____________________________________________________ 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). ____________________________________________________ May 21, 1995 ____________________________________________________ Silver and Gold Have I None by Johnie Edwards A lame man was carried and laid at the gate of the temple to ask alms of those who entered. As Peter and John came in, the lame man expected to receive something of them. But Peter said, ``Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk'' (Acts 3:1-6). There are lots of things more valuable than silver and gold. Let's take a look at some: 1) A Good Name. You can't buy a good name. It takes hard work and time to arrive at a good name. The wise man wrote, ``A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favor rather than silver and gold'' (Prov. 22:1). A lot of people bring reproach on the name of their parents by the bad things they do. Some harm the influence of the Lord's church by sinful acts. We all must be careful about the name we wear and realize it is something money cannot buy! 2) Love. Love is a needed commodity in our society. Families need love. Church members often fail to display the proper love for each other, and love for mankind in general is lacking. Yet, love is not something we can go to the market and buy. The Bible says, ``He that loveth not knoweth not God: for God is love'' (1 Jno. 4:8). Many children today are starving for the love of parents while the parents are too busy to show them that they really care. Peter said, ''...see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently'' (I Pet. 1:22). You cannot buy love. 3) Time. Folks often say, ``I wish I had some more time!'' Sorry, there is no more time than we already have. We just need to make good use of the time we have. Paul recorded, ``Redeeming the time, because the days are evil'' (Eph. 5:16). As the Psalmist spoke about how short earth life is, he said, ``So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom'' (Psa. 90:12). Often our parents and other older people are crying out for just a few minutes of our time. They don't need silver and gold, they just need someone to care enough to give them a little of their time. And, money can't buy this! 4) Redemption. Silver and gold cannot buy one's salvation. Peter made known to the strangers scattered through Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, ''...that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold...but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot'' (I Pet. 1:18). Money cannot buy our redemption but ''...redemption is in Christ Jesus'' (Rom. 3:24). Paul told the Ephesians that, ``we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins'' (Eph. 1:7). When one is ``baptized into Christ'' (Gal. 3:27), he can have redemption. But, redemption is something that money cannot buy. -- Via Elletsville Church Bulletin, January 26, 1995 ___________________________________________ Killer Drugs by Rick Harlow I have spent over 20 years working in the field of mental health. During that time I have witnessed dozens and perhaps even hundreds of individuals who have literally ruined their lives with drugs and alcohol. I have known individuals who were at one time very accomplished athletes and others who possessed extremely brilliant minds who have ended up walking around in a constant state of confusion, agitation, psychosis, etc. all thanks to the use and abuse of ``killer drugs.'' When stories such as this are shared with many individuals they are immediately outraged. Some might angrily suggest that we should gather up all of the pushers of marijuana, heroin, crack, and other illegal drugs and ship them off to some far away remote island where they will not be able to destroy one more life. However, do you think that actions such as this would solve the problem then you are only fooling yourself! There are probably more lives destroyed each year in this country by ``legal'' prescription drugs than by any other means. I see reports which are published each month by the Ohio State Medical Board which reveal that a large number of the citations issued each month involve physicians who have inappropriately prescribed ``legal'' prescription drugs for their patients. Just because a drug is ``prescribed'' by a physician does not mean that it is being used properly or appropriately. Drug abuse, of both prescribed, street drugs and alcohol, in this country has reached epidemic proportions. Drug abuse is sinful and dangerous. Let's notice several ways in which these ``killer drugs'' can destroy both body and soul: (1) Drugs And Alcohol Will Master You: There are many individuals who have allowed themselves to become the servants of drugs. There are many individuals who would do just about anything in order to obtain a fix. The drugs which are destroying their body have also become their god and as such is also destroying their soul. The apostle Paul warned that anything which we allow to control us has become our god. ``Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?'' (Romans 6:16). (2) Drugs And Alcohol Will Impair Your Judgment: I have read of cases where fathers and mothers have sent their young children out in the streets to sell drugs or prostitute themselves in order to obtain the money necessary for the parents to satisfy their need for drugs. Would individuals with good judgment force their children to become involved in such ungodliness? I don't think so!! It was individuals such as this that Paul was speaking of when he described individuals who were ``without natural affections'' in Romans 1:31. ``Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful''" (Romans 1:31). There are those who would lie, steal, cheat, rape, murder, etc. if that was what it took to obtain the drugs which they worship. (3) Drugs And Alcohol Will Destroy Your Body: The facts of the case are inarguable. Drugs, either prescription or nonprescription, will destroy your body. Anything which we allow to destroy our body is sinful. ``What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own'' (1 Corinthians 6:19). Continued drug and alcohol abuse is merely a slower form of suicide. No matter how you try to distort the facts, suicide is murder!! If you intentionally poisoned an individual over a period of months or years would it not be considered murder? What's the difference? I witnessed my own father, who at one time possessed a brilliant mind even though he only had a ninth grade education, literally destroy his body, mind and soul with alcohol abuse. (4) Drugs Will Destroy Families: There are those who would vehemently argue that what they do is of no business to anyone else. Not true!! How many families have been destroyed by the ill effects of drug and alcohol abuse? How many hopes and dreams have been shattered because of drug and alcohol addiction? The family is a God- ordained institution which should be treated as such. The Bible teaches that parents have awesome responsibilities when it comes to raising their children. ``And ye fathers, provoke not your children. But, bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord'' (Ephesians 6:2). Drug and alcohol abuse will destroy families! I have seen it happen many, many times over the years. (5) Drugs Will Destroy Your Soul: There are some individuals in our society who seem to think that the use (which actually amounts to abuse) of drugs is sheik and cool. Nothing could be further from the truth. Drug and alcohol abuse is downright stupid!! Why? Because they will destroy your soul and sentence you to an everlasting torment. ``Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul'' (1 Peter 2:11). -- Via The Harvester, February 12, 1995 ___________________________________________ TRENDS As time comes and goes, there are many trends that appear on the scene, stay awhile (some longer than others) and then disappear. These trends affect various parts of our lives: what we wear, eat, travel in, etc. Some bring improvement, others don't. However, those that come along in religious matters should be of deep concern unto us. If we are not careful, we can find ourselves swept along with the current trends. We should always be on guard so that we will not be tossed to and fro by every trend that comes along. Our stand must be upon the TRUTH as found in the revealed will of God. Paul said to prove all things, make sure it is that which can be found on the pages of God's word before it is accepted. Study your Bible, 2 Timothy 2:15. -- Denver Niemeier, via The Old Path II, April 9, 1995 ___________________________________________ DON'T FORGET Your Subscription Renewal Must Be In Before May 31 Or You'll Be Deleted From Our Mailing List For This Free Bulletin! We Hope To Hear From You Soon. -- Tom ___________________________________________ Write Today For One of Our **** FREE **** Bible Correspondence Courses John Hurt 8-Lesson Series Acts of the Apostles 6-Lesson Course Know Your Bible 4-Lesson Course ________________________________________ 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 ________________________________________