The good news (the Gospel) is that Jesus, God’s Son, died on the cross for our sins

In a Hospital Room

I can identify with Chuck Webster; perhaps you can too.  Chuck is a minister who has visited a lot of people in the hospital.  Let’s learn from his insights:

As a minister I’ve visited hospitals a lot over the years, usually for a surgery or sickness that kept the patient in the hospital for a day or two, maybe longer.  Occasionally, though, it’s different.  Sometimes people are facing the day that in some sense they’ve always feared.

A few years ago I got a call from someone I didn’t know in another state, and she asked if I would visit a relative of hers who was in a local hospital.  I agreed, of course, but when I got to the hospital I realized the situation was more serious than I thought.  He was alone in ICU and was in critical condition.  I prayed with him, and he seemed to understand what was happening, then he stopped breathing.  I summoned the nurses, and they walked in and took over.

When you’re in the presence of death your first concern is for the people who are most intimately affected — the person himself, and then his family and close friends.  You want to do what you can to comfort them, to bring them peace, to help them feel God’s presence.

But then, inevitably, comes self-reflection. This introspection is natural, I think, and probably part of what the Teacher meant when he wrote, “It is better to go to the house of mourning than to go to the house of feasting, for this is the end of all mankind, and the living will lay it to heart” (Ecclesiastes 7:2).  He’s talking about funerals, but ICUs and ERs probably work almost as well.

“That day is coming for me,” we think.  One day my spouse or parent or best friend will be lying in a bed like that one.  What will I wish I had done?  What will I wish I had said?

And then even closer to home, one day I will be lying on that bed.  What will matter then?  My hobby, my job?  My house, my car, my things?

On that day, I won’t think a lot about much of what occupies my thinking now.  I won’t fret over the outcome of the football game, the worrisome noise in the SUV, the minor annoyances of life.

But I’ll want to know that I’ve walked with Jesus.  I’ll want to know that I helped the people around me to know the Lord.

I’ll have regrets, but I’ll find peace in knowing that God won’t hold them against me.  Jesus put them on his shoulders and carried them up Golgotha’s hill — every thoughtless word, every unkind act, every impure thought.  He became my sin so that I might become His sinlessness.  He took on my guilt so that I could be clothed in His innocence.

When that day comes for you and me, that’s all that’ll matter — our life with Jesus, and the corollary effects it had on our relationships with others.

Maybe I can paraphrase the Teacher’s words like this: “It’s better to go to an ICU room than to a dining room, because the hospital teaches us what’s most important.” *

Thank you, Chuck, for the poignant reminder that what matters most is our relationship with God.

The good news (the Gospel) is that Jesus, God’s Son, died on the cross for our sins so that we might have salvation and receive the gift of eternal life (John 3:16).

God will save those who place their faith and trust in Jesus (Acts 16:30-31), turn from their sins in repentance (Acts 17:30-31), confess Him before men (Romans 10:9-10), and are baptized (immersed) into Christ for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38).  He will continue to cleanse from sin those who continue to walk in the light of His Word (1 John 1:7).

Won’t YOU focus on what really matters: your relationship with God?  Won’t YOU accept His offer of salvation and eternal life by trusting and obeying Him today?

-- David A. Sargent

* From “What I Learned in a Hospital Room” by Chuck Webster

David A. Sargent

Can you spare a dime?

They Just Keep Coming!

by Tom Wacaster

  

You know the scenario. Someone knocks on the church door. Their story is typical of so many that you have heard before: “Can you spare a dime?” That was the plea during the days of the Great Depression, and with the impact of six decades of inflation, a dime does not go very far. Today it is, “Can you spare a dollar or two?” “How about some money for my bus ticket?” “Do you help pay electric bills?” Or how about this one—really! “Can you help me buy a lottery ticket for a chance to win some money?” They just keep coming! It is Tuesday morning. Locked in my office, isolated from the world, I think, “Maybe today I can get some serious study time in!” Then comes the phone call: “I need to talk to the Pastor.” I can already tell where this conversation is going. I could immediately tell by the tone of the voice that this would be another plea for help. I listened. The life history of the caller seemed to be important, so I listened until my patience had worn thin, and finally asked, “Can you explain to me what it is you want?” Bottom line? Husband out of work; has been for more than two years. Food stamps don’t cover all they need. Can we help pay their electric bill now two months delinquent and about to be cut off by the electric company. I did my best to inform this woman on the other end of the line that the church is not a benevolent organization established for the purpose of helping people meet their financial needs. It is a spiritual body intended to addresses the needs of the sin-sick soul. Now her patient plea immediately went south, and she began to blaspheme the very God to whom she was appealing for help. As I hung up the phone I thought, “What an incredible waste of ten minutes.” I barely got the phone back on the receiver when two people were ringing the bell. I’ll not explain why I had to be the one to answer the door, but it was my lot to go to the door. Who knows what Fed-Ex or UPS might be bringing. It was not Fed-Ex, UPS, the mail man, or Jack Frost with an bucket full of money. You guessed it. Two—not one, but two – requests standing outside my door. Both had umbrellas to protect themselves from the rain; both were wanting to catch the bus at the stop adjacent to the building. Both were lacking in necessary funds to purchase a ticket. “Are you the Pastor?” I could honestly say, “No; I’m one of the preachers.” “Well, can we come inside and talk to you?” “No, its not a convenient time. Please come when the secretary can talk to you.” “Oh, we have to catch a bus, and we need some money to get us to town.” I tried to explain that we don’t hand out money, but I could see they were determined. Their stories were the same old excuses for lack of money that I had heard dozens of times. I wanted to ask them, “If you don’t have the money for bus fare, why in the world did you get out in the rain in the first place?” Instead, I could feel that my time for study and other responsibilities was quickly getting away from me. I had two $5 bills in my pocket, and against my better judgment I simply emptied my wallet into their hands and told them to catch their bus.

Yes, they just keep coming. I don’t expect that my generosity [if I could call it that at the moment] would do much to stop the continual flow of those who, for one reason or another seem to make it a practice to ask others for assistance in meeting their obligations. I know God’s word teaches me that I am to labor “with my hands the thing that is good” in order that I might “have whereof to give to him that hath need” (Eph. 4:28). But they keep coming! Yes, I know that Jesus told us, “Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away” (Matt. 5:42). But they keep coming! Not just seven, but seventy times seven! May I share with you some advice that might help you keep your sanity when you are having a day like the one I am having?

First, the irresponsible citizens of this society (or any society for that matter) will never go away. This is one of the prices we have to pay for freedom and affluence. Churches are not the only ones inundated with requests for help. No doubt some of you have been asked for help by some dubious character walking down the sidewalk or approaching you at Walmart or the local self-serve gasoline station.

Second, Jesus told us, “For the poor ye always have with you” (Matt. 26:11). The challenge is distinguishing between those who are genuinely poor and those who are poor because they brought it upon themselves, or even worse because they are just plain lazy. It is the truly needy  for which God has compassion; it is the lazy and indolent that receives God’s scorn.

Third, it is never wrong to give unto others. God has promised that He will repay those who are willing to share what they have with others (cf. Matt. 10:42). The Macedonians gave out of their “deep poverty” (2 Cor. 8:2), and I have no doubt they were blessed by God. So, on those occasions when you do give to others, find comfort in knowing God will reward you.

Fourth, tis better to be ‘takin in’ by a con artist than to miss just one opportunity to do some good unto others. I’m not saying to give to every person who asks, just to avoid missing an opportunity. Take time to ask some simple questions and pray that God will give you wisdom to properly analyze whether it is a genuine need or not.

Fifth, exercise stewardship with regard to what God has given  you (1 Cor. 4:1-2). I do not think God intends us to squander what we have in order to meet the selfish demands of those who refuse to work and labor for their daily food.

Sixth, if a man will not work, neither should he eat (2 Thess. 3:10). Keep in mind that Paul did not say those who COULD not work, but those who WILL not work; there is a difference. Too bad our government can’t learn this simple lesson.

Seventh, maintain a sense of civility even in the presence of those who are not civil. I am amazed at the sheer number of those who seek assistance from churches yet have no church affiliation whatsoever. They have never given to God, but for some odd reason they now think that God should give to them.  Quite often those who we turn away become so angry that their tongues manifest what is really in their heart; and it is not good.

Eighth, behind every phone call, or every knock on the door, there is a potential opportunity to introduce someone to the gospel. I’m not saying everyone who calls or visits us is good soil, or that they will respond to our invitation to study; in fact, most do not. My sad experience is that 99.999% never darken the doorway of the church once you have helped them; even after you have helped them more than once.

Finally, be thankful for interruptions; they sometimes provide you with material for discussion, or, in my case, material for yet another “Tom’s Pen.” Well, there goes the phone again.  They just keep coming!

~~~~~

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God

What Do Ye More Than Others?

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus asked a penetrating question: “If ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same? And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so?” (Matthew 5:46-47).  The immediate context discusses our treatment of others.  It specifically instructs us to do good, even to those who have shown themselves to be our enemies.  This is a difficult challenge for us all.

The principle of ‘what do ye more than others’ has wide application to all of our service for the Lord.  Consider:

1) Bible study:  If the only time you open your Bible is an occasional flipping of the pages during the Sunday morning worship service, then we would suggest that you aren’t doing anything more than most other people do in our Biblically illiterate society.  A regular habit of genuine Bible reading and study is rare in our day and time.  Are you such a student, or are you only doing what most other folks do?

2) Attendance:  All the statistics indicate that church attendance is way down in our culture.  Few people attend services on a regular weekly basis.  Other activities (mostly recreational) keep people away.  What about you?  Are you different from the majority? Do you conscientiously adjust your schedule so that you can be present all the time?

3) Giving:  It is common for folks to contribute a few dollars on any given Sunday. Typically this is money that is ‘left over’ after personal wants and wishes have been fulfilled – it’s not a high priority budget matter – it’s sort of an after thought.  The Scriptures teach that our giving ought to be carefully planned and sacrificially offered (1 Cor. 16:1,2; 2 Cor. 9:6,7),  Are you doing more than others in regards to your giving?

4) Evangelism:  We’ve all heard that no one should discuss politics or religion.  But in reality almost everyone these days will discuss politics – while religion remains seriously ‘off limits’.  Do you agree with this common approach?  Do you keep your faith to yourself?  Or, are you willing to let others know where you stand and what you believe?

5) Purity of life:  Jesus said, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God” (Matthew 5:8).  But the world promotes an entirely different lifestyle.  Filthy movies and dirty TV shows, immoral content and pornography on the Internet, sexual sins, drinking alcohol, dancing, gambling – all these are typical among those in the world, and unfortunately among many who call themselves Christians.  Are you just following the crowd, doing no more and no different from others?  Or, are you striving to live the pure moral life that the Lord desires?

“What do ye more than others?”  That’s a worthy question for us all to consider.  What about your life, your example, your devotion to the Lord?  Think!

- by Greg Gwin