Tag: aid

The Classroom Nobody Asks To Enter

Brent Pollard

No one ever really wants to come to this school. They never looked at a promotional pamphlet about it. They didn’t circle the first day of school on their calendars with excitement. Yet, God keeps a watchful eye on this ancient classroom. Even after thousands of years, its curriculum hasn’t changed. One of the earliest lessons it teaches is want.

Attendance at this school would never be something we would choose. Left to our own devices, we would design a curriculum brimming with abundance: every prayer answered swiftly, every door welcoming us at the first knock. However, that is not a school; it is a nursery. God doesn’t want to coddle individuals who stay stuck in their growth (see Hebrews 5.11-14).

In the tough times we face, there’s a unique gentleness to be found: the pauses, the imperfections, and the obstacles, which resemble the desks in a classroom, representing our journeys. At these desks, we uncover unique insights that you won’t find anywhere else. Comfort allows us to see the blessings we receive from God, but difficulty is the teacher who helps us grasp our profound need for God Himself. When all comforts are stripped away, the only lesson that endures is the one learned at the desk of deprivation.

Paul’s Diploma from the School of Want

Paul didn’t simply earn his diploma from this “school of want” by focusing solely on theory. He earned it through real struggles: scars, shipwrecks, feelings of emptiness, and even time spent in a prison cell (see 2 Corinthians 11.23-28). From one such cell, he wrote, “I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am” (Philippians 4.11). The term “learned” carries weight and meaning. Finding contentment wasn’t a simple task; it required patience and nurturing, much like mastering a new language. Initially, it was a bit uncomfortable and uncertain, but over time, with patience and practice, it became more natural and easier for Paul. Paul’s journey shows how facing challenges can lead to genuine happiness.

This isn’t a blend of stoicism and faith. Stoicism dulls its desires; Paul acknowledges his. He expresses, “I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need.” (Philippians 4.12). He experienced hunger. He experienced a deep sense of humiliation. He just wouldn’t allow either of them to have the last say over his spirit.

Then Paul shares a little secret, almost casually: “I can do all things through Him who strengthens me” (Philippians 4.13). This line, situated between hunger and abundance, highlights that genuine strength comes not from ambition but from Christ’s support. Here, the “strength” isn’t about conquering the world; it’s about remaining authentic and steadfast as you journey through the tough lessons that accompany desire. The metaphor emphasizes a profound faith in God that transcends the world’s temporary victories.

This is the central idea that the message of contentment centers on. Contentment isn’t just about having all our wishes fulfilled; it’s about understanding that even when we face shortages, the goodness of God is always present and unwavering. Paul didn’t just experiment with this while among the safety of his brethren; he put it into practice in a Roman cell, and it really worked.

The Lie That Wealth Whispers

Examine Paul’s testimony alongside his warning to reveal a distinct difference. He shares with Timothy about those “who want to get rich” and who find themselves “in temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful desires” (1 Timothy 6.9). Money itself isn’t the enemy, but the obsession with it—the idea that adding another zero will somehow bring happiness—definitely is.

Wealth brings dreams that can sometimes feel just out of reach. It’s often said that security is something we accumulate, that we’re always just one transaction away from feeling safe. It’s the enduring charm of attraction, now presented in a portfolio instead of a serpent’s skin. The impact extends far beyond mere financial loss. Paul notes that some people have wandered away from their beliefs, chasing after them and bringing upon themselves “many griefs” (1 Timothy 6.10). You cannot devote yourself to a deity that does not reciprocate your affection.

This is the reason the well-known verse is positioned exactly where it is. It is supported on both sides by the reminder: “Godliness actually is a means of great gain when accompanied by contentment” (1 Timothy 6.6). Seeking gain has always been a valid ambition. We simply searched for it in the wrong field. True gain isn’t about accumulating more possessions. It reflects the soul’s deepening ability to find peace in God, regardless of circumstances.

Christ, the Believer’s Undiminishable Portion

What should you do when a lesson feels like it’s holding on to you? What happens if the job doesn’t materialize, the diagnosis remains unchanged, and our prayers seem to fall silent? Even in those moments, remember that you are not alone—hope awaits you beyond the pain. Don’t force a smile and pretend that pain feels good. Scripture doesn’t make that request. Instead, look beyond your empty hand to the Hand that has always held on.

This is the gentle reassurance found in Scripture: God is the refuge for those who have nothing else. “The Lord is my chosen portion and my cup,” the psalmist sang, long before Paul came along (Psalm 16.5). Not divine blessings. God Himself. God. Even without any blessings, the believer still possesses the one true Blessing.

There’s an incredible tenderness in this moment. A divine being, enveloped in radiant light, humbles themself to become the treasure for those who possess nothing. We were created, in the innermost part of our hearts, for nothing less than Him. Every desire He permits is an act of love, purging that space and making room for only Him to occupy it. It isn’t joy that we seek, but rather the joy that ultimately reveals itself—much like a famine that shows us that bread was never the true goal. He was the center of it all. He was always the center of attention.

Living in the Classroom Today

How do you handle a no in the moment of truth?

Begin with small steps. Communicate honestly and express your desires openly in the presence of God. Do not pretend to have the peace you do not possess. Rely on Philippians 4.13 not just for lofty ambitions but also to find strength when facing challenges. Keep in mind the lesson from 1 Timothy 6: the things you pursue often fall short of what they promise. Finally, return to the intended portion. Whisper it softly until it resonates within you, just as it did for Paul: Lord, I may not have what I desired, but I have You. That is not insignificant. It’s a huge gain.

No one actively seeks to enter this school, yet everyone finds themselves walking its halls and eventually graduating—some with a sense of bitterness, others with a feeling of blessing, some with clenched fists, and others with contented hearts. Christ stands as the enduring guide in this ongoing journey of desire, sharing the essential truth that mere comfort cannot provide: He is, and has always been, enough.

Is Your Ox Getting Heavy?

Have you heard of Milo of Croton? Perhaps you are carrying some heavy burdens that would take a strength greater than his to bear? Is there help?

Dale Pollard

Milo of Croton was a six-time Olympic wrestling champion and legendary athlete from the 6th century BC Greek city of Croton. He’s a well known figure in ancient history for many impressive feats including winning the boys’ wrestling competition in 540 BC and then the men’s wrestling competition for four years in a row (62nd through 66th Olympiads). However, Milo is probably best known not for his wrestling career but  for his strength training methods. This supposedly involved carrying a young calf over his shoulder every day until it progressively grew larger and larger until eventually the calf became a fully matured ox. Afterwards he allegedly even carried the ox through the stadium at Olympia. 

It’s unknown exactly how heavy the confused ox on Milo’s shoulder was but today they can weigh between 1,500 and 3,000 pounds. Oxen are larger and heavier than cows, are intentionally bred to be the strongest and largest animals capable of doing work. It typically takes about two years from birth to maturity which doesn’t seem like a long time— unless you’ve been picking it up every day. 

Hebrews 12:10 encourages the Christian by reminding us that the temporal discipline we receive from God is for our eternal benefit. Taking up the name of Christ and lifting up our cross on a daily basis may seem daunting but it’s only for a season. The process itself increases our endurance and firms up our faith and the most encouraging part of all is that we aren’t expected to make the lifts alone. 

“You shall not see your brother’s donkey or his ox fallen down by the way and ignore them. You shall help him to lift them up again” 

(Deut. 22.4). 

“I was pushed hard, so that I was falling, but the LORD helped me” (Ps. 118.13). 

“For my yoke is easy and my burden is light”

 – Jesus (Matt. 11.30) 

Comfort For The Hurting

Tuesday’s Column: Dale Mail

dalejanelle2021

Dale Pollard

 
Many emotions run through different individuals when faced with the loss of a loved one or dealing with intense pain. These emotions can present themselves as questions: 
  • Confusion: “Why did this happen?”
  • Sadness: “How will I go on?” 
  • Anger: “Who allowed this to happen?” 

Who can answer these questions? 

Who can provide comfort? 

Who can guide your heart through the heartbreaking moments in life? 

Is it not the Creator?

 Here’s a quick reminder to help give those who are dealing with loss and tragedy some perspective. 

Though “end” is a very human term,  

100 years from now I’ll be alive and so will you. 150, 200 years from now I’ll be alive and so will you. 

Since we are made in the image of God, that means… 

  1. When God breathed into you the breath of life He gave you a piece of Himself called the soul which will live forever…somewhere. 
  2. When God created you in a more intimate way unlike the beasts of the field and the birds of the air He gave you free choice. 
  3. He gave you the ability to reason.
  4. He gave you the ability to contact Him and be contacted by him. 

How sad and how tragic it would be to live your life with no hope. God offers wonderful and comforting news even at times where such news seems to be missing. 

God loves you more than anyone can. 

God loves you more than you can comprehend.  

Though many cry for and with you when you hurt, that love falls short of the one who expresses His love in a way that’s perfect and unfailing. 

You will and perhaps you currently experience feelings you can’t put into words, but God feels them and understands them. 

God can walk you through the hurts. Life doesn’t have to be impossibly tragic and void of purpose. 

God created the heart. He can heal yours. God created the mind. He can sort yours out. God made the soul. He can save yours. God created the body. He can give you rest. God created the eyes. He can wipe your tears away. God created the shoulder, but His are the only shoulders capable of bearing the weight of all those who lean on them. 

DO WE HAVE CONFUSING MENU TERMS?

Neal Pollard

Open Table, a company that facilitates reservations at better restaurants, sent a quiz today to test my familiarity with some of the more sophisticated menu terms one encounters. I made 40%, and at least a few of my right answers were lucky guesses. Truly, I’ve never heard of “okonomiyaki,” “Harissa,” “gochujang,” or “crudo.” These and others were foreign words, in the literal and culinary sense. Certainly, chefs, maitre d’s, refined diners, and the otherwise alimentary literate folks know these terms, but most of us are proud to differentiate between la fork and la spoon. We also do not like to be made to feel less than intelligent by the more informed foodie.

The more we try to be soul-conscious and truly sensitive to the visitors who attend our services, the more thoughtfully we should consider especially the terms we use and even take for granted. We’ve used them so long that maybe we assume everybody knows them.  But, these visitors may be sitting there, despite their intelligence and capability, feeling ignorant or uninitiated as we pepper them with “expediency,” “hermeneutics,” “extend the invitation,” “conversion,” “denominational,” “redemption,” and other terms that require the context of our learned church culture. Other terms, not at all hard to define, are terms that mean something specific to us but that mean something else to those without our “background”: sin, salvation, repentance, worship, born again, holy, works, grace, etc.  On many occasions, I’ve looked at some of the lyrics in our songbook and have found, especially in older songs where words have inevitably changed or fallen into disuse, we press on without defining or explaining these words to our youth, new Christians, or non-Christian attendees. “Could my zeal no respite know?”  “His garment too were in cassia dipped?” “Heavenly portals loud with hosannas ring?” Many, many more examples of such lines could be produced!

My point is not to be critical. There is no way we can define every word a visitor or newcomer may encounter in our worship services, but we do have so many who do not have our grasp of our unique terms. We have a serious obligation to them (cf. 1 Cor. 14:22-25). If we took some time to define the words of our songs, sermons, and even prayers, we would be helping those several groups who may not “get” it otherwise—teens and pre-teens, some of our young adults, a lot of our first-generation Christians, new converts, and those valuable visitors who may be termed “unchurched.” It will help the rest of us, too, to break down our rote and memorized sentences and think about what some of those “ten-cent” theological terms really mean. God desires worship that involves our heart (cf. John 4:24), and clear comprehension is a key to achieving that. May we deliberate on this when we assemble together this Lord’s Day!

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA
Who knows what this is?

Our Brethren Are Suffering

Neal Pollard

The United Nations’ very conservative estimate is that well over 2,000 people have died in the Donetsk region of Eastern Ukraine in fighting between that nation’s government have clashed with separatists.  So many of the towns and cities in the region have congregations of God’s people, many of their preachers trained in our foreign extension school that for years was in Kramatorsk and of late has been in Gorlovka. One of our graduates reports that two gospel preachers have been kidnapped this month, though one of them has since been released.  Our brethren in Ukraine have been facing the terror of daily bombing and shooting as well as fear for their safety when they assemble.

The ebola outbreak is an ongoing health concern and it is not yet contained.  Nations affected include Liberia, Guinea, Sierra Leone, and even Nigeria.  One of two Americans on medical missions in Liberia, Dr. Kent Brantly, is a member of the church.  While its not clear whether any of our native brethren in these African nations have gotten sick or died, they certainly feel the threat and concern of a disease that claims between 50 and 90 percent of those who contract it. 

Around the world at any given time, we have brothers and sisters who face health scares, hunger, harm, and hatred.  Persecution, natural disaster, famine, and war are no respecter of persons, and “our people” are often affected.  How they need our constant prayers as well as whatever assistance we can prudently provide.

On our pews in the local church, though without the drama and press coverage, there are always those who are struggling with hurts, heartaches, health, home, and hardship.  They may not trumpet their complaints or even publicly ask for encouragement, silently suffering.  As we interact with each other, let us keep in mind the potential hidden concerns and burdens being borne.  

Paul encourages us, in the spirit of unity, to “have the same care for one another” (1 Co. 12:25). He tells Colosse, “Put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience” (Col. 3:12). He tells Philippi to to look out “for the interests of others” (Phi. 2:4).  Are we busy and bothered by our own concerns? Certainly! But may we ever cultivate greater sensitivity toward the silent suffering of our spiritual family, both near and far.

Members of the Slavyansk church of Christ (including a BVBIU graduate from our first class) holding bomb shrapnel that exploded near the church building. Photo Credit: Jeff Abrams.