Prayer Request

Everyone please remember Hood Wisenbaker today. He went in for surgery a couple of hours ago. And remember Mrs. Faye, also. She is still recovering from getting a pacemaker on Thursday.

Another Theory

It is my theory that the offense taken from speeders is inversely proportional to the size of the town. (For example, Morven, GA, Berlin, GA, Tyronza, AR). No, I have NOT had the opportunity to personally discuss my theory with any law enforcement personnel recently, but 13 hours on the road gives you lots of time to think about stupid stuff like that.

DRIVE SAFELY!!!!!!!!

A Friend Indeed…

From the Preacher's Desk: A Friend Indeed…

Just for the sake of curiosity, I went to a major bookseller's website and searched for books on relationships. The result: 30,876 hits. Are you kidding me?!!! 31,000 books on relationships on this one site alone! That rather quickly told me two things: first, a lot of people are interested in reading about this topic; and second, a lot of people think that they already know a lot about it.

I looked through the search results at the titles of the books. Sadly, the Bible was not among them.

The truth is, however, that the Bible is the original book about relationships. The primary purpose of inspired Scripture is to instruct man on how to draw nigh to God. A secondary purpose is to help man to relate to his fellow man. Oftentimes within the Bible the relationship between husband and wife is addressed, but another relationship that too frequently is overlooked is that of friend to friend. It is sort of taken for granted that people just automatically know how to be friends, but sadly, that is often not the case.

When one opens the Word of God to examine relationships, what would you expect to find? A lot about love? A lot about tolerance? A lot about forgiveness? Yes, those things will be found and much, much more. For example, consider just a few passages of Scripture:

• Proverbs 11:13: "A talebearer revealeth secrets: but he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth the matter." Sadly, not all friends know when to be quiet.
  
• Proverbs 17:9: "He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; but he that repeateth a matter separateth very friends." A friend must learn to forgive and forget.
  
• Proverbs 17:17: "A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity." Too many are fair weather friends who become veritable strangers when times get tough for you.
  
• Proverbs 18:24: "A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother." And people thought Emerson was smart when he wrote that "the only way to have a friend is to be one." I wonder where he got that idea.
  
• Proverbs 22:24: "Make no friendship with an angry man; and with a furious man thou shalt not go." If we become a friend for someone else's convenience, we shall certainly become an associate of the consequences.
  
• Proverbs 25:17: "Withdraw thy foot from thy neighbour's house; lest he be weary of thee, and so hate thee." Sadly, not all friends know that there is a time to leave their friends alone.
  
• Proverbs 25:19: "Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble is like a broken tooth, and a foot out of joint." Benjamin Franklin said it well: "Be slow in choosing a friend; slower in changing."
  
• Proverbs 27:6: "Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful." Although the words of a true friend may not be readily received and may even hurt, the true friend still has your best interest at heart.
  
• Proverbs 27:14: "He that blesseth his friend with a loud voice, rising early in the morning, it shall be counted a curse to him." Good intentions are not always enough.
  
• Proverbs 27:17: "Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend." Friends can either increase or decrease our personal effectiveness. A true friend will challenge intellectually, as well as spiritually and emotionally.
  
• Proverbs 27:19: "As in water face answereth to face, so the heart of man to man." The true friend will reflect the desires, emotions, and heart of the other.
  

As one reads over these verses, it is readily evident what one should be looking for in a friend. Obviously, the more of these qualities one can find in a friend, the better, and the truly ideal friend would possess all of them.

So what kind of friend are you? If these passages comprised a checklist, how would you have scored? If you are lacking anywhere, could you improve? Or are you more interested in having friends and not being one?

"Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour. For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to lift him up." (Ecclesiastes 4:9-10)

From the Preacher's Desk:

As I was giving the announcements Wednesday night, it occurred to me that there were two things I had never heard announced at church. First, I have never heard anyone say, "That is one ugly baby." Second, I have never heard anyone say, "That food that was served at the fellowship meal was just awful." (There used to be three of those, but I have now heard someone say that the singing didn't sound very good.) And so I got to thinking: if (notice that I said "if") the food had not been good at the fellowship meal Wednesday night, would I have said so?

No, of course not.

It is understood that tact requires some things not be said. Using our completely hypothetical situation of the food at a fellowship meal being less than appetizing, it is likely that the best course of action would have been to have said nothing at all. Truthfully, there are some things that do not need to be said. But occasionally, we do not follow that good advice, and we end up complimenting or even praising those things that we despise. We end up smiling while gritting our teeth, and hoping that our insincere attitude is not discovered. Unfortunately, there are two biblical principles that apply to such situations. One is called lying and the other hypocrisy.

In most such instances, there is not an initial intent to lie. But it frequently happens that when you desire not to hurt someone else's feelings that our tongue just sort of takes on a mind of its own. You might start out by frantically thinking of something, anything nice that you can say, and then the flowery, flattering words just begin to spill out. And for some reason, you can't seem to stop. And before you know it, in your innocent attempt to bolster someone's spirits, you have condemned your own. You are in a bad situation, not really sure how you got there, and certainly unsure of how to get out.

How, you might ask, does this make one a hypocrite? The common definition of a hypocrite is somebody who says one thing, but does something else. Sure, it is bad enough when we end up lying to someone for whom we care, even if it was done with the motive of sparing them pain and anguish. But too often it does not stop there. Too often, these indiscretions become a topic of conversation among others of like mind. And too often, as we enter into these conversations, our tongue once again takes on a mind of its own. Whereas earlier one might have stretched the truth to compliment, later the truth gets stretched to condemn. If we tell friend A how nice they look, then tell friend B how horrible friend A looked, that makes us: a) liars; b) hypocrites; and c) just a bad friend all around.

We all remember the advice given to us by our mothers and grandmothers: "If you don't have anything nice to say, say nothing at all." As with most advice, it is more easily spoken than practiced, but practice it we should.

You Are Great

From the Preacher's Desk:

"The 7 December 1941 Japanese raid on Pearl Harbor was one of the great defining moments in history. A single carefully-planned and well-executed stroke removed the United States Navy's battleship force as a possible threat to the Japanese Empire's southward expansion. America, unprepared and now considerably weakened, was abruptly brought into the Second World War as a full combatant." (www.history.navy.mil)

The event that is remembered on this day is one of the most controversial in American history. From a purely military point of view, the attack made by the Japanese was a brilliantly planned and executed maneuver. From another perspective, it was a despised act of cowardice which entangled America in a long and bitter struggle. But some of the greatest fallout from this event came from within. Questions were asked as to how such a thing could have happened. How had they managed to gain such strategic and tactical surprise? Where was the warning? Why hadn't we seen it coming? The navy fell under extreme criticism and many of the admirals were relieved of their duties. Meanwhile, the country had no choice but to grieve its extreme losses.

How many times has history repeated itself in that sense? A seemingly unforeseen problem arises. Later, it becomes evident that all the signs were there, but the consequences still have to be dealt with. The sad truth is that hindsight is always better than foresight, and that great men make greater mistakes because of their greater responsibilities.

At this point, many will say how happy they are that they are no greater than they are. But how great are you? One can judge how great they are by the responsibilities they have been given. If you are a parent, your responsibility is tremendous, therefore, you are great. If you are a friend, the responsibility enjoined to you is great, therefore, you are great. If you are a Christian, extreme responsibility has been entrusted to you. You are great because your responsibility is great.

But, you might say, those things are all common. There are many parents, friends, and Christians. How can I, in the midst of so many, possibly be great? Friends, do not think that such responsibilities are unimportant because they are common to so many others. Likewise, do not think that mistakes that are made in relation to our families, our friends, or our God are any less great just because they may be commonplace. It may be that neither our successes nor our shortcomings ever find their place in the annals of history. We cannot, however, let our successes—but especially our failures—become lost in the obscurity of the actions or inactions of others. God has made us great! God expects greatness of us (cf. 1 Peter 2:5). God has given us great responsibility. We must begin to live up to those expectations!

[This article appeared in our bulletin on December 7, 2008]

From the Preacher’s Desk: The Wrong Side of the Road

As I was driving home from Dasher last night on 41, you would never believe what happened: I met a car. What, you will ask, is so amazing about that? Well, this particular car happened to be travelling southbound in my northbound lanes. Evidently, the driver thought he was either in the correct lane or thought he was on a two-lane road, but he was not. For me, no harm was done. I called the sheriff's department and alerted them and I drove on. I assume that all turned out well, not having heard word to the contrary, but it could have been tragic! A horrible accident could have occurred, and it would all have been an avoidable, wholly senseless calamity.

I do not know if the driver was alone or had passengers with him. If the driver were alone, if he were inattentive enough to have turned into the wrong lane to begin with, the chances of figuring it out on his own were pretty slim. If he had passengers, the truth is that many times those who are "along for the ride" are quicker to pick up on mistakes like that than is the driver. (I am NOT trying to encourage "back-seat drivers" here.)

But let's assume he had someone with him. Imagine this conversation taking place inside that car. "Honey, I think you're on the wrong side of the road." "No I'm not. This is the side of the road I always drive on." "But Honey, all of the signs are facing the other way." "What signs? I don't see any signs." Final plea. "But Honey, the yellow line is over here on the right instead of on the left where it should be." "Yellow line? What yellow line? Oh, that one. Well, I never could remember what the white lines and yellow lines meant anyway." It could have been the classic "leave me alone; I know what I am doing" syndrome.

Jesus warns us about getting on the wrong road to salvation. In Matthew 7:13-14 he said:"Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it." What we must come to realize is that yes, it could happen to us; yes, the result would be calamitous; and yes, it can be avoided!

Have you ever talked to someone who was on wrong path of life? Were you met with the "leave me alone; I know what I am doing" syndrome? The truth is that there are warning signs designed to help us to know if we are travelling on the right road or not. As we open up the word of God, it is literally full of admonitions to caution. To those who "pick up on them," it seems so obvious which way one should be travelling.

But what if you are the one in the wrong? Do you have someone who loves you who will help you to see the signs? Will you bull headedly say, "Leave me alone; I know what I am doing"? Slow down and take a look around. Notice the path you are travelling. Examine your life in the light of the Word of God. Heed the warnings. You do not have to meet the calamitous end of eternal damnation.

From the Preacher’s Desk: I Believe in God a Little Bit

My girls have the DVD version of Are You Smarter than a Fifth Grader? Usually, it is on long road trips that they decide to play it, and their "cheats" usually consist of asking an adult in the car to help them out. If you are not familiar with the game, the rules require you, should you lose, to state: "I am NOT smarter than a fifth grader." You can well imagine how frequently (or infrequently) that rule is actually followed.

Now, here is the scenario. The game has rules, and when you consent to play the game, you consent to abide by the rules. We expect this in life, whether it is basketball, football, or a game show. Consistency demands that it be so. For example, when a baseball team from America travels to Japan or Cuba to play, they do so in full faith that the opposing team will know the rules of the game and they will play by them to the best of their ability. This principle is not limited to athletics, but is expected in all realms of life, whether it be in business, politics, and relationships. If it were otherwise, chaos would reign supreme. The label of "cheater" Could rightfully be applied to those whofailed to abide by the rules. Only those who do not care or who believe they are not subject to scrutiny would accept such an accusation.

For some reason, however, people do not seem to think that this principle should apply to God. No, one's service to God should not be considered a game, but anyone who has given serious consideration to His Word should recognize that there are definitely things which please or displease the Almighty. And yet, everyday there are people who make the great confession: "I believe in God," with their conviction having stopped right there. Shouldn't they actually be saying, "I believe in God a little bit"?

Some merely believe that God is. Oftentimes as we read of the hypocrisy of the Athenians in Acts 17, we marvel at how they could have actually worshipped "the unknown god." The city was full of devotions to literally every deity imaginable. While our society today does not exhibit such a display of polytheism, the same lackadaisical approach to God is still seen. It is almost as if some believe in God for fear of offending Him if they do not, but their devotion ceases there.

Some believe that God is Creator and Sustainer. They attribute their existence and being to Him and recognize that all good or gracious things that appear in their lives have come to them by the goodness of God. However, most of these people believe that these blessings are a right which they possess, many even to the point of believing that God owes them these things. Their gratitude to Him stops short of reverence.

Is believing in God a good thing? Absolutely. Is believing in God an essential? Without doubt. The Hebrews writer put it this way: "But without faith, it is impossible to please him: for he thacometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him" (11:6). For the sake of argument, let us apply the principle of inversion. "WITH faith, it is POSSIBLE to please him: therefore, for him who does NOT come to God believing that he is, God is NOT the rewarder of them that do NOT diligently seek him." Should we desire to please God? Yes. Should we desire His rewards? Yes. Then we must have faith.

But wait! The object of the sentence is to please God! And even from this verse, it should be evident that a mere belief in God's existence or in His role as rewarder IS NOT ENOUGH. One must also come to God and diligently seek Him. All of the sudden, the responsibility of those who believe in God greatly increases. Can it be said that someone is diligently seeking God who curses His name (or takes it in vain)? What about someone who fornicates (1 Corinthians 6:18)? Or someone who is using drugs (1 Corinthians 3:16)? Or is drinking (1 Corinthians 6:10)? Or is forsaking the assembly (Hebrews 10:25)? Diligently believing in God dictates that one will diligently seek Him and diligently please Him.

Where does that leave those who say they believe in God, but the living of their lives declares that they only believe in Him a little bit? Unfortunately, the label of "hypocrite" or "cheater" could be rightfully applied to them. When the day of judgment comes, if they are told, "I never knew you; depart from me, ye that work iniquity" (Matthew 7:23), will they admit their lack of faith or will they try to justify their hypocrisy? Sadly, at the time when "every tongue shall confess" (Romans 14:11), for many it will be too late?

Do you believe in God a little or a lot?

[This article is to appear in the bulletin on November 16, 2008]

Hmmm. Maybe the Open Letter needs help....

I need to find a way to expand the concept of the open letter.  After church last night, Jim Gore found this notice under the door handle of his car....

Prayer Requests

Noel McFann, an elder at Dellhalf Church of Christ, a neighboring congregation from where I grew up and a congregation at which I have preached and visited countless times, was in an accident this past week.  He rounded a curve on a gravel road and hit a road grader head on.  He is in Elvis Presley Trauma in Memphis with lots and lots of broken bones.  Please pray for him.

Also, my cousin, Jason Sloan, is not doing well.  On top of that, his dad (a.k.a., my uncle) Paul is having some serious medical problems as well.  Please pray for them.

An Open Letter

[NOTE: To ANYONE who sends me unseemly material concerning ANY political figure, this is the reply you can expect to receive in your inbox.]

Dear Friend,

I write to you gravely concerned for your patriotism, but mostly concerned for your soul. If you truly believe that the powers that be are not worthy to serve their country based upon their race or gender, how can you possibly believe in the equality of the saving power of the gospel of Christ?

Please note the following:

• "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek" (Romans 1:16).
  
• "Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile; But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good,
  to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile" (Romans 2:9-10).
  
• "Is he the God of the Jews only? is he not also of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also: Seeing it is one God, which shall justify the circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith" (Romans 3:29-30).
  
• "For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit" (1 Corinthians 12:13).
  
• "There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus" (Galatians 3:28).
  
• "Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all" (Colossians 3:11).
  

(Emphasis has been added by me. Also, indulge me to ask but this one question: Are you a Jew or a Gentile by birth?)

I mean no offense, I mean no harm to your feelings whatsoever, but the responsibility enjoined to us as Christians dictates that honor be given to the powers that be (Romans 13:1-8; 1 Peter 2:17). While I most emphatically cannot agree with all of the positions and stances taken relative to biblical issues, whether I personally like the powers that be or not is of no consequence: I cannot and will not be part nor parcel to their slandering or defilement. I implore you to no longer send me or anyone else material of such a nature, and if you persist in so acting, any and all future communications from you will be blocked before they reach my inbox.

In Service of the Most High God,

Keith

Democracy Doesn’t Work

It should come as no surprise that everything about this Sunday will probably be seasoned with a decidedly political flavor. Many are celebrating that America elected her first black President; others are lamenting the electing of the most liberal President in American history.

But there was more to the elections last Tuesday than that. Much more.

Three states had on their ballots proposed Constitutional Amendments which would define marriage as between only male and female (Georgia has already been there). In all three, California, Arizona, and Florida, the measures passed. Democracy proclaimed that the majority of people wanted marriage definitively established as a union between man and woman only. By following their respective laws, by the voice of the people, this measure has now become law in these states.

But here is where democracy failed (bear with me, please). In California, protesters came out, and in some cases, these protestations turned violent. In Los Angeles, people were banging on the doors and walls of the CNN bureau station*.

Does this not sound eerily similar to Genesis 19:9, where the Sodomites threatened to break down the door of Lot's house? They had been told "no," but they didn't care. They were denied what they sinfully desired, so they, burning in their lust, were planning to take it one way or the other.

First, please note that democracy is not God's way. If you recall from the Old Testament, God's preferred method of governing was a theocracy (cf. 1 Samuel 8:7). That, of course, yielded way to a monarchy, and we all know how that turned out. But in the New Testament, there is no prescribed method of civil government. God does not advocate one form of civil government over any other. Instead, God has merely said, "Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers" (Romans 13:1).

Second, please note that the devil doesn't care about democracy. For over two centuries, Americans have touted democracy as the most humane and effective way to govern a nation (and rightly so). This democracy came into place in large part by the influence of the Magna Carta, but it was also heavily based (and laced) with godly principles. And it is now failing its intended cause (from a godly viewpoint). Satan has patiently waited in the background for the opportunity to turn the most civil form of government ever known to humanity into his own pernicious tool, but his patience is wearing thin. The ungodly surges we have experienced over the past few decades are only going to increase in frequency and magnitude.

Third, please note that democracy will fail to legislate morality. The idea that morality cannot be legislated is ridiculous on its very face. Our own Bill of Rights was designed to provide freedom for the majority by the legislative restraint of the few who would take those freedoms away. Rights had to have been defined in order to establish those restraints. But Satan has been allowed to influence and modify the characterization of those rights. By the very definition of the democratic theory, those rights are and have been subject to modification. The end result is that those civil and moral rights can be removed.

So where does that leave the faithful child of God? Right back at Romans 13:1. Give tribute to whom tribute is due, honor to whom honor, never thinking for a moment that God's will will ever be changed by or subject to democracy.

-----------------------

*http://www.foxnews.com/printer_friendly_story/0,3566,447744,00.html

(This is an article written to appear in our church bulletin on 081109.)

Another Blog

Great. All we need is another blog. But there are some things I just didn't really want to post on the family blogsite and clutter it up. Maybe this will help keep all the junk separated from the junk.