THE BEACON - Electronic Edition - 10/10/06



THE BEACON - Electronic Edition - 10/10/06

God’s Promise About Daily Temptation

The apostle says, “No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it” (1 Cor.l0:13). And so we know...,

(1) We all face the same tests

(2) God won’t let them be more than we can handle

(3) Our job is to find His escape route

(4) With His help we can endure whatever comes our way.

Wonderful!

- by Robert Hines

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Wrong Is Always Wrong

Wrong is wrong, even if you don't get caught. The eyes of the Lord are in every place.

Wrong is wrong, even if you do it for a good cause. The end never justifies the means. The honorable purpose does not justify a dishonorable deed or action.

Wrong is wrong, even if it doesn't bother the conscience. The conscience can be trained or educated to accept wrong-doing; even an honest sin or an evil done in sincerity is sinful in the sight of God. Whatsoever a man sows, that shall he also reap."

Wrong is wrong, even if it is commonly considered Acceptable. The bible says "Thou shalt not follow a multitude to do evil."

Wrong is always wrong despite our efforts to excuse our actions.

Remember, there is never a right way to do wrong!

- selected

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Seven Reasons Why I Attend Wednesday Nights

1.       I desire to learn more about God’s Word (John 6:44-45).

2.       I love my brethren and desire their company (1 Peter 2:17).

3.       I want to set the right example for my family and others (1 Corinthians 11:1). I believe that attending mid-week meetings is essential to have the best influence.

4.       I desire to encourage the workers in the church; everyone knows that the workers will be present on Wednesday nights (Romans 14:19).

5.       I attend because I want to have the attitude, “What more can I do?”, rather than, “Do I have to do it?” (Romans 12:11).

6.       I believe the first and greatest commandment: “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind” (Matthew 22:37)

7.       The Bible teaches that Jesus may come at any moment (Matthew 25:13). If He should come on Wednesday night, I want to be assembled with the brethren.

- selected

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“Most of the Time”

One day a preacher was talking to a man who was supposed to be a Christian. The man told the preacher that he went to church services “most of the time” and seemed to think this put him in good relationship with God. I personally know of many people who fall into that same category. They “go to church” every now and then and expect that to fulfill their religious responsibilities and consider themselves faithful to God.

But think about a few things that we might put into that same perspective and then see what conclusions we might draw.

−      What if a husband was faithful to his wife — or a wife faithful to her husband — most of the time?

−      What if your car started most of the time?

−      What if your heart beat most of the time?

−      What if your children obeyed you most of the time?

−      What if you received your paycheck most of the time?

−      What if your water heater worked most of the time?

What are your conclusions about these things? Would that husband or wife be considered faithful? Would you be satisfied with that car? Would you worry about your heart? Would you conclude that these represent examples of being faithful?

I know I may sound like a preacher when I make this next statement but I hope you will consider it. If we wouldn’t place those questions I gave as examples of being faithful, then why should one think he could please God by being “faithful” only part of the time?

Jesus calls for commitment. (Matthew 16.24) Christianity is not just parttime. (Luke 9.23) He asks us to count the cost and follow Him. (Luke 14.26-33) He said that if we put our hand to the plow we are not to look back (Luke 9.62). Let us be faithful in assembling to worship with the saints.

- by Tony Lalli

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The Bible IS Inspired of God

The Bible supplies positive evidence that it is the inspired Word of God. Consider these ‘proofs’:

1. Written by approximately 40 different human ‘penmen’, yet free from contradictions. This is pretty amazing considering how difficult it is to get that many people to agree about anything! This fact is magnified when we consider that the documents these men produced were . . .

2. Written over a period of about 1500 years. The oldest parts of our Bible were written nearly 3,500 years ago, and the newest parts of the Scripture were penned in the First Century A.D., almost 2,000 years ago. What this means is that the Bible writers did not have the opportunity to sit down around a huge conference table and ‘iron out’ any differences in what they were writing. Most of them did not even know one another. This is obviously true when we note that they….

3. Came from a variety of social, economic, educational, and geographical backgrounds. There were kings and high ranking statesmen among the inspired writers, but also commoners and working class people. While many lived in and around the immediate area of the land of Canaan, others wrote from distant places. In fact, the Bible was even . . .

4. Written in different languages. The Old Testament was written in Hebrew, and the New Testament in Greek.

Yet will all this diversity, the finished product – the completed Word of God – is free from contradiction and error. How could this be? It could only be true because God was guiding the process, and the writers were working under the direct influence of the Holy Spirit.

2 Peter 1:21 "For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost."

2 Timothy 3:16-17 "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: {17} That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works."

- by Greg Gwin

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Trends . . .

According to a recent survey conducted by Baylor University and Gallup Poll, 58.3% of Americans believe that “many world religions lead to salvation.”

- via USA Today, 9/12/06

John 14:6 "Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me."

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Some quotes worth pondering . . .

“Where complaining exists, thankfulness is absent.”

“By perseverance the snails reached the ark.”

“In times like these, it helps to remember that there have always been times like these.”

“He who is too busy to pray is far busier than God ever intended him to be.”

“Money is not required to by even one necessity of the soul.”

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News from Collegevue . . .

October 8, 2006

Good morning, welcome, and thanks for being here! We especially want our visitors to know that you are our honored guests, and we invite you to come again at your very earliest opportunity.

Continue to prayer for the sick, including: Tina Overton, Alvin Lunn, Dugin Kincaid, Kim Futrell, and others. Also pray for those in the military in dangerous places: Jennifer Ring’s brother, the Riggins’ grandson, and William Toombs’ son.

Our sympathy goes out to Kathy Holt and her family in the death of her grandmother this week. The funeral was conducted on Friday in Lewisburg.

Special thanks to Arthur Hanes, Jacob Gwin, Mike Johnson, and Gordon Meade for teaching and preaching while Greg was in a gospel meeting at Montgomery, AL, last week.

This week:

-    Services tonight at 6pm

-    Group 2 meets after services tonight

-    Wednesday Bible study at 7pm

-    Thursday morning class at 10am

-    ‘The Virtual Bible Study’ on the Internet, Thursday 8pm (go to and follow the link to listen to the live broadcast)

Coming up:

Our fall gospel, November 12-17, with various speakers

Figures for the week of 10/1/06: Sunday, Bstudy, 131 AM, 141; PM, 133; Wed., 113; Contrib., $3342

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"The Beacon - Electronic Edition" is sent out weekly from Columbia, TN, and contains articles and information taken from the most recent "paper" bulletin of the Collegevue Church of Christ. We hope you will use this material in any way you can that will glorify our Father. Please give proper credit to the respective authors.

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