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Birdwell Lane Church of Christ Big Spring, TX |
Weekly Thoughts - May 2007
| <---- April 2007 | -- | June 2007 ----> |
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06 - "THOUGHTS AND THANKS" 13 - "QUIET TIME" 20 - "WHY ATTEND SERVICES" 27 - "THE DEATH OF CHRIST" |
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"THOUGHTS AND THANKS" I was shocked this past couple of weeks at the shootings in Virginia. I would have to say that I was not too surprised that something of this nature happened. The young man, had according to reports, shown all the signs of violent behavior. Why was something not done? Perhaps it was out of fear of "offending" someone. Perhaps it was not done because of a desire to show tolerance and "political correctness". I do not know, and now 33 people are dead. Paul wrote to the church in Corinth. They had problems and were so "tolerant" and "caring" that they did not want to offend the person who was living with his father's wife. Paul's command, was given "in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ' to deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh that the spirit might be saved in the day of our Lord Jesus." (I Cor. 5) The Bible is full of stories of people who stood up for right, regardless of the cost to them, and regardless of the political correctness of their stance. I guess that doesn't really matter to many people anymore. One church leader made the statement concerning homosexuality that said something to the effect that if you take the Bible literally, of course homosexuality is wrong. Truly, Hosea was correct, when he stated that "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge." (Hosea 4:6) When we took the Bible out of school, out of the courtroom, out of public life, we began a downward spiral in our morals, our convictions, and our courage that can only be stopped by the downfall of our nation as a whole, but we can do something about our own household, and ourselves as individuals. Make the Bible a integral part of your life. It's precepts are true, it's principles will guide us in the things we do. Pray without ceasing. Encourage the leaders of the community, the state and nation to stop the downward spiral in any way that you can. Anyone of us cannot do it all, but we can do something. To all of you who sent cards, made visits, brought gifts, and prayed for me this past two weeks while I was struggling with heart problems, I can only say THANK YOU. Please continue to keep me in your prayers. To Royce Clay, THANK YOU brother for preaching for me and the congregation. See ya Sunday, Ralph |
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"QUIET TIME"
We also want to thank you for all the encouragement given to Kay the past three years as she worked towards her degree as an RN. She finished classes and testing this past Monday. Pinning will be this Friday and graduation will be Saturday at 2:00 p.m.. Without all your encouragement it wouldn't have been possible. Thanks so very much. See ya Sunday, Ralph |
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"WHY ATTEND SERVICES" Hebrews 12:23-25 23 to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are registered in heaven, to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect, 24 to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than that of Abel. 25 See that you do not refuse Him who speaks. For if they did not escape who refused Him who spoke on earth, much more shall we not escape if we turn away from Him who speaks from heaven, NKJV What the writer does is described how it felt in those early generations to belong to the Christian community – and what it ought to fell like to belong to that community today. This text gives some idea of the amazingly rich inheritance which is ours in the Church, the Body of Christ. “When you meet in your places of worship,” he asks, “with whom are you meeting?” He answers first negatively, casting his mind back to the old days before God in the fullness of time had sent His Son. “Ye are not come unto that mount that might be touched and burned with fire, and unto blackness, and darkness, and tempest.” You have not come, that is, to Sinai, to the voice of thunder that might freeze the blood and terrify the soul; not come to the old rigid system of exclusion, where only Moses could see the face of God, and common sinners had to keep their distance and tremble in their God – forsakeness – you haven’t come to that. All that, having served its day, is past and finished. And then the text states positively, ”Ye are come to Mount Zion, and unto the City of the Living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable hosts of angels, to the general assembly and church of the first born who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, and to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaketh better than that of Abel.” This is your Christian heritage. This is the truth about the Church at worship. And notice precisely how he puts it. He does not say “You shall come.” Forecasting something dim and far away, in another world beyond the grave. He says, “You have come”: meaning, “This is what actually happens every time you meet for worship. This is the fellowship into which you enter.” If only we could realize the riches of our heritage, MAYBE, we would strive harder to be there every time the church meets for worship. See ya Sunday, Ralph |
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"THE DEATH OF CHRIST" Hebrews 12:23-25 23 to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are registered in heaven, to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect, 24 to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than that of Abel. 25 See that you do not refuse Him who speaks. For if they did not escape who refused Him who spoke on earth, much more shall we not escape if we turn away from Him who speaks from heaven, NKJV What the writer does is described how it felt in those early generations to belong to the Christian community – and what it ought to fell like to belong to that community today. This text gives some idea of the amazingly rich inheritance which is ours in the Church, the Body of Christ. “When you meet in your places of worship,” he asks, “with whom are you meeting?” He answers first negatively, casting his mind back to the old days before God in the fullness of time had sent His Son. “Ye are not come unto that mount that might be touched and burned with fire, and unto blackness, and darkness, and tempest.” You have not come, that is, to Sinai, to the voice of thunder that might freeze the blood and terrify the soul; not come to the old rigid system of exclusion, where only Moses could see the face of God, and common sinners had to keep their distance and tremble in their God – forsakeness – you haven’t come to that. All that, having served its day, is past and finished. And then the text states positively, ”Ye are come to Mount Zion, and unto the City of the Living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable hosts of angels, to the general assembly and church of the first born who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, and to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaketh better than that of Abel.” This is your Christian heritage. This is the truth about the Church at worship. And notice precisely how he puts it. He does not say “You shall come.” Forecasting something dim and far away, in another world beyond the grave. He says, “You have come”: meaning, “This is what actually happens every time you meet for worship. This is the fellowship into which you enter.” If only we could realize the riches of our heritage, MAYBE, we would strive harder to be there every time the church meets for worship. See ya Sunday, Ralph |
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