____________________________________________________ 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). ____________________________________________________ September 8, 1996 ____________________________________________________ The Stranger by Keith Currie A few months before I was born, my dad met a stranger who was new to our small Tennessee town. From the beginning, Dad was fascinated with this enchanting newcomer, and soon invited him to live with our family. The stranger was quickly accepted and was around to welcome me into the world a few months later. As I grew up I never questioned his place in our family. In my young mind each member had a special niche. My brother Bill, five years my senior, was my example. Fran, my younger sister, gave me an opportunity to play ``big brother'' and to develop the art of teasing. My parents were complementary instructors. Mom taught me to love the word of God and Dad taught me to obey it. But the stranger was our storyteller. He could weave the most fascinating tales. Adventures, mysteries, and comedies were daily conversations. He would hold our whole family spell-bound for hours each evening. If I wanted to know about politics, history, or science, he knew it all. He knew about the past, understood the present, and seemingly could predict the future. The pictures he could draw were so lifelike that I would often laugh or cry as I watched. He was like a friend to the whole family. He took Dad, Bill and me to our first major league baseball game. He was always encouraging us to see the movies, and he even made arrangements to introduce us to several movie stars. My brother and I were deeply impressed by John Wayne in particular. The stranger was an incessant talker. Dad didn't seem to mind but sometimes Mom would quietly get up while the rest of us were enthralled with one of his stories of far away places--go to her room, read her Bible, and pray. I wonder now if she ever prayed that the stranger would leave. You see, my Dad ruled our household with certain moral convictions. But this stranger never felt obligation to honor them. Profanity, for example, was not allowed in our house--not from us, from our friends or from adults. Our longtime visitor, however, used occasional four-letter words that burned my ears and made Dad squirm. To my knowledge the stranger was never confronted. My dad was a teetotaler who didn't permit alcohol in his home--not even for cooking. But the stranger felt like we needed exposure and enlightened us to other ways of life. He offered us beer and other alcoholic beverages often. He made cigarettes look tasty, cigars manly, and pipes distinguished. He talked freely (probably much too freely) about sex. His comments were sometimes blatant, sometimes suggestive, and generally embarrassing. I know now that my early concepts of the man-woman relationships were influenced by the stranger. As I look back, I believe it was the grace of God that the stranger did not influence us more. Time after time he opposed the values of my parents. Yet he was seldom rebuked and never asked to leave. More than thirty years have passed since the stranger moved in with the young family on Morningside Drive. He is not really so intriguing to my Dad as he was in those early years. But if I were to walk into my parents's den today, you would still see him sitting over in a corner, waiting for someone to listen to him talk and watch him draw his pictures. His name? We always just called him TV. -- Via The Jordan Journal, June 28, 1995 ___________________________________________ Mantras of the 90's (2): Support by Warren E. Berkley Popular psychology, self-improvement seminars and the recovery movement have popularized all sorts of statements that seem to project a life of their own. Constant use and repetition may make some of these mantras sound credible; like this one... ``I Just Need Support!'' Let it be granted, we do need support. We need the support of companionship. We need the support of acceptance and friendship. And sometimes when we are discouraged or frustrated, we just need for someone to comfort us. Beyond the social or human support, we need the support of God! We need the support of knowing we've been forgiven of our sin based on Christ's blood, and we need the support of God's Word to guide and direct us in life. Without any doubt, we need support. But the modern mantra doesn't take these forms of support into account. Often, when someone says, ``I just need support,'' they are wanting people to support them in virtually any undertaking. They want to follow some path of self-indulgence that is dangerous or destructive, and they do not want to hear any discouragements, warnings or admonitions. All they want is for their friends to ``support'' them in their activities, regardless of what those activities are or where they lead. Proverbs 28:17 is an example of this. ``A man tormented by the guilt of murder will be a fugitive till death; let no one support him.'' Here is a case where someone may want support and demand it. But we are forbidden to support the guilty murderer! If I'm guilty of sin, no one should support me in that. Whether the sin is murder, sexual immorality, theft or covetousness, the sinner's cries for support in his sin shouldn't be answered. It should also be noted, we can do what's right and good even when we are NOT SUPPORTED by friends or our peers! Personal responsibility in life can be discharged on a daily basis, even if those around you offer no encouragement. It may be more difficult. It would be more pleasant to have the support of your companions, the community and the world! But you can still fulfill your duties in life. And, you can discharge every duty and obey every command before God, even when those around you discourage you! One of the saddest statements in the New Testament is found in 2 Timothy 4:16. Paul wrote Timothy: ``At my first defense no one stood with me, but all forsook me. May it not be charged against them,'' (2 Tim. 4:16, NKJV). Paul had no support from those around him. But notice the next verse: ''...the Lord stood with me and strengthened me...,'' (2 Tim. 4:17). Yes, we can do what's right and good even when we are NOT SUPPORTED by friends and peers. We can always have the Lord's support and strength, as long as we walk in His ways and honor His Son. We need God. We need forgiveness through Christ so we can enjoy fellowship with God. Through our obedient response to the gospel, these good things are ours. We need the milk and meat of His Word (Heb. 5:12); we need to keep His commandments, and this we can do--even without any human support. ``And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus,'' (Phil. 4:19). ``The therapeutic view of evil as sickness, not sin, is strong in codependency theory--it's not a fire and brimstone theology. `Shaming' children, calling them bad, is considered a form of abuse. Both guilt and shame `are not useful as a way of life,' Melody Beattie writes earnestly in Codependent No More. `Guilt makes everything harder. . .We need to forgive ourselves.' Someone should remind Beattie that there's a name for people who lack guilt and shame: sociopaths. We ought to be grateful if guilt makes things like murder and moral corruption `harder.''' {p.#18, I'm Dysfunctional, You're Dysfunctional, by Wendy Kaminer.} ___________________________________________ Thanking God for Toasters! by Dennis G. Allan The Lord heard two prayers from our four-year old that evening. After reading and discussing a brief text, we asked our children to say prayers. The four-year old rattled off a ``G.P.''--a General Prayer where she thanked the Lord for everything in the whole world, but hardly thought about her words. We asked her to try again with a bit more thought, so her second one enumerated several specific blessings, including the refrigerator and toaster. Now toasters may not be the most important thing in the world. But her mention of ours made it clear that her little eyes had surveyed the surrounding there in the kitchen to see what to include in her thanksgiving. Perhaps we should have more toasters in our prayers! I'm not suggesting that our prayers be dominated by relatively minor physical matters; but we need to look around us at the great blessings the Lord has provided and tell Him, ``Thanks.'' Too often the prayers of adults can become so involved in requests and complaints that we forget to notice and express appreciation for the many blessings right around us. Learning to thank God for blessings is a big step toward enjoying the real benefits in His care for us. Paul said, ``Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God'' (Phil. 4:6). That is sound instruction from a man who seemed always able to find the silver lining in the blackest of clouds. Which kind of prayer is most common in your life? Do you merely utter an occasional ``G.P.'' without really considering the many specific things God has done for you? Or, do you take the time to count your blessings and praise God for them? Next time you pray, don't forget the toaster! -- Via Gospel Truth, June 25, 1995 ___________________________________________ NEWS & NOTES Congratulations to Ken and Michelle Fleeman in the birth of their second child, Katrina Marie! John Smith writes: ``I found out last night that Sunday Grover Stevens suffered a stroke. For the moment he has little use of his right side and has slurred speech. Doctors are not sure to what extent he will recover. He is to leave Central Baptist Hospital (Lexington) for Cardinal Hill Rehab. Center today or tomorrow. Knowing Bro. Stevens, he will have converted a few of the staff before he leaves! You can send cards to him at the following address: Grover Stevens Cardinal Hill Rehab Center 2050 Versailles Road Lexington, KY 40504 Susie Lykins's brother-in-law, Denver Lykins, is still recuperating from the recent boating accident he was in. Due to breaking bones in three places, he'll have to remain in bed or a wheelchair for a total of 8 weeks. If you would like to receive one of our free Bible courses, just let us know. We would be happy to mail one to you. We had 16 visitors for our services during the month of August. If you were one in this number, we look forward to having you with us again real soon! Your presence is always a joy and a blessing. Some of us have begun a weekly home-study at one of the member's to view the Jule Miller film slides and to discuss the Bible. Three non-members attended our first session. If you live nearby and are also interested, we could begin a study like this in your home as well. Just call to let us know. ________________________________________ 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 ________________________________________