Topic(s): Christian Life

We were saddened to learn this week of the death of our most valued volunteer—Someone Else. Someone’s passing created a void that will be difficult to fill. Else had been with us for years and for everyone of those years, Someone did far more than a normal person’s share of the work. Whenever leadership was mentioned, this wonderful person was looked up to for inspiration as well as results…“Someone Else can work with that group.”

Whenever there was a job to do, a class to teach, a meeting to attend or time spent with a person in need of companionship, one name was always on every list… “Let Someone Else do it.”

It was common knowledge that Someone Else was generous toward the church. Whenever there was a financial need, everyone just assumed Someone Else would make up the difference.

Were the truth known, everybody expected too much of Someone Else. Now, Someone Else is gone! We wonder what we are going to do. Someone Else left a model example to follow, but who is going to do the things Someone Else did?

“For every man shall bear his own burden” - Galatians 6:5

The Other Cheek?

Topic(s): Humor

A successful Irish boxer was converted and became a preacher. He happened to be in a new town setting up his evangelistic tent when a couple of tough thugs noticed what he was doing. Knowing nothing of his background, they made a few insulting remarks. The Irishman merely turned and looked at them. Pressing his luck, one of the bullies took a swing and struck a glancing blow on one side of the ex-boxer’s face. He shook it off and said nothing as he stuck out his jaw. The fellow took another glancing blow on the other side. At that point the preacher swiftly took off his coat, rolled up his sleeves, and announced, “The Lord gave me no further instructions.” –J. Vernon McGee, Matthew

“And unto him that smiteth thee on the one cheek offer also the other; and him that taketh away thy cloak forbid not to take thy coat also” - Luke 6:29

Church Discipline

Topic(s): Church

It is a wonderful thing to see a prodigal return and to applaud it. I know a congregation who went through public discipline of a brother in their church. Many heard about the discipline of this well-known Christian who had shipwrecked. That brother walked away from God for several years. Finally he turned around and came back. He wrote a letter of apology ultimately. He said, “You were right. I was in sin. You put your finger on it. I rebelled and I rejected. But I want you to know, I see the wrong of my actions and I’ve come back.”

You know what the church did? They had a party—this same church that had disciplined him. They bought him a sport coat and a new pair of shoes. They put a gold ring on his finger. And they served him prime rib. It was an evening of praise as this brother was brought back into fellowship. And that also made the news. There’s not enough of that kind of news.

“Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us” - 2 Thessalonians 3:6

Glad to be Free

Topic(s): Blessings

Some may have lived in the realm of freedom so long they’ve forgotten what it was like to be enslaved in the lost estate Paul describes in Romans 6:2 when he says, “How shall we who are dead to sin live any longer therein?” If so, the following words will help: It is my earnest conviction that everyone should be in jail at least once in his life and that imprisonment should be on suspicion rather than proof; it should last for four months; it should seem hopeless; and preferably the prisoner should be sick half the time. Only by such imprisonment does he learn what real freedom is worth. – Gordon S. Seagrave, quoted in Quote Unquote

Contentment

Topic(s): Christian Life

Contentment consists not in great wealth, but in few wants. It is finding as many benefits for not getting what we want as we do for getting what we want. He that’s content has enough. He that complains has too much. Sometimes the Lord calms the storm; sometimes He lets the storm rage and calms His child. He who fears God has nothing else to fear.

“And having food and raiment let us be therewith content” - 1 Timothy 6:8