Burns Church of Christ

May you rejoice in the wife of your youth. Proverbs 5:18

The Gores have split after 40 year. Yep! Tipper and Al are going their separate ways. One daughter had already divorced and the other decided to call it quits as well. It seems that more and more people are splitting their marriage and giving up on the vows they have made. It is a sad state of affairs.

At our recent couples’ retreat I shared the following rules for a lasting marriage. Read them carefully and make your marriage “until death do us part.”

Lessons for couples:

Eight rules for a lasting marriage by James Hinkle

1. Always acknowledge the presence of the other spouse.
2. Listen before you answer.
3. Elevate your spouse above all others.
4. Watch for opportunities to complement the other spouse.
5. Never entertain thoughts that your marriage is bad.
6. Never think that others’ marriage is better than yours.
7. Pray for your spouse every day.
8. Always be ready do things for your spouse as much as you would do things for others.

Did you know the average person speaks about 6,500 words in a day? (Yes, men use fewer and women use more—but that’s not my point!) One recent paper says that college students talk more than anyone else, saying nearly 16,000 words per day!

If you take the more conservative number and multiply it across a person’s average lifespan, you get somewhere in the neighborhood of 200 million words spoken! An average novel holds a measly .07 million words. By the end of your life, your daily speech accounts for the equivalent of writing 2,800 novels!

I don’t know about you, but I’m glad that all those words aren’t getting published. James says the tongue is restless, a dangerous evil (James 2). It’s like a serpent, waiting to strike. Based on these numbers, it has plenty of opportunities.

We should remember that what comes out of the mouth reveals what is inside the heart (Matthew 15:11). What would the novels of our lives reveal? Books of gossip, slander, anger, complaining, and hate? Or are our words “seasoned with salt” (Colossians 4:6) or are they just useless, idle chatter?

I’m not sure I’d like to see what the volumes of the words of my life would contain. I can’t do anything about the books I’ve already written, but I can improve the next chapter. Consider these words of Proverbs 10:8, “The wise of heart will receive commandments, but a babbling fool will come to ruin.”

If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Romans 12:18

This verse has always fascinated me. I have often heard the expression, “He is impossible.” It doesn’t take long to run into some of those impossible people in our daily walk. We pray “Lord! Give me patience and please hurry.”

I suppose that Paul understood the problem as well or better than most. He met people all over who would not listen to any form of reason. “Don’t confuse me with facts, my mind is made up.”

At Lystra (Acts 14) Paul and Barnabas were about to be worshiped as gods when they stopped the sacrifice. It took only a few verses later before the people stoned Paul, dragged him outside the city thinking that he was dead. What a fiasco!

The Roman Emperor, Marcus Aurelius once pinned the following lines:

I am going to be meeting people today who talk too much –
People who are selfish, egotistical, ungrateful.
But I won’t be surprised or disturbed
For I can’t imagine a world without such people.

Maybe Paul was telling the Romans just to be patient with people. Try to see the good in others. Overlook the bad. Suit your actions to what is inside of you not on what is external to you.

Our world could be a much better place. The church could be a happier place. “As it depends on you”.

Endurance produces character, Character produces hope. Romans 5:4

Have you spent much thought about your personal integrity? We don’t want to become obsessed with showcasing our character but it might be good to give it some consideration.

Here are some questions to ponder:

* Am I the person others believe me to be?
* When others are not observing, am I still a person of integrity?
* Am I perceived to be an honest person?
* Am I someone who can be trusted?
* If my books were opened how would they read?
* Does my character exude love, grace and humility?

Some are heard to say about certain people, “He’s a character.” What they mean is that he is a bit strange in thinking and habits. He might have certain antisocial habits that isolate him from normal activity.

The same word that is translated “Character” in Romans 5:4 is translated “stand the test” in II Corinthians 2:9. (“severe trial” – II Corinthians 8:2, “demanding proof” II Corinthians 13:3) Paul uses the same word with his appraisal of Timothy in Philippians 2:22. “You know that Timothy has proved himself”.

Some people seem unconcerned about their reputation. Shepherds are to have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the devil’s trap. (I Timothy 3:7) Maybe we should all be a bit concerned about our character.

Patience and perseverance can produce character and character will not disappoint us because it brings hope.

“Therefore, render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” (Matthew 22:21)

Was Thursday, April 15th a taxing day for you? Millions of Americans dutifully filed through post offices and financial offices to complete at the last minute their obligation to Uncle Sam. I’m not sure that anybody would label April 15th as one of their favorite days of the year!

As frustrating as government waste, spending, and thus, taxation is to me, I have to remember that God has chosen to work through governments, and they “bear not the sword in vain!” (Romans 13:4). Christians are subjects of a different kingdom, citizens of heaven. What are we to do with this mess here on earth?

Christians should be good citizens. We should be good neighbors. We should be good employees and employers. We should stand for righteousness and cry out against injustice. We should give real help to the poor and hurting—dollars and sense. We should declare that there is good news in a “kingdom not of this world!”

At the same time, we remember Jesus’ words when we fill out our 1040s: give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, to God what is God’s. The second half of that phrase is vitally important: are we giving God his due? Uncle Sam will come find us if we shortchange him. God’s evaluation of our lives doesn’t come in the form of an audit with penalties. Do we worship him in spirit and truth? Do we serve him with enthusiasm? Do we build up his body, the church, at every opportunity? In the end, what we do for Caesar matters far less than what we do for God.

My kingdom is not of this world. John 18:36

I love to sing the song “The Kingdoms of earth pass away one by one but the Kingdom of heaven remains.” It points to an everlasting truth that God is the only guarantee of permanency in our ever-changing world.

If I go back to where I grew up the changes are enormous. The high school where I went to school is still there but the changes are many. The place where I lived as a child is still there but there are houses now standing where I spent many a hot day picking cotton. The old barn is long gone where I milked the cows in the early morning and late evening.

People that I once knew have grown old and many are no longer on this side of eternity. The cars that I thought were so cool are now in the junk yard or made into classics. They now are reserved for parades and old car museums.

Jesus laid a great burden on all His people when he talked about the kingdom that is not of this earth. He is talking about the way the kingdom begins and grows. It is a matter of what is going on inside our hearts. The seed of the kingdom is the word of God. The soil of the kingdom is the good and honest hearts that will open for the master to come in.

When the word is planted in our hearts and grows we become part of the everlasting kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ. Nothing can separate us from the love of God. Even death is conquered by those who become part of King Jesus’ worldwide and everlasting rule.

The kingdoms of earth pass away one by one but the kingdom of heaven will never end!

Who was I to think that I could oppose God? Acts 11:17

There is an apocryphal story about a village warrior in a cannibal village in a remote South Pacific Island. He came down with a stomach ailment and went to the local witch doctor for help. After the good doctor had given him a careful check-up he diagnosed the malady: “You are just fed up with people.”

People that are different from us are sometimes rejected. Peter was an apostle of Jesus, specially chosen to be the chief spokesman on the beginning day of the church. He had spent 3 ½ years with our Lord and could have been a learner at His feet.

Yet, there was one important truth that Peter had failed to learn: God does not show favoritism but accepts men from every nation who fear him and do what is right. (Acts 10:34, 35) It took a series of miracles to convince this beloved apostle to look at people through the eyes of Jesus.

Don’t be surprised that after 2,000 years we still have an “eye problem”. Seeing others as God sees them is no easy task. We see what they wear, drive and do. We see where they live and with whom they chum. We make our judgment on the bases of outward appearances.

It is difficult to look deeper into the hearts of people we see each day. It is no easy task to look at people through the eyes of God. But we must do it. We may not do it as well as God but we can move in His direction. After all, only God can look down on people. James

Don’t forget that the time change is Saturday night/Sunday morning March 14th! Set your clocks ahead — spring forward — or you’ll miss services!