by Barry Newton

You would expect to see those who wear white coats and a stethoscope in a hospital. You would expect to see those donning yellow hard hats to be driving heavy equipment or working at a construction site. Bright and smart polo shirts along with cleated shoes are typical fare at a tee or on a fairway.

So where would you expect to see Jesus? Would you expect to find Jesus leaning against a wall outside of a convenience store chatting with gang members? Would Jesus dare be caught talking with someone who had a really bad reputation? The Gospels provide an answer.

On one occasion some Pharisees were shocked to see Jesus engaged in the fellowship of sharing a meal with sinners. To their offended sensibilities of where He should be, Jesus responded, “The healthy do not need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” Mark 2:17 Jesus is the Great Physician who has come to heal lives. It was only appropriate that He would be accessible to those whose lives need healing. As He announced on another similar occasion, “The Son of Man came to seek and to save that which was lost.” Luke 19:10

Where does Jesus want to be? Contrary to perhaps both the stereotypes of some sinners and saints, Jesus wants to be with those whose lives have been ruined by sin. He is the Great Physician. That is where He is needed. While the thrust of His message revolves around Him healing our greatest affliction by releasing us from guilt, we must also not overlook:

• To the ostracized and lonely, He can provide the promise of always being there, (Matt. 28:20)

• To those burdened and tired, He promises rest (Matt. 11:28)

• To those trapped in a dysfunctional family or without family, He extends the invitation to be part of God’s family, (Matt. 12:50)

• To all of us, He offers the path toward healthy relationships with God, others and self.

Where does Jesus want to be? Where people need help. Where do you suppose He wants His disciples to be?

by Barbara Oliver

India is a diverse country with 28 states and 7 union territories. There are areas in the North East, near Bangladesh, where foreigners are not allowed to travel, and in other areas special permits are give out judiciously. We often hear of the clashes between Pakistan and India over Kashmir to the West. But there are states in the North East who want to break away from Indian rule and become independent.

Terrorism is a common fact of life here. With a population consisting of about 12% Moslem, there have been bombings during Hindu festivals and in Hindu markets. In just the past several months, hotels have been bombed, and just last week, a politician's car was bombed. In recent years, radical Hindu groups have been responsible for killing missionaries and believers in Christ.

Sunny was explaining to me about one such bombing that had taken place in Lajpat Nagar (an outdoor market). We were standing in front of one of the stalls, and he was telling me about how people in the stall had been burned alive when a bomb exploded during a Hindu festival, when the market was crowded with shoppers. Believing that lightening can indeed strike twice, and remembering that it was, on this particular day, a Hindu festival, I caught myself inching slowly away as he relayed the story!

Several brethren who have visited us while we have been here have faced potentially serious situations getting to New Delhi. One brother, who is from Manipur, has five children, all of whom lost a whole year of education because of the fighting between the Kuki tribe (pronounced "cookie")and the Paites.

Nepal, though not a part of India, is also plagued with internal strife. One brother who visited us brought his wife with him for protection! He was hoping that the Maoist insurrectionists would not bother him during his travels across his country, if he was with his family. He also hoped the same thing of the Nepalese army!

Nepal is noted for its Gurka soldiers. In fact, at one time its major export was soldiers. The Gurkas are known for their ruthlessness and total loyalty to whomever they serve.

Back in India, the state of Nagaland is also a hotbed of strife. There are about 16 tribes. The people of one of those tribes still wear no clothes. In fact, "naga" means naked. This is gradually changing, as the children are being educated. And there are still canibals in them there hills! So, if someone from Nagaland says he wants to have you over for dinner, run!

There is one other thing that I need to point out. If you are ever in Nagaland, and a Naga comes into town, and you happen to notice that he is naked, don't laugh! If you laugh at him, he might take out a big knife and, swish! Your head is gone! They take great offence at being laughed at. So the next time you see someone naked, don't laugh! He may be a Naga!

by Mitchell Skelton

Has the call for unity among believers been abandoned in the church today?  Has the fire that burned among the leaders of the Restoration been extinguished?  If the church of the 21st century truly models itself after the first century church then the plea for unity must be made and heeded.

Jesus’ prayer for unity had a specific purpose. “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one... May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me” (John 18:20–21, 23).

Much effort is expended in brotherhood papers and lectureships addressing “change agents.”  Noticeably missing from most of these articles is any effort toward reconciliation.  Don’t misunderstand, when we observe the church practicing error then we have a responsibility to correct the error but that also involves making the effort to restore unity among believers.  We should, “Make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification” (Rom. 14:19).

Achieving unity seems like such a monumental objective that we often dismiss the thought.  Often the true reason we don’t think unity is possible is because we don’t think people will be willing to conform their actions to the will of our own minds.  Consider the example of a couple preparing for marriage.  Before their wedding, David and Susan met with the minister to discuss their marriage ceremony and various traditions, such as lighting the unity candle from two individual candles. Couples usually blow out the two candles as a sign of becoming one. Their minister said that many people were now leaving their individual candles lit to signify independence and personal freedom. He asked if they wanted to extinguish the candles or leave them burning. After thinking about it, David replied, "How about if we leave mine lit and blow hers out?"

Unity is not about everyone doing the same things in exactly the same way.  We are bound by scripture and from the scriptures we must not stray but when the “change agent” is simply proposing a different way of accomplishing a scriptural practice then we are simply discussing matters of opinion.  Arguments, strife, bitterness and even splits have been caused by matters as insignificant as what song book to use or whether or not a fellowship hall can have a roof higher than eight feet tall to accommodate basketball goals.

Whenever you bring a group of people together under a common banner there are bound to be disagreements.  When disagreements occur in a family you have only two choices.  You can decide to no longer live together as a family or you can decide that the good of the family is better served by accepting your family member and their opinion.  The church is a family.  When disagreements arise we must put our disagreements to the test.  Is it a matter of faith or is it an opinion?  If we cannot appeal to scripture for our opinion then we must preserve the unity of the Lord’s Church. To decide that we can no longer live together as the family that we are, in this case would be sin. It is for the good of the church and the work of God that we receive our brothers as Christ has received them.  If we as a family of God would realize that we have no choice but to work things out then the work of God could continue unrestrained and God would be given the glory.


Let us heed the Restoration call!  Let’s speak where the bible speaks, and let us be silent where the bible is silent. Remember, just because you don’t like it does not mean God don’t like it.