An Avowed New Year – Jan.2, 2026

Happy New Year! Is it for you? I hope it is. Not just another year, ho hum… oh, well… oh, me. Naw, c’mon! Let’s make it a dandy, ok! On purpose. Leaving nothing to chance, but being willing to receive the chance happenings as though they are only ours; only ours to enjoy or to endure. Let’s talk about this kind of things.

Remembering, as we go, the perfect admonitions of our Apostle Paul, found pronounced in Romans through Philemon, but filtered through the wisdom of God found throughout all 66 books of the King James Bible.

(And if it be that till now you haven’t found the reason to use the KJB as your source for truth, consider following this suggestion for the next 25 times you look something up in Scripture: read first the KJB, then as many other versions as you possess, then once again, after you’ve read all the other versions, then re-read the KJB. I don’t care what passage or single verse you’ve looked up, do this; then tell me, which version did you easily understand in the context of those you read. I want to know because I want to compare with you, those versions and the KJB.)

So, in the wisdom of God, we find a foundational truth: “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.”- Prof.3:5,6. Notice: “he shall direct thy paths. He shall. Not maybe, not hopefully, not “if” anything — He shall! (I hope that is a foremost thought in all your plans for the year —I mean, He said that, right?) So trust the Lord with all things. For the whole year.

Prov.16:3 says, “Commit thy way unto the Lord, and thy thoughts shall be established.” (a simple yet broad brush approach — do you trust the Lord?)

Coming forward to Paul, and our Scripture for this day and time is a wonderful, but often misunderstood verse: Phil.4:13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. Do not misread this: it doesn’t say “who” it says “which”—it’s meaning then is more past/perfect: he’s acknowledging the Prov. passages, Paul is saying “it strengthens me to know that I’ll have nothing come my way of which I cannot get through.” He’s full of knowing Christ is the provider, he’s adding that the knowledge of that fact gives me strength to not be ill-affected by whatever. Or, another way to understand is this: you need not beg Christ to provide, you already know He will, so just go do it! Get on with it! If you know that your trust is in Christ’s Calvary work and the Lord God raising him from the dead, therefore He has saved you; it will make your new year easy to bear!!

You, of course, will not be engaging in the same things as me. No two lives are the same, though you might live together, you might share the same office or build on the same job sight, even in marriage; no two lives live out their days the same. So, as I talk with people about the Lord and His word, or talk with them about improving the water they drink, or argue with them that Indiana is better at some things than Alabama (ahem) I have no doubts which things I will excel in and which I might not: what is about the concerns of the Lord in the lives of those I meet I know will come under the watch-care and the strengthening of the Lord Himself. My new year will not be difficult then, even if it might be frustrating or sad or heartache laden—whatever comes my way I’m buoyed to a level above by the Scriptural promise of my Saviour, Jesus Christ.

So, come on, write down your goals or intentions for this new year and check them off as they come by. Make it as happy as the suggestion intends:

HAPPY NEW YEAR !!

thanks for reading, The Elder

“Wander”-Ment!

Some days are like this: when I awake, I wonder what I will do today so I wonder a bit. Then, a couple hours later, I remember what I told someone I would do today and re-decide whether I will or not. Does that sound like an old mind to you? Or is it just the obstinance of knowing I don’t have to! These days I don’t have very many “have to”s. Many days I have things I really want to do, yet will allow almost any interference. Then there are “must do”s and I readily attack them and get them finished. But, those days are further and further apart, it seems….time flies when you’re having fun!

Today is a “get-ready-and-go” day; it is the start of the Grace bible Church, Chattanooga annual bible conference. We love going there. Not only do we hear good preachers and bible teachers (10 total) between Friday evening and Sunday noon, but we’ll see friends from 6 to 9 states, some of which we’ve known for 40+ years, some from earlier this year, and the rest from in-between years—but ALL very precious to us. Getting ready and going today will be eagerly anticipated!

Last weekend we went to Indiana (with our son, Steve) to attend the Lockhart Family Reunion. We all 3 really enjoyed our time with the family who showed up for it. Not nearly enough came—you who read this knowing you were not there—yes, this is meant to shame you! I know, some always have valid excuses, but it is nice to drive 435 miles and see as many of you as possible. Hopefully, next year will be better attended. I’ll start now by personal invitation, plan a Saturday in September, 2026 to be at the Elvin & Lenora Lockhart annual family re-union!. Date to be set soon. (If you are not a family member, but you’ve known us for many years, you come, we would love to see you!)

Back to a slightly more current event and a little closer to home: Still looking for a location to hold a Sunday bible class in the vicinity of Gadsden, AL. I need a location at as low a cost as possible, a location which would be a room large enough to hold up to about 25-30 chairs and a front area to stand and have a tripod, white board and lectern on which to lay my bible. It needs to be public, or visible to the public for ease of finding it, and with some parking areas not far away. So, if ideas and thoughts lean your way, first pray for us, then tell me your suggestions and I’ll check them out.

This is a revival of the class held for many years in Alexandria, AL, having had its origin in Anniston, AL, in January, 1974, in the home of John and Martha Sue Sanford, taught by Bro. E.C. Moore, who was a teacher to many of us. That first class was moved to Birmingham after about a year, but left a residue of people still wanting a Bible class. A group of faithful men taught for varying amounts of years, with me being the last one when we lost our location several months back in Alexandria.

It has taken us a while to decide to do this, but perhaps the Lord will guide us to the right spot in either Gadsden, Rainbow City, Southside, Attalla, or Glencoe; or even Hokes Bluff or Jacksonville — one of those 7 cities must have a place which fits our needs, we pray.

Concerning a Bible class, we believe the following must set the perimeters for conducting a worthwhile class:

Declare to all the King James bible is the word of God for today in English;

Teach the word on the basis of believing what the bible says, not what men say about it;

The process taught by Paul the Apostle which is to practice “rightly dividing the word of truth”;

Having an open floor for questions which can and will have bible answers, not arguable.

We don’t have any trouble doing the above in Bible classes—been doing this now for about 48 years and that is what works. Every time. We love discussions and questions, but we cannot remove the final authority—the word of God. It will always be in place. Come on and join us. [NOTE:: we have nothing for you to “join” except to join in fellowship with like believers.]

The format is this: first comes the gospel of our salvation; “…how that Christ died for our sins, according to the scriptures and was buried, and was raised again the third day, according to the scriptures.”-1 for.15:3,4.

Then comes the defining of the church, which is called the Body of Christ, found in the 13 epistles of Paul who is called the Apostle of & to the Gentiles a total of 18 times.

We hold these truths of the Scriptures to be tantamount to the rest of Scripture, but being specifically to the Body of Christ church.2 Tim.3:16.

Now, come on and join us for bible study. Just look at what “wander”-ment I stumbled upon to write about today.

thanks for reading, the Elder

Where does time go? Oh, It’s Today!

A little while back, after about 10 years of going to a small town South of here twice per month to teach a Bible class, our meeting room was cancelled on us. There was about 12-14 of us when everyone was there, so most of the time 9 or 10. Great bunch of folks who love the Lord and love His word enough to put up with me as a teacher. But, not having a place to meet, some of us began to try to find another suitable place to which we could all get. We didn’t have much luck, everyone’s rentable meeting room space think they are a major destination point and have many $$ requirements too much for a small group. Since I had not begun this group, rather had just been asked to teach it, I hesitated to “take over the search”—so to speak.

Today, one of the group reminded me how long it had been and is very interested in re-starting the class: as am I! I have now set a time and will search out a place to meet and I’ll do this as I have done for the past 45+ years. “The night is far spent, the day is at hand…” our apostle wrote. For what, then, are we waiting? I will get after it and because of scheduled stuff in the next 4-6 weeks, we’ll set the first renewed meeting for the 2nd Sunday in October. Then till the end of the year we should be able to meet the 2nd and 4th Sundays each of the 3 months; 2026, we will take care of later.

You say, “Where?” I say, pray the Lord leads us to exactly what we need. You say, “Will that work?” I say, it has worked out many times having been left in the hands of the Lord.

Do I believe I will find a place to have this? Yes, if it is the Lord’s will for me to go there, a place will become available. Will I hunt for one? Yes, because there is already a group there. If there was no group, I would hunt for a place if I was asked to — that part has already occurred for this group. I’ll keep you informed and trust the Lord will make His will known to us.

Time to do the Lord’s will for studying His word is what I have. But, as our title puts it, where did it go? Whether I have an October class to teach will occur if I have the time to do it. Whether in a new location for the above mentioned group or not, if I have time to do it, I will teach God’s word to all who will listen. Time is what I have and all I have. If you, my friends, understand this premise even a little bit, pray with me for these things that 1.) I don’t get in the way; and 2.) that it will bring glory to the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Thank you.

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I’m having fun watching the Chicago Cubs this summer even though, as usual, some days I want to scream at them! Most days this year they’ve played really great baseball in a big struggle with the Brewers to lead with NL Central. This week, due to rainouts earlier, a series wound up being 5 games in four days, Monday through Thursday. Milwaukee won the first game, but the Cubs have won 3 in a row (last Wednesday night game was a thrill to watch.) But, the 5game series ended on Thursday with the Cubs second loss and they go forward to only play other teams for the rest of the season. C’mon Cubbies!! I hope they get into the playoffs at a good peak in performance and do well there—-a World Series in 2025?

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In a few days, exactly the 26th of August, we’ll be starting a bible class here in our town at 8AM. some business friends and I have talked about this for several years, off and on, so we’ve set the date and pray for the Lord’s leadership daily.

Over the last 49 years I have started 8 or 10 bible classes which for a variety of reasons were short-lived, even a couple where no one came. One bible class when I first started had only two attendees—both teenagers, both still believers to this day. We met for 6 months, then my family moved and that was that. Another was in a home where so much opposition came from a family member that the host said they didn’t want to continue, yet one man was saved there! Etc. Every class has taught me more than I have ever taught others. If others have valued from the class it was the Lord’s word which taught them.

Of the number of bible classes and pastoring I have done in the same 49 years, some have been for as much as 27yrs, some as few as 3-4 years; some as few as 3 persons regularly, some as many as 80-85 regularly. But all those which I put in the category of successful would have been brought to that by the Hand of the Lord. Not because I was anything other than the guy doing most of the talking. None of this brief recollection should imply I believed I did a good job, but for sure I believe I did what the Lord wanted me to do. If I look for biblical “calling” (as churches might refer to clergymen as being), I see how our Apostle Paul was called and informed of the Lord as to what he would be doing. I did not have that kind of calling. Late in his ministry, Paul told Titus to “appoint bishops and elders.” The Lord never instructed me to do that. On the other hand, our apostle Paul said, “If any man desire the office of a bishop, let him be…” thus and so.

As age began to beset me, I never believed I should choose my successor or replacement. I have no biblical reason to do so. Contrariwise, I have thoroughly searched the examples of men who did try to appoint one and in every case, the following pastor caused problems, or the congregation revolted or the church fell prey to an interloping offense…or in some other way destroyed the “successful work” of the originating pastor or bible teacher.

It was easy for me to see and I still contend: the ministry is of the Lord and is in the hands of the one who has it, he becomes aged, and he leaves it. New ministries are welcome to begin, but as the Lord leads; not as a departing elder dictates.

ergo: I’m not leaving just yet, but if I do, find yourself another man of God who will teach the Bible according to 2 Tim. 2:15 and 2 Cor. 9:8.

Thanks for reading, the Elder

Aug.22, 2025

ONCE, THEN ALWAYS = TIME

SOMETHING FUNNY, ONCE / Time on our hands

We elderly often get blamed, even laughed at because we start conversation by saying, “One time when I…” and the tittering begins, often by those who believe their voices are not being heard. But us old guys, we don’t care! We’re gonna tell our story anyway! So, by gosh we do. We don’t even care if they’ve heard it 304 times in the last 5 years, we’ll tell it again and again and again!

I might be exaggerating a little. Perhaps I am the prime example of the verse of Scripture that says, “…all men are liars.” Well, not prime, but since the verse says “all men” I’m pretty sure it means what it says. My father would sometimes (not often) get into a joking mood and love to cause even just a little rise or laughter or embarrassment, maybe. Once, we were standing in a Sears, Roebuck in Indianapolis and Momma was trying to buy something while me and one brother were standing near a mannequin, a male mannequin. Daddy started talking to the mannequin, we laughed at him. He said,…to the mannequin, “These guys think I’m bein’ foolish. Do you think I’m foolish? If you do, nod your head.” The mannequin never even twitched. He looked back at us and said, “See, that dummy thinks I’m smart!”—-was that a lie, you might ask? Well, it was a fabrication, of sorts, right? Foolish jesting? Or just entertaining a couple of boys who wish they didn’t have to stand there waiting on Mom, maybe.

Memory stories, those short happenings we witness, whether very funny or deeply serious with poignant after affects are part of our lives and, for me at least, enjoyable to remember and jot down while freshly floating through the memory river-(banks.)

But! It is August 1 and I have procrastinated enough about the rest of what I wanted to say in this blog—The importance of the rest of this year! We’re going to do another September Adventure, only this time without a rented RV. Turns out that was a one time only event….as of right now, ya never know, next time we’ll haul a car behind an RV, hire a driver, then spend longer and go further ……. Naw! what am I thinking! O course that last September journey to (finish) seeing all 50 states was completed.

We have, however, picked out some places we’ve never seen, things and people we want to see. That’s a plan being formed and a reason to go to Indiana for the ELVIN & LENORA LOCKHART FAMILY REUNION in late September. Sooo, we’ll extend our trip to include 4 or 5 of those special things. More reporting afterward and, as they say on WKRP, “film at 11!”

October brings us to a really great time and place for a bible conference in Chattanooga, Grace Bible Church, and I believe it is the 45th! That’s a truly blessed weekend and has become a reunion for old and new friends, filled with great Bible teachings and fellowship. Hope YOU are planning on being there, October 3,4,5th.

In November a pleasure trip (elongated weekend) to Texas for the marriage of some dear friends, one of which I’ve been friends with since 1986, nigh on to 40 years—(hmm, he must be getting old.)

This will cause me to miss the Pensacola Bible conference for the first time, I believe. But, ya know, sometimes people actually schedule their events and don’t ask my permission. A slip up on their part, but hey, ya just can’t control some people’s schedule, ya know?

December brings us back to Texas again — this time for a new Corpus Christi Bible Conference! — first weekend, but as yet I don’t have the location. It’ll be great to visit there again. When we went to Texas in 1986, I drove to CC for a weekly bible class constantly for 13 years. The faithfulness of that class shall ring through eternity with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. I have much to be thankful for in the memories from that class.

What else might come our way in the remaining months of 2025, we shall leave in the hands of God our Father, the Lord Jesus Christ, and the Spirit which teaches us His word and will. I know this about that: if you are saved, having put your eternal life into the Hands of the One who bought you with His blood—knowing “..how that Christ died for our sins, according to the scriptures, and was buried, and was raised again the third day, according to the scriptures..” —that makes you in the same church as us. There’s only one valid church in God’s perfect will for us. It’s called the “Church, which is His body” several times in Paul’s epistles.

You know, getting saved gives us eternal life, but there does come a judgment before the specific eternal inheritance is meted out. the Lord looks at our works in His name. He refers to these as either containing “Gold, Silver or Precious Stones” or conversely, “wood, hay, and stubble.” then he uses fire as the judgment trial. Obviously, the latter 3 are going to burn up leaving nothing but worthless ashes. Likewise, obviously the first three will go through the fire and come out more glorious than before! And that will determine our reward.

Our task then, is to understand God’s will for us and tend to it while we are here, leading to the day which will “tell all” and we go into glory with whatever our time spent with the Lord while here has produced. the “reward of the inheritance” should not be our goal; pleasing the Lord should be our goal. So, His instructions for us are in one plain but often obscured verse: read it in your KJB—2 Timothy 2:15. Let me know if I can be helpful in any way.

Thanks for reading, the Elder

Big Day! Big Continuing Days!

July 1, 2025–the second half

Well, the Big Day has arrived, past, and executed flawlessly! Of course, I’m referring to our 3 children’s year long plan of putting together a 65th Anniversary party for my wife and I which occurred last Saturday, June 28, 2025. Our actual wedding date was earlier in the week on Tuesday. So that night, we went to a most exclusive restaurant on top of one of our nearby mountains (Monteagle, TN) and had a sumptuous dinner. Then, home to anticipate the upcoming party time!

The event was a great party! We were so filled with surprise at the higher than anticipated attendance, the fun we all had fellowshipping together; 30 or so relatives, about 50 or so bible study and grace believers from churches, and more than expected townspeople and several visitors from pretty far away—what a wonderful group of friends and loved ones! We came home so filled with that kind of love, mmm.

But the highlight of the afternoon was in the program which involved the two of us being seated in front of all 3 of our children speaking individually about us and presenting to each of us mock-academy awards. The said so many wondrous things about us to all those people that now we might have to really try to live up to that! How we gonna do that?? Truly, we felt not just honored by them, but challenged a bit, we will notice ourselves a little more to each other, towards the 3 of them, and others, especially toward our grandchildren, then others which may be in our paths. We accept that challenge, but with some trepidation, yet calmed by our dependence on the word of God for guidance. We are so very thankful and blessed. (I know our blessings as stated in Eph.1:3 are heavenly blessings, not necessarily noticeable here on earth, but we cannot escape the feeling of being blessed overwhelmingly.)

Now on to other things. The continuing Wednesday evening online bible study which you can find on FaceBook simply by my name — Jerry Lockhart, or on Youtube channel, Brother Jerry Lockhart, is about to start another segment. The first took most of the first 6 months of the year, the next will take a while, also. One hour (almost) each week to define the purpose and the practice of “rightly dividing the word of truth” as we are instructed to do by Paul, the apostle of the Gentiles (the world we live in) in 2 Tim.2:15 in order to “shun” the incorrect habits of religions which refuse the simple truths of the Word. For the record, I believe the entire King James Bible contains the words which God has inspired authors and translators to preserve as His words for us today. English speaking people have carried these words into hundreds of foreign land and translated them from KJB to native tongues. Did the Lord know they would do this? Of course. Was He able to see to it they would be understandable to those peoples and lands? Yes. The King James Bible is the word of God.

Every version which has come out since 1881 has either changed words, has missing words, or whole missing verses, or all 3 of those error-ridden things because those doing the translating wanted to be able to copyright their efforts (which they all did) and to do so, those three erroneous workings have to be in the narrative. If you doubt what I’m saying, do yourself a favor, lay as many versions as you can beside the KJB, start in Matthew 1 and compare the words and verses. Be honest with yourself and with the Lord and He will show you the truth.

At any rate, that’s what the bible class is doing for the upcoming months and what we always use to show God’s spoken and written will for all mankind. His will starts “God our Saviour, Who would have all men be saved and to come unto the knowledge of His will”—1 Tim.2: 3,4. As you probably know the salvation part is very simple: “believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved”—Acts16:31. Because the good news says, “…how that Christ died for our sins, according to the Scriptures, was buried, and was raised again the third day, according to the Scriptures.”—1 Cor.15: 3,4.

Have a continued good day and week and Independence Day celebration!

A Little Winter, A Little Politics

Jan. 21, 2025

Winter, Must We? I mean, every year? So it seems. We have these seasons—Summer, Winter, Seedtime and Harvest, cold and heat—I know that because the Lord said so, just after the flood of Noah’s time. (Gen.8:22.) Was there no seasons before Noah’s flood? Very doubtful it seems to me. Hmm, no seasons.

When reading the description, brief as it is, the Lord gave us of the Garden of Eden, it seems to say there was a certain “mist from the earth, and watered the whole face of the ground.” Then, as Eve was being tempted of the serpent in the Garden, he told her God didn’t want her to become “as gods” which seems to perhaps emphasize they might have known what “becoming as the gods” would look like (Gen.3:5). The other passage which lends the Garden of Eden and even the whole ground in that day, being watered by that mist instead of rain is found in 2Peter 3:5, “…that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water.” (Sort of brings our minds to think dome-like—-could be wrong, of course, it isn’t specific enough to be certain.)

But, remember, the four seasons as we know them, are spoken by the Lord to be there after the rains came. For 1600+ years from Adam to after the flood, they had not rain as we know it. But Noah’s progeny were going to be faced with rain, sleet, snow, as well as heat, drought, and as the first used Scripture (above) says: the four seasons. Like I said in the first line or so, we are going to have Winter whether we like it or not. And I don’t.

[A point-to-ponder: Gen.1:1 says God created the heaven and the earth. Notice both created things are singular, not plural. But 2 Peter 3:5 & 7 both refer to heavens (plural) just as Gen.2:1 spoke of the completed work of the Lord.Now, considering these things, at what point did there become more than one heaven? When the Lord caused the dry land to appear. Then a firmament came into being, a Heaven as God called it, but not the same as Gen.1:1, so heavens could be written in plural form in Gen.2:1]

When I grew up in Indiana, I thought cold was up there — only the North country. When we moved to Illinois, I saw that cold was over there, also. When we moved to Alabama many years ago, “Winter” as we knew it stayed up North, like it should! After about 5 years we moved back to Illinois for 18 months. That 18 months included the famed “Blizzard of ’78” and once again, showed me that Winter belonged up North.

But now, after 45 more years, sitting in beautiful Northeast Alabama, we’re faced with the next five days (at least) of grievous Northern weather! The expected high for this period of time will not reach freezing, mostly going to stay in the low teens! Two reasons this isn’t gonna work: 1st, nobody knows how to tolerate or drive in this kind of weather! 2nd, we don’t have enough plumbers to handle all the busted pipes which people don’t know how to correct! It’s a dilemma, folks. If Winter is going to invade Alabama, some of us must migrate to the South! And just now, my wife is telling me the snow is staying to the South of us! What!?

Ah, well, …. the weather; everybody gripes about it, nobody does anything about it.

From this subject, we’ll turn to what I saw yesterday (Monday) on the around the world TV I have at my fingertips. I saw one side of the political world celebrating wildly and “just so excited to see my President back into the office!” (and, yes, I am glad he’s there, too,) all the way to read the unfathomable reasoning for one former president’s wife to give the reason she didn’t attend the functions. She said she could never put on a phony smile when she faced the politics she hates. Hmmm, that’s funny, her husband, an almost equally hating man was there with his best phony smile, sitting in the place of honor through it all. What is wrong with a person who says she could never put on a plastic smile —every adult person in the world puts on a false front smile almost every day! No, she stayed away because she wanted the opportunity to make a statement of her own for reasons not yet revealed, though suspicions arise. And she thinks trump is a “danger to our democracy”? He should be, since federally, we are a representative republic, and not a democracy. Could be she doesn’t know the difference.

Every state, including Canada and Greenland will be a democracy. But, as a union we have representatives at the elected or constitutionally appointed level which do not come about from the popular vote, but by those whom they represent in the central government which, by the way, is multiplied millions larger than the originators could see yet still equally cast in the roles it takes to fulfill the desires of those who formed her. Bureaucracy be hanged; we are championed by secretaries!

By the time Spring has arrived, let’s talk more about politics, doesn’t that seem like a good time to make an assessment of progress? Too soon? Summer, then? Fall/Harvest time? No? Ahh, now we’re back to the Winter! We never will get this right!! “Tis the Season to be ……..”

Thanks for reading, the Elder

The Holidays, Again 11/28/24

Aaaah, the “holidays” are upon us again. Perhaps the purest and most serious of all holidays is THANKSGIVING. You know, the reason for all of us being here (and I do mean all) is about survival of the forefathers. Wherefore they gave thanks collectively. Therefore it’s about soberly remembering who and what we are; how and why we’re here; then, on to deciding the discernment of and the importance of things in this life because we must live it! Some things I write here may not come across to you as having a clear understanding or awareness of our heritage compared to our present situation, but perhaps the Spirit of the Lord will help us see things we need to see on this holiday in order to better serve Him.

Of course, not everyone will think about serving the Lord while serving ourselves to turkey & dressing, potatoes, cranberry sauce, then a pecan, custard and pumpkin, maybe blueberry pies, and —-does it seem to you the desserts are a longer list than the real food? Uh, I was just trying to get across my preferences, I guess. But the thankfulness seems to begin with the food (as we learned in the loose history depictions of both school and churches of our past…the pilgrims and the native Americans ate together? Well, so they say.)

But, to the more serious thoughts: Phi.4:4 says, “Rejoice in the Lord alway…” Have you thought recently about the difficulty in being able to do this? ,,”alway?” “alway?” Without the s on the end of this word, it has a more continual implication—like saying “through whatever, no matter how long or how bad things are.”—Rejoice!. That can be a tall order. So, we must remember all the words of the verse, most importantly the “in the Lord” part. The Lord knows the kind of world we live in, He is not asking us to look at what goes on around us or the sicknesses we go through and just be giddy and delirious all the time. But, when we think about Christ, our Redeemer, Christ our Savior, Christ who will come for us at His appointed time! Thinking on Him should make us rejoice, no matter what else is going on in our lives, or even to those we love.

Paul wrote in Gal.6:14 “But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ…” Glorying in the cross is easy to be entreated down deep in our hearts because we believe what He did, what He does, and in what He will do. Amen? What about unto those who do not believe (or trust) in what Christ did, do not know what He does, and therefore are not waiting in anticipation for what He is going to do? In what do they glory? In what do they rejoice? I suspect practically all who read this has close family members somewhere on the chart of belief/unbelief; some who totally do not believe, and some who can’t get it all taken in or settle it “down deep,” as the Lord said. Now, back to our rejoicing where those loved ones are what do we seem like? Know-it-alls? Do we seem self-righteous to them? Does it seem to you they cringe a little when you talk to them?

In the midst of our rejoicing in Christ, we must take note of what we sound like, yea, even what we look like to them. Why you might ask? Because our job is to be an ambassador for Christ. Take a moment to re-read 2 Cor.5:14-21KJB before reading any further.

For several years our family, while sitting around the Thanksgiving table have spoken candidly of the things we’ve been blessed with in the year thus far. Each of us can say whatever “blessing” we’re remembering has been special, or most endearing, or most important. Sometimes it’s new, sometimes it’s an old wound cured, or a new friend, a new place to live, even a new possession or new job. Whatever comes across as a blessing we heretofore didn’t have. We’ve had some years where this took only a few minutes, we’ve had years where one thing or another lead to long table conversations. But, (and I say this hopefully) always it is to our betterment that we all hear each other. It builds the family camaraderie. Even that is a blessing from the Lord—He invented families.

What this discussion here on these short pages is about is this: remember it is a Thanksgiving Day, not an evangelical call, nor a guilt trip on anyone’s thankfulness about anything. Think of yourself (in the Ambassadorship position) as a guest who would never insult or cause to belittle any person present but see them all as the host or hostess and yourself as a guest—even if you are in your own home! Sound radical? It isn’t at all. It’s just practicing the call to be what the Lord wants us to use for our rejoicing!

Lessons, Letters & THE BOOK

Pensacola, FL 11/1 to 11/3— That’s where I was from Friday afternoon about 1pm to 1PM Sunday. Each year for the last 10, or so, Pastor Byron Wiggins and his “Bible Believer’s” assembly from Pace, FL, hold a Bible conference weekend here. It was a real privilege for me to attend and speak. Pastor Byron never tells us ahead of getting there when or if we are a speaker; it’s just a “be prepared” sort of schedule. This year my speaking time was last on Saturday evening. The congregation at this particular event comes from parts of South Alabama and the Florida panhandle plus a few from far away places—Illinois, Nevada, Louisiana, and this year some folks from Wyoming! What a diverse group! Most stayed through Sunday which is always better for fellowship, though some things “back home” take precedent and cause some to leave early.

You can see the messages preached there on FaceBook — Grace Believers Bible Study Church page. All the messages will contain two extremely important aspects: 1.) how does a person go from being lost with no hope of salvation into eternal life; and 2.) how does a saved person become more in line with God’s will for their life.

In support of Paul writing the simple words concerning whether one might get confused (“..as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ”) our avowed purpose in preaching/teaching is to be clear in our “clarion” call and then read references in the way it is easy for all to gain Scripture support when we relate what we’ve learned.

Answer to number 1.) hear the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation— it’s this: “…how that Christ died for your sins,… he was buried,…and God raised Him from the dead…”—believe it —Trust that work of Christ to be good enough with the Father to save you; or, as Silas and Paul told the jailer, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved.” Since Christ died for our sins, Paul related in Acts 13:38,39 that THE forgiveness of sins was preached and then, when he wrote 2 Corinthians 5, he stated that God had “reconciled the world unto himself, not imputing their transgressions unto them,”—thereby God is no longer angry at anyone. We preach Christ’s cross and His resurrection for people to understand trusting His work will be enough in God’s eyes for Him to grant us His righteousness as a gift for our belief.

Answer to number 2.) “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” That’s study…not work, not do, or don’t do, not strive to be busy, and certainly not get religion-ized, none of those things. But, to study by rightly dividing the word of truth.

I know you can do that for two reasons: the bible is written in about 7th grade grammar and it is in orderly and non-confusing divisions so that all God’s people can find themselves and His will for them by study. Study.

It will bless you beyond your wildest expectations to look at Scripture in the obvious manner it is put together.

To wit, Genesis to Malachi (OT) is all about God’s chosen people before the coming of Christ—all past events. Christ came and said point blank: I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel-Mt.15:24. Then it is best to see and believe it, even if we might desire it had said something different. Subsequently, all of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, as well as the emphasis in the first 12 chapters of the book of Acts — all that is also to, for, and about God confirming His covenantal commitment to them, not to the world in general. (see Rom.15:8)

So then, looking to the end of all things, we see the last 9 books of the bible being to, for, and about the fulfillment of God’s promises to the Fathers—Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, who begat the 12 tribes of Israel. Hebrews, James, 1 & 2 Peter, 1,2, & 3 John, Jude and Revelation, all 9 of these show the manner in which God fulfills all the rest of His promises He made in the named Scriptures to the peoples of Israel.

Sound very one-sided to you? It should, because it is! He is God, His way is not our way, His plan is His and His alone and He knows it comes out just right. He cannot be usurped by man’s (His creation) thoughts or plans. Besides, you probably noticed I left out those 13 books (85-100 pages in your Bible, depending on the size type with which your book is printed) found in the middle of what we call the New Testament (NT).

That would be Romans through Philemon—our Apostle Paul being the writer of the inspired revelation which the Lord Jesus Christ from heaven gave him. Look up (in the King James Bible) the word mystery and see how many times Paul used the word in these 13 books. You find “mystery” or “mysteries” used 20 times by Paul. (Christ used it 3 times, John, in Revelation, 4 times)

Paul wrote about a mystery kept secret since the world began. Then, if it was kept secret since the world began, when he spoke and wrote of it no one knew it ahead of him, did they? He also explained a mystery which had been “hid in God from the beginning of the world.”

If you look up these two phrases which I highlighted you will find reasons to read what all 20 passages wherein Paul used the word mystery or mysteries is telling you and me about how God our Father, Christ the Son our Savior, and The Holy Spirit our teacher has given us our hope, our redemption, our inheritance with Christ —-We’re His Body! Believing the words written TO US, as opposed to trying to figure out how the words the Lord spoke to others in His grand plan can “fit” that for which we’re chosen will prove very settling and completely fulfilling. Oh, all the Bible is written FOR US, just not all written TO US. (Like letters in our mailbox—some for one person, different ones for others, though we’re all family and may know all the mail, But, someone sends us a specific bit.)

Oh, by the way, I’m glad you’re reading! Thanks! The Elder