____________________________________________________ THE GOSPEL OBSERVER "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations...teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age" (Matthew 28:19,20). ____________________________________________________ February 10, 2002 ____________________________________________________ He Quit the Church Because It Was "Too Routine" by Tom Edwards In the early 70's, I had met a very humble and enthusiastic person toward the word of God. He was born with dyslexia, never married, so lived alone all his adult life. (He's probably now about 47.) It was one night out at Clearwater Beach, where many of us religious people had been passing out tracts and talking to others about the Lord, when Doug rode up to the pavilion and Big Pier 60 on his 10-speed, while listening to Alexander Scourby read the Bible on a cassette player that was fastened to the handlebars. Doug was quite a cheerful character. He was going up to people, while his now upheld tape player was still sounding out the word of the Lord, and jubilantly asking them, with a beaming gladness from his heart and an exuberant smile on his face, "Hey, you wanna hear the Bible?!" You could easily tell that God's message was the greatest joy in the world to him, and would suddenly find yourself smiling along with him, like a natural reaction. Coincidentally, a couple years later, I ran into Doug again, when I went for the first time to the church of Christ with a friend of his. Doug had recently become a member there, and his friend was baptized into Christ that night. It was also at that initial visit that got me re-thinking on God's plan of salvation, which resulted in the realization of water baptism being a necessary part of that plan -- and the truth which led me out of denominationalism into becoming simply a Christian and a member of the Lord's church. After my conversion and attending that church for several months, I then moved to Temple Terrace to attend Florida College; then, Tampa, where I worked; and then up to Danville, Kentucky, to attend a 2-year Bible program (and ended up 22 years in the Bluegrass State). So I didn't get to see Doug much after I had moved away. A few years ago, however, I was sad to hear that Doug had left the church because he said it had become "too routine." Obviously, there must have been other problems in his life that led him to feel that way. So I tried to encourage him back with the following letter, which I hope will also help others who feel that regular church attendance seems "too routine." Here's part of that letter: ...I sure hope you'll get Christ back into your life, Doug, like you used to have Him. Just think, you are now about 20 years closer to the return of Christ than you were back when you were first converted. We need to all be ready to meet Jesus because He could be back any day now!!! I'd say that most people probably have problems to deal with. Do you know anyone who is really living an ideal life? But we need to try to make the best out of things -- and the way to start is by putting God first! Maybe all of our dreams won't come true, and we won't have all the earthly things we would like to have had; but in heaven, no one will ever regret anything that they never were able to have while on earth. You remember that poor beggar Lazarus? Do you think he'll be sad in heaven that he didn't have a better life while on earth? that he didn't get to eat all the delicious meals that the rich man did? and that he had been a poor, crippled beggar while on earth? Hey, all of that will be behind him in heaven! He will only have time to rejoice there! and rejoice for evermore! Life can be tough sometimes, Doug; and it is especially during times like that when you need good brethren to help you out. As the wise man Solomon wrote, "Two are better than one because they have a good return for their labor. For if either of them falls, the one will lift up his companion. But woe to the one who falls when there is not another to lift him up" (Eccl. 4:9-10). Write me -- or send a cassette -- when you have the time. I would love to hear from you. Remember, Doug, there are a lot of things that we must do again and again, such as eating, working, etc. Surely, we wouldn't cease with these things simply because they seem "routine." The sun comes up and it sets every day -- that's routine -- but I'm glad it is that way, and I enjoy it. This earth still takes 24 hours to complete a day, and it still takes 365.25 days for it to orbit the sun. Just think, it's been doing this for quite some time now -- very routine -- but you wouldn't want it to stop, would you? Your blood is pumped through your body very systematically. Sometimes people get an "irregular heartbeat" that can mess up this routine, so they need to take medication to try to get the old heart back on track. So, what I'm trying to say, Doug, is that there are many things that we can be thankful for the "routine" of -- and those things that God wants us to continue in are for our own good, for our spiritual development, so that we can be better and happier people, receiving His blessings and filled with His goodness. Jesus loves us very much, Doug -- just think about Calvary for a while and the reason why Christ went there. There's only one way we can truly show our appreciation to Him for that, and that is by yielding ourselves to Him by our faith and obedience. As Jesus says in John 14:21, "He who has My commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves Me; and he who loves Me shall be loved by My Father, and I will love him, and will disclose Myself to him." You're a good, humble person, Doug. Don't let the Devil be your new master! Let Jesus shove that old Devil from off the throne of your heart, so the good Lord can take up His loving reign there once again! One last thing, Doug: In the Judgment Day, you will never regret being a faithful Christian who had to do a lot of "routine" things while on earth. Think about it! I sure hope this letter will help you.... With best wishes, Tom ___________________________________________ Call Home by Dee Bowman For many years, when my parents were still living, I called home every Saturday. For several years I traveled extensively, doing gospel meetings. I still called home every Saturday and very often took time to write a short note to my parents from each locale. When my mother died and we went through all her things, we found all those notes, neatly stacked and wrapped with rubber bands. It's good to call home. Prayer is a vital part of the Christian's relationship with God. Along with allowing Him to speak to us through His word, it is the great privilege of the child of God to speak with his Father. It serves several useful purposes. For one thing, it keeps us in constant contact with the Father. That helps. A lot. It keeps you going straight and you're just less likely to get into trouble when your Father's on the line. How long since you called home? THE FATHER IS AT HOME. You never have to call back because He is always there. You never have to worry about whether or not you can "get through," for He always listens to what you have to say. There is never a busy signal; the line is always open. "Let your manner of life be without covetousness," He said, "and be content with such things as you have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee" (Heb. 13:5). Read the great throne room chapter in Revelation 4. God is on His throne, He is available. He will hear. HE WANTS TO HEAR FROM YOU. Just as my parents were concerned about where I was and what I was doing, He is concerned about where you are and what you are doing. He wants to hear from you because it is an indication that you are on speaking terms with Him. "The effectual, fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much" (Jas. 5:16). If He doesn't hear, it is logical to assume that you are not including Him in your present plans. Prayer is an indication of faithfulness. Sin hinders prayer (I Pet. 3:7). People who are out of duty seldom pray. YOU CAN CALL FROM WHEREVER YOU ARE. What a blessed thought that you can stop whatever you are doing and say a little prayer (Phil 4:6). What a blessing to be able to pray from any place at any time and know for sure that He is available and that He is eager to hear from you. He never wearies of your calls, never fails to hear, no matter where you are. If you're doing well, He's glad to hear it. If you're having trouble, He's there to lend a listening ear. If you're sick, He cares. If you're going the wrong way, He surely wants you to contact Him then. "For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers..." (I Pet. 3:12). It is indeed a joy to know that wherever you go, you can still reach Him. There is no place too far, no location too distant that He cannot be contacted. YOU CAN CALL FOR HELP. The 911 concept has saved many a life because at the other end of the line there is always someone who can help. God is that someone. He cares. You can call Him when you have an emergency. You can call Him when you need to be taken to a place of care. You can call Him at any time, day or night. He provides intensive care. You can call Him when you are exasperated from having failed again and again. He cares. You can call Him when you've fallen and can't get up by yourself. And He will help you. You can call Him when you've been rejected -- even by those you thought loved you. He still loves you and He will give you aid. You can call him when you're weary because of the long road you've traveled. He will give you rest. YOU CAN TRUST HIM. He is always at home. He never refuses to answer. The line is never down; there is never any static on it and you don't ever have to wait on the line. And no matter how poorly you say it, He will interpret it well (Rom. 8:26). He wants to hear from you because He wants to help. He will hear and He will answer. He is your Father. He wants what is best for you. Trust Him, "casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you" (Pet. 5:7). Why not call home? Right now. -- Southside Reminder, June 30, 1999 ___________________________________________ Words of the Week (For February 11-17, 2002) Mohammed, the founder of Islam, was born in 570 A.D. in the city of Mecca. He studied both Judaism and Christianity and was convinced that there is only one true and living God, Allah. Mohammed traveled extensively in Arabia and saw that Arabs were believers in many gods and spirits, and this idolatry troubled Mohammed. When 40 years old he claimed that the archangel Gabriel had called him and revealed that Allah had chosen him to be the last of the prophets and to preach submission to the will of Allah. The name Islam means "submission," and "Muslim" or "Moslem" is one who submits to the will of Allah. The time of the claimed visit of Gabriel was about A.D. 610, which marks the beginning of his ministry. In A.D. 622, Mohammed journeyed to Medina and built the first Mosque and started the practices of Islam. Once there he mobilized an army and by force imposed his will on the surrounding cities. In 630, eight years after he had fled from Mecca, Mohammed returned with an army of 10,000 men and took Mecca. After the death of Mohammed, Islam continued to spread by power over areas of Africa, Asia, and Europe. Let it be known, that all this occurred AFTER Jesus Christ had given His gospel to the world and warned about those who would bring FALSE TEACHING. Gal. 1:8-9. Acts 4:10-12. John 3:36. John 4:42. John 14:6. 1 John 4:14-15. 1 John 5:10-12. Hope to hear from you or see you at the services. -- James Baker (via the bulletin for the Mt. Airy church of Christ) ___________________________________________ News & Notes We were sorry to hear that Walter Staples (Peggy Dulin's cousin) passed away February 8. Peggy is a member of the Mt. Airy church of Christ in Philadelphia, and her cousin had lived in that city. We offer our sympathy to all the family and friends of Walter. Robert ("Barney") Combs was transferred to ICU Sunday morning and has been in the hospital since January 28. Let us continue praying for him. Mike Vickery's mother, Edna Mae, underwent surgery February 6 to receive a pacemaker. Let us be praying that all will go well for her. ________________________________________ evangelist/editor: Tom Edwards (610) 925-3567 e-mail: tedwards@onemain.com web site: http://home.onemain.com/~tedwards/go ________________________________________