By Mac Deaver
In Phil. 4:4 Paul wrote, “Rejoice in the
Lord always: again I will say, Rejoice.” --But what
are some circumstances that call forth the joy of which Paul
speaks?
We ought to rejoice in our
salvation. After the Ethiopian officer’s conversion,
he went on his way rejoicing (Acts 8:39). After the
seventy returned from their mission, Jesus told them to
rejoice that their names were written in heaven (Lk.
10:20). If one’s sins are forgiven and his name is
written in the Lamb’s book of life, he certainly ought to
rejoice.
We ought to rejoice as we realize that
God is in control of world affairs. Sometimes the
catastrophic events throughout the world cause us all great
concern. But we must not despair, realizing that God
is aware of all, and is in control of all. (Rom.
13:1-4; Isaiah 6:1). And even if we must suffer for
right-doing, there is occasion for rejoicing (Acts 5:41; 1
Peter 2:20).
We ought to rejoice in the knowledge that
all will work out to the ultimate good of the
faithful. “And we know that to them that love God all
things work together for good, even to them that are called
according to his purpose” (Rom. 8:28). All things
revolve around the good of the church. Paul also said,
“The Lord will deliver me from every evil work, and will
save me unto his heavenly kingdom….” (2 Tim. 4:18).
Indeed, the Christian has every reason to
rejoice in the Lord.
- Ronald Bartanen preaches for Arthur Church of Christ,
Arthur, IL. He may be contacted through the
congregation's website: http://www.arthurchurchofchrist.com
By Mark Adams
Though I’ve gotten better over the years,
I can be a tough person to travel with. I don’t like
stopping or slowing down. If I’m traveling 70mph and have to
stop for a 15-minute break, then that means in the time I
spent stopping, I could have been a little over 17 miles
closer to my destination. Plus, if the stop involves a
drink, it may well mean I’ll have to stop again later, which
means more time “lost” that keeps me from getting wherever
I’m going. I’m definitely influenced by our fast-paced
culture.
Recently, I’ve been reading C.S. Lewis’
Surprised By Joy, which is a sort of spiritual autobiography
of his life. He has caused me to rethink my travel
strategies. His assessment of modern transportation is that
it annihilates space, “One of the most glorious gifts we
have been given.”
He went on to say, “…a modern boy travels
a hundred miles with less sense of liberation and pilgrimage
and adventure than his grandfather got from traveling ten.
…If a man hates space … why not creep into his coffin at
once? There is little enough space there.”
It has always been God’s intent for us to
enjoy his creation. Overwhelmed with the beauty of God’s
handiwork, David exclaims in Psalm 8:9, “O Lord, our Lord,
how majestic is your name in all the earth!” So this week,
why not go for a walk? If your routine is to walk, why not
slow down and pay attention a little more?
Wherever you are going, remember that
this life is a journey that God intends you to experience
with Him. You will reach your heavenly destination in God’s
time, so for now, enjoy the space between.
- via The Encourager,
the weekly bulletin for the Calvert City Church of Christ,
Calvert City, KY. Lance Cordle preaches for the
congregation. He may be contacted through the
congregation's website: http://www.calvertchurchofchrist.com
By Patrick Hogan
In the late 1940s, David Dunn wrote a
delightful little book by the above title. He determined
that he would practice, as a hobby, the art of giving
himself to other people. His goal was to do small,
thoughtful deeds for others as he went about his daily
activities. He found that while such kindnesses did not cost
him very much in terms of money, time or effort, they
brought great results.
His kindnesses might range from a simple
smile shared with a passerby, a word or note of
appreciation, or a word of encouragement. He found that
while such deeds brought an element of joy to the recipient,
he was the one whose heart became filled with joy. In the
chapter entitled "Bread Upon the Waters," he stated, "Doing
what you can to make life more livable for other people
makes your own life fuller. Friends multiply and good things
come to you from every direction. The world has a way of
balancing accounts with givers-away - provided their hands
arn't outstretched for return favors."
While Dunn's book is not specifically a
religious volume, his practice of giving himself to others
is based upon a principle expressed by Jesus Himself. In
Acts 20:35, the apostle Paul stated, "I have shown you in
every way, by laboring like this, that you must support the
weak. And remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He
said, 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'"
Imagine the difference each of us could
make in the lives of those we meet if we could become
"givers-away."
- Patrick Hogan serves as a minister and elder of the Shady
Acres Church of Christ, in Sikeston, MO. He may be
contacted through the church's website at
http://www.shadyacreschurch.com
By Michael Josepheson
Ready or not, some day it will all come
to an end. There will be no more sunrises, no minutes, hours
or days. All the things you collected, whether treasured or
forgotten will pass to someone else.
Your wealth, fame and temporal power will
shrivel to irrelevance. It will not matter what you owned or
what you were owed. Your grudges, resentments, frustrations
and jealousies will finally disappear.
So too, your hopes, ambitions, plans, and
to-do lists will expire. The wins and losses that once
seemed so important will fade away. It won’t matter where
you came from or what side of the tracks you lived on at the
end.
It won’t matter whether you were
beautiful or brilliant. Even your gender and skin color will
be irrelevant. So what will matter? How will the value of
your days be measured? What will matter is not what you
bought but what you built, not what you got but what you
gave.
What will matter is not your success but
your significance. What will matter is not what you learned
but what you taught. What will matter is every act of
integrity, compassion, courage or sacrifice that enriched,
empowered or encouraged others to emulate your example.
What will matter is not your competence
but your character. What will matter is not how many people
you knew, but how many will feel a lasting loss when you’re
gone. What will matter is not your memories but the memories
that live in those who loved you. What will matter is how
long you will be remembered, by whom and for what.
Living a life that matters doesn’t happen
by accident. It’s not a matter of circumstance but of
choice. Choose to live a life that matters.
- via The Encourager,
the weekly bulletin for the Calvert City Church of Christ,
Calvert City, KY. Lance Cordle preaches for the
congregation. He may be contacted through the
congregation's website: http://www.calvertchurchofchrist.com
By R.W. McAlister
Will there be a Judgment Day, and if so,
what will happen then? These are questions on the minds of
many people, but sadly, not enough. It's a pity that more
people aren't concerned with God's Judgment and what it
means for their eternal destination.
Many things could be said about this
subject, but let’s focus upon just one: separation. Jesus
says, “When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all
the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne
of his glory: 32And before him shall be gathered all
nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a
shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: 33And he shall
set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.”
(Matt. 25:31-33). Yes, there will be Day of Judgment, and
Jesus describes the eternal separation in which you and I
will participate at that time.
We understand something about separation.
There are separations that occur from job opportunities and
responsibilities that move family members away from each
other. There are separations that occur because of military
service, and when children leave for college. Their bedrooms
are empty for the first time in 18 or so years. How do we
comfort ourselves in times like these? How do parents
console themselves when the nest first becomes empty while
the child is away at college? They count the weeks until
fall break or perhaps the Thanksgiving holiday when their
child can come home. The prospect of a reunion is what makes
the separation bearable.
What about a memorial service? How many
times have we all had to stand by at the funeral home while
someone said “goodbye” to the dearest on earth to them? How
do so many get through that? When faithful members of the
Lord’s body pass on, the faithful friends & family can
look into that cold casket and say, “I’ll see you on the
morning of the resurrection!” The prospect of a reunion
makes the separation easier. Even though the heartbreak is
overwhelming in a situation like that, how comforting it is
to contemplate that glad reunion!
In contrast to this type of separation
which can end in a happy reunion, there’s also a dreadful
separation to which there can be no end and no reunion –
that’s when God separates the sheep from the goats. That
simply means that if you’re saved and your family is not,
you will have seen them for the last time, and that’s one of
the hardest things about coming to Christ for so many –
coming to that realization. You’ll never see or hear from
them again, because there’s a great gulf fixed between both
halves of eternity (Luke 16:26).
A father was dying, and he had two sons.
One was a faithful Christian, the other one was not. To his
Christian son, he said, “Goodnight, son” and to the other
one he said, “Goodbye, son.”
The unfaithful son picked up on that and
asked his father, “Why did you tell my brother ‘goodnight,’
and me, ‘goodbye’?” The father answered, “Your brother is
prepared to meet God, and one day, I’ll see him again, but
you’re not a Christian and you’re not living right, so
unless you repent and make your life right, I have to tell
you ‘goodbye,’ because I’ll never see you again.” On that
Final Day, we will say goodbye to our friends and family who
are not part of God’s family.
There will certainly be a Judgment Day,
and as you stand at the Judgment Bar of God, you will
participate in the eternal separation. Are you ready for
that? On which side of eternity will you be – numbered among
the sheep, or the goats? Give it some thought and make your
life right with God if need be – before it’s too late.
- R. W. McAlister preaches for the Anna Church of
Christ in Anna, IL. He may be contacted through the
congregation's website: http://www.annachurchofchrist.com/
By Ron Bartanen
You’ve probably read or heard the
following story before. You may have even heard it
from me, but it deserves repeating.
Before the days of self-serve gas
stations, a minister waited in line to have his car filled
with gas just before a busy holiday weekend. The young
attendant worked quickly, but there were many cars ahead of
him in front of the service station.
When the attendant finally motioned
him toward a vacant pump, the young man apologized, saying,
“Brother Jones, I’m sorry about the delay. It seems as
if everyone waits until the last minute to get ready for a
long trip.” The minister chuckled, replying, “I know
just what you mean. It’s the same in my business.”
As people prepare for a trip, they may,
as the time for departure draws nearer and nearer, fully
intend to fill the tank well ahead of time. However,
in the heat of more immediate concerns, good intentions soon
evaporate. There seems to always be something else to
do that, for some reason, seems more pressing. The
application is often made that all should prepare to die,
but preparation is often neglected—not only to be taken care
of at the last of one’s life, but even more frequently to
never be made. However, references in the Bible to
preparation for death are few.
The more frequent admonition in the
New Testament is to prepare for the return of Jesus
Christ. Even though this event would not take place in
the lifetime of His disciples, Jesus did not admonish them
to “get ready to die.” Instead, He urged them, “Watch,
therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth
come…. Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour
as ye think not, the Son of man cometh” (Matthew 24:42,
44). When one knows of no life-threatening illness,
one feels no compelling need to “get right with God,”
feeling one still has plenty of time. With the coming
of the Lord, however, there is the need for constant
readiness.
The true disciple of Jesus will be
watching and waiting—not for the undertaker, but for the
upper-taker. We are not to be caught unprepared.
Death is not something most look forward to with any degree
of eagerness, but if you have been cleansed through the
blood of Christ, surrendered to His will for your life, and
“love His appearing,” you can look forward with anticipation
to “the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the
righteous judge, shall give (us) in that day” (2 Timothy
4:8). With such faith and hope you will be able to say
with the apostle John, “Even so, come, Lord Jesus”
(Revelation 22:20). Are you getting ready?
- Ronald Bartanen preaches for Arthur Church of Christ,
Arthur, IL. He may be contacted through the
congregation's website: http://www.arthurchurchofchrist.com
By Bob Spurlin
The dictionary defines "profanity" as
"irreverence for God; impious, base, a profane act or
utterance." Profane speech is typically language that
involves taking God's name in vain, vile or vulgar,
viciously degrading to others, or gutter in nature. The
Bible regulates man's speech (Exodus 20: 7, James. 3: 10,
Mt. 12: 36, 37).
1. The prevalence of profanity. According to some of the
latest statistics, public profanity in America is up by 800
percent. One can expect to hear loud profanity in many
public places; even those that attempt to provide a family
atmosphere. Even women and children have been known to use
profane language without shame or regard for others. A
deceased relative used to say that one using profanity
showed one of two things: (1) a lack of intelligence and
limited vocabulary, or (2) a deliberate attempt to show ones
lack of decency.
2. Common influences of profanity. The frequency of public
and private obscenities comes to bear through many
influences:
A. The entertainment industry deserves top
billing in making shameful and corrupt speech more
acceptable. Many movies once considered family oriented
now contains vile, filthy, and cheap language. As people
watch television, they become more desensitized to the
language used. We have come a long way since "Gone with
the Wind" in 1939. The turmoil over a four-letter word
caused such upheaval that the movie almost failed to make
it to the silver screen. The four-letter word used was a
violation of God's principle of decency and virtue. Yet,
today we see little restraint with the profanity used in
the movie theaters of our nation.
B. The movement to promote filthy speech in America.
According to the New York Times the three major television
networks (ABC, CBS and NBC) have pledged: "to restore
their endangered audiences by putting more dirty words on
the air. The networks have decided to fill their scripts
with every crude word imaginable, including one considered
to be on the extreme reaches of decorum." This is not a
joke dear reader it is a movement. The author continues:
"Aaron Sorkin of NBC is hoping his network will break with
tradition and allow one of his characters to 'curse in a
way that uses the Lord's name in vain.' A ground swell of
righteous indignation should spring from our voices,
letters, and e-mail, while shunning those sponsoring such
programming.
C. Most stand-up comedians would be speechless if all
profanity was removed from their scripts. The goal,
seemingly, leads to levels of vulgar language to the point
of simply wallowing in the gutter. Another reason for the
driving force of immoral language is to corrupt man (Matt.
15: 15-20). Preachers should fill the pulpit with outrage
on this mater. We must declare with moral clarity that
which the God of heaven states as sinful. Steve Allen, Red
Skelton, Bob Hope and others developed their comedic
craft, a generation ago without the use of dirty and
gutter language. Today, however, it is easier for
comedians to get a laugh by using language befitting of
human ears.
D. Reading certain material and magazines contributes to
the negative influence as well.
3. God's word condemns profane language of all types. Notice
the list found in Ephesians 5:4.
A. "Foolish talking,” "Jesting," compare "vain
words" (vs. 6). Albert Barnes, the renowned commentator
states: "This word…does not occur elsewhere in the New
Testament. It means talk, which is tasteless, senseless,
stupid, and foolish; which does not teach, edify, profit,
the idle chitchat, which is so common in the world"
(Barnes on the New Testament Vol. 7, pg. 96, 97).
Christians should make it their aim to use words that are
sensible, sincere, and truthful. The word "jesting" occurs
nowhere else in the New Testament. It properly refers to
language that is easily turned to degraded speech and has
a path that leads to shameful talk.
C. Speech involved in idleness or speaking against God
(Mt. 12:36, 37, 24).
D. Language that curses man (James. 3: 9).
E. Common place oaths and euphemisms of all types (Mt.
5:34-37, James 5:12, proper oaths are not condemned, Heb.
6: 17, I Thess. 2: 10).
F. Language that blasphemes God and belittles man reveals
the corrupt nature of the speaker and must be "put away"
(Matt. 15: 20; Col. 3: 8; James. 3: 10-12).
4. Useless language must become replaced with good speech.
Paul declares, "Let no corrupt communication” (speech)
proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use
of edifying, that it may minister grace to the hearers"
(Eph. 4: 29).
Proper and scriptural language must come
from the proper temperament resulting in pure speech (Col.
4: 6). Many do not like or appreciate the truth as the
apostle Paul writes, "Am I therefore become your enemy,
because I tell you the truth" (Galatians 4:16).
Conclusion: The Christian must develop
the proper vocabulary. Such language involves the use of
acceptable words to speak spiritual truths (2 Tim. 1: 13).
The words we use at the work place, at play or at the
meeting house where we worship reveals volumes about our
personality and moral fiber. Remember, the words we use are
a vehicle that reveals our character.
- Bob Spurlin, the "horizontal" preacher, has been bedridden
with Multiple Sclerosis for a number of years, yet continues
to faithfully serve his Lord through a number of avenues,
most notably his writing. Bob can be contacted through
his website, http://www.bobspurlin.com (©2000-2006 BOB
SPURLIN).
By Barry Newton
Posters depicting a school of fish
swimming downstream while one lonely fish swims against the
descending torrent adorn the halls of my son's middle
school. These placards display a printed message as part of
a values campaign. A series of posters decorate the school
proclaiming the message in two forms: "What is right is not
always popular" and "What is popular is not always right."
Being aware of the critical importance
for students to understand that decisions must be based upon
a standard other than what everyone else is doing, the
school administration has entered the fray of attempting to
shape beliefs and values. They desire to instill the
character of choosing what is right regardless of its
popularity.
We parents stand up and applaud such a
message. But how closely are we listening? Are we tempted in
some settings to go with the easy flow of popular
pragmatics, rather than adhere to the higher path of truth?
Motivated with the biblical mandate to
evangelize, but armed with a pseudo-grace empowering a
convenient, tamed and human-driven worship, the temptation
to attract numbers by pandering to the desires of the
unchurched can become a powerful force. Are these scribbled
sentiments erupting from a stodgy curmudgeon who confuses a
particular set of cultural religious traditions as being
truth? Hardly!
Rather, two positive principles should
propel God's people forward. The first involves recognizing
that priorities shape one's path and upon which value God
places the greater priority. There can never be two masters,
only one. Jesus never chose to pursue numbers at the cost of
truth. The Son of God stood and watched as thousands walked
away, rather than do whatever it might take to keep the
crowds./1 He fished for those who would follow truth.
The second principle entails hotly
pursuing God's mission in God's way. Authentic discipleship
is cross-based. Christians die to themselves that they might
be conformed to God's will. Genuine discipleship does not
naively assume God is pleased with our pursuit of a
narcissistic religious experience claiming God as the object
of worship.
The fish poster is right. The question
is, "Are we listening?"
- via Fishinger & Kenny Roads Church of Christ in
Columbus, OH. Greg Tidwell serves as pulpit minster and he
may be contacted through the congregation's website: http://www.fandk.org/
By Phil Sanders
"You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has become
tasteless, how will it be made salty again? It is good for
nothing anymore, except to be thrown out and trampled
underfoot by men" (Matthew 5:13).
The salt used in Palestine came mostly
from the Dead Sea, which is also sometimes called the Salt
Sea (Genesis 14:3). One can find vast salt deposits around
the edges of this body of water, which is 1,290 feet below
sea level. Water that flows in has no place to go. The
extreme heat in the area causes the water to evaporate and
leave its deposits there. The evaporation of one cubic mile
of sea water would leave approximately 140 million tons of
salts, most of which would be sodium chloride, or common
salt.
Often the salt around this sea would get
polluted by winds or people and animals walking on the
surface of the salt. Polluted salt, then, was dug up with
the purer kinds and sold in the markets. A customer getting
polluted salt could do nothing with it except to throw it
out. It was no good. It could not do what it was intended to
do.
Salt blesses foods by seasoning them. It
brings out the taste in food. It also cleanses and preserves
some foods.
Where would country ham be without salt?
How potent are you in your Christian
life?
Does anyone know you are a Christian?
Some people are acquainted for years and yet do not know the
other is a Christian.
Does your life proclaim that the Lord
matters to you? Can people see Christ living in you by the
way you act, you dress, and you talk?
Does anyone want the Christian life you
have? If others look at the way you live, would they want
the faith, joy and love you have? Does anyone imitate you?
Do you have a light people need? If
people you know needed spiritual help, would they come to
you for it?
You are the salt of the earth! Be salty!
- Taken from Forthright Magazine, Wednesday, April
6, 2005; via The
Encourager, the weekly bulletin for the Calvert
City Church of Christ, Calvert City, KY. Lance Cordle
preaches for the congregation. He may be contacted
through the congregation's website:
http://www.calvertchurchofchrist.com
