Volume 3

March 2013

E-Herald of the Coming Kingdom

The time has come, and the Kingdom of God is near. Change the way you think and act, and believe the Good News. Mark 1:15 GW

They Had Been With Jesus The Coming Collapse But God Veneration of Mary Christs Body Building program And much more

DEDICATED TO SPREADING THE GOOD NEWS OF GODS COMING KINGDOM TO BE ESTABLISHED WHEN CHRIST RETURNS

Editorial

nt Co

Page 3 s nt They Had Been With Jesus e

Dennis Baldwin
Page 5

Summer Camp Memories

Merry Peterson
Page 8

Evangelism Ministry of W. H. Wilson Jan Stilson

Page 10

Pine Woods Bible Class: Lesson One - The Root of Christianity

W. H. Wilson
Page 11

Bible Notes
Page 16

The Coming Collapse

Wally Winner
Page 19

Report from San Jose

Larry Rankin
Page 23

But God
Sarah Jane McLaughlin
Page 32

Veneration of Mary
Russell Rankin
Page 28

Christs Body Building Program

Kent Ross
Page 32
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Editors Note
Co-Editors: Kent H. Ross Wally Winner

Hope Springs Eternal: Many see me as always seeing the negative side of situation, and it is true that I do see what likely will happen, but strangely enough, my attitude is always positive in that I am convinced that if we do "it" God's way, He can and will bless us and what is attempted will prove to come to success. Last month's editorial contained the five paragraphs below. I am deliberately repeating them, particularly as the General Conference Board of Directors is meeting to make plans for suggestions as to how we can work together to accomplish the work God has for us, all of us, and so . . . "We hope some good new programs can stem things, but programs have come and gone over the generations and don't appear to significantly address the problem. It is because we won't, often, face the problem. Even today we seem to be more willing to let the ship sink and continue bailing furiously until it's gone. It could be changed, but I fear and doubt it will be changed. Too many chiefs know and not enough Indian do. But the same God and the same Lord, Jesus, His only Begotten Son, implemented their "church growth strategy" and it worked amazingly. We're prepared to say, "Yeah, but that was then. You can't expect that now." And with that we go back to bailing . . . bailing . . . bailing. Why "can't" the same God and His Son, do it again??? They can. They promised, but we need to ask and learn." Will our Board learn this? Will the staff come to understand this? Will your church, pastor and leaders do it??? Unfortunately, probably not. And how sad is that. We'll re-double our efforts, we'll try harder, something, anything . . . The reality is that the answer is quite simple, but it is hard. Very hard, because first is the need to realize and recognize that we may be going about things in the wrong way. And how is that done? 1) First is to admit there is a problem , and then identify it; 2) Secondly, understand Christ's Plan to build HIS church; 3) Thirdly, with prayer and fasting seek Him; 4) Fourth, is the need to mobilize us, but not at a Conference level, but in each church, with their pastor and leaders, following HIS pattern in first our community, and then beyond; & 5) Rejoice as the Lord begins HIS work among us, in us and through us. But, as I say, it is unlikely we'll see that. Too many have a better idea. But watch and pray.

Atlanta Bible College: This past month it was our pleasure to be in the Atlanta-metro area and we were able to attend the college's Chapel services for 3 of 5 Thursdays we were in the area. It was a real pleasure and a blessing to see the student led services. Rebekah Dauksas, from South Carolina, spoke one week. I also was asked to speak one week, for the first time in 13 or 14 years, I believe, and that too was enjoyable, at least for me. I can't speak for the students, though they seemed very gracious. However something struck me as we sat there in those three services. It took me back to 1962 when I started at the College, then in Oregon, Illinois. Though it was my first semester there, it was a troubled time with only 17 students, plus then staff members.

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In the chapels we attended, a quick count each time revealed about 10-12 students and 8-10 staff and visitors. It felt a bit like back in 1962 again. Now we had good chapels then, and we did this year, but I had hoped for more. I did back then and I did this year. How I wish our churches would have many of their youth feeling a call to prepare for ministry. The numbers at the college are up, but many of them are unlikely to go into our church ministries. The harvest is great, but the laborers are few. Remember "pray the Lord of the harvest." However, when we get serious to pray for that, our college will need to be prepared to prepare them, and our churches need to be ready to receive and work with those the Lord sends forth. The "New" College Building: It is really a wonderful building, and while not technically new, it is new to us. It seems to give us huge opportunities, BUT . . . So much of it is not being utilized. In this economy, it is difficult to get new tenants, so of the four floors, there are but a handful of tenants. There are almost two complete floors that could be built out, BUT (here we go again), there are too few funds to build a Chapel, or Archival space, or a solid library space, which may have few books in this age, but is essential to a college. It is wonderful that the college can rent and use the Cornerstone Bible church for Chapel, and the Archives, but it isn't the way it ought to be. The Board and Staff have done a marvelous job managing on a very sparse budget to do what they have done, but that has necessitated a paring of staff, cut-backs in publishing and other bare-bone efforts. And so it comes back to the need for more students, the need for a new vision, the need for a renewed approach to ministry. Everyone reading this needs to make our conference and college effort a daily prayer priority, as do I. Please join me in daily lifting up our staff, and Board for the wisdom and guidance from the Lord. This March Issue: We have tried to put together, with the excellent help of our writers, and outstanding work of Co-Editor Wally Winner, an issue that will be of encouragement, challenge and insight for our readers. Some of the articles featured include: 1) An Introduction to an older book called the Pinewood Bible Class, by W.H. Wilson. 2) The story of a miraculous even in Alaska, by Sara Jane (nee Peters) McLaughlin. 3) A report about a Bible Camp in Washington state that has happened, pointing us to the coming camps by Merry Peterson. 4) A report on the work being done in the Philippine Islands by Larry Rankin, which continually reminds me of what can be done when one is dedicated to the Lord's task. 5) A follow-up study on 1st Corinthians 12 and Paul's Body-Building program. 6) An encouraging articled on growing a church, with both ups and downs, by Dennis Baldwin, from Virginia. 7) Some Miscellany Bible Notes, from various writers, well-worth considering. 8) Another excellent Prophetic article, from our Co-Editor, Wally Winner, from South Carolina. 9) A special article that I requested on the Veneration of Mary, the Mother of Jesus. Russell Rankin, of Minnesota, did a great job that may surprise you, but it is exactly Biblical. Trusting you will enjoy and receive benefit from it all. Take one article at a time and be blessed.

~~ Kent Ross, Editor

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THEY HAD BEEN WITH JESUS

By Dennis Baldwin

It was January 18, 1998, 15 years this coming Friday. It was a Sunday Morning. It was the first Sunday in our new building at 55 Westminster Drive. I suppose we were looking for the address of Revival. It was a new facility with the promise of ministering to both young and old in a growing community. There was a feeling of excitement in the air. We were all anticipating the future of Grace Fellowship Church of God. The building program had gone smoothly. All in all I think our expectations were high; I know mine were. As it has turned out, our growing experience has not included an influx of a lot of new people. It has, however been a growing experience. We lost a few families and lost a number of our faithful to death. All this comes to mind as I think about the first few years of Jesus, building his church. Matthew 18.

He said to them, "Thus it is written, that the Christ would suffer and rise again from the dead the third day, and that repentance for forgiveness of sins would be proclaimed in His name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem. "You are witnesses of these things. "And behold, I am sending forth the promise of My Father upon you; but you are to stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high." Luke 24:46-49 (NASB)

Acts chronicles the program. It is worth noting that in the Gospels Jesus would often spend extended time in prayer before facing the difficult times in his life. Knowing the benefits to be gained from prayer, Luke wrote how he reminded them of the tremendous task confronting them, to proclaim repentance and forgiveness of sins to all nations. Luke wrote that Jesus then instructed them to stay in the city until they would in some manner receive They were blessed with tools to build the church the power they would need for the task. that do not appear to be in use today. They were Page 5

This they did according to Luke. The number included Peter, James, John, Andrew, Philip, Thomas, Bartholomew, Matthew, James the son of Alpheus, Simon Zelotes, and Judas the brother of James; along with what Luke called the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brethren: According to Acts 1:15, the group grew to 120. Later they would welcome Mathias to their group to fill Judas Iscariots shoes. They are reported to have entered into an upper room where they in one accord continued in prayer and supplication. This approach had served Jesus well throughout his ministry and would work well for these early builders of the church.

able to speak so as devout men from every nation Caiaphas, John, Alexander, and as many as were under heaven (2:5) could hear them speak in his kindred of the high priest, were gathered together own language, (2:11) the wonderful works of at Jerusalem; where they set Peter and John in God. (2:11) The disciples were also able to their midst, instructing them to give account for the continue the miracles and wonders and signs previous days activities. (4:5-6) This episode which God had been doing by Jesus; (2:22) and presented another opportunity for Peter to preach that day there were added to the church, 3,000 to the people, which included the dignitaries who gladly received their word and were baptized. mentioned. He was filled with the Holy Spirit and (2:41) Their tools were powerful, but after all, He preached not only to the common people but also did tell them that they would be clothed with power to the rulers of the people and the elders of Israel. from on high. (Luke 24:49) Theirs was a great task They would ultimately see that there was very little, and so they were given exceptional tools to use to if anything, they could do because the lame man accomplish the task. Churches have prayed for who had been healed was over 40 year old; at that age he could speak for hundreds of years for those himself. I should think it to same tools; but have not to They saw the courage of be common knowledge this date (apparently) that the man had been received them. Peter and John lame since birth. They had to let Peter and John go. Luke said in Acts 1:47 that They could tell that Peter Peter and John went to the Lord added to the church daily such as should be and John were ignorant their own company and reported what had saved; while in 6:1 and 7 and unlearn happened. (4:23) the number of the disciples multiplied. This multiplication spread rapidly They could tell that Peter There were three things that caught the attention of to Judaea, Galilee and and John had been with the believers as well as Samaria. (9:31) Wouldnt we the religious leaders in all like to be a part of such a Jesus Jerusalem on that day. building program? (4:13) Remember the Lord was building his church.
They saw the courage of Peter and John

One day Peter and John went to the temple. Luke set the time at about 3 p.m. They were empowered to heal a man who had been lame from birth. (3:2) This caused a commotion in the area which gave Peter an opportunity to bring the people up to date on what was going on. The priests were upset, probably because this all happened in the area of the Beautiful gate of the temple (3:10) and they were not involved. Peter spoke specifically about the resurrection which the Sadducees were not happy about, so they got together and confronted Peter. It was getting late in the evening so they decided to go ahead and put Peter and John in prison for the night. As a result of all this many of them which heard the word believed: we are told that the number of the men was about five thousand. (4:4)

They could tell that Peter and John were ignorant and unlearned They could tell that Peter and John had been with Jesus

After listening to Peter and Johns report; (4:24) the brethren lifted up their voice with one accord and prayed to the God who made heaven and earth. This prayer included: first the request that the Lord hear the threats and secondly, requested even more courage as they spoke the word. (4:29) The brethrens approach might very well be a good prescription for us today. Perhaps we need to assemble for a time of prayer and to corporately ask God to give us boldness/courage as we The day following the instance at the Beautiful gate; minister his word in these closing days of time. the rulers, elders, scribes, Anna the high priest, Perhaps now is not the time to be timid and unsure of ourselves. Page 6

I like Davids approach to the threats given by Goliath, and all the men of Israel, when they saw the man, fled from him, and were sore afraid. 1 Samuel 17:24 (ASV) And David spake to the men that stood by him, sayingwho is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God? [Just who does he think he is?] 1 Samuel 17:26 (ASV) It took courage/boldness for David to make that statement, as well as to later say, The Lord that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine; (17:37) and it took courage/boldness for Peter and John to speak up and to say before those who threatened them, We cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard. Acts 4:20 Peter had at least two opportunities to speak which it took courage to open up and speak out. How often are we given such an opportunity and neglect the gift that is in us? (I Tim 4:14) It might be fully evident that we are not specifically trained to speak up, but that should not hold us back. (But it often does) Now, Peter and John had been with Jesus and it showed. Sometimes we may feel inadequate because we have not been with Jesus, as were Peter and John, and we have not; but we have been where two or three have been gathered together and he has been in our midst. (Matt 18:20) We have probably been with Jesus more than we might think. The real question is Can anyone tell? Ours is a tremendous task. We must execute with courage. Jesus lumped the timid and unbelieving with the murderers, fornicators, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars who would be burned with fire and brimstone. (Rev. 21:8) The disciples did not know what to expect as they knelt in prayer in the upper room. They only knew that that was what Jesus told them to do, so they did. They prayed and prayed; and as a result; well you can read the story told by Luke in Acts chapter four for yourself. The Lord has given us a generous portion of truth to share with the world around us. Most of us might not have the courage to share that truth. Perhaps it is time to realize that the disciples, Peter and John, were people just like us; people who had to overcome their timidity and fear. They were only able to do so, I think, through praying for courage/boldness; that they might speak the word

of God with boldness. (4:31) Im sure God will help us overcome our phobias. I am by nature a quiet and timid man. As a child I would run and hide even when our kin would come around. I might need a double portion of that boldness. Perhaps God will shake the place where we are assembled together and help us to speak the word of God with boldness. (4:31)

An Empty Tomb Instead

They came to the quiet garden In the early morning gloom, And there in the shadowed darkness They found an empty tomb. They brought their scented spices To anoint the hallowed dead, But found, to their amazement, The living Lord instead. Their hearts were heavy-laden Bowed down with deep despairBut when they lifted tear-dimmed eyes, Lo, Jesus was standing there. They thought all hope had ended With Calvarys dying breath, But they found a powerful Savior, Triumphant over death! On that wonderful Resurrection morning, In a garden sweet with dew, He came from the gravea world to save To live and reign anew. So oft in the midst of sorrows When hope seems cold and dead. With lifted eyes, we too may see An empty tomb instead! Author unknown Page 7

Summer Bible Camps Bring Fond Memories

By Merry Peterson
Summer Bible camp has been a part of the Churches in the Northwests history for a very long time. At various times it served various purposes and took different forms. The meeting together for a time in Gods beautiful creation began in the early 1900ds when the churches from Waterville, Wenatchee, Puyallup and the surrounding areas used to meet together as a sort of conference of churches in the Northwest. Since then it has evolved and changed to reflect the various needs of the groups. Primarily now there are two summer camps being held in the Northwest. The two groupsone from Wenatchee, and one from Cashmere for a long time met together. Then in 1993 it was decided that there would be two different camps to meet the unique needs of each group. This article will be focusing on the Wenatchee family Bible camp. We as a group have met in different locations over the years. Sometimes we have met in more rustic areas requiring tents and u t i l i z ing outhouses, and at other times we have rented campground facilities with a proper kitchen, cabins, and restroom facilities. Each summer excited adults who own campers and motor homes pack up and head for the beautiful Northwest forests and more arid areas to enjoy close to a week of spiritual encouragement, Bible learning, fellowship & fun. Youth from our church particularly enjoy camp each summer. Often times they will bring friends who have little or no church background or Bible knowledge with them which provides a great opportunity for ministry to those who have not yet met Christ. The Wenatchee church is located in the heart of Washington state and is privileged to be able to travel north or west for forested camping experiences or at times to head slightly east and take in the beauty of the arid, desert like landscape that can also be found in our state. No matter which area we choose we always have a wonderful time. Bible classes are held for all age groups, and crafts are provided for the kids to take home as reminders of the Bible lessons and stories they studied, and their experience at camp. One of our teenagers has even used many of her crafts from various different years to decorate the walls of her bedroom! Highlights of the camp are singing songs and having devotions around the campfire before bedtime. One of the traditions that we have started is that we have a small bedtime snack after campfire of milk and homemade cookies. Everyone seems to enjoy that a lot. On a typical day at camp we gather together after breakfast and have a devotional time with singing and prayer before we head off to our various Bible based classes. Craft projects are usually done in the late morning right before lunchtime when we all gather again to eat and fellowship together. Some of our afternoon activities have been hiking trips up the mountains, or along dried river beds, Swimming in the beautiful clear lakes, playing water tag kind of games with sponges, tug of war over water, and occasionally taking a mystery tour where clues are given, and bit by bit it is revealed where we are headed to and for what activities. Depending on the year we have even been able to go horseback riding. At times in the late afternoons before supper we have taken on some helping hands kinds of projects that the youth can help with such as essential needs kits of various helpful items for those facing homelessness or recovery from disaster (ie. Toothpaste, Kleenex, washcloths, bars of soap, band-aids, pens, & notepads. Etc.) are assembled in bags and then given to a local homeless shelter. Other projects have been cutting out the material and batting for baby bibs that are then sewn by adults and given to local programs that help with the needs of struggling babies in the community.
Swimming in the River on a sunny afternoon

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Our evenings are filled with fun. Various activities happen in the evenings. Each night usually offers something different. Games of softball, or by volunteer quizzing teams challenge each other, or a Bible based scavenger hunt of items mentioned in the Bible may take place. New on our repertoire of games is a game called woody ball that is a huge hit with our youth. It is a game that is an odd combination of bowling, soccer, dress-up, and tag, that is hilariously funny to watch. Or people may choose to simply relax and fellowship with one another watching the changing colours of the evening sky. After that comes campfire where we sing praises unto our Lord under the stars and are lifted up with encouraging thoughts from Gods word. It is a time that each of us looks forward to with anticipation each year. There isnt anything quite like going to sleep at night under the stars Kitchen crew teen helpers listening to the crickets hum, and waking in the morning light to the prepping a meal soft cackle of the quail. Finding deer hoofprints on your path to breakfast or catching frogs along the shore may also bring moments of awe at Gods intricate design and creative order in nature. These are the moments that a few mosquito bites and a snake sighting or two wont deter you from coming back again and again to experience the fun and fellowship in the Lord to be had while attending family Bible camp.

This article has given you a taste of what the Wenatchee summer Bible camp has to offer. We generally have our camp in August and welcome anyone who would like to join us for this fun adventure with growing brothers and sisters in Christ. Our Bible classes are usually based around a theme. Some examples of past themes are: F.R.O.G. (Fully Rely On God) where we studied heroes of our faith who trusted God to see them through every circumstance. The Lords Prayer, The Fruits of the Spirit, The Nature of God, The Nature of Jesus, and I Caught the Bible Bugwhere we studied about how exciting the Bible is and how what God says is true, and his prophecies come true. Each year we grow in our understanding and knowledge of Gods word. Each day a memory verse is memorized by all that relates to the days lesson and is recited before suppertime to make sure we have Gods word hidden in our hearts.

Memory verse crunch time

The kids playing a fun game of sponge tag

If summer Bible camp is something you think you or your family would enjoy we invite you to participate with us in our summer family Bible camp. We hope to meet you soon and know that you will find the experience to be a spiritual time of blessing. For further information please contact the Wenatchee Church of God Faith of Abraham at 509-662-3865 or e-mail Merrysparrow@juno.com.
Some of our campers hoping you will enjoy a Bible summer camp soon!

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The Evangelism Ministry of W. H. Wilson

By Jan Stilson*
W.H. Wilson was born in Halifax, England in 1841, the son of Joseph and Martha Wilson. Joseph was a brother to Benjamin Wilson. In 1844 they relocated to Geneva, Illinois to join the other Wilsons who had settled there. Young William learned the printing business from his Uncle Benjamin while the latter was translating the Emphatic Diaglott (1864) and making its copper plates. William apprenticed with him, and probably assisted him in preparing the plates for the Gospel Banner (1854-1869), a monthly religious journal, as well. William was well enough trained in printing techniques that years later in the Restitution (1870-1925), he was able to describe the steps taken by Benjamin Wilson to finish the translation work and publish it. W.H. Wilson was dedicated to the message of the gospel of the kingdom of God. He took evangelistic trips across the south stopping in southern Illinois, Missouri, Arkansas, Oklahoma and finally in Louisiana. He led a Bible class near Hammond each winter in a pine grove, and after meeting several times the group called themselves the Piney Woods Bible Class. This group eventually became the Church of God at Hammond. Since there was no incorporated publishing company within the Church of God (as the General Conference was not yet formed), there also was no centrally-organized educational directive for children or adults. Wilson, from Chicago, led the way in publishing several small volumes that could be put in a pocket or a ladys pocket book. Some of his publishing goals included warning people against false doctrines, especially Russellism. He wrote a series of Bible lessons set in dialogue format with questions and answers that featured subjects dear to his heart. The book took the name of the Bible class, The Pine Woods Bible Class. It was published in Plymouth, Indiana by the Restitution office in 1904 and distributed from Chicago. He advertised the books in the Restitution, and sold the books from his home in Chicago. His daughter Jessie served as his agent. The books were also distributed by the newly formed National Berean Society (1913) which published tracts and Berean lessons for youth and adults. The Pine Wood Bible Class was one of the most popular books ever published for Church of God readers, and many churches purchased many copies for repeated classes. It became quite famous in the Church of God during Wilsons own lifetime. There are several copies of it in the ABC Archives in McDonough, Georgia. To finance his evangelism and publishing ministries, Wilson sold real estate in Chicago. Wilson died in 1914 from an illness related to appendicitis and its complications. He was mourned throughout the Church of God fellowship, for he was a beloved saint among them.

*Jan Stilson is the author/compiler of The Biographical Encyclopedia. This encyclopedia is the story of the Church of God, and it is a history that must be celebrated. The books content includes the history of thought of additional church organizations including the Christadelphians, Disciples of Christ, Christian Connexion, Unitarians, and Advent Christians. The Seventh-day Adventists, Seventh-day Baptists, and Seventh-day Church of God are also mentioned. To order a paperback copy of the Biographical Encyclopedia, please contact Nola at the Church of God General Conference (678) 833-1839.

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The Pine Woods Bible Class

By W. H. Wilson

FROM THE PREFACE.

The lessons contained in this volume, are the result of many years of careful and critical study, being an honest endeavor to arrive at a more accurate understanding of Holy Scripture, unbiased by the creeds and opinions of men. These lessons were prepared more especially for the instruction of YOUNG PEOPLE. An effort has been made to make the lessons very simple and plain. The Bible Class style makes it very attractive, easy to read, and so much easier to comprehend. The series of lessons here presented would be a very profitable one for Bible Classes, Young Peoples' Societies, Berean Bands, Sunday School Bible Classes, etc., to study by course. Note the arguments, and consider the Scriptures cited in support of the argument, and you will not only find it interesting, but very instructive. If young people would follow these suggestions, they would be surprised at the rapid progress they would make. There is not room enough in this volume to print all the many Pine Woods Bible Class Lessons that have appeared in "The Restitution," in years that are; past. I have enough in reserve that would easily make another volume. Young men, who are studying for the Evangelical work, will find this Book a valuable aid. Note well the exposition of difficult texts. This Book is sent forth on its mission with a sincere desire, that it may lead many poor wanderers to the fount of eternal rest.

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LESSON I. (THE Root of Christianity) Teacher. At our last meeting, our time was consumed in perfecting the organization of the Class, and in laying out a plan by which we expect to conduct the future investigation of the various Bible topics which may be presented for critical study. We find such study a profitable use of time, and we should spend as much of it, as possible in a diligent search for Divine wisdom. Fleshly-minded people cannot see anything more profitable than to spend both their time and energies in the search for, and the acquisition of perishable wealth. Those, however, who have acquired Divine wisdom, are much better judges of real values. I know of a wise man who has had experimental knowledge with both. He said: "How much better is it to get wisdom than gold and to get understanding is rather to be chosen than silver!" The same man further concluded: "Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom; with all thy getting get understanding." Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding. For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver and the gain thereof than fine gold. She is more precious than rubies: and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her." Pine Woods Bible Class have determined to spend their energies in the acquisition of that which exceeds in value either gold, silver, or rubies. We will now proceed to the study of our first lesson. Will someone please name the topic? Albert. The topic selected by the Class one week ago to-night, is:
THE ROOT OF

CHRISTIANITY.

Teacher. Why was this topic chosen? Carrie. Why, Arloa suggested that the proper place to begin our studies would be to start at the base, foundation or root. We all thought as she did, and so George suggested The Root of Christianity, as the title of our first lesson. Teacher. If I should ask you to select a portion of Scripture as a basis for this lesson, which would you choose? Ella. I would select I Cor. xiii. Q. Do you find a basic principle in it? A. I certainly do. Q. Please name it. A. This chapter presents love as the basic principle which gives vitality to the entire Christian system. Q. Please reveal what you have discovered therein?

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A. We all know that a tongue gifted with oratory is much prized; we may hold an audience spell-bound by using the oratorical powers of men and angels, with which to picture in glowing colors the glory of the good time coming, and if love he not the inspiration of such oratory, its value amounts to nothing more than sounding brass, or the tinkling of a cymbal, which for the time being may please the ear with harmonious sounds, but it accomplishes nothing more. Q. What other lesson does this chapter reveal, to show that love is the real root principle? A. It shows that men may become such gifted students of prophecy as to be able to solve difficult problems by attaining a marvelous degree of knowledge, and may even have faith strong enough to command the removal of the everlasting mountains; and yet, if such knowledge and mighty faith shall be destitute of the inspiration of love as a root principle, the Divine estimate will be "nothing," "it profiteth me nothing." Q. Well, let us consider another test. Suppose someone should give all he possesses for the relief of the poor, and some other motive foreign to the real root principle of Christianity should prompt his gifts, what would be the Divine verdict with regard to such charity? A. "It profiteth nothing." Q. Well, then, let me propose a severer test still. Suppose a person should be burned as a martyr, at the stake, on account of preaching the Glad Tidings, and a spirit of fleshly bravado, in place of sincere love, should inspire the martyrdom, will that avail in the day when judgment will be rendered? A. It will not. "No profit," will still be the Divine verdict. Q. Can you give some rule by which we may really know those who have the root of the matter in them? A. Yes, we can. Q. Please give the characteristics of such people? A. We may know them because they "suffer long," and are "kind," "envy" is not in their heart, they are not vain and "puffed up," they don't "behave" in an unseemly" manner, they are not selfish people, always "seeking their own" benefit, and furthermore, they have so disciplined their temper, that they are no more easily provoked," neither are they ever taking an account of, and thinking'' about, "evil" things, because their thoughts have been taken "captive" for "Christ." They no longer take pleasure in "unrighteousness," but on the contrary they do most heartily "rejoice in THE truth." They have also learned to "bear" adverse "things," -without easily becoming "impatient," and will "believe," "hope" and "endure" unto the end. Q. Is this root principle as eternal as the great Creator? A. It is. The chapter selected as a base for our lesson closes by naming three things which abide, and change not. Q. Name the first of this trio? A. We have faith as the first, which in the sweet by and by will be lost in fruition, and next comes hope, a child of faith, which in due time will also have completed

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its mission, but love, the root principle of Christianity will become intensified, as the years roll by, having neither beginning or end of days. Q. Please explain why it has neither beginning or end of days? A. Because "God is love." "Love is of God." Its presence is gloriously manifest in every work of his hands, and is the controlling principle in all his dealings with mankind. It is also his purpose to people the new earth with inhabitants in whose lives this root principle has found a permanent home. Q. Should this principle abide in God's people now? A. Unless it does so abide, it never will hereafter. ; Q. How does this Divine principle manifest itself in believers at the present time? A. This holy principle awakens in the believer's heart a responsive harmony which is in accord with the Divine, and manifests itself by breaking forth in rapturous adoration and praise, which fills the heart with sweetness, joy and peace, which is akin to strains of heavenly music, which is in unison with the Divine Author, from whence it flows. It is a consolation which satisfies the inward craving as nothing else can do. Q. How does it affect believers while suffering adversity? A. In adversity it is a stay and solace. We may liken it to a graceful vine, whose tendrils lay hold upon a sturdy oak, and so lifts itself out of a dismal swamp, and ascends upward, into the glorious sunshine. So love with its caressing tendrils attaches itself to the Son of God, and lifts its possessor out of adverse surroundings, into the cheering sunshine of God's favor; thus healing the broken heart, and enabling one to look beyond the present, and by faith view the evergreen shore. Q. Is its sweet influence far-reaching? Ella. Oh yes, I have both seen and felt its pure influence. It may be compared to the aroma of the sweet-scented flower which cannot be confined to the garden in which it grew, but is taken up by the passing breeze, and made to regale the senses of others; so hearts filled with divine love, cannot confine its influence, but it will be felt by all those with whom they may associate. Q. Then this treasure must be a valuable gem to possess? A. It is even so. Oh, it is a priceless gem, one which graces the brow of the spotless Son of God, the luster of which can never fade, but will increase in brilliancy as the endless cycles of eternity shall succeed each other. "Love never faileth." Q. Are the people who spend both their time and money in proclaiming this peaceful message, considered among our Heavenly Father's blessed ones? Arloa. Yes, indeed, they are. We read in Isa. lii. 7, as follows: "How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation, that saith unto Zion, thy God reigneth." Q. Does the root spirit of love give an inspiration to the glad message of the Kingdom?

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A. Yes, it does. The grand old "gospel of the kingdom" is a beautiful love message, which thrills the heart of devout believers as none other can. It is a herald of peace, it is sweet music to the ears of those who know the joyful sound; it causes the heart of all such to shout for joy, and to be happy, even while suffering adversity. It lets in the full sunshine of God's love, and as a consequence, peace and contentment reigns within. It causes believers to love the brotherhood, and to be very anxious to publish the glad tidings of good things to perishing sinners, also. Q. Can this most beautiful message of life carry us beyond the storm cloud? A. There is nothing that can compare unto it. Why, should even clouds of inky blackness temporarily obscure our vision, the glorious sun of hope, presently emerges from behind the cloud, with a dazzling blaze of glory, which dispels the cloud, like the fog flees before the rising sun. Q. When we preach the message of the kingdom, what shall we say? A. Say unto Zion, thy God reigneth - in the person of his Son - Yet have I set my King upon my holy hill of Zion." "Rejoice greatly, 0 daughter of Zion; shout, 0 daughter of Jerusalem; behold, thy King cometh unto thee; he is just, and having salvation.'' Q. Is not the gospel of the kingdom a message of peace to obedient believers even now, while we experience both sorrow and joy? A. Yes. It is a message of peace, for even now it calms the troubled sea of life while its raging billows threaten to overwhelm us and its care and vexations distract us. "Thy watchmen shall lift- up the voice; with the voice together shall they sing; for they shall see eye to eye when the Lord shall bring again Zion. Break forth into joy, sing together ye waste places of Jerusalem; for the Lord hath comforted his people, he hath redeemed Jerusalem." Q. Does this love-inspired hope, lead to purity of life? A. It certainly does. It is not only a joyful, a comforting, but also a purifying hope, as well. Listen: "He that hath THIS hope in him purifieth himself even as he is pure." Q. Is not the character of a pure one to be greatly admired? A. Yes. A writer once said, such a person is "a beautiful character, one in which our Lord's pure image dwells, is the truest wealth. Moth and rust cannot corrupt it; thieves cannot steal it. It is the possession that will stand the crucial test of trial, sorrow, and the fires of affliction, and come forth as silver seven times refined, it is the only treasure we can carry with us through the garden gates into the pure sunlight of the eternal world." Amid the harsh realities of this life, they preserve a sweet and gentle spirit, which can feel for other's woes, and pour the healing balm of heavenly love into every wounded heart. They are God's messengers of peace, whose mission is to be a blessing to those who need their ministration. They are flowers full of sweet odors; they leave only fragrant memories behind them. Teacher. The Class is unanimous in concluding that we have discovered the real root of Christianity.

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Where Is Sodom? Steven Collins presents the case for Tall el-Hammam According to the Bible, the men of Sodom were wicked (Genesis 13:13). For its many sins, God destroyed Sodom and all the inhabitants of the cities of the plain in an intense conflagration, but not before allowing Abrahams nephew Lot and his family to flee to safety. The stories of Sodom and its destruction, whether historical or not, were clearly understood to have occurred near the Dead Sea, among the so-called cities of the plain mentioned in Genesis 13:12. But where exactly was this plain, and was a particular site associated with Sodom? In the article Where Is Sodom? in the March/April 2013 issue of BAR, archaeologist Steven Collins combines clues from Biblical geography with archaeological evidence from the site of Tall el-Hammam in Jordan to suggest that the author of Genesis 13 located Sodom in a fertile area northeast of the Dead Sea. Across Tall el-Hammam, archaeologists found scorched ruins from the Middle Bronze Age site buried under nearly 3 feet of dark grey ash, as well as dozens of pottery sherds covered with a frothy, melted surface; the glassy appearance indicates that they were briefly exposed to temperatures well in excess of 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit, the approximate heat of volcanic magma. Such evidence suggests the city and its environs were catastrophically destroyed in a sudden and extreme conflagration. N.T. Wright "[Jesus] was much more concerned with God's Kingdom come ON EARTH as in heaven, and Western Christianity has been concerned with how to LEAVE EARTH and go to heaven." Russell Rankin Theomorphic is God made man like Himself Romans 1:20 "the unseen things of Him from the creation are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made" "unseen" God --- "seen" man Anthropomorphic is man made God like himself Romans 1:21-23 when they knew God, they glorified Him not. and changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man... Anthony Buzzard What about theologically incorrect statements such as Jesus was not a Trinitarian. I suggest to the good people Page 16

B M ibl is e N ce o lla te ny s & :

B M ibl is e c e No ll te an s y: &

of the internet open discussion of Jesus definition of God. Jesus affirmed as the most important command of all that the the Lord our God is one Lord. (Mk 12:29). He agreed with and won the approval of a Jewish scribe, who also had not heard of the Trinity. Jesus had never heard of the Trinity, but those gathering in his name these days insist on the theological correctness of belief in a Triune God. What if Jesus knew nothing of this definition of God? What if Christianity is the only world religion which begins by discarding its own founders creed? That might sound theologically incorrect, but it raises a vitally interesting question. I speak as one who spent much of my career teaching the Bible languages. Like Carson, I had the stimulus of (in my case) Dad who was director of Naval Intelligence and granddad the physician to George V and VI (see the movie the Kings Speech). Their view, imparted to us youngsters, was that many people do not do much, if any, homework; they just follow. It may not be theologically correct to challenge churches but I think it is worth it. The status quo unchallenged might just be our greatest danger. Bethany Reise The New Testament Names of God The authors of the New Testament make a clear distinction between the only true God and His only begotten son, Jesus. Over four hundred times in the New Testament, God and Jesus are demonstrated to be two separate entities. This can be most readily seen in Pauls greetings to the churches, where he says on eight different occasions, Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Clearly, through the use of the grammatical conjunction and, Paul is identifying two different subjects, God and Jesus, from whom come the blessing of grace and peace. It is not possible to say that God the Father and Jesus are one and the same person, unless we want to nullify the rules of grammar. They are clearly introduced as two separate persons. The only true God and His son are further distinguished by the titles that are used to identify them. God the Father is identified as the Lord God, the Almighty, and the Most High. None of these titles are ever applied to Jesus. He is identified as the Son of the Most High God in Luke 1:32, and clearly made distinct from his Father, the Lord God in that very same verse! It is also easy to see this distinction made in Revelation 21:22, where the apostle John discloses what he saw in the vision of the glorious revelation of New Jerusalem. He says of the city, I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God, the Almighty and the Lamb are its temple.[1] Wow! Clear as day. It is possible to see the distinction made Page 17

B M ibl is e ce No l l te an s y: &

between Jesus, the Lamb of God, and the one true God, the Lord God Almighty. That tiny little conjunction and linking the two subjects makes it impossible to say that God and Jesus are the same person. And the Bible makes it clear that there is only one Almighty God, one Most High who is God the Father He is the one who has revealed himself by the name YHWH. YHWH is our Father, He is our God and Jesus would agree. After all, he too worships the one God of Israel, whom he identified as the only true God[2] in and as my Father and your Father, my God and your God.[3] It is time to rethink our creeds and leave our preconceived notions behind, and seek to come to the knowledge of the truth that the God desires us to know: that there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, thw man Christ Jesus.[4] [1] Revelation 21:22 (NASB) [2] John 17:3 (NASB) [3] John 20:17 (NASB) [4] 1 Tim 2:5 (NASB)

N.T. Wright "I sometimes think that the Council of Chalcedon in 451 might be seen as the 'de-Israelitization' of the canonical picture of YHWH and Israel into the abstract categories of divinity and humanity." N.T. Wright, Who Was Jesus. John Calvin "Man's nature, so to speak, is a perpetual factory of idols...Man's mind, full as it is of pride and boldness, dares to imagine a god according to its own capacity; as it sluggishly plods, indeed is overwhelmed with the crassest ignorance, it conceives an unreality and an empty appearance as God...To these evils a new wickedness joins itself, that man tries to express in his work the sort of God he has inwardly conceived. Therefore the mind begets an idol." Calvin, Institutes 1.11.8 N.T. Wright "The NT is not terribly interested about going to heaven, it's interested in the New heavens and the New Earth and in the Kingdom of God coming ON EARTH as in heaven. And as long as we persist in talking about how we get to heaven, we are reversing what the NT is really all about...this affects present Justification in terms of how you see the future." NT Wright, 2.7.13.

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When it all Collapses

By Wally Winner

As an increasing number of doomsayers predict total economic collapse followed by social and political chaos, what kind of preparations should you be making now? You pull up to the pump and the price of unleaded jumps another five cents a gallon while you are pumping gas. That does it. It's time to fight back. You'll just have to break down and buy a car that gets better mileage. In the showroom a couple of hours later you check out the snazzy new economy models; maybe even a hybrid. This blue one here is just what you're looking for. Let's see nowbetter check the sticker price. You read the price, freeze, then gasp in disbelief. Well, maybe with a good tune-up you can coax a couple more mpg's out of the old family bus and make do. It may come to wrestling some Amish farmer for his horse and buggy. It's all too much. There must be a way to escape this nightmare. You flick on the TV. The big news tonight is that the only thing climbing as fast as the unemployment rate is inflation. Where will it all end?

A growing number of economists, futurists and analysts are becoming convinced that it will all end in disaster. They see the economy racing toward a collapse of unparalleled magnitudea financial crash that will bring on a depression so severe the On the way home you stop by the local "discount" early 1930s will look like the high life. supermarket to pick up a few things. The checker drags your items across the computer scanner, Whether or not their doomsday vision is accurate and a few "bips" later you throw up your hands. is impossible to say. You feel as if you're victim of a hold up. You walk Equally respected experts insist that there is no out with a single plastic bag of groceries. reason for alarm and see ahead a slow but certain Home now, you shuffle through today's mail. The recovery from our current economic ills. utility bill is a stunner. You're already chipping ice in the commode in the winter and living in your underwear (you dont dare go any further) in the summer in an effort to conserve, but what good does it do when they hike the rates on you every other bill? There are several events that could lead to an economic collapse. Any single event or combination of events could cause terrible and debilitating circumstances for a short or long period of time: Page 19

irresponsible manipulation of the money supply as tornados, volcanic eruptions, solar flares, the chief culprits. They see inflation eventually earthquakes, and other geophysical events accelerating into hyperinflation," such as preceded the collapse of the German mark in 1923. reactor meltdowns, and radiation fallout economic collapse and/or bond implosion) causing currencies to implode and governments to topple production of oil, the lifeblood of modern economies or a bird flu pandemic After World War I ended, Germany compensated for rising inflation by printing more money. Eventually it was unable to pay for reparations imposed on it by the Treaty of Versailles. As a result foreign troops occupied Ruhr, one of Germany's most productive regions. This spurred a number of strikes and a campaign of passive resistance, which slowed the production of goods, ultimately to a point where Germany had nothing to trade. The striking workers still had to be paid, adding fuel to the fire. Soon Germany was relentlessly printing money in a last ditch effort to avert the crisis. At the outbreak of WWI a German mark was worth about a quarter in US dollars. By the time these ten million mark banknotes were first printed they were worth just a couple US dollars, and weeks later would be almost worthless. As these doomers see it, the dollar will continue to diminish to the point of worthlessness, and at that point the whole economic structure will collapse. In the wake of this economic disaster, the crash seers predict nightmarish social chaos, a total breakdown of law and order. Thousandsperhaps millionsof citizens, driven by hunger, become violent in their search for the necessities of life. Marauding hordes stop at nothing. Thus, much of the published advice on survival in the coming crash focuses on preparing now for the worst.

It should be no surprise, then, that both the average citizen and the financial expert are filled with a deepening sense of foreboding as they anticipate the future. Yeswhere indeed will it all end? It is no accident that in that recent years an avalanche of "crash" books has poured into the nation's bookstores. Some have become best sellers. Some of the oldies bear titles such as The Coming Currency Collapse, How to Survive the Money Crash, How to Prosper During the Coming Bad Years, After the Crash, Neiv Profits From the Monetary Crisis, and Crisis Investing. Some of the new material include The S.A.L.T. Plan, 37 Things You Store, Strategic Relocation, Picking up the Pieces, The Complete Worst Case Scenario Survival Handbook, etc. If you want hands on time, you can go to Doomsday Prepper Shows. The scenarios of the coming crash as set forth in these several books are strikingly similar. They see

Scores of economic and survival newsletters the economy as already lurching out of control, continue to spring up, commanding anywhere from with excessive government spending and $50 to $200 annually for their periodic counsel. Page 20

Many of these advocate that anyone who is in earnest about surviving the imminent economic and social doomsday should buy land in a remote area on which to build a modest retreat, stock it with at least a year's supply of food, setup a personal supply of drinking water, and also stockpile enough weaponry and ammunition to fend off the hungry marauders who will sweep the countryside in search of sustenance. As for making economic preparations for the crisis, both newsletters and books are quite united in their recommendations. Since the dollar will become worthless, essentially all currencybacked and paper assets will be of no help whatever. Real value, they say, will then reside only in the precious metalsprimarily gold, silver, and to a lesser extent, platinumand in gems, especially diamonds. Gold in the form of bullion or numismatic coins is commonly advocated. The South African Krugerrand, containing exactly one ounce of pure gold, is undoubtedly the most popular recommendation and perhaps the most convenient form in which to own gold. Silver in bullion form or in pre-1964 U.S. coins is also highly advised. This, then, is the gloomy scenario outlined in today's proliferation of "crash" books and newsletters. Will it really happen? And how should you relate to that possibility? Most Bible students are convinced that the Bible prophesies a great future time of trouble and that all signs point to its imminent arrival. As just one example, in a prediction the fulfillment of which is yet future and apparently just ahead, the prophet Daniel warns that near the world's end "there will be a time of distress such as has not happened from the beginning of nations until then." Daniel 12:1, NIV.

How, then, should you relate to the possibility of a financial collapse in the relatively near future? Are the survival strategies of the "crash" authors consistent with the principles of Christ? To what extent should you rely on God for protection and provisions during such a time, rather than on your own resources? Little support can be found in the Bible for the idea of holing up in an isolated mountain fortress with a private cache of supplies while keeping one's hungry countrymen at bay with an automatic rifle. Jesus said to "give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away." Matthew 4:42. God's counsel is "to deal thy bread to the hungry." Isaiah 58:7. What about making material preparations for a possible crisis? Again, the Word of God is clear that we should not trust in our own efforts and resources to see us through such times. It especially warns against becoming so caught up in stockpiling wealth as insurance against bad times that we neglect to lay up "treasures in heaven." Matthew 6:20. "My God shall supply all your need," Philippians 4:19 promises. As for such necessities as food, shelter and clothing, Jesus said: "Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." Matthew 6:33. To His follower without resources during times of trouble, God promises that "bread shall be given him; his waters shall be sure." Isaiah 33:16. Does this mean then that as we see the clouds of a major storm of trouble rising before us like towering, angry thunderheads. we should just sit back and presume that God will shield us from its fury? Or does He sometimes place within our reach ahead of time the wisdom and resources to build a shelteror at least to put together an umbrella? Page 21

Before the seven years of famine in Egypt, God gave Joseph wisdom to store up enough extra grain to see the land and many of its neighbors through the long drought. Before the Flood, He moved Noah to build an ark. Before Sodom was destroyed, He urged Lot to flee the city. And before the great time of trouble just ahead, God sends the warnings of prophecy and supplies the wisdom to those who desire it, to prepare for the coming trouble.

NINTH ANNUAL Church of God

September 19-21, 2013

Should you pull all your savings out right now and rush out to buy Krugerrands? Should you sell your city home and relocate far back in the country? No doubt when and if the economy collapses, many of God's true followers will find it necessary to depend totally on the Owner of all the earth's gold and silver for their necessities. Others, however, may have responded to a divine urging to make tangible preparations for such a crisis, and God may thus be able to use them as channels of material blessing to those with no resources whatever. God leads each of His followers individually. His plan for one life is not the same as that for another. If He moves on some, as He no doubt will, to make advance preparations for a time of great crisis, we may be quite certain that they will be those who have long since placed their full trust not in the Krugerrand but in the King. Those who are moved to hoard the Krugerrands because they will not trust the King will ultimately discover, to their everlasting chagrin that real security is to be found not in gold, but in God.

Hosted at and by the North Hills Church of God 2950 Moorefield Road Springfield, OH 45502
COG History Committee Jan Stilson Arlen Rankin, Greg Demmitt, David Krogh Kent Ross, Coordinator

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Report 6 from San Jose

By Larry Rankin
After a good day of talking about the scriptures with Brother Peter Guzmana, We got a good rest and woke up at 4:00 am to prepare for our next trip. We were on board the small pomboat which is a motorized canoe with outriggers to balance it, at 5:00 and headed out to sea, but the currents were so strong with the changing tide that the operator felt it wasnt safe to continue and we returned to Libjo. At 10:00 am it had stopped raining and another operator offered to pilot the boat, so we were able to reach the Island of Leyte in about two and a half hours. Another hour of bus after we had our lunch and we were in the town of Sogod, Southern Leyte. We got directions from Brother Cherry Grenanda in Mindanao by cell phone and proceeded to the home of his sister where we were very well received. Cherry had lost contact with his family here and asked us to drop by to get him reconnected. We spent the night and shared pictures with them. In the morning one of Cherrys nieces asked about our religion and as a result I let her watch the video of Cherry on the one true God of the bible. She kept confirming that she agreed and I left her with tracts on several topics to help expose her to our teaching. Then we traveled by Tricycle to the next town, Thomas Opus, and by motorcycle to the village of Cauayan to meet Rudy Guzmana, the nephew of Brother Peter. It was our third visit to Rudy and it was clear during the 5 hours of bible reading and discussing that he has already understood much of our teaching and adopted it. We explained to him the importance of baptism in the true faith as per his request and he was very seriously considering it. His wife and children all were very ready to listen as well. From Thomas Opus we traveled back to Sogod then by bus for four hours on to Tacloban city, the center of eastern Visayas, and then another four hours by Van to Cabay, Kabankayan, Eastern Leyte. We were received very well at the Azul home for the 6th yearly visit In the afternoon I led Abbe and Burnadette, two high school age ladies, in bible drills about the life of Abraham. I was very impressed with how much Abbe could remember. We stayed two days and both nights we had long bible studies with about ten of the family both nights. I made a chart of the ages on the back of their calendar so that they could keep it when we left and explained each part for them. Questions included: What is the Lineage of Jesus, What date was he born on, Who were the three kings from the east, and Baptism. There is significant progress among them again, and I could see that they have been reading the bibles when we arent there also. Abbes mother has a high school education, but her mother only grade 4 and the others none. They just listen to Abbe read and ask questions. The beautiful thing about teaching this family is that they dont have any previous teachings to distract them from understanding what they read. Abbe has stopped studying after second year high school but has been translating for the bible studies for two years. So, I talked to her parents and they were happy to let her go in the trip to get more life experience as well as more concentrated bible study. She is unusually serious about the bible for a sixteen year old. So the second morning I left Cabay with Abbe, Lynlyn, and Dayday. We traveled by bus 27 hours to reach Manila. It is an exhausting trip. Our first stop in Manila city was in Moonwalk, Parenaque where I said good-by to Lynlyn and Dayday who the following day would take a 16 hour bus trip back to Antique. Many thanks to the two girls for their dedication to do all the work that it takes to keep up with me in the trip for two months. They washed the clothes, cooked, translated, taught kids, and took responsibility of our things and our needs. They both plan to be available again and are willing to forgo having boyfriends to do so. They are 22 years old. So, Abbe and I traveled across the city and on to Sta Rosa, Laguna to the home of Amileah Gacusan. We shared Pictures and stories for the evening with Apolinario and Thelma Gacusan. They seem to have made the home of their daughter their retirement home. The next day was Page 23

Sunday and Alvin with his wife Irish as well as Janet, Alvins cousin, and her mother came for a service. Apolinario spoke about Israel as our example and asked me to have a second topic. I used scriptures to show how in each age of time God brings the earth to a populated state and man fails to teach the precious gospel to following generations in each age. From the pre-flood age to the Patriarchal age, the Law age, the Church age, and the Millennium. We showed how this eventually will bring about Gods will on the earth as per Isaiah 45:18 and Matthew 6:10. In the afternoon we shared Pictures and stories with Alvin and Irish Gacusan. In the late afternoon Abbe and I traveled north through the city for more than an hour to Cubao, where we met Lowell James Madorable, the niece of Sister Elizabeth in Mindanao. James attended many of our bible studies and one youth seminar as a teenager. Now married and having one daughter he has decided to seriously consider our teaching and requested our visit. He asked us to expound on the teaching that the kings of the east came from the Philippines, The end of the world, The story of the Kingdom from the time of Israel until the eternal age, and the Paradise. This took more than two hours and we retired very late. Since James has a wifi that I could use, I chose to spend some time the next day on projects related to my work in the states and in the late afternoon we traveled another direction across the city to Valenzuela. Here we Met Romelda Jean Piano, the young lady who had joined us in hiking the mountains of Antique in 2008 and this year had sent us to meet and teach her family in Palawan. She treated us very well providing us with meals that she cooked herself and bedding in her uncle's home. Two of her uncles and her grandfather joined us for the bible study. They all were very open minded and willing to ask questions. Romelda translated in Tagalog and Abbe did the reading. We covered the basics of the natures of Man and God, Salvation, and the Kingdom. They were very receptive and we received a good invitation back. Some of the women tried to attend but the children disturbed them until they gave up. I was very impressed with Romelda and how much she still remembered after five years. She assured me that next year she will be with us when we visit in Palawan. The next morning we rode the light rail train, a new experience for Abbe, to the center of Manila to meet the Macaraya family and buy bibles. They treated us to lunch then we took a bus to Tanza, Cavite and the home of Sister Maricel Respondo. When her husband, Joviani, came home at 8:00 pm we immediately started bible study. His questions were about Pascua, the twelve tribes of Israel, and what is the inheritance. He had stopped using cigarettes and consequently gained a lot of weight. It is always a pleasure to see this evidence and the change in character that takes place in a person who has rid themselves of such a monster. The next day we crossed back over Manila to the home of Brother and Sister Timoteo Abon. We enjoyed the afternoon and had a good rest then in the evening we had a bible topic for them about the 12 Sons of Jacob. We also helped Abbe and Keenex to struggle through question #16 in the genesis questions. How many years from Adam to the Flood? Today we traveled through the city for two hours then four hours north by bus to San Jose, Nueva Ecija. This completes the southern part of my trip for the year. Tomorrow I will prepare for going to and Saturday we will leave for Ilocos region Annie Sagwil and Abbe will be with me in the start of the trip. Thank you again for all the prayers. Three months are past and there are two ahead before I will return, Lord willing, to the states on April 23. I encourage all of you who have Facebook to use my Facebook account to see pictures. In Christian Love, Larry Rankin. Page 24

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As I sat there knowing something was wrong and what I needed to do was difficult for me to grasp. I was already effected by confusion and lack of judgment and just feeling not so good! It was as if everything was in slow motion. It was about 30 below and I went outdoors with no coat, boots, etc. My vehicle was a Scout that was pretty well buried I had to crawl on top of the snow to get to the back in the snow. The snow reached the door handles. of the Scout as doors could not be opened. Bill and the mechanic from work stopped at the house and got it started and left to pick up freight I managed to open the back lift window and crawl from the little airport and mail from the Post Office. in and over the back seats and into the front. I shut After they left I fixed myself lunch and right after I the car off. I sat there not knowing what to do next. finished eating I realized something was not right It then occurred to me I had to go back into the but couldnt really figure out what. I knew it was house and rescue the baby. We were keeping and too soon to be food poisoning. I knew it had to do caring for a neighbors infant. The mother had to with the car running but I thought it had only been return to the hospital with medical complications. 15 minutes at the most that it had been running. I I managed to crawl back out of the Scout and get knew I needed to get out there and turn the key back in doors. Now the wisest thing would have off. been to put on my winter gear, wrap the baby up and leave the house. It again shows my lack of Now if you are thinking carbon monoxide poisoning judgment and confusion. I had such difficulty you would be correct! Inhalation of carbon determining what to do. I knew the parents were monoxide is very difficult to detect because it is going to pick the baby up that afternoon after she odorless, tasteless and colorless. It is very toxic. was discharged. I knew Bill would come back Symptoms are light headedness, confusion, eventually as well. I made the decision to stay in headaches, vertigo, nausea and vomiting. I had the house for the babys welfare and to keep her lack of judgment, confusion, headaches and loss out of the cold. I went to the bedroom and slightly of consciousness. There are 2300 hospitalizations opened the door to the storage unit and laid on the and over 200 people die each year of this bed with the baby. I went in and out of poisoning and Alaska leads in occurrences. consciousness for the remaining time. I would Page 25

I am enjoying my 44th winter in Alaska! Although Bill and I cant get out on our Snow Machines like we did in our early years we still find great beauty in winter skies and the landscape. Gods art work never ceases to amaze us. We still manage to get outdoors and walk every day. OK so its not as far or as long as it was in our younger years! I am always reminded this time of year of something that happened to me 42 years ago. That would have been January of 1971 when Bill and I were living in Tanana, Alaska. We had been married a little over a year and had returned recently from a trip to visit family in Minnesota, Ohio, Boston and some pleasure time in Key West, Florida. It was very cold and we had a large snowfall to negotiate after coming back.

Bill and I lived in a little log cabin of 16 x 20. There was an old Quonset attached that we made into a bedroom that was 12 x 10. The remaining 12 x 10 was unheated and used as a storage unit. The Scout was 8 feet away from the building along the side. They had cleared the snow in the yard and in front of the Scout the day before. They would pull the car out after returning. The exhaust from the car had tunneled through the snow and under the cabin and was coming up through the floor.

wake up feeling terrible but knowing help would God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present arrive. It seemed like an eternity. help in trouble. Psalm 46:1 The parents of the baby came to pick up the baby And from Psalm 121:7-8: The LORD will keep you after about an hour and a half. They came into the from all harm-He will watch over your life; the house and realized something was wrong but LORD will watch over your coming and going both didnt know what the problem was. They had just now and forevermore. seen my husband at the Post office so the father went to get him. Now this man was Greek and BUT GOD moments are all through Scriptures. spoke broken English. He informs Bill that he But, for the purpose of this writing, means except needs to come quickly and that there was no life! for or without. I looked up in the concordance and He came quickly and realized immediately what counted how many times its used in this manner was wrong. My face was red as a beet! He put and come up with at least 65 references for the me in the truck, drove me to the little hospital where use of BUT GOD. That is not an accurate count I had worked and given care and I know it is much higher. and now it was my turn. I was We know that the entire given oxygen immediately. Scriptures is story after story of The baby was given some BUT GOD. Noah, Abraham, oxygen although they felt it Isaac, Jacob, Moses, Joshua, was not harmed or had David, Job, Daniel, Sara, Rachel, consequences from the Rebekah, Hannah, Samuel, poisoning. Praise be to God. Naomi, Rahab. All of them and so many more whose lives In the meantime people went depended on God intervening in to the house and opened all their lives to show them the way, the doors to bring in fresh air. to rescue them and to bring forth There was no way of knowing His plans and purposes. In the back then what the levels New Testament it would be the were in the house, what my 12 Apostles, Paul, Mary, and the levels were, etc. After countless multitudes who were receiving oxygen, I was sent recipients of Gods miracles of home and told I would have a healing, Salvation and changed headache. In modern day lives. They received Gods medicine I would have been Grace, His Mercies and His Love. admitted for observation and And that is the story that has monitored for at least been passed down through the overnight. And a headache I ages from generation to did have that lasted for 2 days generation. From our parents to unlike anything Ive ever us, from us to our children and our grandchildren. experienced. It takes days for the body to return The story is that God intervenes in our lives. He to normal status. is able to do far more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work with us. I call that experience my BUT GOD moment. Most Ephesians 3:20 everyone has had at least one if not many or know about them in the lives of our family, friends and These are my favorite Scriptures of BUT GOD: stories we have read about. Why did God save BUT GOD demonstrates his own love for us in this: me from this experience. I have to consider this While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. and come up empty handed. I know I am so very Romans 5:8 grateful for His mercy, His grace, His love, His orchestration of rescuing me. Knowing what I You intended to harm me, BUT GOD intended it know I should not have survived this at all. Why for good to accomplish what is now being done, didnt I have serious medical complications? the saving of many lives. Genesis 50:20 Page 26

BUT GOD will redeem my life from the grave; he will surely take me to himself. Psalm 49:15 Whom have I in heaven but You? And earth has nothing I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, BUT GOD is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. Psalm 73:25-26

appreciate His grace and love. I would have missed the process of transformation and sanctification. Whatever His purposes and His plans were for my life I pray I have been obedient and submissive to His will. Proverbs 19:21 I will again face death. I may be taken quickly without knowing what happened. It may come slowly. Either way I am ready to go and meet the Lord at the time of my resurrection. 1 Corinthians 15: 51-52

No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him BUT GOD has revealed it to us by His Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. I Corinthians 2:9-10 I am in no hurry but I am ready which is a borrowed quote from my Dad . And another quote With man this is impossible, BUT with GOD all from missionary Jim Elliot: When it comes time to things are possible. Matthew 19:26 die, make sure that all you have to do is die. For every house is built by someone, BUT GOD is the builder of everything. Hebrews 3:4 I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, BUT GOD made it grow. 1 Corinthians 3:6 For the wages of sin is death, BUT the gift of GOD is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23 It does not, therefore depend on mans desire or effort, BUT on GODS mercy. Romans 9:16

I am at peace with God, peace with my family and loved ones, there is oil in my lamp, and I am watching and praying. Even so, Come, Lord Jesus. Revelation 22:20 In Ephesians 5:14 Paul is writing to the saints of Ephesus. They needed encouragement. He uses a song that he had sung with them while ministering to them. Wake up, O sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you. This is what I feel happened to me. I was awakened at deaths door and my Savior has shone His light on me.

I am so thankful for Gods Faithfulness. Because of the LORDs great love we are not consumed, BUT thanks be to GOD! He gives us the victory for his compassions never fail. They are new every through our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 15:57 morning; great is your faithfulness. Lamentations 3:22-23 I am thankful that God chose life for me. I am so very thankful that I was not pregnant at the time. Every year at this time I stop and thank God for another year of life. I will praise you forever for what you have done; in your name I will hope, for your name is good. I will praise you in the presence of your saints. Psalm 52:9 If God had not delivered me life would be so different. Bill had waited 30 years of his life for me to come along. It would have been so devastating for him to lose me after one year of marriage. Our 3 beautiful children would not have been born nor our precious grandchildren. Most of all I would never have grown to love God and the Lord Jesus Christ as I do now. I would never have learned to Page 27

"Veneration of Mary, the mother of Jesus" (sic)

By Russell Rankin
hear. Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb has been included, but with statements added much later to the Scripture addressing Mary as the mother of God. This was done in an effort to elevate Mary in Christian worship, but again were spoken to Mary as though she were able to receive and respond to such adoration. How then does one honor the mother of Immanuel? Is Mary, this young Jewish woman, to be regarded higher than her Lord? Or even higher than her God, as the Mother of God? The church changed Jesus' title Immanuel from God is with his people, meaning a great prophet is risen up among us (Luke 7:16), to God is with us in the flesh. The church moved from highly favored by God (Luke 1:30) to mother of God. When did the adoration and veneration of this humble Hebrew mother become the adoration and veneration of the Queen of Heaven? Not long after the death of Jesus' apostles, elevating Mary above all women began to develop. Second century Justin Martyr, Irenaeus, and Tertullian allegorized Eve, associating Mary as the spiritual mother of all living. By their use of typology, they, with later theologians, Origen and Basil the Great, Chrysostum also, began to regard Mary as the eternal virgin. By the fourth century, Mariology (the doctrine of Mary) well established that she was a perpetual virgin, that she never had any other children than Jesus, thus making her always a virgin untouched by her husband. By the end of the fourth century, Augustine exempted Page 28 In most depictions of the birth of Jesus, the mother of Jesus is shrouded with a covering like mothers of the Roman world. This covering (stola with palla)i expressed in public a faithful woman whose life was modest, chaste, pure and holy. Mary was a young woman, as the prophet Isaiah foretold: a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. Matthew reported that Mary was the fulfillment of the virginii in Isaiah 7:14. With the honor of Mary, its history and its myths, Mary continued to be portrayed as a woman with her head covered to show her purity. And it remains a popular way to show respect to Mary. Mary was the mother of Immanuel. She deserves honor and the respect of all people for being the mother of Jesus. God's angel, Gabriel, even addressed Mary, Do not be afraid Mary, for you have found favor with God (Luke 1:30). Mary was faithful to the God of her fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. She believed and hoped in the promises God gave them. Mary was faithful like her ancestor, King David, a woman after [God's] own heart (1 Samuel 13:14; Acts 13:21-23). Mary was like her kinswoman and close friend, Elizabeth, righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord (Luke 1:6). Mary's faithfulness to God was described in Luke 1:26-56. The words, you have found favor with God, have made their way into formulated statements of adoration, repeated often by many who seek to follow Christ, and are spoken as though Mary could

Mary from the penalty of Adam's sin, even from their doctrine of 'original sin,' that she did not sin and that sin did not pass down from her parents, that she did not die, but entered heaven to be with her son, forever as a Mediatrix with Jesus.iii

led to the belief that, because Mary was without sin, she did not have to die, she was spared corruption and her body was received into Heaven to be united with her soul. The immortality of the soul doctrine (which by this time had permeated the church) had prepared the way for the Assumption of Mary teaching. Though the Mother of God doctrine was not accepted by the Reformers (Protestants, today Evangelicals), the belief that Mary ascended to heaven at death remains prominent. In Catholic tradition (Roman and Greek orthodoxy) Mary is celebrated and proclaimed to be bodily in Heaven with her son, who they believe is God and who is also bodily in heaven. Not only bodily in heaven, Mary then was elevated to Queen of Heaven. As queen, she has influence over the triune Godhead. Therefore, Mary as Queen of Heaven holds a higher role of mediator above her son, Jesus. For centuries, as early as 397 A.D. prayers have been offered to Mary. Following tradition, many continue to pray to Mary rather than to God, expecting her to influence the response of the Godhead to the church. But Scripture teaches, there is one God and one mediator, between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time (1 Timothy 2:5-6). [See Internet Sources below for the website which lists the kinds of prayers offered to Mary]. This history of the Adoration of Mary raises the question: Where do Christians today draw the line between honor and worship of Mary? In giving respect to Mary in the early church, it was coupled with the transition from the teaching that the word of God came to be flesh, the only begotten of the Father (John 1:1-14) Page 29

Cyril of Alexandria (Egypt) between 428 and 444 A.D., a most ardent proponent of the Alexandrian/Athanasian doctrine of Incarnation, elevated Mary to the virgin-mother of God by his declaration at the third ecumenical council at Ephesus in 431 A.D., Blessed be thou, O mother of God [O Theotokos]! Thou rich treasure of the world, inextinguishable temple, habitation of Him whom no space can contain, mother and virgin, through whom He is, who comes in the name of the Lord. Blessed be thou, O Mary, who didst hold in thy womb the Infinite One; thou through whom the blessed Trinity is glorified and worshipped, through whom the precious cross is adored throughout the world, through whom heaven rejoices and angels and archangels are glad, through whom the devil is disarmed and banished, through whom every believing soul is saved.iv By the latter part of the fifth century, the doctrine of the Immaculate Conception of Mary

to God Incarnate came into flesh. This elevation from respect to worship was coupled with the move from the teaching of Scripture that man is a living soul subject to death (Genesis 2:7; Psalm 49:7-15), to the immortality of the soul apart from the body. Today, honoring Mary is a mixture of truth and error. Some venerate Mary as the Mother of God. Others reject the worship of Mary calling it Mariolotry, yet maintain the Incarnation teaching that God became the God-man Jesus. Some mix the Oneness of God, insisting God the Spirit entered the flesh, Jesus; they conclude that Jesus is Lord in Acts 2:36 means Jesus is God. The majority of Christianity simply accepts the Deity of Christ, taking no thought that Mary would then be the mother of a god, if not the Mother of God. Others, who separate themselves from the majority of those who call themselves Christian, honor Mary by teaching she was the descendant of David and the daughter of Abraham who herself worshiped the God of Abraham, both literally and by faith. The Christ story (the birth of God's son and His anointed king of the lineage of King David) has devolved over centuries to the Christmas story of God Incarnate ('when God became a baby,' as one modern preacher declared). As modern Christians discover there is only one God, Almighty God, who is the Most High God (Gen. 17:1; Dan. 4), they begin to realize one cannot elevate anyone, even the mother of Jesus, above God. Like Paul described in Ephesians 1:3 and 17, Jehovah (the Hebrew name of God) is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Mary is the mother of God's son, who conceived and gave birth by the power of the Highest, the God of King

David. Gabriel spoke this message to Mary in Luke 1:29-26. Jesus himself taught he was the son of David by Mary and the son of God by the power of God's spirit in Mary, when he asked the leaders of Israel, the Christ, whose son is he? When they responded, the son of David, Jesus added his understanding of Psalm 110, that when the LORD [Jehovah] said unto spoke to David's Lord He spoke to the son of David who also is the son of God (Matthew 22:34-46). The apostle John wrote an entire letter to explain that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God (John 20:31). Espousing these truths show honor and respect to his mother, to Mary the mother of the Son of God. God calls out His church to believe this foundational truth, that Jesus is the Christ, the son of the living God (Matthew 16:16-18), the son of the Highest (Luke 1:32), conceived and born in the womb of Mary (Galatians 4:4). God's church adores the son of Mary, so adores Mary, the descendant of God's anointed David (1 Samuel 16; 2 Samuel 7:8-26). The veneration of Mary should be as Mary herself expressed (Luke 1:46-55): My soul magnifies the Lord [Jehovah], and my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior. For He has regarded the lowly estate of His maidservant; for behold, henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. For He who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is His name. And His mercy is on those who fear Him from generation to generation. He has shown strength with His arm; He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. He has put down the mighty from their thrones, and exalted the lowly. He has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich He has sent away empty. He has helped His servant Israel, in remembrance of His mercy, as He spoke to Page 30 Page 30

our fathers, to Abraham and to his seed forever. To honor Mary is to honor her God, the God of her ancestors. We venerate Mary by trusting the same promises God gave to Abraham and his seed, who is Christ, the same Christ whom Mary saw taken up from them [with 120 other disciples] into heaven. (Genesis 12-17; Galatians 3:8,16,26-29; Acts 1:1114; 2:32-36). When remembering Mary, the mother of Jesus, our hearts should leap for joy, like Elizabeth's baby leaped in her womb, and was filled with the Holy Spirit (Luke 1:40). Jesus was the first to receive immortality; but Mary waits in the grave for the redemption of [her] body with all who are Christ's at his coming (Romans 8:23; 1 Corinthians 15:22; Hebrews 11:35-39). May our lives follow the example of Mary in humble recognition of what God has done for us. Like Mary, let us hear the truths of God about His son born to Mary, and keep these things and ponder them in our hearts. And declare with the angels of heaven, Glory to God in the Highest (Luke 2:8-20).

i. Garment with shroud, The World of Roman Costume, by Judith Lynn Sebesta, Larissa Bonfante, University of Wisconsin Press, Madison, Wisconsin, pg 48. ii Texts are quoted from the Authorized Version (King James Version) or the New King James Version. iii newadvent.org. Note: By promulgating the Bull Munifi centissimus Deus, 1 November, 1950, Pope Pius XII declared infallibly that the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary was a dogma of the CatholicFaith. Likewise, the Second Vatican Council taught in the Dogmatic Constitution Lumen Gentium that "the Immaculate Virgin, preserved free from all stain of original sin, was taken up body and soul intoheavenly glory, when her earthly life was over, and exalted by the Lord as Queen over all things (n. 59)." History of the Christian Church, Philip Schaff, Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA, reprint, 1910, Scribner's Sons, Volume III, Pp. 409-428. iv St Cyril of Alexandria, Hom. IV Ephesi in Nestorium, Patrologia Graeca 77, 992, BC; Acta Conciliorum Oecumenicorum quoted from History of the Christian Church, Philip Schaff, Volume III, Pp. 946-947.

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Page 31

Paul Reveals Christ's "Body-Building" Program

By Kent Ross

Introduction This second article continues Pauls discussion of how the Church is to work. In the last article, we became aware of that God hasgiven spiritual gifts to each Christian, Unfortunately, they sometimes are never identified.

Bible Learning 12:12-14 His first point looked at their own human body, and he makes the point that though they have individual parts in their body, yet they remain one body. While they may have two hands, one tongue, two lungs, one heart . . . yet all the individual parts make up one body, which is easily understood. And to make sure they were beginning to clearly understand fully this teaching he adds that he is applying this to Christ.

Lack of identification by each Christian as to how they have been gifted by God does not mean one is not in a valid position with God through Christ. Not at all. A person may have made a valid decision to become a Christian, While originally they were Greeks, or to have repented of sin, been baptized in to Jews; while they may have been slave or free, Christ, and then risen and walked in newness they came into Christ through Gods Spirit of life looking forward to the Kingdom. when they were created or re-created in But it may mean that many have never discov- Christ Jesus (Ephesians 2:10). It might be of ered Gods perfect plan for their individual life. passing interest that here Paul does not make Some might contend that there is a general the note of being both male and female, as he purpose for all Christians to fulfill, but not a did in Galatians 3:28, though his point there specific purpose for each individual Christian. was different. It is all one and the same Spirit But Paul, in the first section of 1st Corinthians of God that united them and us (see. Ephe12, makes the point that God determines what sians 4:4-6). each one is to have and that each Christian is to have at least one gift to use in some ministry (12:7-12). Then to clarify this teaching Paul uses an extended metaphor of the human body to make clear his points. In effect, this is similar to how Jesus taught when He used parables to clarify His teachings. Looking at the second half of 1st Corinthians 12, we note Pauls four points that clarify his teaching of how the Church is to work. We might term it "Paul Revealing Christ's "BodyBuilding" Plan. Page 32

So while we are all one, we are also many . . . as there are many bricks in but one building. Paul, instead of using a brick building as metaphor, used the human body. In a brick building, each brick, though a part of the one building when complete, may seem nearly identical with every other brick.

Paul instead uses the body of a human to convey this teaching. While each "part" of the Body has similarities, there are also distinct differences and purposes with each part, yet those disparate parts are to work together 12:27-31 Of course they could now see what Paul was teaching. Yes, they had many differas one body. 12:15-19 Here the teaching Paul conveys is ent gifts, even offices, it was quite clear that not every one has the same gifts. God has absurdly simple as he decided which gifts uses the body to illusare to reside in which trate. We instinctively indivudal parts, but know that the wrist canthat all of them are to not decide it would rathfunction together to er be a lung. It cannot be succeed in the Body a lung. There are some fully and successfully parts that can perhaps functioning as demake-do as the result of signed. an injury, such as one hand learning to write because the other hand can no longer do so. But disparate parts, even if they might be utilized for another, cannot make that decision. Paul explains that it would be a decision and determination that "the Head" makes, and it is not a body part that makes that decision. In the third lesson next Sunday, we see Paul wanting to make sure they understand this teaching clearly. Bible Application

cannot operate independently as those in the Church there would immediately understand. The eye sees, but it cannot pick up something, as can the hand. While the head can want to move somewhere, that requires the cooperation of the feet. So while the feet seem independent of the head, and the hand independent of the eye, for the most efficient operation of a human, they all need to work together to accomplish the task desired by the Body.

12:12-14 The issue of the unity of the Body becomes paramount, for when individual parts of the Body decide to operAn individual workate independently, the entire Body. If thew er in a vineyard would expect the owner to assign him to his tasks. He would not inform Body of Christ is unified, various factions can the owner of the vineyard what tasks he, the and do form. Each group may insist their part worker, would do that day. That is the respon- should be the most important for the well-besibility of the owner to assign tasks to the ing of the Body. workers, as does "the Head" for us. Often among our churches the division may be between those that are family and 12:20-26 Paul goes on in his explanation of the Body as metaphor. He wanted the Corinthi- those who are not. Or the distinction may be ans church to understand that each part in the between ages, where the younger generation Body is important to the best functioning of feels like the older generation is stifling them the body. He uses the eye and hand, and in their joyful surface, whereas the older generthen compares the head and the feet. They ation fears the younger members may emPage 33

brace practices, and even other doctrines that would weaken the church. How can the natural divisions be wisely resolved. Even the New Testament church struggled with this sort of issue in Acts 6. 12:15-19 When one teacher doesnt want to cooperate with the pastors leadership, or the youth leader wants to hold a dance for the kids youth rally and the church elders disagree with them, and the youth and youth leaders begin to murmur. This issue was present there in Acts 6:1, but Paul has also mentioned in in 1st Corinthians 10:10, and especially in Jude 16. The murmuring is divisive and threatening to the full functioning of the church. In certain instances a body may have the crippling of a limb, as of an an arm, and while the body makes some adjustments to cope with the loss of the use of one arm, it cannot fully overcome the loss of that other limb. Or when a person is confined to a wheelchair, while often their arms and chest muscles make great efforts at compensating for the loss of the usage of the legs, there is less how their hair looks. Their hair has little to do full function under the best of the compensa- with the functioning of their body, but if their tion. liver begins to fail, their entire body has weak12:20-26 His ened functioning, which even can be fatal. We further compari- seldom think about the functioning of our intersons deepen our nal organs, but their full functioning if usually far more important than is our unshaven whisunderstanding when he talks kers, or unpowdered nose. about parts of the body that are unseen, yet may be more vital to the healthy functioning of that Body, His church. Few people think daily about how their liver might be functioning, until some day when it is not, yet every day they likely worry about 12:27-31 But often today, though we recognize physical disparities among us, it seems more difficult to accept that we have differing spiritual gifts, and that we, each one, has at least one gift to be used for the full and successful functioning of the Body. Determining what our particular gift might be takes on more importance when we realize if we do not function and use our gift as God intended, we are responsible for the less than stellar functioning of our church, the Body of Christ. Reviewing Ephesians 2:10 is useful here, again. But Paul realized there was another aspect that tempers all he has shown them. Next month our study will continue. Page 34