by Phil Sanders

"Everything that can be invented has been invented." -- Charles H. Duell, U.S. Patent Office commissioner, 1899.

"I cannot imagine any condition which could cause this ship to flounder. I cannot conceive of any vital disaster happening to the vessel. Modern shipbuilding has gone beyond that." -- E. J. Smith, captain of the Titanic, 1912.

"The atomic bomb will not go off. And I speak as an expert in explosives." -- Admiral W. Leahy to President Truman, 1945.

"I think there is a market for about five computers." -- Thomas J. Watson Jr., IBM, 1958.

Strong convictions do not ensure that what one believes is really true. Being an expert on some subject does not ensure that one is right. Just because one cannot imagine a thing happening doesn't mean it cannot happen. Just as one can be fooled about technology, so one can be fooled religiously. Many people will be very surprised at judgment.

"Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. Many will say to Me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?' And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS'" (Matthew 7:21-23).

Some apparently will be surprised that their miraculous gifts and service will not substitute for repentance. You can't treat the laws of God as if they did not matter and still go to heaven. Sacrifice did not replace obedience for King Saul (1 Samuel 15:22,23), and doing things one's own way is still rebellion.

The humanly-designed worship of instrumental music will not replace the obedience of merely singing, even if some so-called experts disagree. Calling the sprinkling of infants baptism, even with the greatest of conviction, does not change God's law. It is better to listen than to be surprised.

by Don Ruhl

Read the Bible in a Year This Evening Read Matthew 23:1--22

Do You Know a Pharisee?

Do you know some people in the church who are like the Pharisees of old? The problem with encountering people like them is that they often do teach some truth, perhaps a lot of truth. Yet, their self-righteous ways and their unwillingness to follow all the teachings and commandments of our Lord Jesus Christ, makes it hard for us to listen to what they say and to live by what they teach. Knowing these things, Jesus spoke to the people,

2 The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat. 3 Therefore whatever they tell you to observe, that observe and do, but do not do according to their works; for they say, and do not do (Mat. 23:2, 3).

Therefore, in observing and doing what Pharisee-like people tell us to do, when it comes from the word of God, we are not following them, but we are following our Master and Teacher, because He is the One who tells us to do these things. The secret is to separate in our minds the ways of the undesirable teachers from what truth they do teach. Pray to God to help you do this.

Don Ruhl Church of Christ 220 NE Savage Street Grants Pass, Oregon 97526-1310 541-476-3100

by Don Ruhl

Read the Bible in a Year This morning read Exodus 36--38

Supply the Work Generously

Israel gets past her idolatry and gives generously for the construction of the tabernacle, so much so that the craftsmen tell Moses,

5 The people bring much more than enough for the service of the work which the LORD commanded us to do (Exo. 36:5).

There was not a work on earth at that time that was more important and Israel was involved in it. What a privilege! Why not give as much as possible?

Friends, is there a greater work on earth than the church? Am I giving as much as possible, so much so that the workers and leaders in the church can say to me that I am giving more than enough? Let me not self-righteously wonder if others are so giving, but let me examine my own giving.

Don Ruhl Church of Christ 220 NE Savage Street Grants Pass, Oregon 97526-1310 541-476-3100