A NEWSLETTER FOR THE MEMBERS OF THE GREENWOOD CHURCH OF CHRIST

VOLUME 2 NO. 2                                         February 27, 2005

“NOAH WILL BE IN THE AUDIENCE?”

AN ARTICLE BY TOM W. PICKARD

A story is told of a man who got to heaven and asked about a crowd he saw gathered.  “Oh, it's story-telling time.  Would you care to participate?”  answered one standing by.  “Why sure,” he said, “I'll tell about the big flood we had in 1889, when I was a boy in Johnstown, Pennsylvania.  Twenty-two hundred people drowned!”

“That will be fine,” came the answer, “But remember, Noah will be in the audience.”

It will be a little hard to tell Noah about Johnstown, or for that matter how a wicked world kept us from doing God's will.  It will be difficult to tell of our aches and pains to Job.  I wonder if Isaiah, who spent fifty years preaching to deaf Israel, will appreciate the preacher complaints.

There's something humbling when one tries to match story of story, and problem for problem with those of God's faithful servants through the ages.  What will be our excuse for not attending every service of the church in our high-powered cars when we tell the chariot-driven Ethiopian eunuch our troubles?  What will Ezra, who walked a thousand miles to rebuild the temple, think of our inability to get to mid-week Bible study?  What will Abraham, who was willing to offer his only son in obedience to God think of the ways our boys and girls take us from God to serve “little league?”  What would the widow, who “of her want did cast in all she had,” think of our level of giving to the Lord's cause?

Before we state our stories, problems or excuses we need to remember that “Noah will be in the audience!”

“GOD'S MINORITIES”

A SELECTED ARTICLE

During the time Noah was building the ark, he was very much in the minority---but he won!

When Joseph was sold into Egypt by his brothers he was a decided minority---but he won!

When Gideon and his three-hundred followers with their broken pitchers and lamps put the Midianites to flight, they were in an insignificant minority---but they won!

When Elijah prayed down fire from heaven and put the prophets of Baal to shame, he was in a notable minority---but he won!

When Jesus Christ was crucified by the Roman soldiers, he was a conspicuous minority---BUT HE WON!