It’s a grand week ahead for most people. I suspect we will all be with our families during the holidays and will enjoy a little rest and relaxation. Do be careful as you travel and remember to find the Lord’s people and worship wherever you go.
I’d like to encourage you to remember those that are struggling this week. This Christmas season is different that we have had for many years. Some families are on the brink of disaster and need our prayers for recovery. Some are dealing with serious financial issues which may be beyond their ability to solve. Others are grieving terribly this season as Christmas will never be the same again. We just ask that you remember their struggles in your prayers.
We also hope that our culture will remember Jesus throughout the rest of the year. One great negative of a Christmas season is that some appear spiritual for a few days in December and then return to their godless way of life on the 26th. I pray that we never fall into such a trap but that we celebrate the birth, life, death, burial and resurrection of Christ daily as our ancient brethren did.
Let’s show Christ to all men this holiday season!
Having been defeated at the ballot box in California the gay and lesbian lobby is trying to win through the courts by overturning so-called Proposition 8. The ballot initiative simply stated that marriage was between a man and a woman. Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: homosexuality, politics
We know that the present economic downturn is challenging many families, some far more than others. It was so encouraging to se Eastern Shore meeting needs last night as we packed more boxes for Christmas for those hurting. Among other things, each box contained a gift certificate for a turkey and the makings for a complete meal. Of course extensive Bible materials were included too.
Cards are posted on the board across from the Library from some families we have helped including a woman who was facing the holidays with 5 children, no job and a husband without work. Both were employed recently but lost their jobs when the economy soured. She was in tears as we helped load your gifts in her small car.
I also know that many of you are individually and privately helping people you know. What a blessing to them and to you!
Our Lord was always aware of the poor and concerned that we help them as we can. You are surely meeting that concern with your efforts.
May God bless each of you for your efforts and help!
Alabama Governor Bob Riley will be holding a news conference today to announce proration for the state education budget. Times are difficult and tax revenues are falling behind appropriations. Riley will dip into the so called Rainy Day Fund that was created by the legislature.
But already the howls of the gamblers are being heard. The Tuscaloosa News in an Editorial this morning is calling on the state to approve gambling as a means to support education.
There is big money in gambling. Not for the foolish who bet and mostly lose, but for the people smart enough not to gamble. Instead they manage gambling and take a big chunk off the top for their efforts. Let’s remember a couple of things:
- Gambling violates the Golden Rule of Matthew 7:12.
- Gambling violates the work ethic of the Bible by promising much for nothing.
- Gambling take a disproportionate amount from those least able to afford it.
- Gambling must ensure that more than half of the money bet is lost.
- Gambling really does take bread out of the mouths of children.
- Gambling creates addiction. Why else would every state have to create gambling abuse hotlines?
- Gambling is expensive to police and administer.
- Gambling revenues, like taxes, fall in a recession.
On an on we could go. Gambling serves no one but the managers. Watch the contributions received by our state legislators and see who is in the pocket of gambling interests. NOW is the time to contact your representative and say NO!
Sunday night I was pleased to visit with the good brethren at the Millport church of Christ in Lamar County, Alabama. Millport is a very old congregation dating back to the earliest days of Gus Nichols preaching. The brethren there have always been special to Bobbi and me as they allowed us to work with them doing fill-in work just prior to our coming to Eastern Shore.
I asked the men at Millport if they would assist us at the Guyana Christian University. They immediately said yes and may consider on-going support next year. This particular expense they will cover is to bring brother Ken Mohammed from Trinidad to the school for a three week period in January. We appreciate the generous gift and know that they will be blessed for their assistance.
At present, Jimmy Bracken is in Guyana teaching for us. He is supported by the Stony Point church in Florence, Alabama. Jimmy will be returning to Barbados this Friday.
What a great experience to be at the Christ First Campus Ministry (CFCM) retreat this weekend in Walker County.
A session at CFCM
Overseen by the Northport church of Christ, this campus ministry soundly serves the University of Alabama, Shelton State Community College and Stillman College as well as college age students in and around Tuscaloosa. This weekend was crafted by leaders Randy and Mandy Latner who did an outstanding job of bringing everything together at Indian Creek Youth Camp.
The program was based around the hit television series “Survivor.” The two “tribes” chose their best leaders and then those two went head-to-head in a brief competition. Congratulations to Anna Winkler for winning! Anna is the granddaughter of Wendell and the daughter of Tim and Camille Winkler. Not only is she a great leader, Anna is only in the 12th grade!
Our sessions were designed to develop good relationships. We discussed knowing yourself, knowing others, knowing your spouse and knowing Christ. I was honored to be asked to be a part of this great weekend.
I write this afternoon from Starbuck’s in Tuscaloosa. Tonight, and this weekend, I will be speaking to a gathering of College students from the University of Alabama. They are all part of the Christ First Campus Ministry (CFCM) overseen by the elders of the Northport church of Christ.
Randy Latner, one of the Northport deacons, and his beautiful wife Mandy, are the hosts of the weekend. Randy was one of my young people when I was the youth Minister at Northport. I’ve known them for years and look forward to being with them and the students this weekend. We’ll be at Indian Creek Youth Camp where the temperatures tonight are supposed to drop to about 25!
Sunday night I will be visiting the brethren at the Millport church of Christ in Lamar County. Monday morning I meet with Clark Sims and begin planing for ICYC 2009. Monday night I’ll be back in Daphne for a meeting with our elders and the architect about our expansion plans. It’s a busy weekend but one full of opportunities.
In my place Sunday we will have Scott Kelly teaching the adult class and J.T. Harrison will handle preaching duties. I’ll see you all soon!
Tags: Administrative
One would think that there is nothing suprising still to be found in religion. Quacks have taken almost every possible opportunity to twist the Scriptures to say things never imagined by the Holy Spirit. However, if one thinks this, one would be wrong.
The Press-Register newspaper of Mobile, December 6, 2008, carries a story about a man who has decided that the figurative number 666 found in Revelation is, he tells us, in hybrid seeds. His reasoning is that seeds have been given to man by God and man has corrupted those seeds by cross-breeding and genetic mutations.
In a book he calls “The 666’s are in the Seeds,” author Michael White says, “The Antichrist will use seed to control nations and people.” He continues with the warning that “[p]atented seed will become the most prized possession of the Antichrist.”
Where to begin?
The Antichrist is not mentioned in connection with the end of time.
The Antichrist is only mentioned five times in four verses in Scripture and never in one of the apocraphal books. (1 John 2:18; 1 John 2:22; 1 John 4:3 and 2 John 7).
The Antichrist is never mentioned in connection with the number 666.
Antichrist is about the denial that Jesus is the Son of God and has come in the flesh.
We should also mention that White has a ulterior motive in writing the book. It seems he was sued by seed developer Monsanto for saving patented seed, cleaning it and reselling it in violation of federal patent laws. Now he has a seed under his saddle about hybrids.
God’s Word was never intended as a foundation for foolishness. Sound, faithful Christians must study the Scriptures daily so that they can reject the kind of silliness found in news articles like this.
Tags: antichrist
Jimmy Bracken, a successful missionary supported by the Stony Point church of Christ in Florence, Alabama is on his way to Lethem and the Guyana Christian University. Jimmy’s trip has already been fraught with challenges including last minute flight changes and a lengthy lay over in Georgetown.
Jimmy will be teaching leadership subjects as well as 1-2 Kings and 1-2 Chronicles during this visit. He will leave on December 19 and the students will enjoy a holiday break until January.
Tags: Guyana