The Head Bone Connected to the Neck Bone…

I have a childhood memory of a song we sang which was intriguing, but we had no idea about it’s meaning. The words, as I remember them, were, “Head bone connected to the neck bone; the neck bone connected to the shoulder bone; the shoulder bone connected to the back bone; the back bone connected to the thigh bone . . .” It went on and on and finally got to the toe bone and then there was this refrain, “Now hear the word of the Lord.” As kids, we sang it and laughed as we enjoyed it, but had no idea what this song about bones had to do with “now hear the word of the Lord.”

The background of the song is that time when the Jews were taken as captive to Babylon. They had forsaken God and He brought Nebuchadnezzar to destroy the holy city, tear down the glorious temple Solomon had built and bring an end to the presence of God’s chosen people in the promised land. As captives they had lost all hope of ever returning to Jerusalem and restoring the relation to God they once had. They were saying, “Our bones are dry, our hope is lost, and we ourselves are cut off” (Eze. 37:11). God had raised up Ezekiel as His prophet and,  through him, delivered a promise of their restoration.

In a vision, God brought Ezekiel to a valley full of dry bones. In the midst of the bones Ezekiel described as very dry, God asked him, “Son of man, can these bones live?” The Lord then told Ezekiel to say, “O dry bones, hear the word of the Lord.” When Ezekiel finished his message, “There was a noise, and suddenly a rattling; and the bones came together, bone to bone.” As he watched, the bones not only came together, but  flesh covered them and God’s breath caused them to come alive.

Israel was wrong. The condition of the nation looked hopeless if one forgot the promises of God. Before they were taken captive God had told them what was about to happen and even told them precisely the number of years they would be in that distant land. They were looking at life without faith, and the future is often so bleak. However, the promises of God are far greater than life’s circumstances.

So the next time your life apparently is hopeless, read Ezekiel chapter 37. Stand in the midst of your own valley of very dry bones. Then look away from those bones and look toward the promises of One who cannot lie. In your imagination watch the head bone connect to the neck bone, and the neck bone connect to the shoulder bone . . . Then hear the word of the Lord! “All things work together for good. . . “

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I Did Not Get My Bulletin

The title of this article may not mean much to those who receive this bulletin by email, but it probably does to the hundreds who receive it via “snail-mail.” Two weeks ago we had a computer/printer crisis in the office and have been unable to print and mail the bulletin. We apologize to those who missed the bulletin for the past two weeks, but are thankful that we were able to at least email the bulletin to hundreds.

There are some lessons to be learned from every event of our lives. As I think about the events of the past weeks, I am reminded of the words of James, “You do not know what will happen tomorrow” (James 4:14). How easy it is for us to assume that the events of the past assure the continuity in the future. The one absolute assurance of the future is that God is in control and will be there for us!

I am thankful that we were missed by those who failed to receive the bulletin. Many years ago a deacon said to me, “I don’t know why we even print a bulletin, only 10% of the people who receive it, read it!” I am thankful that my experience is so different from his views. The comments about bulletin articles I have written in the past show that there are many who delight in reading it. Thank you for missing us!

I am thankful that my brethren are so wonderful and understanding. So much of our work revolves around the computer information we have and the failure to have access to it impacted the lives of many. Members at Palm Beach Lakes spent many hours resolving the problem. I marvel at their dedication. I am also so thankful for the patience of everyone as we worked to restore the operation of the office.

I have been reminded of the power of the printed page. The content of the bulletin has an impact on the members at this church. It is a weekly reminder of the sick, of those traveling, of those who are out of town, of those needing an avenue to express thanks and gratitude, of those interested in how the church is doing statistically, of those who want to know of upcoming events and of those who are edified by the articles found in the bulletin. The fact that the Bible has been given to us in a written form is a reminder of the power of words as we read them.

Then there is the reminder of the abiding nature of words when they are printed. A conversation may easily be forgotten and a sermon may not be remembered once one leaves the building, but that which appears in the bulletin can be read again and again, even years later.

Thanks for your interest in this bulletin!

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God Did not Use “Texting” or “Email”

Think of the impact that texting and emails have had on our ability to communicate with each other. The younger generation sometimes finds itself “LOL” “BC” they just sent a “TXT MSG” to their “BF” to watch what was said “BCOZ” there was a “PLOS.” Later when the parent was no longer looking over the shoulder (PLOS), they sent another text message to say they were laughing out loud (LOL) because (BC/BCOZ) their best friend (BF) could now send any message they wanted. Soon they both were “ROTFLOL.” Ask any teacher what impact this has had on the ability on the younger generation and their ability to spell correctly. It seems to have no concern and so many are “rolling on the floor, laughing out loud.”

Aren’t you glad that when God chose to send His message by writing it down, He made sure every man of every generation could understand what He said. He chose words which were not limited to a certain group or to a certain period of time. How marvelous is His wisdom!

Think also about how easily a word misspelled can change the meaning of a sentence. One letter on an order blank could result in one who orders a coat receiving a goat or a boat or a moat. Transposing letters could create a similar situation. There is so much difference between unite and untie, caused by switching just two letters. Illustrations of both of these kinds of changes are so abundant.

Now think about this. When Moses delivered the Ten Commandments to Israel, were there any mistakes? Were there any transposed letters? Were there any misspelled words? Were there any words left out? The answer is obvious. God selected every word and wrote them down with His own hand. The message was too important to do it otherwise.

Is the same true of the New Testament? In the second chapter of First Corinthians, Paul declared that God had revealed in the first century those things which human eyes and ears had never seen or heard. God had revealed these truths which had never entered into the heart of any mortal! Then he made a startling affirmation. These truths were given, not in words taught by man’s wisdom, but in words taught by the Holy Spirit. Just as the finger of God had given the very words on the tablets of stone, the Spirit of God had given the very words on the pages of the New Testament.

Now since words are made up of individual letters, God selected the very letters of every NT word. It is so amazing—there were no misspelled words when He gave them!

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The Great Need for Tongue-Tied Preachers

The book of Ezekiel should be studied by everyone, but especially by preachers and teachers. There are phrases that appear repeatedly and each of them gives great insight into the nature of God and the importance of those who deliver His message. He wants them to speak only what He has said in precisely the words He has given. The phrase “the word of the Lord” is found 60 times in this book and the phrase “says the Lord” is found 205 times. God’s wants His messengers to speak His message using His words.

The opening chapters give details of two incidents which emphasize this. First, there is the vision of a hand stretching out to the prophet and spreading out a book before Ezekiel. Then the Lord speaks to him and commands him to eat the book and to digest it. As he eats it there is the sweetness like the taste of honey. Bible students will immediately call to mind the words of David, who described the judgments of the Lord as more desirable “than gold . . . Sweeter also than the honey and the honeycomb” (Ps. 19:10). This man after God’s own heart also said, “How sweet are Your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth” (Ps. 119:103). Having eaten this book from heaven, God commanded him to go to the house of Israel and “speak with My words to them” (Eze. 3:4). God speaks again saying, “Receive into your heart all My words that I speak to you . . . and go and speak to them, and tell them, ‘Thus says the Lord God’“ (Eze. 3:10-11).

Then there is that other part of this vision when God tells Ezekiel, “I will make your tongue cling to the roof of your mouth, so that you shall be mute and not be one to rebuke them, for they are a rebellious house. But when I speak with you, I will open your mouth, and you shall say to them, ‘Thus said the Lord God’” (Eze. 3:26-27).

Do you sense the force of these words? God fastened the tongue of Ezekiel to the roof of his mouth, and the only time he would be able to speak was when he began his message with, “Thus says the Lord.” He was a tongue-tied preacher, unable to say anything unless he spoke precisely that sweet message he had eaten, digested and received into his heart!

Now imagine what would happen today if God did the same to those preachers and teachers who have “eaten” the word of God and stand to teach others. How long would Bible classes and sermons last? Everyone who teaches another should soberly think about the implication of this story.

God, give us more tongue-tied preachers!

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Why, oh why, Would Jesus Leave Heaven?

There is no way to express just how much God wants every person to be in heaven.  The fact that He worked for 4,000 years to get everything ready to announce His plan on Pentecost shows the love He has for the lost.  So, instead of just quoting John 3:16 from rote memory, take time to read every word of this well-known verse.  “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”     It is this story of love which prompts mankind to become Christians, but the story does not end when one becomes His child.  He has surrounded the lost with His family, where, in worship, we teach and admonish each other in singing (Eph. 5:19; Col. 3:16).  He has designed worship around a table of remembrance, which, as we remember Christ’s suffering, makes us to be “neither barren nor unfruitful” (2 Pet. 1:8, 9).  The nature of preaching is to bring edification, exhortation and comfort (1 Cor. 14:3). Is there any aspect of worship which is not characterized by bringing about spiritual growth? God really wants the lost to be saved and has designed a perfect plan to insure that those who are saved remain faithful.

Take time to see the implication that God really wants every person to be in heaven.

When God lived among us, He longed for the salvation of those who mocked Him, spat in His face, struck Him, scourged Him and abused Him beyond our ability to imagine the cruelty of man.  Yet, His dying prayer was for their salvation.  He could have railed against them, rebuked their hypocrisy, asked for God’s vengeance, but His prayer came again and again, “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.” If God longed for such vile men to be His eternal companions, there can be no doubt that He really wants every person to be saved.

The implication of this truth is to look inward to ask the question, “Just how much do I want the world to be saved?”  Are there those we meet whom we immediately dismiss as potential family members, thinking that they would never change? Are there times when we get so busy or frustrated we fail to “see souls”?  Have we ever prayed for the lost that God might forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing?  When we discover that His purpose in life was to “seek and save that which is lost” (Luke 19:10), do we think about what our purpose in life might be?  When we think that Jesus left the glories of heaven to live for more than thirty years on this wretched planet, do we ever consider getting out of our comfort zone to find the lost?

He really wants all men to be saved!  Do you?

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