The story is told of a businessman who was overworked and decided to take some time off. While vacationing on the coast, a terrible storm hit. When it died down, he decided to take a walk down the cost to see what damage had been done. As he walked along the shore, he noticed thousands of starfish which had washed upon the shore. He knew that in a few hours the sun would come out and the starfish would dry out and die. As he thought about the starfish, he noticed a young boy who was throwing the starfish back one by one. The man was amazed by the youth’s diligence and shocked by his feeble attempts to make a difference. As he looked up the long beach, he saw thousands of starfish. When he caught up with the young man, he informed the boy that he could not possible save them all and said to the little boy, “You’ll never be able to make a difference to the starfish population.” The boy bent down, picked up a starfish, looked at it, then threw it back into the safety of the ocean. Then he said, “I sure made a difference to that one.”

We cannot personally make a difference in the lives of everyone that fills this world, but we can make a difference to a few of them. It is interesting that when Jesus spoke of those on His right hand on the Day of Judgment, he described them as having made a difference in the life of one person. He said, “Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me” (Matt. 25:40). I sincerely believe that each of us can make a difference in the life of someone. This is how Jesus worked—one at a time. Sure, He preached to thousands, but He visited with families, and helped individuals.

Wade L. Webster
via Charlotte Avenue Church of Christ
Rock Hill, SC
Bulletin Digest (June 2003)

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 

James Garfield was the only minister elected as President. He was a preacher, even having as a young man once preached in a meeting with an elderly Alexander Campbell. It is claimed that he said upon his election as our 20th president, "'I now step down from being an elder of the Lord's church to serve as president." Others say he said, "I resigned from the highest office known to man to be president;" by implication referring to the eldership. Either way, it seems likely he was unique in this regard.

President Garfield was baptized into the Lord's church on March 4, 1849, at the age of 17. He was planning to take a riverboat trip with friends. He recalled, “But two days before we intended to leave, I injured my foot while chopping wood. It was only a small cut, but the blue dye in the homemade socks I wore poisoned the wound, and I was compelled to stay at home. While my friends were on their journey, a powerful preacher came to our town to hold revival meetings. I was invited, and since I didn’t have anything else to do, I decided to attend. The message touched me deeply, and as a result, I surrendered my heart to the Lord and was baptized into his kingdom.”

He had acquired his spiritual mindedness from his mother and when he left home she asked him to remember that each evening at sunset she would be reading from the Bible. It became his practice throughout life to pause at that time of day to do likewise. She likewise had taught him to pray, so much that while in the army he was often referred to as the "praying colonel."

Moreover, he was always faithful to meet with the brethren. Even as President of the United States he attended every service of the small congregation in Washington D.C. Truly he practiced his religion. He said, "'there is nothing that can make youth so shapeful, manhood so strong, and old age so beautiful, as the religion of Jesus Christ.”

The first week after his inauguration as President of the United States, a member of his cabinet insisted on an urgent meeting at 10:00 Sunday morning to handle a threatened national crisis. Garfield refused to attend because he had a more important appointment. The cabinet member demanded to know what it was. The President replied, “I will be as frank as you are. My engagement is with the Lord to meet Him in His house at His table at 10:00 tomorrow, and I shall be there.”

Sadly, he was shot on July 2, 1881 and subsequently died on September 19th. (Author Unknown)

Steve Higginbotham recently introduced me to a new term, a new art, and a new perspective on a great truth.  He asks:

Have you ever heard of "Kintsugi"?  Kintsugi is the Japanese art of repairing broken pottery with a "glue" made of gold.  Rather than throwing away a vase, bowl, or cup that had been dropped and broken, these items can be repaired by gluing the pieces back together with gold.  The repair can actually make the piece of pottery more beautiful and more valuable than it was before it was broken.

Instead of broken pottery, consider broken hearts.

Here’s a beautiful truth: God specializes in mending broken hearts.

Steve Higginbotham informs us that he knows the blessing of this truth personally:  On a personal level, I have learned the value of brokenness.  For the majority of my life, everything was easy.  The biggest challenges I faced throughout my youth seem trifling to me today.  My life, along with my wife, had a fairy-tale beginning, but eventually we began to experience "breaks" (e.g. the miscarriage of a child; the death of my father-in-law, mother-in-law, and my dad; and most shattering, the choices of one of our children).

These breaks, and countless others, could cause one to retreat, give up, and become bitter.  They hurt (present tense), but my wife and I refuse to allow our life together to be little more than useless, broken shards of pottery littering the floor.  No, instead, we've given the broken pieces to the Lord who has put us back together, I believe, even more valuable in His service than before. The breaks haven't been desired, but they have been profitable in the hands of "The Potter" (Romans 9:20-23).

As Steve indicates, there are many different things – situations, trials – that can break our hearts.  One thing that should break our hearts, however, is sin.

“The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit,
A broken and a contrite heart—
These, O God, You will not despise.”
-- Psalm 51:17

These words were written by David in a penitential psalm that he wrote after Nathan the prophet confronted him about his sin with Bathsheba (see 2 Samuel 12).  David acknowledges his sin and his heart is broken.  He desperately seeks the cleansing of his sin by God (see Psalm 51:1-4).  God, observing David’s repentance and confession, forgave him (see 2 Samuel 12:13-14; Psalm 32:1-5).

A broken and contrite heart, God will not despise.  The brokenness is evidence of true godly sorrow which leads to repentance.  God “honors” the heart that is broken by sin by healing it with His forgiveness and love.

“He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.”
--Psalm 147:3

Even though we are sinners, God loves us so much that He gave His One and only Son to die on the cross for our sin (John 3:16).  Through Jesus, we can have our sins washed away by His blood (Ephesians 1:7).

God will forgive and give the gift of eternal life to those who will place their faith and trust in Jesus (Acts 16:30-31), turn from their sins in repentance (Acts 17:30-31), confess Jesus before men (Romans 10:9-10), and are baptized (immersed) into Christ for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38).  He will continue to cleanse from sin those who continue to walk in the light of His Word (1 John 1:7).

Steve Higginbotham encourages the broken-hearted: “If your life has been shattered by loss, disappointment, and sin, don't give up (Galatians 6:9).   God can do amazing things with the pieces of your life.  In fact, He can make you more useful and beautiful than you were before you were broken.”

And He will, if only you will submit your heart and your life to Him.  Won’t YOU?

-- David A. Sargent

Source Cited: “If It Isn’t Broken…Break It” by Steve Higginbotham in MercEmail (June 24, 2017).

David A. Sargent, Minister

Church of Christ at Creekwood 
1901 Schillinger Rd. S.
Mobile, Alabama  36695

            Tonk Talk by Mark T. Tonkery     

               When we think of endurance we do not usually think of the prophets of the Bible.  Many times, we just read about them in short moments of their life such as Jonah, Obadiah, Nathan, or even Elijah.  We know really very little about them and sometimes do not know if they ministered their whole life or just for a short time.  Yet there is one prophet that the Bible talks about who ministered during the reign of five kings of Judah.  God called him while he was still in his mother’s womb (Jer. 1:5).  He was a prophet for more than forty years to kings, princes, false prophets, priests, and people of all social classes.  He preached and prophesied with many tears and was also known as the “Weeping Prophet.”  He loved people and wanted the lost to return to God.  Most of the people he loved mocked him, were hostile, and apathetic towards his message.  Often the people ignored his messages and threatened his life.  He even saw fellow prophets being murdered.  He himself was beaten and put in prison many times (Jer. 37:15).  

                   One highlight in this prophet’s life was he saw the revival in the nation of Judah under the reign of Josiah, but only to be grieved again when he saw the Jews returning to idolatry.  He warned and warned the nation of Judah about the coming of the Babylonians, and then he witnessed his prophecies come true, as the Babylonians came and destroyed Judah and the Temple.

                   He was from a family of Levite priests and was a very honest person, who had a very deep relationship with God.  He did not want the people of Judah to receive the judgment of God and he was hoping that the people of Judah would repent.  With the coming judgment upon Judah, God forbid him to marry (Jer. 16:2).  Throughout the book with his name on it, it shows his grief, sorrow, and at times his loneliness.  Yet he was dedicated to serving God.

                   If you have not guessed by now this prophet was none other than Jeremiah.   Jeremiah was a prophet who endured, even though at times he wept and wanted to give up (Jer. 9:2; 20:1-18).  He never did.  Although we do not have a record of his death, everything we know about Jeremiah points us to believe that he died as a faithful follower of Almighty God.

                   What an example of endurance and faithfulness.  He never gave up.  He never surrendered and turned his back on God like the rest of the crowd.  He endured.  He was faithful.  He was righteous.

                   What an example for us, as we run the Christian race and face many temptations, trials, and discouragements, may we have the faith and endurance as Jeremiah.  Like Jeremiah, we are never promised that life will be free of trouble or struggles.  Hebrews 12:1 even encourages us by saying, “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.” 

                   May we stay faithful to God, keep running the race, and keep abiding in God’s word, just like Jeremiah the prophet who endured.