Only Believe

"ONLY BELIEVE." Unbelief is the root from which our fear, anxiety, and trouble springs. Faith will produce patience, peace, and expectation. Fear is a fault — faith is a Christian grace. We are required, let what will happen — to believe the character of Jesus, that he is kind and loving, true and faithful. Nothing can affect this, or produce a change in him.

We are to believe the power of Jesus — that he is able to do what we ask; yes, that he is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think.

We are to believe the love of Jesus — that he is willing to do, and willing to give — whatever will be for our real welfare. Out of his own loving heart, the promise flows — and by his own almighty power the promise will be fulfilled.

We are to believe the word of Jesus, which is his bond, a bond which he cannot break. He will do — just as he has said. He will make good every promise he has given.

The Golden Rule - Ryle 1856

This is a golden rule indeed!(J. C. Ryle,1856)

“And ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them.” Luke 6:31

Jesus here lays down a general principle for our guidance in all doubtful questions between man and man.

We are not to deal with others as others deal with us. This is mere selfishness and heathenism.

We are to deal with others as we would like others to deal with us. This is real Christianity.

This is a golden rule indeed! It does not merely forbid all petty malice and revenge, all cheating and deceit. It does much more. It settles a hundred difficult points, which in a world like this are continually arising between man and man.

It prevents the necessity of laying down endless little rules for our conduct in specific cases. It sweeps the whole debatable ground with one mighty principle. It shows us a balance and measure, by which every one may see at once what is his duty.

Is there a thing we would not like our neighbor to do to us? Then let us always remember, that this is the thing we ought not to do to him.

Is there a thing we would like him to do to us?
Then this is the very thing we ought to do to him.

How many intricate questions would be decided
at once, if this rule were honestly used!

Hunting Season

Just had some great Camping experience with my son, David and grandson, Colton.

Some stories and pictures to follow.

Bro. Jeff

Baptism and the Lord's Supper

Christian baptism is the immersion of a believer in water in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. It is an act of obedience symbolizing the believer's faith in a crucified, buried, and risen Saviour, the believer's death to sin, the burial of the old life, and the resurrection to walk in newness of life in Christ Jesus. It is a testimony to his faith in the final resurrection of the dead. Being a church ordinance, it is prerequisite to the privileges of church membership and to the LORD'S SUPPER. 

The LORD'S SUPPER is a symbolic act of obedience whereby members of the church, through partaking of the bread and the fruit of the vine, memorialize the death of the Redeemer and anticipate His second coming. 

Matthew 3:13-17; 26:26-30; 28:19-20; Mark 1:9-11; 14:22-26; Luke 3:21-22; 22:19-20; John 3:23; Acts 2:41-42; 8:35-39; 16:30-33; 20:7; Romans 6:3-5; 1 Corinthians 10:16,21; 11:23-29; Colossians 2:12.

Our Father Cares

Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, 

and not one of them is forgotten before God?

But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered.

Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows. 

Luke 12:6, 7

Said the robin to the sparrow,

"I would surely like to know

Why these anxious human beings

Fret about and worry so!"

Said the sparrow to the robin,

"I imagine it must be

That they have no heavenly Father

Such as cares for you and me!"

Source Unknown

To 2014

Santa's Letter

 

 
Christmas is Coming Soon Please begin to get prepared for next Christmas which is only 4 months away. A new contract for Santa Claus has finally been negotiated.

Read the following carefully....I regret to inform you that, effective immediately, I will no longer be able to serve the Southern United States on Christmas Eve. Due to the overwhelming current population of the earth, my contract was re-negotiated by North American Fairies and Elves Local 209.I now serve only certain areas of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin and Michigan. As part of the new and better contract I also get longer breaks for milk and cookies, so keep that in mind. I'm certain that your children will be in good hands with your local replacement who happens to be my third cousin,


Bubba Claus. His side of the family is from the South Pole. He shares my
goal of delivering toys to all the good boys and girls; however, there
are a few differences between us.
 
Differences such as:
1.There is no danger of a Grinch stealing your presents from
Bubba Claus. He has a gun rack on his sleigh and a bumper sticker that 
reads: "These toys insured by Smith and Wesson."


2.Instead of milk and cookies, Bubba Claus prefers that children leave
an RC cola and pork rinds (or a moon pie) on the fireplace. And
Bubba doesn't smoke a pipe, he dips a little snuff though, so please have
an empty spit can handy.


3.Bubba Claus' sleigh is pulled by floppy-eared, flying coon dogs
instead of reindeer. I made the mistake of loaning him a couple of my reindeer
one time, and Blitzen's head now overlooks Bubba's fireplace.


4.You won't hear "On Comet, on Cupid, on Donner and Blitzen" when Bubba Claus arrives. Instead you'll hear, "On Earnhardt, on Wallace,
on Martin and Labonte. On Rudd, on Jarrett, on Elliott and
Petty".


5."Ho, Ho, Ho!" has been replaced by "Yee Haw!" And you also are likely
to hear Bubba's elves respond, "I hear dat!"


6.As required by Southern highway laws, Bubba Claus' sleigh does have a Yosemite Sam safety triangle on the back with the words "Back Off." The last I heard it also another decoration on the sleigh back as well. It is a Chevy logo with lights that race through the letters.

 
7.The usual Christmas movie classics such as "Miracle on 34th Street" and "It's a Wonderful Life" will not be shown in your negotiated viewing area. Instead, you'll see "Boss Hogg Saves Christmas" and "Smokey and the Bandit IV" featuring Burt Reynolds as Bubba Claus and dozens of state patrol cars crashing into each other.


8.Bubba Claus doesn't wear a belt. If I were you, I'd make sure that
you, the wife, and the kids turn the other way when he bends over to put
presents under the tree.


9.And finally, you will not hear the lovely Christmas songs that have been sung about me like "Rudolph The Red-nosed Reindeer" and Bing Crosby's "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town" This year songs about Bubba Claus will be played on all the radio stations in the south. Those song titles will be Mark Chesnutt's "Bubba Claus Shot the Jukebox", and Hank Williams, Jr.'s "If You Don't Like Bubba Claus, You Can Shove It." Won't be long before Christmas so get ready Y'all.

Sincerely Yours,

Santa Claus (Member of North American Fairies


I received this letter from  Bro. Earl Jessup