by J. Randal Matheny

Confession time. The daily devotion I send out in Portuguese isn't quite so ... uh, daily. With all the work to do, it sometimes gets scooted off to the side.

So the email I got Sunday made me stop and think.

I couldn't keep from sharing the gladness of the day, for I have an uncle with whom we've been studying some three years, and today he was immersed.

He attributed his decision to having read our weekly church bulletin. It is in this bulletin that I use the messages of [the daily devotional] "God with Us."

On November 2nd I didn't have any material, so I searched out one from 2000, "Biblical Baptism," by Tom Tarbet, which was the spark for my uncle's decision.

So I want to thank you for your work, which helps us greatly and pleases God. [Email was slightly edited for brevity.]

It was that article, not the devotional thoughts, that spurred his uncle's decision.

If you don't get the message, let me spell it out for you.

When I failed to come through with the devotional thought, God used my failure to bring blessing and decision to that man.

This is not a defense of laziness nor a justification for inconsistency in one's work.

Here's the point: If God can do such as this when we drop the ball, what can he do when we are zealous and consistent in the work of the Kingdom?

Such a thought bears a moment's meditation.

Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.

Eph. 3:20-21, NASU

by Barbara Oliver

[Editor's note: Barbara is in Myanmar (formerly, Burma) where Internet access is restricted. She asked us to post this latest entry.]

G'day Mates! How ya going on? Feeling like a bit of tucka? Just grab a cupa, and Bob's your uncle. Add a bickie or a chockie, and you're a box of fluffy ducks!

The first time I moved to Winona, Miss., to work with the Choate family in 1972, I noticed that when Betty sang, "This World Is Not My Home", that at the end of the first verse, where it says, "and I can't feel at home in this world any more", Betty was singing the word "world" with two notes instead of one. When I pointed out that there was only one note for the word "world", she replied, "But you can't say wor-ld in one syllable!"

Come to find out, there were lots of words that she could not pronounce in one syllable! Oddly enough, J.C. is totally lacking in Southern accent. Betty, on the other hand, got a double dose!

Several years ago, a brother from Ghana went to New Delhi. During his attempt to talk to Betty, they discovered that they could not understand each other. So, Sister Elzy joined them and began to translate for him what Betty said and visa versa. The funny thing was, they were all three speaking English!

Sunny David, the Indian preacher in New Delhi, who has been associated with the Choates for about 35 years and has been to the States (mostly the southern ones), was preaching in English at a seminar in India. English is the predominant language, since there are over 400 languages spoken in India. One of the brethren came up to him afterwards and asked, "How did you get your southern accent?"

Throughout the trip, in every country - India, Sri Lanka, New Zealand, Australia, Singapore - understanding what people were saying has been difficult, even though we were all speaking English.

When we got to New Zealand, I just knew that my problems with language would be over. After all, these were native English speakers! Everywhere else, English had been the second language. So we should have no problems in New Zealand, right?

One of the ladies in the Palmerston North congregation came up to me and said that she and her husband were going to attend college in the US at "Caans or," she asked, "is it Cans?" I looked quite confused, because I had never heard of Caans or Cans, Tennessee. I asked Frances Walker to come over to clarify. She said, very plainly, "Caans". Still confused, I asked her to spell it. She slowly spelled out "K-A-R-N-S".

In Tasmania we actually got to do a little traditional vacationing. Betty had a Saturday seminar and J.C. had to preach on Sunday and Tuesday night, but other than that, we were free for three whole days! Dennis and Shirley Gresham took turns squiring us around the island of about 500,000. It was wonderful! The Christians in Hobart were all lovely.

Which reminds me. Another interesting thing about New Zealand and Tasmania were the men. Big, burly guys were always observing, "My, that is quite lovely!" or, "We had a lovely time." It was very cute.

We went to lunch with Ken and Jane Short before going to a wildlife park to see the kangaroos, wallabies, Tasmanian devils, and such. J.C. reached into his pocket to get his wallet, but Jane stopped him and said, "My shout." Which, being interpreted, means "my treat".

And it has all been a great treat! We may not have understood all the words that we have heard throughout our travels, but we have understood the hearts of our brothers and sisters. Funny how love is greater than words.

by J. Randal Matheny Translated from the Portuguese-language meditation, DEUS Conosco (God with Us).

"So Abraham called the name of that place, "The Lord will provide"; as it is said to this day, "On the mount of the Lord it shall be provided." --Gen. 22:14, ESV

"The Lord will provide." Abraham gave this name to the place God had indicated, in the land of Moriah, for him to sacrifice his promised son Isaac. When Abraham reached out his hand for the knife to slaughter his son, the Lord restrained him. He saw a ram, caught, by divine providence, in a thicket by its horns.

It is unlikely that Abraham, before arriving at the place, said anything to anyone about this frightful order from God. He took only Isaac with him on the last leg of the journey, and his purpose remained a secret.

Afterwards, however, that moment on the mountain became so famous that the name, "The Lord will provide," turned into a proverb, up to the day when Moses wrote the book of Genesis.

When you obey God without questioning, as did Abraham, "historic" moments will happen in your life that will furnish material for future generations.

by Tim Hall

The assignment Paul gave Titus would not be easy. "Set in order the things that are lacking," Paul had instructed him (Titus 1:5, New King James Version). Making matters more complicated was the general tendency of the island population. "One of them, a prophet of their own, said, 'Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.' This testimony is true" (Titus 1:12,13). Paul would not mislead his coworker; his work among the Cretan people would be challenging!

We can imagine how frustrated Titus must have at times become. Old habits are hard to break. New Christians would need time to change their behaviors. In the meantime, great patience would be required as Titus would witness dishonesty and selfishness among people who should know better. Paul's further instructions to "rebuke with all authority" (Titus 2:15) might have been interpreted as a green light to tear into these hypocrites!

But Paul quickly added other counsel to temper impatient church workers: "Remind them . . . to speak evil of no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing all humility to all men" (Titus 3:1,2). Peaceable? Gentle? Humble among people who needed to be sharply rebuked? Paul, how can you expect us to be so restrained among people who are notorious for their laziness and lies?

Here's his answer: "For we ourselves were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another" (Titus 3:3). There was good reason for Paul to point to the Christian worker's own sordid past. If we can outgrow sinful habits, then these difficult brethren can, too. But patience is needed. Be patient, remembering that you were once like them.

Is this not where many of us go astray? We expect so much of other people. That's fine to a point, for God's word has great expectations. (Remember Matthew 5:48? "Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.") But sometimes we forget the path our spiritual growth has taken. Our own path began at a very low point. It had many twists and turns, many ups and downs. But over time we have made progress. Given time and encouragement, maybe these Cretan brethren can progress, too.

John Bradford (1510-1555) once observed criminals being taken to their execution. "But for the grace of God there goes John Bradford," he reflected. He was right. True, it takes more than God's grace to change a life, but without God's grace none of us would have opportunity to repent and reform. Take divine grace out of the picture, and we are all condemned transgressors.

Paul realized this truth better than most: "But by the grace of God I am what I am . . ." (1 Corinthians 15:10). When he wrote those words, Paul was a model of Christian discipleship. But it had not always been so. He needed time, patience and encouragement. Sharp rebuke without loving exhortation will cause young disciples to wilt.

It's worth repeating: Sharp rebuke without loving exhortation will cause young disciples to wilt.

The Cretans have many relatives living yet today. The patience of Christian workers can be pressed to the limits by such brethren. But may we never forget that "we ourselves were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived . . ." Let us do unto others as we would have the Lord do unto us!

by Mike Benson

The names have been changed, but the story is real. Young ladies, please read this thoughtfully and prayerfully. You could be Tracy some day:

"When they first started to date, Grant told Tracy he wanted to be 'just friends'. Tracy was happy with the arrangement. But then, after about a month of going out together, their relationship began to change. It happened slowly and seemed natural enough… Grant first put his arm around her shoulder and kept it there. Later that evening Tracy wondered again what was happening between them when Grant gave her a good-night kiss...the question crossed her mind: Weren’t we going to be 'just friends'? But then, in the warmth of the moment, she put the thought behind her. Within a couple of weeks, Grant’s and Tracy’s physical relationship had moved… They weren’t merely pecking each other on the mouth. Their kisses lingered. And Grant’s hand, which he’d been so careful that first night never to let stray from Tracy’s shoulder, now began gliding down to the small of her back, to her side, to her hips… At the end of a date about seven months into their relationship, he remarked, 'Well, Tracy, I’ve really enjoyed our relationship, but this is going to have to be the last time we see each other for a while. I’ve been seeing Brenda.' 'Huh?!' said Tracy, startled. 'What?! What are you saying?!' 'I told you six months ago that I wanted to be your friend,' Grant pleaded. 'I told you I was making no commitments.' 'No commitments!' Tracy shouted. 'No commitments! You…!' Tears welled in her eyes as Tracy felt the bitter sting of betrayal. How natural and innocent Grant made it sound: 'I never said….' And yet he had, hadn’t he? By his actions" (John Holzmann, Dating with Integrity, 59-60).

Like many of her peers today, Tracy made a costly mistake. She sacrificed her virginity for the companionship of a selfish and immature young man. She may have also relinquished the success of her future marriage by being intimate with Grant. /1

I wish I had a quarter for every tear that has been shed by young Christian women who have lost their purity. Like Tracy, their hearts have been broken, their reputations have been tainted, and the most precious gift they own has been surrendered—not to a loving and devoted husband, but to some self-indulgent interloper (1 Thess. 4:6).

Those of us who counsel try to offer comfort. “God is forgiving” (2 Chron. 6:21; Psm. 25:18; 32:1), we promise. The words are true and need to be internalized, but often they are marginally helpful at best. Words, no matter how well-intentioned they may be, cannot reclaim cherished innocence and virtue.

I appreciate the guidance of one father and how he communicates moral values to his family. Like me, he wants to protect his daughter from the pain and consequences of promiscuity. He writes:

"...Before a young man took out my daughter, he usually would come over for dinner. Before he came I would ask my daughter, 'Would you like to tell him the three nothings, or would you like for me to tell him the three nothings?' Usually my daughter would tell him the three nothings before he arrived at the door. However, that gave me a good opportunity when we met to merely ask the young man, 'I am sure that my daughter has told you about the three nothings.' 'Yes, sir.' 'Good. What are they?' I would ask. 'Nothing below the neck. Nothing comes off. And nothing lying down.' 'Super!' I would reply. 'I just want you to know that I know them. My daughter knows them and [now] you know them'” (Douglas M. Cecil, The 7 Principles of an Evangelistic Life, 125-126).

Young ladies, God’s plan for your happiness requires that sex be kept pure and beautiful (1 Thess. 4:3-8; Gen. 2:24-25; Prov. 5:19-20; Song of Solomon). This doesn’t mean the complete absence or denial of passion, but rather the proper directing of such within the boundaries of a lifelong, committed, Christian marriage (Heb. 13:4).

Can you remember the three nothings? “For this is the will of God, your sanctification, that you should abstain from sexual immorality” (1 Thess. 4:3; cf. 1 Tim. 4:12).

/1 “Couples who strongly believe that sex outside of marriage is wrong are...31 percent more satisfied with their sex lives” (Bethesda Research Group, quoted by William R. Mattox Jr., “The Hottest Valentine,” Washington Post, 1994). “Those who cohabitate or live together before marriage have a 50 percent higher possibility of divorce than those who do not” (M. D. Newcomb and P. M. Bentler, “Assessment of Personality and Demographic Aspects of Cohabitation and Marital Success,” Journal of Personality Assessment 44, 1980, 21). “Researchers at UCLA discovered that not only do those who cohabitate have a higher level of divorce, they are more likely to commit adultery once they get married” (Chip Ingram, Love, Sex, and Lasting Relationships, 2003, 147). A study conducted by the University of South Carolina suggests that those who abstain from sex before marriage have the highest rates of marital fidelity (Ibid). “The introduction of sex in a dating relationship is almost always the ushering in of the breakup of that relationship” (Les and Leslie Parrott, Relationships, 1998, 138).