____________________________________________________ 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) ____________________________________________________ June 30, 1996 ____________________________________________________ Show Yourself An Example by Rick Lanning For many years I have made it a practice to read the epistles to Timothy. I am drawn to them for many reasons, not the least of which I am an evangelist who needs to hear and heed their message. But the fact I have always put myself into the younger generation of preachers caused me to gravitate to its wisdom. The verse ``let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity'' (I Timothy 4:12), has always been special to me. Having now reached my forty-third year, I am slowly, and reluctantly, realizing that father time is marching on. I am growing older, and no longer looked upon by teens and young adults as their peer. In both my home and in the church I am fast reaching the status of ``patriarch.'' That, let me tell you, is frightening! Which leads me to my subject of being an example. I cannot improve upon the six-fold plan of the inspired Paul when it comes to setting an example before others. Fathers and mothers, as you live before your children, leave them a heritage far more valuable than any estate. Give them memories of you in these six areas: 1. In Word. Primarily this is referring to your speech. Every word is weighed by your children, reflecting on your status in their eyes, whether good or ill. What they will recall of your life will be greatly determined by either the words of kindness and love, or words of bitterness, anger, and gossip. My example and influence is strongly linked to what I say and the tone in which I say it. Will the young think of me as a Barnabas (Acts 4:36;11:23-24), that is, an encourager and exhorter to righteousness, or a Scrooge, who selfishly dishes out orders and preaches what he will not practice? 2. In Conduct. Many parents think they must always be chums with their kids. In doing so, they often fail to act their age. What children need more than anything else is a sterling example of how a Christian should carry himself through life. Like it or not, we live in a fishbowl, that is, we are always under scrutiny by the young. I should always remember I am being watched. To be sure, God sees all (Hebrew 4:13), but I also cannot escape the little eyes at home which look to me for how I live. 3. In Love. Am I really seen as a man of true love? To answer that I set as a goal to read I Corinthians 13:4-7 for a month. The description of love (agape) in the way I look at others caused me to realize how others also look at me. When I would see a child that normally went unnoticed in the whirlwind of activity at church, or pass a teenager in the hallway, I would say silently to myself, ``I truly love you.'' That caused me to think, I must ``bear, believe, hope and endure all things'' with this young person. That motivated me to look at each person individually and offer a prayer for their spiritual growth. I trust my attitude helped them to see me as an example of one who truly cared about them. We desperately need that in this dog-eat-dog world. 4. In Spirit. Do the young see me as a spiritually minded person, or just another middle-aged man who is going through the motions of playing church? When my children, or other youth see me, do they think ``I would like to be like Rick?'' Or, to my sadness, do they not think anything? When Paul said, ``Imitate me as I imitate Christ'' (I Corinthians 11:1), he set himself up as a spiritually minded role model. For me to say that, I must set a high standard of always thinking on things above (Philippians 4:8; Colossians 3:1-2). 5. In Faith. While my children might see me watching TV, or reading a newspaper, will the strongest image of my life be tied to the silhouette of me with an open Bible? Will they remember me as one who meditated on God's law, knowing it my greatest delight (Psalm 119:97)? Will they think of me as a true student who mastered the word (2 Timothy 2:15)? Will they know me as one who was always ready with a ``thus saith the Lord'' (I Peter 3:15)? Am I an Abraham (Genesis 18:19) or Joshua (Joshua 24:15) in their eyes? 6. In Purity. Consistency is a difficult thing to maintain before children, but never, never, never should I let them think of me as anything but pure in thought and deed. I must give no quarter to any temptation toward immorality, or even the appearance of such (I Timothy 5:22; Titus 1:15). May they know beyond doubt that I am living ``soberly, righteously, and godly'' (Titus 2:12). (Note: I write these words with a friend on my heart. Jady Copeland has just passed away. He was all these things, and more, to me. I trust I will use his life as an example of what mine ought to be.) -- Via With All Boldness, April 1996 ____________________________________________________ The Average by Forrest Moyer ``If a man stand with one foot on a hot stove and one foot in a freezer, some statisticians would assert that, on the average, he's comfortable.'' Which reminds me of some who seem to feel that they can come to church on Sunday and yet live like the devil during the week. They say that they are, on the average, pretty good people. Yet he cannot be ``comfortable'' any more than the man with his foot on the stove and the other in a freezer. He is the double-minded man who is unstable in all his ways. He has only enough religion to be miserable, but not enough to go to heaven. Our Lord does not prefer an ``average.'' He wants His people to be either ``cold or hot.'' The ``average'' (in this case, lukewarmness) nauseates Him, and He will spew out of His mouth those who are lukewarm (Rev. 3:15,16). Brother, you had better get all the way on the Lord's side now lest you spend eternity with the Devil. -- Via The Old Path II, November 13, 1994 ____________________________________________________ Difference Between Work and Play Have you ever thought of the difference between work and play? You use the same muscles to play golf as you do to mow your lawn; you use the same brain power to play bridge as you do to conduct a business; the only difference is the mental attitude. Why is it that work tires you more than play? Again it is the mental attitude, so if you want to make your work easier, make play out of it. Too many men make work out of golf, and when you do that you have taken the pleasure out of it. It may not be easy, but if you can change the mental attitude toward the things you call work, you can get more out of life. Mark Twain said, ``Work is not a concrete thing; it is a mental attitude. Nothing is either work or play but thinking makes it so.'' -- Via Genius at Work (author unknown) ____________________________________________________ ``Peace, Peace; When There Is No Peace'' by Conway Skinner Some have said, ``I'd rather be red than dead,'' which is just another way of saying, ``Peace, at any price, peace.'' So, compromise follows compromise, each one leading one step nearer to the brink of abject surrender. How about you, friend, would you rather be red than dead? But in the church, just as in our great nation, the cry is ``Peace! Peace! At any cost, let us have peace.'' So-o-o-o-o, the stalwart soldiers of the cross who were once held in respect for their unceasing warfare against every foe, are now looked upon with contempt. In the place of hard-hitting, power-packed, Scripture-filled sermons, brethren now desire ``smooth and fair speeches,'' lest some be offended. A preacher dares not to designate some particular sin, or to name specific names; after all, such would be un-Christian! All of which reminds me of what one elder said after listening to a preacher speak on the subject of sin. The elder said, ``From his sermon, about all I know about sin is that it is terrible, and that he's agin it; but I still don't know what sin is!'' Recently, in the Reader's Digest, even Mr. Norman Vincent Peale waxed bold enough to say, ``Ministers are afraid to rock the boat.'' Possibly our Lord had such soft-soaping brethren (including preachers) in mind when he declared, ``Think not that I came to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.'' True peace (spiritual rest) can come only by walking in ``the old paths,'' without compromise; there is no other way. Of those who are seeking peace in some other fashion, it might well be said, ``The way of peace they know not'' (Isaiah 59:8). -- Via The Gospel Guardian, May 16, 1963 ____________________________________________________ Salvation--God's Way 1) Hear the word of God (Rom. 10:17; 1:16). 2) Believe in the deity of Jesus (Jn. 8:24). 3) Repent of your sins (Acts 17:30). 4) Confess your faith in Christ (Rom. 10:9,10; Acts 8:36-38). 5) Be baptized in water that your sins may be forgiven (Acts 2:38; 22:16; 1 Pet. 3:21). 6) Keep faithful (Rev. 2:10; Heb. 10:36-39). ____________________________________________________ NEWS & NOTES I talked with Betty Lucas recently who is a friend of Janet Kress whom was mentioned in last week's bulletin. I learned that Janet, who is a member of the Marrtown church of Christ (a non-conservative group), will continue undergoing her IV treatment for approximately two years--22 hours a day. There has already been some sign of improvement due to this FDA unapproved treatment. Let us keep praying for her. Our building is really looking much better. As I write this, it is almost completed: just a little more vinyl siding to be put up, and the men working on the gutter began their part just a little while ago. For a free Bible course, write or call. We would be happy to send one in the mail to you. Being the last Sunday of the month, we will spend the evening worship hour singing more songs than we normally do and hearing a shorter lesson. If there are some songs you would like us to sing at that time, please tell one of the song leaders prior to the service. Not counting the services today, we've already had 16 visitors for the month. If you are a guest here today, we want you to know that your presence is greatly appreciated. Please come again soon. I now have a new e-mail address: Tom.Edwards@Juno.com _______________________________________________ Tri-State CHURCH OF CHRIST 713 13th Street, 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@wwd.net _______________________________________________