Wayne Gill

Wayne Gill was stationed at the Naval Reserve Training Facility in
Tuscaloosa, Alabama, in the mid 1960s. Every day, he would go eat at
Payton's Drug Store. That's where he met a pretty young lady from the small
town of Kennedy, Alabama, named Margaret Crowley. After a courtship, they
married in 1968.

The Navy took them to California for a few years and then on to Washington,
D.C. When Wayne retired from the Navy, the couple moved to Mobile, Alabama.

At age 39, Margaret began to have trouble with her vision. She ended up
losing vision in her left eye. Due to some issues with her optic nerves,
the vision in her right eye was also impaired. But thanks to the good care
of a physician and God's blessing, she was able to retain some of the vision
in her right eye for many years.

Wayne and Margaret weathered the storm of her poor eyesight. Wayne
dedicated himself to caring for his wife. Other struggles with health would
come into their lives, but they leaned upon one another and upon their faith
in God.

One of their regular activities was watching and listening to the Getting to
Know Your Bible television program. They heard Billy Lambert preach many
lessons from God's Word through the years. They learned more and more about
the Word of God and the Gospel (Good News) of Jesus Christ. In obedience to
the Gospel, they were baptized into Christ and were added to God's family,
the church, and began worshipping with the Creekwood congregation.

Wayne and Margaret were active members of the church as long as their health
permitted. Margaret's health declined to the point that she had to remain
home, but her loving husband stayed by her side to care for her. He was by
her side when Margaret passed from this life on March 12, 2020, after 52
years of marriage.

Although Margaret was legally blind, she had keen insight. I remember
visiting with her on one occasion when she said something that I want to
always remember. I asked her to repeat the statement so that I could write
it down. She repeated the statement that she had heard and had helped shape
her perspective: "It's not what the world is coming to, it's what - or Who -
is coming to the world."

She noted that so many ask in frustration, "What is this world coming to?"
But, she said, we should be looking forward to Who is coming to the world.
She was referring to the Second Coming of Jesus, when He comes to judge the
world and to take God's children home to an eternal, heavenly home. It was
to His coming and that eternal home that Margaret placed her hope. Please
read Titus 2:11-14 for a divine expression of that blessed hope.

The Good News is that God will save from sin and give eternal life to those
who place their faith and trust in Jesus (Acts 16:30-31), turn from their
sin 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). He will continue to cleanse from sin those who continue
to walk in the light of His Word (1 John 1:7-9).

And no matter how difficult life may get in this world, God has given us
hope for something better. This blessed hope will be realized when Jesus
returns to take God's children home. Margaret Gill knew that truth. You
can have that same hope, if you'll accept God's offer on His terms.

-- David A. Sargent

* In loving memory of Margaret Gill, 1942-2020. Until we meet again.

What I've Learned While In Quarantine

While America was beginning to be hit by Covid-19, and all its inhabitants
were rushing to stock up on toilet paper (why was that again?), Melody and I
were in Israel. Our sons were in Tennessee with their grandparents. To say
the tone was different from when we left to when we came home is quite the
understatement. Back in Denver, we were asked by our shepherds to
self-quarantine for two weeks. Since then, both Colorado's governor and
Denver's mayor have enforced increasingly strict orders to stay at home. So,
after about a week and a half of the five of us inside our house, I have
noticed some things about both our family and God's family.
• I love my family. Yes, I would have told you that before all of this. Yet,
in times like these, what is important becomes clearer.
• I love God's family. Yes, I would have told you that before all of this.
Yet, in times like these, that too has become clearer. Sure, there have been
some individuals who (I am certain with only the best of intentions) have
been divisive and discouraging. They are the smallest of exceptions.
• My family has more time for each other. Without the "busyness" of life,
sports, practices, running around, and whatnot, we have had so much more
time for each other. We have played games, cards, and sat and talked more
than I remember us ever doing.
• God's family has more time for each other. Of course, we miss getting
together in person. However, it has been so encouraging how much more time
and effort has been spent making phone calls, checking on one another,
calling "just to visit," and "Facetimeing" for devos and communion.
• I am more evangelistic. I've way more time to talk to my neighbors (social
distancing rules in place, of course). I have been online chatting. I have
filmed some Bible studies to share. I have posted more spiritual content on
social media.
• God's people are more evangelistic. I have never seen so many preachers,
elders, members, and deacons use the technology that God has given us to
reach out to the world.
• It hurts me not to help. Tied to the building that is our house, I have
not been able to do for others like I would like to do. 
• God's people are helping. It would seem that not being tied to our
building has made us more aware of the needs of others. Robert Hatfield went
to the store for us. The Torres family bought meat for us while we were
still on the way home from Israel. Tyler King, Teri Autrey, Michael Hite,
and Cory Waddell have delivered things we needed to us. The Lord alone knows
all the others who have called or texted with offers.
• I feel the weight of responsibility for my family. In times like these,
especially, I am concerned about their physical health and safety, but also
in making sure we as a family stay focused on God.
• I have seen our shepherds feel the weight of responsibility for God's
family. I am quite sure none of this was in the job description, nor was
there any training offered for times like this. Nevertheless, their concern
for the physical health and safety has tempered every decision they have
made. In all things, they have tried to ensure we stay focused on God.
As we sit around talking and praying, I have wondered what long-term effects
the Corona Virus Pandemic might have on the church. Though having a building
is not wrong, will some congregations abandon them to use the money tied
into such for benevolent and evangelistic causes instead? Will we be less
tied to the building and "corporate worship" (whatever that means) and be
more focused on worshiping house to house and day to day? Will we prioritize
fellowship more? Will we appreciate assembling together more? Will we be
more loving, more evangelistic, and more benevolent?  
 
I realize there is plenty of bad news going around, and I certainly do not
mean to belittle the suffering others are experiencing. However, just as in
New Testament times, the Lord can grow His church in difficult
circumstances, if we will focus on the positives over the negatives, and
prioritize scripture over tradition.  

Corey Sawyers

Mormons and tongue speaking

Mormons Speak in Tongues?

 

“In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints the gift of tongues is manifested every day among the thousands of missionaries serving around the world. Missionaries learn foreign languages and the interpretation thereof with astonishing ease, and words come to them that they have not mastered.”

(Source: https://www.mormonwiki.com/Speaking_in_Tongues)

 

“Many Mormon missionaries have said that the Holy Ghost made it easier for them to learn a language they were struggling with. This is consistent with the Mormon doctrine that we must do all we can before God's grace will intervene (see 2 Nephi 25:23).”  - https://www.mormonwiki.com/Spiritual_Gifts

 

Speaking in tongues in the New Testament did not mean learning a foreign language. The gift was  miraculously bestowed as a sign for unbelievers. 1 Corinthians 14:21-25. On the day of Pentecost, when Galilean apostles spoke in the languages of  the many nations gathered, those tongues were not learned by the apostles; they were miraculously bestowed in an instant by the Holy Spirit to help create faith among the Jews gathered – a sign that might help them to believe the gospel being preached  so they could be saved eternally.

 

In the Law it is written, “By people of strange tongues and by the lips of foreigners will I speak to this people, and even then they will not listen to me, says the Lord.” 22 Thus tongues are a sign not for believers but for unbelievers, while prophecy is a sign not for unbelievers but for believers. 1 Corinthians 14:21-22

 

And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them

utterance. 5 Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven. 6

And at this sound the multitude came together, and they were bewildered, because each one was hearing

them speak in his own language. 7 And they were amazed and astonished, saying, “Are not all these who

are speaking Galileans? 8 And how is it that we hear, each of us in his own native language? 9 Parthians and Medes and Elamites and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, 11 both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabians—we hear them telling in our own tongues the mighty works of God” … 17 “‘And in the last days it shall be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams; Acts 2:4-11,17

And the result? 3000 souls called on the name of the Lord, were baptized and thus saved- the Lord adding those saved to His people: the church. Acts 2:21,37-47. In Acts 10, tongues helped Gentiles to be accepted.

 

Just as the signs Jesus frequently performed help hearers of the gospel to believe and receive eternal life, John 20:30-31, so tongue-speaking was but one of the miraculous signs confirming the gospel and helping to bring hearers all over the world to saving faith, Mark 16:15-20; Acts 10:34-38; Hebrews 2:3-4.

 

Just as Jesus’ miracles are not repeated today, so gifts like tongues were only available in the apostolic age, and not today, despite Mormons, various Pentecostals and the Catholic Charismatic Renewal all claiming they speak in tongues today in the 21^st century.

 

However, the New Testament record of Jesus’ miraculous signs, as well as those apostolic wonders, is forever available to benefit seekers of the truth that God worked miracles through Jesus and the apostles.

 God had never intended to keep on giving to his people, in every generation, miraculous spiritual gifts such as the gift of tongues or the gift of prophecy or the gift of healing. Paying attention to the written record of signs performed and witnessed in the 1^st century  is enough to see that the divine gospel was sufficiently confirmed. Note Daniel 9:24-27; Mark 16:15-20; Luke 16:27-31; John 20:30-31; 1 Corinthians 13:8-13.

 

Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it. 2 For since the message declared by angels proved to be reliable, and every transgression or disobedience received a just retribution, 3 how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? It was declared at first by the Lord, and it was attested to us by those who heard, 4 while God also bore witness by signs and wonders and various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will. Hebrews 2:1-4.

 

In the 21^st century we must pay attention to the message of salvation we hear and read from the New Testament record, and we pay attention to the record of those signs, wonders and various miracles – signs and wonders that confirmed that the message of salvation was from God. We do not any longer need to see Jesus performing miracles, but we can read in the New Testament what He did. It’s the same with the apostolic miracles. “… though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him …” 1 Peter 1:8; 2 Corinth 12:12

 

Therefore I intend always to remind you of these qualities, though you know them and are established in the truth that you have. 13I think it right, as long as I am in this body, to stir you up by way of reminder, 14since I know that the putting off of my body will be soon, as our Lord Jesus Christ made clear to me. 15And I will make every effort so that after my departure you may be able at any time to recall these things. 16For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. 17For when he received honour and glory from God the Father, and the voice was borne to him by the Majestic Glory, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased,” 18we ourselves heard this very voice borne from heaven, for we were with him on the holy mountain. 19And we have the prophetic word more fully confirmed, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts, 20knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone’s own interpretation. 21For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. 2 Peter 1:12-21

 

·     That miracles would be performed in the time of Jesus was prophesied. See Isaiah 29:18; 32:3-4; 35:5-6; 42:6-7,16.

·     Therefore the fulfilment of those predictions should be expected, and we should not be surprised when they were witnessed in the 1^st century.  Matthew 11:4-6; 15:30-31; John 5:8-9; 9:1-12,17-33,39-41.

·     The miracles were therefore not cleverly devised myths. 2 Peter 3:16.

·      The apostles made these miracles known through their inspired New Testament writing. John 20:30-31

·     “And I will make every effort so that after my departure you may be able at any time to recall these things.” 2 Peter 1:15.

·     Because of the witnessing of Jesus’ miracles by the apostles, 2 Peter 1:16; because the apostles themselves used miraculous signs to confirm Jesus’ message, Mark 16:15-20; 2 Corinthians 12:12; and because of their recording, under inspiration what they witnessed, and performed, the New

Testament stands as a permanent and true record of the gospel and the confirming wonders and signs.

 

David Carr

 

Good Morning, Sunshine!

Good Morning, Sunshine!

Those of us who have dined at a Chick-fil-A restaurant know that their
employees are trained to respond with "My pleasure" when thanked for a
service. Recently, one Chick-fil-A employee was recognized for taking his
customer service to a higher level.

Good Morning America recently launched a series called, "Good Morning,
Sunshine" in which they recognize some people who "put a little sunshine
into our lives." The first segment highlighted a young man name Jeremiah
Murrill, a drive-through worker at a Chick-fil-A in Wilmington, North
Carolina.

A loyal customer, Toya Liles, videoed Murrill as he engagingly and
enthusiastically took her order in the drive-through line. She posted the
video online and it went viral. "The world needs more people like
Jeremiah," Liles told Fox News. "His positive attitude and his exhilarating
spirit can brighten anyone's day."

Why is Murrill so cheerful and engaging?

Murrill explains that his interaction with one customer in the past has
changed the way he interacts with everyone. The customer was troubled, even
suicidal, when she met Murrill in the drive-through line. "This never
happened to me before, and I had no idea, like, how to respond, but I stayed
calm and I was like, 'You know what, let me just talk to her and make sure
this doesn't happen,'" he told Good Morning America. Murrill was able to
help the young lady.

Since then, he's been trying to bring a little sunshine into the life of
everyone that he meets. *

May I share something with YOU that can change your whole disposition, your
outlook on life, and even positively affect the way you treat other people?

Here it is: Jesus loves YOU so much that He gave His life for you so that
you can have forgiveness of sins and receive the gift of eternal life (John
3:16; Ephesians 1:7).

He didn't do this for you and me because we deserve it, but because we
desperately needed it. In our sins, we are lost and doomed to destruction
(Matthew 7:13-14). But Jesus loves us so much that He gave His life for us
so that we might have the abundant life now (John 10:10) and eternal life to
come (Romans 6:23).

God will save and give eternal life to those who 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, as we
walk in the light of His Word, the blood of Jesus continues to cleanse us
from all sin (1 John 1:7-9).

Knowing "I am loved, I am saved, and I'm on my way to heaven," changes
everything - our outlook, our "in-look (the way we view ourselves)," and
even the way we treat other people. We understand that God loves other
people, too, and wants them to go to heaven (1 Timothy 2:4).

What Jesus has done for us is Good News (the Gospel). In fact, it's the
greatest, life-changing news of all. YOU can know that Good News in your
life if you'll only accept it on His terms.

-- David A. Sargent

* Information gleaned from "Chick-fil-A drive-thru worker who went viral
shares why he's so positive to every person" by Caleb Parke of
www.foxnews.com and #GoodMorningSunshine @GMA, Good Morning America, Steve
Osunami reporting.

What does To the pure, all things are pure mean?

“To the pure, all things are pure.”

 

Titus 1:13-16 reads:

This testimony is true. Therefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith, 14 not devoting themselves to Jewish myths and the commands of people who turn away from the truth. 15 To the pure, all things are pure, but to the defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure; but both their minds and their consciences are defiled. 16 They profess to know God, but they deny him by their works. They are detestable, disobedient, unfit for any good work.

 

The following analysis of this Scripture is part of a study entitled All Things Are Pure. Source: growingchristians.org. “All things are pure,” as expressed by Paul to Titus, is meant as the antidote to those trying to enforce Jewish dietary laws – that some foods were pure but others defiled you. Those words have nothing to do with the interpretation that suggests a Christian can look at what most people concede are immoral images, yet still regard them as something pure. Here’s the study:

 

The verses surrounding Titus 1:15 refer to the false teachers on Crete who taught that you became defiled if you ate certain foods or if you ate when you were ceremonially unclean. These false teachers were "those of the circumcision" (v16), that is, the unbelieving Judaizers of the first century. These false teachers included certain ascetic rules about eating and drinking in their "commandments" (v14). They advocated the Old Testament dietary laws and the additions and traditions of the Judaizers as a means of becoming spiritual and holy. Their sole emphasis was on external rule-keeping for purity, with no recognition of the absolute need for an internal change of heart. They totally disregarded the words of Christ who said, "Don't you see that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and then out of the body? But the things that come out of the mouth come from the heart, and these make a man unclean. For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander. These are what make a man unclean; but eating with unwashed hands does not make him unclean" (Matthew 15:17-20). In the parallel passage in Mark 7:19 we read that Jesus "declared all foods clean." The Lord Jesus also told the Pharisees that when there was evidence of an internal change of heart, "then all things are clean for you" (Luke 11:41).

 

The "pure," then, are all who believe in our Lord Jesus Christ, who have had an internal change of heart through the work of God at conversion. All Christians are essentially "pure" because we are all partakers of divine life. (See 1 Peter 1:4.) Although we still have our sinful human natures, the new spiritual life we possess is "pure." Because of our new life in Christ, the Old Testament dietary laws about certain "unclean" foods do not apply to us today. These ceremonial regulations were all set aside with the coming of Christ. Obviously any man-made ascetic rules about foods or any stipulations about ritualistic washings connected with eating have nothing to do with the Christian life. Christians are free to eat beef or pork or fish or any food on any day of the week with washed or unwashed hands because "all things are pure." It goes without saying that we want to be careful about what we eat and how we eat for reasons of health and hygiene and even Christian liberty. But there is no food or drink that is impure in itself for the Christian. "For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected, if it is received with gratitude; for it is sanctified by means of the Word of God and prayer" (1 Timothy 4:4-5).

 

The second half of Titus 1:15 and verse 16 deal with the unbeliever. "To those who are defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure, but both their mind and their conscience are defiled. They profess to know God, but by their deeds they deny Him, being detestable and disobedient, and worthless for any good deed." The unbelievers are called "defiled" because they have not had the internal change of heart that comes at the time of conversion. They are not pure because they are not "new creatures in Christ" (2 Corinthians 5:17). Thus "both their mind and their conscience are defiled" from God's perspective because they are not "born anew" (John 3:3). To these unbelievers, "nothing is pure."

 

The observance of ascetic rules and ritualistic ceremonies won't help a bit to purify an unbeliever. Their problem is not external but internal. Until the internal change takes place at conversion, the unbeliever cannot please God. Rule-keeping and ritualistic ceremonies do not make points with God. In fact, verse 16 indicates that the deeds of unbelievers prove that they do not know God. If they really knew the Lord they would stop their slander of God--teaching that following rules and rituals can make you holy and acceptable with God. To take such a position, then and now, is to be "detestable and disobedient, and worthless for any good deed." (v16). To the humanistic way of looking at life, such a view is incredibly narrow and bigoted. However, it is not what we think but what the Word of God says that ultimately makes the difference!

 

In summary, we have come to understand that "to the pure, all things are pure" was written in the context of eating certain foods, not watching certain videos or reading certain magazines! Titus 1:15 does not mean that trash is somehow upgraded when handled by Christians or that Christians somehow become immune to the effects of the junk they read or view. While the expression, "garbage in, garbage out" is not a verse in the Bible, it is certainly true of the human mind as well as computers.                                                                                                                        ¾

 

The following Scriptures offer similar thoughts:

Do not be led away by diverse and strange teachings, for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not by foods, which have not benefited those devoted to them. Hebrews 13:9

 

See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ. 9For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, 10and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority. 11In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, 12having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead. 13And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, 14by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. 15He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.16Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath. 17These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ. 18Let no one disqualify you, insisting on asceticism and worship of angels, going on in detail about visions, puffed up without reason by his sensuous mind, 19and not holding fast to the Head, from whom the whole body, nourished and knit together through its joints and ligaments, grows with a growth that is from God. 20If with Christ you died to the elemental spirits of the world, why, as if you were still alive in the world, do you submit to regulations— 21“Do not handle, Do not taste, Do not touch” 22(referring to things that all perish as they are used)—according to human precepts and teachings? 23These have indeed an appearance of wisdom in promoting self-made religion and asceticism and severity to the body, but they are of no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh. Colossians 2:8-23

When you are in Christ, holding fast to Christ, you understand that Jesus had declared all foods clean, ! Mark 7:19, while it is the pure in heart who will see God. Matthew 5:8. Of course, we must always be mindful of the scruples of our brethren. Romans 14.

 

See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him. 2 Beloved, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. 3 And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure. 1 John 3:1-3

 

David Carr

 

Leap year and the Bible

The Sun Stands Still for Israel; the Magi Follow a Star to Jesus; the Lord Controls the Heavens, and He will finally destroy this world.

 

When we note that February this year has 29 days instead of 28 days, we realize that this was because 2020 is a leap year. Every four years are leap years to offsets the difference between the length of the solar year (365.2422 days) and the calendar year of 365 days.

There are many times Scripture speaks of stars falling from the sky, etc., but these are clearly figurative or symbolic ways of God speaking of the demise of a ruler or a nation – in other words, the end of their world at that time in history!!

God’s judgment on Babylon:

The stars of heaven and their constellations will not show their light. The rising sun will be darkened and the moon will not give its light. Isaiah 13:10

Destruction of Jerusalem, AD 70:

“If the Lord had not cut short those days, no one would survive. But for the sake of the elect, whom he has chosen, he has shortened them. 21 At that time if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Messiah!’ or, ‘Look, there he is!’ do not believe it. 22 For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. 23 So be on your guard; I have told you everything ahead of time.

24 “But in those days, following that distress, “‘the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; 25 the stars will fall from the sky, and the heavenly bodies will be shaken.’ Mark 13:20-25

 

This was not intended to happen literally, for obviously no stars actually fell from the sky at the destruction of Jerusalem. The language chosen was intended to convey the terrible end of Jerusalem.

Jesus judges Roman persecutors of the latter part of the first century AD:

I watched as he opened the sixth seal. There was a great earthquake. The sun turned black like sackcloth made of goat hair, the whole moon turned blood red, 13and the stars in the sky fell to earth, as figs drop from a fig tree when shaken by a strong wind. 14The heavens receded like a scroll being rolled up, and every mountain and island was removed from its place. 15Then the kings of the earth, the princes, the generals, the rich, the mighty, and everyone else, both slave and free, hid in caves and among the rocks of the mountains. 16They called to the mountains and the rocks, "Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! 17For the great day of their wrath has come, and who can withstand it?" Revelation 6:12-17

Again symbolic. No stars fell. The moon didn’t become blood. Mountains were not moved. In the symbol – yes, but not in reality. Jesus was avenging the Roman persecution of His precious redeemed saints, and

this avenging demanded language  be used that fitted the occasion.

God can raise up nations and bring down nations, Jeremiah 18:1-10, and He has demonstrated this

time and time again in history. He has predicted it in Scripture using highly exaggerated images. In many cases, as with the above three examples, God predicts what He is about to do – and even gives a time frame, Habakkuk 2:1-3 - using apocalyptic, symbolic language and even dreams and visions to get our attention in a striking way, Daniel 2:29-48. A nation’s end is being predicted to be near.

But on the other hand, in Joshua we read this: “So the sun stood still, and the moon stopped, till the nation avenged itself on its enemies, as it is written in the Book of Jashar. The sun stopped in the middle of the sky and delayed going down about a full day. There has never been a day like it before or since…” Joshua 10:13-14

This is a day in history when the sun—and time— actually stopped. This is not symbolic language. This was reality. The Israelites were fighting the Amorites in Canaan. During the battle, Joshua prayed for the sun and moon to stop, so he would have extra daylight to finish the task. Scripture records that this prayer was answered: The sun “delayed going down about a full day” (verse 13). The very objects in the sky that the Amorites worshipped fought against them!

Several modern interpretations of the story have been suggested:

Some say there was no actual miracle, but only the use of poetic language. The Israelites had fought so hard that it just seemed like two days of work in a row!

Others propose that a cloud shaded the sun, keeping the day cool enough for the fighting to continue all through the afternoon. However, this relief from the heat would have benefited the enemy as much as Israel.

Similarly, a solar eclipse has been suggested as causing reduced sunlight. But eclipses of the sun last for only a few minutes, not a whole day.

All of these explanations fall far short of the statement that there has never been another day like the one described (Joshua 10:14, cf. Habbakuk 3:11 - “…Sun and moon stood still in the heavens…”).

What really happened on that special day? As with all miracles, it is futile to speculate with scientific theories. The details are unclear, but we know that God could have refracted the light, or slowed the Earth’s rotation, or stopped the entire universe—all with equal ease!

Time stopped for Joshua, and it ran backwards for Hezekiah (2 Kings 20:9-11).

God used this event as a special sign to show Hezekiah that he would regain his health. The sun’s

shadow moved backwards by ten steps, probably five to six hours on the sundial. That is, the sun

appeared to move eastward instead of westward. The conclusion is again the same, that such a miracle is beyond scientific explanation. God may have temporarily reversed the Earth’s rotation, including all its inhabitants, or the miracle in Hezekiah’s day could have been local instead of worldwide. The latter view is supported by 2 Chronicles 32:31, which describes envoys who traveled to the land where the miracle occurred.

Joshua and Hezekiah both made lofty requests of the Lord, that the very heavens might be altered. And God answered their prayers. The sun, moon, and stars obey the Creator who placed them in the sky by the power of his word. – Source: christiananswers.net, edited.

Such events might seem dubious until we realize that it is the Lord who created the universe, and it is the Lord who will end it. Clearly God can do whatever He wants with His own universe!

 

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. John 1:1-3

 

Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. 3 He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, 4 having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs. Hebrews 1:1-4

 

“You, Lord, laid the foundation of the earth in the beginning, and the heavens are the work of your hands; 11 they will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like a garment, 12 like a robe you will roll them up, like a garment they will be changed. But you are the same, and your years will have

no end.” Hebrews 1:10-12

Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from

the east came to Jerusalem, 2 saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw

his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” 3 When Herod the king heard this, he was

troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; 4 and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. 5 They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet: 6 “‘And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.’”

7 Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star had appeared. 8 And he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him, bring me word, that I too may come and worship him.” 9 After listening to the king, they went on their way. And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. 11 And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. 12 And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way. Matthew 2:1-12

 

Such events as the visit of the wise men actually happened as historical events, and under God’s direction. But they were local phenomena - not universal.

 

A day is coming, however, when God brings our world – all of it – to an end in His day of judgment.

 

See that you do not refuse him who is speaking. For if they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, much less will we escape if we reject him who warns from heaven. 26 At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, “Yet once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.” 27 This phrase, “Yet once more,” indicates the removal of things that are shaken—that is, things that have been made—in order that the things that cannot be shaken may remain. Hebrews 12:25-27.  

 

Bro. Neil R. Lightfoot said of the words: “Yet once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens,”

The author of Hebrews … sees in these words a grander meaning [than that of the Old Testament], fully convinced that they point to the dissolution of the cosmic order at the Second Advent. When the law was given, the earth quaked; when Christ comes again, heaven and earth will be completely shaken. – Jesus Christ Today, A Commentary on the Book of Hebrews, Baker Book House, 1976, p.241.

 

The apostle Peter also speaks of the same shaking as he warns of the final end of our world:

 

This is now the second letter that I am writing to you, beloved. In both of them I am stirring up your sincere mind by way of reminder, 2 that you should remember the predictions of the holy prophets and the commandment of the Lord and Saviour through your apostles, 3 knowing this first of all, that scoffers will come in the last days with scoffing, following their own sinful desires. 4 They will say, “Where is the promise of his coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things are continuing as they were from the beginning of creation.” 5 For they deliberately overlook this fact, that the heavens existed long ago, and the earth was formed out of water and through water by the word of God, 6 and that by means of these the world that then existed was deluged with water and perished. 7 But by the same word the heavens and earth that now exist are stored up for fire, being kept until the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly. 8 But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 9 The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. 10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed.

11 Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness

and godliness, 12 waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens

will be set on fire and dissolved, and the heavenly bodies will melt as they burn! 13 But according to his

promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. 2 Peter 3:1-13

 

God spoke symbolically of the heavens disintegrating when he predicted the falling of nations in history. God speaks literally when He predicts the heavens disintegrating at the return of Christ at the

end of the world. The saved will dwell forever in God’s home. The unsaved will be destroyed in hell.

                   

Are you prepared for the day of judgment, and eagerly anticipating the eternal kingdom won for us by the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ?

 

At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, “Yet once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.” 27 This phrase, “Yet once more,” indicates the removal of things that are shaken—that is, things that have been made—in order that the things that cannot be shaken may remain. 28 Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, 29 for our God is a consuming fire. Hebrews 12:26-29

 

Sabbath or First Day of the Week?

 

When God had finished His creation in six days, He rested on the seventh day, Genesis 1:1-2:3, and this became the basis for Jewish Sabbath observance after six days of work. Exodus 20:8-11

 

In dying and being raised alive on the third day, Jesus had died on the day of preparation for the Passover – just before Sabbath began, Luke 23:54, and was in fact raised on the first day of the week – the day after the Sabbath. Luke 24:1-7. He had “finished” His work, John 19:28-30, and “rested” in death on the Sabbath, awaiting the resurrection on the first day of the week – clearly a momentous event and a day to be remembered!

 

Through this death and resurrection, the New Creation would begin, 2 Corinthians 5:14-21, and those of the New Creation – Christians – would remember the death of their Saviour every first day of the week. Matthew 26:26-28; Acts 20:7; 1 Corinthians 11:17-29; 16:1-2. Christians find their rest in Jesus who fulfils the Sabbath, Matthew 11:28-12:8, which will be ultimately consummated in heaven. 2 Corinthians 4:16-5:1; Hebrews 3:1-4:11; 11:13-16; 12:22-28; Revelation 14:12-13.

 

Having found fulfilment, Sabbath observance for Israel, in memory of God’s resting on the seventh day after creation, was superseded by first day of the week observance for believers in Christ from all nations, in memory of Jesus’ death for sins - an accomplishment ratified when God raised Jesus from the dead on the first day of the week. Acts 2:22-36; Romans 1:1-6; 4:25

 

The shadows and types of the Old Covenant were fulfilled in the death and resurrection of Christ, as we now serve in the new way of the Spirit, and not in the old way of the law. Romans 7:4-6; Colossians 2:16-17; Hebrews 10:1-23.

 

The Sabbath was for Israel. The first day of the week for Christians. And see here how important it is:

 

These went on ahead and were waiting for us at Troas, 6 but we sailed away from Philippi after the days of Unleavened Bread, and in five days we came to them at Troas, where we stayed for seven days. 7 On the first day of the week, when we were gathered together to break bread, Paul talked with them, intending to depart on the next day, and he prolonged his speech until midnight. 8 There were many lamps in the upper room where we were gathered. 9 And a young man named Eutychus, sitting at the window, sank into a deep sleep as Paul talked still longer. And being overcome by sleep, he fell down from the third story and was taken up dead. 10 But Paul went down and bent over him, and taking him in his arms, said, “Do not be alarmed, for his life is in him.” 11 And when Paul had gone up and had broken bread and eaten, he conversed with them a long while, until daybreak, and so departed. 12 And they took the youth away alive, and were not a little comforted. 13 But going ahead to the ship, we set sail for Assos, intending to take Paul aboard there, for so he had arranged, intending himself to go by land. 14 And when he met us at Assos, we took him on board and went to Mitylene. 15 And sailing from there we came the following day opposite Chios; the next day we touched at Samos; and the day after that we went to Miletus. 16 For Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus, so that he might not have to spend time in Asia, for he was hastening to be at Jerusalem, if possible, on the day of Pentecost. Acts 20:5-16

 

What stands out in this pericope are the days mentioned for the travelling and that they were hurrying to be at Jerusalem for Pentecost. Why spend seven days at Troas if time is a factor? Obviously so that they would observe the Lord’s Supper with their brethren on the first day of the week!! The Sabbath

doesn’t get a mention, but breaking bread on the first day of the week is more than a common meal!!

It’s the day we Christians remember the death of our Saviour, and we wouldn’t miss it for quids!

 

David Carr

University of Southern Mississippi

The Benefactor

Oseola McCarty was born on March 7, 1908 in Wayne County, Mississippi. She
moved to Hattiesburg, MS as a child. She had to quit school in the sixth
grade to care for her ailing aunt. McCarty never married and never had
children. She supported herself by working as a washerwoman, the same trade
of her grandmother. She worked as a washerwoman until her arthritis forced
her to quit in 1994, at the age of 86.

Yet McCarty became the most famous benefactor of the University of Southern
Mississippi.

It wasn't that she made a lot of money at her occupation; her occupation was
rather low-paying. But she was very frugal and saved a lot of her income
throughout her life. She never owned a car and therefore walked wherever
she went. She would push a shopping cart nearly a mile to get groceries.
She didn't subscribe to a newspaper because she viewed it an extravagant
expense. The house in which she lived was a gift from her uncle.

It was announced in July 1995 that she had established a trust through which
at her death, a portion of her life's savings would be left to the
university to provide scholarships for deserving students in need of
financial assistance. The amount was estimated at $150,000. According to
an entry in Wikipedia, "With the assistance of a local attorney, for whom
she had done laundry, and [her] bank's trust officer, using slips of paper
and dimes, to represent 10% shares, McCarty set out the future distribution
of her estate. She set aside one dime (10%) for her church, one dime (10%)
each for three relatives, and the remaining dimes (60%) for Southern Miss.
She wanted others to have the opportunity for the education she never
received.

McCarty received scores of awards and other honors recognizing her selfless
spirit including a Presidential Citizens Medal presented to her by President
Bill Clinton during a special White House Ceremony.

McCarty died from liver cancer in 1999 at the age of 91. She will be fondly
remembered for her selflessness which will continue to enable others to be
blessed with a college education.

Her generosity points to the selflessness of the Greatest Benefactor: "For
you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet
for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become
rich" (2 Corinthians 8:9).

Because of God's love and our desperate need for salvation from sin, Jesus
left the glories and splendor of heaven to come to this earth to live as a
man and then to go to the cross to die for the sins of this world. Read
Philippians 2:5-11, a passage that beautifully describes what He gave up in
order to save us. He became "poor" so that we could be "rich" - rich with
all of the spiritual blessings that are found in Him, blessings such as
forgiveness from sin, peace that surpasses all understanding, and the hope
of eternal life in a beautiful place called Heaven.

God will save and give eternal life to those who 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). He will
continue to cleanse from sin those who continue to walk in the light of His
Word (1 John 1:7-9).

Jesus became "poor" and suffered and died so that YOU could become "rich"
with spiritual, eternal blessings. He's the Great Benefactor and you can be
the recipient of His blessings if you will only accept them on His terms.

-- David A. Sargent

* Information gleaned from "Oseola McCarty" entry on www.wikipedia.com

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What is truth?

 

THE LOVE, GRACE, AND MERCY OF GOD

 

"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life" (John 3:16).

 

"For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast" (Ephesians 2:8-9).

 

"But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, by the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit" (Titus 3:4-5).

 

No one who believes the Bible to be the divinely inspired word of God doubts for a single moment the truthfulness of the above texts.  No one believes (or should believe) that he or she can earn or merit salvation from sin and eternal salvation in heaven.  These are possible only because of the love, grace, and mercy of God.  But the love, grace, and mercy of God must be accepted in humble submission and obedience by the person who would be the beneficiary of God's love, grace, and mercy (Matthew 7:21; Hebrews 5:8-9).

 

Through the love, grace, and mercy of God . . . 

 

1. Christ died for our sins (Romans 5:8; I Corinthians 15:3-4).

 

2. The church was purchased with the blood of Christ and established by Him (Acts 20:28; Matthew 16:18).

 

3. The Holy Spirit guided the apostles and prophets of the New Testament into all truth (John 16:13; Ephesians 3:3-5). 

 

4. People were told to repent and be baptized for the remission of their sins (Acts 2:38). 

 

5. The first members of the church continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread and in prayers (Acts 2:42). 

 

6. Paul wrote the commandments of the Lord (I Corinthians 14:37). 

 

7. Strict warning was given about perverting the gospel of Christ (Galatians 1:6-9). 

 

8. It was revealed that there is one body, one Spirit, one hope, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and one God and Father of all (Ephesians 4:16). 

 

9. God's people are exhorted to walk worthy of the gospel (Philippians 1:27). 

 

10. We are told to avoid false teachers who use "smooth words and flattering speech" and to be wary of "captivating" speakers (Romans 16:17-18; Colossians 2:8). 

 

11. Timothy was urged to hold the pattern of sound words (I Timothy 1:13). 

 

12. Christians are instructed to deny themselves of ungodliness and worldly lusts, and to live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world (Titus 2:11-14).

 

How are you responding to the love, grace, and mercy of God?

 

Hugh Fulford