____________________________________________________ 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). ____________________________________________________ January 4, 1998 ____________________________________________________ The Seasons of Life and Death by Jere E. Frost ``To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted, A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; A time to weep, and a time to laugh....'' (Ecclesiastes 3:1-4). As the seasons of the year, so are the seasons of life. Death is far from the mind in springtime, when new life is seen all around, and life itself is filled with freshness and hope. New leaves adorn the trees, flowers blossom and birds sing, their fragrances and melodies sweetening the air. The ``pulseless heart of the buried acorn'' bursts out of the prison walls of its shell and there emerges the beginnings of a mighty oak. All of nature seems to join in the joy of life. Such is spring, a season of life and beginnings. Then come the long, hot days of summer. The burdens of life for man and beast cannot be escaped. Wise men make use of their foresight and strength to move purposefully forward. The toils and tasks of summer tax resolve and challenge dreams. It is among the saddest of tragedies that some miss summer's opportunities and glories altogether, as grasshoppers frittering away its opportunities, or as spoiled children ignoring its glories through the blindness of ingratitude. But summer does not last forever, and in due course it too passes. The beauty of autumn arrives, a favored time of harvests and rewards. But the days are shortening and the shadows are lengthening. The glory of the leaves' myriad colors is short-lived, and they silently fall to the earth. A chill in the wind is a harbinger of the winter that is just ahead. Migratory birds take wing in search of a warmer clime, and the great bears seek for a safe seclusion for their deep sleep called hibernation. At last and inevitably, the frosts of winter come. The frigid blasts of winds and rain sweep across mountains and plains, hills and valleys, city streets and the countryside. The grasshoppers and tenderest plants are the first to die, but many hearty creatures succumb and even the stately oaks' and elms' limbs are barren and appear lifeless. We reflect on the seasons, not to see and say that we shall die, but to luxuriate in the thought that there is another springtime. I am as confident of life after death as I am of the spring that follows winter. The latter I have seen many times, but the former is even more assured by the immutable promise of the Almighty God and the resurrection of Jesus Christ himself from the dead. (I Peter 1:3,4; Acts 17:30-31) Thanks be to God for this unspeakable hope. -- Via The Bulletin of The North Courtenay Church of Christ, Vol. I, December 28, 1997, No. 52 ___________________________________________ GODLINESS by Robert Turner ``Godliness'' is sometimes incorrectly explained as ``God-like-ness'' or having the quality of God. The word, eusebeia, does denote an affinity for God and things of God; but Moulton and Milligan, Alford, and other Greek philologists note that the word was common among the Greeks, and that it denoted ``an operative, cultive piety rather than of inherent character.'' That means it is a characteristic subject to cultivation, or is produced, rather than inherent. Vine says ``that piety which, characterized by a Godward attitude, does that which is well-pleasing to Him'' (emph., rft). Put simply, a ``godly'' person wants to please God, and he does that which God has revealed as His will for man. The result is ``godliness.'' Living ``godly'' in this present world (Titus 2:11-f), puts one in the role of pilgrim, ``looking for a city'' and doing all things ``as unto the Lord.'' Aware of past sins and of present imperfections, the godly man confesses his constant need for the Savior, his High Priest and his offering for the remission of sins. Such an attitude and manner of life is called ``walking in the light'' (1 Jn.1:7). We are fully aware that this ``fellowship with God'' would be impossible but for Christ and His sacrifice of Himself for us, hence it is a wholly unmerited blessing. But the ``godly'' individual is not created so against his will, nor apart from his effort. The ``God'' standard is eternal, the ``means'' by which godliness is attained was in God's eternal purpose, and in the fullness of time was perfected; but the individual must hear, believe and obey the voice of God to be ``godly'' or have ``godliness.'' Vine says, ``In I Tim. 6:3 `the doctrine which is according to godliness' signifies that which is consistent with godliness, in contrast to false teachings; in Tit. 1:1 `the truth which is according to godliness' is that which is productive of godliness...etc.'' A godly person doesn't just happen to be that way, nor is he particularly elected, called or blessed. He puts his trust in Jesus Christ, and works hard to ``deny ungodliness and worldly lusts.'' He uses the means God universally provided to cultivate and produce the result. The godly man is acutely aware that godliness is not a static condition attained, but is a movement, a manner of life. An ``honest man'' may stumble at some point, but his conscience stabs him and he makes correction. He is not content to keep quiet and reap the ill-gotten gain. Nor will a godly man condone a way that is contrary to the way of God. He may sin--he will sin--but his very character cries out in protest, and he makes correction. His inner guidance system is ``locked on'' to the way of God and he wants to keep it that way. Can a godly man become ungodly? Oh yes! (2 Pet. 2:1, 4, 20-22) But the remedy for fear is love, perfected by abiding in God. To this end the godly man studies his Bible, prays, meets with fellow saints for worship, and works to save others. He has little time to worry about temporal matters, for heaven and eternity are in view. -- Plain Talk, November 1979 ___________________________________________ Thanksgiving from A to Z by Jason Moore Arthritis. I just have it in my pinky on my left hand. I'm thankful I have no more than that for the present. I acquired it from putting my hand too close to the fan in my old International pickup while the motor was running. Dumb. But I'm grateful for the reminders of past mistakes that serve to steer me away from their repetition. Birds. I hear their song every morning. We have a few that dine on our porch. They sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet our heavenly Father feeds them. O me of little faith. Will He not see to the provision of what I really need? Cats. I don't like them. But the Lord saw fit to make them. They seem quite useless to me. But thanks be to God for I'm reminded that I don't always contribute much. And I'm not always liked. But the Lord lets me stay. If He can be patient with me, I can learn patience with the things I don't like. Dessert. I'm grateful for a little sweetness to top off the ordinary. And not only at mealtime. Encouragement is like dessert. So is an answered prayer. Worship is too. Forgiveness, how sweet it is. Elevators. Even the slow ones at Southmore Hospital. They're better than the stairs. What wonders have resulted from God's injunction to ``subdue the earth.'' I take the stairs sometimes. And I've found the elevator is not near the marvel that the leg-lung-heart machine is. Glory be to the Inventor. Fat. Anyone who is really honest is grateful for it--especially this time of year. And we need some of it. Besides, anything that really tastes good, has a little in it. Lord, teach us to monitor our spiritual diet like we monitor our fat grams. We have more trouble balancing our ``fun intake'' with sufficient Bible study than we do with balancing our diets. Grace. I don't understand it. I don't deserve it. I forget about it sometimes. Lord, keep me near the cross where I can believe what I don't understand, possess what I don't deserve, and remember how small I am without Thee. Hope. It inspires. It rejuvenates. It breeds persistency. It chases away despair. It keeps you from quitting. Two words. Two words summarize our hope--''He arose.'' Thank God, He arose. Intuition. I don't understand it either. But Jennifer has it. Were it not for it, I would have ended up in some mighty big trouble at times. Thank you Lord, for seeing that I needed a helper. Judgment. I don't always like to think about it. But it helps me when I do. Vindication is coming. Wickedness will be defeated. Accounts will finally be settled. And the Old Serpent who has beguiled me too long, too often will be condemned. God help me to be sobered by thinking about that day more often. Kleenex. They're important when you need them. To wipe a tear--your own or someone else's. To get rid of the debris so you can breathe easier. There is other debris--the mental kind--that clouds thinking, that sours motives, that pollutes speech. There is no discreet way to dispel that kind. You just do it. Do it now. Lemonade. Refreshment from the heat of a Houston summer. Makes me grateful for refreshment of all kinds and fear Hell where there is none. Mom. I don't have to explain. ``Her works praise her in the gates.'' Night. It is the time for reflection, for prayers, for rest, for reading good books. May I never use it as a veil for ungodliness. Ocean. There is no vista that equals that of the sunset over one. ``The heavens are telling of the glory of God.'' God, help me to help others hear their voice. Help Dad to hear. Peace. The Jamaicans say, ``Irie.'' I think it came from ``Alrighty.'' It means, ``Everything is going to be alright.'' God is on His throne. Everything is going to be all right. Quiet. When the phone doesn't ring. When the TV is off. When I'm alone. I listen better at such times to my thoughts. I see things I hate. I resolve to do better. I need more quiet. I don't function well without it. Revival. How wonderful when it comes! When it is shared by young and old. When it is absent of artificiality. When it is channeled to productive ends. When it redounds to the glory of God. Sugar. Especially the labial genre. The sugar of little babies who slobber more than they pucker. The sugar from the elderly godly women who peck your cheek. Those are sweet to the soul. Greet one another with a holy kiss. Tick-tock. The sound of the clock. Reminds me to redeem the time. I'm only assured of today. Help me to spend it wisely. Umbrellas. They let me be in the rain without getting wet and to feel the mist. To hear as David did (Psalm 29) the voice of the Lord upon the waters, and to hear the God of glory thunder. What power. What glory. Voice. God hears mine when no one else will. Water heaters. What did we ever do without them? Father, help us that in the lap of luxury, we don't forget what we really need. X. It marks the spot in every language. A universal symbol. Peter I'm told was crucified upside down on a cross shaped like the X. Turn it up on one leg and you have the tau cross on which Jesus died. It marks the spot for victory for all men for all time. Yankees. Most of my relatives are these. I don't understand them, but without them I would not be. Thank you Lord, for the caricatures and hyperboles that help us see our faults in exaggeration. Grant they that they'll make us better. Zeal. The stuff of which work is made to flourish. I need more of it. And more of it for the right things. Help me build some fires today. Help me keep them burning. -- Via Online Southside Reminder, Vol. XVIII, November 15, 1995, No. 23 ___________________________________________ God loves you more than you realize. ________________________________________ 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@zoomnet.net Gospel Observer web site: http://www.zoomnet.net/~tedwards/go ________________________________________