HERE IN THE REAL WORLD

THE TWO STORY HOUSE

They had been high school sweethearts and courted through the college years so the announcement of a wedding came as no surprise to anyone. They moved into a small 4 room house and fixed it to be a warm happy home; It was nothing fancy, yet to them there was splendor with an extra room for a child should one come along. A few years after the marriage a child did enter into the happy house. About the same time the pressures of the job had caused the husband to be away more and more. At first it was just a few minutes late here and there, but that some gave way to hours late. Then the news was finally broken to her: her husband was carrying on a secret affair with a lady from work. At first he denied all the rumors. Sadly, they now lived in a two story house. After much talk and confession, she forgave him and they moved to another town to make a new start of it. It was only after a few years that she discovered the same thing happening again. She forgave him again and they packed up and moved for the last time. Though she had forgiven him, when they moved the last time they took both stories of the house: his and hers. After the last moved he managed to conceal his new affair for sometimes, but as always your sins will find you out, and his did. Again she forgave him.

If every a woman had a Biblical reason for divorce she did. In Matthew 5:32, Jesus tells us, “That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery.” That doesn’t say we have to divorce, but gives us the only scriptural reason for divorce. Yet, in every instance above the woman decided to take a higher road.

Peter asked Jesus, “Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?” (Matthew 18:22). To which Jesus answered, “I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven” (Matthew 18:23). Of course in the above story her husband sinned against her, and each time she took a high road and forgave him. After the first affair she had legal as well as Biblical right for divorce, yet she chose a path more inline with Jesus teaching and forgave him. Not once, but twice, not twice but three times. And, if it happened again not just four times, but probably up two seventy times seven times, which stands for an infinite number in Jesus’ teaching.

One of things lacking today not only in relationships of this kind but in all dealings with others is our ability to forgive. It is so much easier to put the offender out of our lives and be done it. But, is that what Jesus would have us do? When the disciples asked Jesus to teach them to pray one of the verses he taught them was, “And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors” (Matthew 6:12). We are to pray to by forgiven in the same measure that we forgive. Our Savior went on to teach, “For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you; but if you forgive not others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses (Matthew 6:14-15). “Forgive, and ye shall be forgiven” (Luke 6:37).

Jesus doesn’t want us to live in a two story house any more than we want to be it in a marriage or in any situation in our lives. Forgiveness takes love and “charity shall cover the multitude of sins” (1 Peter 4:8). A lack of forgiveness allows both stories to stop and remain two stories, while forgiveness born out of love allows the stories to become one with new chapters to be written.

Bobby Cohoon
North Carolina, USA
little_sorrel@yahoo.com

CLEANING OUT MY MAIL BOX

This has been an active week for email! Tons of my friends updating blogs and the groups have seemed to be busy as well. I thought I would take a minute to pass along some of the more noteworthy arrivals along with a few of my comments to each:

Tim Smith writes in the “BEACON” “Even though not everyone is perfect in tone and tune, those who are willing to lead are worthy of our encouragement.” I agree with Tim, and I think we should take it a step farther. When was the last time you encouraged anyone on anything?

Brother John Dobbs is getting operated on in the morning; keep him in your prayers. Also visit John’s blog at www.johndobbs.wordpress.com

Brent Hughes past along a letter from a soldier over in Iraq: “In fact, I believe that the day has arrived that those who insist on pronouncing our actions in Iraq and elsewhere as anything less than absolutely necessary must recognize that their encouragement of the enemy makes their hands as bloodstained as those of the enemy. As for me, just pray that this old soldier stays strong and doesn’t slow down the troops he leads, screw up a mission, or cost a good soldier their lives. Hope you don’t mind my soap box sermon. It is just too important an issue. You need to know what your friend and soldier has to say about this issue.” I add that we PRAY WITHOUT CEASING FOR ALL OUR SERVICE MEN AND WOMEN!

Bill Good out in Washington State wrote: “Scariest movie. It was in the thirties I think, that my folks took me to see the original King of Kings made in black and white.” For any of you that have seen that movie think about the gore we see on the screens today!

A video worth watching: http://www.woodsidebible.org/splatexperience.htm

Most notable exchange between my brothers Steve and Travis:
Steve: With prayerful friends like you, who needs enemas?
Travis: Those who are full of it.

Glenn Ziegler wrote some of the most sound advice; he wrote it plan and simple: Be IN the world, but not OF the world.

Bobby Valentine wrote: In both baptism and Lord’s Supper we, like Israel of old, are invited to “remember” … not the command but what God has done. Remembering in Hebrew is not simply a total recall of factoids. Remembering in Hebrew is more like what we call virtual reality … as I follow God’s commands my life is absorbed in the Great Story of grace.
http://stoned-campbelldisciple.blogspot.com/

Charlie up in Canada gave some great advice for internet group relations: One of the principles I try to follow (but often fail in doing) is that in any discussion I seek to understand what the other person is saying before I begin “arguing” and trying to convince them I’m right & they are wrong. When I recognize that I’m just arguing and not listening – or if listening– I see that we “understand each other” but just don’t agree – I will close off the discussion until such time as there is something new to be heard or said that hasn’t already been heard or said. http://candlw.blogspot.com/

I had planned a different piece for today but I got the following advice offlist from my Brother Glenn Ziegler: “IF you will point out our weakness and offer no solutions…it may just open a scab.” So, I sat back to think if a piece on 11 am being the most segregated hour of the week could offer any solutions, or would it just knock the scabs off of old sores? I opted to let the subject simmer a bit and do a bit more research into it before making it a topic. But, let me ask, what say you? Why in a land that has strived for racial equality and made leaps and bounds in the area still segregated on Sunday? I LOVE YOU ALL RED, YELLOW, BLACK, ANDWHITE. Until next time may our good lord bless and keep you!

22 October 2006
Bobby Cohoon
little_sorrel@yahoo.com

We are getting ready for the first blast of cold air since last winter. The yard is filed with fallen leaves, while those that are still on the trees are turning their colors and changing from life to death. With each breeze that crosses them they cling to the limbs if as trying to savior that one last bit of life. The warm upper 70’s heat of today is giving way to 50’s high temps. The pools are all being closed and prepared for their long winter’s naps. Those that are still opened can’t warm much and are too cool to stick a toe in much less to become totally immersed. Even the waters of the Currituck sound have cooled down a bit. Yes, it’s almost too late to take that last dip!

There is going to be a time when it’s too late to take that dip in the waters of baptism also. While we await the return of Jesus the water is just right, but when he returns it is not going to be for the purpose of immersing but for the purpose of judging. Second Timothy 4:1 says, “I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom.” Jesus isn’t coming back to offer you another chance; he is coming back to judge. He isn’t coming back to preach the Good News as it has already been preached. He is coming back to claim what is His.

As far as our salvation goes we are always in the autumn of our lives. Every breath we breathe takes us one exhale closer to the last inhale. Every step takes one step farther from the cradle and one step closer to the grave. Paul told Timothy to “Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season” (2 Tim 4:2). This is in anticipation of the coming of Christ when no preaching will be done.

But, you don’t believe it’s time for Christ to come back, and you may be right. But how do you know? The Bible tells us, “But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only” (Matthew 24:36). If the angels in Heaven don’t know how can you? Maybe more leaves have fallen from the tree than you think.

What if Christ doesn’t return for another thousand years? Should that change your decision? You have no promise of your next breath. Corey Lidle was a young 34 year old. He was in shape. He had just finished pitching in the American League playoff games for the New York Yankees. Yet, less than a week after he threw his last pitch he walks with us no more. I have no idea about his beliefs, nor is that the reason for bringing up his name. The point is that a young man he seemingly had so many more years left, left us in a freak accident. He started the day in the summer of his days and then came the fall and winter with no warning. James said of our lives, “It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away” (James 4:14). We have no knowledge of when it will vanish away (unless maybe you are among the unlucky that some judge has divulge this information to).

Paul wrote to the Romans, “The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light” (Romans 13:12). Everyday the winds of life blow the leaves from our trees. Where salvation is concerned, from cradle to grave it is always autumn in our lives. Don’t wait until the pools are all closed and wish you had taken that dip!

12 October 2006
Bobby Cohoon
North Carolina, USA

I walked through the local department store just the other day and was amazed to see that scattered amongst the Halloween decorations was already Christmas decorations. It seems every year the decorations and the blitz of new toys comes earlier and earlier. My mind couldn’t help but to wonder back to Luke chapter 2 as I watched the steady stream of people going through all the Halloween things as if they had no clue what they were searching for.

In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2 (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3 And everyone went to his own town to register.

There had been censuses before, yet for some reason this one was special. You see even though Caesar had issued the decree, all the elements were in place and the stage set for arrival of God’s son. Joseph was in the line of David who in 1 Samuel 17:12 we learn was, “the son of an Ephrathite named Jesse, who was from Bethlehem in Judah.” So Joseph had to take has family to Bethlehem to the town of David to be counted. But it was more than to be counted. Caesar had unknowingly set in motion what would fulfill the prophecy in Micah 5:2, “”But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel..” Caesar would also have no way of knowing that on this night a pregnant virgin would be in Bethlehem, yet hundreds of years earlier the Prophet Isaiah said, ” Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son..” (Isaiah 7:14)

The time came for Mary to give birth and yet there was no room for her or the savior of the world. She gave birth and the child was wrapped in strips of linen and laid in a feeding trough. This child who one day would sacrifice his perfect sinless life for the sins of the world had no place except a feeding trough to lay his head. Away in a manger, no crib for a bed, the little lord Jesus laid down his sweet head.

Wrapped in strips of linen not unlike those of that the dead were wrapped in, the King was laid into a manger that was nothing more than a feeding trough carved in stone probably on the inside of a cave. This life that had entered the world scene would one day leave the world scene wrapped in strips of linen and again laid in a stone cave.

In the fields that night shepherds were watching there flocks. And, although Caesar set the night in motion by his decree, the announcement of the birth of the king was made to the shepherds watching their flocks by night. In that little town of Bethlehem such a major event went unnoticed. Maybe the shepherds went to see the baby out of disbelief….maybe out of fear; I mean how many days does a host of angels come speak to you? But for whatever reason, it seems in the town “proper” the birth of the baby was unnoticed. But the Shepherds went! Maybe there weren’t much different than a plain simple bunch of rednecks today, yet they went, “When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about” (Luke 2:15).

On the way to find the baby they had to be talking about what the Angels had said……”on earth peace and god will to men..” Another group went to find him, wise men from the east: Astrologers who followed the star to the place where the baby was.
Today people still look to fond him, be they the good old boy shepherds or the learned wise men. And yet when we find him we are all one…in one family.
What started life in the lowest and poorest of ways, paved the way so that we could all be one family in the riches of Heaven. What started life in the damp dirtiness of a feeding trough cut in the side of a cave, where bacteria were probably rampant, paved the way so that we one day will live disease free.

In that little town of Bethlehem where, “how still we see the lie,” came one who would one day turn the world upside down.

That body of that baby, when we eat the bread of communion we remember it. We remember its lowly beginnings and its rise and how it was beat for us. The bread is symbolic of that body which was broken for us….eat it and remember Him.

On that night in a cold cave that precious life blood that keep the child alive would one day be shed for us; a body that was perfect would be sacrificed for BODIES that were anything but perfect. The cup of communion is symbolic of that blood; the blood of the new testament, for when Jesus ate the last supper with his disciples he said, ” This cup is the new covenant in my blood, do this whenever you drink it in remembrance of me.” When you drink it remember that new covenant blood, that on that cold silent night in a little town of Bethlehem keep our savior warm, that same blood that set us free from the law of sin and death that gave us new life in Christ forever. Let us be wise men, let us still seek him!

Father we ask your blessing on our families and friends be they here with us or far away. We ask that you allow us to be lights that serve to light the paths of others to that little town of Bethlehem so that they to may take part of a census and have their names written in that lamb’s book of life. And Lord we ask that your purpose for us be fulfilled. In the name of that precious baby and our Savior and King, Jesus Christ, Amen

Cora is famous for spending most of the day hidden. So, walking through the house and not seeing her s no big deal. Of course, like most cats she comes out for attention, when she wants attention. Or at times she will make an appearance to terrorize the dogs. Though she is much smaller than they she holds seniority as the matriarch of the animal kingdom in our house. She never though, misses a meal. Usually she is “Johnny on the spot” at the first and slightest sound of her food being opened. But, this night she didn’t. After calling her several times I made a quick inspection of the house and Cora was no where to be found. We looked under beds, under couches, under everything that she could get under and a few things she couldn’t. We searched high and low. The dogs didn’t help look; they just stood around waiting for their food. It was agreed that somehow Cora had slipped out an opened door (though she hasn’t been out in many years). At 12 midnight I was in the neighborhood trying to figure how to call a cat quiet enough not to wake the neighbors, yet loud enough for the cat to hear it. For a pampered cat, we knew she had stepped into a hostile world. A world where her in house seniority would not help against neighborhood dogs or whatever else might be roving in the quiet stillness of the pitch black night. Around one a.m. she turned up in the house. I grabbed her and hugged her (while I dried a few tears) as the dogs looked on as in disbelief that I would be happy to have her back. I fed her. We thought she was a goner, but the cat came back she just couldn’t stay away!

Many people in today’s world are like Cora: they are lost. But, we learn from reading the three parables of Luke 15 they can be found if they are lost! There is rejoicing when the one that is lost is found. In the Parable of the Lost Sheep Jesus ends it this way, “And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing” (Luke 15:5). Similarly, Jesus ends the Parable of the Lost Coin like this, “And when she hath found it, she calleth her friends and her neighbours together, saying, Rejoice with me; for I have found the piece which I had lost” (Luke 15:9). And, in the Parable of The Lost Son Jesus says, “It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found” (Luke 15:32). When one that is lost comes to the Father there is rejoicing: Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth (Luke 15:10).

Sadly many of us act like dogs. We look at that what is once lost as always lost. We shun those who live outside of our own self made ideals. The Pharisees criticized Jesus for hanging out with the sinners: the lost. Is it your goal to shun those who are “lost” or to be more like Jesus and seek out that which is lost and rejoice when they are found?