What Is Success?

lf success means having lots of money, would we consider Jesus ‘a success? At the end of his short life all he had were the clothes on his back -  and those were taken by his enemies.

lf success means having a family (children and a spouse), where would be the apostle Paul?  1 Corinthians 9:5 indicates that Paul gave up his right to marry for the sake of preaching the gospel.

If success means having a good reputation where would the prophet Jeremiah be?  HIe was arrested, left to die in a pit of rnire, taken off in captivity.  He spent his entire life preaching and very seldom did he ever convince anyone to do what was right.

And yet, in the eyes of the Christian religion, these three men are considered successes.  But more important than that... they are considered successes by God!

The real definition of success is to fulfill God’s will for your life!

"He who does the will of God abides forever" (1 John-2:17b).

Larry Fitzgerald
Cisco, Texas

Mission To Ghana, Africa

Our Sister Leah Bettinger recently traveled to Ghana, Africa.  See more information about the trip and a slide show here.

Update: New Church Building in India

Brother Chester Ault will be leaving for India on September 29 and returning home November 11.  Let's all pray for his safety and health.  May God use this trip to win souls and strengthen spiritual souls.

The work continues on the new church building in Purnea, Bihar, India.  Follow the progress journal here.

Why the Teaching of Jesus Was So Effective

1. He treated people with respect.  (Mark 10:46-52)
2. He spoke plainly. (John 3:1-3, Matthew 13, Matthew 4:19, John 4:1-4)
3. He spoke sympathetically. (Mark 8:2, Luke 13:34)
4. He showed no partiality. (Matthew 8:2-3, Matthew 19:14, Mark 10:21)
5. He appealed to the deepest human needs. (John 9:1-38)
6. He spoke as One having authority. (Matthew 7:28-29, 4:4-10)
7. His own life was in perfect accord with his teaching. (Isaiah 53:9, Hebrews 4:15 and 7:26, John 8:29, John 8:46, 1 Peter 1:19)

Something To Think About

“The growth of wisdom may be gauged accurately by the decline of ill-temper,"

"Experience is not what happens to you; it is what you do with what happens to you."

"One thorn of experience is worth a whole wilderness of warning."

"You don't set a fox to watching the chickens just because he has a lot of experience in the hen house."

"Jesus is a friend who knows all of your faults and loves you anyway."

Prayer

2 Chronicles 7:14

We need to pray for our Nation everyday.  Prayer is our connection to God and his blessings.  Pray for our president, Vice President, Congress, Justice System, Armed Forces, Candidates for Public Office, State Leaders, Churches and Christians.

We Christians should make others thirsty for the Gospel.  Our brightness should illuminate the community and world.  We should leave a positive influence on our communities.  Let Jesus shine through you.  Prayer does make a difference and we need to pray for our Nation and its people.

School is starting and we need to pray for teachers, staff members, coaches, students, bus drivers, parents, cooks, janitors and consolers.  Prayer is awesome so lets use it and Glorify God with prayers.

~Keith Jones
Family Life Minister

Result of the Flip-Flop Drive

Back in June, we had put the donation tree in the foyer and asked you to purchase 2 pairs of flip-flops for each person. The drive was to help the orphans and widows at the Mission Vision Orphanage.  Mission Vision is the orphanage that Chester helps in India.  See the results of our drive.  Thanks to everyone who contributed.

Overcoming A Critical Spirit

"Be ye kind one to another" (Ephesians 4:32).

Despite this great command - and other commands like it - there are a number of people who seem to think that they are justified having a critical spirit because they are (quote) "just telling it like it is."

However, good manners requires that even in correction, we should be gentle.

Still don't think that this is important? Still don't think this is biblical?

Consider these passages:
"Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness" (Galatians 6:1)

Paul told Titus to remind the members of the church "to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people" (Titus 3:2).

And how did Jesus describe himself? He said: "l am gentle and lowly of heart" (Matthew 11:29).

"Telling it like it is" is NOT an excuse for violating the commands to be gentle and to show perfect courtesy.

l think one of the best examples (in either biblical or non-biblical sources) of perfect courtesy is found in the little letter to Philemon. Paul could have commanded Philemon that he had to take the slave, Onesimus, back and not punish him. Instead, Paul chose to plead, like a humble father, for the sake of his "child in the faith".

Recognizing the importance of overcoming a critical spirit, we ask "what can I do when I or another person is being too critical‘?"

One of the most important things to do to overcome a critical spirit is to learn to pray...and pray often. lt is essential to believe that God will answer this and all your prayers! (if they are in accordance to God's will and are prayed in the name of Christ) (1 John 5:14-15, Matthew 21:22; and John 16:23).

Also, every time you are victim of someone's critical spirit, whether it is justified or not, pray for that person! Matthew 5:44 tells us to pray for those who mistreat us.

Also, do not forget to pray for yourself.  Ask God to forgive your sins including the fault of having a critical spirit (Matthew 6:6).

Larry Fitzgerald
Cisco, TX

Help In Honduras & India

Our church helped send Leslie Kenney to Honduras.
Please view the report.

On the India Work page, you can also read about the work being done on the new church building in Purnea, Bihar, India.  View the work.

The Right To Pray

Do you ever feel that perhaps you’ve not been "good enough" to pray to God? Some people feel this way. In fact, many people feel this way on occasion. But the good news is that we can come before God at any time. We don’t have to try to sneak up on Him either.

Because of the blood of Christ, we are always able to go to the heavenly Father with any problem — for any reason. We know that our priesthood in Christ gives us the confidence we need to face the Almighty. Even when we’ve sinned God wants to hear us and He seeks to forgive us.

Note the Scripture: "Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need" (Hebrews 4:16).

Isn’t it great to know that He is there for us? You have been given the right to pray!

Tom Craiker