From the Elder's Pen "Certain Things" 09/29/02 Past/Future Articles

   The very first thing we can depend on is the fact that God is not dead as some may claim.  He still rules and controls His world.  God created this earth for man and gave him the provisions by which he could survive.  In addition, God has made all spiritual provisions.

   One certain thing is for sure,  if we don’t keep our tongue under control, we will miss heaven (James 3:5-10).
 
   Things like the more faith we have, the more we will believe.  The more goals we will set, the more we will achieve.
 
   Things like true Christianity will cause a male to be a man and a female to be a woman.  It teaches a man to be a gentleman and a woman to be a lady.  True Christianity is not only reading the Bible each day of our lives, but studying it as well.  It lets the Bible lead us all the way through life. We then can hear the Master say “...Well done, good and faithful servant,...enter thou into the joy of thy Lord” (Matt. 25:23).
 
   One thing we will all do, “...every tongue shall confess to God” (Rom. 14:11).
 
   Sin can wreck homes, destroy lives and even destroy nations if it is left unchecked.  Sin will separate friend from friend.  But even worse, it separates a man from his God (Isaiah 59:1-2).  Jesus said that if we die in our sins, we would not enter the place called heaven.  If sin could enter heaven, it would soon be like the world in which we live.
 
   What can be done about those things that exist in our lives and the sin that creeps in?  We can depend on the fact that God sent His only begotten son to the world in order to save it, not condemn.  Jesus had to suffer and die for our sins.  This is why we must speak out against drugs, illicit sex, crime and false doctrines of man, all of which are sinful.  Jesus is the only answer.  Only Jesus can save.  On this we can depend.

                                       ~ Charlie Turner, Elder