II Timothy 4:3 “The time will come when people will not listen to the true teaching. But people will find more and more teachers who please them. They will find teachers who say what they want to hear.”

One of life’s perfect pairings is chocolate and nuts, and for me, the Snickers bar tops that chart. So, as I perused the store shelves for my Halloween give-away candy and spied a bag of “Fun-Sized” Snickers, I knew I had hit jackpot. Gathering up an armful of Snickers-fun, I headed home excited over the “fun” this candy would be for my trick or treaters.

However, when I opened the bag, I stared in disbelief. The size of the “Snickers fun” was itty-bitty, and I thought to myself, “Since when is a microscopic Snickers bar more fun than a full-sized bar?”

I had been duped by propaganda!

Propaganda has been around since the beginning of time. Satan, the master and inventor of propaganda, in his first interaction with Eve in the garden, planted a seed of doubt against God. That seed of propaganda grew into what Eve perceived as reality.

The theme verse above brings back memories of my “Fun-Sized” Snickers. Years after Eve, the apostle Paul warned of propaganda circulating among the church. Its words offered what was pleasing to hear but its message altered truth. Paul knew we have the tendency to hear what we want to hear and believe what pleases us.

Jesus spoke radical, non-altered truth. He taught that we should treat others in the same way we treat ourselves, but we often tweak it slightly to say, “Treat others as you treat yourself if they deserve it.” Jesus’ truth instructed honesty in all things, but we tend to overlook our little white lies. Jesus’ truth said to love our enemies, but we find it easy to modify that to, “Love those who agree with you politically and religiously.” Ever-so-slight changes made to Jesus’ words may please us, but they radically alter His truth.

Friend, God’s truth is not ours to change, tweak, or stretch, even when it is pleasing to hear, so be on guard. Remember, all it took were two little words – “fun” and “sized” – to convince me a tiny Snickers bar was way more fun than a fill-sized Snickers bar.

Father God, may we ever search for truth.

Blessings,

Rita Cochrane

Cast Down Your Bucket: the Key to Impacting Society On September 18, 1895, Booker T. Washington addressed a crowd at the Cotton States and International Exposition in Atlanta concerning racial progress in the South. In what has been named one of the most influential speeches in American history, Booker T. Washington talks to white and African Americans about how equality and progress can be achieved peaceably. His proposed solution is summarized in one phrase, “Cast down your bucket where you are.”

This statement comes from an illustration Washington recited in his speech, “A ship lost at sea for many days suddenly sighted a friendly vessel. From the mast of the unfortunate vessel was seen a signal, ‘Water, water; we die of thirst!’ The answer from the friendly vessel at once came back, ‘Cast down your bucket where you are.’ A second time the signal, ‘Water, water; send us water!’ ran up from the distressed vessel, and was answered, ‘Cast down your bucket where you are.’ And a third and fourth signal for water was answered, ‘Cast down your bucket where you are.’ The captain of the distressed vessel, at last heeding the injunction, cast down his bucket, and it came up full of fresh, sparkling water from the mouth of the Amazon River.

Booker T. Washington’s instruction to “cast down your bucket where you are” is exactly what Christians are called to do in the Bible. In John 4:35, Christ asks his disciples, “Do you not say, ‘There are yet four months, then comes the harvest?’” Then He corrects them saying, “Look, I tell you, lift up your eyes, and see that the fields are white for harvest.” Christ wanted His disciples to see the immediate opportunities that were ready and within sight. As Christ’s disciples now, we must “lift [our] eyes, and see that the fields are white for harvest.” There is work to be done, opportunity to help others, and it’s all around us if we will only lift up our eyes and cast down our buckets where we are. Each day, when you’re in the grocery store, at work, at church, or at home, look up and see the souls around you. Cast down your bucket where you are, and you will find it full of opportunities to speak hope (1 Pet. 3:15), act in love (Mt. 22:39), share truth (1 Cor. 9:16), and spread kindness (Eph. 6:10).

The sailors in Washington’s story and the disciples in John 4 were both thirsting for opportunity. Their problem…they failed to realize that the opportunities were right in front of them. It is so easy to miss the forest for the trees when it comes to making an impact on society. We see the whole of humanity as broken, or we see ourselves as too insignificant to make a difference. But Booker T. Washington says if you want to positively influence society start with where you are, with the people around you. More importantly, Jesus says the same thing! The fields are white and ready for harvest. Our communities are full of opportunities just waiting for us to lift our eyes and cast down our buckets where we are. Start sewing and start reaping (John 4:36-38)!

Kathy Pollard

Well, I really try not to talk, write, focus ALL the time on the fact that this is the most difficult and perplexing time of my sojourn on the planet. I try to sharpen my heart with the sword of His Holy Spirit, to dwell on the things that are abundant and obvious blessings directly from His hand and to keep trusting that the the One who sees the sparrow is watching, knowing and rescuing His children. I know He is.

But after a particularly exhausting week, I made a three hour trip back to Huntsville just in time to walk in the building and hear my brother, Melvin Otey, present a masterpiece lesson about the widow who just would not stop from Luke 18:1-8. I had been forced to pull over and sleep on my way, because I had run into the wrong lane. I had powered through a mild stomach bug the night before. I had tried my best to advise someone who was going through an awful spot via phone while on this trip. While I know that, in whatever state, I am content (Phil. 4:11-13), I was pretty done by the time I arrived at that wonderful place where my family in Him comes together. Weary and worn and bringing mints to stay awake, I had a pretty good idea it would be a struggle. But it was not. God is good like that and the Word always hits its target.

Below is my very loose (but in-keeping-with-the-meaning-of-the-text) transliteration of the passage that spoke to me last night from heaven. I love the Word!

Jesus spoke a parable to the Pharisees, to show them that people should always pray and not grow weary, give up, or lose hope.

Jesus said that there was, in a certain city, a judge who had no respect for God and no compassion for his fellowman. He was not a good person.

And there was a widow in that same city, who had an oppressive enemy or adversary. She brought the matter to the judge and asked him for relief: “Avenge me of my enemy.”

For a while, the judge ignored her. But after a while, the judge thought “I am not afraid of God. I will not do this to please Him. I don’t pity this woman or have any compassion, really, on her. That is not why I will act. But because she is wearying me with her coming…because she is wearing me down…because I am tired of her begging me, I am going to grant her request and take care of her enemy.”

Jesus called on the Pharisees to think about this reasoning of the judge, who was a long way from a righteous man. “If this unrighteous judge answers because of the continual begging of a widow, how much more will the God of heaven avenge his own elect—his people—who are begging him for something day and night? He will do this even though he has to be patient with them as they are begging? If a wicked judge, who has no respect for God or man, gives relief because of the begging, how much more will your Father, hear you and give you the relief for which you’re begging day and night?”

And then Jesus answered His own question: “I’m telling you that God will suddenly give you the relief for which you are pleading.” It may come from a place and at a time and in a way that I least expect.

Then my Lord asks of us the simple question, “When Jesus comes, will he find in us this kind of pleading-over-and-again faith? He said these things because He was speaking to folks who trusted in themselves; people who thought they were the righteous ones and looked on others with disdain.

Is there something for which you have been begging; particularly something that will aid in some soul’s salvation? Is there a relief for which you have asked again and again, night and day. The answer for me, is, “yes”.  I know many of you well enough to know that it is “yes” for you, too. I know that He is hearing the repetition and I know that He will suddenly give the answer. I will be persistent in the asking, but patient in the waiting. He is truly so good to me.

And for the diggers, this is a great example of practical comfort from the Holy Spirit, through the Word and then through the mouth of God’s servant.

Cindy Colley

John 2:5 “His mother said to the servants, ‘Whatever He says to you, do it.’”

The RSVP’s were in, but to provide a safe cushion, our experienced catering service added several digits to the count. We absolutely did not want to run out of food!

The big day arrived and it quickly became evident the number of anticipated guests fell short of the crowds arriving. We welcomed our RSVP guests as well as those who had overlooked responding, very grateful for the caterer’s cushioned-count. But we also welcomed non-RSVP guests arriving with guests of their own whom we had never met. At that point, panic set in.

I turned to the caterer for reassurance who remained visibly calm and began dishing out instructions to her crew.

All quickly followed orders. The main entrée was moved to the back of the line. (less likely to run out of what is at the end) The most plentiful side-dish was placed first. The large dinner plates were replaced with smaller, more dainty ones and the large serving spoons replaced with more delicate ones.

Whew! Desperate times called for desperate measures, as any host can attest!

Many years ago, the gospel of John described a similar incident at a wedding in Cana. Food and wine flowed freely, but the wedding continued for days. So, as the bride and groom relished in their moment, the host anxiously checked the reserves. They were running out of wine!

Jesus’ mother, Mary, knew there was no need to panic. She pointed to her son and instructed the servers, “Whatever He says to you, do it!”

Consider a world today if we heeded this mother’s advice from long ago. “Whatever He (Jesus) says to you, do it!”

You see . . .

Jesus said, “Love your enemies,” yet so often we struggle to even like our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. If we showered our love upon all, would Jesus be seen in us? Would others desire Him, too?

Jesus said, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven,” yet we often perform our deeds loudly to bring glory to self. What if our faith shone like a bright light in a dark world with no thought to self-recognition? How much glory would be shone upon our Heavenly Father?

Jesus said, “With God, all things are possible,” yet we place limits on God’s power. We doubt His ability to forgive, to love, to protect, and to guide. Consider our victorious life in Christ if we lived according to God’s power within us.

When the servants at the wedding heeded the words of Jesus, panic ceased and miracles happened. Mary’s words remain as true today as they did when she spoke them. Remember, “Whatever He says to you, do it.”

Father God, help us to live out Your words.

Blessings,

Rita Cochrane

When you work in the education field, you become familiar with the term extended time. Students with certain learning disabilities are eligible for extended time in taking tests. That includes regular classroom tests and college entrance exams like the SAT and the ACT. Students are usually given 1.5 to double the time it takes other students to complete their tests.

There was no such thing as extended time when I was in school. Everyone worked by the same rules. Of course, we didn’t know about ADD or ADHD either. Both of these learning problems now warrant extended time.

There is a man in the Bible that was given extended time—fifteen years to be exact. The man’s name was Hezekiah. The interesting thing about this is that he was granted this time because he prayed for it.

Hezekiah became sick and was close to death. As was often the duty of prophets, God sent Isaiah to deliver a message regarding Hezekiah’s condition. “Thus says the LORD: Set your house in order, for you shall die, you shall not recover” (Isaiah 38:1).

Hezekiah must have been devastated. Scripture says that he turned his face to the wall and prayed to the Lord. In his prayer, Hezekiah asked God to remember that he had been faithful with his whole heart, and that he had done good. Then Hezekiah wept.

I have often wondered if Hezekiah expected the results he received. The Lord told Isaiah to go back to Hezekiah and say, “I have heard your prayer; I have seen your tears. Behold, I will add fifteen years to your life. I will deliver you and this city out of the hand of the king of Assyria, and will defend this city.” (Isaiah 38:5-6).

Hezekiah’s reaction was very different than that of King Ahab. Remember when Ahab wanted the vineyard that belonged to Naboth; his reaction to the refusal to trade or sell the vineyard brought about his taking to his bed like Hezekiah. However, Ahab turned his face to the wall and pouted.  Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed.

Though the circumstances were very different, the attitude of these two men reveals much about their character. Ahab’s actions brought about less time for him on this earth. Hezekiah’s actions brought about extended time.

What would you do with extended time? How would you use it? Would you be a better mother, daughter, wife, Bible class teacher, church member? How would you use your time more effectively?

It wasn’t long after Hezekiah’s remarkable recovery that we see how he used his extended time. The king of Babylon heard about Hezekiah’s illness and sent letters and a present to him. He was opening diplomatic communication with Hezekiah. He was obviously looking for an alliance. Hezekiah must have been dazzled by the apparent fact that his fame had reached all the way to Babylon. So, when an envoy came to deliver the letters and gift, Hezekiah took them on a tour of his kingdom. He didn’t hold anything back. He revealed everything to the enemy.

When Isaiah came to visit Hezekiah again, he asked the king who these men were that had visited him, what they had said, and what had they seen. Hezekiah told Isaiah, “They have come from a far country, from Babylon” (Second Kings 20:14). He also said, They have seen all that is in my house; there is nothing in my storehouses that I did not show them” (verse 14).

Isaiah’s message to Hezekiah was not a good one. He told him that the message was from God. He revealed that all that had been stored would be carried away to Babylon. Some of his own sons would be carried away, and they would become eunuchs in the palace in Babylon. Hezekiah took this message as a good thing, because this would not happen in his lifetime. He gave no thought to what was to come for his sons.

Extended time can be valuable. It is helpful to those taking tests, and it can be helpful to those who get a second chance. Hezekiah got a second chance, but he didn’t use it to the best advantage of God’s people. He revealed his wealth and thus brought about destruction for future generations.

What would you do with extended time? Would you leave things better, or would you be like Hezekiah and take no thought for the future?

Every day is extended time to us. As Christians, we need to take advantage of each day as a chance to serve and to influence. May we leave this earth not with being complacent with the way things are but making every effort to make things better.

Sandra Oliver

Colossians 3:23 “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as though you are working for the Lord and not people.” GNT

My mother daily read to us. When she pulled out a book, we all quickly vied for a coveted spot on her lap. The slowest ones (usually including me) encircled her chair, anxious to view the pictures with each page turn. One beloved story was The Little Red Hen. If the jest of this tale evades you, a little hen offered numerous opportunities for a duck, pig, and cow to help her make bread. Each time, the response was, “’Not I,’ said the duck! ‘Not I,’ said the pig. ‘Not I,’ said the cow!’

At this point in the story, all us surrounding the rocking chair would recite along with the little red hen our favorite line, “Then I shall do it myself!”

That tenacious little hen did just that. She got the job done alone. Then, as a delicious aroma filled the barnyard, the animals gathered, all desiring a slice of the bread, though none had desired a slice of the work.

Today, that line, “Then I shall do it myself!” is no longer a favorite. Truth be told, there is not much joy in doing all the work while others stand by desiring all the benefits.

Might we apply this fable to our local congregations? Do we crave an energetic worship with many opportunities for fellowship? Are we looking for a church home offering vibrant class options? Do we desire our congregations to be involved in good works, reaching the lost in the community and beyond?

If so, we must be sure we do not resemble the barnyard residents; seeking all the benefits without any commitment.

What if every capable member contributed to their church family? Might there be growth? How many souls could be reached if we all took seriously the command to spread the gospel? How much of our community might be touched if we united our efforts? What kindnesses might spread through group collaboration? How influential and exciting might our class offerings become when we volunteer?

Truth be told, to avoid burnout, we should not we be involved in every single church ministry. But examining our interests and utilizing our talents help us choose which outreaches to embrace.

So, if we find ourselves a bit dissatisfied with our local congregation, perhaps it is time to pull out an old childhood favorite to read. Like that little red hen, let us inventory our contributions and consider: If everyone’s efforts matched mine, what would this church resemble?

Sisters, may our commitment match our expectations.

Father God, open our eyes to our talents. Help us discover ways to use them to Your glory.

Blessings,

Rita Cochrane

This is an audio lesson by Cindy Colley.

Today I take great comfort in  Micah 7. My dear friend, Leslie (pictured on right) texted today and said “I am praying Micah 7:8 for you right now. No words are enough to relate my thanksgiving for prayers in my behalf, in good times and on darker days. Our connection to heaven is the greatest power on the planet. The world around us has such an arrogant sense of what makes greatness. Greatness is enthroned in majesty and I call on that greatness. I know if I bow my knee to the gods of entertainment, sports, prestige, money, friends or career, I will bow in shame and regret when every knee bows. I want to bow in praise and thanksgiving.

Here’s Matthew Henry on verses 8-13. I love the words of the Holy Spirit here and I drank in this commentary today.

Those truly penitent for sin, will see great reason to be patient under affliction. When we complain to the Lord of the badness of the times, we ought to complain against ourselves for the badness of our hearts. We must depend upon God to work deliverance for us in due time. We must not only look to him, but look for him. In our greatest distresses, we shall see no reason to despair of salvation, if by faith we look to the Lord as the God of our salvation. Though enemies triumph and insult, they shall be silenced and put to shame. Though Zion’s walls may long be in ruins, there will come a day when they shall be repaired. Israel shall come from all the remote parts, not turning back for discouragements. Though our enemies may seem to prevail against us, and to rejoice over us, we should not despond. Though cast down, we are not destroyed; we may join hope in God’s mercy, with submission to his correction. No hindrances can prevent the favors the Lord intends for his church.

Rejoice not against me, O mine enemy: when I fall, I shall arise; when I sit in darkness, Jehovah will be a light unto me.

Cindy Colley

When Paul wrote his second letter to the young man Timothy, he gave him instructions on what and how he should deliver God’s Word. Paul was in prison awaiting his death, so the message was urgent. This might be his last chance to tell Timothy exactly what message would be needed by the Christians.

This is what Paul told Timothy:

“Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry” (Second Timothy 4:2-5).

It would appear from these instructions that Timothy was to preach, confronting sin directly no matter the cost. That was what Paul had done, and that is what he expected of Timothy.

We don’t know what Timothy preached, but I suspect he fulfilled the instructions Paul gave him. He would have followed a host of preachers who followed the example of others that had gone before him.

John, the forerunner of Jesus, preached a plain, straightforward gospel. We see it especially in his rebuke of Herod Antipas and Herodias. He denounced their marriage (Matthew 14:4), and he paid a high price for it.

Herodias had previously been married to Philip, an uncle. She and Herod Antipas began a secret affair, and Herodias divorced Philip. By the way, Herod Antipas was also her uncle. Philip and Herodias had a daughter, identified in history as Salome.

Herodias didn’t take kindly to John’s confronting their sin, and she wanted John executed (Mark 6:19). Herod was afraid to do anything to John. Mark says that Herod knew he was a righteous man and a holy man. Matthew says that he was also afraid of the people because they believed him to be a prophet.

So, here is the dilemma. Herodias wants John dead. Herod would go along with it, but he is afraid of the people; and he believes John is righteous and really doesn’t deserve to be put to death. In order to appease his wife, he has John arrested and put in prison. We don’t know how long he was there, but I feel sure Herodias was seeking ways to get rid of him for good.

Just such an occasion arose. Herod had a birthday, and there was a grand celebration. The daughter of Herodias performed at the celebration. Her dancing was so effective that Herod promised her anything she wanted up to half the kingdom. So, the girl asked her mother what she should tell Herod she wanted; and, of course, Herodias told her to ask for the head of John on a silver charger.

She did ask, and Mark says that the king was “exceedingly sorry.” Because he had made his promise to her publicly, he had to follow through. He sent someone immediately to bring John’s head to him. John was beheaded, and Herodias, I’m sure, felt vindicated.

This is a sad commentary as an example of confronting sin. It makes you wonder what Timothy faced when he had to “reprove, rebuke, and exhort.”

Stephen suffered a similar outcome for his preaching, Luke tells us that Stephen was a man full of faith, doing great wonders and miracles. He was probably a popular man, but there were those that disputed with him. Acts 6:10 tells us that those that opposed him could not resist “the wisdom and spirit by which he spoke.” So, to justify what they wanted to do, they lied about him. They brought in false witnesses to twist what Stephen had preached.

Stephen spoke freely and eloquently about the history of God’s people. He accurately recounted the events that took place from the time of Abraham to their present day. He boldly accused them of not obeying the law and resisting the Holy Spirit in the same way their fathers had done. The result was his being thrown out of the city and stoned to death.

Our preachers need to continue to do what Paul commanded Timothy to do, but we need to be willing to do the same on an individual basis. We need to be willing to stand against those that want to change us into an ungodly nation. We need to be willing to refuse to buy products that display immorality. We need to be willing to turn off the television when we see the parade of sin exhibited in so many programs. We need to be willing to stand with our children and grandchildren against the daily temptations that plague them and us.

We will likely have to endure suffering; however, this world is not our home. If we don’t confront sin here, we are going to be living with the initiators of sin for eternity.

Sandra Oliver