You're Not Alone

How would you end this statement: “For where two or three are gathered together in My name ___”? How about, “You better make sure your two buddies don’t have the virus.” Such is how our thinking changes in an epidemic.

Hopefully, you recognized Jesus’ words, “For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them” (Matthew 18:20 NKJV). While those words are reassuring, in these days of stay-at-home lockdowns, individuals may indeed find themselves truly alone. It is possible that you might feel like Psalm 102:7, “I lie awake, and am like a sparrow alone on the housetop.”

Our despair may grow to the point of Psalm 142:4, “Look on my right hand and see, for there is no one who acknowledges me; refuge has failed me; no one cares for my soul.” Think of Jesus’ final hours on the cross . . . “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”

I’d like to think that no one is sinking to that level of hopelessness, but you probably know a person or two who depends on social interaction a lot more than others. Even with smartphones and video chats, some are feeling this desperation.

So, what is the remedy for this “forsaken” feeling? In the case of persecution, Jesus said, “Blessed are you when men hate you, and when they exclude you, and revile you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of Man's sake. Rejoice in that day and leap for joy! For indeed your reward is great in heaven, for in like manner their fathers did to the prophets” (Luke 6:22-23). Ponder the prophet Jeremiah’s predicament as his enemies let him down with ropes into the cistern where “there was no water but only mud, and Jeremiah sank into the mud” (Jer. 38:6 NASV).

As God told Jeremiah when He appointed him, “They will fight against you, but they shall not prevail against you. For I am with you,” says the Lord, “to deliver you” (Jer. 1:19). “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.” (Isaiah 41:10). Do you see the key in both of those reassuring verses? Those who are faithful to God need not feel that overwhelming discouragement, “for I am with you”!

If you’re feeling down and out, take God’s hand through prayer and reading His Word. Contact me and I’ll be glad to help you accomplish that (336-969-5498 & southstokescoc@gmail.com). Don’t despair!

Jeff Greene, minister for the South Stokes Church of Christ. (This article was first published in the Stokes News, the local newspaper.)

Stress Relief

Well, how are you holding up, dear reader? When I checked Tuesday morning, there still were no COVID-19 cases in Stokes County, but we all know they’re lurking just across the line in Forsyth and Guilford. Actually, there was not a single case along the northern state border from Ashe County to Person County. And not even one death in our state. Thank you all for being so careful, but we also thank the Lord!

With all that good news, we shouldn’t be feeling any stress, right? On the outside I’m usually a pretty cool, calm and collected guy, but I know when my heart is racing and suddenly my thoughts, instead of being collected, are all willy-nilly. Last week I began to have that out-of-sorts feeling, so I asked myself, “What is the problem, Jeff?”

Do you know what the answer was? It wasn’t worries over the virus, but it is related. Responding with safer habits has caused my daily schedule to change. I went to the nursing home to visit a patient and was turned away. What! I began to notice my reaction to changes in my life about twenty years ago. Those little changes from day to day cause stress in me, and it’s only getting worse.

At first I thought I was unique in this cause of anxiety, but one look at the stock market tells me I’m not. Sure, market watchers must be careful with their investments, but the slightest feeling of uncertainty can cause huge sell-offs. As one financial expert said, the market is more about perception than reality. Toss a little anxiety into the mix and a whole lot of people are going to lose a whole lot of money.

So, what are we to do, who are stressing right now, even if it’s simply over daily schedules? As David expressed in Psalm 142:3a, “When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, then You knew my path” (NKJV). When life becomes this dark tunnel and we can’t see the light of the other side, trust God because He can.

We get all worked up about trivial matters in this life. That’s why Jesus told His disciples, “And do not seek what you should eat or what you should drink, nor have an anxious mind” (Luke 12:29). How is that possible? “Return to your rest, O my soul, for the Lord has dealt bountifully with you” (Ps. 116:7).

The result of that kind of serene thinking is, “The work of righteousness will be peace, and the effect of righteousness, quietness and assurance forever” (Isaiah 32:17). Now that sounds a whole lot better for us. I think I’ll take a nap.

Jeff Greene, minister for the South Stokes Church of Christ. First published in the Stokes News, the local newspaper.

We Are the Answer to the Question

“And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, ‘Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?’ that is, ‘My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?’” (Matthew 27:46 NKJV). Jesus has already been hanging on the cross for hours when this howl of desperation is heard. I don’t think it’s too hard for us to feel the depth of His misery, but what exactly is the answer to His question?

WE ARE! The agony of the cross was planned “from the foundation of the world” (Revelation 13:8). God gave us the right, the freedom, and the liberty to make choices for ourselves. With that, He knew that sooner or later we would make the wrong choices. Enter: a solution, or rather, The Solution (John 14:6)!

“Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, ‘Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree’)” (Galatians 3:13).

“For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him” (2 Corinthians 5:21).

“In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him” (1 John 4:9).

Christ has “borne our griefs and carried our sorrows.” “He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned, every one, to his own way; and the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all” (Isaiah 53:4-6).

Did you get all that? God made the Gospel plan and Jesus carried it out to its conclusion on the blood-stained cross FOR US! It’s a load of guilt for us to bear, that God made Jesus “who knew no sin, to be sin for us,” but only if we don’t respond as God hopes. He tells us, “Only let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ” (Philippians 1:27).

Yes, God forsook Jesus on the cross, because He was bearing OUR SIN. But, dear reader, now that you see all the love God has shown you through His Son, He has a question for you: Are you now living a life that is worthy of Jesus’ wounds, sorrows and death? What’s YOUR answer?

Jeff Greene, minister for the South Stokes Church of Christ (First published in the Stokes News, the local newspaper.)

“In the Shadow of Your Wings I Will Take Refuge”

I like the fresh air. I suppose I’ve spent most of the daylight hours of my life outside. One problem with doing that is the lack of protection from the sun’s rays. My many baseball caps have shielded my eyes, but now my greatest threat is the skin cancer from each eye to its closest ear. Those caps didn’t shade that area much.

It is surprising how much shade can vary the temperature on a hot day. I remember one scorching day when I was 16 – digging post holes and fencing off fifty acres all morning. When we finished, I stretched out under an apple tree for a comfortable nap. My lesson on shade temperatures was really learned while riding a motorcycle. It seemed to be a ten-degree difference when passing under a grove of trees covering the road.
Refreshing!

David, the son of Jesse, needed the protective nature of a different kind of shadow. “Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me! For my soul trusts in You; and in the shadow of Your wings I will make my refuge, until these calamities have passed by” (Psalm 57:1 NKJV). The introduction to this Psalm tells us that David was fleeing from King Saul and needed God’s protection. He got it.

David made another request for God’s protection that we all share. “Keep back Your servant also from presumptuous sins” (Ps. 19:13). That’s always our dilemma – sin is always lurking. “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour” (1 Peter 5:8). As God explained the way sin works to Cain, “. . . sin lies at the door. And its desire is for you, but you should rule over it” (Genesis 4:7).

No one is immune from sin. It’s far worse than the ever-present bacteria on our door handles. Fortunately, along with the ever-present sin and the lurking Satan, we have the omnipresent and omnipotent God! “My defense is of God, Who saves the upright in heart” (Ps. 7:10). We’ll be all right in His safekeeping. He will be merciful. Will you take refuge under His wings?

Jeff Greene. This article was first published in the Stokes News, the local newspaper.

When the Cat's Away

My wife and I were blessed with our seventh grandchild last week. Daisy Joy was born in Raleigh and is a beautiful, healthy child and she and her mother are coming along just fine. With the arrival of the grand event, my wife left to help them out, which left me “batching” it for the last few days.

The question is: What shape will she find our house in when she returns? Dirty dishes piled to the ceiling? The cat dying of starvation? The TV on and blasting because I was too lazy to shut it off? Of course, you know I wouldn’t be writing about it, if I had done those things.

The Apostle Paul was also in a quandary, like most missionaries, in wondering how he was going to find the Corinthian congregation on his next visit. Evidently, he didn’t have much hope. He was considering that he might even be mourning over their possible sins of “contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, backbitings, whisperings, conceits, tumults, uncleanness, fornication, and lewdness” (2 Cor. 12:20-21 NKJV). Woe. Say it ain’t so, Paul!

There lies the problem: How will we behave when we think no one is watching? Obviously, not good. Most crimes are still committed in the dark. Even people who call themselves Christians suffer from this. They know that God sees everything (Proverbs 15:3), yet the enticement of sin frequently is too strong to stop them from giving in to temptation. We wonder how that can possibly be.

Jesus gives us the answer. He asks, “Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?” (Luke 18:8b). Really finding faith! What do criminals do before they act? They look to see if anyone is watching. What are Christians saying if they choose to sin? Either they don’t really believe that God can see, or they don’t believe He will punish them, or they think His grace will cover their intentional sins. Read Romans 6 to see the truth about that.

What are we to do? It all comes down to what we hope to find when we’re struggling – not grace that enables sin, but “let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:16). Jesus will help us “hold fast our confession” (4:14). Will He find you faithful?

Jeff

"I Can Get Three F's and Still Not Fail"

     Those were the words I overheard one time from a group of middle school youngsters who were just starting the school year. It seems one of their number was new to the school district and her friends were informing her of how easy it was to succeed. I’m sure she was thrilled to know she could fail three classes and not need to repeat seventh grade.

     But is that really succeeding? Most of us realize immediately that one of the problems of our culture is there are so many who are satisfied with minimum effort. Lackadaisical students too often become irresponsible adults. Parents, teachers and even our government are forever trying to find ways to change this pattern at an early age.

     What about the church? How would you sum up your desires to serve the Lord? If you could, would you ask God what is the least that you could do to gain that eternal heavenly home? While I’ve never heard any Christian admit such a desire, it’s obviously being practiced. What motivates you to serve God?

     Our greatest motive to serve is in response to what God has done for us. “Only fear the LORD, and serve Him in truth with all your heart; for consider what great things He has done for you” [1 Samuel 12:24]. Heaven isn’t a paycheck we receive for a life of labor. It’s a home we look forward to spending an eternal holiday in with our spiritual family. First century Christians got tired out, too. The message to inspire them was also one of responding: “For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls” [Hebrews 12:3].

     So, what’s it going to be for you? Are you “pressing on” [Philippians 3:14] or figuring out ways to do the bare minimum? Are you “fervent in spirit” [Acts 18:25] or “lukewarm” [Revelation 3:16]? Are you “diligent” [Hebrews 6:11, 11:6] or “sluggish” [Hebrews 6:12]? Can you join with Paul in saying, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.” [2 Timothy 4:7‑8]? If not, I hope you make it your goal TODAY to turn things around. Become one of those whose life is a response to God like those who “loved His appearing.”

Jeff Greene

Watch It Disappear!

I sure could use a sinkhole right about now. Do you know what that is? Occasionally we’ll read of one opening up on a city street and swallow a whole car. I think the last one I heard of doing that was in Pittsburgh. My brother did some work on a house years ago. The problem: the original builders constructed it over a sinkhole and didn’t know it. After a couple years the foundation started to give way.

But sinkholes are handy, too. My old buddy in Tennessee has one on his farm. It looked like a thirty-foot wide weed-filled depression in the ground, but he could throw a clothes washer in there and a year later it would be gone. Amazing! Were the groundhogs in the appliance repair business? 

I’ve noticed the accumulation of large metal stuff around our place; old TV dishes and rusty frames to who knows what. It would be nice to just take them out back and toss them in my own personal sinkhole. No eyesore of a dump – no trip to a landfill. Nice!

Even nicer is that God has a “sinkhole” for our biggest problem: sin. He said, “I, even I, am He who blots out your transgressions for My own sake; and I will not remember your sins” and, “I have blotted out, like a thick cloud, your transgressions, and like a cloud, your sins. Return to Me, for I have redeemed you” (Isaiah 43:25; 44:22 NKJV). How does He do that for us today? Through Jesus’ sacrifice (Romans 5:6-11). How do we enact that? Through repentance and baptism (Acts 3:19-20; 22:16). 

Unfortunately, as mentioned above, sinkholes can be catastrophic. In Exodus 16 a man named Korah led a rebellion against Moses. God caused the ground to split apart under them and swallow them up; they “went down alive into the pit”! Hell, itself, is not only described as a place of unquenchable fire and eternal pain and torment, but also darkness where there will be weeping a gnashing of teeth (Matthew 8:12; 22:13; 25:30). 

So, we come to find out we all have a sinkhole in our future. It can be a place where God tosses my sins to be remembered no more; or it will be a place of utter and eternal agony. God would rather throw your sins away and not you (2 Peter 3:9). Will you “return” to him and let Him do that for you?

Jeff

Am I a Curmudgeon?

Curmudgeon, it sounds like what it is: “a crusty, ill-tempered, and usually old man” (Merriam-Webster Collegiate Dictionary). Since the big six-oh is fast approaching, maybe I need to test myself. What about you? Are you the person, regardless of gender or age, that when people move out of ear-shot of the last discourse with you, shake their heads saying, “Why does he/she complain so much?” It’s a symptom you’re getting curmudgeonitis!

We should ask ourselves, “Do I have reasons to be sad and grumpy?” YES. I’m not as healthy as I used to be (of course, some of this is my own doing). I can’t go to the grocery store without seeing people with more money than me. I live in an ugly, corrupt world (2 Timothy 3:1-8). And one of these days, I’m going to die. Enough reasons?

NO! I am alive and it is so easy to observe the beauty of this world God made for us (Psalm 8&19). I have family, friends and brethren who genuinely love me; not to mention God, who loved me so much He sent His Son to die for me, in spite of all my sins (Romans 5:8)! I obeyed the Lord’s Gospel and am assured I won’t share the fate of those who don’t (2 Thessalonians 1:3-10).

Some, even Christians, might say it looks like a toss-up, so I might as well be grumpy. But wait! God tells me, “Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice” (Ephesians 4:31 NKJV). He wants me to let my light shine, so that people will end up glorifying Him (Matthew 5:16). Somehow, I can’t see a shining light and curmudgeon together.

I wear the name of Christ! Did Jesus have reasons to complain? Just a few. And yet as He hangs dying in agony on the cross, the perfect time to feel sorry for Himself, He says, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do” (Luke 23:34); and to the thief who admitted that Jesus didn’t deserve to be there, “Today you will be with Me in Paradise.” Where is the self-centered curmudgeon?

So, yes, I don’t need to fall in the crevice of curmudgeoness. I can keep my eyes on Jesus, endure my troubles, and show the world I’m a Christian with a smile (Hebrews 12:1-2). Will you join me?

Jeff

Hopeful or Hopeless

Maybe it’s just the general positive or negative attitude people have toward all of life. I don’t know, but I find it especially frustrating to see the varying reactions we all have toward the prospects for another’s future. 

Summertime is coming and that means family-time. I have six grandchildren. What do we think when we observe these little ones? “They’ll never turn out to be anything,” or does their future look bright. I’m not talking about their circumstances and environment, but the decisions they’ll make regardless of what they have to deal with.

What about people who have made some mistakes, even let us down? They might be teenagers, or our aging parents who are a bit forgetful. Do we give up on them? I’ll never forget one of my first days as a prison minister; one of the jail staff told me, “You know you’re wasting your time. These idiots will never change.” Really? Is that what God thinks and is hoping for?

“For I have no pleasure in the death of one who dies,” says the Lord God. “Therefore turn and live!” (Ezekiel 18:32 NKJV). In Jesus’ parable of the prodigal son, when the son who has been a total disappointment desires to return home, Jesus explains, “And he arose and came to his father. But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him” (Luke 15:20). What does that tell us about the father and The Father? Not only does He have hope, but He anticipates that desire from the wayward to “turn and live.” Do we?

In the descriptions of love in 1 Corinthians 13 we find three important ingredients: love thinks no evil, does not rejoice in iniquity, and hopes all things! Does that sound like your thought process regarding others? Romans 5:8 makes an intriguing statement, “while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” If God has no hope in us, why bother to send Jesus?

I know that it is hard to have hope in some people, especially those who have repeatedly hurt us, but we dare not give up on them. The irony in fact is when we become the negative “grumblers” against those around us, we are the ones who are hopeless (James 5:9).

 Jeff

The Spin Cycle

We invite you all to the Gospel Meeting we are hosting next week, October 8-11, with Jack Honeycutt speaking. Jack has been traveling to India to preach for over twenty years. He is my old friend.

On my first trip to India’s tribal areas (around here we call it “living in the country”), the local ladies would gather up our dirty clothes for washing. They didn’t have washing machines in those places back then, so they would take them to the river and wash them by hand, then they would use their ingenuity for the spin cycle. They would flip the clean wet garments into the air and then crash them down on the biggest rock they could find, over and over. Viola – mission accomplished! Your socks would end up twice as long, but that was okay, they were clean.

What’s that spin cycle for, anyway? Whether in a machine or a river, the idea is to rinse the soapy water and the remaining dirt from the clothes, and begin the drying process by getting as much water out of the clothes as possible.

The Spiritual Spin Cycle works in a similar fashion. Frequently the Bible speaks both literally and figuratively of sin’s effects on people. “But we are all like an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags” (Isaiah 64:6 NKJV). What are we to do? Revelation 1:5-6 tells us Jesus “loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood, and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father”!

How can we partake of God’s washing process? In Acts 2, Peter convinced his listeners that they had crucified God’s Son, Jesus Christ. That sounds like too deep a stain to be washed, but think again. When they asked, “What shall we do?”, he responded, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” There you go – stains gone! The washing process works the same today for you!

My wife likes the smell of clothes hung outside to dry. She says they just smell fresher. When you go through the Lord’s washing process, you come out the same. “Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord” (Acts 3:19). I smell better already!

Stop by next week to hear from Jack on how you can wash your spiritual clothes. We’d love to see you!

Jeff

This article was first published in the local newspaper. Feel free to copy/reproduce/post this article, but only in full.

Progress in Parental Percentages

We love to have children around. In the spring on a Wednesday night, we watched three of our toddlers crawl around the foyer floor after Bible class. It was a joy to share in their play and curiosity. A few weeks later my two-year-old granddaughter helped me pick strawberries; well I should say she was a little hesitant due to the wet leaves, but we finished the job. The older I get, the more I ponder what is going to happen to these youngsters. What will they make of themselves; and especially, will I be able to enjoy their company in Heaven?

It’s a new school year, and every good parent is constantly concerned about the future of their children. As the morals in our country, and especially in public schools, continue to slide, our concerns turn to worry. What can a parent do to raise them up, not just to be good citizens, but that we might spend eternity with them and future generations of our offspring?

Every loving parent would say in a heartbeat, “I’ll do anything to help my child!” We understand that “help” involves thousands of decisions, but even good people in the Bible had bad children. We’re going to make some mistakes! We, as parents (and grandparents, and really, anyone who cares about the children in their life), want to provide the necessary spiritual instruction, environment and influence that gives these little ones the greatest chance to turn to the Lord and follow the path He willingly gives for living [Proverbs 3:5-6].

Decisions we make every day involve percentages. What are the chances the decisions I am making will bring the results I want? That especially applies to raising children, not just to adulthood, but to eternity. The latest statistics among U.S. churches of Christ indicate only 50-55% of our children will be faithful by the time they reach adulthood. Let’s see how we can improve those percentages.

The Parameters. First of all, if we want our children to go to Heaven, who decides that? NOT us or our feelings about our children; God does. He sent Jesus to die for us, but He also laid done some responsibilities on our part. We learn from God’s word of the necessity for faith in God and His Son, confession of our faith to others, repentance of our sins, and baptism (immersion) for the forgiveness of those sins [Mark 16:16; Romans 10:10,17].

Last of all, and following baptism, we must remain faithful all of our lives [Revelation 2:10b]. That’s quite a challenge and maybe a little hard to define, so let’s go to God for a brief definition.

Ephesians 4:13 gives us the measuring stick for all Christians and that includes the goal for our children, “the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.” Simply put, we want them to be as much like Christ as possible. When I was little, we had marks made on the kitchen doorway of the yearly growth of my four siblings and me. Mark your children’s spiritual growth by comparing them to all the things the Bible tells us about Jesus. How are they doing?

That’s still a bit murky and subjective. From Romans to Revelation was written to help us stay faithful, but one verse will help a lot. 1 Corinthians 15:58 says, “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.” Is their faith steadfast and immovable? Are they always abounding in the work of the Lord? These are the ones whose labor is not in vain, because God will reward them with a crown of life [Rev. 2:10b]. When you look at them, are they fulfilling God’s statement of whom He will reward? Are you teaching them these things as they mature?

Don’t make the colossal error of thinking, “As long as they’re happy, everything will be alright.” That’s not a goal; that’s a cop out that will only lead to doom, misery and destruction.

Take Responsibility. I’m sorry that last statement seemed harsh, but we all need a wake-up call to the importance of this subject. Our children’s lives depend on it! Whose responsibility is it to teach and train our children? The public-school teacher, the Bible class teacher, the preacher; or the baby-sitter while I’m out there making more money? No, it’s us parents [Eph. 6:1-4; Prov. 22:16]! The probability of whether they will go to Heaven greatly depends on us. We say we would do anything to help our children, and now we can start testing ourselves.

Create a Spiritual Atmosphere and Attitude. I don’t know how we could misunderstand the intensity of Deuteronomy 6:7-9. Parents are supposed to teach God’s words “diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.”

Make a plan to teach them in your homes. Remember, if they’re in public school, they are getting zero spiritual guidance, and possibly even being corrupted. Encourage the casual enjoyment of God’s word, as well, by constantly having age-relevant Bible-based books around the house. Find some appropriate Little Golden Books. I still have the year-round Bible Story Book, that was on my night stand during my elementary school years. Bring your children to every single Bible class. Don’t miss these opportunities!

Don’t stop there, though. Talk about God’s roll in their daily lives, in nature, and especially how His blessings are everywhere. God should be a natural part of our routine discussion. This may be a challenge if the subject of religion has become taboo in your home, as it is in much of our society. Make the discussion of God a positive, uplifting, and normal experience.

Don’t forget that a big part of that home atmosphere is prayer. Not only should we constantly praying for them, but they should be hearing our heartfelt prayers regularly, and we should hear theirs, too.

What about family entertainment? Will your children remember the happiest times growing up were when you invited folks from church over for a meal and games, or were you entertained mainly by foul-mouthed comedians on TV? Are your favorite media heroes trying to “measure up to Jesus” in any way? What is the spiritual atmosphere of your home?

Is your family at home at church? Strange question, isn’t it; but it is the number one thing I’ve noticed about whether children remain faithful. Is the church an involved part of your family life, or just someplace we go and speedily spend a few minutes? Are fellow Christians truly your brothers and sisters that you care about and spend time with [Acts 2:41-47], or just people you put up with and complain about? Your children hear you talking, whether you think they are or not. Your comments, especially on the way home from church, are revealing who you really are, and whether this thing called church is worth pursuing.

Teach Them to Take Responsibility. That’s really what parenting is all about! We’re trying to get them ready to leave the nest, to fly away and start their own families. Funny thing is that in western culture, we’re not doing that very well. The percentages across Europe and here, for children who never take responsibility for their own lives, are increasing. Should we be surprised at the huge numbers of people who rely on the government to provide for them? Now obviously, just because a child never marries doesn’t mean they’ve shirked their duty, but are we teaching them to take on responsibility?

We nurture our children’s skills as they grow up. Maybe it starts with making their bed. It was a ritual in my family for all us kids to do the dishes after supper. I looked forward to being big enough to help. Then I graduated to cutting the grass. Onward and upward!

Do we do that with religious things? Jesus washed the disciples’ feet in John 13. Are we leading our children, step by step, to be involved, care and serve the Lord? It seems many parents prepare them to get in the game of life with secular things, but never teach them to go beyond bench-warmers with God. Then we wonder why they’re not dedicated Christians.

Over and over the New Testament refers to the church as the body of Christ [Romans 12; 1 Cor. 12; Eph. 1:22-23; etc.]. It is a functioning spiritual unit where every member has a purpose, a job to do, using their God-given talents. Are our children finding their place in the body?

Susan and I were finding things to do in God’s service long before we got out of high school. I noticed something about those times. Every teenager who was involved with church stuff then is still faithful today. The tragedy is that every kid who wasn’t, even if their parents had them at every service, has fallen away from the Lord’s kingdom.

Perhaps our largest failure is to neglect to teach them to have their own faith. They have freshmen fill out questionnaires at many Christian colleges. Most of these teenagers can’t explain even the basics of why they are Christians or how to become a Christian [1 Peter 3:15]. Why?

A few years ago, we had a college freshman new to the congregation where I preached. He was great! He was at every service and was a good song-leader. By springtime he was gone, never seen again. What happened? He broke up with his girlfriend, who was also a Christian, and started dating a girl who was not.

The most heart-breaking thing for parents is to teach our children right from wrong, only to see them leave the Lord’s fold. What happened? They weren’t watching out for THE BIG ONE, that one big decision that started them down the road of sin. I Cor. 15:33 and Psalm 119:115 warn us of the power of evil influence. For some reason, we know right from wrong, but give in to evil influence in a second! Parents must do a better job teaching this self-disciplining responsibility. Our children will become whom their friends are. Who are they choosing?

Follow the Leader. You, parent, are the leader. Before Moses instructed parents to teach their children 24/7 in Deut. 6:7, he told the parents, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart” [6:5-6]. We can do all the teaching possible, never miss a worship service or Bible class, and still not love God with all our hearts; and our children likely know it.

I have been shocked more than once by what kids, even second graders, said about their parents in Bible class. They know about your heart and soul from the things mentioned above. Hypocrisy in the home destroys the faith of our children more than anything else.

So, let’s ask a few questions of ourselves as parents. We want our children to learn about God, but how much do they see us reading the Bible? Do I look forward to worshipping with my brethren? What do I find most entertaining? Am I taking responsibility for my own relationship with God? Are Christians my closest friends? Do I admire the congregation’s leaders, and even the Bible class teachers? Am I a working part of the body of Christ, or a bench-warmer? Am I trying to be like Jesus? Would your children describe you as “steadfast, immovable and always abounding in the work of the Lord”? Am I living a lie?

As our children get into the teenage years, they’re thinking more and more about the answers to those questions. They know you!

The Final Tune-Up. You know what is coming for your children, because it likely happened to you. That day in their teens or twenties when they will ask themselves, “Is this church stuff really worth it? Do I want that for my life?” They seldom ask us, but we see the answer in their actions.

What we do in following God’s parental instructions has everything to do with their answer. We try the best we can. We weep tears of concern for them in our prayers. This article was written to help us fine-tune our efforts.

One final stat that is encouraging: ten to fifteen percent of the children who leave the church as they enter adulthood come back to the Lord! Proverbs 22:6 is right!

Like the prodigal son in Luke 15:17, they “come to themselves.” What will your children think of, should that happen to them? The goodness, genuineness and godliness of home?

We can make some adjustments as parents. One single mom I know watched her oldest daughter drift away from God during high school. She became like all her school friends, friendly, but no room for Christ. She had a younger daughter and she was determined not to let that happen again. She made her home environment more God-centered. She never missed another worship service or Bible class. She encouraged her to get involved. She made sure she was at every youth rally, Bible bowl and other activity for kids, even at other congregations within fifty miles. It worked! We can do something to save our children!

Jeff

Waddling to Church

Years ago, there were three mallard ducks gathered in front of a church building on a street where I walked. The next day the mallards were there again and this continued for the next several days. There they were, huddled by the front door, with no evidence of why they would be there. There was no residue from kernels of corn or a nice pond on the premises to paddle around in. Finally, I saw the minister and inquired about the ducks. He said he had no idea why they were there. No one had fed or watered them. After a couple more days they were gone, never to be seen again.

What makes an animal choose its place of abode? Basically, if an area provides the food, water and shelter that satisfies the specific needs of a given creature, then they'll hang around. There may have been something that interested these ducks in city life, but it wasn't long till they went in search of something more habitable.

It is fascinating to notice Jesus pointing out all three of these ingredients from a religious perspective in the book of John. He said in John 6:35, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst.” He elaborates on the water quality He provides by saying, “But whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life” [4:14]. And what about shelter? Jesus also addresses that basic need we have in stating, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him” [14:23].

Did you know when it comes to choosing a church, we're a lot like ducks? We're looking for spiritual food, water and shelter. The question is, how long will it take us to figure out whether a given religious group is providing what we need. Jesus emphasized the necessity of believing in Him to receive these blessings. Yet how many religious leaders do not believe that Jesus actually fed 5000 with a few loaves and fish, let alone believing he arose from the dead? Jesus stressed loving obedience to receive the eternal shelter of the Father. Yet how many groups who call themselves Christians have a convention and vote to circumvent the very instructions given in God's word?

We are called the church of Christ because we strive to be that religious institution that provides the true food, water and shelter from Christ that lasts for eternity. If Jesus said it, that's good enough for us. We have no desire to add to, or take away from, God's will for us [Revelation 22:18,19; Galatians 1:8]. We use these blessings provided by God to “grow up in all things into Him” [Ephesians 4:15].

So now we find ourselves waddling through life. Quality food, water and shelter is always a concern for us and our families. And when those necessities last for eternity, we know we've made the right choice. You're smarter than a duck. Choose wisely, dear friend. The souls of you and your family depend on it.

Jeff Greene

Make Me Forget

Not long ago one evening I put on the coffee and in my eagerness for that first cup decided to put my cup under the drip basket, instead of the pot. I've mastered the skill of switching the pot with the cup without spilling a drop. Meanwhile I had this article to prepare, so I dashed up the stairs of the house we lived in to check some details in a reference book. That soon led me back down to my desk computer to explore further the subject I was now immersed in.

Well, fortunately sprinkling is not immersion. I soon heard this dripping sound, but it wasn't quite like the noise the coffeemaker creates. Uh-oh! Yes, it was coffee all right, but it was dripping off the now-flooded counter and pooling nicely on the floor. Alas, it was another lesson in the incompatibility of multi-tasking and instant gratification.

Wait just a minute, though! Sometimes the distraction of one thing can bring on a helpful forgetfulness. Frequently we have so much pain in our lives that we are overcome with bitterness and despair.

The tragedies of Joseph's betraying brothers and years of servitude in prison were vanquished quickly in his freedom and new family. He “called the name of the firstborn Manasseh: 'For God has made me forget all my toil and all my father's house.'” [Genesis 41:51]. God would go on to do even more to help him forget the miserable years.

When David was distressed about his surging enemies, he understood God's awareness of his dilemma. “Put my tears into Your bottle; are they not in Your book?” Then he knew he could put aside his anxieties saying, “In God I have put my trust; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?” [Psalm 56:8b,11].

However, like my sloppy coffee, much of our suffering is self-inflicted. We spread the seed of sin and then we're left to deal with the natural reaping of what we've sown. Add to that the awareness of God's displeasure, let alone the feelings of others we may have hurt, and we bury ourselves beneath the decaying leaves of anguish. “Now what do I do?”

All the good intentions I ever had don't seem to make up for the myriad memories of the fool I've made of myself. There is an answer. “I thought about my ways, and turned my feet to Your testimonies” [Psalm 119:59]. The testimony tells us, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” [Acts 2:38] and “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” [1 John 1:9].

God understands the power that remorse can have on those who are trying to make things right. He told the Corinthian church how to deal with a penitent child of His, “you ought rather to forgive and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one be swallowed up with too much sorrow” [2 Cor. 2:7]. When we seek to make things right according to God's testimonies, He will help us forget the guilt of our errors.  “For His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for life; weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning” [Psalm 30:5].

I love that contrast. His favor is for life! There's no need to drown in your sorrows. Wake up and smell the coffee . . . that leads to the consolation we get from turning to and obeying God's testimonies!

Jeff Greene

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The Leaves Are Falling Already!

Did you see them? Say it ain’t so, Joe! Last week I started noticing leaves from the tulip poplars falling into our yard; then when I cut the grass there they were: walnuts under my blades. I’m anxious for cooler temperatures, like most everyone else, but it seems too early to see the lush greenery around us decaying!

God thinks so, too. Oh, it’s not the beginning of the change in seasons that He set in place originally, that bothers Him (Psalm 74:12-17); it’s the fall of humanity. When God observed “that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually . . . He was grieved in His heart” (Genesis 6:5-6 NKJV). He is heartbroken when even one of us chooses to wade into the undertow of sin (2 Peter 3:9).

Will God throw us a rope? He already did. When Peter’s faith wavered on the sea and he began to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!” Who was there “immediately”? Jesus (Matthew 14:30-31). That pretty much sums up Jesus’ mission. He came “to seek and to save that which was lost” (Luke 19:10)!

What do we need to do to grab God’s rope? Jesus said we need to believe in Him (John 3:16), and confess that belief (Matthew 10:32); repent of our sins (Luke 13:3); be baptized (Mark 16:16) so that those sins might, as Ananias told Saul, be “washed away” (Acts 22:16); and lastly, “be faithful unto death” (Revelation 2:10).

That last thing is the challenge. How many people, who are pulled out of the sea, decide to fall right back in? Who would do such a thing? We would!

Fortunately, God has a continuous escape-from-sin plan for every Christian. Actually, I’d say most of the New Testament was written to “keep you from falling” (Jude 24), but let’s consider a short recipe. “But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love” (2 Peter 1:5-7). If we diligently and continuously add those ingredients to our lives, we will “never fall” (1:10)!

What about “going to church”? Did you know that one of the reasons we are to gather together is so that we can help each other “hold fast” to the Rope (Hebrews 10:23-25)?

The saddest pictures I’ve ever seen are of fallen soldiers on the battlefield. What if we could see what God sees and grieves: the fallen souls whom were thrown the saving rope of Jesus to grab but they “would not” (Matthew 23:37)! I hope you’re not in that picture. Come join us at the South Stokes Church of Christ.

Jeff Greene, minister, South Stokes Church of Christ