____________________________________________________
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).
____________________________________________________
July 12, 1992
____________________________________________________
"It's Hard When You're Just Passing Through"
On our little trip just completed, we had some trouble
with the van--we didn't have any heat. In trying to locate
the source of our trouble, I had a hard time finding
someone willing to look at my problem because, ``I was just
passing through.'' When I did find a man kind enough to
work on the heater (or something going to it) I found out
that one or two parts needed to be replaced. At the parts
store the lady would not take my check (I really didn't
expect her to), because I was from out of town and, you
guessed it, ``just passing through!''
As I stood there watching the man put my van back
together and wondering why I hadn't thought of checking
the heater before I left home, a couple of thoughts came to
mind.
1. In reality we are all just ``passing through.''
Regardless of who you are or where you live, you are a
stranger to most people. The only real friends that you can
count on that really know you and love you are God and
Christ. The only REAL home that matters is in Heaven. Life
is but a short journey. Are you preparing every day of
your life to go HOME? (Psalms 90:1-10)
2. The second lesson was so clear that I almost missed
it! Before I could feel too sorry for myself, I began to think
of those with no heat in their houses or no houses to heat,
or little or no food to eat. It wasn't long before I was
ashamed of myself for thinking I had problems. I learned
again to count my blessings instead of my very small
problems.
I am glad in a way that my heater broke because it
offered me a chance to think about life and its blessings. I
hope that you will learn these lessons and have your life
made a little better because of such thinking. If so, every
shiver was worth it!
-- From The Reminder
___________________________________________
Are God's Blessings For Sale?
by Lloyd Barker
Search the Bible through and one never finds God's
miracles or blessings ``For Sale.'' Why are people so gullible
today? The religious racketeers place a price tag on help
from God. Reasonable people are utterly sickened by the
radio and TV programs asking for money FIRST and then
God will send healing or a blessing.
During the Dark Ages, the Roman Catholic Church
charged for the right to sin -- called an indulgence. They
have been ridiculed for such. Today many preachers
charge one to get out of sin or affliction. Is God so stingy
that He must be paid to bless? Certainly not. People who
want money first before helping an individual are not
working for God. They are working for themselves and their
system. Religion is becoming more and more a laughing stock
to the world. How will we ever convert the lost with such
begging in the name of God?
Look at Acts 8:5-24. Simon was converted and soon
offered money to the apostles to be able to lay hands on
others and impart the Holy Spirit (vs. 18-19). He was
rebuked for even thinking such. Today preachers sell the
promised blessings of God. They give false promises because
miraculous gifts have ceased. Read 1 Cor. 13:8-10. But in the
first century, the apostles never let money and miracles mix.
Who should we believe now?
___________________________________________
Things To Guard Against
by John Berlin
For those who served in the Middle East conflict
``Guard Duty'' was nothing unusual. There are some things
we need to ``Guard'' against when talking to others. ``Whoso
keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from
troubles'' (Prov. 21:23). Guard against...
1. Words of Guile -- ``Keep thy tongue from evil, and
thy lips from speaking guile'' (Prov. 34:13). To speak guile
is to utter words of deceit. It is said of Jesus that he did
no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth (1 Peter 2:22).
We are taught in God's word to lay aside ``all guile'' and
``all evil speakings'' (1 Peter 2:1).
2. Rash Utterances -- First thoughts are not always
the best thoughts. ``Be not rash with thy mouth, and let
not thy heart be hasty to utter any thing before God; for
God is in heaven, and thou upon the earth; therefore let
thy words be few'' (Ecc. 5:2). The fellow who speaks rashly
may have a lot of indigestion caused by his having to eat
his own words!
3. Spouting of Slander -- ``Whoso privily slandereth
his neighbor, him will I cut off'' (Psa. 101:5). ``He that
hideth hatred with lying lips, and he that uttereth a
slander, is a fool'' (Proverbs 10:18). Paul warned against
backbitings and whisperings (2 Cor. 12:20). Slander
slaughters! Carnal weapons have slain thousands, but
tongues have slain ten thousands.
4. Filthy Conversation -- ``Let no corrupt
communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is
good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto
the hearers'' (Eph. 4:29). Some punctuate their speech with
profanity and pollute it with vulgarity. With the mouth they
spew forth so much filth and garbage that they are odious
to others. The flavor of their speech is about like the odor
of a garbage dump on a hot summer day.
5. Untimely Words -- Blessed is the man who knows
when to speak his mind and when to mind his speech! A
``word fitly spoken'' is not an untimely word (Psa. 25:11).
6. Harsh Criticism -- Some never show any charity
when they begin criticizing others. One should be careful of
what he says, ``for a bird of the air shall carry the voice,
and that which hath wings shall tell the matter'' (Ecc.
10:20). How often have harsh and unjust criticisms returned
like a boomerang. One's tongue may be so sharp that he
cuts his own throat with it!
No one can place a sentinel over one's mouth and
tongue but the person himself. This means ``Guard Duty''
every day. Speech control is important.
___________________________________________
"but in case I am delayed, I write so that you may
know how one ought to conduct himself in the household of
God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and
support of the truth" (1 Timothy 3:15).
"And by referring to this, when you read you can
understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, which in
other generations was not made known to the sons of
men...." (Eph. 3:4,5).
________________________________________
Tri-State
CHURCH OF CHRIST
1314 Montgomery Avenue, Ashland, Kentucky 41101
Sunday: 10:00 A.M. Bible class
10:50 A.M. Worship
6:30 P.M. Worship
Wednesday: 7:30 P.M. Bible study
evangelist/editor: Tom Edwards (606) 325-9742
e-mail: tedwards@zoomnet.net
Gospel Observer web site: http://www.zoomnet.net/~tedwards/go
________________________________________