The Bulletin
of the
Church of Christ at
New Georgia
Tim Johnson, editor
May 11, 2008
In
This Issue:
Don't
Be a Bird Brain
by
Steve Klein
It
Can Change So Fast
by
Matthew Allen
Don't Be a Bird Brain
In Job 35:11, we learn that God "teaches us more than the beasts of the earth, and makes us wiser than the birds of heaven." That being the case, humans should not behave as if the Lord failed to endow us with minds that are better than those of birds.
We should not be bird brained when it comes to temptation. Birds don't realize the consequences of giving into temptation. They don't recognize the bait in a snare for what it is. Proverbs 7:23 indicates that the man who gives into sexual temptation is bird brained! "As a bird hastens to the snare, He did not know it would cost his life."
Don't be an Ostrich. Ostriches wave their wings proudly, as if they were really something, when in fact they are virtually useless - the wings do not even enable the ostrich to fly! "The wings of the ostrich wave proudly, but are her wings and pinions like the kindly stork's?" (Job 39:13). Furthermore, for all of her pride and self exaltation, the ostrich knows virtually nothing about raising her young. "For she leaves her eggs on the ground, and warms them in the dust. She forgets that a foot may crush them, or that a wild beast may break them. She treats her young harshly, as though they were not hers. Her labor is in vain, without concern, because God deprived her of wisdom, and did not endow her with understanding" (Job 39:14-17). Society is full of proud bird brained parents who have foolishly left their offspring unprotected in a dirty and dangerous world.
Don't be a Mockingbird. A mockingbird does not have its own song. It only repeats and mimics the songs of other birds. A bird brained person just copies everyone in the world around him. He doesn't speak with his own voice or think for himself. "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind" (Romans 12:2a).
Don't be a Robin. Next time you see a robin hunting worms in your yard, walk towards it. As you do, you will notice that it will walk (or hop) steadily away from you. It will continue to do this until you either stop walking towards it or get too close to it. It will only fly away when you get too close. Robins can fly, but they won't unless they have to. A person who has abilities that he won't use unless he's forced to is bird-brained! "Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might" (Ecclesiastes 9:10).
Don't be a Whippoorwill. This bird is named after its song. It sounds like it is saying "whip poor Will." Some people take their problems out on others and seem to enjoy watching others suffer.
Birds are amazing creatures of God in many ways, but surely the Lord gave mankind more wisdom and sense than He gave the birds! Let's act like it.
--Steve Klein
.
The wealth and materialistic excess of God's people eight centuries before Jesus was almost unparalleled. The level of prosperity almost certainly equaled that of the days of David and Solomon. Amos gives us a vivid detail of life during the reigns of Jeroboam II of Israel and Uzziah of Judah, shedding light on the political, social, and economic vitality of the people. Rest from war and being recognized on the stage of world politics, it was a time when the wealthy increased their riches on the back of the poor. The sophisticated ones in society lived in large and luxurious palaces, filled with soft couches and silk cushions. Indulgence in wine, fine music, and high culture were enjoyed by many. Amos 6:1-7 tells us the people were at ease, sleeping on beds of ivory, feeling secure while banqueting on fine food and anointing themselves with precious oils.
Amos hailed from the Judean village of Tekoa, some twelve miles south of Jerusalem. Called by God to pronounce a message of doom on the northern kingdom, his message must have sounded strange to a people far away from God. Imagine an outsider from a rural area walking through the streets of Samaria calling them out for their sinful decadence and forecasting God's judgment on the nation. Prepare to meet your God, O Israel, 4:12. It must have seemed so out of place. No one could have imagined that within thirty years the good times would be a distant memory. Assyria would once again flex its muscles and gobble up Israel in its westward expansion in 722 B.C. The message of Amos largely fell on deaf ears. Those who heard his message refused to listen. His two year ministry in Israel ended when Amaziah the priest told him to go back to Judah, Amos 7:10-13. I wonder, as the good times began to fade and Assyria began to exact a heavy toll of tariffs on the nation, if some remembered what Amos said so many years before. There is little doubt that his words would have been ringing in their ears as the Assyrian army besieged Jerusalem for three years depriving them of the basic necessities of life. Those who had once felt so smug, confident, and secure would bear the brunt of the most violent and cruel army in the world. Physical torture, slavery, murder, and violence were the trademark of Assyrian aggression. The fall from extreme prosperity to oppression was quick and sudden. Good times can turn bad very quickly.
Eight centuries after Amos, the Jews had returned to some form of prosperity. Living under the Roman Empire the Jews were a shell of their former self, but very proud of their civilization and religious heritage. In 20 B.C., Herod the Great began to rebuild the temple complex and it was a sight to behold. It was a source of pride for the Jewish people, and we get just a hint of that by the comments of the disciples to Jesus in Matthew 24:1-2. When Jesus says not one stone here will be left upon another, which will not be torn down, it was unbelievable to the disciples. How could such a great building be destroyed? But yet in their lifetime (24:34), that would happen. In fact, all of Jerusalem would be destroyed. Almost unimaginable at the time Jesus uttered these words, the Romans came in 67 A.D., holding the city hostage for a number of years, and then finally leveling it in 70 A.D. Good times can turn bad very rapidly.
What about us? Over the last five decades our country has experienced unparalleled wealth, power, and luxury; so much that the rest of the world combined cannot match. We are sophisticated, smug, and confident. We relish in our technical advancements, fine homes, ease of transportation, and marvel at the quality of our healthcare. America takes pride in its ingenuity, educational opportunities, and freedom. While we should take pride in our achievements, we err if we fail to recognize that our current status is because of the grace and mercy of God. Unfortunately, there are very powerful forces in our culture that seek to direct us away from God. As we bask in our success, there is a real danger that we could view the message and truth of God as back-woods, simplistic, out of date, and obscure. Are we that different from the generation of Amos? How strange does God's word sound in modern American society? Does it seem out of place? Will His message fall on deaf ears? Have we become so comfortable that we cannot possibly imagine living under different circumstances? As we bask in our material blessings and witness our culture turning away from godly living, we should be warned that sin will not go unpunished by God. He is just as much in control of today's world as in Bible times. Is it possible that, during our lifetime, the good times we experience today will be but a distant memory? Good times can turn bad very quickly.
As Christians we have been charged to live up to our responsibilities to be a light shining in the midst of a dark world. Have you given your heart to God? Prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world, holding fast the word of life&ldots;, Philippians 2:15-16a.
--by Matthew Allen
Via www.mhallen.com/articles