So, you attend the Church of Christ faithfully (you show up for our Sunday 10am Bible Study, Sunday 11am & 6pm Worship Service, and our Wednesday 7pm Bible Study). But why? Why do you do this? Could it be that you have PRIORITIZED your JOURNEY TO HEAVEN?

• Could it be that you VALUE YOUR SOUL and the souls of others?

• Could it be that you believe that the ONE TRUE CHURCH is the vehicle to heaven?

• Could it be that you believe in the INSPIRATION OF THE SCRIPTURES?

• Could it be that you believe these inspired scriptures are your LAMP AND LIGHT POINTING TO HEAVEN?

• Could it be that you want to LEARN HOW TO USE YOUR GIFTS and blessings that you received upon baptism?

• Could it be that you want to learn WHAT GOD

EXPECTS of you after you were baptized?

• Could it be that you believe COMING TOGETHER TO ENCOURAGE one another is a fruit of the spirit?

• Could it be that you want to LEARN HOW NOT TO STEP OUT of the path that leads to heaven?

• Could it be because you desire to WORSHIP GOD IN REVERENCE and respect?

• Could it be that you DO NOT WANT TO FALL FROM HIS GRACE?

• Could it be that you do not want to disappoint the

EXPECTATIONS THAT CHRIST HAS FOR YOUR LIFE?

• Could it be that you want to LEARN HOW TO EVANGELIZE the lost?

Friend, how much do you love His Body? No, you don’t have to tell me.

Thus, you will recognize them by their fruits. “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven (Mt 7:20–21 ESV).

Two out of my last three bulletin articles discussed the misuse of humor and how it often masks bullying, discouragement, and ungodliness. However, I do not what to give the impression that all humor is bad. This article discusses how humor can be a tool for overcoming sin and living a godlier life.

The most pious kind of humor is one that laughs at ourselves, particularly our ego and sense of self-importance. If you are like me, you struggle to destroy pride. We are hurt when someone tries to critique or correct us because our ego hates the attack. We hate failing, not so much because it hurts others, but because others think less of us. Our ego starves to be fed.

A remedy to this pride is to look at yourself for what you are and laugh. Am I offended and hurt because someone insulted my intelligence (intentionally or unintentionally)? My response: “Ha, ha! I am so silly. Why should I be offended? My intelligence really is poor if I think about all that I do not know. I may quasi-know how to read languages nobody speaks anymore, but I have an infinitesimal knowledge of many other subjects. I am thankful for all those who correct me and know more than me because they teach me something I did not know before.”

I should laugh at my silly, hurt ego when I fail: “Why should I waste my time trying to sooth my hurt ego over a failure? Silly, silly ego. You are just a tiny speck in the universe who lives but a moment of eternity. Why place so much importance on yourself?” When you accidentally embarrass yourself in public, own up to being clumsy and use some genuine self-deprecating humor rather than nursing your hurt ego. When you screw up at work, apologize and humbly say that you learned from the experience, and you will do better next time. Laugh at your mistake if it did not hurt anyone else.

In summary, taking yourself too seriously is likely a sign of pride. Being able to be made fun of and make fun of yourself is a godly quality, as long as it comes from a place of genuine humility.

Sarcasm is ubiquitous in our society. Everything is stated in a tone where the opposite is meant. Many find sarcasm a fun device to use because it makes them feel witty and intelligent. And sometimes it is witty and enriching. Even Paul is sometimes sarcastic in his letters (his very term “super-apostles” is a sarcastic jab at his opponents; 2 Cor 11:5), but it is often when he is rebuking his readers or false teachers. It is not to be amusing. We often use sarcasm inappropriately. Consequently, it is often detrimental to our relationships and to our own attitude toward life.

One danger of sarcasm is that it is often used to mask ugliness and passive-aggressive criticism. The “beauty” of sarcasm (do you sense my sarcasm?) is that I can mean something completely rude and mask it with nice words in a sarcastic tone. This passive-aggressive sarcasm defends me because (1) someone must risk confronting my passive-aggressive comment and (2) I can simply hide behind the plain meaning of the words.

Another danger that stems from sarcasm is that people will constantly question what you meant when you said a certain statement. This is a negative effect I have seen in my own life. My wife often misinterprets things I say when I am being straightforward and nice to mean the opposite because she is so used to hearing me be sarcastic. While I cannot control how everyone interprets my words, it is mostly my fault that Rachel does not believe my frank statements and thinks that they are somewhat passive-aggressive.

Finally, sarcasm is often the symptom of a deeper problem – a cynical attitude toward others or toward life. College students seem particularly susceptible to this cynical sarcasm as they learn to challenge and cope with life. People feel like they can dismiss anything, even very serious matters, with a quick sarcastic jab. This essentially turns everything into one big ironic joke that breeds bitterness and resentment. I have found this to be the case in my own life. Now, I do my best to show gratitude for everything in life rather than using sarcasm to mask my resentment.

At one point or another, we have all faced problems in our families, our relationships, or in our work that have caused us to think about quitting or walking away. Rather than acting like impatient children as we wait for God’s will to unfold, we should place our confidence in God’s goodness and wisdom. While it is easy to lose heart and quit, instead we should realize that there is a purpose in our suffering.

First, if you allow them to, life’s trials and distress can remind you of Christ’s suffering for us on the cross. In a single day, Christ experienced more spiritual, emotional, and physical pain and suffering than most of us will ever experience in our lifetime, yet He endured it, not for himself, but for us.

Secondly, daily struggles and challenges can humble you and keep us from becoming too prideful. I’ve been knocked off my own “high horse” plenty of times and I’m better for it! It teaches you that you cannot go through life alone and to stop relying solely on yourself. And when you persevere through these problems, they give God the opportunity to demonstrate His power through you and can prove your faith to others.

As we face life’s troubles, it is easy to focus on the current pain that we are experiencing, rather than our ultimate goal. The apostle Paul explains that no matter what happens to us in this life, as Christians, we have the assurance of eternal life when all suffering and pain will end!

2 Corinthians 4:16-18 (NLT) “¹⁶That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day. ¹⁷For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! ¹⁸So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.”

Our troubles should not diminish our faith or discourage us from attending service. Our very weakness is what allows the resurrection power of Christ to strengthen us day by day. The pain that we experience today is temporary, but the pain of quitting will last forever. Renew your commitment to your faith, fix your eyes on Jesus and focus on the reward that lasts forever!

There are tremendous advantages to creating pockets of stillness in our busy days. So much so that since 1884 the 1st Monday in September is known as “Labor Day”. But long before that, God declared a Sabbath Day rest. Christians added to that – calling Sunday the Lord’s Day.

“Being Still” helps reduce stress and anxiety because we can refocus on what is important while letting things go. In other words, we get to see things clearer. So, how should I go about “being still”?

First, FIND 7 pockets of stillness throughout the day. Psalm 119:164 (ESV) — ¹⁶⁴ Seven times a day I praise you for your righteous rules. For instance, seven prayer meditative times could be: as you wake up, at breakfast, morning tea (11am), lunch, afternoon tea (4pm), dinner, and before sleep.

Second, FOCUS fully on God (not on the evil). Psalm 37:7 (ESV) — ⁷ Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way, over the man who carries out evil devices!

Finally, FEEL His presence. Just as the Glory of God filled the Temple in Solomon’s day (2 Chron.7) it still does today (Rev.15:8). Only difference is you are the temple of God (1 Cor.3:16). So, “Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth” (Psalm 46:10)!”

Friend, why not return to “Being Still”. Start by making every Sunday the Lord’s Day. You are invited to be my special guest this Sunday, 11am. Lunch will be provided immediately following.

I do not usually write polemical articles but given the large Catholic population of the greater Cincinnati area, I think it is necessary to review why prayer to or through Mary the mother of Jesus is incorrect on many grounds. For those who are unfamiliar with Catholic or Orthodox prayers, many of them, including the rosary, entreat Mary to supplicate her Son on our behalf.

First, praying to dead “Saints” is not founded by Scripture. While I am unsure of where or when this practice originated, it resembles more the pagan religion of the Greeks and Romans, who prayed to patron deities, much like Catholics pray to patron saints. Correct prayer in Scripture is always addressed to God, more specifically, to Yahweh.

Second, the language used in these prayers to talk about Mary venerates her as divine, albeit, less divine than Yahweh. To quote a part of the rosary, “Hail, holy Queen, Mother of mercy, our life, our sweetness and our hope…” Mary is portrayed as the Queen of Heaven or Holy Queen in other prayers, yet nowhere is she portrayed as a queen in Scripture, and, to my knowledge, in the earliest (non-biblical) writings of early Christianity. Again, this seems more in line with Greco-Roman paganism than Christianity.

Finally, and most importantly, Mary is treated as an intermediary between Jesus and Christians. She is entreated to supplicate for us to her Son on our behalf for mercy, forgiveness, etc. Yet the Bible (especially Hebrews) says that Jesus alone is our mediator (Heb 8:6; 9:15). We have direct access to God through Jesus. Why would we want to have another mediator when Jesus himself is willing to do the job? If anything, prayers through Mary demean the importance of Jesus as our Mediator and High Priest. We are either communicating that he alone is not sufficient or degrade God’s work through Jesus, namely, that Jesus’s blood and priestly activity are not sufficient to make us worthy to come before God ourselves. Or, perhaps, it portrays Jesus as reluctant to be our mediator.

In this verse we see Jesus teaching his disciples how to love as he loved.  The message is the same for us today. Jesus told his followers that meeting the physical needs and serving those around them was equal to serving Jesus.

Summit has always done a great job and has been willing to serve. I would personally like to extend my thanks to those who recently helped to prepare and serve food for the family of Shirley Holt at their time of great loss. A hot meal and comfortable place to visit and share memories with family and friends is much appreciated during such a difficult time of loss.

I’m also impressed by the number of items donated for the “Sock-tober” drive each year. The socks, hats and warm gear are appreciated by the needy in the community.  Thank you also for the recent collection of school supplies that was given to Campbell Ridge and local schools in our area.  They were very grateful and said that they cannot meet all the needs of the students without community support. Thanks too for those who keep our food pantry stocked.

Brothers and sisters, we have a chance to serve a young family here in our church. Jake and Courtney Whitford have been attending when they can with their children and worshiping with us online.  Jake’s leg was seriously injured while at work. He has had surgeries and is fighting infections. He could be off work for a year which causes much stress and hardship for a family with young children.  Daryl and I would like for the church to take a special collection, during the next two weeks for this family. You can put your donation in a separate envelope marked for them or designate on the check memo line the amount you wish to go to this fund.  We will give the check to Jake on September 18 from the Saints at Summit.

Remember, for whatever you do to serve your fellow man you are doing to serve Jesus.

Why would anybody, in their right mind, delight in receiving discipline? Simply stated, because God commands that we receive discipline.

If you receive discipline from God, you can be assured that He loves you, Proverbs 3:12 (ESV) —¹² for the LORD reproves him whom he loves, as a father the son in whom he delights.

God’s discipline is not for punishment (that was accomplished on the cross). Rather God’s discipline is designed to transform us. This can be gleaned from Hebrews 12:10–11 (ESV) — ¹⁰ For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us FOR OUR GOOD, that we may SHARE HIS HOLINESS. ¹¹ For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the PEACEFUL FRUIT OF RIGHTEOUSNESS to those who have been TRAINED by it.

Friend, are your days a struggle? The only response to these hardships is submissive, grateful grace. Hebrews 12:9 (ESV) — ⁹ Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live?

Laughter and happiness, while they are not as important as True Joy, are wonderful gifts of God. Happiness (enjoyment of the things that happen) is not always something that we can find, but many modern conveniences attempt to provide this. Laughter, too, is readily abundant, with YouTube, TikTok, and memes shared on social media. We should look at happiness and laughter, not as our right, but as a wonderful gift from our Lord for us to enjoy.

Yet, we can turn laughter into an insidious tool for boosting our ego and dismissing our evil. I have a friend who uses humor in this way. Sometimes, when he sins or witnesses something evil, instead of being disgusted at himself or at evil, he makes a joke about it. I have seen others use this comedian technique to help deflect shame from their sins. Even the innocent Andy Griffith show has the town drunk, Otis, who is often a source of comedic relief in his drunken state. Drunkenness is no laughing matter, nor is alcoholism. It causes health issues, shame, poverty, family instability, and even death. Yet, Otis deflects much of his shame because he makes you laugh.

This joking technique is commonly used in bullying tactics. Bullies often “make fun” of other people to get laughs. The best bullies (especially female bullies) will make fun of you to your face and say it was “all in good fun.” However, it was not all in good fun and it left the victim feeling insecure and hurt. For this reason, I try to be extra careful with deprecatory humor that makes fun of someone, even when I am just kidding and giving them a hard time. I should rather avoid this type of joking altogether and try to use words of encouragement, which are much more effective than deprecatory humor.

The most insidious aspect of this joking technique is that it callouses our minds toward sin and irreverence. We become more comfortable around sin and celebrate it through humor. Late night comedy and adult cartoons like Family Guy, American Dad, and The Simpsons base their humor off such irreverence. Such shows are dangerous because they can cause us to laugh at or ignore blasphemy and pass it off as “funny”.

Therefore, be watchful of what you find funny, the jokes you make, and your attitude toward sin. If the devil can make us downplay sin, he can get us to do much worse.

For more on this topic, read Eph 4:29 and C. S. Lewis’ The Screwtape Letters, Letter 11.