[Biblemat] Who am I that I should? Finding my place ...

Sat Apr 14 15:25:57 CDT 2007

Jerry Blount to the list

Do you recall the hype surrounding the so called tomb of Jesus of late?
This discovery channel film was obviously a sham.  One good thing has come
of it. Public scrutiny, phony "scholarly" attack of  scripture on flaky
grounds to beat a hasty, undignified retreat!  A follow-up investigation has
been conducted by non other that the Jerusalem Post!  Even the scholars
interviewed for the movie are crying foul. and running for cover.  Want of
see a follow-up review of  the phony conclusions in this movie?  

Follow this link to   "Jesus tomb film scholars backtrack" 

http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1176152766396
<http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1176152766396&pagename=JPost/JPA
rticle/ShowFull> &pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull

Remember that the first person in history to discard their faith in God?
Yes, it was Eve.  She had Satan there swearing up and down that God had lied
in what He had revealed to her.  Rather than evaluate the character and
quality of the witness against her Creator. She just tossed her faith away.
We should learn from our heritage! 

Today's article is what I would call enjoyable. 

Jerry Blount

Pleasant Valley church of Christ

3317 Amidon rd. 

Wichita Kansas, 67204

3163204321

WWW.letJesusleadus.org

Who am I that I should.

Finding my place in the church

It is interesting to notice the differences in the reactions of folks as
they try to find their way in life and more importantly, in the church.
Sometimes our attitude is the one above, (expressed by Moses (Exodus 3:11)),
David (II Samuel 7:18), and Solomon (II Chronicles 2:6).    Sometimes our
attitude is "here am I, Send me!" (Isaiah 6:8).  

Just as interesting are the reactions of those already in the church. On the
one hand, when the "desirable" ones come in, they are flocked to and
embraced.  On the other hand, when those "less appealing" come, we are a
little more reserved.  Jesus' brother, James commented thusly in his epistle
to the church.  

"My brethren, have not the faith or our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of
Glory, with respect to persons.  For if there come unto your assemble a man
with a gold ring, in goodly apparel, and there come in also a poor man in
vile raiment . . ."  James 2:1-2  I guess we need to define less appealing
right?  

"But now are they many members, yet but one body.  And the eye cannot say
unto the hand, I have no need of thee: Nor again the head to the feet, I
have no need of you.  Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem
to be more feeble, are necessary."  I Corinthians 12:20-22)

Isn't it fascinating to consider that the Bible was written to real people
with passions like yours?  Their reactions are also like yours.  " For the
body is not one member but many.  If the foot shall say, because I am not
the hand, I am not of the body: is it not therefore of the body?"  (I
Corinthians 12:14-15)  You cannot truthfully say that there is no place for
you here!  

You are important to God.  Jeremiah once staggered at God's estimation of
him.  "before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee: and before thou came
forth out of the womb, I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto
the nations."  (Jeremiah 1:5)  Do you think God doesn't take notice of you? 

But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath
pleased him.  And if they were all one member, where were the body?"  (I
Corinthians 12:18-19)    

You are "here" because God "drew" you to be here.  Jesus said, "No man can
come to Me, except the Father which hath sent Me draw him: and I will raise
him up at the last day.  It is written in the prophets, and they shall be
taught of God.  Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the
Father, cometh unto Me."  John 6:44-45   We rejoice with you at your pursuit
of a relationship of God.  

You are here because out of all the nations of the earth, God has called you
to be here.  "For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all
that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call."  Acts 2:39

Your contribution to the work of God is as important as anyone else's.  We
tend to emphasize the public efforts of the church.  Let's look at the work
of the Apostle Peter for example.  We tend to overlook that Andrew, forever
known to history as "Simon Peter's brother", was the one who brought Peter
to Jesus.  Who was more important to God?  

Let's consider the question of contribution in the effort.  Does the
preacher contribute more than the elderly lady inviting a visitor into her
home?  

I  remember one such invitation, one brother and I had some twenty years
ago.  We were traveling and dropped in on a small church in Mo.   I can't
tell you the town or anything about the church at this point . . . But some
20 years later, I remember the kindness of one elderly lady.  

Jesus would seem to agree, "Then shall the king say unto them on His right
hand, Come, ye blessed of MY Father, Inherit the kingdom prepared for you
from the foundation of the world:  For I was hungered, and ye gave me meat:
I was thirsty and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger and ye took me in."
Matthew 25:34:35  

You are important to the God who made you.  You are important to us.  The
one who sweeps the floor, weeps with the fallen, stretches to repair the
roof, and stretches to comprehend some of the deepest things of scripture
are alike contributing with their abilities to the benefit of all.  

For he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God
whom he hath not seen?  And this commandment have we from him, that he who
loveth God, love his brother also.  (I John 4:20-21)  

As I consider the various private Bible studies going on currently . . .
Each has come about through a combination of willing hearts, the invitations
of friends, the encouragement of both those attending at the building, and
the various cards and follow ups made.  Which part is unnecessary?  Which
part is more important?  Which is most important?  

Let's put it another way, "Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but
ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man?  I have
planted, Apollos watered; But God gave the increase.  Now he that planteth
and he that watereth are one: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's
building."  (I Corinthians 3:5-9)  

We rejoice to work together for the glory of God.  "Let us consider one
another to provoke to love and good works."  (Hebrews 10:25)  

Jerry Blount

Pleasant Valley church of Christ

3317 Amidon rd. 

Wichita Kansas, 67204

3163204321

WWW.letJesusleadus.org

 Hi

We are setting up a email list for members of the Churches of Christ (and
other interested folks).  Here is a sample of what we'll be sending.  If you
would like to remain on the list do nothing. 

 If you have others you'd like to add please forward them as a reply or
include and exposed email string and they will be added.

  If you'd like removed from the list just hit reply with "remove" in the
subject line.  (Please be sure to send back the email, and be sure your
reply email address is the same as the original email address we mailed on.
so that we can find you!)

Also please note on remove requests we try very hard to honor them..

                We have had a problem removing folks in the past when the
email address they showed in the reply is different from the one we have in
the emailing registry. I have had a problem where folks send back multiple
remove requests but don't send all of their email addresses and I keep
posting the wrong email address in my electronic remove file.   As of today
there are several thousand addresses. email "handles" don't necessarily
match names.  It is hopeless without a match. 

If you are receiving duplicate emails. Someone has likely submitted your
name twice.  Please reply with the word duplicate in the subject line and
we'll fix it! One other note on duplicates. be sure you don't have two email
addresses signed up.  You may need to just opt out of one.  This list is not
for sale or anything so replying will not trigger a ton of emails. 

Yours in Christ 

Jerry Blount

 <http://www.letjesusleadus.org/> Www.letjesusleadus.org 

Pleasant Valley Church of Christ

                3317 Amidon

                Wichita, Ks 67204

                3163204321 

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