by J. Randal Matheny

I had my Sunday all planned out. We had gotten to Brazil early Friday morning. Our son Micah arrived by bus from another city at 6:30 a.m. Saturday to spend a few days at home. No extra sleep that day. Sunday, we had to rise early for church. No sleeping late then, either.

So the plan was to meet with the brethren in Sao Jose dos Campos in the morning, eat lunch and then rest some in the afternoon before heading off to the new congregation in Taubate, 40 minutes away from us.

Until I walked in the auditorium yesterday morning and saw the note on the white board. Door-to-door canvassing in the afternoon to offer a Bible correspondence course.

Hmmm, do I knock doors, or do I sleep?

I was leaning toward the latter until the Bible reading and sermon text. This verse made me sit up straight:

"Jacob's well was there [in Sychar], and Jesus, tired out by his journey, was sitting by the well. It was about noon" (John 4:6, NRSV).

We know what follows. Jesus brings good news to a Samaritan woman and the entire city of Sychar.

Like anyone else, Jesus felt the normal wear and tear of being human. He got hungry and thirsty. He got tired. He felt heat and cold, frustration and elation. As far as his humanity was concerned, he was a normal guy.

But he was above normal because, even in the heat of the day and beyond the hunger of the stomach, he could still consider the needs of others and offer them what they needed most. In his privation, he made others abound.

If Jesus did it, could I be content to sleep and let others work? Would I be just normal, and let my tired body keep me from bringing the Good News to someone in need?

My willing spirit was still wrestling with my weak flesh when someone announced that the canvassing had been postponed. I was saved from the choice.

But perhaps I still need to be faced with my tiredness, my poverty, my lack of optimal conditions, and the continuing need to offer the water of life.

I'm still pondering that one.

by Ron Bryant

"Now to Him who is able to do exceeding abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen" (Ephesians 3:20,21). The redeemed constitute a unique body of people, a body of divine origin, established to exist as an entity that brings glory to God throughout all generations. It is the church’s purpose to bring glory to God.

This truth is rejected by many. Some reject it overtly. Others reject it while pretending to accept it. These posture themselves as members of the body, but in truth, they never function in that capacity. They come to the assembly, but only as observers of the scene. They make token contributions of their means, but never really give themselves to the Lord. They sing praises, perhaps even heartily, but their lives do not fit the songs they sing. It is painfully obvious that they do not think in terms of giving glory unto God, let alone of giving glory unto Him in the church.

Interestingly, even the most feeble can rise to the call of giving glory unto God. God has always accepted the humble and the contrite of heart. He has always lifted them up (see James 4:8ff). The humility of man before God is to His glory. The devotion of man to God is to His glory. Humble service, loving obedience, ready and willing worship — all of these can be offered unto God with the assurance that they bring glory to Him.

Above all else, God wants our hearts and our lives. It is He who built the church as a place for us to live and prepare for eternity where we will continue to glorify Him.

Thanks to The Voice of Truth International, Vol 35, p. 49.

by Michael Brooks

"You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also" (2 Timothy 2:1-2).

We have often heard that any religious movement, political system, or other human endeavor is "only one generation away from failure." One of the great frustrations of the human experience is the feeling of impermanence. This troubled the Preacher in Ecclesiastes. "For who knows what is good for man in life, all the days of his vain life which he passes like a shadow? Who can tell a man what will happen after him under the sun?" (Ecclesiastes 6:12). Our mortality ensures that no human can ever begin anything in certainty that it will remain forever. We must pass on all our material accomplishments to others who may or may not preserve them.

It was with full knowledge of human frailty and impermanence that Paul gave instructions to Timothy as to how to preserve faithfulness in the church. First, be strong and steadfast yourself. Any who care for the continuance of genuine, Biblical faith must display it personally. No relay runner can pass on a baton that he does not hold. No one can provide for the continuance of religious convictions who is not himself convicted. If Christian service was to pass from Paul through Timothy on to other generations, each link in the chain must be strong in the grace of Christ Jesus.

Second, Timothy was to teach others "to teach others." These teachers must be "faithful" -- i.e., both dependable and full of faith in Jesus. It is significant that Paul did not anticipate that faith would replicate itself unceasingly without effort. The carrying on of the work requires training and work. Paul had first taught Timothy. Timothy was to train the next generation by committing to them those things taught him by Paul. They, in turn, were to teach others still, and so the process continued. Almost two thousand years later we continue to be the beneficiaries of, and participants in, this process.

This past March I was in Darjeeling district in India, conducting Gospel meetings and seminars. One day we baptized 15 people in a local river. While the baptisms were taking place I took a picture of a very cute baby boy, sitting in the gravel by the river playing with the rocks. Later I saw him in the arms of his mother, one of the new Christians from that day. Next to her was a girl in her mid-teens, also baptized on the same occasion. I learned that the teenage girl is the daughter of a lady that was baptized about eight years ago in East Nepal, during a campaign that I was conducting then. I could not help but reflect on the continuity of our work as demonstrated by these events, and then offer prayer that in another fifteen years or so someone would be baptizing the young son of this other mother who is now a Christian.

The most significant aspect of this whole process is the enormous weight it gives to personal responsibility. No one is likely to be more influential in the faith (or lack of faith) of that little boy than his mother. I am certain that the teenager who became a Christian did so largely because her mother has been faithful these last eight years and has taught her to believe in Jesus. The ongoing faithfulness of the church in the future is not primarily dependant upon schools, lectureships, or brotherhood journals. It is much more likely to be determined by how each Christian parent influences their children, and by how older Christians in every congregation teach in their Bible classes and give an example of mature Christianity in their daily lives. Let us each follow God’s plan for continuity. Be strong and teach others!

by Greg Tidwell

Seventy-seven years ago today Charles Lindbergh took off aboard "The Spirit of St. Louis" on his historic solo flight from Long Island to France. His adventure brought the twenty-five-year-old pilot unimaginable fame and fortune. He soon embarked on a promising career as an aviation consultant and was wed to the beautiful daughter of a prominent family. "Lucky Lindy" was the name given to Lindbergh by the enthusiastic press. Everything seemed to be going his way.

What a difference a few years would make! The fame which appeared to be a blessing was in many ways a curse. His celebrity status tragically made Lindbergh and his family the target of exploitation with the sad kidnapping and murder of his infant son in 1932. Lindbergh spent the remaining four decades of his life as a somber recluse.

Life is filled with uncertainties, as Solomon observed:

"Again I saw that under the sun the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, nor bread to the wise, nor riches to the intelligent, nor favor to those with knowledge, but time and chance happen to them all. For man does not know his time. Like fish that are taken in an evil net, and like birds that are caught in a snare, so the children of man are snared at an evil time, when it suddenly falls upon them" (Ecclesiastes 9:11-12).

The ultimate perspective is eternity. From God’s viewpoint, all things are made clear. In faith, we must do our best to follow God’s will and trust in the Lord. Looking to God, we can properly deal with life’s uncertain course.

by Mike Benson

TD: Dreams in Motion is an autobiography about Terrell Davis, running back for the Denver Broncos. According to the book, Davis has faced his share of difficulties:

"His father, Pops, tortured Davis and his five brothers with his alcoholism, drug dealing, and unusual disciplinary methods. One night, while drunk and high, Pops pulled Davis and his brothers out of bed, lined them up against the bedroom wall, and shot at them with his .38 special. To punish the boys for mischief, Pops would make them strip ... and whip them with an extension cord.

"Davis's physical demon has been his migraine headaches, which started when he was seven. They have plagued him ever since, sidelining him for several high school ... college (and professional) football games ...

"When he was a freshman at Long Beach State, the San Diego police caught him stealing spoke rims for his ... Chevy Impala. He was charged with grand theft, and imprisoned for four days.

"When Long Beach State dropped their football program after his freshman year, Davis transferred to the University of Georgia. There he faced another roadblock: Ray Goff, head coach of Georgia's football team. During the three years Davis played for Georgia, Goff pushed him around and even forced him to practice when he had a migraine. When Goff badmouthed him to NFL scouts, Davis's reputation and draft position were hurt. Goff further denied NFL scouts access to Davis's game films, telling them not to waste their draft picks."

Ironically, despite the trials in his life, Davis was chosen the 1997 Super Bowl MVP. A year later, he was selected as the 1998 Associated Press Player of the Year.

How did he achieve such success in his professional career? Consider:

. He saw Pop's beatings as his way of toughening his sons, calling him the "most loving father I ever could have wanted."

. He played through his blinding migraines.

. He used his four-day imprisonment as an opportunity to rethink life and reform.

. His frustrating days at Georgia built up his resistance to adversity.

That sounds a lot like Paul and James to me.

"But we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope" (Romans 5:1, emphasis mine).

"Count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience" (James 1:2, emphasis mine).

How do you view adversity in your life? As glory? As joy? It's something to think about, isn't it?