Morro Bay Church of Christ

DAVID THE BIG UPPS Part 2 So here is our hero, He has gone from the Top of the mountain to a combination of the Dead Sea and Death Valley. The man after God’s own heart, could fall this far? And I beat myself over?...thinking God cannot forgive or still use me. What took place that allowed David to remain as the named throne for God’s Son and Messiah of Israel and savior of mankind. What magic wand did he wave? What Great thing did he do for God to get God to look th...Continue reading

DAVID THE BIG UPPS As we have wondered through David’s life together, we met him as the youngest of Jesse, as a shepherd, giant slayer, comforter, on the lam from Saul, then king of Judah, king of all Israel, and knighted by God to be the linage host to the Son of God, Jesus Christ. (II Samuel 7). We also know him as the ‘man after God’s own heart’. That is why we are studying him. His life give us insight to life, its ups and downs, joys and sorrows. It should also help ...Continue reading

THE COVENANTS BY GOD We have been looking at the life of David the shepherd to the king. We closed our last lesson with the Covenant that God made with David in II Samuel 7. When your days are fulfilled and you rest with your fathers, I will set up your seed after you, who will come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build a house for My name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. To this point in Hebrew Scripture, God has made ...Continue reading

The Dichotomy of Easter Moreover (Now I want to clear for you, {CSV}, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to youunless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day acc...ording to the Scriptures, this is the foundation of the Christian faith. No ifs, ands, or buts about it. And if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty, and your faith is also empty. Yes, and we are found false witnesses of God, because we have testified of God that He raised up Christ, whom He did not raise upif in fact the dead do not rise. And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins! This passage of scripture, our statement of faith, found in I Corinthians 15:3-4, 13-14, and 17 is the message we are to share with the world according to Matthew 28 and Mark 16. The dichotomy that I mention in the title comes in the form of perception. The world, if they get past the tradition of Easter eggs, bunnies, and early morning services, only look to the resurrection of Christ one day a year. In regards to telling the historical account of Jesus, this day provides a touchpoint for reaching the world with the gospel (good news). And that is good. Especially if we can share the message in a way that gets the world beyond ‘holiday’ to thinking about eternal life. The bad, can be that Christians limit their recognition of the facts of the resurrection to just one day a year. Many a time I heard that this week is the busiest week of the year for some ministers because they have lots of events to coordinate. An indication that Christians too have relegated our thinking of the resurrection to this same day of the year. According to Paul, this is our faith! Should we limit it to just one day a year to reach those heading the wrong way into eternity? As Christians, let us rethink our approach to this day and turn the resurrection into a daily walk and outreach.

Are You Tuned to the Right Station? George Washington Carver was a man who lived very close to God’s creation. As a youngster he was very interested in plants and experimented with natural pesticides, fungicides, and soil conditioners, earning the nickname the plant doctor for his ability to improve gardens, fields, and orchards. Later as an agricultural scientist and inventor, he developed hundreds of products using peanuts, sweet potatoes, and soybeans. Carver’s observat...ion and study of nature led him to say, I love to think of nature as an unlimited broadcasting station, through which God speaks to us every hour, if we will only tune in. One cannot help but to be in awe of the magnificence of God’s creation. From the largest structures like galaxies and solar systems, to the smallest building blocks of the subatomic world, order and design are seen throughout. This is what motivated David to exclaim, The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows His handiwork (Psalm 19:1), a declaration that proclaims God is powerful, creative, and in control. You can hear these messages throughout this beautiful world and universe, if we will but open our ears. Are you listening? Matt Clifton Judsonia church of Christ

JOY Weldon Langfield Over a century ago, an African farmer heard of many who discovered diamond mines and became very, very rich. He sold his farm and roamed the continent prospecting for the precious stones. After spending everything in the fruitless search, he drowned himself. Meanwhile, the buyer of his farm noticed an unusual pebble in a creek on the property. He investigated and learned it was a diamond. In fact, the farm was covered with diamonds, and he became the rich...est man in Africa. The original owner had acres of diamonds right under his nose. If he only had recognized the wealth he already possessed. Joy, likewise, is within reach, but we must look for it. A surprising source of joy is adversity. Roman playwright Seneca said, Fire is the test of gold; adversity, of strong men.All face difficulties, yet the greatest problems can yield harvests of delight. Consider: First, we may rejoice even in poverty. Solomon captured the modern spirit when he wrote with dismay, money answers everything (Eccles. 10:19). Bored? Money will buy amusement. Lonely? Money will keep people around. Stressed out? Money will pay the doctor bills. Depressed? Money will hire a psychologist. Some heed the financial siren’s seductive song and value themselves in terms of money. Yet money can’t buy joy. Sodom and Gomorrah were so prosperous, they attracted Abraham’s wealthy nephew, Lot (Gen. 13:10). Yet, the wickedness wealth had produced led to Divine destruction. Lot’s wife became a pillar of salt. His daughters declared moral bankruptcy. Habakkuk 3:17-18 says: Though the fig tree may not blossom, Nor fruit be on the vines; Though the labor of the olive may fail, And the fields yield no food; Though the flock may be cut off from the fold, And there be no herd in the stalls Yet I will rejoice in the Lord. Christians who realize that possessions are not joy producers delight in all situations. Second, God has arranged for joy during illness. Joy needn’t be contingent on good health. Christians can rejoice because of the opportunities of poor health. Sickness reminds us of our mortality, and many have moved closer to the Lord when very ill. Robert Burton observed, Sickness is the mother of modesty, puts us in mind of our mortality; and, when we are in the full career of worldly pomp and jollity, she pulls us by the ear, and makes us know ourselves. Third, there is joy in aloneness. Lonesomeness usually doesn’t last and provides a lush opportunity to grow a more joyful relationship with God. The faithful Christian is never isolated; his Heavenly Father is always near him. Psalm 16:11 says, In Your presence is fullness of joy.