Instrumental Music in the Church, introduction.

I am and maybe always will be shocked as to why so many in the church of Christ want to change the way we "sing and make melody" in our hearts. I have as of late seen new ways to introduce the instrument into worshipping God. I have always heard the attempts of using Old Testament passages to "prove" we can use instruments. But now progressives want to redefine the words found in scripture. They are wanting all of us to believe that the words "psalms," and "sing and make melody" do not mean the same anymore. I for one, can only look to those men whom have studied the original language and know the true meanings of these words. My plan, Lord willing, is to bring to light some of these re-definitions. But let me point out one clear point. We cannot let those that want to bring the instrument into the church define the terms of this discussion. If we do then we lose the discussion. God will provide the answers in His word. I must let His word be my instruction and follow it no matter what I feel to be right or wrong. May God's blessings be upon us as we start this journey.

New Year - New Opportunity

Last year was an amazing year for me. I turned a corner and got back into full time ministry. The Canal church of Christ is where I now preach. We took the Gospel out into the community. We made an impact at the Pike County Fair and are becoming more known by our mailing outreach, House to House/Heart to Heart.

This is a congregation of God's people. We have worked very hard and dedicated ourselves to sharing the most important object of value, the Bible. No one person did this, but we as a family accomplished these many things. Spiritual success is growing all around us. This congregation has had difficulties in the past. But we are thankful that this is in the past. The apostle Paul wrote to the church at Philippi, "Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 3:13-14).

I want you to notice two points from these verses. First, forget everything that has happened last year and before. We cannot change the past or any mistakes. We must understand our ability of forgetting it. Now you might be thinking "I just can't get the thoughts out of my head." Good news! The word "forget" comes from a Greek word that has in its meaning "to no longer care for." So what Paul is telling us is even though the memory might still be there we must no longer care about it. Or another way of looking at it is, to never bring it up. Let it go.

Second, look to those things that are ahead. When we look ahead, we are looking to what is directly ahead. Not at the things around us that might be just in front of us. And this looking ahead is looking all the way down the road to the finish line. Verse 14 tells us that the finish line is our goal the upward (heaven) call of God. No one, not even satan, can take that away from us.

We, as the family of God, will accomplish so much more this coming year if we allow God to work in us. We must not ever give up striving for the goal.

THE LORD'S SUPPER - SERIOUS

I am so thankful to God for sending His Son to die for my sins. Without this great sacrifice we all would not have any opportunity for forgiveness of sins. We now have an avenue called the "Lord's Supper" to continue to remember the Lord's death until He comes again. The unleavened bread represents Christ's Body and the grape juice signifies the Savior's Blood.

The problem today is that we are not taking this memorial seriously enough. Yes, this is a memorial feast. A memorial is a remembrance of someone that has died. Jesus died on the cross and we are to use these two symbols to focus on His death. Some have taken the solemn Supper and made it a comedy show, speech about other issues or something to pass the time until the preacher gets up to speak.

This is a memorial and should be treated as such. Paul wrote, "For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death till He comes (1 Corinthians 11:26). Let us continue to partake of the bread and the fruit of the vine in a worthy and proper manner. God bless us all...

What Do You Smell Like?

How many of you have ever asked this question? I would say very few. It might have been asked of you another way, "what is that smell?" But this is a question that I hope you will ask yourself and others. I remember when Jeff Gordon came out with his own fragrance line. I had to ask myself, "is this supposed to smell like Gordon?" "Will this be the pre-race or post-race smell?" "What about it being a smell liken to oil or burnt rubber?" But seriously, the question is what do you smell like spiritually? Is your fragrance that which God would like or something that would repulse Him? Paul, the apostle of Christ, wrote, "But thanks be to God, who always leads us in victory through Christ. God uses us to spread His knowledge everywhere like a sweet-smelling perfume. Our offering to God is to be the perfume of Christ that goes out to those who are being saved and to those who are being lost. (2 Corinthians 2:14-15)" I think back (way back) to High School and remember certain people that would wear way too much perfume that you could smell them even after they were gone. You could say that they left a lasting aroma. When Christians go out into the world they must also leave a long lasting aroma. People must be able to say of us that we smell like Christ. The long lasting scent of something good and pleasant. They must see Christ and His word living and working in us, even after we are long gone. Again, "what do you smell like?" The world around you that stinks, or after the One that leaves a lasting impression. God bless you in your spiritual efforts. Let me know if I can come and help you smell like Christ at your next event.