“Let not your heart be troubled: ye
believe in God, believe also in me”—John 14:1
Every person who now reads
the words of this message is fully aware that there are so many things that
happen to us causing our hearts to become heavy. We are certainly aware of the
illnesses and diseases that strike the human frame causing pain and suffering.
Most, perhaps all of us, have stood by and watched as those I have loved dearly
have shed these earthly bonds bringing the deepest, bitterest agony to our
souls. We are all very much aware that sometimes the trials, burdens and cares
of this life seem almost too heavy to bear. And now, I hear my Lord as he says,
“Let not your heart be troubled”. I hear Paul tell us to rejoice always (Phil.
4:4, 1 Thess. 5:16). Then I hear Paul again as he tells us, “All things work
together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to
his purpose” (Rom. 8:28). Given the trials of life we must go through, how can
this be possible?
My friends, it is possible because as faithful
children of God with a trusting faith in him we know that we have an anchor for
our souls, one that is both sure and steadfast (Heb. 6:19). When those storm
clouds gather, when it seems that darkness envelopes us we don’t have to be
afraid because our souls are fastened to a rock that cannot be moved—THAT ROCK
IS THE LORD JESUS CHRIST. We simply focus on that rock knowing that the end of
our endurance and trusting faith in God will bring about the greatest victory
imaginable.
The circumstances of our lives are ever changing; one moment
all is well, the next moment suffering enters. It just does not matter what the
circumstances are because the source of our comfort never changes. There is
never a moment in our lives that we cannot find that comfort in the exceedingly
precious promises of God if we will but seek to find it (Rom. 8:35-39, Heb.
4:16, Phil. 4:6-7, 1 Pet. 5:7, Isa. 12:2-3, Heb. 13:5).
Will we ever be
sad? The answer is yes. Will we ever have a heavy heart? Again the answer is yes
but it is our trusting faith in God and his word that makes those moments of
sadness and heaviness of heart only momentary pauses in our lives and keeps our
hearts from being troubled for very long. The most profound statement of the
faith we should have, yea must have in God, is found in the first verse of
Psalms 23: ‘The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want”. God will take care of
you and if you don’t believe this then you will be most miserable as you make
your way through this life.
Charles Hicks
Tuesday, July 29, 2014
Immersed in Jesus
When a person
immerses himself in something, he totally surrounds himself with
it. He
spends time thinking about it and making plans around it. It occupies his mind, utilizes
his energy and expends his resources.
People can immerse themselves
in many different things. Some are immersed in hobbies, recreation or sports such as
hunting, fishing, college football, baseball, golf, racing, collecting, or
gardening. Others are immersed in their work or school. Some are immersed in their
children or grandchildren. When a person is seriously sick, it is easy to become immersed
with health concerns.
As Christians, "we were all
baptized into one body" (1 Corinthians 12:13).
Most of us understand that the word "baptized"
means "immersed." But what we may not have thought much about is the connection
between being immersed in water and being immersed in Jesus. The apostle Paul puts it this
way in Galatians 3:27: "For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put
on Christ." Those of us who have been "baptized into Christ" are to have put
Him on like a garment. We are to be covered up with Him -- immersed in Him.
By itself, immersion in water
does nothing to change a person's life.
But when that immersion is the beginning of
being overwhelmed with Jesus Christ, lives are truly changed. Baptism into Christ results in
a person being raised to "walk in newness of life" (Romans
6:4). "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation" (2
Corinthians 5:17). This new life is one that is immersed in Jesus.
Every sinner needs to be
immersed in water for the remission of sins (Acts 2:38;
22:16). But
every one who is immersed in water is thus obligated to live a new life immersed
in Jesus. Are you immersed in Him?
"But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no
provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts" (Romans 13:14).
- by Steve
Klein
Monday, July 28, 2014
Game Simon Says
Simon Says - 1 Peter 1:3-16
“Simon Says” was a game we played often outside, growing up. It is also an electronic game that was popular in the 1970s and 1980s. In 1 Peter, Simon Peter, led by the Spirit of Christ, tells us how to live a holy life in an unholy world.
Simon says…
REJOICE IN YOUR SALVATION - 1:3-9:
Verses 3-9 are all one sentence in the Greek. While the sentence begins with a blessing on God who has initiated all of this, the verb that is at the heart of this long sentence is in verse 6 - “in this you greatly rejoice.” What is “this” in which we rejoice? It is “hope,” Peter says in verse 3; or, salvation as the object of our hope.
What does Peter say about this hope in which we should rejoice? First, it is God’s work - verse 3. Peter also, secondly, points out that this salvation cannot be stolen from us (vss 4-5).
Third, Peter says that as we rejoice in our salvation (which cannot be taken from us), then the testing of our faith will result in the praise, glory, and honor of Jesus Christ - whom we love and believe.
Finally, in verse 9, Peter summarizes all that he has just said: that we rejoice with inexpressible joy and glorified joy as we obtain the outcome or goal of our faith - the salvation of our souls.
So, Simon says - “rejoice in your salvation.”
THE PROPHETS SERVED US - 1:10-12:
The prophets did not understand everything they were preaching. Here in 1:11, Peter brings up the sufferings of Christ, just like he does in 4:21-24, to remind us that Jesus also was persecuted. He was slandered, insulted, maligned, and suffered. In fact, this was all predicted by the prophets.
But, this was all for our benefit, our sakes. We, then, are recipients of this wonderful series of blessings that had been kept a mystery throughout the Old Testament but revealed through the prophets.
Simon says the prophets served us.
LIVE A HOLY LIFE - 1:13-16:
There are two commands, two imperatives, in these four verses: 1.) “put all your hope (vs 13);” and 2.) “be holy” (vs 15). Let’s look more closely at these two commands to see how we are to live a holy life…
There are two things you have to do before you can hope in the grace of God that is available in Jesus Christ. First, you have to “prepare your minds for action” and, secondly, you have to “keep sober” in spirit. Both of these have to do with the way you think.
Simon says, “Hope in the grace being revealed to us in Jesus Christ.”
The second command is in verse 15 - “be holy.” Before we can “be holy” or be “distinct” from the world and “like” God (verse 14), we need not to be “conformed” to this world. Be different from the world. Follow the example of Christ. Talk like Jesus talked. Live like Jesus lived. Have the attitude toward others that Jesus had - His attitude toward His family, His attitude toward His friends, His attitude toward His enemies.
Simon says - “Be holy.”
Rejoice in your salvation. The Prophets served us (that’s how important our salvation is to God). Live a holy life (hope on the grace revealed in Christ and be holy).
Paul Holland
“Simon Says” was a game we played often outside, growing up. It is also an electronic game that was popular in the 1970s and 1980s. In 1 Peter, Simon Peter, led by the Spirit of Christ, tells us how to live a holy life in an unholy world.
Simon says…
REJOICE IN YOUR SALVATION - 1:3-9:
Verses 3-9 are all one sentence in the Greek. While the sentence begins with a blessing on God who has initiated all of this, the verb that is at the heart of this long sentence is in verse 6 - “in this you greatly rejoice.” What is “this” in which we rejoice? It is “hope,” Peter says in verse 3; or, salvation as the object of our hope.
What does Peter say about this hope in which we should rejoice? First, it is God’s work - verse 3. Peter also, secondly, points out that this salvation cannot be stolen from us (vss 4-5).
Third, Peter says that as we rejoice in our salvation (which cannot be taken from us), then the testing of our faith will result in the praise, glory, and honor of Jesus Christ - whom we love and believe.
Finally, in verse 9, Peter summarizes all that he has just said: that we rejoice with inexpressible joy and glorified joy as we obtain the outcome or goal of our faith - the salvation of our souls.
So, Simon says - “rejoice in your salvation.”
THE PROPHETS SERVED US - 1:10-12:
The prophets did not understand everything they were preaching. Here in 1:11, Peter brings up the sufferings of Christ, just like he does in 4:21-24, to remind us that Jesus also was persecuted. He was slandered, insulted, maligned, and suffered. In fact, this was all predicted by the prophets.
But, this was all for our benefit, our sakes. We, then, are recipients of this wonderful series of blessings that had been kept a mystery throughout the Old Testament but revealed through the prophets.
Simon says the prophets served us.
LIVE A HOLY LIFE - 1:13-16:
There are two commands, two imperatives, in these four verses: 1.) “put all your hope (vs 13);” and 2.) “be holy” (vs 15). Let’s look more closely at these two commands to see how we are to live a holy life…
There are two things you have to do before you can hope in the grace of God that is available in Jesus Christ. First, you have to “prepare your minds for action” and, secondly, you have to “keep sober” in spirit. Both of these have to do with the way you think.
Simon says, “Hope in the grace being revealed to us in Jesus Christ.”
The second command is in verse 15 - “be holy.” Before we can “be holy” or be “distinct” from the world and “like” God (verse 14), we need not to be “conformed” to this world. Be different from the world. Follow the example of Christ. Talk like Jesus talked. Live like Jesus lived. Have the attitude toward others that Jesus had - His attitude toward His family, His attitude toward His friends, His attitude toward His enemies.
Simon says - “Be holy.”
Rejoice in your salvation. The Prophets served us (that’s how important our salvation is to God). Live a holy life (hope on the grace revealed in Christ and be holy).
Paul Holland
Sunday, July 27, 2014
For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions
FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION
“This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth and honoureth me
with their lips, but their heart is far from me. But in vain they do worship
me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.” Matt. 15:8-9
A while back I read where some members have left the church and joined with
various denominations with many of them being of the charismatic type. When
questioned about why they left most of the answers given were in the realm of
“the service was too dull and boring” or that they felt the music wasn’t
inspiring enough. Some cited the lack of “activities” as their reason.
In other words they wanted to be entertained. They were going to church,
not for worshiping God, but rather to be entertained. In essence, they were
putting themselves first and God second. And, as I see it, that’s why many of
the “mega-churches” seem to be gaining in membership. They are providing
“entertainment” and “activities” in place of “worship” and a lot of people don’t
seem to recognize the difference.
They like hearing sermons the likes of “Dale Carnegie talks” or
“self-improvement lessons.” They’re more pleasing to the ears than listening to
the preacher teach a boring lesson from the Gospel. Remember what Paul said
about things that would happen in “times to come?” In 2Tim. 4:3 he said,
“For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but
having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their
own passions.” (ESV)
I’ve got a little story with a moral to tell you that I think helps us to
get the point of my lesson today. It goes like this: “How’s it going down
there?” barked the big walrus from his perch on the highest rock near the
shore. Down below, the smaller walruses were trying to figure out how to answer
the Old Man without making him mad as he had a nasty temper.
The problem was that the water level in the bay had been falling for some
time and it was now necessary to travel farther to find herring. Someone should
tell the “Chief” about this but they were afraid to speak the truth. So one of
them, we’ll call him Basil, spoke up and said, “Things are going pretty well,
Chief. As a matter of fact, the beach seems to be getting larger.” The Old Man
grunted, “Fine, fine. That will give us a bit more elbow room.” He closed is
eyes and went back to sleep
The next day a new herd of walruses moved in just down the beach from
them. This really posed a problem as it affected the herring supply. This
could be a dangerous invasion of their territory. But, how to tell the Old Man
about this problem. Finally Basil got up the courage and said, “Oh, by the way
Chief, a new herd of walruses seem to have moved into our territory.” The Old
Man’s eyes snapped open. “Of course, we don’t anticipate any trouble. They
don’t look like herring-eaters to me. More likely interested in minnows and, as
you know, we don’t bother with minnows ourselves,” added Basil.
Well, time went on and things weren’t getting any better. One day the big
walrus looked down from his rock and noticed that part of his herd seemed to be
missing. He called Basil and demanded to know what was going on. Poor old
Basil didn’t have the courage to tell him that many of the younger walruses were
leaving the herd and joining up with the new herd. So, he replied, “Well,
Chief, we’ve been tightening up things a bit. You know, getting rid of the dead
wood. After all, a herd is only as good as the walruses in it.”
“Run a tight ship, I always say,” the Old Man grunted. “Glad to hear that
all is going so well.”
It wasn’t long before everyone except Basil had left to join the new herd.
After much soul-searching, Basil decided that it was time to tell the Old Man
the truth. He climbed up the big rock and facing the Chief he said, “Chief, I
have bad news. The rest of the herd has left you.”
The old walrus was so astonished that he couldn’t even work up a good
bellow. “Left me,” he cried. “All of them? But why? How could this happen?”
Basil just shrugged helplessly as he had no answer. “I can’t understand it,”
the Old Man said. “And just when everything was going so well.”
MORAL: What you like to hear isn’t always what you need to know.
My closing thoughts: people might like to be entertained. I like to be
entertained, but I know and understand that entertainment and worship are two
different things. Worship is not entertainment. It’s a lot different from
going to a play, a movie or a ball game. Do you know the primary difference?
It’s that the worshiper is the actor and God is the audience. It is the
interaction between the worshiper and God and that action comes from the heart
and soul of the worshiper.
If you attend church services to be entertained then you are totally
misunderstanding of what constitutes worship. To be blunt about it, we’re there
to worship God and not ourselves. Those who seek entertainment in the church
services are just exhibiting a lack of reverence and appreciation for the God of
all creation and for our very lives. As far as I personally think, that borders
of blasphemy.
When we get to the point that we’re “serving ourselves” instead of “serving
God” our souls are in grave danger. And, if you think about it, that’s exactly
what those wanting to be entertained in church are doing - “serving themselves”
instead of God.
Hearing what we need to hear may not be entertainment, but it is far more
beneficial to our eternal soul. Think about this as we close: in heaven,
everything and all things are wonderful and beautiful. There is no sadness
there. Just total happiness and you’ll be enjoying this because you heard and
heeded what you needed to know to get there.
Ron Covey
Friday, July 25, 2014
Where to find a true miracle
Somebody told about a guide taking some American tourists through Old Jerusalem. As they walked along the guide pointed to an old brick wall in the narrow street ahead. "Here at this location is one of the greatest miracles of all," he announced. "You pray at this spot, and money pours out of the wall. Many pilgrims come here to receive the benefits of its miraculous powers." Coming closer, the tourists saw he was pointing to an automatic teller machine!
The word "miracles" is heard often. People are heard exclaiming, "It's a miracle!" about everything from a baby's birth to a beautiful sunset to a recovery from serious sickness. And truly, life is filled with things we can correctly refer to as "marvels."
A "marvel" is defined as "something that causes wonder or astonishment; intense interest." Many things in life can and should be described as "marvelous." If you've ever seen a baby's birth (or a calf or pony or puppy) or a brilliant sunset that transforms the sky into a painting of breath-taking beauty, or a spider weaving her web, or the inside of a tulip in full bloom, you've seen marvels that evoke wonder and amazement! An awesome Creator filled our world with marvelous things that arrest our attention and evoke our praise. In the words of Psalm 11:2-3, "The works of LORD are great, Studied by all who have pleasure in them. His work is honorable and glorious, And his righteousness endures forever."
All "the works of the Lord" we see around us in "nature" and the "natural world" are marvels. But are these marvels miracles? Not in the Bible sense. Miracles in the Bible were more than just God's "normal" activity through nature.
A "miracle" in Bible times was an extraordinary event of divine intervention in human affairs. The special acts of creation in Genesis 1, the birth of Isaac to a hundred-year old Abram and his 90-year-old wife Sarai, the parting of the Red Sea, etc., etc., etc. - the Bible's pages are saturated with accounts of miracles - awesome and extraordinary occurrences where God very directly intervened in human affairs, causing things that cannot be explained by the operation of normal laws of nature.
The birth of Jesus to a virgin, and His resurrection from the dead are not just marvels, they are miracles! Jesus was a worker of miracles par excellence. Matthew chapters 8 and 9 record at least eleven of twenty miracles Matthew records. In these miracles Jesus displayed authority over demons, disease, death - and even a stormy sea! One motive behind Jesus' miracles was compassion (9:36), but the primary purpose for them is seen in Matthew 8:27. After Jesus calmed a story sea with His word, the apostles "marveled, saying, 'Who can this be, that even the winds and the sea obey Him?'" The miracles of Jesus point to His unlimited authority as God's Son! We ought to listen to His message because He is "the Christ, the Son of God" (John 20:30-31)! His miracles prove Him to be, to quote the apostle Peter, "Lord of all" (Acts 10:36).
To sum up, the marvels of nature evoke our wonder. But Jesus' miracles go further. In Matthew 14:33, after Jesus walked on water and snatched Peter from drowning, the Bible says, "those who were in the boat came and worshiped Him, saying, 'Truly You are the Son of God.' " If demons and diseases and even death are subject to Jesus' power, so are we. That's the message behind Jesus' miracles.
--by Dan Gulley
The word "miracles" is heard often. People are heard exclaiming, "It's a miracle!" about everything from a baby's birth to a beautiful sunset to a recovery from serious sickness. And truly, life is filled with things we can correctly refer to as "marvels."
A "marvel" is defined as "something that causes wonder or astonishment; intense interest." Many things in life can and should be described as "marvelous." If you've ever seen a baby's birth (or a calf or pony or puppy) or a brilliant sunset that transforms the sky into a painting of breath-taking beauty, or a spider weaving her web, or the inside of a tulip in full bloom, you've seen marvels that evoke wonder and amazement! An awesome Creator filled our world with marvelous things that arrest our attention and evoke our praise. In the words of Psalm 11:2-3, "The works of LORD are great, Studied by all who have pleasure in them. His work is honorable and glorious, And his righteousness endures forever."
All "the works of the Lord" we see around us in "nature" and the "natural world" are marvels. But are these marvels miracles? Not in the Bible sense. Miracles in the Bible were more than just God's "normal" activity through nature.
A "miracle" in Bible times was an extraordinary event of divine intervention in human affairs. The special acts of creation in Genesis 1, the birth of Isaac to a hundred-year old Abram and his 90-year-old wife Sarai, the parting of the Red Sea, etc., etc., etc. - the Bible's pages are saturated with accounts of miracles - awesome and extraordinary occurrences where God very directly intervened in human affairs, causing things that cannot be explained by the operation of normal laws of nature.
The birth of Jesus to a virgin, and His resurrection from the dead are not just marvels, they are miracles! Jesus was a worker of miracles par excellence. Matthew chapters 8 and 9 record at least eleven of twenty miracles Matthew records. In these miracles Jesus displayed authority over demons, disease, death - and even a stormy sea! One motive behind Jesus' miracles was compassion (9:36), but the primary purpose for them is seen in Matthew 8:27. After Jesus calmed a story sea with His word, the apostles "marveled, saying, 'Who can this be, that even the winds and the sea obey Him?'" The miracles of Jesus point to His unlimited authority as God's Son! We ought to listen to His message because He is "the Christ, the Son of God" (John 20:30-31)! His miracles prove Him to be, to quote the apostle Peter, "Lord of all" (Acts 10:36).
To sum up, the marvels of nature evoke our wonder. But Jesus' miracles go further. In Matthew 14:33, after Jesus walked on water and snatched Peter from drowning, the Bible says, "those who were in the boat came and worshiped Him, saying, 'Truly You are the Son of God.' " If demons and diseases and even death are subject to Jesus' power, so are we. That's the message behind Jesus' miracles.
--by Dan Gulley
Thursday, July 24, 2014
Common sins mentioned in the Bible
Define and explain the ‘works of the flesh’ (we follow here the KJV listing)
-
Adultery
-
Fornication
-
Uncleanness
-
Lasciviousness
-
Idolatry
-
Witchcraft
-
Hatred
-
Variance
-
Emulations
-
Wrath
-
Strife
-
Seditions
-
Heresies
-
Envyings
-
Murders
-
Drunkenness
- Revellings
Saturday, July 19, 2014
Myles Eckert, a gold star kid
"Looking to Jesus, the founder and
perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the
cross, despising the shame, and is
seated at the right hand of the
throne of God.” Heb. 12:2 ESV
A short while back I caught an item on one of the national news broadcasts
that had a profound emotional impact upon me. Perhaps you might have also seen
it and if you did, I’m sure that it also affected your emotions. I’m going to
use this news item as the premise to our spiritual lesson today. Here is the
news item.
A soldier, in uniform, and his family entered a restaurant and were seated
at a table. A few moments later another family consisting of a mother and her
children came in. One of her children, an 8 year old boy named Myles, had found
a $20.00 bill in the parking lot on the way in. It’s what he did with this $20
dollars that provides us with our lesson today.
He wrote a short note and wrapped it around the money, took it over to the
soldier’s table and gave it to him. The soldier, a Colonel in charge of an air
wing in Ohio, said that he had never been so honored in his life and he keeps
the note on his desk where he can see it every day. Following are the words of
the note that accompanied the twenty dollar bill.
“Dear Soldier. My did was a soldier. He’s in heaven now. I found
this $20 in the parking lot when we got here. We like to pay it forward in my
family. It is your lucky day! Thank you for your service. Myles Eckert, a
gold star kid.”
“Pay it forward.” Have you ever thought about this in regards to
your Christian life? Of how this attitude can be related to how we, as
Christians, are to operate? Well, it caused me to think about it with the
result being this lesson. Let’s think about it together for a few
moments.
You know, “backwards” is not a direction befitting a Christian. We are to
be “looking forward” with our subsequent actions going forward.
There’s the old familiar passage spoken by Jesus in Luke 9:62 where He says,
“No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom
of God.”
If you’d like to see a good “type lesson” that helps us to understand the
meaning of that verse in Luke, then open your Bibles to Jer. 7:24 where the
prophet is describing the actions of God’s people Israel. Look at what God says
about them through the hand of Jeremiah: they (Israel) “walked in their own
counsels and the stubbornness of their evil hearts and went backward and not
forward.” Anti-type? The church is now God’s people.
Now we know from this passage that He’s talking about a Christian because
He uses the term “kingdom of God” which refers to the church.
Therefore, one who is “plowing” is a member, a Christian. Farmers know that you
can’t physically plow straight if you’re “looking back” so you’d be
unfit to be a farmer if you were, so it’s pretty easy to see the application
Christ is making by using that statement, isn’t it?
So, if we’re to be “looking forward,” where should our eyes be
focused? It shouldn’t be hard to answer that question because I’ve already
given you the answer in our preamble scripture reading. We look to Jesus. OK
then, now let’s look at some of the things we should take note of in looking to
Him.
First and foremost, we look at His sacrifice on the cross and what it made
possible for all of mankind. Salvation! Eternal life with Him in heaven. The
apostle’s words in 1Cor. 6:20 and 7:23 say that “you were bought with a
great price.” In other words, the price paid for the salvation of man’s
soul was His cruel and unwarranted death on the cross. Think of it this way, He
“paid forward” for our hope of eternal life. Read Rom. 5:8 for
confirmation of this.
Then we need to emulate the apostle Paul in this regard, that we follow
Christ just as he does. (1Cor. 11:1) And to further emulate Paul in
“looking forward” note what he says in Titus 2:13. “Looking for
that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior
Jesus Christ.” Paul knew where his hope lay and where the “founder and
perfecter of our faith” is now located. In heaven at the right hand of
God. Knowing that, why would Paul, or any Christian, want to look back?
Before we close this, let’s go back to the thought of “paying it
forward.” It’s my humble opinion that, not only are Christians to be
“looking forward” we’re to be “paying forward” too. Well
then, how do we do that? What do Christians have that we can “pay
forward?” Only the most precious, most valuable, thing we have entrusted
to our keeping - The Gospel. The “power of God unto salvation to everyone
that believeth...” (Rom 1:16)
Think about it this way - what do we have to give (pay forward) anyone that
is more beneficial to them than the one thing that will save their eternal soul
in heaven. We don’t possess anything near as precious and worthwhile than
that. Paul refers to it as a “treasure” that was left in “earthen
vessels” to wit: the church. (2Cor. 4:7) Then we see in Eph. 3:10-11
more evidence of this where he says that “the manifold wisdom of God”
(the Gospel) is to be brought to the world by “the church.”
I enjoy teaching lessons on the parables of Jesus and one of them is
applicable to our lesson today. I’m speaking of the one called the “parable of
the talents.” (Mt. 25:14-30) Here’s how I apply the lesson of that parable to
this lesson. We have a duty to use, to share this Gospel “treasure”
that’s been left in our keeping. We see from this parable that we’re not to
hoard it. It must be shared, IE: “paid forward” or we will not be
pleasing to God. We might as well be like Israel of old and be “looking
backward.” God intends it to be “forwarded” to “all the
world...” (Mark 16:15)
Ron Covey
Friday, July 18, 2014
The church of Christ
Building to Last!
The pyramids of Egypt are among some of the oldest structures to be found anywhere on Earth. Their precise age has long been debated. The history books generally point to 3200 B. C. as the approximate date when the pyramid of Khufu was under construction at Giza (pbs.org). This pyramid, also known as The Great Pyramid, consists of an estimated 2.3 million limestone blocks believed to have been transported from nearby quarries. The largest stones in the pyramid weigh as much as 25 tons. An estimated 5.5 million tons of limestone were used in its construction, along with 8,000 tons of granite and 500,000 tons of mortar. There is still much mystery surrounding the pyramids, including the building methods and the people who built them. But one thing is clear - they built them to last! Bible students will appreciate the fact that the Great Pyramid might have been under construction more than a thousand years before Abraham came onto the scene in Canaan at approximately 1,800 B. C. The Great Pyramid was indeed built to last.
Jesus built His church the same way - that is, to last. He said in Matthew 16:18b, "I will build My church, and the gates of Hades [i.e., death / the grave] shall not prevail against it." The church of Christ came into being on the first Day of Pentecost after Christ's resurrection from the dead some 2,000 years ago. In every age mockers and skeptics have sought to bury the Bible, Christ, and His church. And every age watches as the hammers wear themselves out on these divine anvils. Jesus built the church to last.
Jesus Christ calls on every person to build something that will last. In Matthew 7:24-27, He asserts that every person who hears His teachings faces a critical choice. Let the verses speak - "Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock. But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall." Hearing Jesus' teaching is not enough. His word is similar to a salve for a sore - it won't help if left un-applied. Response to Jesus divides human beings into two groups. Those who hear His teaching and obey are deft, that is skillful and wise. But those who hear and do not do them are daft, that is silly and foolish. And why foolish? Because the storm of God's judgment looms up ahead - not if it is coming, but simply when (Hebrews 9:27; Acts 17:31, etc.). Each of us is daily building a spiritual house. Are you building on Christ, the solid Rock, or on the flimsy foundation of sand? Will your house fall, or will it stand? Build it to last! Think about it.
--by Dan Gulley, Smithville, TN
The pyramids of Egypt are among some of the oldest structures to be found anywhere on Earth. Their precise age has long been debated. The history books generally point to 3200 B. C. as the approximate date when the pyramid of Khufu was under construction at Giza (pbs.org). This pyramid, also known as The Great Pyramid, consists of an estimated 2.3 million limestone blocks believed to have been transported from nearby quarries. The largest stones in the pyramid weigh as much as 25 tons. An estimated 5.5 million tons of limestone were used in its construction, along with 8,000 tons of granite and 500,000 tons of mortar. There is still much mystery surrounding the pyramids, including the building methods and the people who built them. But one thing is clear - they built them to last! Bible students will appreciate the fact that the Great Pyramid might have been under construction more than a thousand years before Abraham came onto the scene in Canaan at approximately 1,800 B. C. The Great Pyramid was indeed built to last.
Jesus built His church the same way - that is, to last. He said in Matthew 16:18b, "I will build My church, and the gates of Hades [i.e., death / the grave] shall not prevail against it." The church of Christ came into being on the first Day of Pentecost after Christ's resurrection from the dead some 2,000 years ago. In every age mockers and skeptics have sought to bury the Bible, Christ, and His church. And every age watches as the hammers wear themselves out on these divine anvils. Jesus built the church to last.
Jesus Christ calls on every person to build something that will last. In Matthew 7:24-27, He asserts that every person who hears His teachings faces a critical choice. Let the verses speak - "Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock. But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall." Hearing Jesus' teaching is not enough. His word is similar to a salve for a sore - it won't help if left un-applied. Response to Jesus divides human beings into two groups. Those who hear His teaching and obey are deft, that is skillful and wise. But those who hear and do not do them are daft, that is silly and foolish. And why foolish? Because the storm of God's judgment looms up ahead - not if it is coming, but simply when (Hebrews 9:27; Acts 17:31, etc.). Each of us is daily building a spiritual house. Are you building on Christ, the solid Rock, or on the flimsy foundation of sand? Will your house fall, or will it stand? Build it to last! Think about it.
--by Dan Gulley, Smithville, TN
Thursday, July 17, 2014
For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil
BUT IT'S A DRY HEAT - lies of the devil
Having been raised in the Mid-West I had always heard the saying, "It's a dry heat," but never really gave it much thought.
Living in the West now, we hear it quite often. In fact today on the weather they were talking about the 106 degree temperature going on for several days and the weather forecaster said, "But, it's a dry heat", like that was supposed to make it all better somehow. Being curious by nature I started thinking about that and thought I would try and find out just what that means. Here is the explanation I finally found, "When the humidity is high, sweat doesn't evaporate as much, and so our body loses some of the cooling effect that the evaporation of sweat provides".
I'm sorry, but when it is 106 degrees, it is just plain hot and I really don't like it! Give me 70 degrees and I'm in my comfort zone. (Apologies to my family that live in Phoenix, but it is still hot).
What is it with these sayings we hear repeatedly and do we even really think about what they mean. I heard a story about Satan coming to a man and trying to buy his soul with earthly pleasures. The man was almost convinced, but after thinking about it said, "I really don't think I could stand the fire in hell." To which Satan said, "But it's a dry heat!"
You know the devil is great at twisting things around to make bad things seem good. He's had lots of practice. All the way back in the Garden of Eden in the book of Genesis, he twisted God's commands to not eat of the fruit of The Knowledge of Good and Evil. He convinced Eve that she would become like God if she just broke this one little rule. Eve responded in Genesis 3:3-5, but God did say, 'You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.'" Satan twisted that, "You will not certainly die," the serpent (the Devil) said to the woman. "For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil."
You see, by just adding one word, "not" he changed the whole meaning of God's word.. Just three letters, one little word and mankind has suffered ever since. But that's OK, after all, "it's a dry heat," isn't it?
Let me suggest that we be real careful when it comes to listening to the things the World or Satan tells us is OK. Because, everything we want to do is not OK with God. There are laws and commands of God that direct us in the way we are to live here on earth. The next time you are tempted to break one of God's rules, just remember that Satan is whispering in your ear, "but it is a dry heat."
Russ Lawson
Having been raised in the Mid-West I had always heard the saying, "It's a dry heat," but never really gave it much thought.
Living in the West now, we hear it quite often. In fact today on the weather they were talking about the 106 degree temperature going on for several days and the weather forecaster said, "But, it's a dry heat", like that was supposed to make it all better somehow. Being curious by nature I started thinking about that and thought I would try and find out just what that means. Here is the explanation I finally found, "When the humidity is high, sweat doesn't evaporate as much, and so our body loses some of the cooling effect that the evaporation of sweat provides".
I'm sorry, but when it is 106 degrees, it is just plain hot and I really don't like it! Give me 70 degrees and I'm in my comfort zone. (Apologies to my family that live in Phoenix, but it is still hot).
What is it with these sayings we hear repeatedly and do we even really think about what they mean. I heard a story about Satan coming to a man and trying to buy his soul with earthly pleasures. The man was almost convinced, but after thinking about it said, "I really don't think I could stand the fire in hell." To which Satan said, "But it's a dry heat!"
You know the devil is great at twisting things around to make bad things seem good. He's had lots of practice. All the way back in the Garden of Eden in the book of Genesis, he twisted God's commands to not eat of the fruit of The Knowledge of Good and Evil. He convinced Eve that she would become like God if she just broke this one little rule. Eve responded in Genesis 3:3-5, but God did say, 'You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.'" Satan twisted that, "You will not certainly die," the serpent (the Devil) said to the woman. "For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil."
You see, by just adding one word, "not" he changed the whole meaning of God's word.. Just three letters, one little word and mankind has suffered ever since. But that's OK, after all, "it's a dry heat," isn't it?
Let me suggest that we be real careful when it comes to listening to the things the World or Satan tells us is OK. Because, everything we want to do is not OK with God. There are laws and commands of God that direct us in the way we are to live here on earth. The next time you are tempted to break one of God's rules, just remember that Satan is whispering in your ear, "but it is a dry heat."
Russ Lawson
Tuesday, July 15, 2014
Satan has power
All Authority
Ken Klaus wrote about an experience that taught him a valuable lesson:
A year or two ago a friend offered me a ride in his custom Corvette. That machine was beautiful to look at, impressive to sit in. Riding a few inches off the ground, my friend put that contraption through its paces.
In first gear I was thrown back into the seat. In second gear it felt like the G-force was stretching my face, just like that of the astronauts during a blastoff. In third gear we blew by an 18-wheeler like he was standing still. It was fantastic!
Then, when we were doing about 1,000 miles an hour (I may be exaggerating there), we came up on a parked police vehicle. The Vette slowed down. The 18-wheeler slowed down. Everybody slowed down. And that's the point. That Vette had POWER! That 18-wheeler, with a full load and a big diesel engine, had POWER!
But now that parked police car....., it had AUTHORITY!
There are in this world a great many groups, individuals and organizations that have POWER. They have the financial, political or logical clout to impress us, seduce us and intimidate us. But when it comes to AUTHORITY, that's different. *
Satan has power. "His power lies in his ability to deceive. When we fall for his deceptions, we give him authority over our lives and he takes us captive" (Rob Chaffart). Jesus said, "Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin" (John 8:34). And, "the wages of sin is death" (Romans 6:23).
But Christ has power AND authority! He demonstrated these attributes throughout His earthly ministry by His miracles. His most astounding expression of power and authority was demonstrated when He died on the cross for our sins and was resurrected from the dead three days later. By His death, burial, and resurrection, He defeated Satan (cf. Hebrews 2:14) and made our redemption possible! "For God has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins" (Col 1:13-14).
In order to receive salvation and the gift of eternal life, we must submit our lives to the Authority of Christ by placing our faith and trust in Him (Acts 16:30-31), turning from our sins in repentance (Acts 17:30-31), confessing Him before men (Romans 10:9-10), and being baptized (immersed) into Christ for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38). Then as we continue to submit to His authority in obedience to His will, His blood will continue to cleanse us from sin (1 John 1:7).
There is power, but then there is power and authority! Jesus has both!
In fact, He has "ALL authority" (Matthew 28:18) and He is "the head over every power and authority" (Colossians 2:10). Therefore, He - and only He - has the power and authority to give you victory over sin and death!
Won't YOU accept His offer of salvation and life by submitting to His authority?
David A. Sargent,
Ken Klaus wrote about an experience that taught him a valuable lesson:
A year or two ago a friend offered me a ride in his custom Corvette. That machine was beautiful to look at, impressive to sit in. Riding a few inches off the ground, my friend put that contraption through its paces.
In first gear I was thrown back into the seat. In second gear it felt like the G-force was stretching my face, just like that of the astronauts during a blastoff. In third gear we blew by an 18-wheeler like he was standing still. It was fantastic!
Then, when we were doing about 1,000 miles an hour (I may be exaggerating there), we came up on a parked police vehicle. The Vette slowed down. The 18-wheeler slowed down. Everybody slowed down. And that's the point. That Vette had POWER! That 18-wheeler, with a full load and a big diesel engine, had POWER!
But now that parked police car....., it had AUTHORITY!
There are in this world a great many groups, individuals and organizations that have POWER. They have the financial, political or logical clout to impress us, seduce us and intimidate us. But when it comes to AUTHORITY, that's different. *
Satan has power. "His power lies in his ability to deceive. When we fall for his deceptions, we give him authority over our lives and he takes us captive" (Rob Chaffart). Jesus said, "Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin" (John 8:34). And, "the wages of sin is death" (Romans 6:23).
But Christ has power AND authority! He demonstrated these attributes throughout His earthly ministry by His miracles. His most astounding expression of power and authority was demonstrated when He died on the cross for our sins and was resurrected from the dead three days later. By His death, burial, and resurrection, He defeated Satan (cf. Hebrews 2:14) and made our redemption possible! "For God has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins" (Col 1:13-14).
In order to receive salvation and the gift of eternal life, we must submit our lives to the Authority of Christ by placing our faith and trust in Him (Acts 16:30-31), turning from our sins in repentance (Acts 17:30-31), confessing Him before men (Romans 10:9-10), and being baptized (immersed) into Christ for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38). Then as we continue to submit to His authority in obedience to His will, His blood will continue to cleanse us from sin (1 John 1:7).
There is power, but then there is power and authority! Jesus has both!
In fact, He has "ALL authority" (Matthew 28:18) and He is "the head over every power and authority" (Colossians 2:10). Therefore, He - and only He - has the power and authority to give you victory over sin and death!
Won't YOU accept His offer of salvation and life by submitting to His authority?
David A. Sargent,
Sunday, July 13, 2014
The Christian race
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of tnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.” (Heb. 12:1 ESV)
The other night I happened to be watching a special on TV about “The South”
or “Dixie” and a lot of the things associated with that area of our country.
Just to let you know, I’m “Southern” by birth and proud of it. In fact, I
believe the Earth is a Southern planet. One of the commentators was a famous
race car driver who talked, of course, about car racing in the South. The
thought of “racing” started my editorial engine running and our lesson this
morning is a direct by-product of my “engine’s” thought output.
You know, as Christians, we’re all running a race. I’m going to go way out
on a limb here and call it “The Race Of Life.” There are some interesting
aspects about this race and I think we should talk a few moments about them.
First of all, we’re running a race in which we don’t know the distance
involved. So we therefore don’t know how long we’ll be running. We only know
that once we start our Christian race we don’t stop until the end. The end, of
course, is when our earthly life comes to its end - death.
Another thing about this race that we can know is that there is a
“prize” awarded after its completion. (1Cor.9:24-27) But, there are
rules involved in our race and the passage cited in 1Corinthians basically tells
us that the only prize-winners are those who follow the rules. Now here’s an
interesting point about the rules: God sets the rules of the race because it is
He that awards the “prize.”
Many runners like to set their own rules, don’t they? But, Paul says there
that the prize-winners have to run “exercising self-control in all things.”
That simply means that we are to make our will subject to His Will, or in
other words, run according to the rules “the race set before us.”
We’ll talk more about the “prize” later.
Let’s look at some more details about our life’s race. What are we running
on? Well, the track on which we’re running is this world. And, allegorically,
just as the world isn’t all flat and smooth, neither are our lives. As the
earth has its hills and valleys, IE: highs and lows, so likewise do our lives.
We have our highs & lows, our ups & downs. We run through hills and
valleys, don’t we?
Do you realize what running on an uneven track makes this kind of race?
Yes, an endurance race. We could probably even describe it as an “obstacle
course” or perhaps even a “steeple-chase.” In other words, we’re not racing to
see who is faster, our goal is to finish the race and not let the obstacles of
the world cause us to drop out. See, it’s the “finishers” who “ran” according
to the rules that gain the “prize.”
There’s another Biblical word that fits with this thought of the type of
race we’re engaged in and how we’re running it. “Endurance” is the
word used in the opening cited passage while the KJV uses the word
“patience.” When we look at all the obstacles, the impediments, the
world puts in our way it’s easy to see why we have to have “patience,”
isn’t it?
And, these “impediments” are pretty much the same that all of us face while
going through life. In general, we have the “world problems” such as we’re
witnessing almost on a daily basis here lately. Things that have an effect, in
general, on everyone. But, each of us also have those “impediments” that are
specific and individual in our personal lives. It’s these things that Paul is
referring to when he says that we’re to “exercise control in all
things.”
Let’s return to some additional thoughts regarding “the prize”
before we wrap up this little lesson. In Romans the 2 chapter, verses 6-11 we
find some words of Paul that I feel fits with his words regarding the race.
Please read them for yourself as I pull out a few points to consider with our
topic today.
“He” will reward “to each one” (the runners of life’s
race) “according” to their “works” - (IE: how they ran.)
Those who “by patience in well-doing” (followed the rules) will receive
“eternal life.” But, those who are “self-seeking” (make their
own rules) and “don’t obey the truth” (The Rules) will receive
“wrath and fury.” In other words, their running will have been done in
vain. As to the national makeup of the runners, Paul says that it doesn’t
matter as long as they run for “glory, honor and peace and who does
good” (are righteous runners) because God is an impartial judge.
So then, what’s the “prize” for which we’re running to obtain?
Simply put: “eternal life.” Now there’s something to consider here
too. All runners are going to live eternally somewhere. Christians are running
for the “prize” of living eternally “in heaven.” The runners
who do not finish the race “faithfully” (2Tim. 4:7) are going to be
awarded “wrath and fury” for eternity. Doesn’t sound like the
“prize” I want to get after finishing my race.
Rather, I’d like to echo the words of Paul in regards to finishing his
personal race. Read them with me here as we close our thoughts for today.
“For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the
time of
my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have
finished
the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for
me the
crown of righteousness which the Lord, the righteous judge, will
award
me on that Day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved
His
appearing.” 2Tim. 4:6-8 (ESV)
Ron Covey
Friday, July 11, 2014
Is What I Know Really So?
Religion - Is What I Know Really So?
Consider this ear-grabbing sentence: "It ain't so much what folks don't know. It's that they know so much that just ain't so." Mark Twain said something similar - "We all do no end of feeling and mistake I for thinking." That mistake may be in view in Jesus' sad, sobering and jarring words in Matthew 7:21-23 - "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?' And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!'" This is a troubling text to thoughtful and God-fearing people.
The people described obviously had intense religious feelings, even about Jesus. They were not agnostics or atheists or God-haters. They were not adherents of some religious philosophy that denied Christ as the way to salvation. They repeatedly addressed Him as "Lord." They ministered in profuse, powerful, and popular ways including prophesying, exorcism, and wonder-working. All these were performed, they thought, "in Jesus name." They performed religious practices in full anticipation of Christ's favor and approval.
If you could have asked these people, "Are you saved?" the answer would have been a confident, "Yes!" But they were shocked to discover, far too late, that the things they knew for certain just weren't so. In all their religious fervor they neglected to do the most important thing of all - the will of God! There were specific things God commanded them to do they never got done.
My point here is not to create undue fear or be judgmental. My single aim is to stress that it is possible to be very religious and be convinced we are saved, and yet be lost. Romans 10:1-3 speaks to this issue and describes a very religious group of people who rejected God's way of salvation through His Son - " Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they may be saved. For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God."
The apostle clearly teaches that zeal, while commendable and necessary, is not sufficient to save if not guided by knowledge. And not just knowledge in general, but the saving knowledge God reveals to us in His word. The truth is still what sets us free (John 8:32; 17:17), and God's inspired Word is still the only trustworthy source of saving knowledge (2 Timothy 3:15-17; Romans 10:17).
Today's religious world is complex, confused and splintered. Even among believers in Jesus, there are many who mistake feeling for thinking and who know things that just aren't so as it relates to God's plan and will for salvation, worship in spirit and in truth, the church, Christian morals, etc.
If Christ can be trusted, there are "many" religious people who will be lost at judgment. In view of all these things, let us be committed to look to God's word and will as the only possible source for spiritual safety and security (1 John 2:3-6; 5:13). Then, and only then can we be assured that spiritually what we know is really so.
by Dan Gulley, Smithville, TN
Consider this ear-grabbing sentence: "It ain't so much what folks don't know. It's that they know so much that just ain't so." Mark Twain said something similar - "We all do no end of feeling and mistake I for thinking." That mistake may be in view in Jesus' sad, sobering and jarring words in Matthew 7:21-23 - "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?' And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!'" This is a troubling text to thoughtful and God-fearing people.
The people described obviously had intense religious feelings, even about Jesus. They were not agnostics or atheists or God-haters. They were not adherents of some religious philosophy that denied Christ as the way to salvation. They repeatedly addressed Him as "Lord." They ministered in profuse, powerful, and popular ways including prophesying, exorcism, and wonder-working. All these were performed, they thought, "in Jesus name." They performed religious practices in full anticipation of Christ's favor and approval.
If you could have asked these people, "Are you saved?" the answer would have been a confident, "Yes!" But they were shocked to discover, far too late, that the things they knew for certain just weren't so. In all their religious fervor they neglected to do the most important thing of all - the will of God! There were specific things God commanded them to do they never got done.
My point here is not to create undue fear or be judgmental. My single aim is to stress that it is possible to be very religious and be convinced we are saved, and yet be lost. Romans 10:1-3 speaks to this issue and describes a very religious group of people who rejected God's way of salvation through His Son - " Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they may be saved. For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God."
The apostle clearly teaches that zeal, while commendable and necessary, is not sufficient to save if not guided by knowledge. And not just knowledge in general, but the saving knowledge God reveals to us in His word. The truth is still what sets us free (John 8:32; 17:17), and God's inspired Word is still the only trustworthy source of saving knowledge (2 Timothy 3:15-17; Romans 10:17).
Today's religious world is complex, confused and splintered. Even among believers in Jesus, there are many who mistake feeling for thinking and who know things that just aren't so as it relates to God's plan and will for salvation, worship in spirit and in truth, the church, Christian morals, etc.
If Christ can be trusted, there are "many" religious people who will be lost at judgment. In view of all these things, let us be committed to look to God's word and will as the only possible source for spiritual safety and security (1 John 2:3-6; 5:13). Then, and only then can we be assured that spiritually what we know is really so.
by Dan Gulley, Smithville, TN
Thursday, July 10, 2014
Does it matter what we believe?
IS BELIEVING THAT YOU'RE RIGHT ENOUGH?
George Washington died at 67 years of age. On December 13th 1799 this hero of the Revolution woke up in the night not feeling very well. He had been soaked by rain the day before and now felt chilled to the bone; labored breathing, feverish, with a sore throat. He probably had the flu and maybe strep throat.
"Any Herbalist of the day could have treated him with elderberries, garlic, honey, cayenne pepper and onion poultices for his chest and I have no doubt he would have survived. But no, he was treated by standard medical doctors of the day who bled him, doused him with mercury, bled him some more, gave him calomel (a mercury preparation), bled him again and then gave him a mercury enema. With no sign of relief of the illness, they then argued amongst themselves whether or not they should do another bleeding. Dr. Elisha Dick was concerned that they had already drawn off 3 pints of blood and thought he was too weak for another bleeding. He felt Washington needed his strength to fight the malady. However he was the younger of the three Doctors, and Dr. James Craik and a Dr. Brown overruled him and drained another thirty two ounces of blood from his veins.
After hours of torture George Washington dismissed the doctors and stated that he wanted to die in peace. So 24 hours after getting the flu, these doctors managed to take him out of this life. Two weeks later Dr. Brown wrote to Dr. Craik with misgivings, lamenting that Washington might still be alive if they hadn't given the last bleeding, but justified their actions because, "It was the best light available".
Ignorance to natural law costs lives and indeed robed this nation of perhaps many more years of a great statesman." (Comments by David Christopher, M.H., School of Natural Healing)
The point is, just believing you are doing the right thing doesn't make it so! One of the best examples of this in spiritual things is the apostle Paul. Notice what he said about his life in Acts 26:9: "I used to believe that I ought to do everything I could to oppose the very name of Jesus the Nazarene."." (NLT)
Believing you are right without all of the facts or information can bring about death. I know that many folks in our world today would really like to believe that it really doesn't matter what you believe or what you do in life. They want to claim Christ without any commitment. And as much as folks may not want to hear it, and may refuse to listen, it really just doesn't work that way.
If you don't believe me just listen to what Jesus had to say in Matthew 7:21-23, "Not everyone who calls out to Me, 'Lord! Lord!' will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of My Father in heaven will enter. On judgment day many will say to Me, 'Lord! Lord! We prophesied in Your name and cast out demons in Your name and performed many miracles in Your name.' But I will reply, 'I never knew you. Get away from Me, you who break God's laws."
It made a difference to George Washington what the doctors believed. What you believe may be a matter of life or death (spiritually). Why not go right to the source and find out for yourself. Read God's Word today and everyday
Russ Lawson
George Washington died at 67 years of age. On December 13th 1799 this hero of the Revolution woke up in the night not feeling very well. He had been soaked by rain the day before and now felt chilled to the bone; labored breathing, feverish, with a sore throat. He probably had the flu and maybe strep throat.
"Any Herbalist of the day could have treated him with elderberries, garlic, honey, cayenne pepper and onion poultices for his chest and I have no doubt he would have survived. But no, he was treated by standard medical doctors of the day who bled him, doused him with mercury, bled him some more, gave him calomel (a mercury preparation), bled him again and then gave him a mercury enema. With no sign of relief of the illness, they then argued amongst themselves whether or not they should do another bleeding. Dr. Elisha Dick was concerned that they had already drawn off 3 pints of blood and thought he was too weak for another bleeding. He felt Washington needed his strength to fight the malady. However he was the younger of the three Doctors, and Dr. James Craik and a Dr. Brown overruled him and drained another thirty two ounces of blood from his veins.
After hours of torture George Washington dismissed the doctors and stated that he wanted to die in peace. So 24 hours after getting the flu, these doctors managed to take him out of this life. Two weeks later Dr. Brown wrote to Dr. Craik with misgivings, lamenting that Washington might still be alive if they hadn't given the last bleeding, but justified their actions because, "It was the best light available".
Ignorance to natural law costs lives and indeed robed this nation of perhaps many more years of a great statesman." (Comments by David Christopher, M.H., School of Natural Healing)
The point is, just believing you are doing the right thing doesn't make it so! One of the best examples of this in spiritual things is the apostle Paul. Notice what he said about his life in Acts 26:9: "I used to believe that I ought to do everything I could to oppose the very name of Jesus the Nazarene."." (NLT)
Believing you are right without all of the facts or information can bring about death. I know that many folks in our world today would really like to believe that it really doesn't matter what you believe or what you do in life. They want to claim Christ without any commitment. And as much as folks may not want to hear it, and may refuse to listen, it really just doesn't work that way.
If you don't believe me just listen to what Jesus had to say in Matthew 7:21-23, "Not everyone who calls out to Me, 'Lord! Lord!' will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of My Father in heaven will enter. On judgment day many will say to Me, 'Lord! Lord! We prophesied in Your name and cast out demons in Your name and performed many miracles in Your name.' But I will reply, 'I never knew you. Get away from Me, you who break God's laws."
It made a difference to George Washington what the doctors believed. What you believe may be a matter of life or death (spiritually). Why not go right to the source and find out for yourself. Read God's Word today and everyday
Russ Lawson
Tuesday, July 8, 2014
The United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism
Rewriting
The Bible
by Tom Wacaster
by Tom Wacaster
It seems that the 20th and 21st centuries may go down in
history as the age when men sought to rewrite the Bible and present to men what
THEY want to hear rather than what God wants them to hear. The modern versions
(for the most part) are the product of an attempt to put INTO the Bible the
creeds and doctrines of men rather than an honest evaluation and translation of
what God communicated to mankind. Calvinism is embedded in the New International
Version and modernism is manifest in the Revised Standard Version. Now we are
hearing of the Gender-Neutral Bible in which every masculine gender reference to
God, Christ and/or the Holy Spirit has been changed from He, Him, or His to
"it." That version barely hit the market when the homosexual activists decided
it was time to produce a so-called 'Bible' that either removed or edited every
reference to homosexuality so as to put the vile practice in a positive light.
So the beat goes on, and men in their stupidity think they can eliminate what
they don't like by simply rewriting the Bible. With the exception of the New
King James Version, every modern translation to hit the market in the last 50
years or so has propagated some kind of error, and the more liberal the
translation, the more error will be found therein.
Attacks upon the word of God are as old as man himself. Satan sought to place doubt in the mind of Eve by suggesting that God did not say what she thought He said. Satan was likely the first one to rewrite Biblical history in an attempt to achieve his desired end. The liberal theologians (if we dare call them theologians) of our day and age are also attempting to rewrite Old Testament history. Not to be confused with textual criticism, 'Higher Criticism' is an attempt to reconstruct the Bible by taking a cut and paste approach to the Scriptures, with more of a cutting than a pasting! For those who have not had the opportunity to study Higher Criticism, Textual Criticism, Modernism, and/or post-modernism, let me assure you that it is not one of my favorite fields of study. I react to such disrespect for God's word like so many fingernails scraping across the proverbial blackboard; it just rubs against the grain. For the most part, all such theologians take a very critical approach to the examination of the Bible. They begin with a "no miracles allowed" mindset, deny inspiration, and then attempt to attribute every prophecy of the coming Messiah in the Old Testament to a later date than when it was written, the obvious reason being to avoid any such thing as predictive prophecy; that would demand a miracle, and miracles are not allowed in their way of thinking. According to some "scholars" the book of Genesis is a "myth," filled with tales and fables with no more value than Mother Goose or Dr. Seuss (if even that).
One of the most recent attempts to rewrite the Old Testament was headed by (get this) the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism." A well-known rabbi, Harold Kushner, has co-edited what they call an "adventure" in which the publishers will "bid adieu to the childish version of the Bible." Archaeological evidence, in their opinion, is lacking to support most of the Old Testament stories that have come to be appreciated by Bible believers. Influenced by the "no absolutes" mentality of their kissing cousins in the field of philosophy, these new found spiritual leaders for our generation are quick to point out that "you just can't be sure about these things." One of the central themes of modernism and post-modernism is that you can't be sure about anything except what science proves, and sometimes you can't even rely on science! But with their human wisdom asserted, and the badge of stupidity displayed for all to see, they declare that "the Bible is a grossly overrated book" and that "no one today seriously accepts" any of the miracles of the Bible. I guess they took a poll that led them to that "overstated conclusion." I wonder why I was not asked to participate in that poll? As it turns out this "adventure" never received serious attention, and the project was abandoned a few years back. We are the better for it.
I have several books in my library in which the authors present irrefutable evidence of the reliability of both the Old and New Testaments. There are literally thousands of manuscripts, fragments, and copies of the New Testament compared with a mere handful of some of the great classics of literature. This makes, as one author declared, "the Bible the best documented book from the ancient world." The evidence is squarely on the side of the reliability and authenticity of the Bible. But then, modernists are not concerned with evidence. The modernists believe the old lie that if you tell someone something long enough and loud enough, they will eventually believe it, no matter how foolish it might seem to be, or how lacking in evidence to support their claim. While these modernists are bold and brash in their claim, I would simply ask: "Where is the evidence?" There is, on the other hand, sufficient evidence to the honest seeker of truth to prove that the book you hold in your hand is, beyond any shadow of doubt, the inspired word of God, all the modernists notwithstanding.
If, as the modernists would have us believe, the Bible is not reliable, that it has become corrupted, or that it is nothing more than a myth or fable, then why stop with the few translations we now have? Why not produce a 'bible' for every imagination of mankind? Is that not where we are headed? I'll close with an incident that occurred about two years ago. There was a debate being held on the Senate floor regarding a bill having to do with abortion (if I remember correctly). I do not recall the nature of the bill, but it is not what was in the bill as much as the reaction to it. Those sponsoring and supporting the bill appealed to the Bible as the basis for the legitimacy of the bill. One Senator, opposed to the bill, simply responded by saying, "Well, men wrote the Bible; men can change it!" How foolish of man to think he can, with the stroke of a pen, change the eternal truths contained therein. Modern man has come a long way in technology, science, medicine and electronics. But I can say without fear of contradiction that he has taken one giant leap backward when he thinks he can rewrite the Bible.
Attacks upon the word of God are as old as man himself. Satan sought to place doubt in the mind of Eve by suggesting that God did not say what she thought He said. Satan was likely the first one to rewrite Biblical history in an attempt to achieve his desired end. The liberal theologians (if we dare call them theologians) of our day and age are also attempting to rewrite Old Testament history. Not to be confused with textual criticism, 'Higher Criticism' is an attempt to reconstruct the Bible by taking a cut and paste approach to the Scriptures, with more of a cutting than a pasting! For those who have not had the opportunity to study Higher Criticism, Textual Criticism, Modernism, and/or post-modernism, let me assure you that it is not one of my favorite fields of study. I react to such disrespect for God's word like so many fingernails scraping across the proverbial blackboard; it just rubs against the grain. For the most part, all such theologians take a very critical approach to the examination of the Bible. They begin with a "no miracles allowed" mindset, deny inspiration, and then attempt to attribute every prophecy of the coming Messiah in the Old Testament to a later date than when it was written, the obvious reason being to avoid any such thing as predictive prophecy; that would demand a miracle, and miracles are not allowed in their way of thinking. According to some "scholars" the book of Genesis is a "myth," filled with tales and fables with no more value than Mother Goose or Dr. Seuss (if even that).
One of the most recent attempts to rewrite the Old Testament was headed by (get this) the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism." A well-known rabbi, Harold Kushner, has co-edited what they call an "adventure" in which the publishers will "bid adieu to the childish version of the Bible." Archaeological evidence, in their opinion, is lacking to support most of the Old Testament stories that have come to be appreciated by Bible believers. Influenced by the "no absolutes" mentality of their kissing cousins in the field of philosophy, these new found spiritual leaders for our generation are quick to point out that "you just can't be sure about these things." One of the central themes of modernism and post-modernism is that you can't be sure about anything except what science proves, and sometimes you can't even rely on science! But with their human wisdom asserted, and the badge of stupidity displayed for all to see, they declare that "the Bible is a grossly overrated book" and that "no one today seriously accepts" any of the miracles of the Bible. I guess they took a poll that led them to that "overstated conclusion." I wonder why I was not asked to participate in that poll? As it turns out this "adventure" never received serious attention, and the project was abandoned a few years back. We are the better for it.
I have several books in my library in which the authors present irrefutable evidence of the reliability of both the Old and New Testaments. There are literally thousands of manuscripts, fragments, and copies of the New Testament compared with a mere handful of some of the great classics of literature. This makes, as one author declared, "the Bible the best documented book from the ancient world." The evidence is squarely on the side of the reliability and authenticity of the Bible. But then, modernists are not concerned with evidence. The modernists believe the old lie that if you tell someone something long enough and loud enough, they will eventually believe it, no matter how foolish it might seem to be, or how lacking in evidence to support their claim. While these modernists are bold and brash in their claim, I would simply ask: "Where is the evidence?" There is, on the other hand, sufficient evidence to the honest seeker of truth to prove that the book you hold in your hand is, beyond any shadow of doubt, the inspired word of God, all the modernists notwithstanding.
If, as the modernists would have us believe, the Bible is not reliable, that it has become corrupted, or that it is nothing more than a myth or fable, then why stop with the few translations we now have? Why not produce a 'bible' for every imagination of mankind? Is that not where we are headed? I'll close with an incident that occurred about two years ago. There was a debate being held on the Senate floor regarding a bill having to do with abortion (if I remember correctly). I do not recall the nature of the bill, but it is not what was in the bill as much as the reaction to it. Those sponsoring and supporting the bill appealed to the Bible as the basis for the legitimacy of the bill. One Senator, opposed to the bill, simply responded by saying, "Well, men wrote the Bible; men can change it!" How foolish of man to think he can, with the stroke of a pen, change the eternal truths contained therein. Modern man has come a long way in technology, science, medicine and electronics. But I can say without fear of contradiction that he has taken one giant leap backward when he thinks he can rewrite the Bible.
Monday, July 7, 2014
Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice (Philippians 4:4)
As we make this pilgrimage of life
we should be the happiest people on planet earth. Oh, to be sure, the
circumstances of our lives are ever changing. One moment our lives are filled
with that which brings happiness but, as we all know, those moments of happiness
often change into moments of distress and affliction. Still, it doesn’t matter
what the moment is that we are experiencing, we have so much to cause our hearts
to rejoice (John 14:1-3, 2 Cor. 5:1). Stop and think for a moment; our
circumstances may change but the source of our joy never changes and there is
never a moment in our life that we cannot find comfort and joy in the precious
promises of God if we will but seek to find it (Heb,. 13:5, Phil. 4:6-7, Isa.
12:2-3, Rom. 8:29-39, Phil. 4:6-7)). Our faith in God should be strong enough to
always make those moments of distress and sadness only momentary pauses in our
lives.
I know that there is a combination of many things that lend themselves to enabling us to follow Paul’s admonition to always rejoice (1 Thess. 5:16). But I am convinced with all my heart that the one thing that will still the troubled waters of life, the one thing that can and will bring to us the peace that passeth all understanding (Phil. 4:7) is summed up in one word: “SALVATION”. Knowing that salvation has been brought down and is ours, just to be able to say that we are a child of God and as such we know that he will never leave us nor forsake us, should bring rejoicing into our life regardless of what circumstances surround us. Friends, we have a Saviour who can safely see us through all the conditions of this life, good or not so good—Rejoice in the Lord! We have a Saviour who knows just what we need and will, provided we love him and keep his commandments (John 14:5), supply those needs (Heb. 4:14-16). I tell you today in what is perhaps a feeble way, that being in Christ (Gal. 3:27), being a child of God (1 John 3:1, 4:4), should cause each of us to hold our heads high, keep our shoulders squared up and put a bounce in our step come what may in this life--Rejoice in the Lord always!
As we so often sing, “when the sky is gray, when we feel blue, when burdens seem great, look by faith, trust in His promises grand. Trust Him who leads you, He will keep your soul”. Study diligently the 23rd Psalm and be impressed with what our God does and will do for us so long as we trust and obey him. The Lord is our rock, our fortress, our deliverer and taking refuge in him we find the strength that enables us to ever rejoice (Psalms 18:2, 46:1, Heb. 6:18). There should be a smile on our face and a gleam in our eyes for all the world to behold.
The words of another of our grand old songs say it so well: "Sing and be happy, Press on to the goal, Trust him who leads you, He will keep your soul". Rejoice in the Lord always knowing that one day in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye we will be changed as we shed this earthly tabernacle and the day of deliverance becomes ours. The best is yet to come--Rejoice in the Lord, be happy as you sail the sea of life.
Charles Hicks
Saturday, July 5, 2014
KTXL-TV Stockton, California
Skin Deep
In many cases, it is quite possible that the old saying is true:"Beauty is only skin deep."
Because of his looks, Jeremy Meeks has many admirers. And where did most of his admirers first see him? Answer: When the Stockton, CA, police department posted his mug shot on their Facebook page. His mug shot went viral and now Meeks has signed on with an agent in the hopes of helping him to develop a career as a model. All of this is based on his physical appearance, not his "appearances" in court.
Last month, police arrested Meeks in Stockton after he left a house where search warrant was about to be carried out. A gun, ammunition and a small amount of marijuana were allegedly found in his car, police said. Meeks was charged with five felony weapon charges and one gang charge. Meeks' record reveals that he is a convicted felon who has been arrested multiple times since 2002, when the now 30-year-old served a two-year sentence for grand theft of a person, according to Stockton police. According to KTXL-TV in Stockton, Meeks was convicted of theft in 2005 and forgery in 2007 and served less than 75 days total for both offenses.
Shouldn't it disturb us that a person gets national attention as a model based on his physical appearance despite the fact that he is a criminal? Adapting a quote by Martin Luther King, Jr., "I look to a day when people will not be judged by the color [or the appearance, DAS] of their skin, but by the content of their character."
Perhaps another old saying should be emphasized: "Pretty IS as pretty DOES." Defining the meaning of this idiom, the Free Dictionary (www.thefreedictionary.com) states, "Just because you are good-looking does not mean you are a good person."
Samuel thought he had the new king picked out from the sons of Jesse because Eliab looked the part. "But the LORD said to Samuel, 'Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.'" - 1 Samuel 16:7
The heart of the issue is the issue of the heart....
Here is REAL BEAUTY: to see a sinner transformed into a saint, to see a person "wrapped up in himself" become focused on serving God and others, to see an image marred by sin changed more and more into the image of Christ.
THIS is the change - from the inside out - that God desires to effect in each and every one of us!
The transformation begins when we place our faith and trust in Jesus who died on the cross for us to set us free from sin (Acts 16:30-31), when we turn from our sins in repentance (Acts 17:30-31), confess Jesus before men (Romans 10:9-10), and are baptized (immersed) into Christ for the forgiveness of our sins (Acts 2:38).
The transformation continues as we "fix our eyes" on Jesus as our model and the Way of our salvation (Hebrews 12:2; John 14:6). As we continue to focus our lives on following Jesus, His blood continues to wash away our sins (1 John 1:7) and we are transformed more and more into His likeness (Romans 8:29).
Now that is REAL beauty!
Won't YOU submit your life to the only One who can bring true, lasting "beauty" into your life?
David A. Sargent
In many cases, it is quite possible that the old saying is true:"Beauty is only skin deep."
Because of his looks, Jeremy Meeks has many admirers. And where did most of his admirers first see him? Answer: When the Stockton, CA, police department posted his mug shot on their Facebook page. His mug shot went viral and now Meeks has signed on with an agent in the hopes of helping him to develop a career as a model. All of this is based on his physical appearance, not his "appearances" in court.
Last month, police arrested Meeks in Stockton after he left a house where search warrant was about to be carried out. A gun, ammunition and a small amount of marijuana were allegedly found in his car, police said. Meeks was charged with five felony weapon charges and one gang charge. Meeks' record reveals that he is a convicted felon who has been arrested multiple times since 2002, when the now 30-year-old served a two-year sentence for grand theft of a person, according to Stockton police. According to KTXL-TV in Stockton, Meeks was convicted of theft in 2005 and forgery in 2007 and served less than 75 days total for both offenses.
Shouldn't it disturb us that a person gets national attention as a model based on his physical appearance despite the fact that he is a criminal? Adapting a quote by Martin Luther King, Jr., "I look to a day when people will not be judged by the color [or the appearance, DAS] of their skin, but by the content of their character."
Perhaps another old saying should be emphasized: "Pretty IS as pretty DOES." Defining the meaning of this idiom, the Free Dictionary (www.thefreedictionary.com) states, "Just because you are good-looking does not mean you are a good person."
Samuel thought he had the new king picked out from the sons of Jesse because Eliab looked the part. "But the LORD said to Samuel, 'Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.'" - 1 Samuel 16:7
The heart of the issue is the issue of the heart....
Here is REAL BEAUTY: to see a sinner transformed into a saint, to see a person "wrapped up in himself" become focused on serving God and others, to see an image marred by sin changed more and more into the image of Christ.
THIS is the change - from the inside out - that God desires to effect in each and every one of us!
The transformation begins when we place our faith and trust in Jesus who died on the cross for us to set us free from sin (Acts 16:30-31), when we turn from our sins in repentance (Acts 17:30-31), confess Jesus before men (Romans 10:9-10), and are baptized (immersed) into Christ for the forgiveness of our sins (Acts 2:38).
The transformation continues as we "fix our eyes" on Jesus as our model and the Way of our salvation (Hebrews 12:2; John 14:6). As we continue to focus our lives on following Jesus, His blood continues to wash away our sins (1 John 1:7) and we are transformed more and more into His likeness (Romans 8:29).
Now that is REAL beauty!
Won't YOU submit your life to the only One who can bring true, lasting "beauty" into your life?
David A. Sargent
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