BLOWIN’ IN THE WIND

A policeman who spends a great deal of his time looking for lost children said that when he begins to look he always goes in the direction in which the wind was blowing at the time. Now, that may sound strange, but his explanation really makes sense.

You see, the wind blows and catches many things in its path and takes them with it. It might be a balloon, a handkerchief, a napkin, or just some bright leaves; but it catches the eyes of a child. This child will run after this thing and, sooner or later, will find that he is lost, not remembering which way he had come or simply not thinking he continues in the same direction that the wind is blowing.

The experiences of this policeman is to continue in the direction of the wind. Many times the answers or the child himself will be found that way.

People who go through life in whichever way the wind is blowing are trying to take the easy way out. They do not want to make their own decisions. They do not have any of their own convictions for which they are willing to fight. Theirs is the chicken way out.

This way of approaching life is very well illustrated by the young man who was hitch-hiking. He had painted a sign which told the story, not only of his present situation, but most probably of his entire life. The sign which he held up to passers-by read: ANYWHERE. This young man had already arrived at his destination and did not even know it.

Going through life with no direction and convictions about the path does not take very much fortitude. Once these are a part of your journey, very little will stand in the way. Consider that today!

The Richmond Messenger

The Writing Is On the Wall


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In Daniel chapter five there was a happening, the like of which has never been seen again. The king of Babylon, Belshazzar, was throwing a great banquet. In his exuberance to humiliate the Jews, he ordered the holy vessels that his father, Nebuchadnezzar had taken from the temple of God to be brought before him. With a thousand of his nobles present, he began his feast.

To drink from these holy vessels was an utter disgrace to the Jews. As Belshazzar and his companions continued their party, God intervened. From out of nowhere a hand came down and began to write on the wall before them. Belshazzer was so terrified that his knees became weak, knocked together and finally gave way. There was no doubt. . .he was frightened.

As they pondered the situation, Belshazzar sought to find the meaning of the words inscribed on the wall. With no success, he was instructed to call in God's prophet Daniel.

With great caution, Daniel gave the meaning of the writing. As he interpreted the event, he let the king know that God would not allow something holy to be defiled without punishment. In verse twenty-two he rebuked the king for his pride. Next he said, ". . .you have set yourself up against the Lord of Heaven..."

As they conversed, he gave the meaning of the writing, "MENE, MENE, TEKEL, PARSIN." MENE - God has numbered the days of your reign and brought it to an end. TEKEL - you have been weighed on the scales and found wanting. PARSIN - your kingdom is divided and given to the Medes and Persians. That very night the king died and another world power took over.

God is not pleased when something holy is defiled. He no longer has holy cups, bowls, candlesticks and such. He now has vessels that are of far greater value. He has made us His vessels. Paul said in I Corinthians 6, that the Spirit of God dwells in us. God only dwells in what He has made holy. You and I are the holy vessels of God.

Since this is true, we should never lose sight of the need of purity. Jesus said that we are blessed when we are pure in heart. For it is the pure in heart who will see God.

When we use our lives in pride, as Belshazzer used the temple vessels, we defy God. We take something holy and treat it as if it were common. When we hurt one another, we desecrate something that God has made holy. If He caused a nation to lose its status as a world power, how will He view me if I act in an unholy manner?

We have a great responsibility to one another as the vessels of God. We have the responsibility to honor and protect, keeping one another in tip-top condition in order to serve the Master. God made us holy. We must not defile what He has made!

Garry Knighton, Church of Christ North, Shreveport, La.

Departing From The Living God

Philip B. Box, Minister

Man has seldom stayed faithful to God for very long. This was true in Adam’s day. It was true in Noah’s day. It was true of mankind when Jesus walked on the earth, and it is also true of people today. It is no wonder that God warned through the writer of Hebrews. “Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God.” (Hebrews 3:12) Both our spiritual life, and the church are exposed to change and sometime need change. Not all change is good however; some change is simply a “departing from the living God.”

What causes people to depart from the living God? Often change comes so slowly it is not even detected until it is too late spiritually. Most do not “run” away from God’s truth, they simply “drift” in the wrong direction. (Hebrews 2:1) The moment we close our Bible is the moment we will begin to drift from God.

One sign of departing from God is the development of a critical spirit. It is strange but those that leave God are often very “critical” of others for being “unloving.”

Departing is also marked by a lack of appreciation for Biblical truth. Many do not respect, appreciate, nor love God’s truth. (John 8:32)

Departing from God causes people to want the world instead of Christ. The Bible says, “If any man loves the world the love of the father is not in him.” (1 John 2:15-17)

Departing blinds spiritual eyes. People begin to say, “I can see anything wrong with _______” (and they fill in the blank with anything.)

Departing also leads to lukewarmness. God hates the spirit of spiritual laziness that is seen among many. (Revelation 3:14-19)

What is the cure for those that have departed from God? To reverse the departures: Take heed to yourself and make sure of your salvation. (Hebrews 3:12). Remember what it was like to follow the Bible whole-heartedly. Those preachers that have changed should remember the joy they had in preaching “gospel sermons.” (2 Timothy 4:1-5). If any love for truth still burns in your heart fan the flame. Let us take our stand on truth. (Ephesians 4:15). Get busy in the kingdom. We are saved to serve. (John 4:35), and be Christ-like. Those that have the desire of going to heaven will walk with the Lord. (Galatians 2:20)

Those that do the Lord's commandments will be blessed with an entrance into heaven, and with the tree of life. (Revelation 22:14) To be­come a Christian, you must hear the gospel (Romans 10:17), be­lieve in Jesus (Mark 16:16), repent of sins (Acts 17:30), confess faith in Christ (Romans 10:9-10) and be bap­tized to be saved (Acts 2:38). After baptism be careful that you do not depart from God, but faithfully obey His will each day!

ARE YOU ‘HIGH MAINTENANCE’?

A blessing enjoyed in Christ is support from brethren in times of spiritual crisis. Those who are strong are to support the weak (Ro. 15:1)We then who are strong ought to bear with the scruples of the weak, and not to please ourselves.Those who are spiritual are to help those overcome in a fault (Gal. 6:1). It is part of the "law of Christ" to thus bear one another’s burdens (Gal.6:2).Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted.

At the same time we have a responsibility to become strong. Each Christian has a responsibility to "bear his own load" (Gal. 6:4-5)..But let each one examine his own work, and then he will have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another. 5 For each one shall bear his own load. We will be accountable for our own actions (Rom. 14:12).So then each of us shall give account of himself to God. It is thus our responsibility to pick ourselves up as well. (Heb. 12:12-13).Therefore strengthen the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees, and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be dislocated, but rather be healed. Some Christians never seem to progress from being supported to supporting themselves. They remain very dependent upon their brethren. Unless constantly nurtured by brethren, they fall away or become apathetic. Such brethren are what might be described in the vernacular as "high maintenance".

Are you "high maintenance"? In everyday life this means someone or thing which requires a lot of attention. Christians who are high maintenance require a lot of attention in order to remain faithful. They require a lot of coddling or pampering to be active Christians, attending and working in the church only when constantly prodded.

Even churches can be high maintenance. The church in Corinth certainly was (I Cor. 3:1-4, 2 Cor. 12-20-21).And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual people but as to carnal, as to babes in Christ. 2 I fed you with milk and not with solid food; for until now you were not able to receive it, and even now you are still not able; 3 for you are still carnal. For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men? 4 For when one says, "I am of Paul," and another, "I am of Apollos," are you not carnal? For I fear lest, when I come, I shall not find you such as I wish, and that I shall be found by you such as you do not wish; lest there be contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, backbitings, whisperings, conceits, tumults; 21 lest, when I come again, my God will humble me among you, and I shall mourn for many who have sinned before and have not repented of the uncleanness, fornication, and lewdness which they have practiced. The church in Phillipi was not. (Phil. 1;3-7)I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, 4 always in every prayer of mine making request for you all with joy, 5 for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now, 6 being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ; 7 just as it is right for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart, inasmuch as both in my chains and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel, you all are partakers with me of grace. High maintenance is crucial for the newborn Christian, who is new in the faith and very susceptible. Without proper attention, they may soon be overcome. High maintenance is essential for the hurting Christian, whether it be physical illness, or emotional turmoil.(I Thess. 5:14)

Now we exhort you, brethren, warn those who are unruly, comfort the fainthearted, uphold the weak, be patient with all. We can overcome high maintenance by individual growth. When we study and grow strong we will no longer need it, when we can become the providers, not the recipients. Consider the unfortunate case of the Hebrew Christians (Heb. 5:12-14)For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food. 13 For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. 14 But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

Strength from our brethren is certainly helpful when we need it, but we should also reach a point where our strength comes from God. And we can become the producers, not just the consumers. Consider the remarkable example of the apostle Paul Phil 4:11-13; Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ[who strengthens me. (2 Cor. 1:3–6) since you seek a proof of Christ speaking in me, who is not weak toward you, but mighty in you. For though He was crucified in weakness, yet He lives by the power of God. For we also are weak in Him, but we shall live with Him by the power of God toward you. Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you are disqualified. But I trust that you will know that we are not disqualified

And The Thunder Rolls...
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As I write this there is an awesome electrical and thunder storm raging outdoors. The rain has been tremendous, falling as if it were in sheets being dropped one right after another. The thunder rattles windows and the lightning makes you nearly jump out of your shoes. Some parts of the area are getting pelted by hail, as if the rain were not enough. And do you know what? I love it! I don’t particularly like being wet, but wet is what you get when you love the rain.

It was the thunderstorm that made me want to write this. It reminds me of various Scriptures in the Bible that describe in some kind of form we can understand what the activity is like around the throne of God. Lightning and rumblings were very often closely associated with a throne scene. God likes the rumble and the flash.

“In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord seated on a throne, high and exalted, and the train of his robe filled the temple. Above him were seraphs, each with six wings: with two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. And they were calling to one another: “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory.” At the sound of their voices the doorposts and thresholds shook and the temple was filled with smoke.” (Isaiah 6:1-4)

The awesome nature of God stands out in His presence. There cannot be quietness, unless He is about to pass judgment on a nation. When heaven gets quiet, something is about to happen to someone somewhere.

How awesome and terrifying it must have been standing at the foot of that mountain when Moses was up there in God’s presence. How taken back Isaiah must have been when He witnessed “The Lord of Host” in the passage above. All he could do was look at himself and see that he did not fit in the picture. “I am a man of unclean lips,” he cried.

Being in the presence of God should make us take a good, hard, close look at ourselves. We often think we are pretty good, but standing up next to His holiness paints a whole different picture.

Do you know what is even more remarkable about Isaiah’s experience? Later in the Bible, in the book of John, John writes to his audience concerning some of the folks who were having a difficult time believing on Jesus and quotes some of the verses from Isaiah’s experience in Isaiah chapter 6. After the quote John gives this commentary: “These things said Isaiah, because he saw His glory, and he spoke of Him.” (John 12:41)

This same God, “the Lord,” mentioned in Isaiah 6:1 is identified as Jesus Christ by the Apostle John. Now, this same Jesus Christ has taken up residence on His throne and that throne is in our heart. He dwells in us. Awesome! Therefore, there should be some sense of awesomeness in us constantly. This powerful, all knowing God lives in us. Somehow that should be a humbling experience. There is nowhere we can go and nothing that we can do that does not include the God of the universe. It is a huge responsibility for us to correct our steps and keep our lives in check.

And, do you know what? Just like the thunder is rumbling right now and the lightning is flashing, God just may decide to do the same thing through you when He touches the lives of those to whom you minister. You may not see it or hear it, but the power can move people just the same. And when it happens, it will not be you. It will be God working through you. What an awesome thought.

So, next time you hear the thunder and see the lightning in a storm, just remember that the same God who shook the doorpost of the temple by just making His arrival is in you and you and I are a vessel of a precious cargo. There is power within us!

Garry Knighten, Church of Christ North, Shrevveport, LA.

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King Saul Had It All

King Saul had it all! Perhaps no other person in the Bible had as much going for him and as many opportunities to succeed in life than did he. He had a good body, a good mind, good training, courage, leadership skills, generosity and forbearance. Most important of all he had God's favor and God's promise of success.

Saul blew it all! He not only missed his great opportunities in life, he deliberately abused them. The tragic story of his life is recorded in I Samuel 9-31.

Saul was anointed by Samuel as God's chosen King. He was filled with the Holy Spirit (I Samuel 10:22,27;11:12-13.)

With the passing of time Saul lost his humility and his self-control In his pride he disobeyed God on several occasions, made rash vows, and became consumed with a cold hearted jealousy. He made several enraged attempts to kill David, his successor and a man after God's own heart. After staining his hands with the blood of many innocent people, he stained them with his own blood by ending his life in suicide. Thus after destroying his moral life Saul finally destroyed his physical life.

Saul's tragic story is repeated daily. The people, places and circumstances are different but the results are the same. The tragedy of Saul and of all others who walk in his steps in such moral, physical and eternal destruction is so needless.

LACK OF KNOWLEDGE

Lack of knowledge is the main reason for all the unscriptural changes and practices taking place in the Lord’s Church.

Hosea 4:6 says "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge."

The question is : if there is one church in the New Testament times, why do we have so many denominations today?

The apostle Paul prophesied in II Thessalonians 2:3-10

Let no one deceive you by any means; for that day will not come unless the falling away comes first and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.
II Corinthians 11:13-14: warns also against "False apostles and deceitful words.
Colossians 2:8,20, 21 , 11 Galatians 1:7-9

Paul again warns another gospel preacher in: I Timothy 4:1-3 Now the spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons. Speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from foods which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth

These prophesies came true with the founding of the Roman Catholic church. The pope in the Roman Catholic church has put himself on a throne as a "GOD". The first pope recorded was Boniface III who was in 606 a.d. He claimed to be infallible in his decisions, being the supreme head and having all authority and power. Other popes had such divine titles as Our Lord, God the Pope and another God on Earth.

Whether it’s the long distant past or today, an ignorance of the word of God is the basis by which God’s people shall live or die.

The world is not divided because of what the Bible says, but what it does not say.

NEVER LOOK BACK
Tim Gunnells

Perhaps the first thought some of you have as you read this is “remember Lot’s wife” (Luke 17:32). Here, Jesus is recalling the plight of Lot and his family as they fled from Sodom (a place they never should have been). The original story is recorded in Genesis 19. Lot and his family were told to flee Sodom before it was destroyed. They were told not to look back, but Lot’s wife did, and she was turned into a pillar of salt.

Looking back to an old way of life, and even worse, turning back to an old way of life can be disastrous. “Remember Lot’s wife.” Never look back!

There is someone else in the Bible who talked about never looking back in a different light. The Apostle Paul in Philippians 3 told of his previous life in Judaism. He told of his former status and notoriety, but not with great pride because he counted his past accomplishments as “rubbish”.

Here is some of what he had to say: “But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ. More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ, and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith, that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death; in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus. Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”

Looking back with fondness on our life is fine, but spiritually speaking, we must always look ahead, if we hope to grow in our faith. So I say, never look back! Always reach forward!

Every Morning is a New Day

Shawn Hart. Garden Valley church of Christ

Every morning we wake up, we have a yet another beginning opportunity with God. We have a fresh day to sit up out of our beds, place our feet on the floor, and set in our hearts the need to follow the will of God. As we approach another New Year celebration, we learn through this passage, that we face another year in a world that does not comprehend the true nature of God and His Son, Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ...the light in the darkness! So who are we then? Well, we are the torch bearers of that light. We are the chosen ones that have been blessed with the joy of sharing the Good News of Jesus to the world. We are the Children of the Cross; those elect few that have been entrusted with the Message of Salvation.

This year I encourage us all to realize how significant a role we play in this thing we call life. For most of the world, they have not accepted the true will of God because Satan has twisted their hearts, and made them believe that they could find happiness and safety in this earthly realm. He did it with Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden when he tempted them with the forbidden fruit, and he is still walking the earth deceiving the nations today. But God has prepared His people to become warriors of truth and righteousness. He has given us His Holy Word to equip us with all the necessary weapons that are needed to combat the Devil. We are the Army of the Lord; shining His powerful light into this world of darkness: marching proud against the armies of Darkness, proud to testify the glory of his power.

Take this year as an opportunity to shine the Light of Jesus Christ to those around you. Take it to your jobs: take it to your schools: fill it through the rooms of your homes. If you are reading this today, it means that you still have time to share Christ with someone. Let's not waste these opportunities.

ARE YOU OUT OF SYNC?
By: Paul Faulkner

A biblical character that touches me is David. He touches me because I see myself so plainly in him--a fellow who messes up. He made so many mistakes and, yet, the Bible says, “…he was a man after God’s own heart” (1 Samuel 13:14). And, oh how I hope that I can just have his heart. David’s attitude of heart is obvious in Psalm 51. It just twists your heart and breaks it. That’s what God wants to do, you know. He wants to break your heart. He wants to get right down there with you and adjust your attitude.

David says, “God, against you, you only, have I sinned” (Psalm 51:4). Well, David, didn’t you sin against this man when you killed him? Didn’t you sin against this woman, Bathsheba? But you see, David hit it right at the core of the problem. If you never sin against God, you don’t have to worry about your fellowman.

The “big” sin is against God. If you get right with God, and your heart is right with Him, you don’t have to worry about having a problem with other people, it will take care of itself.

And that is where I find myself and you probably find yourself. Is your heart right with God? If so, you are likely right with your family, friends, and co-workers, too. If your attitudes rebel against God, you’re likely “out of sync” with those around you as well. It’s a direct parallel. It’s up to you to change your life.
It’s up to you to make things right when things go wrong, and God has given you the power to do it

STARS

Brian Pannell, West Main church of Christ, Medford


In the car this morning I heard a commercial I hadn't heard since I was a kid. The Star Registry was advertising that you could "buy a star" for someone you loved. Apparently they send you a map of some type, you pick a yet "unnamed star" and for a small fee you get to name that star for someone special.
That's right, then from here to eternity that star "belongs" to them.

I remember as a child thinking how cool this sounded! I also remember as a teen thinking how goofy this sounded. Today I had a new thought: How arrogant this sounded! Who is man that we think we have the right to claim a star? Who are we to stake ownership in the infinite creation of God? How arrogant to think we can map the stars, yet alone name them.

Only God can make such a claim. Psalm 147:4 says "He counts the number of the stars; He gives names to all of them." Do you know how big that is? In 1993 scientists said that there were 70 sextillion stars in the visible universe, or some 70 thousand million million million. That’s a 7 followed by 22 zeros! And those are just the ones within range of our telescopes.

Can you grasp that? We serve a HUGE God. SO big in fact that He actually knows the number of stars and has each one named! That puts everything in perspective for me. There are days when I feel so small. There are times I feel alone. There are times that we all feel helpless. But we should not! The God and creator of the stars also knows OUR name and stands behind us, holding us up and pressing us forward.

Next time you look into the heavens on a clear Oregon night and you gaze upon the North Star, the Big Dipper or even Orion, remember who put them there. Remember who named them. Remember how big your God is. And then, remember that He is right there beside you, in your life, and in your heart.

USED TO IT?
In his work, Memoirs from the House of the Dead, Fyodor Dostoevsky remarked that, “Man is a creature who can get used to anything.” This is a startling and bone-chilling assessment. The truth of the statement is backed up and proven by human history. Consider, for example, the atrocities committed against mankind during World War II in the Nazi concentration camps. The senseless murder and torture of millions of men, women and children is well documented.

Victor Franki, a holocaust survivor and author of Man’s Search for Meaning, recalls the way in which his peers became desensitized to the brutality around them. The same process was done repeatedly. When someone was new to a concentration camp they would at first be confused. “Where am I? Why am I here? Through all this confusion, they would hold out hope that they would soon be rescued and soon be reunited with their loved ones. Also in these early stages, they would recoil in honor and dismay when they saw fellow prisoners being tortured and beaten. They simply could not stand to see a camp mate being abused.

Soon the horror would turn to hum-drum. The amazement would turn to apathy. The prisoners reached a point where they had seen so much pain, sorrow, and suffering that they were no longer affected by it. Their hearts were not affected no matter how brutal the scene.

What a pitiful situation. Men and women had seen so much violence and bloodshed that they no longer cared. They got used to it. Certainly there is an important lesson here for us. We must be alert. We must be guarding our hearts and minds. It may just be a case that, like Israel before us, we are getting used to sin.

Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination? No! They were not at all ashamed; nor did they know how to blush. Therefore they shall fall among those who fall; at the time I punish them, they shall be cast down. Says the lord” (Jeremiah 6:15). Don’t get used to sin! Just because we are bombarded with worldliness and sin constantly does not give us an excuse to become apathetic to those things. God still expects His children to talk, dress, act and think differently then the world. Man can get use to anything. Have we gotten used to sin?

Jordan Edwards, Garden Valley church of Christ

Let All That you Do Be Done in Love
By: George Bryan

Love is really the summation of all that we do. It is to be a mark, or a token, by which Christians maybe distinguished from those of the world. These distinguishing features do not just refer to dress or speech, but also to actions. They refer to a way of life. As our Lord confirmed, love is our badge of discipleship. Therefore, it just follows that those who do not love properly do not display to the world the mark, or token of Christians. Those who do not love are not genuine disciples because they are not following the Lord’s command.

The apostle Paul exhorted the Corinthians to be sure that love was involved in all that they did in order for their salvation to be secure. Notice his words in 1 Corinthians 13:1-3:”Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.” Notice the importance that Paul placed on love here. He said that though he should be able to speak all the tongues known to men or angels, that would not insure his salvation unless he possessed the attribute of love.

Judas Iscariot possessed the power to work miracles, just as the other apostles did (Matt. 10:1), but he did not posses love, and what happened? The Bible says that he betrayed the Lord, and went to his own place (Acts 12;25). The love that Jesus is referring to is expressed in the concern and interest for God, our fellow men, and the lost.

Even when we oppose false doctrine and impure living (and we MUST do so), love must be our motive in doing so (II Timothy 4:1-5). We must oppose these things because we love God, and because we love our fellow man and are concerned about his salvation. So many times we fail to reach others with the Gospel simply because we neglect this very principle, but, there is no room for hate in the heart of a Christian - except toward evil (Hebrews 1:9).

We are to love God supremely, and love our neighbor as ourselves (Matt.22:35-40). We must let love prompt us in our teaching, preaching, and caring for the needy, visiting the sick, and in faithfully attending the services of the church (Matt. 25:31-46).

Col. 3:17
And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all the in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.

I Once Heard a Story I Will Always Remember
Brian Pannell, West Main Church of Christ Medford, OR

I once heard a story that I still remember. It took place at a small county church revival meeting. It had been powerful, and many had found faith. At the end of the week, the preacher said: “Is the person who most influenced you in becoming a Christian here? Maybe it’s a parent, youth minister, Sunday school teacher, minister, or neighbor. I’d like you all to go and shake hands with the one who most influenced you to follow Christ.” All over the auditorium people went and encouraged one another. They thanked each other. Many went to parents. Others went to teachers, and ministers. The longest line, though, formed in front of an elderly lady in the church. She’d never taught a class or filled any leadership role in the congregation, but for years her quiet life of service had touched more people than anyone else! In worship, in her home, and in the town, she had led many to Christ, many times unknowingly, just by living a righteous and loving life.

This is a powerful example of a godly life! This kind of life may convert someone when sermons and studies may not. It is the consistent acting out of faith and living of a truly changed life that will lead our kids to Jesus. Maybe teaching isn’t your thing. So what? If you live a faithful, devoted life of service to the lord, you will have a wholesome influence on all of those around you!

Let us all take advantage of opportunities to encourage those who have been a good influence on us in our lives. This family is full of people who have lived lives modeled on Jesus. Let us all strive to be that for our next generation.

Matthew 5;16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

HOW WILL YOU VOTE?

Almost every year we have city, state, and national elections of some sort. This is important, but there is a more important issue to vote for as citizens of the Kingdom of God.

Each time there is an assembly of God’s people, you are casting your vote. We want to once again give our appreciation and praise to all of those who seem to never, or hardly ever, miss the assemblies. It is their conviction to be here every time and they cast their vote YES to the assemblies of the church, all of them!

WHEN YOU MISS AN ASSEMBLY, YOU ARE VOTING NO!

If you become consistent in your absence, you send even a stronger message. You are saying “No, Bible study is not important.” You are telling teachers that they are NOT appreciated and they are wasting their time. You are voting NO to the good that comes from assembling together

You are voting NO to God’s worship. You are voting NO to encouragement and edification. You are saying NO to the wishes of the Lord! Yet, you have deceived yourself in to thinking that you can continue to say No to God and His Son and in the judgment, they will say YES to you. Why do you allow Satan to fill your heart with such a lie?

What is YOUR vote on the assemblies of God’s people?

Taken from the Evergreen Bulletin