Step Forward, Please (2618, April 20, 2005) Once, when five volunteers were needed to undertake a dangerous mission, a general lined up his men and asked that all those willing to volunteer take one step forward. During the process he said he would turn his back. When he re-faced his men, the line was intact. As he expressed his disappointment that not a single man of the entire group was brave enough to volunteer for the task, a corporal interrupted him saying, We all stepped forward, sir. Think what it would mean to the church if this was the attitude of our people. In spite of all the good that is being done in congregations throughout the brotherhood, know that it is still being done by a very small percentage of those who are members. Perhaps that is why Jesus said, Many are called, but few are chosen (Matthew 22:14). Too many people wish just to be counted as a member of the church, but do not want to be counted as a worker in the church. For that reason, someone else must carry the load that they should carry. Only a few are willing to really work hard for the Lord. Others allow weeks to pass into years without doing more than worshipping once per week, and not even once per week if something comes up that they desire to do. They neither advertise nor attend gospel meetings, much less invite and bring visitors. Thousands die each day without the gospel, but it is not any of their concern. Religion has never meant anything to them, except as an escape from hell, and they are not using it enough to do that. But, suppose all of our people should step forward at once. The story would be much different. It is our hope and prayer that some day all of us will desire to be really loyal and work as the Master has commanded. Have you stepped forward for the Lord? Uninvolved Church Member Someone once called a preacher to say he wanted to become a member. But he went on to explain that he did not want to worship every week, study the Bible, visit the sick or serve as a leader or teacher. The minister commended him for his desire to be a member, but told him the church he sought was located in another section of town. The man took the directions and hung up. When he arrived at the address, the man came face to face with the logical result of his own apathetic attitude. There stood an abandoned church building boarded up and ready for demolition.
Hopeful or Hopeless? (2615, April 10, 2005) Some people approach the end of life with hopelessness. Bill Denton reported the following: Don Spangler, also known as Spanky, retired from Southern California Gas Company in 1998. Spanky lived a fantasy life for five years, but right after moving into his huge new home, he found out he was dying. A year later, at age 60, Spanky was dead. Death didn t come as easily to Spanky as life. He could not acknowledge the seriousness of his illness and called it just a little inconvenience. Next week, I ll be back on the river, he insisted toward the end. And he did not, as the famous Dylan Thomas poem suggests, go gentle into that good night. Spanky, in fact, fought death for hours after his family assured him it was okay to let go. And at the very end, he threw his arms up over his head as if to ward off the angels that were coming for him, and uttered one last word, NO!. [Adapted from Robin Hinch, Spanky Lived Fast and Furious, Orange County Register Obituaries (7/29/04)]. In stark contrast, Benjamin Franklin s tomb has the following on it: The Body of Benjamin Franklin, Printer (Like the cover of an old book, Its contents torn out, And stripped of its lettering and gilding) Lies here, food for worms, Yet the work itself shall not be lost, For it will (as he believes) appear once more In a new And beautiful Edition Corrected and amended By The Author. These two stories reflect quite a difference in the way people view death. The confident hope expressed on the face of Franklin s tombstone should certainly reflect the thoughts of every child of God. Paul told the Corinthian brethren, We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed (I Corinthians 15:52). He also assured the troubled brethren of Thessalonica, And the dead in Christ shall rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air (I Thessalonians 4:16b-17a). Are you hopeful or hopeless? The life you lead will be the determining factor. Gary C. Hampton
The Scriptures Can Give Comfort When They Are Heeded (2613, March 27, 2005) When one obeys the gospel and is added to the church, there are many verses of Scripture which help to encourage him on his way as he serves God. Below are some that do so: Be perfect, be of good comfort, live in peace, and the God of love shall be with you (II Corinthians 13:11). Be content with such things as ye have, for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee, so that we can say the Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me (Hebrews 13:5-6). God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosover believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life (John 3:16). Christ came into the world to save sinners ( I Timothy 1:16). When we teach people God s Word, He promises to be with us until the end of the world (Matthew 28:20). Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon him, for he careth for you (I Peter 5:6-7). Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I Go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also (John 14:1-3). But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin (I John 1:7). Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light (Matthew 11:28-30). These scriptures should help us when followed by full obedience and should be beneficial to us on our road to heaven. We pray we will work to this end. The Elders
Is God to Blame? (2612, March 20, 2005) Sometimes when things happen to people, especially good people, they have it in their minds to blame God, thinking God is not able or concerned enough or that He doesn t love the person who is suffering enough to have prevented the tragedy. The truth is, God is all powerful and all-loving. He could, if He desired, prevent all tragedies. God made man a free moral being and does not control him as a robot. He allows evil to exist in the world which creates suffering. This all began in the garden of Eden with the fall (sin) of Adam and Eve. We do not inherit their sin, but that is where sin entered into the world causing physical and spiritual death. We are responsible for our own sins and suffer the guilt of them. Before the beginning, God had a plan to send Christ, His only begotten Son, into the world so man could be saved from his sins by obedience to the gospel and faithful living. People suffer from the sins they commit such as drinking and causing accidents, smoking and bad health,etc. Being disobedient to God s law causes suffering to the soul which, if not repented of, will be lost in hell. We read of two great men in the Old Testament who were righteous but suffered much, Job and Joseph. God blessed both in the end, but they still suffered. If we would put our trust in God and obey His will faithfully, all the suffering we might endure would amount to very little in comparison to a home in heaven with God forever. We should all work toward being faithfully obedient, and this is our prayer for you all. the Elders For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God. For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.
Attendance (2611, March 13, 2005) It is with concern that we write about our attendance at West Side lately. It is true that the weather played a part for two Sun days, and sickness has also had a hand in our not being present. It is true, too, that some of our members have chosen to go to other congregations, which is fine, as long as they serve God and continue to be faithful. We indeed miss them. With this being said, we want to encourage those of us who sometimes become lax in our attend ance to realize what we are doing and the consequence it may have on our souls. When we obeyed the gospel and became members of Christ s church, we made a commitment to be faithful and give of our best to serve Him. When we become unfaithful or weak, God is not pleased. We read in II Peter 2:20-22 about one who turns away from God. It is not a pretty picture. God commands that we, as His stewards, are to be faithful (I Corinthians 4:2). Maybe we do not realize just how serious being unfaithful can be we put our souls in danger of being lost. Hebrews 10:25 tells us, Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together as the manner of some is, but exhorting one another, and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. Faithful brethren must try to lead unfaithful brethren out of the error of their ways (James 5:19-20). This must be done in a spirit of meekness, considering ourselves so we won t be tempted (Galatians 6:1). Let us ALL work together to be faithful and help others also to be what God would want us to be. We pray this to be our goal. The Elders