The Reporter   
 Volume 46 # 40,  --  October 6, 2006

 

It Was Just A Matter Of Time

 

   A few days ago Steve Irwin, “The Crocodile Hunter,” was killed by a stingray at the age of 44 years. Deaths from ray attacks are unusual. On an average there are only one or two fatalities a year worldwide. There are approximately 120 known ray species and only four families of venomous stinging rays.

 

   Irwin won global fame with his televised death-defying crocodile stunts. He was killed while filming a documentary at the Great Barrier Reef off Australia’s northeast coast. Witnesses said he apparently died of cardiac arrest after the stingray attack.

 

   There is no doubt that his death is a huge loss to his family, his fans and to Australia. Mr. Irwin’s television shows, including “The Crocodile Hunter,” were seen in more than 100 countries on cable television, and he was a staple of American talk shows. He customarily appeared in his trademark hiking boots and khaki shorts and shirt, commenting on animal conservation and showing clips of his fearless exploits, which included, waving a rubber chicken in a crocodile's face, wrestling with boas and mastering poisonous snakes and spiders. His death is depressing to many wildlife people because the last thing you want is for the guy who says things are safe to be killed by one of them.

 

   Stephen Robert Irwin was born in 1962 in a suburb of Melbourne, Australia. He spent his childhood in Queensland, where his parents operated a wildlife park. He grew up with wild animals, including crocodiles. He met his American-born wife, Terri, when she was vacationing in Australia in 1991. Film from their honeymoon in the wild, trapping crocodiles, was used in creating their first documentary. His survivors include his wife, a young son, and a daughter.

 

   Mr. Irwin used phrases like “Check out the size of this bloke,” “Whew, he’s getting cranky,” “Crikey!” or, “Isn’t she a beauty?” (The above information came from news reports about Irwin's death)

 

   I felt sad but was not shocked by his death. It seemed to me that it was just a matter of time. If you wave a rubber chicken in a crocodile's face, wrestle with boas and hold poisonous snakes and spiders rest assured that it is just a matter of time until something bad happens.

 

   Now let us try to make application of these things to our life:

 

   When you start using alcohol and other drugs it is just a matter of time. The evil fruits of alcohol and other drugs continue to be reaped in our society as more people drink and turn to other drugs. When you use alcohol and other drugs it is just a matter of time until you get that DUI. It is just a matter of time until that accident or until your influence is destroyed. "Wine is a mocker, Strong drink is a brawler, And whoever is led astray by it is not wise." (Proverbs 20:1.) Drinking alcohol and using other drugs is just too costly and harmful -- physi­cally, mentally, socially, economically, morally and especially spiritually. It is just a matter of time until alcohol and other drug becomes the master and you become the slave.

 

      When your thoughts get wrong sexually it is just a matter of time: When you start flirting with someone other than your spouse, when you get into pornography, when you compromise your morals it is just a matter of time. Jesus said, "But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart." (Matthew 5:28) Jesus knew that if it gets in your heart it is just a matter of time until the act follows. Adultery, fornication and homosexuality have become a way of life for many. Our society has become so confused that it calls evil good and good evil. “Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; Who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!” (Isaiah 5:20.) Immorality is condemned in God's word. Romans 1:18-32 condemns all types of sexual immorality includ­ing men with men and women with women. Some say "God made us this way so it must be all right to do these things." God did not do it -- Satan is the author of this kind of thinking because he wants to keep the immoral in his bondage. When you thinking becomes wrong it is just a matter of time until immorality becomes a way of life for you.

 

   When you deny that there is one church it is just a matter of time. In Romans 12:5 we read, "We, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another." The Bible says, "There is one body." (Ephesians 4:4) We are reconciled to God "in one body through the cross." (Ephesians 2:16) When you deny the one body it is just a matter of time until you accept faith only. When you deny the one body it is just a matter of time until you will want the name of the church changed. When you deny the one body it is just a matter of time until you want to change God's organization for the church. When you deny the one body it is just a matter of time until you accept instrumental music. When you deny the one body it is just a matter of time until you begin to say the church of Christ is a denomination. When you deny the one body it is just a matter of time until you begin to defend women being in roles God never intended in the church.  

 

   When you try to defend questionable things it is just a matter of time until you are deceived by them. When you try to defend gambling it is just a matter of time until you become the loser. Gambling is motivated by characteristics of selfishness, covetousness and greed. (Luke 12:15, Romans 12:10) Gambling demands trust in chance and material things rather than a trust in God and His will. (Matthew 6:19-34, Luke 12:13-21.) Gambling is the sure way to get nothing for something. When you try to defend social drinking it is just a matter of time. "Wine and new wine enslave the heart." (Hosea 4:11) Christians are commanded to be sober, thus we must avoid intoxication and addiction to alcohol. (Titus 2:1-3) When you try to defend immodesty it is just a matter of time. A person is immodest in the Bible sense when he acts, talks, dresses or lives in a way that calls undue attention to himself. “Do not let your adornment be merely outward--arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel--rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God.” (I Peter 3:3-4)

 

   When you dangle that rubber chicken in front of that crocodile you are going to get bit. It is just a matter of time. Each of us has our own crocodile and our own rubber chicken and it is time for us to wake up before we get bit! To go to heaven you must be­come a child of God and stand strong in the faith. To become a Christian you must hear the gospel (Romans 10:17), believe in Jesus (John 8:24), repent of sins (Acts 17:30), confess Christ as Lord (Romans 10:9-10), and be baptized into Christ. (I Peter 3:21) After bap­tism get rid of your rubber chicken and stay as far away as you can from the crocodiles of your life. 

- - - - Charles Box

News & Notes

 

1. Prayer List: In Need Of Prayers: Linda Bender, Dannie Box, Janice Box, Gary Bozeman, Emily Cain, Paul Cottrell (grandfather of Donna Owens), Roy Goodwin, Ramona Gravely, Ron Green, Montine Hardin, Marcus Harrell (injury), Evan Hartsell, Margaret Helms (sister of Sue Bagents),  Abbie, Austin, and Andrew Herring, Ann Jackson, Frank Johnson, Darrell Jones, Mary Lawrence, Dennis Lowery (surgery), Joyce Massey, Mary Powell, James Satterfield, Meg Sellers, Roger Strange, Doris Taylor, Winston Temple, Corrine Till, and Jodi Whittington (grand-daughter of Roy & Linda Bender). Crowne Health Care: Laura Ellis, Kathy Johnson, Myrtle Perdue, Bertha Phelps, and Iva Lou Wright. Homewood Greenville: Marie Walton. Pine Needle: Mildred Johnson, Mary Lou Phelps. Georgiana Nursing Facility: Helen Autrey, Wilmer Howell. Shut-Ins: Emma Lee Gafford, Ethel Gafford, and Jean Hayes.

 

2. Please Pray For: (a) Alan Jackson as he serves in Iraq. Address: SPC Nathan A. Jackson, B-BTRY 1/117th FA, APO AE09378, 3rd PLT. (b) Sam Sanders, son of Jerry Sanders is serving in the Iraq area. (c) Jason Godwin, son of Barbara Walkers is serving in Iraq. 

 

3. Sympathy Expressed: Our love and sympathy is expressed to Marie Owens and Brenda Herring in the death of their aunt, Frances Tillery.

 

4. Birthdays: Celebrating birthdays this week are: October 10th Ann Cauthen, and October 13th LD Session.

 

5. Congratulation: (a) Congratulations to Todd and Nikki Bennett in the birth of their daughter Brittan Elizabeth. She was born October 2nd. She is the great-granddaughter of Wilmer Howell. (b) Congratulations also to Jessie Mae Powell who has two new great-grandchildren.

 

6. Organized Visitation: Our visitation program meets on Tuesday nights at 6:00. Men and women are invited to participate. Visits are made to encourage people, for Bible studies, to encourage the sick and to show love to fellow Christians. Please be a part of this good work.

7. Youth Activities: The Walnut Street Church of Christ will host the Area Wide Youth Devo on October 8th. Please bring finger foods. See Darrell for what you can do to help                

 

8. Triplets Update: The Herring triplets are doing well. Remember the food list and also keep filling the box in the foyer with needed supplies. The item for this week is Enfamil formula (powder). Look for words EnfaCare Lipil on can. (This formula is for conditions such as prematurity and low birth weight.) It can be purchased at Piggly Wiggly and Target. *See the can on the table in foyer.

 

9. Thank You: Dear Walnut Street Church of Christ, We will never be able to thank you enough for all your acts of love. The food, plant, gifts, calls, visits, and most of all your prayers have helped us so much. Your kindness has touched our hearts and we’ll never forget it. We are all doing well. However, we still need for the babies to grown and get stronger. Please continue to remember us in your prayers. Love, Brenda, Willie, Abbie, Austin, and Andrew Herring

 

10. Ladies Bible Class: All ladies are invited and encouraged to attend Ladies Bible Class which meets Wednesday morning at 10:00 a.m. The class is studying the “Life of Christ”. 

 

11. Tablecloths Needed: If anyone can help with the money to purchase tablecloths for the fellowship hall, please see Margaret Phillips or Barbara Walker.

 

12. Kitchen Sign Out Sheet: There is a sign out sheet in the kitchen for all kitchen and all-purpose room items. Please help us keep up with things.

 

13. Area Events: (a) October 8-10 – Gospel Meeting – Eastern Meadows Church of Christ (Rotunda on Faulkner University’s Campus) – Neal Pollard – weeknights at 7:00. (b) October 8-11 – Gospel Meeting – Davenport Church of Christ – Larry Brady – weeknights at 7:30. (c) October 15-18 – Homecoming/Lectureship – Century Church of Christ – Theme: Growing the Church – See bulletin board for speakers – weeknights at 7:00. (d) October 22-25 – Gospel Meeting – Fairhope Church of Christ – Curtis Cates weeknights at 7:00.

 

My Father’s Business

 

  When Jesus was a 12-year-old boy, His parents took Him to Jerusalem for the Passover Feast. When it was over they headed home, but our Lord stayed behind without Joseph and Mary knowing it. They traveled for a whole day before realizing that Jesus was not with them. When they returned and found Him, He was sitting amongst the teachers in the temple listening to them and asking questions. His mother, Mary, said to Him, “Your father and I have sought you anxiously.” But Jesus replied, “Why did you seek Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father's business?” (Luke 2:41-49) I’d like for us to note that according to Jesus, the Father’s business involves listening.

   

   The Father’s business involves listening.  James said, “So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath.” (James 1:19.) So many predicaments could be avoided if the people involved would have “ears to hear.” When a man and woman are married, it is God who has “joined them together.” (Matthew 19:6.) But when one or both of the partners in a marriage refuses to listen to the other, their bond is often broken.  This could be avoided if we would be about the Father’s business.

   

   The church is the “body” of Christ Jesus our Lord. (Ephesians 1:22-23.) We know that Jesus loves unity.  He prayed to the Father for the unity of His disciples. (John 17:11.) Paul pleaded with the Corinthian church “that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.” (I Corinthians 1:10.) But, sadly, the body of Christ is sometimes divided from within. When division occurs people involved are often swift to speak and slow to hear. The church must be about the Father’s business and strive to be a listening people.

 

   The Father’s business has been revealed to man in His Holy Scriptures. (II Timothy 3:16-17.) Let us not overlook something so small, yet so important as listening.

 

- - - - Darrell Powell

 

Soul winning will cause you to learn and defend the truth.

 

Don’t just own a Bible; read it!

 

Walnut Street Church of Christ

P.O. Box 551

Greenville, Alabama 36037-0551

(334-382-3001)