Fortress of Solitude or Fortress of Folly
We like to believe we’ve got everything under control. “I’ve got this.” “I don’t need anyone’s help at all.” “When I need your help, I’ll ask for your help.” It is a form of pride to say that when it comes to needs of togetherness and reliance on others, we need nothing. What a mistake was made that spring day of so long ago! What began as one king staying home alone in his own “fortress of solitude” ended with…
Philippines Mission Letter: January 2020
Dear Brethren, With the Lord’s guidance and blessings, we continue to plant and water the seed of the kingdom into the hearts of the people. We keep on studying with the friends, neighbors, relatives, and acquaintances of our brethren whom they have referred to us for Bible studies. Almost all of these prospects were raised in Catholicism. We are glad and thankful that they are open minded to hear and study the Scriptures with us. As we invite and encourage…
Snake Biting
“Khandai Tripura, 35, of Chinchharipara village in Ramgararh district, Bangladesh, caught a cobra on 20 July and started playing with it. The snake bit him on the hand, and in his anger, he bit the snake’s head. He died in the hospital the next day. The snake also died. No word on whether they were buried together.” – Independant [sic] 22 July 1998 Why do people make the choices that they do? There are people we will invariably run across…
Keep Your Heart
The word “heart” appears more than 800 times in the Bible. A few of the references actually relate to the physical heart. I Sam. 25:37 tells us Nabal’s “…heart died within him…” But, the majority of references in the Bible deal with the spiritual heart. Prov. 4:23 admonishes us, “Keep your heart with all diligence.” The spiritual heart is what motivates us to do what we do. Think for a few moments about keeping your heart. It has to be…
Sounding the Alarm (Clock)
Last week in this bulletin we read about an alarm clock. Remember? It was a personal writing by our minister, Andy Baker. The article concerned his oldest daughter, just nine years old. The account should make each member of Graeber Road church of Christ stop and consider the use of their own alarm clock. We need to take this very minute, bow our heads, and tell God that we are going to get our alarm clocks and set them to…
One of the Sweetest Sounds I Know . . .
…is the sound of an alarm clock. I never thought I’d say it, but on the regular, I love the sound of this alarm. It makes my heart happy every time I hear it because I understand what it represents. Please know that I’m not talking about my own alarm clock. That is still an instrument of torture (in many cases), but this alarm to which I am referring is different. You see, my oldest daughter has committed herself to…
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…
Do You Understand What You’re Reading?
Have you ever looked at a passage of scripture – read it and looked away and immediately thought, “what did I just read??!!!” We’ve all been there. What happens is that frustration and irritation set in and the Bible sits for longer periods of time unopened and unlearned. Yet, we have the responsibility to make a diligent studied effort (II Tim. 2:15). What are some practical things that can help? Repetition of Verse: One man said, “What the mind repeats…
Merry Christmyths
Any time our culture talks about Jesus, God’s people have an open door to enrich the conversation about Jesus. As you know, during this holiday season, much will be said about Jesus that is inaccurate. These inaccuracies are not just spoken by the world, but by Christians as well. God’s own children, the “people of the Book,” even struggle to discern between fact and fiction concerning this pivotal, historical event. May I challenge you to a short quiz? The purpose…
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.…