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THE NORTHERN KENTUCKY SEARCHER VOLUME 4, NUMBER 35, SEPTEMBER 5, 2004 THIS AND THAT It is always good to see a congregation grow in number with faithful brothers and sisters in Christ. It is a joy to be part of a group with whom people want to come and worship and with whom they want to identify when they move into the area. The problems that come with remodeling and construction are really good problems to have, even if they do prove to be inconvenient for a period of time. This is the third building project that I have been involved in, the fourth if I consider that we added on in Louisville twice while I was there. I enjoy participating in that kind of work and I enjoy watching skilled individuals do their work in areas for which I am not qualified. But it is important to remember that a fine building with all of the comforts and conveniences is really nice and truly a blessing, but it is not what we are all about. All we really need to do the work of the Lord is a bible, unleavened bread, the fruit of the vine, and Christians who really want to go to heaven when they die. Having a building is authorized by virtue of the command to assemble. Lights, carpeting, pews and such are authorized as expedients that do not change the nature of the command. However, the church is not brick and insulation, dry wall and electrical wires. The church is you and me, it is people who have rendered their obedience to the gospel of the Lord and who continue to live faithfully as they promised God they would. I appreciate so much the way Peter put it in 1 Peter 2::5, “Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.” If the new pews are going to be filled, and if the new classroom wing, when completed, will be fully utilized, it will be because you and I have been out talking to people about the Lord and their relationship with Him. It will be because God gives the increase when we do the work. WALKERS We have some new walkers at the congregation. Little folks who were crawling or taking just a few tentative steps a short time ago are now proudly marching down the aisle with great big smiles on their faces. I find it kind of funny to watch a mom or dad go chasing after a little one before services or when services are completed –especially when that little one has just learned how to run. I confess to having urged a few on in my time. Everybody has to go through the various stages of development. We can’t expect a newborn like Samuel to be walking, or even crawling yet, but we know that in the normal course of things one day he is going to come crawling down that aisle and then he will be walking and then I will be urging him to run as his mom or dad chases him. It is the same in the spiritual realm. The bible talks of the different stages of development. We are all familiar with 1 Peter 2:2, “As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby.” We are also well aware of the Hebrew writer’s exhortation in Hebrews 5:12-14, “For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. For every one that useth milk is unskillful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.” I have a niece who is almost 28 years old and she has never spoken and can barely walk. She suffers from seizures and someone must be with her at all times or she will fall. Obviously her development has not progressed as it should have in the normal course of things. It is extremely sad and a difficult task beyond my comprehension for my brother and sister-in-law. However, if I understand God’s Word, Karen is as safe as she can possibly be and her eternity is guaranteed. I also know Christians who have not developed as they should. Some have been Christians for many, many years and are still “crawling.” The sad thing about it is that it is their own choice. I dream of Karen skipping and running. Maybe she will in heaven. I also dream of those Christians who are still crawling after so many years. I dream of their seats being filled and their refusing to allow anything to interfere with their service to the Lord. I dream of them being present and accounted for at work days. I dream of them showing up at gospel meetings, both here and at other congregations. I dream of being eternally with them in heaven. I am reminded of what Paul wrote in 1 Cor. 9:24. “Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.” You can’t run, if you are still crawling. Greg Litmer FOUR PEOPLE This is a story about four people. Their names are EVERYBODY, SOMEBODY, ANYBODY, and NOBODY. There was an important task to be done and EVERYBODY was sure SOMEBODY would do it. ANYBODY could have done it, but NOBODY did it. SOMEBODY got angry about that, because it was EVERYBODY’S job. EVERYBODY thought ANYBODY could do it, but NOBODY realized that EVERYBODY wouldn’t do it. It ended up that EVERYBODY blamed SOMEBODY when NOBODY did what ANYBODY could have. Submitted by Coleen Todd
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