Noteworthy News

(From news of the day)

CHRISTIAN WOUNDED IN PADUCAH, KY SHOOTING

[From: Bill Robinson, Jr. (brob917@aol.com)]

The recent shooting at the nearby Paducah, Kentucky High School on Monday December 1, which made the national news, was a tragedy of the worst sort for all involved. One of the survivors of the shooting is a 15 year old Christian, Melissa "Missy" Jenkins. She is a member of the 32nd Street church in Paducah. Paducah is located in the Northwest part near the border of Illinois. She is permanently paralyzed.

According to a family friend and member of the church who is a doctor. The bullet struck her in the collar bone which deflected it downward through her lung and then severed her spinal cord. Her paralysis was listed at T4 yesterday meaning she had numbness from the middle of the chest area all the way down the rest of her body. In such a condition, it is unlikely she would even be able to sit up in a wheel chair because it would make breathing too difficult. However, this morning they have listed her at T7 meaning that it is from the waist down and that hopefully she will be able to sit in a wheel chair. She has use of her arms and hands.

Missy has a twin sister Mandy. Mandy is obviously devastated and hurting, feeling that it should have been her. Their mother is wheelchair bound with crippling arthritis. The girls will turn 16 on December 24th. Please say a special prayer for these girls and their family, as well as all those who have been devastated by this tragedy. And, if Missy, can say as she has said with respect to the gunman, I am not mad at him, I can forgive him, I just want to know why, surely we can too. Unfortunately much of life today is marked by such horrible random acts of senseless violence and we cannot understand why. In light of such misery and darkness in this world, we must be thankful for the reassuring words of Job which he spoke to God out of the depths of his suffering and grief, "I know that you can do all things: no plan of yours can be thwarted...My ears had heard of you but now mine eyes have seen you." (Job 42:1).

Please take the opportunity to send these girls a much needed note of encouragement.

Missy Jenkins Mandy Jenkins

Lourdes Hospital 5235 Eva Dr.

1520 Lone Oak Rd. Paducah, KY 42001

Paducah, KY 42003

Assignments: Sunday, December 7, 1997

Announcements: Rick Holt

Opening Prayer: Rick Holt / Ed DeWispeleare

Closing Prayer: Walt Humphrey / Morris Bass

Song Leader: Gary Bass / Dan Head

Scripture: Jess Bass / Charles Fair

Lord’s Supper: R. McGrew / Keith A. / Philip P.

Bldg. Cleanup (Dec. 13): Hollister

T HE SPIRIT’S SWORD

“And take...the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God” (Eph. 6:17)

The Northside church of Christ

Meeting at the North Bellingham Grange Hall · 5201 Northwest Road · Bellingham, WA

Vol. I, No. 43 December 7, 1997

STUDY WHAT TO SAY

As I sit here contemplating what to say in this article, my mind goes back to the words of assurance Jesus spoke to His twelve apostles. He said: "But when they deliver you up, do not worry about how or what you should speak. For it will be given to you in that hour what you should speak; for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you.” (Matt. 10:19-20) With these words Jesus promised that God would give His apostles the very words they needed to speak on the occasions they needed to speak them. Therefore, it is imperative that we never doubt the verbally inspired teachings of the apostles of Christ. The words they have written for our learning were "God-breathed" (2 Tim. 3:16) -- taught by the Holy Spirit (Jno. 16:8-15; 1 Cor. 2:10-13). But, you and I do not have the luxury of receiving that power today. We are not inspired by God. I cannot expect the "Spirit to move me" before I speak or act in religious matters, and neither can you.

On another occasion Jesus said, "Therefore settle it in your hearts not to meditate beforehand on what you will answer; for I will give you a mouth and wisdom which all your adversaries will not be able to contradict or resist.” (Lk. 21:14-15). This is something that those of us without divine inspiration cannot reasonably do. We must meditate and study to present ourselves approved to God (2 Tim. 2:15).

So how can we benefit from these passages? As previously noted, the wonder of verbal inspiration is a powerful reinforcement to our faith. We can have confidence that when we follow the apostles of Christ our faith does not "stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God" (1 Cor. 2:5).

From Luke 21:14-15 we learn that when we use God's answers - those provided to us in His verbally-inspired word, the Bible - the adversaries of the truth will not be victorious. We must "always be ready to give a defense (answer, asv) to everyone who asks you...” (1 Pet. 3:15). That can be accomplished by knowing God's answers -- the word revealed and inspired by the Holy Spirit. That requires diligent study and meditation on our part. Then, with the inspired text in hand, we can do what God expects of us, that is, we can speak, exhort and rebuke from His word “with all authority” (Titus 2:15; 2 Tim. 4:1-5). -Joe Price

IS DOCTRINE IMPORTANT?

Does the doctrine which one be­lieves and practices affect his salvation? That is, does it make a difference what a person's religious doctrine is as long as he is sincere? Many people say, "No, doctrine is not crucial to one's eternal salvation." To support this conclusion they appeal to the religious division in the world (which everywhere abounds!) as proof that people cannot adequately understand the Bible. Therefore (they reason), God certainly must not think doctrine is that important or essential, or he would have made the Bible understandable. This begs the question. The Bible can be under­stood (Eph. 3:3-5; 5:17). The mistake is to think that because man attaches little importance to doctrine, God must not, either.

Doctrine simply means teaching or instruction. It can either mean the act of teaching (Mk. 4:2) or that which is taught (Matt. 7:28). To say that doctrine is not important is equivalent to saying that teaching and instruction is not important. Sadly, that is the essence of what is generally accepted today by religious people. Hence, we have religious division and confusion.

The Bible makes it clear that our doctrine MUST BE good (1 Tim. 4:6), sound (1 Tim. 1:10; 2 Tim. 4:3; Tit. 1:9; 2:1), godly (1 Tim. 6:3) and incorruptible (Tit. 2:7). The doctrine which we teach and receive must be "the doctrine of Christ" (2 Jno. 9). We MUST REJECT doctrine which is variable (Eph. 4:14), corrupt (Tit. 2:7) or strange (Heb. 13:9). If the command­ments of men become our doctrine, our worship is vain (Matt. 15:9).

True doctrine is revealed in inspired scripture (2 Tim. 3:16-17). It is from God (1 Tim. 6:1; Tit. 2:10). False doctrine is attributed to man (Matt. 15:9; Col. 2:20-22) and demons (1 Tim. 4:1). We must teach what Jesus taught (Matt. 28:20). His teaching (His doctrine) is from God (Jno. 7:16). Yes, doctrine is important because truth is important. The doctrine we accept will determine our eternal destiny (1 Tim. 4:16; Gal. 1:6-10).

-Joe Price

“Blessed are the undefiled in the way, Who walk in the law of the Lord” (Psa. 119:1)

Faithful Noah Notes

{Scripture Reading: Genesis 6:5-14}

1. Heb. 11:7 - Noah's faith stands out! ("Noah" - "To comfort,

rest" - Gen. 5:28-29.)

2. Noah's faith was remarkable, & serves as a pattern for our

faith today - Heb. 12:1-2.

I. NOAH DEMONSTRATED GREAT FAITH IN AN UNBE­LIEVING

WORLD.

A. Noah's World & Ours - Gen. 6:2, 5-6, 11-12.

B. How Noah's Faith Sustained Him:

1. In his character - Gen. 6:9.

2. In his conduct - Gen. 6:9 (cf. 5:24).

3. In his children - Heb. 11:7.

II. NOAH EXHIBITED GREAT FAITH BY PREACHING AN

UNBELIEVABLE MESSAGE - 2 Pet. 2:5 .

A. Preached An Incredible Message - Gen. 6:17.

B. Fight The Good Fight Of Faith - 1 Tim. 6:12.

III. NOAH DISPLAYED GREAT FAITH BY COMPLETING AN

UNBELIEVABLE TASK - Gen. 6:14, 22; Heb. 11:7 .

A. He Did All That God Commanded Him - 6:22.

B. Meet Every Task With An Unwavering Faith (Phil. 4:13).

* Romans 8:35-39; Hebrews 10:35-39 *

Building Character: Longsuffering

{Scripture Reading: Colossians 1:9-14}

1. Jas. 1:19-20 - Wrath of man doesn’t work righteousness of God.

2. Col. 3:12 - So, must put on longsuffering.

I. THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT: LONGSUFFERING - Gal. 5:22.

A. Lit., “Long-Tempered” -“Longsuffering is that quality of self-restraint in the face

of provocation which does not hastily retaliate or promptly punish...” (Vine, 377)

B. Longsuffering Is Focused On Our Attitude & Expression Toward Men.

II. THE LONGSUFFERING OF GOD .

A. Longsuffering Is God’s Character In Dealing With Man - Exo. 34:6-7.

B. The Effects Of God’s Longsuffering.

III. LONGSUFFERING IS TO BE OUR NATURE (CHAR.) - 2 Pet. 1:4.

A. The New Man Has A Long-Temper Toward Others - Col. 3:8-10.

B. A Mark Of True Discipleship - cf. 2 Cor. 6:4-6 (apostles).

C. Specific Areas In Which We Need Longsuffering - 1 Ths. 5:14-15.

IV. HOW DO WE BETTER DEVELOP/MAINTAIN LONGSUFFERING?

A. First, Give Ourselves Fully To Christ - Col. 3:1-2, 8.

B. Increase Our Love For God & Man - 1 Cor. 13:4.

C. See The Wisdom & Power Of Longsuffering - Prov. 14:29; 16:32.