NOT BY CHANCE

"And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God..." (Romans 8:28)
When a shepherd leads his flock over a narrow ledge, with a cliff on one side and a chasm on the other, the sheep have no choice but to follow him along the only path. In the same way, the Lord sometimes surrounds us with so many obstacles that we can't turn to the right, to the left, or even around. The Israelites, after leaving Egypt, would not have ventured to cross the Red Sea if the Egyptians had not been pursuing them. The Apostle Paul and his co-workers would never have gone to Europe to preach the Gospel if the Holy Spirit had not restricted their entrance to other areas. We would not have all the valuable letters Paul wrote if he had not been imprisoned. In our personal life it is easy to recall many incidents when circumstances forced us to do something that did not appear to be the best. We must not forget, however, that these circumstances don't happen by chance, but according to the will of the all-powerful and very loving God
Copied from Herald of Truth, 1978 (underground magazine of the Evangelical Christian Baptists of the USSR, before communism was brought down in Russia)

A NEW YEAR

We come to the end of 2006, and as I finish my latest articles, I am seeing a news report that Saddam Hussein has been executed by the Iraqi government. What this will mean in our soon to be new year, only God knows. We do know this; the King of Kings and Lord of Lords is in total control of all events that shall come to pass. That gives me great comfort to know this; I hope it does for you also.

I do pray that God will grant to you a happy and prosperous new year. “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart: and lean not unto thine own understanding” Proverbs 3:5).

Enemies of the Christian That Rise Up Against Him

We know that the world, the flesh and the devil are our enemies. We may have our worst problems with the flesh, though that very flesh may lead us to say “the devil made me do it”. The flesh brings the believer these problems:

1. Indifference= spiritual coldness.
2. Ingratitude= unthankful to God.
3. Inconsistency= unstable in all our ways.
4. Inactivity= Not interested in the things of God.
5. Indecency= Immorality, sin, rebellion.
The remedy can be found in Psalm 3:3, 4

-If you believe what you like in the gospels, and reject what you don't like, it is not the gospel you believe, but yourself (Augustine of Hippo).

-A preacher finished the service one morning by saying, “Next
Sunday, I am going to preach on the subject of liars. As a preparation for
my sermon, I would like you all to read Mark 17.” On the following
Sunday, the preacher rose to begin. Looking out at the congregation he
said, “Last week I asked you all to read Mark 17. If you have read the
chapter, please raise your hand.” Nearly every hand in the congregation
went up. Smiling, the preacher said, “You are the very people I want to
talk to. Mark has only 16 chapters”.
Compiled by Charles Woodruff

YOUR SWORD FIRST by Charles Woodruff

A French officer, whose ship had been captured by British Admiral Nelson, was brought on board the latter's flagship. He walked up to the great Admiral and offered him his hand. "No," said Nelson: "Your sword first, if you please."

There are people today who would take Christ's hand. They tell the world they have made a "decision for Christ." They want to identify with Him, at least enough to hopefully receive the benefits of heaven. But, Christ says to them: ''Repent ye" (Mark 1:15 & Luke 13:3). He is saying in essence "Your sword first; you must lay down your weapons of rebellion." You cannot become His friend until He is acknowledged as your Lord (see Romans 10:9; 1 Corinthians 12:3; Colossians 2:6).

You see, repentance is just this — a surrender. And when you surrender you do not keep your weapons. The war is over! You throw yourself at the mercy of your former enemy. The one you opposed and fought has you at His mercy. It is up to Him whether to save you or destroy you (James 4:12). Your will must bow to His or it is not a surrender. In other words, you must acknowledge Christ's Lordship in true conversion.

Of course, in evangelical repentance your surrender includes the idea of agreeing with a holy God that you are a hell-deserving sinner. True repentance does not argue with scripture, which declares that "All have sinned and come short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23). "There is none righteous no, not one" (Rom. 3:10). "And all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags" (Isa. 64:6).

True repentance is a gift given by God's grace as a direct result of His goodness (Rom. 2:4). In 2 Corinthians 7:10 we note that, "For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation," and that this salvation is "not to be repented of." Many there are who have supposedly trusted Christ and yet have turned right around and picked back up their sword. With such the war is not over! “True repentance is inward, not merely external or superficial.” (Sinclair Ferguson)

I believe one of the biggest reasons why present day churches are full of rebels and "nominal Christians" is because repentance is a very missing note in most pulpits. People are not being taught that they are found guilty of treason, by the verdict of God's holy law, against the Lord of glory, and the law pronounces a terrible curse for this (Galatians 3:10; James 2:10). Our only escape is the mercy of God (Rom. 9:15-16).

“Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord” (Acts 3:19).

Have you laid down your sword?

"When you see a poor blind man here, you do not loathe him, nor hate him, but you pity him. Oh! But soul-blindness makes you abominable in the sight of God." (Thomas Brooks)

"The best-laid plans of mice and men often go awry."

That is the English rendering of words by Robert Burns (1759-1796), regarded as Scotland's national poet. His original words used the Scots dialect. Burns is considered by many to be a great influence on liberalism and socialism; hence we will not follow him there.

The phrase "Of Mice and Men" was borrowed by American writer John Steinbeck (1902-1968), for the title of his novel of the same name, published in 1937.

So, I borrowed the phrase from these two men to relate to you that my plan to go to Puerto Rico last week fell through. This was to be my fourth trip there and I greatly anticipated it, but, for now, it is postponed. I am needing some extensive dental work, but I thought I could have that done when I returned, yet intense pain changed my mind. I am getting the dental work done now, then, God willing, I will go to PR in late winter or early spring.

Yes, I am disappointed, but yield to the providence of God. One with more authority than Burns or Steinbeck--the Almighty Himself-- speaking through His servant James said: "Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that" (James 4:14, 15). So, Deo Volante (Latin; God willing). I'll yield and gratefully live by that. My dear friends in the churches there were gracious and understanding, thank God.

DAVID

David was a type of Christ in many ways including:
David was a prophet as well as a king; so was our Lord.
David was anointed about the 30th year of his life; so Christ, the son of David, was baptized and anointed at 30.
David in his wars had many poor men follow him such as were in debt; so Jesus Christ had many poor men who followed Him, and became His disciples, who were heavy laden under the burden of sin, called a debt.
Adapted from Preaching From Types and Metaphors by Benjamin Keach, Kregel Publications, Grand Rapids, MI, 1972 A.D. edition. Benjamin Keach was a Baptist Preacher in London who lived from 1640- 1704.This work was originally called Tropologia.

A FEW THINGS I AM THANKFUL FOR by Charles Woodruff

-My dear wife of almost 45 years, and how she has been faithful and true.
-My four children, three of which survive. All have declared faith in Christ.
-My eleven grandchildren, soon to be twelve. They are all precious to me.
-Our church where Christ is preached, and the brothers and sisters there.
-The renewed ministry God has given me in writing and pulpit.
-Many brothers and sisters in various places who pray for me.
-A land that still has much freedom, though it is being undermined.
-I am thankful for generally good health for my wife and myself.
-The graciousness and mercy of God every day that I live.

These are just a few of the many things for which I thank God. As you enjoy this Thanksgiving, hopefully with your family, take time to reflect on the mercies of God in your own life, as well as a prayer for our nation and it’s future, and the cause of God and truth through Jesus Christ our Lord..

“In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you” (First Thessalonians 5:18).

“ By Him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to His name” (Hebrews 13:15).

“Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God” (Philippians 4:6).

PURITAN QUOTES

“None have engaged against the saints but have been ruined by the God of saints”- Thomas Brooks (1608-1680).

“We fear men so much, because we fear God so little. When man’s terror scares you, turn your thoughts to the wrath of God”- William Gurnall (1617-1679).

“By the fear of the Lord, men depart from evil: by the fear of man, they run themselves into evil”- John Flavel (1630-1691).

There are three kinds of lies: a lie told, a lie taught, a lie acted out”-

Joseph Caryl (1602-1673).

The Paradox of faith:

“A man cannot have faith without asking; neither can he ask it without faith”

Edward Marbury (about 1590-1658).

All from “A Puritan Golden Treasury”, edited by I.D.E. Thomas; Moody Press,

Chicago, 1975; Banner of Truth edition published 1977.

ASK FOR THE OLD PATHS by Charles Woodruff

"Thus saith the Lord, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old

paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for

your souls. But they said. We will not walk therein" (Jeremiah 6:16).

Anyone who has ever gone hiking will immediately relate to the teaching

found in Jeremiah 6:16. An old path, a trail which has been well worn by

other hikers before, is a good way. It beats having to blaze an entirely new

trail through the thick woods and underbrush. There is no rest in this new

trail blazing, but constant work. But many have proven the old paths and

arrived to rest safely. Spiritually speaking, God has said in Jeremiah that

these Old Paths would bring rest for your souls and yet He says there are

those that say, "We will not walk therein" (v. 16).

Today the old paths are not in vogue. Modern theologians, rightly called

Modernists, are departing from the old paths and blazing new trails which

God did not ordain, and they are asking young Christians to follow them.

Yet they have nothing to offer. Instead of an inspired, infallible Word of

God, they offer a mutilated "higher criticism" that dares to judge God's

Word instead of submitting to its authority.

They present Christ as a mere man, not the God-man, not the virgin-born

Redeemer who came to save His people from their sins. If they preach an

atonement at all, they do not preach a definite one, but show us a Christ

who went to the cross puzzled over whether He had done right or even if

anyone would believe He was the Saviour.They show us men with a “spark

of goodness" that needs to be kindled instead of a depraved being who in

his father Adam fell completely and helplessly into sin. This spark is called

"freewill" and is given much more standing than God’s free and sovereign

grace. But free grace is an old path.

These cutters of new paths show us a new morality which is really a

dressed up old immorality. This humanism called the new morality goes

to various extremes. Some have expected the Christian churches to

receive unrepentant homosexuals, whom they call gays (the Word of God says Sodomites! (Deut. 23:17). They call abortion "freedom of choice." The Bible says: murder (Exodus 1:16 & Matthew 2:16). They
call living together without marriage "a relationship"; the Bible calls it fornication (1 Cor. 7:2 & 5:1). Just as you can call a garbage man a
“sanitary engineer" and a coal miner an “energy cultivator", you still
can't cover up the fact that both have dirty jobs!

The fact is, according to the Bible, these "new pathfinders" don't have anything to teach or anywhere to lead. When it is all over and we each
give account to God (Rom. 14:12), those who would not submit to God's
Word will be cast into the lake of fire (the hellfire they don't believe in either!).The reason for the publication of this newsletter is because of
our firm belief that even in this new century, in this time of sexual
deviance, where sin is rampant as never before,even now, and especially in this time, we need the old paths.

Modern tools of evangelism such as radio, television, and the internet, are good, if used in a God-glorifying manner. There is ONE LORD, ONE
FAITH, ONE BAPTISM, and it is these old paths in which we seek to walk and lead others.

DIARY OF A BIBLE

January
A busy time for me. Most of the family decided to read me thru this year.
They have kept me busy for the past two weeks. Now they have forgotten.

February
Clean-up time. I was dusted yesterday and put in my place. My owner did use me a
few minutes last week. He had been in an argument and was looking up some references.

March
I had a busy day the first of the month. My owner was appointed leader of something and
used me. I got to go to church for the first time this year, Easter Sunday.

April
Grandpa visited us. He kept me on his lap reading First Corinthians for an hour
(Chapter 13). He seems to think more of me than he did when he was younger.

May
I have a few green stains on my pages. Had some early spring flowers pressed in me.

June
I look like a scrap book. They stuffed me full of newspaper clippings. One of the girls
got married.

July
They put me in a suitcase today. I guess we are off on a vacation. I wish I could stay at
home because I will have to stay in this thing for a month.

August
Still in the suitcase!

September
Back home again and in my old place. Have a lot of company; two "People" magazines and
four comic books are on top of me. My! I wish I could be read as much as they are.

October
They used me a little today. One of them is very sick. Right now I am all shined up and in
the center of the table. I think the preacher is coming.

November.
Back to my old place. I was looked through for some old papers today. One of the
children picked me up and asked, "Is this a scrap book?"

December
They're getting ready for Christmas, so I'll soon be covered up with packages and wrapping
paper. ~ Author unknown.

QUARRELS AMONG CHRISTIANS

by J.C. PHILPOT- 1802-1869

It is NOT grace which genders strife, but corruption.If,therefore, my brother’s corruption be raised against me, shall I oppose my corruption to his, and so enter into wrath; or shall I not rather beg of God that His grace in me may invite the grace that is in my brother, and so we may settle the whole in peace? If we are real Christians we must both desire only what is just and right, or we do not live like Christians; and if we both agree in desiring this as the end, how is it we differ violently about the means?

If either hath done or desired to wrong the other, the one who is more under the conduct of grace should kindly and

affectionately represent it; and if he cannot be heard, should

leave the matter to God, without raising the unholy and unhappy tumult of heat and resentment in his own mind. He that can bear and forebear most is certainly most the Christian. It is misery

and deadness to a real believer to walk and war after the base fury and discord of the flesh.

When he deserves well, and patiently suffers evil, then he is like to his Master and right in himself. The apostle directs for believers, not the vengeance of law, but Christian arbitration. Law is the last refuge, and can only be lawful when right is not to be had by better means.

If Christians who have a matter of difference would graciously agree to meet with each other in prayer, and to pray together kindly for each other before the throne of grace, surely if they meant the attainment of that right and truth which they prayed for, they might soon find it out, and settle it accordingly.

But it is the flesh which comes in and mars all. One cannot stoop; and the other will not. They are not so wise as Luther’s two goats that met on a narrow plank over a deep water. They could not go back, and they dared not to fight. At length one of them laid down, while the other went over him; And so peace and safety attended both. Why should not believers try this method?

But alas! While grace remains idle or neuter, the world jeers and triumphs; The devil is busy and excites; good men mourn and lament; the weak are stumbled and turned aside; and a long train of iniquities and jealousies fill the breast of those who humbly hope to dwell with God and each other throughout eternity. These things ought not so to be!

If my brother be in the wrong, how shall I show myself in the right? By wounding him more than he hath wounded himself? By doing wrong likewise, and rendering evil for evil? No; let me pray that God will open his eyes, and not shut my heart; that He would give him more grace, and me more patience to meet what is not gracious in him; at the utmost, that I may not be a partaker with him of anger, or those sins which follow upon it.

Am I in the wrong? What then shall I do? Shall I persist in it,

and make myself more in the wrong? This would not be gracious; this would be bringing misery by heaps upon myself. Rather let me go first to God, and then to my brother, acknowledging my fault, or my error, to both. There is no shame in confessing our sins to God, nor any meanness in owning them to men. It is the mark of a noble and generous spirit in common life; and it is

the wisdom, as well as the duty and privilege, of a much better life in the Christian.

O thou love of the brethren, whither art thou fled?

We profess to believe in the communion of the saints; but where are the saints that have this communion? We talk of the unity of God’s church with respect to its members; but where are those members who live in this unity? O shame on us that we differ at all, that we differ on trifles, that we love to differ, that we urge and promote differences, and that the healing spirit is not more to be found amongst us!

Lord, if thou should differ with us at any time, as we are ready at all times to differ with others, o how shall we stand before thee, or what could we answer for ourselves?

Give, o give more of thy grace, that we may be humble in our hearts, just in our desires, mild to others, and deeply submissive to thee!

THE TRUTH by Charles Woodruff

- All truth is God’s truth. Jesus said “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father but by me” (John 14:6).

- Does truth remain the same, or does truth change? “I am the LORD, I change not” (Malachi 3:6). “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, today, and forever” (Hebrews 13:8). “I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, which was, and which is to come, the Almighty” (Revelation 1:8). “Of His own will begat He us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures” (James 1:18).

-“Never was there a reformation brought about in the church, but by preaching the doctrine of an imputed righteousness.” George Whitfield, sermon on “The LORD Our Righteousness”, from Select Sermons, Banner of Truth, Edinburgh, 1985 reprint.

-Jesus said of the woman who washed His feet with her tears, “She hath done what she could” (Mark 14:8). In His grace alone, let us do what we can, until He comes. You can pray for me, and I for you. You can pray for America, and other lands as well. Pray for those in your local church, and the church worldwide. Pray for his elect to be gathered in. You CAN pray if you are His.

His last words to the church are “Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come Lord Jesus” (Revelation 22:20).

Stand By Me- Charles A. Tindley- 1905

STAND BY ME
When the storms of life are raging, stand by me When the storms of life are raging, stand by me When the world is tossing me, like a ship upon the sea Thou who rulest wind and water, stand by me
In the midst of tribulation, stand by me
In the midst of tribulation, stand by me
When the hosts of hell assail, and my strength begins to fail
Thou who never lost a battle, stand by me
In the midst of faults and failures, stand by me In the midst of faults and failures, stand by me When I do the best I can, and my friends misunderstand Thou who knowest all about me, stand by me
When I'm growing old and feeble, stand by me
When I'm growing old and feeble, stand by me
When my life becomes a burden, and I'm nearing chilly Jordan
Oh thou Lily of the Valley, stand by me

preaching the gospel

Well, I am back. I still don't know what I am doing. But I learn fast for an old duck. The bottom picture is a photo of me outside a church in north Florida about 30 years ago when I was a young preacher.

Just above that picture is me in a pulpit of a church in Huntington,WV about 25 years ago. I did a lot of traveling in those days. all over the USA and many countries of the world, preaching and encouraging, and sharing the mission work done in the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe. I left doing this about 1990 and worked full time in the transportation industry while preaching some at my home church in Georgia and others.

In January 2005 I retired from my secular employment, and now, God has given me in a writing ministry, of which samples will appear here, D.V.. Also,He has graciously opened some doors recently for me again to be in a traveling pulpit ministry from time to time. Like Willie Nelson; "On the Road Again", at least sometimes.

As you can see by the recent picture of me and my wonderful wife of 44 years at the top far left, I am older now. My desire is to serve the Lord diligently the remainder of my days, and be an encouragement to my four children, and eleven grandchildren they they might "follow on to know the LORD".

Soon, I will have this formatting down, and will endeavor to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and other contemporary things of related interest. Visit my blog again soon, please. Charles Woodruff

cyberword for today

He (Christ) came unto His own, and His own received Him not. But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them who believe on His name: which were born, not of blood, nor the will of the flesh, nor the will of man, but of God.