Everyone knows what racial prejudice is but we may not be aware of how old of a problem it is. The scriptures reveal that it was a problem among some very godly people. In Numbers 12:1-15, Moses’ sister Miriam and his brother Aaron did not like Moses’ wife because she was a “Cushite”… of a different race.
Their prejudice cause them to sin, they “spoke against” Moses by questioning his rank as a prophet… they thought they were just as good as he was. Verse 3 states that Moses was, “very humble, more than any man on the face of the earth”. Miriam and Aaron were not humble, they were the opposite, they were jealous and full of pride.
Cushites were African peoples. In fact, the Septuagint version of the Old Testament calls them Ethiopians. The word Ethiopian is a Greek word that literally means “burnt face”.
When God punished Miriam he gave her the disease of Leprosy. The text says she was turned “as white as snow”. It’s ironic that Miriam and Aaron disliked Moses’ wife because she was a “burnt face” and God punished Miriam by turning her into a shade of white that she didn’t want to be.
Prejudice against someone because of their race is a sin of pride. Pride makes us think that we are better than others. Christians are supposed to be humble… counting others as better than ourselves.
Let’s be like Moses… not like Miriam and Aaron.
Monday, July 26, 2010
Church News
Travis Keyes, Kathy Meyr's dad, has been sick... please pray.
We had two international students at services Sunday night, one from Columbia and one from Turkey. The one from Columbia understood most of what we studied in class and said he appreciated the interactive format.
We continue to have our conversation groups with the international students on Fridays at 4 pm. Jeff has started taking some of them home with him on Friday evenings so they can get a taste of americana. Last week we had Jeff, David, Sandy, Walker and myself at the meeting but the most regular ones are David and Jeff.
We played softball on Sunday night. We were short on numbers but everyone had a good time including the two international students, Milli and Oscar.
Michelle Christie shared some good news with me. She competed for and won a scholarship that will also benefit her by lowering her tuition rates.
Check out the pics of the two newest babies in the congregation posted below.
We had two international students at services Sunday night, one from Columbia and one from Turkey. The one from Columbia understood most of what we studied in class and said he appreciated the interactive format.
We continue to have our conversation groups with the international students on Fridays at 4 pm. Jeff has started taking some of them home with him on Friday evenings so they can get a taste of americana. Last week we had Jeff, David, Sandy, Walker and myself at the meeting but the most regular ones are David and Jeff.
We played softball on Sunday night. We were short on numbers but everyone had a good time including the two international students, Milli and Oscar.
Michelle Christie shared some good news with me. She competed for and won a scholarship that will also benefit her by lowering her tuition rates.
Check out the pics of the two newest babies in the congregation posted below.
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Church News
We were in Lubbock this past weekend for my uncle's (Milton Barbee) funeral.
From Mark and Eunice Espinosa…
Please keep our daughter Giselle in your prayers , she had oral surgery today.
Thank you,
From Tim Rogers, Sinton church of Christ…
Jack McClanahan had a massive heart attack yesterday afternoon. He was out
"running his traps" and felt a tightness in his chest. He pulled into the minor
emergency center to let them check him out. They immediately called for an
ambulance and took him to Spohn Shoreline. They were able to install a stent to
help the situation. By 8:30 last night he was done with the procedure and in
ICU. Donita will be there this morning at 8:30, when it will be the first time
she will be able to see him. Thankfully, Jack had the sense to have it checked
out immediately. If he would have waited, the damage would have been far
worse. Please keep him in your prayers.
From Gay West…
Veda called me and here is her new address
1618 Eckford St. Apt. 107
Water Valley, Mississippi, 38965
her home phone # 662 714 5282
From Doc and Merle…
"Quick trip to Merles relatives / return Friday”
Take care of yourselves & pray for our safe trip.
From Mark and Eunice Espinosa…
Please keep our daughter Giselle in your prayers , she had oral surgery today.
Thank you,
From Tim Rogers, Sinton church of Christ…
Jack McClanahan had a massive heart attack yesterday afternoon. He was out
"running his traps" and felt a tightness in his chest. He pulled into the minor
emergency center to let them check him out. They immediately called for an
ambulance and took him to Spohn Shoreline. They were able to install a stent to
help the situation. By 8:30 last night he was done with the procedure and in
ICU. Donita will be there this morning at 8:30, when it will be the first time
she will be able to see him. Thankfully, Jack had the sense to have it checked
out immediately. If he would have waited, the damage would have been far
worse. Please keep him in your prayers.
From Gay West…
Veda called me and here is her new address
1618 Eckford St. Apt. 107
Water Valley, Mississippi, 38965
her home phone # 662 714 5282
From Doc and Merle…
"Quick trip to Merles relatives / return Friday”
Take care of yourselves & pray for our safe trip.
Thursday, July 15, 2010
Barbee Family
My uncle, Melton Barbee, passed away yesterday. Uncle Melby was married to my mom's sister. He had been sick for awhile. Please pray for the family.
A Bum or Not a Bum?
Walker and I were pulling my boat out of the water on Tuesday and a guy that looked like a bum walked up and tried to sell us a few things. He looked like a bum but he had an old car… most bums have no transportation. He needed to sell some things because he needed to buy gas. The trouble was I didn’t really want anything he had so I just handed him a five dollar bill. His response surprised me he said he wasn’t looking for a handout. I said, that’s OK you’re not a bum I just don’t need anything you have and I want to help you. He walked away and came back with a pocket knife and gave it to me and said he couldn’t just take my money.
Lesson learned… just because a guy looks like a bum doesn’t mean he is. Thank you Lord… I needed that lesson.
Lesson learned… just because a guy looks like a bum doesn’t mean he is. Thank you Lord… I needed that lesson.
Monday, July 12, 2010
Church News
Jeff David and Sandy Case were at the conversation group meeting last Friday. Jeff worked up a list of idioms to work with the students. This was from Jeff…
We had a pretty good turnout last night. 7 students in all representing China, Vietnam, Turkey, Columbia, and Indonesia
From Gus...
Pat Lawler called to tell me that his mother is in Drs. Regional hospital, room 371. She was admitted today for irregular heartbeat. They are trying to control her condition with medication and if that fails will, she will have cardioversion procedure done. Virginia expects to be there for 3 or 4 days.
From Glenn Madden...
My grandmother had an above the knee amputation last night, and will need an additional procedure within the next few days to improve the blood circulation in what remains of her leg. She came through the surgery alright physically, but emotionally this is a blow that I think will take her some time to come to grips with.
Linda Torno is still fighting a kidney stone.
I pulled this off of Facebook from Mike Stringer...
Valerie is in need of every person and every church's prayers. She has been diagnosed with stage 1-2 invasive carcinoma in her right breast. One small lump for sure. Possibly 2 more lumps. Doing an MRI Monday to determine if this is contained or if it is in her nodes. She would love to hear from anyone. Find her ...on my friends list and friend her. She needs encouragement!
More softball this Sunday night.
We had a pretty good turnout last night. 7 students in all representing China, Vietnam, Turkey, Columbia, and Indonesia
From Gus...
Pat Lawler called to tell me that his mother is in Drs. Regional hospital, room 371. She was admitted today for irregular heartbeat. They are trying to control her condition with medication and if that fails will, she will have cardioversion procedure done. Virginia expects to be there for 3 or 4 days.
From Glenn Madden...
My grandmother had an above the knee amputation last night, and will need an additional procedure within the next few days to improve the blood circulation in what remains of her leg. She came through the surgery alright physically, but emotionally this is a blow that I think will take her some time to come to grips with.
Linda Torno is still fighting a kidney stone.
I pulled this off of Facebook from Mike Stringer...
Valerie is in need of every person and every church's prayers. She has been diagnosed with stage 1-2 invasive carcinoma in her right breast. One small lump for sure. Possibly 2 more lumps. Doing an MRI Monday to determine if this is contained or if it is in her nodes. She would love to hear from anyone. Find her ...on my friends list and friend her. She needs encouragement!
More softball this Sunday night.
Thursday, July 8, 2010
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
Church News
Softball this Sunday evening after services in the fields next to the building.
Visitors...
Antia and Dave Trevino and children; Caleb, Corey, Sequoyah, Seth and Ayita. The Trevinos have moved here from one of the Carolinas and Dave's mother is one of our former members... Eugenia Trevino.
Talya and John Miatz
7006 Adcote
CC, TX. 78413
The Miatz' have moved here from Minnesota.
From Jeff Carr...
Let's not forget Vacation Bible School which goes this Wed and Thurs (July 7 and 8) starting at 10am and ending at 11:30. "God's Might Prophets" is the theme. Thanks to Karen Turner for organizing this.
All children are invited, including their friends :)
From Judy Shelton...
Rob, please put my brother-in-law, Wayne Wilsher on your prayer list. He has liver cancer and will be admitted to MD Anderson Tuesday, June 28th. Thank you
From Jo Martin concerning former members Kollin and Leslea Stone...
Rob, I thought you and Julie might be interested to know that Leslea and Kollin went over to Jamaica with David Tant to help with some mission work. They are having a vacation bible school over there that Leslea and Kollin will be helping with. Pray for their safety and that their work will be effecftive.
Visitors...
Antia and Dave Trevino and children; Caleb, Corey, Sequoyah, Seth and Ayita. The Trevinos have moved here from one of the Carolinas and Dave's mother is one of our former members... Eugenia Trevino.
Talya and John Miatz
7006 Adcote
CC, TX. 78413
The Miatz' have moved here from Minnesota.
From Jeff Carr...
Let's not forget Vacation Bible School which goes this Wed and Thurs (July 7 and 8) starting at 10am and ending at 11:30. "God's Might Prophets" is the theme. Thanks to Karen Turner for organizing this.
All children are invited, including their friends :)
From Judy Shelton...
Rob, please put my brother-in-law, Wayne Wilsher on your prayer list. He has liver cancer and will be admitted to MD Anderson Tuesday, June 28th. Thank you
From Jo Martin concerning former members Kollin and Leslea Stone...
Rob, I thought you and Julie might be interested to know that Leslea and Kollin went over to Jamaica with David Tant to help with some mission work. They are having a vacation bible school over there that Leslea and Kollin will be helping with. Pray for their safety and that their work will be effecftive.
Entrance, Reward and Recognition
Matthew 5:1-16.
The disciples are being addressed in this segment of the “Sermon on the Mount”. First they are told of various blessings that will be given to people who possess various attributes. The last attribute is persecution. Those people who are persecuted for righteousness sake will receive the blessing of the “kingdom of heaven”.
Then Jesus addresses a blessing that the disciples themselves would receive for being persecuted… a great reward in heaven. Persecuted righteous people generally would receive the kingdom of heaven. Presumably, the persecuted disciples would not only receive the kingdom of heaven but something greater.
They then are exhorted to work openly, in spite of impending persecution, so that all could see their good works and cause God to be glorified. In other words, they were not to hide their works so they could escape persecution.
Jesus tells them that the Law and Prophets would last until “heaven and earth pass away” and until “all things be accomplished”.... even the least significant (jot or one tittle) parts of the law would last. The disciples were responsible to teach the whole law and prophets even the very “least” parts. If they would do this and live accordingly they would be called “great in the kingdom of heaven”.
Finally Jesus tells them that their “righteousness” must be greater than the righteousness of the most righteous people of their society… the Scribes and the Pharisees. In fact if their righteousness was not greater… they couldn’t even gain access to the kingdom of heaven. The rest of the text describes the path to being more righteous than the scribes and Pharisees.
The disciples could enter the kingdom of heaven by being of greater righteousness than the Scribes and Pharisees. In addition, if they were persecuted for their righteousness they would receive a great reward in heaven. And finally, if they taught the complete word and didn’t leave even the “least” part out (and lived accordingly) they would be called “great” in heaven.
The disciples are being addressed in this segment of the “Sermon on the Mount”. First they are told of various blessings that will be given to people who possess various attributes. The last attribute is persecution. Those people who are persecuted for righteousness sake will receive the blessing of the “kingdom of heaven”.
Then Jesus addresses a blessing that the disciples themselves would receive for being persecuted… a great reward in heaven. Persecuted righteous people generally would receive the kingdom of heaven. Presumably, the persecuted disciples would not only receive the kingdom of heaven but something greater.
They then are exhorted to work openly, in spite of impending persecution, so that all could see their good works and cause God to be glorified. In other words, they were not to hide their works so they could escape persecution.
Jesus tells them that the Law and Prophets would last until “heaven and earth pass away” and until “all things be accomplished”.... even the least significant (jot or one tittle) parts of the law would last. The disciples were responsible to teach the whole law and prophets even the very “least” parts. If they would do this and live accordingly they would be called “great in the kingdom of heaven”.
Finally Jesus tells them that their “righteousness” must be greater than the righteousness of the most righteous people of their society… the Scribes and the Pharisees. In fact if their righteousness was not greater… they couldn’t even gain access to the kingdom of heaven. The rest of the text describes the path to being more righteous than the scribes and Pharisees.
The disciples could enter the kingdom of heaven by being of greater righteousness than the Scribes and Pharisees. In addition, if they were persecuted for their righteousness they would receive a great reward in heaven. And finally, if they taught the complete word and didn’t leave even the “least” part out (and lived accordingly) they would be called “great” in heaven.
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