HEAVEN'S GROCERY STORE

While walking down life's highway, a long, long time ago
I saw a neon sign that read: "HEAVEN'S GROCERY STORE."

As I came a little closer, door opened wide.
When I realized what had happened, I was standing inside.

A mighty host of angels were positioned everywhere
One handed me a basket and told me, "Shop with care."

Everything a Christian needed was in this grocery store
And what you couldn't carry, you were permitted to come back for more.

The first thing I got was PATIENCE, LOVE, was in the same row
Further down the aisle was UNDERSTANDING, you need that everywhere you go.

I got a box of WISDOM, and a bag or two of FAITH
I couldn't miss the HOLY SPIRIT, He was all over the place.

I stopped to get some STRENGTH and COURAGE to help me run this race
By then my basket was getting full, but I remembered I needed GRACE.

I couldn't forget SALVATION, for I knew salvation was free
So I tried to get enough to save both you and me.

Then I started to the counter to pay my grocery bill
Thinking I had all that I needed to do my Master's will.

While going up the aisle, I saw PRAYER, & had to put that in
Knowing when I stepped outside, I'd run right into sin.

PEACE & JOY were plentiful, they were sitting on the shelf
SONG and PRAISE were hanging near, so I helped myself.

When I finally reached the counter, I asked the angel, "How much do I owe?"
He smiled & said, "You just take them everywhere you go."

I asked again, "Please tell me, how much do I owe?"
The angel seemed astonished as if I should have known, "My child," he said "JESUS paid your bill, a long, long time ago."

Author unknown

Duck Church

There is an old preaching illustration that I feel is still relevant for us today. There was a community named Duckville populated completely by ducks. On Sunday, all the good ducks waddled off to duck church. While at church they would sing duck songs and listen to the duck preacher.

One Sunday the duck preacher decided to give a lesson about how God had given them wings so they could fly. He pounded the pulpit and said, "With these wings, there is nowhere we ducks cannot go! There is no God-given task we ducks cannot accomplish! With these wings we no longer need to walk through life. We can soar high in the sky!"

The ducks quacked, "Amen!" throughout the duck congregation. The duck preacher concluded his message by exclaiming, "With our wings we can fly through life! WE ... CAN ... FLY!!!!" More ducks quacked out loud "AMENS!" in response. Every duck loved the service. In fact all the ducks that were present commented on what a wonderfully convicting message they had heard from their duck preacher.

Then when they left the church they waddled all the way home. They didn't fly like the duck preacher told them they could do. They went home just like they came - waddling.

Many times we are no better than the ducks going to duck church. We sit and listen to the preacher tell us from God's word about the power and abilities God has given us through His Spirit. We hear him tell us of the lives God desires us to live and how we need to change. But when it comes right down to it, too many times we go on acting the same way and doing the same things as when we came in. Let us not be like the ducks waddling away. Instead let us take heed of what we learn and spread our wings and fly.

Business Meetings

"Many church business meetings have no business meeting." ~S. C. Goad

How Do You Avoid Church Problems?

Here's an article by a friend of mine about avoiding church problems.

http://www.jeremyhoover.com/2/post/2012/01/suggestions-on-how-churches-might-avoid-conflict-in-leadership.html

Tolerance in Christianity

David Lipscomb ideas on "tolerance."
http://johnmarkhicks.wordpress.com/2012/01/04/how-much-do-we-tolerate-till-we-disfellowship-david-lipscomb-responds/

Sharing your Faith

Let the Lower Lights be Burning

https://youtu.be/EAjTpbCN6UI?t=3009

Volvo gave away its seat belt patent to save lives.

God Wants You to Experience This

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/D9ohUov_9jc

Self Examination

The story is told of a monastery in Portugal, perched high on a 3,000 foot cliff and accessible only by a terrifying ride in a swaying basket. The basket was pulled with a single rope by several strong men, perspiring under the strain of the fully-loaded basket. An American tourist who visited the site got nervous halfway up the cliff when he noticed the rope was old and frayed. Hoping to relieve his fear he asked, "How often do you change the rope?" The monk in charge replied, "Whenever it breaks!"

Most likely all of us would agree it is crazy not to regularly examine and change something - like the rope in the story - that your life depended on. Strangely enough, however, a lot of us live our lives that way. We sometimes forget eternal life is dependent on how we live our lives here on earth. How often do we forget to slow down, examine how things are going, and make the decisions necessary to change any bad habits or sinful things we have gotten ourselves involved in? We keep doing the same old thing over and over again until something breaks.

In 2 Corinthians 13:5, Paul tells them: Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you —unless, of course, you fail the test?

Self examination is something we should regularly practice as Christians. Do you really want your eternal life to depend on something you have not examined and made sure is right? Of course not! Just like you would not want to go up and down on an elevator daily, supported by a rope you are not sure could hold you. Take some time today and make certain your life is right with God.

Johnny Horton - I'm A One Woman Man

Doctrine: Sound

What is Sound

Consider this article
http://stoned-campbelldisciple.blogspot.com/2006/10/who-is-sound-thought-from-1916-in-1916.html

Unity and Skeptics

"The Scriptures will never keep together in union and fellowship members not in the spirit of the Scriptures, which spirit is love, peace, forbearance, and cheerful obedience. This is the spirit of the great Head of the body. I blush for my fellows, who hold up the Bible as the bond of union yet make their opinions of it tests of fellowship; who plead for unity with all Christians; yet refuse fellowship with such as dissent from their opinions. Vain men! Their zeal is not according to knowledge, nor is their spirit of Christ. There is a day not far ahead which will declare it. Such anti-sectarian-sectarians are doing more mischief to the cause and advancement of truth, the unity of Christians, and the salvation of the world than all the skeptics in the world. In fact, they make skeptics.”

Barton W. Stone, 1835, quoted by Steven Clark Goad's book A UNITY CORDIAL.

Evangelism

It does little good if Christians DECLARE and DEFEND the truth, but fail to DEMONSTRATE it in their own lives (Titus 1:16)

The Bible In 50 Words

THE PERFUME

As she stood in front of her 5th grade class on the very first day of school, she told the children an untruth. Like most teachers, she looked at her students and said that she loved them all the same.

However, that was impossible, because there in the front row, slumped in his seat, was a little boy named Teddy Stoddard.

Mrs Thompson had watched Teddy the year before and noticed that he did not play well with the other children, that his clothes were messy and that he constantly needed a bath. In addition, Teddy could be unpleasant.

It got to the point where Mrs. Thompson would actually take delight in marking his papers with a broad red pen, making bold X's and then putting a big "F" at the top of his papers.

At the school where Mrs. Thompson taught, she was required to review each child's past records and she put Teddy's off until last. However, when she reviewed his file, she was in for a surprise.

Teddy's first grade teacher wrote, "Teddy is a bright child with a ready laugh. He does his work neatly and has good manners... he is a joy to be around."

His second grade teacher wrote, "Teddy is an excellent student, well liked by his classmates, but he is troubled because his mother has a terminal illness and life at home must be a struggle."

His third grade teacher wrote, " His mother's death has been hard on him. He tries to do his best, but his father doesn't show much interest and his home life will soon affect him if some steps aren't taken."

Teddy's fourth grade teacher wrote, "Teddy is withdrawn and doesn't show much interest in school. He doesn't have many friends and he sometimes sleeps in class."

By now, Mrs. Thompson realized the problem and she was ashamed of herself. She felt even worse when her students brought her Christmas presents, wrapped in beautiful ribbons and bright paper, except for Teddy's.

His present was clumsily wrapped in the heavy, brown paper that he got from a grocery bag.

Mrs. Thompson took pains to open it in the middle of the other presents. Some of the children started to laugh when she found a rhinestone bracelet with some of the stones missing , and a bottle that was one-quarter full of perfume . But she stifled the children's laughter when she exclaimed how pretty the bracelet was, putting it on, and dabbing some of the perfume on her wrist. Teddy Stoddard stayed after school that day just long enough to say, "Mrs. Thompson, today you smelled just like my Mom used to."

After the children left, she cried for at least an hour. On that very day, she quit teaching reading, writing and arithmetic. Instead, she began to teach children.

Mrs. Thompson paid particular attention to Teddy. As she worked with him, his mind seemed to come alive. The more she encouraged him, the faster he responded. By the end of the year, Teddy had become one of the smartest children in the class and, despite her lie that she would love all the children the same, Teddy became one of her "teacher's pets."

A year later, she found a note under her door, from Teddy, telling her that she was still the best teacher he ever had in his whole life.

Six years went by before she got another note from Teddy. He then wrote that he had finished high school, third in his class, and she was still the best teacher he ever had in his whole life.

Four years after that, she got another letter, saying that while things had been tough at times, he'd stayed in school, had stuck with it, and would soon graduate from college with the highest of honors. He assured Mrs. Thompson that she was still the best and favorite teacher he had ever had in his whole life.

Then four more years passed and yet another letter came. This time he explained that after he got his bachelor's degree, he decided to go a little further .

The letter explained that she was still the best and favorite teacher he ever had. But now his name was a little longer....The letter was signed, Theodore F. Stoddard , MD.

The story does not end there. You see, there was yet another letter that spring. Teddy said he had met this girl and was going to be married. He explained that his father had died a couple of years ago and he was wondering if Mrs. Thompson might agree to sit at the wedding in the place that was usually reserved for the mother of the groom.

Of course, Mrs. Thompson did. And guess what? She wore that bracelet, the one with several rhinestones missing. Moreover, she made sure she was wearing the perfume that Teddy remembered his mother wearing on their last Christmas together.

They hugged each other, and Dr. Stoddard whispered in Mrs. Thompson's ear, "Thank you Mrs. Thompson for believing in me Thank you so much for making me feel important and showing me that I could make a difference."

Mrs. Thompson, with tears in her eyes, whispered back.

She said, "Teddy, you have it all wrong. You were the one who taught me that I could make a difference I didn't know how to teach until I met you."

=========================
Warm someone's heart today . .. . pass this along.

I love this story so very much, I cry every time I read it. Just try to make a difference in someone's life today? tomorrow? just "do it"

Random acts of kindness, I think they call it.

Christmases: Campbell on Christmas

Christmases? 

Campbell on Christmas

Thought provoking insights

http://stoned-campbelldisciple.blogspot.com/2009/12/stoned-campbell-christmases-campbell-on.html

Who loves you more than Mom?

A teacher was trying to teach her class a lesson about fractions. After the lesson, she tested one of the boys who was in a large family. Johnny, she said, “There are 6 people in your family. Your mom bakes a pie and she cuts it up for you, what fraction of the pie will you receive?”

Johnny, thought for a minute and said, “One-fifth.” The teacher said, “Now, remember there are 6 people in your family, how big would your piece of pie be.” And again, the boy said, “One-fifth.” The teacher said, “No, you don’t understand fractions.” And Johnny respectfully said, “You don’t understand my mom. She would have said that she didn’t want any.”

Life's Greatest Test

Life's Greatest Test - Story of John Blanchard

One of the most romantic and inspirational true to life story of a soldier's life and love.

John Blanchard was a soldier.

One day, in a library, he found an old book with a lot of writing in the margins. He read her handwritten notes in the book and admired their deep insights. At the front cover, he saw that the book was previously owned by a certain Hollis Maynell.

With much effort, he located her address. He wrote to her and told her about her old book and how he liked her written notes.

And she responded, thanking him for his kind words.

But that day, he was shipped overseas to fight in a war.

Still, they kept writing to each other. During the difficult times at the battlefield, her words inspired him and gave him hope.

Little by little, John was falling in love with her.

He requested for a photo, but she replied that if he really cared for her, it won’t matter how she looked.

Finally, he was going home.

They decided to meet at the Grand Central Station at 7pm.

He said he’d be in his soldier’s uniform bringing her old book.

And she said, “You’ll know me by the red rose I’ll wear on my lapel.”

When the train arrived at 7pm, John was there, wearing his neatly pressed military uniform, with her old book in his hand.

The first woman to step off the train was a beautiful woman in a green suit. But there was no red rose on her blouse.

John was disappointed. But she was so lovely, he kept looking at her. She walked in front of him, glanced at him with a smile, and asked, “Are you following me, soldier?”

A part of him wanted to follow.

But no, he had to wait for Hollis Maynell.

The next woman who stepped off the train had a red rose on her lapel. She was perhaps 45 years old. She had graying hair beneath her hat. And she was very overweight. Meantime, the beautiful woman in the green suit was walking away.

John was torn.

Yet he looked again at the woman who was wearing the red rose. He remembered her letters and what a fascinating a person she was. He remembered how wonderful her words made him feel. He told himself, “This may not be love. But this may be more than love. This will be a beautiful friendship with a lovely person.”

He walked up to her, straightened himself, handed the book to her and said, “My name is Lieutenant John Blanchard. You must be Ms. Hollis Maynell. I’m so glad you could meet me. May I have dinner with you tonight?”

The woman smiled. “I don’t know what this is about, son,” she answered, “but the young lady in the green suit asked me to wear this red rose on my coat. She also said that if you asked me out for dinner, she said she’d be waiting for you in the big restaurant across the street. She said it was some kind of test!”

A Modern-Day Service Parable

A Modern-Day Parable

One day an old Christian named Rufus Leekin called his brother in Christ, Lee Vight, and asked if he would like to buy some of his family antiques.

“Why do you want to sell those things, Rufus?” asked Lee. “I thought you really liked them.”

“Well, I do, but I need to hire somebody to shingle my roof, and I don’t have enough money saved up. I’ve been out of work for a year, so things have been tough lately. It’s kinda like life has beaten me up and left me half dead.”

“Man, I wish I could help you, but I’m not really into antiques. Good luck, though.” Lee hung up.

Later that day Rufus saw a member of his church named Jessup Reest downtown. When Rufus waved and tried to get his attention, Jessup acted like he didn’t see him and passed by on the other side. (He had heard from Lee that Rufus was trying to pawn off some of his old junk on church members.)

Out of desperation, Rufus finally called a guy he used to work with, named Sam Herriton, and gave him the same pitch. Rufus knew Sam was a nice guy and was pretty sure he went to church somewhere, but he wasn't sure where.

When Sam discovered the reason behind his solicitation, he took pity on Rufus. But instead of buying his treasures, Sam decided to round up some other guys from his own church and just take care of Rufus’s roof for him.

Rufus was overwhelmed. He tried to turn down their offer, but the good Sam Herriton was persistent. He and his crew worked all day Saturday shingling and repairing structural damage. Unfortunately they only got half done, and rain was coming. They were worried that the precipitation would find its way into the house if it wasn't finished right away. As much as Sam and his helpers hated to miss their church service, they decided they’d better finish the roof before the rains came and beat up on the house. (Sorry. Wrong parable.) So they worked all Sunday morning and finished roofing the roof of Rufus.

As Lee Vight and Jessup Reest drove by Rufus’s house on the way to church, they were both appalled that someone would skip worshiping God to work on a roof.

Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into hard times?

Christian University President

Harding University president to retire at end of 2012-13 academic year.

Ministry Ideas

Lots of life change comes from being among God's people. The first century church was together daily in many cases. Today we have reduced "church" to Sundays and Wednesdays. What are some good practical ideas for this generations.

* Using the internet and social media to encourage, pray, and connect with one another.

* Home group Bible studies by age groups and inter-generational.

* Cookouts and camp outs.

* Growth groups by generation and / or gender at or away from church building.

* Meals together before or after church assemblies. These could be at the building or at restaurants.
* Of course families studying together wherever they find themselves.

Share with me some more.

The cab ride

The Cab Ride I arrived at the address and honked the horn.  after waiting a few minutes I walked to the door and knocked.. 'Just a minute', answered a frail, elderly voice. I could hear something being dragged across the floor. After a long pause, the door opened. A small woman in her 90's stood before me. She was wearing a print dress and a pillbox hat with a veil pinned on it, like somebody out of a 1940's movie. By her side was a small nylon suitcase. The apartment looked as if no one had lived in it for years. All the furniture was covered with sheets. There were no clocks on the walls, no knickknacks or utensils on the counters. In the corner was a cardboard box filled with photos and glassware. 'Would you carry my bag out to the car?' she said. I took the suitcase to the cab, then returned to assist the woman. She took my arm and we walked slowly toward the curb. She kept thanking me for my kindness. 'It's nothing', I told her... 'I just try to treat my passengers the way I would want my mother to be treated.' 'Oh, you're such a good boy, she said.When we got in the cab, she gave me an address and then asked, 'Could you drive through downtown?' 'It's not the shortest way,'I answered quickly.. 'Oh, I don't mind,' she said.'I'm in no hurry. I'm on my way to a hospice. I looked in the rear-view mirror. Her eyes were glistening. 'I don't have any family left,' she continued in a soft voice.. 'The doctor says I don't have very long.' I quietly reached over and shut off the meter. 'What route would you like me to take?' I asked. For the next two hours, we drove through the city. She showed me the building where she had once worked as an elevator operator. We drove through the neighborhood where she and her husband had lived when they were newlyweds. She had me pull up in front of a furniture warehouse that had once been a ballroom where she had gone dancing as a girl. Sometimes she'd ask me to slow in front of a particular building or corner and would sit staring into the darkness, saying nothing. As the first hint of sun was creasing the horizon, she suddenly said, 'I'm tired. Let's go now'. We drove in silence to the address she had given me. It was a low building, like a small convalescent home, with a driveway that passed under a portico. Two orderlies came out to the cab as soon as we pulled up. They were Solicitous and intent, watching her every move. They must have been expecting her. I opened the trunk and took the small suitcase to the door. The woman was already seated in a wheelchair. 'How much do I owe you?'  She asked, reaching into her purse. 'Nothing,' I said 'You have to make a living,' she answered. 'There are other passengers,' I responded. Almost without thinking, I bent and gave her a hug. She held onto me tightly. 'You gave an old woman a little moment of joy,' she said.'Thank you.' I squeezed her hand, and then walked into the dim morning light.. Behind me, a door shut. It was the sound of the closing of a life..   I didn't  pick up any more passengers that shift. I drove aimlessly lost in thought. For the rest of that  day, I could hardly talk. What if that woman had  gotten an angry driver, or one who was impatient to end his shift?What if I had refused to take the run, or had honked once, then driven away? On a quick review, I don't think that I have done anything more important in my life. We're conditioned to think that our lives revolve around great moments. But great moments often catch us unaware-beautifully wrapped in what others may consider a small one. PEOPLE MAY NOT REMEMBER EXACTLY WHAT YOU DID, OR WHAT YOU SAID~BUT~THEY WILL ALWAYS REMEMBER HOW YOU MADE THEM FEEL. Life  may not be the party we hoped for, but while we  are here we might as well dance.