“First you take a drink, then the drink takes a drink, then the drink takes you.”

Francis Scott Key Fitzgerald

First Corinthians 3:16,17

Not long ago we received a pamphlet saying this: “1.8 million alcohol – related deaths per year worldwide. Cost of alcohol -related illnesses:

— US$186.4  billion in the USA

— Up to US$210-665 billion globally 

I read with great interest what the Emeritus Professor Ivan Snook said in May 2005 to the graduating teacher education students at Massey University. ( “For Teachers” – Spring – Issue 12)

“The ability of people to participate in society is dependent on the quality of the education they receive. And this depends, not on large bureaucracies, glossy brochures, curriculum documents, or flowery mission statements, but on the personal qualities of the teachers.”

And this here is the Mission statement of one of the local churches in Kaitaia.

MISSION STATEMENT:

“To glorify God, to reach out to people, to equip them to be fully devoted followers of Jesus.”

The ability of people to glorify God, to reach out to other people and to be fully devoted followers of Jesus is dependent on the quality of the biblical education they receive. And this depends, not on large………………….. but on the personal qualities of the Bible teachers.

Four points from a survey (2005): what the community and senior secondary students said about their perceptions of the status of teachers:

— Teaching is rewarding because you are shaping young minds.

— Good teachers are the ones with an interest and passion for teaching.

— Teachers have huge influence on other people’s lives.

–Teaching is one of the most important jobs that there is.

Where are the teachers of the BIBLE?

Ephesians 4:11; First Corinthians 12:28

I am reading lately about “Giving Families a Lift”, about “Marriage Repair” and “restarting your stalled relationship”.

We surely need a lift, we surely need to be lifted out of the slimy pit by the LORD! David, the psamist, is praising the Lord, that he lifted him out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire. The Lord set the feet of David on a rock. The Lord gave David a firm place to stand on. Psalm 40:2,3 The Lord Jesus Christ is our rock, our firm place , our foundation. First Corinthians 3:11 says: “For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid which is Jesus Christ.” (Please learn that verse off by heart!)

Families need to be brought from death to life, father, mother and the children. Romans 6:13 There has to be a ‘once’ and a ‘but now’, for all the members of a family. Ephesians 5:8 Once darkness, but now light in the Lord Jesus Christ. A question: Have you been called out of darkness into the wonderful light of the Lord Jesus Christ? Read First Peter 2:9!

We all must come into a living relationship with our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

Once we have a living relationship with our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, we understand the BIBLE, his Word. It is no longer like any other book on the bookshelf  for us. It is alive for us! Praise the Lord!

All the many promises in the Bible become meaningful to us as well. I like the promise in Colossians 1:17 where it says: “He is before all things, and in HIM all things hold together.”

The Lord Jesus Christ is holding relationships together, he is holding marriages together.

Where is the place where the marriage relationship is held together? Under the cross. Nowhere else!

C. H. Spurgeon is writing this to Psalm 119:53 in his book “Morning and Evening” (Daily Readings):

Psalm 119:53

“Indignation grips me because of the wicked, who have forsaken your law.”

“Sin in others horrifies us because it reminds us of the basement of our own hearts: when we see a transgressor, we cry with the saint mentioned by Bernard, ‘He fell today, and I could fall tomorrow.’ “

From a church newsletter:

“Happiness is wanting what you have, not having what you want!”

Find more about happiness by typing ‘happiness’ into the Search box.

“You can tell how big a person is by what it takes to DISCOURAGE him.”

Exodus 6:9

“Moses reported this to the Israelites,

but they did not listen to him because of their

DISCOURAGEMENT and

CRUEL BONDAGE.”

“No matter how you feel,

get up,

dress up and

show up.”

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“Next to love, friendship is most important. It’s priceless.” That’s what I read just now again. I agree with that!

My best friend is the Lord Jesus Christ. He tells me that himself in His word, the BIBLE:

John 15:14 “You are my Friends if you do what I command.” Read also the next verse.

I have believed long ago.
We can stay close to the Lord Jesus Christ through PRAYER!