Honoring Our Veterans

Today – November 11, 2016 – is Veterans Day in the U.S.

Veterans Day is an official United States public holiday, observed annually on November 11, that honors military veterans; that is, persons who served in the United States Armed Forces.  It coincides with other holidays, including Armistice Day and Remembrance Day, celebrated in other countries that mark the anniversary of the end of World War I.  Major hostilities of World War I were formally ended at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918, when the Armistice with Germany went into effect.  The United States previously observed Armistice Day annually on the 11th of November.  The holiday was renamed Veterans Day in 1954 (from Wikipedia.com).

I am thankful for veterans who have served this country.

I am also thankful for many “spiritual veterans” who have impacted my life for eternity.  These are Christians who have served Christ and the church diligently through the years, who by their example have encouraged me – and many others – to do the same.  Here are a few of the many spiritual veterans for which I am eternally thankful:

Elbert Allsup, who taught me and many others, to sing “psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs” (Ephesians 5:19) from the heart.

Virgie Mae Ravier, who lived to be over 100 years old but never lost her loving kindness and sweet disposition.

Mildred Nelson, who taught me many wonderful lessons including the privilege and power of praying for others.

Dorothy Waters, who until she could do it no longer, was always taking care of someone.

Richard Lincoln, who was ever-active in the Lord’s service, generous, and engaging.

JoAnn Moorer, who modeled the traits of the “worthy woman” of Proverbs 31 so beautifully yet so humbly.

Robert Perry, who as his Lord, said, “Let the little children come to me,” and took them many places to serve and to play.

Claude Faulkenberry, Homer Henderson, and Marvin Irvin who served the Lord by serving the church as elders.

Annie Laurie Henderson, who loved the church as her own family.

Nellie Butts, who tirelessly taught children about God.

Eloise Crews and Anita Ryals, who were always thinking of and caring for others.

“And what more shall I say?  For the time would fail me to tell of…” (Hebrews 11:23) many, many more “spiritual heroes.”

Why are these some of my heroes?  Because they helped me to know Christ and what it means to serve Christ.

Spiritual veterans like these have taught me that Jesus Christ is God’s Son, the Savior of the World, who died on the cross for our sins so that we can be saved from sin and receive the gift of eternal life (John 3:16; Romans 6:23).

These spiritual veterans have shown me from the Scriptures that to be saved and have eternal life, we must place our faith and trust in Jesus (Acts 16:30-31), turn from our sins in repentance (Acts 17:30-31), confess Jesus before men (Romans 10:9-10), and be baptized (immersed) into Christ for the forgiveness of our sins (Acts 2:38).

“Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” – Hebrews 12:1-2

I’m sure that you know of many who have faithfully and tirelessly served the Savior and the church.  These “spiritual veterans” have pointed the way.

Won’t YOU follow them as they followed Christ (1 Corinthians 11:1)?

-- David A. Sargent

Affordable Care Act

Well, the election is over and for several reasons I’m happy that it is.  There were a lot of issues brought up and discussed (ad infinitum) during the campaign.  One of which serves as the inspiration for my editorial lesson today.

The issue of which I speak is the “Affordable Care Act”, otherwise known as “Obama Care.”   And, not just this policy alone, but really all of the man-made insurance policies.  We’re going to look at man’s plans versus God’s insurance plan.

When you look at man’s insurance plans we see that all of them have faults.  For example, the costs (premiums) are always changing, as in, going up.  What you pay now will increase later.  One thing is constant about this - they never decrease.  I once heard a very learned man say something that, the longer I live the more I come to understand his words.  He said that “the insurance companies own this country.”

As evidenced by the woes of the ACA, the insurance companies are not in the business to lose money.  I certainly haven’t discovered anything benevolent about them.  That’s why we see and hear the reports of many of the companies dropping out of the ACA. 

Plus, the coverage is “limited” and becomes even more so as the costs go up.  Funny how that works, isn’t it?   There’s really no such thing as “full coverage.”  Somewhere there are limits, usually hidden deep in the fine print.  And, besides the premium costs constantly rising, so is their close relative - “Co-Pays.”  Just remember this mantra - the insurance companies are not in business  to lose money.

Well, that’s a thumbnail sketch of the man-made insurance industry according to Covey.  Now, I’d like to talk a little bit about God’s Insurance Plan.  Basically it’s called “The Gospel Plan” which is the culmination of God’s plan that began with the promises made to Abraham that progressed to the first “written” policy called “The Mosaical Plan.”

As we know from our studies of the Old Testament, this was a “limited” plan.  And, it was designed to be so until the final and perfect plan came into being.  The “Gospel Plan.”  Should we be happy to see this plan?  You betcha!  Because the word “Gospel” means the “Good News.”

You know what else?  The Church is the “agency” established to promote the Gospel Plan and Christians are the “agents.”  Mark 16:15 says (paraphrasing) for all “agents” to go everywhere and tell everyone the “Good News” about “The Plan.”

Remember how man’s plans are, in some way, all limited?  The “Gospel Plan” has no limits as to who is eligible to enroll.  And, as Paul says in Rom. 3:23, everyone is in need of this “Plan.”  He says there that “All have sinned and come short of the Glory of God.”  The hard part is in convincing people that they need it.

And, in support of my assertion that this is the final plan (not going to be anymore plans available, read Heb. 10:26) and that it supercedes and is superior to the limited “Mosaical Plan” read Hebrews 7:22 with me.  “By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament, IE: “Plan.”  Look who the “surety,” the guarantor is - The Son of God Himself, Jesus Christ.

That also tells me that this “Plan” will never change.  Will never be dropped, because the highest premium has already been paid for it.  And that those who sign up (enroll) IE: obey the conditions of “The Plan” (repent, confess, be baptized and remain faithful) will enjoy the “eternal” benefits of it.

In Rev. 2:7 we read these words: “.... To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life which is in the midst of the paradise of God.”  Why is that such “Good News?”  When we turn to Rev. 22:2 we find our answer.  Because if we have access to the tree of life, we have the “healing of the nations.”  

In other words, no more sickness, sadness nor sorrow.  No more debilitating disease of infirmities.  With God’s Insurance Plan, in essence, just pick a leaf off of the tree and everything is “healed.”  I’d say that’s not only “Good News,” it’s “wonderful news.”

And the crowning benefit of God’s Plan is seen in Rev. 22:14.  “Blessed are they that do His commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life and may enter in through the gates into the city.” The “right to the tree of life” means we’re in heaven where the tree is located. 

In that “city” with God’s Insurance Plan, the premium is eternally paid therefor, no cost increases.  There are no “limits” on our policy there.  “Full coverage” with God’s Plan means exactly that - “Full coverage.”

However, we can’t forget the “Co-Pay.”  If one is not a member of God’s Health Care Plan I’m afraid you’re going to find your “Co-Pay” hard to bear.

Respectfully submitted,

Ron Covey

NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS

For the past twenty-seven years I have been trudging down to the gym several times a week to pump iron, bike, and swim laps. Don’t think I report that boastfully:  on the contrary, I’m not trying to bulk up or become Mr. Universe or anything like that.  It’s just that I have to battle an inherited disability:  you see, eating runs in my family.  I long ago made the unpleasant medical discovery that unless I regularly engage in some sort of activity that will elevate my heart rate and cause me to break a sweat, all those calories I consume will show up in places where I don’t want them.

Since I have been a regular gym rat for decades, I know what to expect this month. Every January the gym is filled with the New Year’s crowd. You know, those folks who have awakened from their holiday sugar binge and made their New Year’s resolutions to become healthier. The sudden surge after January 1 often causes delays when I want to get on my favorite Nautilus machine, but I don’t become too upset. I have learned to simply wait a few weeks, and the crowd will thin out again. It happens every year.

My personal observation in the gym seems to be typical of human nature in general. Fewer than half of all New Year’s resolutions last six months, according to a study by psychology professor John Norcross of the University of Scranton.  I haven’t done any research myself, but I have developed a tentative hypothesis to explain his findings:  I believe people give up on their New Year’s resolutions for the same reason they desert the gym – they arrive at the unwelcome discovery that making beneficial improvements in our life is hard work.

Few New Year’s resolutions involve eating more candy bars or taking more naps or running up a higher debt on our credit cards – those things are easy.  We set personal goals because we want changes in our life that are positive, and the positive changes we desire are, by definition,  

We set personal goals because we want changes in our life that are positive

difficult, or we would already be doing them.

My hypothesis is probably too obvious to win any research grants, but it does help to explain why Jesus candidly cautioned would-be disciples that following him is not easy (Luke 9:57-62). Since the Lord wants everyone to be saved and will never turn away a sincere seeker (John 6:37), I must conclude that Jesus issued such warnings to prevent disillusionment. Our Master knew full well that the “time of testing” would come for each one of us, and consequently some would fall away (Luke 8:13);  that is why he wants us to be prepared for difficulties and stresses that success comes by “persevering” (Luke 8:15). And, of course, on the Cross Jesus set the ultimate example of perseverance, so that by considering his example we would “not grow weary and lose heart” (Hebrews 12:1-3).

So, have you been tempted to give up on your faith, to “quit church,” to withdraw into spiritual isolation? Have you hit a rough patch in the road and now you are questioning your faith?  I wish I could give you some easy answers, but the Bible says nothing about easy discipleship. Following Jesus, like any other positive change is our life, is hard work. Please don’t ever think it is easy – just remember, it’s worth it.

“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest, if we do not give up” – Galatians 6:9.

–Dan Williams

Vice-President for Church Relations

Harding University
Searcy, Arkansas