November 2nd

In two days it will be November 2^nd, the day for which we've all been waiting, lo these many months - election day! In two days it will all be over. No more TV ads blaring a bunch of innuendos about the character of some politician's opponent. Is it just me or does this latest election cycle seem to be more vitriolic in nature than the others have been? Without giving away my age, I've seen many elections come and go and they just seem to get worse in mud-slinging and character assassination with each one.

I don't editorialize on politics in the sense that I promote one candidate over another, but I do use "politics" and "politicians" in general to teach lessons. And, I have to admit that they do provide some great (as in appropriate) illustrations, usually in the negative sense. Today's editorial will be of the nature of offering some advice to all politicians everywhere, but especially those already elected and those seeking to be elected to a seat in the federal government realm of politics. It will also provide advice to us as we make our decisions on who to vote for.

I ran across this "advice" quite a few years ago and in fact cited it once in an editorial "way back when." I remembered it and dug it out from the catacombs, dusted the cobwebs off of it, reread it and decided that it would be something we might need to consider again as we see "the day" approaching. If I'm successful with my presentation, you'll see this lesson apply to both "the day," (Nov. 2^nd) and "the day" of the Lord, (date unknown).

The "advice" which I'm about to cite to you was written by a minister (name unk.) back in the year 1916. I just wish that my editorials were read by some of our elected officials because, if they were, they might recognize the wisdom voiced by the words of that unnamed minister and act accordingly. He entitled his wise words "The Ten Cannots." Read them with me here and see if you don't agree with him and find his insight very applicable to today.

            You cannot bring about prosperity by discouraging thrift.

            You cannot help small men by tearing down big men.

            You cannot strengthen the weak by weakening the strong.

            You cannot lift the wage earner by pulling down the wage payer.

            You cannot help the poor man by destroying the rich.

            You cannot keep out of trouble by spending more than your income.

            You cannot further the brotherhood of man by inciting class hatred.

            You cannot establish security on borrowed money.

            You cannot build character and courage by taking away men's

            initiative and independence.

            You cannot help men permanently by doing for them what they

            could and should do for themselves.

I don't know about you, but I see each and everyone of these "cannots" being violated by our current class of politicians and it worries me. I'm particularly concerned by "cannot #7," the inciting of "class hatred" that seems to be rearing its ugly head lately and it reminds me of another "cannot." One spoken by Jesus and reiterated by Abraham Lincoln: "And if a kingdom/house be divided against itself, that kingdom/house cannot stand." (Mark 3:24-25)

I said that this lesson would also apply to "the day" coming which is of much more importance than this or any other "election day." I suppose we could refer to it as our "election day" as it will be the day in which Christ returns and takes the "elect of God" home with Him to Heaven. (Ref. Col. 3:12 and 1 Thess. 1:4) And, when you think about it, this will be the most important day in the life of everyone who ever lived on this earth, both of the "elect" and the "non-elect."

Since we're looking at "cannots" lets look at a few that pertain to the importance of which "party" we're in on "that day." Obviously, if the "elect" get to go home with Christ and be with God forever in Heaven, then the "non-elect" are relegated to another location. I don't think that we have to spend any time or space in this editorial surmising where that "forever" location will be so rather, let me provide you with some Biblical "cannots" that help illustrate the difference in the two "parties" and their designated eternal destinations.

I think that by knowing these "cannots" you can make the proper decision as to the election of the party in which you want to belong. And, I have to tell you that, you have to make a choice because Christ says "No man can serve two masters... that you cannot serve God and mammon." (Matt. 6:24) You see, by not choosing God as your "master" (His "party"), by default puts you into Satan's "party", the "non-elect party."

How about a little further look into the platform, so to speak, of God's "party." In defining how one becomes a member of "God's elect," His "party" we see in John 3:5 Christ laying out the basic membership requirement: "Verily, verily, I say unto thee, except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God." Then, in another place (Luke 14:27) we find Him saying this: "And whosoever doth not bear his cross and come after me, cannot be my disciple."

Ok, we've discussed the eligibility requirements for being in God's "party," IE: first being "in," or a "disciple" of His Son, but we need to also understand that should we decide to, shall we say, "switch parties" we also switch eternal destinations. In John 15 Christ likened Himself as "the true vine" and His disciples as "branches." He goes on to say that should we switch party allegiance we'd be like a lopped-off limb because, as said there in John, a "...branch cannot bear fruit of itself." It has to stay connected to "the vine" in order to be viable.

The "vine," as used by Christ to represent Himself, is what we call a metaphor. In closing our thoughts today, I'd like to portray this last point of the lesson about staying true to "God's party" and understanding the consequences of leaving it by using one more metaphor, that of a "ship." I see this metaphor as relative to the "party" of God. I think that you'll easily see the connection.

                    "Except ye abide in the ship, ye cannot be saved." (Acts 27:31)

Ron Covey

Dan Rather

"The dream begins with a teacher who believes in you, who tugs and pushes and leads you to the next plateau, sometimes poking you with a sharp stick called 'truth.'"

Dan Rather, American journalist (1931- )

 

Barnes & Noble nook

Barnes & Noble introduced a new version of their digital reader a couple of days ago. This new "Nook" will be in color, unlike previous readers which only displayed print in black letters on a white screen. We suspect other readers will follow closely with their own color versions.

 

If you're reading this (is that a dumb way to begin this sentence?!), you already know about digital reading. You also likely know that ebooks are now all the rage. Oprah Winfrey made a splash a couple of years ago when she promoted the Kindle, Amazon.com's version of a digital reader. Now there are multiple devices available, and prices continue to fall. Of course, a computer connected to the Internet has long had the capabilities that these newer devices have.

 

Why would a person be interested in an electronic reading device? Because it taps into a world of literature, adding a new level of convenience. You can shop for books using these devices and download whatever you'd like to read. Instead of having shelves full of books that you've read (and may never read again), you have only a handheld device, able to open any of the "books" you've downloaded. You can also download hundreds of the older classics for free.

 

In a July 19, 2010 story in the New York Times, Amazon announced that sales of ebooks are now outpacing sales for hardcover books. For every 100 hardcover books sold in the three previous months, 143 ebooks were sold. That type of trend has been noted by other major sellers of books. It has led some to ask if books will survive. Some libraries are already making significant cuts in their purchases of "hands-on" books.

 

And what about "the" book, the Bible? Does all of this suggest that one day the Bible will no longer enjoy its place as the best-selling book of all time? Will it even exist in the future?

 

I'm not a predictor of future events, but I do know something Jesus stated clearly: "Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away" (Luke 21:33). According to Jesus, God's word will be around for a long time.

 

Peter reaffirmed this claim in 1 Peter 1:23-25: "... having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever, because 'All flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of the grass. The grass withers, and its flower falls away, but the word of the Lord endures forever.'"

 

Does this mean that hardcover and leather-bound copies of the Bible will continue to grace the shelves of bookstore? I can't predict that (though I feel that there will always be a place for printed books). The important thing, however, is not the medium, but the message. Whether I read from a papyrus parchment, a printed page or a digital device, it's God's message that has power.

 

Words on a page have no power at all until they are transferred into our hearts. That's what James urged: "Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls" (James 1:21). No, God's word is not endangered. But a human soul without God's saving word? That's a scene of impending doom!

 

Timothy D. Hall.

 

Bill Gates

"Life is not fair.  Get used to it."

Bill Gates, American business magnate (1955- )

 

Poems about Jesus

Pierced hands, feet and side, but He'd simply abide

With the plan of redemption in sight

Since all men were cursed, lost, Jesus paid the high cost

Oneness in Him is God's holy delight.

World of men in confusion stand beguiled by illusion

That many ways, conflicting, are yet true

But in woeful compromise, they fall short of the prize

Who, despite truth, do not what God says to do.

Full and free, Christ's shed blood, forms that atoning flood

Which can save one who God's law has breached

But, though free, it has cost, so to save one who's lost

One must go where the blood can be reached.

Balm of Gilead bleeding gives grace so exceeding

Such hope found in His gift so free

Obedient and faithful, I find blessings so hopeful

Which brightens my daily journey.

Our orders, His demands, delivered by nail-scarred hands

He calls Christians to spread broad the news

And molded by recognition, the daily commission

Is their seeking the lost e'er they lose.

In times of fear and war, and whether near or far

Still unity must be our cry

For eternity lurks, may there be none who shirks

The plea for which Jesus did die.

Men's fickle trends fall, but towering over it all

Is the prayer of a Lord before His dying,

One as He and God are, there's our beacon and star

Purest unity all error denying.

 

-- Neal Pollard

James 1:26

It's strange isn't it, how things occasionally just "slip out of our
mouths." We really never meant to say whatever we said, but sometimes we do.
For me, most often I find it hard to keep my mouth shut when someone is
sharing their problems of present difficulty with me. It's natural (I
think), to want to commiserate with them, to share with them and let them
know that you have experienced similar things in your life. Most of the time
though; what they really need is just a listening ear on which to unburden
themselves.

We have the same problem when someone mentions another person, far too often
in a negative way. We are tempted to "join in" and add our personal comments
regarding that person or persons. At times we may even be the one who is in
the forefront of the discussion.

At other times, we may be speaking directly to someone and either on purpose
or inadvertently say something hurtful or mean. Once it is said, it's
impossible to take it back.

One author wrote: "My grandson, Justus, age 10, and his sister Taylor, age
13, were always teasing each other. One day, Justus was getting "sensitive"
about things his sister was saying to him. I reminded him that he had said
the same types of things many times in days past. With quiet reflection, he
spoke a gospel truth: "But it doesn't hurt as much coming out of my mouth as
it does going into my ears."

There is a children's song that says, "Be careful little tongue what you
say. the Father up above is looking down in love, so be careful little
tongue what you say!

James puts it this way in James 1:26, "If you claim to be religious but
don't control your tongue, you are fooling yourself, and your religion is
worthless." (NLT)

There are times I mess up and say the wrong thing, even though I try very
hard not to. Thankfully my wife is very forgiving, but I am even more
thankful to my God that he is even more forgiving! How are you doing?

Russ Lawson

Who first spoke of slippery slopes?

 

                                "The righteous shall inherit the land, and dwell therein

                                  forever. The mouth of the righteous speaketh wisdom

                                  and his tongue talketh of judgment. The law of his God

                                 is in his heart; none of his steps shall slide." Psa. 37:29-31

There is a phrase I've heard used of late and I'm going to use it as the catalyst for today's lesson. The phrase to which I refer is "Slippery Slopes." I don't know about you, but I have no problem understanding the meaning of that phrase. I've been on "slippery slopes" several times in my life, as I'm sure you have also.

There are lots of natural "slippery slopes" about for us to discover. Icy sidewalks for one. I grant you that here in SoCal we have very few icy sidewalks, but they do sometimes occur. Especially in the mountains when you happen upon a phenomenon known as "black ice." Whoa Nellie, I'm here to tell you that you can be in for Mr. Toad's Wild Ride if you're not careful.

Back in the mid-west part of the country one sees a little sign on all the bridges one comes to that reads: "CAUTION - ice forms on the bridge first." Trust me, it does. But, you know, mud, snow or even fallen leaves have sent me "sliding" down the slope too. I don't like to slip and slide and especially don't like to fall. Cal. Tech doesn't like me falling either. They say it upsets their seismographs.

But, let's talk for a few minutes today about some Biblical "sliding." Or, maybe we could refer to it as "Spiritual sliding." Probably the first Bible reference I think of is something we see as a very poignant picture in Deuteronomy that's called "The Song of Moses." It's basically a song detailing the final prophecy of Moses and, as you read it you almost hear a funeral dirge for Israel being sung. After all his efforts in behalf of his people Israel, think how sad Moses must have felt to be prophesying these words. Read this in chapter 32.

He talks about the wonderful things that God had done for the people and yet when they "waxed fat" they forsook Him. This is after He cared for them as an eagle that watches over her chicks. After they had been provided all of the good things of life. They shot off into idolatry and God was very displeased with their attitude. So much so that He said "I will heap mischiefs (disasters) on them; I'll spend my arrows upon them." (Verse 23)

I don't know about you, but I'd just as soon NOT have The Lord piling disasters on me and shooting His arrows at me. I'm going to assume that He's a pretty good marksman. See Israel was sitting nice and safe, not to mention fat and wealthy, but then they stepped out on the "slippery slope" of idolatry. The "slippery slope" of wanting to be like their neighbors around them. Wanted to be like the "Jones's".

God, through Moses, warned them about this "slippery slope" they were getting out on. That they were getting themselves involved with, and into, things that were not only bad for them, but was going to bring them harm if they persisted in running around out there on that "slope." He warned them that there were some absolutely terrible thing stored up for their punishment if they didn't straighten up.

But you know, He knew that they would go right on trying to keep their balance out there on that "slippery slope." Look at what He says in verse 35: "To me belongeth vengeance, and recompense; their foot shall slide in due time..." Then He sort mocks them and says (I'm paraphrasing) "now that you're sliding and falling, where are your gods. Obviously they can't do you any good."

Well, don't you think a lot of people today are pretty much like the Israel that Moses is "singing" about in his song? And you know what, we can also find ourselves out on a "slippery slope" sometimes, can't we? It's easy to say, "nah, I won't do anything like they did," but when you say that, remember what Peter said; "Me, Lord, no way, not me Lord."

And when you think about it, we've got a lot of "slippery slopes" in the world today that can easily cause us "mischiefs." Just take a moment and think of some. A few that immediately come to my mind are "slopes" like "euthanasia." Are we getting to the point in our society where it's OK to arbitrarily kill someone who is sick. You don't want to open that door. Pretty soon, there'll be "others" who can decide whether you are worthy of being kept alive.

I'm not even going to address the "slope" of same-sex marriage. Where that can lead to is downright scary, not to mention vile. But the "slope" of same-sex marriage is just part and parcel of the "slope" of moral declivity pervading our society. We have lowered the standards of just about everything to do with society today and in so doing, have created a myriad of "slippery slopes."

Here in California there's a measure on the ballot to legalize marijuana.  If that's not a "slippery slope" I don't know what is.  Here's an opinion from a retired police officer who used to enforce our state's narcotics laws:  marijuana is a "Controlled Substance."  There are very valid reasons for it being "controlled."  Why then, would we as a society, want to make something that's dangerous to society, both healthwise and in many other ways "uncontrolled?"  With all my heart and mind, I just don't want to see our society kick over that "proverbial rock."  To step out there on that particular "slippery slope."

Yeah, maybe some might say that they're not like old Israel, they're not worshiping idols, but guess what? It doesn't matter what the name of the "slippery slope" is that you're treading, rest assured that "your foot will slide in due time." And when that "time" comes, you'll wish that you hadn't found out what "mischiefs/disasters" the Lord has stored up for "sliders" and you'll, no doubt, find out just how good an "arrow" shooter God is.

Ron Covey

Theodore Roosevelt, 26th President of the United States

"The only man who makes no mistakes is the man who never does anything."

Theodore Roosevelt, 26th President of the United States (1858-1919)

 

Helen Nielsen

"Humility is like underwear...essential, but indecent if it shows."

Helen Nielsen, American author (1918-2002)

 

Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be

It's funny how things transpire in my mind that brings me to write spiritual
lessons of an editorial nature. I was watching a TV show last night and the
subject of "storage facilities" (factually - "self-storage units") was
mentioned. This caused me to connect that topic with part of a Bible class
lesson I taught sometime back and which I just had reason to have out of the
files. This was a lesson comparing Pharoah of Egypt with Satan so, with your
indulgence, I'm going to combine these two thoughts for our lesson today.
First, let's talk about "storage units." They're everywhere and seemingly
more are being built everyday. I did some research and was astonished at
what I found out about these facilities. At the end of 2009 there were
51,000 plus storage facilities IN THE U.S. ALONE! They are owned by 30,235
different companies and the combined floor space of said facilities is 2.35
billion square feet. The statistics also reported that one in ten households
rents at least one unit. Isn't that amazing?

Now, what does that tell us about our society? It tells me that we're
"possessed" with our "possessions." Perhaps "obsessed" with our
"possessions" is a more appropriate way of saying it. We like our "stuff,"
our "things," don't we?

Okay, having said that, let's talk about good old Pharoah. In the early
chapters of Exodus we find the Children of Israel in captivity in Egypt,
ruled by Pharoah. ("Captivity" sounds too nice, in actuality, they were
slaves.) We see where God chooses Moses to lead them out of bondage (Egypt)
and to the "Promised Land." Since this will be a "type versus antitype"
lesson, we see Moses as a "type" of Christ - a Messiah.

We also see that Pharoah doesn't want them to leave for the simple reason
that he'll lose his slaves - his workforce. Therefore he refuses to let them
go. That's when we see the negotiations begin between Moses (speaking for
God) and Pharoah. It doesn't take long for these negotiations to break down.
In reality, they never got off the ground. That's when we see the "plagues"
begin.

After a few plagues, negotiations restart and this is where we start seeing
some "tactical changes" made by Pharoah. First T/C: OK, go, BUT stay in the
land. (Ex. 8:25) This was not OK with God. Then T/C number 2: OK, go, BUT
don't go very far. (8:27) Still a no-go with God. Nr. 3 T/C: OK, go, BUT
just the men - no children. (10:8-11) This too, was not an option acceptable
to God. Then we come to the 4th Tactical Change of Pharoah, and the one that
gets us into the spiritual aspects of our editorial lesson.

In the 4th T/C, Pharoah said, OK, you can go BUT, leave your "flocks and
herds" here. Uh-oh, Pharoah's playing hardball now. He knew that people put
a lot of store by their "possessions" which is exactly what "flocks and
herds" equate to. To see this in a "Biblical" way, Pharoah knew where their
"treasure" lay. Now, let's look at the spiritual application of all of this.

As already mentioned, this is a "type versus antitype" lesson and as such,
is a lesson wherein something from the past (IE: Old Testament) is
represented by something from the now (IE: New Testament). Thus what we have
here is PHAROAH (type) represented by SATAN (antitype). Also, we have ISRAEL
in "type" representing "Christians" in "antitype. With our "types" and
"antitypes" set, let's get to the nitty-gritty of the lesson.

I believe that we live in a very materialistic society today. In a society
that's obsessed with its possessions. As previously said, we like our
"stuff." Wouldn't you say that this is evidenced by 51,000 plus
"self-storage facilities?" And don't you think that, just as Pharoah knew
the hold possessions had on the Israelites, Satan knows the same thing about
us? That he knows the influence on our lives that our possessions have?
(Those are rhetorical questions - of course he does.)

Can't you just hear Satan say: "OK, you can dabble in Christianity, just don't
let it effect your pocketbook." Or, "don't let it effect your business." Or,
even more so, "don't let it keep you from your RV's, your entertainments,
your worldly recreations." You can just "say you're a Christian, but don't
really become one." "Don't give up your possessions to become one."

You see, Satan knows, just like Pharoah knew, that if he can keep people
more interested in their possessions than in serving God, he will never lose
his hold over them. Of course he knows these things. Look at how God
describes him in Gen. 3:1 when he was in the form of the "serpent": that he
was "more subtle (shrewder) than any other..." In other words, Satan knows
what influences work on us "human beans" and knows how to employ them.

Let's wrap this lesson up by looking at the result of listening to and
buying into this argument of Satan. And, I have to tell you, it's a very
simple equation. If you do accept Satan's tactics, whatever your
possessions, your things, your "treasures," - they are worth more to you
than your soul. Because that's what you'll trade it for. And, if you think
being a slave to Pharoah was bad, stand by....

Ron Covey

Alfred Nobel

"If I have a thousand ideas and only one turns out to be good, I am satisfied."

Alfred Nobel, Swedish chemist, engineer, innovator, and inventor of dynamite (1833-1996)

 

1 Peter 5:8-9

When a concert is going to take place, there are many people who get
involved in the setup process. One particular job requires the workers to
walk across four-inch rafter beams, which are a hundred feet or more above
the floor, and hang up speakers and spotlights. One singer by the name of
Steve Green said this about those workers, "The fellows I talked to weren't
bothered by the sight of looking down a hundred feet. What they didn't
like, they said, were jobs in buildings that had false ceilings (acoustical
tile slung just a couple of feet below the rafters). They were still high
in the air, and if they slipped, their weight would smash right through the
flimsy tile. But their minds seemed to play tricks on them, lulling them
into carelessness."
Many times this is exactly how sin works in our lives. It is much
easier to resist sin when we see the tremendous fall that is right under our
feet. We understand that if we commit this sin, there will be very serious
consequences. However, it is much more difficult to resist some sins when
the fall does not look all that bad. We think, "oh, this is not that big of
a deal," or "I'm not going to fall into this, I can handle it," or "Just
this once..." Just like with the stage workers, it is these types of sins
that bring down our guard and cause us to be spiritually careless. Satan
has done a great job in our culture by not blatantly scaring us away from
sin, but instead he gets us to bring down our guard and think we are not in
as much danger. He wants us to become careless spiritually. Once he gets
us to bring down our guard, we become much more comfortable and are in
incredible danger of falling into sin.
It is important to keep in mind the words found 1 Peter 5:8-9, "Be of
sober spirit, be on the alert your adversary, the devil, prowls around like
a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. But resist him, firm in your
faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished
by your brethren who are in the world."
If we are going to keep from falling, it is incredibly important to
"be of sober spirit" and to "be on the alert." This carries the idea being
prepared, attentive, and watchful to where we are, what we are doing, and
what is going on around us. If we are spiritually "alert" and "of sober
spirit," then we are much less likely to become careless and be deceived by
Satan and sin (2 Corinthians 3:11). The problem with the workers was when
they started to become carless with the path they were on. We too are on a
spiritual path, and we are told that the path that leads to life is narrow
(Matthew 7:13-14). Let's never get spiritually careless, and make sure we
stay firmly on the path that leads to heaven.

--Brett Petrillo

Richard Lincoln

Undying Love

Consider the love of a man, Richard Lincoln, for his beloved wife of 53
years, Margie Hill Lincoln. It was a love that lasted "till death do us
part..." and even after death. Margie Lincoln passed away on March 14,
2000, but the love and admiration of her husband did not end.

On one occasion, this writer was a passenger in the car that Richard Lincoln
was driving, several years after his wife had passed away. There was
something that Richard had taped to the middle of his steering wheel. A
closer look revealed that it was a small picture of Margie.

On July 3, 2007, seven years after the love of his life had died, he
communicated his undying love for her in a poem that was sent out to some
family and friends:
MARGIE (HILL) LINCOLN

"Dear Lord,

Consider this woman.
Her clear vision of the Love of GOD,
Dedicated to the service of others,
As a living Sacrifice, following the steps of Jesus.
Her spirit slipped the surly bonds of earth,
Borne aloft on wings of Angels,
Bound no more by a tabernacle of miry clay.
Beyond the twinkling lights of created Universe
Upward to bow before the Throne Of GOD,
And look into the glowing face of Jesus.

He also included a personal postscript to his wife:
"I'll see you in the Morning.
Until then, with a love that will not die,
-- Dick

Richard's undying love for Margie was an expression of the love that they
experienced in their own lives from God Himself. From a study of God's Word
and a keen awareness of God's blessings in their lives, the Lincolns' were
recipients of the undying love of God and sought to reciprocate and reflect
that love with their lives.

The Truth is: God loves YOU and me with an everlasting love (cf. Jeremiah
31:3). He loved us so much that He gave His Son to die on the cross for our
sins (John 3:16), because sin separates us from Him (Isaiah 59:1-2) and
leads to our destruction (Matthew 7:13-14).

Because of God's love for you and me, we may spend eternity with Him
-IF- we respond to His love with trusting obedience. Place your faith and
trust in Jesus (Acts 16:30-31), turn from sin in repentance (Acts 17:30-31),
confess Jesus before men (Romans 10:9-10), and be baptized (immersed) into
Christ for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38). Then, continue to show your
love for God by keeping His commandments (John 14:15).

David A. Sargent

Example of mistaken identity

I recently read a weird case of mistaken identity. It seems that an
ambulance was called by a sick man. When the crew arrived he refused to
cooperate and fought them, insisting he didn't need to go to the hospital.
They told the man that he wasn't able to make that decision and they were in
charge now and strapped him to a stretcher and drove him to the hospital
where he was admitted (as being confused).

It seemed that there was another man who lived in the same town with the
same name and they had gone to the wrong address. When the ambulance did not
arrive at the home of the truly sick man he managed to drive himself to the
hospital. However when he got there they refused to admit him. The nurse at
the desk told him he was already in the hospital! Now who was confused!

The apostle Paul tells us in 2 Timothy 2:19, "Nevertheless, God's solid
foundation stands firm, sealed with this inscription: 'The Lord knows those
who are his' and, 'Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn
away from evil.'"

You know what is great about Christianity? There is no chance of confusion
with God! Sadly however, there is a lot of confusion when men get added to
the mix.

Life in this world is not unlike the man who saw his obituary in the paper
one day. When he called to complain he was told, "We never retract an
obituary, but we will offer to list your name under new births."

Now my point is this, we bear a unique name and have a unique relationship
with our God. No other god of other religions claims that their god loved
men enough to come and live with them on earth. The followers of other gods
can't make the claim that their god knows them by name. Our God is the God
of the universe, yet he knows just who we are, never a mistake, never a mix
up. All he asks is that we love him and in response to what he has done for
us, serve him faithfully.

The apostle John tells us in 1 John 5:3, "Loving God means keeping his
commandments, and his commandments are not burdensome."

Who do you think you are? Are you sure? Could it be time to re-examine your
life and see if you priorities are in the right place? Think about the
haunting words of Jesus recorded in Matthew 7:21, "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."

Russ Lawson

Rocky Fork, Unicoi County, Tennessee

 

Worsening problems with an arthritic knee had kept me off the mountain trails for too long. With autumn colors emerging and temperatures just the way I like them, I decided the time had come to get out the camera and head for the mountains. I found the scenery I was after at a place called Rocky Fork in Unicoi County, Tennessee.

 

The road runs beside the tumbling creek, so finding breathtaking views didn't require many steps. What I didn't expect to find on this Tuesday morning, however, was such solitude. During the couple of hours I was there only one truck passed by. Thus, my visual experience was accompanied by an aural one.

 

Can any sound match that of a mountain stream when it comes to producing inner peace? They say water is purified in only a short distance in such fast-flowing water (though the prevalence of E. coli today cautions us against drinking from creeks). Though I didn't stoop to drink from Rocky Fork, my soul certainly felt cleansed by having spent that time. I've demonstrated numbers of times the power of God's creation to wash the stress of daily living from my life.

 

(If you'd like a small sample of the beauty I found at Rocky Fork, navigate on over to www.Joycaster.com and look in the "Waterfalls & Mountain Streams" gallery.)

 

Others have found peaceful messages out in nature. You've heard David's words in Psalm 19:1? "The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows His handiwork." David observed the orderliness and stability of the stars in the sky, and learned lessons about the One who created and arranged them. Paul declared that many of God's attributes are revealed in nature: "For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead ..." (Romans 1:20).

 

The cleansing power of water is also seen often in God's word. Naaman saw his dreadful leprosy miraculously removed as he dipped for the seventh time in the River Jordan (2 Kings 5:10-14). In this case, of course, it wasn't the water that effected the cure, but Naaman's obedience to a command from God's prophet. But how could he have obeyed without a trip to the river?

 

That same principle is recorded later in the cleansing of Saul (later to be renamed Paul). After three days of grief over his tragically mistaken path, Ananias appeared at Saul's door with a message from Jesus: "And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord" (Acts 22:16). Again, it wasn't the water that washed away his sins, but his obedience to God's command. But if he was to obey God's command he had to get to water.

 

The good news is that Jesus came to seek and to save the lost (Luke 19:10). What, then, has the Lord said about our own cleansing from sin? "He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned" (Mark 16:16). It's not a difficult command to understand.

 

My trip to Rocky Fork resulted in inner peace which I continue to enjoy. But coming to the waters of baptism with a believing and penitent heart will result in a peace that will never end!

 

Timothy D. Hall

 

Josh Hamilton

 

       The World Series is quickly approaching.  As of right now, the Texas Rangers have been playing very well and could possibly end up in the World Series.  One of their key players is Josh Hamilton.  He has played very good throughout the season and is a major contributor to the team.  Since the Rangers have had success throughout the season, and now even in the post season, this has resulted in many celebrations.  The way most teams celebrate is to go back to the locker rooms, put on some eye protection, and basically spray, drink, and pour champagne all over the place.
       For those who are not familiar with Josh Hamilton, here is a little background information.  Josh was the number one overall pick back in 1999 and seemed like picture perfect role-model.  Unfortunately, Hamilton struggled greatly with drugs and alcohol for several years and even dropped out of baseball while he tried to overcome his struggles.  In fact, it very nearly ended his career permanently.  Through dedication, Hamilton was able to get clean and claims that he has been clean since October 2005.
       Since Josh Hamilton has had major issues with drinking and drugs, these celebrations posed a dilemma for him.  Alcohol has been a major struggle for him. He knew how tempting it would be to drink when he began to taste and be around the alcohol.  So, what did he do?  He did not even show up for the celebration.  In fact, he did not show up for the past two team celebrations because alcohol would be present.  "Not only did he want to avoid any temptation to slip up on his never-ending fight against addiction...Hamilton said he didn't want to give his fans the wrong impression" (Yahoo Sports).
       What a great decision and a great example Josh Hamilton has given us!  People struggle with so many different sins across the board, but what we do with these struggles and temptations is what really makes the difference.  The nation of Israel struggled greatly with idolatry.  Near the end of Joshua's life, Joshua told Israel not to worship the idols, serve them, bring others to this life, and even to talk about it (Joshua 23:7).  Joshua was trying to cover all stages of involvement so that these people could completely get rid of this sin.  In a similar way, we need to not participate, not be around, eliminate it from our speech, and completely remove the things we struggle with from our lives.  For Hamilton, that meant not even showing up for the celebration with his team.  For Joseph, this meant literally running away from the temptation (Genesis 39:6ff).  For you, it may be a different solution.
       It can be so easy to fall into sin, especially when it is fun, popular, and there is pressure from other people. However, in the case of Josh Hamilton, his choice brought him respect from his teammates.  On the second day he decided to stay away from the celebrations, his team came to him and they all dumped bottles of Ginger Ale on him. They wanted to include him and yet respect him at the same time.  Even though it may not be immediately popular, people will respect us for making the right decisions in our lives.  But even more important than anything else, we will be in a right relationship with the Lord (1 John 1:5-7).  Josh Hamilton made a very courageous decision to stay away from temptation.  What are we willing to do to make sure we stay away from our temptations?

 

--Brett Petrillo

Logan Pearsall Smith

"Most people sell their souls and live with a good conscience on the proceeds."

Logan Pearsall Smith, American essayist and critic (1865-1946)

 

Mission accomplished, Chile

"Mission accomplished, Chile," read a sign held by one of the six rescuers
who had descended more than 2,600 feet to organize the exodus of 33 miners
from the mine in northern Chile that collapsed August 5. The miners had
been trapped 2,600 feet below the surface of the earth for 69 days. For the
first 17 days after the collapse, it was not known if the miners had
survived.

Drilling crews from all over the world were finally able to break through
the hard rock to the tunnel where the trapped miners were located. The
shaft became the narrow escape route for a makeshift elevator, a metal
capsule little wider than a man's shoulders dubbed "Phoenix" after the
mythical bird that rose from the ashes.

Prior to making their ascent, each of the miners donned green coveralls made
of moisture-resistant material and personalized with their names. Each
stepped into the capsule, which was equipped with communications equipment
and a supply of oxygen. Each wore sunglasses to protect his eyes -- which
had become accustomed to the darkness of the caved-in mine.

The job of hoisting the miners was completed late Wednesday, 22 hours and 36
minutes after it began. All 33 miners were rescued!

What began as a "possible tragedy, with the help of God, is ending as a true
blessing," said Chilean President Sebastian Pinera. *

A GREATER tragedy is to be lost on the "broad path" of sin and destined for
destruction (see Matthew 7:13-14).

But the GOOD NEWS (the Gospel) is that because of His great love for us, God
sent Jesus into the world to RESCUE us from sin (John 3:16). When we were
trapped in sin and hopelessly lost, Jesus "descended" from heaven to earth
to provide the "narrow way" of salvation (see Philippians 2:5-8). In fact,
He IS the Way!

Jesus said, "I AM The Way, The Truth, and The Life. No one comes to the
Father except through Me." - John 14:6

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

Jesus has opened up the "narrow way" to eternal life in heaven (see Heb
2:19-22). His mission of salvation can be accomplished in YOUR life if you
will trust and obey Him.

Won't YOU?

David A. Sargent

Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche

"The man who fights too long against dragons becomes a dragon himself."

Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche, German philosopher (1844-1900)

 

The best part of waking up is

What is the best part? I was listening to a coffee commercial and the jingle
said, "The best part of waking up is ." Can you finish the jingle? Granted
the "best part" has to be qualified in some way, such as, "the best part of
waking up" or "the best part of the day." But if you had to finish the
sentence, "The best part," how would you end it? Are some things better than
others Yes, of course they are. We often make choices based upon what is
better in our minds. The classic example of this is Joshua's challenge to
the people of Israel in Joshua 24:15 where he says: "But if serving the LORD
seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will
serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the
gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my
household, we will serve the LORD." We do make choices.

On the flip side of that thought, we often make the statement of
consolation, "It could have been worse, you could have." In other words,
some choices, without a doubt, are better than others. Christ uses this
reasoning in the Sermon of the Mount in Matthew 5:29 where he says: "So if
your eye, even your good eye, causes you to lust, gouge it out and throw it
away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole
body to be thrown into hell."(NLT) I don't believe he is giving us advice to
do ourselves physical harm, but rather is making the point that we have the
ability to choose and need to choose wisely.

Life is a matter of making one choice after another isn't it, from the time
we wake in the morning to the time we go to sleep at night we make decisions
or choices. If you had to choose what would be your best part? According to
the Jingle I mentioned earlier, "The best part of waking up is Folgers
(coffee) in your cup." That may be very good, but I agree with Joshua about
what is better, serving the Lord!

Russ Lawson,

Richmond city police department

 

       I saw the most incredible display of respect and fraternity in all my years of preaching and participating in funerals. After an overflowing crowd gathered to pay respects to Bill Snell, for the first 26 years of the Cold Harbor Road church of Christ's history the minister of evangelism, it was time to drive over an hour for a military burial at the Virginia Veteran's Cemetery in Amelia County
       The word came down from the Richmond city police department, where Bill served for 30 years, that there would be an escort to the cemetery. What those of us in the procession did not know is that 6 motorcycle cops and two police cruisers would lead that cavalcade the entire way. These officers completely stopped traffic on an interstate and three major state highways to allow us to proceed without stopping. We were able to bypass tolls on a toll road. Any vehicle trying to interlope on the procession was made to "stand down" by one of the motorcycle policemen. Various law enforcement vehicles, a Virginia State Trooper, unmarked police cars, Chesterfield County and Amelia County police, all participated along the way in the stop of traffic and lead the procession. At the end, when we were turning into the cemetery, they all stood at rapt attention and saluted the hearse as it made that final turn. It was an incredible display, a fitting tribute to a man whose work was often unheralded and perhaps even under-appreciated.
       Jewell, his wife, could not have bribed or cajoled that kind of response from these officers. Bill's perseverance and faithful duty earned that kind of send off. To have done such a thing for a man who never served among them would have made no sense.
       I could not help but relate this to the Christian life and our work on earth as Christians. When we come to the end of the way, people, whether a handful or a room full, will gather to remember us. If we have been generous, active, involved in people's lives, and faithful, like Bill, we will have left a legacy and earned the appreciation and filled the hearts of others with memories of our work. That is not why we serve the Lord, but it is an inevitable consequence of a life lived well if imperfectly. Too many who wear the name Christian fill a pew, coast along without getting involved in the lives of others, never win a soul or tell a soul about Jesus, and come to the end of the row without fruit in their hands. Tuesday night at the viewing and yesterday at the funeral reinforced the feeling for me that a Christian life spent serving and helping others, being involved in the Lord's work, leads to an escort that cannot be bought. Thank you, Bill.

 

Neal Pollard

 

http://www.voozici.com/user_profil.php?uid=1438

http://www.voozici.com/user_profil.php?uid=1438 

 

Stepping in the clouds song

Have you ever had one of those dreams where you were floating, maybe flying
in the sky looking down on the earth below? No, neither have I, but I have
heard about people who dream weird things like that. Actually I never gave
it any thought until we recently took a hot air balloon flight.

I have to say that it was a cool experience. What was the most surprising
aspect of the flight was the quiet (except for the occasional roar of the
burners). Also surprising was that it didn't feel like you were moving at
all! You really did just float along in the air above the troubles and cares
of the world!

As I reflect upon that experience I am reminded of what the Apostle Paul had
to say in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-16, "And now, dear brothers and sisters, we
want you to know what will happen to the believers who have died so you will
not grieve like people who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus
died and was raised to life again, we also believe that when Jesus returns,
God will bring back with him the believers who have died. We tell you this
directly from the Lord: We who are still living when the Lord returns will
not meet him ahead of those who have died. For the Lord himself will come
down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the voice of the archangel,
and with the trumpet call of God. First, the Christians who have died will
rise from their graves. Then, together with them, we who are still alive and
remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the
air. Then we will be with the Lord forever. So encourage each other with
these words." (NLT)

There is an old Gospel hymn called, "Stepping in the clouds," and of course
this verse is the inspiration for that song. It is also the inspiration for
us as we live on and in this earthly world. Living here knowing that there
is something better on the way for us. Paul said: "So encourage each other
with these words." Another translation says, "So reassure one another with
these words."

You may never have had the opportunity to float gently through the clouds
(in a hot air balloon or otherwise), but if you haven't you need to add the
word, "Yet." You need to hold on to the thought, "I haven't done that YET,
but the Lord says my time is coming!" So, be encouraged, be reassured that
there is a time of peace coming. There is a time of being lifted above the
cares of this present world coming! "So encourage each other with these
words!"

Russ Lawson