"This Year I Resolve To...."

“This Year I Resolve To….”  

            Every year around this time, we get revved up with “personal improvement” projects as the dawn of a New Year approaches. And in no time flat, those lofty goals and noble commitments, otherwise known as “resolutions”, evaporate and are forgotten.

            That’s not to say we shouldn’t make resolutions, or have personal goals.  For example, it would be unlikely that your vacation would be much fun if you simply jumped in the car and started driving without first selecting a destination, saving sufficient funds, packing the items  needed for the trip, etc. 

            Too often, however, we set goals for ourselves without any real plan for reaching them. Sometimes the goals themselves are unrealistic.  Often we fail to accurately assess what will be required to achieve our goals, including the effort and commitment involved.

            Jesus taught an important lesson on this subject:

“For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it — lest, after he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish.’

“Or what king, going to make war against another king, does not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? Or else, while the other is still a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks conditions of peace. So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple” (Luke 14:28-33).  The Lord’s point is that even the greatest goal — such as being a servant of Christ — is doomed to ruin if it’s not supported with the necessary resources.

            For the Christian, self-examination should be a continuous process, not a meaningless yearly ritual (Galatians 6:4; 1 Corinthians 11:28; 2 Corinthians 13:5). We should set spiritual goals for ourselves, not just annually, but every day — and evaluate ourselves daily to see whether we’re progressing as we ought.

            Happy New Year from the Bowling family! preachertombowling@gmail.com

Fake Money and Broken Airplanes

            When I was growing up back in Rollingbrook, we tried not to get all excited about Christmas.  If you did, it was likely that you would be disappointed come present unwrapping time. We had good gifts sometimes though, and my parents always did their best to somehow make it a great season around our home.

            Once when I was about 8 years old or so, I kept bugging my dad about a particular gift of mine.  He would only answer, “It’s a million dollars, son” no matter how many times I asked. Turns out, it was.  One million dollars in PLAY money.  If that wasn’t enough, the really good gift I got that year was a giant styrofoam airplane that my brother “had” to put together and “try first”.    He threw it one time and it crashed. The wing broke in half, I never touched it.

            The reason that I try not to focus on material gifts during the Holidays may be evident by the previous observations.  In reality, the reason lies more in the fact that as a Christian husband, father and an adult, my priorities are different than when I was a child.  The gift that I am more appreciative of now is the Greatest Gift of All, Jesus Christ!

            The gift of Grace in Christ is far more appealing than a million dollars, or even a real airplane.  It was much later in life before I enjoyed full appreciation for such a Glorious Gift.  It is a gift that fits any size, any type, any personality. 

            The Gift of Salvation is open to all who believe on Him (Jn. 3:16; Acts 16:31). Biblically, both belief and confession are inseparably linked with salvation (Rom 10:8-10; 1 Tim. 6:12). To those who believe in Christ, repentance and baptism for the remission of sins are both instructed (Acts 2:36-38, Luke 24:46-47). Baptism is prescribed as the way to call on the name of the Lord and have your sins washed away (Acts 22:16). 

            What an excellent Gift!  Let us not grow weary of proclaiming this message!

Should We Make Judgments?

     There are those who say, "Oh, you are judging".  But the one who says this is guilty of doing what he has just accused you of doing, judging.  Jesus does says, "Judge not that you be not judged" (Matthew 7:1).  Judge here means to condemn with harsh and rash judgment when all the facts are not known.  It is bitter fault finding that Jesus is condemning.   We all must form opinions based on facts.  Jesus says, "Do not judge according to appearance, but judge righteous judgment" (John 7:24).  Jesus tells us we are to make righteous judgments.

     Saying that we are not to make righteous judgments is a doctrine of Satan and not of Christ.  Satan does not want us to make any kind of judgments.  We have to make judgments to prevent our being misled by false teachers.  Jesus says, "Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.  You will know them by their fruits" (Matthew 7:15-16).  Jesus is also telling us to be fruit inspectors, which requires that we make certain judgments about others.

     Satan also wants us to leave those alone who are lost in sin.  If we could not make judgments, we would not be able to know if a person is in need of being taught the gospel.  If we could not make judgments, we would not be able to know if a brother or sister "wanders from the truth, and someone turns him back, let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins" (James 5:19-20).  But the Bible says, "if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness" (Galatians 6:1).  We have to make judgments.  But as our Lord commands, let us not make rash and harsh judgments without knowing the facts, but let us make righteous judgments based on Truth, Love, and a desire to spread the Gospel of Christ.

preachertombowling@gmail.com

Who is Bringing the Turkey?

            I love the holidays as much as the next guy I guess.  I never have been fanatical about them either way.  One thing that has always intrigued me is how people rush around at the last minute to do everything, and to make sure they have everything necessary for the big day. My experience has been that there will be a group (usually the women folk) who coordinate the meal at Thanksgiving.  There will be discussion about who is bringing what, and one person will generally be “in charge” of the all-important check list of items: Turkey, dressing, cranberry sauce, potatoes, etc.  I feel that the main focus has evolved over time from being thankful to being prepared.  I mean, just how bad would it be if Aunt Margaret forgot she was supposed to bring the turkey?  Or what if Cousin Linda brought her world famous yams instead of the rolls she promised? I know at our house, there would be trouble!

            With that in mind, is it not comforting to know that God in His infinite wisdom has given us a complete list of all things that we need (2Peter 1:3)?   There are those that feel that there is a need to supplement Gods Word with the works of men. This of course is a direct violation of Rev. 22:18-19.  Paul addresses the issue of the all sufficiency of Scripture in 2Timothy 3:16-17: “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.” –KJV 

            I am thankful that God has the foreknowledge to provide a plan for mankind to be reconciled to Him.  That foreknowledge prevents us from frantically scrambling at the last minute, wondering if we have all we need.  Take peace, Oh Christian, and know that God has provided us all things that we may know Him through His Son, Jesus Christ (1Jn. 4:9).  Happy Holiday’s from the Bowling Family!

"Can anything good come out of Nazareth?"

John 1:46

            The character of Nazareth was proverbially bad. To be a Galilean or a Nazarene was an expression of decided contempt. Nathanael asked therefore, whether it was possible that the Messiah should come from a place proverbially wicked. This was a not an uncommon mode of judging. It is not by examining evidence, but by prejudice. Many persons suffer their minds to be filled with prejudice against the Truth or a person professing the Truth, and then pronounce judgment at once without examination.  It matters not from where a teacher comes, provided he be authorized of God by speaking His Truth, and qualified for his work.

            I have often considered this verse as I make efforts to preach the Gospel. Although never attempting to literally compare myself to the Son of God, I can empathize with how He must have felt.  Jesus was doubted and criticized simply because of where he was raised and the reputation of the neighborhood and its inhabitants.

            I grew up in a neighborhood in Cleveland, TN called Rollingbrook. There were about 200 homes there.  I had a great childhood.  Yes, we had hard times like everyone else, but we were always fortunate to have food and a nice home.  Rollingbrook wasn’t the nicest neighborhood in town, but having not chosen to be born and live there, I had to make the best of it.  My dad was a painter and he helped build most of the homes in the subdivision. There was trouble there many nights, and you had to be tough to stay out past dark.  Wouldn’t it be a shame to have efforts to spread the Gospel hindered based on simply where one is from?   As sad as that seems, that is exactly what our Savior had to endure.

            “What good can come out of Rollingbrook?” you ask?  Well, when I was 12, my neighbors invited me to Eastside church of Christ.  Six months later I was baptized and obeyed the Gospel.  Thank God for Rollingbrook, and the Jackson’s, my evangelistic and hospitable neighbors.      

Is Heaven on Your Mind?

Is Heaven on Your Mind?

      Our number one priority in this life must be to go to Heaven.  Nothing else is as important.  Jesus says in Matthew 6:33, "But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you."  Our soul is the most precious thing we have.  There is nothing that can equal its value.  We read in Matthew 16:26, "For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world and loses his own soul?  Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?" 

     It is easy in today’s materialistic society to get caught up in the pursuit of materialism if we are not careful.  Our Lord says in Matthew 6:19-21, "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal.  But lay up for yourselves treasures in Heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.  For where your treasure is there will your heart be also."  Our bank account needs to be in heaven.  Every day we need to tell ourselves that the main thing in this life is to go to Heaven.  We read in Colossians 3:2; "Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth."  We should regularly think about going to Heaven.

     Heaven is a prepared place (John 14:2-3) for a prepared people.  It will be such a wonderful place, which is beyond our wildest dreams.  Paul says in 1 Corinthians 2:9, "Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him."  There is no way that Heaven can be described so we as mortal human beings can understand how wonderful it will be.

            Do YOU know God’s plan for man to get to heaven?  If not, or if you would like to learn more about the what the Bible says on this or any other issue, message me, we can study together. mailto:together.preachertombowling@gmail.com.

Gospel Plan of Salvation

Plan of Salvation Synopsis

How does God save lost people?  To answer such a question, we need to examine a few Bible basics.  Let us simply allow the Bible to speak for itself.  Toward that goal, let us consider the following:

·           All accountable people have done wrong, and thus fall short of God’s perfect glory (Rom. 3:23).

·           God’s love sent Jesus to bear the quilt and punishment for the sins that separate us from God (I Pet. 2:24-25).

·           Through faith in Jesus we can choose life rather than death (John 3:16).

·           The answer is grounded in God’s grace (an undeserved gift) and not from any response we could make to “earn” our salvation (Eph. 2:8-10).

Now we come to the question, “if we are going to be saved, what kind of response does God ask of our faith?” (Rom. 1:5, 16:26). Obedience to the faith is necessary!

·           To one that does not have faith, the first step toward salvation is to believe that Jesus is the Savior (Acts 16:31).

·           To those who believe that Jesus is the Christ, repentance (a change of thinking) and baptism for the remission of sins are both instructed (Acts 2:36-38, Luke 24:46-47).

·           Biblically, both belief and confession are inseparably linked with salvation (Rom 10:8-10; 1 Tim. 6:12).

·           To the believers who have repented, baptism is prescribed as the way to call on the name of the Lord and have their sins washed away (Acts 22:16).

·           Baptism (immersion) as a response of faith is clearly linked to entering into a saving relationship with Jesus (Rom. 6:3-4; Gal. 3 26-27; 1 Pet. 3:21).

·           We are making a life-long commitment to walk in the new life of God’s light (Rom. 6:4; 1 John 1:7).

·           In all of these things, we must respond in faith to receive the gift of grace (James 2:26); any response, however, from an attitude of boasting, or of trying to earn our salvation, would not be acceptable (Rom. 3:27; 4:1-2).

Many religious people believe a response of some kind on the part of man is required for salvation, although they differ on the nature of the required response.  The real issue, however, is not what men teach or think (Jer. 10:23 “It is not in man to direct his own steps”)                                                                                                                it is about what the Bible teaches.  Jesus has been sent, the Bible reveals the way of forgiveness, the decision to act is yours and yours alone.