Guest Writer - Dene's Blog

The Gospel According to the Oak Ridge Boys

4/13/2015 0 Comments

Today's post is by guest writer Lucas Ward.

There's a black cloud following me around
And I just can't get away
Instead of sinking a little lower
I start making tracks on over
To the place where the sun shines day and night
And I know I'll hear you say

Come on in
Baby take your coat off
Come on in
Baby take a load off
Come on in
Baby shake the blues off
Gonna love that frown away
Come on in
Baby put a smile on
Come on in
Baby tell me what's wrong
Come on in
The blues'll be long gone
Gonna love that hurt away

I've always assumed the Oak Ridge Boys were singing about a bar, but doesn't the description fit exactly the New Testament description of the Church? The church (meaning, of course, the people who meet together under God's auspices) is where we rejoice with them that rejoice; weep with them that weep (Rom 12:15). It's where we go for encouragement (Heb 10:24 and let us consider one another to provoke unto love and good works;) and edification (Rom_14:19 So then let us follow after things which make for peace, and things whereby we may edify one another.) It should also be where we go when we need a kick in the pants (2Ti_4:2 preach the word; be urgent in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.)

The church is referred to as a family almost 200 times in the New Testament. Where else should we turn when we get "tired and a little lonely" or when "a black cloud is following me around and I just can't get away"? Shouldn't our church family be "where the sun shines day and night"? When we need help and encouragement we should be able to call upon our family and always hear "Come on in". And when members of our family call upon us our only thought should be "gonna love that hurt away." If yours doesn't work that way, maybe you are in the wrong place.

Lucas Ward

Filling in God's Blanks

3/30/2015 0 Comments

Today's post is by guest writer Keith Ward.

Like most government agencies, Florida Department of Corrections has a number of forms to be filled out. One that inmates must sign for me is totally useless; the purpose for it ended over 10 years ago but we cannot get it removed. So I hand it and another senseless form (unnecessary but not known to be totally without purpose) to the inmates, with the parts that they need to fill in marked with exes –signature, date, DC# (Department of Corrections number).

The totally useless form has a heading explaining what its [defunct] purpose is, “I _____________......” This has no X beside it, my attempt to avoid wasting any more time on it than I must. Inevitably, the inmate will put his name in the blank, or ask whether I want him to do so. I reply, “Just where the exes are.” Sometimes, I look at one who has filled it in and say, “I told you, ‘where the exes are.’ ” They always start apologizing. They know they were not following the instructions when they filled in that blank.

It seems we have the same problem with the Bible, we cannot stand blanks. Fantastic (as in “fantasy”) books have been written telling what the other apostles did, what Jesus did as a child, what he did between 12 and 30, etc. Even ancient people got into the act and books were written to fill in the gaps of famous O.T. characters, some purportedly by those inspired men/characters.

As for us, we bind rules where God left a blank. Or we decide that since God left a blank, we can do whatever suits us. Numerous passages can be cited to support the radical notion that when God said nothing, that is exactly what he wanted, “Unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my son,” “Of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priests,” and “In all places where I have moved with all Israel, did I speak a word with any of the judges of Israel, whom I commanded to shepherd my people, saying, "Why have you not built me a house of cedar?"' And that last one right after God told David, “Thou shalt not build me a house.” (1 Chron 17). Several more such could be listed.

Most religious division comes in places where men filled in God’s blanks. At least the inmates know they did wrong to fill in the blank, but these theologians still argue that they have the right to do so and certainly never apologize.

“That you may learn not to go beyond what is written.” 1 Cor 4:6

Keith Ward

Ol' Reliable

3/13/2015 0 Comments

Today’s post is by guest writer Lucas Ward.

Jerry Whitehead has died. He was only 60, it was sudden and unexpected. For those of you who don't know him, Mr. Whitehead was the Sheriff of Union County, where I grew up. Not only was he the sheriff, he had been the sheriff since 1985. For 28 years he had been the top law enforcement officer of our county. He was a good man, friendly and kind. He coached me in Little League baseball. The people of the county were comfortable knowing that Mr. Whitehead was looking out for things. I imagine that there are people in their early forties who don't remember a time when Jerry Whitehead wasn't the sheriff. They relied on him.

And now he is gone.

It just goes to show that we can't rely on anyone in this world. Some people we trust let us down because they aren't the people we thought they were. Even the people of the highest integrity, however, can't be relied upon to always be there, because one day they will be gone, just like Jerry Whitehead. Everyone gets old and too weak to keep up their previous pace. Everyone we look up to will eventually die and leave us holding the bag with others looking up to us. And then we, too, will be gone.

In this ephemeral world, however, there is one thing I can rely on: Luke 21:33 "[Jesus said] Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away." I can rely on the teachings found in the Bible. I can trust on His word to lead my life. I can count on the promises recorded therein. Because of His recorded Word, I can know my God and what He expects of me. I can know of the great salvation He has wrought for me and what my responsibilities are regarding that salvation. Despite the changes of public opinion and popularity, His Word never changes. I can base my life on it and I can be secure.

Mat 7:24-25 "Every one therefore that hears these words of mine, and does them, shall be likened unto a wise man, who built his house upon the rock: and the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon the rock."

Lucas Ward

Law Keeping = Idolatry

2/27/2015 0 Comments

Today's post is by guest writer, Keith Ward.

The Galatians had been told they must keep the Law of Moses in order to be saved. Paul worked to persuade them that the power of the gospel was sufficient and was, in fact, negated by keeping the Law for salvation. His argument in 4:9 startles us when it equates keeping the Law of Moses with idolatry, “But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how can you turn back again to the weak and worthless elementary principles of the world, whose slaves you want to be once more?” These Galatians had never been under the Law of Moses; how could they “turn back again” to it, or be “slaves once more”? They had been idolaters with various rules for worship and finding God. Since the gospel became the power of God to salvation, seeking justification by keeping the Law of Moses is no different than seeking justification by keeping the ordinances of idolatry. Both involve various outward rules one meticulously keeps in order to come to God by things men do rather than by faith. To turn from the gospel to the Law of Moses would be no different that turning from the gospel to idolatry. [Those who were justified during the dispensation of the Law of Moses were justified by faith as noted in Hebrews 11 as men were in every dispensation.]

It would be appropriate to apply this passage to those who turn to the O.T. to justify their practices: incense, instrumental music, priests, tithes. But, it may be more useful to search within ourselves, “Has my service become a matter of rituals instead of a living sacrifice?”

When attendance becomes a measure of faithfulness and Hebrews 10:25 is a club to enforce it, does it really even matter whether one attends or not? Where is the heart? Is one serving God or his own rules? Attendance is not a “rule;” it is the opportunity one has to “provoke unto love and good works” his brothers and sisters. Checking a duty off the list is self-serving and does not follow the example of Christ to serve others.

When one prays to fulfill a duty it maybe has a limited value. But, it does not even approach prayer that opens the heart to God, prayer that draws one closer to God, prayer for others, prayer for service.

Some give on the first day of the week only because it is one of the “5 acts of worship.” Others first give themselves to the Lord and then give beyond their means of their own accord.

Eph 5:19 has been relegated for a proof text against instrumental music in the worship assembling. Paul wrote it in the context of everyday living as a primer for filling oneself with the Spirit. (The Greek does not say “one to another” but is a totally different word that is reflexive, “speaking to yourselves”). Is it any wonder that we struggle in our daily lives since we are empty of the Holy Spirit because we do not sing in our hearts all the time?

Many have turned the grace of God into rituals, rituals that no longer have the N.T. purpose and heart. There seems to be little difference between a will-worship by means of idolatry or one by means of Old Testament rules, or even by means of instructions of grace to help in time of need which have been turned into a checklist.

For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery…For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. Gal 5:1,13

Keith Ward

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Jesus' Four Statements at Trial

2/16/2015 0 Comments

Today’s article is by guest writer, Lucas Ward.
Just as it was prophesied in Isaiah, Jesus didn't speak much during His trial(s). In fact, He never once responded to any of His accusers. Not the false witnesses at the Jewish sham trial, not the Chief Priests before Pilate or the Jews before Herod. In all these cases, He stood mute. His silence enraged the High Priest and astounded Pilate. (Mt. 26:62-63, 27:12-14) In fact, the only times Jesus spoke were in answer to direct questions from the prosecutor/judge in reference to His identity. Even then, His answers weren't what one would normally expect from a defendant. Let's examine each of the four times He spoke and then see what conclusions we can draw.

Mat 26:63-64 "But Jesus remained silent. And the high priest said to him, "I adjure you by the living God, tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God." Jesus said to him, "You have said so. But I tell you, from now on you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power and coming on the clouds of heaven."" Notice that Jesus didn't merely answer in the affirmative, He went beyond that. "Seated at the right hand of Power" can only mean with God and in fact is a claim that He not only was the Christ the son of God, but that he was fully divine and equal to God. Who else could sit with Power? He adds to that statement that they will see Him coming in the clouds of heaven. Throughout the literary prophets, God coming in the clouds signified God coming in judgment to destroy a city or nation. Jesus is saying, not only am I the Christ, I'm God and I'm going to come in judgment on you! Immediately, the Sanhedrin declares that He is worthy of death for blasphemy (a charge which would have been true had anyone else uttered those words.)

Luk 22:67 ""If you are the Christ, tell us." But he said to them, "If I tell you, you will not believe, and if I ask you, you will not answer. But from now on the Son of Man shall be seated at the right hand of the power of God." So they all said, "Are you the Son of God, then?" And he said to them, "You say that I am."" One of the proofs that this session is separate from those recorded in Matthew and Mark is that the whole line of questioning is different. There are no false witnesses, and Jesus' answer to their question is a bit different. This is the formal "official" trial, and they need to get His "blasphemy" on record. This time when they ask, He tells them there is no point in answering, because they are too stubborn (and stupid?) to believe. He then continues to say that He will be seated with God and finally confirms that He is the Son of God. They again condemn Him to death.

Mat 27:11 Now Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor asked him, "Are you the King of the Jews?" Jesus said, "You have said so." John gives a much fuller account, but this is sufficient. Jesus claims to be a king to the Roman governor.

Joh 19:10-11 "So Pilate said to him, "You will not speak to me? Do you not know that I have authority to release you and authority to crucify you?" Jesus answered him, "You would have no authority over me at all unless it had been given you from above. Therefore he who delivered me over to you has the greater sin."" While there may have been some slight compassion for Pilate on Jesus' part here – after all, Pilate was just in the wrong place at the wrong time, unjust and self-interested as he was -- He seems also to be thumbing His nose at Pilate. He tells Pilate that Pilate's power and authority count for nothing when dealing with Him, that Pilate would have no authority over Him except that God had so arranged it.

Do you see a theme threading through these statements by the Lord? In every case, He said precisely what would enrage His questioners most. Before the Jews, He not only claimed to be the Christ, the Son of God, but fully divine Himself and promised that He was coming in judgment upon them. He later repeated most of that while hinting that they were too stubborn to believe the truth. Before Pilate, He claimed to be a king. What was the primary responsibility of the Roman governors? To keep the peace and stamp out insurrections before they could get started. The fastest way to earn a death sentence was to claim to be a king and to gather followers around you. John records that not only did Jesus confirm to Pilate that He was a king, He also said that He had servants who would be willing to fight if He ordered it. While Pilate seems to have considered Jesus a harmless crazy person, this claim would have caused his antennae to twitch. Finally, Jesus tells Pilate that he holds no true power over Him. For a power hungry bureaucrat, this was a serious insult. All of Jesus' answers seem to be designed to upset His judges in the worst way.

Unlike the case for most defendants, victory for Jesus entailed being convicted. His purpose was to be condemned to die. Always the master of what was going on around Him, He said exactly what He needed to in order to ensure that His condemnation came to pass. He wanted to be crucified and made sure that it happened, because that was the only way He could save us.

Lucas Ward

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Just Say No

1/30/2015 2 Comments

Today's post is by guest writer Keith Ward.

“Buried with Christ …. Dead to the old life …of sin.”

Don’t we just wish? We sing the song. We mean it sincerely. We try to believe it really happened when we were baptized. But, the reality that rots away our hope and that Satan twists to tempt us and bring us back down is that not much seems to have changed. We proclaim that we have Christ and we come to church and we put on the front, but we are still tempted by the same old passions that we were last year, and the year before our conversion and that we did AGAIN last week and we wonder if our only hope is that our last prayer comes after the last time we yielded. Boy, doesn’t the devil just love this attitude, “Just go ahead and give up,” he says. We need to talk to each other and help each other.

Listen to the man who wrote the words behind the song above, “I have been crucified with Christ and it is no more I that lives, but Christ lives in me and the life I now live in the flesh, I live in faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave himself up for me.” High and noble and don’t I just wish I was on that peak?

Some time later, Paul wrote. “I buffet my body, and bring it into bondage: lest by any means, after that I have preached to others, I myself should be rejected” (1Cor 9:27). Though he had already penned Gal 2:20, Paul still struggled; so great a struggle that he called it beating himself into submission.

If Satan can get us depressed over our failures, we will repeat them. We can triumph, but it is not easy. It is not supposed to be. We are in training to be a spiritual elite, not SEALS, Christians; not SWAT, children of God. Tough training makes tough soldiers of faith.

Don’t give up. Try harder. Pray more. Get a fellow soldier to help and help him. Even Paul had to work at it.

“Just say NO!” Nancy Reagan was mocked for her motto. It is God’s motto. I’ve seen the billboards, “What part of “Thou Shalt Not” did you not understand?” If one believes in God, he must also believe that he is a created being, not a being that is the result of chance. God says that the beings He created have a choice. They can say, “NO!” to Satan. God gave them this power.

Stop it with the excuses.

The mystery …now revealed to his saints. To them God chose to make known how great …are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. [Col 1:26-27]

Keith Ward

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Figuring It Out

1/14/2015 0 Comments

Today’s post is by guest writer Lucas Ward.

When Peter gets to Cornelius's house, he states that he wouldn't normally have attended a Gentile's invitation, "but God has shown me that I should not call any person common or unclean." (10:28) Wait! God never told him that! There is no place in the whole Bible where God tells Peter that he shouldn't call people common or unclean. It's just not there. However, Peter doesn't say God told him, he said God showed him. But again, God never showed him anything about people. Earlier in chapter ten God showed Peter a vision of animals and encourages Peter to "kill and eat". Peter refuses, saying that he's never eaten anything unclean. This is where the heavenly voice says, "What God has made clean, do not call common." (vs 15) So, God showed Peter about animals and Peter figured out that He was talking about more than just animals. The Holy Spirit's instruction to go with these Gentiles and Cornelius's obvious humility and desire to learn things pointed to this conclusion. In fact, it was almost necessary that he infer this conclusion . . . .WAIT A MINUTE!

This is an almost perfect example of what preachers/teachers/theologians mean when they say "necessary inference". While Peter was never out-and-out told that no person was common or unclean, he was given so many hints along those lines that any other conclusion was impossible. If he was thinking about God's revelations at all, then this was the conclusion he had to come to. This conclusion is later backed up by the Holy Spirit falling upon the Gentiles, proving that no man was common or unclean due to his race. Also notice that this wasn't the product of wishful thinking on Peter's part, nor was it the result of taking one bit of revelation and twisting it beyond its original intent. After Peter considered all that God had revealed to him on this subject, this was the only conclusion possible.

Another thing to look at is the first 18 verses of chapter 11. When the Jewish Christians accosted Peter in Jerusalem, he was not able to answer them in the way of the OT prophets; he could not say "Thus sayeth Jehovah" because God had never told him directly to do what was done with Cornelius. So, how did he answer? He told them of the vision. He told them that he was ordered to go with these men "nothing doubting" (the only direct verbal statement of God during this whole incident). He recounts what Cornelius had told him regarding the angel's visit. He tells of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon Cornelius and that the incident brought to mind a saying of Jesus. He summed it all up by saying, "Who was I, that I could withstand God?" (11:17). Upon hearing this, the Jewish Christians praised God that the Gospel was extended to the Gentiles, too. But what was Peter's justification built on? One generalized statement of the Lord and one statement by the Holy Spirit to go, one rather cryptic vision, a Gentile's claim to having seen an angel, and the rather emphatic proof of God's approval of what was going on. (By the time the Holy Spirit had fallen upon them, Peter had already preached the Gospel to them; he had already come to his conclusion by that point -- the Holy Spirit's outpouring was for the benefit of others.) To understand what God wanted and approved of, Peter and the rest of the Jewish Christians examined all the evidence available, the whole of God's revelation on the subject to that point, and came to a conclusion. In other words, they had to exercise their gray matter upon the subject and think.

Yes, God expects us to think about His revelation and our religion. Isa 1:18 "Come now, and let us reason together, saith Jehovah: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool." God wants us to think, just as He implored the ancient Israelites. The "wise of this world" scoff at religion and label it the domain of unthinking brutes -- and many do unthinkingly follow religious leaders to horrible ends -- but the religion God set up is a religion for thinkers. Not that you have to be super smart. Not that it is extremely difficult to understand. But God has given us His word and expects us to understand it. To do so, we must read and think about it. Understand it as a whole, rather than wresting individual bits of it. See what God is clearly implying about how we should live our lives.

Peter figured it out and he was an uneducated fishermen. Surely we can follow his example.

"It is important for doubters to understand that many of us believers came to the point of faith by first studying the evidence and using -- not abandoning -- our reasoning powers to analyze it. I discovered that to believe in Jesus Christ does not require us to discard our intellect." ----David Limbaugh "Jesus on Trial"

Lucas Ward

Friends of God

12/31/2014 2 Comments

Today's post is by guest writer Keith Ward.

To have friends, one must be a friend. I have had a little success with this axiom of interpersonal relationships, but I am not a good practitioner. I became more concerned when I considered that Abraham was called the friend of God (James 2:23). How does one act to become known in truth as God’s friend? Developing friends takes time; one must have time to listen, time to help out, time to “be there,” etc. How can one do these things for God?
   On one occasion, Jehoshaphat called Abraham “thy friend” as he prayed for God’s help (2 Chron 20:7). But, of more significance, God himself referred to “Abraham, my friend” (Isa 41:8). Does it not send thrills through your soul to consider the possibility that God might refer to you in that way? Friendship is a two-way street. We can readily understand what God did for Abraham, but find only question marks when we consider what Abraham might have done for God.
   I think I might be described as a good servant of God, but friend? How do I move up to that level?
   Friends do more than obey; friends do more than ask. Abraham talked with God, he did not just make requests.
Abram complained to God because he did not have offspring and God responded with clarification of the Promise and renewal of the covenant. They talked back and forth. When God came down in person to promise Isaac, Abram laughed and proposed that Ishmael be the one (17:22).   Rather than smite him, God reiterated the promise. Abram then expressed his faith by circumcising himself and his house.
   Later, when Sarah laughed, she evidently did not know the guest was God, but by the time Abraham spoke on behalf of Sodom, he knew.   He bargained with God, not as an equal but as one who had the right to so speak plainly. And God honored his pleas, and as a friend, went beyond them to rescue Lot from destruction.
   Yet, Abraham did not presume on his friendship to think he could disobey. When God said, “Go offer,” he went and only the hand of his Friend kept him from fulfilling his obedience. Friends do great deeds for their friends.
   So, today, how do I become a friend of God? Just praying the standard prayers is clearly insufficient. That is just asking/thanking. Where is the exchange that comes with friendship? To love the Lord with all my heart and soul and might involves more than an act of teeth-gritting determination to will it so. Being a friend involves much more than simple obedience. I must like God. More than worship him; more than obey him, God wants me to like him. He is not coming down to man’s level, he is asking me (and you) to step up and to consider him and to like him and be his friend.

Keith Ward

Tabitha/Dorcas/Gazelle

12/15/2014 0 Comments

Today’s post is by guest writer Lucas Ward.

We are introduced to this lady in Acts 9:36. Her name in Aramaic was Tabitha, which translated to Dorcas in the Greek. If we translated it to English, it would be Gazelle--a beautiful name for a woman who shone with spiritual beauty.

Dorcas, described as being full of good works, died, and was mourned greatly. Peter was called, apparently to offer some comfort to the brethren. Instead, he raised her from the dead, and as the story went out, many believed. But there is more to it than just that.

She was full of good works. (Would anyone describe me that way? Even half full?) What type of good works? The mourning widows showed Peter that practically all they wore was given to them by Dorcas. Widows back then were, almost by definition, destitute. There were almost no jobs that a woman could do. A widow was reliant upon the charity of others. So Dorcas, finding people who could not afford to buy decent clothes for themselves, did what she could for them. She bought cloth and sewed garments for these widows and gave it to them so they would have something decent to wear. That reminds me of something. Here it is:

Mat 25:35-40 "For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I WAS NAKED AND YOU CLOTHED ME, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.' Then the righteous will answer him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?' And the King will answer them, 'Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.' "

Tabitha/Dorcas exemplified the qualities that Jesus said He would be looking for on Judgment Day. She literally clothed those who couldn't afford decent clothes. And notice, it wasn't the great preachers or miracle workers who were raised from the dead; it was a quiet lady who did what she could to help those less fortunate than herself.

When we got to this point the other night in Bible Study, I told my class, "Being a Christian is much more than what we do in here [the church building]. In fact, being a Christian has almost nothing to do with what we do in here. Being a Christian is how we live our lives everyday of the week out in the world." When people saw Dorcas/Tabitha on a day-to-day basis, they knew from her actions that she loved and feared God. What do people think when they see me?

I doubt Peter would have bothered raising me from the dead. What about you?

Lucas Ward

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Hell Is Real

11/12/2014 0 Comments

Today’s’ post is by guest writer Helene Smith.

People are going to Hell. Literally. Look around. That guy who sits down the table from you at lunch, the lady behind you in the line at Walmart, that cute family who visited at your church last week, your Aunt Susie, they could all be headed for Hell.

Do I have your attention?

Recently my husband and I read a pair of books by Thom Rainer, Breakout Churches: Discover how to make the Leap and Surprising Insights from the Unchurched and Proven Ways to Reach Them. The books had a lot of startling conclusions. But perhaps the most surprising of all was this - churches that preach a clear doctrine of Hell are churches that are likely to be growing.

I'll take counterintuitive for a 1,000, Alex.

I'd have supposed that itching ears were happy to hear some less Biblically rigorous doctrine. Perhaps they are, but still the churches who are "intolerant" and "exclusive" (notice I did not say harsh or unloving) are the churches that are growing. The survey concluded that if the leaders and the followers in a church don't believe with all their hearts that Jesus provides the one and only way to escape eternal punishment in Hell, the church will be remarkably ineffective in terms of evangelism.

And I think I know why. Churches grow evangelistically (not by sheep rustling- stealing members from the church down the road) when the whole church is involved in telling their friends about Jesus. And that's a high stakes game. When our friend says, "I've got NO life. Not a thing going this weekend! You?" And we say, "I'm going to church, wanna come?" We're really putting ourselves out there. When our friend says, "I just feel like there's something missing." And when we reply, "I used to feel that way too," proceeding to tell them the story of how we became a Christian, we've left our heart naked before them. No one likes being branded, no one likes being rejected. So what on earth is a strong enough motivator to get Joe Christian to step out like that? Why would we pay the cost?

Love.

I know. You thought I was going to say fear, as in a fear of the lake of fire.

But see, if my coworker is going to hell, and I don't love them, I don't care. Seriously, I might be sorry but not sorry enough to stretch out my neck. A good hellfire and brimstone sermon might bring ME to Christ but it is not nearly enough to make me tell someone I couldn't care less about.

But love? Love is a whole different story. Love will keep us up at night. Love makes our stomach hurt. Love makes us say things, hard things, honest things, because we care more about that person's well-being than peace in the relationship.

Moreover, loving God drives us to love people. He fashioned them. They are his spitting image. He DIED so that they could live. When we love him, really love him, when we know how much he loves them, we can't help but love them too. John puts it like this, "for the one who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen. And this commandment we have from Him, that the one who loves God should love his brother also."

Churches grow when each and every person sees the world in two categories: redeemed and redeemable. Churches grow when Christians look at their work-a-week coworkers, family members, and friends with Jesus' eyes. They see sheep without a shepherd (Mark 6:33-35), and their hearts are moved by compassion. Churches grow when we believe that hell is real, people are lost, and that if we love them at all we have to tell them so.

Helene Smith

More of Helene’s writings may be found at www.maidservantsofChrist.com