Posted by David on January 17, 1999 under Bulletin Articles
God told Noah that it would rain as never before. It was an uncertain time.
Abraham was a nomad in a strange, hostile region. It was an uncertain time.
Israel stood between the Egyptian army and the Red Sea. It was an uncertain time.
Israel stood at the border of the land God promised them. Ten spies said this wonderful territory would be impossible to conquer. It was an uncertain time.
For seven days Joshua marched Israel’s army around Jericho. This was their first battle in the conquest of Canaan. It was an uncertain time.
David fled from King Saul in the wilderness. It was an uncertain time.
The captive Daniel walked to Babylon. Though he trusted God, he was among the first captives to be exiled. It was an uncertain time.
Jeremiah preached certain information to a nation who was deaf to everything he said. It was an uncertain time.
After raising the dead, Jesus was executed on a cross. It was an uncertain time.
In each of these, the final outcome was determined by the accepted “reality:” confidence in God produced by faith, or godless anxiety produced by fearing the times. Sometimes trusting God produced immediate results; sometimes it did not.
The President awaited trial in the Senate. The day of the Y2K problem was on the horizon. A leader who hated us built weapons of mass destruction. Social problems grew more complex. The percentage of Americans married hit a low. The percentage of children living without both natural parents hit a high. It was an uncertain time.
But was it a time of faith in God?
Posted by David on January 10, 1999 under Bulletin Articles
Is your children’s education important? Are the schools they attend of concern? Do you care who teaches them? Is their educational environment, their curriculum, their stimulus to learn, the school’s philosophy, and the balance between academic and extracurricular activities of any concern? Would you consider allowing your children to receive no education?
Will you knowingly, intentionally, send your child to a “party” university that has minor interest in educating its students? As a parent, do you prefer a university that does more to provide “party opportunities” than it does to educate your child for the adult work force?
In your own job or career, must your learning continue? Do you update and advance your skills? Do you learn to understand and do new things? Do you attend seminars or classes that equip you to keep your job or advance your career?
Is it more essential (1) to educate your children for the adult work force and (2) to equip yourself to maintain your job/career than (3) to equip you and your children to live for God now and (4) to prepare you and your children to live with God eternally?
The next three Sunday morning worship assemblies will be devoted to encouraging our spiritual education. The Sunday morning sermons will challenge us to consider the never ending, growing importance of spiritual education.
A teacher achieves his or her purpose when someone learns. Do you learn?
Posted by David on January 3, 1999 under Bulletin Articles
One definition of “priority” is something that merits prior attention. Stated in “everyday language,” priority identifies a need that deserves attention, action, or consideration before other needs receive attention, action, or consideration.
Some approach needs by thinking, reflecting, and evaluating. When one makes a list of needs that must receive attention, he or she “prioritizes” the list. Each need on the list appears in order of importance. Number one is the need of greatest importance. Number two is the need second in importance, and thus the list continues. The importance of the need determines its position on the list. Priority determines how, where, and when the need is addressed.
Some approach needs by reacting to the urgent. These needs are no less real. One even may make a random list of needs. But time and energy are not used to care for important needs first. He or she often works hard, but commonly the “urgency of the moment” receives first consideration. Often important needs are neglected because the person reacts to the moment’s cries for attention.
Some rarely think about importance. They seldom prioritize. On a daily basis, they live by reacting to the moment’s situation. The “important need” is the immediate need. Priorities do not exist. The only consideration is “what must be cared for right now.” Only the urgency of the immediate produces needs.
Christ introduces us to the necessity of priorities. They include loving God above all else; loving people above things; trusting God instead of worrying; resisting temptation instead of yielding to evil; living for God’s kingdom instead of physical needs; forgiving instead of judging. That is only the beginning. As each of us spiritually matures, priorities mature. Priorities change because the person grows in his or her knowledge and understanding of God.
How much did you grow spiritually in 1998? What are your priorities for 1999?
Posted by David on December 20, 1998 under Bulletin Articles
Two of this season’s precious blessings are awareness and appreciation. December’s mindset elevates people’s awareness of people. The awareness of human conditions dramatically increases. Caring for and about people becomes a primary concern.
Our awareness of the important roles that others serve in our lives rises. We realize how blessed we are because others touch our lives. Feelings of appreciation crumble the “crust” on our hearts, and the kindness of consideration rules.
This happens because our society focuses on God’s blessing to us. The elevated awareness of God’s gift to us deepens our appreciation of God. Rising appreciation for God deepens our appreciation for each other.
From our hearts, the staff at West-Ark wants the entire congregation to know that we appreciate you! Thank you for all the ways that you touch and bless us!
Posted by David on December 13, 1998 under Bulletin Articles
Recently I received a letter from a market place “head hunter.” “Head hunters” look for a person with specific qualifications for a specific job. The letter did not “stroke my ego.” It was a “fill in the blank” letter that misspelled my name.
It contained a “hook” designed to grab my attention and motivate me to act. The “hook” was the unbelievable monthly salary said to be possible in this position.
Years ago I accepted a reality, and I do not remember an exception. The greater the opportunity, the greater the responsibilities. If the letter revealed the truth about the salary, what were the costs of earning it? I have no doubt that the costs would be my life–twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week.
Often we think, “I would love that job!” “I would love that position!” “I would love that opportunity!” And we would. But, we would love the benefits, not the responsibilities. We would love the benefits without surrendering our life.
There are two exceptions to the reality. First, if the opportunity creates the fulfillment of personal significance, some allow it to become their life. Many do that. Apart from their work, they do not exist. They are measured and defined in detail by their careers’ responsibilities. As their occupation defines them, the price of their sacrifices become obvious.
Second, many consider the spiritual to be an exception. God’s opportunities? Grace, mercy, atonement, forgiveness, destruction of mistakes, strength in times of trial, comfort in times of distress, hope in times of failure, and eternal life after death. Our responsibilities? Worship when it is convenient. Study when it is convenient. Prayer when it is convenient. As little involvement as one desires. Financial generosity as we define appropriate. And the spiritual cannot define “self.”
In this view, God provides existence’s priceless treasures, but expects us to make no difficult choices or endure any inconvenience. To believe this is to misunderstand God. True, all His gifts are gifts of love. Also true, He expects us to accept a basic responsibility: the responsibility of loving God. Nothing provides greater gifts. Nothing confers greater responsibilities.
Posted by David on December 6, 1998 under Bulletin Articles
The day after Thanksgiving, nation wide many retail stores opened at six a.m. to lines of customers standing at the door. The “shop until you drop” stampede began. And that stampede will last late into the evening of December 24th.
The economic machinery primed us for this annual start of the nation’s most intense shopping spree. The television advertisement blitz began well before November 27. The insert advertisements in the newspaper on the 27th weighed more than the news articles.
Christmas gift buying is critical in the retail business. The survival of many stores actually depend on the share of December sales they capture. Competition is so severe that many stores cannot pay their bills and make a profit from the sales of the other eleven months.
Two factors fuel this national buying frenzy: (1) what we want, and (2) what others think we want. Our wants commonly translate into several attitudes. “Because you love me, give me what I want.” “Because I love you, I will give you your dreams.” “Because we love each other, I must give you something–and I fervently hope it is what you want.”
Love and wants become terribly entangled in each other. The situation is quite complicated. “If I give you the gift you want, does the gift prove I love you? If I fail to give you the gift you want, has my love for you failed? If my gift disappoints you, does that mean you are disappointed with my love? What if the gift you want exceeds my ability to give? What if I don’t know what gift you want?”
The situation is even more complex. Some give gifts to express love. Some give gifts to avoid embarrassment. Some give gifts to create indebtedness. Some give gifts to manipulate.
For decades I had a “want list” of things. Deep within, I was convinced that happiness automatically would be enhanced by having the things that I wanted. Then I discovered (the hard way) what I call “the post possession blahs.” The anticipation of having “the thing” was wonderful. Possessing “the thing” often was followed by depression.
As time passed, my “want list” of things grew smaller and smaller. One day, that list ceased to exist. The child, the young adult, and the middle aged adult never believed there could be life without a “want list” of things.
“What do you want for Christmas?” Such a simple question! Or is it?
Posted by David on November 15, 1998 under Bulletin Articles
We Christians often discuss God’s generosity. We theoretically talk about Him being the source of our blessings. We theologically talk about Him being the source of our salvation. We doctrinally talk about Him giving us an eternal home.
As children of the great Maker, we tend to be possessive with the things that presumably we make. What we make we tend to keep–at least the majority of it. What God made He gave to us.
God made the earth, and He gave people dominion.
God made people, and He gave us life.
God made Adam and Eve, and He gave them a companion.
God made a flood, and He gave humanity a new beginning.
God made Isaac, and He gave Abraham a nation.
God made Israel, and He gave the world a Savior.
God made His Son a man, and He gave us the Christ.
God made the resurrection, and He gave us hope.
God made forgiveness, and He gave us redemption.
God made the church, and He gave us a spiritual family.
God made the Holy Spirit the Comforter, and He gave us assurance.
God made heaven, and He has given us a reservation.
We made rebellion, and He gave us mercy.
We made defiance, and He gave us grace.
We made failure, and He gave us compassion.
We made sin, and He gave us atonement.
We make imperfect children, and He clothes us in Christ.
Do you know anything that God made which He did not give away? Do you know anything God gave away that did not benefit us? May we think about that as we place our sense of security in “what we made.” May we think about that when we reflect on Jesus’ statement: “It is more blessed to give than receive.” God knows that is so!
Posted by David on November 8, 1998 under Bulletin Articles
John 8 records a “day of hostility in the life of Jesus.” Jesus’ day began as he taught in the temple area. When an adulteress caught in the act was presented to him, he refused to condemn her. Instead, he convicted and humiliated her captors.
His lessons provoked one hostile reaction after another. Each reaction intensified the hostility. “You are lying and have no one to verify your statements!” “Your statements make sense only if you plan to kill yourself.” “Who are you?” (Which asked, in context, “Who do you think you are?”)
In the “give and take” of the hostility, many listeners believed in him. To them, the believers, Jesus said, “You are genuine disciples if you take life from my word. By taking life from my word, you shall know the truth, and that truth will liberate you.”
This statement offended the believers as well as his opponents. “We are Abraham’s descendants, the people of God! We have never been slaves! How dare you suggest otherwise!”
From that point forward, Jesus was increasingly insistent, and they were increasingly hostile.
The belief that results in acceptance and the belief that results in existence are radically different. The belief of acceptance agrees (as though personal approval validates truth). The belief of existence finds life in the revelations of the teachings.
Genuine disciples voluntarily submit to the teacher to learn. In recognition of his superiority, they surrender their minds and hearts to his teachings. They refuse to permit “my knowledge” to limit the teacher’s revelation. His revelations are not restricted by their perceptions.
Jesus said, “Genuine disciples continually draw life itself from my word. In doing so, they discover the truth. Truth discovered through my revelation liberates them.”
Jesus’ teachings do not exist to confirm “our knowledge.” He reveals what we need to understand. His objective is more than revealing the truth about God, Christ, the Spirit, God’s will, and Jesus’ purposes. It includes revealing to us the truth about ourselves (examine John 8). Discovering truth is frightening, but only truth liberates.
Truth has the power to liberate for two reasons. It reveals myself to me. It reveals life to me. Both revelations occur when I take life from Jesus’ word.
Posted by David on November 1, 1998 under Bulletin Articles
Our convictions and belief system often focus on a state that does not exit. It has never existed. Yet, according to our expectations and judgments, it is real. At times, each of us think that we live in this state.
In this state, the Christian achieves a level of knowledge that makes it unnecessary to learn anything else. His or her purpose is now to defend or oppose, but not to learn. In this state, others must know what “I” know, nothing less and nothing more.
In this state, the Christian reaches a level of understanding that makes it unnecessary to understand anything else. When another Christian’s understanding differs from “mine,” the other Christian needs to be corrected. “I” have nothing to correct.
In this state, the Christian has determined the proper answer and correct solution to each complex problem and difficult situation. He or she becomes (at the least) irritated or (at the most) outraged if another Christian does not agree with his or her answer or solution. When another’s equally conscientious study produces a different conclusion, he or she is in error because “my” conclusions are unquestionably correct.
In this state, a Christian does not need to grow, to develop, to mature, or to increase in wisdom. All he or she needs to do is to maintain his or her present spiritual level. The future of Christianity would be wonderful and the future of the church would be secure if all Christians had grown as much, developed as much, matured as much, and had as much wisdom as “I” have.
The Christian’s spiritual standard in every aspect of existence is God’s wisdom, Jesus’ life, and Christ’s mind. When my actions are under control, I still need to develop Jesus’ attitudes. When I improve my attitudes, I still need to develop godly emotions. When I improve my emotions, I still need to mature in my relationships. Every aspect of my life needs spiritual growth and development. In no aspect of my life will I rise to God’s wisdom, Jesus’ life, or Christ’s mind.
Right now take a moment to read 2 Peter 1:1-11 and Romans 2.
Posted by David on October 25, 1998 under Bulletin Articles
“God is the living God! Jesus is Lord and Christ, the only Savior! Forgiveness is only produced by the blood of Christ! God wants people worldwide to be Christians!”
I accept those facts. I accept that conclusion. My entire life and collective efforts have been (are) devoted to encouraging people on this and other continents to consider Christianity.
Even so, I ask this question, “Why? Why should people worldwide be Christian?”
“Because Jehovah God is the true and living God!” He is indeed. Do we teach people God before teaching them Christ? Will knowing God persuade them?
“Because the living God declared that Jesus is Lord and Christ!” That certainly is true. Israelites (first century and before) knew the significance of the Messiah/Lordship concepts. That significance was rooted in Israel’s relationship with God. People of today’s world do not comprehend that significance. Many of us non-Jewish Christians have a poor-to-inadequate understanding of the significance. Will these strange concepts persuade people?
“Because only the blood of Christ provides forgiveness!” That is definitely correct. Do people worldwide correctly identify evil? correctly understand the concept of sin? understand atonement and redemption? or the bond between blood, atonement, and redemption?
“Because God’s grace, forgiveness, and new life in Christ progressively changes me. The change is obvious in the way I treat my family; the way I treat people; the way I accept responsibility; my different heart, attitudes and emotions; my real relationship with God and Jesus; and the way I deal with my flaws, faults, and failures. It is obvious that I am a different, better person because I am a Christian.” Everyone can relate to that! It moves people to ask, “What is this power that changes and sustains you?” Read 1 Peter 3:13-16 again.
And who is he who will harm you if you become followers of what is good? But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you are blessed. “And do not be afraid of their threats, nor be troubled.” But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear; having a good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed.
People worldwide need to be Christians, not merely profess Christianity. God’s purpose is to transform people in Christ, not to control people. Perhaps one reason many people reject Christianity is that they see no transformation in people who are Christians.
Becoming the light of the world is not a process of professing. It is allowing the Light of the world to transform us into “the children of daylight” (1 Thessalonians 5:1-11).
