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Articles from this month's issue of the Berean News |
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Viewpoints Recently, the concept of love continues to creep into my life. Just last week, Larry Urbaniak spoke about ministering to couples - to me the cornerstone of a couple is love. We are entering the Christmas season which is a time we often get to spend with our "loved ones." Finally, I was recently asked to speak next February 14th and as I marked this date in my calendar, I could not help but notice that was Valentine's Day - a day that most certainly symbolizes love. As I was growing up this was always a day I remembered my loved ones and would let them know of it. With all this love in the air, I began to wonder what role is love supposed to play in our spiritual lives. I would argue that loving others has everything to do with our spiritual lives. We see that loving others is central to God's command, as he laid down the law in Leviticus 19:18, he said, "Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against one of your people, but love your neighbor as yourself." We also see that love was at the center of what Jesus felt were the two greatest commandments. In Matthew 22:34-40, when the Pharisees asked Jesus, "Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?' Jesus replied, 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it, 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'" All the law and prophets hang on these two commandments. Basically, Jesus was saying by fulfilling these two laws, a person keeps all the others. As a Christian, the first of these commandments, to love God, seems obvious and poses little question, but the second "to love your neighbor as yourself" is more difficult. To understand this commandment, we must understand that it does not mean you have to like everyone or have affection for them, although that would be nice. But rather, the command is that we must love our neighbor. Christian love is not a feeling, it is an action. We must be willing to selflessly give of ourselves to others just as Jesus did. As 1 John 3:16 states, ~This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us." We must be generous and giving, after all as John 3:16 reads, "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish, but shall have eternal life." The definition of love we need to understand is not found in Webster's dictionary but rather in Corinthians 13:4-7, where it describes love as the following: "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres." To me, showing love is the cornerstone of being a Christian. As I meet new Christians and get to know them, at the core is always a warmth and love that comforts me and strengthens my feelings for them. Love is the unifying force and identifying mark of the Christian community. So, what's love got to do with it? Everything. --Dan Arends |
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Perspective The giving and receiving of gifts at Christmas is one of the highlights of the season for most children. Adults seem to enjoy the tradition, also. The origin of this pleasant practice is, of course, associated with the fact that the wise men came to Bethlehem and presented gifts to the Christ child. "On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and myrrh." (Matthew 2:11) Each one of these three gifts had a very specific and special significance. They seem to be prophetic. Each was predictive of a different aspect of his life and ministry. The gift of myrrh anticipated the death and burial of Christ. He was offered it while yet on the cross: "Then they offered him wine mixed with myrrh. but he did not take it." (Mark 15:23) Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus claimed his body. "He [Joseph] was accompanied by Nicodemus, the man who earlier had visited Jesus at night. Nicodemus brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds." (John 19:39) The gift of incense or frankincense signified the priesthood of Christ. In Exodus 30:30-37, God was very specific in His instructions to Moses about the "fragrant blend of incense" that was to be mixed and used only for the anointing of a priest. It was to be considered holy. Oil and incense was to be poured on a grain offering by a priest before the offering was presented to God. (Lev. 2:1-2, 2:15-16, 6:15) Both oil and incense were, however, to be left OUT of a sin offering -- probably implying sinlessness to them. "If, however, he cannot afford two doves or two young pigeons, he is to bring as an offering for his sin a tenth of an ephah of fine flour for a sin offering. He must not put oil or incense on it, because it is a sin offering." (Leviticus 5:11, also see Numbers 5:15) The gift of gold spoke of the future kingship of Christ. Gold is always associated with royalty. Even those who wish to reign with Christ are counseled (in Revelation 3:18) to "buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich..." It is interesting to note that in the Millennium, gold and incense will again be brought as gifts, but apparently not myrrh. "Herds of camels will cover your land, young camels of Midian and Ephah. And all from Sheba will come, bearing gold and incense and proclaiming the praise of the Lord." (Isaiah 60:6) The death of Jesus was final and complete -- there is no need for any more myrrh. What gift can you and I give to Christ this Christmas? The most obvious answer is ourselves. But this cannot be. We have already given ourselves in consecration to him. We already belong to him. In reality, though, are we totally and completely his, or do we hold back some area, some portion of our lives that we have not yet been willing to completely surrender to his control? He is our King. Allow him to reign more fully in your life. Search your heart and life to give him a gift this Christmas. --- Larry Urbaniak |
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Celebrations On November 7" an open house was held at the Wausau church for Sr. Mayrne Schwede's goth birthday. Our church was represented by Roy & Arlene Boswell, Joe & Arlene Horak and Pat Wasko. The Minneapolis church was represented by Wayne & Kathy Urbaniak. Over 200 friends and family members attended the celebration from all corners of the Wisconsin area and beyond. Sr. Mayrne Kittel Schwede was born on Nov. 7,1908, she is the oldest of seven children born to Charles and Anna Kittel. She was married for 52 years to Charles Schwede Sr. and this bond produced a legacy of eight children, Delores (Andy) Anderson, Morrie (Jenny) Schwede, Belvajean (Vernon) Tritten, Marilou (Kevin) Newman, Edward (Shirley) 5chwede, Charles Jr. (Margie) 5chwede and Bill (Phyllis) 5chwede, all of Wausau and Donald ,5chwede of Dallas. Mayme has 38 grandchildren, 61 great grandchildren and 3 great great grand children; along with two sisters, Dora Schilling and Elsie Volkman both of Wausau and two brothers, Norman and Charles Kittel also of Wausau. Sr. Mayme felt like queen for a day at her birthday celebration, and she enjoyed every minute because her loving and devoted family and all her dear friends were there to participate in celebrating another milestone in her life. All those who have ever attended Camp Blessing and those who will attend in the years to come will be forever grateful to Br. Charles Schwede and Sr. Mayme Schwede for the land that was donated to the camp. Sr. Mayme was also the center of attraction at the Sunday church services; the choir sang an inspiring hymn, the Sunday school children sang a cute little bible song and a beautiful reading was presented and all were dedicated in her honor. Br. Loyal Petran conducted the bible study and Br. Roy Boswell presented the sermon, the church services were followed by a good old-fashioned Wausau potluck luncheon. The month of November was the beginning of a new experience for the "Berean Bible Students Church." We are now sharing our church with the "Good Shepherd Church Of God, 7th Day." As some of you may know, our church was listed for sale in July. The Good Shepherd Congregation wants to buy our church, but the only way they can afford the purchase is to rent with the option to buy. Our congregation agreed to allow them to rent from us for a period of one year and all rental income will be applied to their deposit at end of that period of time. If we have not found a new church at the time that their purchase becomes final, we will then become the renters and the Good Shepherd Church will give us a three year rental lease with the first year free of rent. I feel this transaction has been blessed by Our Heavenly Father because human dealings or ideas would never have accomplished the smooth transition and arrangements as they have been worked out. The Good Shepherd Church meets on Wednesdays and Saturdays, and we continue to use our church on Sundays. Also, we are not rushed in our endeavor to find a new location. I believe this has been an answer to prayer for both congregations. Recently Arlene and I purchased Tracie and David's tickets to attend a musical with Larry and Joyce. It was a wonderful performance of a delightful musical. Our seats made the musical even more enjoyable. We were in the fifth row! I thanked them and jokingly asked who they bribed to get such good seats!! There is a big difference in our level of enjoyment depending on where we're seated for the events we most want to see. Sure, part of the fun is "being there", but our level of fun is much greater if we have one of the "best seats in the house" while being there! Having the "best seat in the house" can mean different things to different people: being close to the action being where you can see best being in a certain section with a certain set of fans being near your team's bench being in a place where you can see the scoreboard being where you can talk to the participants being where you can hear the dialogue or the music best But, if you have one of the best seats in the house, the joy of the event is dramatically enhanced! The apostle Paul emphasizes that those of us who have confessed Jesus as Lord (Colossians 2:6) and shared with him in his death and resurrection through baptism (Colossians 2:12-13) have the best seat in the house for life. You see, we have been raised up and seated with Christ in the heavenly places (Colossians 3:1 and Ephesions 2:6). He has presented us to God as holy, without fault, and free of any accusation (Colossians 1:21-22). Just as Christ conquered the spiritual powers of evil (Colossians 2:15) and was raised up and seated at the right hand of God (Ephesians 1:20-23), we have also been given the best seat in the house - we're seated with Christ at God's right side. As we become more aware that we face a spiritual battle with the forces of evil in heavenly places (Ephesians 6:10-12), we need to be reassured that the war has already been won for us by Jesus. While we will face skirrnishes with the evil one, some of which will be very difficult, as long as we cling to Christ Jesus as our Lord and reason for hope (Colossians 1:23), our victory is assured! What is eternal about us is already with him waiting to share in his triumphant return in glory (Colossians 3:1-4). This means that demonic forces of evil cannot have us or separate us from Christ (Romans 8:37-39). Our lives are joined to Christ, who has conquered all the powers of evil and now reigns eternally. When the world flirts with the prince of darkness and dabbles in what is evil, it is important for those who believe on Jesus Christ to give thanks for having our victory and future secured. In Jesus Christ, we've been given the best seat in the best house, not just for life, but forever! "Thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ" 1 Corinthians 15:57. --Roy R. Boswell |
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