A NEWSLETTER FOR THE MEMBERS OF THE GREENWOOD CHURCH OF CHRIST

VOLUME 5 NO. 7                                           April 13, 2008

Don’t Blame the Monkeys

Author Unknown

Three monkeys sat in a coconut tree,
Discussing things as they ought to be.
Said one to the other, “Now listen you two,
There’s a certain rumor that can’t be true,

That man descended from our noble race.
The very idea is a disgrace!
No monkey ever deserted his wife, starved
her babies, and ruined her life.

And you have never known a mother monk
To leave her babies with others to bunk,
Or pass them on from one to another,
Till they hardly know who is their mother.

And another thing you never see.
A monk build a fence around a coconut tree,
And let the coconuts go to waste.
Forbidding all other monks to taste.

Here is another thing a monk won’t do:
Go out at night and get on a stew,
Or use a gun or club or a knife
To take another monkey’s life.

Yes, man descended the ornery cuss,
But brother, he didn’t descend from us!”

Man!

By Steve Niemeier

I thought long and hard about running the poem on the previous page.  I thought about how as men and women we would think this to be offensive to us.  Then I thought about how I watch the fellow on Animal Channel and see monkeys do crazy things that humor us.  Then I came to a realization that sometimes they are just mimicking us!

However, I decided to print this poem for one reason.  That reason is that we did not come from monkeys and even though this poem refers to man as an “ornery cuss” it brings forth an issue that we all need to think about.  You see we came from God and were made in the image of God.  What we have become after that is what we have decided to be!

Romans chapter one tells us about those that have become “unnatural” in their thinking and actions.  To become “unnatural” means we are going against what God who is natural and created nature has purposed for us.  Now, that is a problem!  In the Book of Leviticus in the Old Testament God spent a considerable amount of time talking about going against nature.  He talked about unnatural relationships with animals, those of the same sex, those of our families, etc.

Never do we see God condoning the trespassing into that which is “unnatural”.  He created and established nature and what is natural.  For man to cross over those boundaries is against the will of God.  Romans 2:14 even talks about the Gentiles who by nature did things lawfully we can see the power of God’s “natural laws”.  As being made in His image we have some “natural” thinking processes that would tell us what is right according to nature.

We did not come from monkeys --- we came from God and we need to act like it!

Some Headlines We’d Like To See!

From House to House

“Crime Wave Plummets as Nation Turns to God”
Millions turn to Jesus; Huge crowds on Sundays.

“Elected Officials Turn Salaries Over to Poor”
“They need it more than we do,” says wealthy Senator.

“Pornography Stores and Movies Close in Record Numbers”
“People aren’t interested anymore,” complains adult bookstore owner.

“Drug Dealers Seek Honest Occupations”
“So many people have quit, there’s no money in it anymore,” complains former drug lord.

“Peace Comes to the Middle East”
Terrorist attacks ease as peace reigns.

“Nationwide Trend: Teenagers Stop Smoking”
Tobacco companies complain of record losses.

“The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.”
Galatians 5:22-23

A Pondering Thought!

Anonymous from Abundance, Self-Control

“Discipline begets abundance.  Abundance, unless we use utmost care, destroys discipline.  Discipline in its fall pulls down with it abundance.