BulletinGold #88
April 2008   Vol 8 # 2     

Editorial
----by David Bragg

   Paul selflessly gave himself to the ministry God placed in his hands.  This was a man who daily laid his life on the line of service.  He withstood the diabolic pressures of the world to crush the message he proclaimed.  He endured the complacency within the church to resist the transforming power of the Word he preached.  He accepted the "thorn" in his own flesh as a challenge towards greater dedication (2 Cor. 11:22-28; 12:7-10).  Tirelessly he labored.  His extensive travels took him to the far reaches of society but he was never satisfied with what had already been accomplished while the lost could still be found.  Then this man, who seemed capable of doing anything, revealed his secret.
    The Apostle Paul, writing to the church at Philippi, revealed the obvious when he wrote, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me" (Phil. 4:13).  All across the brotherhood we should be hitting ourselves on the forehead saying, "Why didn't we think of that?"  Paul's success emanated from the confidence that he couldn't fail as long as he maintained his connection with Christ.
    We, too, can do anything that Christ wants us to do.  We can succeed at anything that Christ wants done through us.  Our problem is not that we seek the impossible.  Our problem is that we do not seek what God seeks.  Therefore, it is not an issue of whether or not we CAN grow.  The real question is, "Do we WANT to grow?"
    Reading through this issue of BulletinGold, the need for faith and dedication arises repeatedly.  Are we standing in the way of our own victory?  Is my lack of dedication and faith keeping me from accomplishing what God desires to accomplish through me?

David Bragg, co-editor
www.davidbragg.org

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Panning for Gold
- Feature Articles:  

   A student of Amherst College, soon after entering, put over the door of his dormitory room the letter “V.” Because of this he endured all sorts of ridicule and withstood frequent questioning. But he paid no attention to either, nor would he disclose the secret of the letter.
    When he completed four years of education and graduation day came, the student was appointed to deliver the valedictory. Then the mystery of that letter V was revealed: it stood for valedictorian. That letter on the door held before him during his four years the ideal that he had set for himself.
    Not every one of us places an actual letter over the door of our college room or over the door of our house. But nevertheless, somewhere, if only in our minds, there is a “letter” that we hold before us as an ideal.

Some put up the letter “M” that stands for MONEY.
Others put up “F” for FAME.
Others put up “S” which simply stands for SELF.*

The letter that we NEED to place before us is the letter “C” which stands for CHRIST.  Why is He so important?
   Christ addresses our greatest need: salvation from sin.  Sin condemns, but Christ saves (Romans 6:23)!  He died on the cross so that we might have the forgiveness of our sins (Ephesians 1:7).  We receive His forgiveness when we submit our lives to Him in faith (Acts 16:30-31), turning from our sins in repentance (Acts 17:30-31), confessing Him before men (Romans 10:9-10), and being baptized (immersed) in His name for the forgiveness of our sins (Acts 2:38; 22:16).
    Christ gives us our greatest purpose: to live for Him and urge others to do the same.  “He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again” (2 Corinthians 5:15).
    Christ provides our greatest aspiration: eternal life with Him in heaven.  This is that for which the Apostle Paul looked forward: “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).
    Step outside the door of your heart and look at the letter you have placed there.  What letter is it?
    The right letter is “C” for Christ.  And, if we will place Him as the focus of our lives, then the letter “V” will also be OURS to own throughout eternity:  “V” for VICTORY!  “But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 15:57).
    Won’t YOU place the letter “C” above the door of your heart through your trusting obedience?

- David A. Sargent, serves the church of Christ at Creekwood in Mobile, Alabama. David also authors Living Water, of which this is a sample.  He may be contacted at sargentd@juno.com

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   I used to think resilience meant ability to cope, patience to keep on and not give up, the ability to function even if  parts of the system were dysfunctional or inadequate. It is all those things and more, by extension. The dictionary says it is elasticity: ability to be stretched out of shape and then return to proper shape.
    How many resilient people do you know who have come back after defeat, have risen above inhibiting debilitating handicaps to become great?
   Here are seven characteristics of resilient people (compiled by Steven and Sybil Wolin in their book, The Resilient Self. There is a significant omission from their list, leaving it seriously deficient.

   A notable deficiency in the Wolins’ list is Spirituality. We do not refer to “the indomitable human spirit,” or one’s “true humanity,” but rather the eternal unquenchable spirit from God which enables us to be godly, like God.  The rational, emotional, volitional faculties of man make him able to pattern his own character after that of God.
   Man’s great problem is that  before he comes to understand godliness and righteousness according to God’s law, he has become warped out of shape by his own sin. How can he get back to his proper initial shape, back to what God designed and intended him to be? The answer: Hear and obey God’s truth, and do it from the heart. Be fully identified with the Creator and with His Christ.
   Even Christians stumble and fall at times. But the same obedient penitent faith that straightened them out in the first place can put them back in shape and keep them there. God has given us all the spiritual resources we need to get in shape and stay in shape – to survive, conquer, and overcome everything.
 
- Gerald Cowan preaches for the Dongola church of Christ in Dongola, IL.  He may be contacted at Geraldcowan1931@aol.com                               

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   In the television movie classic "Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer" there is an island of misfit toys.  I know that most of you are familiar with this program.  You have watched it every year of your life for the past forty years or so.
    The island of misfit toys is a place for the jack-in-a-box that springs out at the wrong time.  It's is a place for the bear that isn't a teddy. It's a place for the wagon with square wheels and the doll with orange hair. It's a sad place. These toys feel they will never be given the privilege to be owned by some beautiful child.  They exist on this island of misfit toys hoping for the day that they might be included in Santa's bag for Christmas Eve.  Although the pain of not being included bewilders them, they wait and listen for the ringing of the bells on Santa's sleigh.  They look forward to the day with hope that they might be included.
    Do you ever feel like you are living the life of a misfit? Are you wishing for your ship to come in? Do you feel like you are one of the forgotten? It happens to a lot of folks this time of the year.  This is the time that many become so depressed over loneliness and apprehension of existing as a misfit.
    The good news is Santa shows up.  That has always delighted my heart. The truth is, it still does.  My gift reminds me there is not a day that goes by that someone far more important than Santa remembers us. We are not only remembered, we are loved.  He has a special place in his heart just for you.
    He is the chief Shepherd of the flock. Here is what he promises in Isaiah 40:11.  "He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young."
    The Shepherd will not leave us on the island of misfits. He has a special place for us if we will only keep our hope alive in him.

- Rick Woodall is the minister for the Yorktown Road church of Christ in Logansport Indiana. His weekly devotional message, Life Thoughts, can be found through this address:  http://mysite.verizon.net/yorktownroadchurchofchrist/

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   When John the Baptist went preaching in the Judean wilderness (Luke 3), he taught the people to bring forth fruit worthy of repentance. This is another way of saying: let your penitent heart show itself in the things done. To claim that being a descendent of Abraham was not good enough, John made it clear that God expects more than they were giving (Luke 3:8); they needed to show by the life lived their hearts were changed.
    To be a son of Abraham was significant to the Israelite people; this was a claim of special relationship to God. John knew of this importance, but he impressed on the people that one’s relation to God is related to the heart, not physical birth. There is no right of passage based upon who your parent is (or are).
    If fruit is not borne, then the axe will be laid at the root and the produce will be cut off and burned. This is a graphic illustration that conveys well the picture the Holy Spirit wants us to see. When the people asked John what that meant, he explained (Luke 3:10-14). Note the brevity of his words and the comprehensive application to them. Share with the needy, live by high moral ethics in business transactions, live by the golden rule, and be content with your station in life.
    Each one of these need elaboration.
    Those who are in need. Paul said the Christian is to do good unto all men, especially those of the household of faith. When John spoke these exhortations to those listening, he brought to their recall the obligations the Lord placed upon the people called Israelites. One’s circumstance in life may be the result of many things, but when we see a need, let us address it and relieve the stress, in part, of that person’s life.
    High moral ethics in business transactions. Our society is not so depraved that we need this message more than the previous generations. Whenever money is involved many people seem to adopt a different approach. Some Christians assert that simply because it is “business” that that somehow relieves them, not of ethics, but responsibility toward their brother.  These will be sadly mistaken.  Christians are to be the standard of high moral ethics in business all the time and everywhere.
    Live by the golden rule – do unto others as you would have them do unto you. This is much easier said than done. Husbands, do you love your wife? How do you show that? Wives, do you love your husbands? How do you show that? Many relationships would be repaired if this were followed.  Marriages, family relations, and neighborly relations would all be better if people lived by the golden rule. Too simple? Try it and see if it does not work.
    Contentment. In such a rich country like the one we live in, "keeping up with the Joneses" may not be our motto, but we sure seem to desire to keep up with someone. Training ourselves to be content with what we have is useful because then we train ourselves to be good stewards of that which the Lord blesses us with. Don’t mistake this for saying we should not enjoy the pleasures of life, but let us enjoy the pleasures of contentment . Then the pleasures of life become more pleasurable.

- Ron Thomas preaches for the Highway church of Christ, Sullivan, IL.  He may be contacted at rthomas1@one-eleven.net or via the congregation's website: http://highwaycofc.com/sullivan/  Or, you can visit Ron's blog at http://ronthomas.preachersfiles.com

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   When the last amen is uttered and the members file from the building and drive away from the parking lot, the work of the church begins. A sign over the exit of our auditorium should read, "You are now entering the mission field.” God’s work is not performed by full-time people on Sundays, but practiced by full-time Christians seven days a week. Sometimes the idea is left in our minds that the only way to serve God is to be a foreign missionary on some desolate field. How wrong we are! Every member of the body is to serve, every branch in the vine is to reproduce. “Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.” (John 15:8)
   Jesus spoke of his people as salt and seed. Salt and seed are useless unless they are spread. They do no one any good while collected in a bottle or a barn. Their usefulness comes with their dispersion.  Every member of the church is to make disciples as they go, wherever they go and whenever they go.  Jesus said, ”You shall be my witness to the end of the earth. Wherever God has planted us, we must grow and bear fruit. If God’s work is to be done in any community it must be done by the individual Christian. Christians must penetrate society like salt in food and seed in soil. God calls every Christian to full-time service. The work of the ministry belongs to all church members.
   When an individual works for Christ because he enjoys working for the Master, failures will never dampen his enthusiasm, but he will analyze his failures, and study their causes; then enthusiastically look out for another opportunity to succeed where formerly he failed. When a Christian has a genuine love for the lost, and has the necessary knowledge of God’s Word, enthusiasm is the first fruit. The early Christians were exhorted that “with purpose of heart they should cleave unto the Lord” (Acts 11:23).  Many church members have a knowledge of God without zeal. Zeal is a natural reaction to enthusiasm. Remember, "The fruit of the righteous is a tree of  life; and he that winneth souls is wise.” (Pro. 11:30)                                         

- W.A.Martin is a part time preacher for Sthe curry church of Christ, Scurry,TX, and edits a bulletin that is sent to 14 churches in the area.  He may be contacted at WAGMartin@sbcglobal.net

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   While engaging in my daily Bible reading this morning I read the following verse from John 21:11: "Simon Peter therefore went up, and drew the net to land, full of great fishes, a hundred and fifty and three: and for all there were so many, the net was not rent." I have read the Bible through from front to cover several times in my life, but here is yet another example of "seeing" something for the first time, in spite of reading it on numerous occasions before. I had never realized that the number of fish in this account was actually numbered: 153. The more I pondered this verse, the more I wondered about it. It seems rather odd that John did not write, "about 150 fish," or "a great multitude of fish," or even, "a great haul of fish were caught." He actually gave the specific number of fish that were hauled in that morning following a night of unsuccessful fishing: 153.
   I truly believe that the word of God is exactly what it says it is: It is inspired of God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for instruction which is in righteousness (2 Timothy 3:16). Therefore, I do not believe that the number 153 was just inserted in this passage by mere accident or happenstance. So I did a little study to see if I could find any significance associated with the number 153, as many times in Scripture numbers are used in significant ways. For instance, there were 12 Tribes of Israel and 12 Apostles. During the flood, it rained for 40 days and 40 nights, the children of Israel wandered for 40 years in the wilderness, and Jesus fasted for 40 days before being tempted of Satan three times. The Godhead is comprised of three Persons, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Three Apostles (Peter, James and John) witnessed the transfiguration where Moses and Elijah appeared with Jesus, and Jesus’ earthly ministry lasted about three years. Jesus prayed three times for this cup to pass from Him (Matthew 26:44). His crucifixion began at the third hour of the day, and darkness covered the face of the Earth for three hours. Jesus’ body lay for three days dead in the tomb. It would appear that the number three has great spiritual significance as it is connected so closely with Jesus Christ, and the number 153 is a product of three.
   Lt. Col. R. Roberts, a Christian army officer, supposedly made a discovery more than a century ago when his curiosity, too, was peaked by the number of fish caught in this passage. This man allegedly discovered that the four Gospel accounts record precisely 153 individuals who were specifically blessed by Jesus Christ. Those blessed by having personal encounters with the Lord would receive either salvation, miraculous healing, or resurrection from the dead. Additionally, those individuals were counted into this figure who received personal blessings through their witnessing Jesus Christ supernaturally bless one of their loved ones, such as when Mary and Martha saw their brother, Lazarus, raised. So is this the significance between the number of fish being caught? Only time will tell. I need to start doing some counting…. But whatever the case, I am convinced it is not sheer coincidence that the number 153 was stated.

- David R. Ferguson preaches for the Lakeland Church of Christ in Mattoon, IL.  He may be contacted at davidferguson61@yahoo.com

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Nuggets and Quick Riches
-    misc. goodies this issue

    Have you ever tried to picture in your mind what would happen if some eccentric multi-millionaire philanthropist should announce in the local newspaper that during a specified assembly of the church he would present each person present with one thousand dollars? Well, I have. And in fancy’s vision I see a strange and motley crowd. The rich and poor, the fat and frail, the believers, scoffers, atheists and  even the God-is-deaders, The Republicans and  Democrats, the segregationists and the integrationists, the famous and the infamous. People who hadn’t spoken to each other for years would sit side by side if necessary. The “once a weekers” and the “once in a whilers” would be there. Grandpa would rub his rheumatiz leg with goose grease and turpentine and be there. Folks who haven’t been there because they’re afraid to drive at night would chance it. Backsliders would suddenly warm up and take a place where they could be seen. All of the puny excuses and anemic alibis and any other kind of lies people have been telling themselves and others about why they didn’t attend worship would disappear like dirt before intensified Tide, or like roaches before Raid. We would have a crowd that would make the average political convention look like a country picnic – that is, until the money was passed out. We would look for a major slump after that. What kind of person would do for money what he would not do for his own soul?

– Luther Blackmon,  via The Encourager, the weekly bulletin for the Dongola church of Christ, Dongola, IL.  Gerald Cowan serves the congregation as minister.  He may be contacted at Geraldcowan1931@aol.com

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   BRITNEY AND JAMIE Lynn Spears are burning up the internet...
   The public is insatiable for information on their tumultuous lives. Lies, smears, innuendos, payoffs, and whispers spew forth from media outlets like sewage. Daily updates on their behavior contain so many contradictory story lines that it is almost impossible to know the truth. However, America just wants more, more, more.
    The United States does not have royals to harass, so Hollywood stars become their surrogates. The spotlight on them never goes dark. On the fictional show, "Hannah Montana," Miley Cyrus plays a teenager who lives a dual life as a regular girl and singing superstar. The premise is hysterical considering today's reality. Stars are hunted, harassed and their every public move and utterance is filmed. They sell their privacy for fame and fortune and then complain about their lack of privacy.
     Britney and Jamie Lynn are responsible for their actions. Nevertheless, they are mirrors of the declining American culture. By showing America for what it is, these women find the resentment of a nation for being the embodiment of a guilty national conscience.
    The American culture is dying. The time for niceties is past. Depravity is corroding the culture we inhabit and it damages everything it touches. Nothing is safe. Music, movies, clothing, television, the internet, and the language of the day are all robbing children of their purity. Satan steals their most cherished possession and rips it to shreds. Sadly, parents are most often the flesh and blood hands of Satan, destroying the souls of their own children through their lack of parenting. God's hatred of such behavior is some of the most sobering in Scripture (Matthew 18:6).
    Sixteen-year-old Jaime Lynn Spears is pregnant by her nineteen-year-old boyfriend. Her announcement spread in "OK! Magazine" caused an outrage. Roundly condemned by almost everyone, magazine editors pulled her from their covers.  The national condemnation is still loud and clear. At the same time, though, it is terribly ironic.
    A society that sells thongs with "hottie" emblazoned on them and Bratz dolls dressed as whores to five-year-olds is outraged that a sixteen-year-old is pregnant. Fashion editors who parade condom ads, sex advice, and nearly naked models to teen girls rebuke a teenager for her pregnancy. Producers who make movies filled with sex acts and raunchy jokes for children are shocked that a teenager becomes pregnant. Websites who hungrily post nude photos of actresses and encourage kids to engage in fornication, condemn a child for her pregnancy. The hypocrisy is staggering!
    We ask where the outrage is for the man who made Jamie Lynn pregnant. Should a society that treats girls as sex objects and winks at the males who take advantage of them have any moral authority? When we glorify rappers who treat women as trash and condemn the women, we relegate women to second-class citizens.
    Britney abuses drugs and alcohol, parties obsessively, prances around town without underwear, shoplifts, spends nights with cameramen in hotel rooms, crashes her car, runs over people, divorces twice, loses custody of her children, holds her children in a standoff with the police while stoned and becomes a national disgrace.
    A culture that turns actors and singers into idols to be worshiped in a 24-hour news cycle should not be shocked when their behavior becomes increasingly bizarre so the camera will remain hot. Wholesome behavior and charity work is a blip on the radar screen while debauchery brings in millions of dollars. When America builds a monster, they should not be shocked when it attacks.
    God said, "Righteousness exalts a nation" (Proverbs 14:34). What does unrighteousness bring? Look around.  (Richard Mansel)
 
- Mike Benson edits an on-line devotional entitled KneEmail.  To subscribe, send ANY message to: kneemail-subscribe@welovegod.org  Mike may be contacted at mlbenson@wowway.com

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I used to write lots of couplets in pentameter.
Used to. Not much any more.

I like them for their pithiness. Two lines.
That's it. Nothing more, except meter and rhyme.

So I was a bit surprised when, after reading a
quote in my email, a couplet popped into mind.

The quote was by Roman Rollard, whoever he is, who wrote, "A hero is a man who does what he can."

I suppose it was the internal rhyme that did it.

So here is a couplet for you, entitled, "Who's a Hero."

  A hero is a woman or man
  Who simply does what he or she can.

Today, that hero can be you. Take out a sheet of paper or index card (best). Write five things you want and can do today.

Don't think about what you can't do, or how many things you'd like to do. Just five. If that's too many, write three.

After writing them, put beside them a number from one to five, as you rank their importance.

Now start to work on number one.

When you finish number one, start on number two.

Keep going until the day is over.

If you finish all five, that's great. If you finish only one, that's terrific, too.

You did what you could. You did what you wanted.  You did what was possible to do.

That makes you a hero.

And, believe me, that puts you so far ahead of 99% of the crowd on this rainy Saturday, that you will shine effulgently.

Because this is your day to shine.

- J. Randal Matheny, missionary and minister, is the publisher of Uplift, an on-line and e-mail devotional.  He may be contacted through this website: http://randalmatheny.com/doku.php?id=uplift
When reprinting this material, please be sure to include the following:  Copyright (c) 2007 J. Randal Matheny All rights reserved. You may forward the email to friends as is. You may not alter it in any way or remove any text or attributions.

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   Two businessmen were traveling by train to an important business meeting.  In the seat opposite them was an old man with a shaggy beard, dressed in a tattered sweater and jeans.  Throughout the ride the two told each other crude jokes about bums and tramps, with particular reference to the chap in the next seat.  When they arrived at the meeting they discovered this “tramp” was a world-class scholar and the meetings’ keynote speaker.  Realizing he had heard everything they said on route, they apologized.
   “It is not my forgiveness you need,” he responded, “but the forgiveness of all the common people you hold in such disdain.”
   Sadly, many are disrespectful to their fellowman based on outward appearances.  I attended a Lectureship once, and as the speaker of the hour was about to take the platform, I said to myself, “He looks like a country bumpkin.  This is sure to be a boring sermon.”  To my surprise it was one of the most powerful sermons I can remember hearing.  You can’t always judge a book by its cover.  Perhaps we should heed the following words: “for man looketh on the outward appearance, but Jehovah looketh on the heart” (1 Samuel 16:7).  Perhaps the following exhortation should be heeded as well: “Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets” (Matthew 7:12).

- Tom Moore, Malvern, Ark., via THE SOWER, a weekly publication of the Arthur church of Christ, Arthur, IL. Ron Bartanen, who serves as minister and editor, may be contacted at - ron33dor@yahoo.com  You may also visit their website at http://www.arthurchurchofchrist.com

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Hearts of Gold
----poetry this issue

It is my joy through life to find
At every turning of the road
The strong arms of a comrade kind
To help me onward with my load.
And since I have no gold to give,
And love alone must make amends,
My only prayer is: While I live—
God make me worthy of my friends.
 
- Via THE SOWER, a weekly publication of the Arthur church of Christ, Arthur, IL. Ron Bartanen, who serves as minister and editor, may be contacted at - ron33dor@yahoo.com  You may also visit their website at http://www.arthurchurchofchrist.com

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God is never far away.
I can see Him every day:

In the caring things you do,
I can see God 's love -- in you;
In the gentle words you say,
I can see His gently way;
I your touch, I feel Him near;
In your smile, I hold Him dear;
In our children's songs and cries,
I can hear His loving sighs.

By the forest, lake and stream,
I can see His gift of dreams;
By the ocean's rhythmic roar,
I hear music He has scored;
And -- in nature's varied sights,
I can see His strength and might
That remind me -- with enthrall--
He is Master, over all.

God is never far away.
I can see Him every day.

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I have to live with myself and so
I want to be fit for myself to know:
I want to be able, as the days go by,
Always to look myself straight in the eye.
I don’t want to stand, with the setting sun,
And hate myself for the things I’ve done.

I don’t want to keep on a closet shelf
A lot of secrets about myself,
And fool myself as I go
Into thinking that nobody else will know.
The kind of man I really am;
I don’t want to dress myself up in sham.

I want to go out with my head erect;
I want to deserve all men’s respect,
But here in the struggle for fame and pelf,
I want to be able to like myself.
I don’t want to think that as I come and go,
That I’m bluster and bluff and empty show.

I never can hide myself from me;
I see what others may never see;
I know  what others may never know.
I never can fool myself—and so
Whatever happens, I want to be
Self-respecting and conscience free.

- Edgar  A. Guest (Out of My Treasure); via The Encourager, the weekly bulletin for the Calvert City church of Christ, Calvert City, KY.  Lance Cordle preaches for the congregation.  He may be contacted through the congregation's website: http://www.calvertchurchofchrist.com

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Am I Responsible? (Ephesians 4:11-16)
by: Ellen H. Underwood

Responsible people feel the duty to go the first mile and the privilege to go the second mile and require more of themselves than is expected of them.
Their lives are given meaning by their devotion to a cause greater than themselves.
Their habitual thinking is in terms of how and where they can serve.
They are interested not so much in what they can get out of life as what they can bring to it.
They bear the burdens of others and so fulfill the law of Christ.
They bear their own burdens sharing the will of Christ with others by their example and by His Word.
Their freedom in Christ is not to do their own thing, but to do the will of God.

        “I want to give good measure running o’er,
          And into angry hearts I want to pour
         The answer soft that turneth wrath away:
         I’m sure I will not again pass this way.”

- Ellen H. Underwood, “Oh, To Be Like Thee Blessed Redeemer.”

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Gold Mines
----quotes & sayings for bulletins and signs this issue

"Be ye fishers of men.  You catch them-He'll clean them."

IT TAKES COURAGE to stand up and be counted, but to keep on standing up after being counted is the real test.
 
"The man who prides himself on having courage to say what he thinks should be sure he thinks."

“A Christian should be like a good watch: open face, busy hands, pure gold, well regulated, and full of good works

MADE A MISTAKE? Then replace "If only." with "Next time."

- via THE SOWER, a weekly publication of the Arthur church of Christ, Arthur, IL. Ron Bartanen, who serves as minister and editor, may be contacted at - ron33dor@yahoo.com  You may also visit their website at http://www.arthurchurchofchrist.com

Success is sweet, but the secret to it is sweat.

Any person who criticizes you for the way you do a good work places himself under a solemn obligation to do that same work in a better way.

No one ever got lost on a straight and narrow road if he stayed on it.

What a person is can be determined in large part by what he does when he has nothing to do.

You will never reach the right destination by traveling in the wrong direction.

- via The Encourager, the weekly bulletin for the Dongola church of Christ, Dongola, IL.  Gerald Cowan serves the congregation as minister.  He may be contacted at Geraldcowan1931@aol.com

Never give the devil a ride, he will always want to drive.

Not to have control over the senses is like sailing in a rudderless ship, bound to break to pieces on coming in contact with the very first rock (Mahatma Gandhi).

- via The Lantern, Highway church of Christ, Sullivan, IL  Visit their website at http://www.highwaycofc.com

Keep your face turned toward the sunshine and the shadows will fall behind you.

- via The Encourager, the weekly bulletin for the Calvert City church of Christ, Calvert City, KY.  Lance Cordle preaches for the congregation.  He may be contacted through the congregation's website: http://www.calvertchurchofchrist.com

Avoid suspicion:  When you are walking through your neighbor’s melon patch don’t tie your shoe. – Chinese Proverb

- via the Main Street Monitor, the weekly bulletin for the Main Street church of Christ in Manchester, TN.  You can visit their website at: http://www.mainstreetcofc.org

Putting off an easy thing makes it hard, and putting off a hard one makes it impossible! (George Lorimer)

Success seems to be largely a matter of hanging on after others have let go (William Feather).

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