A Lesson Learned from Teaching the Song of Solomon

By Adam Faughn
    I’m only a couple of weeks away from finishing teaching a Bible class on the Song of Solomon. This is actually the second time I have taught through that book, and, while challenging, it is a joy.    Since the book is quite short, we are able to throw in a few “special studies” on marriage, but they all come from the concepts found in that great love poem. Overall, though, the vast majority of the class is just going through the poem and being encouraged by what is there.    It is interesting to me that, while Song of Solomon is “famous” for its very descriptive language, that part of the book is not found as often as you might think. My opinion is that those sections (such as where the husband describes his wife’s body) are so different from virtually anything else found in the Bible that we tend to think the whole book is that way.    However, in preparing and teaching this book, it stands out to me that these two people–both before and after their marriage–are friends. It is very obvious that they are attracted to each other, and that in a healthy way. But the friendship is what stands out to me just as much.    In the book, the couple beautifully expresses love, but it is more than the sexual love that makes the book so famous (and causes a lot of people to avoid it, sadly). Both of them show forgiveness, sentiment, and honor for the other person.    It is no wonder, then, that, as the book comes near its conclusion, you have some of the most beautiful words ever written about the relationship between a husband and wife: “Love is stronger than death” (___).    Too many couples do not get this balance right. Some build their relationship–or try to–on the “rush” of pleasure from the erotic side of marriage. While that is a wonderful part of marriage, that alone is not enough to make things lasting and powerful.    Others want to be friends, but do not build that “one flesh” part of marriage, which includes the sexual glue which holds a couple together. Friendship is so needed–it’s essential–but God placed sex within marriage as a cement to hold that couple together more closely than any other human relationship.    The Song of Solomon has a lot of lessons, but finding that completeness of friendship and sexual romance is one of the most powerful lessons any couple can take from this great poem. I know that teaching the book again has challenged me to be far better as a husband and to strike that completeness for “my beloved.”    Maybe I’ll teach it again one day! (But, until then, may I live it.)

- Adam Faughn preaches for the Central Church of Christ in Paducah KY. He may be contacted through the congregation's website: http://www.centralchurchofchrist.org Visit the Faughn Family blog, A Legacy of Faith

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What Went Through Her Mind

By Adam Faughn
    There are times when reading a passage of Scripture, I have to stop and wonder what someone was thinking or feeling as the events unfolded. At times, the Bible tells us what an individual was thinking, but many times, those details are not provided. While we do not need to try to come to some hard-and-fast conclusion about how someone felt or what they thought when the text does not reveal it to us, it is still an interesting exercise to engage in.    One of those times for me is in Acts 1, as a small group of the faithful were meeting in the upper room. Following the ascension of Jesus, 120 people were present in that room. The apostles would take that opportunity to appoint Matthias to take the place of Judas Iscariot, but most of what was done in that room was waiting, as Jesus had told them to do.    However, the Holy Spirit felt it was important for us to know at least some of those 120 who were present. The apostles were there, as well as "the women," presumably, those who had helped with the ministry of Jesus. Acts 1:14 ends by telling us that among those 120 were also "Mary the mother of Jesus, and His brothers" (literally, siblings).    When I read that detail, I cannot help but wonder what was going through the mind and heart of Mary. Those brothers had not believed in Jesus during His ministry. In fact, on one occasion, they had basically attempted to set him up, likely to be imprisoned or even killed (John 7:1-5).    Now, however, here were those same brothers, meeting with this small band of believers. Two of them--James and Jude--would go on to be inspired writers of New Testament texts. So far as we know, all of them remained faithful to Jesus.    What a blessing for that mother! The Bible does not reveal to us conversations that Mary had with those brothers during the ministry of Jesus when they struggled so much with believing in Him. We are left to our imaginations to wonder what she said, how she prayed, or what else she might have done. While we cannot go beyond the text, our hearts are filled with images of her desiring for these siblings to believe in their Brother.    Though it took some time, it would seem that the resurrection was the key (cf. 1 Corinthians 15:7). Now, those siblings were faithful to Jesus. We have to believe that Mary's heart was filled with praise and joy.    Today being Mother's Day, I believe her heart is similar to the heart of virtually every faithful Christian mom. Whether their children are faithful to the Lord or not, that is what they desire. They pray for it earnestly. They do what they know to do to help their children--small or grown--to know Jesus and be faithful to Him. Above anything else, that is what they want for their kids.    Those children may or may not be part of what is still a small band of faithful followers, but that is the heart of a Christian mother. And if anything can change those children, it is the same thing that changed the siblings of Jesus: His resurrection. Take them there. Remind them of His power over sin and the grave. Pray they will come to understand the eternal difference that miracle makes.    That is the heart of a Christian mother, and we praise God for each one of them today.

Adam Faughn preaches for the Central Church of Christ in Paducah KY. He may be contacted through the congregation's website: http://www.centralchurchofchrist.org Visit the Faughn Family blog, A Legacy of Faith

Every Mother's Day is a First

By Adam Faughn     For some, today is their first Mother's Day as a mother. They just had their first child, so today is special in that way.     For some, today is their first Mother's Day as a grandmother. They are seeing their own daughter hold a precious child for her first Mother's Day.     For some, today is their first Mother's Day as a mother of two (or three or...). They are getting extra kisses and hugs (and a well-deserved extra cup of coffee).     For some, today is their first Mother's Day without their mother living. So, today will be bittersweet.     For some, today is their first Mother's Day with an estranged relationship with their mom or child. There might be a phone call, but it will not be easy.     For some, today is their first Mother's Day since losing a child. There will be memories and, likely, some tears.     For some, today is their first Mother's Day with a child a long distance away geographically. It might be the first one where they are not physically in the same place.     For some, today is their first Mother's Day with a child back in the same area; thus, the first they can spend together in a long time.     We could go on, but markers on our calendar, like Mother's Day, are reminders of how each year contains firsts. Some are happy. Some are hard. Others are simply reflections of the normal passage of time. Each, though, is part of the tapestry of life, and mothers are an invaluable part of that picture.     God thought that mothers were so important that He gave every human being ever born a mother. A true godly mother, though, is rare. Today, no matter what "first" you are going through, if you are striving to be a godly mother, we honor and thank you. Reflect on why this Mother's Day is a "first," and use it as an opportunity to be grateful for what is good and learn from what might be a struggle.     To every mother, we say "Happy Mother's Day," but to those who are striving to be godly and righteous, we say a heartfelt and gracious "thank you."

- Adam Faughn preaches for the Central Church of Christ in Paducah KY. He may be contacted through the congregation's website: http://www.centralchurchofchrist.org Visit the Faughn Family blog, A Legacy of Faith

The Balance of the Resurection

By Adam Faughn     This weekend, a large number of people around the world will celebrate the Easter holiday. Some will make it nothing more than a secular event, with egg-dying and talk of a bunny rabbit. Others will consider it a religious holiday, focusing their thinking on the resurrection of Jesus.     For New Testament Christians, we must be reminded that we are not commanded in Scripture to celebrate any sort of special religious "holiday." Instead, we are told to worship and remember each week on the first day of the week, and we are told to live each and every day in a way that reflects what we believe.     Still, with so many considering a central facet of Christianity this weekend, think just for a moment about the "balance" of how we consider the resurrection. When we think of that momentous event, there are two things we must not do.     First, we must not--in our thinking and teaching--leave Jesus on the cross or in the grave. Some of the most powerful and resounding words ever spoken are "He is risen" (Matthew 28:6). While we rightly focus on the cross in so much of what we do, we must not simply leave Jesus as the crucified Lord. We must remember that He is also the risen Lord!     If you take the time to carefully read the teaching that is recorded for us in the book of Acts, one thing you will likely notice is a strong emphasis on the resurrection. Yes, the cross is mentioned (many times, in fact), but Jesus's overcoming of the grave is of central importance in the teaching that was given (see Acts 2:32; 3:15; 4:10; et al.). The reasons are simple: they prove Jesus to be the One He claimed to be completely, and the resurrection gives us hope of our own resurrection.     Likely, you have heard it said that if Jesus did not overcome death, He is nothing more than just another good--but dead--teacher. That may be overstating things a bit, but it makes the point quite well. When we think about the death of Jesus, we need to be certain that we do not leave Him on the cross nor in the grave. We need to make sure we remember that He is risen.      Second, we need to remember that He was raised from something. For a good number of people, this is what they must work on for this weekend. They love the thought of Jesus overcoming death and the hope it provides, but they do not want to let their mind go back just three days to the horrific scenes of the cross.     To state the matter bluntly, we cannot have one without the other. For Jesus to overcome death, He had to truly be dead. That is obvious. But the Bible does not "sanitize" the picture of the cross for us. It leaves us with no option but to see how gruesome and even grotesque that type of death was. It is one reason Paul would later speak of Jesus's death and add the phrase "even death on the cross" (Philippians 2:8). Those of his day knew how awful it was. While we do not execute criminals in the same manner today, we cannot make the death of Jesus less than it was. It was horrific and awful. The resurrection points us back to not just that Jesus died, but how He died and was buried.     One of the beautiful things about our faith is that we have the complete picture. While at times it is helpful to focus on the cross and at other times it is helpful to focus on the resurrection, we need to spend a great deal of time remembering the totality of what occurred to bring our salvation and hope. We cannot leave Jesus in the grave, nor can we fail to go back to remember the death that He died. We are simply not left with that option if we want to truly consider what Jesus has done for us. "For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that He was buried, that He was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures..." (1 Corinthians 15:3-4)

- Adam Faughn preaches for the Central Church of Christ in Paducah KY. He may be contacted through the congregation's website: http://www.centralchurchofchrist.org Visit the Faughn Family blog, A Legacy of Faith

More Than One Sunday

By Adam Faughn     Today is one of "those" days for a lot of preachers. Because the calendar says something, there is a balancing act that many of us feel on these types of days. Do we preach about the "holiday," or do we avoid it?     Sometimes, it is a secular holiday, but one where people expect to hear something related to it. You might think of Mother's Day or Father's Day. It is just expected that there will be a sermon based, at least in part, on those subjects.     At other times, it is more of a national holiday. Maybe the expectation for a sermon based around these holidays is not as common, but they are sometimes used as the "jumping-off point" for lessons. These might include Memorial Day, Independence Day, or Thanksgiving.     There are two, however, that really cause preachers to do some thinking: Christmas and Easter. Because they are religious in nature, there is a tension: do we dive in and celebrate like so many others? Do we avoid them altogether? Do we preach against them? Ask around, and you can find people who will take any of these stances (and more).     But of those two, Easter is the one that is most interesting for some people, simply because we do know when it was. When it comes to Christmas, we do not know the time of year nor (especially) the date when Jesus was born. However, since Jesus was raised from the dead following Passover, we can know when in the year that occurred. And, since Jews still celebrate Passover, we can be certain each year when the "anniversary" of that tremendous occasion was.     However, it is quite interesting that the early Christians, who would have known that date on the calendar even better than we do, did not celebrate some type of "anniversary service" for the resurrection. We do not read of any special ceremonies for the first or fifth or seventh or tenth anniversaries of Jesus's death or resurrection. That silence is quite telling.     What is more telling, though, is that these Christians considered the resurrection all the time. If you read the book of Acts carefully, you will find a constant emphasis on the resurrection of Jesus because it was the basis of their hope, and it was their prime motivation. They did not need to have some annual reminder because they were thinking of the resurrection all the time!     I do not believe it is wrong to preach on the resurrection on this particular Sunday. After all, so many are expecting it, and it provides a chance to speak to something that is on their mind. I also do not believe it would be wrong for a family to talk about the resurrection in a home devotional to help cement in the minds of their children that this was an actual, historical event.     That said, we are nowhere commanded to have a special "resurrection Sunday" one day each year. We are nowhere given an example of the early Christians doing so. But we are shown that the resurrection filled their thinking and motivated their worship each and every Lord's Day, and it should ours, as well. "This Jesus God raised up" (Acts 2:32) "But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead" (1 Corinthians 15:20)

- Adam Faughn preaches for the Central Church of Christ in Paducah KY. He may be contacted through the congregation's website: http://www.centralchurchofchrist.org Visit the Faughn Family blog, A Legacy of Faith

Be Separated from the World

By David R. Ferguson "‘Come out from among them, and be ye separate,’ saith the Lord." (2 Corinthians 6:17)     This text touches a subject of vast importance in religion. That subject is the great duty of separation from the world. In every age of the church since its inception, separation from the world has always been one of the grand pieces of evidence of a work of grace in the heart. He that has been really born of the Spirit, and made a new creature in Christ Jesus, has always endeavored to "come out from the world," and live a separate life.     The world is a source of great danger to the soul. God’s creation is wonderful and good. I’m not talking about that. I’m talking about the pursuit of vain riches and glory, and the desire to please the carnal nature. That’s worldly and dangerous for a Christian. Sin, in all its forms, must be denounced and avoided by those professing to be followers of the Lord. The Apostle Paul says, "Be not conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind" (Romans 12:2). "We have received, not the spirit of this world, but the Spirit which is of God" (1 Corinthians 2:12). "Christ gave Himself for us that He might rescue us from this present evil world" (Galatians 1:4). "In time past ye walked according to the course of this world" (Ephesians 2:2). "Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world" (2 Timothy 4:10).     James said, "Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world" (James 1:27). "Know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? Whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God" (James 4:4).      And John wrote, "Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof, but he that doeth the will of God abideth forever" (1 John 2:15-17). "The world knoweth us not, because it knew Him not" (1 John 3:1). "They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them" (1 John 4:5). "Whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world" (1 John 5:4). "We know that we are of God and the whole world lieth in wickedness" (1 John 5:19).     But being separate from the world does not mean we should be isolated from the world: "Even so let your light shine before men; that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father Who is in Heaven" (Matthew 5:16) The key here is letting the world see our good works. We can’t do that if we are of the world. Always keep God first in your heart.

David R. Ferguson preaches for the Mentor Church of Christ in Mentor, OH.  He may be contacted through the congregation's website: http://mentorchurchofchrist.com/ or davidferguson61@yahoo.com **

A Rejected Stone

By David R. Ferguson     In Acts chapter 4, Peter and John were arrested for causing quite a stir by healing a man and teaching about the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead in verses 2 and 3. The next day the Jewish leaders, (the very ones who had condemned Jesus some months earlier), asked them by what power were they performing these miracles. Peter answered, and his answer was an interpretation of Jesus' word about the rejected stone found in Matthew 21:42. Starting at the end of verse 8 of Acts 4 Peter declares, "Rulers of the people and elders, if we are being examined today concerning a good deed done to a cripple, by what means this man has been healed, be it known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by Him this man is standing before you well. This is the stone which was rejected by you builders, but which has become the head of the corner. And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved."     Notice Peter's interpretation, one point at a time. Verse 10: The stone is Jesus Christ of Nazareth. Verse 8: The builders are the rulers of the people and elders. Verse 10: The rejection of the stone was the crucifixion of Jesus. Verse 10: The elevation of the stone to the head of the corner was the resurrection of Jesus. Verse 12: The implication of this new position at the head is that there is salvation found in no other. This is the same point that Paul made years later at the Areopagus in Athens: The resurrection declares that Jesus is the Son of God in power: All men everywhere must repent and seek after salvation in Him alone.     That was Peter's interpretation of the word of Jesus in Matthew 21:42 while speaking to the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem. His testimony is still true to this day. We all must turn to Jesus Christ, and Him alone, to find salvation from our sins and have the hope to share in the resurrection with Him.     Salvation is in no other. It isn’t in any human creeds or cleverly devised fables. It’s not found in the accumulation of material wealth. Choose this day whom you will serve: Will it be the Living Savior, Jesus Christ? Or will it be mammon? May the Lord bless you this week!

David R. Ferguson preaches for the Mentor Church of Christ in Mentor, OH.  He may be contacted through the congregation's website: http://mentorchurchofchrist.com/ or davidferguson61@yahoo.com

A Selfless Act

By David R. Ferguson     With 3 minutes and 25 seconds left remaining in the championship basketball game of the men’s Missouri Valley Conference Tournament in 2006, 18-year-old Kristi Yamaoka, a cheerleader for the Salukis of SIUC, fell from 15 feet high up hard to the floor, landing on her head while performing a routine. In taking her tumble, she suffered a concussion and a broken neck. 14,000 worried basketball fans were silent in the arena as the medics attended to her, and countless other fans held their breath in anticipation as they watched the game on television. But as she was carted away for a precautionary exam at the hospital, Ms. Yamaoka gave a two-handed thumbs up from the gurney, moving her arms – the only things not strapped down – in time to the music and cheered as the pep band fired up SIUC's fight song, Go, Southern, Go. Her unselfish efforts elicited a standing ovation from the appreciative Savvis Center crowd, and it sparked much conversation and commentary on many national sports TV programs. When asked from her hospital bed about her cheering after sustaining such a dangerous fall, Ms. Yamaoka replied, "As long as my arms were functioning, I could do the fight song. I just knew that it would be a little easier for my team and squad to concentrate if they knew I was OK and not worrying about me," she said. "I didn't want the team to get distracted. I needed them to win for me." Kristi Yamaoka’s remarks undoubtedly displayed the highest of selfless motives. In our 21st century world, unfortunately, the struggles and failures so many people experience have as their root nothing other than their own selfishness.     Jesus Christ, the greatest example ever of unselfishness, set the agenda for His apostles and for us today when, in spite of His upcoming betrayal, condemnation, mocking, scourging, and cruel death at the hands of sinful men, Jesus announced to His disciples and to the world, "We are going up to Jerusalem," in Mark 10:33. Having heard this agenda, James and John made a request to be allowed to sit on either side of Jesus in His glory. The clashing of selflessness vs. selfishness occurred as they shifted the focus from Christ's ultimate sacrifice to seek and save the lost to their desired positions of honor, emanating from hearts that were egotistic. This blatant, self-centered request affected the disciples as a group, who displayed their own self-centeredness when they became "indignant with James and John" (Mark 10:41). Jesus had to call them together to calm them down and redirect their thoughts.     As James wrote in James 4:1, "What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don't they come from your desires that battle within you?" Choose to focus on serving others. Take the focus off yourself. Try to put others before yourself. Learn to live for others. To paraphrase Kristi Yamaoka, "Your team doesn’t need to be distracted."

-David R. Ferguson preaches for the Mentor Church of Christ in Mentor, OH.  He may be contacted through the congregation's website: http://mentorchurchofchrist.com/ or davidferguson61@yahoo.com

Don't Deny Baptism

- By David R. Ferguson     It seems rather sad that so many in the religious world wish to discount as necessary what God has deemed is important. Take, for example, the question of baptism. "And with many other words he testified, and exhorted them, saying, ‘Save yourselves from this crooked generation.’ They then that received his word were baptized: And there were added unto them in that day about three thousand souls. And the Lord added to them day by day those that were saved." (Acts 2:40-41; 47b) This passage clearly shows how the hearers were not added to those numbered among the saved until they had been baptized.     Ananias told Paul, "And now why tarriest thou? Arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on His name." (Acts 22:16) This passage clearly states that our sins are not washed away until we are baptized. If our sins were already removed, there would be no need to have them washed away further.     Peter wrote, "that aforetime were disobedient, when the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls, were saved through water: Which also after a true likeness doth now save you, even baptism, not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the interrogation of a good conscience toward God, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ" (1 Peter 3:20-21). This passage unequivocally says we are saved at the point of baptism. It’s the response of our good conscience to do as we have been commanded.     At the conclusion of the conversion of the Ethiopian eunuch, we have the following: "And when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip; and the eunuch saw him no more, for he went on his way rejoicing." (Acts 8:39) The Ethiopian eunuch did not go on his way rejoicing until he had come up out of the water. Why was he not rejoicing earlier if he had already been saved? Why didn't the Spirit take Philip away before baptism if it was not necessary for the completion of God's saving power? The answer: He was not saved until he submitted to baptism.     Paul wrote to the Galatians, "For as many of you as were baptized into Christ did put on Christ" (Galatians 3:27). If we were already saved before baptism, we would already be clothed in Christ.     "Or are ye ignorant that all we who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? We were buried therefore with Him through baptism unto death: That like as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we also might walk in newness of life. For if we have become united with Him in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of His resurrection; knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away, that so we should no longer be in bondage to sin" (Romans 6:3-6). Paul tells us that baptism is the reenactment of Christ's death, burial and resurrection. We must crucify our old self, and we do not die to crucify our old self until we have been buried in the watery grave of baptism.     May God bless you today!

- David R. Ferguson preaches for the Mentor Church of Christ in Mentor, OH.  He may be contacted through the congregation's website: http://mentorchurchofchrist.com/ or davidferguson61@yahoo.com **

Do You Know Him?

By David R. Ferguson "If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also. From now on you do know Him and have seen Him" (John 14:7 [MEV]).     Have you ever stopped to really consider the significance of these words stated by our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ? Jesus was speaking to His Apostles who were asking Him to "...show us the Father...." (John 14:8) Jesus Christ told them, in essence, that they HAD seen the Father because they had seen Jesus! The Father and Son are One. Jesus told this to His followers in John 10:30 [MEV]: "My Father and I are One." They are One in the sense that they have the same purpose, which was to serve and redeem the lost souls of the world: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. But I know Him, for I am from Him, and He sent Me. I am One Who bears witness of Myself, and the Father that sent Me bears witness of Me.” (John 3:16-17 [MEV]; John 7:29 [MEV]; John 8:18 [MEV])     They are also One in their glory and willingness to share this glory with us: “I have given them the glory which You gave Me, that they may be one even as We are One: I in them and You in Me, that they may be perfect in unity, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.” (John 17:22-23 [MEV])     They are One in that Jesus Christ was with the Father eternally: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, and today, and forever. “Truly, truly I say to you, before Abraham was born, I AM.” (John 1:1-3 [MEV]; Hebrews 13:8 [MEV]; John 8:58 [MEV])     Even though Jesus Christ was God, He willingly took on the form of a man to become Immanuel, God with us, the conduit through which we access the Father: “A virgin shall be with Child, and will bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is interpreted, “God with us.” Let this mind be in you all, which was also in Christ Jesus, Who, being in the form of God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped. But He emptied Himself, taking upon Himself the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men. And being found in the form of a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to death, even death on a Cross. (Matthew 1:23 [MEV]; Philippians 2:5-8 [MEV])     May God bless you!

David R. Ferguson preaches for the Mentor Church of Christ in Mentor, OH.  He may be contacted through the congregation's website: http://mentorchurchofchrist.com/ or davidferguson61@yahoo.com **

Some Things I Learned From My New "Hobby"

By Jim Faughn     In recent years, I’ve taken up a new hobby. I now go on scavenger hunts on a fairly regular basis.     Well, to be honest, it is not a hobby. Also, in the interest of honesty and transparency, they also are not really scavenger hunts.     Actually, what I have started doing more of recently is an attempt to “carry my weight” with regard to some of the things that Donna has done for years. Part of that effort involves what feels to me like a scavenger hunt, but is actually a trip to the grocery store. I’ve been known to tell people at the store on some occasions that my wife sends me to Mars because I’m so lost that I might as well be on Mars.     Please allow me to share with you a couple of the things I’ve learned on those trips and to use the second of those things as a “springboard” to some further discussion. First, variety may be the spice of life, but it is also very confusing. Who knew that there were so many brands, styles, sizes, etc. of “a can of green beans” (and seemingly every other item in the store)?     A corollary to this is that I’m very thankful for modern technology. My iPhone allows me to take and text a picture to Donna to make sure I’m getting the correct item. (I’m not sure that she appreciates this as much as I do, though.)     The second thing that I’ve learned has applications way beyond a grocery store and is far more important than getting the right food item. I’ve learned that you can meet a lot of nice people at a grocery store. This is especially true if you are a man who looks confused, finds a person (usually a woman) who is willing to help, and is humble (or desperate) enough to ask for help.     I am very appreciative of the willingness of people who have helped me. I have noticed, however, that not all of them help in the same way.     In my experience, the methods used to help fall into three categories. First, the kind person (employee or customer) can let me know that the item I’m looking for is on a particular aisle in the store. Sure enough – when I go to that aisle and do a little investigating, I am pleased to find “my treasure.”     Second, there are those who point in the direction where I can (and do) find what I’m looking for. Sometimes, “method #1” and “method #2” are combined. That combination is more helpful than either method used by itself.     Neither of those two methods, used either individually or combined, will work as effectively or will be appreciated nearly as much as the method I appreciate the most. There are people (again – both employees and/or customers) who will take the time and have enough interest to walk with you and lead you to the item.      You’ve probably already figured out the application of this that I need to try to incorporate into my life. Maybe you do as well.     We come into contact each day with people who are looking for something that they hope will make their lives better. Those of us who are Christians know what that is. More accurately, we know Who that is.     Instead of only telling people about Jesus or even pointing people to Him, wouldn’t it be better if we actually walked with them and led them to Him?      Along with that, why don’t we try walking with those who have found Him? We all need encouragement along the way, don’t we?     A relationship with the Lord was never meant to be a hobby. It is intended to be much more than that. The very short version of what it is intended to be is that this relationship is supposed to be what our lives are all about and what will prepare us for being with Him for eternity.     You may remember an event that is recorded in Acts 8. A man is asked if he understands what he is reading from the scriptures. His response was, “…How can I, unless someone guides me?…” (Acts 8:31)     As I type these words, I honestly remember very little about the people who have helped me during my trips to the grocery store. However, I do know and dearly love those who have helped (and are helping) me on my “ultimate journey.”     I hope that there are people like that in your life who have led you to Jesus and who are willing to continue to walk with you as you serve Him. I also hope that you can be that kind of person for somebody else.

- Jim Faughn serves as and elder for the Central Church of Christ in Paducah KY. Be sure to visit the following for more great articles: Faughn Family blog, A Legacy of Faith

Farewell-Goodbye

By Jim Faughn     As far as I know, I’m not planning to take any extended trips anytime soon. I am also not planning on this being my last post on A Legacy of Faith.      Since only God knows the future, I was careful to use the word “planning” in those statements. I’m sure that you can think along with me of at least a couple of places in the Bible which deal with the mistakes made by people who are totally confident about their futures. It is interesting to me that the two passages that came immediately to my mind–Luke 12:16-20 and James 4:13-17–concern people who saw for themselves a bright future. I suppose that’s what we all desire, but, as most of us learn from experience, that may not always be the case.     Actually, this post comes from the weird way in which my mind works (when it does work). I was listening to something while I was walking one day. As I was listening, a word was used that, for some reason, kind of got stuck in my head. It’s a word that may not be used as often as it once was, but it is by no means a word I had never heard before. The word was farewell.     Until I started thinking about that word and then did a little research on it, I guess I thought that “farewell” was equivalent to “goodbye,” “so long,” “catch you later,” and other phrases people use when they are departing from one another. While we may use those words and phrases without thinking too much about them, I discovered that two words – the ones in the title of this post – actually carry with them a message.     There are actually two words within the word “farewell” – “fare” and “well.” When the definitions of those two words are put together in one word, a message is actually being sent that expresses a desire that the person or people from whom you are departing gets along (fares) well.     I also learned that, when I say “goodbye” to a person, I’m not just saying, “I’m leaving,” I’m getting off of the phone now,” etc. Instead, according to what I read, “goodbye” is a kind of shorthand way of expressing something that was more in vogue long ago. Over the years (centuries actually), “God be with you” became shortened to “goodbye.”     So what? Why in the world, you may be thinking, did I go to the trouble of looking all that up and why did I think that you would waste your time reading it?     Well, for one thing, I’ve already told you that my mind works in weird ways. The people who know me best can attest to that!     Yet another reason is that I sometimes get curious about things that some may see as inconsequential. I can tell you, however, that I have found out some very interesting things doing what some might refer to as “chasing rabbit trails”     I would like to think, though, that there is another reason or two for all of this. For one thing, the two words in the title sound a little more formal (and now meaningful) than some of the more flippant and casual words and phrases commonly used today.      I am far from being a person who is concerned about formality. At the same time, I often wonder if we haven’t lost something by being overly casual and informal.     I think that what prompted me the most to type all of this, though, was something that I need to consider. Maybe you do as well.      Each time that I open my mouth I am sending some sort of message. It might be advisable for me to understand the meanings of the words I am speaking and the message I am sending. This is not just true when I am leaving somebody, finishing a conversation, etc. It is true all of the time. We need to remember that it was Jesus who said…     I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned. (Matt. 12:36-37)     Since we seem to get bombarded daily with things that are negative, discouraging, and destructive, I think that it would be good to remember to send messages from time to time that are positive, encouraging, and helpful.     So – with that, I will say… farewell and goodbye.

- Jim Faughn serves as and elder for the Central Church of Christ in Paducah KY. Be sure to visit the following for more great articles: Faughn Family blog, A Legacy of Faith **

A Sad Epitaph (and Maybe a Wake-Up Call)

By Jim Faughn

    After a kingdom that was once united divided into Israel and Judah, a man by the name of Jehoram became the fifth king of Judah. It would be an understatement to suggest that he was not one of their better kings. The book of 2 Chronicles is not the only place in The Bible that has information about him, but I will confine my thoughts here to what we find there. 

    The twenty-first chapter of 2 Chronicles uses only twenty verses to sum up the entire reign of this man. The verbal picture it paints is (again to use another understatement) not at all pretty. If you have the interest and the time, it might be helpful to read those twenty verses.

    As I was reading that chapter recently from more than one translation of the Bible, four words from the last verse seemed to jump off of the page as I read them.

    Here is that verse without those four words:

He was thirty-two years old when he began to reign, and he reigned eight years in Jerusalem. And he departed ______  ______  ________  ___________. They buried him in the city of David, but not in the tombs of the kings. (2 Chron. 21:20, ESV)

Other translations may use slightly different words or arrangement of the words, but they all have the same message. The words left out of this translation are…

…to no one’s regret…

Isn’t that difficult to  imagine? Isn’t it hard to believe that a person could rise to the level of ruling a nation and not have any mourners at all when he died?

    I am under no illusion that I will be remembered for any significant length of time once I am gone. I haven’t seen any statues of myself going up anywhere to help people remember me. Nobody is lining up to interview me in order to write my biography so that future generations can read about me. Like most people, by the time the fourth or fifth (or maybe even third) generation after me comes along, any real memories about me will have faded into obscurity.

    While that is the case, I think that I may be like most other people in at least one other way, though. I believe that most of us would like to think that our departures from this life would be regretted by at least some of those who do know us while we are living.

    As I type these words, I am thinking back a few days to a memorial service for a very dear friend and brother in Christ. Many who read this may have never known him and may have never even heard of him, but the church building was full of people who did know and love him. All of us deeply regretted this good man’s departure.

    Consider the contrast. Long ago, one man “had it all” except for the love and respect of others. More recently, another man had almost nothing of what that king had, but he had (and has) what the king never had. 

    While I’m still living, I pray that I’m still learning. I’m also thinking that I might need to wake up to what (and who) is truly important.

Jim Faughn serves as and elder for the Central Church of Christ in Paducah KY. Be sure to visit the following for more great articles: Faughn Family blog, A Legacy of Faith

What Is an EDA

By Jim Faughn     I’ve noticed what (at least for me) is a relatively new trend at politics events. To be honest, the trend may not be new, but a label may be. Now that both political parties have had their conventions, it may be safe to post this without seeming to take sides (I hope).     At conventions, rallies, etc., there are always the usual types of speakers. Well known political people and other “important people” are part of the lineup. Most of them need no introduction.     There are others, though, who do need some sort of introduction. Their names are not well-known and are probably forgotten not long after their speeches are complete. As the reporters and pundits on television talk about them, they are often just called EDA’s.     I’m guessing that you fit into this group. I know that I do.      The group consists of people from just about every occupation and lifestyle imaginable. EDA’s come in all shapes and sizes, multiple ethnic and racial groups, various areas in our nation, and have different accents. I could go on, but suffice it to say that they (we) have very little in common except for the fact that…  EDA is “shorthand” for… EVERYDAY AMERICANS     I’m thinking (at least I’m hoping) that some people are waking up to the fact that “ordinary people” are extraordinarily important and can be extraordinarily influential. As I type these words, I’m thinking of a couple of applications.     First, people in any leadership position do not need to minimize the importance of those who may be lower on the organizational chart. They may be (and probably are) the very ones who are keeping things going. After all, our Lord emphasized and exemplified that real greatness is found in service, not in position or titles.     Second, there is no such thing as an unimportant person. We all have worth; we all bear the image of our Creator; and Jesus died for all of us. In addition to that, once we become a member of the body of Christ, each one of us is needed in order for that body to function properly.     So, I’m content to let politicians (and others) wear their titles, wield their power, make “big” decisions, be in the news, accept accolades, etc. I’m satisfied with being “just” an EDA.      I have no idea who originated this idea, but the observation has been made that God must love ordinary people, because He made so many of us.

- Jim Faughn serves as and elder for the Central Church of Christ in Paducah KY. Be sure to visit the following for more great articles: Faughn Family blog, A Legacy of Faith

Macro-Micro- and Everything In Between

By Jim Faughn     I won’t go into any details, but something I heard recently caused me to do a little research about what is known as The Hubble Space Telescope. Specifically, what intrigued me was some of the things that scientists have learned from this telescope that was launched into what is called “low earth orbit” in 1990.      During my admittedly limited research, I came across this information from NASA: One of the most fundamental questions in astronomy is that of just how many galaxies the universe contains. The landmark Hubble Deep Field, taken in the mid-1990s, gave the first real insight into the universe’s galaxy population. Subsequent sensitive observations such as Hubble’s Ultra Deep Field revealed a myriad of faint galaxies. This led to an estimate that the observable universe contained about 200 billion galaxies. The new research shows that this estimate is at least 10 times too low. (science.nasa.gov)     That bit of information led me down another and totally different path. Instead of focusing on the enormity of the universe, I began to wonder about things that are very small. I began to wonder how many cells the human body has. Here is what I found in one source: According to a new analysis of more than 1,500 papers, the average adult male human has around 36 trillion cells — that’s 36 followed by 12 zeros — while adult females have 28 trillion and 10-year-old children have about 17 trillion. (livescience.com)     An individual galaxy and an individual cell have some things in common. Each one has multiple components and, at the same time, each one is part of something much larger. Along with that, there is some sort of pattern or order that governs them and makes them function properly.     I am a long, long way from being a scientist, but, at least at this point in my life,  I do have a functioning brain. It makes no sense to me that all of what we see with our eyes and/or by using the most sophisticated telescopes and microscopes “just happened.”     Instead, the opening pages of The Bible give us some information about both the macro (big picture) and micro (small picture) of the universe and everything in it. In fact, the very first verse tells us Who made all of this happen.     In the beginning God… (Gen 1:1)     Some who read this may be thinking that I do not know enough about science to express any opinion on this. I will readily admit that.      For that reason, I thought that I would conclude this with somebody with a lot more credibility in this area than I have. Whenever the process of pasteurization is mentioned, we are, in effect, honoring the renowned scientist for whom the process was named – Louis Pasteur.      Even though Pasteur died over a century ago, he and his work are still very highly regarded in scientific and medical circles. I thought that you might find a couple of his thoughts interesting.     A bit of science distances one from God, but much science nears one to Him.     The more I study nature, the more I stand amazed at the work of the Creator.

- Jim Faughn serves as and elder for the Central Church of Christ in Paducah KY. Be sure to visit the following for more great articles: Faughn Family blog, A Legacy of Faith

What Prayer Does

By Edd Sterchi Prayer amplifies our feelings,         certifies our relationship,         clarifies our desires,         dignifies our Christianity. Prayer exemplifies our commitment,         fortifies our faith,         identifies our needs,         intensifies our emotions. Prayer justifies our belief,         magnifies our hopes,         notifies our Father,         nullifies our fears. Prayer pacifies our worries,         ratifies our conviction,         sanctifies our lives,         satisfies our longings. Prayer signifies our thanksgiving,         solidifies our duty,         testifies our adoration,         verifies our security.

- Edd Sterchi preaches for the Broadway Church of Christ in Campbellsville, KY. He may be contacted through the congregation's website: http://www.broadwaychurchofchrist.net/

I Know Whom I Have Believed

By Dale J. Babinsky     As Paul was giving his final instructions to the young evangelist, Timothy, he wrote, “For this reason I also suƫer these things; nevertheless I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day” (2 Tim. 1:12NKJV). Let us notice a few things about this particular verse.     First, Paul said that he knows whom he has believed. Paul does not have any doubt about the God that he serves. From the time that Paul first saw the light on the road to Damascus and spoke to our Lord and Savior, he never turned away. Paul was steadfast in his faith, even with all of the trials he had to endure (2 Cor. 11:23-28). Paul knows God, and we can know God too. He has left us suffcient evidence (Rom. 1:20).     Second, Paul is convinced that God is able to do anything He desires. God is all powerful. He is the God who spoke all of creation into existence (Gen. 1). He is the God who parted the Red Sea for the Israelites to cross on dry ground (Ex. 14:21-22). He is the God who was gracious to Paul by giving him a second chance, when he was persecuting God in his pursuit of Christians (Acts 9:1-5). God wants to give us a second chance also. He is able to cleanse our sins in the precious blood of His Son. He is able to make us whole.     Third, Paul has committed something to God. Like Jesus on the cross, Paul has committed his spirit, his soul, his very existence into God’s hands. Paul trusts that God is able to keep his soul well guarded. Peter also spoke of God’s ability to keep our inheritance in heaven under guard (1 Pet. 1:3-5). For those who follow God, their inheritance is reserved. No thief will break in and steal it, and rust will not corrupt it. It is ours, if we will obey and remain faithful to God.     We, like Paul, can have confidence in God. We can believe. We can know that He is able. We can trust Him with our very souls!

- Dale J. Babinsky preaches for the Great Smoky Mountains Church of Christ in Pigeon Forge, TN. He may be contacted through the congregation's website - https://gsmchurchofchrist.com/

One Hope

By Clifton Angel     When you strip away all of life's desires, all of life's distractions, and all of life's demands, there is only one thing that matters most: our preparation for life after death. "It is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment" (Heb 9:27). For this reason, Solomon concluded: "Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil" (Eccl 12:13–14). Paul wrote, "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad" (2 Cor 5:10). This life is temporal, but after the Judgment Day is eternity. And we only have "one hope" (Eph 4:4) for spending eternity in the bliss of heaven. Without hope, eternity will be spent in the place called hell (1 Th 1:7–9).     "There is one body, and one Spirit, even as also ye were called in one hope of your calling" (Eph 4:4). Simply put, our one and only hope is Jesus Christ. "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to his great mercy begat us again unto a living hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead" (1 Pet 1:3). The Muhammad of Islam cannot provide hope. Joseph Smith of Mormonism cannot provide hope. The Pope of the Catholic church cannot provide hope. These and other false teachers like them may get your "hopes up," but they cannot provide the one true hope of Ephesians 4:4. Jesus said, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me" (John 14:6).     But what is this calling? "Even as also ye were called in one hope of your calling" (Eph 4:4). Often, I hear individuals speak of "their calling." Many times it is used in reference to someone who devotes their life to preaching. Many times it is used to reference an occupation they love and enjoy and so it must be "their calling." God's providence is real, but He’s not moving us around like board game pieces. The “calling” of Ephesians 4:4 is something God has already provided and it is the SAME for every person who is called—the gospel of Jesus Christ. Paul wrote, "He called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ" (2 Th 2:14).     Jesus provides the "one hope." The good news of His loving sacrifice and gift of eternal life is also the saving message which "calls" us to this "one hope." And it is our obedience to the call which gains us access to this blessed hope. "For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ" (Titus 2:11–13). Have you obeyed "your calling" to the "one hope?"

- Clifton Angel preaches for the Coldwater Church of Christ in Coldwater, MS. He may be contacted through that congregation's website: http://www.coldwatercofc.com/

Doubts About God’s Message

By Joe Chesser     Even the best of men may sometimes be unsure about a message from God. Zechariah the priest was such a man. His story is found in Luke 1.     Both Zechariah and his wife Elizabeth were “righteous before God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and statutes of the Lord” (1.6). That’s impressive. You’d think that a man described in this way would never question what God says. Apparently he never questioned what God said in the Law. He kept that blamelessly. But, when Gabriel, an angel who stood in the presence of God (1.19) appeared to him with a personal message of good news from God (1.19), Zechariah’s strong faith and commitment was shaken.     You see, Zechariah and Elizabeth were “both advanced in years” ... and childless (1.7). Why did Gabriel’s message from God shake him up? Because the message was that God had heard their prayers, and that they would have a son (1.13). Unbelievable! Shocking! Zechariah wondered how could they have a child since they were both so old (1.18)? Things like that just don’t happen. So, Zechariah’s response to Gabriel was, “How shall I know this?” (1.18).     As we look back on this story we may wonder, “How dare he doubt both the message and the messenger? And especially after they had been praying for God to give them a child?” But he did, and because he did, even though he was otherwise a righteous and obedient servant of God, God struck him with silence until John was born (1.20).     There are some encouraging lessons in this story, as well as some warnings.     God’s plans are unstoppable. Even though Zechariah doubted Gabriel’s message, God’s plan for John to be born and do his marvelous work was fulfilled. Human doubts do not prevent God’s purposes.     Faith in God’s message is essential. Sometimes we need God’s consequences in order to take God at His word. We can learn from Zechariah to always trust what God says (Proverbs 3.5-6). Disbelieving God’s word is a sure way to unpleasant circumstances.     God is patient and merciful. Zechariah learned an invaluable lesson. God is patient with our weaknesses and uses our struggles to teach and grow us spiritually. God is patient with us, and we need to be patient with God (Isaiah 40.28-31).     God’s timing is perfect. We know Zechariah and Elizabeth prayed for a child, likely for years, with no answer until the angel appeared. God chose them in their old age for John to be born at just the right time for His plan. Trust in God’s timing, even when it feels delayed. God’s timing is always perfect, even when it does not fit into our schedules.

- Joe Chesser worked for years with the Fruitland Church of Christ, Fruitland, MO. Now retired from full time preaching, he may be contacted at joeandareva@yahoo.com

Love Conquers

By Andrew Beasley       What is the greatest command? Jesus instructs that it is to love God, and that the second greatest is to love one’s neighbor as himself (Matt. 22:36-40). Paul in his discourse on spiritual gifts throughout chapters 12, 13 and 14 of 1st Corinthians teaches that spiritual gifts will eventually fade and three things will remain of which love was the greatest (1 Cor. 13:13). John, in his gospel account, records Christ noting that it was the bond of love between the Father and humanity that led him to send His only Son that we might have eternal life (Jn. 3:16).     It is no secret that if anyone had cause to hold and to harbor a grudge it would be God toward mankind. Moses records that God repented of making man because of their wickedness in the time of Noah (Gen. 6:6). Hosea, through inspiration, uses his relationship with his adulteress wife as an analogy for how the Hebrew people were treating God by their continued rebellion and repeated engagement with pagan idol worship. Yet God loved us so much that despite all of this He sent His son. These examples help to emphasize what Paul instructs in Colossians 3:14, that it is love that overcomes hardship and offenses. It is the bond of love between brethren that conquers the seemingly impossible, just as it was the bond of love that conquered sin and death.

- Andrew Beasley serves as a minister with the Northwest Church of Christ in Greensboro, NC. He may be contacted through the congregation's website: https://nwchurchofchrist.com/about/