Barnes church of Christ

Truly, one of the major decisions of life is that of choosing a career. The choice that a person makes in this matter sets the course for one’s life. Only an imprudent person would approach this crucial decision without looking far down the road to where the various options lead, or without listening to the invaluable advice of those who have been there. Yet, the most cherished principles for choosing a career come from Him whose principles do not fail.
ONE: Choose A Career That Will Not Keep You From Having A Family Life. If you choose a career that will have you: (1) spending too much time in work; (2) on the road always away from your home; (3) exhausted when you go home; or (4) still thinking about your work while at home—then you will find that you have chosen a career that will keep you from having a family life.
Like the strong, energetic man who thought he could hike across the Sahara Desert because he felt so good at the beginning, the person who ignores this principle will eventually find his life quite dry. A man has the obligation (as well as the need) to love (and be loved by) his wife (Eph. 5:25) and to be involved in the raising and the life of his children (Eph. 6:4). The same is true for the woman (Titus 2:4; 1 Tim. 2:15). Yet, some careers make this prohibiting. Thus, choose a career that will not keep you from having a family life.
TWO: Choose A Career That Will Not Lead You Into Temptation. The real purpose of life is not to see: what a great career you have; how much money you earn; how much you gain materially; how high you can get as a supervisor or chairman of the board. Rather, the real purpose of life is to live a life as a faithful Christian. Thus, you need to select a career that will not easily lead you into temptation (Mat. 6:13).
THREE: Choose A Career That You Will Not Love. Yes, it is hoped that you will be able to do that which you like and are happy with, but like it—don’t love it. Never choose anything other than God of which you will “love with all your heart, mind, soul and strength” (Luke 10:27). Loving God is first; loving your family is second; liking your job is somewhere down the ladder.
If you are arriving at the exciting time of choosing your career, protect yourself and better your life by following these principles from Him whose principles do not fail.
Gary Henson

One of the most popular doctrines of Satan is the unbiblical teaching that once a person becomes saved he will never loose his salvation. In spite of the fact that the Bible very plainly states that some Christians had “fallen from grace” (Gal. 5:4 [See also: Heb. 6:4-6; 2 Pet. 2:20-22; James 5:19-20; John 15:1-6]) the false belief in the impossibility of apostasy has firmly ensnared many good souls.
Unknown (because it has been hidden) to those who present their verses in the attempt to establish their case for “once saved, always saved,” are the other verses which show that those which they have presented are conditional—that is, the promise of the certainty of a Christian’s salvation is dependent upon the Christian remaining faithful to God and His teachings in the Bible.
Below are a few verses which are often presented in the effort to teach the impossibility of apostasy. Following each of these is a verse which makes clear that the promise is conditional.

“A child of God has eternal life (John 5:24), and ‘eternal’ is forever—it cannot be lost.” But, “If any does not provide for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel [non-Christian]” (1 Tim. 5:8).
“A child of God will not come into condemnation—thus he will not ever be judged as condemned.” But, “If he discern not the body” when he takes the Lord’s Supper, he “eats and drinks judgment to himself” (1 Cor. 11:29).
“A child of God will not be cast out (John 6:37).” But, “If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and they gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned” (John 15:6).
“A child of God shall live forever—thus, he can never be lost (John 6:58). But, “For now we live if ye stand fast in the Lord” (1 Thes. 3:8).
“A child of God cannot be plucked out of God’s hand (John 10:27). But, “Who is he that will harm you, if ye be followers of that which is good?” (1 Pet. 3:13).
“A child of God shall never perish (John 10:29). But, “If a man keep my word, he shall never see death” (John 8:51).

If only those who now believe in the impossibility of apostasy would have been shown these conditional verses they surely never would have believed this false doctrine. May it be that such good people can yet see this truth.
Gary Henson

You might be able to find someone who is as friendly as Mike Tillery, but you cannot find one who is friendlier. Mike was a friend’s friend. If you are unable to claim him as your friend, it is simply because you had not met him. Actually, I think it is fair to say that he was your friend even if you did not know him.
Mike passed away. Two years and four months before, he was told he had lung cancer. Mike underwent four chemotherapy treatments–the inducing of chemicals to poison cancer cells (but ask anyone who has gone through it, you physically pay a heavy price). He then had one-half of a lung removed by chest surgery. This was followed by two more chemotherapies. Mike then began to have seizures–the lung cancer had spread to his brain. He received ten radiation treatments on his brain and fifty radiation treatments on his lungs–an attempt to burn the cancer cells (but such a procedure comes with the possibility of producing serious and permanent damage to other parts of the body if they too are burned). The radiation on his brain did not work; the tumors continued to grow. Mike underwent brain surgery. The tumors were removed. Yet, more came back. There was a second surgery. They came back. A third surgery. Again they returned. Then, a fourth surgery was scheduled.
As Mike left this world, because he was such a good friend, he sought our best by urging his fellowman to quit doing the very thing which he had done that led him into all these nightmare medical difficulties of health–”Stop smoking!”
Years ago, when many began smoking, the health hazards of smoking were unknown. It was begun, often, in innocence. But now we know. Smoking is hazardous to a person’s health. Consider just a few statements issued by the American Cancer Society:

1. “Smoking cigarettes has been identified by official commissions and scientific studies in many countries (Denmark, France, Australia, Finland, Sweden, Holland, Canada, the United States, Great Britain, New Zealand) as the cause of the enormous rise in the incidence of lung cancer in those countries since World War II, a rise so steep that it has been characterized as an epidemic.”
2. “Tobacco smoking causes, or is strongly associated with, besides lung cancer, cancers of the larynx, mouth, esophagus, and urinary bladder.”
3. “Cigarette smoking causes a higher death rate from circulatory diseases, heart attacks and strokes; and contributes to more than 188,000 excess deaths from these diseases each year in the Unites States.”
4. “Cigarette smoking is the most important cause of chronic obstructive broncho-pulmonary disease in the United States.”
   Such is why the Surgeon General went from the old hesitant warning of many years ago: “Cigarette Smoking May Be Dangerous To Your Health”; to today’s bold statement of conclusive certainty: “Smoking Causes Lung Cancer, Heart Disease, Emphysema, And May Complicate Pregnancy.”
   When a man chooses to become a preacher, he does so because he wants to help people know the Will of God. Thus, he is a friend, not an enemy (Gal. 4:16). As a friend, it is pointed out that God’s Will declares that our bodies belong to God (1 Cor. 6:19-20). Thus, we have not the right to destroy the body with tobacco (as we have now discovered it does).
   The passage also teaches that we are to “glorify God in your body.” How can a Christian give glory to God with his body in the eyes of non-Christians when those onlookers today know so well what smoking does to the human body?
   Your friends: Mike, medicine and this minister, plead with all who smoke to stop. With the help of various non-prescription methods, and with the help of God [“I can do all things in him that strengtheneth me” (Phil 4:13)] you can do it!
   Gary Henson

The fact that a man named Jesus who lived nearly 2000 years ago in the land just east of the Mediterranean Sea cannot be successfully denied. The question that effects each human being is: Was he merely another human being, or was He (as is commonly claimed) the Son of God? If he was but a man, he ought to be rejected and ignored; but if He was the Son of God, then every human being ought to seek and follow His every word. Thus, was He or was he not the Son of God?

HIS PRE-EXISTENCE PROVES THAT HE IS GOD. If Jesus existed before He existed on earth in the form of a man (yea, even since eternity), then Jesus is God (for only God has such a pre-existence). The Scriptures reveal that Jesus did have such a pre-existence. In Matthew 22:41-46 the question was pressed “How could Jesus be both, David’s Lord (i.e., before David) and David’s descendant (i.e., after David)?” The answer was in the dual nature of Jesus: He was man born after David, but He was also God who existed before David. Thus, Jesus had a pre-existence as God!

CLAIMS BY GOD THE FATHER PROVE THAT HE IS GOD. If God the Father declared that Jesus was the Son of God, then Jesus is God. God the Father, who neither was mistaken nor lying, announced for all mankind to know that “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased” (Mat. 3:17). This statement, along with the same exclamation in Matthew 17:5, makes clear that Jesus was indeed the Son of God.

JESUS’ OWN CLAIMS PROVE THAT HE WAS THE SON OF GOD. In Mark 2:9-12, Jesus established that He was God by forgiving a man of his sins (something of which only God can do) and confirmed His statement by performing the miracle of healing the lame man’s legs. Also, in Matthew 26:63-65, He affirmed in His trial that He was the Son of God. Then, in John 20:27-29, following His resurrection, Thomas called Him God, of which Jesus accepted. Yes, Jesus’ own claims (which are endorsed by the Holy Spirit Who inspired the writing of the Bible) prove that He was God.

Was this man who lived 2000 years ago the Son of God or not? The inspired Word of God makes clear that He is the Son of God. Thus, every human being ought to seek and follow His every word, for “He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day” (John 12:48).
Gary Henson

What grade would you be in if you went through public school at the same rate you went through Bible School? In public school, you stayed for an average of 7 hours a day. Yet, in allowing for lunch, recess and class breaks, actual class time comes to about 5 1/2 hours. Multiply this by 180 school days, and you have 936 hours of class time a year.
Sunday and Wednesday Bible classes may last up to 45 minutes. Thus, if you attend class on both days, you spend 90 minutes in class each week or 78 hours a year.
The 936 hours of public school is 12 times as much as the 78 hours of Bible school. Thus, at that rate, it would take you 12 years to complete the 1st grade! 144 years to graduate from high school! If a man is presently 78 years old, and he started 1st grade at the age of 6, he would presently be in the 6th grade! [Note: The age factor would double in the above examples if one attends but one of the two Bible classes.]
The facts do not lie. Truly, this reveals the great imbalance in our secular education (which is to prepare us for some 47 years of work) in comparison to our spiritual education (which prepares us for eternity).
This should help us to see clearly that: (1) as parents, we need to be teaching the Bible to our children at home (Eph. 6:4; Deut. 6:4-9); (2) as individuals, we need to take it upon ourselves to read (1 Tim. 4:13) and study (2 Tim. 2:15) the Bible; (3) as teachers, your time with the students is most precious; (4) as elders, the curriculum chosen is critical; (5) as students, your attention is crucial; and (6) as parents, we must see that our children make it to class.
It is my prayer that each Christian be great students of the Bible—the words of eternal life (John 6:68).
Gary Henson

Have you ever wondered how you would re-live your life if you could do it over? If so, then you may have thought about the changes you would make; the different roads you would take; the decisions decided otherwise. I remember my uncle (at the time, a very successful furniture salesman) saying upon one occasion, “I wish I knew then, what I know now” Such is probably the feeling of most of us.
You and I cannot live our life over again. We cannot live over even the past year. But, instead of bemoaning the fact (with our now gained wisdom of experience) that we did not live the year(s) the way we now wish we had, let us rather say, “Although I did not know what I do know now, I will use what I now know and better my life now.” My uncle followed that advice and went on to own his own furniture store.
In the Bible, there were individuals who had that opportunity of a new beginning – – the opportunity to use what they now knew to better the rest of their life. Although the actual situation may differ from ours, the principles are the same.
Noah had a new beginning following the flood. The water had washed clean the earth from sin and corruption. Noah now knew what the forefathers had either not known or ignored: worship and obey God (and teach your children to do the same) otherwise man will fall into reprobation resulting in destruction. Today, it is no different. Noah, in his new beginning, worshiped and followed God – – we must do the same (Gen. 8:20; Heb 10:25).
The Psalmist had a new beginning after he counted his blessings rather than his blights (Psalm 73). Upon realizing the truly great blessings God had continually been bestowing upon him, he then had a new outlook on life – – a new beginning. He took what he now knew and bettered the rest of his life in peace and service to God (v:28). We can do the same.
Later in his life, the great and mighty King Nebuchadnezzar, who was pride-intoxicated, learned humility before the all-powerful God. Now knowing what he had not known before, he put his new knowledge into practice by praising, extolling and honoring the King of heaven – – rather than the king of Babylon (Dan. 4:37). If we have lived the past in pride of self, we too can have the same new beginning.
Romans 6:1-12 tells of a new beginning. Actually, it uses the words: “walk in newness of life” (v:4). This new beginning occurs in baptism. Due to repentance, we have become dead to the love of sin. This dead, old self (v:6) is then buried in the watery grave of baptism (v:4). During the burial, one is freed from sin (v:8; 4a, 7-8). As one arises from the water, at that moment (and not before) he is a new man who has a new beginning (v:4). This is the greatest new beginning of all. If you haven’t had it, you need it.
No, we cannot relive the year(s), but we can use what we know now to better the year(s) before us. As Noah, the psalmist and Nebuchadnezzar had a day in which they changed their life – – this day can be the day in which you have a new beginning.
Gary Henson

“A leader in the church says….”
(But see: Galatians 2:11-14)
“I do not see any harm in it.”
(Proverbs 16:25)
“Look at the results!”
(1 Samuel 15:20-23; Romans 3:8)
“Civil law allows it.”
(Acts 4:19; 5:29)
“I think…”
(2 Kings 5:1-11)
“I feel…”
(Genesis 37:28-35)
“Everybody else does it.”
(1 Samuel 8:4-8)
“Other Christians do it.”
(Galatians 2:11-14; 5:4)
“Other congregations do it.”
(Revelation 2 & 3)
“Just be religious”
(Matthew 7:21-23; Acts 10:1-3 & 11:14)

“Be faithful to most of the Bible.”
(But see: 2 Corinthians 2:9)
“It’s close to the Bible teaching.”
(2 Timothy 2:15; Galatians 3:16)
“I can’t be wrong.” [Self pride.]
(Acts 10:34; Romans 12:3)
“Just be in the right church.”
(1 Cor. 5:5; Gal. 5:4; Rom. 11:22)
“No one sees me do it.”
(Ecclesiastes 12:13-14)
“I just think it helps.”
(Romans 3:8)
“It just seems right.”
(Proverbs 14:12)
“Parents/Friends.”
(Galatians 6:5)
“The majority.”
(Matthew 7:13-14)
“My conscience.”
(Acts 23:1)
Gary Henson