"If we never meet again..." - Joey Ferrell

It was a vibrant spring Saturday morning on March 31, 2012. I had plans to work in the yard, get the mower out and cut the early spring grass, daffodils and onions and just relax a bit since it was the first Saturday I had not had plans in several weeks. I was laying in bed at about 7:40 a.m. Kristie had left to take our youngest daughter to a martial arts competition. Our oldest daughter was probably still asleep. And then, my cell phone rang.

“Hello.” The voice on the other end of the phone was one I knew very well, but it was different this day. “Joey, get out here now!” It was my dad. He sounded angry, but also scared and confused. I had no idea what was wrong until the very next words came through what seemed like such a distant connection. “Your mom isn’t breathing. Get here now!”

After I called Kristie and screamed for our oldest daughter, who tried to calm me as we waited on Kristie to get back home from just a few minutes away, I fell on my knees and prayed. I prayed so hard that very moment. It was a prayer like probably none other I had ever prayed.

A few minutes later, we were in route to my mom and dad’s house. When we got there, there was an emergency officer there and he told us they had gone to the hospital. We quickly headed that way as well. When we got there, my dad was in the ER waiting area along with a lady that worked for my mom. Dad was hysterically crying, and he kept saying he didn’t know what was happening. My brother and sister arrived from out of town some time later, but only after what seemed like hours of waiting for the doctor to come to the small waiting room with the heart-wrenching words - “we did all we could do. She just wasn’t strong enough.” I replied, “what do you mean? She wasn’t strong enough for what??” You could see exactly what he meant in his facial expression when he replied, “she was on a lot of medication for her heart.” I knew by the form of past tense statement what he meant. Oh it hurt so bad to hear those last words. I am sure he had more to say, but my mind was tuned out as reality began to sink in. My mother was gone. 66 years old. She had just emailed me and my siblings the night before (and I still keep that email to look at often). It couldn’t be true. She just had her birthday on March 5 and they celebrated their 47th anniversary on March 6. There had to be a mistake. But there wasn’t.

After my siblings arrived, I met them in the parking lot. They did not know as of yet, and that was one of the hardest things I have ever had to tell them. It was definitely something that we could not understand. It just didn’t seem right. It wasn’t fair. This was our mother! But she was gone. We all went into the room where her precious body laid and it was clear that her soul had left her body as there was no life to be found. It was to this day, the saddest I believe I have ever felt. It had been quite a few years since we had lost my grandfather - her father, and a handful of years since we had lost my dad’s mother. This was the first “close” family member to die in a while, and it certainly was not expected.

This past Sunday evening, at the local church service that we attended, a brother led the song “If we never meet again” written by Albert R. Brumley in 1945 (ironically, the year before my mother was born). I love to sing this song and it brings special feelings to my heart as I do. Look at some of the words of the song:

“Soon we'll come to the end of life's journey,
and perhaps we'll never meet anymore,
till we gather in heaven's bright city,
far away on that beautiful shore.

If we never meet again this side of heaven,
as we struggle through this world and its strife,
there's another meeting place somewhere in heaven,
by the side of the river of life,
where the charming roses bloom forever,
and where separations come no more,
if we never meet again this side of heaven,
I will meet you on that beautiful shore.”

Verses 2 and 3 are just as beautiful to read and sing.

After mom passed, I struggled with the idea of how we are to be judged in our lives for an eternal home in heaven. Sure, the bible is very clear on what it takes to be saved through faith, repentance, and obedience in baptism. It is also very clear about what we need to do about remaining faithful, and not wavering to a sinful world. My mom was saved (Mark 16:16). The story I was told was that she tried to teach my dad that her upbringing in a denominational church was just fine…but she studied herself (and him) into the truth of God’s word and they were baptized at the Main Street church of Christ in Manchester, TN some time before I was born. Later in life though, her health kept her from being at worship services a lot and I could not help but wonder how her spiritual well-being may have been as we know that we can certainly steer away from a place of salvation and our “blessed assurance” if Satan can figure out how to get between us and God (Isaiah 59:1-2). Personally, I cannot go for any extended length of time without being fed spiritually and not feel myself coming up short, and I was concerned.

After a few weeks, I was helping my dad clean up some things around the house. I looked up at the bookshelf where all of mom’s “bible books” were. Commentaries, multiple bibles in various translations, study aids, books…and there it was…a spiral notebook that contained mom’s notes of her studies. I asked dad if I could take it with me to read and to bring back. He said of course I could. I am so happy that I did. Within this spiral notebook, I could see a glimpse into the spiritual heart of my mother that there was no other way of seeing. Her notes were fantastic. Lots of scripture. Lots of comments about things she had read. I even found some notes she recorded from a sermon that I had preached that she was able to be in the audience some time before. My heart felt so much better. Some of her notes were much more detailed and scripturally accurate than some preachers’ (including my own) notes were for their own sermons!

My mom has been gone from this life 13 years now. But, her legacy is not. Her spiritual influence is still thriving in me as I recently started my 17th year of working for the Lord in ministry. Her name is on the sign in front of The Gospel of Christ building in honor of her life and influence on others. One of the only pictures that I have of her (with my dad and oldest daughter) hangs on the wall in the building where our office and studio are as that building was built by her and my dad to operate a business in over 25 years ago. (We are blessed to be able to house our efforts here still with renting the property). Certainly, Treva Ferrell still lives on in her legacy.

But, what about that song. You see, we never met again in this life, and we never will. Hebrews 9:27 says that it is appointed for man once to die, and then the judgment. Every human being will face that day until the Lord returns to call the faithful home and this earth will be laid bare with no life left on it. That day, each one of us will give an account for our lives, the things we have done in the body, whether secret or visible. And that day, we will all find our eternal home…either in heaven with our God and our Savior Christ Jesus, or in the eternal clutches of Satan in a horrible situation that is described as a lake of fire with weeping and gnashing of teeth and where the worm dies not (Revelation 19-20). One day you and I will leave this earth to never meet our friends, coworkers, brothers and sisters in Christ and our families again “this side of heaven.”

Where will you be? Will you meet your loved ones in heaven? Will you meet our God in heaven? Will you be in that bright city and by the shining river of life with no sorrow, no tears, no pain, and no strife? (Revelation 21). Friend, it is my prayer that we will meet on this earth, if only by chance or through our brotherly love for one another, but, if it is not in God’s will that we may, I pray that “If we never meet again this side of heaven…I will meet you on that beautiful shore!” Are you ready? Have you put on Christ in baptism for the remission of your sins? Have you remained faithful to God and His word? If not, it is our prayer at The Gospel of Christ that we can help is some way and we would love to hear from you.

May God bless.

Joey

"Sharing the Greatest Gift" - Amy Lawrence

Evangelism

Sharing the Greatest Gift

Whether we grew up in the church or came into the fold later in life, every Christian has a story of the where, when, why, and how they were taught the gospel. I live in an area where there is a sound congregation of the Lord’s church around every corner. We are in what is known as the Bible Belt of the United States. If Tennessee is a belt, then Warren County is the buckle, with over 40 congregations of the church of Christ. Americans have the advantage of an amazing amount of resources when we need to know more about God…but this isn’t the case everywhere. In Communist China, Bible distribution is regulated by the China Christian Council/Three-Self Patriotic Movement (CCC/TSPM). Only one company is authorized to print Bibles, the Amity Printer company, and only 3-3.5 million copies are distributed annually. (The Scripture Distribution Statistics report for Bibles distributed in the United States in 2022 was around 35.5 million copies.) A Bible in China can only be purchased in places approved by the CCC/TSPM, and in-house churches are reluctant to go to CCC/TSMP churches to purchase Bibles for fear of surveillance. Only one translation is available for purchase: the Chinese Union Version. We often take for granted the availability of scripture here in the US; over 3,100 versions of scripture in over 750 languages are accessible through the World Wide Web. (For the sake of accuracy, I would recommend using ASV, KJV, or NKJV.) For the most part, we as American citizens are blessed with religious freedom. This is a blessing that allows us to share the gospel in any of the 50 states, and elsewhere if possible. No one is beyond reach if we are brave enough to share what we’ve found with others. Let’s talk about how to do that.

The first step to doing anything worthwhile is having the desire to do so. God wants us to love Him - and each other - as much as He loves us, 1 Jn. 4:9; 5:3, and only a heart that has a love toward God and a desire to do His will can be pleasing to Him, Heb. 13:6, 1 Jn. 2:3-6. We as females are given responsibilities in the church. Although we cannot take on the leadership roles that are allotted to men, we can still do our part in evangelism. Being a God-fearing mother is one of the most influential of those responsibilities. Teaching the gospel should begin at home, Deut. 6:1-9. The influence is found in living what we teach. Children that see God in their parents are most likely to become Christians that continue sharing this gift. We also have the benefit of everyday living among others that may not know Christ. In the workplace, at home, at the sports court/field, even from grocery store conversations to bumper stickers and t-shirts, we can glow Christ. We have so many opportunities that we unfortunately often overlook. We can be billboards for Christ! Let’s look at all the opportunities we as women have by looking at the endeavors of the Proverbs 31 woman: She…

1.)  …is trusted by her husband and blessed by her children, making her first and foremost an evangelist at home by shining Christ, Mt. 5:16.

2.)  …“seeks wool and flax” and “brings food from afar”, most likely at a local market.

Both vendors and customers are potential audiences for the gospel, Acts 16:13-14.

3.)  …“provides food for her household and a portion for her maidservants”, and in this is the opportunity to give both physical and spiritual sustenance to her family and employees.

4.)  …uses her good work to be a beacon toward God, leading others to appreciate her work ethic and ask what makes her so dedicated, Acts 9:36,39.

5.)  …“extends her hand to the poor”, another opportunity to give both physical and spiritual sustenance to anyone in need, Lk. 4:18.

6.)  …”opens her mouth with wisdom and upon her tongue is the law of kindness”. We can teach children and other women in the church, we can aid in the work that goes into preparing for evangelical work, and we can be supportive to any missionary endeavor.

There are so many opportunities we as women have to aid in spreading the gospel. Don’t fall prey to the idea that any job toward evangelism is menial. Even if it’s something as simple as mailing Bible Correspondence Courses to someone interested in learning God’s Word, dedicate yourself to it. Mt. 6:4 - God sees! Don’t be afraid to strike up a conversation about Jesus if the opportunity arises, never let an open door close because you think you are too busy, and be a billboard for Christ every chance that you get to do so! We are His ambassadors, and that in itself is phenomenal. We are given the responsibility of showing the world the message of salvation, the blessing of sharing with others the grace and mercy we ourselves have received, and the honor of serving the One who gave all for us. Let us do so with joy, Acts 20:24!

If I Only Had This, I Would Be Happy—Wrong! - Ben Bailey

If I Only Had This, I Would Be Happy—Wrong!

Have you ever said to yourself, “My life would be happier if…”? If I had more money, if I had a better job, if I had a better education, I would be happier. We have all had thoughts along those lines at one time or another in our life. Would these things really make your life happier? More money might make you worry more about losing it. A better job might mean more responsibility and more stress. A better education may not be the answer to the problem either. The real problem is we look to the wrong places for happiness. C. S. Lewis put it so simply when he said, “Human history is the long terrible story of man trying to find something other than God which will make him happy.” 

Think back to the first time this failed venture arises in Scripture. Adam and Eve had everything they needed to live the best life provided by God in the Garden. They did not have to worry about the stresses of life that often bring us unhappiness. They truly were in Paradise! Despite living in Paradise already, the Devil was able to convince them something was missing. He tempted them with the forbidden fruit, and they thought they were missing something. Was it how good the fruit looked (Lust of the Eyes) that tempted them? Maybe It was how the fruit would improve their knowledge and power that appealed to them (Pride of Life). Or was it a desire to taste that new fruit they had never eaten (Lust of the Flesh)? Adam and Eve failed to realize that true happiness does not come from the pursuits of this earthly life but from God himself. God was the source of their happiness; they were just deceived into believing something was missing (Gen. 3:1-15).

Another clear picture of someone who had it all but could not be satisfied is Solomon. God blessed Solomon with wisdom, wealth, and power beyond our wildest imaginations (1 Kings 3:5-15). Even more important than the physical blessings Solomon had was His close relationship with God (1 Kings 3-5). Solomon truly had it all. Surprisingly, things change very quickly for Solomon and his happiness. He begins to add more stuff, and more wives and more earthly pursuits in his life. This man who was blessed supernaturally by God finally reaches a point in his life where he is so despondent and depressed that his conclusion on life is this: “Then I looked on all the works that my hands had done and on the labor in which I had toiled: And indeed, all was vanity and grasping for the wind.  There was no profit under the sun” (Eccl. 3:11). How could Solomon reach such a low point in his life? He failed to learn that our happiness is not based on earthly pursuits, but rather our happiness is in God. 

What about us today? Are we any different? Do we still try to base our happiness on the successes and attainments of earthly pursuits? Have you been where Adam and Eve, and Solomon were? Do you feel like if you could just taste something new or if you could just have more it would make you happy? Are you ready to learn an important but hard lesson? None of that stuff will really make you happy. Why not? Because true happiness is only in God not in earthly pursuits! Listen to the words of Psalm 1: “How happy is the one who does not walk in the advice of the wicked or stand in the pathway with sinners or sit in the company of mockers! Instead, his delight is in the Lord’s instruction, and he meditates on it day and night. He is like a tree planted beside flowing streams that bears its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers” (Psalm 1:1-3). May we learn the wonderful lesson that wherever we are at and whatever state we are in we can be happy because of God (Phil. 4:11). –Ben Bailey

I'm Glad I Didn't Baptize You! - Joey Ferrell

"I'm glad I didn't baptize you!" - Joey Ferrell

Some years ago, I posted a couple of articles on my personal blog online that gained not only a lot of popularity, but also a lot of negativity. One of those articles was titled “5 reasons NOT to be baptized…and 1 reason TO!” The other, "What must I do to be saved? Oh...well, I don't want to do that..."

The first one got a lot of traffic on social media, a lot of concern by fellow Christians (because the title caused questions and the reader didn’t read the article in full), and actually a little one-on-one discussion on baptism. The second one…oh boy! There was possibly as much negative response from similar and different ideas than maybe there were positive.

Let me explain:

You see, the Bible teaches truth…and truth only. The Bible teaches salvation…and salvation only. The Bible teaches ONE truth and ONE form of doctrine to obey that truth…so where did the negativity come from? Ephesians 4:4-6 says this:

There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.

Did you see that? ONE baptism. Not many…and the emphasis should also be noted that baptism is among these other important “ones.” But, regardless of this verse that would seem simple to see in context, there are so many people who want to question that one form of doctrine when it comes to the nature and obedience of baptism. We could spend days probably on every single objection to baptism, but in this article, I want to focus on one specific argument that has been heard many times over…

“Paul didn’t baptize” or “Paul said it wasn’t important because of 1 Corinthians 1.”

Both of these are similar in argument, but let’s break this down a bit, starting with the context. 1 Corinthians 1:14-15 says this,

I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius, lest anyone should say that I had baptized in my own name.

So, yes…Paul DID say that he was glad that he didn’t baptize them. That is a hard statement to read…or is it really? Let’s focus a little more on the context at hand. Paul is addressing a major problem in the church in Corinth. There was sectarian division. Some were claiming to be of Paul…others Apollos and so on. Paul answers this with the question of “Is Christ divided?” He also posed the question of “Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?” (v. 10-13)

Here is the problem with this statement that some will want to use to say that we do not have to be baptized to be saved. Paul NEVER said that one must not be baptized…nor did he say that he never baptized anyone!

While I am not sure how many will read this article, I can BOLDLY state something similar to what Paul said in verses 14-15 - “I baptized none of you except…”. It would be a blessing to know that someone I baptized into Christ (as the steward of God’s baptismal commands) is reading this very article…but in all likelihood, that is not going to be the case! I don’t keep a record of dates and names, but I can assure you that the list of people that I have personally baptized into Christ is much shorter than Paul’s would ever be! How can I say that? Well, remember what he said…”except Crispus and Gaius”. Wait…wouldn’t that indicate that they were both in that audience? I believe that to be the absolute case…and thus, Paul’s statement is a resounding truth in that the audience that included these men as well as possibly many others in this epistle as it was read had not personally been baptized by him…and his point is referring exactly back to what he had already stated about feeling some importance by the one who baptized a person instead of the One in which they were baptized into!

So, how many people DID Paul actually baptize? Well…I don’t know. We can ask him in heaven if the question is that important for us to know…but…notice this passage where we find that Crispus obeyed the gospel in Acts 18:8:

Then Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his household. And many of the Corinthians, hearing, believed and were baptized.

So…yes, Paul baptized Crispus, who was in the audience in the letter to the Corinthians, along with his household…and notice the last part of the verse - “and MANY…heard, believed, and were baptized.”

So, what about Gaius?

Turn to Romans 16 and you will find this Christian brother listed in his good work with the church that he is a member. We don’t seem to have a record of his actual baptism, but 6 times in scripture, this brother is listed. Most of these indicate that he is a Christian and doing work for God. In Romans 16, he is part of the church…and who knows how many in that congregation were baptized at the same setting that Gaius was with Paul. Only God and Paul would know.

So…using this argument to “debunk” baptism is a fallible argument at best. Paul baptized. He baptized at least 2 men and as the record would speculate…many others at these same settings.

With that said…I personally did not baptize any of you…except those that I actually baptized. Paul is no different…and God’s word is clear.

Do you need to be baptized for the remission of sins? Do you know someone who is unsettled on this command from God? If so, we would love to help.

"A Helper Comparable" - Amy Lawrence

A Helper Comparable

Seeking and Finding a Spouse

When browsing on Amazon, we as consumers can just type in a description of the item we seek, and hundreds if not thousands of possibilities present themselves at our fingertips. Pictures, videos, and customer reviews allow us to see the items in a more personal way. We can modify our search to limit it to a specific range - color, size, price, rating, even the name of a particular brand - and it will show us our heart’s desire. Seeking a spouse is not so simple. Many would suggest any number of dating websites that use this idea to find a compatible significant other, but there is a personal element missing from such tools. Given that this is an article that is geared toward a study for Christian women, one must ask: how does one find a godly husband in an ungodly world? As He is God, our Lord has answered any question that any Christian will ever have through the written documents we all know as scripture. Before we can glean from it, though, there is a certain foundation a Christian must have before God’s answer can be understood. God expects a student of scripture to have eyes and ears that are capable of seeing and hearing and a heart that is ready to receive, Mt. 13:13-17. If your eyes, ears, and heart are ready, let’s begin a study from God’s Word on the subject of finding a godly spouse.

We’ll first begin with the basics: 

1.)  A woman should be seeking a man and a man should be seeking a woman, Gen. 1:27, Mt. 19:4-5. Seeking the same gender is not an option, Lev. 18:22; 20:13, Rom.

1:18-32, Heb. 13:4. Enough said.

2.)  A divorced man/woman is not always allowed to remarry, Lk. 16:18, 1 Cor.

7:10-11. If you are a woman that has divorced for reasons that are not authorized by

God, then you are still married in the eyes of God Almighty and are ineligible to date. If dating a divorcee, make sure you know whether or not their divorce was scripturally authorized. One should always be in possession of the facts before considering marriage to a divorcee.  

3.)  Although marrying a Christian is recommended, it is not a requirement, 1 Cor. 7:12-13. There are some in the brotherhood that attempt to bind where God has not bound in this matter. Scripture does not support the notion that marrying a nonChristian is disallowed. Having said that, I will also say that a wise Christian that considers not just their own future but also the future of their children, will seek out another Christian to marry.

Now, to the meat of the matter. 

When seeking the person with whom you plan to spend the remainder of your life, do so more with intelligence than emotion. Anyone that allows emotion to steer the helm of their ship is one that is without the anchor of reason to keep them from crashing into the rocky shore. USE. YOUR. BRAIN. FIRST. When making decisions now, consider the impact today’s decisions will have on your future. There’s a word for this concept: prudence. Scripture has a lot to say about prudence, Prov. 8:12; 12:16, 23; 13:16; 14:8, 15, 18; 15:5; 16:21; 18:15; 19:14; 22:3; 27:12, Hosea 14:9. It is always coupled with wisdom. One who lacks wisdom suffers, Prov. 10:13. A lot. A wise person uses patience and observation skills to learn the person they are considering marrying. No, I’m not suggesting fingerprinting, a background check, and an application process for every date. I am suggesting an attention to detail that is not clouded by emotional judgement. People will tell you everything you need to know about them if you just pay attention. 

Another element of prudence is being able to let them go if they are not the right person for you. Being “in love” with someone does not make marriage to that person mandatory nor does it mean the love is reciprocated. One of the biggest mistakes made by people that are dating is that of confusing lust for love. Sexual attraction alone is a terrible way to decide if that person will make a good spouse/parent. With marriage, you are creating a team of two people that become one entity, Eph. 5:31. These two people must work in tandem to build a successful household. The health of a household depends directly on the health of the marriage that is the first building block of that household. If the foundation is God and His will, every block that is laid on that foundation will hold up against any storm.

Make sure love is the tie that binds, and make sure you know how to define “love”. The definition of true love can be found in 1 Cor. 13:4-8. This is the only love that has the power to withstand anything this life can throw at you as a couple. Be prudent when seeking this love, recognizing this love, and being this love. I know you’re thinking, “Well, Amy, you told us earlier not to think with our emotions.” Read 1 Cor. 13 again. Every term that Paul uses to define “love”, ἀγάπη (agapé), is a verb. It’s an action. A person can say “I love you” all day long, but it’s nothing but hot air - until it is shown through their actions. (If actions do not match words, then that’s a red flag, ladies.) The actions listed in 1 Cor. 13 are those of a care for another’s wellbeing ahead of your own. Seek someone whose needs you can put ahead of your own, but also can do the same in return for you. 

Let’s be honest; what we seek most when considering marriage is attraction. As I will agree that beautiful people have a much easier time gaining attention, one must be careful that their beauty is not only skin-deep. Absalom was an incredibly handsome man, but his character was appalling, 2 Sam. 13:30; 14:25.. A Christian seeking true beauty will seek spiritual beauty, not just physical. David had such beauty, 1 Sam. 16:6-13; 17:42, Ps. 34:18. We should also consider, though, that outward attractiveness is not a necessity. Jesus Himself was recorded as being average in His outward appearance, Is. 53:2. He is still beautiful to the spiritually focused mind that knows Him and is eager to see Him, 2 Tim. 4:8. Don’t overestimate (or underestimate) what you see, Jn. 7:24. A person can look like a 10 on the outside, but if their character is a 3, then they’re a 3. The opposite is true, as well; a 3 on the outside that is a 10 on the inside is a 10. Kindness is beautiful. Joy is beautiful. Meekness, self-control, gentleness, patience, intelligence, selflessness are all beautiful. Outward beauty will fade. Only inward integrity can stand the test of time. Be more attracted to that beauty.

When it comes to finding someone that you will share space with indefinitely, there’s not really a checklist. That’s not how it works. Everyone is attracted to varying combinations of attributes. You can set your own standard, though. It is important to find a person with whom you can coexist well. Common likes and dislikes are essential to the success of any relationship. You will never find that success if you don’t know what you stand for - and won’t stand for - in the relationship. Set boundaries for yourself. Respect boundaries of anyone you date. Learn habits! Whether they are your own or those of anyone you date, LEARN HABITS! If it’s a bad habit, change! Part of setting boundaries is asking your significant other to change bad habits as well, and if they refuse to change, that’s another red flag! Never assume that a person cannot change. (It takes time, so be patient.) We are all a fluid concept. It’s the willingness to change what needs to be changed and keep what needs to be kept that is the determining factor of maturity. (Don’t sell yourself short by assuming they will change after marriage, either. I know many women that have made that mistake. If they won’t change while you’re dating, they won’t change while you’re married, Luke 16:10-11.) A couple that desires a successful marriage has to be two people that can communicate within a balance of being accountable to one another. They also, above all, must be forgiving. Mistakes will be made. A successful marriage is that of two good forgivers, Eph. 4:31-32.

When God placed Adam in the Garden of Eden, He said, “It is not good that man should be alone. I will make him a helper comparable to him.” (Gen. 2:18) The word used for “comparable” here is the Hebrew word נָגַַד (nagad). This word is used elsewhere in scripture to describe proximity, the space and time shared in the relationships of people. There is more detail given to this relationship between husband and wife, though. Gen. 2:21-22 describes the very first Father that led His daughter to her waiting bridegroom. Adam describes Eve as being “bone of my bone and flesh of my flesh”, vs. 23. Husband and wife do not just share time and space. They share flesh, vs. 24-25. Before I go on, I need to make one thing inescapably clear; boyfriends do not get husband privileges. Period. There is no such thing as a “test drive” when it comes to physical relations between a man and a woman. Purity is a requirement in every aspect of God’s law, and marriage is no exception, Heb. 13:4. This is where it is most vital that we USE OUR BRAIN and not our emotions. If you are susceptible to losing your good sense in situations where there is the temptation to go too far with a date, then don’t put yourself into those situations. Paul dealt with a problem the Corinthians were suffering when it came to physical relations. The city itself was rife with sexual immorality. One of the questions the Corinthian Christians asked Paul was answered in 1 Cor. 7:1-2: “to avoid sexual immorality, let each man have his own wife and each woman have her own husband.” This is the only relationship in which the sharing of flesh is allowed. If a date refuses to respect this boundary, that’s not just a red flag - that’s shark-infested waters. Find a man that is as obsessed with purity as you should be.

God set a pattern for all households. In order to enjoy the success God’s law provides, one must adhere to the organization God’s law commands, Gen. 18:19. As Christian women, we are commanded to submit to our husbands, Eph. 5:22. Once you are married, you don’t get to decide at that point that you cannot submit to the man you chose. Find a man to whom you can submit BEFORE you marry. This is the only time you get to decide. Understand also the wording of Eph. 5:22. It doesn’t say, “husbands, make your wives submit”. That is not his job, so don’t make it his job. He has a heavy enough responsibility already. Submission is our responsibility. I have found, however, that it is easy to submit when I love the one to whom I submit. My husband takes care of me, the care that is described in Eph. 5:25, sometimes even to the sacrifice of himself. THAT’S love, Phil. 2:3-5. It’s only fair that I reciprocate, Prov. 31:27-28. Does this mean I don’t have to reciprocate if my husband doesn’t take care of me? No. I’m not just submitting to my husband. I’m also submitting to God, 1 Pet. 2:18-25, and He has commanded that I submit to my husband - no matter how easy or difficult that becomes. Even if it does become difficult, don’t underestimate the influence of good character. If I do what I should do, even if my husband does not, my conduct could one day convince my husband to behave as God would have him, 1 Pet. 3:1-2. This works both ways. Good husbands can also influence wives to be more godly. 

Most women get this idea in their heads that “submission” is a bad word that carries undesirable connotations. This is usually because all they have ever known was a misrepresentation of submission. I clean my husband’s dirty socks and underwear, but I’m not his maid. I wash my husband’s used dishes, but I’m not his waitress. I know this because of the appreciation he shows for the things that I do for him. He earns the money that enables him to mow a lawn he barely gets to enjoy, maintain the structural integrity of a house and its utilities he spends less than a quarter of his time using, and ensure the wellbeing and happiness of the people that get to reap the benefits of these things more than he does - but that doesn’t make him my personal ATM. He knows this because I show appreciation for the things he does for me. Communication and selflessness are two very principal keys to a working relationship between husband and wife. He doesn’t treat me as chattel and lord over me, either. Husbands should love their wives as they do their own flesh, Eph. 5:28-29.

Submission is not a baser, degrading position to hold. It is simply that of a follower. Any good leader is aware of the needs of anyone under their leadership but also takes into account the desires and opinions of those in their care. Such respect makes submitting to such a leader an easy choice. This, of course, doesn’t mean that they do not have the final authority. My husband frequently asks my opinion on important decisions, but ultimately the decision is his and his alone. There have been (and I’m sure will be) times that I have not agreed with the decision my husband has made. This does not give me the right to overstep the boundaries God has set. Sometimes my husband was right and I didn’t see until after the fact. Sometimes, he was wrong. I would love to tell you that I have always handled the “I told you so” conversation with patience, understanding, and forgiveness…but that would be a lie. I will say this; any time the conversation WAS handled with patience, understanding, and forgiveness, that’s where growth happened. Such communication gave him the wherewithal to admit his mistake and also to more freely forgive my mistakes in the future. God’s way works best, every time, Ps. 1:1-3, Nahum 1:7.

I have been blessed with a wonderful husband. He wasn’t dropped into my lap nor I into his. He wasn’t miraculously instructed to find me and woo me, nor was I divinely struck upon the back of the head and told to locate and marry this man. We were blessed through the providence of God with sense, circumstance, and opportunity. God still left the decision up to us. I have now been happily married for almost 21 years. “Happy” doesn’t mean there wasn’t trouble. We’ve had more good days than bad, but the bad days have made the good all the more pleasant. We are a team as we raise our daughter, we are a force to be reckoned with when battling those problems that come along, and we owe all of this to God because it is Him we follow.

His word is our shield and buckler, Ps. 91:4.

If you are a woman in search of a good husband, God’s word describes how such a man can be recognized. It makes them so much easier to find when you know what you’re looking for and doing so in the right place - the church. Just don’t ignore the probability that those good men are seeking good women. If you want a good husband, you have to be a good wife. The woman in Proverbs 31 is the kind that doesn’t ignore chapters 1-30. I hope this study has given you a starting point to a bountiful harvest from the will of God in how to find a good husband and be a good wife. I pray that every wife finds herself as blessed as this one is.

I've been cloned! - Joey Ferrell

Have you ever seen someone say on social media - specifically Facebook - that they had been “hacked” or cloned? What is usually being referred to is when someone (or a computer generated bot) launches a new account, duplicating your own, copying your pictures to use as their own, and if they have access - sending friend requests to YOUR friends.

It is NOT okay. And many times, you may report it but nothing is ever done to stop it. But, that isn’t quite what the subject is here today.

Well…kind of.

A month or so ago, guess what happened to me? Yes! I was finally a victim after over 15 years on Facebook of being cloned. It was quite funny actually because I have a long history of being a computer nerd and I even used to invite people to send me viruses just so I could break them. So, when I got that friend request - from myself - I was like…that’s cool. And then, like most others do - I went into panic mode. I knew they were up to no good. I clicked report. Immediately Facebook denied my claim. I reported again. Denied. Reported a third time - and now have messages coming in from real friends…denied once again. Kristie, my wife, said “I just got a friend request from you.” I said, I did too! Report it! She did. Finally after a day and a half and probably dozens of reports, I finally got an email from Facebook that said my claim had been accepted and the profile was removed.

Relief….sort of.

This episode made me think about how vulnerable I was, but not only me, those who this “hacker” was after. I just knew my friends would start getting requests for money or gift cards or crypto transfers (you can still send those to me if you would like of course). And, it pained me.

I thought about how prepared I felt I was…but they still got me. I thought about how much advice I had given over the years to not be a victim…then I was the victim. I thought about who could have done it - picturing these young foreign men that have been caught doing this to my friends when they were exposed and so on. But this was me! How could they do this! How could I let them!

Now…you may have had a laugh or a tear from that story, but let’s move on.

Did you know that the Bible wants us to have clones? Ha! Yes, indeed. The Bible wants us to have a clone or two or hundreds. Look at what Paul says here:

“Brethren, join in following my example, and note those who so walk, as you have us for a pattern.” (Philippians 3:17)

Some translations will word that to say “imitate me” or “walk like” much like when he as well as John reiterate in verses such as 1 Corinthians 11:1; Ephesians 5:1-2, 1 John 2:6, and the list goes on and on throughout the New Testament. So, you see, all “cloning” is not bad, especially considering the biblical advice we are given.

But, how do we do that, and do it in a way that is pleasing to God?

First, we have to be living the way God wants us to.

Colossians 3:2 says:

“Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.”

It is a mindset, a choice, a way of life that we need to be focused on every single day - looking to Christ as the author and finisher of our faith. It is a pattern that we live - putting God above all else - seeking Him first! It is a desire from the heart needed to serve and please God daily.

Second, we have to do something else.

We have to be obedient. You see, those guys and gals that clone people on social media aren’t trying to clone “bad” people…they are looking for the cream of the crop, those who are trusted, those who are living lives that others respect and look up to. The Christian is the same way. Once one has been obedient to Christ in faith, repentance and baptism, she has put on Christ , becoming a new creature, shedding away - burying the old person with Christ in baptism. (Galatians 3:27; Romans 6:1-4)

Thirdly, we have to listen to Jesus.

We often think of it as the Great Commission. You can see it in parallel accounts in the gospels. Matthew 28:18-20 is one of the most specifics and carries with it several ideas of “cloning”. The scripture says we are to “go”, (can be read “as you are going”) “teach,” “make disciples - baptizing them,” and teach them to observe all things which He commanded us. It’s sort of a simple thought, but much more complex in practice. However, this is the command of our Lord and we must have a desire to do just that! Evangelize to make more disciples, live as an example to have ones who want to “clone” our spiritual lives, and teach His word to help them be all that they need to be so that someone else will want to clone them just alike.

Friends, it’s time to clone someone. It is my prayer that I live a life that if one was to clone me - they would be called a faithful Christian. Not an apostate, not a half-doer, not a Sunday only, not some brand of Christian, but a true to the gospel, obedient, faithful Christian. How about you? You ready to clone some folks?

My Most Contrary Convert - Ben Bailey

My Most Contrary Convert

                  Who is the one person you must work on most with the Gospel? Who would you, more than anybody else, like to see conform to the image of Christ? If your answer is anyone other than self, you are not looking in the right direction. Jerry Bridges expressed it correctly when he said, “Preach the gospel to yourself every day.”  We all believe in preaching the Gospel. Reaching our friends and neighbors with the good news is a high priority. But like Mr. Bridges said, I need to preach the Gospel to myself first every day. I am my most contrary convert! Yet, it is encouraging to know I am not the only one who felt this way.

                  The Apostle Paul said, “But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified” (1 Cor. 9:27).  Paul knew it was a challenge every day to crucify self and live for the Master (Gal. 2:20; 1 Cor. 15:31). Like us, his struggle was real. Paul said, “Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin” (Rom. 7:24-25).  Like the Apostle Paul we must never stop preaching the Gospel to ourselves and striving to live faithful to Jesus every day. Do you remember what Paul said about the struggle? He said, “Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 3:12-14).

                  While it is indeed a wrestling match with the flesh every day, do not give up. Keep fighting the good fight of faith (1 Tim. 6:12). Keep dying to self and crucifying self every day (Gal. 2:20; 1 Cor. 15:31)! If our mindset is that we are not going to give up and we are going to keep working on self and walking in the light, then we have the right mindset to win the battle (Luke 9:23; 1 John 1:7). Keep working on your most contrary convert—Yourself! He is worth it! —Ben Bailey

Doing What Makes You Happy - Amy Lawrence

Doing What Makes You Happy

We’ve met them. At times, we’ve been them - the people who have no one’s interests in mind but their own. When we meet these people or become these people, we enter a competition that takes no prisoners and leaves no survivors - because this emotion requires winning the fight with everyone around us to keep it. It is the kind that disregards any voice that says we can’t have it. Measures are taken to hold on to it that seem moral at first…but over time become more and more nefarious. If continued, it leads to degradation of morals as well as conscience. The battle with the mind is the hardest. We gradually deceive ourselves into thinking that God wants us to have whatever we want. The fact that every means we use to get what we want is in contrast to God’s will either has a small voice or no voice at all in our head. The name of this demon is selfishness, and it is the main ingredient in the world’s recipe to happiness. The majority of humans do not understand true happiness and go about looking for it in all the wrong places, James 4:1-3.

There is selfishness in us all. It is a natural vice. When Paul wrote to the Romans, he talked in his letter of a battle that was constantly being waged within him. The battle was between two minds: the fleshly mind, and the spiritual mind, Rom. 7:24-25. These two minds exist in each of us and are constantly at odds with one another. The illustration often used is that of two wolves. The one that wins is the one we feed. It is common knowledge that most feed the evil wolf. These argue that it’s “right” simply because it is the wolf that is winning.

But is it winning?

Before we get into the details of this study, let’s make sure we understand some important fundamentals:

Is it wrong to want to be happy? Absolutely not. As a matter of fact, that is the goal of Christians - eternal happiness, John 14:1-3, Titus 1:1-2. 

Is it wrong to want happiness at any expense? Today’s mantra, “Do What Makes You Happy”, promotes an egocentric ideology. We live in an age (and it’s not “new”, just repeated, Ecc. 1:9) where self-centeredness is promoted, even rewarded. What most do not know and generally fail to realize over time is that happiness directly depends on the choices made and the expenses paid to get it. 

Selfless people find happiness in enriching the lives of others. These lives are made better because they not only have gratitude in being the recipient of selflessness but are encouraged to also be selfless in return. The expense was self-sacrifice in order to help someone else, which, in turn, enriched gratitude and built healthy, worthwhile relationships - a doubled reward.

Relationships with selfless persons are rewarding to both parties that equally give and receive.

There is trust in such relationships; a trust that can withstand the harshest of circumstances.

Selfish are the type that instead use people as stepping stones to gain their own happiness. They sacrifice anyone but themselves - making defense, selfishness, and hatred the resulting fruits in both parties. Sadly, they rarely if ever find that happiness for which they’ve injured so many. They’ve not only lost the lessons self-sacrifice has to teach, but they’ve also lost the strong relationships that are built by selflessness. That’s double the loss. It often becomes an addiction as well. It’s a hungry monster that, no matter how much you feed it, will always want more. What are relationships like with people like this? Troubled at best, nuclear at worst.

Now that we’ve established the two categories, let’s see if they both actually equal “happiness”. Let’s look at some basic information of each category.

Selflessness:

-Studies have shown that higher levels of benevolence are associated with lower levels of stress and depression. Benevolence is also positively correlated with self-compassion.

-There is scientific evidence that suggests that helping others promotes positive psychological changes in the brain linked with self-esteem. 

-Selflessness cultivates gratitude. Gratitude promotes: 1.) new neural connections to the bliss center of the brain, 2.) production of dopamine and serotonin, the neurotransmitters responsible for happiness, and 3.) reduces fear and anxiety by regulating stress hormones.

-Selfless people are statistically happier people. In an article published by the National Institute of Health in May of 2017, this happiness is actually described as an “authentic, durable happiness” (‘Self-Centeredness and Selflessness: Happiness Correlates and Mediating Psychological Processes’, Michael Dambrun).

Selfishness:

-According to research, selfishness can have a range of personal negative effects which include relationship dissatisfaction, increased social isolation, higher levels of stress and lower selfesteem, and overall degradation of social cohesion. 

-Selfishness, on a larger scale, negatively affects social and economic structure as well as both the mental and physical health of a community.

-Selfish people are statistically unhappy. A study performed by PsychTests.com in April of 2022 revealed that self-serving, egocentric people are statistically miserable. Their view of people/life is cynical and therefore have underdeveloped social skills, difficulty managing their emotions, and a low self-esteem. They are more likely to believe that:

-The end justifies the means

-Help should only be given if it benefits themselves

-Showing weakness is bad

-The only way to get ahead is to step on people

-No one can be trusted because, given the chance, anyone will back-stab

Such beliefs cultivate pessimism, stress, anxiety, and depression. 

It’s safe to say that selflessness is good for your health, selfishness bad. (As a disclaimer, taking care of yourself is not selfishness. Setting boundaries and asking others to respect those boundaries is not only healthy, but paramount when it comes to interpersonal relationships. Taking a day off to heal or rest is not selfish. It’s a necessary element in selfless relationships - not just helping, but allowing oneself to be helped. Overindulgence in these behaviors, however, opens doors for one to become more self-serving than they should be.) It isn’t often that one is able to self-diagnose personal emotional health problems. Rarely does anyone check their own spiritual blood-pressure. What’s harder is convincing a selfish person that they are truly selfish and persuading them it’s time to change. As I said, selfishness is an addiction. If anyone can change the egotist, though, God can. His Word is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart, Heb. 4:12. None of us can hide our true selves from God, Prov. 15:3, but God is forgiving, longsuffering, and faithful, Psalm 103:1-5, 2 Pet. 3:9, 1 Cor. 10:13. If you are a person in need of change, or if you are a person seeking to continue on the path God has set out for us all, let’s study about that authentic, durable happiness that is found in scripture. We must begin at defining “happiness” from a scriptural perspective. 

When we think of “happy”, how do we define it? Is it a fleeting, temporary emotion, or is it a deeper, perpetual part of our being? The Miriam-Webster dictionary defines happiness as, “a state of well-being and contentment; a pleasurable or satisfying experience; felicity, aptness; good fortune, prosperity.” “Happy” is a blanket statement that the English language uses to cover a range of emotions, so let’s focus on a particular. The true happiness most seek is the contentment that cannot be taken away by circumstance. If you study this idea in scripture, the word used to describe this state of mind is “blessed”. In Hebrew, it is אָשַׁרַ (ashar), in Greek it is μακάριος (makarios, a prolonged form of the poetical μάκαρ, makar). It is difficult for anyone that has experienced the suffering of this life to fathom a joy that is unmitigated by circumstance. Paul spoke of such a joy, Phil. 4:10-13, and assured that it is certainly attainable, Phil. 4:4-7. Let’s look at this “blessedness” from God’s perspective: scripture.

The general idea of happiness is the absence of suffering…but tribulation is actually an ingredient in the recipe of happiness. It can be an excellent teacher. James wrote, “Count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.” (James 1:2-3). The word “joy” here is the Greek word for cheerfulness. Cheer? In suffering? Yes; not cheer in the suffering itself, but cheer in the result of suffering. Cheer is found in hope. A happy mind focuses on hope, even in tribulation. No one exercises because they love to exercise. Doing a daily workout is tiring and painful! It’s the end result of that suffering that we both look forward to and dedicate ourselves to achieving. Trials and tribulations are inevitable. No matter what one has/is/does, suffering cannot be avoided in the physical sense. It is innately ingrained into being alive. What matters is how we handle it and what we learn from it, 1 Pet. 2:18-25. If we suffer for doing evil or handle suffering with evil, it ends in worse suffering that is void of hope. Suffering for righteousness ends in rest, Heb. 3:1-4:10, 1 Pet. 3:14, and in this hope resides the joy of the righteous, 1 Pet. 4:12-19.

The well-known “Beatitudes” found in Matthew 5 also give insight as to what it means to be happy in the Christian sense. The word “blessed” in this context is the same Greek word (μακάριος, makarios) I mentioned earlier. One may not realize that the requirements for this happiness are often seen as menial or suffering; the poor in spirit, those that mourn, the meek, those who hunger and thirst after righteousness, the merciful, the pure in heart, the peacemakers, and the persecuted. God is famous for using what we would deem “foolish” to bring about His will, 1 Cor. 1:18-25. Anyone that doesn’t understand Christianity might ask, “Why?”, to which I would answer, “The result extremely outweighs the cost.” If every soul knew what the cost of sin is, evil would not have such a hold as it does. No one wants to pay for anything with their life. That, however, is the cost of sin, Rom. 6:23. Living and dedicating one’s life to Christ is a small price to pay for genuine peace and happiness now - and rest in the end, Rom. 12:1-2, Mt. 11:28-30. One must also consider the rewards found in the Beatitudes; the kingdom of Heaven, comfort, inheritance, fulfillment, mercy, knowing and being with God, and receiving our Heavenly reward in the end. There is no greater comfort for the human mind, no greater happiness, than to know that this is what awaits us on the other side of death after living righteously in the sight of God, 1 Thess. 4:13-18. 

It is proven both secularly and scripturally that the key to happiness is selflessness. The most obvious example of this concept is Jesus of Nazareth, the Christ. He contrasted the selfish and the selfless in John 10:10 when He said, “The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” That word “abundant” denotes a life that is superior - a better life. Paul’s letter to the Philippians gives us the recipe on how this is achieved. He wrote, “Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.” (Phil. 2:1-4) He goes on to give the example of Christ’s submission to God and His sacrifice through obedience to God, Phil. 2:5-11, FOR US. At the end of this road is gladness and rejoicing, Phil. 2:16-18. The ultimate self-sacrifice of another life for your own should be a compelling reason to be selfless in return. This is what Jesus asks of us, Mt. 25:37-46, and in this, we find the recipe of true, deep-seated, unperturbed joy that cannot be shaken.

Contrast this with selfishness. 1 Jn. 2:15-17 lists the three categories of sin. All are rooted in selfishness. All three categories were used by Satan to tempt Jesus in the wilderness, Mt. 4:1-11. The Devil uses these same tactics on us, 2 Cor. 2:11. He is headed to Hell, and he selfishly wants company, Rev. 20:10. There is only one way to avoid this fate. Do what makes GOD happy, James 1:21-25, and be rewarded with that genuine, durable happiness that cannot be taken away, Ps. 1:1-3, Heb. 10:36; 12:27-28.

If you are in search of a peace of mind that cannot be taken away, a contentment that exists within any circumstance, this happiness can be found in studying and following God’s Word. The more you mold your life according to scripture, the deeper your relationship with and your trust in God will grow. God is the root of happiness, Phil. 4:4-7. I hope this study was helpful in your journey toward it.

Why do I read the Bible every year? - Joey Ferrell

I began preaching one Sunday a month in 2009 at a small congregation in Cannon County, Tennessee where we lived at that time. The congregation was made up of mostly older saints, but there were a few younger families attending too. This was a bit difficult for a “green” yet older man’s journey to be a preacher.

You see, as a 38 year old man who had been around the church all of my life from the time I was born, I had a false sense of confidence in my knowledge of the Bible. Sure, I had memorized many single verses, and even a few multiple verse passages in bible school, or was assigned to read as I grew and became a young Christian being baptized for the remission of my sin…but I did not (and can honestly say still do not) claim to know every “jot and tittle” of the Bible.

I grew up in a Christian home. The Bible was important. There were several on the bookshelves - many different translations or paraphrases as my mother had grown up in a denominational setting - so we had some of their preferred paraphrased works. I grew up reading mostly the KJV as the NKJV would not be published until I was a teenager. I also was introduced to a few other translations in my younger adult years and have probably 7-8 at my fingertips in my bookshelf next to where I sit daily. But…with that said…I had NEVER read all the way through the Bible in a purposed event until I was in my 40s. I had pieced it together, reading one book, or another, or studying one lesson, or another parable. But, from Genesis to Revelation, or in my preferred method of reading - chronological, I had never…not once…opened up my Bible, hardcopy or digital and read it from cover to cover until then. And what a shame. I had missed so much opportunity.

Now, am I saying that if you do this you will have all knowledge of God’s word absorbed? Absolutely not. What I am saying though is that if you do not, you may miss what God wants you to know!

One thing that prompted me was one of the older ladies in the congregation that I first preached. I had been preaching there a couple of years and she and I had a peculiar relationship. She had an interesting personality. But, she encouraged me being in older years and many times not feeling well, she was always so attentive.

I was hired to preach at another congregation after a few years. There was a man at that congregation that was a friend of hers and he pulled me aside one Sunday to talk to me. He told me as a constructive criticism that this sister had discussed with him that although she felt like I was doing a good job, that I did not know my Bible as well as I should. This upset me. I was mad at first, then hurt. But, after a while, I realized…she was right. And, it became a challenge. I visited with this sister shortly before she passed away. She had asked her family if I would come by, and I did. She never mentioned what was shared with me, and neither did I, but I did thank her for helping shape my spiritual life a little better through our acquaintance.

While I am still short on the knowledge that God has given in His word, I am still working on it! Since that very time, I have committed to reading through the entire Bible once every single year. Sometimes I have time left over even. It can be done! This year marked my 10th year of reading through at least one time each year and my life has been blessed through this reading. And…I just started my new plan a little early this morning!

So, why do I read the Bible every year? Well, because it is what God wants me to do. He wants me to know His word. He has prepared His word to be handed down through generations, now in many languages, many translations, and many formats. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 tells me that this word will help me to grow as well as teach others how to become a Christian and to grow.

Want to join me reading? The Gospel of Christ has a reading plan that you can follow along with. This year it is in the NKJV in a chronological order. Here is a link if you would like to join.

https://faithlife.com/tgocmedia/activity

Happy reading and many blessings for 2025!

Everything Makes Sense with God - Ben Bailey

Everything Makes Sense with God

In his book Desiring God, John Piper said, “The proper understanding of everything in life begins with God.” How do we make sense of this short, temporary existence on this terrestrial ball? What does it all matter anyway? We are only going to be here a while, and in a few years it will all be over, right? It only makes sense if everything in life begins with God!  Notice two ways this impacts my everyday life.

God is My Life. In a dark and dreary book, the wise sage tried everything to find the proper understanding. He focused on building projects.  He fulfilled every pleasure he desired.  He planted gardens and flower beds.  He acquired treasure and had many servants at his beckon command.  He put his attention on music and the arts, as well as the lust of the flesh.  How do you think all that worked out for him?  Listen to his own words: “And whatever my eyes desired I did not keep from them. I kept my heart from no pleasure, for my heart found pleasure in all my toil, and this was my reward for all my toil. Then I considered all that my hands had done and the toil I had expended in doing it, and behold, all was vanity and a striving after wind, and there was nothing to be gained under the sun” (Eccl. 2:10-11).  That is a little bit shocking and so counter to what the world would have us believe today.  Imagine all the money, time and effort Solomon put into these ventures!  And his final analysis of it all was it was a worthless waste of time.  Why? Because Solomon had not yet learned that life only makes sense with God.  He would later realize this and say, “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is man’s all” (Eccl. 12:13).

God is My Glory.  If life only makes sense when we put God in the proper place, what does that change about my life.  It causes us to recalibrate around a different and selfless purpose in life.  Through the prophet Isaiah, God said “Everyone who is called by My name, Whom I have created for My glory; I have formed him, yes, I have made him” (Isa. 43:7).  Everything I do now, I do it to God’s glory and not my own selfish interest. My Job—an opportunity to Glorify God.  My recreation—I am looking for opportunities to magnify the name of God.  My home life—It is one of my greatest ways to glorify and magnify the name of God.  What we really need to learn is everything in life, even the trivial things, are about glorifying God.  That is why I am here!  Paul said this to the Corinthians in these words, “Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God” (1 Cor. 10:31). 

Does your life have the meaning and purpose you so desperately long for it to have? The real question we need to ask is, “Is God my purpose and my glory?”  May each of us be encouraged to think about why were here and make sure we realize that everything begins with and only makes sense when God is the center of our life

"Church Lady" - Amy Lawrence

Church Lady

A Study on Our Influence as Women

I’m going to give you a scenario. This is entirely hypothetical, but the more you read the more you’ll see that it is also entirely possible. 

The auditorium of a local building where the church meets is filled with those of us that are there every Sunday morning for worship service. As we all settle down into our understood “assigned” seats,  we notice that someone we don’t know is sitting in Jane and John Doe’s seat. It’s not so much that we notice that someone different is sitting on that pew, but what is nearly impossible to ignore are the number of tattoos and piercings on the woman now occupying the space and the dark and ominous theme of her clothing. She has never been here before. There are a few minutes left before the service begins, but no one introduces themselves - and the looks on our faces tell her we aren’t going to do so. We instead stare. In our minds, we wonder how someone has the audacity to look like that, especially here. In this study, we are going to learn how we as the women of the family of God (and any Christian, really) should conduct ourselves in the house of God.

            Human brains have a terrible habit of assuming. It is one of many mechanisms that can be explained scientifically as having a purpose, but all in all, it is my opinion that it causes more trouble than it prevents. We think we know this woman. We judge according to appearance. Our minds quickly forget that Jesus warned us about this (Jn. 7:24). Instead of giving her the benefit of the doubt and try and find out more about her, we put her at arm’s length. What we don’t know is that this woman is at rock bottom and is sitting, waiting for someone to throw her a life-line. Not one single Christian in the building understands that the church is not a gathering of perfect people; we are not the sinless trying to correct the sinful. We are just one beggar telling another beggar where to find bread. She’s here, she’s hungry, and to treat her as if she doesn’t belong is to overlook that at one point, we were just as spiritually starving as she in our journey. No one noticed how long she sat in her dilapidated Honda and argued with herself whether to go inside or go home. Her terror is justified when she notices that there is a ten-foot halo of empty space surrounding where she is sitting. Service starts. She has no idea what to do because she has never set foot in an environment like this before. All she knows is that her parole officer advised her to seek God and start here. Everyone reaches for a song book. She mimics. They all seem to know exactly what page to turn to, but she thumbs through absently, not knowing…until a little girl, sitting on the same pew, sees. She scoots toward the stranger and helps her find the page. The woman leans and whispers, “Thank you, precious.” The beaming smile the little girl gives her calms her a bit. At this point, we should all be ashamed because a child just educated us. Let’s consider some personality traits we as Christians should have that allow us to see souls the way God sees them. A Christian should be:

#1.) Compassionate.

Let’s approach this from a standpoint to which everyone can relate. Let’s think of the fiercest, scariest wild animal we can. Imagine this animal is caught in a trap and we can see that it is injured, bleeding, struggling, and terrified. No matter the personality of the animal or the danger, we would have compassion and try to free the animal. Why can’t we see each other with the same loving attitude? Sin is a prison! If we can free another soul from that prison, why wouldn’t we at least try?! We are also commanded to imitate Christ, 1 Cor. 11:1. The compassion of Christ is unsurpassed. It is planted in love, Jn. 3:16. We can plant our compassion for one another in love as well, 1 Thess. 4:9, 1 John 4:7.

#2.) Courageous.

We all have the innate desire to remain in our cozy comfort zones. It takes bravery to step out, especially to do so for someone else. Can a person that looks and acts outside of what we consider normal make us uncomfortable? Absolutely. Does this allow us to treat them as if they do not matter? No. God is not partial. Neither should we be, James 2:1-9. Cowardice comes with consequences, Rev. 21:8. We as Christians are not given a spirit of fear, 2 Tim. 1:7.

#3.) Communicative.

Women are stereotyped as excessive talkers. However true this may be, the talking is more often than not the negative type. Gossip is predominantly a female activity. We (and yes, I have been guilty of the crime) tend to take the “easy” route and talk about someone instead of TO someone concerning things many see as sensitive subjects. We also seek accomplices. Mutual dislike for the person or situation encourages us to continue in the bad behavior. Compassion and courage should make us seek the edifying route instead. Talk to them. Don’t tear them down. Build them up. If there is an uncomfortable subject that has to be discussed, do so with grace and salt, Col. 4:6.

Make your words as palatable as possible…because you never know when you may have to swallow them. It is possible to say a hard thing in a kind way. 

#4.) Child-like.

In the above scenario, how did a child see what we did not? 

Jesus spoke the words, ““Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God. Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it.” (Lk. 18:16-17) Infants are naturally guileless. They have an innocence that comes from inexperience. The environment in which they eventually gain experience is paramount to the adult they will one day become. Our own adult maturity often blinds us to that valuable innocence. Paul wrote, “Brethren, do not be children in understanding; however, in malice be babes, but in understanding be mature.” (1 Cor. 14:20) Experience should cultivate wisdom, but part of that wisdom is holding on to that child-like innocence in situations of conflict or discomfort.

We are entrusted by God with the task of caring for another soul when we are given the opportunity to share the wonderful blessings that are found only in Christ. We are ambassadors for Christ, and when we represent Him in a way that is unChristlike, we throw a stumbling block in the path of a potential Christian. Adding to this scenario, this woman later becomes a Christian and a teacher. Several young people, youth that are involved in the same lifestyle she used to be, hear her story and turn to God. Every moment counts. Every gesture, every word, every attitude matters. We have the ability to make becoming a Christian an easy decision by how we treat anyone that wants to know what we’re all about. We are all. About. Christ. Jn. 13:35.

Now let’s get a picture in mind of what a “Church Lady” should look like. 

She will:

-See God’s people as He sees them: sons and daughters

-Be a doer of the word and not a hearer only

-Refuse to judge according to appearance and do her best to love people

-Be a fountain of mercy and grace

-Be an epistle of love, humility, kindness, gentleness, and compassion

-Point others to HIM

-Reach to the back row and encourage the hearts of those that can’t get past the grief and sorrow of their mistakes

-Look for opportunities to be a blessing

She is fully aware of her own shortcomings and seeks forgiveness and guidance daily. She recognizes struggle in others and speaks hope. She does not gossip, brag, or boast. She utters blessing. Gratitude is her adornment. She is a woman of her word. She is a worshipper, in spirit and in truth. She prays. She is trustworthy. She is known for what she stands for, and what she won’t stand for. She understands that in order to be the woman of Proverbs 31, she has to know and practice chapters 1-30. She is a lifter. An encourager. A listener. She forgives, completely. She shares the same grace she is given every day. She invests in the greatest investment in the world; God’s people. 

Are you a church lady?

Evangelism or Benevolence? Both! - Joey Ferrell

Sometimes the church may get encumbered by the “works” of the church and maybe at time lose balance and even sometimes the focus of the work of the church.

One “three-legged stool” thought of the work of the church is at times described as 1. Benevolence, 2. Evangelism, and 3. Edification. Certainly, all three of these can be supported in scripture with passages such as Ephesians 4:11-12, Colossians 3:17, James 1:27, Galatians 6:10, Matthew 28:18-20 and many other passages that show compassion, edification, and benevolence.

But, why do we sometimes try to separate these things…when truly, they should all be in conjunction with one another? Yes, evangelism is hard work. Yes, benevolence can be costly with money and time. Of course, edification is necessary for the saints to grow! Balancing these things can be much more than just an obligation. It can sometimes be quite rewarding to not only those receiving the benefits of the three, but also the church and each individual Christian as these works “collide.”

Please allow me to share one illustration of this “three-legged stool” being strengthened and the glory of our Lord being shown quite evident through such a collision.

At the end of September, many will remember that our Southeastern area of the United States became victim to not just one, but two back to back hurricanes. The first, and most powerful of these was Helene. Not only did Helene pack a huge punch, but it also was preceded in some areas by not only inches, but feet of rain - in turn causing flooding, mud slides, lingering wind and tornadic damage and just pure utter chaos to some areas that had never seen these kinds of events happening all at one time in areas that were previously unthought of to be in the paths of such storms and devastation. It was (and still is) a widespread MESS!

Many Christians began trying to figure out what to do as many prepared for the “known” storm that was heading toward the Florida gulf coast - including me as we have a strong personal attachment to the area that was in the eye of the storm. I had been on the phone with Mark Weaver with Crisis Evangelism (https://crisisevangelism.org/) whom I have become very acquainted with and count Mark and Dawn as great Christian servants and friends. We were trying to “get ahead” of the needs that were about to show themselves evident. We had put together some “game plans” on where to go based on the areas that were in the “target.” Overnight, the storms shifted, but Mark went ahead to the area close by where we had talked about might be hit.

The storm hit…and then it hit again…and then it kept pounding…all the way up the eastern coast. But, what was not expected was that a frontal system was already dropping rain in the mountainous areas of North Carolina and Northeast Tennessee. The aftermath would soon be seen. While the good folks in the Big Bend of Florida and Southern Georgia were feeling the direct effect of the hurricane, these other areas were starting to wake up to water…more water…and even more water. Reports were coming in that lives were lost, homes were gone, and roads were caving in. The devastation was unfathomable.

I wanted to help. After some contact with different people in North Carolina, Virginia, and NE Tennessee, there was a place I could go. The destination was Mountain City, TN. This area is on the fringe of the major damages, but, with the mountain ranges around them, they were also victims of no power, major flooding in areas, wind damages, no internet (for contact and using payment methods outside of cash), roads impassable, and more. After talking with one of the members - my good friend Dean Jones, and getting all set up with the elders, I started my journey with a borrowed trailer in tow, meeting with one of the deacons at Lenoir City church of Christ after coordinating with Kelly Warren who wanted to try to help get involved as the church there. And we were off to Mountain City.

By the time that Rick and I arrived with as much supplies and food as we could bring, after staying the night at Kelly’s house because there were no suitable hotels closer, the church was already in action. I had shared with them experiences from former storms I had seen and relief efforts I had been a part of as well as advice from Mark Weaver. They had set up a feeding line and started organizing supplies to be given out. Souls were starting to show up for essential needs. Food…water…cleaning supplies…baby supplies…and of course, some sort of comfort from those who could offer an ear and a heart.

These Christians that had assembled there at the church building, who had brought their own food to cook, had brought extra supplies from their own homes, who wanted to “be the church” in every way, showed up and they showed up shining the glory of God through His church with His people!

These great elders that are there - Tom Reece, Tim Winters and Don Kerley along with their preacher Chuck Stewart and Dean had already been working on how to take this opportunity of service in benevolence into evangelism, but what they may not have realized is the amount of edification that this also afforded for not only their own congregation, other Christians who were able to come, bring thousands of dollars in supplies and assist for days on end like Dennis and Rachel Smith (Dennis is a preaching student at the TCSOP about an hour or so away), members of the Mountain City congregation, and even Christians from as far as Mississippi, Pennsylvania, Vermont, Tennessee, Arkansas, Georgia, Alabama and probably more than can be listed. Certainly, I would not want to leave anyone out but there are way too many to name. You see, this work of benevolence that would turn into an evangelistic opportunity, also strengthened the ones who were able to take part… not only in the physical realm…also through prayer and through financial support.

You see, I want to give thanks where thanks is due. Working with The Gospel of Christ, I had opportunity to do what I was able to do in going to help for a few days, but the story did not end,and certainly did not begin or evolve around my extremely small part of being there with a few supplies and some moral support. Calls began coming from all over the country from those that support The Gospel of Christ as congregations and individuals found out about the needs. They wanted to help too! And they did, and continue! Each call I would get, I would hand off or refer to Tom as the treasurer and elder. Many of those calls came within days, but some are still coming. And every single call…even if nothing more than an encouragement to the church there, was so uplifting and comforting and recorded on Tom’s little book.

Fast forward to today…the church there has plans of using the contacts (over 250) that were made in the initial days after in an opportunity to evangelize. So…benevolence was provided. And evangelism is ongoing. But what about that edification part? Well, it is said often that when you are struggling, serve someone…and so many did just that…and growth has been seen! Without naming names, I witnessed first-hand at least three babes in Christ (in a generation of people that is pointed at as being in the dwindling religious realm) getting their hands, heart, and feet involved in this work. What did that do? The ones I saw grew. But it did not stop with them. I grew. I believe many in the church there grew. But, that is not all. In the past few weeks, I have been to multiple congregations that were among those first phone calls that wanted to help…any way they could. And the help continues as many of these same people stepped up just a week ago when some in North Carolina needed propane tanks for heaters and through a concentrated - very quick effort in raising funds to use through some members and a congregation, our good brother Darren Clayton was able to purchase and deliver 30 tanks as well as 30 hoses were shipped directly to the site where people are living in tents! Back to those congregations…I have seen members at these congregations that are very involved in these efforts that may not have known what they could do before. I have spoken with Darren several times as he is also helping with clean up in some of the area…and he is growing!

After all, we all have room to grow, right? That is edification!

As we grow as The Gospel of Christ, a very special thank you is due to all of our supporting congregations and individuals as well as those who watch, pray, and encourage this work. It has been said several times, and it is worth repeating - The Gospel of Christ is not just a television program…and we have you to thank for that! If your congregation or as an individual you helped in any way with these efforts - THANK YOU! You do not know how much good has been done by your sacrifice. Your prayers have been encouraging, your financial support has been helpful. Your love for others and for Christ that is shown is incredibly edifying to us at The Gospel of Christ and to many…but it would seem especially to our God and His church!

Benevolence, Evangelism, Edification….it all matters and souls will be saved because of these efforts!

Here are a few pictures of the efforts.

Christian Relativity - A study on Time - Amy Lawrence

Christian Relativity

A Study on Time in Scripture

Time. In reading the first three words of scripture, we learn that the first thing created was time. It is indeed a marvel. We can spend it, waste it, manage it, or measure it, but what we can never do is change its speed.

Time stands still for no one.

Time speeds up for no one.

Let’s discuss this unstoppable force and what we as Christians are expected to do with it. 

Albert Einstein possessed a mind that had a knack for thinking ahead of his time. HIs theory of general relativity is a description of how gravity works and how mass affects time and space. Einstein postulated that time and space are intertwined, and what affects one also affects the other. He theorized that if one could “fold” space, time would “fold” with it…and one could travel from point A to point B millions of miles away in a matter of seconds. He also theorized that anything that generates enough gravity will “bend” this space/time fabric. Using Einstein’s theory is how astronomers find stars, black holes, planetary bodies, galaxies millions of light years away. Most do not understand Einstein’s theory because most people see space and time as two separate entities. Your phone understands, though. The GPS on your phone relies on Einstein’s theories for accuracy. Satellites in outer space experience time slightly faster than we do here on Earth (by nanoseconds, nothing significant). This means that the technology inside your phone has to use the theories postulated by Einstein in order for your GPS to get you where you need to go. Einstein’s ideas were theorized decades before we even had the technology to confirm his theories, but many of them are now proven fact.

 It’s a lot to wrap one’s head around. And that’s the point.

When God responded to Job in Job 38, he challenged Job to explain the “ordinances of heaven”, 38:33. God was presenting Job with a picture of how awesome He is and how puny we are when we stand before God. As long as it has taken the human race to discover what God has known all along is a testament to our limited ability and  access to knowledge. God tells us, “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.” (Is. 55:9) Just because we have learned how time and space work doesn’t mean we’ve suddenly been given the ability to manipulate either. Understanding the relationship between time and space does not change the fact that we are still human. God created Einstein. Even knowing what he knew, Albert Einstein could not bend space. He could not alter time. Only God can. That fact has never changed. In this, we see God. Paul wrote to the Romans, “For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead…” (Rom. 1:29) God is proven, time and time again, by His creation. Our limits are proven, time and time again, by HIs creation.

But why show us how limited we are?

I’ll get into that in a moment. First, let’s see what the Bible has to say about time.

Scripture talks A LOT about time and the relationship it has with Creation. Everyone can probably quote Ecclesiastes 3:1-8: “To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under heaven…” We are the prisoners of time. Solomon also wrote, “I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, nor bread to the wise, nor riches to men of understanding, nor favor to men of skill; but time and chance happens to them all. For man also knows not his time: as the fish that are taken in a cruel net, and as the birds that are caught in the snare; so are the sons of men snared in a cruel time, when it falls suddenly upon them.” (Ecc. 9:11-12) Time is a determinate of our existence, and we cannot escape it. There is nothing quite like watching the hands of a clock move and knowing that we are at the mercy of the time that clock represents. Imagine, if you will, going through an entire day without knowing what time it is! Would that day feel slower? Faster? Would the sun seem to stand still? (That really happened, once, Josh. 10:12-13.) No matter how we perceive or how much we know about the temporal, it still does not change the fact that our physical bodies have been created with a time-limit. Everything in Creation is temporary, 2 Pet. 3:10, which makes God separate from Creation, from time and space. God is spirit, John 4:24. God existed before time began, 1 Pet. 1:20. God inhabits eternity, Is. 57:15. There is no limit to the space God can take up at any given time, Is. 52:12, and there is no escaping God, Prov. 15:3. His eternal existence in both time and space is depicted in His name, Ex. 3:13-15, Jn. 8:58.

This is part of what makes God awesome. 

Scripture measures time in human terms by hours, Mt. 20:3-5, days, Gen. 1:5, weeks (Sabbaths), Ex. 26:26, months, Ex. 12:2, years, Ex. 12:5, feasts/holy days, Ex. 23:14, Is. 30:29, moons, Ps. 81:3; 104:19, Is. 66:23, and watches, Lk. 12:38. (The Hebrew Calendar is a lunisolar calendar, using both the sun and moon for times and dates. Not all scripture was recorded using the Hebrew references of time, though. Matthew, Mark, and Luke used Hebrew references - but John did not. John used Roman time, which is why it may seem that scripture contradicts itself when in fact it does not, Mt. 27:45, Mk. 15:33, Lk. 23:44, Jn. 19:14). No measure of time, however, is relevant to God, 2 Pet. 3:8, because God is eternal, Is. 43:11-13.

Okay. We’ve covered the physical. Let’s get into our spiritual view of time. I asked a question earlier; why does God show us how limited we are? Being finite, we often are forced to consider the brevity of this life. Eternity is so appealing to us as humans because we know how fleeting this life is, Is. 40:6-8. We’ve seen the truth of death. The other side of suffering shows us how fragile we are. In this, we have the tendency to seek things that make us feel safe and secure. Scripture gives us the answer. Only in scripture can we can find the promise God gives that we do not have to be afraid. God told Joshua, “Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.” (Josh. 1:9) When we understand our own weakness, we seek a safe haven. Anyone that has a deep knowledge of and appreciation for God’s power finds that safe haven in Him. Our limits should draw us closer to God, Ps. 57:1. He never leaves, Heb. 13:5.

Our weaknesses are also a billboard for God’s power, our imprisonment by time a flashing sign that points to the Almighty. Paul understood this, 2 Cor. 12:7-1. Isaiah 43:1-13 showcases how God’s might is necessary throughout all of Creation and our interaction with it. Mankind’s limitations broadcast the difference between God Almighty and man. This also brings to the forefront the love that God has for us. He has the ability to destroy us…but instead lifts us up, James 4:10.

We may not be able to manipulate time, but we can certainly use what we have been given wisely. The Ephesians were advised by Paul to “walk circumspectly… redeeming the time, because the days are evil.” (Eph. 5:15-16) All things are given to us by God, including our time, James 1:17. In this, we are made stewards for Christ…and a steward must be found faithful, 1 Cor. 4:1-2. We can be efficient with the time and talents given to us by God (Mt. 25:14-23)…or we can squander them (Mt. 25:24-30).

Either way, we will answer for it, 2 Cor. 5:9-11.

I’ll ask some questions in conclusion:

1.)How much of your day did you dedicate to God?

2.)How much of God’s day did He dedicate to you?

3.) How much of your time would  you invest into eternity?

Every moment we invest into God’s Kingdom is an investment into eternity, because it is the only Kingdom that will cross over into eternity, 1 Cor. 15:24. Give your time to God, and what He will give in return is timeless.

This One Thing I Do - Ben Bailey

This One Thing I Do

            I recently came across a quote that at first struck me as kind of odd and maybe even selfish, but the more I thought about it the more I realized there was an important gem of wisdom in it that needs to be lived.  Here is the quote.  Warren Buffett once said, "The difference between successful people and really successful people is that really successful people say ‘no’ to almost everything."  Initially this sounds kind of selfish.  However, when you take a little time to think about the point it’s not selfishness but single-minded focus that’s being exalted.  And that is definitely an idea that God Himself exalts in Scripture.

            The Apostle Paul stated this truth about as plainly as anyone in Scripture when he said: “Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 3:13-14).  The one thing that took most of Paul’s attention, time, focus and energy above all else was going to Heaven. 

            When Jesus spoke to the Rich Young Ruler, who had all the potential in the world to be successful spiritually, Jesus pointed out his lack of single-minded focus.  Jesus said to this young man, “one thing you lack” (Mark 10:21).  That man could never really be successful spiritually because his great possessions would always be in the way!

            Do you remember when Martha came to Jesus to get Him to instruct her sister to help her with some of the chores?  Martha’s request to Jesus is “tell her then to help me” (Luke 10:40).    Jesus lovingly said to Martha, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary” (Luke 10:41-42).  Serving was not a bad thing, but at that moment when the Master Teacher is in your home learning was priority number one!

            The Scripture so beautifully states this single-minded focus in Psalm 27.  The Holy Spirit says, “One thing I have desired of the Lord, That will I seek: That I may dwell in the house of the Lord All the days of my life, To behold the beauty of the Lord, And to inquire in His temple” (Ps. 27:4). For David, dwelling in God’s house and with God was the one thing that was more important than anything else.

            What about me and you today?  In our fast-paced notification crazy world it seems like we are being pulled from and to so many different directions that sometimes it makes your head spin.  Like Mr. Buffett said, we need to learn to say no to everything else but one thing—putting God first.  May God help us to have a single-minded focus and to put everything else behind that!

Oh, you wanted fries with that? - Joey Ferrell

If you went to a fast food restaurant and ordered a combo that was described as a sandwich or protein (ha funny at fast food) and a side dish like fries, when you get to the window and your bag feels a little light and you know it is short of what you ordered, what do you do?

1. Do you ask the worker why you have no fries?

2. Do you go back around and check the menu to make sure that is what you saw?

3. Do you look at your receipt to see if what you asked and paid for was short of what you received?

4. Do you just pay for it and have the opinion that it’s good enough to have part of what was asked for?

5. Do you just drive off angry and upset at the person who short-changed you?

I had something like this happen a few weeks ago. Except it wasn’t the fries, it was my wife’s burger - her main dish for dinner. We had left an amusement park. It was late. Most places were closed and the ones that weren’t had long lines. So, once we ordered a large order for our daughter and grandkids, after having to repeat several times what we required for our dinner, it was so very frustrating to have the very first drinks handed to us that were not what was ordered.

The drinks weren’t an issue because actually we had drinks from the park but it didn’t make sense to pay more for individual items than was required when the complete meal was what had the ultimate goal of being fed. So, we had drinks. Some were wrong sizes but we had them.

Then the bags started being handed over. As I look in the mirror and at the line that had formed, as hungry as we were I just wanted to get the food and go! I was ready. It was time to head toward home. It was late. I was hungry!

So, as we round the curve of the drive thru line, it is noticed that we were short the $7 burger she had ordered. Our order was not complete. I became angry as the lobby was closed and I would have had to get back in the line behind several cars to try to get it right the second time.

But, I didn’t. I drove off. I offered her my meal. She said no it’s okay. I felt bad as I tried to manage to eat some of mine as we drove away.

I was thinking: why couldn’t they get a simple order right? Did they not hear what I said? Oh wait, it was on the screen and I actually confirmed what was said by what was written. I said yes it’s ok. They said ok we hear what you have ordered. Yet, we were short.

Now, I could go on and tell you about the silence for the next few miles as my wife had said “you should have checked it before you drove off.” But I won’t! Husbands I’m sure you know how I felt!!! Instead, about 5 miles down the road, I stopped at a different restaurant, waited in line, ordered a burger, verified the order, paid, accepted the bag at the window and guess what…checked the contents against what had been stated as the order at the menu board and the window. The order was right and now she had her meal to eat.

Now, you’ve probably already answered some of those questions above in your own way, but let’s put some logic into application.

On the day of judgment, it will be too late to think about what was wrong with the “order”. There will be no guessing at who was wrong. When we compare what we receive to what was stated, will we fall short because of what was heard, what was processed, what was done as we drove off with less than completeness? You may be asking what I am referring to.

It’s kind of simple really. When I ordered that meal, it was supposed to have a burger and a side. Typically the side is left off in this situation, but not here, the main part of the meal was missing…and the side would not suffice to fill the fullness of the need. When my Lord said in Mark 16:16, that whoever believes AND is baptized will be saved, He did not go on to say “but if you leave off one of these you can still be saved.” No, instead, He gave a brash warning. He said, he who believes NOT will be condemned, implying that the item left off is not complete without both being present. Now put that into application here.

In my own words of analogy:

He who orders and eats a burger and fries will be full. He who receives just burger will not receive the fullness of the order. He who receives just fries will still be hungry.

Yet, there are many people who will say “you just have to eat the burger to be full”, but that does not remedy the fact that the one who ordered the burger and fries, paid for them, expected them, and was left short of what they ordered will be pleased. And certainly, the one who just gets fries and no burger…well, they are left much less fed than the other. But both are still short.

So, is salvation based on belief? Certainly. How about repentance. Of course. Confession? Absolutely. But, without the rest of the “order” being produced, the “meal” is incomplete and disobedience is evident…even if it was just an oversight of what was said.

I could have gotten back in line. Matter of fact, the restaurant didn’t close until 2 a.m. so my excuse of not wanting to wait in line to fulfill the order lies upon me really and not the restaurant. But, just as the second restaurant had on its sign “open until midnight,” at some point, the store would have been closed and my wife would not have been able to eat that night.

What about the “order” that Jesus himself “placed” in His words to us? He said you have to believe - John 8:24. He also said you have to repent - Luke 13:3. He said you have to confess - Matthew 10:32-33. And He said that His “order” includes being immersed for remission of sin - Mark 16:15-16.

Friends, don’t wait until the restaurant is closed to realize you did not get part of the order. Do not get angry with the workers that may come up short, but rather tell them that there should be more based on the “written order”. Don’t come up hungry at the end of the day by doing part of these things, yet never fulfilling the hunger that is of your soul. Salvation is the most important thing to get right in this life. Burgers and fries are tasty, but in the end, let’s find the bread and water that Jesus has offered to deliver once we have completed His order.

Heaven, Our Forever Home - Ben Bailey

Heaven, Our Forever Home

“There remains therefore a rest for the people of God” (Heb. 4:9).  With these words the Hebrews writer reminds us of our forever home—Heaven.  Unlike the Israelites who were heading toward the physical home of Canaan, Christians are journeying toward our final destination of Heaven.  As we think about that forever home each of us are probably made to ask, “What will Heaven really be like?”  Notice how the Bible describes the beauty of Heaven.

          Our forever home will be a wonderful place of rest after the struggles of this life have ended.  Each one of us gets tired after a long hard day of work.  We enjoy putting up our feet at the end of a long day and relaxing.  While earthly rest will not begin to compare to heavenly rest, what a joy it is to know that Heaven is a place of rest.  There will be no more labor, toil, and striving against sin.    The writer of Hebrews describes it in this way.  “There remains a rest for the people of God” (Heb. 4:9).  This rest contrasted with and was greater than the promise rest Joshua had given the people of Israel in Canaan (Heb. 4:1ff). 

          Our forever home will be great because it will be a place where we can worship God fully.  Someone has said, “If you don’t enjoy worship here on earth, you probably won’t enjoy Heaven either.”  Why?  Because much of what we see going on in Heaven is worship to Almighty God.  For example, in Revelation 4&5 those in Heaven are throwing down their crowns and worshipping God in song.  This gives us insight as to what will happen in Heaven (Rev. 4:9-10).

          Our forever home will be amazing because it is described as a place of endless joy.   One of the great things about Heaven will be the absolute joy that God’s people possess.  All of us will admit that one of the worst things about this life is sadness.  Isn’t it wonderful to know that Heaven is a place of infinite joy?  To the servant who used his talents to the glory of God Jesus said, “…enter into the joy of your Lord” (Matt. 25:21).  

          How wonderful it is to know that when the toils and struggles of this life are over and we hear the Words, “Well done, good and faithful servant enter into the joys of your Lord” that we can partake in all the wonder and beauty of our Heavenly Home.  May God help each of us to life in such a way that Heaven will be our forever home!                            --Ben Bailey

I Hate Lukewarm Coffee - Ben Bailey

I hate Lukewarm Coffee…

                It happened to me recently and it reminded me of a powerful truth. I had just poured a piping hot cup of coffee and then several things happened. I lost track of time, and my coffee got cold. Without even thinking about it, I took a big swig of what I expected to be hot coffee, and it was terribly lukewarm. That lukewarm coffee did not appeal to me at all. In all honesty, it almost made me sick to my stomach and my initial reaction was to spit it out. At that moment I remembered how much God hates lukewarmness too. Scripture tells us that lukewarm Christianity makes God sick to His stomach. Our Lord said, “So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will vomit you out of My mouth” (Rev. 3:16). Why does lukewarm Christianity make Jesus sick and what is wrong with being lukewarm? Consider these problems with lukewarm Christianity.

                Being lukewarm is in contradiction to the greatest command. When asked what the greatest of all commands was, Jesus said to “love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength” was the greatest (Mark 12:30). Although very blunt, Francis Chan hit the nail on the head when he said this about the contradiction of lukewarm Christians: “As I see it, a lukewarm Christian is an oxymoron; there is no such thing. To put it plainly, churchgoers who are ‘lukewarm’ are not Christians. We will not see them in heaven.”

                Lukewarm Christianity does not openly and lovingly bear The Cross every day. The Lord asked his followers to do just that. He said, “If any man desires to come after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross daily and follow me” (Luke 9:23).  It was Teresa of Avila who stated it so vividly when she said, “The lukewarm do not embrace the cross; they merely drag it along.” Can we really embrace the Cross of Christ and be lukewarm?

                Lukewarm Christianity possesses an improper view of sin. The Bible teaches we should hate sin, like Jesus did (Heb. 1:9). He hated it so much that He gave his life so that all people in the world could be saved from sin (Heb. 2:9; 1 Peter 2:24). Francis Chan put it bluntly when he said, “Lukewarm people don’t really want to be saved from their sin; they want only to be saved from the penalty of their sin.”  If my Christian Walk is only half-hearted, do I really have the proper view of sin?

                Roald Dahl, who is known as one of the greatest storytellers of the 2oth Century, really brought the idea of not being lukewarm home when he said, “I began to realize how important it was to be an enthusiast in life. If you are interested in something, no matter what it is, go at it full speed…Love it and above all become passionate about it.  Lukewarm is no good!”  If we are going to be followers of Christ do not be lukewarm, go at it full speed and embrace it with all our heart!                                                             --Ben Bailey

Parenthood - Amy Lawrence

Parenthood

A Study on Walking Through the Hood with God

I asked my teenage daughter about what I should write for this article. She said, “Write about raising teenagers in Christ.” So I did. 

My child is now 15 years old. She is a sophomore in the public school system, she owns an iPhone, and she has her driver’s permit. We are at a stage in her life when she is learning a great deal more about personal responsibility than usual. I cannot put sufficient words to how proud I am of the strong, intelligent, kind young Christian she has become. I’d like to think that my husband and I had our part in it, but in truth it was all brought about by God and His wisdom, James 1:17. God’s word tells us to “train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not depart from it,” Prov. 22:6. Let’s begin a study on how to do this.

The instructions on how to raise Godly children are found only in God’s word… so the first question that comes to mind is: do we want to raise Godly children? I hope emphatically that your answer is “yes”. If so, then one must study and come to a knowledge of God’s word. Heartbreaking, though, is the number of parents that have failed their children in neglecting to learn and teach them the Truth. There is no greater gift I can give my child than knowledge of God and His will for mankind, and there is no greater destination I could wish for my child than Heaven. The instructions God has given us are not given as a list of tenets, though. We have been given examples (of good choices AND bad choices), commands, and promises in scripture, all of which - when studied properly - can lead the student to a wisdom only God’s word can bestow, Job 12:13, Ps. 111:10, 2 Tim. 3:15-17. I’ve organized my study into 3 categories:

              1.)The Parents

              2.)The Peerage

              3.)The Pedigree

The Parents

The first step to raising Godly children is to be unselfish Godly parents. (The chances for that child are better with both parents being Godly, but I know, in this world, that is not always the case. One, however, is better than none.) We have to be foremost unselfish. ALL good parenting has to be unselfish. Their education starts with us, and so we must put them before ourselves. Even if your Godliness didn’t begin in your childhood or even into adulthood, we as adult human beings are a fluid concept. We can change our behavior. We can become what we want to teach our children to become. If you’re not an unselfish Godly parent, become one for both yourself and your children. 

You cannot teach them what you do not know or practice. Everyone knows that you can’t get something from nothing. Children do not happen without parents.  Knowledge does not happen without teaching. Habits are not learned without consistency. Don’t be a parent that underestimates the power of influence and expects Godly knowledge to just magically develop within your child. Be reasonable. If there is something you see in your child that you do not wish to see, chances are it got there because of you or because of an influence you allowed. To teach our children acceptable behavior, we must be the acceptable behavior they see on a daily basis. This is the responsibility of being a parent; our influence will either make or break our kids. I cannot stress enough how incredible it is to be a mother, because God has entrusted me with a SOUL that is not my own. He has given me the task of teaching her everything I know about Him and about Eternity. If I fail, I have robbed my daughter of an eternal life of rest. This is why I study DAILY; to build my supply of knowledge to give to my daughter and to teach her to study for herself as well, 2 Tim.

1:5; 3:14-17.

I know we can’t be perfect. Even as mature adults, we make mistakes. It is inevitable. That doesn’t mean we have to pretend we’re perfect, either. One of the most important things I feel I’ve done as a parent is admit to my child when I’ve made a mistake - and ask for forgiveness. It both taught my child how to handle failure and how to ask for and give forgiveness. This is important! It is a vital behavior that will aid in the relationship that my child has with God, with me, and with others, James 5:16. The Holy Spirit tells us that we must submit to God, James 4:7, and to one another, Eph. 5:21, 1 Pet. 5:5. Giving each other the power of accountability keeps us honest. It also builds a respect that cannot be shaken. By teaching her respect of me and my husband and us reciprocating by respecting her, she learns also how to respect God. We respect her by keeping our promises, by not being hypocritical, and by structuring our home in the only way that will help her grow in God. 

Communication is also vital. If two people never learn to sit down and talk (I mean talk, not shout, and be open and honest), whether it’s you and your husband or you and your child, those two people cannot grow and better their relationship. Above all, pray. Teach your children to pray. Having direct contact with God is better than any wi-fi, and we don’t even need a password. 

The value God has placed on the organization of the home is paramount to growing a child. The Holy Spirit placed the husband of the household as the authority of the wife and children, Christ as the authority of the husband, 1 Cor. 11:3. He has the responsibilities allotted to the husband, Eph. 5:25-31; 6:4, Col. 3:19, 2 Thess. 3:10, Titus 2:6-8, I have the responsibilities allotted to the wife, Eph. 5:22-24, Col. 3:15, Titus 2:3-5, and our daughter has the responsibilities allotted to children, Eph. 6:1-2. I will tell you that I am abundantly blessed in that my husband and I are both Christians and have primarily been on the same page (scripture) when it comes to establishing our household and raising our daughter. We have had minor disagreements as opinions go, but all in all we have been a team thus far in raising our child in Christ. Above all, I submit to my husband - even when I don’t agree with him. It is my prayer that Alyssa will one day have a Christian husband. She is learning how to submit while she is a child so that when she is an adult, it will not be a “new” experience. We must give her good foundational lessons as a child that will help her navigate adulthood and solve the problems that will definitely come her way as an adult. This is the best way to grow a child. A Godly home is a force to be reckoned with because it produces Godly adults. I would, however, be naive in thinking that all marriages are identical to mine. Many have only one Godly parent, many more have none. It is a sad truth - one that I’ve seen within my own relations. I’ve also seen the consequences of such marriages, the subsequent behavior produced in the children of these marriages. Rarely do children from these kinds of homes seek God on their own as adults; because God has never been at the forefront of their parents’ lives, they mimic the attitude. 

It goes without saying that parenting is not an easy job. From keeping them fed and clothed to teaching them problem-solving skills and responsibility, it takes a tough person to be a parent…which makes it so unfortunate that generally any male/ female couple has the capability to give birth to another human. If only every parent were a faithful Christian, this world would be a wonderful place. Being a good parent means you have to be the parent. Not the friend, not the enemy, but the one person that holds the position in their development to instill knowledge, respect, responsibility, and, in the end, wisdom. We can’t do this if we are unwilling to punish and reward properly. There are extremes both ways. I will never advocate misuse of either. There is an abusive way to punish/reward and a right way to punish/reward. Do I always get it right? No. Like I said, I make mistakes. The goal is getting it right as much as possible. The more I get it right, the better I get at getting it right. They never tell that to parents; a good parent is one that can grow and learn, too. It all has to start and end with teaching our children the appropriate consequences to their actions. If they do well, reward. If they do wrong, punishment. It’s also Important to see that society’s opinion about raising children isn’t always on the same page as God’s opinion. Let God set the standard for reward/punishment. God’s opinion should take precedence in any Christian parent’s decision-making. He is the perfect Father, so He knows how to teach us to be the parents we should be.

The Peerage

That time-old phrase, “You are known by the company you keep” stands true for any age. It matters who we let our kids hang out with, and it matters where our kids are and what they are doing. Our home cannot be the only place our daughter learns God. No, I cannot wrap my kid in bubble wrap everywhere she goes and follow her around with a stick, beating away anyone that doesn’t meet standards. I’m keeping my promise not to be a Helicopter Mom (No matter how much I’d like to sometimes.) I have to trust that we’ve taught her well and that she is capable of making good choices. It’s not fair to punish her before she’s done something punish-worthy. She can’t learn how to handle mistakes she’s never made. When she does make a mistake, it is vitally important that her parents have the wisdom to dole out the RIGHT punishment that teaches the RIGHT lesson. As I said before, we are not perfect. There have been times when I as a parent did not do the right thing. But as my track record goes as well as my husband’s, we seem to be doing a pretty decent job. Our daughter is marvelous. (Biased? ME? Slightly.) She’s smart, funny, beautiful, modest, kind, loving, and wise beyond her years. She has a personality that others might label “weird”, but in truth is simply unique. She is not afraid to be her own person. It takes a strong young person to embrace being different. That is the potatoes to the meat of being a Christian; stepping away from the world and telling it, “I don’t want to be like you, and I don’t need what you are selling”, 1 Jn. 2:15-17. How, then, is a kid supposed to survive this when that kid’s parents can’t? Some Christian parents put so much emphasis on being popular, on fitting in with the world, on building a reputation that is acceptable by society. They want it to look like God is driving, but in truth He’s in the back seat being ignored when subjects like the Prom come up. Some parents live vicariously through their children. I’ve heard, “I want them to have the things I never had” so much it makes me cringe and say, “You forget to give them the things you DID have: a Godly education.” I cannot stress this enough. Do not let the world raise your children. It will fail them. Every. Single. Time. God never fails, Lam. 3:22-25.

The Pedigree

We have long ago stepped away from the culture that puts emphasis on what was considered a “pure bloodline”. Part of the reason Samaritans were disdained by the Jews in Biblical times was because they were “mixed blood”; offspring of the Israelites that remained in the Northern Kingdom - after the Assyrian exile - that intermarried with the foreigners that were brought into the area. They were disdained because of the command in the Law of Moses that disallowed Israelites to intermarry with nonIsraelites, Deut. 7:1-4. God’s Israel today is made up of both Jew and Gentile (as the church, Gal. 3:28), therefore the law against intermarriage in the Old Law didn’t carry over into the New Law, 1 Cor. 7. (We are physically, in truth, of “mixed blood”.) I say this as an example of what it means to carry on a lineage. Even though we cannot carry on a physical lineage, we can a spiritual lineage. I lived to see my child become a Christian. I want to see my grandchildren and my great grandchildren, if the Lord allows me to live that long, become Christians. They have a much better chance of becoming such if I do my job as a parent, Deut. 6:4-9. Never underestimate how far a good influence can go, Heb. 11:4.

I pray every day for my child and for myself, that I may be the compass that always points her to Christ. I know what the world will do to a person. I wouldn’t wish it on my worst enemy, let alone my dearest child. I have to be the parent she needs in order to give her a fighting chance against Satan. He is always recruiting, and my child is no exception. I can show her that only the Holy Spirit can give her the knowledge and the tools she needs to fight him. I can pray that she will carry that knowledge and will one day teach it to her own children. If you are a parent, God has blessed you with a blessing that is beyond compare, Ps. 127. Cherish the little ones that are under your care. It is temporary. We have but a short time to mold them and send them into the gaping maw of society. Don’t deny them the lessons they need in order to survive the battles that will certainly come their way. I hope this study as well as further study will aid you in being or becoming a good parent in the eyes of God.

Are New Testament Miracles Occurring Today? - Ben Bailey

Are New Testament Miracles Occurring Today?

Herod had wanted to meet Jesus for a long time (Luke 9:7-9).  While initially this seems like a very good thing, we learn a little later in the New Testament why Herod wanted to meet Jesus.  Luke 23:8 records their encounter this way: “Now when Herod saw Jesus, he was exceedingly glad; for he had desired for a long time to see Him, because he had heard many things about Him, and he hoped to see some miracle done by Him.”  Herod was indeed curious, but really, he just wanted to see a miracle.  Did you know a lot of people today still put the focus of Jesus and Christianity in that same light—They just want to see a miracle.  What does the Bible teach about New Testament Miracles occurring today?  Is that happening today like it did when Jesus walked the Earth?

The Bible teaches that miracles were to come to an end with the completion of God’s Revelation in the New Testament.  The purpose of miracles in the first century was to confirm the truth of God’s Word (Mk. 16:20; Heb. 2:3-4).  Miracles were never for physical gratification alone.  For example, Paul had the power to heal Trophimus, yet he left him in Miletus sick because miracles were not for physical gratification alone (2 Tim. 4:20).  The premiere passage that teaches miracles have ended is 1 Cor. 13:8-10.  Paul states, “Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away.  For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.  But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away.”  In this passage Paul teaches prophecies, tongue-speaking, and miraculous knowledge will come to an end when that which is perfect comes.  We must determine what the “perfect” is.  The word for perfect in the original language carries the idea of complete or absolute.  In the Bible there are only four things that are perfect: God, Christ, the Holy Spirit and God’s Word.  Of these four perfect items, God (Mt. 1:21), Christ (Jn. 1:1-4) and the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:4ff) have already come by the time Paul wrote 1 Corinthians.  The only thing left to come is the “perfect law of liberty” (Jas. 1:25).  Therefore, Paul is saying that when the perfect law of liberty is completed (perfected) that which is partial (prophecy, tongue-speaking and miraculous knowledge) will end.  Dear friend, the Bible does not teach miracles still exist today. 

                  Also, it is evident if you look around honestly today that there are no genuine miracles happening today like they did in the New Testament.  These are the kinds of miracles we read of in the Bible: a man is raised from the dead (Jn. 11), a lame man walks instantaneously (Acts 3), blind people are given their sight immediately (Mk. 10:49-52), a man’s ear is attached back to his head automatically (Lk. 22:50-51).  If we are honest, we must admit these kinds of miracles are not happening today.  Now please don’t mistake a miracle for the Power of Prayer.  We believe God can heal people through prayer and providence (James 5:13-15).  In His time and way God will heal people, but people no longer have the power to do biblical miracles.  Why is it that not one miracle worker can go down to the cemetery today and raise a dead person?  Because that power no longer exists for us!

                  Like Herod, we live in a day and age when lots of people focus on the miraculous gifts of the Holy Spirit.   Would we not be better of spiritually by turning our attention to the product of the Holy Spirit—The Word of God (John 16:13) and letting it lead our lives.  Instead of getting worked up about miracles today, Christians need to be fired up for the Words of the Holy Spirit (Jer. 20:9). 

What Does the Lord Teach About Our Speech? - Ben Bailey

What Does the Lord Teach About Our Speech?

            How should a Christian talk? What kind of things should or should not come out of a Christian’s mouth? Hopefully these are questions you have thought about and or maybe are thinking about.  The good news is God teaches us the way we should talk and the things we should avoid saying.  Notice what the Bible teaches about our speech. 

            Let your speech be gracious.  The Word of God says, “Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how to answer each one” (Col. 4:2).  No one enjoys talking to or listening to someone whose speech is abrasive or harmful.  A Christians speech should be gracious and preserving.  The idea here is that our speech should be kind, considerate of others and we should say things in a way that should open doors rather than close them. 

            Speak the Truth in Love.  Someone once told me a truth about speech that I have never forgot…You are never someone’s enemy when you tell them the truth (Gal. 4:16).  It may be uncomfortable.  It may feel like you are becoming their enemy, but if truth sets people free you are not their enemy (John 8:32).  However, our approach with the truth also needs to be considered. When I tell someone the truth it must be done in love.  With a kind an loving heart and with the motivation of love is how I should always approach others.  

            Avoid evil speech.  The Word of God says, “Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth” (Eph. 4:29).  Paul also reminded Christians to put off “filthy language out of your mouth” (Col. 3:8).  Maybe you used to use foul language or say coarse words before you became a Christian.  As a child of God, you must work on breaking that habit and removing those words from your vocabulary.  Remember, the Lord said for every idle word men speak they will give an account of in the judgment (Mt. 12:36-37).

            May every Christian have the mindset and the attitude of the Psalmist when he said, “Set a guard over my mouth, O LORD; keep watch over the door of my lips” (Ps. 141:3).   Let’s use our speech to encourage, build up and praise God not for evil purposes!       --Ben Bailey