A P P L E S F G L Ds3.amazonaws.com/churchplantmedia-cms/triad_baptist_church/... · at our church. Hard ... LOVE OUR SAVIOUR’S FAMILY AND FRIENDS S OUR CHURCH CLOTHING ... New

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VOLUME 20, NO. 11, NOVEMBER 2016

A P P L E S F G L D

“A word fitly

spoken is like

apples of gold in

pictures of

silver” (Proverbs

25:11).

Published monthly for all those who request

a printed copy by mail or one sent by e-mail attachment,

as well as hard copies which are available at our church. Hard

copies and the emailed version go to readers in 18 states

and 5 foreign countries.

If you want this

newsletter emailed to you each month, let me know. My email

address is at the bottom left of this

page.

OUR

SAVIOUR’S

LOVE

FAMILY

AND

FRIENDS

S

OUR

CHURCH

CLOTHING

OUR

PASTOR

FOOD

THANK YOU, LORD

BIBLE QUESTIONS

TRUSTWORTHY SOURCES

PASTOR’S PULPIT

GOLDEN APPLES

SENIORS

ARE YOU FEARFUL?

HIDDEN TREASURES

SERVICE DOGS

WHY BOTHER?

PERSECUTION

[email protected]

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THANK YOU LORD! THIS IS THE MONTH OF THANKSGIVING, BUT SHOULDN’T WE HAVE THE SPIRIT OF THANKFULNESS EVERY DAY?

If you have food in the refrigerator, clothes on your back, a roof overhead, and a place to sleep, you are richer than

75% of this world.

If you have money in the bank, in your purse, and spare

change in a dish someplace, you are among the top 8% of

the world's wealthy.

If you woke up this morning with more health than illness,

you are more blessed than the million who will not

survive this week.

If you have never experienced the danger of battle, the loneliness of imprisonment, the agony of torture, or the

pangs of starvation you are ahead of 500 million people in the world.

If you can attend a church service without fear of harassment, arrest, torture, or death, you are more blessed

than three billion people in the world.

If you hold up your head with a smile on your face and are truly thankful, you are blessed because many can,

but most do not.

If you can read your Bible and what is written there, you are

more blessed than over two billion people in the

world who cannot read at all.

If you can hold someone's hand, hug them or even touch

them on the shoulder, you are blessed because you can

offer a caring touch.

If you can say for certain, on the basis of God’s Word, that you are saved and on your way to Heaven, you are in the

Bubba and Tiny were taking an important exam. They dared not fail. The exam was "fill in the blank" and the last

question read, "Old MacDonald had a___________."

Bubba was stumped -- he had no idea what to answer, but he knew he needed to get this one right to be sure he

passed. Making sure the teacher wasn't watching, he tapped Tiny on the shoulder.

"Tiny, what's the answer to the last question?"

Tiny laughed, then looked around to make sure the teacher hadn't noticed. He turned to

Bubba and said, "Bubba, you're so stupid. Everyone knows that Old MacDonald had a

FARM."

"Oh yeah," said Bubba, "I remember now." He picked up his No. 2 pencil and started to

write the answer in the blank.

Then he stopped. Tapping Tiny on the shoulder again, he whispered, "Tiny, how do

you spell farm?"

"You are really dumb, Bubba. That's so easy," hissed Tiny, "farm is spelled 'E-I-E-I-O'."

Several years later the questions got harder. Bubba and Tiny sat in their U.S. Government Class and the teacher

asked Bubba if he knew what the Roe vs. Wade decision was. He sat there for quite a while pondering this very

profound question, looked at Tiny, and then decided he did indeed know the answer. He said, "I think that is the

decision George Washington had to make prior to crossing the Delaware!"

minority. (Matthew 7:13,14)

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“BIBLE” QUESTIONS

Q. What kind of man was Boaz before he married? A. Ruthless. Q. What do they call pastors in Germany? A. German Shepherds. Q. Who was the greatest financier in the Bible? A. Noah. He was floating his stock while everyone else was in liquidation. Q. Who was the greatest female financier in the Bible? A. Pharaoh's daughter. She went down to the bank of the Nile and drew out a little prophet. Q. What kind of motor vehicles are in the Bible? A. Jehovah drove Adam and Eve out of the Garden in a Fury. David's Triumph was heard throughout the land. Honda, because the apostles were all in one Accord.

Q. What excuse did Adam give to his children as to why he no longer lived in Eden? A. Your mother ate us out of house and home. Q. Which servant of God was the most flagrant lawbreaker in the Bible? A. Moses. He broke all 10 commandments at once. Q. Which area of Palestine was especially wealthy? A. The area around Jordan. The banks were always overflowing. Q. Who is the greatest baby sitter mentioned in the Bible? A. David. He rocked Goliath to a very deep sleep. Q. Which Bible character had no parents? A. Joshua, son of Nun.

Last September I received a request for a repeat of an article we printed a year ago in Sept. 2015. It was about the book, “Jesus

Calling” by Sarah Young. Much of this book has been proven to be false by biblical standards. I sent the requested article plus

another longer article published by “Understanding the Times”. This reminded me that THERE ARE SOURCES WE CAN TRUST, and

those we cannot.

Here are some trustworthy website sources (listed alphabetically). I am on the mailing list of those underlined in bold and receive

their articles regularly:

Brannon Howse, Worldview Weekend

Christian Ministries International

Dr. David Jeremiah

In Touch with Charles Stanley

[email protected]

Kjos Ministries

Lighthouse Trails

Love Worth Finding, with Adrian Rogers

Paul Proctor in NewsWithViews

Reasoning from the Scriptures

Reasons for Hope* Jesus

The Berean Call

Understanding the Times with Jan Markell

New version of an old poem dating back to 1425

30 days hath September, April, June, and no wonder;

All the rest have peanut butter ‘cepting Grandmother and

she rides a bicycle.

“A Bible that’s falling apart usually belongs to someone who isn’t.” ― Charles Haddon Spurgeon

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WE BEGIN A NEW SERIES OF GOLDEN APPLES. THESE QUOTATIONS WILL COME FROM A LOVELY LITTLE BOOK CALLED “APPLES OF GOLD” GIVEN TO ME BY ANNE DAVIS. IT HAS A BEAUTIFUL SOFT GOLD COVER AND IS COMPILED BY JO PETTY. SHE STATES THAT HER COLLECTION COMES FROM MANY UNKNOWN SOURCES. Each chapter features one of the nine Gifts of the Spirit as found in Galatians 5:22 and 23. Our first is LOVE.

“We may give without loving, but we cannot love without giving.” “Work is love made visible.”

“Do not judge your friend until you stand in his place.” “Faults are thick when love is thin.”

“To handle yourself, use your head; To handle others, use your heart.” “To understand is to pardon.”

“A foreigner is a friend you haven’t met yet.” “A friend is a present you give yourself.”

“A friend is someone with whom you can be yourself.” “The coin of God’s realm is love.”

GEMS FROM PASTOR’S PULPIT

Thanksgiving messages

November 2004, 2010, and 2011

Ephesians 5:18-20

Grumbly Hateful or Humbly Grateful

We cannot worship God properly unless we are filled

with (controlled by) the Spirit of God. This is not what

some call “the second blessing”.

Satan’s counterfeit is to be drunk with alcohol.

Instead we are to keep drinking in the Word of God.

He changes us. What is the evidence?

1. When our voice and heart become a

combined instrument of praise. We are to sing

psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs (Col. 3:16).

We don’t need to work up our emotions.

2. When our praise is steadfast in time and

circumstances. The songwriter wrote “It is

well with my soul” even after he lost his four

daughters. Satan will always focus on

ingratitude; look what God has done to you

that’s bad and what God took away.

3. We have some ungrateful children and teens

even though they enjoy free transportation,

food and shelter.

4. God wants us to find a way to give thanks no

matter what.

5. John Wesley was robbed and said “Thank you,

God that I was not the robber”. He didn’t get

much and took my money and not my life.

6. Ingratitude is the mark of Satan.

Joseph said “You meant it for evil, but God meant it for good”.

Paul didn’t blame Silas for getting them in jail. Instead, they

sang.

Job said “Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him”.

Corrie ten Boom thanked God for fleas when she was in prison.

The Power of the Praise Principle

Leprosy is contagious; it’s like sin. We get more excited about

our body being healed than our sin being cleansed. Instead, we

should celebrate Jesus. In everything give thanks. This is God’s

will for us. We don’t give thanks FOR everything, but IN

everything. This means in the middle of a trial, suffering, and

pain.

The spirit of gratitude will change our life in four ways:

1. It will touch the heart of Jesus. This is all He wants or

needs. What do we give someone who has everything?

Thanks.

2. It will change us dramatically. It stirs up the gift of God

in us.

3. It will deliver us from evil. Satan hates gratitude. We

may not understand, but it works.

4. It affects people around us. When Paul and Silas sang

in prison the jailer said, “you have what I want”.

a. It will influence our children because of our

example.

b. It will influence people around us; it’s contagious.

c. It will influence our preacher. (People are always

telling our pastor about his members.)

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HOWEVER, THIS IS 2016 AND THE WORLD IS VASTLY DIFFERENT. HOW SHOULD A CHRISTIAN RESPOND TO CURRENT EVENTS?

“For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind” (II Tim. 1:7).

God gives peace, not fear. Refuse Satan’s burden of fear.

“Be careful (anxious) for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are TRUE, HONEST, JUST, PURE, OF GOOD REPORT, IF ANY VIRTUE, IF ANY PRAISE… think on these things” (Phil. 4:6-8).

Read Psalm 91 daily. Memorize it. Keep Christian radio on during the day.

Play uplifting Christian music on tapes or CDs when you’re home, or in your car. Tell it to Jesus – spend more time in prayer.

Pray Psalms of Praise: 8, 19, 24, 29, 33, 47, 50, 65, 66, 76, 77, 93, 95, 96, 97, 99, 104, 111, 113, 114, 115, 134, 139, 147, 148, 150

Moderate or greatly lessen your TV news watching.

Be wary of the major news media. Check out Christian radio stations, conservative talk shows, & trustworthy websites (see p.3).

Involve yourself with the many joyous, inspiring, encouraging activities at church including…..

Sunday school classes, Wednesday night prayer meetings, Bible studies & other small groups and areas of ministry and teaching.

Pray Psalms of Thanksgiving for God’s goodness toward us: 23, 34, 36, 46, 91, 100, 103, 107, 117, 121, 145, 146

Speaking of GOLD in the previous article, I think of seniors being in their golden years.

THOSE WERE THE DAYS! DO YOU REMEMBER WHEN....? [ It took five minutes for the TV to warm up? Nearly everyone's Mom was at home when the kids got home from school? When a quarter was a decent allowance? You'd reach into a muddy gutter for a penny? All your male teachers wore neckties and female teachers had their hair done every day and wore high heels? You got your windshield cleaned, oil checked, and gas pumped, without asking, all for free, every time? And you didn't pay for air? And, you got trading stamps to boot? Laundry detergent had free glasses, dishes or towels hidden inside the box? It was considered a great privilege to be taken out to dinner at a real restaurant with your parents? A ‘57 Chevy was everyone's dream car? No one ever asked where the car keys were because they were always in the car, in the ignition, and the doors were never locked? Stuff from the store came without safety caps and hermetic seals because no one had yet tried to poison a perfect stranger? Baseball cards in the spokes transformed any bike into a motorcycle? Taking drugs meant orange-flavored chewable aspirin? Water balloons were the ultimate weapon? And with all our progress, don't you just wish, just once, you could slip back in time and savor the slower pace?

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HIDDEN TREASURES

LAST MONTH: Our country’s election. In what Bible book, chapter, and verse do we read about the following principles? It does not matter whether a Christian considers his nation's government to be unlawful. What matters is whether God permits it. If He ordains it, this One, who is aware of even sparrows falling, has allowed it or has directly brought it to pass because of the purpose He is working out. That is all that matters. God is ruling His creation, and this is what we are here to learn and trust. Jesus lived His entire life under an unlawful civil government and was subject to it.

ROMANS 13:1 (and following verses)

Paul wrote the book of Romans when the infamous Nero was Emperor. Those were dark days for Christians with much persecution. Remember the Holocaust under Hitler and now Isis is persecuting Christians. However, Christians are not obligated to obey if the government orders them to sin or compromise their loyalty to Jesus Christ. We must be prepared to pay the penalty without rebelling against the government. However, persecution is here and will escalate. We need to pray and prepare for darker days asking God for courage, discernment, and wisdom. NEXT MONTH: War

1. What man was not allowed to build the house of God because he had been a “man of war”? 2. What Scripture lists the articles in the spiritual armor of the Christian? 3. When will all nations be gathered together against Jerusalem to battle? 4. Where will the greatest war of all human history be fought? 5. Who will lead in the war to end all wars?

S E R V I C E D O G S

I have a new friend who is very dear. Her name is Randi Tolman. She loves the Lord sincerely and comes faithfully to every service

she can at Triad and we sit together along with her very special

companion, Shamus, a service dog who has been thoroughly

trained. In fact, we usually sit in the 2nd or 3rd row from the front

with Shamus at our feet. She’s had him ever since he was a puppy.

He’s a beautiful full-grown Golden Retriever who wears a red

service vest. Because Shamus is so sweet, we are tempted to pet and talk to him. However,

his number one responsibility is to be totally obedient to Randi and any distraction becomes

a serious negative in his behavior and focus. For those readers who do not live near our church, and don’t see Shamus every week,

but live in other cities and states, no doubt you have seen service dogs just about everywhere. Some vests will say “do not pet

me”. Whether they are designated or not, the rule is the same.

DO NOT PET AND DO NOT TALK TO THESE BEAUTIFUL SERVICE DOGS.

I took my family to visit the AIR & SPACE

museum...

But there was nothing there!

When the waitress in a New York City restaurant brought him the soup of the day, the Englishman was a bit dismayed.

"Good heavens," he said, "what is this?" "It's bean soup," she replied. "I don't care what it's been," he replied. "I want to know what it is now?"

“God’s richest blessings often require not only sacrifice, suffering and hard conflict,

but long delay and patient waiting. But the blessing grows with the delay. The interest

gathers with the extended time, and God’s ratio is always compound interest.” A. B. Simpson

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WHY BOTHER?

For 30 years a foreman worked for a contractor who treated him honestly, but never paid him what he wanted. He griped and complained.

“He always wants my best work, but he’s never satisfied.” One day the owner told the foreman “I’m going to retire next year and I want you to

build one more house just for me. Give it your best effort. When it’s done I’m retiring. The foreman thought “If this is his last house, why

bother putting in my best effort. He’s never done his best for me”. So the foreman built the house, but he cut

corners everywhere he could. The end result was shabby, and not his best effort. The owner called him into

his office. “Here,” he said, “I wanted this to be your best work as a reward for many years of service.” He

handed the foreman the keys to the house. “It’s yours!”

The foreman had to live with the reality that the poorly built house was his. Had he known, he would have

done a better job. The Bible tells us that God asks of us our best. “And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily as to

the Lord, and not unto men” (Colossians 3:23). What is the connection between our effort and His will? God’s desire is for us to become all we

were created to be. What we are is God’s gift to us, and what we become is our gift to Him. God gave us talents and abilities, and doing our

best is required to realize our potential.

WE WILL SOMEDAY HAVE TO LIVE IN THE HOUSE WE BUILT. (Harold J. Sala, “Today Counts”)

A PRAYER REMINDER WHEN PRAYING FOR OUR CHILDREN: Remind them of the eternal rewards God has promised. Let

this perspective motivate them to lay up treasure in Heaven. May they seek first God’s kingdom and righteousness by

living with integrity and investing in the lives of others. (Source: Navpress.com)

“The NRA believes America's laws were made to be obeyed and that our Constitutional liberties are just as important today as

200 years ago. And by the way, the Constitution does not say Government shall decree the right to keep and bear arms. The

Constitution says 'The right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.’” Ronald Reagan

“Worry is like a rocking chair; no matter how much you rock, you get nowhere.”

"Hem your day with prayer and it will be less apt to ravel at the edges."

“You can't change the past, but you can ruin the present by worrying over the future.”

“Peace is not the absence of trouble - peace is the presence of God.”

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ONE MORE WORD ABOUT PERSECUTION.

Satan does not and will not persecute any false religions or cults or organizations that have twisted Scripture to the extent that they

are not teaching pure biblical truth. He is ONLY against the truth. Therefore, we can conclude that, since it is ONLY biblical

Christianity that is being persecuted, then Christianity alone is truth and there is none else.

We are on the side of truth. We are on God's side. God is on our side.

It is also noteworthy that for centuries Israel has been persecuted because she is God’s chosen people, and it was from her that

Jesus of Nazareth came. Biblical prophecy tells us they will be persecuted until the end of time. The nation of Israel is incredible

proof that the God of creation, the God of Israel, the God of redemption is the one true God. And all who defend and stand with

Israel will be hated and persecuted as well. We can only rejoice in the truth. The events of this world are not cause for despair or

defeat, but those for which we should be prepared by having: a thorough knowledge of the truth, a close walk with the Lord,

spiritual backbones that are strong, minds, souls, and hearts that are fearless.

Jesus told us “Fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul; but rather fear Him which is able to destroy both

soul and body in hell” (Matt. 10:28). He knows the end of the story, and we do too!

(Recipes on page 8.)

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THANKSGIVING TREATS

SWEET POTATO CASSEROLE

3 cups sweet potatoes (1 large can) 1 cup sugar ½ cup butter 2 eggs beaten 1/3 cup milk 1 tsp vanilla Whip ingredients listed above in a mixer or blender until smooth. Spread in a greased baking pan.

Top with a mixture of:

1 cup brown sugar ½ cup flour 1/3 cup butter, chopped or melted 1 cup chopped nuts or crunchy cereal Bake at 350 uncovered for 25 mins.

CRANBERRIED CARROTS GREEN BEANS AND SAUSAGE

2 – 3 pkgs. sliced frozen carrots, cooked Melt and mix: 1 – 2 sticks butter (2 sticks for 3 pkgs. carrots) ½ - 1 cup jellied cranberry sauce (1 cup for 3 pkgs. carrots) Pour over cooked carrots and mix.

Place 1 or 2 tall cans of green beans (with or without potatoes) in crockpot with juice (Del Monte Blue Lake cut green beans or house brand). Cut Hillshire Farm Beef Smoked Sausage into chunks. Add sausage to green beans and cook several hours in crockpot.

Marjorie R. Morrison (Mrs. C. E.) 703 Oakhurst Kernersville, NC 27284

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