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THE NORTHERN KENTUCKY SEARCHER VOLUME 6, NUMBER 51, DECEMBER 24, 2006 PRETTY MUCH EVERYTHING STARTS LITTLE As I sit at my desk in the office at the church building looking out of the window, there is one of the new trees that the city required us to plant. I don’t know much about trees, but I think that this one is a fir tree, or an evergreen tree. I see that little tree every day, and I must say that so far it looks like it is doing just fine. I am looking forward to watching that tree grow in the years ahead. I want to see it become tall and strong. I want to see its full branches withstanding the rain and the wind of thunderstorms in days to come and admire the beauty of snow sitting upon it as it reaches maturity. Pretty much everything starts little. Plants, animals, humans, even ideas, all start small. My mind harkens back to the days of my son, Adam, sleeping on my chest as I lay on the couch. If he did it now, my life on earth would be over. I think about bringing the newest member of our family, Othello Joseph Litmer, affectionately known as Ozzy the dog, home from the pound. He probably didn’t weigh much more than that at the time but he sure does now. Growth is a wonderful thing, physically and spiritually. I am reminded of a couple of statements that we find in the writings of Peter. In 1 Peter 2:2, he wrote, “As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby.” The nourishment derived from milk is what an infant needs to grow physically. The spiritual nourishment provided by the word of God is what the babe in Christ needs to grow spiritually. Peter brings his second letter to a close in 2 Peter 3:18, with the words, “But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of the our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.” Did you note the exhortation to grow? In the physical realm and in the spiritual realm, no one is to stay little. Everyone is to grow. Think about the church of Christ. From its beginning on the day of Pentecost in Acts 2 until now, how many people have been added to it by the Lord? Yet, it started small. I don’t know what is going to happen to the little tree outside my window. I hope that it grows to maturity. As a matter of fact, I hope that we grow old together. Maybe the day will come when the children of the children at the congregation now will be climbing in its branches. Can’t you just hear Lucas telling his little boy to “get out of the tree?” I know this though--if it stops growing, it will die. It is the same way with all of us spiritually. No one stands still. Either we grow or we regress. Either we press on or we will die spiritually, but we cannot stand still. All things begin small, but they cannot stay that way. Greg Litmer A LETTER OF THANKS If you remember several weeks ago the congregation sent material to a denominational preacher in Kenya who actually runs a Bible college. It was a glorious opportunity to put the truth into the hands of his students. I received the following email from him last week. “Greg Litmer and the congregation of Northern Kentucky Church of Christ at Florence, 18 Scott Drive, Florence, Kentucky 41042, USA. Hello, fellow believer in the Lord Jesus Christ, Greg Litmer. I very much appreciate the very kind response to my humble godly request. I received the 10 study books yesterday the 19.12.2006 at 3:20 p.m. Kenyan time. They are 5 copies of “History of the Church Through the Ages” and 5 Copies of “History of the Church in the First Century.” Up to this hour, local brethren are busy reading them with excitement. My brother let the Northern Kentucky Church of Christ in Florence know how much I and the local theological scholars appreciate, that the church joined up with you that we may receive the titles. INDEED, THEY ARE GREAT EVANGELICAL BOOKS WITH A VERY GOOD THEOLOGY. (I didn’t put the capitalization in, he did.) Keep up the good work. I, my wife and our 4 sons and the local Christian scholars and the brethren will continue praying for you and the brethren at the Church of Christ in Florence. Please acknowledge receiving this kind message. Christian love. Pastor Muriithi Peter Kingori” Because of the faithful service of the brethren here we were able to have the financial wherewithal to place material that teaches the truth into the hands of Bible students. Perhaps it will help to lead them away from the denominational trappings and to the simple church that Jesus purchased with His own blood. A LITTLE FELLOW FOLLOWS ME A careful man I want to be, For a little fellow follows me. I do not dare to go astray, For fear he’ll go the self-same way.
I cannot once escape his eyes, Whatever he sees me do, he tries. Like me he says he’s going to be, The little chap who follows me.
I must always remember as I go Through summer’s sun and winter’s snow; I am building character for years to be In that little fellow who follows me.
Author unknown
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