____________________________________________________ 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 17, 1999 ____________________________________________________ A Mind To Work by Tracy Schell What will the church be like in the next century? Assuming that our Lord does not return before then, the church will grow or fade in direct proportion to the willingness of its individual members to work. When Nehemiah undertook the job of rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem, he did not do it alone or without opposition: ``But it came to pass, that when Sanballat heard that we builded the wall, he was wroth, and took great indignation, and mocked the Jews. And he spake before his brethren and the army of Samaria, and said, What do these feeble Jews? will they fortify themselves? will they sacrifice? will they make an end in a day? will they revive the stones out of the heaps of the rubbish which are burned? Now Tobiah the Ammonite was by him, and he said, Even that which they build, if a fox go up, he shall even break down their stone wall'' (Nehemiah 4:1-3). Not only did they face the monumental task of rebuilding but they had to do so in the face of a belligerent foe. How did they accomplish such a task? It was not by being lazy or indifferent to the job at hand, quite the opposite actually: ``So built we the wall; and all the wall was joined together unto the half thereof: for the people had a mind to work'' (Nehemiah 4:6). We need that same spirit today! If the church is going to grow, its members must have a mind to work! The walls of Jerusalem did not magically reform out of thin air; they were rebuilt on the sweat of those who labored brick by brick to rebuild it! If you wish to see more people in church when you come together, then you will have to make an effort to get them there! People are not likely to just wander in off the streets on a whim. They need an invitation! In order for man to come to Christ he must first be taught truth! That is where you and I come in. ``How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report? So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God'' (Romans 10:14-17). What might have happened to the Ethiopian eunuch if Philip had not been sent to preach Jesus to him? (Acts 8:26-38) What will happen to your friends, family and co-workers if you don't tell them about the Lord? You might be the only Christian they know. Think about that. I've heard some Christians say they don't feel able to teach others. To that I ask, ``Why not?'' Could it be you have not studied the word of God as well as you should have? ``For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat'' (Hebrews 5:12). Studying your Bible is not an elective option; it is your solemn duty: ``But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear'' (1 Peter 3:15). There is much work to be done, my friends; and it will take all of us laboring in the service of the Lord to get it done! -- The Bulletin of The North Courtenay Church of Christ, Dec. 13, 1998 ___________________________________________ We MUST Succeed! by Greg Gwin Winston Churchill said, ``There is no use saying we're doing our best. We must succeed at doing what is necessary.'' His determined philosophy united Great Britain and produced a victory against incredible odds. We need a huge dose of that kind of positive commitment in the Lord's service. We are in a very real war (Eph. 6:12), and our enemy is far more forceful than the dreaded Nazi army (2 Peter 5:8). We can not be content to say ``we're doing the best we can.'' As Churchill said, we must succeed -- and we can, with the help of our Lord (Phil. 4:13). As this new year unfolds before us, let us commit ourselves to greater efforts for God. Begin with yourself -- as you strive for more purity of life. Study more diligently, pray more fervently, work more earnestly. Then let this new commitment spread its influence on others around you -- to your family, to your brethren, and to those in the world. There are many battles to be fought. Most of them are the quiet, personal ones of our every day lives. Each of them is supremely important. We must succeed! ``We're doing the best we can'' is often only an excuse. Most of us know that we can really do better if we try. It all boils down to a question of our willingness and determination. Try harder! Go at it again! Make it happen! A whole new year is ahead. How will YOU use it? -- Via The Beacon, 1/5/99 ___________________________________________ NEWS & NOTES We who are Christians, let us be remembering Les Atkinson in prayer as he will be undergoing major surgery tomorrow (January 18) to remove part of his esophagus. I'm sure he will appreciate our intercession for him. ___________________________________________ EARTH TO EARTH by O.E. Watts As the casket was being lowered, the ``cowboy preacher'' selected three clods. Then, one by one, he dropped them into the grave to punctuate the parts of the committal. He read, ``Therefore, we commit her body to the ground, earth to earth (Plunk!), ashes to ashes (Plunk!), dust to dust (Plunk!).'' A small boy with the relatives did not cry as they did. But the three phrases impressed him. Sixty-five years later he was to check each carefully to see if God had taught them in His Book. It was found that He had. EARTH TO EARTH. It was as though the Lord guarded the use of words in each modern language to carry meanings of the corresponding terms in the original. ``Earth'' was, and is, used to mean (1) this planet, (2) its surface, and (3) the soil composing it. Psalms 146:4 says of man, ``His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth.'' In Eccl. 12:7 we read, ``And the dust returneth to the earth as it was, and the spirit returneth unto God who gave it.'' So, the ``earth'' part of the ceremony is true. ASHES TO ASHES. Chemists have found that decay is a slow process of oxidation, similar to burning. It is fitting that the ultimate remains left by the one be compared to the residue of the other. ``Ashes to ashes'' is likewise taught by inspiration. Abraham, repeatedly asking of Jehovah, humbly confessed (Gen. 18:27), ``I... who am but dust and ashes.'' DUST TO DUST. Many times the truth is stressed that man is made of dust. Gen. 2:7 tells us, ``And Jehovah God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.'' Analysts tell us that every element found in the human body is in the earth's crust. Through food they come into us and form us. Thus, our bodies are composed of ``dust.'' The chemistry in mother's bodies and processes in people's digestive and circulatory systems are continuing marvels. Complicated, varied, and multifunctioned as these bodies are, they are still dust. We are dust people. Eliphaz, in Job 4:18-19, did not miss it far when he said, ``And his angels he charged with folly; How much more them that dwell in houses of clay, Whose foundation is in the dust.'' The Spirit states that this fact causes our Maker to be kindly inclined toward us. Psalms 103:13-14 says, ``Like as a father pitieth his children, So Jehovah pitieth them that fear him. For he knoweth our frame; He remembereth that we are dust.'' So well does Whittier in ``Snow-bound,'' states related thought that we quote, "But He who knows our frame is just, merciful and compassionate, And full of sweet assurances and hope for all the language is That He remembereth we are dust!" RETURN. When the ``dust returneth to the earth as it was'' it ``comes full circle.'' The idea of ``return'' was introduced in Eden. Gen. 3:19 records that Jehovah God told Adam, ``In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.'' Return means turn back, or again. The grim truth is repeated in Job 34:15, ``All flesh shall perish together, and man shall turn again unto dust.'' Psalm 90:3 states, ``Thou turnest man to destruction (margin: or, dust), And sayest, Return, ye children of men.'' SPIRIT. But we keep in mind that one part of man is not dust. Eccl. 12:7 also included, ``and the spirit returneth unto God who gave it.'' Longfellow wrote, Life is real! Life is earnest! And the grave is not its goal; Dust thou art, to dust returneth, Was not spoken of the soul. The lad we mentioned was later in a classroom a thousand miles away. He heard the instructor insist upon respect for the laboratory skeleton. ``It will be somebody in the resurrection.'' 1 Cor. 15:42-44 lets us know that the very ``dust'' we lay away will be raised, changed, and inhabited. Though ``sown'' in corruption, dishonor, and weakness, a natural body, it will be raised in incorruption, glory, and power, a spiritual body. Remember that ``earthy'' in verses 47-49 means ``made of dust'' as we quote, ``The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is of heaven. As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: And as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly. And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.'' After other inspiring thoughts, verse 58 concludes with, ``Wherefore (So), my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not vain in the Lord.'' -- Via Susquehanna Sentinel, December 27, 1998 ___________________________________________ Daily Bible Message #2 Job 5:7 tells us: ``Man is born to trouble as surely as sparks fly upward.'' Yes, suffering is the burden of humanity. Perhaps, your heart is aching today, and you say, ``What can I do with this burden?'' Often God allows us to have burdens to exercise our faith. People who run from problems, who try to fill the valleys in their lives with drugs or alcohol, for example, are really missing a blessing. God works to make us more valuable through difficulties and hardships. A bar of iron may be worth $5.00. Make it into horseshoes, and it will be worth $10.00. Make it into needles, and it might be worth hundreds of dollars. Make it into balance wheels for watches and its value might run to tens of thousands of dollars. To be worth more, it has to be refined, superheated, drawn out, and purified. Our faith is like that; it grows under pressure (disappointments, trials, difficulties) far more than when things are comfortable. Paul underlined this in Romans chapter 5 where he tells us to rejoice in our sufferings because they are good for us. They teach us patience, and patience develops strength of character and helps us to trust God more each time we exercise it until, finally, our faith and hope are strong and steady. Accordingly, we're able to hold our heads high no matter what happens. We know all is well because God loves us. Therefore, strengthen your faith, bear your burden gracefully; trust in God, and He will see you through to the end. (Originally Written and/or Compiled by Tom Sutherland for Brief Phone Messages) ________________________________________ 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 ________________________________________