Treasure Digest

• Living Between the Lines
• Good Bible Study Resources Available Online
• What Is Leaven?
• The Prayer of Hannah: a Fine Example Prayer
• Turning the Hearts... It Takes Two, Part 2
• Be Ready to Give an Answer: Why Do You Believe in the "Laying on of Hands"?
• Share Your Word Treasures!

Living Between the Lines

Recently I drove on an old familiar highway that had just been resurfaced and widened, but had not yet been striped and marked for direction. The drive across the lanes was smooth and easy, almost like riding on air.

It was fun at first, but very quickly that feeling turned to fear. Traffic was coming toward me and suddenly I realized I didn't know where the center turn lanes began or ended. Within a moment I became very confused and disoriented with this massive, unmarked black expanse that lay ahead of me. Familiarity had quickly changed to uncertainty, and without the guidelines, I lost my bearings.

In the midst of all this confusion, I couldn't help but see the parallel with our Christian lives today. So often we hear people exclaim, "No one is going to tell me what to do!" Few are willing to submit to rules and guidelines, without which there is chaos and confusion. The Bible tells us in 1 Corinthians 14:33 that God is not the author of confusion, but of order and peace.

When we say we don't want to be told how to live, we are rejecting what God set in motion as a way for mankind to live. Everything in life is governed by a law of some sort. When we throw a ball in the air, it comes back down because it is governed by God's law of gravity.

When we reject authority over us, we are putting ourselves on a very dangerous spiritual highway. We are opening ourselves up to the wavelengths of our adversary, the devil. I am not suggesting that we not question things, because in 1 Thessalonians 5:21 we are told to prove all things. However, to prove all things does not mean to reject authority. How can God work with us if we are not willing to submit to the guidelines that He has set in motion for us?

Just as our highways are governed by laws for our physical safety and well-being, so are we to be governed by the laws of God for our spiritual safety and well-being. If we follow the physical guidelines, we have a better chance of living a longer life on this earth.

How much greater is our reward if we obey the laws that govern the journey on our spiritual highway?

— Sandy Letellier
Covington, Louisiana, congregation

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Good Bible Study Resources Available Online

It is quite true that there is a special atmosphere to sitting down with 10 books at the dining table and dwelling on the Scriptures, and certainly the printed study aids you already have on your shelves are useful when power outages occur. But we can be even more effective servants of our Almighty God if we also make use of the technology at our disposal.

You might want to check a scripture when you are not at home and are using a different computer. You will be happy to hear that Bibles are also available online through your Internet browser.

In English there is the Blue Letter Bible Web site (www.blueletterbible.org) and Bible.com offers an online service that also serves non-English-speaking people at www.bible.com/bible_read.html.

You also might benefit from visiting the e-Sword home page found at www.e-sword.net to find free Bible study software. The e-Sword project follows in the tradition of Johannes Gutenberg, who originally made the Scriptures widely available through the printing press. E-Sword offers you numerous dictionaries, commentaries and so on that you can access on your computer.

This is highly useful for personal Bible studies. Searches are performed much faster using a computer.

Making good use of technology is good stewardship of the talents given to us.

I wish you a good study experience!

— Henrik V. Blunck
a member in Slagelse, Denmark

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What Is Leaven?

The United Church of God Council of Elders approved the following last year, which comes to the same conclusion but gives a more technically accurate answer than the one given in the February 2002 United News:

During Unleavened Bread we are to have no leaven or leavened products in our home (Exodus 12:15; 13:7). This includes yeast, a biological leavening agent that produces fermentation, and chemical leavening agents such as baking powder, baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) and potassium bicarbonate. These are ingredients to look for on labels.

Items such as bread, cake, crackers, cookies, prepared cereals and pies that contain leavening must be put out. Doing this is symbolic of putting both the visible and hidden sins out of our lives.

Although the following ingredients are associated with leavening products, they are not by themselves leavening agents: brewer's yeast, yeast extract (a flavoring), cornstarch and cream of tartar (a dry acid). Cream of tartar, being an acid, merely neutralizes the alkaline nature of baking soda and does not, by itself, cause dough to rise.

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The Prayer of Hannah: a Fine Example Prayer

Although we know Hannah prayed many times before asking God for something she desired greatly, the example prayer that God had recorded for us to contemplate in 1 Samuel 2 was one of gratitude and praise, acknowledging God's providence.

Notice that Hannah's prayer starts with joy, because of personal experience. Then she generalizes that great truth: Nothing can compete in any way with God (1 Samuel 2:1-2)!

When we rightly view God, we are humbled again and again. What do we know? What can we do? Virtually nothing by ourselves. But with God's power and grace, any one of us can succeed (1 Samuel 2:3-4).

Every good "break" comes from God—our daily bread, the ability to enjoy anything, even life itself (or death with the hope of the resurrection)—every good proceeds from God. And God writes the script that we heroically or tragically enact. He is the great writer. If we play our part wittingly, whether star or support cast, we will share in the final applause. God has set the stage perfectly (1 Samuel 2:5-8).

Finally Hannah acknowledges again that God loves His own. They, too, are human, but they are His! Arrogance and pride seem to be the hallmark of wickedness. God's people may need to wait, to suffer, but they will be vindicated. Thank God (1 Samuel 2:9-10).

Hannah's prayer is beautiful.

— Skip Miller
an elder in San Diego, California

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Turning the Hearts
It Takes Two, Part 2

Last issue we introduced the subject of how two become one in marriage. We looked at Ephesians 5:22-25, which describes the close teamwork involved in this wonderful relationship. Husbands are commanded to exercise loving leadership, not to be selfish and inconsiderate.

In the beginning of marriage in Genesis 2, God made it clear that Eve, the first wife, was to be a "helper comparable" to her husband and not merely a maid, housekeeper, sexual partner, dishwasher, laundry woman (Genesis 2:18). Please notice other translations of "helper comparable": "a helper—as his counterpart" (Young's Literal Translation), "a companion who will help him" (New Living Translation), "a helper meet (suitable, adapted, complementary)" (Amplified), "suitable companion" (Today's English Version) and "a helper as his partner" (New Revised Standard). The wife is called a companion in Malachi 2:14.

All of these translations imply working together or "twogether" in marriage. In Proverbs 31 we read of a woman who is very capable of exercising her mind and talents, and her husband praises her for her contributions. The apostle Peter speaks of the need of the husband to know his wife's needs and value her (1 Peter 3:7). One way to honor or value another is to seek that person's advice on various issues or plans.

Together, the husband and wife are to be one! They need to work together as a loving team to do what is best for the marriage and the family. A wise husband will solicit input from his wife. He will realize that plans and activities that involve both of them need to be discussed. For example, just because the husband likes watching sports, it would be inconsiderate for him to assume his wife (and family) would like to do so as their family day together.

Major issues that affect the family need to be discussed and agreed upon by both the husband and the wife. When planning major purchases or family outings, couples need to discuss the arrangements or activity and agree on the plan. A wife who feels a part of the "twosome" and included in the decision-making process, will contribute to and enjoy the marriage. The importance of this key is that the husband creates an atmosphere to make his wife feel welcome to offer her input and suggestions. Marriage is a joint venture. It takes two people to make a marriage. Why would one want to do something that the other would not want them to do?

Being aware of and applying this vital principle will help build the marriage relationship and bring satisfying results. So, remember, "it takes two" for a marriage to be happy and successful. May God help us all to build teamwork and cooperation into our marriages.

— Gary E. Antion

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Be Ready to Give an Answer:
Why Do You Believe in the "Laying on of Hands"?

Last month we answered why we believe baptism is necessary. Biblically "baptism is followed by the ceremony of the laying on of hands by one or more of God's faithful elders for the purpose of receiving the Holy Spirit (Acts 8:14-17).

"The laying on of hands is described in the Scriptures as part of the foundation of a believer's beliefs and actions (Hebrews 6:1-2). This ceremony, like baptism, represents an important step in the conversion process. Why? Because most examples in the New Testament show that it is through the laying on of hands of Christ's ministry that God imparts His Spirit to new converts.

"Like baptism, the practice of laying on of hands has its historical roots in the Old Testament. In ancient times this practice, often accompanied by anointing with oil, was used to set men apart to serve God in the offices of king or priest. It was also sometimes invoked in setting apart sacrifices or other things for holy use. Similarly, laying on of hands after baptism signifies that the newly baptized person has now been set apart for God.

"Since the days of the apostles the laying on of hands after baptism has signified the actual moment of the receiving of the Holy Spirit and the setting apart of a convert as a child of God. It is only through the gift of God's Spirit that we can develop the godly attitude of obedience and faith. The practice of laying on of hands for the receiving of God's Spirit is mentioned in Acts 8:17, 19:6 and 2 Timothy 1:6." (Transforming Your Life: The Process of Conversion, pages 40-41).

Laying on of hands is also part of anointing the sick (Mark 6:5; Acts 28:8; James 5:14), ordination (Acts 6:6; 1 Timothy 5:22) and blessing little children (Matthew 19:13).

For More Information, read or request our free booklets Transforming Your Life: The Process of Conversion and The Road to Eternal Life (www.ucg.org/booklets).

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Share Your Word Treasures!

Do you have any short items of biblical wisdom, humor or practical information that you would like to share in this section? Or if you have any suggestions, please contact United News, P.O. Box 541027, Cincinnati, OH 45254-1027 or mike_bennett@ucg.org