Posts by Graeber Road Church of Christ (Page 13)
Philippines Mission Letter: December 2019
Dear Brethren, Greeting you all a Blessed and Prosperous New Year! “Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers” (3 John 2). We always praise and lift up the name of the Lord for all His goodness and mercy which continues to motivate us to tell it also to others. As we keep on going in reaching out to people, the Lord continues to lead us to those who…
Wisdom Comes in Levels
When I was in high school I was having trouble with a math class and I could not work the math problems. Our math teacher told all of us that if we had problems, his front door would be open until midnight 5 days a week, and he would be glad to help us. Now I was fearful of failing the course so I diligently went to his house seeking instruction as to how to work those math problems. With…
Finish What You Started
I’ve heard people say, “The hardest part is getting started.” I can see how that could be true in some cases. Sometimes you have to overcome the inertia of thinking about something and just get on with the doing. However, I think there’s also some truth to the idea that it can be easier to start something than to finish it. Every time we would drive to Dallas, we’d watch for an old house on the way that was started…
Philippines Mission Letter: November 2019
Dear Brethren, It is always good and a blessing to be able to see and work with other preachers from different congregations in the vineyard of the Lord. As we gathered together with a harmonious purpose of glorifying God, we were able to help a new congregation in reaching out to the people in their barangay. Many contacts for Bible study had been listed for follow up, and the existence of the new congregation was further heard in the community.…
An Important Question
We cannot be certain who wrote Psalm 116. It would be easy enough to attribute it to David. But, we can be certain that whoever wrote the psalm asked himself a very important question. Here it is: “What shall I render to the Lord for all His benefits toward me?” (Ps. 116:12) The writer, like the rest of us, had the ability to look at his life and appreciate what he knew had been given to him. Unlike some, who…
A Smile or a Frown
There are times when we look at someone and smile. There are times when we look at someone and frown. Circumstances that we may face cause us to smile or to frown. Can you recall a situation where you did one or the other at either a person or a situation? The apostle Peter at one time, because of his denial of Jesus had an opportunity to frown. Not only to frown, in fact, but to weep bitter tears. Even…
Philippines Mission Letter: October 2019
Dear Brethren, As we give time to visit our active and inactive brethren, our knowledge about them increases. It also continues to strengthen our relationship with them. We pray, study, cry, laugh, and eat together. The time, attention, and effort given to them help them feel that they are valued in the Lord’s family. As the Lord gives the increase to this ministry, two precious souls have been restored in October. Our sisters in Christ who came back to the…
The Importance of Knowledge
It has been suggested that the word “knowledge” is the keyword of II Peter. A quick reading of Peter’s letter shows why that may be true. In the New King James Version, the word appears five times in chapter 1, once in chapter 2, and is found in the final verse of chapter 3. You also find “know,” “knowing,” “known,” and “knows” a total of eight times. There is an essential connection between knowledge and true freedom. Jesus said, “And…
My Own Reflection in the Sacrifice
A number of years ago, my wife and I had the opportunity to go to Washington DC. One of the most memorable monuments for me was the Vietnam Memorial Wall. In 1965, my cousin, Joseph Meek, was in Vietnam for only two months and 17 days before he was shot and killed. I found his name on the Vietnam Memorial Wall. They have a booth there that hands out a pencil and a piece of paper so that one can…
Diligence and Neglect
The apostle Peter, in the early part of his second letter, gives emphasis to the importance of Christians being diligent in the development of spiritual qualities. How diligent did he want them to be? He urges, “…giving all diligence…” (II Pet. 1:5). Later, he adds, “…be even more diligent…” (II Pet. 1:12). Since Peter wanted these saints to be diligent, he also knew the need for him to be certain he did not neglect his duty to call their attention…
A Christian’s Power
Marvel and DC have provided quite a resurgence in superhero movies in the last few years. Superheroes are abundant in Hollywood because people feel powerless to withstand injustice or contribute to necessary change. Do you feel powerless as a Christian to influence an immoral and agnostic culture, or to produce a change in yourself? A Christian has the power to overcome. You may not be recognized as a superhero by others, but Christians have great power given to them. A Christian…
The Waiting Room
A few weeks ago I needed to go to the hospital to have a CT scan. I went to the front desk and checked in, then took a seat in the waiting area. There were maybe 10-15 people also waiting for their turn. As I sat there, I began to notice the people waiting. There were people from at least 4 or 5 different countries. Some of the people were elderly, some middle-aged, some were young, even a baby in…