July 2007 Archives
SOME REFLECTIONS
"When Noah emerged from the ark, he looked out on a world purified from its corruption.
How strange he must have felt as he looked out on the stillness and viewed its desolation!
How terrible had been the the judgement of God!
The water that had destroyed the sinners that the earth might be pure morally
Had also continued long enough to destroy all the putrifying bodies
That the earth might be literally pure also.
Hence, Noah stepped out into a world in a double sense.
What emotions must have filled his heart as he reflected on all these things!
He could realize that it is a terrible thing to fall into the hands of the living God....."
Hebrews 10:31
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A GOOD REMOVER?
Alcohol will remove grass stains from summer clothes.
It will, in fact, remove summer clothes.
It will also remove spring and winter clothes.
Not only from the man who drinks it,
But, also, from his wife and children.
It will remove household furniture from the house
And eatables from the pantry.
It removes smiles from the face of his wife,
And happiness from his home.
Truly, as remover, there is hardly
Anything that can compare with alcohol.
One who is enslaved to alcohol, finds himself in a prison without bars!
Byrl Brockman
THE BOOK OF GENESIS
"GENESIS"
The name of the first book of the Bible,
Means origin, beginning.
It is pre-eminently the book of beginnings.
In it we find the record of the beginning
Of the heavens and the earth;
Of all plant and animal life,
Of man and the family
of sin and death,
Of reward and punishment,
sacrifice,
language,
human government,
and the
Hebrew race.
What a wonderful blessing to know that all that makes up our universe, was spoken into exisrence
by our INTELLIGENT and LOVING GOD!
Byrl Brockman
'Twas battered and scarred, and the auctioneer
Thought it scarcely worth his while
To waste his time on the old violin
But he held it up with a smile;
" What am I bidden, good folk ?" he cried,
"Who'll start the bidding for me?"
"A dollar. a dollar---now two, only two----
Two dollars, now who'll make it three?
Three dollars once; three dollars twice;
Going for three--- But no;
From a room far back a gray-haired man
Came forward and picked up the bow;
Then wiping the dust from the old violin,
And tightning up all the strings,
He played a melody, pure and sweet;
As sweet as an angel sings.
The music ceased, and the auctioneer,
With a voice that was quiet and low,
Said, "What am I bid for the old violin?"
And he held it up with the bow.
"A thousand dollars; now who'll make it two?
Two thousand, and who'll make it three? .
Three thousand once; three thousand twice;
Going and gone! ' said he.
The people cheered, but some of them cried,
"We do not qiute understand---
What changed its worth."and he replied.
"The touch of the Master's hand."
And many a man with life out of tune,
And battered and scarred by sin,
Is auctioned cheap to a thoughtless crowd,
Much like the old violin.
A mess of pottage, a glass of wine.
A game -- and he travels on.
He's going once, and he's going twice,
He's going,--- and almost gone.
But the Master comes and the foolish crowd
Can never quite understand
The worth of a soul, and the change that's wrought
By the touch of the Master's hand.
Has your life been touched or affected by the touch of the Master's hand?
See John l0:10
Byrl Brockman
THE LAST MILE OF THE WAY
by
John T. Benson
"If I walk in the pathway of duty,
If I work til the close of the day,
I shall see the great King in His beauty
When I've gone the last mile of the way.
If for Christ I proclaim the glad story,
If I seek for His sheep gone astray,
I am sure He will show me His glory
When I've gone the last mile of the way.
Here the dearest tieswe must sever,
Tears of sorrows are seen every day;
But no sickness, no sighing forever
When I've gone the last mile of the way.
And if here I have earnestly striven
And have tried all His will to obey
'Twill enhance all the rapture of heaven
When I've gone the last mile of the way.
WHEN I'VE GONE THE LAST MILE OF THE WAY
I WILL REST AT THE CLOSE OF THE DAY,
AND I KNOW THAT THERE ARE JOYS THAT AWAIT ME
WHEN I'VE GONE THE LAST MILE OF THE
WAY!"
"As the life of a flow'r,
As a breath or a sigh,
So the years that we live,
As a dream hasten by:
True, today we are here,
But tomorrow we may see
Just a grave in the vale,
And a memory of me.
As the life of a flow'r
Be our lives pure and sweet;
May we brighten the way
For the friends that we greet;
And sweet incense arise,
From our hearts as we live
Close to Him who doth teach
Us to love and forgive.
As we tarry below
Let us trust and adore
Him who leads us each day
Toward the rsdiant shore.
Where the sun never sets,
And the flowers never fade,
Where no sorrow or death
May its borders invade."
"AS THE LIFE - OF A FLOWER...........
AS A BREATH - OR A SIGH..........
SO THE YEARS - GLIDE AWAY........
AND ALAS - WE MUST DIE."
The Bible deals with people, places and things as do other history books.
Let's take a look at the make up of the Bible.
The word Bible means "THE BOOK OF BOOKS'", it contains 66 books and is divided into the OLD and NEW
Testament.
The Old Testament contains 39 books, starting with creation and lasting until Christ came.
The Old testament is made up of books of Law, History, and Prophecy.
The New Testament is divided into 27 books of, Biography, Acts of the apostoles, Letters to individuals and
churches in different cities. Revelation, the last book of the New Testament, is considered prophecy.
Before the giving of the ten commandments, God spoke to the fathers of households directly.
When God promised Abraham that he would make of his seed a great nation, he governed them by
The law of Moses for 1500 years.
When Jesus died on the cross, God gave us a New law for all nations.
and the Old Testament was like a museum we can look at and see how
God dealt with people until Christ died on the cross.
GRANDPA WAS THOUGHTFUL!
"He went to the hospital one night
to see a sinner friend he had not
been able to reach.
The man, beginning to rally from
surgery asked, "Why are the shades pulled?"
The preacher answered, "I asked the nurse to do that, Tom.
You see, there's a fire across the street,
and I didn't want you to think
the operation had been a failure."
"Keep your heart with all diligence,
For out of it spring the issues of life.
Put away from you a deceitful mouth,
And put perverse lips far from you.
Let your eyes look straight ahead,
And your eyelids look right before you.
Ponder the path of your feet,
And let your ways be established.
Do not turn to the right or the left,
Remove your feet from evil."
"By being pure in heart, we can live our lives to the honor and glory of God and avoid many pitfalls".
Byrl Brockman
In Matthew 25: 1 - 13, Jesus tells the story of ten virgins who went out to meet the bridegroom.
Five of these virgins were wise - Five of them were foolish.
The Wise took oil for their lamps at the wedding.
However, the foolish took no oil for their lamps.
The Wise virgins refused to give oil to the foolish.
The foolish virgins went to get oil for their lamps, and when they arrived at the wedding,
the DOOR TO ENTER THE WEDDING WAS SHUT!
In spite of asking the Lord to let them in, they were NOT allowed to come in because
they had not been prepared for the wedding.
We should always be prepared to enter the Kingdom of God. Jesus still calls to the world,
saying to us what he said in Revelation 3:20, "Behold I stand at the door and KNOCK.
If anyone hears MY voice and OPENS the door, I will come unto him and dine with
him, and he with ME!"
Therefore, we should accept the Door that Jesus keeps open and ENTER through it, before
the Door is closed forever.
REMEMBER: The Kingdom of God is for those who believe in Christ and have repented and been baptised into
the BODY of believers.
Byrl Brockman
GRANDPA WAS A FRIEND OF THE OUTCAST AND THE DOWNTRODDEN.One such man had a case in court and grandpa testified in his behalf. While in the witness chair, the opposing attorney began to belittle him, calling him a "cornfield preacher." This he didn't mind until the attorney began to slur religion, and it was then that grandpa decided to teach him to have more respect.
The attorney, sticking both hands in his pockets and leaning backward on a pose of lordship, said, "Aren't you a little out of character here in court?"
Like a flash, grandpa replied, "Aren't you as a lawyer a little out of character,too, standing there with your hands in your pocket?"
It nearly broke up the court; furthermore, the lawyer was almost hurrahed out of town.-------------------------------------
A man of homespun philosophy believed that back bone and grit will make you a winner. He had a very satisfactory explanation of why the lions didn't eat Daniel-----"because most of him was backbone and the rest was grit."
.
." But beloved do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thouand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.
But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and all the works that are in it will be burned up. Therefore since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, . looking for and hastening the comming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire and the elements will melt with fervent heat."
These are words from heaven which remind us that this world is not our eternal home. We are Pilgrims just passing through with our eyes looking to Jesus to let us through the gates into that eternal home of the soul.
Byrl Brockman
Some Bibles have the words of Jesus in red.
In Matthew 5:2-10 we have these precious words of Jesus.
"Then He opened his mouth and taught them saying:
Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
Blessed are the meek , for they shall inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness , for they shall be filled.
Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
Blessed are the peace makers, for they shall be called sons of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of God.
Blessed are you when they revile you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake.
Rejoice and be exceeding glad, for great is your reward in heaven........."
What a great consolation it gives Christians today, to know that this same Jesus still offers us these same blessings as He rules our lives.
Byrl Brockman
In Ephesians 6:4, the apostle Paul wrote by inspiration of the Holy Spirit:
"And you ,fathers, provoke not your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord."
In Ecclesiastes 12:6-7, the wise man Solomon wrote by the inspiration of the same Holy Spirit,"Remember your creator before the silver cord is loosed, or the golden bowl is broken, or the pitcher shattered at the well.Then the dust will return to the earth as it was, and the Spirit will return to God who gave it.'
In verses 13 and 14, he wrote, "Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is man's all. For God will bring every work into judgement, including every secret thing, whether good or evil."
Again, Paul writing in 2 Corinthians 5:10: "For we must all appear before the judgement seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad."
With all of this before us, and the great provision that God has made for us in Christ, we see the importance of permitting the Holy Spirit and using the Word to guide us in the task of giving our children Spiritual training.
Byrl Brockman
"In some places it is best to keep your idenity secret." commented Granpa. He said he went to visit a calloused sinner who detested preachers and as he arrived, he was met by a big dog that didn't know whether to be friendly or to attack.
"Do you think that dog will bite me?" asked grandpa.
"Not unless he finds out you're a preacher responded the belligerent man.
GRANDPA WAS RELUCTANT TO RECOMMEND THREATS, BUT HE DID IN ONE INSTANCE. He had a divorcee to seek his counsel concerning alimony. (that is something one pays for the mistakes of two.) She was afraid her former husband might quit paying, and wanted to know what to do.
Granpa answered: "Threaten him. Tell him that if he does not pay. you will reposess him."
In 1st Peter, chapter 1, according to Albert Barnes"there is something very beautiful in the espression 'Bishop of souls' .
It implies that the soul is the peculiar care of the Saviour; that it is the object of His special interest; and that it is of great value, so great that it is that which mainly deserves regard.
He is the Bishop of the soul in a sense quite distinct from any care which He manifests for the body.
That too, in the proper way, is the object of His care; but that has no importance compared with the soul.
Our care is principally in respect to the body;
The care of the Redeemer has special reference to the soul.".
Isn't it wonderful to know that Christ cares about our SOULS, as well as our other earthly needs?
Byrl Brockman
O that my tongue might so possess
The accents of His tenderness;
That every word I breath might bless.
For those who mourn, a word of cheer;
A word of hope for those who fear;
And a love for all men far and near.
O that it might be said of me;
Surely, thy speech betrayeth thee,
As friend of Christ of Galilee.
Be assured that by our speech, we can be identified as God's' children or people of the world.
Byrl Brockman
O for a faith that will not shrink,
Though pressed by every foe
That will not tremble on the brink
Of any earthly woe.
That will not murmer or complain
Beneath the chast'ning rod
But, in the hour of grief or pain,
Will lean upon its God.
Lord, give us such a faith as this;
And, then whate'er may come,
We'll taste, e'en here, the hallowed bliss
Of an eternal home.
May God grant us the courage to respect His Word so that we can sing this hymn with the Spirit and the understanding.
Byrl Brockman
1. HE LOVES- " Now I beg you ...through the love of the Spirit... "( Romans 15:30).
2. HE WILLS OR MAKES DECISIONS. "Distributing as He wills" (1 Corinthians 12:11).
3. HE SPEAKS. "Now the Spirit expressly says" (1st. Timothy 4:1). (cf. also Acts 8:29; 10:19; 13:2; 21:11;
Hebrews 3:7)
4. The Holy Spirit is always referred to in the MASCULINE GENDER. "However when HE, the Spirit of truth has
come, He will... " (John16:13)
5. He foretells future events. "Agabus stood up and showed by the Spirit that there was going to be a great
famine..." (Acts ll:28)
6. He makes choices. "For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit." (Acts 15:28)
7. He forbids or prevents. "They were forbidden by the Holy Spirit to preach the word in Asia...the Spirit did not
permit them" (Acts 16:6-7)
8. He testifies. (Excepr that the Holy Spirit testifies in every city...(Acts20:23). "It is the Spirit who testifies..."
(1st John 5:6).
9. He leads. "For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are the Sons of God" ( Romans 8:14)
10. He has wisdom. "And they were not able to resist the wisdom and Spirit by which he spoke". (Acts 6:10)
11. He sends. "So being sent out by the Holy Spirit". (Acts 13:4)
12. He warns. "They told Paul through the Spirit not to go uo to Jerusalem." (Acts 21:4). (cf. 21:11)
13. He is a witness. "But the Holy Spirit also witnesses to us..." (Hebrews 10:15)
14. He confesses that, "Jesus Christ has come in the flesh" (1 John 4:2)
" B U I L D I N G"
by
H. L Boring, Sr.
"We are building every day,
In a good or evil way.
And the structure as it grows,
Will our in-most self dis-close.
Till in ev-ery arch and line,
All our faults and failings shine;
It may grow a cas-tle grand,
Or a wreck up-on the sand,
Build it well, what-e'er you do;
Build it straight and strong and true;
Build it clear and high and broad;
Build it for the eve of God.
Longfellow wrote the following lines:
Though the mills of God grind slowly,
Yet they grind exceedingly small:
Though with patience He stands waiting,
With exactness He grinds all.
The apostle Paul wrote, "Be not deceived. God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. He that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption: but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap everlasting life." Galatians 6:7-8 - Could it be that Longfellow got his inspiration by having read this statement written by Paul?
1. One hears the good news of Christ and is convinced that He is truly the Son of God. Mark 16:15
2. This conviction leads to true belief in Jesus to the extent that one desires to obey His will. Mark 16:15-16
3. At this point, man is ready to openly confess that he believes Jesus is God's Son. Matt. 10:32
4. Now, repentance takes place, which is the resolve to quit letting sin rule in his life. Luke 13:3; Acts 2:38
5 Following repentance, one, humbly, submits to baptism. This is faith in action which responds to the Lord's
promise of his NEW LIFE IN CHRIST. Rom. 6:3-4.
6. This new life is the beginniing of a glorious relationship with Christ, as the center of every decision he
makes. Titus 2:11-12.
1. Come unto me, His voice is sweetly calling. The years have passed, and it is now time to come to your home.
2. The years have passed with joy, but also with sadness. Trials have come and put me to the test but in the end, I put my trust in Christ. He is my hope; In Him I feel so blessed.
3. There is just one more step and then, there will be no more tomorrows. They will be left behind but they will face me some day. I only pray that He will show me mercy because I have sined and at times have lost The Way.
4 "Come to Me" the voice is sweetly calling, Come and stand with me in the opened door of glory.
The tears that have flowed with sadness have been left behind. Let me be with you so that I will not be alone.
1. He has delivered us from the power of darkness. 2. He has translated us into the kingdom of His
Son. 3 In Christ we are redeemed through His blood and have the forgivness of sins. 4.Jesus is the image of the
invisable God. 5. By Jesus all things were created. 6. He, Jesus, is before all things. 7. Jesus keeps all things
together. 8. Jesus is the head of the body, the church or assembly. 9. Jesus died that we might be freed from the
bondage of sin which separated us from God. 10. Through Christ we have the means of receiving the forgivness of
our sins so that we can live before God as holy and blameless and above reproach in His sight. Colossians 1.
These blessings are offered to all who will humble themselves and surrender to the will of God. Mk. 16:15-16
1. First day, the separation of light and darkness, resulting in the beginning of day and night.
2. Second day, the firmament and dividing the waters.
3. Third day, vegetation, land appeared and lakes formed.
4 .Fourth day, sun and lights set to rule.
5. Fifth day, water, animals and fowls.
6 .Sixth day ,man, land and animals.
7 . Seventh day, God rested from his labor
