Bulletin Articles

By Thayer Salisbury

My grandfather owned a table saw. It was not a Delta,
or a Craftsman, or DeWalt. It was a home-made table
saw. Now I can highly recommend home-made bread,
home-made peanut butter, and even homemade soap;
but I have never seen a home-made table saw that I
trusted. That saw was an accident waiting to happen. A
really nice table saw may cost between $500 and $2000.
I do not know what my grandfather originally paid for
his saw, but about 1967 it almost cost him two fingers.
He was trying to rip a board when something slipped
and he sliced the first two fingers of his left hand
severing them almost completely. [That much is true;
the rest is parable.] For years people had been telling
him that they could keep the slightest of connections to
the body of Christ and still manage to remain spiritually
alive. So, my grandfather decided to test the claim. He
asked the doctor to just stem the bleeding, but not to
bother reconnecting the fingers to his hand. After all, if
members can remain spiritually healthy while barely
participating in the life of Christ’s body, why couldn’t
two of the members of his physical body remain healthy
while disconnected almost completely from his body?
His fingers died, of course. His body suffered for the
loss of those fingers, of course. But it was a noble
experiment and it proved what everyone should have
known, that the health of a member always depends on
the close connection of that member to the body. 

“Now you are the body of Christ and individually
members of it” (1 Corinthians 12:27, ESV).

Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear
fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can
you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the
branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is
that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do
nothing. If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown
away like a branch and withers; and the branches are
gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned (John 15:4-
6, ESV).

By Glen Elliott

The Chinese Bamboo tree shows no appreciable growth for its
first four years. Then, in the fifth year, it shoots up some 50 to 90
feet into the air. This amazing illustration from the natural world
shows the value of patience. Sometimes progress seems
unbearably slow. We might be close to giving up. But then, just
as our hope is fading, our eyes are opened afresh to the wonderful
power of God to keep His promises! There were those about
whom Peter wrote in his second epistle who were mocking God’s
word, saying, “Where is the promise of His coming?” (2 Peter
3:3). They contended that all things continued as they had from
the beginning- that God had never interjected Himself into the
affairs of man. Peter reminded them of the cataclysmic events
which occurred in the days of Noah when God destroyed the
world of the ungodly by means of a world-wide flood. It is in that
context that Peter describes the patience of God, saying, “But do
not let this one fact escape your notice, beloved, that with the
Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like
one day. The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count
slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish
but for all to come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:8-9). The patience
of God is intended to lead us to repentance. Just because the
present universe remains even after all these centuries is no
indication of a lack of resolve on His part. God will keep His
promise. The “day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which
the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be
destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be
burned up” (2 Peter 3:10). Because He will come suddenly and
without warning, we should “regard the patience of the Lord as
salvation” (v. 15). God said, “My word which goes forth from My mouth; it
shall not return to Me empty, without accomplishing what
I desire, and without succeeding in the matter for which I
sent it” (Isaiah 55:11). God never lies (Hebrews 6:18). We
can rest assured in the promise of Christ’s return. James
used the illustration of a farmer waiting for the produce of
the soil as an example of our need to be patient, saying,
“strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is near”
(James 5:8). We should not expect that an infinite, eternal
God should be constrained to operate on our timetable.
While we eagerly await His return (Hebrews 9:28), we join
in the sentiments of the apostle John who prayed, “Even
so, come, Lord Jesus” (Revelation 22:20).

By Glen Elliott

God has always required obedience. Yet, God
requires that obedience which rises out of a heart
of love and gratitude. Paul spoke of the love of
Christ as that which ought to motivate us to live
for the One who died and rose again on our
behalf (2 Corinthians 5:14-15).

Jesus identified the greatest command, saying,
“You shall love the Lord your God with all your
heart, and with all your soul, and with all your
mind” (Matthew 22:37). Without love in the
heart, our service to God is but empty ritual
(Isaiah 29:13).

On the other hand, genuine love will express
itself in complete and unconditional obedience
to the commands of our Lord. Jesus says, “If you
love Me, you will keep My commandments”
(John 14:15). If we say we love the Lord, while
deliberately disregarding His word, our religion
is nothing but pretense. Jesus questioned those
who were living according to human tradition,
asking, “And why do you call Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’
and do not do what I say?” (Luke 6:46). God has
always desired obedience from the heart.

When King Saul failed to obey the voice of the Lord,
Samuel explained the significance of his disobedience,
saying, “Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to
heed than the fat of rams” (1 Samuel 15:22). A lifetime of
worshipping God means nothing without a daily walk in
obedience to His will. Hebrews 5:9 tells us that Jesus
became to “all those who obey Him the source of eternal
salvation.” If we would truly please God, we must learn
and practice obedience from the heart.

By Kenny Westmoreland

I once saw a cartoon reminiscent of the scene from
Mark 8:34 in which Lord Jesus challenged believers to
“take up your cross.” Within the cartoon, numerous
figures were dragging large crosses. Each moved
slowly under the weight of the oversized burden.
Suddenly, a character spoke out and asked, “Is there a
way to lift some of this load?” The next depiction
showed the cartoon character sawing off a portion of the
cross, thereby lightening his load. From that moment
on, the cartoon character (with his “new and improved”
cross) moved out ahead until he reached a large
crevasse. The huge gap had no bridge, thereby stranding
the character. Others arrived, lowered their crosses onto
the crevasse, bridged the gap, and then resumed the
journey. Suddenly, the character discovered that his
new and improved version did not reach the other side.
He found himself stranded. Realizing his mistake, the
character fell to his knees in prayer. This story may be
fiction, but it mirrors a common problem: a lack of true
dedication among church members. Rather than being
devoted to Lord Jesus, some choose to take a non-
committal approach. Sadly, the “short cross lifestyle”
often leaves people unprepared and unequipped for the
tough times. Such a choice is inconsistent with the
words of Christ when he exhorted: “If anyone desires to
come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his
cross daily, and follow Me” (Luke 9:23, NKJV).
Don’t be a cross cutter!

By Glen Elliott

Optimism is an essential ingredient for the growth and
well-being of the body of Christ both individually and
congregationally. Leroy Brownlow writes, “The world
is not going to follow the man who has a gloomy
outlook. We like the person who enjoys the donut rather
than griping about the hole in it.”

Optimism is a byproduct of hope. The Christian’s hope
is not rooted in this world, but is anchored in the next
(Hebrews 6:19). It is a hope that “does not
disappoint…” (Romans 5:5). When life grows dark and
dreary, threatening to dampen our enthusiasm, we must
set our “mind on the things above, not on the things that
are on earth” (Colossians 3:2). Easier said than done.

An optimistic outlook requires a disciplined mind. Paul
says, “Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is
honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever
is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if here is any
excellence and if anything worthy of praise, let your
mind dwell on these things” (Philippians 4:8).

Output is determined by input. So long as we fill our
minds with polluted, negative thoughts, we will enjoy
little success maintaining a positive attitude. By
contrast, when Paul sought to fill his heart with things
lovely and noble, he was able to rise above physical
hardships and proclaim, “I can do all things through
Him who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13).

Wouldn’t you rather look at life through the hopeful
optimism of faith in Christ? We will not always be treated
fairly in life. Hardships will come even into the lives of
Christians. But, in Christ, we have the resources to deal
with life at its worst and still maintain our hope for the
future. Remember, “This is the day which the Lord has
made; let us rejoice and be glad in it” (Psalm 118:24).

Unchanged Tactics

Satan didn’t tempt Eve to murder, steal, or even tell a lie.
He tempted her to doubt the word of God. Just know his
tactics haven’t changed.

By Randal Metheny

The obvious ceases to be obvious when we listen
to voices that are misinformed or spouting false
teaching.

It was the latter who were bellowing in the first
century, leaving the true children of God
confused, when John wrote his first letter. “You
are from God, little children, and have conquered
them, because the one who is in you is greater
than the one who is in the world” (1 John 4.4).

Excuse me for repeating this so often, but God is
in us when we obey the word of Christ (John
14.23). In a dissolute and perverse world (as it
has always been), which gives itself,
unrestrained, over to carnal passions and
personal pleasures, the followers of Christ do
God’s will and receive in their hearts the
presence of the Lord

Through his living in us, his power works to give.
us the victory. If we do not have the victory
(note: the verb conquered is in the past tense!),
we need to ask ourselves why. It is entirely
possible that we are still rebelling against
complete obedience to the Lord.

In what area do we still refuse to submit ourselves to hi
will? Or perhaps we do not recognize the nature of thi
victory.

It is not freedom from trials and suffering, nor is it
comfortable financial situation or a healthy body. Th
victory does not consist of physical comfort.
We have victory when our hearts are secure in God an
spiritual peace possesses us, even when the storms of lif
throw their worst upon our heads.

We enter into victory because God is greater than the ev
one and because he is within us, reigning in and over us.

By Dennis Russell

“Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each
other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you”
(Ephesians 4:32). I would guess that you still remember
some of those lessons you learned in elementary school.
Such as; don’t challenge a person who is seven inches
taller that you to a tether ball match for “all the
marbles;” don’t try to slide into home plate when the
catcher already has the ball; never brag about that to
which you have no bragging rights; never take a
Valentine card seriously (that cute little girl/boy gave a
Valentine to everybody else in class). Maybe one of the
most significant lessons I learned during those
formative years was that kindness is not retroactive.
You cannot undo those stupid things you said or did.
Most of the time when we are unkind it is the result of
some selfish motive. Sometime around 1972 a country-
western singer named Glen Campbell released a song
called “Try a Little Kindness.” The song has never been
more relevant than it is today. It is very possible that in
today’s world we have become so exposed to the needy
that we have become calloused to their need. We are
very much aware of the kindness of God as seen
through His son Jesus Christ. The duration of that
kindness continues through Jesus as an ever-abiding
revelation through eternity.

Have you ever wished that people would have been a little
more kind to you? Have you ever wished you would have
been a little more kind to them?

It is true, kindness is not retroactive but today is a good day
to start being kind.

Occasionally, we sing about letting the beauty of Jesus
being seen through us, but we should also let the kindness
of Jesus be seen in us.

By Robert Kargbo

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not
on your own understanding.” – Proverbs 3:5

Have you ever found yourself overwhelmed, trying to
make sense of life’s complexities, feeling the weight of
decisions, problems, or even your own thoughts? In
today’s fast-paced world, we often strive to have all the
answers, to figure things out on our own. But the truth
is, we were never meant to carry such a burden. Just as
our brain, with all its billions of neurons, is far beyond
our ability to fully comprehend, so too is life itself. The
Creator, in His infinite wisdom, designed both to be
complex, knowing that we would need to rely on Him.
God’s invitation is clear: we are not to lean on our own
understanding. The pressure to know everything, to
manage every detail of our lives, is not something He
ever intended for us to bear. And this is where the love
of Christ comes in. Jesus, fully aware of our limitations,
came to help carry our burdens. He invites us to find
rest in Him. When we find ourselves anxious or
confused, it is a sign to step back and trust in God’s
higher wisdom through Christ. We may not have all the
answers, but we have the assurance that God does and
Jesus is with us every step of the way. We don’t have to
figure everything out because Christ is already holding
everything together for us. Today, reflect on an area of your
life where you’ve been trying to carry the weight of understanding
on your own. What would it look like to release that to Christ?
Spend a moment in prayer, asking for the strength to let go
and trust in His plan.