What was the most significant change in the last millennium? Was it the invention of the Gutenberg press? Polio vaccination or the collapse of Soviet communism or man walking on the moon? How many people use their cell phones or tables for their everyday routine?

The world around us is constantly changing.  Someone has said the one thing that is constant is change.

Yet the Bible tells us that God does not change.  James 1:17, states, “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.”

    Many things may change in this life, but the God of the Bible does not.  His love, mercy, justice, His teachings, and judgments are the same as there were when the words of the Bible were spoken.  Would you like to know more about the God who never changes in an ever-changing world? We will be glad to help you answer this question, please contact us.

 I am Mark T. Tonkery with a minute of meditation from the Camden Ave. church of Christ where you are always welcome.

Joseph Webster walked wearily into the little drugstore in Elkhorn, Wisconsin. It was a lovely day in the late fall of 1867, but Webster looked as though he had lost his best friend. His problems had gotten the best of him, and his mood was heavy.

The owner of the little shop was Samuel Bennett, thirty-one, who not only filled prescriptions—he sometimes wrote them. On this day, he had just filled the prescription for his discouraged friend.

After listening carefully to Webster’s accumulated burdens, he picked up his pen and began writing on a 5 x 7 piece of paper. In a few minutes he handed his friend a poem, one he had composed on the spot.

There’s a land that is fairer than day, And by faith we can see it afar

For the Father waits over the way, To prepare us a dwelling place there.

In the sweet by and by, We shall meet on that beautiful shore.

In the sweet by and by, We shall meet on that beautiful shore.

Let’s make it part of our life’s goal to meet each other on that beautiful shore!

 I am Mark T. Tonkery with a minute of meditation from the Camden Ave. church of Christ where you are always welcome.

A photographer was assigned to get photos of a great forest fire. Smoke at the scene hampered him and he asked his home office to hire a plane. Arrangements were made and he was told to go at once to a nearby airport, where the plane would be waiting. When he arrived at the airport, he jumped into the plane with his equipment and yelled, "Let's go!" The pilot swung the plane into the wind and they soon were in the air. "Fly over the north side of the fire," yelled the photographer, "Why?" asked the pilot. "Because I'm a photographer and I am going to take pictures.  After a pause the pilot said, "You mean you're not the instructor?" 

We can get into a lot of trouble when we assume.  For example, many times people will assume they are right with God when maybe they are not. 

The Bible tells us we do not have to assume when it comes to our eternal destination.  1 John 5:13 reads, “I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life.”  If you would like to know more about Christ and eternal life please contact us.

I am Mark T. Tonkery with a minute of meditation from the Camden Ave. church of Christ where you are always welcome.

A city dweller moved to a farm and bought a cow. Shortly after he did, the cow went dry. When he reported this fact to a neighbor farmer, the farmer expressed surprise. The city man said he was surprised too. "I can't understand it either, for if ever a person was considerate of an animal, I was of that cow. If I didn't need any milk, I didn't milk her. If I only needed a quart, I only took a quart." The farmer tried to explain that the only way to keep milk flowing is not to take as little as possible from the cow, but to take as much as possible. Is that not also true of the Christian life?

Those who only turn to God in need miss the real joy that flows from a daily renewal of prayer and study of God’s word.

The Bible tells us in Rom 12:2, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”

Don’t let your relationship with God go dry, renew it daily!

This is Mark T. Tonkery with a minute of meditation from the Camden Ave. church of Christ where you are always welcome.

Nothing in the world is easier than letting our mind drift and not pay attention to what we are doing.

Like the story of the carpet-layer who was installing carpet.  He stepped out for his lunch break, only to realize he'd lost his sack lunch.

In the middle of the room, under the carpet, was a bump. "No sense pulling up the entire floor for one sandwich," he said to himself. He proceeded to get out his hammer and flattened the hump.

As he was cleaning up, the lady of the house came in. "Here," she said, handing him his brown bag with his sandwich in it. "I found it in the hallway."

"Now," she said, "if only I could find my parakeet.”

Paying attention is important.  It is important while working, as well as in all areas of life.  It is especial important when it comes to our faith.

The Book of Hebrews declares in 2:1, “Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it.”

Christian are urged to pay attention to their faith in the Lord, but what if we don’t? We just might end up like the carpet-layer or maybe the parakeet.

This is Mark T. Tonkery with a minute of meditation from the Camden Ave. church of Christ where you are always welcome.