(1) TRUST IN THIS WORLD'S WISDOM. What does "wisdom" mean? "The quality of being wise, good judgment based on knowledge.", Webster's New World Dictionary. We would be naive to reject common sense and knowledge accrued through hundreds of years of arduous scholastic & scientific achievement. The libraries and universities are crammed full of knowledge on how to do just about everything "under the sun." Nevertheless, there are dangerous ideas floating crying out "try me", "follow me". Consider the following dangerous samplings (this is not written tongue in cheek): "If you have unhappily joined to the wrong mate", "get a divorce" and find a new partner. Ask your "psychic friends", seek more and more "self-esteem", "feel good about yourself", buy a new "ward-robe", "abort" your unwanted, unborn child, embrace "euthanasia and suicide". Seek how to "build a bomb", have a "sex change operation", try a "homosexual" life-style. Join a how to "over-throw the federal government" underground movement. Escape reality, "blow your mind" on the latest drug. WE WOULD BE WISE TO BE VERY, VERY CAREFUL WHERE WE SHOP FOR WISDOM. Don't just follow "anybody's and every-body's" brand of wisdom. Please be advised, no "how to" book (or any of the above choices) will show you how to obtain long-lasting, eternal happiness.

IF YOU WANT TO FIND JOY, CONTENTMENT, HAPPINESS, HEED THE FOLLOWING WORDS: "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; Fools despise wisdom and instruction”, Prov 1:7. Solomon says FEAR JEHOVAH FIRST! "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight. Do not be wise you your own eyes. Fear the Lord and turn away from evil.”, Prov. 3:5-7. Please be advised in New Testament times the Apostle Paul stated, "For the word of the cross is to those who are perishing foolishness, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God”, 1 Cor. 1:18. Paul said of his preaching, "And my message and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith should not rest on the wisdom of men but on the power of God”, 1 Cor 2:4-5.

(2) PLACE TOP PRIORITY ON "THINGS". Have you seen these bumper stickers: "I owe, I owe, so it's off to work I go", or "Whoever dies with the most toys wins"? Did you ever get stuck behind a new truck on the four lane and notice the big bass boat or set of Jet-skis he was a pulling? Did you ever wonder how he could afford it? Or why he had it? (I'm not knocking fishing or water sports, just wondering.) We live in a world that emphasizes "THINGS" and not just a few things BUT MORE AND MORE AND MORE THINGS! If you put all your trust in earthly gain, this will certainly insure unhappiness. "For what will a man be profited, if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?”, Matt. 16:26. Remember the parable of Jesus about the rich farmer? "The land of a certain rich man was very productive.” He was so prosperous he had to tear down his small barns and build a huge one to hold his grain. The inner thoughts of his hearts were revealed, "Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years to come; take your ease, eat, drink and be merry." Jesus said, "But God said to him, You fool! This very night your soul is required of you; and now who will own what you have prepared? So is the man who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God,” Lk 12:19-20.

To afford things we must work, work, work. The Bible encourages working for the right reasons. Look at some: Work to supply your family ... see I Tim. 5:8. Work in order to help others ...Eph.4:28. Work in order to be productive, (the opposite of laziness). I Thess 4:11. These should be the priority and ethic, not things! "...Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth,” Lk. 12:15.

Jeremiah said "I know, O Lord, that a man's way is not in himself; Nor is it in man who walks to direct his steps. Correct me, O Lord, but with justice; Not with Thy anger, lest Thou bring me to nothing”, Jer 10:23-24.

(4) LET YOUR IMPULSES AND DESIRES MAKE UP YOUR PRIORITY LIST, "Live For Today". Do wild experiences and instant gratifications drive you? (I.E. sex, alcohol, pot, gambling, driving fast, radical spending sprees?) There is a true story written in the Bible about a king named Belshazzar, he ruled Babylon. He was the nephew of the great Emperor Nebuchadnezzar. Somehow he forgot there was a creator in heaven. One night Belshazzar made a great drinking party for all his royal yes men. They were toasting all the idols of the empire with wine in gold cups from the temple in Jerusalem. "They drank the wine and praised the gods of gold and sliver, of bronze, iron, wood, and stone. Suddenly the fingers of a man's hand emerged and began writing opposite the lampstand on the plaster of the wall of the King's palace", Dan. 5:4-5. The King was literally scared half to death. In the course of events he sent for Daniel to interpret the hand writing on the wall. This is what it said: "God has numbered you kingdom and put an end to it.... you have been weighted on the scales and found deficient... your kingdom has been divided and given to the Medes and Persians”, Dan. 5:26-28. That night Belshazzar met his death, his impulses and desires came to a swift end! What about yours?

(6) DON'T TRUST IN GOD. (in "GOLD" we trust). A vast majority in this nation have forgotten about the God of heaven. They serve the little idol gods below! The Creator has been erased from the American consciousness. Americans trust in themselves, in riches, the economy, their own wisdom but not in God! The vast majority are living like agnostics, i.e. living as if "it's impossible to know whether there is a God or a future life, or anything beyond material phenomena." Does that define you? Do you believe there might be a God out there, but can't seem to find him? Romans 1:20 cries out "For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse." Your ignorance of the Father and His values stand inexcusable!

"No people can be bound to acknowledge and adore the invisible God which conducts the affairs of men more than the people of the United States", President George Washington.

There is a life after death, be prepared. "For we must all appear before the judgment-seat of Christ, that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad. Therefore knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade men” 2 Cor 5:10-11

WORSHIP IN SONG
by Vernon Curry

As a preacher I often sit and look around at the people who are singing. We are singing songs of praise to the God of the universe. We stand in
awe at the power and majesty of God. We know this is the same God who created the universe and who will bring it to an end. This is the same God who raised Jesus from the dead and we are so happy that He did. We believe He is able to raise us from the dead also.

We sing praise to God. We also are singing the praises OF God. We want everyone to know how we feel about Him and how we love and adore Him.
Without God we would be nothing and without God we would surely perish. Oh, we love God!

We may not sing on key. We may not even know what "on key" is. We may not know where "on key" is. That isn't why we are singing. We are singing praises to/of our God. We are not looking for the praise of men in how good we sing. We are not looking for the praise of men in how beautiful our voice is. We are praising God, OUR God.

Then sometimes I see someone who isn't singing. Let me ask you a question: How do you feel about your God? This is your God. Right? You love and adore him. Right?

Then sometimes I hear someone say they can't sing. Let me tell you a story about turkey hunting. Calling turkeys in the spring is an "art." Some towns have contests for the best turkey callers. A friend of mine enjoys turkey hunting. He has a good calling ability. There is a certain way that people are taught to call. Anyway, this friend was hunting one
spring and heard someone calling. He said it was the worst job of calling he had ever heard. He thought it would surely improve, but it did not. So when he could stand it no longer he began to slip up on this caller to see who it was. He finally got pretty close and then he saw--a turkey hen calling for a gobbler. He then realized that the "art" of calling may not
be what man thinks it is!

God made everyone's voice. It may not sound good to me. It may not sound good to the person who has it. It may be beautiful to the Creator. Never deprive God of hearing His creature praise him. Sing! 

The story is told of a young man, who went to college; while unpacking his clothes he took a large V from his suit case. He tacked this V on the inside of the door, where he could not fail to see it each time he left the room. Each time he started to class, he paused and looked at the V, then lifting his head a little higher he would go to class. For four long years he kept the sign on the door, until the day of graduation, of which this young man's name led all the rest. You see he was valedictorian of his class.

In recent years the V has become a symbol of victory. Everyone wants victory. The word is synonymous with success in any field. Whatever we undertake to do, we can be sure of opposition. If we succeed in anything that is worthwhile, we can say we have a victory.

The same can be said of our faith. Without faith, there could be no hope: without hope there is no urge to endeavor: without endeavor there is no victory.

"For whosoever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith" 1 John 5:4. 

We hope you find this bulletin useful in your Bible study.

2 Sam 22:31
 As for God, His way is perfect; The word of the LORD is proven; He is a shield to all who trust in Him. NKJV

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