Tag: role

Sassafras: A Sweet-Smelling Aroma

Darrell Dubree

As a young boy, my dad and i would spend many hours preparing firewood for the long winters in Indianapolis Indiana. Dad loved the smell of sassafras when split with an axe. He would talk about when  he was a young boy and how they would use green sassafras to make toothbrushes. They would take a small piece a fray the ends. Back in that day, money was tight. He explained that seasoned sassafras was used for toothpicks. You can split a small piece and sharpen the end with a pocket knife. He would go on to explain how sassafras was not the best firewood. Seasoned sassafras was a good kindling used to start a fire. Dad would explain how you could determine how old a tree was by counting the growth rings of the main trunk. He would say, as long as the tree was connected to its source of nourishment it would continue to grow and develop new growth rings year after year. He would talk about the different types of wood and their best uses or qualities. For example, some for furniture, some for structural support in buildings, tool handles, somewhere even resistant to certain insects.

Just the other day as I was preparing firewood, I split open a piece of sassafras and the familiar aroma brought back those words spoken by my dad, some 50 years ago.

As I stood there remembering my dad and the simple things he would teach me. It occurred to me that these lessons could be applied to the Christian and their role in the body of Christ (Rom. 12:5-8).  Secondly, just as a saw separates the tree from its source of support and nourishment. Sin and death can separate the Christian from their support and nourishment (Rom. 11:22). May we stay connected to God through studying his word, prayer and encouraging one another and taking advantage of every opportunity to continually add growth rings to our spiritual tree (2 Pet. 3:18). “And walk in love, just as Christ also loved you

and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma” (Eph. 5:2). 

This congregation over a decade ago began talking of the need to expand and have a bigger footprint in Warren County. That dream has now become reality. Praise be to God! The Bible tells us in Hebrews 9: 27, “And as much as it is appointed for men to die once and after this the judgment.” After this we have one more move to make. To Heaven or to Hell. I want to go to heaven, don’t you? This is why I want to go to heaven:  Because in heaven,

There won’t be no time for crying
No more sickness, no more dying
Great joy awaits us in those mansions far away
When we rest from all of our labors, 
Jesus will be our next-door neighbor
We’re going to be moving, moving away.

How do we prepare for this move?

Hear- Romans 10:14, 15
Believe-Romans 10-17
Repent-1 Corinthians 7:10
Confess- Matthew 11:32-33
Baptism- Mark 16:15-16
Live faithful the rest of your days- Hebrews 10:32

“Men Are A Dying Breed”

Neal Pollard

He said it in his prayer, this young man in his thirties who did not say it as a lamentation but as a petition that Christian men would be the spiritual leaders of their families that God wants us to be. No doubt, in the background of his prayer, he thought about the agenda of feminization that has targeted the males of society for several decades. But, predominant in his thoughts was the idea that men have too often abdicated their God-given role and responsibility. Whether or not they are good wage-earners, do”manly” things, and look and dress like the classic, rugged male, have they aimed to be the protector, leader, and example in the home, church, and society that God expects?  Truly, it was a challenging, exacting phrase.

In discussing the sins of Israel, God said to Ezekiel, “I searched for a man among them who would build up the wall and stand in the gap before Me for the land, so that I would not destroy it; but I found no one” (22:30). God did a roll call of the prophets, priests, princes, and people of the land, and one by one He cites their dereliction and disobedience. It was not in their clothing style, hobbies, facial hair or hairstyle, or similar, superficial measurement. It was a matter of how they responded to God and fulfilled the responsibilities He had given them.

The world has a concept of what it thinks to be manly.  The Philistines said, “Take courage and be men, O Philistines, or you will become slaves to the Hebrews, as they have been slaves to you; therefore, be men and fight” (1 Sam. 4:9).  For them, it was a fleshly matter devoid of God.  By contrast, Paul tells the church, “Be on the alert, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong” (1 Cor. 16:13). True manliness is connected to faith, spiritual strength, and readiness. God needs a tribe of such men to stand up and be counted in this wicked generation.  He needs us to instill this spiritual leadership in our sons and other young men and new Christians who need spiritual leadership. May we accept that challenge and prevent men, as God defines it, from becoming a dying breed.

early_ship_yard

GOD HATES SHORTS!



Neal Pollard

 You may be thinking that the title is presumptuous, opinionated, and even out of line.  Let me disclaim what follows by asserting that God does not hate all shorts.  He does, however, hate the following types of shorts.

But not these. 🙂



GOD HATES SHORTCUTS.  At least, He hates humanly devised shortcuts for which He has given no authorization.  Man has devised shortcuts to salvation that cut out divine commands.  He has made shortcuts in ethics and morality to justify and rationalize behavior God condemns.  We should examine such “shortcuts” carefully to make sure they are not detours off of the narrow way.

GOD HATES SHORTCHANGES.  In Malachi 3:8-10, God condemns His people for “robbing Him” in their giving.  They did not give with appropriate gratitude and generosity.  Those who fail to put Him first (cf. Matt. 6:33) are shortchanging God of the time, talents, resources, and service He deserves.  

GOD HATES SHORTSIGHTEDNESS.  When we make decisions based on instant gratification or immediate benefits without giving thought to longterm implications, we often make a mess of our lives.  This is true of church plans, the person we choose to marry, unbiblical changes to the church and teaching to attract the unchurched, and the like.  Certainly, one can be too deliberate and methodical to the point of lethargy and apathy.  Yet, neither is it proper to leap before adequately looking.

GOD HATES SHORTCOMINGS.  God’s hatred for sin is so great that He sent Christ to the cross as payment for it.  Sin is falling short of God’s mark.  The sobering thing is that all of us come short of God’s glory as the result of our sin (Rom. 3:23).  The great news is that while God hates shortcomings, He deeply loves shortcomers.  That’s also why He sent Jesus to die for us.

God hates these shorts, but He has provided an alternative regarding all of them.  By full and trusting obedience, we avoid shortcuts.  By recognizing our debt and feeling heartfelt gratitude to God for paying it, we avoid shortchanging Him.  By growing in wisdom and Christlikeness, we avoid shortsightedness.  By walking in the light as children of God, we avoid the eternal ramifications of our shortcomings.  That’s because God loves us!