Proverbs 2:4 If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures.

How do men seek money? What will they do to get rich? How about success? What will men do to achieve success? How about sportsmen? What will they do to attain the Olympic gold medal? And talking about the Olympic gold medal, the talk of the town since last Saturday is that Singapore has finally won a gold medal in the Olympic Games held in Rio. The whole country is still in a state of ecstasy. It is a first in the country’s fifty-one years history. Our swimmer has not only brought home a gold medal but also broken an Olympic record clocking 50.39 seconds in the 100metres men’s butterfly. Joseph Isaac Schooling has become the nation’s hero and the most famous swimmer in the world after beating three of the world’s best swimmers.

How did Schooling do it? It started with a dream and the determination to make the dream comes true. It took seven years of discipline, training and will power to win the Olympic gold medal. Today, he can tell the world he has made his dream comes true.

Solomon is right: if you want to achieve success in anything, you have to seek it out as silver and hidden treasures. “If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures. Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God” (Pro 2:4-5).

Solomon is referring to the wisdom and knowledge of God. Today, the Bible is the least studied book even from among Christians. Many are not studying the bible the way they ought to. It is the reason there is a famine of the knowledge of God. The word of God is not in the lips of God’s people.

Some have asked me how I got my knowledge of the word of God. The answer is simple: I’ve never let a day passed me by without spending some time on the word of God. If you want to grow in the knowledge of the word of God, you must seek it out like silver and hidden treasures. There is no short cut to acquiring knowledge: “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Tim 2:15).

It saddens me when men reject the whole counsel of God but stick to what they think is right. Argument such as, “I don’t drink but I don’t think drinking is wrong,” is the same as endorsing it. One might also say, “I don’t smoke but I don’t think smoking is wrong” or “I don’t watch pornography but I don’t think watching a bit is wrong.” It does not matter if one steals an apple or a million dollar; he is still a thief. Likewise, it does not matter if one drinks one cup or ten bottles; he is guilty of the sin of drunkenness (1 Cor 6:10; Gal 5:21). Sin is not measured by volume or its seriousness but a little sin is still a sin.  “But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart” (Matt 5:28).

Solomon is advising young men to watch out for sin (Pro 2:12-22). And the way to do so is to let the wisdom and knowledge of God dwell in them. The Psalmist says: “Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee” (Psa 119:11).

It is not what I do or will not do that makes an action right or wrong; it is what the bible says that decides whether an action is right or wrong. And if men would search the scripture in the way they are hunting for hidden treasures or chasing after that Olympic gold medal, they can attain the knowledge of God and know if an action is sinful or not.

I would that children of God spend more time searching the scripture than for the Pokémon. The Bible is the only thing I would want to have with me if I were to be shipwrecked in an unknown island. It is a book I can never get tired of reading. Even after having read for almost five decades, I can only exclaim like the queen of Sheba: “Behold, the half was not told me” (1 Kings 10:7). What I know is still so little and it’s the reason I will not stop searching the scripture.

Is the word of God precious to you? Meditate on it day and night and let it be your guide leading to the path of righteousness and godliness: “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path” (Psa 119:105).

  

Jimmy Lau

Psa 119:97  Oh how love I thy law! It is my meditation all the day.

Definitions for the word home

Looking at this most well-known old hymn in our song book, plus a survey I read about the other day, got me to thinking about the subject of “home.”  Thank you for letting me share my thoughts about it with you today.

The survey I referred to was one that appeared some time ago in a London magazine.  It simply asked the question: “What is home?”  Below is listed seven of the answers received in response to the question.

    Home.... A world of strife shut out, a world of love shut in.

    Home....The place where the small are great, and the great are small.

    Home.... The father’s kingdom, the mother’s world and the child’s paradise.

    Home.... The place where we grumble the most and are treated the best.

    Home.... The center of our affection round which our heart’s best wishes twine.

    Home.... The place where our stomachs get three square meals a day and our

            hearts a thousand.

    Home.... the only place on earth where the faults and failings of humanity are

            hidden under the sweet mantle of charity (love).

Of course the survey and its answers are related to our “earthly” homes.  But, when you look closely at the answers received by the magazine, don’t you see them as applicable to our “heavenly” home?  As in, a place of no “strife.”  Where nothing bad (evil, offensive, vile or unhealthy) will be found.  (re: Rev. 21:4)

A place where all there are equal = saved.  No class distinctions separate anyone.  Whether “small” or “great” on earth matters not.  Definitely a place where we’ll be treated the best.  Where our attention will be centered on the “throne of God” and “The Lamb” who will be there with Him and where we’ll be fed.  (ref: Rev. 7:13-17)

As to the “sweet mantle of charity (love)” there are so many scriptures relative to the love of God that we don’t have time nor space to list them here.  Suffice it to say that our heavenly home is the center of love because that’s where the epitome of love is located.  Please read the 4th chapter of 1 John for reference.

Yes, our time here on earth is spent in a temporary home.  But, like Abraham, we are looking forward to a permanent home, or as the Bible put it; “for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.”  (Heb. 11:10)

A famous Roman writer by the name of Pliny the Elder, a contemporary of Paul when he was captive in Rome, penned these words that are so familiar to all of us.  Yes, he’s the author of “Home is where the heart is.”  Let me close this portion of our editorial today with this last thought.  Let us hope and pray that our hearts are centered on the eternal “Home Of The Soul” and not on this temporal home that we occupy while in this body.

Now, for the last portion of today’s efforts, I’d like to touch on a subject that is familiar in most congregations of The Lord’s Church.  I’m speaking about a perceived lack of ability by some brethren to offer congregational prayers. The most often used reason is that they feel their speech to be inadequate, of that they just feel like they can’t speak properly.  I’m going to close with a little story, said to be true, that speaks directly to this situation.

    A preacher once talked about a man who worshiped at a congregation where he was ministering.  The man had been raised an illiterate orphan and only after marrying a fine woman who taught him did he learn basic reading and writing skills.  Because of his upbringing and having been raised in what we call “the back woods” his speech was full of strange and colloquial expressions.  The preacher said that other people used to laugh at him whenever he spoke.

    However, without hesitation or the least bit of embarrassment, he would lead a public prayer whenever called on.  He would pray, “Lord God, we air shore much obliged t’yu.  You been a sight better to us than we has a-comin.”  He was so sincere and earnest with his prayers that, according to the preacher, that only a few dry eyes would be in the audience when he finished.

    The preacher talked to him about this one day and here’s what the brother said to him.  He said, “What iff’n men do laugh?  God ain’t laffin.  He listens to your heart, not your mouth.  An my heart talks to him as plain as anybody’s.”

Does one have to have great oratory abilities to talk to God?  Absolutely not.  I recall the words of Jesus in Matt. 12:34-35 where He said, “...for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.  A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things...”

No where in that passage do I see, not is it even inferred, that our “mouth” has to speak eloquently.  Only that it speaks “good things.”  I will even go out on a limb and offer my opinion on this point and say that if others should laugh because of the nature of a prayer’s speech ability, they should examine their own hearts.  I would encourage those who feel orally inadequate to understand that God is not concerned about how the condition of our language, He is concerned about the condition of our heart.

Respectfully submitted,

Ron Covey

Funeral sermon outline

Funeral for _____________
PSALMS 46:1-5, & 10-11
“God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble.  Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change, And though the mountains slip into the heart of the sea;  Though its waters roar and foam, Though the mountains quake at its swelling pride. Selah.  There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, The holy dwelling places of the Most High.  God is in the midst of her, she will not be moved; God will help her when morning dawns.

10-11. 
"Be still  and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.  The LORD of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our stronghold.”

This is a sad occasion for all of us here today.  It is fitting that we should come together to sympathize with and lend encouragement to _____________ family.
1. (Rom 12:15 )  Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. Nothing we say or do will change the state or affect the destiny of _____________.
2. Therefore, this lesson will be designed to instruct and benefit the living.  We are here to say good bye, "each in our own way"  to the worn-out earthly garment of _____________ mortal body that we so readily associate him with. 
3. But, we are certainly not here to say good-bye to the memories of him that each of you will carry with you the rest of your lives. 
4. We're not here to say good bye to the impressions that _____________ left on your hearts and minds.  We know that there will be a void in each life that has been touched by him. 
5. Skip lived in, what seems like to some, another time, and, another place.  Skip was a throw back to another era.  You see, to the previous generation, if something has age and tradition behind it, it is seen as " time tested and proven."
6. To the baby boomer generation, if it has age and tradition behind it, to them it is most likely worn out, rusted and irrelevant.
7. As you know, that just simply was not true in this case.  Something very precious has been lost, like a rare jewel.  _____________ was unique, a real find in our day and time.
8. It was said that a famous preacher was heard to say in a funeral sermon about the body being emptied, that he used the poor example of a pecan. He said "all we have left is an empty shell, the nut is gone"     _____________ loved that one.

THANKS FROM FAMILY - cards - flowers - gifts - love, donations
My Sympathy goes to the _____________ family.  They have suffered a great loss which words can not heal, _____________  will be missed for sure, but we must go forward……For ourselves and for him as he would have us to do.
Rom. 8:18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us.
Ps. 37:5 Commit your way to the LORD, Trust also in Him, and He will do it.

 Let us pray
Our Father, just as a child comes to his earthly father, we now come to You.  In our sorrows and in our tears we come to you with thankful hearts.  We are thankful for the richness of Your promises and the comfort enjoyed by Your children.  We are grateful that Your promises and love are all inclusive and that each individual may avail himself of the consolation of Your promises.  Help us to realize that it is not all of life to live.  Neither is it all of life to die, but there will be an awakening and each will receive his final reward in keeping with how they have lived.  May we be able to bring to the sorrowing on this occasion the promises of the Father to those who live the Christian life.  In Jesus’ name we pray.  Amen.

Times like these bring us to a...
I. REFLECTION OF LIFE - Good and Bad
_____________ was born November 3 1946.  And He passed from this world at           March 27 2004.

He finished school in 1966 and as we know the Viet Nam war was going on at that time and _____________ enlisted in the Army that same year.  He achieved the rank of     Sgt.  In spent 67 and 68 in Viet Nam and was in the special forces with the 4th Infantry Division 2nd Platoon.

He received a purple heart and was wounded 3 times, but he refused it when they tried to give it to him.  He told me he did not feel worthy of receiving it.  Several years later his family gave him a purple heart which you see displayed here.

After he came back from Viet Nam _____________ went to Ferris College and received an associate’s degree in welding.  _____________ was a very talented man.  He had his own body shop and did extremely good work.  He loved to do wood burning and was talented in that area also.  I got to know _____________ when he worked on my trailer and welded it for me.  This was the beginning of our friendship that lasted until he died.  _____________ was my friend and I loved him like a brother.  I, like you, have many good memories of him.  We grew close to the point that he wanted my boys to call him Uncle _____________ and they did.  It was just last year that we had him over for Easter dinner.  I will hold the good times in my heart for many, many years to come.

The memories you each have and those you shared with your loved ones should be the most precious gift anyone could ever receive ... Hold them within your hearts forever and his life and his love will never depart from you.
 1.   _____________ lived a hard yet faithful life ... he loved his family and friends. But, most of all he loved her Lord ... his life was not in vain.
 2. Look around at the lives he touched ..... this was a life worth living ... he was a friend worth knowing ... he will be missed.

There are members of the family that would like to speak from there heart at this time.  “This is totally optional as it could take a very long time to let everyone say something.”

We have a caring God - John. 3:16:For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
 
Amidst your grief, your sorrow, your emptiness that you may be feeling, the Lord's comfort and peace can be yours and is there for you.
Listen carefully as I read the 23rd Psalm. 
 The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want.  He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters.  He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness For His name's sake.  Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil; for Thou art with me; Thy rod and Thy staff, they comfort me.  Thou dost prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; Thou hast anointed my head with oil; My cup overflows.  Surely goodness and lovingkindness will follow me all the days of my life, And I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

1. We stand today in the presence of physical death. 
    a. This physical death will be nullified by the resurrection.
    b. Since we cannot know the secret things of one's life, we are not able to  speak with absolute certainty regarding one's faithfulness;  and since we cannot decide one's destiny, we leave such matters to the Lord who knows and does all things well.
    c. The Bible says in James 4:14, Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away.
  
    d. The Bible speaks of the return of Jesus as a thief in the night.  In Matthew 24:44 we read, "For this reason you be ready too; for the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not think He will.”
    e. Are you ready to meet the Lord?  Have you done things Jesus’ way?  Have you prepared for your eternal resting place that one day all of us will be going to.  I have spoken to _____________ about this before and this is what he wanted me to teach.  Preach the gospel he said, at my funeral.  I just didn’t know it would be so soon after he said this.
    f. In Mark 16:15-16 Jesus said, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.  He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned.
    g. Acts 2:38 Peter said, "Repent, and let each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
    h. Revelation 2:10 Jesus said, Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.  
    i. So the key of living a Christian life is faithfulness. 
    j. (Eccl 3:1-8) 
  

    There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every event under heaven--
 A time to give birth, and a time to die; A time to plant, and a time to uproot what is planted.
 A time to kill, and a time to heal; A time to tear down, and a time to build up.
 A time to weep, and a time to laugh; A time to mourn, and a time to dance.
 A time to throw stones, and a time to gather stones;
 A time to embrace, and a time to shun embracing.
 A time to search, and a time to give up as lost; A time to keep, and a time to throw away.
 A time to tear apart, and a time to sew together; A time to be silent, and a time to speak.
 A time to love, and a time to hate; A time for war, and a time for peace.

 Shall we pray.
Our Father, as we leave this place this morning, may we be grateful for loved ones and friends who willingly help to bear our burdens.  May we ever cherish Your promise that you made to us in  which You said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”  May those who grieve for _____________ look through the dark clouds that hover about them to the sunlight of Your great love that leads to happiness in serving You and others.  May we realize that soon it will be said of us that we have gone to our appointment that all of us will have with You.  Through obedience to Your Will  may we be prepared for that great event.  It is in Jesus’ name we pray.  Amen.

 Conclusion
1. Death is but the cutting loose from this land of imperfections and sorrow-- to set sail in the ocean of eternity where the soul can enjoy the perfections of which it is capable.

2. In Acts 20:32 we read, “And now I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified.”

3. Thank you very much for your support in this time of sorrow. 

Roger Gean, Pine Bluff, Arkansas