The New Bulletin

    The past few weeks have given us the opportunity to see examples of the new bulletin.   This is yet another opportunity for the church in Oroville to fulfill the words of our Lord; “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, (20) teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age" (Matt 28:19-20). 
   Our Lord expected us to use each and every means to fulfill this commandment. He limited what we should teach---“all things that I have commanded you”---but did not limit the means to accomplish the goal. In other words we can fulfill the commandment to “Go…and make disciples” by walking, riding, driving, etc. Today we find some rather interesting options available to us. In an effort to fulfill this commandment we have created a web site. Thanks again to Russ and Rusty, we can teach the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ to those who “surf the web” in search of the truth. It has not been without glitches but for the most part we have done our best to make it “user friendly.”  While the Internet, like any other form of expression, has its negative qualities, it also is a powerful tool for good. God’s word is being spread via this medium and we hope to contribute to this cause.
   Another option we chose to take advantage of is the production of a weekly bulletin. This is the first “official” issue (Volume 1, Number 1) of our bulletin entitled “The Way.” As mentioned in the prototype bulletin (Vol. 0, Num. 1) the term is found in the New Testament. It is a “very simple term used almost exclusively in the book of the Acts of the Apostles…It is beautiful in that its’ simplicity calls up the promise of the Lord and the description he gave of Himself and of that which is necessary for salvation.”
   I second those thoughts. The only way to get to heaven is by traversing “The Way,” the path of God’s commandments (Psa 119:35). Let me remind you that we are pilgrims and sojourners in this land, who desire a better home (1Pet 2:11; Heb 11:13-16). We have all experienced the frustration of traveling into unfamiliar territory without good directions.  Not knowing where you were going, not familiar with the streets or the landmarks. “A kingdom for a GPS (Global Positioning System) unit,” you might mutter under your breath. However, the fact remains, you’re lost. How many of us have been faced with the prospect of putting together a bicycle, or “jungle gym” without directions, let alone with directions. The directions are usually vague and require the ability to speak and understand a foreign language. Equally, life has its’ share of unfamiliar twists, turns and a great deal of uncertainty. The road to eternal life, from a human standpoint, can look the same.
   While lost, the feelings of anxiety and fear are very real.  It is only when we arrive at our destination, or back home, or even among loved ones that those feelings diminish. It is there we feel a sense of security.  I’ve been lost with my family in large cities not knowing where I was and afraid to stop for directions for fear of the consequences. We like to forget about those times but it is the experience of being lost that motivates us to get good directions for future trips.
   Our life on this earth will take us to many unknown destinations. We want to have good directions to help us arrive at our destination safely and enjoyably. Why do auto insurance companies like AAA provide maps?  The answer is obvious, to help us arrive at our destination with the least amount of mishaps as possible. God has done the same thing. He has given us a road map to arrive at our spiritual destination with as few mishaps as possible.
   Most maps include places of interest one can stop and admire the scenery.  God’s road map to heaven also gives us insight into the things we can enjoy, things we can participate in, the manner of life which will enable us to find peace here on this earth and reserve a home in heaven for us. The first of epistle of Peter describes how sure we can be of this future home. “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, (4) to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, (5) who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time” (1 Peter 1:3-6).
   Doesn’t that sound wonderful? It does and it’s attainable. Jesus died and bled so we might see eternal life.  Walking in “The Way” assures us of that eternal reward. Ephesians 1:3 states, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ.”  Every spiritual blessing…in Christ. There and there alone we find eternal life. Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. (John 14:6). Jesus made this possible by dying on the cross, shedding his blood, and purchasing the church with that blood (Acts 20:28). The church is the spiritual institution made up of saved people. It is the body of Christ, which will be saved.  Note Col 1:18 and Eph 5:23.
   Col 1:18-And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence.
   Eph 5:23-For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body.
   How might you attain this salvation? Easy. God has done his part. Our part is to obey His will. Jesus was perfected by obedience.  Heb 5:8-9 says, “though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered.  (9) And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him.” We too can accomplish this.  Our Lord made it possible through his obedience.  The latter part of the verse says, “He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him.” Won’t you obey? Just before Jesus ascended into heaven he gave his disciples some very specific commands. He said, Matt 28:18-20  "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. (19) Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, (20) teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen.  We emphasized the command to “go” earlier in the article, now let us consider what must be done in order to become a disciple of our Lord.  We must be baptized in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.  That is the answer; it’s simple, wonderful, and most definitely attainable. Won’t you be a part of “The Way”?
   The new bulletin is designed to teach the commandments of our Lord.  We hope you will read it and meditate on those things taught.  Not all the articles will be penned by myself, or by Russ, or by one of the members of the local church, but we will try to fill its pages with edifying articles and thoughts.  Please join us in supporting this new effort.  If you would like to submit an article to be printed, let Russ or I know.      –Carlos Aguilar

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    Welcome to “The Way”, the bulletin for the church of Christ in Oroville, ca. Beginning with this, our first issue, and in the coming weeks, the center section will be featuring a series of articles about the home and family. The times in which we are living are perilous and one of the “ways” God has given us to survive them, is through a strong commitment to our families, both physical and spiritual.
   Other themes, such as “sentence sermons”, will also be regular features. We already have a wealth of information compiled to present. If you have material you would like to submit for publication  or a particular Bible subject you would like to see addressed,  let  us know.   -RDT,sr

Home and Family:

KEYS TO PRODUCING A HAPPY HOME

    The home should be the happiest spot we can ever know on earth. In it, we have the very closest and dearest relationships, and it can be the constant source of strength and inspiration. However, to create and preserve the happiness of the home requires certain qualities and attitudes, which may be designated by four key words. 
   The first and most important of these is LOVE. Ideally, it is an unselfish love that brings a man and woman together to form a home, and ideally, it is love, which increases that happiness of the home with children. The love that binds a family together is partly an impulse of nature, but in the Christian home, it is far more unselfish than a mere natural impulse. In Ephesians 5:25-31, the Apostle Paul says, "husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church and gave himself up for it; that he might sanctify it, having cleansed it by the washing of water with the word, that he might present the church to himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but it should be holy and without blemish. Even so ought husbands to love their own wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his own wife loveth himself: for no man ever hated his own flesh, but nourisheth it and cherished it, even as Christ also the church . . . For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife; and the two shall become one flesh". This kind of love would lead a man to sacrifice his own pleasures, even his life, to assure the happiness and welfare of his wife. Moreover, who can doubt that the same unselfish love that a man should have for his wife, the wife should also have for her husband, and the parents should have for their children. 
   Unfortunately, however, love can wither and die. To keep it alive and warm requires close association, attention and care. When parents both work and have little time for their children, they become in a measure strangers to them. By nature, children love their parents and long for their parent's love in return. Two teenagers, whose parents after work and the evening meal usually sat glued to the television till bed time, have testified that they felt so frustrated and bitter that they even wanted to put a bomb under the TV; yet they could not tell their parents how they felt. Warm personal love that expresses itself in affectionate association, care, and attention prevents such estrangements and bitterness, and is the single greatest source of happiness in the home. No amount of money, fast cars, gifts, and gadgets can substitute for it. 
   The second key word to happiness is FAITH, in all its aspects trust, confidence, reliance . . . If a home is to be happy parents must conduct themselves in such a way that they can have implicit faith in each other and inspire such faith also in their children. The basis of such mutual trust, however, is a faith in God and in all the attributes; we associate with Him truth, integrity, fairness, compassion, and mercy. If parents by their lives show their loyalty to God and his nature, they instinctively win the confidence of their children, and children likewise hold the confidence of their parents. They believe in one another.
   The third key word to happiness is SELF-DISCIPLINE, which is acquired only gradually and sometimes painfully through external discipline. A generation ago we entered the age of permissiveness, when children were allowed to make their own decisions, do their own thing. Today psychiatrists are almost universally agreed that instead of making children happier, this permissiveness has been a tragedy for both children and parents. It has led to drinking, drug abuse, crime, broken homes, and an alarming increase in teen-age suicides. Until children reach enough maturity in judgment and character to administer self-discipline, their parents must guide them. In Ephesians 6:1-3, the Apostle Paul says, "Children obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. Honor thy father and thy mother (which is the first commandment with promise) that it may be well with thee, and that thou mayest live long on the earth". Obedience implies definite restrictions. Parents must emphasize with children that some things are right and some things are wrong, and must see that their children observe the limitations. Nevertheless, when instruction fails and discipline seems necessary, it must never be done through frustration or anger, but always with love. The apostle says in Ephesians 6:4, that fathers are not to provoke their children to wrath, but nurture them in the chastening and admonition of the Lord. If this is done right, children actually love and respect their parents more, for they realize their parents love them enough to worry over and correct them. As the writer of Hebrews says in Chapter 12:9, our fathers chastised us, and instead of being estranged we "gave them reverence". Thus, chastening one in the right way may for the moment seem "grievous", yet the writer says it "yields peaceable fruit to them that have been exercised" by it (Chapter 12, verse 11). 
   Finally, the fourth, key word to happiness is RESPONSIBILITY, which grows naturally out of the first three. If a home is filled with love, with mutual confidence and trust, and has had the guidance and correction necessary to develop self-discipline, the natural result is recognition of responsibility. Each member of the family feels a responsibility to the others, a responsibility to merit confidence and truth, a responsibility to keep one's promises, to carry out duties and assignments. As this sense of responsibility becomes a habit, it carries over to those outside the family, to employers, associates, and friends. 
   When the members of a family have little or no confidence in each other, when they can seldom depend on their doing what they are supposed to do, you have the making of inevitable unhappiness and tragedy. When the members of a family have full confidence in each other, and when through self-discipline they have formed the habit of responsibility, you have the sure foundation, not only of a happy family, but also of successful lives. 

From “Bible Answers”