A NEWSLETTER FOR THE MEMBERS OF THE GREENWOOD CHURCH OF CHRIST

VOLUME 2 NO. 23                                            July 24, 2005

CHILDREN AND RELIGION

FROM THE OLD PATH II

• Three boys are in the schoolyard bragging about their fathers.  The first boy says, “My Dad scribbles a few words on a piece of paper, calls it a poem, they give him $50.00.”  The second boy says, “That's nothing.  My Dad scribbles a few words on a piece of paper, calls it a song, and they give him $100.00.”  The third boy says, “I got you both beat.  My Dad scribbles a few words on a piece of paper, calls it a sermon, and it takes eight men to collect all the money!”
• A Sunday school teacher asked the children just before she dismissed them to go to worship, “And why is it necessary to be quiet in church?”  Annie replied, “Because people are sleeping.”
• A Sunday school teacher was discussing the Ten Commandments with her five and six year olds.  After explaining the commandment to “honor your father and your mother,” she asked, “Is there a commandment that teaches us how to treat our brothers and sisters?”  Without missing a beat one little boy answered, “Thou shalt not kill.”
• At Sunday school they were teaching how God created everything, including human beings.  Little Johnny seemed especially intent when they told him how Eve was created out of one of Adam's ribs.  Later in the week his mother noticed him lying down as though he were ill, and said, “Johnny, what is the matter?”  Little Johnny responded, “I have pain in my side.  I think I'm going to have a wife.”

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

Remember that God sees the whole picture.  He sees all the past; He sees all the present; and He has the power to see all the future.  He can see the end from the beginning, and He knows the destiny of every person and the solution to every problem.  He loves us and is always available to us, but He will force neither Himself nor His will upon us.  As long as we live, we are allowed to choose.  He is concerned about our true welfare and happiness---here and hereafter.  With him on our side every thing will turn out well (Romans 8:28, 31); but if He must be against us, nothing will turn out right.   WRITTEN BY BILL CREWS

When you see a dirty face in the mirror, you wash your face, not the mirror.  Likewise when we see error in our lives portrayed by truth revealed in the Bible, let us simply clean up our lives and quit criticizing the Bible.   WRITTEN BY LESLIE DIESTELKAMP

A little boy in the church services was sitting by a well-dressed lady; he had a nickel in his hand and was anxious for the collection plate to reach him so he could put his nickel in.  As the plate came near, he noticed that the well-dressed lady was making no effort to give anything, so he said, “Lady, you take this nickel and put it in the collection plate, and I will crawl under the bench.”

“I have always said, and always will say, that the studious perusal of the Sacred Volume will make better citizens, better fathers, and better husbands.”   BY THOMAS JEFFERSON

“The religion of some people is constrained, like the cold bath when used, not for pleasure, but from necessity for health, into which one goes with reluctance, and is glad when able to get out.  But religion to the true believer is like water to a fish; it is his element; he lives in it, and could not live out of it.”   BY JOHN NEWTON