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Start digging!
Editor's
comments
---Donna Richmond
Panning for more
Gold:
---preacher's articles this issue
Quick
Riches
---misc. goodies this issue
Hearts
of Gold
---poetry this issue
Gold
Mines
---quotes & sayings or yard
signs
*Archives
*Donna's
tips Archives:
---grammar for writers
*Explorations
Archives
---bulletin help
resources online
As I have previously stated, I am
thrilled to publish any church of Christ web address. However, a very
important issue has come to my attention. Some
of you may use a web host which allows any religious group or denomination
to use its services. Indeed, the philosophy from some or our
"brotherhood" web providers seems to be an "open door"
policy. If you use this type of web provider, you may have banners or
advertisements for denominations across your web page or links to
denominations in your site. Please do not ask me to publish your website
if it contains links to denominations or contains questionable
advertising. In the December 16
issue of BulletinGold, I want to list
free and low-cost website providers, especially those sponsored only by
church of Christ members for churches of Christ. If you know of such a
website provider, please write and tell me at Bulletin.Gold@verizon.net.
I appreciate your help.
__________________________via BulletinGold
Panning for more
Gold
----
preacher's articles this issue
HE
WHO DIES WITH THE MOST TOYS WINS...
by Russ
Lawson
Several years ago I discovered the above saying. Actually a good friend of
mine, Mike Moore, and I used to joke with one another about any new tools,
cars, etc. that we would get that we were one up on each other. I was in a
car parts store and saw the poster with the saying on it and bought two,
one for Mike and one for myself. Neither one of us took that philosophy of
life seriously, but it was a "guy thing" to do.
That
has probably been almost 20 years ago, and this week I finally saw a
poster with the rest of the saying. It read, "He who dies with the
most toys wins.... but he still dies." Wow! Doesn’t that make you
stop and think?
Jesus
told a story that says it all in Luke 12:16-22. "And he spoke a
simile unto them, saying, `Of a certain rich man the field brought forth
well; 17 and he was reasoning within himself, saying, What shall I do,
because I have not where I shall gather together my fruits? 18 and he
said, This I will do, I will take down my storehouses, and greater ones I
will build, and I will gather together there all my products and my good
things, 19 and I will say to my soul, Soul, you have many good things laid
up for many years, be resting, eat, drink, be merry. 20 `And God said to
him, Unthinking one! this night your soul they shall require from you, and
what things you did prepare--to whom shall they be? 21 so is he who is
treasuring up to himself, and is not rich toward God.’"
When
you are looking over all you own and thinking about it.... maybe
considering that next purchase, that next acquisition. Maybe thinking
about how much or how much more you will have at retirement.... just
thinking about "my good things." Remember what God said,
"this night your soul they shall require from thee, and what things
you did prepare--to whom shall they be?"
May you
lay up the truly good and lasting thing, because in the end we all still
die.
Russ Lawson, Greenville church of Christ,
Greenville, OH Email: rlawson@bright.net
__________________________via BulletinGold
BY
WHOSE AUTHORITY?
by Jay Kelly
Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and earth
has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations,
baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy
Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And
surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." Matthew
28:18-20.
There has been a lot of talk about multi-cultural and
multi-religious exchanges lately. One current fad, in light of recent
events, is to have Christian, Muslim and Jewish leaders praying together
to show unity in the face of our current crisis. There are the arguments
that we all pray to the same God, which are basically true. All three
groups claim the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob as their own.
It is on the matter of Jesus Christ that we part
company, for Jews and Muslims accept him only as a prophet, at best. In
our passage we see him as much more, however. Jesus is the one to whom all
authority was given. Upon his return, he, as Lord and Sovereign, will hand
over the keys to the kingdom to God himself and only those who are in his
kingdom will be among the redeemed.
Those disciples who have been baptized into the
possession of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost are the same who are in the
kingdom. The command to go and make disciples is based on Jesus' authority
and given to those who are already disciples.
If we believe in the Lord's authority, then we must make disciples. If we
truly know what He has done for us, it isn't really hard. When we
understand that Jesus is the only hope any in the world have of escaping
an eternal end more horrifying than we may imagine, how hard is telling
others about the only way out?
It is only Christ who can save, and without Him, there
is no hope. Will we withhold hope from a dying world?
Jay Kelley is the evangelist for the
church of Christ in Colby,
Kansas. His e-mail is jkelley@nwkansas.com
__________________________via BulletinGold
Quick Riches
----misc. goodies this
issue
IMPORTANT
WORDS
by Ron Adams
SIX MOST IMPORTANT WORDS:
I ADMIT I MADE A MISTAKEAdmitting faults and shortcomings is necessary. James 5:16
It clears way for forgiveness, correction, and the restoring of relationships.
FIVE MOST IMPORTANT WORDS:
YOU DID A GOOD THINGRecognize the good in others. Philippians 4:14
Positive reinforcement promotes good behavior.
FOUR MOST IMPORTANT WORDS:
WHAT DID YOU SAY?We cannot properly respond without first listening. Proverbs 18:12-13
If one doesn't listen, there is no communication.
THREE MOST IMPORTANT WORDS:
IF YOU PLEASENote Philemon 8-14. Gentle requests, not demands.
Favors are acts of kindness, not payments of debt.
TWO MOST IMPORTANT WORDS:
THANK YOUGratitude.
Colossians 2:6-7, 3:15.
When we express thanks we show our appreciation.
ONE MOST IMPORTANT WORD:
WE"We" not "I" is most single important word.
Think in terms of interdependence.
"Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but
with humility of mind let each of you regard one another as more important than himself; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others." Philippians 2:3-4Ron Adams is the minister for the North San Diego Church of Christ. The selection "Important Words" is from his weekly newsletter, "Thursday's Thought.". You may be added to his mailing list by writing him at nsd@san.IT.com.
__________________________via BulletinGold
YOU
SHALL CALL HIS NAME JESUS
Author Unknown
To an ARTIST, His is One altogether.
To an ARCHITECT, He is the Chief Cornerstone.
To an ASTRONOMER, He is the Sun of Righteousness.
To a BAKER, He is the Living Bread.
To a BANKER, He is Hidden Treasure.
To a BIOLOGIST, He is Life.
To a CARPENTER, He is the Sure Foundation.
To a DOCTOR, He is the Great Physician.
To an EDUCATOR, He is the Great Physician.
To a FARMER, He is the Sower and Lord of the harvest.
To a FLORIST, He is the Lily of the Valley and the Rose of Sharon.
To a GEOLOGIST, He is the Rock of Ages.
To a JEWELER, He is the Pearl of Great Price.
To a PHILOSOPHER, He is the Wisdom of God.
To a CHRISTIAN, He is the Son of the Living God, the Savior and Lord!
__________________________via BulletinGold
Hearts of Gold
----poetry this issue
WHEN
HE COMES
by Sally
Harris Cleghorn
What
if the Lord came tonight,
And the way I've lived has not been right ~
What would I give to turn back time,
If the way I'd lived was not in line?
If I knew the Savior but left Him behind,
And lived my life as though I were blind ~
What would my fate be in the end,
If I didn't follow Jesus, my devoted Friend?
I'll have to answer for my own fate,
For at the last minute it will be too late ~
If I didn't take time to fully prepare,
And devote my life unto His care.
He's given me time to get it right,
And patiently waited both day and night.
His coming should be my greatest hour ~
As He comes for me in a flash of power.
God help me prepare for that sweet day ~
Just help me stay in the narrow way.
When life gets hard and I want to flee,
I'll strive to be ready when You come for me.
Sally Harris
Cleghorn, Secretary, Hazel
Park Church of Christ,
Hazel Park, Michigan
__________________________via BulletinGold
Gold Mines
----quotes & sayings
for bulletins and signs this issue
Measure your wealth not by the things you have, but by the things you have for which you would not take money!
Criticism, like rain, should be gentle enough to nourish one's growth without destroying one's roots.
When you were born, you were crying, and everyone around you was smiling. Live your life so that when you die, you're the one who is smiling, and everyone around you is crying.
__________________________via BulletinGold
