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Help?

6/9/2023

HELP WHEN YOU CAN

One day a wealthy miser was headed home in his limousine when he noticed two men beside the road eating grass. Intrigued, he asked his chauffeur to stop the vehicle, and then got out to investigate. "Why are you eating grass?” he asked. "We have no money for food," one man replied. "But grass is free." "Tell you what”, the rich man said, “I’ll give you a free ride to my house, and you can have more to eat than you ever dreamed!”

All three entered the limousine, and before long they pulled in front of a huge mansion surrounded by 25 luscious, sprawling acres. The eyes of the poor men lit up, and one exclaimed, “Thank you for bringing us to your incredible estate. How can we ever repay you?”

“Simple”, the rich miser responded. “Eat everything in sight! Our lawn service is on strike, and the grass is nearly a foot high."

********** On a more serious note… **********

Assisting those in need is emphasized throughout the Scriptures.

“Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in the power of your hand to do so. Do not say to your neighbor, ‘Go, and come back, and tomorrow I will give it,’ When you have it with you” (Proverbs 3:27-28).

“What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you says to them, ‘Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,’ but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead” (James 2:14-17).

“…whoever has this world's goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him? My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth” (1 John 3:17-18).

Although we may not be able to feed, clothe or otherwise assist a multitude, many of us can assist the occasional impoverished individual that we encounter. Although unscrupulous people may try to take advantage of our compassion, God will judge them in the end. Regardless, many people are in genuine need, including, at times, our own brethren. When you hear about or encounter such people, do whatever you can to help….in the name of Jesus Christ.

A Recommitted Me in 2023!

Dennis

Who........

6/5/2023

WHO WILL DO IT?
“…do not forget to do good…for with such sacrifices God is well pleased...” (Heb. 13:16).
“He that knows to do good and does it not to him it is sin.” (James 4:17).

A STORY ABOUT EVERYBODY, SOMEBODY, ANYBODY, & NOBODY.
An important job in the church needed to be done.

Everybody assumed that Somebody would do it.

Although Anybody COULD have done it, Nobody did.

So Somebody got angry, because it was something that Everybody could do!

Then Everybody got upset because Somebody should have done it, but didn’t.

Alas, Anybody could and should have done it, but Nobody ever did.

Because Everybody assumed that Somebody would.
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“What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you says to them, "Depart in peace, be warmed and filled," but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead” (James 2:14-17).

I thank God that many members of the church in Milan are willing to help when assistance is needed. Thus many of the “bases” in the church are typically covered. But are they all? (Dennis will be discussing several “open” bases in upcoming lessons.)

A Recommitted Me in 2023!

Dennis

Must We Earn It?

5/16/2023

TRYING TO EARN YOUR SALVATION?
“…who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began… (2 Tim. 1:9)

The grace of God is challenging to comprehend, even for Christians. Although most of us understand that we are saved by grace (Eph. 2:5), we sometimes feel the need to DO SOMETHING to help “deserve” or “earn” it.

A preacher friend told me about a faithful sister-in-Christ that confided to him that she was uncertain about her salvation, despite the fact that she was as faithful as anyone in that church. Why? She confessed that she had been contributing large sums of money to the church without her husband's knowledge. Although she felt that it was wrong to keep this from her husband, she also believed that she needed to “give more in order to be saved”.

In other words, she felt that she might not be “doing enough” to be saved. And she is not alone in that respect. Many Christians experience similar feelings.

Don’t misunderstand; as Christians we must strive to obey God as long as we live. Faith without works is dead – James 2:20, 26. On the other hand, our works demonstrate our faith in God and Christ. But they do not in any way EARN our salvation. "For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast" (Eph. 2:8-9).

If you have obeyed the gospel - by believing that Jesus is the Son of God, repenting of your sins, confessing your faith in Christ, were baptized to wash away your sins, and continue to obey Jesus – then you are on your way to heaven! You can depend on the finished work of Jesus on the cross, and thank God for His amazing grace. Don’t try to be deserving; just be faithful until death – Rev. 2:10.

A Recommitted Me in 2023,

Dennis

Moms

5/16/2023

What Would We Do Without Mothers?

“Who can find a virtuous wife? For her worth is far above rubies.” (Prov. 31:10)

A man returned home from work one rainy afternoon and was shocked to find his three young children in the yard, still in pajamas, soaked and playing in the mud. Rushing into the house, he could hardly believe his eyes. The family room was cluttered with toys, coloring books, half-eaten snacks and dirty clothes. In the kitchen, cereal dotted the floor, syrup dripped from the counter, dishes filled the sink, and the refrigerator door was standing wide open.

He ran upstairs, stumbling over toys and more dirty clothes. He was stunned to see water trickling from the bathroom. Peering within he saw soaked towels, wet tissue, spilled shampoo and bath toys scattered on the floor. The mirror was smeared with toothpaste.

“Something horrible has happened", he thought. "Perhaps my wife passed out or is very ill. As he dashed to the master bedroom, he was astonished to find his wife curled up in bed, reading a novel and wating popcorn. She glanced up, smiled, and welcomed him home. Incredulously, he exclaimed, “What is going on around here?” She calmly replied, “Honey, when you return from work each day, you always ask if I've done anything useful all day. Well, today, I didn’t!”

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This story remind us of the many vital things that mothers do which husbands (and children) often take for granted. Let’s make it a point to constantly thank mothers for all the essential things they do each day. We'd be "lost" without them!

A recommitted me in 2023!

Dennis

Which Road?

5/16/2023

LESS TRAVELED ROAD

"I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6).

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Some of us have heard stories about the wreckless driving habits of some New Yorkers. One oft-repeated tale concerns a man that was stopped after driving the WRONG WAY on Madison Avenue (one of the busiest streets in the city). When the police officer approached the stopped driver, he asked, “And where do you think you are going?”  The inebriated driver replied, “Wherever it is, I’m late! Everyone else is coming back."

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Apart from the aforementioned story, going in the opposite direction of the majority is not always a bad idea. Jesus said, "…wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it” (Matt. 7:13-14).

Moreover, it has been said that the WIDEST LANE to hell is labeled, “Everybody’s doing it!”  The Bible describes it this way, “…the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one” (1 John 5:19).

A popular poster once featured a solitary fish swimming in the opposite direction of a school of fish that were hurrying toward a baited hook. The caption read, "Smart Fish Go Against the Flow." Spiritually speaking, this is invariably true. Luke 13:23-24 states, “Then one said to Him, "Lord, are there few who are saved?" And (Jesus) said to them, “Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I say to you, will seek to enter and will not be able.”

Although narrow, difficult roads are rarely popular, may we remain on the road (Jesus Christ) that will lead us to heaven.

A Recommitted Me in 2023!

Dennis

Wise Words From Cory Willett

4/30/2023

Facebook Post by Cory Willett(Edited for space limitations.)

This is the MOST IMPORTANT THING I can share. It's a hard things to talk about. Awkward, but vitally important. I pray that you'll read it.

“‘As I live, says the Lord, Every knee shall bow to Me, And every tongue shall confess to God.’ So then each of us shall give account of himself to God” (Rom. 14:11-12). Those words should either scare you to death or bring you great excitement. The day will come when you will die. Not if, but when. None of us make it out of here alive. On that day, you will come before the throne of God. Every single one of us will. There will be no scales comparing your good deeds vs. your bad deeds. That's not how it works.

It all comes down to Jesus. You've probably heard that Jesus came, died on the cross for our sins, was buried and raised on the third day. When you heard it, what did you do about it? Some hear and continue on with their life as always. God has given us the freedom to make that choice.

Others, like myself, find that their heart is pricked. They realize that they've spent their life rebelling against God, and their pursuit of worldly things has left them empty. Moreover, the sinful things that they have indulged in have left them full of guilt, shame, pain and hurt. So they turn away from those things (repentance) and toward God.

For those who start living for Christ the day we die will be the best day of our lives. We will hear those words "Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your Lord.” We will enter heaven, where there will be no more pain and suffering, and all will be made new. That is where we will spend eternity.

Those who hear the gospel and do NOT change will also come before God. At that point, nothing good that they've done will matter and repenting will be pointless. Then they will hear these terrible words, "I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!"

It kills me to know that people for whom I care deeply will hear this. They will spend eternity wailing and gnashing their teeth in everlasting punishment.

I wouldn't wish that upon my worst enemy; I don't want anyone to go to hell. Which is why we Christians can be weird and annoying. If we believe that heaven and hell are real, we should love people enough to be awkward, even annoying. We should care enough about to tell them the truth.

Thank you, Cory, for speaking the truth.

A Recommitted Me in 2023
Dennis

Walking Stick

4/19/2023

Walking Stick
When I lived in Clarksburg WV, I participated in a fundraiser in which I walked 27 miles in 12 hours. To assist me, a member of the Meadowbrook Church of Christ made a customized maple walking stick. He built it from scratch, peeling off the bark, sawing away knots, sanding, applying several coats of finish, and adding a leather wrap and strap for the handle. He even burned my initials, a scripture and an attractive design into the wood.  Suffice it to say, that walking stick was of immeasurable help during my long, arduous walk.

Walking sticks are indispensable tools for long distance walkers and hikers. The have been employed for thousands of years around the world. In the Old Testament, they are sometimes called "staffs”, and were used by the Patriarchs and others (See Heb. 11:21). Jesus even advised His early disciples to take them along as they traveled to preach the good news of the kingdom - Mark 6:8.

It should come as no surprise that God’s word is comparable to the walking stick or staff.

According to Psalms 23:4, the shepherd’s staff provides protection and comfort to the flock. In a similar way, God’s word provides comfort as strength as it reveals God's love, grace, forgiveness (through Jesus Christ) and the promise of life eternal (2 Tim. 3:15).

Walking sticks or staffs can also prevent travelers from stumbling or falling on uneven ground or in darkness. God's word can also keep us from giving into temptation. “How can a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to Your word" (Psa. 119:9).

When a traveler is weary, he can lean on his walking stick or staff for support. God’s word provided similar support to our souls when we are wearied by life. "My soul melts from heaviness; strengthen me according to Your word" (Psa. 119:28).

A walking stick or staff can also be used as a weapon to ward off dangerous animals. Having God’s word in our hearts will help us defeat the “roaring lion" (devil - 1 Pet. 5:8) when he tries to attack. “Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You” (Psa 119:11).

A good, strong walking stick can serve a person for life. God’s word will do the same and more, as long as we continue to read and heed it. “…you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus" (2 Tim. 3:15).

A Recommitted Me in 2023!

Dennis

For Whom......

4/13/2023

For Whom Did You Pray Today?

“The prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much” (James 5:15-16).

If you look at the contents of most church bulletins, you’ll invariably find a list of people in need of prayer. Many of these folks are sick, battling serious diseases such as cancer or other ailments. Some are hospitalized with illness or injury. Still others may be shut-in or in nursing facilities. Some may need prayers of encouragement as they go through grief or challenging times.

Many of these prayer lists are quite long (ours, for instance), with some names remaining on the list for months and possibly years.

Do we genuinely care about the aforementioned people? Of course! However, if we are not careful we may become so accustomed to the long list of names that we limit our prayers to certain ones, while omitting others.

As James stated in the aforementioned passage, Christians should continue to pray for one another, especially those that struggle will sickness or even certain sins.

That said, I’d like to issue the following challenge, which will richly bless those on our sick list. Commit 20-25 minutes, at least once a week, to placing our sick list before you (and your family), and pray for EVERY person listed. Believe me, this will bless others more than you know.

What a privilege is to go to God firsthand and pray on another’s behalf! Remember, we are to “pray without ceasing” (1 Thess. 5:17). So for whom did you pray today?

A Recommitted Me in 2023!

Dennis

Crosses, Anyone?

4/7/2023

THE PADDED CROSS  (Revised, author unknown)

Well, here I am, Lord! You said, "Take up your cross", and I'm ready to do so. To be honest, self-denial is not something I'm excited about, but since You said to do it, I’m here to obey. I'm ready to surrender my life, come what may! You probably wish that more people were like me - ready and willing to take up their crosses.

Mind if I look over these crosses? I hate to be picky, but I'd like a shiny, new one. Hmmm – nothing like that here; guess I'll have to keep looking. By the way, do You offer a padded version? After all, I want to attract others to You, and a comfortable cross is more appealing. And if it's not asking too much, do You have a cross that folds up? After all, crosses aren't popular in some places. I may need to hide it under my coat if there is a risk of offending others.

Well, there's not much choice here. The only crosses I see are heavy and made of coarse wood. Wow, just imagining the splinters sends chills down my back! Don't You have something more distinctive, Lord? I can tell you right now that none of my friends will be impressed by these. If I’m seen lugging around a huge, heavy cross, people might think that I'm a fanatic. Even my family will be embarrassed.

What's that you say? It's either the old rugged cross…or nothing? Is that fair? Don’t get me wrong, I want to be Your disciple, but let’s be reasonable! It's a different world than when You were crucified. No one carries a cross like that anymore, or at least not many people that I know.

Now, let's see. No blood, okay? I can't stand the sight of blood. Lord? Lord? LORD? Now where do you suppose He went?

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Pleasing Christ is not always easy. No one can carry a cross AND be concerned with convenience and making a good impression. Sooner or later, something has to give. May it NEVER be the cross. "…whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple” (Luke 14:27).

A recommitted me in 2023!

Dennis

Drinking From My Saucer?

4/1/2023

I AM DRINKING FROM MY SAUCER
“ Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights…" (James 1:17)    I've never made a fortune and it's probably too late now.
But I don't worry about that much, I'm happy anyhow.
And as I go along life's way, I'm reaping better than I sowed.
I'm drinking from my saucer, 'Cause my cup has overflowed.
I haven't got a lot of riches, and sometimes the going's tough.
But I've got loved ones around me, and that makes me rich enough.
I thank God for his blessings, and the mercies He's bestowed.
I'm drinking from my saucer, 'cause my cup has overflowed.
I remember times when things went wrong, My faith wore somewhat thin.
But all at once the dark clouds broke, and the sun peeped through again.
So God, help me not to gripe about the tough rows that I've hoed.
I'm drinking from my saucer, 'Cause my cup has overflowed.
If God gives me strength and courage, when the way grows steep and rough.
I'll not ask for other blessings, I'm already blessed enough.
And may I never be too busy, to help others bear their loads.
Then I'll keep drinking from my saucer, 'Cause my cup has overflowed.
  By John Paul Moore
“Blessed be the Lord, Who daily loads us with benefits, The God of our salvation!" (Psalms 68:19)
A recommitted me in 2023!
Dennis