October 2007 Archives

               "YES, JESUS KNOWS"

"O heart bowed down with despair and grief,

   Look up to better lands;

'Tis Christ, the Master, now calling you,   

   He knows and understands.

Let Him who passed thru Gethsemane

  Now hold your trembling hand;

He'll lift you up to the Father's love,

   He knows and understands.

He knows the sorrows, the lonely hours,

   The loss that death demands,

He hears your cries through the lonely night,

   Yes, Jesus understands.

Yes, Jesus knows the burdens you bear,

   Yes Jesus knows each sorrow and each care;

He bids you to hold His strong and mighty hand,

   Trust all to Jesus, He knows  and understands."

Man need not bear his burdens alone when Jesus

is always near to help us along live's way.

Byrl Brockman

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  THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN LIGHT AND DARKNESS

In Colossians 1:13 Paul writes concerning Jesus and

   His work. "...Who hath delivered us from the power

of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of

his dear son."

Let us think of the darkness that covered the world

   before Jesus came to give us light! Though some were

enlightened by the Old Testament, it took the coming

   Of Christ to completely enlighten the world regarding

the plan of God, which He had  before the world was

   made. How great our darkness would have been had

God not spoken to man. God's glorious light is seen in 

   Jesus Christ. We may walk in that light, or close our

eyes to its glories. (Hebrews 1:1-2).

    May we have the courage to humbly accept Jesus

as God's spokesman for our eternal welfare.

Byrl Brockman

             RISK LOOKING STUPID

"Noah built a boat in his front yard before

   anyone knew what a "flood" really was.

Moses "freed " the people of Israel leading

   them to the edge of the impassable Red

Sea. David with a slingshot and some rocks

   --volunteered to fight Goliath- a supersized

warrior.

 Joshua told his troops they would defeat

   Jerico by marching around the city walls for six

days while blowing horns. Jesus put some

   mud on the eyes of a blind man and

proclaimed the man could see. There had to

   have been some snickers. The murmer of

akeptics. A few whispers among the crowd

   that voiced what others were thinking--

"This is really a stupid idea."

If you want to become the person God designed

   you to be, you need to risk looking stupid

every once in a while. Those in the Bible who

   did exactly that, accomplished some amazing

things. But they also picked up a lot of criticism,

   and even a few enemies, along the way. That's

because going against the grain of accepted

   wisdom and public opinion--- even when you

believe that God is leading you to do so---

   isn't easy. It takes humility, and faith. And the

results may not be what you expect. What's

   considered a "success"  in heaven may still be

labeled a "failure" here on earth.

But don't let that stop you from attempting what

   others may view as "stupid things." Welcome

disabled foster child into your home. Talk to the

   atheist next door about your relationship with

God. Accept the job with the smaller salary but

   bigger eternal dividens. Forgive the wrong

that seems unforgivable. Risk doing what God

   wants you to do, even when the task far

surpasses your own abilities. If it didn't, others

   might miss out on catching a glimpse of God's

invisible hand at work. And you could miss out

   on taking part in the adventure of a life time."

                 WHAT IS YOUR NAME?

The Indians give their children the name they

   had earned. Thus some girl would be called

"Laughing Water", "Sunshine", "Timid One". A boy

   might be named "Running Feet", "Wise Owl", or 

'Black Hawk'.Suppose God gave each of His

   children the name he has earned? What

your name be?

"Helping Hand", "Faithful Teacher", "Lively Stones",

   "Generous Heart", etc. But on the other hand,

there would be many wearing such names as

   "Unreliable", "Shriker", "Evil Tongue", "Black Heart",

"Lukewarm", "Stingy Giver" etc,.What would yours be?

                 THE MOST IMPORTANT TRAINING

"Socrates said over 2,000 years ago: "Could I climb to the

   highest place in Athens, I would lift my voice and proclaim;

Fellow citizens, why do you turn and scrap every stone

    to gather wealth and take so little care of your children

to whom one day you must relinquish it all. "

We are concerned about the little training in the Bible which

   the children in America are receiving. We do not claim to

know exactly how it can be done in every instance, but we are 

   commited to the proposition that America's greatest need

is spiritual rather than material. We believe we must restore

   God to the central place in our training program for children.

If God is our creator, if He is our father, if He is the one that

   sustains us, and gives us every blessing, then we cannot

understand anything in His universe apart from Him,

   everything relates to Him. We came from Him. We live to

fulfill His purpose for us. We shall face Him in the judgment.

    He cannot be ignored or religated to the periphery of

our life with impunity."

                      "I saw tomorrow look at me

                        from little children's eyes,

                     and thought how carefully we

                        would teach

                     if we were really wise."

There is a saying; "The hand that rocks the cradle rules the world."

                        THE SOLDIER OF THE CROSS

In Ephesians  (6:10-20), Paul compares the soldier of the

   cross with the soldier in the military. It is interesting

how in the Bible, material things are used to illustrate

    spiritual truths. Jesus taught many good lessons

using different persons, places, and things to give

    the hearer a clear  understanding of spiritual truths.

As Paul wrote to the Ephesians and compared a

   soldier's life in the military to the life of the

Christian, let us think about the prerequisites of a good

   soldier.

A good soldier must love the cause for which he is

   fighting. A soldier of Christ must love the cause for

which he is fighting. We are God's army fighting against

   Satan and his ways. This we do in view of what Jesus

did in our behalf on the cross. (John 3:16-17). Yes we

   love Jesus and his cause because He first loved us.

(1John 4:19) This enables us to fight the good fight

   of faith and to lay hold on eternal life.

The good soldier must have faith in his leader.

    Jesus is refered to as the captain of our

salvation. In view of what He has done for us

    willingly;  how can we not have faith in

this Captain who leads us in this battle against sin? 

A good soldier must have faith in his comrades.

   One of the greatest blessings we have is to have 

faithful brothers and sisters to build up our morale

   in order to continue to fight the spiritual battle.

A good soldier must have hope of victory.  If we 

   have real faith in Jesus we WILL overcome the

devil and the devil's angels that fight against us.

Are you a Soldier of the Cross?

 Byrl Brockman

            BEYOND THE SUNSET

 "Beyond the sunset's radiant glow,

     There is a better world, I know,

Where golden glories ever shine,

     Beyond the thought of day's decline.

Beyond the sunset's purple rim,

    Beyond the twilight deep and dim,

Where clouds and darkness never come,

    My soul shall find its heavenly home.

Beyond this desert dark and drear,

    The golden city will appear,

And morning's lovely beams arise,

     Upon my mansion in the skies.

Those golden portals ever shine,

    Byond the reach of day's decline,

And Jesus bids my soul prepare,

    To gain a happy entrance there.

Beyond the sunset's radiant glow,

    There is a better world I know,

Beyond the the sunset  I may spend,

     Delightful days that never end."

J. Pollard/W. O. Perkins

What a wonderful hope Christians have

as they finish their earthly existence.

May we have the same confidence that

David had when he wrote, " Surley

goodness and mercy shall follow me all

the days of my life; AND I WILL DWELL

IN THE HOUSE OF THE LORD FOREVER."

(Psalms 23:6)

Byrl Brockman

              "FASTEN YOUR SEAT BELTS"

"Your final destination is secure. However, you do have

some control over whether the journey you'll take to

get there will be bumpy or smooth. The difference

depends on the choices you make every day. not every

choice is a clear-cut right or wrong. Some choices are

simply wise or unwise. Being wise about the choices

you make  concerning the care of your body, mind, and

spirit will affect the "road conditions" of your life.

Though you are in God's care, you also have a

responsibility to care for yourself. When it comes to

your body you know the basics: Fasten your seat

belt. Wear sunscreen. Watch your weight. Don't 

drink and drive. Exercise. Get enough sleep. Have

regular checkups. It's not that taking care of your

body is difficult, but it is something that needs

ongoing attention. Your body is amazingly 

complex and it's parts are interdependent.

Neglecting one area of preventative health care

or personal safety can have consequences that

affect the over all well-being of your entire

body, and therefore your life.

The same goes for your mind and spirit . Make

choices that draw you closer to God instead

of those that push you away from Him. Fill your

mind with good things--things that are wholesome,

honorable, and beautiful. Carefully select the

movies you watch and the books you read. If

anxiety or depression begins to pull your mind in

unhealthly directions, get some help from a

physician or mental health professional. Keep

your spirit healthy by wisely choosing to spend

time with your loving heavenly Father. Ponder

and apply what you read in the Bible. Develop

spiritual support and a spirit of community by

being involved in a local church. Every choice

you make as to the care of or neglect of your body,

mind, and spirit has a consequence.  Paving that

road with positive consequences will assure you

a smoother and more enjoyable journey to your

final destination."

David Borden/Tom Winters

                  "CHRIST OUR DELIVERER"

"Jehovah thy God will raise up unto thee a prophet from

the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto Him

shall ye harken.... I will raise them up a prophet from

among their brethren, like unto thee; and I will put my

words in His mouth, and He shall speak unto them all

that I shall command Him. And it shall come to pass that

whosoever will not harken to my words which he shall 

speak in My name, I will require it of him." (Deut. l8:l5-l9)

"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only

begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on Him should 

not perish, but have eternal life.. For God sent not His

Son into the world to judge the world, but that the

world should be saved through Him." (John 3:l6-l7)

"If therefore the son shall make you free, ye shall be

free indeed." (John 8:36)

Jesus took upon himself the nature of man "that

through death He might bring to naught him that

had the power of death, that is, the devil; and

might deliver all of them who through their fear

of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage"

(Hebrews 2:14-15).

"The world to-day is burdened with dishonesty,

immorality, robbery, murder -- with sins of every kind;

in Jesus alone is there hope of deliverance."

     HOW WILL I BE JUDGED IN THE DAY OF JUDGMENT?

"In answer to this thought provoking question, let me first say

   first of all that that you shall be judged impartially. The

Bible firmly teaches that each one shall stand on level

   ground in the last great day. There will be no favoritisms

on the part of God as he brings to light  every work we

   have performed in this life and he will lay even bare

the secret things -- whether they be good or evil. (Eccl.

   12:14) Regardless of a man's position in this life,

whether rich or poor, small or great, the standard   

   judgement will be the same for all. (Rev. 20:12)

Secondly, you will be judged mercifully. The Word of

   God certainly teaches us that Jehovah is merciful and

longsuffering. . In fact, 2 Peter 2:9 afirms that, "He is 

   not willing that any should perish, but that all should

come to repentance. " In the last day, the loving

   Father , will be as merciful as He can consistently

be, in harmony with His divine will.

Let me suggest in the third place, that you will be

   judged in a just manner.

when we stand before the Omnopotent Judge, we

   shall be measured justly. Many people confuse God's

mercy and His judgment. The creator could not be a

   just Judge and save everyone because this would do

violence to His revealed law. Therefore, we need to

   obey our merciful Father so that we can stand

redeemed--- and not lost--- when He sits as our just

  judge one day.

In the fourth place, we shall be judged by the

   Word of the Lord: In John 12:48 Jesus said,

"The word I have spoken, the same shall judge

   him in the last day." This passage teaches us that

the standard of judgement will  be the law of the

   Lord and not the creed books of men, the

decisions of some convention, latter day

   revelations, or our own feelings. Friend, it is

imperative that we obey the commands of

   Christ. (Rev. 22:14)

Last of all, the Bible teaches us that we shall

   be judged individually. In that eventful moment,

we cannot hide behind our mother, the preacher,

   or our friends. We will not be able to hide

behind a hypocrite, or even the thief on the cross.!

   Romans 14:12 proclaims that ,"each one shall

give account of himself to God." Therefore, the

   important question is this; Are you a Christian?

Are you ready for the judgement day?"

            EMBRACE THE PRICKLY PARTS OF LIFE

Living life to the fullest sounds like a good philosophy--when

life is going well. But who wants to "seize the day" when the

day you are supposed to wrap your arms around is as prickely

as a desert saguaro? If every day is a gift, some of them seem 

to be better unopened. The day you loose your job. The day

you get bad news from the doctor's office. The day your

fiance breaks up with you, The day you are in a five-car pileup.

The day that someone departs for heaven, leaving you and

your broken heart behind.

The truth is that there are going to be painful days on the way

to heaven. Whether the pain is emotional, financial, physical,

or spiritual dosen't matter. Pain is pain. However, pain can be

beneficial--and can be transformed into something beautiful.=

if you let it. It all depends on what you choose to do with it.

Instead of fearing it, denying it, getting  angry over it,

complaining abouit it, or playing the martyr over it, be brave

enough to enter into it. But don't go there alone. God is near.

He is compasionate. He is powerful. His arms are big enough

to hold both you and your pain long enough, and close enough.

not only for you to heal, but to learn lessons that only pain

can teach.

Pain forces you to get back to basics. It reminds you of

what is really important in life. It helps you to appreciate the

treasure that an ordinary, uneventful day can hold. It opens

your eyes to how God does bring good out of even  the most

tragic situations. It helps you to empathise with others who

have walked simular dark roads. And it reminds you that one

day the pain of this world will be behind you. Until then,

don't wast the pain that comes your way. Learn from it.

Embrace it with one hand while holding tightly to God with

the other."

David Bordon/TomWinters

                           LIVING A LIE

          Many people live a miserable life because

         of  living a lie or constantly lying. Those

        who live  and practice lying will           

        find themselves condemned to live in hell

        eternally.  (Revelation. 22:14-15) (Revelation

         21:8)        

      "Truth is always consistent with itself, and

          needs nothing to help it out.  It is always

      near at hand, sits upon our lips, and is ready

          to drop out before we are aware. A lie is

      troublesome,  and sets man's invention upon

          the rack, and one lie needs many more

      to make it good. It is like building upon a false

          foundation, which continually stands in

      need of props to shore it up , and proves at

          last more changeable than to have raised a 

     substantial building at first upon a true and

         firm foundation." --(ADDISON)

     "A lie that is half truth is ever a black lie"

      (TENNYSON)

     "One lie engenders another. Once  told

        the liar has to go on in his course of

     lying; it is the penalty of his lying"

    (F. JACOX)

It is very evident as we study the Bible, that

God expects us to always be truthful in all that we say

and do.

Byrl Brockman

                                 "PURE IN HEART, O GOD"

                       "Pure in heart, O God, help me to be;

                           May I devote my life wholly to thee.

                       Watch Thou my wayward feet,

                           Guide me in counsel sweet;

                       Purer in heart, help me to be.

                       Purer in heart, O God, help me to be;

                          Teach me to do thy will, most lovingly.

                       Be Thou my friend and guide,

                           Let me with thee abide;

                       Purer in heart, help me to be.

                       Purer in heart, O God, help me to be;

                           That I Thy holy face one day may see.

                       Keep me from secret sin,

                            Reign Thou my soul within;

                       Purer in heart, help me to be."

Mrs. A. I. Davison/J. F. Filmore

 As we feed our bodies we should, also, feed our minds.

 It is so important not to give our minds a diet of destructive

 material. We should feed our minds a  diet of good clean

reading materials and positive things. especially giving  time for a

prayerful reading of the Bible,  "GOD'S WORD".

Byrl Brockman