Tonk Talk    

          Joe Bailey in his book "A View From a Hearse" tells of the day his boy died of cancer. He had returned to the clinic to thank them for their kindness and care of his son. As he spoke to the receptionist, she motioned toward a woman whose son was playing quietly with toys in the waiting area. "He has the same cancer your son had," she said. "Why don’t you go over and see if you can talk with her.” Bailey went reluctantly over to sit next to her and they whispered just out of hearing of the boy. "It must be hard bringing him in for the treatments," he said, more a statement than a question. "Hard," she turned with anguish in her eyes. "I die every time I have to bring him in. What makes it worse is that I know it’s not going to stop the cancer and that he’s going to die.”  Uncomfortable, Bailey ventured: "Still it is some comfort to know that when that happens there is no more pain and suffering and that they go to a better place.” "No," with hardness in her voice. "When he dies, I’m just going to bury him in the cemetery, and I’ll never see him again. "Bailey wanted to leave. It was uncomfortable to be reminded of his loss and even more uncomfortable to speak with this woman who obviously had no hope in any way. Then he spoke quietly, "I buried my boy just yesterday, and I’ve only come today to thank the doctors and nurses for their kindness. I know what you’re feeling but I also know that there is a better life for my son now." "How could you believe such a thing," she challenged.  And then Joe Bailey told her about Jesus. 

The hymn writer tells us "I know not why God’s wondrous grace to me he has made known. Nor why, unworthy, Christ in love, redeemed me for His own.... But I know whom I have believed….” (By Daniel Webster Whittle).

Do you know who you believe in?  The Bible tells us that “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.”  Then in Mark 16:16 we see that belief results in one being baptized into Christ, and once one is baptized, they continue believing in Jesus Christ (Heb. 11:6).  Without the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ, there is no Heaven for the sinner. 

As we go through this week remember what Christ has done and is doing to give eternal life to those who believe and obey the Gospel.  Ask yourself, “If the Lord were to come right now.  Would I know for sure, nothing doubting that I would go to Heaven to be with Christ? 

Written by Mark T. Tonkery 

Tonk Talk  

     Baptism for many is a controversial subject. But regardless of what you or I think, baptism is commanded by God. Jesus said that He needed to be baptized (Matthew 3:15) and that's why He came to John the Baptist. Now, it is clear that Jesus did not need baptism to wash away His sin - for He had no sin.

     Why then was Jesus baptized?  John the Baptist wondered the same thing and in Matthew 3:14 he tried to deter Jesus and said "I need to be baptized by you. Why do you come to me? And Jesus responded by saying that it is proper for us to do this in order to fulfill all righteousness." The phrase "to fulfill all righteousness" simply means to "obey God's righteous commands."

     Jesus did not need to be baptized to receive cleansing from sin. But He did need to be baptized to demonstrate obedience to God because God had ordained baptism in the ministry of John the Baptist.

     Jesus is our example.   Peter said, "To this you were called because Christ suffered for you leaving you an example that you should follow in his steps" (1 Peter 2:21). Jesus also left us an example by being baptized. In effect, Jesus is saying, "I'm not going to ask you to do what I am unwilling to do myself." We need to follow "in the steps" of Jesus and be baptized.

     Unlike, Jesus though we have sinned and Jesus commanded that those who believe in Him must be baptized (Matt 28:19,20, Mark 16:15,16, and John 3:5).  Peter speaking by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit teaches in Acts 2:38, “…Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”

     When the Lord appeared to Saul, He told him to go to Damascus and it would be told him what he must do. Ananias came and told Saul. "And now why do you wait? Rise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on his name' " (Acts 22:16).  Saul also teaches us that he did not hesitate and neither should we!

      Baptism ties us to the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ; Jesus obeyed God completely in giving himself for the sins of the world. It is in His death that He shed His blood for our sins. It is in Baptism that we contact it (Rom. 6:1-6).  Have you been baptized into Christ for the remission of sins?  Think about it!  By Mark T. Tonkery 

Tonk Talk

It is that time of year again! Time to have a great Gospel Meeting. It is not every week that we have an opportunity to meet outside of Sunday worship and Wednesday Bible Class as  Christians and learn more about God’s Word. This special week will be an excellent week to learn from the Bible and be motivated by the preaching of God’s Word. We need to remember that the devil is going to try to delay you in coming to our Gospel Meeting on Oct. 3-6. Please do not cooperate with him. Make it your goal to not only not cooperate with the devil but also  be proactive about the meeting by doing the following 10 suggestions: 

• Pray for the success of the meeting. 
• Plan to be here every service. 
• Invite your friends, neighbors, unfaithful members, and past members. 4. Sit upfront and close together so that any late visitors can find a seat quickly. This will also help our singing as well. 
• Greet guests with a warm welcome. Smile, be friendly and invite guests to sit with you. 
• Make sure you invite guests back to our regular times of worship and Bible  Study. 
• Sing with the spirit and from your heart. 
• Help keep the building and the grounds clean, pick up trash and belongings around you after each service. 
• Be positive about the meeting. 
• Bring your Bibles, pen, and paper so you can follow along with the preacher and take notes. 

 Church, David Price is going to give his best to help us have a great Gospel Meeting. I  know that the Lord will be doing His best to help all of us to have a great Gospel Meeting. Will you as a member of the congregation give your best? I hope so! May God bless us as we plan to make the Gospel Meeting Oct. 3-6 a great success!

Mark T. Tonkery

“For I know the plans I have for you and not to harm you plans to give you hope and a future.”

Jeremiah 29:11

Tonk Talk 

                On Oct. 3-6, Camden Ave. will be having a Gospel Meeting.  We must remember that the main goal of having a Gospel Meeting is to invite our friends, neighbors, co-workers, classmates, and family members to hear the word of God.  In my sermon last week, I gave some practical ways we can invite people to study the Bible with us, which can also be used to invite people to our Gospel Meeting.  So here are some of those ideas repeated and other creative ideas we can do to invite people:

• Give a neighbor who is moving into your neighborhood free lightbulbs or a flashlight (with batteries).  Say something like “You’ll probably have a lightbulb go out some time, so here’s one,” or if it is a flashlight say, “if the electricity goes out this might come in handy.”  Then say. “By the way, did you know that Jesus is the light of the world (John 8:12)?” You can learn more about Him at our Gospel Meeting we are having, why don’t you and your family come with us.”
• Bake some bread and give it to someone, and say something like, “by the way did you know Jesus is the Bread of life” (John 6:35)? “You can learn more about Him at our Gospel Meeting we are having, why don’t you and your family come with us.”
• Give out water to the people in your neighborhood or local park and as you give the water to them say something like, “did you know that Jesus can give us spiritual drink” (John 7:37-38)? “You can learn more about Him at our Gospel Meeting we are having, why don’t you and your family come with us.”
• Go to the laundromat or carwash and feed quarters into the machine, and say something like, “have you been washed by the blood of Christ” (1 Cor. 6:11)? “You can learn more about Him at our Gospel Meeting we are having, why don’t you and your family come with us.”
• Give someone a nice flower, and say something like, “did you know Jesus is like a plant (vine)” John 15:1-7?  “You can learn more about Him at our Gospel Meeting we are having, why don’t you and your family come with us.”
• Pass out microwave popcorn or a can of soda pop with a note attached that says, “Pop into our Gospel Meeting.” Include your name and information about our Gospel Meeting.

Can you think of other creative ways of inviting people to our Gospel Meeting?  All these ideas are to help build friendships and to show we are servants of Christ trying to share our faith in today’s modern world.  It is amazing to see how responsive people become as the result of a simple gift or act of servanthood. 

Will you do something that will show people we care and use that as an opportunity to talk to them about Christ and invite them to our Gospel Meeting and other services?  In Christ, Mark T. Tonkery

Tonk Talk by Mark T. Tonkery 

Light.  It guides us, directs us, and helps us by showing us the way.  On a dark night or when the electricity goes off, a flashlight or candle can help us find our way through our dark house or the path we are walking on. 

In the Bible, light is described as goodness, righteousness, and everything that God is (1 John 1:5).  The Bible also points out that Christianity is identified as light and the world is identified as darkness (John 1:5).  Notice, John 8:12, “Then Jesus spoke to them again saying I am the light of the world.” He who follows me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.”

Light exposes darkness: Darkness is expelled as soon as one turns on a light. Darkness and light cannot occupy the same spot.  Therefore, light serves as a guide.  Airport runways help planes land at night by having lights placed along them.  People can drive their cars at night because they have headlights and there are also streetlights. We know how essential light is in the physical world.  The Bible has been telling us all long how essential light is to our spiritual lives as well, it is just as essential as the need for light in the physical world, but even more so.

We as Christians are to point people to the light and guide people who are in darkness to the light.  In Mat. 5:14-16, Jesus tells us, “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.  Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house.  In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”

The story is told of a little girl who was shivering her way along a main street in one of our great cities. Seeing the beautiful lights of a church building and hearing the singing coming from within, she went in and warmed herself as she listened. The preacher's text was, "I am the light of the world." At the close of the service, she went to the minister and said, "Did you say you are the light of the world, sir?" The minister replied, "No, dear child. Christ is the light of the world, and I am one of the lights." The little girl looked at him for a moment, and then solemnly said, "Well, sir, I wish you would come down and hang out in our alley, 'cause it's awful dark down there!”? (Story taken from—Biblical Research Monthly).

Christians are, indeed, as Christ said, "the light of the world." As one of those lights, are you "hanging out" in some dark alley?  Are you sharing your light? Christians are to be lights to shine forth into the darkness of human darkness. We are to set our light upon a hill, not hide it under a bushel or in other words hide that we are Christians.  Remember: We are to be "lights" in a dark world (Ph. 2:14-15), so let us share our light and let it shine.  Be God's Mark T. Tonkery