THE POUND
PROCLAIMER
Volume V
June 2010
Number 4
Sing
to the Lord, bless His name; proclaim the good news of His salvation from day
to day. Psalms 96:2
BOLL WEEVILS AND
PEANUT BUTTER
In the state of
The insect of
which I speak is called a boll weevil. These little buggers attack and destroy
cotton. In my childhood, the
Well, there came
a year when the boll weevils infested the cotton crops in south
Call it luck or ingenuity, what happened next changed everything. Someone decided to plant their cotton fields in peanuts. Soon, others followed. Within three years, where once there stood disaster, now stood prosperity.
If the boll weevil had not come along, they would never have discovered the peanut and prosperity. So they built a monument to this destructive little creature.
Many of our greatest blessings are disguised as tragedies. When Christ died on the cross, the disciples were heartbroken. They thought that all was lost and that the Redeemer had failed. We see this to be the case by considering Peter’s words; “Simon Peter said to them, ‘I am going fishing.’ They said to him, ‘We will go with you.’ They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.” John 21:3. The tragedy of Jesus’ death set the stage for the joy of His resurrection.
When the ‘boll weevils’ of life move in and threaten to destroy us, let us remember that “No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.” 1 Corinthians 10:13.
Satan knows how
to get at the Christian. For that reason, Christians are going to face
challenges in their lives. These challenges often cause the Christian to only
see the moments of darkness that engulf us. The truly wise Christian who has
eyes that can see and ears that can hear will seek a way to overcome. Remember,
God promises to make a way to overcome any temptation. When that way is found,
they shall be like the house built upon the rock and will stand the fiercest of
life’s storms (Matthew
The next time
the world shows its disdain for you, remember the ‘boll weevil,’ make a peanut
butter sandwich and reestablish Jesus as Lord of Lords in your heart.
The Editor’s
Page
2 Timothy 3:16-17, 16All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.
God desires for His children to be educated in His words. Who can deny it? All scripture is ‘breathed out’ that is to say ‘inspired’ by God. It is important for Christians in particular and humanity in general to accept this truth. However, God is not suggesting that we just engage in an intellectual exercise when it comes to His inspired words.
The scripture makes the man of God competent, equipped for every good work. The person who can quote scripture or give the correct answer to questions in a workbook for Bible class, but never expands into every good work, is woefully lacking in their service to God. Until Christians grow beyond the attitude of complacency which is fueled by their intellectual knowledge of the scripture, we will never complete the mission God has given us.
Christians are a body of persons whom God has commissioned to negotiate for the souls of those in the foreign country of SIN! The negotiations consist of teaching the inspired scripture, to that there is no doubt. However, these negotiations involve more. They involve every good work that the scriptures equip us with that we may be competent to accomplish our mission.
The problem is that Christians may have lost the proper perspective when it comes to their mission. This has created a dearth of focus, at the least, it is one of proper focus. Many congregations have been lulled into inaction and lost their focus because of their perceived financial security. Other congregations are suffering from the same inaction and loss of focus for a different reason. They have simply given up on their mission. They have become reconciled to decline. “After all”, they say, “no one wants to hear the gospel any more.”
A high school football coach I once knew would tell his players in the forth quarter when things were not going well, “Ok boys, it is time for a gut check!” He was telling us to remember our mission. It is time for Christians to have a gut check and remember their mission.
WHY BUILD THESE
CITIES GLORIOUS IF
MAN UNBUILDED GOES.
IN VAIN, WE BUILD THE
WORLD UNLESS THE
BUILDER ALSO GROWS.
- Author Unknown
Christians have all they need to change the world. We have the tools needed to build the builders of this world into children of God. This is the mission that God has sent every one of His children to do. Failure is not an option. We have the words of God. We have the individual capability to grow spiritually being filled with all good works.
Yes, it is time
for Christians to have a gut check! What is your gut telling you?
WORKING FOR THE
MASTER
DIVERT YOUR COURSE!
The following story has been told many different ways. It has been said to be true by some and fiction by others. The characters and conversation varies slightly in its different forms, but the point is always the same.
The following is
a radio transmission between a
The Americans: “Please divert your course 15 degrees to the north to avoid a collision.”
The Canadians: “Recommend you divert YOUR course 15 degrees to the south to avoid a collision.”
The Americans: “This is the Captain of a US Navy ship. I say again, divert YOUR course.”
The Canadians: “No. I say again, you divert YOUR course.”
The Americans: “THIS IS THE AIRCRAFT CARRIER USS LINCOLN, THE SECOND LARGEST SHIP IN THE UNITED STATES' ATLANTIC FLEET. WE ARE ACCOMPANIED BY THREE DESTROYERS, THREE CRUISERS AND NUMEROUS SUPPORT VESSELS. I DEMAND THAT YOU CHANGE YOUR COURSE 15 DEGREES NORTH, THAT'S ONE FIVE DEGREES NORTH, OR COUNTER-MEASURES WILL BE UNDERTAKEN TO ENSURE THE SAFETY OF THIS SHIP.”
The Canadians: “This is a lighthouse. Your call.”
“Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.” Proverbs 16:18. “One’s pride will bring him low, but he who is lowly in spirit will obtain honor.” Proverbs 29:23.
Pride is nowhere so devastating as when it stands between man and God. The pride of life is such that man feels he can do it himself, without help from God. After all, look what man has been able to accomplish over the last two centuries in this country alone. His life span has increased. He has developed technology that has allowed him to walk on the moon. He has become the most knowledgeable generation in history with the advent of personal computers. He holds the power of life and death in his hands through the weapons of mass destruction that he possesses. What greatness is left for man to attain?
Yet, in all his accomplishments, when man comes face to face with God’s word, it is he that must divert his course.
“Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.” James 1:21-25.
Now, you and I know that no matter how big the ship or how much firepower it possesses, it cannot win a battle with the shore line. If such a captain were so foolish to try, the ship would be destroyed along with all its power. Who are we but mere mortal men? As such, how can we fight against God? Each person will come face to face with this dilemma in their lifetime. The question of importance here is whether that person will recognize his or her weakness compared to God’s strength.
You are swiftly
heading for a devastating shipwreck, the message sounds, “Divert
your course!” It’s your call!
THE LAST WORD
BATS IN THE ATTIC!
Three Preachers in the south were having lunch in a diner. One was a
Baptist, the second was a Catholic priest and the third was a church of Christ.
The Baptist said “Ya know, since summer started I've been having trouble
with bats in my loft and attic at church. I've tried everything. I’ve used
noise, spray and even cats. Nothing seems to scare them away.”
The priest said “Yeah, me too. I've got hundreds living in my belfry and in
the narthex attic. I've even had the place fumigated, and they won't go away.”
The gospel preacher said, “We had that problem, but I solved it.”
“Yeah.” Said the priest. “And, just how did you do that, pray tell?”
“I baptized all mine,” came the reply, “and set up ‘New Convert’ classes. I
haven't seen a bat since!!!”
What makes humor humorous is that it contains an element of truth. I am not
saying that baptizing bats, mice or roach bugs will solve a pest problem.
However, it has crossed my mind that baptizing people sometimes has the same
effect as a good exterminating company. How often has it occurred, a person is
baptized and that is the last time they are seen? Why does such happen? I
believe it is because of a flaw in one’s thinking. A flaw that allows one to believe
that baptism is all they need to insure a place in heaven.
Don’t misunderstand, the Bible teaches that baptism (immersion) in water is
for the remission of sins (Acts 2:38), it is to wash away sins
(Acts
22:16) and it is also to save us (1 Peter 3:21).
The problem is in the belief that one can neglect other aspects of
Christian living and still be accounted faithful in the sight of God.
When one does not feel a need to study the Word of God that they may grow
thereby, they are deceived (2 Timothy 2:15). They are deceived
into thinking they can go to heaven on their baptism alone. When one does not
see a need to attend the services of the local church (Hebrews 10:24-25),
they are deceived. They are deceived into thinking they can omit certain
commands of God and still go to Heaven.
The failure to grow and mature in the Lord is to die spiritually. A
Christian who does not grow is as lost as those who refuse to obey the gospel.
Paul said of himself that he buffeted his body daily least he should become a
castaway (1 Corinthians 9:27). If Paul, who was an apostle,
understood that he could be lost, surely, we can understand that the same fate
awaits those today who will not labor for the Master.
If you were baptized, and have since been absent from the assemblies or
have only come occasionally, know this, just because you will have a local
church of Christ conduct your funeral and just because you will have a ‘church
of Christ’ preacher speak over you, will not assure you a place in Heaven.
Heaven is for those who will present their bodies a living sacrifice to the
Lord (Romans
12:1-2).
*******************************************************
In last months issue, I failed to give credit
where credit was due. The lead article on page one was written by Rick
Mullins. I placed his email address at the end of the article but
failed to put his name with the title, WHAT IS PEACE? Sorry for this
oversight. Glen.
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WHAT MUST
I DO
Hear: Rom
Believe: Heb 11:6
Repent: Lk 13:5; Ac 17:30
Confess: Matt
Be Baptized: Ac
TO BE
SAVED?
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FAMILY
MATTERS
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~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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The Pound Proclaimer
is published monthly by the Pound
All articles by the editor unless
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Editor: Glen Young
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