[Biblemat] HILLIARD BULLETIN for January 2008

[GLClair at aol.com]

HILLiaRD  BULLETIN 
Published by the  church of  Christ 
4840 Cemetery  Road – PO  BOX 96 – Hilliard, OH  43026 
Phone: (614)  876-4089 
ELDERS: 
Owen Gary Brewer – (614)  832-2569 
John Buchanan – (614)  893-3277 

Preacher and Editor:  Garreth L. Clair 
Phone: (614)  850-7252 

=================================================================== 
Volume 10                                  Number 1                           
        January 2008 
=================================================================== 

A NEW  YEAR - 2008 



Each year during the  first six weeks or so most people make some kind of 
resolutions that many  honestly mean TO KEEP.  Yet one of  the situations that 
too often happen is they do not keep the resolutions very  long and soon they 
are forgotten until the next January rolls  around. 
Why do we feel that we  need to join in with many others and make a 
resolution that we may have made  several times before in previous January 1s. There is 
no real reason for making  resolutions that we probably will not keep very 
long, perhaps we would be better  to make decisions with more thought about 
changes in our habits, our dress, our  hair, our weight, to eat better food, etc. 
Indeed, the decisions that we make  ought to be good decisions but we ought to 
make them with serious thought, we  ought to count the cost first. In the 
Bible there is a reference that applies to  making decisions that teaches this 
truth, please note the following passage;  Luke 14:28-30, “28 For which of you,  
intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost,  
whether he have sufficient to finish it? 29 Lest haply, after he hath laid the  
foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock  
him, 
30 Saying, This man  began to build, and was not able to finish.” KJV 
INDEED, we ought to  consider carefully the decisions that we make at any 
time. All decisions that we  make ought to reflect patient, conscious 
deliberation, if so we can be sure the  decisions we plan will surely pan out for us. WE 
SHOULD CONSIDER CAREFULLY WHAT  WE WILL DO ABOUT our  soul. 

A  FRIEND INDEED  
The greatest relationship among humans is the relationship between  parents 
and children, between brothers and sisters, between Christ and His  Children 
[i.e. the saved], and the relationship of friends. The great  relationships 
between friends are often unnoticed by most people but the true  friend is one who 
will stand by us through good and bad times. There are not  many friends who 
will stand with us when our health is gone or when we are  poverty stricken 
through untoward circumstances. 
One of the passages of Holy Scripture that comes to mind whenever I  consider 
friendships that have developed between me and some other person in  life is 
that in Proverbs 18:24, “He that maketh many friends (doeth it) to  his own 
destruction; But there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.”  ASV 
--- AND in Proverbs 27:9, “Oil and perfume rejoice the heart; so doth  the 
sweetness of a man's friend (that cometh) of hearty counsel.”  ASV 
The  two passages from Proverbs listed in paragraph two shows us that a good 
friend  is a true asset in life’s struggles and trials that we must all deal 
with during  life. It has been said by wise men that a man who has one friend 
in life will  surely be happy but to have two or more good friends in life is 
to be a king. I  would therefore encourage everyone to appreciate a good friend 
and thank God  that he/she is there when trials of life do come upon  us. 
Yet, there is another side to this matter; many people never develop long  
friendships with anyone. People who do not value friendships are surely unhappy  
people with no outlook in life and little to give themselves joy, honest and  
interactive dialogue about important junctures in life’s  struggles. 

CONCLUSION: 
Let us be humbly aware of the value of good friends, keeping in mind that  
interactions with others will build our self esteem and expand our knowledge of  
good. To develop and cultivate good friends in life is a wise occupation. 
Before  cultivation any friendly relationships make sure that the first step you 
take  will be to find out of he/she is a true Christian and remember Paul’s 
admonition  in this regard; cf. 1 Cor 15:33, “Be not deceived: Evil 
companionships  corrupt good morals.” ASV --- AND Proverbs 4:14-17, “14 Enter not into 
the path of the wicked,  and walk not in the way of evil men. 15 Avoid it, pass 
not by it; Turn from it,  and pass on. 16 for they sleep not, except they do 
evil; and their sleep is  taken away, unless they cause some to fall. 17 For 
they eat the bread of  wickedness, and drink the wine of violence.” ASV    ---  
glclair at aol.com 

=========================== 

Further Thoughts About  Friends 
Norman  Fultz 

In recent weeks with our thoughts focused on reasons for being thankful,  I’
ve done a fair amount of thinking about that myself.  And at different times 
when the idea has  returned to be further mulled over and reasons are being 
thought upon, there has  recurred repeatedly the blessedness of good friends in 
Christ.  In brother Clair’s little treatise he  mentioned that “to have two or 
more good friends in life is to be a king.”  Well, then, if that be true, I 
must  consider myself to truly sit over a vast domain.  Usually, in such 
moments, I’ve been  contemplating how blessed I am to have folk who still bear with 
me in my efforts  at teaching and preaching the word of life.  When I think 
upon having “many friends”  I guess I’m mostly referring to the kindness of 
thought and nobility of the  interactions that have been experienced with so many 
folk through the years as  well as the continuing fondness felt toward so 
many.  I say that because, thankfully, I’ve  seldom been in a position to really “
test” friendships to see whether they will  “come  through       in a pinch.”
  Someone has said that “Friendship is a  responsibility, not an opportunity.”
  Is that very different from what Jesus taught about who is one’s neighbor  
in the parable of the good Samaritan? (Lk. 10:25-37).  In that wonderful 
story, one’s neighbor  is the person in need of that which another of generous and 
helpful spirit is in  position to give. To Ralph Waldo Emerson is attributed 
the sagacious statement,  “I do with my friends as I do with books.  I would 
have then where I can find them but seldom use them.”  He is also credited with 
having said,  “The only way to have a friend is to be one,” a statement that 
reflects the NKJ  rendering of Prov. 18:24a, “A man who  has friends must 
himself be friendly.”   An unknown scribe, equally as  astute as Emerson, is 
credited with this observation, “A friend is a present you  give yourself by being 
one.” 
When I muse upon the friendships I envision myself to possess, though I  have 
those who are not Christians I’d call friends, for the most part my friends  
are folk whose lives fairly well mirror my own estimate of how life should be  
lived.  An unknown author is  credited with this insightful remark, “
Friendships cemented together with sin do  not hold.”  An appreciation of that  value 
makes even more meaningful the warning we often give to youth to be wary  of 
those who would entice to evil (cf. Prov. 1:10).   
The kinds of friendships that most of us hope we have are not immediately  
formed upon initial acquaintance.  Do we want the kind of friend that “sticks 
closer than a brother” (Prov.  18:24b), that will “love at all times” (Prov. 
17:17), whose “hearty counsel”  will “delight the heart” though at first it 
may seem as “wounds,” but we know it  is given because he is a “faithful” 
friend (Prov. 27:6)?  It surely must have been that type of  friendship George 
Washington spoke of when he said, “True friendship is a plant  of slow growth, 
and must undergo and withstand the shocks of adversity before it  is entitled to 
the appellation.”  Another great statesman, Benjamin Franklin, is quoted, “
Be slow in  choosing a friend, slower in changing.”   
Before I cease to dissertate about this matter, I urge you to go back and  
read Garreth’s last paragraph before his conclusion.  Truly how deprived and 
unhappy must be  the person who is devoid of long established friendships?  
Someone stated, “Every friend lost  pushes you one step closer to the brink of 
character bankruptcy.”   So, finally, I’ll just end by  sharing this little 
tidbit: “There’s happiness in little things,   
There  is joy in passing pleasure….But friendships are, from year to year, 
The best of  all life’s treasure.” 
Ponder this: “If you were another person would you like to be a friend of  
yours?” (The selected quotes  on friendship are taken from “The Speaker’s 
Sourcebook of 4,000 Illustrations,  Quotations,” etc. compiled by Eleanor L. Doan, 
Zondervan, Grand Rapids,  1960.) 
Let Your Light  Shine:  How brightly is your light  shining when the same 
thing that keeps you home from services where you can  bless and be blessed is 
not enough to keep you home from work or some  entertainment venue?  Perhaps 
when  others “behold your good works…(they will) glorify God…” (I Pet. 2:11.   
Now There's A Though;  "Many people will walk  in and out of your life, but 
only true friends will leave footprints in your  heart.”    

HAPPY NEW  YEAR 
To all our friends  here in Hilliard and everywhere else, we wish for all of 
you a very happy New  Year and great progress in life and in your faith as we 
all together grow in the  grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior, Jesus 
Christ – cf.   
2 Peter 3:18, “But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of  our Lord and 
Saviour  
Jesus Christ.  … 
To him be glory both  now and for ever. Amen. 
… Garreth and Barbara  Clair 

WHO IS ABLE? 
Many have been the times in life that we ask ourselves the question,  “I can’
t solve the problem and I do not know who can!” Indeed, to many  problems and 
terrors of life we silently ask the question, “Who is able”  for we know 
that we cannot deal with the calamity that has come upon us. Another  question 
that invades our thought processes from time to time, becoming more and  more 
urgent as age creeps upon us is; “Who can help me with this great  trouble that 
I am in?”  
Perhaps  an example that many of us can relate is found in the pitiful cry of 
Job as he  suffers in almost every way that a human could suffer --- Job 
19:7, “7 Behold, I cry out of  wrong, but I am not heard: I cry for help , but 
there is no justice.” ASV -  Job 30:24-28, “24 Howbeit  doth not one stretch out 
the hand in his fall? Or in his calamity therefore cry  for help? 25 Did not 
I weep for him that was in trouble? Was not my soul grieved  for the needy? 26 
When I looked for good, then evil came; and when I waited for  light, there 
came darkness. 27 My heart is troubled, and resteth not; Days of  affliction 
are come upon me. 28 I go mourning without the sun: I stand up in the  assembly, 
and cry for help” ASV.  
Do not be discouraged, do not give up, stand up and look for relief for  
there is help available for all our calamities and hurts. Indeed, if we will  look 
to our Creator, God! We might look at the great example of David, a man who  
in spite of his failings and great loss always knew that he could not loose 
his  sanity or his secure relationship with Jehovah if he continued to place his 
 trust in Him. David understood this fact even though he stated in this 
Psalms,  “through the valley of the shadow of death” that God would be with him  
and never abandon him. --- Psalms  23, 
“1  Jehovah is my shepherd; I shall not want. 
2 He  maketh me to lie down in green pastures; He leadeth me beside still  
waters. 
3 He  restoreth my soul: He guideth me in the paths of righteousness for his 
name's  sake. 
4 Yea,  thou I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no 
evil; for  thou art with me; Thy rod and thy staff, they comfort  me. 
5 Thou  preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: Thou 
hast anointed  my head with oil; My cup runneth over. 
6 Surely  goodness and loving-kindness shall follow me all the days of my 
life; and I  shall dwell in the house of Jehovah for ever.” ASV 
This is  the peace that God’s children possess if they will come to Him and 
remain  faithful to His instruction, God will always give us the victory over 
troubles,  trials, and tribulations. Proverbs  21:31-22:1, “31 The horse is 
prepared against the day of battle; But  victory is of Jehovah.” ASV 
1  Corinthians 15:57-58, 
“57 but  thanks be to God, who giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus  
Christ. 
58  Wherefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always 
abounding in  the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not vain 
in the  Lord.” ASV  --- _glclair at aol.com_ (mailto:glclair at aol.com)   

WE  DESIRE To Be OUR BEST 
In the New Year we will work the works of God continually. While we abide  
here in this world, our obligations to God and to our fellow man are to be  
consistently lived, day after day. God has no hands here but our hands to do HIS  
work of salting the earth and giving light to those lost in sin. Join us at  
4840 Cemetery  Road each Sunday at 9:30 Am and also be with us  Sunday night at 
6:00 PM and Wed, at 7:30 PM. You will enjoy worshipping with  us.             
        Glc – 2008 
ANYTIME  THE ELDERS CAN BE OF ASSISTANCE IN ANY EMERGENCY, CALL THEM. If  you 
cannot reach one of them call the  preacher, we want to be available to 
assist everyone to know 



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