The Encourager Newsletter - Volume 3 Issue 49 - The Tradition of Thanksgiving - Two Vloices

"The tradition of Thanksgiving as a time to focus on God and thank Him for His blessings dates back almost four centuries in America. Colonists held Thanksgiving services in Texas in 1541, in Florida in 1565, and in Virginia in 1607 and 1619.

"But it is from the Pilgrims that we derive the current tradition of a Thanksgiving that includes prayers to God, a meal with friends, and a time of athletic competition.

The Pilgrims arrived in America in December 1620 and experienced a harsh winter of extreme hunger and starvation in which half of them died. The following summer, the Pilgrims reaped a bountiful harvest. As Pilgrim Edward Winslow (who later became their governor) affirmed, "God be praised, we had a good increase of corn. . . . [and] by the goodness of God, we are far from want." (David Barton – http://www.wallbuilders.com/.

The First National Thanksgiving

"America's first national Day of Thanksgiving occurred on September 25, 1789. It was the nation's first official act set by Congress after that body completed the Constitution and Bill of Rights. According to the early equivalent of the Congressional Record:

Mr. [Elias] Boudinot said he could not think of letting the session pass without offering an opportunity to all the citizens of the United States of joining with one voice in returning to Almighty God their sincere thanks for the many blessings He had poured down upon them. With this view, therefore, he would move the following resolution:

Resolved, That a joint committee of both Houses be directed to wait upon the President of the United States to request that he would recommend to the people of the United States a Day of Public Thanksgiving and Prayer. . ." (Christian Law Association)

President George Washington agreed with this request to publically give thanks to God. Not only did he share the same reasons our other leaders held; he also had his personal reasons when he remembered the bullet holes in his uniform and the horses that had been shot out from under him. . He issued the first federal Thanksgiving proclamation, declaring in part:

Whereas it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favor. . . . Now, therefore, I do appoint Thursday, the 26th day of November 1789 . . . that we may all unite to render unto Him our sincere and humble thanks for His kind care and protection.

There's no separation of church and state issue in these proclamations and no one on that day complained that God should be kept out of our national holidays. It reminds me of the woman who was overheard saying, "Thanksgiving would be so much better if these religious people would just stay out of it so we can enjoy our turkey and pumpkin pie."

"So much for any hint of the desire for a "separation of church and state" to be found in the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment in the Bill of Rights! While our Founders wanted to prohibit the establishment of an official national church, they quite obviously had absolutely no intention of separating God from the American government.

"Following President Washington's initial proclamation, days of Thanksgiving were sporadically proclaimed. Another by President Washington in 1795; · One by John Adams in 1799; · Others by James Madison in 1814 and 1815.

But most official Thanksgivings in early America were observed at the state level. By 1815, the various state governments had issued at least 1,400 official calls for prayer and thanksgiving or for prayer and fasting" (CLA)

This year we have chosen to focus on the history of Thanksgiving and have used material from two of the most recognized and respected sources: The Wallbuilders and the Christian Law Association.

Two Voices—Barbara Carr

Georgia and I spent four days in Pigeon Forge, TN last week. We had a great time! While there we attended a play "The Miracle." The play begins with Satan appearing as an angel and ends with Jesus ascending to Heaven. Satan was stripped of his white, shining angel clothes and exposed as the devil that he is.

"How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High." (Isa 14:12-14)

The "morning star" is bright and beautiful. He was once a glorious angel. In this scripture he is shown falling from his place in Heaven to earth. His glory is gone and his brightness extinguished. Satan arrogantly said, "I will ascend into Heaven." He intended to set himself up as the highest to be worshiped. He acknowledged no authority of God in Heaven or earth. He would be making the laws and reigning supremely.

In the play, Satan appeared in every scene whispering into the ears of people. He began in Genesis with Eve. "Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?" (Gen 3:1)

There were several other examples in the Old Testament but let's skip to the New Testament. When the angel appeared to Mary, Satan may have whispered to her, "Don't believe him. How could you be with child? You have never known a man." Then said Mary unto the angel: How shall this be, seeing I know not a man? (Luk 1:34)

He may have whispered to Peter in the court yard, when Jesus had been taken. Jesus had told Peter he would deny him three times before the cock crew, but Peter vehemently denied Jesus' warning. However, when he was asked if he knew Jesus, did Satan whisper, "Better say you don't know him or you will be arrested also?" "And he denied him, saying, Woman, I know him not." (Luke 22:57)

All of this whispering into the ears on stage was a wake-up call for me. I think we forget that Satan is ever ready to whisper ideas and instructions to us. He cannot indwell a Christian's body as he does an unsaved person, but he can suggest things to us and he can oppress us and discourage us. For example: Do you ever say, "I thought about saying this thing or that thing?" Guess who may have planted that thought in your mind?

Or, perhaps you don't just think about saying it—you just blurt it out! You say it before you think about it. How often do you miss a chance to witness to someone because you think that person will not listen to you or may become angry? Where did that idea come from? And the list goes on. Satan is geared up to lead us away from God anyway he can.

But, "Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world." (1John 4:4)

We are of the family of God and have embraced His Word and His Spirit indwells us. God dwells in our hearts and His strength and grace alone can enable us to have victory over Satan's whispering. God is mightier than Satan's seductive efforts. Even though we have trials and temptations with sin, we don't have to despair. Our God is infinitely stronger than Satan.

Let's listen to the voice of our God. "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand." (John 10:27-29)

Jesus is speaking of us. He is saying "my church, my people those who are my followers." We are His sheep. We are to hear and obey His Word. He knows us. Like the song, "He Knows My Name." Sheep will stray, get tangled in the brush and sometimes be cast down, but they know the Shepherd's voice. We need to yield ourselves to His guidance and seek to be led by His voice. The song "Open My Eyes Lord" has the following phrase: "Open my ears Lord and help me to listen." Let's listen for our Lord's voice and respond as did Samuel: And the LORD came, and stood, and called as at other times, Samuel, Samuel. Then Samuel answered, Speak; for thy servant heareth (1Samuel 3:10).

Or as Isaiah did: Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me (Isaiah 6:8). The Lord may not speak to us exactly as He did to Samuel and Isaiah and many others. Nevertheless, the voice of the Lord rides upon the pages of His word today, giving the words personal meaning and application to our hearts. Ω

The Encourager Newsletter - Volume 3 Issue 48 - More on Daily... - This Isn't Home - 2009.11.05

More on Daily….

James, the half brother of Jesus became known as Camel Knee James. He prayed so much that his knees developed calluses like a camel. He became highly respected as the leader of the Jerusalem church and this respect flowed out to the dispersed Saints who were scattered in many places.

While there are four men in the New Testament known as James, the Jews regarded him as the James. I just typed into Google: "Camel knee James" and got about 7,650,000 locations for finding out more about "Camel knee James." We Christians should not forget the James. He's a tough act to follow.

He grew up in the carpenter's home with his older half-brother, Jesus. Like his brothers, he did not believe that his half brother, Jesus, was the promised Jewish messiah until the end of Christ's earthly ministry and particularly after his resurrection from the dead. Josephus the first-century Jewish historian, records that James was martyred about A.D. 62.

Without the Bible saying so, we may conclude that James' knees became callused from daily kneeling on his knees. It is also reasonable to conclude that James knew deep in his heart that yesterday's prayers would not suffice for today and that he could not pray enough today so that he would not need to pray again tomorrow. James prayed daily. When I get to Heaven I want to see James…at a distance. I'm not going to run up to him and blurt out: "Hi James…ol' buddy!" Not me. He might say "Show me your knees!"

James had this to say about time and what we should expect to become upon this earth: Go to now, ye that say, Today or tomorrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that (James 4:13-15). James may have read the next verses before he wrote his book.

Boast not thyself of tomorrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth (Proverbs 27:1), and

This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it (Psalm 118:24).

Perhaps we do not think about every day having to be made. But, today has never been here before and when it is over it will never be back again. Our circumstances are certainly different each day. Everything changes so much each day that no two days can possibly be alike. Babies are born and breathing today that did not do so yesterday. Thousands of people are not alive today that were alive yesterday.

Jesus taught us to pray: Give us this day our daily bread (Matthew 6:11). If the famous grandfather clock had to do all of its 90 years of ticking and striking in one day, it would have burned out the first day and the heat might have burned down the house. As the popular song says: "One day at a time, dear Jesus…"

How gracious of the Lord to write for us: Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof (Matthew 6:34).

It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: for so he giveth his beloved sleep (Psalm 127.2).

Is it possible that you are losing sleep over some things that you shouldn't be losing sleep over? This may seem like a radical, far-fetched idea, but are you losing sleep over some things that you should be turning over to the Lord so you can turn over in bed and think about tomorrow after the sun comes up?

Do at least one thing every day that you have been putting off forever because you just dread thinking about it. The only problem with that is that after a while you will run out of things you had been dreading to do and that will be quite a mess to be in. Well, do that dreaded thing anyway. Run the risk and you will lighten your load. And do at least one thing that you really enjoy doing but only after you have done the "dreaded thing". And have a good day! Ω

This Isn't Home — Barbara Carr

In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know. (John 14:2-4)

As all of you have read, we call the distance from our home in Flat Rock to our home in Southern Pines our 475 mile driveway. Home? What is home? The place where we live; where we are comfortable; where we feel like we belong. Home is a happy place filled with love. Let's not get too comfortable because life is short even if we live a long life.

In the verses above Jesus was talking to His disciples. He is going to leave them. He is going to live with His Father where there are many mansions. He tells them He is going to prepare a place for them. Where He is going they can come also. Do you realize that means you and me? Jesus is preparing a place for us!

If you have read my stories, you know I have never had anything close to a mansion. I love our little house here in Flat Rock and I love our little apartment in Southern Pines. BUT, I do so look forward to my home in Heaven. When we arrive in Heaven something wonderful will happen to us. We will be transformed to be like Jesus. That's what I'm longing for— not the mansion. Just to be in His presence and be like Him will be wonderful! We will be able to recognize, yes, to know and be with our loved ones.

Our earthly father's home is always a welcoming beacon. We love to go there, enjoy the food and fellowship. When our parents go to Heaven we children try to fill that gap by organizing get-togethers, reunions and homecomings. Yet, there is always a little sadness there because some of our loved ones are missing. Our joy comes from knowing the verses above. Look at verse 3b. 'That where I am, there ye may be also."

We have all stayed in houses/rooms where we didn't feel at home—dorms, motels, barracks, etc. It is just not like being at home. There are people that just don't feel at home anywhere here on earth. Usually, it's because they don't know Christ as their Lord and Savior. They are looking for something to fill the void in their lives. The indwelling Spirit of God is the answer. Long term, down the road, Heaven is the answer.

The Bible doesn't give us a clear picture of Heaven and I'm sure it's for God's own good reasons.

"For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known" (1Co 13:12). Revelation 21:18-23 describes Heaven, but I don't believe our finite minds can comprehend how Heaven will really look.

My son, Doug died November 30, 1981. My only help came from the Lord. My family was a comfort, but they were grieving too. You cannot go through those months of grieving without the Heavenly Father sustaining you. During this time a dear friend of mine sent me the book "Within the Gates" written by Rebecca Springer published about 100 years ago. At the beginning of the book Mrs. Springer states that during a dreadful illness she dreamed of the story in the book. She then tells of her visit to Heaven and describes the scenes she saw while there. It was probably a dream. Certainly nothing that would add to the Bible or contradict it.

As she describes Heaven, it will surely make you want to be there with all your heart. It was such a comfort to me. It's just a dream but it has stimulated many people to think about Heaven. Some say it is too simple to be Heaven. I am a simple person. It filled my needs at that time.

In the book: If you had a talent on earth, in Heaven it would be magnificent. For example my earthly father was a carpenter. In Heaven, he would still be able to use his craft to build homes for those who are coming, but his skills would be way beyond what he could do on earth. If you were a musician or had a beautiful singing voice on earth, in Heaven you would be a master of music, etc. We can only imagine what it's going to be like. We cannot go beyond what the Lord has told us.

The book said the saints know when a loved is about to come home and they got ready for their coming. Daddy died May 11, 1981. Doug loved Daddy so much and Daddy loved him like a son. I have always believed our Heavenly Father called Daddy home, so he would be there when Doug arrived in November. Doug was saved when he was twelve and rededicated his life when he was sixteen. I believe he was saved. But during college days he strayed. I believe Jesus made intercession for him with the Father saying: "He has lost his way; I'll go get him."

"What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it? And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost." (Luk 15:4-6) Hallelujah! This isn't our home. Our real home is in Heaven—a new home and a new body. I don't look forward to a long sickness/disease before death, but I do look forward to Heaven. Ω

The Encourager Newsletter - Volume 3 Issue 46 - Daily and Stuff - 2009.10.23

Daily….

Everything God does to transform a pound of seed into a harvest of ripe golden grain, He does it daily. Transforming a few tomato seeds into delicious red slices for a sandwich is done daily. Acorn to giant oak tree is done by daily changes we cannot see. The development of a baby from conception to a beautiful baby in the nursery is done by daily changes. Everything we do that's worthwhile will have to be done daily.

"Daily" occurs 62 times in the Bible. God made the earth and the universe daily….six of them. For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it (Exodus 20:11). If God did not make the earth and heaven in six days, then we have a Moses problem. Not only so but Jesus certified Moses as a prophet of God by his writings and his appearance with Jesus on the Mount of Transfiguration long after he had died, along with Elijah who has not yet died.

And there arose not a prophet since in Israel like unto Moses, whom the LORD knew face to face, (Deuteronomy 34:10)

And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me (Luke 24:44).

And, behold, there talked with him two men, which were Moses and Elijah: (Luke 9:30).

If Moses' words are not true, including his words about God making the earth and the heaven in six days, then we also have a Jesus problem as well as a Moses problem. It could be that we have a Darwin problem who never did anything outstanding but write a book: The Origen of Species. Behe wrote a good commentary on Darwin in Darwin's Black Box. So, whose book shall we accept by faith?

The Bible claims that God made the earth and the heavens….daily….six days. The Old Testament worship system of the Jews is based on that claim, particularly the Jewish Sabbath.

God did not rest because He was tired. He rested in the sense of ceasing His work, stopping what He was doing. Some of our well-intentioned leaders, even Bible believers, have bowed before the religious priests of evolution to accommodate their unfounded assertion of a dateless past of billions of years. These scared Bible believers have earned nothing but the evolutionist's contempt and scoffing.

Without a six-day creation the weekly Jewish Sabbath has no basis. The Sabbath was ordered by the Lord Himself to commemorate God's six-day creation. (Exo_31:13-17.) Most Christians observe The Lord's Day to commemorate the resurrection of Christ. The Lord's Day is not the Jewish Sabbath. The days are not the same but they are similar.

The work week has been studied to death to try to find the ideal number of work days. Every test that's run shows that the ideal mixture of work days and rest days is to rest one day in seven and maintain the cycle.

God knows a lot about making stuff and how to make it work. He's the expert on efficiency.

Whether you believe God made the earth and the heavens in six days as the Bible says, or whether you believe in a dateless past of billions of years, you were not there to watch it being done and you are shut up to the unavoidable proposition of taking it by faith. A dateless past of billions of years is not more scientific than the Bible's six-day creation. Sorry if you are offended. If you are an evolutionist, you are an evolutionist by faith because all you have to go on is what someone told you or what you read in a book.

OR…perhaps the Bible restricts your lifestyle, especially your sexual life style (as was admitted by Huxley) and that's your game. Everyone who has anything to say about the past is a person of faith. The past does not walk into a laboratory to be examined. A growing number of Ph.D.'s believe the Bible gives the best explanation of how everything got here. The Bible is also the best book to point to the future and how to live the unchartered present of "daily."

We are to pray for daily bread (Matthew 6:11). Jesus taught daily in the Temple (Luke 19:47) and the disciples taught daily in the Temple and house to house (Acts 5:42). We are to exhort one another daily:

Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. (13) But exhort one another daily, while it is called Today; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin (Hebrews 3:12-13). Have a good….day.

Stuff: Letting It Go

---Barbara Carr

A friend was very sick and wasn't expected to live long. She was a Christian, a good woman, in church as long as she was able and raised her children to love the Lord. Dan and I were visiting her one day and she made this statement. "I am ready to go home to Heaven, but I hate to leave my stuff." There is a side to this that I can understand. Would someone else love and take care of her antiques and hand crafted quilts as she had? How important is our "stuff" to us?

"There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, and it is common among men: A man to whom God hath given riches, wealth, and honour, so that he wanteth nothing for his soul of all that he desireth, yet God giveth him not power to eat thereof, but a stranger eateth it: this is vanity, and it is an evil disease. If a man beget an hundred children, and live many years, so that the days of his years be many, and his soul be not filled with good, and also that he have no burial; I say, that an untimely birth is better than he." (Ecc 6:1-3)

Solomon was disturbed about the evil he had seen under the sun, the evil in this world. It was a silent, subtle evil. He had about 100 children, but his soul was not satisfied. He was not able to enjoy his wealth. He worried that he would have no burial. A traditional Jewish funeral would have many people mourning and weeping. If the family couldn't get enough mourners and weepers, they hired them. Solomon was a very rich man—wives, children, lands, houses, horses, and chariots; lots of "stuff". Yet, he was wondering about his funeral. Stuff cannot be a substitute for love.

"All the labour of man is for his mouth, and yet the appetite is not filled. For what hath the wise more than the fool? what hath the poor, that knoweth to walk before the living?" (Ecc 6:7-8)

Our appetite for stuff is out of control. I don't deny I like my stuff and want more stuff. When I run low on stuff, I go to a yard sale and build up my supply. At the present we want a GPS. What do you think? It's a good tool for traveling; being warned of stalled traffic ahead; finding gas at the best price and where to eat. Don't you think we need a GPS? Almost every family has at least two televisions, two cars or more, telephones galore and the list goes on.

We just love our stuff. But how much is enough? When should we put "stuff" on a credit card? Credit cards can be a useful tool to eliminate having to carry money with you and to keep records for you but it is a monstrous tyrant if you don't pay it off every month.

In these verses Solomon is trying to give us lessons on what he has learned in life. He says many times "all is vanity." He is trying to give us a wakeup call.

"For who knoweth what is good for man in this life, all the days of his vain life which he spendeth as a shadow? for who can tell a man what shall be after him under the sun?" (Ecc 6:12)

Our inner man cannot be satisfied with the stuff of this world. A man can have a good job, a nice home and a fine family and still feel like a failure, because he cannot get enough stuff. Children have a mountain of stuff, yet they are bored. We walk between two opposing values:

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. (James 1:17) In contrast….

Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. (1John 2:15)

"Stuff" can become an idol and then it is a sin problem. "Stuff" can be a great blessing but it is a terrible master and god. No amount of stuff can pay for and forgive our sin. Jesus Christ died for our sin and paid our sin debt. That's worth more than all our "stuff" put together. God has a plan for our life. He knows our past, present and future. Stuff cannot secure our future. Only God knows the future. What do you want/desire out of life? We can't live well if our life is dominated by stuff, because we can never get enough.

Solomon had it all, but his soul wasn't satisfied. Let's clean up our life. Let's desire the things God wants to desire and be thankful in our hearts for everything we have that has come from His hands.

"Follow after charity (love), and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy." (1Co 14:1)

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law." (Gal 5:22-23)

This is what God desires from us as His children. We can't produce the fruit of the Spirit. Denying ourselves and surrendering to the Spirit of God is not always easy, but we need to work hard in that direction. We don't want to come to the end of life with lots of "stuff" like Solomon did and have the regrets he did. God fills all of our needs and gives us most of our wants. We need to be thankful for the beautiful, useful things He gives us. But "stuff" must not own us nor come before our love for the Lord. Ω

The Encourager Newsletter - Vol.3 Issue 45 - October 16, 2009

Christianity or Churchanity?

And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch. (Acts 11:26)."Whether it was given by their enemies in derision, as the names Puritan, Quaker, Methodist, etc., have been; or whether the disciples assumed it themselves, or whether it was given by divine intimation, has been a matter of debate." (Barnes)

I was filling up with gas at a service station and the owner said to me: "Do you know what I'd be if I was not a Baptist?" "No, what?" "Well, I'd be ashamed. " Tacky. I almost decided on the spot to never buy another gallon of gasoline from him. But then I realized he needed help and I would come back and shake his cage. I replied "I am a Baptist until it interferes with my Christianity and then the Baptist thing will have to go." That was forty years ago and I haven't changed my mind. It is strange to me that the greatest competition, even the greatest enemy of Christianity would be the churches that house Christianity.

That's not always the case but people find it easier to associate with their church than to associate with the crucified and risen Christ who bought them and owns them. It is as though they have never heard: What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? (20) For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's. I Corinthians 6:19-20.

I have met many people who will talk freely of their church and its program but if you steer the conversation toward Christ as a living person whom they are supposed to know, they want to change the subject. Jesus said: …when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth? (Luke 18:8)

I am also reminded that Jesus quoted the prophet Isaiah (Isaiah 29:13) in saying: This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoreth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. (Matthew 15:8)

Christians catch a lot of flak today for not being good Christians, for not being very Christ-like and I'm afraid we have earned that criticism. May we continue to be criticized until we decide we are going to imitate the one whose name we bear. Our job is not to be good church members but to walk with God. The two legs of walking with God are the Word of God and prayer and obedience to everything God shows us.

There are millions of people who believe that the great hindrance to church growth is the pitiful display of denominations divided and competing against each other. I do not believe that. Jesus said: By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another. (John 13:35) I've never been able to improve on that.

Togetherness does not press people into the kingdom of God. I have found that people "don't care what you know until they know you care." One of the most powerful things I've ever seen in my life is a tear coursing down the cheek of a man who cares about the lost condition of a friend. Hardened men have no defense against that. But they could care less about the denominations getting together. It is impassioned Christianity and not churchanity that's going to get anybody into the kingdom of God.

We come to the word: Christendom. It means the outward form of Christianity. Christendom is not going to get any better. So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet colored beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns. (Revelation 17:3)

This woman represents the final outward form of the Church – Christendom. Read the whole chapter. She will be devoured by the anti-Christ. Christendom will continue to corrupt itself because it is going to continue its program of pleasing fickle humanity to gain "nickels and noses."

Jesus said He would build his church and God says of His church: And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, (23) Which is his body, the fullness of him that filleth all in all. (Ephesians 1:22-23) The Bible speaks of local, visible churches, but it also speaks of THE CHURCH which is HIS BODY. And we learn from the Bible: For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. (1Corinthians 12:13)

Pastors do not baptize people into the Body of Christ. The Spirit of God does that and I don't get to vote on it. When a Catholic or Methodist or Baptist or Presbyterian or whatever gets truly born again, the Holy Spirit baptizes them into the Body of Chirst. There's nothing you can do about it. We don't work and struggle to get the Body of Christ together. The Holy Spirit does that without our help.

This is a square pill and hard to swallow for those who want to be the only ones in town who know the Lord. Denominations don't know the Lord. Churches do not know the Lord. Individual sinners repent and receive Christ as Savior and Lord and they know the Lord and are in the Body of Christ. regardless of the Christendom label they wear. We could save ourselves a lot of work and worry if we would just let the Holy Spirit take care of His work of putting individuals into THE CHURCH which is THE BODY OF CHRIST.

I am a companion of all them that fear thee, and of them that keep thy precepts. (Psalm 119:63)

We are born into this world one at a time and we die and leave this world one at a time. We are saved from eternal ruin and set on our way to Heaven one at a time. No church or denomination is going to save your soul or keep you saved. Getting all the denominations together may satisfy your sense of accomplishment but you simply are not going to do it on God's terms. I heard Dr. Bob Jones, Sr. (who founded Bob Jones University) say: "If you could get all the denominations together it would make it much easier for the Devil to swallow the whole thing with one gulp.

" But the salvation of the righteous is of the LORD: he is their strength in the time of trouble. (Psalm 37:39)

I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. (7) So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase (1Corinthians 3:6-7). This puts me in my place. Salvation is of the Lord and we get to help Him a little, but not much.

As to the outward form of Christendom, God has some things to say to us. There are God-fearing churches and there are man-fearing churches that do not fear God. I didn't write it. God wrote it:

Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? (2Corinthians 6:14)

If you are a member of a church but you are not joined to the Christ who bought you with His own blood, I urge you to get on your knees this day and submit to Him as Savior and Lord and then love Him supremely and live for Him as the priority of your life. Ω

Vehicles of the Past—Barbara Carr

This week Dan and Jacob (Francis) were talking about cars and trucks. Dan was telling stories of the trucks his father had bought and traded. He told all about the motors and designs and how he loved all these vehicles. I was in the kitchen cooking dinner. Jacob called in to me, "Hey Mrs. Carr what kind of cars did your family have?" My answer was that we didn't have a car. He laughingly said, "Well, I guess you just flicked the whip for the buggy didn't you?" My answer was that we didn't have a horse and buggy either. We walked.

My family didn't have a car until I was fourteen years old in 1951, This was the year Mama was pregnant with Georgia. Daddy wanted Mama to go to the hospital to have Georgia because she was too old to have her at home (36 yrs old). By that time, he had bought a used 48 Chevrolet coupe and we were moving on up!. In 1952, he bought a brand new Chevrolet pickup truck and that began our vehicle story.

Getting back to "we walked." That is just what we did. Daddy walked about four miles one way to the sawmill everyday to work and four miles back after work. Sometimes his boss would let him drive his Jeep back and forth during the week. We walked to church and I walked to school, a stretched quarter mile.

Now, my friend Betty Ann Brazelton was more fortunate than I. Her Daddy was a farmer. He had a tractor. She and I would spend the night with each other as often as our parents would let us. Revivals were very popular back then. I would try to plan a night at her house when a revival was going on in her area. Her Daddy would put some hay in a wagon, hook up the tractor and we were ready to go. Betty had three sisters, so the five of us would load up on the hay wagon. Mr. Brazelton would sit on the tractor seat and Mrs. Brazelton would stand beside him and lean against the fender.

"I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD." (Psa 122:1)

We had so much fun sitting on the back of the wagon, swinging our legs out the back; just acting silly, giggling, sometimes singing everything we knew. It never occurred to us that we might be a little messed up by the time we got to church; a little dusty or hay stuck somewhere on our dresses.

The church was usually packed full and people standing outside looking in the windows. We would enter the church, hear a preacher that would walk around the pulpit and up and down the aisles calling sinners to repentance. Many would be saved; some coming inside to be saved. We would sing invitations songs until we almost lost our voices.

Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved. (Act 2:47)

These people were generally humble, serious and devoted Christians, who would do anything for you. You didn't have to sign a contract. Your word was your bond. It was the Lord who drew these people to His house, Christian and sinner alike.. And, we children enjoyed every minute of it. We got back in the wagon snuggled in the hay and were usually asleep by the time we got home. Did you ever enjoy anything like this? It was a great adventure every time.Ω

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The Encourager Vol. 3 Issue 44 - October 10, 2009

Timothy's Grandma

When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also. 2Timothy 1:5

Timothy's grandmother was probably a livewire. When her little Eunice was born her motherly instinct kicked into high gear. Somewhere, Lois had absorbed a strong faith in God and had dedicated herself to Him. There ARE grandmothers and mothers like that. She was also determined that little Eunice would know and love her God. Everything rides on attitude. America can use a lot of grandmothers and mothers that understand that.

She only had bits and pieces of the Word of God she had gleaned from other people who had bits and pieces. Only synagogues and Kings and a few wealthy people had a copy of the Word of God, which at that time would have been Genesis through Malachi. If anyone could get a copy of a book of the Bible it was probably the book of Deuteronomy. Jesus quoted Deuteronomy more than any other book.

Good Jewish mothers got their children started in the Word of God by teaching their children everything they knew and encouraged their children to learn from other people in the village whatever they had memorized. Jewish fathers contributed to the process of passing on Scripture portions but it was the mother and grandmother that had the most time with the young children. Sometimes a little school might spring up in the village. Maybe so, maybe not. Anyway, God had commanded that His people work at hiding His word in their hearts. Lois and Eunice understood this and obeyed God in teaching their children the word of God. Paul could say of Timothy:

And that from a child thou hast known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. 2Timothy 3:15.

My grandmother, Alta (Allred) Carr was a good moral woman who made the best peach cobbler in the West Fork River area. But I didn't see her much in my early years. My grandmother Olive was my regular grandmother figure and we lived close enough in Medlock Hollow that I could wander in and out of her house at will. I even walked toward her house some in my sleep walking. She named me: Daniel. When I was about five, she and my mother ordered a Bible story book from a radio program. The hard back cover featured a picture of the prophet Daniel. When they read the story to me, I realized I had a Bible name.

Grandma Olive raised chickens and gardened well. She also had a hot temper. My mother sent me down to Grandma's house to get a jar of mustard. Grandma filled a small empty jar and told me to be careful with it. But you can't throw rocks on the way home if you are carrying a jar of mustard. I struggled to get the jar into my left front overall pocket. She urged me not to do that but I continued. Suddenly the jar flew out of my hands and the lid came off. I still don't know how so much mustard could come out of a jar in a split second and coat the wall and ceiling and floor and…. trigger my grandmother's wrath. I told her I would clean it up but she told me: "No! You just go on. I'll clean it up!" I escaped with another, smaller jar of mustard—in my hands.

Then there was the day when I was a little bigger, hoeing in her garden. She went into the house to start lunch on her wood stove. I spotted some big leafy things growing along the tall paling fence. They looked to me like Burdock weed. I was sure she had not had time to cut them down and I would do it for her. With all my energy I chopped down every stalk. "Grandma will be proud of me!" But Grandma came out of the house with a horror-stricken look on her face. "You have cut down my rhubarb! Now I'll have to quit everything else and can that rhubarb so I won't lose it!" At this point I wondered if she thought I was such a good idea. Some people should not have been born and I just might be one of them. But when she cooled down she was ok. Did you know you can make a delicious rhubarb cobbler out of just one quart of rhubarb? We had a lot of rhubarb cobbler that year.

One night I was sitting at her table to dine on cornbread and milk. She was pouring my milk and she always filled it too full. You didn't waste milk and you had to drink all that was poured. When the glass was half full I said, "That's enough Grandma." She kept pouring (I was frail and needed to put on some weight). "That's enough Grandma!" She kept pouring so I just moved my glass and figured she would stop pouring when it went on the table. It did and she did. She didn't have to touch me. She had the gift of lightning that precedes thunder.

This was the woman who named me Daniel and expected good things from me. She died in 1941 when I had just turned seven and two months before Pearl Harbor was bombed. But she made her mark on me in seven years, even with such a hot temper. Would to God that every strong willed boy might have a grandmother like my Grandmother Olive. Her daughter-in-law was named Lois. My mother had one name: Avo. She was kind and slow to anger but I was pushy and sometimes she had to underscore her directives with a switch from the peach tree beside the well.

An old proverb says: "The apples don't fall far from the tree." Not only did Lois teach Eunice well, Eunice decided early that she would raise Timothy the way her mother raised her. So she invested a lot of time in Timothy. I suppose Timothy was deprived somewhat since he did not have a TV or video games or a cell phone that he could learn to text in his pocket. It's so much easier to just let children be in charge.

To escape the intolerable whining, parents give in and buy these destructive devices for them because the weapon of choice is: "But Mom! Dad! All the other kids have these things and you are going to make me look like a misfit nerd if I don't have the electric toys and dress like them and wear my hair like them. I was a high school principal long enough to pick up on what's going on. Either parents are going to be in charge or the kids are going to be in charge. That's a conscious decision and it's usually decided by the time the child is three.

Most three-year-olds know whether or not they can manage their mothers. My mother never counted to three before lightning struck. Somehow I figured out that she was in charge and I just went with the program and her rules. She's 112 years old now and when I see her, I'm going to thank her for being in charge of me. She carried me to church in her womb and I have been attending church ever since. Ω

Home Again in Flat Rock—Barbara Carr

Our children planned a birthday celebration for Dan in Montreat, NC this year, Sept 11-12^th. We partied, ate too much, shared memories and had a wonderful time! From there we went on to Southern Pines, NC for two weeks.

In traveling home on Thursday and Friday, October 1^st and 2^nd, we made a detour. After staying overnight in Asheville, NC we visited with my cousin in Oak Ridge, TN. It had been several years since our last visit with Glenda and Ken and seeing them brightened our trip home. We are thankful for a safe trip. Our old faithful Ford Taurus could almost make the trip to Southern Pines, NC on automatic pilot. It knew the route and what stops to make.

But, alas! Repair bills dictated a replacement. The Toyota has only made a few trips and doesn't have the hang of it yet. However, Dan does have to struggle with the steering wheel when we pass a Dairy Queen or hand-dipped Hershey's you-know-what. We enjoyed the combined visits so very much. We had worked hard this summer and our visit was a joyful retreat.

Remember the story in Acts 8:26-40? Philip was told to go to Gaza to witness to a man of Ethiopia. He traveled there, found the man, helped him understand the scripture and baptized him. Then in verse 39, Philip was caught up by the Holy Spirit and was dropped off in Azotus. Now that's the way to go! No stress, no fighting the traffic or glare from the windshield. One day soon, and it may not be long, we will be caught up to meet the Lord in the air. What a day that will be!

We love the church family of Southern Pines. They shower us with love and strengthen our desire to serve the Lord. While we were there a statement was made in church about our selflessness. I could have crawled under the seat, because my Heavenly Father knows that I am not selfless. Dan is, but I'm not. I could fill this article with ways that I am selfish. That's why my prayer first thing in the morning is asking my Father to help me to be what He wants me to be, to control my thoughts, attitudes, actions and words during the day. Without the guidance and power of the Holy Spirit, I am a helpless mess. But God can take of that too.

Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness. (Isa 41:10)

This verse is talking about the exiled Jews, but the promise can be applied to all of us in similar circumstances. This promise is as true now as it was then. God our protector is with us and in us. We are not to be alarmed but calm and composed. God is able to strengthen us. He is all powerful. He will enable us to bear our trials. He is faithful. We can rely on His right hand to hold us up. So even though I am a mess, I have this verse to cause me to look to God for guidance and help.

We are happy to be home and at the Flat Rock end of the driveway, there is family and church family whom we love. We desire the prayers of everyone at both ends of the driveway. We love and pray for you. Ω

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