed sympathy for Foster and Shelley in his blog. Tiffin can relate to
the current kickers. As a freshman, Tiffin missed three field-goal attempts
and a point-after-touchdown kick in a 24-23 overtime loss at Arkansas. He
also experienced success when he helped the Tide go undefeated and win a
national championship in 2009.

Responding to the criticisms leveled against Foster and Shelley, Tiffin
sought to encourage the forlorn kickers by reflecting on some lessons
learned from his own experiences. One of his lessons was: "Always separate
your personal worth from your athletic performance." *

Before WE point fingers at those who have failed in one area of life or
another, we need to understand this truth: each and everyone of us have
"missed the mark" in our lives. This is the literal meaning of one of the
words (Gr. hamartano) that are translated "sin" in Scripture. "For ALL have
sinned ('missed the mark') and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans
3:23). The fact that we have all missed the mark can not only bring
feelings of guilt and disappointment, but also the greatest penalty for sin:
eternal destruction (Matthew 7:13-14).

But God loves us so much that He sent His Son to die on the cross so that we
might be forgiven for "missing the mark" and have the prospect of living
eternally with Him in heaven when this life is over. "In Him we have
redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the
riches of His grace" (Ephesians 1:7).

God will save those who place their faith and trust in Jesus (Acts
16:30-31), repent of their sins (Acts 17:30-31), confess Jesus before men
(Romans 10:9-10), and are baptized (immersed) into Christ for the
forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38).

Yes, we have ALL "missed the mark," but we may gain the ultimate victory
through Jesus Christ! "But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory
through our Lord Jesus Christ" (1 Corinthians 15:57).

Won't YOU accept His offer of forgiveness and eternal life?

David A. Sargent

Magic Johnson

2011-11-18T14:51:00.000-08:00

On November 7^th, 1991 Magic Johnson announced to the world that he was HIV positive and would be retiring from basketball. Last week I watched in amazement as EPSN and a host of other media outlets "celebrated" the 20-year mark of that day. They talked about how he had overcome adversity, supported charities, founded HIV research organizations, and other things he had done. But as I listened, watched, and read everything being said, I was left with a bad taste in my mouth. I found it troubling that the media was honoring a man who contracted HIV through fornication and promiscuous behavior.

I have nothing personally against Magic Johnson and I don't know what kind of person Johnson is today. I also realize that we all make mistakes and can change our lives around. There was just something sickening about how the media was glorifying the day when Johnson admitted to the world that he had been engaging in sinful activities and contracted a deadly virus because of it. Yes, it is amazing that his health is so good 20 years later, but the honor and publicity he received for it just wasn't right.

I don't expect the media to be moral and upright. Characteristics like those seem to be long extinct for them. The media is becoming more impure and accepting of sin all the time. The problem is, this seems to be rubbing off on Christians. I am always saddened when I see Christian people supporting people like Lada Gaga, Katy Perry, Flo Rida, and a plethora of other immoral celebrities. Just because a person is a great musician, athlete, or actor does not mean we should turn a blind eye to who they are and what they support. We would be sickened if a close friend of family member did the things these people do, but for some reason we aren't with celebrities.

What does God expect us to do about this? First, He expects us to be different from the world (1 John 2:15-17). Second, He expects us to be the "light of the world" and the "salt of the earth" (Matthew 5:13-16). If we are supporting immoral people, not only are we being just like the world, we will have a difficult time being a light for God.

It's time we take a second look at who and what we are supporting.

Ecclesiastes 7:21

2011-11-17T17:44:00.001-08:00

In Ecclesiastes 7:21 Solomon warns, "do not take seriously all the words which are spoken...." The fact is, people say things; sometimes things they don't really mean. We often respond "Oh yeah? Then why did they say it if they didn't mean it?!" To this Solomon responds: "haven't you ever said something you didn't mean?" All of us would have to say "yes" to that question. Maybe we said it in anger. Perhaps we were tired, sick, irritated - and so out came those words that we later regret.

Yet this isn't a passage about guarding your words but rather about guarding your ears. We need to be careful about running too far, over-reacting to the words of others. We need to be a little more "thick skinned." Don't take everything so personally. Give people a break. We all say things we didn't mean or say it in a way that upsets the hearer.

Christianity is a religion of tenderness, compassion and forgiveness. Rather than being quick to anger or easily offended, let's give each other a dose of kindness. I know I need it. Do you?

Denny Petrillo

Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep

2011-11-15T14:25:00.000-08:00

I recently read a little story about a little girl that touched my heart. It
seems that this little girl was late coming home for supper one evening.
When she got home her parents were understandably upset. He questioned her
about why she had been so late, after all they had worried about her!

The Little girl said, "I stopped to help Marcie, she had a wreck on her
bicycle and it was broken." Her father said, "But you don't know anything
about fixing bicycles!" To which the little girls replied, "I know, but
stopped to help her cry."

Now you may or may not know anything about fixing bicycles, or cars, or
washing machines, or refrigerators or much of anything else. But when
friends have broken things in their lives and are in despair, we can help
them with that! The truth is that you are rarely in the position of being
able to fix the brokenness of someone's life, but you can help them cry
about it. You can encourage them and help them through the hard times in
life!

Paul wrote in Romans 12:15, "Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with
those who weep." (KJV). I kind of like a modern translation of that verse
that says, "Laugh with your happy friends when they're happy: share tears
when they're down." (MSG)

We are entering into that time of the year when you are more apt to notice
the sorrow or rejoicing of those around you. You may take more notice of
people (or groups) trying to relieve the difficulties of those who are
struggling to make it in or world. People take up collections of money, food
and clothing to help those who might be less fortunate than we. They try to
help folks who are struggling just to make ends meet. So count your
blessings and do what you can, but if you have nothing to help with
physically, then share their sorrow or suffering; cry with them!

On the other hand we are also entering into a time of rejoicing! It is a
time of thanksgiving when people take time to count their blessings, thank
God. I wonder however, if we rejoice in the right things? I read of an old
man who was very poor. His cloths were tattered and his shoes had holes in
them. Some people who lived near by gathered some clothes and several pairs
of shoes and left them on his doorstep one night. The next morning he ran to
his friend's house praising God. He said, "Rejoice with me !" "God is so
good, someone left clothes and shoes on my doorstep last night and I met
some folks this morning who were in need of them."

So, sometimes we cry and sometimes we rejoice with folks, even if we don't
necessarily understand why they are crying or rejoicing. Psalm 92:1 Tells
us, "It is a good thing to give thanks unto the LORD…" (KJV) I may not
always understand it, but I believe it anyway! Let's all do it now!

Russ Lawson

Veteran’s Day

2011-11-12T18:12:00.001-08:00

"Render therefore to all their dues.......

                                          ...... honor to whom honor." Rom. 13:7

Well, it hardly seems like a whole year has passed since we paid "honor" to our nation's veterans, but it surely has as Friday last was Veteran's Day. To me that holiday is sort of like Mother's Day in that I don't believe our honoring should be relegated to just one day per year. Both honoree's deserve to receive "honor" all year round, but I guess that I should be glad that our society hasn't gotten so unconcerned and indifferent that it still sets aside a special day for them.

Several thoughts have shared space in my mind about the "honor due" our veterans and I'd like to share them with you for a few moments today. Being a person who loves history, I especially like military history. I'm always running across items that are inspirational and can be cited as illustrations for scriptural lessons. Allow me to provide you with one I read about some time ago and found inspiring.

I know that, in the past, I've written about many of the "negatives" surrounding Hollywood and the entertainment industry, and deservedly so. But let me tell you about a "positive" that relates to our "honor" of veterans. Perhaps you'll recall a great and accomplished actress by the name of Elsa Lanchester. She was, by all measures of acting, a Hollywood star.

It was reported that during WW2 she would give informal parties at her house for servicemen that were going to war. She had made up what she referred to as her "Servicemen's Book" and she would ask the soldiers at her parties to write their name and address in her book. As they did so she would tell them that she would pray for them constantly for their safe return and for God to watch over them.

When she received word that they had returned from the war she would look up the name in her book and then write after it, "Thank You, God." You see, not all entertainers or people associated with that business are of a reprobate character. It's just unfortunate that it seems the reprobates far outnumber the good ones.

Another thought occupying space in my head was the awarding of the Medal of Honor to Sgt. Salvatore Giunta about this time last year. I have to tell you up front something that really upsets me regarding the Medal of Honor and that's hearing someone, especially a media personality, make mention of one "winning" the medal. One doesn't "win" the Medal of Honor (or any other medal for valor), they are "awarded" it. They are a "recipient" of it. IT IS NOT A CONTEST!

In the ceremony accompanying Sgt. Giunta's award I noticed two things interesting that relate to "honor." One of a positive nature and the other, a negative. The positive was of course, this most deserved "honor" bestowed upon Sgt. Giunta. The negative aspect of "honor" was that there were three rows of people standing behind the President and Sgt. Giunta during the award ceremony. The first two rows were made up of politicians (and I can only think of "photo op") and the families of Sgt. Giunta and of the deceased soldiers he tried to save had to stand in the third row - behind the politicians. That was not honorable to me.

That dishonor of the families brings me to another one of my thoughts and that relates to a phrase we hear from time to time in military reporting. (Sometimes too often) That phrase is "collateral damage." It's usually mentioned to describe and incident wherein persons who were not intended to be harmed by a military action were. I'd like to take that phrase a step further for a moment.

Did you ever consider that the families, the parents, the wives, the children (et al) of the personnel either killed or wounded in action are also "collateral damage?" I certainly do and I believe that as we pay "honor" to our fallen veterans the families of those veterans, those "collaterally damaged" victims are "due honor" also.

Yes, we owe a great deal of "honor" to all of our veterans, especially the ones who made the ultimate sacrifice and lie in graveyards here or in foreign lands or were consigned to the depths of the sea. And, our "dues" go back to the very foundation of this country. My next part of this editorial is a citation to you of part of a sermon I once read and it so inspired me that I copied it down. It so relates to what our nation owes our veterans. The "honor" that they are "due."

The preacher of this sermon reminded the congregation of the scene of Valley Forge during the War of Independence. For them to picture the cold, the starving soldiers and all the terribleness of that situation and then to picture one of the soldiers facing them with his musket in his hand and saying these words.....

"I gave you a birthright of freedom born in the Constitution and now your children graduate too illiterate to read it. I fought in the snow barefoot to give you the freedom to vote and you stay at home because it rains. I left my family destitute to give you the freedom of speech and you remain silent on critical issues. I orphaned my children to give you a government to serve you and it has stolen democracy from the people.

It's the soldier not the reporter who gives the freedom of the press. It's the soldier not the poet who gives you the freedom of speech. It's the soldier not the campus organizer who allows you to demonstrate. It's the soldier who salutes the flag, serves the flag, whose coffin is draped with the flag that allows the protester to burn the flag!"

The sermon concluded with the prayer below and I find it a fitting close to my thoughts today. And as you read it, please remember all of our veterans of past wars and conflicts plus those still going on as we speak. And also their families, that "collaterally damaged" group who also sacrifice.

And lastly, remember that greatest and most beneficial sacrifice of all, the voluntary death of our Lord and Savior on the cross. It's the "greatest and most beneficial" because the "freedoms" are eternal.

                    "Lord, hold our troops in your loving hands. Protect them as they

                     protect us. Bless them and their families for the selfless acts they

                     perform for us in our time of need. I ask this in the name of Jesus,

                     our Lord and Savior. Amen!"

Ron Covey

　

The uproar at Penn State

2011-11-10T09:35:00.000-08:00

Penn State students nearly rioted overnight, protesting the firing of legendary head football coach, Joe Paterno. "Joe Pa" had been the symbol of class and integrity, caring for his players and winning big every year. Just this season, the 84-year-old passed Eddie Robinson as the winningest coach in Division One history, with 409 wins in his 46th season.

But, in 2002, a graduate assistant reported to Paterno that he witnessed a former coach, Jerry Sandusky, committing unspeakable, reprehensible crimes against a young minor on college grounds. Paterno reported it to a school official, but did not go to the police. Sandusky was allowed to maintain a strong presence on campus for another decade! Along the way, high school coaches, maintenance staff, and other boys who were in the charity for wayward youths started by Sandusky, reported either assaults or suspicious behavior. But, no legal or punitive actions occurred until last week! The number of boys whose lives have been permanently traumatized is still unclear.

Paterno was not the only one guilty of inaction. The number of bystanders who said and did nothing is staggering. Now, heads are rolling, including the university's president and this revered head football coach. Having this ignominy for a legacy, Paterno lamented, "It is one of the great sorrows of my life. I wish I had done more" (espn.com, "Joe Paterno's Penn State Legacy").

Physically, it is hard to think of a more heinous crime than those against the innocent. It is an illustration of the high price of inaction! How bad is it to be aware of danger, of immorality, of that which is unacceptable to God, but say nothing?

I fear that too many pulpits, even in the Lord's church, are woefully silent when it comes to warning about sin--whether doctrinal, ethical, or moral matters. Some men will not overtly teach error, but you will never hear them preach and warn about those "difficult subjects." How many elderships have failed to lead the church in disciplining the erring or standing up for God's Word? How many times have we failed to act on behalf of our Savior, at work, at school, at social functions, and the like?

A world, by and large, is heading toward eternal punishment (cf. Mat. 7:13-14). We know this is true! We know the worth of every soul to God (Jn. 3:16). Will we stand by and say and do nothing? Do not be guilty of doing nothing!

--Neal Pollard

The movie Holiday Inn

2011-11-10T07:19:00.001-08:00

When thinking about our upcoming Thanksgiving holiday here in the U.S., the
old Bing Crosby song popped into my mind. I believe it was from the movie
"Holiday Inn," which is a great old movie and I recommend highly! Anyway,
Bing is sitting at a table full of all of the holiday trimmings and is
really down and depressed because his girlfriend has left him for another
man (and career). He sits there feeling sorry for himself and singing the
song, "I've go nothing to be thankful for." Of course he is reminded that he
does have other options and. well you'll have to watch the movie to see how
it ends.

Sadly, this is not an unusual problem in our world; it may be even more
prevalent in our present financial climate and job market. We have so many
people in our world who have lost their jobs, lost their homes and who are
struggling to just put food on the table or pay for fuel for heat. Then our
advertising world floods or airways, newspapers and magazines with words and
pictures which portray what should be the perfect holiday. Everyone should
be well fed, in comfortable homes, surrounded by friends and family, be
smiling, with no problems in their lives, a Norman Rockwell painting come to
life.

We tend to look at that image and say, that's not my life. I'm barely
scrapping by; I've got nothing to be thankful for!

It is my belief that it's not so much a matter of what you have, but how you
count the blessings you do have. You may be having a tough time, but in
almost every situation, if you will stop and look around you, you will find
someone else who has more difficulties. I think that at some point, everyone
should go and set in the emergency waiting room at a hospital in a major
city. I've had occasions to do this on more than one occasion and it opens
your eyes to what real tragedy and loss is.

I could give you a list of things for which you could be thankful, but I
don't think I really need to do that. You are wise enough to understand
those things yourself. The problem is that we don't stop and count our
blessings nearly as often as we should. I would suggest that you stop and do
that right now. I do want to share with you that for which I am most
thankful. I am thankful for you! You are a blessing for my life as one of
God's children and because of that I have everything to be thankful for!
Relationships are the most important thing in the world. If I loose all that
I have in the physical world I hope to hold you in my heart and be held by
you.

Let me end this with the words of the Apostle Paul from Philippians 1:2-6,
where he writes, "Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord
Jesus Christ. I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers
for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the
gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who
began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of
Christ Jesus." (NIV)

The key phrase is, "I thank my God every time I remember you." Do you really
have nothing to be thankful for?

Russ Lawson

A MOM TURNS IN HER CHILDREN FOR ROBBERY

2011-11-09T08:47:00.001-08:00

A few months ago in Milwaukee, a surveillance video captured many teenagers swarming a BP gas station and stealing anything they could get their hands on. When one particular mother watched the news that evening, she was shocked to see her 13-year-old daughter and 15-year-old son on the surveillance tape. She now had a tough decision to make. After sleeping on it she talked with her kids the next morning and confronted the situation. She then got everyone into the car, drove down to the police station, and turned in her own kids.

I admire this mother because she did something that many parents struggle with: making tough choices. Whether we like it our not, parenting is about making tough decisions. Look what Scripture tells us as parents to do.

"Train up a child in the way he should go, even when he is old he will not depart from it" (Proverbs 22:6).
"Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord" (Ephesians 6:4)
The rod of correction imparts wisdom, but a child left to himself disgraces his mother....Discipline your son, and he will give you peace, he will bring delight to your soul. (Proverbs 29:15, 17).
Do not withhold discipline from a child; if you punish him with the rod, he will not die. Punish him with the rod and save his soul from death (Proverbs 22:13-14).

None of these Scriptures are easy to accomplish. Being a parent isn't for the weak at heart. It can be very taxing, discouraging, depressing, and downright torturous for the parent. But again, parenting is about making tough decisions and doing hard things that will ultimately direct the child towards heaven. Even if this means confronting a child, enforcing a rule or decision, disciplining, or driving a child to the police station. More than ever, today's parents must be willing to stand up and make the tough choices. Our children's souls depend on it.

Brett Petrillo

Fornication is a sin against the body

2011-11-09T06:40:00.001-08:00

1Corinthians 6:18 informs us that every sin a man commits is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own soul. To me, this seems to place an emphasis on the heinousness of sexual sins. In what way, I am not sure, but the emphasis is there. I'm thinking it has something to do with the fact that it is through sexual intimacy that a new life is brought into this world, and that new life has a spirit that will live eternally in one of two places. That's a rather intimidating thought!

Exodus 20:11 tells us that God created everything in six days, then rested from His creating work. That is, God has not created anything "new" after His initial creative work. However, when a man and a woman "come together," they create a new human being that possesses a new eternal spirit. Therefore, somewhere in the act of intimacy between a man and a woman, God created the ability for the couple to "create" an eternal spirit that is in His image! What a beautiful blessing! And, what a humbling, knee-weakening responsibility.

God has set-up certain guide-lines for creating this new eternal spirit in a baby. For example, one man for one woman, for life. We may not understand the strictness of God's marriage commands, but be assured there is a reason for them, and the reasons probably have something to do with the fact that a new eternal spirit is created in God's image by the union.

With this in mind, it is no wonder that Satan has tried from the earliest times to corrupt, profane, and blur God's laws about sexual purity. It seems that every ounce of our society is contaminated with sexual exploitation. Recently, I heard on the news that laws are being considered for two year marriage contracts, rather than life-long commitments. After two years, the couple has the option of going their separate ways (no divorce is needed), or re-committing to each other for another two years. Children created in the brief marriage would begin their pilgrimage toward eternity without any valid foundation. A mind-set of uncertainty would embrace their mental image of everything - - including the promises of God! Uncertainty in the promises of God demonstrates a lack of faith, without which it is impossible to please God (Hebrews 11:6).

Steve Higginbotham posted an excellent article recently on his blog entitled, "The Sexualization of Halloween." He cited an example of parents dressing up their son as a pimp, and their daughter as a prostitute. The parents thought the "make belief" outfits were "cute," but coupled with a hundred other "cute" things, what message is being passed on to our children?

Satan has been very patient over the centuries. He saw that Sodom-Gomorrah didn't work; it was to "fast." So, slowly, one page at a time, he is conditioning our "Christian Nation" to bring sex "out of the closet." Marriage bonds of 25+ years are being broken because of our acquired insatiable appetite for sex due to, in my opinion, over exposure. Add to this our acceptance of "alternative life styles," same-sex marriages (with adoption privileges), two-year marriage contracts, and the sexualization of our children, and we have to wonder, "Where do we go from here?"

Someone much wiser than anyone who has ever typed on a computer wrote, "Ask for the old paths wherein is the good way, and walk in it; then you shall find rest for your souls" (Jeremiah 6:16).

--Toby Miller

Tim Tebow

2011-11-04T14:07:00.000-07:00

I'm not a fan of the Florida Gators, and I'm not a fan of the Denver
Broncos, but I am a fan of Tim Tebow. Tim Tebow was the quarterback for the
Florida Gators and is currently in his first season as the quarterback for
the Denver Broncos. Tebow was a great college quarterback and it is yet to
be seen how he will do in the NFL, but for all his abilities on the football
field he might be just as well known for something else...His faith.

Tim Tebow has been, and is very vocal about his faith in Jesus. He always
gives credit to God when he is interviewed, he writes Bible references on
his "eye black," and is known for frequently bowing to pray while on the
field. In fact, the act of bowing to one knee and praying is now culturally
known as "Tebowing."

Now, it is not my intent in this article to scrutinize his faith, rather the
point of this article is to draw your attention to this single point.
Wouldn't it be great to have such a reputation that when someone sees
something good being done, they think of you? Is there a faith motivated
activity that is so prominent in your life that when people see it, they
think of you? If not, wouldn't that be a worthy goal?

Let's see, what could I begin working on that will some day be known as
"Higginbotham-ing?" Okay, well maybe I better just forget about the name
thing, but surely all of us can be so wedded to a Christ-like quality that
when those who know us think of it, they think of us.

When someone thinks of Tim Tebow, they think of bowing to pray on one knee
(Tebowing). When someone thinks of you, what do they think of? Give it
some thought.

Steve Higginbotham

The judge vigorously beating his teenage daughter with a belt

2011-11-03T08:12:00.000-07:00

For a YouTube to go viral, there must be something of great interest in it. More than a million people have viewed a recent video uploaded to that service, and it will surprise no one. Captured on video was a father vigorously beating his teenage daughter with a belt. What makes the video especially alarming is that the father serves as a judge who often tries child abuse cases.

The video was made seven years ago when the girl was fourteen. She insists that she didn't post it to seek revenge, but to force her father to seek the help he so obviously needs. Though I've not viewed the video, it does sound as if the father went beyond Biblical principles of child discipline. Beatings administered in a rage (which is apparently what happened in this case) are not what Scripture recommends.

In 2009 two judges were named in an investigation charging that they had sent juveniles to prison for cash. In some of the cases, the accused were not even assigned attorneys to protect their rights. No one objected when this story was labeled a "scandal". It was nothing short of outrageous for two who were supposed to protect the rights of citizens to participate in such a sleazy scheme.

Unless we've been involved in legal actions, we give little thought to matters like this. But what if it's me standing before this person who holds my future in his hands? Would I want him to be fair and impartial, and follow the rules of law? The answer is of course obvious.

Whether it happens to us on earth or not, one day we all have an appointment before a judge. The Judge of all the earth, God Himself, will render a verdict on our eternal destiny. What about His fitness to serve? Will we have any hope for a fair hearing?

The Lord spoke with Abraham about a "case" that had come to His attention. A great outcry had arisen regarding the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah. Were these accusations true? "I will go down now and see whether they have done altogether according to the outcry against it that has come to Me; and if not, I will know" (Genesis 18:21). God had not prejudged the case; He would gather all available facts before making His judgment.

Abraham trusted in God's fairness, and made a statement that is a bedrock to many of us today: "Far be it from You to do such a thing as this, to slay the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous should be as the wicked; far be it from You! Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?" (Genesis 18:25). Abraham, who knew the Lord very well, could not conceive of God acting unfairly.

The apostle Paul later reaffirmed the righteous nature of the Judge before whom you and I will stand: "Because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained ..." (Acts 17:31). Judges in this world sometimes act hypocritically. Such would be absolutely impossible with our Judge.

Most encouraging is the news that God has made it possible for us - we who are guilty of sin - to be justified by the actions of His Son, Jesus Christ. "To demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus" (Romans 3:26). Though God will be the Judge of all (Romans 14:21), His strong desire is to justify us.

Timothy D. Hall

Jesus stilling the storm on the Sea of Galilee

2011-11-03T08:11:00.000-07:00

I recently wrote an article dealing with the fact that our Christian life is
a life of continual learning. We literally never stop finding new stuff in
the scripture. I really don't know how many times I have read through the
whole bible, but have been doing it every year for the past 15 to 20 years.
What may surprise you is that I am always seeing new stuff. It happened
again just this past week.

You probably are familiar with the story of Jesus stilling the storm on the
Sea of Galilee. You remember, Jesus had been teaching the people and got
into a boat to go to the other side of the lake. He promptly lay down and
fell asleep. While Jesus was sleeping, "Without warning, a furious storm
came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat." (NIV Matthew
8:24) The disciples were so afraid that they woke Jesus and with a word he
stilled the storm.

OK, so you know the story, but here is a question. Was there anyone else
with them? Were there other folks in other boats accompanying them? Come on,
don't shy away from the question or assume that just because I asked there
must be a secret to the story. The bible really gives us a little more
information, but it's one of those little parts we sometime miss.

You may be a better scholar than I and know the answer, but for me it was
the first time it registered that maybe there was something I missed in the
telling of this story.

Do we ever learn it all? Of course not! Well how much is enough? I don't
know, but I do know that God expects us to be searching the scripture daily
and showing ourselves approved workmen for Him. Paul writes: "Study to show
yourself approved unto God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly
dividing the word of truth." KJV 2 Timothy 2:15) or "Be diligent to present
yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly
dividing the word of truth." (NKJV)

Oh, just in case you are wondering, the answer to the question is found in
the parallel record of the story in Mark 4:36.

May God bless you in your ongoing search of His word!

Russ LawsonBooks by Russ Lawson @ http://www.lulu.com/russlawson

Tthe Church is now God’s temple, God’s "house."

2011-10-29T19:49:00.000-07:00

"I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go

into the house of the Lord." (Psalm 122:1)

Aren't you glad when it's time to "go to church?" If you're not, then I believe there could be some serious doubts as to your Christian walk. When David penned those words, God's "house" was the physical tabernacle, then later the Temple. We know from scriptures such as Hebrews 3:6, 2Pet. 2:5 and 1Cor. 3:16-17 that the Church is now God's temple, God's "house." Contrary to popular usage, the "church" is not an edifice or any type of building, but rather the members, the "Body," as we read in Col. 1:18. Simply stated, the "church" is us.

Understanding that, I like it when it's time to gather together with "the Church" and collectively offer worship to God according to the precepts of the Gospel. One other thing we also need to understand is that the "church" is a social organization, so designed by God. Figuratively speaking, there are no "Lone Christians," there must also be "Tontos."

As a social-type of entity, there are other events that we share in besides worship service. Events that are relative to social groups such as fellowship events like "potlucks." I've always believed that these types of events are beneficial to "the Body" both physically and spiritually. Our friend, Bro. Russ Lawson, has written an article that expresses my thoughts on this subject right well and, as he always does, teaches a great lesson. With his permission, here's his lesson.

ALL THE CHURCH WANTS TO DO IS EAT!

You may have seen the humorous story about a school class which were asked to bring something to show the class regarding an important thing in their respective religions. One child brings a Bible, one brings a cross and the last brings a casserole (dish of food). One of those may or may not represent your view of things important to your religion, but should we dismiss the casserole out of hand? The idea of a "potluck," in case you don't know, comes from the idea of everyone bringing whatever they had in the cooking pot to share. Some had much, some had little, some were lucky if they had anything, but they still shared.

THE PRACTICE:

Church potluck fellowships are a tradition going back to the first congregations we read about in the scripture. They were a regular practice in the church, we see examples of this in Jerusalem (Acts 2:46 & Corinth (1Cor. 11). Now understand that "the church" refers to members, so this is something which the members of the church practiced. Yet, many folks in our churches make the decision not to participate in this important aspect of God's Church.

THE PURPOSE:

Understand that it is not just about the food. The eating together is the secondary purpose for these gatherings. I believe that the fellowship is more important than the food, but I think we sometimes get that confused. Do you remember Jesus' comment to his disciples in John 4:31-32. "In the meantime, the disciples pressed him, 'Rabbi, eat. Aren't you going to eat?' He told them, "I have food to eat you know nothing about." (The Message). I think he was speaking about the Spiritual fulfillment he got by sharing a message that brought new life to people who had been living in sin.

BREAKING DOWN BARRIERS:

There is a part of fellowship that seems to increase when you share a meal with someone. It is not just going through the formality of eating in the presence of someone else. This time of fellowship is a time when barriers come down and we share more intimately with our brothers and sisters in Christ. Not through any formula, but because it is our nature to do so. You see, "Breaking Bread together breaks down barriers." We loose some of the formality of relationships, we learn that our Christian brothers and sisters are just as human as we and struggle with the same problems and difficulties of life. We share our goals and dreams as we share a meal together and learn to love one another on a different level than when we sit in our auditoriums and worship together.

HOW IT WORKS:

One translation of Acts 2:46-47 says, "and (they) shared their meals with great joy and generosity, all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved." (NLT) I think that part of their success in saving the lost and keeping the saved faithful was simply sharing the Good News over a good meal. How about deciding to part of this part of God's plan whenever you have the opportunity!

*****************

I ask you, aren't those some great thoughts about the importance of using all opportunities to, not only be thankful to God for His bounty towards us, but to share both our food and ourselves with each other for a few moments. To me, there's more to being a Christian than just occupying a portion of a pew on Sundays. The "church" is also called a "family" as we see in Eph. 3:14-15 and I pose to you the thought of, how can we strengthen each other, comfort each other or otherwise help "bear one another's burdens" if we don't take these opportunities to share with each other?

Next Sunday, Lord willing, we'll have another fellowship opportunity in the form of a "potluck." I'm dating myself when I tell you that I remember them being referred to as "covered dish suppers" and "dinner on the grounds" but, as Bro. Lawson so rightly said it, the eating of the food is not the important thing here. It's the fellowship, the sharing of ourselves with each other as we eat.

Closing opinion: it's just great when "family" gets together and enjoys each other's company and partakes of some culinary delights while doing so. We like to prepare "special" dishes for these occasions, but always understand that the fellowship and the sharing of ourselves far outweighs the "specialness" of the dishes.

Ron Covey

Can we know all there is about Christianity

2011-10-27T08:26:00.000-07:00

Question:

If possible would you please answer a question for me? This question stems
from a conversation I had with someone the other day who feels he has heard
it all, has it down, and seldom learns anything new and is totally good with
that. It unnerved me, but I wanted to get a second opinion. I'm wondering,
do you think it's possible to truly be an "expert" in Christianity, or if
it's appropriate to consider oneself to have "arrived" in terms or one's
spiritual life? Is there any place in the Bible that specifically says that
we should always be striving for further growth?

Answer:
On a personal level, having been a minister for 40 years I would say no, it
is impossible to know all you need to know or to have arrived at the peak of
your spiritual life. In over 40 years of study, I'm still finding new things
and coming to deeper understands from God's word.

On a more technical level, three Scriptures immediately come to mind (though
many more could be used). The first scripture is Philippians 3:12-14 where
Paul writes, " Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already
been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ
Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken
hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining
toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which
God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus."

The Greek translated as "Press on" indicates to pursue or continue on
towards something. So Paul, who I would say is pretty much an expert on
Christianity, was still working on his life to be able to get to heaven.

Second, I also think that God realized that Paul might eventually have a
problem with thinking he knew it all. Notice what he said in 2 Corinthians
12:7-9. Paul writes: "To keep me from becoming conceited because of these
surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a
messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to
take it away from me. but he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you,
for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the
more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me."

Why did God not take away the illness, "to keep me from becoming conceited
because of the greatness of the revelations."

Third, for Paul, knowing the will of God was an ongoing or life long
pursuit. Notice what he wrote to Timothy in 1 Timothy 4:8-10, "For physical
training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding
promise for both the present life and the life to come. This is a
trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance (and for this we labor and
strive), that we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of
all men, and especially of those who believe." (Note that he was still
laboring and striving in his spiritual growth).

So, in answer to your question, no, I don't think it is possible to ever be
truly an expert where you need no more learning. I don't think it is
possible to have arrived at a perfect knowledge and understanding of all
there is to be a Christian or to have the perfect spiritual life. Without
growth life ceases, there is only stagnation and eventual death. Perhaps
that is why so many people find churches boring and stop assembling; they
think they already know all then need to know.

Russ Lawson

How to fix wordpress blog http upload error

2011-10-25T17:01:00.000-07:00

If you have gotten the "http error" in red letters when trying to upload large files to a wordpress blog, there may be a quick and simple solution for you. One little plug-in may save you a lot of grief.

I have put the information about this plug in on my "Online Bible commentary" web site at this link: http://www.abiblecommentary.com/howtofixhttperrorinwordpressblog. If you take just a couple of minutes you may find this is a complete solution for this problem.

Stacie Crimm

2011-10-22T15:44:00.000-07:00

"Stacie Crimm made the ultimate sacrifice -- and she got her dying wish. As
doctors and nurses wearing protective gear looked on last month, the
41-year-old mom got to hold her newborn daughter," stated a recent report
from Fox News.

Three days later, however, Crimm died. But her baby girl, Dottie Mae, is
alive. Dottie Mae is alive because her mother refused the cancer-fighting
treatments that might have saved her own life because she feared they would
risk the life of her unborn child.

Crimm, of Ryan, Okla., died from cancer that was in her head and neck. The
cancer was revealed by a CT scan a few months after she learned that she was
expecting a child. Her brother, Ray Phillips, told NewsOK.com that his
sister "agonized only for a while" before deciding against taking
potentially life-saving chemotherapy in hopes that she would deliver a
healthy baby.

Dottie Mae had to be taken by cesarean section when Crimm collapsed in her
home due to the growing cancer. Crimm later regained consciousness and was
able to hold her newborn baby. Crimm died three days later. *

Essentially, Crimm gave her life so that her baby might live. Her selfless
love reflects the love that God has for you and me...

Even before we were born into the world and even though Jesus knew we would
sin (Romans 3:23), He died for us so that we might have forgiveness of sins
and eternal life (John 3:16).

He DIED for us so that we might LIVE eternally (1 Thessalonians 5:10).

God will grant forgiveness and life to those who: will place their faith and
trust in Jesus (Acts 16:30-31), turn from sin in repentance (Acts 17:30-31),
confess Jesus before men (Romans 10:9-10), and be baptized (immersed) into
Christ (Acts 2:38).

Jesus Christ made THE ultimate sacrifice (John 15:13) when He died on the
cross to pay for our sins (Ephesians 1:7). His "dying wish".... (see
Matthew 28:18-20) was that each one of us would accept His offer of
salvation on His terms.

Won't YOU?

David A. Sargent

The Turbaned Tornado

2011-10-17T13:49:00.000-07:00

The man with the unusual moniker, "The Turbaned Tornado," is a remarkable man. His real name is Fauja Singh, and on Sunday, October 16th, he became the oldest man to complete a full-distance marathon when he finished the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon! He was a bit rusty, not having run a marathon since he was 92! He runs 7 to 10 miles every day, a habit which paid off when he pulled off this unprecedented feat. Through an interpreter, he said prior to the race, "I just keep going knowing that every step I take I am getting closer to the finish line -- standing around is not going to get me there" (info via Sporting News and UPI.com).

I know a great many golden agers who may not have so cool a nickname, but who have the same philosophy regarding their spiritual lives. Just because they are advanced in age does not mean that they are content to just stand (or sit) around. Perry Cotham will be 100 years old on January 5th, if God grants him the time. I was with him in California just a couple of years ago and witnessed him preach with such passion that he preached two non-Christian, middle-aged women "down the aisle" to be baptized. Great gospel songwriter, Tillit S. Teddlie, lived to be 102 and led singing before a large group of Christians to commemorate his 100th birthday. Coming up quickly behind these two greats is our own Johnson Kell, who remains an active force in the Bear Valley congregation even as he launches into his mid-90s.

The youth movement folks can keep their "diaper dandies." Nothing inspires me more than the aged soldier of the cross still valiantly battling the forces of evil. As Moses urged the Israelites, "You shall rise up before the grayheaded and honor the aged, and you shall revere your God; I am the Lord" (Lev. 19:32). A gray head, if found in the way of righteousness, is a crown of glory (Prov. 16:31). Seeing Christians who have seen many decades of life--trials, hurts, temptations, and heartaches--but who have remained faithful to Christ are heroes. They have successfully run the most strenuous marathon of all, running that long with endurance (Heb. 12:2) and in such a way as to win (1 Cor. 9:24). Why not "pick out" an elderly Christian whose faith and works shine before you and thank them! There is truly no greater accomplishment. --Neal Pollard

Steve Jobs impacted our lives in amazing technological ways

2011-10-08T15:33:00.000-07:00

Brooke Donald reports that on Wednesday night, as much of the world was
learning about the death of Steve Jobs, co-founder of Apple, Inc., Katy
Culver was sitting in an emergency room with her son, who had a severely
broken arm. She looked at the technology around her and was struck by the
degree to which Jobs had impacted her life.

A hospital specialist was lifting her son's spirits by helping him play
Angry Birds on an iPad with his good arm. Doctors appeared to be reviewing
X-rays on a MacBook. And Culver used her iPhone to alert friends and family.

"It just hit me in that moment, how much his visionary technologies have
changed my life - the way I communicate with family and friends, the way I
work with my students, the way I relate to my kids," said Culver, a
journalism professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. *

Steve Jobs died on Wednesday at the age of 56 after a long battle with a
rare form of pancreatic cancer. Our deepest sympathy is extended to his
family and friends.

Outpourings of sympathy have been expressed throughout the world paying
respect to the man who touched the daily lives of countless millions through
the Macintosh computer, iPod, iPhone and iPad. Steve Jobs' technical skills
and vision helped develop tools that have inspired careers, opened doors for
communication and entertainment, and changed the way the world operates on
day-to-day basis.

Steve Jobs impacted our lives in amazing technological ways...

But only JESUS can impact our lives now and for eternity.

Our sins separate us from God (Isaiah 59:1-2) and from the blessings that
God desires for each of us to have in Christ (Ephesians 1:3). But God loves
us so much that He gave His Only Son to die on the cross as payment for our
sins (2 Corinthians 5:21). Through Jesus, we can experience the "abundant
life" now (John 10:10) and eternal life to come (John 3:16).

God will give eternal life (1 John 5:11) to us when we: place our faith and
trust in Jesus (Acts 16:30-31), turn from our sins in repentance (Acts
17:30-31), confess Jesus before men (Romans 10:9-10), and are baptized
(immersed) into Christ for the forgiveness of our sins (Acts 2:38; Galatians
3:26-27).

Won't YOU allow Jesus to impact your life for eternity by trusting and
obeying Him?

David A. Sargent

Replowing the parable of the sower

2011-09-28T08:48:00.000-07:00

When Jesus sketched out for the crowd the divergent destinies of seed sown
by a farmer, his parable analyzed different responses to the message of the
kingdom (Matthew 13:1-23).

Jesus' story goes beyond being merely descriptive to also functioning as an
alert against danger. Accordingly, further insight can be gleaned if we step
into the typical thought processes behind the various behaviors Jesus
described.

Consider the type of thoughts ricocheting around in the head of those who
hear the message but do not embrace it. Perhaps she is highly educated and
convinced in her own ability to accurately understand how life works.

Upon hearing about a Creator sending his Son to die that he might rise from
the dead creating a people for God and ruling over them, she thinks, "That's
just outdated superstition. I'm too sophisticated to fall for that!"

Maybe his life experiences had been rougher than normal. In a dog-eat-dog
world, there seemed to be no place for justice or a God who loves him. With
a wry smile he thought, "You expect me to believe in a God who loves me and
cares for me? Where has he been?"

These are some of the ways the hard packed soil might think.

Those whose hearts represent good soil, even if raised in a secular home,
are open-minded enough to consider, "I am going to check out whether or not
God's word is credible." Having examined the evidence and finding the claims
reasonable, this person reflects, "I need to respond to Jesus."

How might the rocky soil think? As a new Christian she quickly discovered
that her work environment not only frowned on Christians revealing their
beliefs, the company promoted immoral lifestyles and her boss encouraged
ethical practices contrary to her new life in Christ. She thought, "I had
better tone down this Christianity thing or I will hurt my chances at career
advancement."

On the other hand, the good soil might muse in such an environment: "I am to
be an influence for God's kingdom in this potentially hostile world" or
perhaps, "While I value career advancement, I measure success by how I am
serving God."

Thorny soil thinking seems to abound in America. Viewing the world as
resting solely upon one's own shoulders, this individual discovers in
unemployment, credit card debt, or numerous other difficulties the
opportunity to think, "I don't have time to worship this week."

Nevertheless, in the same situations the good soil remembers God's promises
of provision and care. Rather than withdrawing from God, the good soil
ponders: "I will rely upon God's promises." "God will get me through this
day by day." "What matters most is that I remain faithful to God."

Reflecting on some samples of divergent mindsets can provide us with a
barometer for measuring our own hearts. With what type of soil does our
thinking resonate? Who are we?

by Barry Newton

HOW SHOULD WE DRESS FOR PUBLIC WORSHIP?

2011-09-15T06:35:00.000-07:00

INTRODUCTION:

1. Our worship assemblies serve two basic purposes:

A. To worship and praise God (Heb. 13:15).

B. To encourage and exhort one another (Heb. 10:24-25).

2. It isn't hard to see the importance of developing proper attitudes toward all aspects of worship.

A. In this vein questions and concerns arise regarding how one should dress for public worship.

B. We should not be indifferent about such things.

3. Worship to God should not be approached with an emphasis upon appearances (Matt. 6:5-6).

A. We should not want to call attention to ourselves in any way.

B. Our culture tends toward a relaxed attitude toward life in general.

a. Such is often reflected in what we wear.

b. The custom of the day is casualness in appearance. Businesses have "casual Fridays."

4. The subject here is our dress on the Lord's Day for worship.

A. I recognize that we are discussing that which falls within the realm of personal choice.

B. I don't have "book, chapter and verse" for a suit and tie, or a dress for women.

C. No one can dictate what others should wear to worship services. We can set the right example and teach on it.

5. It used to be a common conviction that Sunday was a special day.

A. People used to dress like it.

a. We had our Sunday clothes and our weekday clothes.

b. Old-timers would make sure they had clean overalls for Sunday.

B. The Community Church movement has brought with it a "come as you are" attitude.

a. Casual is one thing, slovenly is another thing.

b. Low hanging/torn jeans, tee shirts with slogans & logos, caps with satanic symbols seem to be stylish Sunday wear.

c. The late generation has been reared on going to ball games and concerts. Can we not see the need for a different approach to worship?

6. With these things in mind let us consider some guidelines that may help to shape our thinking in this area.

DISCUSSION:

I. PROPERLY APPLY THE SCRIPTURES.

A. Which passages apply directly to this subject?

1. None.

2. By that I mean that the Bible [God's word] does not discuss how we should dress when we worship God publicly.

3. Certain principles, however, will apply.

B. Genesis 41:14.

1. Why would Joseph submit to such improvement of his appearance?

2. He was to appear before a king.

C. Deuteronomy 22:5.

1. It would be wrong to base any prohibition to a Christian upon an Old Testament law such as this.

2. Old Testament laws are not our laws today (Rom. 15:4; Col. 2:14; Heb. 8:13).

3. New Testament principles apply men should look like men and women should look like women! (1 Cor. 11).

D. 1 Samuel 16:7.

1. Someone says, "It's not the outward appearance, but what's in the heart."

2. Granted. However, our dress is a window to our heart indicative of our thinking.

a. "Alternative" styles [tattoos, body piercings, slouchy look] reflect an attitude of rebellion whether or not one holds that attitude.

b. I can't judge hearts, but I can inspect fruit.

E. Matthew 8:20.

1. Common conclusion: "Jesus did not have fine clothes."

2. We know nothing of the clothing of Jesus expect what is given in the crucifixion accounts.

3. Jesus' appearance was average (Isa. 53:2).

F. 1 Corinthians 11:1-16.

1. Nobody should try to bind personal opinions based upon this passage.

2. Paul himself did not bind any customs or opinions:

a. He introduced the underlying principle of headship (Vss. 1-3).

b. He appeals to matters of female subordination (Vss. 4-9).

c. Vs. 10 is difficult.

d. He shows the woman is of the Lord just as much as the man (Vss. 11-12).

e. He calls for personal judgment based upon propriety (Vss. 13-15).

f. He concedes that the head covering custom was neither an apostolic or congregational custom (Vs. 16).

3. Brethren hold four different views on the present-day application of this passage:

a. The covering of 1 Cor. 11:2ff is merely the natural covering of hair, no artificial covering is involved (B. Coffman).

b. There are two coverings: a woman's long hair and a veil both are bound on all Christian women (D. Lipscomb).

c. The requirement is general involving some "sign of authority" on a woman's head the nature of which is determined by contemporary styles [e.g., a napkin, or hat] (W. Jackson).

d. The principles of female subjection and modesty are universal, but the head covering was based upon a social custom not binding today (J. W. Roberts).

G. 1 Timothy 2:9-10; 1 Peter 3:3.

1. In these passages the apostles are not prohibiting the wearing of jewelry or braided hair.

2. They are using a Greek idiom that means not so much A, but B. That is, our emphasis should not be so much physical adornment, but spiritual.

H. James 2:1-4.

1. It's wrong to judge a person on outward appearances.

2. It's equally wrong to assume an attitude [dress like a gang member] and cry, "Don't judge me!"

II. AVOID EXTREMES.

A. One extreme is that everyone ought to wear dress suits to worship services.

1. This may be desirable from the standpoint of men participating in a public way.

2. Elders are justified in offering suggestions for those who take a leading role in the worship services and are teachers in Bible classes.

a. This does fall within the realm of expediency.

b. It is not right to force an opinion. We can teach and set the right example.

3. It is not always practical for people to wear dress suits at all times:

a. Not everybody can afford nicer outfits. Whereas sloppy dress years ago indicated poverty, today it may reflect an attitude [rebellion/anarchy].

b. Visitors traveling through, of course, are more casual.

c. Sometimes people must leave directly from work to attend services dressed in their work clothes.

B. Other extremes:

1. Few people are aware that at one time Ellen G. White [founder of Seventh-Day Adventists] claimed a vision from God for a "Reform dress."

a. The idea was based on Numbers 15:38-41 and the desire to stand out as God's "peculiar people."

b. This "revelation" was an embarrassment discarded and forgotten.

2. A brother and his family I once met did a similar thing.

a. They came to believe that all traditional American clothing styles for men and women are immodest and ungodly.

b. He reasoned that pants are the same us underwear in Bible times (Jn. 21:7).

c. He wore a blue tunic [coat] over matching pants.

3. The notion that God doesn't care how we present ourselves to him in worship.

a. In line with this attitude people can do better, but choose not to do so.

b. A "youth minister" comes to church with his shirt hanging out and holes in his jeans. His justification? The teens want him to dress this way. Who is the role model here?

III. DRESS MODESTLY.

A. The most important of all is to dress modestly, especially in worship assemblies.

B. Worship services ought to be a safe haven from worldly distractions.

C. 1 Timothy 2:8-10 exhorts both men and women to put on a holy demeanor.

1. Women especially are instructed not to dress in order to try to impress people.

2. Men and women should avoid extravagance and skimpiness.

CONCLUSION:

1. Jesus Christ is the proper clothing for all Christians.

2. Those who are "in Christ," have "put him on" in baptism He is seen in their lives (Gal. 3:27).

3. We are looking for clothing of a different nature altogether (2 Cor. 5:1-2).

Dennis Gulledge Mabelvale, AR

Little Hope, Texas

2011-09-13T14:38:00.000-07:00

Life after death is not exclusive to New Testament Christianity. The question presented in the title of this article is as ancient as man himself. Job asked this question (Job 14:14), and the answer from heaven, both to Job and the faithful patriarchs of old, has been a resounding "yes"! Men have embraced that hope in a world that is otherwise filled with doubt and despair. In the rock-hewn tombs of the Pharaohs by the Nile River have been found these words: "The dead shall live again!" Belief in immortality led the Egyptians to perfect the art of embalming in order that the body could be preserved for the afterlife. The Greeks and the Romans believed in life after death as well. The Romans often made their tombs so large that a lamp could be kept burning on a reserve of fuel for many years. One of the provisions in the Will and Testament of Caruso, was for a large candle to be so constructed that it would refuel itself and burn for one-hundred-fifty years. I understand it is still burning today. I am sure that many have read about the treasures which were buried with great kings in order that their life beyond the grave would be well supplied. I have also read that the American Indians often buried their dead on the side of hill, facing the sunrise, fully believing in the dawn of a better day for the soul of man. The hope of life after death has resonated through history, and in spite of the attempts of atheism to destroy that hope, it remains as much alive today as it did centuries ago. The question above deserves an answer, does it not? So, we ask the question again: "If a man die shall he live again?" Here are the answers that are being given:

First, there is the answer of the materialist. The materialist says all there is to man is flesh, bone and blood. Ask such a skeptic if man shall live again and he will answer in the negative. What, then, happens to the man? "Nothing happens!" so says the materialist. He would have us to believe that we go nowhere; "earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust! That is the end of us!" If the materialist is correct, he will never know it! Once he dies, he will cease to exist, and like the proverbial dog Rover, he is "dead all over!" Such a philosophy is incredibly discouraging, is it not?

The second answer is that of science. But science cannot explore the realms of eternity for that is beyond their expertise. When it comes to origins, and things eternal, the lips of science are sealed, for the obvious reason that they cannot take us where they themselves have not been. The answer of science was once expressed in the words of Dr. William Osler, late professor of medicine at Oxford: "Whether across death's threshold we step from life to life, or whether we go whence we shall not return, even to the land of darkness, as darkness itself, the scientist cannot tell. Nor is this strange. Science is organized knowledge, and knowledge is of the things we see. Now the things that are seen are temporal. Of the things that are unseen science knows nothing, and has at present no means of knowing anything." Science cannot provide a satisfactory answer to the question of this hour.

The third answer is that of the agnostic. Our English word 'agnostic' was invented by Thomas Huxley. It is a transliteration of the word which means "unknown." The agnostic does not say directly that there is no life after death; he simply says we cannot know! Robert Ingersoll captured the hopeless despair of the agnostic at the grave of a child: "Why should we fear that which will come to all that is? We cannot tell. We do not know which is the greatest blessing, life or death. We cannot say death is not good. We do not know whether the grave is the end of life, or the door of another, or whether the night here is not a dawn somewhere else. Neither can we tell which is the more fortunate, the child dying in its mother's arms before its lips have learned to form a word, or he who journeys all the length of life's uneven road, painfully taking the last slow steps with staff and crutch." What hope is there is such a belief? None! The agnostic robs humanity of that one great hope that death will not be the end of our existence.

The fourth answer comes from Jesus Christ. Jesus said, "I am the resurrection and the life, he that believeth in me though he were dead yet shall he live: and whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never did" (John 11:26). Jesus proved the reliability of His promise when He rose from the dead never to die again. The only way we can ever hope to attain to life eternal and the accompanying joy that goes with it is to believe and obey His word. He has promised us that in the "Father's house are many mansions," and that He has gone to "prepare a place for us" and will come again and receive us unto Himself. The belief in Jesus and the trustworthiness of His words is the ONLY thing that gives hope to a lost and dying world.

In east Texas there is a small community called "Little Hope." Perhaps the name was adapted in an effort to compare their little community to Hope, Arkansas, though much smaller in size. That is only a conjecture on the part of this scribe. But today the words could aptly describe the masses of humanity who have "little hope" of something far better beyond the grave. The reason there is so little hope in this world is because too few are aware of the "precious and exceeding promises" reserved for those who know and obey God. An increasing number in Western civilization are growing ignorant of the promises contained in the Bible. Many a lost soul continues to put their trust in the 'god' of this world, seeking the glitter of fool's gold rather than the true riches of eternal life. They have forgotten the words of the apostle: "The world passeth away and the lust thereof; but he that doeth the will of God abideth forever. And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even life eternal" (1 John 2:17). "If a man die, shall he live again?" Indeed he will! Therein is true hope!

by Tom Wacaster

A flight from Los Angeles was escorted by two F-16 fighter jets

2011-09-12T18:20:00.000-07:00

Yesterday marked the tenth anniversary of the largest act of terrorism against our nation, better known to the world as 9/11. Today's newspaper in Pittsburgh was filled with news items and articles surrounding this ominous anniversary. Among these were several items regarding security scares at various airports and flights. In New York, a flight from Los Angeles was escorted by two F-16 fighter jets because three passengers would not leave a plane bathroom. In Detroit, a flight from Denver had three passengers who did the same thing. In Dallas, a rental truck was parked too long at DFW airport prompting suspicion and fear. In Kansas City, an ex-NYC police officer was detained for having suspicious items in his carry-on bag that he refused to let TSA screeners examine. Nothing serious has yet come of any of these incidents, but the nation was on edge yesterday. The anniversary probably brought out the neurotic in search of 15 minutes of fame, but the country was taking extra precautions. It was probably the worst day to try these shenanigans (Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, 9/12/11, A8).

Paranoia is detrimental and abnormal. None of us should be guilty of such. Seeing things that are not there is unhealthy. Yet, there is a sense in which all of us should live with heightened sensitivity. Peter says, "Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. But resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world" (1 Pet. 5:8-9). Sobriety, alertness, and firm resistance are acts of heightened sensitivity. Knowing the strength and influence of our opponent, we must stay keenly aware of his tactics and attempts. One cannot be too guarded with this enemy. Earlier, Peter writes for Christians to "prepare your minds for action, keep sober in spirit" (1 Pet. 1:13). Paranoia involves perceiving what is not a real threat. Vigilance involves perceiving what is. Such is our daily task!

-- Neal Pollard

Audio sermons

2011-09-12T04:32:00.000-07:00

An audio sermon podcast has been set up at http://commentaryonthebible.com/audiosermons/. If you like audio sermons, please check out this new resource.

A sermon on Matthew 5:4 - blessed are they that mourn

2011-09-10T16:46:00.000-07:00

1) Mt. 5:4 READ

a) Rom. 3:10 says none is righteous.

b) Rom. 3:23 says "all have sinned" and fallen short of God's glory.

2) God says He wants us to realize we have broken His law.

3) When Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit, God talked to them about what they had done.

4) God wanted this couple to face the fact that they had broken His law.

5) The Law of Moses was given to help people understand realize they were lawbreakers.

6) God sent prophets to help people realize they had broken his laws.

7) John the Baptist came to tell people they were transgressors.

8) Jesus came to say man is so guilty of breaking God's laws, He had to give Himself as a sacrifice.

9) It takes "poverty of spirit" (Mt. 5:3) to say "I am guilty of breaking God's laws."

10) When people are willing to take this first step, they are not far from the second step.

11) When we know we have broken God's laws, we can then "mourn" over our sin.

12) If we do not mourn over sin, we are not going to make it to heaven.

THE IDEA THAT WE NEED TO RECOGNIZE AND MOURN OVER SIN IS COMPLETELY DIFFERENT FROM HOW OUR WORLD THINKS.

a) There is a time and place for fun and there is a time and place for mourning.

b) God wants people to step back to see their spiritual condition and then react to it.

2) There are nine different words used in the Greek New Testament to describe mourning.

3) The strongest of these 9 words is the one Jesus chose to deliver this B-attitude.

4) This word is so strong it describes mourning over the dead.

a) When was the last time we ever grieved over a sin?

b) Some grieve over a wrong because they got caught.

c) This is the "sorrow of the world" and it has no spiritual value (2 Cor. 7:10)?

5) When was the last time that sin pricked our hearts like we find in Acts 2:36?

THE B-ATTITUDE IN MATTHEW 5:3 (POVERTY OF SPIRIT) IS A MATTER OF BALANCE.

1) The balance we need to associate with Mt. 5:3 is also found in Mt. 5:4.

2) Jesus did not mean Christians always need to always feel sorrowful.

3) Some look at themselves and cannot see very much other than sin.

4) Others look at themselves or others and don't see much to be sad about; this is also wrong.

5) If we look at ourselves in a thoughtful and reflective way, we will find many flaws.

6) If we look at our world, we also find many things that can discourage us.

7) Sin creates much sadness for us and others.

8) There is good news.

9) As bad and as sad as sin it, better times are coming.

10) Those who mourn over sin will be comforted.

11) A time is coming when the saved will sin no more.

12) A time is coming when the sin that surrounds the saved will disappear.

13) A time is coming when sin and sinners will be bundled up and contained in the place called hell.

14) If we are willing to recognize, mourn over, and deal with sin now, there is a great, great reward.

Android phone users: Get the FREE "daily devotionals" app from "abiblecommentary." This can be found in your Android market or this link: https://market.android.com/details?id=com.abiblecommentary.devotionals

A Halloween prank

2011-09-10T07:17:00.000-07:00

----- Original Message -----
From: "Living Water" <creekwood@comcast.net>
To: <Brad@abiblecommentary.com>
Sent: Saturday, September 10, 2011 9:19 AM
Subject: More Than a Prank

LIVING WATER (Text Version)
An Outreach Publication of the Church of Christ

Ray Hawk recalls an incident from his college days:

When I was a college student in the late fifties, several of us from
Stratford, OK car-pooled to Ada for classes. We would meet downtown to ride
with whoever was driving that week.

One morning, right after Halloween, I pulled onto the one block stretch of
downtown stores and was surprised to see an outhouse standing in the middle
of the street. I parked, grabbed my camera and took several pictures. When I
had finished, I noticed the town constable walking my way. I greeted him.
His mood became visible very quickly.

"Why are you taking pictures?" he asked. I told him I thought it was an
unusual sight. He asked, "Did you have anything to do with this?" I replied
in the negative. His response was, "It seems strange that you just happened
to have a camera to take pictures of something that you didn't know anything
about until you arrived." I told him that I always carried my camera in the
car with me. Apparently satisfied, he turned and walked away.

Later I found out who had pulled the prank. Several of my college friends
had "borrowed" it and placed it on Main Street as a Halloween prank.

Pranks are often pulled during Halloween... Most are harmless, and people
laugh when their stories are told. Those that damage property or actually
hurt someone do not make their way into our folklore as being amusing.

The word prank is defined as, "A practical joke or prank is a mischievous
trick played on someone, especially one that causes the victim to experience
embarrassment, indignity, or discomfort." So, not everyone thinks they are
funny. Our town constable didn't. Neither did some of the storeowners. Folks
coming into town and finding the street blocked, didn't.

Those who had to move the outhouse probably lost their smiles when it came
to moving it.

Following Hawk's analogy and application, we learn a needed truth: It was
much more than a 'dirty prank'; it was an abominable LIE when the devil told
Eve, "You will not surely die," when she disobeyed the Lord (Genesis 3:4).
This lie has been perpetrated to this day. Sin is serious - deadly serious -
because it SEPARATES us from God (Isaiah 59:1-2), and 'the wages of sin is
DEATH' (Romans 6:23a)."

But the GOOD NEWS is that "the gift of God is eternal LIFE in Christ Jesus
our Lord" (Romans 6:23b). God so loved the world that He gave His Son Jesus
to die on the cross to pay the price of redemption for our sins (John 3:16;
Ephesians 1:7). He died for us so that we might have forgiveness and live
with Him for eternity!

To accept His gift of salvation and life, one must: place His faith and
trust in Jesus (Acts 16:30-31), turn from sins in repentance (Acts
17:30-31), confess Jesus before men (Romans 10:9-10), and be baptized
(immersed) into Christ for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38).

Here's the TRUTH: "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is
eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 6:23).

Won't YOU accept God's gift on His terms?

David A. Sargent

Our lives are filled with change and stages

2011-09-07T10:27:00.000-07:00

Does it ever seem like the information age, our current age of technological advances, is all-consuming? It has, according to a new survey, even impacted the attention span the average person gives to his or her mate once married. The proverbial "seven year itch," for years a benchmark test of a relationship when romance and passion were eclipsed by annoyances and mundanity, has shrunk with society's attention span and attention to the other's needs as more important than self's.

The survey of over 2000 Britons, a study commissioned by Warner Brothers, found that work, financial worries, and other facets of "hard work" in a relationship were leading couples these days more quickly to boredom and aggravation with one another. Often, this has led to couples wanting more time apart from one another. Too often, it has led to marital infidelity. Detractions and annoyances in relationships leading to this "3-year-glitch" include such things as weight gain and lack of exercise, hygiene issues, in-laws, money (spending too much or too little), alcohol, snoring, lack of romance, fashion lapses, and more (some information from Reuters.com).

As we step back from this study, we can observe several things. First, these relational trends reflect society's general worldview. Materialism and plenty, when focused and consumed upon self, can quickly lead to boredom. Second, these relational issues are like the poor--"they are always with us" (cf. John 12:8). They exist from the day we walk down the aisle together and embark on the honeymoon. They are typically no worse at 50 years than they were at 50 seconds into the relationship. That means that, each day we live in married life together, we must continually remind ourselves of all that's good in our mate and of all that drew us to him or her in the first place. Marriage is not a license to let up but instead to lather up what was done in courting. How dishonest to act one way to "get" someone and another once we "got 'em." Third, marriage must be viewed as a marathon rather than a 40-yard-dash. Our lives are filled with change and stages, and God's people learn to adjust and grow with them.

May we be dedicated to building the "All Our Years Rich" trend. Whether God gives us only a few years together or 60 or 70, let us resolve to spend the time building up our mate and helping them go to heaven. That will scratch any itch and fix any glitch!

--Neal Pollard

Why I believe the Bible is true

2011-09-05T07:36:00.000-07:00

IT IS OFTEN said that the Bible is it's own best interpreter...

How true! One of the great things in the New Testament is that we can see the fulfillment of the Old Testament prophesies. Those things written before were written for our learning (Romans 15:4) and for our examples (I Corinthians 10:11).

We serve God who knows all things without the limitations of time that we have. He knows the future as well as He knows the past and present. To help us (and those before us) to have greater faith, He made promises in the prophecies and then fulfilled them in minute detail. Jesus said, "These are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me" (Luke 24:44).

For example:

Isaiah (some 800 years before) prophesied that Jesus would be born of a virgin (Isaiah 7:14). Matthew 1:22,23 says, "Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, 'Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call His name Emmanuel,' which being interpreted is, God with us."

Other examples of the New Testament explaining the prophecies include:

Jesus came out of Egypt. Hosea 11:1 & Matthew 2:15

The innocent babies would be slaughtered. Jeremiah 31:15 & Matthew 2:17

The Lord would work in the area of Capernaum. Isaiah 9:1,2 & Matthew 4:14

Jesus came to bear our infirmities and sicknesses. Isaiah 53:3,4 & Matthew 8:17

The Lord showed great compassion. Isaiah 49:6 & Matthew 12:17

The Spirit of the Lord was upon Jesus. Isaiah 61:1 & Luke 4:21

People would hear and not understand. Isaiah 6:9,10 & Matthew 13:13,14; John 12:37-41

Jesus would ride into Jerusalem on a donkey's colt. Zechariah 9:9 & Matthew 21:4

Judas would betray Jesus. Psalms 41:9 & John 13:18

Jesus was betrayed for 30 pieces of silver. Zechariah 11:12,13 & Matthew 27:9

Jesus was numbered with the transgressors. Isaiah 53:12 & Mark 15:28

The soldiers cast lots for Jesus' clothes. Psalms 22:18 & Matthew 27:35; John 19:24

Not one of Jesus' bones would be broken. Psalms 34:20 & John 19:36

The odds of all of these (and more) being so perfectly fulfilled defy the skeptics to regard these as chance. Instead, our faith in God and in His word, the Bible, grows when we see that He always keeps His word. When we apply this to those promises for us, we have a hope that no one can take away from us. Jesus promised that He is coming back. He always keeps His promises. Let's make sure we are ready. (Roger Wright)

"But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel" (Acts 2:16).

--Mike Benson

More gratitude give me

2011-09-04T19:29:00.000-07:00

"More gratitude give me." These are the first words of the 2nd stanza of the old hymn "More Holiness Give Me" found on page 134 in our hymn book. A recent conversation with a close friend of mine caused me to think about the words of this song and to do some further thinking about the idea of "gratitude." I guess I could say, the attitude of "being grateful." I don't know about you, but it just seems to me that there is a major lack of gratefulness or thankfulness on the part of the biggest portion of our society today.

It just seems that people are not grateful any more. Very seldom, in today's world, do you find someone who exhibits the attitude of gratitude. (I like that combination of words, attitude of gratitude.) People just show no thankfulness towards others for much of anything. Perhaps we've come to "expect it" and feel that whatever we receive is "owed" us. It's my personal opinion that it is just this type of attitude that is the downfall of the welfare system. It's that idea that many people possess that says, I deserve to be paid money because I'm alive and not working.

What causes me to say this, is that I recall a couple of years ago, there was a riot in Los Angeles and the rioters burned down a local post office. A TV news crew was out interviewing some of the local inhabitants of that neighborhood and one of the women interviewed was very concerned about the loss of the post office and stated, "How are we going to get our welfare PAYCHECKS since the post office burned?" "Paychecks?" You see, to me, this is the essence of what I'm addressing here. People have come to expect "largess" (meaning = a gift bestowed) as something due them.

There are many thoughts on the idea of gratitude, gratefulness and thankfulness and I'll share a few with you this morning. And just so that you don't think that the prevalence of ingratitude is something of a recent nature, I'll call your attention to an incident clear back in Jesus's day.

In Luke 17:12-19 we find the account of the healing of the 10 lepers. How many of them thanked Him for being healed of the most dreaded and horrifying disease of that day? You got it. Only one bothered to come back and give thanks for it and glorify God. How did Jesus feel about this. Notice His statement in the 17th verse; "Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine?"

There is another interesting aspect about this incident that you may not have picked up on. The only leper to return and thank Jesus "was a Samaritan." Not a Jew. An outsider or as stated by Jesus in verse 18, "a stranger." I see Jesus making note of this fact as a rebuke against the Jews, the other 9 lepers, for their ungratefulness. Perhaps a 10% return of gratitude today is about equal to Christ's time.

The incident of the 10 lepers seems to amplify the thoughts of some other authors. Samuel Johnson once wrote, "Gratitude is a fruit of great cultivation; you do not find it among gross people." And, the famous author Aesop, in his story of Androcles and the Lion said, "Gratitude is the sign of noble souls." To use another New Testament phrase, don't you see the thankful leper as being "more noble" than his fellow lepers? I do.

There are numerous scriptures throughout the Bible that teach God's people are to be thankful people. Why, just in the Old Testament alone, the phrase "giving thanks" to God is used 73 times. (my count) Psalms 100 is all about being thankful to God.

Some interesting passages in Romans regarding this subject, are found in the 1st chapter. Right after Paul says, "The just shall live by faith." he then mentions the ungodly and the unrighteous and says that, even though they knew God, they didn't glorify Him, "neither were they thankful."

As I see it, ingratitude and Christianity are diametrically opposed to each other. In other words, an "ungrateful" person will not be a Christian, nor will a Christian be "ungrateful."

Even back in Christ's and the apostles' days, there were secular writers offering thoughts about gratitude and thankfulness. A Roman author, Seneca, who lived and wrote during the same period as Jesus and the apostles, had these thoughts on this subject. He said, "If I only have the will to be grateful, I am so." He also wrote, "He that urges gratitude pleads the cause both of God and men, for without it we can neither be sociable nor religious."

I mentioned Psalms a moment ago, and here is a thought put forth by author Jeremy Taylor. "From David learn to give thanks for everything. Every furrow in the Book of Psalms is sown with the seeds of thanksgiving."

And in a thought that relates to James 1:27 of the New Testament, Taylor wrote these words: "God is pleased with no music below so much as with the thanksgiving songs of relieved widows and supported orphans; of rejoicing, comforted and thankful persons."

Other famous authors have touched upon this subject also. Such as, Benjamin Franklin, who penned these words that I see going towards our thankfulness to God for everything that we have on this earth. He said, "The heaviest debt is that of gratitude, when it is not in our power to repay it."

I ask you, what could a person do to "repay" God for His blessings? Not one thing, except to possess a grateful heart, keep His Word and "give thanks" to Him. And don't you find our quotation by Shakespeare appropriate to a Christian attitude?

Well, how do we develop and keep a heart of gratitude. I think that the first step towards that goal is to always remember from where the fount of all blessings flows. And secondly, to always give thanks to God for those blessings.

Like the words of the song says: "Count your many blessings, name them one by one. And it will surprise you what the Lord has done." If our heart is then thankful to God, it will then automatically be one that is grateful to our fellow man for those things we receive of them. It's a pretty simple equation, isn't it?

Lets take the advice of the author Jeremy Taylor, and look at some words by the Psalmist David for our closing thoughts. Read with me his words written in Psalms 103:1-4 and see if maybe this isn't the essence of thankfulness to God.

"Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies."

Ron Covey

MAN AND BEAST: There is no difference

2011-09-01T16:46:00.000-07:00

"...there is no advantage for man over beast,

for all is vanity."

(Ecclesiastes 3:19)

I once thought "Solomon was having a bad day when he wrote that!" Well, looking back it actually had nothing to do with being in a bad mood on a particular day. Solomon actually was challenging men to fear God (3:14). Men are not going to fear God without a proper perspective of themselves. Note these important truths.

1) Death is the common denominator for both man and beast. Actually, this is what Solomon was saying when he noted "there is no difference." Before that statement he said "for the fate of the sons of men and the fate of beasts is the same. As the one dies so dies the other" (3:19). The prospect of death should humble every person. The Hebrew writer noted that "...it is appointed for men to die once, and after this comes judgment" (Heb. 9:27). We are not going to be able to escape the grave (unless Jesus comes first). So, we will join the beast in death.

2) Men must not have an inflated view of themselves. Pride and arrogance lead to many sins. When we get to thinking that we are most important we remove God from our lives. This is why God "tests us" with earthly trials (Jas. 1:2-5) and reminds us that "we are but dust" (Ps. 103:14; Gen. 3:19; Ecc. 3:20; 12:7). Notice carefully what Solomon says: "I said to myself concerning the sons of men, 'God has tested them in order for them to see that they are but beasts'" (3:18). Is it working? Are we seeing what God wants us to see? Hopefully God's tests have awakened us to the fact that we are totally dependent upon God.

--Denny Petrillo

Steve Jobs versus God

2011-09-01T08:55:00.000-07:00

It's likely you've heard of Steve Jobs. Jobs is the cofounder of Apple, the company that pioneered the market for home computers many years ago. In more recent years Apple (thanks in large part to the ingenuity of Jobs) has taken the world by storm with its iPods, iPhones and iPads. Apple, which teetered on the verge of bankruptcy during a time when Jobs stepped away from the company, has roared back to become one of the world's most profitable corporations.

The world naturally took notice when Steve Jobs announced last week that he was stepping down from his post with Apple due to serious health issues. One man in Tokyo, Joseph Tame, decided to pay tribute to Jobs' contributions to his tech-affected life in a most unusual way. Using two iPhones, he ran a half-marathon which he had mapped out in the shape of Apple's familiar apple-shaped logo.

Tame's accomplishment has no long-lasting value; it will be forgotten in a few weeks. But for Tame it was an important gesture to show how much he appreciated the work of Steve Jobs. "I'd like to personally show my appreciation to Steve for his vision and leadership, which has made a direct positive impact upon my life," Tame stated in an interview with the Huffington Post (8/30/11).

Tributes are not uncommon in our world; we often recognize the debt we owe to someone, and want to find some way to express our thanks. Memorial Day is one such example. We know we must never forget the sacrifices of those who have served in the armed forces, and so we annually pay tribute to them. Mothers' Day is another opportunity to express gratitude we feel.

In writing to the Roman Christians, Paul noted what a serious matter it is to fail to give tribute to the One who deserves it most - God. "Because, although they knew God, they did not glorify God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened" (Romans 1:21). From that point, Paul went on to write, things go from bad to worse. One who does not take time to give thanks to God has taken the first step down a deadly slippery slope.

Psalm 107 develops this truth in a powerful way. The psalm begins with this exhortation: "Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever" (Psalm 107:1). In the 43 verses of that psalm the writer presents different situations in which people faced death: people lost in the desert, some who were terribly oppressed and in chains, sailors on a storm-tossed sea. In each case they were delivered from their dire circumstances.

The refrain that follows each of these examples of rescue is the same: "Oh, that men would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men!" (Psalm 107:8,15,21,31). The implied idea is that all of us have reasons to pay tribute to the Lord. But not all of us take the time to do so.

Ten lepers were healed by Jesus of their dreaded disease, but only one returned to give thanks. Jesus' question is still timely: "Were there not any found who returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?" (Luke 17:18).

Steve Jobs may have touched your life in numerous ways through his creative mind. But God's impact on anyone's life far outweighs any person's. Shouldn't we regularly pay tribute to Him?

Timothy D. Hall, e-mail: lightgrams-help@associate.com

Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples

2011-08-25T07:30:00.000-07:00

How much are you really in control of your life? I mean we all would like to
say we are 100% in control of our lives, wouldn't we. We make the decision
as to where we live, where we work and what we do. We would like to say that
we are in control of our families as far as our eating habits, our
entertainment and the learning environment of our children and
grandchildren. Yes, we would like to say that, but we know in the reality of
our world it just isn't true. There are far too many things about which we
have no control.

Could it be that we are too concerned with controlling too much that goes on
in our world? What is it that concerns you? What is it that you pray to our
God about? What requests do you make?

There is an interesting incident found in Luke 11:1-4. Jesus is asked by his
disciples to teach them how to pray. He responds with a simple outline for
prayer. Notice the text:

"One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his
disciples said to him, "Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his
disciples." He said to them, "When you pray, say: "'Father, hallowed be your
name, your kingdom come. Give us each day our daily bread. Forgive us our
sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us. And lead us not into
temptation.'"

He begins by praising God and then deals with what to ask. He said, "Give us
this day our daily bread". You can't get much simpler than that. Really what
he was saying was, "Lord, Meet my needs for the day!"

Could you really be satisfied making that kind of request for yourself?
Just, "Lord, give me what I need." That demonstrates total trust in God and
I wonder if most of us really trusts God enough to say that? To give Him
control of our lives, to not give us that for which we ask, but what we
really need. To trust Him enough to let him start opening and closing doors
in our lives and rejoice in what comes our way.

Most of us can't do that can we? We feel more comfortable taking a shopping
list with us when we pray. We say, "Lord, give us this day our daily bread."
Oh, and make that whole wheat not white and by the way, we prefer this
certain bakery.

I challenge you this week to try to turn your life over to God. I challenge
you to begin to pray simply and with trust that God really is able to make
all things turn out for the good in our lives (Romans 8:28). Do you believe
that? If you do then challenge yourself to give up control of your life and
live like you believe it!

May our God guide you and give you what you really need!

Russ Lawson

The peace of God which surpasses all understanding

2011-08-23T07:38:00.000-07:00

In considering Paul's statement in Philippians 4:7 concerning the "peace of God which surpasses all understanding..." I began to wonder, just how much do we, as carnal human beings, truly understand, especially about the *invisible things* created by Christ in heaven and on earth (cf. Colossians 1:16).

We know there are things that God has revealed to us, but there are also things that He has kept "secret" from us (Deuteronomy 29:29). Ever wonder what those "secret things" are?

You probably remember the old question: "How can a black cow eat green grass, give white milk and yellow butter?" In the same vein, how can I eat food and part of it goes to nourish my brain, other parts strengthen my bones, some turns into antioxidants that cleans my blood, etc., etc..

We understand all the elements involved in a tornado, but why is it that often all the elements are present and a tornado doesn't form? We know "how" electricity works, but we don't understand "why" it works. Why is it that our massive, gargantuan solar system operates with such minute precision that we can predict where the tiny planet of Pluto will be a thousand years from day after tomorrow? Why is the law of gravity consistent throughout the universe?

These, and ten thousand other questions, and they all surround "physical" things! If we understand so little about physical things, how little must we truly understand about "spiritual" things? Again, Paul himself says even the "peace of God surpasses all understanding."

I often wonder about the sin of sexual immorality. The Holy Spirit says (through Paul), that "every sin a man commits is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body" (1Corinthians 6:18). There seems to be something especially destructive about the sin of sexual immorality. Maybe that's why Satan is using "sex" to permeate every ounce of our society. Somehow, it is especially detrimental and damaging to one's personal soul and spiritual well-being, as well as his relationship to God. While it may seem to the majority that the promiscuous, uninhibited life-style is, at least acceptable, among consenting adults, what is truly happening to a person's soul when they are intimate with someone outside the boundaries of God's Law? No one can genuinely know, but we do know that something happens, and it isn't "good." That's where faith comes in -- "without which no one can please God" (Hebrews 11:6).

If we put all things under a microscope, we would have to admit that we really don't understand much at all. There's only one solution: *faith* which comes by hearing, believing, and aligning our lives with God's Word (cf. Romans 10:17), even if doesn't make sense to us, and even if we don't understand the reasoning behind certain commands.

Toby Miller

USA Pro Cycling Challenge

2011-08-22T11:17:00.000-07:00

Today is the first day of a big event for Colorado, the USA Pro Cycling
Challenge. It will be historic for at least one reason. The race will
include two 12,000 foot passes--Cottonwood (12,126) and Independence (12,
085). The first twelve miles up Cottonwood is on dirt! It will challenge
the more than 120 pro racers from 12 nations, chiefly because of an altitude
most of these racers are unaccustomed to facing. Performance in that thin
of air is necessarily reduced. Bicyclists have to guard against going too
fast or too slow. They must find that right "middle gear" and essentially
stay in it consistently.

Isn't that the way it goes? Stay contented in a spiritual rut, traveling
the low roads, and you can pretty well coast along. But, strive to climb to
new heights and the challenge really begins! Pushing yourself out there to
evangelize is uncomfortable and in some cases hard. Being distinct and
different from the world when such is demanded by the Bible is difficult.
Defending an unpopular Bible truth can be painful! Being an active,
involved father and devoted husband can be inconvenient and time-intensive.

Involvement in church work, faithfulness to church services, self-discipline
in personal spirituality, and the like produce stiff challenges in our
"upward call" (Phil. 3:14). Bible terminology calls the "heavenward way"
narrow and difficult (Mat. 7:13-14). We need help to make it to that "rock
that is higher than" us (cf. Ps. 61:2). The truth is that while climbing
those new heights gets easier with practice and experience, it will always
be more difficult to reach up to God than to remain content and comfortable
in the valley of mediocrity! Accept the challenge of true Christianity and
go higher!

Neal Pollard

profane prophets and priests

2011-08-21T13:41:00.000-07:00

"Updates and upgrades." I get them all the time and I'm pretty sure that you do too. It just seems that about everything we have, product-wise, is always being "updated." Especially computers and their programs or our cell phones. I mean, you can buy the latest giz-whizzy on the market and within a short period of time, it needs updated or upgraded.

By now you're probably wondering what product updates have to with a spiritual lesson so, to relieve your wondering, the rest of this editorial will be my attempt at doing just that.

I'm going to use our commonly seen "product updates" in a parabolic way of showing how this phenomenon has influenced certain aspects of the Church and religion in general. We're going to consider the general topic of false doctrines and refresh our minds as to how God looks at man's efforts at, shall we say, "updating" His Word.

Let me just remind you that false doctrines run the gamut of being totally absurd to just being "a little bit different" from The Word. Or, maybe as a carpenter might say it: from being "completely out of whack" to being just "a half-a-bubble off plumb." Here's the problem with either of those categories, and it's not the degree of being "off" that's the problem. The problem is that both are unacceptable to God, regardless of the degree of separation.

In my feeble little brain, here's how I tie the "updates" parable to our topic of discussion. You see, when you get notice of an "update/upgrade" for whatever product you own, what that's telling you is that something better is now available. That product you bought was good at the time of purchase, but now it's been made better. Thus, it's been updated. Upgraded.

God provided mankind with His Word - The Bible. It is His wisdom, His program if you will, and it provides mankind with everything he needs for his soul to receive eternal salvation. So, think of it this way, if man comes along and says that he's designed something different he's, in effect, saying that he sees a better way. He's "upgrading" the original.

Sadly, we even see this phenomenon creeping into the Church, don't we? We see some advocating the joining with other denominations in some sort of unity movement. Or in the forming of specialized groups for worship service. It's almost as if those advocating the changing of Church doctrine in order to be more modern in matters of religion are, in effect, "updating" the system - the doctrine. It's like saying that God just doesn't understand our modern times and His doctrine needs "updating." His "program" needs to be "upgraded."

Many of you might not be old enough to remember something that occurred during the 1960's, but a professor in one of our southern universities once made the pronouncement that "God is dead!" Well, that caused somewhat of a hullabaloo for awhile, but then sort of passed on into being old news. My point in recalling this episode is that I think we're now to the point of saying that God isn't dead - He's just old-fashioned.

Someone once said that one of the things we can never understand is "the folly of man." Probably no truer words were ever spoken, not only regarding religion and God, but just about everything else. It just baffles me how seemingly intelligent people can think that they have the ability to change anything God has said in His Word. That they actually believe that they can "update" the Bible.

That they think that whatever changes they see as being "better" will be OK with Him. Perhaps they think that since "God is love" and they're doing something "religious," then it"ll be OK, He will "sign off"on their "updates." Perhaps we should look at some scripture (in the "original program") and see if we can determine how He feels about His Word being "updated."

In the legal justice system we have a thing called "case law." That's simply a record available to be looked at to see what was ruled on in past similar cases. I believe that "case law" also exists in the Bible that's available for us to look at and see just what God "ruled" in regards to a similar case of changing, or the advocating of something different from what He had set in place. I found this "case law" in the 23^rd chapter of the book of Jeremiah, the prophet of God. Let's study it a moment.

In today's vernacular, those who want to "update" the doctrine of God are called things like "change agents" or "false teachers." In Jeremiah's day they were referred to as "profane prophets and priests." (23:11) We read in that chapter that they earned those titles by teaching (advocating) something different from what God had said for them to teach.

From His words in verses 9-11 I think we can safely say that He was not pleased with what His prophets and priests were teaching and how they were living. He says things like "My heart within me is broken because of the prophets: all my bones shake...." He goes on later (verses 16-17) to warn the people not to listen to their words because they will only "make them vain" which basically is saying that they are just "filling them with false hopes."

It's in verse 16 that we see the passage I cited at the beginning and shows us why the prophets/priest's teaching filled them with false hope: because they spoke "a vision (a doctrine) out of their own heart, and not out of the mouth of the Lord." He goes on to further say that the false and profane prophets were telling the people, "you'll have peace" and "no evil shall come upon you."

I ask you, isn't that the same thing the false teachers and "change agents" of today are saying? "Don't worry, everything will be okay." ("You'll have peace"). "God is love, He won't punish you." ("no evil shall come upon you"). You see, what's happening here is that our modern-day false teachers are doing the same thing Jeremiah's false prophets did: teaching a "vision from their own heart" and not the Word "out of the mouth of the Lord."

I would further opine that if Jeremiah's false prophets were, in the eyes of God, as the "inhabitants of Sodom and Gomorrah" (vs. 14) I don't think that He's going to see the purveyors of false doctrines today any different. At least that's what the "case law" tells me.

Let me just finish our lesson here with some final words of Jeremiah that I feel completes the thought of both false doctrinal teachers and those who follow them. Those who believe that their words, their "visions," their "updates" are safe and they'll have "peace." Read them with me as we close:

"Behold, I am against the prophets, saith the Lord, that use their tongues and say, He saith. Behold, I am against them that prophesy false dreams, saith the Lord, and do tell them and cause my people to err by their lies and by their lightness: yet I sent them not, nor commanded them: therefore they shall not profit this people at all, saith the Lord."

Ron Covey

Who will be in heaven?

2011-08-15T13:38:00.000-07:00

Do you realize that only Christians are going to Heaven? The Bible no where even hits that one who is accountable will go to Heaven unless that person is a Christian.

Do you realize that every Christian is in the "family of God?" Since God adds the saved to His church (Acts 2:47), and the church is His family (1Timothy 3:15), then every single individual who is in the family of God will also be in His church.

Are you saved? That is, are you a Christian? If you were living in the first century with your current loyalty to God, would you be considered a Christian?

What it meant to be a Christian in the first century was clear and unmistakable. There was no arguing about how one must be baptized; no arguing about whether or not one needed to worship in spirit and truth; no argument about whether one needed to "seek His kingdom and His righteousness first" in order to be saved (Matthew 6:33). Does this describe you?

In Acts 11:26, the disciples were called "Christians" - - no one else, only disciples wore that name. If you were a disciple of Jesus Christ in the first century, then you were a Christian. A disciple of Christ is a "follower" of Christ. Does this describe you? Are you a follower?

Based on Matthew 7:20 ("by their fruits ye shall know them"), it seems that many, if not most, think that Jesus follows THEM. They have the idea that being a Christian simply means to have Jesus "handy" in case they might need Him for some reason. What about you? Do you follow Jesus, or do you expect Jesus to follow you?

Do you think that when you're too tired to get out of bed and worship that Jesus will stay there with you? Do you think it is Jesus who has led you to be inactive in His church? Do you think that when there's a major sporting event, a huge sale at the Mall, or even a county Fair and you decide to skip worship and attend one of these events, do you think Jesus will follow you there? Jesus did not allow even the Cross to deter Him from doing His Father's will (Philippians 2:8) -- do you think a sporting event, a sale at the Mall, or a county Fair would deter Him?

Being a Christian means being a *servant* of Jesus Christ. But, like many things, Satan has cleverly "flip-flopped" our understanding of this, causing us to think Jesus is OUR servant. Analyze your prayers sometime, whether public or private, and note how many things you are "telling" Jesus what He needs to be doing: "Heal the sick, comfort the afflicted, make the church grow, bring us back at the next appointed time" etc., etc.

Since the church is depicted as the "Bride of Christ," let me ask the men something: What if your wife treated you like you treat the church? What if she was as loyal to you as you are to the Lord's church? Would you even consider marrying someone who showed the same amount of love toward you as you do toward the church? Little wonder that Paul encourages us to "Examine yourselves and see whether you are in The Faith" (2Corinthians 13:5). Sometimes the truth hurts, but it only hurts when it needs to hurt.

Toby Miller

WALKING IN THE LIGHT

2011-08-15T07:52:00.000-07:00

     A young Marine and his commanding officer board a train headed through the mountains of Switzerland. They can find no place to sit except for two seats right across the aisle from a young woman and her grandmother.
     After a while, it is obvious that the young woman and the young soldier are interested in each because they are giving each other "looks." Soon the train passes into a tunnel and it is pitch black. There is a sound of the smack of a kiss followed by the sound of the smack of a slap. When the train emerges from the tunnel, the four sit there without saying a word.
     The grandmother is thinking to herself: "It was very brash for that young soldier to kiss my granddaughter, but I'm glad she slapped him."
     The commanding officer is setting there thinking: "I didn't think the young Marine was brave enough to kiss the girl, but I sure wish she hadn't missed him when she slapped and hit me!"
     The young woman was sitting and thinking: "I'm glad the soldier kissed me, but I wish my grandmother had not slapped him!"
     The young Marine sat there with a satisfied smile on his face. He thought to himself: "Life is good. When does a fellow have the chance to kiss a beautiful girl and slap his commanding officer all at the same time!"
     It is difficult to know exactly what is happening in the dark (as shown by three of the four characters above). There's no light by which to gain a proper perspective. Walking in darkness can be especially dangerous.
     It's not surprising that the apostle John frequently used the images of light and darkness to describe our walk with God.
     "This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin." (I John 1:5-7)
     I pray that your walk today may be in the light of God's love. --Alan Smith

The prayer of the upright is His delight

2011-08-14T13:49:00.000-07:00

Last week's editorial lesson was inspired, in part, by a prayer offered by Bro. Hall and several people told me they liked the lesson derived from it. I thought, perhaps, that I'd continue on with the same topic, "prayer," for today's lesson as there is just a myriad of things we can consider about that subject. We'll just take a quick look at some prayers by others and also learn a little about "how we're to pray, what to pray for" and even "how not to pray."

If we think about it for a moment, we can all recall passages in the Bible that relate to prayers, can't we? How about a couple of well-known and oft-used ones: "The prayer of the upright is His delight" (Prov. 15:16) and "the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much." (James 5:16) And there are many more that I could cite to you, but let's look for a few moments at some examples of prayers, both of a serious nature and some more of a humorous kind, but all instructive.

I'll start off with a few prayers offered in, shall we say, a "lighter vein." A preacher once included in his prayer a petition that the Lord keep him "humble and poor." One of the elders was heard to whisper loudly, "Lord, if You'll keep him humble, we'll do the rest."

If you recall, in past editorials, I've written about the excesses, the misleading, and even the outright lies, of the advertisers of our world today and I was reminded of those previous writings when I read the following statement by a preacher. (Is this pick on preachers week?) A preacher was asked his opinion of advertising in America. He hesitated a moment and then said that he wouldn't make any direct comment on advertising itself, but he was certainly willing to pray for those who made a living at it.

Okay, one more quick and humorous prayer example: a minister (gonna get another preacher) was hosting a garden party for members of the congregation at his home when he remembered that he had neglected to invite one of the elderly sisters. He called her to apologize for his oversight and invite her to the party, however she told him, "It's no use, I've already prayed for rain."

Well, there's some humorous, yet instructive examples of prayer. Now let me switch to some prayers by others that are both instructive and also relate to things that relate to our society today. Prayers that tie in with a lot of the news we're seeing almost on a daily basis. These are some prayers spoken by Peter Marshall who was the Chaplain for the U.S. Senate for many years. Here's a short example: "Lord, when we are wrong, make us willing to change. And when we are right, make us easy to live with." (Amen!)

Don't we sometimes hear our brethren pray for wisdom to know what to do and also for the strength to do what is needed? Of course we do. I'd venture to guess that this is a common prayer in all congregations. Well, following is a prayer offered by Chaplain Marshall that I feel applies both to Christians and the members of Congress: "Help us, O Lord, when we want to do the right thing, but know not what it is. But help us most when we know perfectly well what we ought to do, and do not want to do it." (Another Amen!)

My final prayer example by Peter Marshall is one that has within it a phrase that is so meaningful and moving to me that I just had to include it today. I think that you'll easily see this phrase and hopefully will appreciate it as much as I did when I first read it. It's a little long, but worth the effort to read it in it's entirety.

"Help us, our Father, to show other nations an America to imitate - not the America of loud jazz music, self-seeking indulgence, and love of money, but the America that loves fair play, honest dealing, straight talk, real freedom and faith in God. Make us to see that it cannot be done as long as we are content to be coupon clippers on the original investment made by our forefathers. Give us faith in God and love for our fellow man, that we may have something to deposit on which the young people of today can draw interest tomorrow."

Allow me to interpolate those words to Christianity. Let us show others real Christianity and not some sort of imitation. Let us "shine our lights" on the real freedom offered by Christ from a world of "self-seeking indulgence" and "love of money" or, simply stated, a world of sin.

But the phrase I truly love is: let us not be "coupon clippers" on the "original investment" made by Jesus Christ on the cross and our Christian "forefathers," many of whom died violent deaths bringing The Word to the world. Rather, let us also continue that work of spreading The Gospel and thereby have something to deposit to our account with God. If we do, we'll draw the interest in heaven.

I'll close today with a poem penned about 175 years ago by James Montgomery.

                Prayer is the soul's sincere desire, Uttered or unexpressed;

                The motion of a hidden fire, That trembles in the breast.

                Prayer is the burden of a sigh, The falling of a tear;

                The upward glancing of an eye, When none but God is near.

Ron Covey

Rick Dellinger

2011-08-12T13:24:00.000-07:00

Rick Dellinger recalls: "I encountered a mean, barking dog. He had the look
that said, 'If I live long enough, sooner or later, I'm going to bite you!'
As is my habit, I tried to entice the dog to let me pet him, to which he of
course, wanted no part, and became even more vicious. As I came close
enough to see his teeth, I snatched him off his feet, and wrapped my arms
completely around him, thus disabling his means of attack....

As I examined him, he had this look of distress, almost desperation in his
eyes, and it was then I noticed the huge thorn in his front paw. I decided
I must remove the thorn at once, and he decided at once I would not! As the
battle raged, eventually I won. I put him down, and imagine my surprise, to
find he wasn't near the snarling, mean dog I had imagined. Because of the
removal of the thorn, he now was a dancing, prancing, full of love
puppy-dog, who seemingly had no care in the world."

Dellinger continues: "Thus is the SIN in our lives. It becomes a THORN in
our lives which, if allowed to, consumes our very being."

In Psalm 32, we read the words of a suffering psalmist:

"When I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long.
For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was sapped as in
the heat of summer" (vs. 3-4).

Why was the psalmist suffering - wasting away and without strength? It was
due to the "thorn" of his sin! He was trying to keep silent about it so
that no one else would know, but his guilt was making him miserable.

But then he realized that there was another option. If he would acknowledge
His sin and repent, then God would remove the thorn! So, he turned to the
Lord:

"I acknowledged my sin to You, And my iniquity I have not hidden. I said, 'I
will confess my transgressions to the LORD,' And You forgave the iniquity of
my sin" (v. 5).

Each of us through our wrong choices has been pierced by the thorn of sin.
Then, if our consciences have not become seared, our hearts are pierced with
guilt.

But there IS a remedy.

God sent His Son, Jesus, to die on the cross for our sins so that we might
have forgiveness and eternal life (John 3:16; Ephesians 1:7).

Due to the "thorns" of OUR sins, He was mockingly given a crown of thorns
(Matthew 27:29) and His body was nailed to the cross as payment for our
sins. "For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might
become the righteousness of God in Him" (2 Corinthians 5:21).

Once we ACCEPT His offer of salvation, we can KNOW the joy and blessedness
of forgiveness (see Psalm 32:1-2).

We accept Christ's offer of salvation by: placing our faith and trust in Him
(Acts 16:30-31), turning from our sins in repentance (Acts 17:30-31),
confessing Him before men (Romans 10:9-10), and being baptized (immersed)
into Christ for the forgiveness of our sins (Acts 2:38).

Dellinger concludes: "Christ says He can remove the sin, IF we allow it.

Many times we fight the CAUSE, many times we fight the SOLUTION, but when
it's finally removed, how sweet it is to know His grace."

YOU can have the "thorn of sin" removed from your life and thus know the
sweetness of God's grace if you will trust and obey Him.

Won't you?

David A. Sargent

Ecclesiastes 1:9-10

2011-08-11T09:44:00.000-07:00

Looking at the time in which we are living is very difficult. It truly seems
that there is almost no good news to be heard. The economy, millions without
jobs, the wars going on world wide, and the riots we read about in places
that are supposed to be stable, food shortages, fuel shortages and then
there is death and destruction which we will never understand. The list
could grow quite long if we wanted it to, but these are the times in which
we live.

Paul Harvey wrote these words about our times: "In times like these, it is
helpful to remember that there have always been times like these."

Keeping things in perspective is sometimes hard to do, but I heard about a
wise grandmother that could help us all in this area.

It seems that a little boy is telling his Grandma how "everything" is going
wrong: School, family problems, health problems, etc. Meanwhile, Grandma is
baking a cake. She asks her grandson if he would like a snack, which of
course he does. "Here, have some cooking oil." "Yuck" says the boy. "How
about a couple raw eggs?" "Gross, Grandma!" "Would you like some flour then?
Or maybe baking soda?" "Grandma, those are all yucky!" To which Grandma
replies: "Yes, all those things seem bad all by themselves. But when they
are put together in the right way, they make a wonderfully delicious cake!"
She continued, "God works the same way in our lives."

Ecclesiastes 1:9-10 tells us, "What has been will be again, what has been
done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun. Is there
anything of which one can say, "Look! This is something new"? It was here
already, long ago; it was here before our time."

What can we do, how do we react when our world is falling apart and we have
been warned that history is going to repeat it 'self or our world (even our
personal world) has no chance to avoid unwanted changes, no matter what we
do? I would suggest to you, that we must focus on that which is unchanging,
that which gives us hope for the future that will never change.

In Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 King Solomon reminds us: "Now all has been heard;
here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments,
for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into
judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil."

Do you want security? Do you want Stability? Do you want the promise of a
life that is not subject to the changes of this world? Then put your faith,
your life, and your trust in the hands of our God! In our unstable world
there is stability if you know where to look! I love Romans 8:35-39 where
Paul writes: "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble
or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it
is written: "For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as
sheep to be slaughtered." No, in all these things we are more than
conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death
nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor
any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation,
will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our
Lord." (NIV)

In times like these where is your trust, your security, your stability?

Russ Lawson

THE "DOUGHERTY GANG"

2011-08-11T06:38:00.000-07:00

It sounds like pure fiction! Three siblings seemingly rotten to the core. What triggered their criminal rampage that took them from Florida to Colorado, leading them to shoot at multiple police officers, steal cars, rob banks, and involve themselves in multiple high speed chases with law enforcement? At the end of the manhunt, the eldest, a 29-year-old woman who was a stripper by profession, repeatedly fired at officers on the scene until she was finally shot in the leg. Their photos, splashed all across the media, reveal three normal-looking young people. Yet, between them, they have 20 felony charges in their criminal history. There is unwed pregnancy, sexual perversion of multiple kinds, and an arsenal of weapons and ammunition they used freely until their capture.

We want to know what happened to create such monsters? What kind of home training (or seeming lack thereof) did these three receive? What would make them embrace such reckless, dangerous anarchy?

May I suggest that these three have exhibited an extreme example of a popular mindset in our culture? What was on display in this crime spree was utter, unadulterated selfishness. The FBI implied there may be a disdain for law enforcement, but one does not need to be privy to their tweets and texts to see that. Reports are that on a social media account, the sister said, "I love to farm and shoot guys and wreck cars. I'm a redneck and proud of it" (ajc.com). This was self-centeredness and disdain for authority at its most unabashed.

Their parents certainly take the pressure off of any of the rest of us in a contest for "worst parents of the year." But, let us consider that we are instilling values in our children, by example, by neglect, by intentional teaching, and by what we prize and value. We are giving the next generation its worldview by the decisions we make and rationale we employ.

I am not saying that we are raising firearm-crazy rednecks, but we are raising our children to have certain values and priorities. They will become what we are helping to make them. That sobers me to no end. What a great responsibility God has placed upon our shoulders! He will hold us accountable for the direction in which we are setting them. Many people will talk about our children in the years and decades to come. What will they say about them? May words like "godly," "committed," "faithful," "spiritual," "unselfish," and "servant" modify others' descriptions of them! May we be modeling those very traits before their impressionable eyes.

Neal Pollard

Stories about army boot camp

2011-08-09T07:43:00.000-07:00

      "My brother and I arrived at boot camp together. On the first morning, our unit was dragged out of bed by our drill sergeant and made to assemble outside. "My name's Sergeant Jackson," he snarled. "Is there anyone here who thinks he can whip me?"
   My six-foot-three, 280-pound brother raised his hand and said, "Yes, sir, I do."
   Our sergeant grabbed him by the arm and led him out in front of the group. "Men," he said, "this is my new assistant. Now, is there anyone here who thinks he can whip both of us?"
   It's nice to have someone that is big and strong who "has your back"! It's the feeling you may have experienced as a kid when the class bully picked on every day at school, until the day your big brother walked in with you. He didn't even have to say a word. Everyone knew that to mess with you was to mess with him, and nobody wanted to mess with someone bigger and stronger than they were.
   There may be times in our lives when we feel like we can take on the whole world and come out on top. But those times are rare. More often, we feel overwhelmed by the challenge of a world that seems much bigger and stronger than we are. If we arrogantly want to know if there's anybody who thinks they can whip us, be assured there are folks who will be quick to take up that challenge.
   However, those of us who are Christians need to remember that we don't face any challenge alone. God's Spirit lives within us and God has promised to be with us. With the confidence that comes with that knowledge, we are able to ask, "Is there anyone who thinks they can whip both of us?" and the answer is a resounding, "No!" because "He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world." (I John 4:4).
   That's why, when Moses was hesitant to go to the land of Egypt and confront Pharaoh, God said, "I will certainly be with you." (Exodus 3:12)
   When Joshua was hesitant to take over the leadership of the Israelites, God said, "As I was with Moses, I will be with you. I will not leave you and forsake you." (Joshua 1:5)
   When Gideon thought he was too insignificant to be a leader, God said, "Surely I will be with you!" (Joshua 6:16)
When Jeremiah thought he was too young to be a prophet, God said, "Do not be afraid of their faces, for I am with you." (Jeremiah 1:8)
   When Jesus sent out the apostles charged with the task of sharing the gospel with the whole world, Jesus said, "Lo, I am with you always." (Matthew 28:20)
   When we are faced with an overwhelming responsibility to live out the message of Christ in an antagonistic world, we need to remember that we have the same promise -- God will be with us. And "if God is for us, who can be against us?" (Romans 8:31). Take courage, my brother (and sister) -- there's nobody strong enough to whip the both of us! Alan Smith