BB Jan 1998

Waldron Mission Fund

Under the oversight of the elders of the Crossville church of Christ, PO Box 211, Crossville, TN 38557

Text Box: SO-CALLED MERCY KILLING Jim E. Waldron “(T)he Hemlock Society USA, the leading group promoting the legalization of assisted suicide, issued a statement on December 3, 1997, endorsing killing (of) individuals such as people with Alzheimer’s disease and children with disabilities — who are legally incapable of making the decision for themselves” (National Right To Life News - December 9, 1997, Suite 500, 419 7th St., N.W., Washington, D.C. 20004) “We are not ignorant of (Satan’s) devices “ (II Corinthians 2:11). For he wants the healthy and strong to debauch themselves and their generations by killing the weak, the innocent, the elderly and the infirmed, but the Lord has declared, “for judgement is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy. And again, mercy triumphs over judgement” (James 2:13). It is written, “do not despise your mother (or father) when she (he) is old” (Proverbs 23:22); and again, “the Lord hates...hands that shed innocent blood” (Proverbs 6:16-17)

Text Box: WELFARE AND MORALS It is clear that illegitimacy, welfare spending, and violent crimes have increased at the same rapid rate. It is a mistake for the government to pay money to 14-year old girls on condition that they have children out of wedlock. Child abuse and neglect in the U.S. doubled between 1986 and 1993, increasing from an estimated 1.4 million annual cases to 2.8 million, according to a September 18 Department of Health and Human Services study. These child abuse figures do not include abortion, which is the ultimate abuse of a baby. (Firm Foundation - H.A. Dobbs, Ed, Dec. ‘96)

Text Box: IT COULD HAPPEN Samuel Voisard A mother stepped into the doctor’s office carrying a bright and beautiful baby, only a year old. She told her family physician, “I want you to help me out of trouble. My baby is only one year old and I have conceived again, and I do not want to have children so close together.” “What do you expect me to do?” asked the physician. “Oh, anything to get rid of it for me,” she said. After thinking seriously for a moment, the doctor said, “I think I can suggest a better method of helping you out. If you object to having two children so near together, the best way would be to kill the one in your lap and let the other one live. It is easy to get rid of the one on your lap, and it makes no difference to me which one I kill for you. Besides, it might be dangerous for you if I undertook to kill the younger one. As the doctor finished speaking, he reached for a knife and continued by asking the mother to lay the baby out of her lap and turn her head the other way. The woman almost fainted as she jumped from her chair and uttered one word, “Murderer!” A few words of explanation from the doctor soon convinced her that his offer to commit murder was no worse than her request for the destruction of the unborn child. The only difference would be the age of the victim. (Via Firm Foundation - Oct. ‘93)

Text Box: WORLD POPULATION At the beginning of 1998 world population stood at about 5.928 billion. Therefore it behooves all of us to ask ourselves what we are doing to carry out the great commission of Jesus for He said, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved., but he who does not believe will be condemned” (Mark 16:15-16).

Text Box: A CHALLENGE TO PREACHERS Gene McKnight Preachers have a lot to say about the divorce rate in and out of the church. Consider the fact that we could be partially responsible. It isn’t what we are doing, but what we are not doing. Check your files and see how many sermons and classes you have taught on marriage and the home. How often have you used this material? Another very important deterrent to divorce is pre-marital counseling. Do you do this? Many preachers do not. I am dismayed that I have solemnized marriages in the past without giving any counsel. I would never do that today. Statistics tell us that 75% of teenage marriage will be dissolved within five years. This is alarming. too many of our young people know little or nothing about marriage when they enter into this most important relationship. Preachers could improve this situation if we would give our young people more instruction. The church will never be stronger than the homes that make up the church. I challenge you ministers of the gospel, don’t “tie the knot” for these young people until you are sure they are prepared to make marriage a lifetime commitment. (169 Owens Dr., Salesville, AR 72653)

Text Box: “The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make His face shine upon you, and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up His countenance upon you, and give you peace” (Num. 6:24-26).

Text Box: FEMINIST AT WORK World magazine (May 29) advised that the New International Version (NIV) is going “gender-neutral.” Say goodbye to the generic he, man, brothers, or mankind. Make way for people, person, and humankind. Pressure for unisex language came from women who, in the words of Larry Walker, a member of the Committee for Biblical Translation — the NIV’s controlling body — “felt left out” by the traditional language. (Via Firm Foundation - Aug. ‘97) BELOVED BEWARE!!

Text Box: Jim E. Waldron The prophet Isaiah said, “For unto us a child is born, unto us a Son is given: and the government shall be upon His shoulder: And His name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end, upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgement and with justice from that time forward even for ever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this” (Isaiah 9:6-7). Gabriel said to Jesus’ mother, “And behold you shall conceive in your womb, and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name Jesus. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God shall give unto Him the throne of His father David” (Luke 1:31-32). The exaltation of Christ “upon the throne of the kingdom of the Lord over Israel” (I Chr. 28:5) i.e., “the throne of the Lord” (I Chr. 29:23) or “the throne of David over Israel” (II Sam. 3:10), has already taken place, for we read in Rev. 3:21, “I also overcame, and sat down with my Father in His throne.” But one may ask when did this take place? The answer is about 1968 years ago on the ancient feast day, Pentecost, just fifty days after Jesus’ resurrection and then ten days after His ascension. This we know beyond a shadow of a doubt because the Holy Spirit on Pentecost by the mouth of Peter quoted both Psalm 132 concerning David’s Son on his throne and Psalm 110 about Christ ruling from God’s right hand (Acts 2:30-36). Peter said on that day, “Let all Israel know assuredly” that God had raised up Jesus to place Him on David’s throne and to be at the Lord’s right hand. The Hebrew writer tells us, “When He had made purification of sins, (Christ) sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high” (Heb. 1:3) and that the Father, who is God, said of the Son “Your throne O God is forever and ever” (Heb.1:8). Thus, Jesus Christ is now ruling over the kingdom of God, spiritual Israel, (Phil. 3:3; Gal. 3:29; 6:16), and “He must reign, till He has put all His enemies under His feet. The last enemy that shall be conquered is death” (I Cor. 15:24-25). The kingdom of Heaven upon this earth, the church of Christ, is under the rule of the monarch “who is King of Kings and Lord of Lords” (Rev. 19:16) and He rules heaven and earth from “the right hand of power” (Luke 22:69).

Text Box: January 1, 1998 Dear Bulletin Editor: Greetings in the name of Jesus our Savior and King. We truly appreciate the important role you play in the growth and development of your home congregation. We also know it is often difficult to readily find good articles of suitable length to fill the bulletin. We have dedicated this little paper Bulletin Briefs to the aid of elders, preachers and/or church secretaries who serve as editors of local church bulletins. We hope you will peruse this issue and if you find it valuable and faithful to the word of God, then use it or file it for future use. One will be sent each month without cost to you. The articles and quotes will be short in order that you may clip and paste them in your own bulletin or they may be retyped to fit your format. We will strive always to give the author and source of our material so that you may use them. You should not feel required to name Bulletin Briefs as a source unless it is the primary source. Before we close we want to assure you that those responsible for the production of Bulletin Briefs are committed to the obligation to “speak as the oracles of God” (I Pet. 4:1). And that it will be dedicated to the building up of “the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ” (Acts 8:12). In Christian love, Frankie Boynton, elder Rubel Clayton, elder Barney Hollis, elder Randall Standefer, elder Freddie Clayton, evangelist Jim E. Waldron, editor