The topics for our meeting starting today with Robert Harkrider concerning Revelation:


     Sunday   10:00 a.m.  How To Study The Book of Revelation     


              11:00 a.m.  They Loved Not Their Lives Unto Death (Rev. 12-14)


               6:00 p.m.  Christ Among The Lampstands (Rev. 2-3)



     Monday    7:30 p.m.  The Worthy Praise of God and of the Lamb (Rev. 4-5)



     Tuesday   7:30 p.m.  The Saddest Words in Revelation (Rev. 6-9; 15-16)



     Wednesday 7:30 p.m.  Christ Shall Reign For Ever and Ever (Rev. 11)

 

     Thursday  7:30 p.m.  The Battle of Armageddon and Thousand Year Reign (Rev. 16-20)



     Friday    7:30 p.m.  The Final Judgment and Man?s Eternal Destiny (Rev. 20-22)

Ever notice how kids behave when they don't get their way? They act like, well, children. We all know the old joke how they will hold their breath until they get what they want (Dave never tried this, besides I know he would start breathing again soon as he passed out). They pout, they whine, they break things.

I've been reminded of this at work. As much as they tried to avoid it, my company is going to lay off a few thousand people. What is so strange to me is they have announced layoffs about 3 weeks ago...but they won't be actually firing anyone until two more weeks from now. That's five weeks for employees to mill around, uninspired and unmotivated, all wondering on whose neck the axe is going to fall. Some people, like me, don't worry about it. My wife will tell you I don't worry about almost anything, in particular things I can't do anything about. It will all be resolved one way or another in a couple weeks, and until then it's just business as usual, as far as I am concerned.

Some of my co-workers, though, see this a lot differently. They are angry they might get laid off. They don't want to work, they are sarcastic and difficult to talk to, and some even plot sabotage to the projects they are involved in. You try to reason with them, but they shoot back a "What can they do, fire me?" attitude. I am amazed by their feeling that my company "owes" them a job, and how dare they lay them off. I about got my head bit off when I suggested to one co-worker in particular that they might continue to work until they got terminated, especially since the company was going to be unreasonable about it and continue to pay them. What a lashing I got! So you see, some of my co-workers are acting like children. They pout, they whine, they break things.

We need to be careful as Christians we keep ourselves above this. Think of all the times in your life you may have asked God for something, and the answer was no. Think of the bad things that have happened, and we could easily have put the blame on God, asking "Why did you let this happen?" Think of the times when someone you cared about died at an age we consider too young. Did you cop an attitude of "why should I serve God when he won't serve me?" Or on a whole different tack, think of the times you helped a brother that didn't appreciate it. Or someone invaded your self-appointed space, and maybe did something that you felt only you had the right to do. Imagine if you felt you were the official baptistery cleaning person, and you came in one day and found someone else had done it. Did you grumble and complain to all who would listen?

Do we get angry when we don't get our way? Do we pout, whine, or break things? Are we children of God? Or are we just children? Think about it!

                                            Randy

Matthew 3:7-9 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance: And think not within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.

Matthew 5:9 Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.

Matthew 5:43-45 Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.

Matthew 13:36-43 Then Jesus sent the multitude away, and went into the house: and his disciples came unto him, saying, Declare unto us the parable of the tares of the field. He answered and said unto them, He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man; The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one; The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels. As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world. The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.

Matthew 18:3 And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.