Let’s say that two men attend the same congregation and both enjoy the habit of faithful attendance. They are early to Bible class and present during the morning and evening worship. The men also look forward to the midweek Bible study. Externally, they look the same in their character: good fathers, loving husbands, and diligent employees. But there is a difference. One of the two would quickly crumble in the face of adversity. Although he is faithful in attendance, this man responds to adversity like the seed on rocky soil, “and when affliction or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he falls away” (Mt. 13:21). How can two men who live similar lives respond differently to life’s inevitable trials? Continue reading »
-
23Novby Barton in Seeking Things Above.
-
23Novby Patrick in Missions, Prayer Requests, Seeking Things Above.
Everyday we hear about children all over the world who are starving for food, clothing, education, medical care and opportunities to improve their plight. We are blessed to be living in the United States, even in the face of the economic and political crisis before us. The difference in poor children in the States and children in “third world” countries is this: any child in the U.S. can receive medical care from the best qualified physicians in the best hospitals. Any child in the States who is hungry can receive assistance. In many countries outside the U.S. this is not the case. Since the fall of Communism in Eastern Europe in 1989, Americans have been blessed with opportunities to help children and adults who had been abused, neglected and starved for many years, living under the tyrannical rule of Communist dictators. Continue reading »
-
19Novby Drew in Uncategorized.
Last Sunday morning’s sermon was on “Excuses.” Try this: Write the following items in a column on the left-hand side of a sheet of paper.
Worship
Giving
Family ties
Encouraging others
Helping those in need
Evangelism
Bible study
Breaking sinful habitsNow, evaluate your performance in each of these areas. If you are lacking in any or all of these areas, on the right-hand side of the paper write the excuses that you have made to avoid changing. Evaluate your excuses. Will God accept these? If not, decide to change!
Sunday night we continued our series on “My Prayers in the Psalms,” talking about “A Prayer for Friendship with God.” Practice the prayer that we studied from Psalm 25, working in these four elements:
1. Stated trust (vv. 1-3)
2. A pledge of openness (vv. 4-5, 8-9, 12-14)
3. A plea for forgiveness (vv. 6-7, 11, 18)
4. A request for deliverance (vv. 16-19) -
16Novby Barton in Seeking Things Above.
I imagine that Peter the apostle was a creature of habit. Yes, he was spontaneous, but he was also a diligent man. In Matthew 26:69-75 we read that Peter formed the short-lived habit of distancing himself from the Lord. The story is a fulfillment of Christ’s prediction, which He made earlier in verse 34. His period of denial was comprised of three responses. First, speaking of Christ, Peter said, “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” He feigned ignorance. Second, he became bold saying, “I don’t know the man” (v. 72). Finally, he cursed and swore, repeating a second time, “I don’t know the man!” (v. 74). Peter’s habit grew progressively worse. Continue reading »
-
16Novby Drew in Seeking Things Above, Truth and Repose.
Alabama is beautiful this time of the year. Autumn is winding down, and we might have one or two more weeks of beautiful fall foliage—those reds, yellows, and browns. The earth has shifted on its axis like a person turning in his sleep to avoid the daylight creeping through his window, and we breathe a sigh of relief as the temperatures drop below that of the average person’s body heat. It gets hot here in the summertime. This gives Alabamians a better perspective on autumn than, say, people from Canada. Canadians don’t know what three months of 90-degree temperatures feel like. Autumn for them is a precursor to winter, which in Canada is terrifying. Continue reading »