A Chinese gentleman lived on the border of China and Mongolia. In those days, there was constant conflict and strife along the perimeter. The man had a beautiful horse. One day, she leaped over the corral, raced down the road, crossed the border, and was captured by the Mongolians. His friends came to comfort him. “That’s bad news,” they said sadly. “What makes you think it’s bad news?” asked the Chinese gentleman. “Maybe it’s good news.” A few days later the mare came bolting into his corral, bringing with it a massive stallion. His friends crowded around. “That’s good news!” they cried. “What makes you think it’s good news?” he asked. “Maybe it is bad news.” Later, his son, while riding the stallion and trying to break it, was thrown off and broke his leg. “That’s bad news,” cried the friends. “What makes you think it is bad news?” asked the Chinese gentleman. “Maybe it’s good news.” One week later, war broke out with Mongolia, and a Chinese general came through, drafting all the young men. All later perished, except for the young man who couldn’t go because his leg was broken. The man said to his friends, “You see, the things you thought were bad turned out good, and the things you thought were good turned out bad.” ^[1]

And therefore, it is with us. We don’t know if the things we want will really be good for us, or bad. We can’t see the future. That’s why Paul tells us in 1Th. 5:18, “give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”

“We can’t see the future. That’s why James tells us to pray, saying, in 4:15, “If the Lord wills. . . .” But God does know the future. He is The Alpha and Omega, the First and the Last. He knows the end from the beginning, and He knows how all things will turn out.

Rom 8:28 reminds us, “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”

God will work out the circumstances of our life out for good if we will only put our faith in Him and do not waver. So let us always give thanks to Lord for He has great things in store for us if we are willing to be patient and wait.

By Mark T. Tonkery

^[1]Morgan, Robert J.: Nelson’s Annual Preacher’s Sourcebook : 2002 Edition. electronic ed. Nashville : Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2001, S. 361

(Co-editors note: This article is one of many excellent articles penned by Charles L. Brown, former Dean of Admissions at the East Tennessee School of Preaching and now an adjunct faculty member. This article is submitted for your study and inspiration.)

1. PRAY MORE. The average Christian spends a very limited amount of time in prayer. We often reserve prayer for emergency use only. How much time would you estimate you spent in prayer yesterday? How much time last week? More Daniels are needed today (Dan 6:10).

2. BE MORE SPECIFIC IN PRAYER. Prayers are often far too general, too vague. More praying should be done for specific people, specific needs, etc. Prayer should be fitted to the occasion and need. Too often our prayers are like that of the young boy when he and a friend found themselves in the pathway of what appeared to be sure disaster with no way of escape. One of the boys prayed the only prayer he had ever heard his father pray, and that before meals.He said, "God, make us thankful for what we are about to receive! "It may be that our prayers are often no more appropriate for the occasions.

3. PRAY WITH GREATER FAITH. James said that weak faith and futile prayers are connected (James 1:6). Doubts and uncertainties hinder prayers. The source for a greater faith is God's Word (Rom 10:17).

4. RISE ABOVE THE SIN OF COVETOUSNESS. James also tells us that a covetous spirit hinders our prayers (James 4:2). Selfish hearts do not gain the ear of God. A loving and giving God is seeking to bless those with generous spirits.

5. PRAY WITH GREATER ZEAL AND FERVENCY. Another important ingredient of acceptable prayer is enthusiasm or fervency, so declared James (James 5:16). Prayers coming only from the lips and not from the hearts are hollow and empty. The Pharisees of Jesus' day prayed such prayers.

6. GROW MORE GODLY. The more righteous we become, the more prayer accomplishes (James 5:16; 1 Peter 3:12). Elijah's success in prayer was directly related to his righteousness in life. The rebellious spirit and the unrepented sins will always hinder our prayers (Prov 1:28; Isa. 59:2).

7. IMPROVE MARITAL RELATIONSHIPS. Peter tells us that relationships between husbands and wives either help or hinder prayers (1 Peter 3:7). When relationships break down between marriage partners our relationship with God is affected.

8. GROW IN HUMILITY. The first beatitude named by Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount was on humility (Matt. 5:3). The proud heart is rejected by God (James 4:6). The Pharisee's prayer was rejected because of pride (Luke 18).

9. CULTIVATE A FORGIVING SPIRIT. Jesus declared that we cannot expect forgiveness from God if we refuse to forgive our fellowman (Matt. 6:12). This is just one of numerous biblical warnings that God's treatment of us is connected with our treatment of others.

10. PERSIST IN PRAYER., Jesus taught two parables regarding the importance of persistence in prayer (Luke 11; 18). In each instance, perseverance was a key ingredient to success.

11. COMBINE ACTION WITH PRAYERS. Pray as though everything depends upon God. Then work as though everything depends upon you. Somewhere, I read about a farmer with this sign on his farm: "Pray for a good harvest, but keep on plowing."

If we at the Wooddale Church of Christ can be of any spiritual assistance to you, please contact us by E-mail at Bill Bryant, Tom Smith , Raymond Pecoraro or Wayne Dinkins
 

            Chatting with an aged physician, a surgeon, a minister queried, “Doctor, do you ever worry about the time when your fingers will lose their skill?”  He paused for a moment and then replied, “No, preacher, but I do confess that at times I worry that the day may come when my heart will no longer feel the suffering of my patients.”

Limited Loyalty

A doctor is loyal to all of his patients, but loyal to them one at a time.  This is what makes a good physician and keeps him in demand.  There is a love we all need for all mankind.  But here is also a love, a profound sense of loyalty which, if felt and absolute, clearly identified.  Such as our singular love for God.  Our love for the one with whom before God and man we have exchanged sacred vows.  And so it is with our loyalty to the home congregation.

While we are to love the entire brotherhood (1 Peter 2:17), we are at the same time to be specifically loyal to the congregation where we have pledged our allegiance.  Where we have placed our membership we have also vowed a commitment.  We need to honor it.  Often it is given little consideration.

Perhaps we do not think our presence will be missed-but what member do we ask to personally represent or take our place?  Jesus not only is with the entire church for all time, even to the end of the age (Matthew 28:18-20) but at the same time has intimately identified with each local congregation.  (Revelation 2:1) And so should we-with someone congregation and faithfully support it, feeling at home in its midst and among its many personalities.

Some members may identify in a vague sense with about every congregation in town so that wherever they “light” on Lord’s Day morning, they are always “at home.”  But this is a strange marriage!  The elders of a home congregation need to know they may expect loyalty and what kind of loyalty from the souls whom they oversee.  But can they depend on consistent attendance?  Personal presence to personally support and encourage the Bible School program?  Regular and faithful contribution to the local work may go on?  I as a member of a local congregation I owe so very much to those who are accountable for my eternal destiny.

Author Unknown 

Alex Haley, the author of "Roots," had an unusual picture hanging on his office wall. It was a picture of a turtle on top of a fence post. When asked, "Why is that there?" Alex Haley answered, "Every time I write something significant, every time I read my words and think that they are wonderful, and begin to feel proud of myself, I look at the turtle on top of the fence post and remember that he didn’t get there on his own. He had help" (Taken from, www.sermoncentral.com/sermon-illustrations). 

That is the basis of thankfulness - to remember that we got “here” with the help of God and that He is the provider of every blessing we have.

This Thanksgiving season, may we be reminded of all that the Lord has done for us, and may we not only thank Him now but every day that we have the breath of life.  Think about it!

“Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name!”

Psalm 100:4 

Written by Mark T. Tonkery 

There are two rival conceptions of the church held by many today. One holds that the church is a conglomerate of sorts, being composed of all Christ-believing individuals, regardless of the “church” to which they belong. The other view maintains that while the church is composed of every saved individual on earth, only those who have done just what the Bible requires are in fact saved. Which view is correct?

It cannot be denied that Christ desired unity among His followers. In the shadow of the cross, the Savior prayed that His disciples might be “one,” so “that the world may believe” that He was sent from the Father (cf. John 17:20–21). The early church was a model of this prayer for unity. “And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul” (Acts 4:32).

Sadly, the religious world today is anything but united. There are hundreds, if not thousands, of competing religious bodies, each vying for our attention and subsequent allegiance. Most, if not all, teach conflicting doctrines and practice varying rituals. From a rational vantage point, it seems the only unity that can rightly be claimed for all such endeavors is superficial at best.

In stark contrast to the present state of affairs, there is a beautiful simplicity to Christianity. When the apostle Paul delineated the heart of the gospel, he did so in this fashion: Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose again the third day. When the same apostle wrote to the Romans, he indicated that we submit to a “form” of this teaching (cf. Romans 6:17) when we die to the unrestrained practice of sin, are buried with Christ in baptism, and then raised to walk in “newness of life” (cf. Romans 6:2–4; Colossians 2:12). All who have done so are members of the body of Christ, the church (cf. Ephesians 1:22–23; Colossians 1:18, 24). The name God would have them wear is “Christian”—nothing more, nothing less. —Brandon Renfroe