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BulletinGold
#138
June 2012 Vol 12 #4
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BulletinGold
#138
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June
2012
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Vol.
12 Num. 4
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Editors:
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David Bragg
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Edward
Thomason
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| BulletinGold |
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In This
Issue:
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Articles
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Nuggets
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Poems
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Quotes
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- The Power of
Forgiveness…, by Bryan
Kirby
- Complaints
- Have We Left Off
Part of the Armor? by
Clifton Angel
- We Were Forewarned!
by Ron
Bartanen |
- Wisdom
- THE TRUTH
- Empty! by Steve
Higginbotham
- A
Spark |
- It’s In the Valleys
We Grow
- When Sorrow Walked
With Me, by Robert
Browning
- Waste Not a Single
Hour, by Clay Harrison
- Falling
From Grace |
quotes
& sayings for bulletins
and signs
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| Editorial by
David Bragg |
Welcome
to the June issue of
BulletinGold! Thank you to all
our contributors and
subscribers for your great
support.
David
Bragg
http://davebragg.blog.com/
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| Panning
for
Gold Feature
Articles: |
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The
Power of Forgiveness…
By
Bryan Kirby
Since I
have been working as a minister,
I have by necessity become a
student of human nature. During
this time, I have been amazed by
the amount of time and energy
people put into staying mad at
others for extended periods of
time. This grudge holding
marathon that some will pursue,
however, has a very nasty habit
of pursuing them in the end. The
problems that this course of
life ends up causing with the
relationships in their lives can
hardly be overstated.
So what
do grudges actually do to those
that hold them? First and
foremost, holding a grudge and
nursing anger opens up a place
for the devil in our lives.
Ephesians 4:26-27 says, ―"Be
angry and do not sin; do not let
the sun go down on your anger,
and give no opportunity to the
devil." When we allow anger to
fester for any period of time,
we are giving the devil an
opportunity to come into our
hearts and set up shop. As we
know from 1 Peter 5:8, Satan is
that roaring lion that is
seeking someone to devour and
anger is an easy way to
accomplish that task.
We also
see that carrying anger (or
holding a grudge) does a lot of
damage to the relationships
around us. When our lives are
dictated by a grudge, we lose
sight of others. We fail to
treat them with the dignity and
respect that all other people
deserve. In particular, the
person with whom we are angry
suffers the most. We are also
apt to direct our frustration
and anger at that person in ways
that are unbecoming and
inappropriate for a Christian. I
am ashamed at the number of
times I have witnessed
Christians "letting each other
have it" in the most unchristian
like fashion in the middle of
the church building! This is
something that should never,
ever happen, but when we carry
our grudges, we fail to put our
mouths and hands under the
LORD’s control.
All of
these things clearly violate the
commands of the New Testament.
Jesus Himself pointed out that
the second greatest command in
the Law was for one to love
their neighbor as his or
herself. Paul tells us in Romans
13:8-11 that loving our neighbor
is required for us to fulfill
the law of Christ. Blasting one
another or holding grudges for
long past offenses is a far cry
from fulfilling the law of
loving our neighbor. However bad
and pervasive anger may seem, it
does not have to be the end of
our relationships with one
another or with God. There is
something that is more powerful
than anger, but a little harder
to come by. That thing is
forgiveness. Forgiveness is
something that we all desire –
we don’t want people to stay mad
when we mess up. Forgiveness is
something that Jesus Himself
said is required from us – we
don’t gain God’s forgiveness
without giving it ourselves
(Matthew 6:14-15). Forgiveness
is something that we find
ourselves so very unwilling to
give – it is hard to let go of
the offenses that others have
committed against us. Once we do
forgive, we will find that our
lives will be filled with fewer
burdens, less stress and more
fulfilling relationships.
Forgiveness opens communication
and helps us all grow stronger.
That way, we can fight together
to overcome problems instead of
fighting with one another. With
forgiveness in our hearts, we
can lift one another up and help
each other make it to heaven.
- Bryan Kirby preaches for the
Goodwood Boulevard church of
Christ in Baton Rouge, LA. He
may be contacted through the
congregation's website at http://www..goodwoodchurch.org
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Complaints
Never once
did our Lord have a path free
from trouble.
When He went
into the wilderness, He was
tempted of the Devil.
When He tried
to rest, the multitudes followed
Him.
When He
taught in the synagogue, the
hearers became angry and sought
to throw Him off the brow of the
hill.
When He gave
others rest for their souls, He
had no place to lay His head.
When He
sought peace in the garden, they
came with swords and staves and
led Him away to the halls of
judgment.
When He did
His best to be kind and loving
in face of mockery, they took
Him as a sheep to the slaughter
and drenched Calvary with His
precious blood. And yet, in
spite of it all, He never
grumbled about His burden. Jesus
did not complain at all! He just
went about doing good. Let us be
like Him! The busiest are the
happiest.
Cheerful,
active labor is a blessing. The
busy, the active, the happy, the
cheerful—don’t have time to
complain.
- Borrowed, author unknown; via
The Contender,
the weekly bulletin published by
the Walnut Grove church of
Christ in Benton, KY.
Kevin Williams preaches for the
congregation. He may be
contacted through the church's
website: http://walnutgrovechurchofchrist.org/
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Have
We Left Off Part of the Armor?
By
Clifton Angel
In a
recent study concerning the very
popular “armor of God” of
Ephesians 6, something caught my
eye in a way that it never has
before. In verses 11 and 13, the
Apostle Paul emphatically states
that we, as Christians, must put
on “the whole armor of God”. In
verse 12, he reminds the
brethren at Ephesus that we are
in a spiritual battle, and that
the ONLY possibility of standing
against the “wiles”
(Greek--schemes, methods) of
Satan requires the whole armor
of God. He continues in the text
by defining the very familiar
armor:
Stand
therefore, having your loins
girt about with truth, and
having on the breastplate of
righteousness; And your feet
shod with the preparation of
the gospel of peace; Above
all, taking the shield of
faith, wherewith ye shall be
able to quench all the fiery
darts of the wicked. And take
the helmet of salvation, and
the sword of the Spirit, which
is the word of God: (Eph.
6:14-17).
If we
are going to stand against our
“adversary, the devil” (1 Pet.
5:8), we must put on the girdle
of truth, the breastplate of
righteousness, the foot
protection of the preparation of
the gospel of peace, the shield
of faith, the helmet of
salvation, and the sword of the
Spirit.
However, is this the whole armor
of God? Is this truly where Paul
ends the spiritual armor? I
encourage you to thoughtfully
consider my next statement: If
we end at verse 17 with the
armor of God, we are going to be
leaving off a most important
part of the spiritual armor.
Remember, Paul said we are in a
spiritual battle (v. 12), and
that we must put on “the whole
armor of God” (vv. 11, 13).
Furthermore, several Greek
texts, and the standard English
translations do not end Paul’s
sentence at the end of verse 17.
Rather, the sentence continues
past, and includes “praying
always with all prayer and
supplication in the Spirit”.
Dear friends, if we leave prayer
out of our preparation for
warfare “against principalities,
against powers, against the
rulers of the darkness of this
world” (v. 12), we will NOT have
the whole armor of God. As we
put on our girdles,
breastplates, foot protection,
and helmets, and pick up our
swords and shields, let us not
forget to guard our hearts and
minds by praying always (v. 18).
- Clifton Angel preaches for the
Coldwater church of Christ in
Coldwater, MS. He may be
contacted through that
congregation's website: http://www.coldwatercofc.com/
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We
Were Forewarned!
By
Ron
Bartanen
Charles
Francis Potter famously wrote
already in 1930: “Education is
thus a most powerful ally of
humanism, and every American
school is a school of
humanism. What can a
theistic Sunday school’s meeting
for an hour once a week and
teaching only a fraction of the
children do to stem the tide of
the five-day program of
humanistic teaching?”
Thus we were
forewarned. The schools of
our nation were first promoted
by Christians. When they
were taken over then by
government and secular
humanists, young minds have
since been fed with philosophies
and theories that have
eliminated God. Once
evolution was allowed to stand
alongside creation as a
theoretical explanation for the
origin of all things, it soon
proved to be the Trojan horse,
from which has emerged an army
of faith-destroying dogmas of
humanism. Sadly,
most were ignorant of Satan’s
devices!
- Ronald Bartanen preaches for
Arthur church of Christ, Arthur,
IL. He may be contacted
through the congregation's
website: http://www.arthurchurchofchrist.com
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| Nuggets
&
Quick Riches - misc. goodies |
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Wisdom
*True wisdom comes when we learn
to discern the difference
between the passing and the
eternal in our lives.
*The worst thing about wisdom is
that it can only be acquired on
the installment plan.
*As a man grows older and wiser,
he talks less and says more.
*A wise man is not as certain of
anything as a fool is of
everything.
*Knowledge is knowing a fact.
Wisdom is knowing what to do
with that fact.
*To know what to do with what
you know is the essence of true
wisdom.
*Many people might have attained
to wisdom had they not assumed
that they already had it.
*Wisdom is knowing when to speak
your mind and when to mind your
speech.
Psalm 111:10 The fear of the
Lord is the beginning of wisdom;
- Copied from the Pottsville
church of Christ bulletin; via The
Central
Message, the weekly
bulletin of the Central church
of Christ in Paducah KY.
Jim Faughn serves as an elder
and preacher for the
congregation. He may be
contacted through the
congregation's website at: http://www.centralchurchofchrist.org
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THE TRUTH
* KNOW IT (John 8:32)
* LOVE IT (2 Thess. 2:10)
* BELIEVE IT (2 Thess. 2:12)
* OBEY IT (1 Pet. 1:22)
* TELL IT (Eph. 4:15)
* HELP IT (3 John 8)
- Selected; via the weekly
bulletin of the Harrisburg
church of Christ in Harrisburg,
IL. You may visit their
website at http://www.harrisburgchurchofchrist.org
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Empty!
By
Steve Higginbotham
This past
week, a friend of mine (who will
remain nameless) had some car
trouble more than 500 miles from
his home. If you've ever been in
that situation, it is certainly
disconcerting to say the least.
What do you do? Who do you call?
How much will it cost? All these
questions rush through your
mind. In my friend's case, after
paying a tow truck, it was just
a matter of putting gas in the
gas tank (now do you see why he
will remain nameless?)
But in his
defense, while he ran out of
gas, his gas gauge was showing
that he still had a quarter of a
tank of gas remaining. Of
course, I couldn't help but see
a spiritual application in this
event.
How many
people do you suppose are
trusting in a "fallible gauge?"
How many people do you think are
being told they're alright, but
their "tank is empty?" I do know
that on the day of judgment,
there will be some who stand
before Christ, surprised that
they are not saved (Matthew
7:21-23).
To avoid such
a fate, we must trust in the
only "gauge" that will never
fail and never mislead us...the
word of God. Friends, spend time
in God's word so that you can
make your calling and election
sure.
- Steve Higginbotham preaches
for the Karns Church of Christ
in Knoxville, TN. He may be
contacted through the
congregation's website at http://www.karnschurch.org
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A
Spark
Our lives are not determined by
what happens to us but by how we
react to what happens, not by
what life brings to us, but by
the attitude that causes a chain
reaction of positive thoughts,
events and outcomes. It is a
catalyst, a spark that creates
extraordinary results.
- Author unknown; Taken from
Briensburg church of Christ
bulletin via The
Central Message, the
weekly bulletin of the Central
church of Christ in Paducah
KY. Jim Faughn serves as
an elder and preacher for the
congregation. He may be
contacted through the
congregation's website at: http://www.centralchurchofchrist.org |
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| Hearts
of Gold - poetry |
It’s
In
the Valleys We Grow
Sometimes life seems hard to
bear,
Full of sorrow, trouble and woe.
It’s then we have to remember,
That it’s in the valleys we
grow.
If we always stayed on the
mountain top,
And never experienced pain,
We would never appreciate God’s
love
And would be living in vain.
We have so much to learn,
And our growth is very slow;
Sometimes we need the mountain
tops,
But it’s in the valleys we grow.
We do not always understand
Why things happen as they do,
But I am very sure of one thing—
My Lord will see me through.
The little valleys are nothing
When we picture Christ on the
cross;
He went through the valley of
death;
His victory was Satan’s loss.
Forgive me, Lord, for
complaining
When I’m feeling so very low.
Just give me a gentle reminder
That it’s in the valleys I grow.
Continue to strengthen me, Lord
And use my life each day
To share your love with others
And help them find their way.
Thank you for the valleys, Lord,
For this one thing I know,
The mountain tops are glorious,
But it’s in the valleys I grow.
- Unknown, via THE
SOWER, a weekly
publication of the Arthur church
of Christ, Arthur, IL. Ron
Bartanen, who serves as minister
and editor, may be contacted
through the congregation's
website: http://www.arthurchurchofchrist.com
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When
Sorrow Walked With Me
By Robert Browning
I walked a mile with Pleasure,
She chattered all the way,
But she left me none the wiser
For all she had to say.
I walked a mile with Sorrow,
And ne’er a word said she;
But, oh, the things I learned
from her
When Sorrow walked with me!
- via THE SOWER, a
weekly publication of the Arthur
church of Christ, Arthur, IL.
Ron Bartanen, who serves as
minister and editor, may be
contacted through the
congregation's website: http://www.arthurchurchofchrist.com
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Waste
Not
a Single Hour
By
Clay
Harrison
Yesterday is a reminder
of days both good
and bad,
The trials that taught us
lessons
and good times we
have had.
The future still is waiting
as a dream awaits
the night
To become a reality
before the morning
light.
The past may bring us memories
to treasure through
the years,
And the future keeps the dream
alive
despite our doubts
and fears.
But, oh, my friend, we have
today
to live, and laugh
and cry...
A day our Lord has given
that soon will pass
us by.
- Clay Harrison; Submitted by
Mark McWhorter. Mark may
be contacted at mtmcvb@concentric.net
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Falling
From
Grace
We are often told that a
Christian can't fall,
That once he is saved there's no
danger at all:
No matter how far he may lapse
into sin,
The gates will swing open and
let him pass in.
But let it be stated in language
that's terse,
That no one can cite the Book,
chapter or verse
Which teach the Christian cannot
fall away,
And lose his soul in the great
judgment day.
His body Paul tried to keep
under sway
Lest he be rejected and be cast
away,
And thus he has set the example
for all,
That we may be warned not to
stumble and fall.
And then he harks back to the
Israelites' day,
Then twenty-three thousand had
fallen away.
He issues this sobering warning
to all,
"If one think he standeth, take
heed lest he fall."
In writing to Timothy, Paul
boldly saith,
That some had already made
shipwreck of faith;
And Peter said Christians should
watch every hour,
For Satan is seeking whom he may
devour.
'Tis plain to be seen from what
we have just learned
That Christians today from the
Lord may be turned;
And those who still think that a
Christian can't fall,
Are not in agreement with Peter
and Paul.
- Author Unknown; via the weekly
bulletin of the Lebanon Road
church of Christ in Nashville,
TN. Adam Faughn serves as the
pulpit minister for the
congregation, and he may be
contacted through the
congregation’s website at: http://www.lebanonroadchurchofchrist.org
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| Gold Mines ---- quotes,
sayings & sign messages |
“IT
TAKES COURAGE to stand up and be
counted, but to keep on standing
after being counted is the real
test.”
“Youth would be an ideal state
if it came a little later in
life.” (Henry Asquith)
“Rely on our dear Savior.
He will be the Father of the
fatherless and husband to the
widow. Trust in the mercy
and goodness of Christ, and
always be ready to say with
heartfelt resignation, ‘May the
Lord’s will be done.’” (Andrew
Jackson)
“For my
part, whatever anguish of spirit
it may cost, I am willing to
know the whole truth, to know
the worst, and to provide for
it. (Patrick Henry, March
28, 1775)
One good thing about
egotists—they don’t talk about
other people.
Be careful of half-truths.
You may have the wrong half.
- via THE SOWER, a
weekly publication of the Arthur
church of Christ, Arthur, IL.
Ron Bartanen, who serves as
minister and editor, may be
contacted through the
congregation's website: http://www.arthurchurchofchrist.com
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| BulletinGold
Extra ---- recent postings
on our Blogsite |
- A
World Gone Gray, by Dalton Key
- Facing
the
Inevitability
of Death, by David R. Ferguson
- The
Spirit
of
Involvement, by Dennis
Gulledge
- Preaching
the Gospel, by Harrell
Davidson
- Humorous
Labeling
- Procrastination
- “Beautiful
Abbeys” by Kyle Moses
- The
Battle
in
the Pews Trenches, by Mark Ray
- Grace
At Work
- Why
Should
I
Go To Church? by John Telgren
- SANITY
CHECK
- The Lamb of
God |
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