Monday, March 1st, 2010

News and Notes:   Monday, March 1^st

I just returned from a weekend meeting in Mount Pleasant, TX. Leon and Alma Goff send greetings to all the folks they know down here. The meeting went well. Jeff Wilson and I each preached 4 times, and the brethren were wonderfully attentive. The brethren there number around 100 and they are expecting a new full time preacher to join them next month. It looks like I may be invited back next year, so I look forward to that.

Benjamin Lee, as most of you know, preached for us at Eastside yesterday, and folks said he did GREAT! He is a polished speaker, but more than that, a man who is sincerely committed to the Gospel. I read through his outlines at the building this morning and am so thankful he came to share that with my local family.

News Among Members:

Bill Murff fell last week and is now in room 535 at Methodist Hospital Downtown. He will be receiving his dialysis treatments there today and will have further tests to determine what exactly is causing so much pain.

Linda Bockmiller, Sandra Brown, and Mary Griffin continue to either receive cancer treatments, or mend after having treatments. Also, Sharon Peach, as the doctors continue to determine what is keeping her down. Our prayers are daily offered for their health to improve!

Also, don’t forget our gentlemen dealing with daily struggles, like Bob Paulsel and Johnny Partin. Both these men are 91 years old, and still in amazing spirits! Note: I met three 92 year old ladies in the meeting this weekend. They were the sweetest, spryest, group of 90+ers you’d ever meet… very encouraging. I’d say Bob and Johnny certainly fit that mold as well!

Harry Traverso, father of Cheryl Warren, is in San. Jac Methodist, room 232

New Member: Jean Fuller (long-time visitor)

Special Service NOTE: Wednesday night Invitation assignments:

Mar. 3^rd – Randy Hogue

Mar. 10^th – Bill Pahos

Mar. 17^th – Eric Kegley

Monday, March 1st, 2010

Bible Thoughts – Is there Plenty of Time?

I was asked to speak in a weekend meeting recently. The elders requested specific emphasis put upon challenging their young people to be faithful Christians… today. As the weekend unfolded, I noticed we had many more older folks than younger folks (more people over 80 than under 20), so I slowly but surely broadened the stroke of the study to apply to all.

Yesterday, for the final lesson of the week, we ALL considered the answer to this question: “Is there plenty of time?” Is there plenty of time to put off becoming a Christian? Plenty of time to make those changes in your life you know need to be addressed? Plenty of time to be a better father, parent, friend? Plenty of time, down the road, to put our Savior Jesus first?

We examined 5 Bible passages where we see how Satan tries to convince us that we DO have plenty of time. But in each case, the wisdom of God compels us to see past the devil’s lies and ACT NOW!

–Due to restraints on space, I’ll share with you 1 of the 5 today, and more in the next couple weeks–

I. [II Peter 3] – “Know this first of all, that in the last days mockers will come with their mocking, following after their own lusts, and saying, ‘Where is the promise of His coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all continues just as it was from the beginning of creation.’” (II Pe. 3:3-4)

Satan wants you to believe that since it has been so long since God has done anything miraculous (if at all), that there is no way Christ will return any time soon. It’s been 2000 years… it won’t be today. So, there is plenty of time to follow lusts: immorality, worldliness, etc. Once you have gotten all of that out of your system, you will have so many years to come to give God His due. There is no way the clouds will part in your lifetime.

“But do not let this one fact escape your notice, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day. The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to the repentance. But the day of the Lord will be like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up” (II Pe. 3:8-10).

God asks us to see past the adversary’s lies and know the truth. First, God is not defined by time. Just because many years have passed in no way diminishes His promises. Consider the days of Noah building the ark. Many were likely saying the same things… then it rained.

Second, there is one reason why today has been provided to us by God: so that a soul can come to repentance. We were not given today to test God’s patience, but embrace His mercy. One day, perhaps, when God observes that no soul will repent, He will end it all.

Today is a gift. God has given it, not so we can follow our lusts, but find and follow Him. Will you be the one soul that repents and obeys today… helping today fulfill its very purpose for being?

kris