Category Archives: Bulletin Article

WE HAVE A PROBLEM!

18 Wednesday Apr 2018

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Houston, we have a problem! I am not sure if these words can be considered a quote of an Apollo launch into Space, but I seem to remember them this way. To say there is a problem is to speak about something that is not operating according to plan, something is not right in accordance with design.

Problems are a fact of life, but what some call a problem is nothing more than one’s opinion of how something should be done, why it should be done differently than is currently being done. For instance, have you heard someone say about you or some others, “You should visit more.”? It’s likely you have, and you can feel the weight of the remark because you agree that you should visit more. Well, let me ask, is there some obligating standard that says this, or is this just an opinion that resides within the one who said this to you? If it’s the former, what is that obligating standard? Perhaps some person says to you, as they take you aside, “We have a problem!” Well, okay, what is the problem? As you listen you notice there is no problem, but only a difference of opinion. Caught in an awkward situation, you try to figure a way out of the conversation because you notice this is nothing more than destructive talk toward another person.

Is there a problem? If there is, then let the problem be identified and measured against a standard that is more than a mere “I think.” With this approach, a true problem can then be given attention and fixed. If this occurs, then many personal relationships can be and will be nurtured, enhanced and strengthen.

Let me say a word or two about a real problem existing among Christians. What is a Christian? Vine’s Expository Dictionary defines the word “adherent of Christ” (p. 194); Baker Dictionary of the Bible defines it as “follower of Christ” (p. 297). Think about the definitions and consider the following questions. 1) Is one a Christian who is a practicing homosexual? 2) Is one a Christian who is engaged in talk that is dirty, vulgar and disparaging? 3) Is one a Christian who is intimately, sexually involved with another not his (her) spouse? 4) Is one a Christian who sees things of the world more interesting than the ways of Christ? 5) Is one a Christian who allows work to pull away from meeting with the saints? Questions like these, and many more, get to the heart of the problem for many people. They address the question of what is a Christian and, perhaps, focus on being a follower of Jesus. Too many, I am afraid, have a definition in mind that is nothing more than a redefining of the word. In other words, a Christian is not a follower of Christ in all regards, but one who is baptized, has some degree of loyalty to the local congregation, but not loyalty to the extent one’s life is drastically changed.

In Acts 7, as Stephen was preaching to a hardened people (just before he was stoned to death), he cites Scripture to point out the problem with those who say they are aligned with God; because they compromised the Lord’s way, the Lord “…turned away and gave them over to worship the host of heaven, as it is written in the book of the prophets: ‘Did you bring to me slain beasts and sacrifices, during the forty years in the wilderness, O house of Israel? You took up the tent of Moloch and the star of your god Rephan, the images that you made to worship; and I will send you into exile beyond Babylon’” (Acts 7:42-43, ESV). In other words, they wanted alignment with the Lord and His way, but they did not shed the ways of man.

This is a real problem! So many there are who feign being a Christian, but do not want to hear, much less do, that which the Lord said. In truth, they only want to be accepted by a local church because of a sense of belonging. Those who think this way, who have identified themselves as a Christian, are just as lost as to whom Stephen spoke. They have a problem! RT

Do You Not Know? 

15 Sunday Apr 2018

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One can’t help but notice that Paul asked a single question a number of times in his letter to the Corinthians; in fact, he asked this question 10 times! The question is “do you not know?” The question is asked a total of 17 times in the New Testament, with Paul asking 15 of them. The single question is asked in varied contexts; in this bulletin article, I want to consider the question in two contexts. What prompted Paul to ask the brethren about something they should have already known?

Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you (3:16)? In the context of these words, the apostle wants the Corinthian saints (and us by extension) to understand that the “church” is God’s temple dwelling place. Paul does not have in view a physical building, but the individual saints collectively called the church. Those who adversely (negatively) affect the local church affect the temple God dwells in. When we think about our own dwelling place (our house, our home), and someone negatively affecting it, then we can appreciate the Lord’s concern a little better. If you felt it was threatened, you would likely go to what degree is necessary to protect it. Those who adversely affect the Lord “house” will have to address the Lord at His proper time, but while here on earth, the Lord wants His saints to give attention to this matter also.

Your glorying is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump (5:6)? In this particular context, the apostle Paul addressed the saints expressing his disappointment that some within the congregation were much too willing to let a brother engaged sin continue in that same sin without correction. In other words, the saints should have insisted upon him stopping the sinful activity, but they did not. In fact, as you can see by the question, they were “glorying” in this matter! What a shame! The local congregation, the elders especially, have an obligation to address sinful behaviors in the saints. When the elders and the saints within the congregation are made aware of sinful behavior, there is a need to address the one or the ones so involved. For what purpose? Two reasons. First, to save the soul engaged in the destructive/sinful behavior. Second, to take the old sinful leaven out of the new lump (church) so the church is not negatively affected more than it already has been (cf. Acts 20:28).  What is very troubling about situations like this is the occasion family members take to protect the one engaged in sinful behavior. There is a preference to “protect one’s own” more than there is to honor the One who own’s.  RT

Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!

30 Friday Mar 2018

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A desperate father brings his child to the disciples of the Lord, fully hoping and anticipating his child would be healed of the demon possession; what a heart-breaking realization must have come over him as he watched and observed the failings of these men trying to heal his child. Perhaps he resigned himself to the fact his child could not and would not be healed, but that the demon would end up destroying the gift God gave him and his wife. He knows the disciples are not Jesus, but he looked around and saw Him (Jesus) nowhere, but surely since the disciples are with Jesus, Jesus’ disciples can do the same thing, he thought. To add to the complication of the situation, Jesus’ disciples are fending off (or tending to) all those who came to interact, even those who came to do nothing but raise a fuss. Then, the heart-broken father sees Jesus. He came to Jesus with his hopes raised, asking Him to help. Jesus said He could, and the man believed, but has come to understand that his belief is not strong. “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief” (Mark 9:24).

How can the Lord help someone like this, as there are many more like this than not? Unless the person who expresses himself as needing help with his unbelief, is willing to receive help and to take the steps to overcome unbelief, there is no (and can be no) help forthcoming. It’s not any more complicated than this. The Lord’s apostle, Peter, the one who failed on that day to heal the demon-possessed boy wrote two points worth us considering. First, he wrote: “Seeing ye have purified your souls in your obedience to the truth unto unfeigned love of the brethren, love one another from the heart fervently: having been begotten again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, through the word of God, which liveth and abideth. For, All flesh is as grass, And all the glory thereof as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower falleth: But the word of the Lord abideth for ever. And this is the word of good tidings which was preached unto you” (1 Peter 1:22-25, ASV). In these words, he said the soul of a person is purified when obedience is forthcoming. Obedience is not a mere matter of doing a particular command, but obeying from the heart the doctrine of God that delivers one from sin. This occurs because the love in the heart then reshapes the behavior of the mind. Second, his last words in his second letter reads, “But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and for ever” (2 Peter 3:18). The meaning of this passage has not escaped our attention; as one needs edible food daily, one needs spiritual food daily. If one does not eat the necessary food on a daily basis, weight is lost. If one does not nourish the soul on a daily basis, the spirit is weakened.

Do you think the application of these words will help? I do. If you don’t, why? RT

Let the children come to me

27 Tuesday Mar 2018

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In the mind of a child is written such things as love, confusion, certainty, stubbornness, curiosity, selfishness and dependence. All these things are in the mind of a child; unfortunately, in this respect, the mind of a child often follows, then resides in the mind of an adult today. Jesus said to those who prevented the children from coming to Him, “Let the children come to me…” The Lord knew the innocence, immaturity and love that children exhibit. He wants to maintain the innocence to the evil in the world because one chooses not to experience it, but stay on the narrow path; He wants to take the immature and turn that immaturity into a mature understanding of one’s spiritual health, well-being; He can do all this if the love from early on stays strong.

These ways of thinking wrapped in the mind of a child, Jesus can flesh out and correct, modify and eliminate. As parents, guardians and mature adults, we can help the children in these areas. Children are precious, and is it not a blessing in a local congregation when there are many children? I certainly think it is. As adults, allowing the Lord’s maturity being our own, we can make positive contributions to the maturation of children. RT

Harmar Hill Meeting

25 Sunday Mar 2018

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Since Sunday morning, I have been in a meeting at Harmar Hill Church of Christ in Marietta. I have truly enjoyed the time with them; the brethren have been warm and very inviting. The invitation was extended to me by J. D. Conley when he conducted a meeting with us last October (invited by James Rankhorn). I am not sure if you would be interested in what I did, but I included my daily notes: SUNDAY: Left the house this morning just after 6, arrived just after 8. The Bible class started at 9; I taught from 1 Thessalonians 5:11-22 (The Perfect Church); the morning lesson was “The Model of Evangelism” (2 Cor. 5.9-11), it preached very well (better than I thought I would). Both were received well by the brethren; covered dish lunch, I checked into Microtel. A little after 3:30, I went to K-Mart, drove around town took pictures, then sat in the parking lot of church building with coffee relaxing. The evening sermon preached well; I went longer than I normally do, but I was otherwise pleased. Out attendance for the morning was 51, about 30 in the evening. No discouragement on my part, however. MONDAY: Got up at 5:40. Bible reading: Proverbs 1-2, Ecclesiastes 1-7, Acts 1-4, Colossians, exercised with 4-laps around K-Mart, purchased shirt, sweatshirt, returned to room, look at evening outline (“Can your faith be measured”), read a portion of Durant’s book, took notes on what he said, showered, looked over evening lesson until time to meet for lunch; was picked up by Bob Sprout; lunch at Wendy’s, then he drove me through the area, meandering in the SE hills, went to the Wingent Run church building, a building where some few saints used to attend, but no longer. Bob looks after the building and grounds. Returned to motel sometime after 1:30 (I believe). I took some pictures and enjoyed the time with him. He and his wife Patsy will pick me up for dinner at 5; we had dinner at a local Italian restaurant, then went to the building. The lesson preached moderately well, but I was not as pleased with it as I was with my delivery on Sunday. The crowd was good, somewhere above 60, I think. TUESDAY: Woke up at 5:30. Bible reading: Proverbs 2-3, Ecclesiastes 1-8, Acts 5-7, Romans 1-8, worked on material related to Ecclesiastes, WVSOP, now looking over material for tonight’s sermon (“Does the Church Need a Revival?”). Had dinner with J.D., Denise and Shalyn Conley; also present were Terry and Lillie Varner. It was a very good occasion; have a better feel for Terry than I once did. The lesson preached moderately okay; I had too many “uh’s” in there. Attendance 36. Returned to motel, lights out at 9:40. WEDNESDAY: Woke up at 4:40. Bible reading: Proverbs 3-4, Ecclesiastes 1-8, Acts 8-10, Romans 9, worked on WVSOP manuscript. Snowing outside, maybe an inch or two. Went to a local museum, had lunch at McDonald’s (yum), back at motel to read Bible and go over evening lesson. Received text from J.D. about a meeting he is scheduled to have Thursday; two want to be baptized, and he asked me to be present. Had dinner with Gary, Debbie and Tim Wells, and Debbie’s parents Dean and Mary Shepherd at Bob Evans; a very good time together. The evening lesson was “How to make a better Christian;” was received very well; I felt very good about my delivery. Attendance 32. Was given three questions by Charlie Whalen; I will answer in written form, given to him on Thursday. THURSDAY: Awoke at 4:00. Bible reading: Proverbs 4-5, Ecclesiastes 1-8, Acts 11-13, treadmill (each morning I do this), Romans 9-11, worked on WVSOP manuscript (9:30 am). Went to the Marietta Rotary meeting with Kin Brewer, then to his office, then to the church building to baptize into the Lord Mike and Evelyn Parks; JD had been studying with them but was unable to immerse them due to his health (I believe they came out of the Baptist Church). Had dinner with Paul and Linda Wells. The sermon preached very well, I think. Attendance 32. The brethren seemed to be pleased to have me there, and I know I was very much pleased to be there! Arrived home about 10:15.

What lessons did I take from my time in Marietta?  1) make the best use of time when away from home; if there is down time, use it well, 2) enjoy the company of others who are trying to make your stay pleasant, 3) give your best when you are asked to do so, even if you feel your best won’t measure up, 4) enjoy the area in which you are temporarily residing; there is something to see, 5) when I work for a congregation that week, my time is theirs, not only mine, 6) brethren are not wanting to be hammered, but instructed in the Lord’s way and encouraged by your presence, 7)  sister congregations need and want our support for their work; saints should give it. A great week brought to a close, now we soon start our meeting with Charles Pugh. RT

In the meantime

18 Sunday Mar 2018

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CLEARLY AN OVER-SIMPLIFICATION, but I think the thoughtful reader will not miss the point.

Some preachers wonder about who is faithful to the Lord (“as I am”), while the saints in the congregation worry about meeting material obligations, a grandmother concerns herself with the drug addiction of a grandchild, a couple over here is strained in their marriage, wondering if they should keep it going since the other one is-so-at-fault; another couple nearby is considering whether they should move close to one another; a young mother is doing everything she can to still her child in worship, a father is determined to make his wife obey, and a wife is determined to refuse the overture; in the back rows are people who feel so low that surely nothing from them to the Lord will be accepted, and they hardly can raise their head to be warmly greeted because fear is so strong they will be looked-down-on; one just recently started attending because the lifestyle experienced is so weighty and guilt-feeling that something has to be done, and they know of no place to turn but a church building where, presumably, they will meet understanding hearts, people who care about the pitfall of life in one’s day-to-day struggle against the “god of this world.”

The preacher, in the meantime, wonders about whether he can support a school of preaching, an apologetic center, a university, and/or a sister congregation – he wonders if they are faithful.

There is a proper time and place to consider whether the Lord will receive certain teachings and actions – the Holy Spirit makes this abundantly clear in Jude 3. In my over-simplification of a lament, I surely do not want to minimize any application of 1 John 4:1, 6. I wonder, however, if some issues are truly errors of opinion or false teachings relating to the Bible.

On the other hand, some preachers and elders major in determining who is faithful outside their direct influence, and those who struggle within the congregation seem to get little or no care because they are Christian and should know and do better.

Can you relate? If not, you will.

The Model Prayer

15 Thursday Mar 2018

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Do you pray, and if so how? Consider what Jesus taught. Our Father which art in heaven – The word “father” conveys relationship, like one has a relationship with one’s dad. This includes the notion of fellowship. When you think of your earthly father, it is hopefully in good sort of way. A father gives structure, instruction, love, advice/counsel. The Almighty does the same. There is a difference, though. A relationship with one’s dad is a relationship here on earth, physical proximity is close (perhaps). The Father we address in this context “resides” in heaven. He still gives structure, instruction, love, advice/counsel, but what He gives is more than any earthly person can give. Hallowed be thy name. Because He is in heaven, and because His admonitions are greater than anything earthly, we understand Him to be holy in all respects. His holiness is not to be trifled with, that is, there is no disrespect given because we act and live as if He is a cuddly “big daddy”! Frankly, this is blasphemous! The Father in heaven is holy and it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God—something that is not and can’t be said about a “big cuddly daddy”! His name is holy, and our thinking is to correspond to His thinking…that is, if we approach Him properly (cf. Heb. 10:31). Far too many, Christians included, fail in this area. Thy kingdom come. Does this refer to the church, or something like God’s kingdom at time’s end? The word kingdom mean reign; in one respect God has always been in control of all that exists; He reigns over all His creation. That is not what is in view here. In this context, the kingdom is not something physical, but the spiritual reign of the Lord in the lives of each person who chooses to obey the Lord’s will. All those who obey are then added to the Lord’s kingdom (Acts 2:47; John 3:5), because the kingdom of God resides in the heart of one who obeys. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. When the one who has separated himself from this evil world to the Lord, this one is properly called a saint. With each and every saint, it is always the case the Lord’s will is to be done in life while on this earth. Are you doing so? If not, then start with separating yourself from a worldly way of thinking and adopt the thinking way of the Lord (Galatians 2:20) – this is the life of holiness. Give us this day our daily bread. Your reliance on the Lord is how much? Surely, we understand gratitude; we understand the need to be grateful to the Lord for that which He provides, food for day-to-day living. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. As we have been forgiven, let us have the same willingness to forgive others. Since pride goes before the fall, those who have pride within that prevents a forgiving spirit to be extended, the one who loves the Lord will not receive that which he/she desires, which is forgiveness (Matthew 18-21-35). And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: how can one avoid temptation? There are two answers to this, both necessarily related and connected. First, with devotion appeal to the Lord for strength and protection. Second, with determination, learn from the Lord His way of holiness, educating your mind to see traps long before they arrive. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. The way you choose to live life is your own, but be reminded the life you choose to live, at the end of that life, there stands the Lord. Solomon wrote long ago, “I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever: nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it: and God doeth it, that men should fear before him” (Ecclesiastes 3:14, KJV). RT

OCCASIONALLY WE DO

11 Sunday Mar 2018

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From the vantage point of humanity, to fail to drive out the people of Canaan when Israel went from Egypt to the land the Lord God promised was merciful. From the vantage point of the Lord it was both resistance to His will and destructive to them morally and spiritually. The Lord knew (and knows) what He is talking about! We (or people), on the other hand, only do occasionally. There were some who saw it the way the Lord, but not enough of them did. Through the years the proverb “wisdom is justified by her children” shows itself to be true—as it always does. RT

The Value of Relationships

08 Thursday Mar 2018

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How do you view work?

“I view work as a necessary function of life that generates for me an income.”

“I view work as a pleasant experience in life that gets me out of the house and away from tension at home.”

“I view work not only as necessary, but something I enjoy because of how I feel at the end of the day – I contributed.”

Perhaps there are many other answers to the question “How do you view work?” Sometimes work is an escape. One can go to work and hide from matters at home or hide from struggles in the world that may be both at home and in other areas of life. There are many occasions when disappointment sets in and going to work allows the disappointment to be shelved to the corner of the mind where one is not quickly going to think about it. Sometimes work is a chore because the people one works with is less than they should be. It seems as if Pete always wants to control things, the manager is failing in her responsibilities, and cares only for the dollar, not the service rendered! Being productive is beneficial to not only the one working, but also in relation to the service rendered; thus, it is very important. Some guidance from Ecclesiastes can be of help to see this.

Think about work from the perspective of Ecclesiastes 4:8. Solomon reflected on the miseries of life from the perspective of “under the sun.” He concluded long before the famous words of chapter 12, life is meaningless without God. In the course his discussion on these things, he reflected on the man who works, but works all alone. He is 1) alone, without a partner, 2) has no family, 3) works incessantly, 4) is not satisfied with what he accomplished, 5) does not reflect on the purpose for what he does.

I watched a show called “Strange Inheritance” about a man who had a hobby that consumed him; he married in 1951 (I think), and by the time 1971 came around, he was divorced. There are far more complicating reasons for divorce than what the show could portray, but it left this impression – he was a man consumed by his hobby. That which he did conveyed to his wife he was more interested in his hobby than in her. Sometimes people tend to matters outside the family that are related to work, hobbies and/or recreation – all the while making major contributions to the family’s destruction.

The preacher in Ecclesiastes does not speak well of a person who is a workaholic, and the preacher (Solomon) speaks from much wisdom. Two things for which one needs reminding on matters like this. First, a workaholic is depriving his family of the love and attention promised when the wedding vows were made. This is a major contribution to the demise of the family, starting with the husband and wife. When such things occur, the contributor is thinking and standing opposed to the Lord, and it does not matter they would deny it—their life expresses what words refuse to convey. It is obvious to anyone this person thinks only about self and self’s interests. When Jesus taught His disciples about the sanctity of marriage, He said this: “Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.” The workaholic is guilty of exactly this!

Second, the solution is not in work, but in relationship. The relationship must first start with the Lord, and this is not simply a matter of “being baptized”! It’s a matter of daily walking with the Lord. Second, one’s relationship with the spouse must be nurtured. Third, building relationships with people actually makes one stronger in character. Read Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 and see what you think. Denney Petrillo said four things result in these relationships; there is more productivity in two working together than one, there is mutual care as the two works toward a single end, the warmth in the two can be practical (husband/wife) and emotional (as in emotional support), the safety of two or more is obvious in comparison with only one.

The pictures below speak volumes about relationships—both in the Lord’s family and one’s personal family. What are you doing to enhance both? RT

BEHIND BLUE EYES

01 Thursday Mar 2018

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I have always liked the song with the title “Behind Blue Eyes” by the rock group The Who. It is a song the singer, writer and just about anyone else can relate to in a special way. Not everything in the song relates, but the general tenor of the song connects with people very well, perhaps like the song by Keith Whitely, “I am no stranger to the Rain.”

Both musical tunes in different genres connect with the struggles people have regularly. No matter how vibrant a person a person appears on stage, on television, or in public in a different venue, the same struggles are present.

A young lady lost the “love of her life” because she made a choice and it did not include him. He moved on, but she struggled more than she realized when she saw him again. A young professional man is about to get married because “it’s the logical step” to a long relationship, and all the while the young lady does not feel loved, but only lonely. A powerful woman in the business world can’t seem to connect with a male because she is always afraid the male (now boyfriend) is interested in her because of her position.

Each one presents themselves in a façade sort of way, allowing others to think that behind those blue (any color) eyes, all is well, when things are not well at all.

Blue eyes crying in the rain!

When Solomon was standing in front of the people praying to the Lord, dedicating the newly built Temple in Jerusalem, he used a word any thoughtful person can relate to. “What prayer and supplication soever be made by any man, or by all thy people Israel, which shall know every man the plague of his own heart, and spread forth his hands toward this house” (1 Kings 8:38, KJV).

Did you notice it? The word is “plague.” When every person knows the plague of his own heart, when that person prays, in this case toward the Temple, Solomon appeals to the Lord to hear and heal. Other translations use words and terms like affliction, wound, heartfelt sorrow, pain, their troubles, but most (that I have) uses the word plague.

That word conveys to me in a most accurate way what the Lord wants me to understand. That which I have in my heart, that with which I continually contend with is a plague, a disease that if not addressed will kill me, and in this case, spiritually. When Solomon prayed, he prayed the Lord would hear and heal, but the one who prays must first heed.

Behind blue eyes that are crying in the rain – there is a solution, and the solution is not within self. The solution is the Lord. It always has been, and it will never be anything but Him. “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:28-30). RT