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What's in a name? We
Christians believe that the answer is.
EVERYTHING! We would not be called by any other name than
Christian. We would not be members of any other church.
For the last 50 years, 100 years, or who knows how long, we have been
the church of Christ. Yes, I know how long the church has been in
existence (since the day of Pentecost in Acts 2), but that's not what I
mean. We have been the church of Christ with a little
"c" starting the word "church." I think I
heard the reason once.. something like "We don't want to be like
the denominations." Really, I'm not
sure what I heard once upon a time probably over 30 years ago.
As most of
you know, I'm an English teacher. In BulletinGold I write
"Church of Christ" with a capital "C." Why?
First, "Church" is part of our name, and therefore, is a
proper noun. Proper nouns begin with a capital letter.
Second, that is the way we are listed in telephone books, city
directories, and anywhere else you look us
up. Third, we are as important--no, make that more important, than
any denomination. Why shouldn't we begin with a capital
"C"?
Now, I don't want to start a big debate. If you believe that the
word "church" should not begin with a capital letter, that's
okay. After all, it's not a matter of faith (doctrine), at least
not to me. If you send me an article, and tell me that you want
the name of the church you attend spelled with a little "c," I
will comply, but only because I love your soul. But if you go back
and look at the old Greek New Testament manuscripts, you will not see
verses, sentences separated by punctuation, nor more than one size of
letters. Those have all been added by men.
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Panning for more
Gold
----
preacher's articles this issue
S.O.S.
by: Johnnie D. Fredman
I'm sure most of you
recognize the title of this article. "S.O.S." has long
been used as an international distress signal. I had heard of
several possible meanings for the letters "S.O.S.", so I did a
little research. As it turns out, they don't mean anything.
Those letters were chosen because of their Morse Code entries.
Both letters were a series of three, ".- - - .". Also,
it seems that with the advent of GPS tracking and wireless
communication, "S.O.S." was officially replaced as the
international distress signal in February 1999.
However, I want to submit to you that these three letters do have a
meaning, and it is a distress signal. As Christians, we have
something special. While our lives are not perfect, we have a hope
and a peace that those without Christ long to have. All around us
are friends, neighbors, relatives, and acquaintances who are dying. They
are dying spiritually because of the sin in their lives. They are
dying because they are held firmly in Satan's grasp. They don't
know the peace that serving Jesus brings. They don't know the hope
being a Christian gives that lets us see past the troubles of today and
focus on the glories of Heaven to come.
All around us are people who are in distress. They are dying and
need our help. For the next year, I want to encourage you to
practice an "S.O.S." - Save One Soul. Jesus said in
Matt. 9:37, "The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are
few." The harvest is truly plentiful for us today.
There are thousands of people right
here in our community who need Jesus.
We are commanded by Jesus to "Go and make disciples." (Matt.
28:19). That means me. That means you. We are to be
making disciples. We are commanded by Jesus to go out and teach
others about Him. Have you ever done that? If not, then you
are being disobedient to God's will. I promise you, if you've
never felt the joy of bringing someone to Christ, you are missing out on
one of the greatest joys
one can experience.
Make it your goal in the next year to Save One Soul. Think of all
the people you know who need Christ and pick two or three. Write
their names down. Think about and write down ways you can approach
them with the gospel. Pray for them. Pray daily that God
will open their hearts to His Word. Pray daily that God will be
with you as you teach them. He has promised He will be (Matt.
28:20). If we all
just save one soul this year, think of what that will do for the Lord's
church. An S.O.S. has been issued. Will you answer the call?
Johnie D. Fredman is the University Outreach Minister at the Southwest
Church of Christ in Ada, Oklahoma.
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Go Home To Your Friends
And Tell Them...
by: Ed Sterchi
I'm sure most of us are
very familiar with the account in Mark 5 of Jesus healing the
demon-possessed man. This happened in an area of Galilee known as the
country of the Gadarenes. This man was out of control and was
terrorizing the people and harming himself. After Jesus cast the demons
out, the people of the area pleaded with Him to leave. The healed man,
now in his right mind, greatly desired to go with Jesus. Jesus' reply to
him was, "Go home to your friends, and tell them what great things
the Lord has done for you, and how He has had compassion on you"
(v.19).
We often wonder why the Lord did not take this enthusiastic convert with
Him. After all, couldn't he have been more help to Jesus in His travels
rather than left in this area of the fearful, resentful, and
unbelieving? Jesus must have left him there for a reason. Well, as Paul
Harvey so many times has stated, let's look at the rest of the
story.
Jesus does leave the area
in v.21, and that seems to be the end of the account. But a deeper
reading reveals a lot more. The former demon-possessed man did indeed
proclaim all that Jesus had done for him, and all marveled at this
(v.20).
Then, when Jesus returned to the area in Mark 7:31ff, He was greeted in
a much different manner than when He left. Matthew's account states,
"Then great multitudes came to Him, having with them the lame,
blind, mute, maimed, and many others; and they laid them down at Jesus'
feet, and He healed them. So the multitude marveled when they saw the
mute speaking, the maimed made whole, the lame walking, and the blind
seeing; and they glorified the God of Israel" (Matt.
15:30-31).
What an amazing difference! Jesus went from being asked to leave to
being welcomed with throngs of people praising His works. What made the
difference? One man. One man in the right spot at the right time
testifying of what the Savior had done for him. And when their hearts
were right, the people listened.
Let this wonderful account remind us of the power of one. Too many times
we say, "I am only one person, I can't possibly make a
difference." This man made a difference, and so can we. Jesus
Christ has healed us from the demon of the guilt of sin. He has left you
here for a reason. Now, "go home to your friends, and tell them
what great things the Lord has done for you, and how He has had
compassion
on you" and see what happens!
Ed Sterchi is the minister of the Church of Christ that meets in
Harrisburg, Illinois.
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The Presence of God
by: Steven Yeakley
In the book of Exodus, we
read about the "presence of God." God's people
encountered His presence.
at the burning bush (Es. 3-4),
in the 10 plagues sent on the Egyptians (Ex. 7:-11),
crossing the Red Sea (Ex. 14),
in the cloud and pillar of fire (Ex. 13),
in the thunder, lightning, loud trumpet blast, smoke and
fire at Mt.Sinai (Ex. 19),
in the angel sent ahead of them (Ex. 23),
in the ark of the Testimony-between the cherubim (Ex.
25:22),
in the glow of Moses' face (Ex. 34:29-35) and
as the completed tabernacle was filled with the Lord's
glory (Ex. 40:34-38).
The presence of God was also felt in New Testament time. The
prophet Isaiah used the name "Immanuel" to refer to the coming
Son of God. That name means "God with us" (Mt. 1:23).
The Hebrews writer referred to Jesus as "the radiance of God's
glory and the exact representation of His being." (Heb. 1:3).
What about you and me? I'm glad that God's presence was revealed
to the Israelites and that Jesus personally came to the earth. But
I'm very glad that you and I aren't left all alone. God's Holy
Spirit lives in each and every one of His children today. The
indwelling of the Holy Spirit cannot be discerned by physical, mental or
emotional manifestations. But just like we "know" that
God forgives our sins when we are baptized, we "know" that His
presence is with us today! We know because of the promise of God
(Acts 2:38; 5:32; 1 Cor. 6:19, 20; Eph. 1:13, 14). Be thankful for
His presence in your life!
Steven Yeakley is the Involvement/Outreach minister at the Faith Village
Church of Christ in Wichita Falls, Texas.
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The Storms of Life
by: Roy A. Crutcher
"For affliction does
not come from the dust, neither does trouble sprout from the ground, For
man is born for trouble as sparks fly upward." Job 5:6-7 (NAS)
Man lives in a world filled with troubles as is indicated in the above
passage. Because man lives in a trouble filled world, he will naturally
encounter troubles, obstacles, etc., of various kinds from time to time.
Even Christians are not immune to such problems. As Christians we do
have some special blessings from God. Likewise, God cares for His own in
a special way. Unfortunately, though, we are not
immune to all the problems of life. And, when problems arise in our
lives, we usually tend to think that our troubles are worse than anyone
else's is. But, as Christians, we are admonished to "think so as to
have Sound judgment." [Rom 12:3]. Sound judgment tells us that
usually there is always someone worse off that we are. I am reminded of
the poem that tells of the man who complained because he had no
shoes until he saw a man who had no feet. Several examples are mentioned
in the poem, each concluding with, "Lord forgive me when I
whine." I read, some time back, of some devastating cyclones, which
had hit India. Many of our brothers and sisters in Christ lost
everything. One brother lost his wife, two children and his parents.
Another lost his wife, four children, five grandchildren, his mother -
a total of 31 family members [16 were members of the Lord's
church]. This kind of devastation puts us in mind of Job as described in
chapter one. But Job survived, and so can we. Regardless of the
extremity of any problems you might be facing, rather that feeling
sorry for yourself, just remember a few basic facts:
[1] Others have worse problems
[2] things could be worse
[3] Usually the good in our lives outweighs the bad
[4] count the blessings that you do have.
In every tragedy you can look at what you've lost and be hateful, or you
can look at what you have left and be grateful. May God help us to have
a grateful, trusting disposition regardless of our station in life.
Roy Crutcher worships with the Church of Christ in Mt. Carmel, Illinois.
View his website at http://hometown.aol.com/racrgc/BulletinArticles.html
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Hearts of Gold
----poetry this issue
Repentance is Renewal
by: Rose Ann Noey
As we go from day to day,
As we walk along the way,
We sin.
Tell me, Lord, what can I do?
How can I my soul renew? -
My life to mend?
Can I toss those sins so grim
And submit my life to Him?
For forgiveness, I would ask,
Then set my mind onto the task.
Forgive me, Lord!
Set my mind, my precious Lord,
Set my heart and purpose t'ward
Your Ways.
As we walk in His Light,
We can put our sins to flight -
Walk day by day.
Rose Ann Noey attends the Church of Christ at Lincolnway in Columbia
City, Indiana.
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Gold Mines
----quotes & sayings
for bulletins and signs this issue
It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man. Psalms
118:8
Kind words are short to speak, but their echoes are endless.
The example we set for good or ill is immeasurable.
Giving our best today is the recipe for a better tomorrow.
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