Bulletin for 3-27-22

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Birthdays and Anniversaries:

3-29 Luis Camacho

Prayer requests:

Darlyne Stewart, Karl’s sister, her cancer seems to be under control for the moment.

Shirley Weeks, Steve’s mom, is not well.

Sharon Best, Steven’s mom, still recovering from surgery.

Sarah, Chris Girvin’s sister, on hospice care

Eleuterio Oviedo recovering from knee replacement surgery

Doris Coley, regular listener, also recovering from knee surgery.

Robert and Sue Waller, health issues.

David Shaffer, being treated for leukemia.

Darla Nitti, Wendi’s mom, stage 4 kidney disease, stroke. New living situation!

Leta, has a recurring cancer, prayer request from her granddaughter via our website.

Tammy Jones, Weeks’ neighbor, kidney failure/dialysis

Condolences and Sympathy:

Kay Sweat, Wendi Camacho’s aunt, passed away. Please keep this family in your prayers!

If you have more prayer requests, just message or text Steve and we will update!

Article:

Reasons or excuses?

“But he said to him, ‘A man was giving a big dinner, and he invited many; and at the dinner hour he sent his slave to say to those who had been invited, ‘Come; for everything is ready now.’ But they all alike began to make excuses” (Luke 14:16-18a, NASB).

Jesus’ parable of the dinner to which no one wanted to come is well known to many of us. When the original guests were summoned, they asked to be excused based on sudden new circumstances. One needed to examine a new property; another wanted to try out teams of oxen; and the third one had just gotten married.

The host was offended and became very angry. He invited the common and poor people of the region to replace those who had treated his invitation with contempt. Jesus’ point is fairly obvious and its application to the Jewish leaders who were rejecting him is very appropriate. Other lessons may also be derived by considering the nature of the offered excuses and similar language in the Law of Moses.

In Moses’ review of the Law given on Mount Sinai to the people of Israel, he identifies those who should not be compelled to go to battle when Israel went to war (Deuteronomy 20:5-9). Those include:

  • the man who has built a house but not yet dedicated it
  • the man who has planted a vineyard and not yet harvested its grapes
  • the man who is engaged but not yet married
  • the man who is faint-hearted and afraid

There is much similarity between the excuses offered by the invited guests, and the reasons for allowing someone to avoid conscription to the army. Both lists include new endeavors and new relationships. But in the parable of Jesus these are unacceptable excuses. In the Law of Moses they were justifiable reasons. What made the difference?

One difference is in the kind of commitment required. A man going to war was asked to risk his life for an unknown, but probably extended period of time. If he had begun a substantial enterprise but not yet completed it nor reaped the benefit of his labors, he was excused until a later time when those things had been finished. In the case of the prospective dinner guests, they were committed only to a single meal, in which there was no danger or cost to them.

I believe that Jesus used the excuses he chose in part because of that very difference. By offering them the guests were indicating their opinion of the host and his dinner. It was not a privilege and pleasure in their opinion, but an onerous duty which they would prefer to avoid. No wonder the host was offended.

Does this attitude not surface today in many people’s reaction to religion? How often do we hear, “I know I should go to church, but …?” Religion is too frequently presented as duty and obligation, which offers little real benefit or pleasure, at least in this material life. Its rewards are delayed — what some have called “pie in the sky by and by” — and therefore less desirable than those pleasures we might enjoy right now.

Jesus rightly identified the Jewish leaderships rejection of Messianic prophecy and the Kingdom of God which it envisioned. They much preferred their own status and success within the system of their time. The invited guests of the parable were saying to their hosts, “leave us alone to do what we like; we are not interested in your dinner.” Jesus applied that same sentiments to his audience and their attitude toward God.

God’s reaction was the same as the parable’s host. “If you don’t want my dinner (or kingdom), I will offer it to those who do.” No matter how many in our day turn away from faith in God and refuse his Word, there will always be those who are hungry and thirsty for righteousness, who will hear, believe, and obey God’s word and receive his blessings. Let us continue to search for them and invite them to the feast.

Michael Brooks, link to original article

Bulletin for 3-20-22

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Birthdays and Anniversaries:

 

Prayer requests:

Darlyne Stewart, Karl’s sister, her cancer seems to be under control for the moment.

Shirley Weeks, Steve’s mom, is not well.

Sharon Best, Steven’s mom, still recovering from surgery.

Sarah, Chris Girvin’s sister, on hospice care

Eleuterio Oviedo recovering from knee replacement surgery

Doris Coley, regular listener, also recovering from knee surgery.

Robert and Sue Waller, health issues.

David Shaffer, being treated for leukemia.

Darla Nitti, Wendi’s mom, stage 4 kidney disease, stroke.

Leta, has a recurring cancer, prayer request from her granddaughter via our website.

Tammy Jones, Weeks’ neighbor, kidney failure/dialysis

Condolences and Sympathy:

Marilyn Jones services were held yesterday, keep Karl in your prayers.

If you have more prayer requests, just message or text Steve and we will update!

Article:

Expectation of judgment

What kind of a judgment do you expect?

In some lands people can expect injustice. They know that the state is corrupt and the judicial system is a farce. In other places the judicial system is built on noble ideas, but local corruption or animosity may sway judgment. In most countries the quality of judgment has varied by area and time throughout that nation’s history.

The quality of earthly judgments is determined, in part, by the quality of the written law, the quality of those applying and enforcing the laws, and the quality of those involved in the determining of guilt. (No doubt there are more variables than these.) Easily we can see that an unjust law, or an incompetent official, or a biased judge or jury, can greatly impact the quality of the judgments rendered.

We should strive for the ideal, but we must still grapple with the practical reality that we are flawed human beings.

While many of us will never appear before a judge or a magistrate, or be tried by a panel of our peers, “we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ” (2 Corinthians 5:10 ESV). There will come a day when when every knee will bow and every tongue will praise God and each of us will give an account of himself to God (see Romans 14:11, 12).

The Hebrews writer states that if Christians continue walking in sin, they cannot look forward to another sacrifice to save them. What they can expect — and fearfully so — is judgment (Hebrews 10:27). What type of judgment should we expect?

Do we expect a flawed judgment where either by ignorance, incompetence, or intentional action we are misjudged? Will we cry foul and seek appeals? No! And let us thank God for that.

While either the appearance of misjustice, or the actuality of it, is far too common in the world, neither will be present in the judgment that comes at the end of the world.

That judgment will be without controversy, for the sitting judge is also the very author of life, the creator and sustainer of it, and the one sent to save it. His righteousness has been on display since creation in every century of human existence, and in every corner of nature.

Abraham’s piercing question, “Shall not the judge of all the earth do what is just?” (Genesis 18:25), demonstrates the necessity of this great Judge to be just, to be righteous. As important as it is for a judge over temporal matters to be right it is infinitely more imperative that the Judge over eternal matters is righteous.

Paul argues for God’s righteousness in Romans 3, in light of the Gentiles being welcomed and some Jews condemned. If God is unrighteous in a temporal judgment, as some might allege, Paul states that would disqualify him from judging the world (Romans 3:6). Praise God that he is a “righteous judge” (Psalm 7:11), who judges the world with righteousness (Psalm 9:8).

He who loves all, sees all, and can discern the thoughts and intentions of the heart (Hebrews 4:12). That should be a comfort to us that our fleeting thoughts are looked upon differently than those we ponder and wish to realize. The Lord will “bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart” (1 Corinthians 4:5).

Perhaps this is terrifying. Let us also realize that the judge on that day will be the Son of Man (2 Corinthians 5:10; Acts 17:31). While he will judge righteously, he also wishes to be merciful. We can be “justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus” (Romans 3:24). For God is both just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus (Romans 3:26).

Who can stand confidently before the judgment of God? Those who are justified in Jesus.

“Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing” (2 Timothy 4:8).

The standard is clear, the Judge is just. A righteous judgment awaits us all.

Lee Parish, link to original article

Bulletin for 3-13-22

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Birthdays and Anniversaries:

3-16 Karl & Marilyn Jones

Prayer requests:

Marilyn Jones went to her reward Saturday morning about 5:35. Services pending. Keep Karl in your prayers!

Darlyne Stewart, Karl’s sister, her cancer seems to be under control for the moment.

Shirley Weeks, Steve’s mom, is not well.

Sharon Best, Steven’s mom, still recovering from surgery.

Sarah, Chris Girvin’s sister, on hospice care

Eleuterio Oviedo recovering from knee replacement surgery

Doris Coley, regular listener, also recovering from knee surgery.

Gary & Sally Nelson, Gary’s dental surgery went well.

Robert and Sue Waller, health issues.

David Shaffer, being treated for leukemia.

Darla Nitti, Wendi’s mom, stage 4 kidney disease, stroke.

Leta, has a recurring cancer, prayer request from her granddaughter via our website.

Condolences and Sympathy:

Marilyn Jones, keep Karl in your prayers.

If you have more prayer requests, just message or text Steve and we will update!

Article:

Judges with evil motives

“My brethren, do not hold your faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ with an attitude of personal favoritism. For if a man comes into your assembly with a gold ring and dressed in fine clothes, and there also comes in a poor man in dirty clothes, and you pay special attention to the one who is wearing the fine clothes, and say, ‘You sit here in a good place,’ and you say to the poor man, ‘You stand over there, or sit down by my footstool,’ have you not made distinctions among yourselves, and become judges with evil motives?” (James 2:1-4 NASB).

When we consider the Biblical teaching about judging others, we often fail to consider what one could call inadvertent or unconscious judgment. Our fundamental attitudes, which we base our behavior upon, frequently include pre-judging, or as we most often term it, “prejudice.” Etymologically, prejudice is the act of making a decision before considering all of the facts. More practically, as used in our society, it is the set of convictions which we hold which determines our interactions with others. Racial and social prejudices are only some of those.

James’ condemnation of prejudice against certain social classes is a practical application of Jesus’ command, “Do not judge so that you will not be judged” (Matthew 7:1). To practice favoritism on the basis of social class, economics, or race (among many other distinguishing features) is to judge unjustly.

Some such prejudices are obvious and widely disapproved in modern society. Others may be more subtle. One’s accent, style of dress, occupation, or almost any other distinctive feature may mark him as less acceptable or of lower “quality” in the eyes of some. We remember the ethnic jokes so popular a few decades ago, and the “Irish need not apply” signs that were said to be prevalent in parts of the U.S. in the nineteenth century.

The pervasive danger of such judgments is the ease with which they can become ingrained in a person, group, or entire culture. For example, people of Jewish heritage have suffered persecution including genocidal pogroms over much of the world for centuries. During the Spanish Inquisition many faithful Christians were imprisoned and killed because they were Jewish, even when their conversion was obviously sincere. Anti-Semitism has flourished almost without thought or intention on the part of millions. It simply seems to be the way things are.

But whatever the prejudice, it is wrong, anti-Christian, and ungodly. “Love your neighbor as yourself” is not limited to those in the same town or region, or to those who look like ourselves.

In the parable of the Good Samaritan, told to apply the command to love one’s neighbor, the one who was a good neighbor was of different ethnicity and of a despised social order. But he was the neighbor, not the religious officials of the same ethnic group and nationality who ignored the needs of the man who was beaten and robbed (Luke 10:30-37).

Sometimes we need to be reminded of the lesson taught by Paul in his sermon in Athens:

“He (that is, God) made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their habitation” (Acts 17:26).

All humans are God’s children, made after his image. To practice favoritism or discrimination is to challenge God’s love for his whole creation. It is to judge by a standard which we could not bear to have applied to ourselves. James declared that those who do this dishonor those whom they judge, and, even worse, they blaspheme Jesus Christ (James 2:6-7).

Bulletin for 3-6-22

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Birthdays and Anniversaries:

3-6 Gladys Ramirez

3-8 Dena Weeks

Prayer requests:

Kennedi Reames, recovering from thyroid surgery.

Marilyn Jones is at Lakepointe Hospital. Brain tumors are causing breathing issues. Pray hard.

Darlyne Stewart, Karl’s sister, her cancer seems to be under control for the moment.

Shirley Weeks, Steve’s mom, is not well.

Sharon Best, Steven’s mom, still recovering from surgery.

Sarah, Chris Girvin’s sister, on hospice care

Eleuterio Oviedo recovering from knee replacement surgery

Doris Coley, regular listener, also recovering from knee surgery.

Gary & Sally Nelson, Gary’s dental surgery Thursday.

Robert and Sue Waller, health issues.

David Shaffer, being treated for leukemia, bone marrow transplant.

Darla Nitti, Wendi’s mom, stage 4 kidney disease, stroke.

Leta, has a recurring cancer, prayer request from her granddaughter via our website.

Condolences and Sympathy:

Charles Couch passed away last week. Also, another classmate of Steve’s, Benny Garner, passed away.

If you have more prayer requests, just message or text Steve and we will update!

Article:

The pilgrim’s place

The founder of Forthright has lived in Brazil since 1984. Current regular contributors to this publication live and work in countries in Asia, Europe, North America, and South America. Though published in English, one might say that this is an international affair.

Yet in a very real way that is a misnomer. While the writers — and readers — of Forthright live in various places all over this globe, as Christians we are all citizens of the same country.

There have been many good articles written about our pilgrimage on this earth. You can see some of them here

In one very real sense, Christians are all wanderers, exiles, pilgrims. We are strangers in a strange land (see 1 Peter 2:11). God’s people have a history of being strangers.

Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob lived in tents in a foreign land.

“These all died in faith, not having received the things promised but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth” (Hebrews 11:13).

David claimed the mantle of a sojourner or “foreign resident” (Psalm 39:12; Psalm 119:19).

Perhaps the best preparation for the Christian exile is that of the Babylonian captivity. All those carried away lived in exile in a foreign land (see Jeremiah 29:1).

While the New Testament makes clear that Christians are strangers on earth, we are not hopelessly homeless.

Paul wrote to the saints in Ephesus who were once connected with the kingdoms of this world but disconnected from the kingdom of God.

“Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called “the uncircumcision” by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands—remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world” (Ephesians 2:11, 12).

Those who are not a part of God’s kingdom today share the same designation as those in Ephesus before they came to Christ. They are citizens of the kingdoms of men, but aliens to the eternal kingdom.

“So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God” (Ephesians 2:19).

What happened?

They have been brought near by the blood of Christ (Ephesians 2:13), who gave them access to the Father (Ephesians 2:18). They were delivered from the domain of darkness and transferred to the kingdom of the Father’s beloved Son (Colossians 1:13).

Those who were once at home on earth, have found a new home. Note the contrast in Colossians 1:13 (ESV, LEB), between the “domain of darkness” and the “kingdom” of his beloved son.

From an earthly perspective, Christians are sojourners, pilgrims, exiles, and aliens. But from a heavenly perspective, we are fellow citizens with the saints, part of the everlasting kingdom of the Most High (see Daniel 7:13, 14, 27).

Contemplate for a moment the implications of this phrase, “fellow citizens with the saints.”

This means that I am connected to the fellow saints who contribute to Forthright, not in some nebulous or tenuous way, but we are fellow citizens of the same kingdom!

Christians all over the world, in every country where they may be found, are joined into one everlasting kingdom.

“It shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the house of the LORD shall be established as the highest of the mountains, and it shall be lifted up above the hills; and peoples shall flow to it, and many nations shall come, and say: “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob, that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths.” For out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. He shall judge between many peoples, and shall decide disputes for strong nations far away; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore; but they shall sit every man under his vine and under his fig tree, and no one shall make them afraid, for the mouth of the LORD of hosts has spoken. For all the peoples walk each in the name of its god, but we will walk in the name of the LORD our God forever and ever” (Micah 4:1-5).

The prophet’s vision of this great kingdom is a reality.  May it press upon our minds and sink deep within our hearts.

Lee Parish, link to original article