A Picture of Faithful Love
Before Sunday morning Bible class, Their hands in loving grip, Hand in hand through the parking lot, He makes sure her feet don’t slip. He leads her to her Bible class, Where students she will teach, Makes sure she has just what she needs, And grab whatever’s out of reach. After class, he’s at her door, To take her to her seat, They sit in church both hand in hand, Worship together it is sweet. As they…
If We Would Just Communicate…
One of the chief sources of problems and difficulties that we will most regularly deal with in our lives, comes from communication, the lack thereof, or the misunderstanding thereof. Marriages fail because husbands and wives stop communicating. If they do communicate, they do so in the wrong way or they misunderstand each other to the point of assuming and behaving as individuals instead of “one flesh” as God intended (Gen. 2:23-25). Issues with communication can happen anywhere and in any…
Philippines Mission Letter: March 2022
Click to download the letter. Dear Brethren, May the Lord continue to show you His favor and give you His peace. As the Lord grants our prayers for strength and good health, we keep on teaching our prospects about our Savior Jesus Christ and the salvation that He freely offers to those who will obey Him. We also continue to serve the new babes in Christ and those who are physically and spiritually ill through our weekly visitation and follow-up…
Even Dirt Gets to Rest
We are busy! It doesn’t matter whether young or old, employed or retired, there is a LOT going on in our lives. Sometimes, we can feel overwhelmed and on the brink of burn out but just keep going on. Before that happens, or if that is how you feel right now, consider these concepts from scripture: 1. God rested. After six days of creating, God “rested” from all the work He had done (Gen. 2:2). That is, He ceased creating…
Sending Messages Through Worship
Long before e-mail and long before texts, people were sending messages. Solomon sent a message to Hiram, asking him to provide lumber for the building of the temple (I Kings 5). Hiram answered with his own message, “… I will do all you desire concerning the cedar and cypress logs” (I Kings 5:8). John wrote about the message that came from God and had been declared to others: “. . . God is light and in Him is no darkness…
COVID Reflections
This week is an anniversary of which we would not like to remember, but that we would always do well to remember. It was this week two years ago that we closed the doors to the building in an effort to “flatten the curve” as our health advisors told us at the time. I am grateful to God for a state government that is not still restricting movement, mandating, or even keeping us locked down as I know many places…
What’s the Focus of Our Compassion Cards?
The Compassion Card program began with the goal to help make contact with folks who have significant life-changes (ie. Death in the family, new baby, new job, surgery, painful diagnoses, etc.) and to bestow the church’s love and care for them—with the purpose to follow up and introduce the recipients to Jesus and His church. Here are a few ways to remind us of what’s important about this program: It begins with compassion. We feel with and for people in…
Philippines Mission Letter: February 2022
Click to download the letter. Dear Brethren, We implore the Lord in a humble prayer to watch over you, provide your needs, and bless you in all that you do for His kingdom. We exalt and glorify our Almighty God in heaven for continuously blessing our work in His vineyard, especially in sharing the saving power of the death, burial, and resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ with the lost. We appreciate and acknowledge all that our brethren…
The God Who Turns Everything Around
Acts 7:9 – “And the patriarchs, becoming envious, sold Joseph into Egypt. But God was with him and delivered him out of all his troubles, and gave him favor and wisdom in the presence of Pharaoh, king of Egypt; and he made him governor over Egypt and all his house.” This is THE classic example of God thwarting men’s plans while having a far grander plan in mind. Genesis 37:28 should have been the last we heard of Joseph. Maybe…
What A Friend!
In John 15, Jesus refers to Himself as “the vine” and calls His followers “the branches” (5). The purpose for this is clear (5b-6). A relationship to Christ must be maintained and fruit must be produced. Jesus could have stopped there. But, He wants the connection to be more than this. In John 15:9-15, He talks of love and friendship. These verses suggest some wonderful thoughts. First, we see evidence of His friendship. His friendship would be demonstrated in a…
Profiles of the Kingdom
You learn to appreciate people who do not walk in lock-step with the status quo, but instead make thoughtful and loving stands for what is right. We are noticing the work of black brethren as Black History Month continues, and how men like these have helped shape this country and the church. This profile highlights a dedicated servant both in upholding truth in politics, as well as upholding truth in the pulpit. John DeBerry served as a Democratic member of…
Profiles of the Kingdom
February in the United States is designated as Black History Month in order to honor and observe the roles of Black Americans in the shaping of this country. One such man who is worthy of honor in the difference he made is our brother Marshall Keeble. Marshall Keeble. Brother Keeble was a gospel preacher who lived from 1878 until 1968 and who still speaks in influence, books, and in recorded sermons found online. There are a number of books about…