Christianity Oasis Forum

[cimi]

JUNE 16
Tuesday


MY TWO CENTS

READ:
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Do not withhold good
from those to whom it
is due, when it is in the
power of your hand to
do so.
__Proverbs 3:27
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Recently, our family had to change Internet cable services. Our former provider promised to send us a postage-paid box to mail their equipment back to them. We waited. No box came. I phoned. The promised box still did not arrive, but we did get a bill for the equipment!

Wanting to get this resolved, I decided to return it at my own expense. I sent several faxes asking if they received it--but no reply. Then I got a refund check of $.02 for the returned equipment! An experience like that can be frustrating. A simple transaction was complicated by poor communication.

Sadly, some people in our churches may encounter an impersonal response to their needs. Whether seeking marital counseling, childcare, guidance for a troubled teen, or a loving community, they come away feeling uncared for.

The first-century church was not perfect, but it faithfully helped others. The church at Jerusalem "divided [their goods] among all, as anyone had need" (Acts 2:45).

Good communication is the starting point for learning others' needs. This enables us to provide personal and practical help to people when they need it. Resources, both material and spiritual, can then be directed to each person as the object of God's personal love. __Dennis Fisher
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````````````````````All who serve within the church```````````````
````````````````````Should show by word and deed```````````````
`````````````````````````A sensitivity to those```````````````````
````````````````Who have a special need. __D. De Haan```````````
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God cares for you--care for others.

**************Today's Bible Reading __ Acts 2:40-47**************

40 And with many other
words he testified and
exhorted them, saying "Be
saved from this perverse
generation." 41 Then those
who gladly received his
word were baptized; and
that day about three
thousand souls wee added
to them. 42 And they
continued steadfastly in the
apostles' doctrine and
fellowship, in the breaking
of bread, and in prayers.

43 Then fear came upon
every soul, and many
wonders and signs were
done through the apostles.

44 Now all who believed
were together, and had all
things in common, 45 and
sold their possessions and
goods, and divided them
among all, as anyone had
need.

46 So continuing daily with
one accord in the temple,
and breaking bread from
house to house, they ate
their food with gladness
and simplicity of heart,
47 praising God and having
favor with all the people.
And the Lord added to the
church daily those who
were being saved.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>INSIGHT<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

The vital fellowship in the Jerusalem church spilled over into fruitful
evangelism (v.46). Worship, sharing, and outreach created an
environment where "the Lord added to the church daily those who
were being saved" (v.47). __Dennis Fisher