By Joe Widick
I have always had a love for history, especially ancient history? I have wondered what it would be like to live in a day and age without all the conveniences we enjoy. I recently read about how tourist throughout the years have enjoyed going to the famous Acropolis. As these tourists make their way to the ancient hilltop at Athens, the temptation to take back a piece of history is very enticing. Thousands yearly find themselves bending over and picking up a piece of marble chunk as a souvenir. It is interesting that officials allow this. It seems as though all the marble chunks would eventually be taken. What the scavenging tourist do not know is that every few months a truckload of marble fragments from a quarry miles away is scattered around the whole Acropolis area. So tourist go home happy with what they think is an authentic piece of history.
Have you ever been deceived by imitations. They appeared so real, almost too good to be true. Before you knew it, you had taken the “bait” hook line and sinker. You had what you thought was something that was real only to find out that it was not. Perhaps you remember an article several years back entitled “Rolexx.” I was ready to buy a genuine Rolex watch in Honduras before I realized Rolex was not spelled Rolexx.
What about religion? Is it real or is an imitation of the real thing. Long ago the prophet of God, Isaiah, said; “these people…honor Me with their lips, but have removed their hearts far from Me.” (Isaiah 29:13). What is worship to you? What is your Christian life? Is my Christian walk real or am I playing at religion. Do we come to worship God in spirit and truth or are we simply going through empty routines? What happens when Paul or Landon asks us to turn to page… and sing praises? Do we think about what we are saying? Do we feel closeness to God? Do we find ourselves drawing closer to God? During the time of the prophet Isaiah, many of the people of Israel were merely going through the motions. That is why God told them “Bring no more futile sacrifices; incense is an abomination to me…Your New Moons and your appointed feasts My soul hates” Isaiah 1:13-14. The possibility of religious deception should prompt personal soul-searching. Our pious practices may be only imitations of the true heartfelt faith that the Lord desires. One individual once stated; “A hypocrite has God on his tongue and the world in his heart.” I need to ask myself is this describing me and my walk with the Lord.
Prayer Thought: Help me to be real Christian not an imitation.
By Joe Widick
Recently I was reading an article which talked of an unspoken code among the settlers of the American West. I found the article intriguing stating that men always tried to keep their word. The article then went on to show to what degree they would go to keep their word. The story was told of Andrew Garcia who made a 1,300 mile trek to 1879 to pay a debt. It seems that in September of the previous year Andrew had bought supplies in Bozeman, Montana to hunt buffalo. The ten pack-mules, ammunition, food and gear cost him three hundred dollars more than what he actually had. The merchant was generous enough to loan him the rest if he promised to pay it back by January 1. The agreement was made, hands were shook and the deal was completed. Unfortunately the winter snows came early that year and Andrew Garcia was unable to get back to Bozeman. His travels to find buffalo took him further and further from Bozeman. He traveled down into Colorado and even into the area of New Mexico. Finally, a year later, he headed back to Bozeman. “Don’t bother,” his buddies told him, “They will never find you this far from Bozeman.” Andrew Garcia was one who believed in keeping his word, so he returned and paid the debt.
Are we, as children of God, keepers of our word? Do we allow the simplest of things, the least inconvenience keep us from being people of integrity? All of us would agree that as Christians we should be known as people of integrity. If we say we’ll help with a Sunday school class, or assist in the nursery or, make a visit for our visitation program, or what ever task we have been asked to deal with in the kingdom, we need to keep our word. When we fail to keep our word, it says something about our walk with the Lord. It tells other people that he will do something for the Lord until something better comes along.
God on the other hand is always true to his word. His promises are never broken “All your words are true; all your righteous laws are eternal” (Psalm 119:160). We also learn that whatever He does he does in truth; “The word of the Lord is right and all His work is done in truth” (Psalm 33:4). As His followers our words are to be as true as His Word. He has shown us how to have a better world, being men and women of integrity is just one of many ways we can make our world a better place to be.
Prayer thought: Thank you for your word which is always true.
By Joe Widick
Imagine with me for a moment that you are out at night and the weather begins to deteriorate. It is cold and snow is falling. Before you know it, the once darkened roads are turning white as the snow begins to accumulate on the roads. You proceed with extreme caution, after all you live in middle Tennessee and you and everyone else on the road is not accustomed to driving under these conditions. You see cars either parked along the roadside or turned upside down in a gully. You slow up even more. The short 30 minute drive home has turned into a two hour crawl. The further you go the more tense the muscles in your neck become. Your eyes burn as you strain to see the road and avoid any unforeseen event. What do you long for? You long to be safe at home! Home probably never sounded so good. You look forward to opening the door of your home and feeling the warmth and security of being at a place where all is good.
Sometimes our journey as followers of Christ is like that snowy drive. We struggle through long days of hard work and difficulty. As we struggle through the everyday struggles, we are faced with unexpected disappointments and or sorrow. And we continue on the journey. Day in and day out we continue to move forward. Some days are easier than others, but still we have to deal with the realities of life. It is at times like this that, we turn to those beloved and encouraging passages in the Bible that describe our home in heaven. It lightens our anxiety and fills our hearts with anticipation of one day being able to enter into the very presence of the Lord, being with him forever and ever! What a grand and glorious thought.
Maybe some of you are aware of the works of CS Lewis. He penned a wonderful allegory called The Chronicles of Narnia in which he describes the unicorn’s first glimpse of heaven. The unicorn exclaims, “I have come home at last! This is my real country! I belong here. This is the land I’ve been looking for all my life.” That will probably be the way we feel one day when we reach our forever home. The psalmist long ago penned some of the most beloved, and comforting words, words that through the ages have given hope to the hopeless and encouragement to the downtrodden. David simply said; “I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” It might be a long journey home, but we are assured that the journey will be well worth it when we reach home!
Prayer Thought: Help me Lord not to grow discouraged as I journey through life to my home in heaven.
By Danielle Gray
Budget counseling sessions will be made available. Tuesday evenings, by appointment only. Call the church office for an appointment, 444-1544. All MHFMM alumni are eligible, at no cost.
By Joe Widick
A new year!! First Sunday of a new year! Determined to do better in a lot of areas!! All of us feel some excitement about venturing into a new year. We don’t always know what to expect, but we should always know that God’s love for us continues. Question—how well did you do in reading through the Bible in 2008? We published six reading schedules through the year. It is interesting to note that with each printing, there were fewer and fewer copies that were picked up. We all have good intentions that this will be the year that we can read the word of God from Genesis to Revelation. It is a worthy ambition. It makes one feel good to accomplish this. This time next year wouldn’t it be grand if I could put in the church paper that as the year 2009 progressed, there was more and more demand for the daily Bible Reading. Remember, each of us have been given 1440 minutes each 24 hour day. If we assume that you get a good 8 hours of sleep each day, you are left with 960 minutes. Let us be so bold as to say that each of us will work 10 hours each day. That will leave in our daily bank account 360 minutes. Because we all work so hard and need our rest each day, let us generously give 1 hour for each meal we eat. That leaves us a grand total of 180 minutes each day. What am I going to do with those 180 minutes each day? Will I be able to find 30 minutes to read from the word of God? I know that I may have exaggerated the point a little. Maybe, I have been somewhat sarcastic with the times given (for that I apologize). As for me, I want to renew my efforts to read God’s word daily.
Regular intake of God’s Word is a worthy practice, but it’s not an end in itself. The prophet Ezekiel spoke to an audience who loved to listen but refused to act. The Lord said to Ezekiel: “…indeed you are to them as a very lovely song of one who has a pleasant voice and can play well on an instrument; for they hear your words, but they do not do them” (Ezekiel 33:32). Jesus would say years latter; “Whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock” My question is do I want to be a wise man or a foolish man? How will I read the Bible this year? Will we read it quickly to achieve the goal of getting through it? Or will we read it with the aim of doing what it says? Let each of us make one of our resolutions this year to read it and to live it. Let each of us make the BIBLE the book for me. May the Lord continue to bless each of us with a good year of study and service.
Prayer Thought: Help me to have a “breakout year” in my service to You.
