By Joe Widick
There is a great deal of news about the stimulus package and the bailout initiatives for General Motors. One cannot pick up a newspaper or watch the news without this information being discussed and re-discussed. I don’t know if it is going to work or not. One puts their trust in God, and does the best that they can do. It might do some in our country some good to live a little more humbly. I recently read an article that was dated March 13, 2001. In the article it talked of an automaker using the tune of the Old Shaker Song “Simple Gifts” to promote a luxury car. To those who knew the lyrics, it seemed contradictory to use a song about finding contentment in a simple way of life to sell an expensive car. The lyrics were as follows; “‘Tis the gift to be simple, ‘tis the gift to be free, ‘tis the gift to come down where we ought to be.”
I don’t pretend to have all the answers that face our government much less a world society. I do realize that too many people struggle to accept the Bible’s teaching that contentment has nothing to do with our wardrobe, our bank account, or whether we have steak or fish sticks for supper. We need to reflect more and more on the fact that it is not material prosperity but “godliness with contentment” that the apostle Paul called “great gain” (I Timothy 6:6). I wonder what the reaction of Timothy was as he continued to read the words of Paul when he said “having food and clothing, with these we shall be content” (vs. 8). Was there a look of puzzlement on his face? or, was there a smile that said let me trust more and more in the Lord. The thought came to my mind this morning; how many of us will pause today to thank the Lord because we have something to wear and something to eat? Then I thought how might our lives be revolutionized if we did?
The old Shaker son also reminds us that contentment is a gift that is to be enjoyed. It says, “And when we find ourselves in the place just right, ‘twill be in the valley of love and delight.” Our country would be a much happier place if some way, some how, we learn in the abundance of God’s simple gifts, we can be content. There is an old phrase that says, contentment comes not from great wealth but from few wants. Let each of us learn to trust more in the rich blessings we receive daily from the Lord
Prayer thought: Thank you dear Lord for the food and clothing you have blessed us with.
By Joe Widick
I would like to share with each of you a story from Desil Besias, one of our missionaries who is serving in Cartagena, Colombia. The work is truly amazing, as there were no Christians in this city of over a million people. This past Sunday they had 48 adults and 22 children in attendance. They are working daily evangelizing, doing the same thing that we know that we should be doing right here in Lebanon. The story is about a real man with real issues in life, who has been touched by the kind persistence of the missionaries and their prayer for them. The missionaries are Gary Hall and Desil Besias.
Parmenio is 70 years old. He is retired from the national army of Colombia. In his youth, according to his own testimony, he was an alcoholic until 12 years ago when he voluntarily entered Alcoholics Anonymous. He never thought of the Bible much less considered a Bible study. He had no thoughts of visiting a church. Two weeks after the inaugural service in Cartagena, Gary was in Parmenio’s house doing a survey about religion. Parmenio rejected the Bible study course that Gary offered. Gary did leave him a tract about the church with an invitation to come and worship with them on any Sunday. On Sunday August 17, he came to our worship service. Thanks to the Lord he enjoyed worship very much and the following Sunday he came back. This time he brought his wife Sebigne with him. Desil spoke to them and told them he would like to visit with them at some point. The following week Desil was able to visit with them in their home. Once more the Bible study course was offered. They accepted the invitation to begin studying on Tuesday of that week. They studied together for the whole month of September and the first week of October. Parmenio, his wife and two others who had been involved in Bible Studies were recently baptized. Parmenio already participates in serving the Lord’s Supper, praying. Recenlty two other missionaries joined the team in Cartagena. Parmenio has taken them under his wing and has helped them find a place to live. He has also helped them with getting signed up to the health program in the city.
This, like so many stories shows what our missionaries are doing as the persistently teach the good news to those they come in contact with. I wonder if Parmenio and his wife would be a Christian today had it not been for Gary and Desil having the opportunity to work in this city. God has blessed this work already and I know that he will continue to do so.
Prayer Thought: May each of us learn from our missionaries about teaching God’s word.
By Joe Widick
Daniel Blet is probably a name you do not recognize. As a matter of fact only nine members of the Maple Hill congregation have had the opportunity to meet this man. When I first met him and heard his story, I knew that at some point I would like to share it with any and all who read this article. It is one of those stories that make me take a look at myself and ask the probing questions about my commitment to the Lord. His story is one of those stories that makes me appreciate all the rich blessings I enjoy and sometime take for granted. His story helps me to appreciate the freedom of worship more and more. His story encourages me to sing praises to my God who loves me and seeks my praise.
Daniel is a native of Cuba. He is ready to begin his second year of study at Baxter Institute in Honduras. I guess those credentials do not seem that outstanding much less awe inspiring. Daniel wants to preach and teach God’s word. He wants to be well prepared to serve the Lord. Even though great in- roads have been made in Cuba to teach the gospel, it is still a difficult area to work in. The Cuban government allowed Daniel to leave their island for Honduras to study. It is on a year by year basis. Each new school year he has to be approved by the government to return to Baxter. There is a catch to their allowing him to go back to Baxter. He has to leave his wife and children behind in Cuba. The government feels that this is one of the ways that they will be assured that he will return to Cuba. For a year at a time, Daniel will be separated from his family while he studies to serve as a missionary to his beloved country of Cuba. Daniel became a member of a singing group at Baxter his freshman year. The group is called “No Borders”. They love to sing songs of praise to our Lord. His enthusiasm and love for the Lord was seen each time he sang.
What does it mean to you and me to you to hear the words of Jesus; “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength” (Mark 12:30). It seems that sometimes I may fall a little short of what Jesus is asking of me. Sometimes I question in my mind, do I really make a sacrifice for him. What am I doing to better prepare myself to serve my savior. The Daniels in this world serve as an encourager to me as I try to “tell the story” of my savior. Please remember Daniel in your prayers. His paper work to leave Cuba has bogged down with red tape. Let’s pray he will be able to continue his work to prepare himself to be the servant God desires all of us to be.
Prayer thought: Be with Daniel and may Your will be done.
By Joe Widick
I am thankful that I live in middle Tennessee. There is always something to talk about—the weather. As I am writing this article it is a chilly 28 degrees on Thursday morning. By the time you read this it will be up in the 60’s. Such is Tennessee weather. I guess we all know what happened this week in Gobbler’s Knob, Pennsylvania? Punxsutawney Phil came out of his burrow to predict the weather. According to legend, If Phil sees his shadow; there will be six more weeks of cold weather. If he doesn’t see his shadow, spring will come early. This year at daybreak before a large crowd, Phil saw his shadow and the prediction is six more weeks of winter. Now let me ask you a question. Do you believe that prediction? All of us know that it is humbug and good humor. No one to my knowledge takes Phil’s predictions seriously. Furthermore, if you look back over history he is unreliable; being wrong more often than he is right.
Obviously there are some that are always going to be right about what they say and therefore must be taken seriously. The ones I am thinking of are those that were inspired by the Holy Spirit to write the words that you and I read daily, the Bible. Read and think about the inspired words of Peter; “We have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts” (II Peter 1:19). What was Peter thinking of that particular day as he penned those words? Travel back to the time Christ was physically with them. It is the Mount of Transfiguration and not only was Peter there but also James and John. The three of them saw Jesus standing with the two great prophets of the Old Testament, Moses and Elijah. Hundreds of years had passed since either Moses or Elijah had walked on this earth. There they were in the very presence of Peter, James and John. It was at this point that there is voice from heaven, the voice of our heavenly father who pointed to the Son (Jesus) and said; “This is My beloved Son, Hear Him!” (Luke 9:35). How well do we listen to what Jesus says? Is His word a guide for us? Do we trust in Him, knowing that He knows? Wouldn’t you have loved to have been on that mountain that day a witness all that transpired? We live in a world that is filled with speculation about what is right or wrong. How do I conduct myself in this present world? I do know one thing I want to trust the inspired word of God about those matters that deal with my eternal destiny, for they are certain.
