1982 -Not So Long Ago
by Tom Wacaster
I was looking for an illustration to make a point. So when I ran a check on my computer it took me to the 1982 Fort Worth Lectureship book, Difficult Texts Of The Old Testament Explained. One thing led to another and I soon found myself perusing the book and looking at the pictures of the speakers for that series of lectures. Some of those men have long since passed into eternity and their "works do follow them." Winfred Clark, Bobby Duncan, W.T. Hamilton, and J.Noel Merideth, to name but a few, have laid down their swords at the gates of death and are now enjoying their rest. Others still living are now showing their years but remain faithful to their Master: Robert Taylor, Hardeman Nichols, Flavil Nichols, Jerry Moffitt, William Woodson, and Garland Elkins. Sadly there are a couple among those featured speakers who have, for one reason or another, denied their Lord and traded their inheritance for a mess of pot- tage, perhaps the most notable being Rubel Shelly. And as I closed that book and contemplated once again the date of that series, I thought: "1982!" That was not that long ago." Ronald Regan had been in office less than a year. The country was in a deep depression.
I was still living in Ada, Oklahoma and our children were barely teenagers. I had been preaching full time for less than ten years and the turn of the century seemed so far away. No doubt those who have passed the third decade of their life could share personal stories and memories of what all of us would agree was "not so long ago." As you look back, what stands out most clearly in your mind? Is it not that so much of the proverbial water has passed under the bridge? Do you not find yourself asking, if only in your mind, 'Where have the years gone?" I think all of us have done just that. Now lets turn our faces toward the future. Where will we be when another twenty years have passed?
2022 is as near in the future as 1982 is in the past. Those who now enjoy the later years of their retirement will, like those faithful men listed above, likely have passed to their reward. Our teens will likely be married and have small children of their own. Parents will be grandparents, and grandparents will be great grandparents. And just as certain as is the sunrise and sunset of today and the swift passing of these past twenty years, so will be the coming of the Judgment Day when each one of us will stand before God and give an account of how we have used the short amount of time that God has given us upon this earth. It will not be long till we bid 2002 good-bye. Nor will it be long, when measured against the back- drop of eternity, till we will bid this world good-bye. The words of the Psalmist press upon our minds with increasing frequency: "For our days are passed away in thy wrath: we spend our years as a tale that is told. The days of our years are threescore years and ten...for it is soon cut off, and we fly away...So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom" (Psalms 90:9-10, 12). "Seeing I that these things are thus all to be...what man- ner of persons ought we to be in all holy living and godliness...? "Have a good week".
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Confusing Messages
by Lee Moses
There are a number of confusing messages being widely propagated through the world today.
Many of these are promoted by very weIl meaning people who apparently have not considered the logical consequences of their messages. Let the reader consider some of these messages.
1. Drink responsibly. .
Is this possible? One loses his sense of responsibility when he drinks. Yet this is the message given in advertisements regularly seen on television. Recommending that one drink moderately, or responsibly, is still a recommendation for him to drink. A far wiser counsel is found in the book of Proverbs: "Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth his colour in the cup, when it moveth itself aright" (Provo 28:31). One should make every effort to avoid alcoholic beverages in any amount. Although , many people may begin an evening with the full intention of "drinking responsibly," they often realize the next day that it is impossible they were far from successful in their endeavor. How can one be demonstrating responsibility when he is purposely consuming a beverage specifically designed to rob him of his good sense?
2. Don't drink and drive.
This is a slogan widely heard during times of pervasive imbibing, such as the holiday season and the high schools prom season. However, is it acceptable for one drink as long as he does not take the wheel of an automobile? By this slogan the idea is given that as long as someone has a "designated driver," he then has license to designatedly drink himself into oblivion. However, drinking without driving can be just as injurious to one's health, not to mention one's spiritual well being: I Corinthians 6:9-10 still teaches that drunkards shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
3. Don't drink or smoke if you are underage.
There are activities in which adults may acceptably take part, but yet are unacceptable for children for example, driving an automobile. There are activities which are particularly unsafe for children, but drinking and smoking are neither safe for children nor adults. What kind of message is an adult sending to a child when the adult who drinks or smokes tries to correct the child engaging in these same harmful activities? "Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye, and then thou shalt see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye" (Matthew 7:5).
4. Practice safe sex.
This slogan truly came into its own when AIDS first became a widespread problem in the 1980's. Parents and schools alike are teaching children to practice "safe sex." However, if one is to practice "safe sex," he must practice sex. The only true way to remain safe from sexually transmitted diseases is to abstain from sexual immorality strange, but this is exactly what God teaches mankind to do: "FLEE FORNICATION. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body, but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body" (I Corinthians 6: 18). Is it not possible that God knew exactly what He was doing in I many different aspects when He ordained that marriage was to be between one man and one woman for life? (Genesis 2:18-25).
Those who promulgate these four messages likely have spiritual concerns far from their minds. However, they are not even thinking logically about bodily concerns. They simply promote an option which is not quite as bad as other options. Instead of dancing in the gray area of every issue, Christians "by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil" (Hebrews 5:14). One does not have to accept confusing messages as truth. If one does become distracted by these messages he can turn to God's message of absolute truth, "for God is not the author of confusion" (I Corinthians 14:33).
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Family News and Notes
The Ladies Bible Class will meet for Bible study and salad luncheon at the home of Dorothy Kyle at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, December 3rd. Those needing a ride should meet at the church building at 9:30 a.m. or call Amy Jones. Bring a salad.
Mark your calendar...the mid week service for Christmas week has been changed to Thursday, December 26th.
Today is the 1 st Sunday of a new month...set aside for Building Fund Contributions. If you wish to contribute you may do so today.
Reminder Men's Business Meeting next Sunday following the evening services. All men of the congregation are encouraged to attend.
Cleaning our building...We still need vol- unteers to help clean the building for the month of December. If you are willing and able to help please sign the sheet on the ta- ble in the foyer. Thanks.
Jerry Freeman is scheduled for surgery on his ankle on Wednesday, December 4th, at 8:30 a.m. Baylor Hospital in Dallas.
Dick Justiss remains in Titus Regional Medical Center. Is showing some improvement.
Ruth & Vernon Garrett continue to recover i from their illnesses and hope to be in services today.
Megan Proctor had knee surgery last Wednesday morning at Titus Regional Medical Center to correct an old injury.
Mr. and Mrs. Rhodney Freeman
and
Mr. and Mrs. Donald Newman
request the honour of your presence
at the marriage of their children
Rhonda Lynn
to
Marty Manuel
on Saturday, the seventh of Deceember
two thousand and two
at two o'clock in the afternoon
Old Union Missionary Baptist Church
Highway 67 East
Mount Pleasant, Texas
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Prayer List
Delores Adams Narci Cooper Perry Cooper Sandra Cooper Patsy Duncan
Jerry Freeman Mary Glover Bonnie Horton Howard Horton Corine Hudson
Dick Justiss Ruby Lawhon Wade Miller Elna O'Neal Glenn Parham
Murphy Ross Also -- Paula Duncan Evelyn Harrison Alice O'Neal
Todd Ranes Lashedria Traylor
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Service Arrangements
ANNOUNCEMENTS: Weldon Miller
SONG LEADER: Randy Eubanks
PRAYERS-----Sunday
a. m. First Prayer Wayne Charlton
a. m. Closing Wade Miller
p. m. First Prayer Darrell Cooper
p. m. Closing Rhodney Freeman
PRAYERS-----Wednesday
First Prayer Ralph Phillips
Closing Charles Kyle
COMMUNION:
a. m. Gene Campbell Bob Hedges
Roger Grimes Bud Roach
Lewis Robertson Darrell Cooper
p.m. Ralph Phillips Devon Phillips
ATTENDANCE COUNTER: Grady Duncan
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Transportation will be provided to those who need it.
Please call, FRANKIE SARGENT, at 573-2647
