Category: From the Preacher’s Pen

A new year is upon us, and it is a good time to resolve to do a better job of living for our Lord. Of course, any time is a good time to resolve to do a better job of living for our Lord, but none better than the present.

We are now a full decade into the 21st century. It is an amazing thing that despite the passing of time, God and His word remain just as relevant and significant today as He and it have ever been.

What do you want to do this next year to better serve Him? Study more? Pray more? Be more diligent in attending Bible class or worship? Share the gospel with more lost souls? Be more loving? More hospitable? More longsuffering? More patient? More diligent?

All are laudable goals, and are well worth considering. Surely we all have room for improvement!

Just about every year at this time I ask you to consider a systematic Bible Reading schedule for the New Year.

There are many such schedules available, both online and in printed form. If you are interested, let me know and I will hook you up.

Perhaps the best schedule is a bit more challenging. Read the New Testament, once a month, every month, for a year. The simplest way to do this is to divide the New Testament into 28 or 29 sections. Take the total number of pages, divide it by 28 or 29, and read that many pages (to the nearest chapter) each day. You can miss a day or two, and still finish on time each month using this method.

This is a bit challenging, but doable. Maybe you will want to try it in 2010?

It got cold outside this past week! I got an email from a preacher friend in Edna, TX (down south), who told me they got between 1” and 2” of snow a couple of days ago! Snow in south Texas?

The grass is going dormant, and the leaves have just about all given up the ghost, and it certainly is not my favorite time of the year! Oh well, knowing North Texas, it will probably be in the 70’s on Christmas day.

The cool weather reminded me of Revelation 3:15-16, “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish that you were either cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of my mouth.”

I’m not saying that our Lord likes the cold, but He at least prefers it to lukewarm Christians!

It got cold outside this past week! I got an email from a preacher friend in Edna, TX (down south), who told me they got between 1” and 2” of snow a couple of days ago! Snow in south Texas?

The grass is going dormant, and the leaves have just about all given up the ghost, and it certainly is not my favorite time of the year! Oh well, knowing North Texas, it will probably be in the 70’s on Christmas day.

The cool weather reminded me of Revelation 3:15-16, “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish that you were either cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of my mouth.”

I’m not saying that our Lord likes the cold, but He at least prefers it to lukewarm Christians!

The Large Hadron Collider is in the news again. The Collider is a large, underground tunnel built in the form of a ring. The equipment within it is designed to accelerate and collide photons to help scientists better understand the nature of matter.

Why is this such a big deal? I am sure that there are “hard science” benefits, but the main reason the Collider exists is to give scientific “proof” that the theory a “Big Bang” began the universe is valid.

Interestingly, a similar Collider, to be built in the United States about 15 years ago was scrapped because of cost overruns, and the fact that Congress could not be convinced of its “scientific value.”

So much ado about nothing! All they need to know about the origins of the universe, they can read in Genesis 1:1.

Brethren, let’s be considerate of one another!

In Hebrews 10, the writer states, “And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching” (24-25).

Not everyone took advantage of the opportunity we had last week to be edified during our meeting. If you didn’t come, you missed out on some fine lessons and encouragement.

If you chose not to come, rather than being hindered from coming, you also could be said to have been inconsiderate of your brethren. (Those are the Hebrew writer’s words, not mine!) So, let’s be better about considering others, and take advantage of our opportunities to edify one another.

“Be hospitable to one another without grumbling. As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God” (1 Peter 4:9-10).

The term “hospitable,” in this text, is easily defined. It means “fond of guests.” The concept of Christian love demands that we not be grudging regarding the keeping and care of guests. Having brethren into your home is an expression of love, care and appreciation for them.

Next week the brethren here have an opportunity to have a preacher of the gospel into their home. Brother Greer is doing us a great service in preaching the truth of God’s word. It is a great gift that we are unable to repay in kind. But, we can be hospitable to him, and we can do it without grumbling! (Spaces remain available on the meal list).

I came across a short poem the other day, and I wanted to share it with you.

Only one life
‘twill soon be past

Only what’s done for Christ will last.

The epistle of James echoes the first refrain, stating that our life is “a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away” (4:14).

The second sentiment expressed in the poem likewise has its foundation in scripture. Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6).

Soon this life will end and all that will remain is eternity. The only thing that will matter is the answer to this question, “Have you served Christ? Well? Have You?

Stan

In his second epistle, Peter said the purpose of his writing was to “stir up your pure minds by way of reminder.”

I often have emphasized the need of repetition in teaching. It is important to be reminded even of what you know, that your mind may be stirred.
There is another emphasis in this text. Our minds need to be “pure.” The term “pure” is defined in Strong’s as: genuine or sincere. It’s literal rendering is “judged by sunlight.”

Isn’t that an interesting thought? Our minds judged by sunlight? If your innermost thoughts, convictions and emotions were brought “to light”, what would be revealed? Would you be seen as a hypocrite, or would your inner thoughts match your outward profession to be a faithful child of God?

May we all have “pure minds.”

Stan

In the Reader’s Digest the other day I found a list of 10 of the most annoying phrases that people use Phrases like “fairly unique” (either it is unique or it is not); and “at this point in time” (an overused expression that I must confess I have used from time to time).

Among these annoying phrases was “The way I see it. . . “ or some equivalent. In the list, I found it the most objectionable of all, because it has been used so often to justify a position or practice that is at odds with the word of God. People seem to feel that they are a sufficient source of authority for their religious beliefs or moral practices. It just isn’t so!

The only just reason to defend a position or practice is because God sees it that way! Remember the song, “The Bible tells me so. . .”

Stan

One of the most sobering passages I can think of is found in John 15. There Jesus said, “Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit” (vs. 2).

The text disproves the common belief expressed as “once saved, always saved” and soberly warns us to be industrious as Christian servants.

The text tells me that I need to develop the proper skills needed to be a fruit bearer. It tells me that I need to be spending the time and making the effort necessary to bear fruit. And, it tells me that I need to identify the type of fruit that Jesus expects me to produce.

It also tells me that there are a lot of Christians who need to get started before it’s too late! (Think about it!)

Stan

I recently came across a poem titled, “God is Mighty Kind”, written by Carl Flynn. The poem states that although we suffer in this life, God is merciful, and grants us bountiful blessings. Note the following verse:

“For every dark and stormy day
A week of days are fair;
However chill the clouds and gray
‘Tis always bright somewhere.

This is something to remember. Especially when we become burdened from time to time with the cares and trials of our lives. No matter how bad it may be at any one time, we all have been wonderfully blessed by our God in heaven. Remember the promise, “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you” (Matthew 6:33).

Stan

In Matthew 10, our Lord prepared his disciples for their preaching efforts among the Jews by saying, “Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be as wise as serpents and as harmless as doves” (vs. 16).

To put it simply, Jesus told his disciples to be aware of the ungodliness of men. Men can act as wolves. They can be destructive, mean and scheming. In the next verse, Jesus said, “But beware of men. . .”

We too need to beware of men. We need to know of their ability to hurt us, and their willingness to do so. At the same time, while such wisdom is required of us, it must be emphasized that such actions have no place among God’s people. While we are aware of the potential evil in others, may it be that none of us here at West Side are ever guilty of the same. Instead, we are to be “harmless as doves” toward our brethren.

Stan

Paul exhorted the Thessalonians in his first epistle to , “…warn those who are unruly, comfort the fainthearted, uphold the weak, be patient with all” (5:14).

It seems to me that Paul was trying to get the Thessalonians to look out for and take care of each other. Sometimes, to take care of someone, you must warn them. Tell them of the consequences of their actions, so that they will not lose their standing with God. Other Christians may need comfort. The idea of “fainthearted” here indicates someone who is discouraged or troubled in spirit. Finally, some may be weak, and need to be upheld. We need to stick with those who are struggling, including babes in Christ, and support them until they become strong, and can do the same for others.

Simply put, we are to love each other!

Stan

With this bulletin I am beginning a new front page feature, “From the Preacher’s Pen.” It will not be weekly, from time to time we will follow the previous template. However, this allows me to teach, and exhort on a more intimate and casual level.

Consider these missives to be a direct conversation between me and you, as brethren here at West Side. Kind of like a short note, penned as a reminder, or an encouragement, or as a simple celebration of our faith together. Hence, the handwriting font. This is my own printing, transformed into a computer font. I certainly do not have the prettiest writing, but I trust you can read this without too much strain.

Brethren, we are blessed to be members together here at West Side. It is good to be part of such a loving family. I pray this new feature will help us to celebrate that fact.

Stan

(Note: The handwriting font used can’t be duplicated on the web site).