The story is told of John T. Johnson that at the age of thirty-five his health failed and he was at the point of death. A doctor called upon him and informed him that the use of tobacco was destroying his health and that if he expected to live he must give up the habit. At the time Johnson had a plug of tobacco in his pocket. Going alone into the parlor, he pulled the tobacco out of his pocket, held it in his hand, and soliloquized: “John T. Johnson is sick – unfitted for business – and is, in fact, dying. What is killing him? The use of this poisonous weed I hold in my hand.” He laid the plug of tobacco down on the mantel, and fixing his eyes upon it, continued: “You have been and are now my mortal enemy; today we part forever. Remain where you are, I adjure you. I will never touch you again – never, God being my help.” From that day forward John T. Johnson never touched tobacco.

Johnson was one of the outstanding preachers of his time. When someone asked a companion of Johnson to describe his style of preaching, the reply was: “Imagine the largest cannon you can think of, loaded to the muzzle and fired at creation, and you will have an idea of how he preaches.” It is said that Johnson could picture hell so graphically that people in his audience became frightened. On other occasions, he could be very tender and loving and move the audience to tears.
    Earl West Gospel Advocate 6/22/1950

(John T. Johnson was a member of the United States Congress from Kentucky. When he left congress he devoted his life to preaching the gospel. It was said that after he began preaching his wife saw less of him than when he was a congressman. His brother, Richard T. Johnson served as Vice President under Martin Van Buren.)
    Source: Winder, GA Bulletin

Some people look at life like a slot machine.  They put in as little as possible and then expect to get out as much as they can!

Such a man goes through life never giving himself - never really putting anything into it. And he's always expecting his big break - expecting to hit the jackpot!  He usually envies the man at the top - figures he had all the breaks! It never occurs to him that generally men make it to the top by faith, plain hard work, struggle, and sacrifice.

Pitiful little men go through life with a chip on their shoulder - begrudging everyone who succeeds. They never give a man credit for his achievement - and they never blame themselves for getting nowhere!

"Do not be deceived, God is not mocked, for whatsoever a man sows, that will he also reap."  (Galatians 6:7)

A man who makes no proper investments in life - in people - in causes greater than himself - can expect to be disappointed with what life hands him.          -

By:  Tom Butterfield

In the late 1700s, the manager of Baltimore’s largest hotel refused lodging to a man dressed as a  farmer because he thought this fellow’s appearance would discredit his inn. So the man left. Later that evening, the innkeeper discovered that he had turned away none other than Thomas Jefferson! Immediately he sent a note to the famed patriot, asking him to come back and be his guest. Jefferson replied by instructing his messenger as follows:  “ Tell him I have already engaged a room. I value his good intentions highly,  but if he has no place for a dirty American farmer, he has none for the Vice President of the United States. ”
 
Likewise, the Lord is often pushed aside in our lives, because we disregard needy believers of humble circumstances. We forget that Christ may be in the small child who needs attention, the exhausted wife who needs encouragement, or the frustrated laborer who needs recognition. He might be in the grieving grandmother, the lonely shut-in, or the struggling neighbor. They may seem to have little to offer, but if we show kindness to the  “ least of these, ”  it’s as if we are doing it to Christ.

 -- Selected … from “The Bulletin”, Hickory Ridge church of Christ...Source: Central Church of Christ in Paducah, KY

                   This week I will be at West Virginia Christian Youth Camp (WVCYC) helping direct All-Age Week.  For me, camp is always a special time but maybe camp isn’t for everyone.  Here are some letters that moms and dads received while their children were at camp:

·          “Dear mom and dad, they’re making us write home.  Love, Thomas.”

·          “Dear mommy, the doctor said the rash should go away by the time camp is over.”

·          “Dear daddy and mommy, having a fun time.  We swim, hike, and play games.  After lights out we cry ourselves to sleep.  Love, Julie.”

·          Dear mom, this place is so neat.  I’ve seen some of the biggest snakes ever!  How many can I bring home?”

·          “Dear mother, I’m hungry all the time!  Please send me more food.  All they serve here is meals.” (Taken from the Bulletin Digest).

                   If you have ever been to church camp, what kind of letter would you have written home?  I confess I cannot remember ever writing a letter home from camp, one it was only a week, and I would have more than likely beat the letter home.  Second, I was having too much fun, I loved camp and didn’t have time to write letters.    

For over 30 years I have been going to church camp.  Church Camp offers an escape from the ordinary.  It gives a person a chance to look and listen to the sights and sounds of God’s creation.  One can see the stars, clouds, blue skies, and trees.  Sometimes we feel the rain and cool nights too.  We can listen to the wind blow, frogs chirp, water flow through the stream, and birds sing. 

Camp gives us a break from all the man-made devices, the going here and there, the busyness, and running from day to day.  Here we can stop and do something different for a moment, it is an escape from the ordinary. At this moment we have an opportunity to wonder, meditate, think about God, grow in faith, and build relationships with other Christians, as well as teach non-Christians the gospel.

Jesus would often get away from the crowds and go into the mountains or desolate places to pray as we see in Matthew 14:23, which reads, “And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone.”

When was the last time you took a day off from the ordinary and spent time with God in the great outdoors?  We take time off from school and work to go on vacations, but when was the last time you spent the day in God’s creation praying, reading the Bible, singing, and thinking about God?  

God Bless you and have a great week!  Mark T. Tonkery

Daily Devotional
By Tom Smith

Recently while talking to someone on the internet, I ask them to visit the church of Christ. Their reply, "I've been before. Don' t care for it. It really didn' t impress me at all." This got me to thinking. This aptly illustrates how man's folly has ascribed "deity" to those things which are a mere reflection of himself. Such is the truth of idolatry. That which is ascribed to "God" is actually a mirrored reflection of self. The folly of idolatry is that many never see this Truth.

At the beginning of the 10 Commandments is the sin of idolatry. This is the "sin of sins" for once begun man's understanding is forever befuddled; the Truth of God is polluted; all is lost! Idolatry remains man's greatest threat! Modern man will not become an idolater in the sense of the pagan mythologies of the Greeks and Romans. These bowed down to a material image crafted with hands from precious metals or sacred wood/rocks. Modern man is too far "advanced" for this.

Modern man's lure into idolatry is much more subtle and this is where it is much more deadly. "The essence of idolatry is the entertainment of thoughts about God that are unworthy of Him. It begins in the mind. The idolater simply imagines things about God and acts as if they were true". Satan's evil scheme is not to get us to say there is no God but to say there is a different God than what the Bible teaches. The success of this evil scheme is repeatedly found in Scripture and has subtly invaded our modern society. In fact, it is alarming to see just how successful Satan's scheme has been.

The idolater today is one who has mentally modified the God of the Scriptures so that He is now more attractive, more tolerant, more permissive, more loving, less denouncing, less damning, and less restrictive. Modern idolatry accepts religion and God, but first modifies each to suit personal tastes. The result, a religion of convenience but no conviction; a god who is personal and up close but not the sovereign Lord; adherents who follow feelings rather than faith.

Many today say there is no absolute truth. Therefore what may be "true" to one is false to others. One's concept of God is thus built upon an ever-changing foundation. Because they are not following Truth, they will constantly change beliefs. This will lead them to be confronted with the inconsistencies in their belief system. They will not be able to "prove" all things; they are unable to "test" teachings in an objective manner. When asked to give answers to religious beliefs, they will be confused. When asked about beliefs they either get upset for being asked or try to explain with irrational feelings instead of confident facts. Their departure from the biblical God brings them to shame. Ultimately they become upset because they are asked to give a reason. They prefer to be left alone with their idolatry, never confronted.

The only reason one rejects the biblical concept of God is to follow self. When we refuse to crucify self (Lk 9:23) we will submit to our selfish desires. This selfishness soon re-designs God so that one feels he has divine approval. The selfish person looks at the biblical teaching regarding God but he does not like what he sees. He then whittles upon the biblical concept until a more appealing "god" is found. This stubbornness fuels the individualism that feeds idolatry. Modern man seeks to find God in "his own way; by his own experience; with his personal meaning."

How do you view God? Is it crafted to personal tastes? Is it according to the Truth of the Scriptures? We may not like certain aspects of God presented in the Scriptures. We may not like the emphasis upon God's rules, laws, and commands. We may not like the fact that the God of Scripture is Sovereign and thus has a right to demand that we do some things and not do other things.

The reality is that modern man has not accepted the simple description of God in the Scriptures. Modern minds have crafted a pantheon of gods. The members of this group are popular in the lives of modern men. Sadly, some Believers have re-designed the biblical God. It does not matter what you/I like or dislike about God. God is and He will not change. He is the "great I AM." All we can do is accept Him as He is and obey His will (1 Jn 5:21).