Life is Good

Whatever is good and perfect comes down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. James 1:17

I am a coffee drinker.  It is one of my greatest joys each day, and I savor my coffee each morning.  I have "my" brand and I don't care what it costs shipped direct to my door, because I absolutely love the stuff.  Coffee is no accident of nature. It is not an evolutionary sidebar that just happened for some caveman to find, pick, dry, grind and brew into a steaming, wonderful, delightful morning companion.  It was intentional along with an almost infinite number of gifts we as human beings get to enjoy.  God loves us so, and He created this incredible world for us to enjoy.  Don’t miss that in the delights of your life.  Recognize that your Creator had you in mind and did something special just for you.  In each gift God Himself is evidenced and He shows His love through it.  

For something a little different try this approach to worship in your next time alone with the Lord.  Simply begin by saying "Lord you are......" and then fill in the blank with those things, times, places, smells, tastes, and so on that bring you joy and satisfaction.   Acknowledge Him and praise Him for the special gifts He gives every moment.  Here are a few I always go to.

Lord you are…

    That first cup of coffee in the morning
    You are……A cool drink of water on a very hot day
    You are……A kiss on the lips from “the one” I love.

    You are……Hearing “Daddy, I love you”
    You are…....Fly fishing in a Colorado stream
    You are…....Satisfaction of work accomplished, and well done.

    You are…....Seeing the face of my Pa as he prays

Father in heaven you are so good to me.  Thank you for the gifts you give in such abundance and with such incredible generosity.  Amen

Scotty Elston
Shallowater, Texas

Come to Your Senses

In Luke 15:11-24, Jesus teaches about a self-indulgent son making poor choices. With his pockets full of inherited wealth, the son decides he needs to have some “fun” away from parental supervision.  However, even a wealthy amount of money will eventually run out if not replenished.  When the money runs out, so do the good-time friends.  The son is now a poor, hungry man in a foreign land, with no support, no opportunities, and no hope.  Selfish indulgences can be short-sighted.  Long-term goals are often disregarded when we self-centeredly try to satisfy our sensual desires.

The son is at a decisive crossroad.  What will he do next?  He can continue his quest for independence with no money.  Or, if he wants to share in the father’s blessings, he must decide to return home.  At what point will he become too hungry or too lonely?  When will he overcome his sense of embarrassment?  When will he decide to give up his pride and humble himself?  The story tells us that the son “came to his senses” (Luke 15:17).  Fortunately, there is a compassionate father waiting for him back home.

Do you ever get in this predicament?  When will the solution become clear to you?  Do you need to "come to your senses" and come home to the Father?

Dear Father, please make it clear to me that I need you.  My blessings, my security, and my hope all originate from your compassionate heart.  Forgive me when I squander my inheritance.  Help me to live in humility, as an obedient child.  In Jesus’ name, amen. 

Carl Smith
Stephenville, Texas

The Love Feast

I owe my passion for history to my Father.  He was always studying one period or another; one historic leader or another.  I love the relationship of the Past to the Now. Partly because of some of my other ancestors, I am especially interested in church Restoration history.  My great great-grandfather preached in Tennessee in one of the churches that came out of the Restoration; and after him, one of his sons. Another great-uncle, from the other side of my family, was the 2nd president of one of the first Christian Colleges of the Movement. That was Thorp Springs College, 35 miles northwest of Stephenville.

From my recent reading about the Restoration Movement, I am awe, again, of the men who led and took part in it. More, I am amazed at how the Spirit of God led these people from so many church backgrounds to come together, with the result of the church of Christ that I love today.
I like to read what the leaders of that day had to say in their own words, or what was written about them by people who knew them. Walter Scott was one of the first fathers of the American Restoration Movement.  The following is an article written by him reflecting on an experience called “The Love Feast.”  What might we learn from this? 

Lynn Anne Hughes

Stephenville, Texas

Last night we had a Love Feast: It was opened by prayer, and psalms and hymns and spiritual songs. The sweetest brotherly feeling pervaded the assembly, which, by the way, was large, the house being crowded. A brother C.D. Hurlbut then addressed us on the subject of true love-or of that divine passion which is felt by a heart purified by the principles and privileges of the gospel of Christ-faith and forgiveness, or faith unfeigned and a good conscience. Another brother J. Cochran followed, and cited, as authority for the Feast, primitive custom and words of scripture. Prayers and praises were again offered to Him that sitteth upon the throne, and to the Lamb. The refreshment was introduced, and after thanks and praises to God through Jesus Christ, was distributed among the people. The intention of the Feast was carefully and distinctly stated by the presiding brother. The effects of a too didactic theology, the results upon worship being formality, coolness, and sometimes absolute coldness, of too precise and sectarian an explanation of the scriptures, are obvious in all the churches. Many are utterly ignorant both of the persons and names of their brethren. Most worshipers have only a few favorites, and upon these they expend all the blessings of their spiritual communion. They know no other; they seek to know no other.

Our Love-Feast was intended then to correct and counteract these unchristian results, and to extend, if possible, the knowledge of all to each member in the assembly. For this purpose the elders moved out of their places, and walked down the aisle saluting, and conversing with everyone on their way saint and sinner -Methodists, Presbyterians, Baptists, New Jerusalemites, &c. The elders were soon followed by the body of the disciples, who now crossed the meeting-house in every direction, saluting their brethren and the strangers with all affection, and forming many new acquaintances both with the one and the other. The simple refreshment consisted of a bunch of raisins and a small confection of cake. Everybody seemed to partake of it with gladness and singleness of heart, praising God, and rejoicing in the favour of one another. No scene, perhaps, could be more interesting. It was a great multitude of the followers of Christ moved upon by the command of their master that it was their duty to love one another. And surely if any brother who was rich, desired for charitable purposes to become acquainted with the poor, this was the time for bestowing gifts, and forming acquaintances. On such an occasion a wealthy brother might confer favours on many of the poor children of God, and none but his God know it.

The assembly was now called to order; and a brother, impressed perhaps by the multitudinous appearance of the scene which had just passed, addressed the whole from this scripture. “And I beheld, and lo! a great multitude whom no man could number, of every nation, tribe, people and language stood before the throne of God and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; and cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God who sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb.” The speaking concluded; thanks and praises were again offered to God and unto the Lamb when the assembly was dismissed.

Upon the whole it appeared to us that the meeting was well calculated to bring about the effect intended. Many new acquaintances were formed, the feelings were relaxed and generalized, the spirits of all seemed to be refreshed, and perhaps the bigotry and prejudice which distinguish us Christians in these last days were in many persons considerably abated. Not excepting our own brethren, I know not one connection in Christendom that is not defiled by a party spirit. No one assembly on earth dare look at itself and independently of the other assemblies of the same faith and order. When we speak of the Christians of a city we say the Presbyterian church in Pittsburgh, the Methodist church in Pittsburgh, the Baptist, the Covenanting, the Seceder church in Pittsburgh, and the Disciples' church in Pittsburgh; but who dare say as Paul would say, 'the church of God in Pittsburgh,' meaning all who in Pittsburgh call on the name of the Lord, 'both theirs and ours,' as Paul again would say? Better times, times when there will be one body and one spirit, are we hope, approaching.

Walter Scott

Recorded in The Evangelist, 1841

Dirty Hands

Preachers and ‘fried chicken’.  The standard meal for preachers has forever been fried chicken.  When a preacher is invited into a home for a Sunday lunch, it is almost assumed that the menu will include fried chicken.  Like most preachers, I love fried chicken myself.  But there is one thing that I hate about fried chicken.  I hate the greasy, sticky feeling left  on my fingers when I eat fried chicken.  I need a wet washrag or a ‘wet one’ to cleanse my fingers after every bite. 

Dirty hands are almost always viewed negatively.  We carry hand sanitizer in our pockets or purses.  We encourage our children to wash their hands several times a day.  There are also examples of ‘dirty hands’ in Scripture.  These examples in Scripture are dirty hands related to doing evil.  Like Pilate.  Pilate had ‘dirty hands’ because of the way he dealt with Jesus.  He attempted to cleanse himself of guilt by publicly washing his hands—BUT HIS   GUILT REMAINED.  He had DIRTY HANDS. 

There is another story of ‘dirty hands’ in Scripture that is admirable.  These two men had  dirty hands, but for the right reason.  Their deed is recorded in all of the Gospels.  It is the story of Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus.  After Jesus died on the cross, He was left to hang there publicly and shamefully.  But, Joseph (who is called a ‘secret disciple’ of Jesus) took courage and went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus.  Along with Nicodemus, they lovingly prepared the body of Jesus for burial and placed him in a tomb provided by Joseph.   

Their ‘dirty hands’ resulted from handling the body of Jesus.  I am a little squeamish.  I do not think I could be a mortician.  But, these two disciples of Jesus loved Him enough to get their hands dirty.  They handled Jesus’ dead body which would make them ceremonially unclean.  They did this in spite of the danger to their own reputations.   

Jesus needs us to ‘dirty’ our hands in service to Him today.  How willing are we to do the ‘grunt’ work? Some jobs in the kingdom are much more attractive and exciting than others.  But, Jesus Himself was willing to get down on His knees and wash the feet of His own disciples.  How about us?  Do we prefer the limelight to the background?  Do we want to be  in front of the crowd, rather than serving quietly in the background?  Are we willing to get our hands dirty for the Lord?

Prayer:  God, help me to humble myself to be a servant, like Jesus came ‘not to be served but to serve and to give His life as a ransom for us’.

Terry Brown

Abilene, Texas     

When Grace Meets Our Memories

"I was personally unknown to the churches of Judea that are in Christ.  They only heard the report:  'The man who formerly persecuted us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy.  And they praised God because of me.'"  (Galatians 1:22-24)  

Have you ever taken a long, hard look at yourself and wondered how God could possibly love you, a sinner?  

I talked with a man serving time for multiple counts of child molestation that happened over many years. Tearfully he said, “I’ve been told there’s no hope for someone like me.  Folks say I’ll never change.  I wish I could die and get it over with.”  Listening, I remembered why God came to earth in human form as Jesus, and why He died on the cross. He did it for this man…and for you and for me.  Sin is sin and we’re all guilty.


I replied, “Most people would agree with you, but God doesn’t.  God changes people.  Not by their own strength and determination, but by His power.” 


According to Galatians 1:23 people weren’t sure the Apostle Paul had changed either.  He had a bad reputation as an enemy of Christ’s church.  Read Acts 7:51-60 where Stephen was stoned to death by an angry mob.  Paul was there, “giving approval to his [Stephen’s] death” (verse 60).


I’ll bet Paul had nightmares about that.  I’ll bet he never forgot the whack and thud of stone on bone and Stephen’s cries for God not to hold them accountable for his murder.  But when Paul met God, he couldn’t stay the same.  God changed him.  Paul’s zeal to destroy Christianity paled in comparison to his zeal for spreading Christ’s message of forgiveness and lifestyle changes.  


God, we ask for your Spirit’s guidance in our lives so our eyes can behold you, our hearts can embrace you, and our lives reflect you so we can say like Paul, “And they praised God because of me.”


Sandra Milholland
Abilene, Texas

LIfe's Transitions

Our lives are a series of transitions.  We pass through them like a leaf floating in a river current. Graduations, marriages, children, or retirement are times of great happiness and celebration.   Yet these transitions, these passages tend to become anxious times, perhaps sorrowful, or even regretful moments stealing away the joy we should be experiencing.  We look back and wish for what was, we remember good times and long for them again, we want to hold on tightly to those precious to us, not wishing to let them go, let them grow up, or move on.    

Other transitions involve nothing we enjoy.  Loss of a career, loss of health, a child straying away, a marriage relationship falling apart, or the loss of one we love.  Around every turn in the river of life, instead of looking forward with anticipation we worry “what will happen next”.   

The world we live in leads us to seek happiness to deal with all of this, and we seek it, yet its results are only temporary.  It is no accident, no individual inadequacy that we feel as we do.   Satan wants us to be miserable, looking over our shoulders, and looking in the wrong places and the wrong direction to find relief.  It is a daily battle of monumental proportions.  Recognize the battle, know your enemy and know his lies are to divert us away from our only hope.   We must change our focus from seeking happiness to seeking Christ.   

A thief comes to steal and kill and destroy, but I came to give life—life in all its fullness. John 10:10(NCV)
The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease.  Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning. Lamentations 3:22-23(NLT)
You are the giver of life. Your light lets us enjoy life. Psalm 36:9(NCV)
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.  Romans 15:13(NIV)
Keep your roots deep in Christ and have your lives built on Christ. Colossians 2:7(NCV)

In Christ there is never too much time that has passed. There is never too little time left.  In Christ there are no regrets or sadness over time's passing or opportunities missed in this world. They are forgotten as we hear His promise and understand there is another, better life we experience on a different plane.  Whether a life-long follower, or a new-born just beginning His hope will overflow in those who trust Him.  It’s a promise He keeps.  The love of God in Christ is new every morning we wake up and it is the source of joy and peace that doesn’t seem possible until you experience it.   It’s worth trying.  It’s worth fighting for.  You won’t believe it could be so good.  Trust Him with everything and there is a new life waiting.   

The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. Romans 16:20(NIV)

Lord, You have so much in store for me if I will just give You a chance.  You give me the choice and I choose You today.  Thank you for your mercy and patience.  Amen.

Scotty Elston
Shallowater, Texas