Bulletin Articles - 2024
“How Much Are We Worth To God?”
- David Westbrook
- 31 Mar 2024
King David knew that his son Solomon had been appointed the task of building the temple. He did everything he could to help Solomon before he passed away.1 Chronicles 22:14Indeed, I have taken much trouble to prepare for the house of the Lord one hundred thousand talents of gold and one million talents of silver, and bronze and iron beyond measure, for it is so abundant. I have prepared timber and stone also, and you may add to them.I did not figure up the worth of everything that king David mentioned, but I did investigate the gold. A “talent” is an ancient measurement of weight, that is said to have been around 70 pounds. According to the internet, 70 pounds of gold would be worth $2,092,660 on today’s market. David gave 100,000 talents. On today’s market this would be 2.09266e11. I have no idea how much that is, except to say, it is in the billions (ask Sam Dooley for correct answer).Here is my point.The temple Solomon built, with all its wealth and stature, is gone. Never to return. Another temple stands today that no dollar sign known to man can measure. Its true wealth exceeds man’s imagination, because it was not built by man’s imagination.1 Peter 2:4, 5Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious, you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.As God’s people, we are the “living stones” of the temple. The temple that Solomon built can not match our beauty and worth.1 Peter 1:18, 19Knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.So, how much are we worth to God? Brothers and sisters, the King didn’t just empty His treasury for us, He gave the most precious thing He had.John 3:16For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
“The God Of Our Own Image”
- David Westbrook
- 24 Mar 2024
A preacher once made the following statement, “Hell is not a place that God sends people to that He’s mad at. Hell is the place where people choose to pay their own bill.” Many of our brethren think this way, because they do not like the idea of God being a consuming fire, or even being angry. If we make God out to be what we want Him to be, instead of who He actually is, what have we made Him? An Idol! God is no longer shaping us into what He wants us to be, we are shaping God into what we want Him to be. This is not the transformation God is Looking for in His children.Let us be careful what we post, like, and share, on the internet. When someone is attempting to make a Biblical statement using Scripture, we need to read it carefully before doing anything with it. Let us not be deceived by the idol makers of our age. And there are plenty of them! The true transformation in the minds of God’s children only comes when we understand the fullness, the depth, the complexity, and the transcendence of the one true God of the Bible.Ephesians 5:5-7For this you know, that no fornicator, unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore, do not be partakers with them.
“Why Some Grow Stronger”
- David Westbrook
- 17 Mar 2024
Christians who have suffered much seem to go in one of two directions. They either become bitter and lose their faith in God, or their faith grows and they become increasingly thankful and dependent on God.The first group we see quite often. It isn’t hard to understand why people go the direction they do. Hardships and trials can pull the best of people down. The other group, however, grabs our attention. As I work my way through the book of Job, I am increasingly amazed at how someone who endured what he did kept his integrity. If I had to endure even a quarter of what he did, I am afraid it would have broken my spirit severely.What is it about people like Job, that their faith not only survives but thrives under these circumstances? This has been discussed many times in our Tuesday night class on the book of Job. My conclusion is this, these people made a choice. Their choice was/is to focus on God and His blessings. They have disciplined themselves to give thanks to God for how He has helped them through every trial. As a result, they see God’s hand at work in their lives more and more with every trial.I would say that this is a good example for all of us to follow. Let us discipline ourselves in every trial and think about God’s blessings in our lives. “Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever. Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, Whom He has redeemed from the hand of the enemy” (Psalm 107:1, 2).
“How Many Ways to Heaven”
- Frank Dunn
- 10 Mar 2024
Heaven must be a wonderful place, where there will be no tears, no pain, no more death; no sorrow (Rev.21:4). Surely everyone who believes in heaven wants to go there. But we hear people say, “It doesn’t matter what you believe, we’re all going to the same place. Strange as it may seem, we are all going to the same place. We are all on our way to meet God in the Judgement! “It is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgement” (Heb.9:25). The most important question is: How can I prepare to meet Him, so that God will say to me, “Come, ye blessed, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world” (Matthew 25:34).Men say there are many ways to heaven, let each person choose his own way. Jesus taught there is only one way—His way—the way of faith and obedience. “No one cometh to the Father but by me” (John 4:6). “There is one body (His church), one Spirit, one hope, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all” (Ephesians 4:4-6). Christ is the “Author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey Him” (Hebrews 5:9). Jesus said, “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved” (Mark 16:16), also “Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life”. (Rev. 2:10).All who continue to live in faithful obedience to the word of Christ will be saved.
“A Shortage of Preachers”
- David Westbrook
- 3 Mar 2024
Many have asked me over the years, “why do we have a shortage of preachers in the church, when our preaching schools are graduating students every year?” I have answered that question in different ways depending on the mood that I, and the person I was talking to, were in at the time. Sometimes I would mention the abuse that many preachers experience from low pay, impossible congregational expectations, unjust and unreasonable criticism. Because of this, many leave the ministry over a broken heart. Other times I have mentioned the success syndrome. I remember a song that Waylon and Willie put out called, “Mammas don’t let your babies grow up to be cowboys.” It would Suprise you how many parents don’t want their children to grow up to be preachers. There is no money in it. All parents want their children to grow up to be successful. That leads me to believe that people spell success in different ways. How do you spell it? “Success” or “$ucce$$”The above statements, no preacher would deny are true. But there are a few things that men are taught when they enter this profession that seem to quickly be forgotten when the going gets rough. (And it will get rough)!2 Timothy 4:5But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.Colossians 4:17And say to Archippus, “Take heed to the ministry which you have received in the Lord, that you may fulfill it.Acts 6:4but we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word.”Another reason that I have mentioned, and is truer today than ever, is laziness. Young men today, simply are not willing to do the work. They are not willing to sacrifice the hours that it takes to do the job. I know what most people think, “preachers only work one day a week.” From their perspective, “all preachers are lazy and over paid.” When I hear people make those kinds of comments, that’s when I want to quit! Let me put this into a perspective that I think all will understand.1. The average sermon contains 5, 000 words. (Note that I said average).2. Most preachers deliver at least 90 sermons per year.3. This is a total of 450,000 words per year.Now, let’s do some comparisons. The average full-length novel contains 50,000 words. That means that a preacher who is doing his job, produces nine full-length novels every year. In 20 years, a preacher produces the equivalent of 180 full-length novels. In 50 years (if he last that long) he would have written 450 full-length novels.(Please note: these are pulpit sermons only! The number of books produced in classroom preparation, would astonish you)!How many professional writers do you suppose could produce nine full novels each year, using the same basic theme, without sinking to the depths of repetition and boredom? If you can do it, I would like for you to think for a moment about the hours of study, research, and preparation that it takes to pull off a stunt like that. Now, hopefully, all can understand what I mean when I say, “preachers are lazy today.”The following is from Moses E. Lard.“No other calling pursued by man imposes burdens more numerous, nor burdens so weighty. No responsibilities are so heavy as those of the preacher; and where else can duties be found of a nature so delicate, and requiring in their performance so much skill?”Now you know why the church of Christ has a shortage of preachers.
“Our Part In An Unfinished History”
- David Westbrook
- 25 Feb 2024
Acts 28:30, 31Then Paul dwelt two whole years in his own rented house, and received all who came to him, preaching the kingdom of God and teaching the things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ with all confidence, no one forbidding him.This is how the book of Acts ends. It ends with a lot of unfinished history. What happened to Paul? Is he released from prison? Does he die in prison? Why didn’t Luke write the complete history and tell us how it all ends? Probably because he did not know. Most likely Luke sent this letter out before he knew how it would all end.Ultimately, it does not really matter what happened to Paul, because the history given to mankind in the book of Acts is not about Paul. It is about Jesus Christ and the spreading of the gospel. What is important concerning Paul is that he was in Rome, the capital city of the Roman empire, and he was free to proclaim the Kingdom of God and teach the gospel of Christ without hindrance.That’s what the book of Acts is all about. Nothing can stop the spreading of the gospel of Christ, not sorcerers, not prison, not beatings, not stoning, not shipwreck, not poisonous snakes. NOTHING!Since this is what the book of Acts is all about, then you and I are definitely a part of this history. If nothing could stop the spreading of the gospel then, nothing can stop it now. May God bless our efforts that the gospel will continue to be spread today, as it has for the last 2,000 years.
“A Shortage of Preachers”
- David Westbrook
- 18 Feb 2024
Many have asked me over the years, “why do we have a shortage of preachers in the church, when our preaching schools are graduating students every year?” I have answered that question in different ways depending on the mood that I, and the person I was talking to, were in at the time. Sometimes I would mention the abuse that many preachers experience from low pay, impossible congregational expectations, unjust and unreasonable criticism. Because of this, many leave the ministry over a broken heart. Other times I have mentioned the success syndrome. I remember a song that Waylon and Willie put out called, “Mammas don’t let your babies grow up to be cowboys.” It would Suprise you how many parents don’t want their children to grow up to be preachers. There is no money in it. All parents want their children to grow up to be successful. That leads me to believe that people spell success in different ways. How do you spell it? “Success” or “$ucce$$”The above statements, no preacher would deny are true. But there are a few things that men are taught when they enter this profession that seem to quickly be forgotten when the going gets rough. (And it will get rough)!2 Timothy 4:5But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.Colossians 4:17And say to Archippus, “Take heed to the ministry which you have received in the Lord, that you may fulfill it.Acts 6:4but we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word.”Another reason that I have mentioned, and is truer today than ever, is laziness. Young men today, simply are not willing to do the work. They are not willing to sacrifice the hours that it takes to do the job. I know what most people think, “preachers only work one day a week.” From their perspective, “all preachers are lazy and over paid.” When I hear people make those kinds of comments, that’s when I want to quit! Let me put this into a perspective that I think all will understand.1. The average sermon contains 5, 000 words. (Note that I said average).2. Most preachers deliver at least 90 sermons per year.3. This is a total of 450,000 words per year.Now, let’s do some comparisons. The average full-length novel contains 50,000 words. That means that a preacher who is doing his job, produces nine full-length novels every year. In 20 years, a preacher produces the equivalent of 180 full-length novels. In 50 years (if he last that long) he would have written 450 full-length novels.(Please note: these are pulpit sermons only! The number of books produced in classroom preparation, would astonish you)!How many professional writers do you suppose could produce nine full novels each year, using the same basic theme, without sinking to the depths of repetition and boredom? If you can do it, I would like for you to think for a moment about the hours of study, research, and preparation that it takes to pull off a stunt like that. Now, hopefully, all can understand what I mean when I say, “preachers are lazy today.”The following is from Moses E. Lard.“No other calling pursued by man imposes burdens more numerous, nor burdens so weighty. No responsibilities are so heavy as those of the preacher; and where else can duties be found of a nature so delicate, and requiring in their performance so much skill?”Now you know why the church of Christ has a shortage of preachers.
“Peace And Truth Come At A Cost”
- David Westbrook
- 11 Feb 2024
Hezekiah was one of the greatest kings in Judah; or so I used to think. Maybe I should say, he was one of the better kings in Judah. Hezekiah seems like a good and godly person. So, why would he make such a selfish statement as he did to the prophet Isaiah?Isaiah 39:5-8Then Isaiah said to Hezekiah, “Hear the word of the Lord of hosts: ‘Behold, the days are coming when all that is in your house, and what your fathers have accumulated until this day, shall be carried to Babylon; nothing shall be left,’ says the Lord. ‘And they shall take away some of your sons who will descend from you, whom you will beget; and they shall be eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon”. So, Hezekiah said to Isaiah, “The word of the Lord which you have spoken is good!” For he said, “At least there will be peace and truth in my days.” How could such a man as Hezekiah make a statement like that?As I thought about these things it occurred to me, maybe I shouldn’t be shocked over this. Maybe statements like this are more common in our day than in Hezekiah’s. How many good and godly preachers in our day, see the signs of liberalism growing in their own congregations and say, “at least their will be peace and truth in my days?” And not just preachers. We all have heard people say things in a Bible class that show a complete misunderstanding of God’s word, and we say, “at least their will be peace and truth in my days,” without any concern for future generations.I can’t speak for every Christian in every congregation, but I can speak for every preacher. From our standpoint, we know that if we confront these issues either privately or publicly, we run a high chance of being asked to leave. Perhaps this is true for the Christian sitting in the pew of any given congregation as well. They simply do not want trouble. So, they say to themselves, “at least there will be peace and truth in my days.”Every Christian in every congregation around the globe is faced with the same decision. At some point we must all decide whether God’s glory is worth more than our peace. We must decide whether truth will triumph over our comfort. Surely, our eternal reward in heaven is worth whatever injuries we suffer for it in this life.
“Three Great Rules For Life”
- David Westbrook
- 4 Feb 2024
If you think about it, all of man’s actions are governed by rules of behavior. These rules, determine how we act under certain conditions. These rules can be categorized.A. Iron Rule: "Might makes right."B. Silver Rule: "Do no evil to others."C. Golden Rule: As explained by Christ, “And just as you want men to do to you, you also do to them likewise” (Luke 6:31).A very good illustration of these can be seen in the "The parable of The Good Samaritan." The parable is given, in answer to a certain lawyer who asked "Who is my neighbor?"IRON RULEThe "Iron Rule" is seen in the thieves, “A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, who stripped him of his clothing, wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead” (Luke 10:30) There attitude could be stated this way, “I want that; this is mine; I’m going to take it!” It is also called “The lust of want!” Or, as Paul would put it, “For the love of money is the root of all evil” (1 Timothy 6:10).SILVER RULEThe "Silver Rule" is seen in the priest and Levite. “Now by chance a certain priest came down that road. And when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. Likewise, a Levite, when he arrived at the place, came, and looked, and passed by on the other side” (Luke 10:31, 32). Neither one of them was responsible for the man’s plight. Neither one did him any harm. What they did, was mind their own business. They didn’t want to get involved, so they left him there and did nothing. Jesus spoke about those who live by the "Silver Rule," as He taught about the division of the "Sheep & Goats" on Judgement Day. “Then He will also say to those on the left hand, 'Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels: for I was hungry and you gave Me no food; I was thirsty and you gave Me no drink; I was a stranger and you did not take Me in, naked and you did not clothe Me, sick and in prison and you did not visit Me” (Matthew 25:41-43).THE GOLDEN RULEThe "Golden Rule" is seen in the actions of the Samaritan. “But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was. And when he saw him, he had compassion. So, he went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine; and he set him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. On the next day, when he departed, he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said to him, 'Take care of him; and whatever more you spend, when I come again, I will repay you” (Luke 10:33-35). The Samaritans were a half bloodRace, hated by the Jews. The last person the priest and a Levite expected to stop and help, a Jew.What the Samaritan had that they lacked, was pure and genuine love. Paul wrote of this "Love" in Romans 12:10 “Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another.”Jesus ended His parable with a charge, "Go and do likewise" (Luke 10:37). That charge holds true to this day. Jesus didn’t merely speak a parable, He put the parable into action. “How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him” (Acts 10:38) You and I should not feel that any service to others, is below us. Let us strive always to live by the "The Golden Rule."
“Being Mentally Strong”
- David Westbrook
- 28 Jan 2024
At times the anxieties of this world can be overwhelming and if we are not careful, they will consume us. The ace card for the devil is his ability to influence our minds and cause us to feel defeated and disheartened so that we will simply give up on Christianity. This is why Solomon wrote, "Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life" (Proverb 4:23). Every Christian must learn how to keep his mind out of the hands of the devil. We must develop mental strength necessary to keep from allowing him to influence our minds for evil. Here are a few ways to do that.Trust God! The key to being mentally strong is to realize that our strength does not come from within us; it comes from God. David wrote, "The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; in whom I will trust… " (Psalm 18:2). Paul prayed that the Colossian and Ephesian brethren would be strengthened by the Father (Ephesians 3:16; Colossians 1:9-11). That needs to be our request daily. God has promised that He will never leave or forsake us (Hebrews 13:5) no matter what happens. Put your faith in God and trust that He will take care of you.Win over worry! One study said that Americans consume over 16 tons of aspirin every year because of stress and stress related health issues. We do ourselves a great disservice whenever we stress ourselves out by worrying about things that either do not matter or are beyond our ability to control. The mentally strong Christian is one who does not worry about things that he or she cannot control. Sickness, financial emergencies or how people treat us are things we have very little control over. The Apostle Paul wrote, "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your request be made known to God" (Philippians 4:6). Trust God, live faithfully, and let Him do the rest.Develop a sense of motivation. We should never fall into the trap of waiting around on everyone else to do what they are going to do so that we can do whatever it is that we need to do. The person who has the ability to kick himself into action, regardless of what everyone else is doing, is a person who has real mental strength. Paul mentioned his self-motivation in Philippians 3:14 when he wrote, "I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus." People will let you down and not everyone will be on board with doing what is right. While that breaks our heart, it cannot discourage us from doing what we know needs to be done.Develop self-control. Having control over oneself is vital to true mental strength. The fact is that we cannot control anyone other than ourselves-our thoughts, behavior, words, etc. Mistakes happen, situations spiral out of control, and people hurt us. The mentally strong Christian realizes that all these things are a part of living, and they do not allow themselves to give in and give up. God wants self-control to be a part of our Christian arsenal (2 Peter 1:6). He does not want us to lash out in anger or give ourselves over to the desires of the flesh (Ephesians 2:3). His will for us is that we bring ourselves under His control, and we do not allow our weaknesses to get the best of us during difficult times.Endure hardships patiently. Every faithful Christian knows that hardship is a reality of life. Paul promised that all faithful followers of Christ will suffer (2 Timothy 3:12). The mentally strong Christian understands this, and he endures hardship patiently (1 Peter 2:19-23). It is easy to give up when the battle is at its hottest. But, we must calmly and patiently endure reproach, just as our Savior did. In so doing we have the confidence that our God will see us through and will avenge our suffering (2 Thessalonians 1:7-9).
“Why Was The Bible Written?”
- David Westbrook
- 21 Jan 2024
That's an honest question. Though, there is no one single answer to the question, the Bible testifies of itself, as to why it was written and given to man. "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. I have sworn and confirmed that I will keep Your righteous judgments" (Psalm 119:105, 106). Obviously, it was written to bring light unto man. When you think of light, think of knowledge. "How that by revelation He made known to me the mystery (as I have briefly written already, by which, when you read, you may understand my knowledge of the mystery of Christ), which in other ages was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to His holy apostles and prophets" (Ephesians 3:3-5). When you think of revelation, think of that which has been revealed. What does the Bible reveal to man? Let's look at some things.First, the Bible reveals things to us about God. "For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse" (Romans 1:20). Compare that thought with the following Psalm, "The heavens declare the glory of God; And the firmament shows His handiwork" (Psalm 19:1). Now, consider the world that you and I live in. Did it all come about by chance or is there intelligent design behind it all?Speaking of nature, the Bible also reveals the nature of God. We can begin that thought with a simple verse. "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life" (John 3:16). Many things about God are revealed in that one verse. It reveals to us God's holiness, faithfulness, truthfulness, and power.Because these traits belong to God, He has revealed some things about man, that he needs to know about himself. "So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them" (Genesis 1:27). Now, let's couple that thought with the following from the New Testament. "For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?" (Matthew 16:26). Man is not like an animal. He doesn’t survive only on instinct. Man has intellect, he has emotions, he has self-will, and he has a soul. Because of that, God has revealed through His word things that man must know. Since man is self-willed, having the ability to make decisions for himself, man is free to reject any and all information that has been revealed. But that does not change the nature of God. He must, by His very nature, reveal to man what sin is.As we consider sin, we should understand that man has no way of knowing what sin is on his own. "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!" (Isaiah 5:20). God has clearly revealed what sin is. He has also revealed its consequences. "But your iniquities have separated you from your God; And your sins have hidden His face from you, So that He will not hear" (Isaiah 59:2). "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 6:23). God is just. He revealed to man, through His word, who his savior is. "But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, for the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that He, by the grace of God, might taste death for everyone" (Hebrews 2:9).God has revealed His saving grace to us through His word. I leave you with one final pleading from the Apostle Paul. "We then, as workers together with Him also plead with you not to receive the grace of God in vain. 2 For He says: “In an acceptable time I have heard you, And in the day of salvation I have helped you.”Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation" (2 Corinthians 6:1, 2).
“What Does The Lord Require Of You?”
- David Westbrook
- 14 Jan 2024
The question, “What does the Lord require of you” is ancient. It is also just as vital today as when it was first asked. What we find is that the Lord requires the same things from His children today as He did in the long ago. Where we get into a problem is when we confuse the question. The question is not “what do other people require of us,” or “what do we require of ourselves.” Most of the time, that is vastly different than what God requires.Deuteronomy 10:12“And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God require of you, but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all His ways and to love Him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul,As can be easily seen, this verse of Scripture outlines itself.When we think of “fear” we should be thinking of solemnity, awe, adoration, and honor. Many today have no reverence for God at all. They go out of their way to find opportunities to mock and ridicule Him.To “walk in all His ways” means to obey Him completely without any addition or subtraction from His divine will. Obedience to God is not simply promising to do it. This fact is demonstrated in Israel’s actions concerning JerichoHebrews 11:30By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they were encircled for seven days.The requirement to “love Him” is not simply putting a bumper sticker on the car that says, “I Heart Jesus!” It involves obedience – John 14:15, loving His children – 1 John 4:20, 21, enduring temptation – James 1:12, caring for the less fortunate – 1 John 3:17, not loving the world – 1 John 2:15-17.To “serve the Lord your God” means to place oneself into voluntary servitude. To surrender everything to God in complete reliance upon Him.“What does the Lord require of you?” Quite a bit! But it isn’t any more than God has ever required from any of His children. When we consider what the Lord has done for us, He really isn’t asking that much.
“The Loss Of A Good Woman”
- David Westbrook
- 7 Jan 2024
Christian women from the 1940s were not taught that to be successful or significant in this world, they needed to get a degree, or hold same high position. Women of the body of Christ that were raised back then were taught something completely different. They were taught to give. To dedicate their lives to being godly wives and mothers. Those women did not look for handouts. They found ways to give the handouts. “Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you” (Luke 6:38).Many of these women are approaching the end of their lives upon this earth. Some have already moved on. I believe this is a great loss for the Church of Christ. Who will take their place? Who will teach these attributes to the young woman of today?To all who have known, loved, and lost someone special to you, I give you the following poem.“The angels gathered near your bed, so very close to you for they knew your pain and suffering, what you were going through. I thought about so many things as I held your hand. Oh how I wished that you were strong and happy once again. But your eyes were looking homeward to the place beyond the sky, where Jesus held His outreached arms; it was time to say good-by. I struggled with my selfish thoughts for I wanted you to stay, so we could walk again; like we did just yesterday. But Jesus knew the answer and I knew He loved you so. I gave to you the greatest gift I could possibly give; the gift of letting go. Now my heart will carry memories of the love you gave to me, until we meet again in heaven; where the best is yet to be”C. Johnson