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Time Is Filled With Swift Transition

by Tom Wacaster

The first stanza of that familiar song contains words most sobering: "Time is filled with swift transition, Naught of earth unmoved can stand. Build your hopes on things eternal, Hold to God's unchanging hand." James, an inspired writer, reminded us that our life is but a "vapor that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away" (James 4:14). The speed with which the days and years go by is a reminder of how short life really is. Even as I write these lines it seems like only yesterday that I wrote a similar article some 18 years ago. In that article I pointed out that the average 70 year old will have spent eight years in amusements of one sort or another, six years at the dinner table, five years in transportation, four years talking, fourteen years in labor, three years in reading, twenty four years sleeping, and three years convalescing. When broken into daily and/or weekly segments, those things do not seem to take that much time out of our life. But when they are added up, they amount to a considerable chunk in the overall time frame. Now think about this. If one were to spend four hours per week attending all the Bible classes and worship services offered here at North Jefferson, he would amass only twenty months total time over that same 70 year period. At the other end of the spectrum are those who watch two hours of television a day, for a total of fourteen hours per week [and that is far below the national average], 728 hours per year, for a grand total of 50,960 hours of television in that same 70 year time span [and to think, most watch more than that]. That is almost six years of watching television! My point in bombarding you with all these numbers is this: In view of the passing nature of time and the brevity of life it is foolish to waste it on things that are not really all that important. We should redeem the time (Eph. 5:19), and use it carefully as if it were a gift from God, for indeed it is. Ben Franklin has been credited with writing, "Time is the stuff that life is made of. If you squander time, you squander life." Time is a God-given gift. It has been bestowed upon each one of us in equal portion. We all have the same 24-hours per day. If it seems that some seem to accomplish more in 24 hours than we do, it is probably because such a one is using his time in a wise and prudent manner. Care should be given so that we are good stewards of this precious thing called "time." Someone wrote:

He was going to be all that a mortal should be, TOMORROW!

No one should be kinder or braver than he, TOMORROW!

A friend who was troubled and weary he knew,

Who'd be glad of a lift and who needed it, too;

On him he would call and see what he could do, TOMORROW!

Each morning he stacked up the letters he'd write, TOMORROW!

And thought of the folks he would fill with delight, TOMORROW!

And all that he left here when living was through,

Was a mountain of things he intended to do, TOMORROW!

Have a good week!

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Five Faithless Phrases

by Lee Moses

Zacharias, the father of John the baptist, was a faithful man of God, a priest said to walk "in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless" (Luke 1:6). In light of this, his response is somewhat surprising when Gabriel, an angel of the Lord, told him that he and his wife Elisabeth, though aged, would have a son who would come in the spirit and power of Elijah to turn the children of Israel to the Lord. Zacharias' response was, "Whereby shall I know this?" (Luke 1:18). He had been told of this great blessing that would come upon him, and he responded with five faithless words (four in the original language), asking for a sign. He explained the reasoning behind his doubt, "for I am an old man, and my wife well stricken in years." When Zacharias asked for a sign he showed a lack of faith, as Jesus explained to a group of scribes and Pharisees who had asked Him for a sign, "An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign" (Matthew 12:39). Because of his lack of faith his ability to speak (and likely to hear) was taken away from him until the fulfillment of Gabriel's prophecy. As put by J.W. McGarvey and Philip Y. Pendleton, "Four faithless words [five in English, LM] cost him forty weeks of silence."

Certainly the words of Zacharias do express a lack of faith. But how much more do the following phrases not uncommonly heard in some form or another express a complete lack of faith and trust in God and His ability to provide?

"I have more pressing things to attend to than attending every church service."

People are busier today than they have been in the past. This is not because they are generally working longer hours each day, but because they have taken on a greater load of outside activities. Sometimes, an emergency may arise rendering it impossible for a Christian to meet with the saints at the designated hour of worship. But when it is not an emergency, what can be more pressing than attending to the needs of the soul? One who puts personal activities above attendance at every worship service is clearly not putting the Lord first.

"I won't give to the church until I know I have taken care of my needs."

Although there is the responsibility to provide for one's own, seeking after food and raiment is not the Christian's primary motivation in working- "let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth (Ephesians 4:28). In giving, God demands the firstfruits, not the leftovers. The Christian confidently knows that the Lord will provide for his basic needs (Matthew 6:33).

"If I don't marry this non-Christian, I won't ever have a chance to get married."

There is a tendency for some young people to think that their opportunities for marriage are limited to those with whom they are presently acquainted. God has promised to bless those who seek Him with the whole heart (Psalm 119:2), and they will be blessed who decide to wait for a spouse who will help them to serve God rather than accepting one who may hinder them from serving God.

"If I don't compromise some of my Christian principles, I won't have any friends."

Those who stand for the truth and stand with the Lord will drive some people away, just as happened with the Lord Himself (John 6:66). Friends intolerant of those who insist on living by the moral principles found in the word of God are not really friends at all. The Lord has provided us with a body of Christians to encourage each other. The Psalmist wrote, "Princes also did sit and speak against me: but thy servant did meditate in thy statutes" (Ps 119:23). Even if a Christian were to have no friend left in the world but the Lord, what greater friend could he have?

"I can take care of myself."

To some, this might sound like the voice of confidence; however, it is actually the voice of one with little confidence in God. God needs to be included in every aspect of our lives. "Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall" (I Cor. 10:12).

Zacharias came to know that he was wrong to doubt God, and his five faithless words cost him his speech for forty days. The five faithless phrases above could cost one his soul for eternity. Let us each have the faith and trust in God to put Him first in all that we do.

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Family Notes and News

Bound Bulletins: Next month we will be gathering last year's bulletins together for binding. If you want to order a copy of either the hard bound (approximately $20), or the spiral bound ($5.00), please see Tom. Bound copies will include all bulletins between March 1, 2002 and February 29, 2003. It will also include the weekly Mt. Pleasant Tribune articles, and a table of contents.

The men of the congregation are reminded that we will have our regular Men's Business Meeting following services next Sunday evening.

There will be a Fellowship Luncheon (pot luck) next Sunday (February 16) following morning services. Everyone is invited to attend and enjoy the meal and fellowship.

Please correct your records to reflect a correction in the spelling of first name of our new sister in Christ. (The spelling was wrong in last week's bulletin. This editor apologizes.) Please show the spelling to be:----KENSI Proctor

Please check your directory for the address of Kensi and Megan Proctor.

Patsy Duncan is scheduled to have knee replacement to her right knee, Tuesday, February 11th. This will be done by Dr. Mark Young at Titus Regional Medical Center.

Jewel Allen (Macky Taylor's mother) is in the hospital and Macky has asked that we keep her in our prayers.

Betty Duncan had minor surgery the first part of last week and she cannot drive a vehicle for at least 2 weeks. She and Jamie will be attending worship with the Pittsburg congregation for that time. As soon as she is approved to drive again by her doctor she and Jamie will once again be in attendance with us here.

This editor, Rhodney Freeman, has been experiencing severe pain in the right foot this past week, and as a result was unable to attend worship services last Wednesday evening. I finally got an appointment for examination by my doctor on Thursday afternoon and it was determined that there was lots of inflammation in the tendons and joints of the ankle and toes. perhaps caused by a deteriorating cartilage in the ankle. I will be seeing a specialist on the 17th for further diagnosis to determine proper treatment.

Some who have been sick at home this past week are: Ruth Garrett, Sandra Cooper, Clint Duncan, Dick Justiss, Tina Brown

Narci Cooper is still in Titus Regional Medical Center. She is not doing well. She is in Room 514.

Able to be in attendance for services last Sunday were: Suzanne Charlton, Hollis & Jewel Lee, Lewis Robertson, and Howard and Bonnie Horton.

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