2019 - University Church of Christ

Bulletin Articles - 2019

Finding Joy Anyway

Neal Thurman
22 Dec 2019

The scriptures give credit of teaching for that which comes from the mouthes of babes (Psalm 8:2; Matthew 21:6), but I wonder if we could even learn a lesson from the ways of a puppy. My son showed up for the winter break with a 3 month-old Siberian Husky (Lewis). Though surprised, everyone loved Lewis, except for the resident 7-pound, 11 year old, Shorkie (Snickers), who had no intention of yielding the role of Top Dog to some blue-eyed, behemoth (only to Snickers) with pointy ears and a fuzzy tail. In fact, Snickers set out to clearly establish that ours is a one-dog house and canine guest are not welcome. Lewis bounded over to Snickers with youthful exuberance of meeting a new playmate, but Snickers acted like a grumpy old man confined at the family reunion with a rambunctious 5 year-old. The old grump growled and snarled, even launching the occasional bluff attack. Undeterred, Lewis saw this as a game as well. He dashed past the old grump in one direction and then the other, inciting spinning snaps and further frustration. After a few passes, Lewis would bow low with wagging tail in the air and give a yip as if daring the old grouch to pursue. Snickers walked away, so Lewis ran over and gently touched Snickers’ shoulder with his nose; growl, snap and we’re off. The point to all of this? Lewis found joy in his new acquaintance no matter how nasty Snickers acted. He was ready to play with a friend or heap coals of joyful fire on an enemy. Snickers on the other hand snarled and snapped harshly because his comfort and convenience were threatened or unsettled. Which one are you? The wise man said, “A merry heart makes a cheerful countenance,” (Proverbs 15:13); and “A merry heart does good, like medicine, but a broken spirit dries the bones,” (Proverbs 17:22). Paul said of the apostles, “Being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we endure; being defamed, we entreat,” (1 Corinthians 4:12-13). And Jesus said, “Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you,” (Luke 6:27-28). Does this describe you? Do you find the joy even when other unkind, unwelcoming, and even nasty? Beloved, I am afraid to many of us are full growls and snarls. We walk about seeking who we might get in the middle of. We bare our teeth at anyone who does not precisely fit our way of thinking. We snap and attack so they will clearly understand we are not at all please with them. We are sure we will draw them to Christ by gnashing at them with our teeth and ripping their emotional and intellectual flesh from their bones. We stand proud as the Lord’s Gestapo ready to enforce his will with a verbal rod of iron. Kind of gives you that “Come let us reason together,” feel, doesn’t it? And if we can’t find enough nearby unbelievers, we will take our snarls to our brethren. Of course, there are plenty of them that need us evaluating their lives and stamping out any hint of impropriety that we have decided exist. Won’t God be proud of us for manifesting His anger and wrath (Romans 12:19)? Won’t Jesus be pleased that we stand as pillars of indignation in this dark, wicked world (Philippians 2:14-15)? Who knows, if we look hard enough, we can find something to be upset about every where we go. Maybe, we could find a lesson in the nature of a puppy who was told he was unwelcome and unwanted. Maybe we should find the joy of life anyway. Sure, there are bad things in the world, but we are loved by God, bought by a Savior, and washed in His blood. We have a hope that cannot be taken away and we are part of God’s family. This being true, why would we ever live angry?

“No Thank You, I’m Good”

Neal Thurman
15 Dec 2019

The temperature took a significant drop the other night, but being inside, I was unaware that it had actually happened. I was getting ready for bed and attempted to let the dog out so perhaps he would not wake me in the night. He happily trotted toward the door as I opened it, but he stopped at the threshold, looked around, and sniffed the air as if he was considering the worthiness of this venture in the darkness. After a brief moment of contemplation, he stepped back and looked me as if to say, “No thank you, I’m good. Just shut the door.” Have you ever had such hesitation as a Christian? I do not mean measuring the chill in air before deciding whether to cross the threshold. I mean when you need to press on with an obligation or opportunity and realize that it is not going to be as comfortable as you would desire. Doing the work of a Christian sometimes calls for the children of God to step from the realm of comfort, convenience, and companionship into the cold environment of the world that is in need to love, kindness, and teaching. Noah was not operating a thriving shipbuilding business when God called him to build an ark that would preserve life on the planet, (Genesis 6). Abram was not seeking separation from his family when God called for him to leave them, (Genesis 12:1). Moses had no intention of returning to Egypt when God chose him to deliver Israel from the hand of Pharaoh. In fact, Moses tried to tell God that he was not the man for the job, (Exodus 3 & 4). Gideon was unexpectedly called to lead Israel against the Midianites, but He told God that his clan was the weakest of Manasseh and that he was least in his father’s house, (Judges 6:15). Yet, God called them all to His service, even when they did not believe in their own capabilities. Obviously, these callings were not always comfortable and convenient. Some of these even tried to say, “No thank you, I’m good.” But God did great things through these and many others that He called out into the cold, dark night of uncertainty that could only be overcome through faith. What about you and me? God has called us to preach the gospel of His Son, Jesus Christ to all the world, (Mark16:15). The world may not always be inviting to this task, but has our part of the world had opportunity to hear the power of God to salvation, (Romans 1:16)? God has called us to carry the penetrating power of His light into the world of darkness, (Matthew 5:16). Are we that city that is set on hill and cannot be hidden, (Matthew 5:14) even though it may make us a target of persecution? The Lord has called us to live righteous and godly lives, knowing that we will suffer for His cause, (2 Timothy 3:12). Are we committed and faithful servants of God even in the face of harsh persecution, (Revelation 2:10)? Sometimes crossing the threshold means leaving comfort and convenience behind. Yet when God calls, let us never say, “No thank you,” but rather, “Here am I, send me!”

Perception of Others

Neal Thurman
8 Dec 2019

One of the remarkable things about Jesus was that He was always acutely aware of His surroundings. He was very perceptive of each situation. He was well ahead of the Pharisees when they set out to trap Him with their knowledge of the law. He clearly understood when they attempted to trap him with matters of the law, such as marriage/divorce in Matthew 19, the adulterous woman of John 8, or paying taxes in Mark 12. Jesus turned this situations and many others into opportunities to speak of the truth of God’s word and expose the hypocrisy of the Pharisees. The Lord was also keenly aware when a person needed His tender, loving kindness. He taught the woman, who drew water from the well and was confused about worship, of the Living Water and the worshipper that the Father was seeking, (John 4). Jesus knew the paralytic needing spiritual healing much more than physical, but also used the man’s physical healing to display the power of God, (Mark 2). Oh, what compassion Jesus showed when He knew that the leper needed human contact, so He touched the man with hands of healing, (Luke 5). Jesus was so perceptive because He was constantly aware of other people. How perceptive are you? How spatially and environmentally aware are you? Be honest with yourself. Are you one of those people that stand in the middle of the aisle in the store or church building having a conversation and inhibited others from placing through the aisle? Are you a person who continues a personal conversation even though a public speaker or performance has begun? Are you a person who shares your opinion boldly in public settings, eventhough folks are in earshot that may be offended by your words? Are you loud in quiet places? Do you flip on the main light where others are sleeping to look for something you misplaced? If any of these things is self-descriptive, you likely are not very aware of other people and thus less than perceptive. These same things are true when seeking to share truth or matters of Christian living with others. If your “spiritual” conversation begins with “How dare you…”, “You should be ashamed to…”, or “You’re going to go to hell if you…”, you have very likely failed to properly perceive the manner of which the person can be taught the truth. Yes, truth can always be spoken, but please understand a failure in perception can completely undermine the effect of the truth. There is time to be unwavering and pointed, but those fall more in line with the Lord’s dealings with the Pharisees. Seeking to change a behavior in the ignorant or immature calls more for the Lord’s compassion with the suffering. Beloved, please recognize that do less is, at best, being imperceptive, and at worst, being selfish and self-centered.

Serving Those Who Serve

Neal Thurman
24 Nov 2019

We all know that in our midst are those who have a strong devotion to serving others. They go about their work with little need of recognition or attention. They do not seek praise nor do they expect any form of restitution. They go forward with a sense of compassion, love, and duty. This duty is not something owed to other people, but rather a desire to manifest the ways of Jesus Christ in full measure. Colossians 3:17,23 “And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him...23 And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men.” Unfortunately, we often meet the expectations of these serving saints by giving them neither attention nor praise, and too often we do not even recognize the fact that they are serving, so diligently. Many of us just show up expecting things to be taken care of like they always are, and when things are over, we go our way without thought that someone sets things back in order. Sadly, some of us are so presumptuous as to stand around and watch them work and feel no need to lend a hand. This should not be the case among brethren. Paul wrote, “Brethren, join in following my example, and note those who so walk, as you have us for a pattern.” (Philippians 3:17) Sometimes we should take the opportunity to provide a little service to those who serve. We should take the time to say, “Thank you,” or “We appreciate you.” This is not because they expect it or have even thought to desire it, but because they deserve it and just maybe sometimes they need it. Isn’t it the serving saint that Paul is encouraging when he says, “ And let us not grow weary while doing good,” (Galatians 6:9). The lazy and slothful need a completely different admonition. So, what can we do for the serving saints? The best thing we could do is pitch in our effort to the work at hand. Godly servants seldom mind a helping hand. They believe in the work of the Lord and will rejoice for more brethren to put their hands the Lord’s plow. Secondly, we can recognize and appreciate the work that is being done. The world, and the church for that matter, is always aptly supplied with criticism, but tanks of encouragement often run empty. Third, perhaps rarely, we can render a little bit of service to the serving saints. I was recently privileged to play a small part in just such an effort. A plan was made to make a time to serve a few of our servants. I believe we may have made some of them a bit uncomfortable, because they are not used to being waited on or served. There being no need for prep work and no cleanup before going home was foreign to many of them. That is just how it was meant to be. The servants were to relax and enjoy. Serving those brethren who serve is also serving the One who said, “the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve,” (Matthew 20:28). Let us all willing serve the saints who serve!

Preparing for Survival

Neal Thurman
17 Nov 2019

I recently overheard a conversation between a couple of ladies. One of the ladies had asked the other about her experience living in a particularly cold climate. One thing that was mentioned was the fact that everyone carried a survival kit in their car to protect against the cold in the event of some unexpected circumstance. This need was fortified by the fact that the timing of assistance for stranded people in the area was completely unknown. I thought to myself, “I have never thought to prepare a survival kit for my car.” Of course, I have never lived anywhere that the idea of freezing to death in a stranded car ever really enters my thoughts. I usually carry a jacket and maybe a blanket (remember my wife:), but short of a trip to the mountains or such, I never really prepare for survival in the cold. Thus, if such a need arose without warning, I would be sorely unprepared to overcome the challenge. These thoughts did not drive me to run out and create an East Texas winter survival kit, but it did cause me to ponder if such could be true of environmental effects on spiritual planning. Obviously, our social environment is not over run with members of Christ’s body, but we are heavily surrounded by folks that profess some belief in God the Father and Jesus Christ. Many of these do not hold to any semblance of sound doctrine, but the vast majority of them follow the mantra “live and let live.” They are content with our existence and view us as just one in the crowd. I wonder if we at times get way too comfortable with such a mild environment. When this happens, we allow the edge of preparedness to become dull, if not blunt. Then real challenges of compromise, and even defiance, arise and we are found unprepared, unmotivated, and in danger of outright destruction. The church may lose any and all influence in our community, because the soldiers of Christ were woefully unprepared to fight. We can read of churches faced with different challenges in Revelation 2-3. The scriptures would suggest that the good folks in the church in Smyrna (2:8-11) knew that they were in for a fight, for they were dealing with the “synagogue of Satan” and were being persecuted. Even the Lord warned of the tribulation that was to come. So, these Christians had to prepare in order to hang on and survive as their environment tried to destroy them. The Christians of Laodicea (3:14-22) evidently dwelt in a very different environment. They enjoyed greater material wealth and evidently were not facing much persecution. Yet, the Lord makes it very clear that these Christians were unprepared and had lost track of true righteousness. I do not wish to live where the Lord’s church is unwelcome and is attacked, but we ought to prepare for the devastating storm that can arise unexpectedly. The devil works as a roaring lion, a conniving serpent, and a deceitful angel. We must be prepared by taking up “the whole armor of God” (Ephesians 6:10-18) so we are ready to fight for our eternal survival against the enemy in all forms. Waiting until the storm arrives to prepare, means being unprepared in the fight for survival!

What Do You See First?

Neal Thurman
10 Nov 2019

“You never get a second chance to make a first impression.” This is an oft used statement of fact when counsel is being offered to person about how one appears or conducts themselves. In fact, it is stated with such regularity that some folks have began to see it as an empty cliché, and thus give its truthful principle little to no regard. Of course, ignoring truth does not change it and this precept is true. Christians should particularly pay attention to such things, because if the first impression we leave hinders another person from receiving or accepting the gospel, souls may be lost. What a tragedy it would be if a person failed to know Jesus because my appearance, words, attitude, or conduct undermined the ability of gospel of Christ to work on the willing heart. Yet, in this writing, I would like for the reader to consider the other side of the first impression event. Let’s begin by asking a question, “What do you see first?” This could easily be followed by, “What assumptions do you make based on what you see first?” Be brutally honest with yourself when you answer these questions. It is true that one should consider the first impression he makes, but it is also true that his impression may be skewed unfairly because of the bias or assumptive nature of the person viewing the impression. I realize that considering such things can become uncomfortable, but if we never think outside of our comfort zone, how will we grow and truly mature? Let’s consider a biblical example before challenging ourselves. 1 Samuel 17:33 And Saul said to David, “You are not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him; for you are a youth, and he a man of war from his youth.” What did Saul see? Saul saw nothing more than a shepherd boy having no business even being there. Saul saw the size of David’s body and the lack of his experience. He failed to see the heart and faith of a champion for God. Now, let’s challenge you and me with people who might visit our worship services. A man enthusiastically greets everyone, vigorously shaking hands with all he sees. What is he? A particularly friendly fellow, or a guy trying hard to present a false image in order to gain our trust (he has something to sale)? A smartly dressed couple gets out of a recent model luxury car. They speak with the tone high education and propriety. What are they? Faithful Christians who have been financially successful and will be generous with the church and the less fortunate, or proud, rich folks who expect to be treated with deference? A very plainly dressed, woman arrives with three children under age 5 and another one on the way. What is she? A mother who loves kids whose husband must be working, or an immoral woman whose had ungodly relationships with no telling how many men? A man who does look like the majority of us, comes along driving an old, beat-up, pickup truck. What is he? A hard-working fellow who could use some work or a bum whose about to ask for a handout? One may say, “Well, I’m a pretty good judge of character and I’m usually right?” This may be true, but we may not be giving a fair opportunity to those making first impressions. If we first look with judgment and scrutiny, some first impressions have a great hurdle to overcome even before they can first be made. Is that really the way of Jesus Christ? Would any of us say that the first thing our Lord sees in a person is their potential flaws and short-comings? So, should it be ours?

Arise And Meet The Call

Neal Thurman
3 Nov 2019

Joshua 1:2 “Moses My servant is dead. Now therefore, arise...” We know that Joshua would go on to be a great leader in Israel. Yet, I wonder if Joshua, himself, was sure of this outcome when he was handed the reigns of leadership over the nation and succeeded the position of Moses. Moses was a great man and a great leader. Would it be remarkable to consider that Joshua may have had a bit of trepidation about walking in the footsteps of he who receive the law from God? This would be reasonable, but God basically told Joshua that his time of leadership had come. God told Joshua that the days of Moses were ended. Now Joshua had to arise and meet the call of leadership. Interesting enough, God did not say to Joshua, “If that okay with you.” Rather He said, “Now therefore, arise, go over this Jordan, you and all this people, to the land which I am giving to them...6 Be strong and of good courage, for to this people you shall divide as an inheritance the land which I swore to their fathers to give them.” Joshua 1:2,6 Has any else noticed that much of the work being done by the church across the land today is being done by folks whose age begins with a “7” or “8” and sometimes even a “9”? Perhaps, we should step back from this fact and express our appreciation and respect for these seasoned, faithful Christians who obviously believe that Christianity has no earthly retirement plan. We can admire their willingness to work and serve even though their bodies may not respond with the same vigor as they once did. This would be an accurate and appropriate consideration of these diligent workers, but perhaps it does not paint a picture of the whole truth. Another angle, from which to view the answer to the question, is to point out that these continue to fulfill the same tasks and works because no one has relieved them of the duty. No younger, more able-bodied person has come along asking to be taught the ropes or offering to take up the work in the former’s stead. They keep diligently working because the work needs to be done and no one else is willing or available to shoulder the load. Unfortunately, this is also an accurate description of the situation. So, what will we do when God says, “My servant is dead,”? My generation, and those behind it, had better find a way to fit working for the Lord and His church in between our wealth accumulation, little league baseball, and social media networking; or the church as we know it will fade from existence in our communities. And the Lord our God will NOT be pleased! We must find a way to insure that working for the Lord is the priority of our lives. Our veteran workers should be praised and supported. They should not be cast aside, but rather they should be training their willing replacements. This way when the time comes, the torch can be passed with the confidence that its glorious flame will never be extinguished!

Teach Me Your Ways, Oh Lord

Neal Thurman
20 Oct 2019

Psalm 119:18 Open my eyes, that I may see wondrous things from Your law. A great challenge that perhaps all of us face is honestly seeking truth without the bias of already deciding what the outcome will be. This can affect our judgment in all sorts of areas and ways. The evolutionist has already decided that things of life and the universe have happened by chance over billions of years. Thus, all research or discovery is passed through this filter, which eliminates any consideration or possibility of an intelligent designer. The jurist, who looks at one accused of despicable acts and thinks that he must be guilty or the police would not have arrested him, likely will not give the presented evidence of innocence the proper weight or scrutiny. Sports fans often consider every foul against their team to be a bad call, even when they have not seen the play. And the Christian who has already decided what he believes before thoroughly searching the scriptures is vulnerable to the same sort of bias. A search for truth, particularly when the source of truth is available, should be entered with an open mind that wants to learn and be guided. We do ourselves a disservice when our purpose for digging into the scriptures is find scriptural proof for what we have already decided is truth. The great problem is when we search for confirmation rather than learning we are much more likely to pull text out of its proper context because the wording seems to support our beliefs. Consider a few texts from the Psalms: 25:4-5 Show me Your ways, O Lord; teach me Your paths. 5 Lead me in Your truth and teach me, for You are the God of my salvation… 86:11 Teach me Your way, O Lord; I will walk in Your truth; unite my heart to fear Your name. 143:10 Teach me to do Your will, for You are my God; Your Spirit is good. Lead me in the land of uprightness. The psalmist pleas for teaching from the Lord. He is welcoming instruction that he might learn the precepts of God’s glorious way. The psalmist is acknowledging that the Lord has what the psalmist needs and he is saying the he is ready to receive it and learn. Learning is only established in the willing mind. We should all be like Samuel when it comes to the word of God. “Speak, for Your servant hears.” 1 Samuel 3:10. We need to open our eyes, our minds, and our hearts to allow the Lord to leave His impression on our very souls. We need to open up the word of God and let it speak, let it teach, and let it shape our lives. As the soft lump of clay, we must allow ourselves to be shaped and molded into what the Lord would have us be. Our biblical study should especially be a time when we let Him have His way with us!

I Am So Sure

Neal Thurman
13 Oct 2019

We should all recognize and accept that we each believe we are right about everything for which we have an opinion. Before anyone balks at this idea, ask the question, “Why would anyone hold an opinion he/she believed to be wrong?” Does that make any sense? Everyone thinks they are right. The problem is not that folks think they are right. Problems can arise when our opinions, which we think are right, run in conflict with the truth or wise judgment. This situation now requires examination to determine right thinking. Disastrous issues can arise when we choose to hold to our own opinion even when truth or wise counsel has shown flaws or errors in our thinking. This is when pride gets in the way of learning and understanding. Consider a possible thought process of Cain previous to the sacrificial offering made in Genesis 4:3. We are left with the idea that Cain was a farmer or at least thought very highly of the “fruit of the ground.” Perhaps Cain believed that nothing was more precious or valuable than the fruit or produce of the soil. He particularly may have thought so if the fruit was produced as a result of the sweat of his brow and the work of his hands. Thus, when called to make a sacrifice to God of that which is valuable, Cain may have fully believed that the “fruit of the ground” was the most appropriate gift to God. The problem, it was not what God had called for. So, God “did not respect Cain and his offering,” (Genesis 4:5). We do not have the command of God regarding this sacrifice. Yet, notice that when God asked Cain of his fallen countenance in Genesis 4:6-7, Cain did not suggest that he did not know or understand what God had commanded. Rather, he killed his righteous brother to sooth the rage of his own anger. Just think how different things would have been if Cain had only thought, “I think the fruit of the ground would make the best offering, but God said he wanted a sacrifice from the flock. I need to talk to Able and get me a lamb as a sacrifice to pay honor to God.” I do not know what Cain actually thought. I do not know what his intentions or motivation may have been. I know God did not respect what Cain chose to offer. Confidence is a great asset. Self-assuredness is useful at keeping us going without being weighted down with doubt. But arrogance will lead us into trouble, (Proverbs 16:18). When we refuse to yield our opinion in the face of truth or wisdom, we set ourselves up for a terrible fall. Consider what the wiseman said in Proverbs 16:24: There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death.

The Spirit He Gave Us

Neal Thurman
29 Sep 2019

Our world is filled with many evil people who commit a plethora of vile, hateful, and wicked deeds. Radicalized Islamic extremist are showering our world with violent acts of terror, seeking to make us afraid. Deranged maniacs are shooting up schools, stores, and concerts for no apparent reason. Human traffickers are scooping up young children as they walk to or from school. Illegal drugs that ruin the lives of our young people are flooding across our border. The very fiber of our society that is based in righteousness is being eroding and even attacked by those we have elected to office and those who set on the bench. We can even see that our rights to freely speak the word of God without fear of governmental interference is not near as protected as we once believed. These things can be pretty frightening. What are we supposed to do? How are we going to live or even worship God with all of these things around us? Is it safe to get on a airplane or go to grocery store or even send our kids to school? Shouldn’t we be afraid? I have, at times, tried to answer such questions, which often do not have a proper human answer. My results seem to do nothing but provoke more questions. I believe this will be true with most people, even those who are much more educated and enlightened on the subject than me. So, the answer must lie outside of human capacity. We must look for a better source for the answers of life in a dark and evil world. Psalm 18:2-3 The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; My God, my strength, in whom I will trust; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. 3 I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised; So shall I be saved from my enemies. Psalm 46:9-10 He makes wars cease to the end of the earth; He breaks the bow and cuts the spear in two; He burns the chariot in the fire. 10 Be still, and know that I am God; Hebrews 13:5-6 For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” 6 So we may boldly say: “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?” 2 Timothy 1:7, 12 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind...12 For this reason I also suffer these things; nevertheless I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day. Proverbs 3:5-8 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; 6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths. 7 Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and depart from evil. 8 It will be health to your flesh, and strength to your bones. The answer: trust in the rock of our hope to carry us through the day without fear!

Fit For The Occasion

Neal Thurman
22 Sep 2019

Last weekend, we attended the wedding of a young lady that we have seen grow up at church camp, who now serves as a counselor. In fact, the wedding was held at the Pettijohn Springs chapel. Everything was nice and it was a joyous occasion. We all know that weddings can take on many different forms today. The appearance of the people often tell us much about the tenor of the proceedings. We can find barefooted attendants on the beach, to denim and boots beneath the old oak tree, to traditional “church” weddings with an image of uniformity, to white-tie affairs at exclusive venues. In all of these, a certain level of consistency flows throughout the atmosphere, especially among the wedding party. It is not to say that one is better or more appropriate than the other, but rather that each has certain things that are fitting for the occasion. This leads me back to the recent wedding. The bride worn a rather traditional bridal gown and her attendants were in long, flowing dresses. The groom and groomsmen were all in dapper, grey suits. They all looked very nice together, but one person really caught my attention. The good brother (their college minister) who officiated the ceremony stood out from the gathering on the stage. He was all dressed up in his white dress shirt, along with a vest, dark blue jeans and dress shoes. Now in all fairness, the minister’s attire may have been exactly what the bride and groom prescribed, but to this old preacher, his appearance was not befitting of the occasion. I may be an old stick-in-the-mud, but his appearance, and his manner for that matter, suggested that this was a flippant occasion to him. I know I’m being rather judgmental about something that is not my business, but stay with me for just a few thoughts. If I was so focused on and turn off by the appearance and manner of a stranger at a wedding, could our appearance and/or manner do the same thing to a person visiting a worship service of the saints. Please understand me, I am not talking about this outfit or that outfit, or who determines appropriate this or that. I am thinking about the overall image, including our manner and speech, that we present to those who are meeting us for the first time in worship to God. What are we saying to them? Are we presenting an image that is fit for the occasion? In the parable of the wedding feast, the king’s servants were sent into the highways to gather guests, but still when the king found a guest without the proper attire he asked, “Friend, how did you come in here without a wedding garment?” (Matthew 21:12). This man was cast out. Why? Because he was not fit for the occasion. Let us not fret over the appearance of ministers or others at weddings. It has no lasting affect. The couple is just as married, fitting image or not. Yet, when we consider the complete image we set forth when worshipping God, let us recognize the true importance of what we are doing. And may it never be said by someone who comes into the midst of our worship, “He is not fit for the occasion.”

Distracted Christianity

Neal Thurman
15 Sep 2019

Recently, I was driving along and talking on the phone. I was using a hands-free device, but evidently that does not preclude the phone conversation from acting as a mental distraction. I guess I became focused on the conversation and missed a turn that I have made many times, previously. I was not looking away from the road and I was readily aware of the other cars on the road, but I had lost focus on the goal. That moment of distraction led me to continue on an errant path for several minutes until I noticed a sign that told me I had strayed from the course. This required driver repentance to take place in order to get home. Ultimately, I reached my destination with a bit of wasted time included, Yet, without turning around, I would have found myself with a long way to go just to get back to where I was. I am fearful that many Christians are allowing similar distractions to affect their journey of faithfulness. These distractions are not sinful in and of themselves. In fact, some of them may include things that are good and helpful. My distracting phone call was not of regarding vital information, but it could have been a matter of importance and have had the same effect. We must understand that we can become lost by being distracted by sinful things like lust (2 Samuel 11:2-4) or greed (Matthew 26:15-16), but it can also happen by good things like work (Luke 10:38-40). So, we each need to consider the things in own lives that might occupy our mind to the point that we get off course, spiritually. Sinful activity that distracts us should be easily recognized. The temptations may be troublesome to deal with, but the identification should be simple. We can know what is sin and thus know it distracts and detracts from righteousness. It is the other areas that are more difficult to recognize. Working extra hours, always meeting the unscheduled occupational need, never allowing your personal life to distract from your work may make you employee of the year, who is in line for the next promotion. Yet, it may not lead to your faithful service to God. Your child plays Little League, Pop Warner, and youth soccer. He is a cub scouts, raises show animals for the fair, and takes horseback riding lessons. You never miss a game, practice, meeting, or performance. You take your child skiing each winter and on a cruise in the summer. You take him four-wheeling one weekend each month. You are a parent very committed to your child. Yet, you may be diverting from the path of faithfulness because there are not enough hours in the day or days in the week. And you may be stunting the growth of the child to which you are so committed. The point, stay focused: eyes, mind, heart, and soul. Set your mind on the things above and the narrow pathway (Colossians 3:2; Matthew 7:13-14). Let us stay focused on faithfully following the pathway of righteousness by also focusing our priorities as well as our morality. One final thought, we all get distracted from time to time. Do not give up or accept the wrong path. Do not become discouraged or depressed. Do not give place to the devil! Come to yourself (Luke 15:17) and recognize the mistake. Then take any necessary action to turn yourself around. In the end, we all just want to get home!

Why Don’t They Stay?

Neal Thurman
1 Sep 2019

2 Timothy 4:10,16 Demas has forsaken me, having loved this present world, and has departed for Thessalonica...16 At my first defense no one stood with me, but all forsook me. Do you have a Demas or two in your life? Perhaps all of the faithful do. Demas certainly was not an encouragement to Paul. Quite the contrary, Demas and his departure would have acted as a strong discouragement to Paul. They had worked and served together. They had likely suffered together. We know that Demas was in support of Paul while he wrote his epistle from prison to the Colossians (4:14). Paul noted Demas as a fellow laborer in the work of the Lord in Philemon 24. Perhaps, we accept to a certain extent that some folks are going to wander away from the Lord, His church, and His service. Yet, we are shaken and disturbed when the person who wanders is one we have stood with in work and warfare for the Lord. We may even be motivated to ask, “Where are you going? We’re not finished.” Still, they leave and we are left to pick up the pieces, fill the hole, and try to complete the work without them. “No one stood with me…” Oh, what the devil wouldn’t do to make the faithful feel all alone! Of course, Paul would say, “May it not be charged against them.” But we are often not as strong as Paul. We are not as convicted and driven as Paul. We do not persevere like Paul. Yet, I believe that even the great apostle was hurt and discouraged by being forsaken. Of course, our lesson from Paul is that we must continue to fight and run and keep the faith (2 Timothy 4:7) even when we are forsaken, hurt, and discouraged. Yet, why don’t they stay? Why don’t they stand up in righteousness? Why do they leave us short-handed and unsupported? Because Satan is good at his job and too many of us are weak and selfish. The devil makes things hard for some and they fold or wither. He offers luxury, wealth, and comfort to others and they willingly indulge in his feast. The old devil knows his work. The challenge to the faithful is not growing weary and discouraged when those around us stumble. We must not yield or retreat because we are left to fight alone. Because we are not alone! And are never alone! 2 Timothy 4:17 But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me, so that the message might be preached fully through me, and that all the Gentiles might hear. Also I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion. 18 And the Lord will deliver me from every evil work and preserve me for His heavenly kingdom. To Him be glory forever and ever. Amen! I don’t know why they will not stay faithful to the Lord. I don’t know why their souls are not more important to them. I do know that if you and I, as the faithful, allow the Demas in our lives to stop us from working and serving the Lord, the devil wins. I know it’s hard! I know it hurts! I know it is extremely discouraging! Yet, we must continue the fight, we must finish the race, that we might win a glorious crown! (2 Timothy 4:8)

Splicing Through Life

Neal Thurman
25 Aug 2019

I had an interesting/frustrating experience this past weekend. I had rented a U-Haul trailer to move Spencer’s stuff into a house he is renting for the school year. Well, the complications of life that seem to follow me around arrived in full measure, which delayed me in Huntsville until well after dark. I then discovered that the trailer’s running lights only worked on one side. I called their customer service and an hour and a half later a nice man showed up to work on the trailer. He quickly ran through the possible easy fixes to no avail. He then began checking wires under the trailer and eventually the tongue. He started pulling out wires and seemed to be talking to himself. I asked if it was a bad problem. He explained that these trailers are notorious for getting sand and grit in the tongue and it wears bare spots on the wires, then he said a guy like himself would come along and splice it. This is fine, but multiple splices lead to problems. This wire had six short splices within 3 feet of wire. There was more than he could do at 12:30 a.m. in the McAlister’s parking lot. So, he took the trailer out of service and was going to rewire at least the front of the trailer later. As I took my early morning journey home, I began to ponder the splices or patches that we make in life. The quick fixes that at least temporarily alleviate a problem. Such will be fine under ideal circumstance, but they do not actually deal with the cause or real problem. We go on a spiritual or emotional diet, which brings immediate improvement. Yet, when we go back to our old menu, the old problems come back, as well. I noticed that the repairman was looking to replace the wiring with a multi-wire set that had a heavy rubber sleeve covering and protecting the wire’s insulation. It looked much more durable than what he was pulling out of the trailer. Brethren, sometimes we need to rewire the whole thing. We need to stop putting a splice on our tongues to not use filthy language around the preacher, ladies, or the church, and rather remove filthy language from our vocabulary (Colossians 3:8) and start using words that edify (Ephesians 4:29). We need to stop splicing our morality by thinking we have really accomplished something because we do not commit adultery. What we need is to stop allowing lust to drive immoral thoughts through our minds (Matthew 5:28). We need to stop splicing our spiritual service by simply showing up at service times (Hebrews 10:25), and actually start gathering with the saints to truly worship God (Hebrews 10:24) in spirit and in truth (John 4:24). We need to stop splicing pleasantries of cordial greetings and conversations, and actual start loving one another in the name of Lord (John 13:34-35). Sometimes we need a quick fix, but let us aspire to consistently have our spiritual lives in proper, well-maintained order. When repair is needed, let’s do it right!

The Challenge of Suffering Long

Neal Thurman
18 Aug 2019

Following the lesson last Sunday morning, a common sentiment was voiced by a good number of folks, who are forced to endure and deal with willful immorality among family members or loved ones. These are frustrated, exasperated, even angry with the failure of their loved one(s) to listen or give heed to the truth of God’s word. Most of the faithful can relate to this in one form or another. It is frustrating and maddening to love someone so much and feel so helpless in affecting their lives. We know what they are doing is wrong and sinful, and what is absolutely maddening is the fact that the sinners also know that what they are doing is sinful. They simply do not care. They live the way they want and refuse to let anyone tell them they have to do anything different. If challenged, the willful sinners seem to fall back on one of two tried and true plans. One, emotionally mourn how they are being judged and mistreated by mean-spirited and narrow-minded people. It’s just not fair that people will not let them live their own lives. This often makes the admonisher feel guilty about upsetting the sinner. Two, have an explosive, angry outburst and put people in their place. Scream, yell, and belittle anyone who dares to criticize, so they will wilt away from the confrontation. Turn the tables and criticize them for being judgmental and condescending. This makes the admonisher apprehensive about starting a fight, so they often just stay silent. (Mission accomplished) The faithful are left feeling absolutely helpless. Many times they end up feeling guilty, thinking they have left something undone or unsaid that would have made things different. They are sad because their loved one is lost. They get mad because the same will not listen. They grow weary in anxiety that we are not even promised tomorrow and the judgment is coming. Have you been there? Are you there right now? I do not have the answer for these feeling except to suggest we do what God does. 2 Peter 3:9 “The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.” The Lord our God waits with patience, suffering long with our weakness and our foolishness. How frustrating it must be to a perfect Being to watch flawed creatures refuse to hear His word and accept His grace. Yet, God waits. His message remains the same in all ages. He can always be found in the same place (Luke 15:20). It must truly hurt the Father when we tell Him that He is not welcome in our lives. But, the wounded Father waits. The rebuffed Savior waits. The Great Rewarder waits for us to decide to diligently seek Him, (Hebrews 11:6). So, hold the line even when your heart is breaking. Let them know there is a home for them when they decide to turn around. Make sure they know that love awaits the one who finds his way home.

Afraid To Tell The Truth

Neal Thurman
11 Aug 2019

Are you afraid to tell the truth? I know the immediate and bold response is, “Absolutely Not!” But is that really the truth? Maybe for a few, but many, if not most, of us are often at least strategic with our sharing of the truth. This is because that we are particularly concerned with hurting the feelings or raising the ire of a brother or sister. Please, understand that I am not criticizing compassion or thoughtfulness of the feelings of our loved ones. We should always be mindful of any hurt or harm that our words may cause. Remember that Paul wrote, “Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.” Colossians 4:6. I also do not want to suggest that we always have to share our thoughts on every matter. If our sister chose to style her hair in a manner that suggest she had been standing on the deck of an aircraft carrier during wargames, honesty does NOT demand that we seek her out and share this truth. If a brother’s breath causes rapid evacuations, we are NOT duty bound to reveal this without being prompted. Yet, when the church busybody comes to us with the news of other people’s business, we need to tell the truth. One, their action is sinful (2 Thessalonians 3:11; 1 Peter 4:15) and causing risk to their own soul. Two, it is hurtful to others and damaging to the church. If a brother often has outbursts of wrath, we need to tell him the truth. Having a volatile temperament is not an excuse for ungodly behavior. Paul tells Christians to put off such things, (Colossians 3:8). If a well-meaning brother or sister is discouraging or driving away others with their manner of sharing the truth about a matter, we need to gently tell them the truth as well, (Ephesians 4:29; 1 Corinthians 9:19-22). Perhaps you are thinking, “But people’s feelings will get hurt.” I will not argue against that. Sometimes the truth hurts, but does that mean it is not necessary or needed? I do not wish to cause pain to anyone, but the need for truth sometimes supersedes the weight of soothed feelings. Words should be chosen very carefully on these occasions in order to minimize any discomfort and express a genuine care and concern for the hearer. The wise man said, “A soft answer turns away wrath,” Proverbs 15:1. Something else that needs to be considered is whether our soft, sensitive feeling are good for our Christianity. Of coarse Paul asked the poignant question of the Galatians, “Have I therefore become your enemy because I tell you the truth?” Galatians 4:16. We could stand to toughen up a bit and recognize that each and everyone of us could use a little admonition from time to time. Yes, we should desire loving compassion when admonished, but we still need the admonition. We should also appreciate the difficulty of offering a needed but uncomfortable admonition. It would be much easier for truth to be shared if it was known that truth is desired and appreciated. Furthermore, we should not ask for observation if we are not seeking a true assessment. Brethren, truth is of vital importance. We cannot successfully proclaim its essentiality if we do not share it among ourselves. Let us always speak truth in love!

Service Satisfaction

Neal Thurman
4 Aug 2019

Our world is a place that promotes self-interest and self-seeking. The world celebrates those who are able to take the most from the world. Sometimes we are even awed by how much service is required by those of very luxurious lifestyles. Jesus, in speaking of the Gentile rulers, stated that they “Lord it over,” those under their authority, (Mark 10:42). Rather than praising their authority, Jesus commanded that His followers would be very different. In fact He said, “Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you shall be your servant. 44 And whoever of you desires to be first shall be slave of all.” (Mark 10:43-44) This is a relatively tough command by our Lord. It does not come naturally to most. It calls for Christians to live very differently than the norm of the social environment. Many see this as a real, but necessary burden. The saddest part of this fact is that those who continue to see service as a burden will never experience the true satisfaction of genuine Christian living. As long as we see service as a duty, we will never find the joy of being a willing servant. If we only serve because we believe it is simply what Christians are commanded to do, we will only scratch the service of Christian living. We will fail to truly manifest the mind of Christ, (Philippians 1:27). We should be truly honest with ourselves about these matters. This is not about whether we are living in sin, but rather a determination if we are experiencing the full measure of Christian growth and development. Do we find ourselves asking, “Why do I have to be the one to take care of….?” or saying, “You would think someone else could take care of this from time to time.” When we feel we are being used or taken advantage of, when we are asked to fulfill some needed service, we are not exhibiting the true mind of Christ. Jesus willing went to the cross “for the joy that was set before Him,” (Hebrews 12:2). No greater service exist than what Jesus did for the world of sinful man. Most will reject His loving service, but the joy before Him remains the same. Instead of thinking about how much of our energy, time and resources are consumed by our service, let us look at the joy that is set before us as servants of one another and of our Lord. When we see the true joy of service, we will find genuine satisfaction in service.

The Pit of Assumption

Neal Thurman
28 Jul 2019

May I suggest that assumptions can be very dangerous and destructive. Assumptions are seldom truly correct and often miss the mark completely. This is because assumptions are founded in the opinion, personality, and bias of individuals rather the aspects of truth. Most of the time, poor assumption only make the assumer look foolish, but sometimes people are seriously wounded by assumption. This is how it works. We have new flashing arrow signs on a curve in Whitehouse. The other day Tracy made a comment about a need for adjustment on the sensor to activate the serious. (Assumption Alert!) I drive the road everyday and had never observed the signs not flashing. Thus, I basically told my dear wife she did not know what she was talking about saying, “Those signs flash continually 24 hours a day.” Two days later I noticed the long delay in flashing between a car well in front of me and the moment I actuated the series. You do not need to tell of my discovery. Do we see how this could go from being silly to being hurtful? I did not see any brethren when I visited Sister Sally in hospital and she did not mention anyone else’s visit. (Alert!) I am the only person that bothered to visit Sister Sally. I took food to Sally’s family while she is in the hospital, but I did not hear of any organized effort at the church to help them. (Alert!) Nobody else really cares about this family. I called Brother Johnson because he has not been to worship in a couple of weeks. He is having a rough stretch, but he was so happy to hear from someone from the church. (Alert!) No one else has even checked on him. It is a good thing I’m here, (General Alert!) because no one around here is doing anything. Can anyone imagine how these assumptions could harm someone. A favored movie line around my home is, “Ooo, look who know so much.” We assume because it is easy, but it is also lazy. Because we are not willing to search for truth. It is much easier to simply draw a conclusion. Then I do not let the facts get in the way of my opinion. This does not just happen to worldly people. Consider 1 Kings 19:10 & 14 when the mighty Elijah says, “I have been very zealous for the Lord God of hosts; because the children of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars, and killed Your prophets with the sword. I alone am left; and they seek to take my life.” God tells Elijah, 1 Kings 19:18 “Yet I have reserved seven thousand in Israel, all whose knees have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth that has not kissed him.” Elijah assumed that he was all alone because he did not know of anyone else, but God let Elijah know that he did not know all that he thought he did. Naaman famously said in 2 Kings 5:11 “Behold I thought...” (KJV) I thought, but I was wrong. We will not even get into the problem of judging by appearance which is condemned in the scriptures, (Matthew 7:1-2, John 7:24). Yet, let us recognize that the fruit of our assumptions may be very hurtful to others and can actually put ourselves on the wrong side of God. Brethren, let us make to effort to understand truth. For love assumes no evil.

Seventeen Inch Standard

Neal Thurman
21 Jul 2019

I would like to encourage you to pause at the bulletin board and read the two-page story called, “Seventeen Inches,” which I place there a few days ago. The story is about an old baseball coach speaking at a large coaches clinic, but rather than talking about baseball strategies or how to get the most out of players on the field, he spoke about a standard of life. The story speaks of him wearing a “Home Plate” hanging from his neck during the speech. The gist of his speech centers on the consistent standard of a seventeen inch home plate, which stands regardless of the time period or level of play. This speech could very well have been an introduction to considering our consistent standard for life. We live in a world of smart phones, smart watches, smart homes, and are being introduced to smart electric cars that used many times more computing power than what NASA used to put a man on the moon. This also means that we live in a world of updates. These technological marvels are constantly needing updates to stay up with the ever changing atmosphere of bugs, threats, and new abilities. Some of these updates are small tweaks to help the device run more efficiently, while others are significant changes to the software which drives the full functionality of the device. Most of us do not give it a second thought when we get notification of [Update Available]. We just press the [OK] and go on about our business. Obviously, no spiritual issues arise from updating our electronic devices, but perhaps this lifestyle helps us to be amenable to continual change or updates in other matters of life. So, what happens when the notifications start coming from church leadership [Update Available] press [OK] (“put offering in the plate and your body in the building”) to accept? Do folks really read the terms of the agreement or just press [OK] and go about their personal business? What do the scriptures tell us about the nature of Jesus Christ? Hebrews 13:8 “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” Jesus evidently does not have updates. Because Jesus does not have any bugs to work out or threats that reduce His power or effectiveness. Since Jesus does not update, His word also does not update. We must recognize, “when that which is perfect has come,” (1 Corinthians 13:10) no further updates will ever be needed. So, we need to start reading the fine print when someone says we are going to update things at the church. Making the seats more comfortable, projecting hymns instead of using books, manipulating service times on the Lord’s day, etc., are all within our realm of authority. But just as soon as we start altering what God supposedly recognizes as acceptable, we have just sought to update God. This is always a bad idea, (Leviticus 10:1-2). We simply need to accept and follow our God-given standard!

How Did I Get Here?

Neal Thurman
7 Jul 2019

We had a bit of unconventional excitement at the building on Tuesday morning. The noise of a person speaking loudly, even yelling, alerted Christie to take a look in the parking lot. Her investigation revealed a young man leaning against one of the brick columns of the main entrance having, what appeared to be, a very animated conversation. The curious thing was that no one else was there. Christie called for my assistance, and by carefully watching him, we were able to determine that he was not speaking to anyone on the phone either. We contacted the Sheriff’s Department and I began videoing the man’s behavior. He stomped around, waving his arms, and was almost screaming as though he were involved in a very intense conversation or even a speech. He seemed very stressed or upset. Yet, he did not try to force his way into the building, nor did he bother any other the cars of the Mission Printing folks who were also in the building. At one point, he stood close to the door and looked at me videoing him, and it was as if he looked right through me. When law enforcement sought to restrain him, he began to plead that he was on drugs and had done nothing wrong and that he needed help. He was really quite pitiful. How did this otherwise healthy looking young man end up stumbling around raving like a maniac? It likely, had something to do with methamphetamine similar to that which the deputies took from his pockets. Why would anyone put something like that in their body? This is the result they should see. But that is how one gets there. Some may read this and think, “Yeah, meth will mess you up. I would never do that.” Yet, we find ourselves in desperate, even foolish, situations in our spiritual lives in much the same way. We find ourselves dealing with issues of fornication because we tear down the walls of appropriate behavior and modest appearance, because those things are prudish and old fashioned (Hebrews 13:4; 1 Timothy 2:9). We find that we have destroyed our reputation and good name because we start following the idiom that “A little white lie never hurt anyone.” (Colossians 3:9) We find ourselves completely detached from the church because we to fail to regularly gather with the saints in worship and when we were present bodily, our minds were often somewhere else, (Hebrews 10:24-25). We find ourselves wishing we could eat with the pigs, because our lifestyle has consumed everything of worth in our lives. We find ourselves where we never intended to be, often wondering how we got there. Maybe you think that you have heard and know all of this, but have you ever considered the other side of the coin? Just imagine having a healthy, godly, romantic relationship. Could it be that you arrived here by doing things God’s way? (Ephesians 5:22-35) Just imagine having an impeccable reputation and good name. Maybe it was because you were committed to be truthful about even small things that other lie about out of convenience (Proverbs 22:1, Matthew 5:37) . Just imagine having an active and thriving spiritual family that gives you loving support and depends on you to effective accomplish the Lord’s work and service. Perhaps you have been diligently giving what you have to the Lord that you found being a faithful Christian as a way of life (2 Corinthians 8:12; 1 Corinthians 15:10). We end up wherever we are in life because of the things we add into our lives and the things we leave out. Methamphetamine leads to one life. Jesus leads to a whole new world!

Challenge of Faith

Neal Thurman
30 Jun 2019

Take a moment to be brutally honest with yourself and answer this question. “What truly challenges your faith?” I’m not asking what is the hardest thing for you to believe, but rather what is it that stresses or challenges the faith you have to do, follow, or accept something. It is likely that you have a clear intellectual understanding of this matter and can effectively explain how it should be managed. Yet, as the cliché goes, “That’s easier said than done.” I do not wish for any of you to tell me what your true challenge might be. I simply hope that you will honestly tell yourself, because I believe that proper identification is necessary for growth or improvement. In order to get the ball rolling for you, I have decided to reveal my own struggle. This is very personal and makes me vulnerable to the judgmental mind. Yet, I believe encouraging you to do this is important enough to expose myself to scrutiny. I do ask for your compassion and prayers rather than your judgment. The Apostle Paul wrote in Philippians 3:13 “Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead…” This is at the core of my challenge. For better or for worse, I possess an effective and often detailed, long term memory of past events. My wife will tell you that walking from the den to kitchen I may forget that she asked me to take out the trash, but often I can remember detailed statements or actions of event decades old. Some of those memories, I wish I could just leave them behind. For these memories lead to the second part of my struggle. The Apostle Peter writes, “Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, 7 casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.” (1 Peter 5:6-7) I recognize and accept intellectually that Peter is saying to me, “Give those things outside Your control and past things to God and leave them behind.” But actually doing so is much harder for me than knowing what is supposed to be done. I do not doubt God’s ability to handle whatever, but I struggle with letting go of the feelings, the heartaches, the frustrations, and sometimes even the anger. I am by nature a person who seeks to make peace, especially in the church. Often, perhaps too often, keeping peace has come by suffering the wrong for sake of peace. I have allowed my family to suffer from the ungodly actions of others. I told myself that I was choosing the Lord and His church over myself. At times, I was very wrong in doing so and allowed sinful behavior to rule our peace. I remember those times vividly and they haunt me. Yet, I made those choices! So, necessity says, “Let it go! Give it to God and press on!” Someone dear to me recently gave me some sobering words of advice. I was challenged with recognizing that much of this is about control, and I must find the strength of faith to let out the rope of control in my life and allow God to put the wind in my sails to move forward. I was reminded that the past is only valuable for education, and that dwelling there is a restraint to growth. Such is my challenge of faith. I pray that God will forgive my weakness and grant me the strength follow Paul’s example of pressing on. I also pray that you will likewise roll back protective coverings and look soberly and honestly at what truly challenges your faith. May we all lean on Jesus Christ our Lord to cover our weaknesses. Let us find our true strength in Him!

You Have Chosen Poorly

Neal Thurman
23 Jun 2019

We each make choices everyday. Many are simply choices of daily activity that carry little real significance. Other choices are more important and have an effect on our personal image and the manner in which we interact with other people. Finally, there are but a few truly profound choices that when made will literally determine who we are and who we are to become. It would seem obvious which choices should garner the highest level of focus and attention. It is clear that profound life altering choices should always take preeminence. As true as this may be, the assumption does not take into account the other mitigating factors that affect our ability to put first things first. Too often, urgent wins out over important in immediate decision making. This can lead to disastrously bad choices. This was demonstrated to me this past week. We play a game at camp called “Ticks & Chiggers” that, in our version, pits the boys against the girls in producing certain items or campers with specific traits. I administer the game and we try to have a lot of fun with it. I asked for a camper who had a date to the bonfire, our Friday night tradition. The boys brought a young man forward and I asked him who his date was. He gave me a name and I asked the young lady to step forward and confirm this fact. This is when things got interesting. These two young folks have been dating for over a year and as I understand are in a serious relationship. The other girls began loudly calling for the young lady to say, “No.” The other girls were wrapped up in the moment of trying to win a game and took no consideration of any lasting effects. Like many others before her, she wanted to fit in and make her peers happy. So, she said “No.” The young man was obviously taken aback by her decision and wandered back to his team in disgust. Think about what the young lady did. First, she lied, which obviously is always wrong. Then she risked the stability of a relationship that I assume is very important to her for a point in a game that does not matter, and the approval of a gang of zealots who would forget about her sacrifice in mere moments. I would say that she chose poorly. We see the foolishness of choosing an insignificant game over a personal relationship, but what about people whose choices disregard their relationship with God to do what they or their peers want. Eve threw away the perfection of God’s garden in a lust for even more, (Genesis 3:6). Aaron chose to construct the golden calf to appease the people rather than wait on Moses with the law of God, (Genesis 32:1-5). Samson chose to risk his mighty strength from God in order to sooth the pleas of an untrustworthy woman, (Judges 16:15-17). Demas chose to forsake Paul and the work of the Lord for a love of the world, (2 Timothy 4:10). They chose poorly! What about you and me? Is it wise to choose the ballgame or concert or reunion over worship to God? What sort of choice is it, when we diligently teach children mathematics, computer operations, and how to throw a ball, but fail to teach them the word of God? I believe Jesus said, “These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone,” Matthew 23:23. When we are motivated to make marital choices based primarily on physical appearance and wealth, there is a real risk of making a very poor choice. We choose poorly when we choose to worship what makes man happy rather than God. The point is that we should make sound choices on the important, while keeping the urgent in its proper place. Do not choose poorly!

Sadness of Hopelessness

Neal Thurman
16 Jun 2019

I spent the week with a gang of youngsters ranging from about 10 to 18 years of age. Doing so reminds me of how fact that they can be quite annoying and frustrating, but more importantly it reminds how precious and special they can be. For many, this is an unsettled and exploring period of life, full of confused convictions and identity insecurity. They want to be independent of all authority, but often comply with every whim of cultural shift. Parents and mentors should be cognoscente of these conflicts and proceed with careful consideration in order to encourage them rather than stress them further. We should also appreciate that they see somethings are crisis of which we do not measure with such intensity. We must seek to train them in the way they should go (Proverbs 22:6), and we should bring them up in the “training and admonition of the Lord,” (Ephesians 6:4). But we should also remind them how precious they are to God. So precious that God sent His only Son to be the propitiation for their sins, (1 John 4:11). They need to know that the Father is watching over them and even the worst of them can receive His forgiveness, (1 Timothy 1:15-16). I recently read an article about a 17 year old girl in the Netherlands who had opted to die by medically administered euthanasia. This is legal, even for certain minors, in the Netherlands. She was not terminally ill, nor had she suffered some physically debilitating injury that prohibited a normal life. Rather, she had been sexually assaulted in her early teen years and was not able to shake the emotional pain and suffering that resulted from this episode. Please, do not misunderstand me. I do not mean to diminish in any way the suffering that comes from such a vile act. I clearly recognize that I cannot fathom such feelings. But rather, I would like to consider why this young woman would think that her only reasonable answer was death. Stepping away from the issue of euthanasia and focusing on the why a young woman felt that she had no reason to even exist in the world. Jesus could have made a difference in such a life. “Come to Me, all you that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” Matthew 11:28. I believe if this young woman had truly known Jesus, she would have had a purpose and reason to live. Just maybe she would still be alive today. We must realize that many people, young & old, are trapped in the sadness of hopelessness. They have no purpose. They have no meaning. We need to give One!

The Choice Too Often Made

Neal Thurman
26 May 2019

I recently spent a couple of days volunteering at Tracy’s school. I will say that if you would like a new perspective on the world, you should spend a school day at a intermediate or middle school. This may be especially true if the student body has significant socioeconomic challenges and includes many children who are the byproduct of an angry, distrustful, society. It can be rather eye opening and even frightening in view of our future. For instance, I took interest in one particularly ill-behaved young man. He is not the exception at the school, but I happened to be in his classroom. Immediately after the teacher gave instruction to the class, she ask our subject to be seated. He ignored her and proceeded over to distract another student. She directed him to go to his seat. He took a step in that direction and began murmuring under his breath about the teacher. Again, the teacher asked him to take his seat, he snapped back, “I’m not doing nothing!” He was now told to sit down. Instead, he walked over to a young lady and began whispering vulgar statements to her. After the girls reaction, the teacher informed our subject that his behavior was being officially reported for disciplinary consideration. He nearly yelled, “I didn’t do anything! You always pick on me!” I observed this scene in a period of about 15 minutes. I considered this situation carefully. This led me to have what I considered to be a profound thought. “Ignorance may be forced upon you, but stupidity is a choice.” I later considered that our schools are certainly not only place that such lack of applied intelligence is displayed. In fact, much of this syndrome can be seen in the spiritual lives of people. Consider what the wise man said in Proverbs 12:1: Whoever loves instruction loves knowledge, But he who hates correction is stupid. So many people wonder through life in abject defiance of God’s clearly stated principles for life. God has comprehensibly and reasonably explained that which pleases Him and that which He expects. Yet, many continue to ignore his instructions and suppose that they can dictate to God what He must accept and receive with approval. If He will not accept such, they will say that He would then not be a loving God and must simply want to send people to hell. If we believe that God created all things, then defiance of His will would be the definition of stupidity! The choice of wisdom or foolishness fully lies in our hands. Let us not make choice that is too often made!

What Do You See?

Neal Thurman
12 May 2019

Take a moment of quiet contemplation. Close your eyes. Clear your mind. Now imagine a mother...What do you see? Obviously, your personal state of life will strongly influence the image in your mind. Yet, we may learn something about what we think a mother ought to be, who our own mothers are or were, and what we hope to see in the mothers of tomorrow. Some of us will see the bright eyes, smiling face, and joyful continence of a woman who exudes happiness and energy, even when in reality she is tired and worn and but wishing for a moment to rest. The scriptures tell us, “A merry heart does good, like medicine…” Proverbs 17:22. Perhaps there are those who will see gentle hands that carefully administer medical treatment for scrapes, cuts, and abrasions. These will also perceive the warm embrace of tender arms that seek to mend the heart that is broken. The tear-stained cheeks speak of the attachment to our feelings of pain. This is also accompanied by the loud voice from the auditorium seat or bleachers ringing forth unending support for whatever endeavor or activity for which we have involved ourselves. The scriptures call for us to, “Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.” Romans 12:15. It would seem that mothers have a head start in all such matters. Others might see swaying apron strings and busy feet that hustle about making sure that everyone else has all they could need or desire. They see intense focus on multiple coordinated tasks that need to come together at just the right time and be just right. Scripture says, “15 She also rises while it is yet night, and provides food for her household, and a portion for her maidservants...27 She watches over the ways of her household, and does not eat the bread of idleness.” Proverbs 31:15,27. A few of us just might see, withered hands that have broken down from a lifetime of service and trembling legs that have been exhausted by running life’s race at full speed. We may see a slumped back that has been wearied by the burden of constant care for loved ones. We might just see a face full of wrinkles that bear testimony to the intensity of concern for all of our sorrows, pain, and heartaches. We may find tired eyes that still diligently search the pages of Holy Writ in an old, well-worn Bible with tattered pages. What a sight this would be! For the scripture say, “ ‘Many daughters have done well, but you excel them all.’ 30 Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing, but a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised. 31 Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her own works praise her in the gates,” Proverbs 31:29-31. Happy Mothers Day!

Why Did You Do It?

Neal Thurman
5 May 2019

Last Saturday was an interesting and good, but rather tiring day. The plan: leave the house no later that 6:30 a.m., drive 342 miles (approx 5 1/2 hrs counting road construction), verify accurate arrival time with co-conspirator to facilitate transportation of the target, arrive at planned location, wait for guest of honor to return, “Surprise! HAPPY BIRTHDAY!”, hug and give gifts to the birthday girl, eat lunch followed by cake, visit with family members, hug the birthday girl again, drive 342 miles home, call an end to a very full day! I recognize that some may reasonably ask, “Why did you do all of that?” Well, I have three primary reasons. One, I did it because I could. I chose to travel 11 hours to spend 4, because I wanted to do so. It was not necessary, but it was possible. I suggest that the best of actions are all done in the “Want-To” arena. Two, she is worthy of the effort. Her 85 years have been spent in service to others, and for 52 of those years, I have been one of the ones being served. She has consistently given all that she has, while asking very little in return. She deserves to be fussed over a bit. She deserves a bit of effort and inconvenience on my part. Three, I am the better for having made the effort. The tears of unexpected joy that welled up in her eyes at the sight of us all paid for every mile and minute of my journey. Her stunned, speechless smile made the day’s fatigue of no consequence. I went with the intention of making her day special, but it was I who received the greater blessing. That’s why I did it! The faithful to God seek to live pure lives full of righteousness, holiness, and godliness. This requires us to sacrifice worldly comforts and convenience. It calls for us to abstain from what the world says is pleasurable and satisfying. We are called to give our time, energy, money, and abilities to the cause of Christ. Many might ask, “Why do you do it?” First, we do because we can. By the power of God, we can always choose to be on God’s side. By the blood of Jesus Christ, we can always choose to follow Him and be a children of God. No one can take that privilege from us, (John 10:29). We can serve whomever we wish to serve, (Joshua 24:15; Romans 6:17). Second, He is worthy of our praise! The Father has poured out His divine love and grace upon us, (Romans 5:8). Our Savior lived a perfect life (Hebrews 4:15) and paid for our sins with His own precious blood (Hebrews 9:12). Jesus conquered death on our behalf, (1 Corinthians 15:54-57; Hebrews 2:9). He bore the weight or our transgressions (Isaiah 53:4-6). He is truly worthy of my worship and my praise! Finally, we are better for the effort of service. When we serve, obey, and worship God, He is indeed please with us. The fruit of our lips (Hebrews 13:15) brings Him joy. Yet, we are the ones who receive the great blessing for we can gain a glorious crown, (1 Peter 5:4). By being faithful, we receive comfort, rest, and especially hope (1 Peter 1:3). Being in Jesus, we have access to all the spiritual blessing in the heavenly places (Ephesians 1:7). When we do good things because we want to we find the greatest of rewards and we offer the greatest of service. Then in Him we can rest. That’s why we do what we do!

By No Means Pass Away

Neal Thurman
21 Apr 2019

Jesus boldly proclaimed the durable nature of His word in Matthew 24:35 “Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.” This should give us confidence that we can trust in His word today, tomorrow, and forever. We should recognize that which His divine word provides us. Consider statements made by the apostles. Paul wrote: 2 Timothy 3:16-17 “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.” Consider this in light of Peters words in 2 Peter 1:3 “His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue…” These two great apostles are offering the same truth. “All that is needed has been provided by God through Jesus Christ.” Following the inspired scriptures will make a man complete and thoroughly equipped for doing that which pleases God. In similar manner, God has provided the answers and available understanding of the life that leads to heaven. God’s word will not equip us to make millions on the stock market. His word will not teach us whether to wear black socks with brown pants. And the Bible does not help much in choosing whether the family should drive a minivan or an SUV. For all of these things are temporal and insignificant to God, and they pale in comparison to eternity. Long-term (eternal) matters are all covered in the pages of holy writ. These truths are always available for the one who seeks for truth. Yet, many seem to want more. They need a special sign that God is trying to tell them something that will inspire them toward initiative. Unfortunately, they are waiting for a divine nudge or a visit from an angel before they seek God’s special message for them. Jesus said in Matthew 12:39 “An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, and no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah.” If Jonah was enough of a sign for the people who lived when Jesus walked the earth, how much more should the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ be for us, today? How much more must God the Father or the Son have to do for unworthy humans to be motivated to do something about their sinfulness? I recognize that sometimes we become forgetful and certain events cause us to reflect on the condition of our spiritual lives. The prodigal son had such a time in Luke 15:17. It is great when these reflections lead to repentance. Yet, let us recognize that waiting for a sign or a wake-up call is a fool’s game. God, by His grace, has given us His Son and allowed His precious blood to be spilled for our sins. God, through His word, has provided us with knowledge of how we can be made clean and how we can stay that way. His truth also shares promises that are eternal in heaven. All of these things are constantly available in the word that “will by no means pass away.”

True or False

Neal Thurman
14 Apr 2019

Last week, I had a conversation with Spencer just after he had completed a test in his Business Legal Environment class. He explained that the vast majority of the test was “True or False” questions. He recounted how he had spoken with the professor afterward about a particular question that had a bit of a trick to it, which made it false. The professor confirmed that Spencer had evaluated the question correctly, but it was still tricky. This is why I do not care for “True or False” questions, especially when I know the material. The correct answer can simply be given for other forms of questioning, but with “True or False” the questions must be read with the utmost cautiousness to insure that the correct answer is not behind a veil. This is how false teaching works as well. The most dangerous false doctrines are by far those that include a lot of truth. If a person wants to believe a teaching that God is a giant turtle who will send spaceships to gather his people in the end, then that person is not going to be swayed by the scriptures one way or the other. Yet, we know many false doctrines follow the scriptures closely up to a certain point. Of these, we must be wary. The first lie ever told contained much truth. “You will not surely die. 5 For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” (Genesis 3:4-5) Eve’s eyes would be opened so that she could see good and evil like God. Except for the whole “not surely die” thing, the statement is true. The old serpent knew exactly what he was doing. He is crafty and cunning. He can even pretend to be an angel of light, (2 Corinthians 11:14). Thus, he is the father of all liars, (John 8:44). The effective way to protect ourselves is much like preparing for and taking a “True or False” test. We must give all diligence to rightly divide the word of truth, (2 Timothy 2:15). We must know the truth that we may be free from the confusion of well-told lies, (John 8:32). We must exercise the senses of our spiritual minds with scriptural understanding to discern good and evil, (Hebrews 5:14). And we must grow up into mature disciples of Jesus Christ so that we are not tossed to and fro by every new wind of doctrine or carried about by the trickery of men whose cunning craftiness confuse understanding of truth, (Ephesians 4:14). We need to search the scriptures diligently (Acts 17:11) and then we will be able to recognize any falsehood. For anything that does not fully agree with the truth of God’s word is false or more pointedly a lie. So, we should study hard and be very diligent in our efforts because life will ask many trick questions!

Good’n Tired

Neal Thurman
7 Apr 2019

I recently heard a very apropos description of the depth, commitment, and vigor that we ought to have when living a life to be pleasing to God. The story was centered on the hunting dogs of the man’s grandfather. He said his grandfather would release the hounds at about 7:00 in the evening and those dogs would run almost constantly all night long. When the dogs would be gather up in the morning, their heads and tails nearly dragged the ground, their tongues hung loosely from their mouths, and their coats were covered in mud made from dirt and sweat. They were truly worn out. Their complete exhaustion was a sign they had given everything they had to give to the hunt, and their master was pleased. This is a good example of how we ought to go forward once the Master releases us into life with a mission. We ought to work and serve with diligence as long as our bodies and minds can endure. We should do this on a both a daily basis and a for a lifetime. We are told to “not grow weary while doing good,” (Galatians 6:9). So, we are to keep pressing on and doing good until the morning comes when we can rest. We will get tired, but it will be a good tired. Because it will come from doing good, and our loving Master will indeed be pleased. Paul wrote, “6 For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand. 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” (2 Timothy 4:6-7) I wonder if Paul ever thought to say or even think, “I tired.” He had served and suffered. He had fought and defended. He had stood when no one was there to stand with him, (2 Timothy 4:16). He had traveled thousands of miles to carry the gospel to those who were without Christ. He pressed on through imprisonment, stoning, and shipwreck. He fought! He finished! He kept! I would guess that in the end he was good’n tired. Ready for the death that he himself said was far better, (Philippians 1:23). He was ready for the day when the righteous Judge, with crown in hand, will say, “Well done!” Paul also told us that this was not for him only, (2 Timothy 4:8). I believe this to be true. For on the morning of this writing, I stood at the bedside of one of His faithful servants who was good’n tired. After a lifetime of vigorous service, she has grown tired. Spent, worn out, and fully exhausted, she but waits for her Master to gather her home that she might rest from her labors (Revelation 14:13), and hear Him say, “Well done!”

Truth to Donkeys & Elephants

Neal Thurman
31 Mar 2019

I recently heard of a situation in a sister congregation that I find quite alarming and little bit discouraging. The name and location of the congregation are not relevant for our purpose. I have no desire to disparage fellow laborers, it is the specific situation I wish to consider. With that stated, I was told that a colleague, a gospel preacher, found it necessary to avoid certain biblical issues in the pulpit because of the strong political divide that exist within their congregation. Perhaps, I should not be surprised because of how contentious the political environment has become, but I find this disappointing and disturbing. Just imagine filtering the words of Solomon, Paul, or especially Jesus our Lord, the Son of Almighty God, who died on the cross of Calvary for our sins, based on the political leanings of listeners. God forbid! I have no problem with the person who says the church should remain apolitical. I do not believe the church, as an entity, should be involved in political campaigns and our pulpits should never be used for political speeches or candidate endorsements. Furthermore, church leadership should not attempt to leverage the membership by seeking to control their individual, free-will votes. Yet, the Bible contains divine instructions and commandments about many issues that most definitely has an impact on political thinking and challenges Christians to choose between the principles of their Christianity and their political affiliations. Exodus 21:22-23 clearly states that God recognizes an unborn child as a life. Thus extinguishing that life is murder in the eyes of God. Marriage was established by God in Genesis 2:24, God made this relationship exclusive to one man and one woman. Altering this is a perversion of God’s will. Genesis 19, Leviticus 18, & Romans 1 show with all clarity what God’s view of homosexuality really is. These issues and many more could certainly stir political conversation. These conversation could obviously get pointed and for some folks they will become volatile. So, what is a preacher to do? “I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ...2 Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching...5 But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.” 2 Timothy 4:1-5 Paul said that he was “not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes,” (Romans 1:16). Paul preached the truth when he was praised for it and when it cost him his freedom. I believe Paul would have preached the truth to the donkeys and the elephants without pause. For he said, “For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ.” Galatians 1:10. Brethren, please do not develop itching ears based on political affiliation. And please, demand of every proclaimer of the gospel to preach the truth, the whole truth of God’s word. His soul, and maybe yours, depends on it!

Submitting to His Power

Neal Thurman
24 Mar 2019

Sometimes things do not go just as we had planned, and we find ourselves having to make changes on the fly. These changes sometimes call for abilities or resources that we do not have. Thus, we must find a way to use what is available to accomplish the task at hand. Last week, Tracy and I were finally able to take our complimentary day of sailing which was included with our lessons. Unexpectedly, the winds began to rise during the day and the waves also began increase in size. It was rather fun. This was all good until we needed to make our way back. Our progress in working against the now 18 to 20 knot winds and the 3 to 4 foot waves was pretty much stymied and our return time was approaching quickly. We were now learning why the novice is only suppose to sail in 12 knot winds or less. So, we decided to drop sails and motor back. The only problem was that we had never done this in strong winds. When we loosen tension on the head sail to roll it onto the furling rod, the sail whipped around wildly and wrapped sheets (ropes) around the furling rod in the wrong direction creating a big bubble in the sail that was thrashing against the mast. After several attempts to free it, we called the owner for advice. He said we had to get it on the furling to motor in (this was a big help). He gave a few instruction about turning into the wind, but these were not working. While Tracy drove the boat directly into the wind, I stood on the foredeck pulling as hard as I could on the tangled rope while the bow dipped slightly into each wave. I soon realized I was not going to be able to pull it free. The force of the wind was too strong. I then recognized I was going about this all wrong. I had Tracy drive the boat in a circle, and as the boat turn to the side the wind whipped the sail around the other direction so I could pull the rope slightly. The next time around with continual pressure the wind slung the sail and sheets free. We were able to furl the sail and head in. Our efforts were hopeless until we used the power of the wind. Saul of Tarsus was a man of zealous faith. He was strongly committed to following the law and being pleasing to God. Though he was actually persecuting the body of Jesus Christ (Acts 9:4), Saul had every intention of being a man of God. Yet, Jesus said to him, “It is hard for you to kick against the goads.” (Acts 9:5) Saul was finding struggles though his intention were good. Consider his words in Romans 7:24 “O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?” He sought justification by the law, but was finding nothing but recognition of his own sinfulness. This highly educated and strongly motivated man had to submit to the power of God’s mercy through the blood of His Son. For then this man could say, “This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief. 16 However, for this reason I obtained mercy…” (1 Timothy 1:15-16). As long as he tried to find righteousness in his own knowledge and understanding, he fell short. Yet, by yielding to the power of God, he was able to secure the crown of righteousness, (2 Timothy 4:8).

Starting At The Wrong Place

Neal Thurman
3 Mar 2019

The headline read, “United Methodist Delegates Reject Recognizing Gay Marriage.” This was an Associated Press article written by David Crary and Jim Salter. This article was certainly written with a strong bias of support toward homosexuality and same-sex marriage, but that should almost be expected when reading anything in the secular media, today. Yet, some factual matters can be gathered from them. The UMC was holding a major conference for determining beliefs and practices of the whole denomination. After much heated debate, the delegates voted 438 to 384 to maintain a ban on same-sex marriage and ordination of LGBT clergy. This was met with boisterous protests. Some carried a cross onto the stage and sat around it following the vote. A pastor from Macon, GA said he will not leave the denomination because in 2020 new delegates will be elected and he is hopeful they will change the course toward inclusion. Emotions ran high and grandiose statements were evidently plentiful. A female pastor from Detroit, MI stated, “As someone who left because I'm gay, I'm waiting for the church I love to stop bringing more hate.” Much speculation was raised as to how this might impact membership numbers. Many forecasted that vast numbers of individuals and a significant number of churches will defect from the denomination. One statement particularly caught my attention. This is a comment from that same pastor from Macon, GA. He said, “I am deeply sad. The Methodist church has always been mainstream, reaching out to people. This sends a different tone ... one of exclusion, not inclusion.” I really do not want to spend the space to explain the plentiful examples of biblical text that deal with homosexuality. I would rather focus on the discussion and the process. The whole idea of getting together and voting on what we believe and practice is extremely foreign to any biblical principles, but that is what they were doing. I certainly do not want to suggest that this article accurately portrays the viewpoint of all or most in attendance of this meeting, because it is definitely slanted. Yet, with that said, the discussion is all about how people will react to this vote or decision. Is it mainstream? There was exaggerated talk of how offensive and hurtful it would be to many. There was also talk of how the opposite vote would have caused confusion for members. This debate starts in the wrong place. The whole discussion is about how people were going to be affected and how they will respond and what denominational leaders should do. It seems that someone was left out completely. “...for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure,” (Philippians 2:13). Votes were taken, which called for human opinion. Speeches were given promoting human opinion. Protests were held to highlight the opinion of humans who held a differing opinion than the agreed upon human opinion. And now we are considering the opinions of those who are speculating on how others will act based on their opinions on the whole thing. In the end, we will have many zealous opinions on the matter. Paul wrote, “Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they may be saved. 2 For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. 3For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God.” Romans 10:1-3. When questions of righteousness arise, may I suggest that the opinion that matters is that of God, who established and will be judge of righteousness!

Roll The Gospel Chariot Along

Neal Thurman
24 Feb 2019

The trip to worship last Sunday morning took a interesting turn a little more than a mile from the house when a small dog walked right out in front of my car. I slammed on the brakes and honked the horn. The dog turned and walked toward the front of the car, simply ignoring the blaring horn. Tracy called for emergency flashers (her words) as she scrambled out of the car in the middle of the highway. She first tried to drive the dog to the curb and then picked it up and carried it to safety. After waving the traffic by, she returned to the car with the dog following close behind. So, she picked up the dog and got in the car. Before I could protest, she demanded, “Take me home. I’ll put him in the back yard.” I started to make a futile plea, but was cutoff by impassioned eyes and a shaky voice saying, “I can’t leave him out here to get killed!” I turned the car around. The dog was wet and muddy. Its coat was matted. It did not appear as though it had just escaped from a house or yard. All in all, it looked pretty rough, but at least things were going to get a little better. That afternoon, Tracy and Kaylah gave the dog a bath and tried to clean up its coat. I walked our dog during our guest’s bath time. And as I walked along, I began to hum the tune and then sing the words to an old children’s song: Roll the gospel chariot along. Roll the gospel chariot along...If a sinner’s in the way we will stop and pick him up. If a sinner’s in the we will stop and pick him up. And we won’t tag along behind… I really do not know what put that tune I my head. It has been at least since our last VBS that I have even heard it. Yet, maybe it was that old, filthy dog that we picked up off the street that set my mind to spinning. We all have pressing matters in life. Sometimes, we are so busy that we do no even notice what is going on around us. How many broken-down souls do we drive by most everyday? Yet, they do not get in our way, so we do not even notice them as we drive by. Yes, they are dirty and unkempt from a spiritual stand point. But don’t we have access to the cleansing agent that can make them as white as snow (Revelation 1:5; 1 Corinthians 6:11; Isaiah 1:18)? Yes, they have sin-sick souls that are dying. But don’t we know of the Great Physician who can cure all that ails them, even bringing them back to life (Matthew 9:12-13; Ephesians 2:4-7)? Yes, they are lost, homeless, and wandering about without proper direction. But don’t we have a Lord that calls them to follow (Matthew 16:24-26) and a Father that is willing to make His home with the obedient (John 14:23-24)? It would seem evident that our gospel chariot should be making more stops along the way. Because there are plenty who are lost and sick and dirty that need to be picked up!

Don't Let Them Face It Alone

Neal Thurman
17 Feb 2019

I believe we all accept the fact that life throws folks a nasty curveball from time to time. These occasions buckle the knees of their strength and overload their consciousness with uncertainty and doubt. In these time, folks need a little help. Just the other day, a sister in Christ from another area called me and explained that she and her little boy were stranded on the side of road with a flat tire. She sounded a bit frantic. I got her location and hurried off on the rescue mission. It was actually a bit exciting, but my excitement was tempered because she really sounded upset. When I arrived, I found that a fine East Texas gentleman had stopped and was in the process of mounting her temporary spare. So, I set my attention on my dear sister. She was still visibly upset. A few words into our conversation standing beside Hwy 69, she told me of a terrible situation that has shaken her whole life. The excitement of my rescue mission quickly turned to heartache. She still had hundreds of miles to go and a temporary spare was not suitable. Her tire was only a couple of weeks old and Tyler had a tire shop in the chain of which she had made her purchase. So, I led her back to Tyler for the repair. I sat down with her and her son at the tire shop. She thanked me over and over for coming to their aid. I explained it was no problem, in fact it was my privilege to serve my sister. She paused for a moment and then all of the pain and heartache came pouring out. She was so hurt and so discouraged, and she felt very much alone. Circumstances had jumped in the middle of her and were about to stomp the life out of her. I was disappointed to learn that local brethren were of no help because of another involved individual. Her eyes revealed her pain. This sweet, kind, and joyful person looked like a broken soul. I did not know what to say. I knew I could not impact her situation with any effectiveness. Yet, I figured out one thing I could do. I told her, “When this all come to bear, if any way possible, Tracy and I will be there to support you.” With the determined scrutiny wounded soul, she seemed to stare into my very soul and asked, “You would really do that?” “Absolutely. No one should ever have to face something like this alone,” I replied. The first unforced smile of the day appeared on her face. Beloved brethren, our spiritual family members should never have to face heartache and suffering alone. Paul tells us to, “Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ,” (Galatians 6:2). We may not be able to fix their problems or take away their pain, but in the name of Jesus Christ we can stand close by and hold their hands as they endure or battle through life’s challenges. Our Lord and Savior went to the cross all alone, forsaken even by the Father (Matthew 27:46), so that no one would ever have to be alone again. Because of Him, we can boldly reach out to the Father (Hebrews 4:16). Through His sacrifice, the Father will never forsake us, (Hebrews 13:5-6). Additionally, we are His workmanship, created for good works (Ephesians 2:10). This makes us a part of His constant presence. Thus, no brother or sister should ever need to lament as Paul did, “At my first defense no one stood with me, but all forsook me,” (2 Timothy 4:16). Remember that Jesus said, “... as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me,” (Matthew 25:40). Wouldn’t we all like to offer our presence to Jesus?

Shall We Profit from Wickedness

Neal Thurman
10 Feb 2019

The state of our society and culture are quite troubling to me. It seems as though the ideas of conviction and uprightness have faded into the annuls of history. Sadly, rightness has become determined by whether one supports or rejects my personal agenda. One’s actions must be right if he is on my side. Yet, Isaiah 5:20: Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; Who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! Today, we see this all about. An opponent steps out of line and there is a rush to brand him as an “IST” of one sort or another. While my colleague’s evil doing is nothing more than an unfortunate mistake or a misunderstanding. Thus, the question rises. “Shall we profit or benefit from wickedness done against an adversary?” Consider what a Bible hero would teach us in scripture. Much confusion existed in Israel following the death of King Saul. In 2 Samuel 2, David is anointed King of Judah, but Abner anoints Ishbosheth, son of Saul, as King of Israel. The two then become embroiled in war. Two brothers, Baanah and Rechab, murdered Ishosheth while he slept and brought his head to David saying, ““Here is the head of Ishbosheth, the son of Saul your enemy, who sought your life; and the Lord has avenged my lord the king this day of Saul and his descendants.” 2 Samuel 4:8 Pay close attention to David’s response. 2 Samuel 4:10-12 “10 when someone told me, saying, ‘Look, Saul is dead,’ thinking to have brought good news, I arrested him and had him executed in Ziklag… 11 How much more, when wicked men have killed a righteous person in his own house on his bed? Therefore, shall I not now require his blood at your hand...?” 12So David commanded his young men, and they executed them, cut off their hands and feet, and hanged them by the pool in Hebron.” David refused to celebrate wickedness, even when the wicked deed advanced his standing and opportunity to be king over all Israel. David trusted that God would bring His anointed to the throne of His people. David knew that God did not need the evil deeds of men to bring about His purpose. David treated these evil doers as evil doers. What about you and me? Will we celebrate, even embrace, wickedness against an adversary or opponent? Will we reward those who do evil that furthers our cause? If we do or will, we will not be acting very much like a man after God’s own heart, (1 Samuel 13:14).

Relationship With The Scriptures

Neal Thurman
27 Jan 2019

Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 2 Timothy 2:15 Paul instructed diligent and careful when it came to interacting with the holy scriptures. Paul tells his son in the faith that he should be “rightly dividing” (NKJV), “rightly handling” (ESV), “handling aright” (ASV) these God-breathed writings. If Timothy needed to be diligent in properly handling the scripture, this would mean that the scriptures can be handled wrongly or improperly. Such action would make one a worker that should be ashamed. Hopefully, this strongly encourages you and I to be circumspect when we enter God’s holy word. We should cautiously consider the manner in which we go about studying the Bible. Of course, this begins with the assumption that Christians do study God’s word. The diligence stated in the text requires a regular, even committed effort to seek scriptural truth. Sadly, many fall frighteningly short of even this beginning point. Yet, with this understanding recognized, how do we approach studying the God’s holy word? Many read the Bible like a novel or a newspaper. They get enjoyment from the exciting and heartwarming stories. They get historical facts about people and cultures that are far different from their own. These are self-satisfied because they regularly read the Bible. Other’s search the scriptures for personal confirmation. These seek to find particular scriptures that either support what it is that they believe or builds a counter argument against those with whom they disagree. These are like a scientist who continues to formulate new testing until he finds the result that supports his personal pre-validated theory. This is obviously a dangerous game to play with the truth when lives or souls are at stake. This approach seeks validation rather than truth. Thus, the mind is clouded with so much preconceived conclusion that it will miss truth when it is revealed. By contrast, faithful students are led and enlightened by the scriptures (Psalm 119:105). These not only read words, they meditate on the ways God taught in His word (Psalm 119:15,23,48,148; Philippians 4:8). The faithful do not see the Bible as a group of stories, but a map or pattern toward righteousness (Philippians 3:17). These view the scriptures as instructions for saving one’s soul (Romans 1:16, James 1:21-25). May we all be children of God who handle aright His word that we might have a home with Him in heaven!

Mercy vs Doctrine

Neal Thurman
20 Jan 2019

The church recently received a letter that was neither personally nor specifically addressed. It was a photocopy of a handwritten letter that I have assumed was mailed to a significant number of congregations of churches of Christ. The author asserts that he had been a member of the church for over twenty years. It is unclear if he currently considered himself such. Yet, in his letter, he scorned the church for being without mercy and thus needing to repent. He derided the churches of Christ for holding to a narrow standard when it comes to water baptism. He states that the church is without mercy for not recognizing and accepting the baptisms of those of various faiths as valid based upon the teaching they received, their understanding of the act, or the mode or means of the baptism. He basically states that a baptism that is an effort to obey a command within a Christian faith should be recognized as valid because of mercy. He states this, along with issues of modesty, divorce and remarriage, and pressing for doctrinal correctness, as the spirit of the Pharisees. The author uses a good number of scriptures by means of supporting his charges, especially Matthew 25:31-46. The letter could have easily been cast aside without consideration. It was not addressed to our congregation, her eldership, or even myself. Yet, I chose to read and consider the accusations. I will not belabor the reader with the various scriptures I reviewed or give a blow by blow retort to the written rebuke. I will only share a few observations. First, using mercy as the reasoning for setting aside God’s teachings and doctrine is not a biblically supported premise. I cannot find a passage of scripture that suggests that wrongdoing or error should be embraced in the warm arms of mercy. Jesus likens the one who hears his sayings and does not do them to a “foolish man” (Matthew 7:26). Even in showing great mercy to a sinner in John 8:11, Jesus said, “...go and sin no more.” This would imply that a standard existed that Jesus demanded kept by a forgiven sinner. Paul exhorted Timothy to preach the word even though some would not endure it, (2 Timothy 4:2-4). John wrote of rejecting one who did not come with the doctrine of Christ referring to such as transgression (2 John 9-11). And of course, Jesus said the pathway to life is found through the narrow gate (Matthew 7:13:14). Second, it is true that we must be careful to not create doctrinal requirement where God has not. It is also true that Christians have been guilty of doing so from time to time. Yet, these truths do not weaken the obligation to keep what God has commanded. Remember that Jesus said to the Pharisees who gave great emphasis to doctrinal strictness while neglecting the weightier matters, “These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone,” (Matthew 23:23). Jesus did not, in any way, deride efforts toward correctness in the law. He rebuked them for a failure to apply the spirit of the law. Mercy is the reverse-side of grace, but neither of these godly characteristics should be heralded as the motivation for setting aside or dismissing obedience to God’s holy word. May we always seek to please God on His terms!

What Does the World Have More of Because of Me?

Neal Thurman
13 Jan 2019

What do I bring into the world? What do I supply for my community? What do I share with my family and the church? These questions and more deserve honest answers that arise from thoughtful consideration. We each ought to seek real understanding about what we add to the world. We need to go beyond the thinking that I must be doing okay because I usually get the promotions at work and I make a lot of money. Financial achievement does not determine a quality contribution to society. Making good grades does not guarantee an effective impact on the community. We must choose what we will add to the world. We also need to recognize that the world has plenty of some things and far too much of others. The world is well supplied with griping, complaining, and murmuring. Perhaps this is why the Apostle Paul instructed Christians to abstain from adding more as they worked and served and lived in this crooked and perverse world (Philippians 2:14-16). Our society certainly has more than enough materialism. It leads to greed which is an unquenchable monster. Enough is never enough. The greed always wants a bit more. This causes them to take advantage of others and according to Paul, bring many sorrows into their lives. “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil” (1 Timothy 6:10). Our world has far too much selfishness and self-centeredness. It is a terrible disorder that has risen to epidemic proportions. There are those, even in the church, who are so set on promoting self that they inappropriately interject themselves and disrupt the special moments of friends and family so the attention can be focused on them. Perhaps saddest of all is the way that many parents, even in the church, promote such behavior among their children by regularly assuring the children that they should always get their way. Yet, Jesus clearly states that greatness is in service to others and self-sacrifice (Matthew 20:26, John 15:13). Please understand that selfishness is pretty much the opposite of being loving (John 10:17-18). Unfortunately, our culture has been overwhelmingly flooded with hate. Those with selfish agendas have become merchants of hate. People have been stirred to hate on the basis of ethnicity, financial or social status, and political standing. This has resulted in a community that wanders about angry, wounded, and distrustful. This has not place in the Christian heart (Mathew 5:44). Our world, on the other hand, has a great lack of compassion, kindness, humility, and love. These things do not promote self. They do not make anyone rich. They do not even guarantee one getting ahead in the this life. Yet, they each and all make the world a better place for all. These are the things that Jesus brought into the world. So what does the world have more of because of me?

It Works Both Ways

Neal Thurman
6 Jan 2019

With some regularity, we remind our children, young Christians, and even one another that we do not live in a vacuum and everything we do affects someone else. We particularly speak of the impact one’s actions can have on the image of the church or on a family. These things are emphasized for good reason. It is true that the bad behavior of one person can undo the good, even righteous, efforts of fellow Christians or family members. Yet, I would like to submit to everyone that this works both ways. The good works of the individual can also have a positive effect on others. It may be a little more challenging, but it happens none the less. Case in point: I was walking the dog Monday when I crossed paths with a neighbor and his little girl on her new scooter with light-up wheels. I said, “Wow, that looks like fun,” to the little girl and gave a courtesy wave to the father. I really had no attention of stopping to chat. I really do not know them. They are kind of new to the neighborhood. To my surprise, the man stopped, turned to me and said, “I really appreciate the loaf of bread your wife brought by the other day. It was delicious and that was very nice of ya’ll to think of the rest of us on the street.” I responded with another wave and said, “Glad to do it.” The only thing was I did not do it. I did not buy the ingredients. I did not mix the dough. I did not bake the loaves. I did not even help deliver the treats this year. My dear wife made and executed the plan of taking loaves of pumpkin bread to the homes on our street. I really did not have anything to do with it. Still, our neighbor said that was nice of US. The wife’s kindness and thoughtfulness had shined a bit of light on the whole family. I would suggest this is an even better motive for righteous living than the fear of doing harm. The good that we do will cause people in the world to think better of those we love both in our physical and our spiritual families. Paul, on a number of occasions, called for brethren to receive, comfort, or support workers of the Lord that he had sent to them, Phoebe (Romans 16:1-2), Mark (Colossians 4:10), and Tychicus (Galatians 6:21-22). Paul was using the brethren’s impression of his life as credibility for these fellow laborer. Let each of us strive to do good, not only for ourselves, but also for furthering the cause of our Lord and our brethren!