Time to Renew!


After a long, challenging winter, praise God that the spring season is in full swing! People are outside working in their yards, or doing spring cleaning in their homes. Trees, plants and flowers are green and growing more colorful by the day. God has allowed nature to renew itself once again.

This season should also bring to our minds thoughts of spiritual renewal - a time to grow in Christ and bring fruit for His kingdom.

When we obeyed the gospel and became Christians, we were instructed to put off the old man (person) and be renewed in the spirit of our minds (Ephesians 4:22-24). In addition, God intends that we grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (2 Pet. 3:18).

Living as a Christian can be overwhelming at times, especially when combined with the temptations and stresses of everyday life. But Paul reminds us, “...we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day.” (2 Corinthians 4:16).

Just as trees put out new leaves, birds build new nests and the grass is grows greener, we can enjoy spiritual renewal day by day!


"For lo, the winter is past, The rain is over and gone. The flowers appear on the earth; The time of singing has come, And the voice of the turtledove
Is heard in our land" (Song of Solomon 2:11-12).


Jesus FIRST!

Dennis

​Growing Conditions
(Revised, byJay Launius)

 
Years ago a friend gave my wife and me some saw tooth oak seedlings that he brought back
from Arkansas. We immediately set about planting them around our house.

One tree was planted in our back yard near where we burn accumulated brush once or twice a year. Another was planted in front near where an old railroad line used to run.


The tree planted out back, where the soil is rich with ashes and plant material, began to growing quickly. But the tree in the front, planted in the rocks and clay, didn't seem to grow at all.

After several years the tree in the back is nearly 35 feet tall, while the tree in the front is just over 10 feet, even though the trees were
planted on the same day.
 

Jesus told a a parable about different types of soil in Matthew 13. He explained that the potential growth of the seeds is dependent on the quality of the soil. Rich, healthy soil produces fruitful plants, while less desirable soil produces little or nothing.

Our spiritual growth is largely dependent upon our daily habits Are we feeding our souls daily with God’s word? Are we saturating our lives with perpetual prayer? Are we taking every opportunity to assemble with the saints in order to receive spiritual encouragement?

Or are we stunting our spiritual growth by neglect and over exposure to things of the world?

We all want to be spiritually strong and produce fruit for the kingdom of God. But it all depends on the type of soil we choose to be. Choose wisely, and you will be blessed!


Jesus FIRST!

Dennis

OBITUARY OF JESUS CHRIST  
   
Jesus of Nazareth, age 33, died Friday on Mount Calvary, also called Golgotha. Following a preliminary trial by Jewish leaders, He appeared before Governor Pilate for an official verdict and sentencing. Following unsuccessful attempts to release Jesus, Pilate eventually deferred to the Jews and sentenced Jesus to death by crucifixion.
   
Prior to reaching Golgotha – “place of a skull", Jesus was subjected to extraordinary physical and verbal abuse. However, He never resisted and was generally silent. Even after being nailed to a cross, He displayed mercy instead of malice towards those responsible for His horrendous fate.
   
Jesus lasted six hours, remarkable considering His depleted physical condition. He finally succumbed to apparent heart failure induced by physical trauma, loss of blood, shock and asphyxiation.
   
Jesus was born in Bethlehem, Judea. He was from the tribe of Judah, and a descendent of King David. He was the assumed son of Joseph*, a carpenter from Nazareth - and Mary. (*He insisted that God was His Father.) His mother, several brothers, sisters, and devoted followers survive him.
   
For the last three years of his life, Jesus was an itinerant preacher, promoting His kingdom and salvation for its citizens. It is reported that He healed thousands of diseased or crippled people. Some allege that He stilled storms and even walked on water. Reports have also circulated that He raised several people from the dead.
   
Following His death, Jesus' corpse was buried in a grave donated by Joseph of Arimathea. Because of rumored predictions that He would rise from His grave, Jewish leaders were authorized to make the grave secure. A large stone (to which the Roman seal was affixed) blocked the entrance, with soldiers guarding the area.
   
UPDATE - The third day following His death, Jesus tomb was found empty. No explanation has been determined, save for Jesus' claim that He would rise from the grave. His dosciples insist that He now resides in Heaven, and is preparing homes for His followers.
   
“...if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also” (John 14:3).  
   
Jesus FIRST!  
   
Dennis

Snakes in the Church?
(Revised, by Jay Launius, Maud church of Christ)

I recently noticed a meme on Facebook that said, “Not all snakes crawl – Some sit in
church.” I was initially shocked that someone would say that about some people in the church. But after some consideration, it occurred to me that the statement is true of all churches.


For example, some people in the church are not exactly honest, others are habitual drinkers, some harbor grudges, and others routinely use profanity or practice some other ungodly habit.


This is not unique to current day churches. There are many examples of such people in the New Testament. Just read the book of 1st Corinthians. Moreover, Paul wrote that, “Demas has forsaken me,  having loved this present world.” (2 Tim. 4:10). Then there was Diotrephes, who loved to have superiority among the brethren and throw people out of the church. (3 John 9-10). Timothy was warned of liars and hypocrites in the church (1 Tim. 4:1-3). Many additional examples could be cited.

Yes, there have always been snakes in the church. So, should we eliminate the snakes? By no means; the church may be the best place for them. In Mark 2:15-17, Jesus went to Levi’s house for a meal, and the other guests included tax collectors and sinners. Jesus was criticized by Jewish leaders for socializing with such people. He answered by saying, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.”

Some Christians have the mistaken idea that the Lord's church is to be filled with perfect people. If this is true, not one of us can be a part of the church. All of us still make mistakes, and it is only by the grace of God that we have the privilege of being in His family.

Although some people in the church are less perfect than others, that is right where they need to be, including me.

Jesus FIRST!

Dennis

Are We Searching?  
   
It was a beautiful day for the annual fall bazaar in Delmar Springs CA. The streets were full of people visiting the plethora of craft merchants in town. Jennifer Crowley had taken David, her six-year-old, to the bazaar with her.  
   
As they walked down the street hand-in-hand, Jennifer met a friend, and the two struck  
up a conversation. While they were talking, several people suddenly rushed by, breaking Jennifer’s grip on David’s hand. Afterwards, Jennifer looked down, but David had disappeared.  
   
She anxiously scanned the crowd, but no David. Trying to stifle panic, Jennifer ran through the crowd, her eyes darting back and forth for a glimpse of her son. After 10 minutes, she came upon a deputy sheriff, told him what had happened and he joined in the search. After 45 minutes, David was still nowhere to be found.  
   
Jennifer was now in full panic and began sobbing. Scanning the crowd again, she froze as she looked toward the courthouse steps. There on the top step sat little David, watching the sea of  
people below. Jennifer quickly ran up the steps, picked up her little boy and held him tighter than ever. “Momma, why are you crying?” David asked. “Because I found you!” she replied with a tearful smile.  
   
In Luke 15, Jesus talked about three lost things - a sheep, a coin and a son. In each story, the one who had lost something was genuinely concerned over the loss. The man who lost the sheep left the other sheep to search, the woman who lost the coin cleaned her house to search, and the father of the lost son never stopped watching for his son to return.
   
When a Christian wanders from the fold (James 5:19-20) we should become as frantic as Jennifer did when David disappeared. Too often, however, are too busy to notice. God, however, intends for us to launch an immediate search for wayward souls. We need to pray for, and seek out, those who have "disappeared" from our church family.  
   
Remember, “there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” Luke 15:10.  
   
Jesus FIRST!  
   
Dennis