Many of you know Brother Moonen of Texas City.

He is in Mainland Hospital in Texas City and in need of your prayers.

Doctors are still unable to determine the source, and therefore any treatment, for his ailments which include severe pain from head, through neck, to back AND abdominal illness.

Brother Moonen is in his 80's and continually has served the Lord faithfully.

I know he has made an impact on many of you, and I know he would appreciate your prayers at this time.

Please also remember his wife, who due to her own health problems, is unable to visit him in the hospital.

God Bless,

Dave

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Brother Moonen is now out of the hospital and at home. He is still not doing well though. Please continue to remember him and his family in your prayers. I know he appreciates them all.

Some people's vision may be better than others, but how far can the average healthy person see?

On any given sunny day I can see about 93 million miles.

At times in a clear night sky I can see about 3.5 million light years.

So what is the difference? Why can I only see 93 million miles in the day and 3.5 million light years at night?

Light

Light is the variable. The truth is that the average human eye can see for infinity. As long as an object gives off enough light (glory) then we can see it. If an object gives off too much light, then it would blind us.

For example, I can see the sun which is about 93 million miles from earth. However, if I look at it directly for any extended period of time with the naked eye then it will blind me. Its glory will literally blind me.

Considering the glory of God; is it any wonder why we can't see God? That is, our mortal flesh cannot see God. Yet we know God exists. How? By the things that He has done.

Think about black holes for moment. Did you know that scientists cannot "see" a black hole? Why? Because there is no light there?

"A black hole is a place where gravity is so great that nothing, not even light itself, can escape the pull of gravity there. As a result, it cannot be seen directly. It can, however, be seen by its effect on nearby stars, which will orbit around it."

So I guess my questions are:

1. Since scientists cannot "see" a black hole yet know of its existence via its effect; then why cannot the same reason be applied to knowing the existence of God? (Romans 1:20)
2. The fact that the naked human eye has the ability to see for infinity as long as the light is bright enough; the complex and amazing ability inherent in the human eye; isn't that an effect that rationally can be concluded came from a superior omnipotent creator?
3. Isn't an omnipotent omniscient God whom I cannot see with the naked eye because His glory is so great MORE rational than 1) A God that I can see (idols) 2) Denying the existence of God?

Joh 9:39 And Jesus said, "For judgment I came into this world, that those who do not see may see; and that those who see may become blind."

May we accept that which makes us see, that which makes us free... the light... the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

2Ti 1:8 Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, or of me His prisoner; but join with me in suffering for the gospel according to the power of God,
2Ti 1:9 who has saved us, and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was granted us in Christ Jesus from all eternity,
2Ti 1:10 but now has been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death, and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel,

Totally saw that coming... just the wrong team with the wrong scores.

The Sermon Illustration - Love 'em or hate 'em... they are a fact of life.

I think it is very important for preachers to be thoughtful in the analogies, similes, metaphors, parables, etc. that they use. But I do have some questions for thought.

If one were to use an analogy for 10 minutes of a 40 minute lesson it may be considered too long. At the same time, if we were having a scriptural discussion or sermon that took place for hours on end (as it seemingly did in N.T. times) then say there was a 3 hour sermon and (3) 10 minute illustrations were used over that time, then would it seem like that big a deal? If not, then doesn't it seem like the time "constraint" and our modern day lack of attention span might make the 10 minute illustration look extreme?

It seems when N.T. writers through inspiration of the scripture, and even Jesus Himself quoted scripture or examined it, that they would also use illustrations of greater length than the quoting of the passage... sometimes much much longer. Just using the parable of the "prodigal son" as an example, Jesus used two other parables prior (the lost sheep, and lost coin) in Luke 15 that were much shorter, but had the same virtual point in the end as the much enlongated parable of the prodigal son. But didn't they each serve a purpose?

And so when judging preachers and their lessons, as we often do (especially us preachers), shouldn't we take into consideration the context of the lesson, how well the analogy fits and how many points of truth it helps to illustrate as opposed to focusing on how much time it takes? Shouldn't we also consider a preachers "body of work" as opposed to one lesson?

We all have our likes and dislikes. I've heard through the years the criticisms of those who use "too many" illustrations vs. those guys who get up there and just use jokes and illustrations and little scripture, and criticisms of guys who basically just read the scripture but don't teach the scripture. Guys to don't go deep enough, and guys who go too deep. Guys who talk to fast and guys who talk too slow. And you know... the list goes on and on. And sometimes ALL THOSE CRITICISMS ARE SPOKEN OF ABOUT THE SAME PREACHER!

One thing we certainly have to be sure and do, is make sure we don't spend so much time analyzing whether or not we like the messenger and how he delivers the message, that we miss the point of the message. Because much more often than not, the point of the message is right on, and what we need to hear and open up our heart and apply to ourselves.

In the end I think we are all guilty sometimes of over glorifying the sermon illustration as well as over vilifying the sermon illustration. In the end, it's really all about what are WE as listeners going to do with the lesson. After all, we are all judged. The preacher for what we preach, and the hearers for how we hear.

What do you think?

“In The Beginning…”


July of 1984 those words were uttered from Genesis chapter 1 and verse 1 by a man of the congregation at the Texas City church of Christ. It was the beginning of what the brethren had devoted to be a weekly scripture reading that would entail reading through the Bible verse by verse for about 5 minutes every Sunday evening assembly. For gospel meetings the practice was traditionally skipped, but other than that the brethren would read every Sunday evening. 25 years later, November 2nd, 2009, Marlin Ridenour of the Texas City church of Christ read Revelation chapter 22 and verse 21, the last verse of the Bible, “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.” Amen indeed!

There are several lessons we can learn from this. Perhaps first and foremost is that we are really all without excuse from reading our Bibles regularly and having read our Bibles all the way through. If we just read about 5 minutes even just 1 time a week then we will have read the entire Bible in 25 years. The same method applied to just the New Testament would have you reading the entire NEW Testament in just 5 years. Imagine that, just reading 5 minutes 1 time a week and you can read the entire New Testament in only 5 years! You can have read your New Testament in less time than it takes to pay off your car loan more than likely… AND you could read the entire BIBLE in less time than it will take you to pay off a 30 year MORTGAGE!!! What excuse do we have for not reading God’s word?

Another great lesson is the importance of following the tradition handed down by the Apostles. It was the command that Paul gave unto Timothy for the saints at Ephesus (and all saints really) to “give attention to the public reading of Scripture…”(I Timothy 4:13 - NASB) God in His great wisdom had purpose in that statement, that by giving attention to reading it would increase the listeners faith (Romans 10:17) and thereby his knowledge and his faithfulNESS as well. Just as it was practiced in the church, so we should be able to see the value and carry that practice over into our personal lives as well. The context of the command in I Timothy 4 is being a true faithful servant of God, and reading His word is at the heart of that. From the days of Moses, to the days of the Apostles, to today… the reading of scripture is not just commanded… but needed. The word… is what our souls need to grow and mature and produce abundant fruit.

And finally, diligence and perseverance in holding fast to Apostolic teaching will help carry you through the difficult times. The Texas City church of Christ has had its fair share of problems over the years, and there is not a shadow of a doubt that if its members were not devoted to the core principles of Apostolic teaching and tradition that the work would have perished long ago. But it remains. And even today, it grows. Because the brethren remained committed to principles as simple as the weekly public reading of scripture, it helped to mold the faithfulness and strengthen the bond of the brethren in faith and love. Nothing was ever changed to make it more “fun”, “exciting”, “entertaining” etc. They simply did, and continue to do, what the Lord commanded them to do.

I was 5 years old living in Humble, TX and learning how to read when “In the beginning…” was first uttered 25 years ago in Texas City. And now 25 years later I am honored to be a part of the work at Texas City, and these good brethren who have upheld the Apostolic tradition for so long. I am happy that my son (who is 5 years old) will be there Lord willing this Sunday evening to hear those words “In the beginning…” uttered once again. And it is my earnest hope and prayer, that if the Lord wills, he lives and learns and grows and applies the tradition that one day he might hear… the “Amen”.