http://www.pleonast.com/user/ncreaves recent pleonast.com entries by user ncreaves en-us http://www.pleonast.com/user/ncreaves?l=5&entryID=596171 It has been my opinion that as Christians we should do what we can to help steer our country in a direction that goes along with God's word as close as possible. One denominational preacher on TV Sunday afternoon had an excellent lesson titled Vote the Bible. He never mentioned the name of either candidate, but gave good, solid scriptures to help each individual vote using Biblical principles so a candidate could be chosen with those ideals in mind. It was an admirable effort. I will admit that I have never gotten as excited over a candidate as this year. The candidate wasn't my first choice, but through the months I came to admire the sacrifices he made for his country. As Christians we should be a people willing and ready to make sacrifices for the Lord, to further the borders of the kingdom, and to help the poor. I felt this candidate put some Christians to shame with his dedication to his country. Are we that dedicated to the Lord? I also admired his choice of running mate. Who we... 2008-11-05 http://www.pleonast.com/user/ncreaves?l=5&entryID=579973 Yesterday Brownie and Jared spent over 2 hours studying with Faith and a father-figure friend of hers. A few weeks ago I wrote about the 26 year old single mother who is living with us. We have begun our efforts to teach her. Here is her story: She was "saved" at 3 years of age and baptized when she was 7 years old. She told me this morning in a 2 hour conversation and study that she knows what she "felt in her heart". I tried to get her to understand that "feeling" something doesn't necessarily make it right. Most people who are religious come to a Bible study thinking they have been saved. Then after further study some come to understand and see the truth and want to obey the gospel of Christ. Please pray that Faith will not simply rely on her "feelings" and that her heart will be open to accept the truth. She comes from a pentecostal or charasmatic background and is convinced she has been lead by the Spirit to make decisions in her life. It ... 2008-09-25 http://www.pleonast.com/user/ncreaves?l=5&entryID=572173 In July we returned to Mexico to see our kids and for Brownie to spend some time teaching. It is beyond difficult to try and summarize the depth of feeling I have for the brethren there and the many small works that exist in and around the state of Chiapas. Petra, the dear old lady who fought stomach cancer with snake venom, met me with tears of joy in her eyes, knowing that she was the subject of many a prayer from me and all the Christians enlisted to pray on her behalf. I wish I could give each of you just one of her smiles. Even the remembrance of her face brings me joy. I have picked up some very basic spanish which I wear out saying my simple phrases over and over again. I long to be able to say everything on my heart to them, to be able to communicate effectively with them in their language. But love among brethren really does transcend mere words. They know and treasure what we hold in common. I do too. We visited in Ocasingo and a neighboring village some 3 hours from Jeb and ... 2008-09-06 http://www.pleonast.com/user/ncreaves?l=5&entryID=559504 We've had a "slammed" busy summer. There is so much I could share and I do plan to comment in greater detail about our trip to Mexico. Brownie preached 7 times and taught a class. I was able to do some counseling with a young Christian. Of course, all of this was made possible by Jeb's translating. That is a real drain for him, but he really does a wonderful job. It was an encouraging and rewarding trip. More on that later. Our third son Jared is presently trying to teach a young woman he met in the gym. He studies with her twice a week and like most people who deal with the varied subjects that can come up in a study, he is probably learning alot too. Please pray that his efforts will be successful. This young woman is a single mother of a 2 and a half year old little girl. She is 26, bright, and spiritually-minded, but needs alot of teaching. She is determined to live pure from this point forward. Her father died when she was a 2 year old and her relationship with her moth... 2008-08-06 http://www.pleonast.com/user/ncreaves?l=5&entryID=546612 Quite a number of years ago I was asked to teach a group of 17 young women who were high school and college age on the subject of choosing a mate. I wasn't too excited about the subject because I could just imagine all the fine sermons they had heard on the value of marrying a Christian. In my opinion, it seems like the common sense thing to do--to marry a Christian, yet when it comes to matters of the heart, caution is quite often thrown to the wind. So I stewed over the subject for a while and then one day had a "light bulb" moment. I decided to ask 5 women who married unbelievers to write me their marriage story. I also asked a young women who was expecting a baby out of wedlock. And I asked 6 women who were determined to marry Christians to write their story. I wasn't prepared for the incredible stories I received. The "negative" letters were heartbreaking and so convincing. The young women cried as I read them. The "positive" letters were such a cont... 2008-07-04 http://www.pleonast.com/user/ncreaves?l=5&entryID=536579 Last Friday we had a couple, Dan and Stephanie Reeves, come for the weekend that we had met years ago when Brownie held a meeting for Columbiana Church of Christ in Alabama. Their older children had been in our home--Ala. camp friends of Jared and Jake. The funny part is that Brownie and I met Dan's dad in Birmingham when Jeb and Sheila were on a chorus trip. Jeb's bunkmate was Michael Hunt. Michael introduced his grandad to Brownie and I. The conversation went something like this: "Hello, I'm H.B. Reeves". Then, "No, I'm H.B. Reaves." Come to find out H.B. Reeves was from Shelby, Ala. and Brownie was from Shelby, Miss. H.B.Reeves was baptized by the same preacher that baptized Brownie's dad. Both H.B.'s have 4 faithful children, are tall and gray-headed, both love to laugh and tease, both have been elders, and both love the Lord. That funny meeting has lead to a lasting friendship of Reeves and Reaves. Brownie has been to Columbiana to preach 3 different times and... 2008-06-06 http://www.pleonast.com/user/ncreaves?l=5&entryID=527838 Petra is the feminine form of Peter. She is a 72 year old sister in San Cristobal in Chiapas, Mexico who is battling stomach cancer. She is maybe 4'10" tall and crispy brown from a life of exposure to the sun. She works the ground on her hillside and sells fruit in the market. Her face is lined with wrinkles that wave upwards every time she smiles, and that smile is frequent and joyous. I adore this dear sister and was afraid I might not have the privilege of her company again. When we greeted each other on Sunday, tears of joy fell. I was overwhelmed with emotion to see this incredible sister whose heart is so strong for the Lord, yet her physical body is struggling to overcome the ravages of cancer. We've never been able to talk to each other, but this trip I could speak some basic spanish so that made visiting with her even more precious. Jeb and Sheila took us (Wanda, Camille, Shirley, and I) to her home. We greeted her with flowers and bread, and she gave us fruit and served ... 2008-05-13 http://www.pleonast.com/user/ncreaves?l=5&entryID=522660 When people touch your life, you want to share the experience and the faith you see with others. The expression, "it's better felt than told" is certainly true. This trip was very special as three of my very dearest friends and sisters flew to Mexico with me. They carried over 300 lbs. of Bible class materials, song books, Bibles, and clothes for women and children. They generously gave to others, but I feel confident they received much more than they gave. I know they came back uplifted by the deep faith and love for the Lord these people exhibited thru their heartfelt generousity and hospitality. We were in the homes of at least 8 families in 6 days. They never once stop to think how you might live and let that deter them. They simply want to enjoy your company as sisters and brothers. There are several impressions I want to share with you. My friends Shirley Orgain, Camille Warren, and Wanda Grant commented on how it felt like how the church was in the 50s and 60s. They c... 2008-04-29 http://www.pleonast.com/user/ncreaves?l=5&entryID=513183 Tomorrow I will be traveling to Mexico with 3 wonderful friends (Camille Warren, Shirley Orgain--FC classmates, and Wanda Grant). I am really looking forward to introducing them to our brothers and sisters in San Cristobal de las Casas where our son, Jeb and his wife, Sheila, work with the saints there. The love and warmth from the Christians there touched my heart. I don't think I will ever be the same. Their joy in serving the Lord reminds me of the struggles and dedication of early Christians. I've read an interesting book for the second time, Will the Real Heretics Please Stand Up. I would recommend it. It is an excellent look at the early Christian writers in the years after the establishment of the church and their diary and remembrances of the struggles, persecutuions, and martyrdom those brethren suffered. Their attitudes and total look towards heaven is so inspiring. The brethren in Mexico are so happy inspite of severe poverty and so willing to share no matter how little the... 2008-04-05 http://www.pleonast.com/user/ncreaves?l=5&entryID=510279 Like you, I want to lead a righteous life. I have been thinking of what it takes to convince and convict a young person to be faithful to the Lord. I've chosen this topic as my subject when I go to Mexico and have the opportunity to speak to the women there. There are many facets I want to mention and my talk is mostly completed, but one thought keeps coming to my mind and it revolves around I Peter 3:10-12. When I'm living right, when my sons are faithful, I'm happy and at peace. Its simple. If as Peter teaches you want to"love life and see good days", then refrain from evil, "for the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous." Today was a good day. Nothing out of the ordinary happened. I just woke up feeling happy. I have a wonderful daughter-in-law, Lisa who is 27 today and she is a strong Christian and a good wife and mother to Abby and Mia. That means so much. Jake and Jared called today. Just hearing their voices makes a day special. And then in just a week I'm go... 2008-03-29