“A gallon holds 128 ounces. If one puts 138 ounces into a one gallon container, 10 ounces will spill over the side. This is a simple idea to grasp. I believe the same concept is part of the reason attendance suffers, especially on Sunday and Wednesday evening. Not only attendance, but participation in the work of the church is certainly not engaged in as it should be. In our society we have more than enough material possessions and activities with which to fill our time so many that we are unable to contain them in the 168 hours we have each week. Just as with the gallon container, if we try to fill our week with more than 168 hours, some other activity must be sacrificed. How often is it that one’s service to the Lord is that which is sacrificed? Let us fill our lives with more activities for the Lord. When we do, we will naturally rid ourselves of things that steal our time and service from the Lord.”
–Tom Wacaster
Archive for August, 2010
Failing to put God first
Tuesday, August 31st, 2010
The garden of daily living
Monday, August 30th, 2010First, you come to the garden alone,
while the dew is still on the roses….
FOR THE GARDEN OF YOUR DAILY LIVING,
PLANT THREE ROWS OF PEAS:
1. Peace of mind
2. Peace of heart
3. Peace of soul
PLANT FOUR ROWS OF SQUASH:
1. Squash gossip
2. Squash indifference
3. Squash grumbling
4. Squash selfishness
PLANT FOUR ROWS OF LETTUCE:
1. Lettuce be faithful
2. Lettuce be kind
3. Lettuce be patient
4. Lettuce really love one another
NO GARDEN IS WITHOUT TURNIPS:
1. Turnip for meetings
2. Turnip for service
3. Turnip to help one another
TO CONCLUDE OUR GARDEN WE MUST HAVE THYME:
1. Thyme for each other
2. Thyme for family
3. Thyme for friends
WATER FREELY WITH PATIENCE AND CULTIVATE WITH LOVE. THERE IS MUCH FRUIT IN YOUR GARDEN BECAUSE YOU REAP WHAT YOU SOW.
Amish poly vinyl furniture
Sunday, August 29th, 2010Are you familiar with “Amish Poly Vinyl Furniture,” including the Amish Poly Vinyl Deluxe Adirondack Chairs? Have you made any purchases from http://www.amishfurniturefactory.com? The poly vinyl furniture is by no means cheap, but it seems to be comfortable to sit in and it looks like all the hardware is stainless steel.
If you have not seen this Amish furniture, check out these chairs:
Tell others what you think in this “Amish poly vinyl furniture survey”!
Loving your neighbor as yourself
Sunday, August 29th, 20101) Do we have a neighbor that we are hoping will move out sometime soon?
2) The Bible is a book that quite often speaks about “neighbors.”
3) In the Old Testament “neighbor” is usually a fellow Hebrew.
4) In the New Testament “neighbor” is much broader – anyone who has a need.
5) Jesus said a little something about “neighbors” in Mk. 12:31.
6) Let’s see what this verse says – READ Mk. 12:28-31.
a) Jesus said we are to love our neighbors and love them as ourselves.
b) If there is a forgotten command in the Bible, this is probably it.
7) There is a lot more information about “neighbor” than I expected to find. 
More than 100 times in the Bible we find information about our neighbors.
a) Ex. 20:16 says – READ
b) Since we are to “love our neighbor” (Mk. 12:31), lying about them cannot be right.
9) Verse 17 goes even further– READ
a) READ Ex. 21:14.
b) The Hebrews had to be kind to their neighbors.
c) State Farm Insurance used to have a little jingle about being a “good neighbor.”
d) Lev. 19:18 prohibited the people of Israel from having a “grudge” against the people of Israel.
e) The latter part of this verse says “love thy neighbor as thyself.”
f) Bearing a grudge is not in harmony with loving neighbors as ourselves.
g) In a group of this size it is very likely that at least some have a grudge against a neighbor.
h) This verse says the destruction comes from the “mouth.”
10) If we are a Christian, we want our words to neighbors to be “seasoned with salt” (Col. 4:6).
11) We want to do this because of our next reference, Prov. 12:26.
a) The wise man said the “Righteous is a guide to his neighbor.”
b) The “righteous” can often be a spiritual guide to others by being a good neighbor.
12) Our next passage is a very sad verse.
13) Prov. 14:20 says – READ
a) The wise man said the “poor is hated by his neighbors.”
b) Jesus was a friend to the social outcasts of His day and time.
c) This should also be true for us.
d) Prov. 14:21 – READ
14) Some despise a neighbor.
15) Others go even further – they “devise evil” against neighbors (Zech. 8:17).
16) God said “do not do this.” This is also not loving our neighbor instead of ourselves.
17) Instead of trying to hurt neighbors, we need to see how we can help them.
18) Neighbors are not always good neighbors, no matter what we do.
19) In Rom. 12:20 Paul said we are to “heap coals of fire on people” by doing good to them.
20) This is God’s strategy for dealing with difficult neighbors.
21) Our neighbors should see that we are Christians.
22) After we have set a good example, we should try to teach them.
The Pencil Maker
Friday, August 27th, 2010The Pencil Maker took the pencil aside, just before putting him into the box.
“There are 5 things you need to know,” he told the pencil, “Before I send you out into the world. Always remember them and never forget, and you will become the best pencil you can be.”
“One: You will be able to do many great things, but only if you allow yourself to be held in Someone’s hand.”
“Two: You will experience a painful sharpening from time to time, but you’ll need it to become a better pencil.”
“Three: You will be able to correct any mistakes you might make.”
“Four: The most important part of you will always be what’s inside.”
“And Five: On every surface you are used on, you must leave your mark. No matter what the condition, you must continue to write.”
The pencil understood and promised to remember, and went into the box with purpose in its heart.
Now replacing the place of the pencil with you. Always remember them and never forget, and you will become the best person you can be.
One: You will be able to do many great things, but only if you allow yourself to be held in God’s hand. And allow other human beings to access you for the many gifts you possess.
Two: You will experience a painful sharpening from time to time, by going through various problems in life, but you’ll need it to become a stronger person.
Three: You will be able to correct any mistakes you might make.
Four: The most important part of you will always be what’s on the inside.
And Five: On every surface you walk through, you must leave your mark. No matter what the situation, you must continue to do your duties.
Do you do the devil's will?
Thursday, August 26th, 2010a) A government may have a “will” for its citizens.
b) If we are employed at a secular job, our employer has a “will” for us to accomplish.
c) Stores and other businesses have a “will” for consumers.
2) The devil has a “will” for mankind. God also has a “will” for people.
3) As individuals we also have our own “will.”
4) Lots of people and organizations and lots of people want us to do lots of things.
5) Since there are many “wills” to choose from, which will should we choose?
6) We might not only ask which will we should choose, we should ask WHY we select the one we do.
7) The Bible encourages us to choose God and His will. In Mt. 7:21 Jesus spoke of the “will of the Father.”
a) Jesus said only those who do the “will of God” will be in heaven – READ Mt. 7:21.
9) In Mt. 18:14 Jesus said it is not God’s desire that any “little ones” perish.
a) Virtually every person or organization has a “will” about some things it likes and dislikes.
b) Our government wants its citizens to do certain things and avoid other activities.
c) Such is also true for God.
10) Mk. 3:35 says doing the will of God allows us to be regarded as His brother, sister and mother
11) Eph. 5:17 says “understand what the will of the Lord is.”
a) Paul believed it is possible to understand God’s will.
b) This may take some time and effort, but it is possible.
c) In Eph. 5:15 Paul said, “look carefully how you walk” (be careful how to live).
d) Why be careful? We need to be careful because we can step outside the will of God.
12) Not only can we understand God’s will, we can do it and do it with great sincerity.
13) Eph. 6:6 speaks of doing God’s will “from the heart” – here is the full verse READ
14) Peter recognized that some will “suffer” because they do God’s will (1 Pet. 4:19).
15) Today people sometimes suffer because they are trying to do the will of God.
a) Heb. 10:36 says those who do the will of God “receive the promise.”
b) This is what all people want—this promise is conditional. We must do the will of God.
1) Christians should seek to do the will of God because of the God’s record.
2) 700 years before Jesus came into the world it was said the Lord would be born of a “virgin,” Isa. 7:14.
3) When Jesus came into the world, this is exactly what happened, Mt. 1:18, 23.
4) Isaiah also predicted that Jesus would be named before His birth (Isa. 49:1) – READ
a) This is precisely what we find in Lk. 1:30-31.
b) Micah (5:2) said Jesus would be born in Bethlehem, and this happened, Mt. 2:1.
5) Jeremiah (31:15) said Jesus would create sorrow for many people and did (Mt. 2:17-18).
6) The trip Jesus and His family had to take to Egypt (Mt. 2:14-15) was a subject of prophecy (Hos. 11:1).
7) 400 years before Jesus came to the world (Mal. 3:1) it was said He would have a forerunner. In Ps. 78:2 we learn that the Savior would speak in “parables.”
9) When we study the Lord’s life, we find Him teaching with parables.
10) Isaiah said Jesus would be “despised” (Isa. 53:3) and “rejected” (Isa. 8:14) without cause (Ps. 69:4).
11) Hundreds of predictions were made and all fulfilled down to the last detail.
a) These predictions help demonstrate why we need to follow the will of God.
12) God shows us through predictive prophecy that we can and should rely on His will. 1 Jn. 2:17
Sunshine Magazine
Wednesday, August 25th, 2010The following story seen in “Sunshine Magazine” about a professor of psychology illustrates how difficult it is to love others.
Although he had no children of his own, whenever he saw a neighbor scolding a child for some wrongdoing, he would say, “You should love your boy, not punish him.”
One hot summer afternoon the professor was doing some repair work on a concrete driveway leading to his garage. Tired out after several hours of work, he laid down the towel, wiped the perspiration from his forehead, and started toward the house. Just then out of the corner of his eye he saw a mischievous little boy putting his foot into the fresh cement. He rushed over, grabbed him, and was about to spank him severely when a neighbor leaned from a window and said, “Watch it, Professor! Don’t you remember? You must ‘love’ the child!”
At this, he yelled back furiously, “I do love him in the abstract, but not in the concrete!”
That’s so true. It’s easy to love people “in the abstract”. It’s easy to talk about love and the importance of love. What’s much more difficult is to love people in “concrete” ways, especially when we’re dealing with people are very unlovable, who have been unkind and irritating to us.
But love is not something for us to talk about — it is something for us to demonstrate in some very practical ways, as John makes clear in this familiar passage:
“By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him? My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth.” (1 John 3:16-18)
How about it — are you loving in the abstract, or in the concrete?
Alan Smith
Do not pinch me
Monday, August 23rd, 2010As I was standing in a checkout line I witnessed a small child literally “pinch” the cashier. This cashier expressed her displeasure at having her arm repeatedly abused by the youngster, but the dad didn’t seem to mind. Finally the cashier became very vocal; I didn’t write down her exact words but it something like “HEY THAT HURTS!” At this point the father told his son “it is not nice to pinch people” and then turned back to focus on his purchases.
As soon as the father and his arm pinching son were out of earshot the cashier told me she would have “spanked this child had she been his mom.”
Many in today’s world would not agree with her thinking, but the Bible is on her side. Proverbs 22:15 says “Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child; (But) the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.”
If people refuse to properly discipline their children they may end up with a finger pinching child or behavior that is far, far worse.
Wendy and Jill
Sunday, August 22nd, 2010Imagine two women; we will call the first Jill and the other Wendy. Tomorrow Jill gets so upset with Wendy she wants to kill her.
Since Jill knows she cannot personally murder someone (Rom. 13:9), she contacts a “hit man” to kill Wendy. Jill believes God will understand and accept her decision because the Bible never says “Thou shall not hire someone to commit murder for you.”
If the preceding paragraph sounds absolutely absurd and wrong, congratulations. Jill’s reasoning is wrong. The lack of a specific prohibition in the Bible does not mean something is right.
The next time someone tries to justify some idea or practice based on the claim that “the Bible does not specifically prohibit it,” remember this silly example about Wendy and Jill.
Divine bells, Exodus 28:34-35
Sunday, August 22nd, 20101) Some judges are telling people some clothing is not allowed in their courtrooms.
2) In Bakersfield, CA a judge does not allow people to wear flip flops.
3) Another courtroom closer to home – Michigan – says blue jeans are not allowed.
4) No shorts are allowed in a Dover, Delaware courtroom
WHAT WE SEE TAKING PLACE IN SOME AMERICAN COURTROOMS IS DIRECTLY RELATED TO SOME INFORMATION IN EXODUS 28.
1) Ex. 28 provides us with details about the clothing worn by Aaron.
2) In Ex. 28:2 we learn that Aaron’s clothing was “beautiful.”
3) Threads of various colors were used to construct this clothing (verse 8).
4) Engraved stones were also part of the clothing (verse 9).
5) Two pure twisted gold chains were part of the outfit (verse 14).
6) The collar was to be made in such a way where it would not tear (verse 32).
7) We want the information in verses 34-35 – READ
a) There were “golden bells” on Aaron’s priestly attire.
b) These bells were not just for show – they actually made a sound.
c) The bells warned people like Aaron that serving God was a very serious matter. The message of Ex. 28 is still very relevant for our day and time.
9) Today people can become lax about God and spiritual things.
10) If we are somehow involved in the worship, we need to concentrate on what we are doing.
11) It is true that we are talking about the Old Testament and it is true that we are not high priests.
a) 1 Pet. 2:9 says Christians are a “royal priesthood.”
b) 1 Pet. 2:5 – READ
c) What are our minds focused on when it is time to offer up a spiritual sacrifice in worship?
12) If a lot of people thought about Ex. 28 and 1 Pet. 2, they would worship very, very differently.
13) 1 Cor. 11:29 – READ
14) Some of the Corinthians were “not discerning the Lord’s body.”
15) Paul said this would bring about “condemnation” (judgment).
16) Notice the verse that follows – READ verse 30.
a) Three key words stand out in this verse: WEAK, SICKLY, DEAD.
b) Worship is a time to come to God and say: You are great, holy, and our creator.
17) Most congregations would not try to create rules if people simply understood the seriousness of worship.
18) When it comes time for worship, we need to “remember the bells” in Ex. 28.
19) These items were a reminder to be serious and reverential about worship.
What is heaven like?
Saturday, August 21st, 2010An 85-year-old couple, having been married almost 60 years, died in a car crash. They had been in good health the last ten years mainly due to her interest in health food and exercise. When they reached the pearly gates, Peter took them to their mansion which was decked out with a beautiful kitchen and master bath suite and Jacuzzi. As they “oohed and aahed”, the old man asked Peter how much all this was going to cost. “It’s free,” Peter replied, “this is heaven.”
Next they went out back to survey the championship golf course that the home backed up to. They would have golfing privileges every day, and each week the course changed to a new one representing the great golf courses on earth. The old man asked, “what are the green fees?” Peter’s reply, “This is heaven, you play for free.”
Next they went to the club house and saw the lavish buffet lunch with the cuisines of the world laid out. “How much to eat?” asked the old man. “Don’t you understand yet? This is heaven, it is free!” Peter replied with some exasperation. “Well, where are the low fat and low cholesterol tables?” the old man asked timidly. Peter said, “That’s the best part…you can eat as much as you like of whatever you like and you never get fat and you never get sick. This is heaven.”
With that, the old man went into a fit of anger, throwing down his hat and stomping on it, shrieking wildly. Peter and his wife both tried to calm him down, asking him what was wrong. The old man looked at his wife and said, “This is all your fault! If it weren’t for your blasted bran muffins, I could have been here ten years ago!”
If only we knew what lies ahead, we might not be so hesitant to leave what lies around us. We cling so tightly to what we see, wondering if anything could possibly be better. But we have God’s assurance that His children have an inheritance far greater than anything we can even imagine.
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you.” (1 Peter 1:3-4)
Our inheritance is “incorruptible”. In a day of transient fads, it’s difficult to find anything permanent. But in our heavenly inheritance we’ll finally know real permanence and unending security.
Our inheritance is “undefiled.” Isn’t it disgusting when your freshly mown lawn is cluttered with beer cans thrown from passing cars? When beautiful lakes and rivers are choked with pollution? Even truth is perverted, morality is corrupted. But there will be no such defacing of our heavenly inheritance. The heavenly inheritance is for those who appreciate the beauty of being with God.
Our inheritance is “unfading.” In this world, life fades with age. Even relationships with friends and sometimes even with family members can grow stale. But, in heaven, everything remains as fresh as it is at the outset.
Alan Smith
God's grace in Titus 2:11-13
Thursday, August 19th, 2010For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ…
Titus 2:11-13, ESV
Men and women through the centuries have extolled the magnificent grace of God. Beloved old hymns and countless sermons have impressed upon the minds of multiplied millions the wonders of God’s undeserved yet unreserved kindness to man. Consider the following brief points from the inspired words Paul wrote to Titus…
A. God’s grace brings salvation (v. 11a).
B. God’s grace has appeared to all men (v. 11b).
C. God’s grace teaches six crucial concepts (v. 12-13).
We must renounce ungodliness (v. 12a).
We must renounce worldly passions (v. 12b).
We must live self-controlled lives (v. 12c).
We must live upright lives (v. 12d).
We must live godly lives (v. 12e).
Doing all the above will enable us to anticipate the return of Christ (v. 13).
–Source unknown
God's Law Of Marriage, Divorce, And Remarriage Applies To All People
Wednesday, August 18th, 2010People approach the very sensitive subject of marriage, divorce, and remarriage in several ways. Some, ignorant of what Jesus says about it, are a law to themselves and come up with any number of “alternatives” including living together without marriage, homosexuality, adultery, and the like. Some have become stricter than Jesus, saying that divorce for any reason is a sin. This is making a law where God has not (Prov. 30:6; Rev. 22:18-19). Some have become less strict than Jesus, making allowance where He has not. One of the most common allowances is the idea this law does not apply to everyone. Also, some have tried to make the sin of adultery something other than what context shows it to be. Here are five reasons why God’s law of marriage, divorce, and remarriage applies to all.
(1) Jesus Goes Back To The Beginning Of Creation (19:4,8). Jesus is not teaching something that was limited to His own time and it certainly was not an articulation of the Law of Moses (see 19:7-8). Instead, Jesus goes back to the dawn of time to Adam and Eve in the Garden. Jesus, in giving His command, reaches behind Moses to “the beginning.” This shows a timelessness to the command. God designed it a certain way, man distorted it, and Jesus dictates a new way that is universal in nature. He points ahead by pointing back to the beginning.
(2) What God Has Joined Should Not Be Separated (19:6). When two people have a right to be married, whether or not a preacher or religious person performs the ceremony, God is joining those two together. Verse nine gives God’s only exception for allowing the marriage bond to be severed and only then for the one against whom fornication is committed (the “innocent party”)(see the last phrase in verse nine). There is no qualifying phrase beyond that one exception to justify ending one marriage and forming another.
(3) Jesus’ Teaching Is Explicitly Clear (19:9). It truly takes “expert help” to misunderstand what Jesus teaches here. Take out the exception and here is how the “rule” reads: “Whoever divorce his wife and marries another, commits adultery; and whoever marries her who is divorced commits adultery.” That could not be clearer! The exception is also perfectly clear.
(4) The Disciples’ Reaction (19:10). Their reaction is actually extreme. They conclude that it is better not to get married. Jesus does not validate such thinking, but it gives us insight in to what they understood. Jesus’ law for marriage, divorce, and remarriage is stringent! If “adultery” merely meant “covenant breaking,” would the disciples react so? One would simply need to “repent” of having broken their marriage vows, and then enter another marriage. If Jesus meant that, the disciples would hardly have reacted at all.
(5) Christ’s Final Response About Eunuchs (19:11-12). Jesus clears up any doubt by how He ends this discussion. He speaks of three classes of eunuchs-those born that way, those made that way by men, and those who make themselves that way “for the kingdom of heaven’s sake.” Being delicate here, we understand what it means to be a “eunuch.” That cuts to the heart of what our Lord is saying and one of the blessings accompanying the marriage relationship. Those who divorce for reasons other than the exception Jesus gives in verse nine would have to be in that third category of person discussed in verse 12.
This is not a truth that can be delivered with cold stare, pounding fist, and judgmental heart. It is one that more likely will be accompanied with breaking heart, blinding tears, and extreme hesitation. Probably nothing is more unpleasant to teach, but as part of the “whole counsel” (Acts 20:27) it must be taught. Culture cannot be the authority on this matter. Neither can emotion. Instead, as always, we must let Jesus be the authority (cf. Col. 1:18; 3:17; Matt. 28:18). — Neal Pollard
Was Jesus taught by an Indian guru?
Monday, August 16th, 2010“Russian writer Nicolas Notovitch, whose writings are popular among New Agers today, describes Luke as saying Jesus ‘was in the desert until the day of his showing unto Israel’ (Cf. Luke 1:80)” (Correcting the Cults, p. 146). “This, Notovitch declared, proves that no one knew where the young Jesus was for about sixteen years. He said he had found documents substantiating that Jesus went to India and learned from Indian gurus to raise people from the dead and cast out demons” (ibid).
If Mr. Notovitch had taken the time to read a little bit of the context (see Lk. 1:76), he would have known Zacharias was describing John the Baptist instead of Jesus. The problem with many people today is that they do not read the Bible or they do not read enough of it.
Brad Price
www.abiblecommentary.com
The Keeley Institute
Saturday, August 28th, 2010“The Keeley Institute, known for its Keeley Cure, was a commercial medical operation that offered treatment to alcoholics from 1879 to 1965. Though at one time there were more than 200 branches in the United States and Europe, the original institute was founded by Leslie Keeley in Dwight, Illinois, United States. After Keeley’s death the institute began a slow decline but remained in operation under John R. Oughton, and, later, his son. The Keeley Institute offered the internationally famous Keeley Cure, which drew sharp criticism from those within the mainstream medical profession. The Keeley Institute’s location in Dwight, Illinois had a major influence on the development of Dwight as a village. There are only a few remaining indications in Dwight that the Keeley Institute was once a major force.”
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