That could be a good bulletin!
That could be a good bulletin!

Kwaku and Kate Frimpong, and Alex Adusei have been visiting for a while now, and heard it announced last week that Danny Kirkwood wanted to place membership here with us. They had an occasion to chat about that with myself, Ben Hayes, and Wally this past Thanksgiving day, and wanted also to become part of our family here. This is a great segue into my bulletin today, which I had already mostly written before I'd even spent the delightful day with them.

Ben, who often promises he is going to write a bulletin, made a great observation last Thursday. Alex, Kate, and Kwaku are from the continent of Africa. They have traveled all this way across the ocean and come to America. Once they got here, they sought out Christians to meet with and to work with.What a wonderful example! And Ben said, "There's a bulletin for you!" (I know Ben had broad shoulders, and can take a little teasing for the good of all of us...)

Well, I hear that a lot. Once in a while a member here will come up and say, "Oh Randy, I had this wonderful experience this past week and I think it would make a great inspirational message to the members in a bulletin." After saying this, usually this person goes into detail and tells me a wonderful story, and makes a beautiful application of how it improved their life and their understanding of God and the scriptures. What I say next, of course is "When are you going to write it?"

Because that's what it comes down to, doesn't it! That could be a good bulletin! If it is an experience that makes you grow in Christ, it is! If you are willing to express it to others to edify and encourage them, it is! You caught yourself thinking about God, in an everyday situation. Sounds like the definition of one of the bulletins I would write. Speaking of the ones I would write, the reason I write so much about myself is that

  1. I never offend myself,
  2. I can take a good ribbing
  3. My wife and son would disown me if I wrote about them, and
  4. I don't know any other mistake-maker as well as myself.

That could be a good bulletin! Why sure, God is everywhere and if you have your eyes open it's not hard to see his handiwork, his guidance, or his power. Brian Poitras told me of an occasion when he was visiting with the Seatons in Virginia. They had gone to see fireworks or something else that ended late, and they along with a thousand other people were now going home and leaving the park all at once. As they walked along, pressed shoulder to shoulder, he told me he couldn't help but think of the people crossing the Red Sea, and how it must have been with them all hurrying to get away from the Egyptians, pushing their livestock and such before them. Wonderful, personal moment from his life, and it would make an encouraging experience. It did with him!

That could be a good bulletin! Well, it could be if you'd write it. Like the gospel, I think these moments are meant to be shared with others. The gospel is the good news, a great and wonderful message about the plan of God redeeming us from our lost state. What if we never shared it with others? What if we never told that message? Don't think you can write a bulletin? Why not - all of us live them!

Randy

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Matthew 5:14-16 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

Romans 14:19 Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.

1 Corinthians 14:12 Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church.

Ephesians 4:29 Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.

1 Thessalonians 5:9-13 For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him. Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do. And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you; And to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake. And be at peace among yourselves.

Acts 20:31-32 Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears. And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified.

Jude 20-21 But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.