____________________________________________________ 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). ____________________________________________________ October 24, 2004 ____________________________________________________ Contents: 1) The Tail and the Dog (Irven Lee) 2) He Will Get Us Jobs! (James Baker) 3) Diary Of A Bible (anonymous) ____________________________________________________ -1- The Tail and the Dog by Irven Lee We have all heard of the tail wagging the dog. That, of course, refers to the little thing that has assumed a place of too great importance. Many times man loses his proper sense of values and emphasizes the trivial to the neglect of the important. It is much more decent and orderly if everything can be kept in its proper place. Surely we should all be glad to have the inspired apostle to the Gentiles give us a word on comparative values. "For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come" (1 Tim. 4:8). This verse does not say that it is wrong to play or enter into some form of physical exercise as a means of recreation. Neither does it say that it is a sin to forget the stress and strain of life's problems for a few minutes by becoming absorbed in observing an interesting game or in interesting reading. Solomon's remark that there is a time to laugh still makes sense (Ecc. 3:1-8). Man needs to relax. Doctors may advise fishing, hunting, golfing, walking, or even running. It need not bother their conscience to offer such advice because there is no evil in this. Many modern occupations do not give one the proper exercise for physical health, but many modern occupations do threaten mental health. Please do not suppose that the following remarks are intended to discourage the proper effort to maintain physical or mental health. We may be careful not to forget bodily exercise for the good of the physical man, but the apostle would also advise that a man exercise himself unto godliness (1 Tim. 4:7). The latter is the more important exercise because it can mean more in this life, and it looks forward to the life to come. Our senses need to be exercised to discern between good and evil (see Heb. 5:14). Much has been said about America's need for physical fitness. Much should be said about America's need for spiritual fitness. The proper chastening yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them that are exercised thereby (Heb. 12:11). In our permissive generation many young people reach the age of maturity as spiritual weaklings because they lack this very valuable exercise. A good name is rather to be chosen then great riches (Prov. 22:1). A good name is of greater value in this life than the strong body is to the physical giant who is immoral and vulgar. America has many athletic heroes and lavishes its honors upon them, but America is sick spiritually, and does not seem to notice its spiritual giants. It is great to be physically strong. It is greater to be spiritually strong. This article is not written to influence those who act like pagans. Those who loot, rob, and burn through lack of respect for law and property rights will not read this. This article is written with the hope that it may be worth something to members of the Lord's church. All of us need to be reminded to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness (Matt. 6:33). We may still garden, fish, or watch a game. We must not let the tail wag the dog. We need common sense and self control. During gospel meetings great crowds miss Friday night to see the game at the school. They say they will be there the other six nights of the week. They do not dare miss the game, with the remark that they will see the other ten or eleven games and cannot afford to miss this particular game. My hat is off to those who enjoy games but who gladly and cheerfully put the worship first. It is easy for some to let a television show take precedence over midweek Bible study. Hollywood may influence many church members far more than the apostles influence them, and Hollywood's influence is far from holy. There is a difference in reasonable interest in recreation and in going insane over a game or a hobby. Some spend an unreasonable amount of money for the sport of greatest interest and give an excessive amount of time to the same. The children, needs of the home, and the place of the Lord's church are pushed aside to let the tail wag the dog. Examine yourself if you see any reason to think you might be putting bodily exercise ahead of godliness which has the promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come. One aspect of the fruit of the Spirit is joy. The search for happiness among the pleasures of this world is a vain search. The peace that passeth all understanding is not obtained in bodily exercise or in some suggested form of modern recreation (read Phil. 4:7). Read the context of this great verse. If one finds no joy in his religion, there is a great possibility that there is little religion. What does the Lord see when He looks on our hearts? Does He see too much emphasis on the fleeting and the trivial, and too little on the eternal and the precious things? Too much emphasis on things that pertain to this life that are legitimate in their proper place can become a form of worldliness. Some have gone so far in their interest in what they call recreation that righteousness is discarded in favor of the social drink, unholy revelling, and lasciviousness. They are asserting their liberty, they seem to think, when, in reality, they are becoming slaves to their own bad habits. It is indeed sad for those who have "clean escaped" to be "brought into bondage" (see 2 Peter 2:18-22). In the parable of the sower, one patch of thorns that choked out the word was the "pleasures of this life" (Luke 8:14). -- Via Guardian of Truth XXVII: 1, p. 24, January 6, '83 ____________________________________________________ -2- He Will Get Us Jobs! by James Baker Ask a person why he plans to vote for a candidate and the number one reason is the promise to deliver on prosperity. Many people in this country have said in the past, "It doesn't matter what a President does in his personal life, as long as he does his job at keeping the economy going." People equate a successful term as President based upon how much money he can put in citizens' pockets. Do you remember the phrase that Ronald Reagan used to deliver the deathblow to Jimmy Carter's re-election plans? Reagan said during their debate, "Are you better off today, than you were four years ago?" People were struck by that statement and voted Jimmy Carter out of office. Now I'm not saying that we shouldn't be interested in living a good life and making lots of money. I am saying that it isn't right to pick a candidate just because he promises to fatten our wallet. We as Christians should seek to know the man's view toward the commandments of God and whether he will pass bills that will effect the laws of Jehovah. A President with a weak economical plan but belief in morals is far better than a President with an appealing economical plan and no belief in morals. Know why that is so? The word of God teaches that it isn't a good economical plan from the mind of man that lifts a nation, but rather the righteousness of the citizens that dwell therein (Prov. 14:34, Prov. 11:11, Psa. 33:12). You see, it is God, not man, who gives the wisdom which enables men to put a nation on a sound economical path with jobs and prosperity for all (Deut. 28:1-68). And when a man's ways please God, He will cause his enemies to be at peace with him (Prov. 16:7). A righteous President with a sorry economical plan, can be blessed by God just like the 300 soldiers that defeated the massive army of the Midianites (Judges 7:7), or the one man that chased a thousand (Josh. 23:10), or like the five loaves and two fish that fed five thousand people (Lk. 9:13-17). So you see, God is willing to help a righteous leader, but He will certainly destroy an evil one (1 Sam. 12:25). ____________________________________________________ -3- Diary Of A Bible Recently I read the "Diary Of A Bible." I do not know the author. Any one of millions of Bibles covered in dust could have written the following: January 10. Been resting for a week. The first few nights of the New Year my owner read me regularly, but he has now forgotten me already, I guess. February 7. Clean up time. I was dusted with other things and then put back on the shelf. February 9. Owner used me for a short time after dinner looking over a few references. Went to Bible school today. March 6. Clean up. Dusted again. Have been in the hall since my trip to Bible school last month. March 30. Busy day. Owner had young people's meeting and had to look up references. He had an awful time finding them but they were there all the time. May 3. In Grandma's lap again this afternoon. She spent most of her time in 1st Corinthians 13 and the last four verses of the 15th chapter. May 7, 8, 9. In Grandma's lap again this afternoon. She spent most of her time reading and sometimes she just talks to me. It is so comfortable there. May 10. Grandma is gone. Back to the same old place. She did kiss me bye before she left. July 3. Had a couple of four-leaf clovers stuck in me today. July 4. Packed in a suitcase with clothes and other things. Off on vacation I guess. July 7. Still in suitcase. July 10. Still in suitcase, though all else has been taken out by now. July 15. Home again in my old place. Quite a nice journey they say, though I did not see why. Aug. 1. Rather stuffy and hot. Have two magazines, a novel and an old hat on top of me. Sept. 10. Used by Mary for a few minutes today. She was writing a letter to a friend whose brother died and wanted appropriate verses. Sept. 23. New mail order catalogue came today. Certainly is getting a lot of attention. More than I ever received. Oct. 10. Wished someone would take these stinking four-leaf clovers out of me. They have been here five months now, and they tickle me, they are so dry and flaky. Nov. 29. Thanksgiving season. Was taken to church last Sunday. Dec. 31. End of another year. Not interesting for me. Maybe next year. -- via "The Pointer," Volume VI, Number 31, October 13, 1974 ____________________________________________________ MYRTLE STREET CHURCH OF CHRIST 1022 Myrtle Street Denham Springs, LA 70726 (225) 664-8208 Sunday: 9:15 AM, 10:00 AM, 4:00 PM Wednesday: 7:00 PM evangelist/editor: Tom Edwards (225) 667-4520 e-mail: tedwards@onemain.com web site: http://home.onemain.com/~tedwards/go ____________________________________________________