Treasure Digest

• A Soft Answer
• Teaching Doctrine Through Bedtime Prayers
• A Picture Paints a Thousand Words
• What Is Faith?
• Sweet Peaches or Sour Lemons?
• My Baby Thief
• Covetousness Lurks on the Wal-Mart Shelves
• How to Stay in the Faith
• Renew Your Membership
• Turning the Hearts . . .Teach Your Children About Mercy
• Children's Corner - Thanksgiving CrossWord Puzzle [See PDF version]
• Share Your Treasures!

A Soft Answer

Sometime back, I was coaching an angry client. She interrupted, argued and progressively got agitated. Nor was I immune. As an old minister friend would say, I could feel my human nature crawling up my back!

Then I remembered Proverbs 15:1 that says in part, "A soft answer turns away wrath." So I lowered my voice and made my reply calmly. Another eruption; in repeating my counsel, I deliberately lowered my voice under hers. One more eruption. Once more I softly repeated the same answer.

Suddenly, she stopped and laughed. I thought "Aha!" The rest of the story? She quietly took my advice, and I gave it without antagonizing her.

Having once been an angry person, I found this marvelous! The Bible came alive. I saw what Proverbs 15:1 looked like!

Let's finish the verse: "But a harsh word stirs up anger." What does that look like? Picture my client with clenched fists, grimaced face and shrill words.

How can we bring Proverbs 15:1 to life?

1. Under duress, valve the stress.

Lowering one's voice brings calm and peace when communications become strained. Opposing viewpoints naturally occur, such as between husbands and wives, different personality types, employers and employees, etc. Truth is in the eye of the beholder: both can be dead right and dead wrong.

So we need to hit the pause button, as Stephen Covey, author of The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, says. We should lower our voice, valve our stress and try to see the right in the other person's view. We need to ask God to help us choose to be righteous instead of being right (that's another article for another day).

2. Don't interrupt—zip it up!

As much as I dislike being interrupted, I still struggle with this bad habit, especially if I slip and allow myself to become emotionally entangled. Yet with God's help, I have made progress over the years, and you can, too.

And we must! For when we interrupt, we are devaluing the other person. We may as well hold up a big sign that proclaims, "My thoughts are more important than yours." This completely selfish gesture violates God's law of loving our neighbor as ourselves. Besides, only God has the right to say in effect, "My thoughts are higher than your thoughts" (Isaiah 55:8-9).

Besides, love is never rude—the entire chapter of 1 Corinthians 13 speaks to this.

Another minister friend taught me a valuable principle: God's way of life is focused all the time on what is good for the other person. That's a tall order! None of us can do that alone. But Jesus Christ in us can. And He left us the perfect example. The God's Word translation of 1 Peter 2:23 makes this plain: "Christ never verbally abused those who verbally abused Him."

I needed this reminder, for Satan is angry. The world is angry. Remember, anger is just one letter short of danger. Next time you face an angry situation, remember Proverbs 15:1: valve the stress and zip it! Soft words turn away wrath.

—John Fox
Salt Lake City, Utah, congregation

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Teaching Doctrine Through Bedtime Prayers

It is bedtime, and after the usual "I'm thirsty" routine, Patti gets on her knees beside her young son's bed and encourages him to do the same. She pulls him close with one arm around him and begins to pray.

"Father, you are very wonderful. You made the sun, the moon and all the stars. You are very good and you love us…" She continues on with a short but passionate prayer and then asks her 5-year-old to pray as she listens. Not surprisingly, he begins, "God, you are very wonderful. You made the sun, the moon, and all the stars." He mirrors his mother's awe in his own words.

So the bedtime routine continues. Night after night, year after year, parents transfer their knowledge of God to their child through bedtime prayers. It is not the only method they use to teach their children about God, but it is a very effective one.

The routine is simple. The end result is profound. A young mind begins to grasp that there is an invisible Being known and highly valued by Mom and Dad in a family relationship framework—they call Him Father. This Being is the Creator of the sun, moon, stars and all the wonderful things we see in our world.

Another night, the bedtime prayer includes, "Thank you, God, for sending us the rain today so our garden will grow." An impressionable mind takes in the belief that this great invisible Being provides the rain so food can grow. Later in life, he will come to rely on this great God who is not only the Creator but the Sustainer.

Bedtime prayers are an excellent tool with which to teach doctrine. Brevity is important. One small truth at a time is sufficient. Repetition is essential. Prayers should differ night by night but come back to basic truths again and again.

And one more powerful secret is this. When you cuddle close to your child in prayer, you create in him a sense of security, love and relationship that he will come to associate with God, his heavenly Father.

— Debbie Jo Bates
Bakersfield, California, congregation

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A Picture Paints a Thousand Words

You may have heard the saying, "A picture paints a thousand words." This expression came true to me recently during a visit to a secondhand shop. While strolling through the store, my eyes fixed on an amazing painting. When I looked at it, I immediately knew exactly what it said.

The painting had the most awesome table that seemed to go on for miles. It was set with the finest china and crystal. The dawn was just breaking into a beautiful sunrise that cast beautiful light upon the table. Without a word I knew what the painting was all about. This was a painting of a future event that I had read about in Matthew 22:2-3.

Jesus said, "The kingdom of heaven is like a certain king [God the Father] who arranged a marriage for his son [Jesus], and sent out his servants to call those who were invited to the wedding."

Revelation 19:9 also describes this event: "Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!"

I bought the painting and quickly hung it on a wall where I can see it daily. No matter how difficult life is, this painting will remind me that, if we endure to the end, I will, and you will, have the honor of sitting at the table with Christ and all the saints who have endured and died before us.

In the painting the seats are empty because they are yet to be filled at Christ's return. At the bottom of the painting there is a scripture, Luke 14:17: "At the time of the banquet he sent his servant to tell those who had been invited, ‘Come, for everything is now ready'" (New International Version). In the same context it says, "Blessed is he who shall eat bread in the kingdom of God!" (Luke 14:15).

Yes, pictures do paint a thousand words. I did not have to look at the scripture to know what the painting was all about.

Every time I look at that painting I will be reminded that nothing in this life, good or bad, will compare to what God has in store for His saints who endure to the end.

— Janet Treadway
Cincinnati, Ohio, East congregation

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What Is Faith?

What is faith? Obviously it is something beyond what we can describe in physical terms. Faith is trust in God, but to what level? Is it the faith when we first come to the knowledge of God's truth? Is it the faith we come to when we are pushed beyond our comfort level in matters of health or jobs or obedience to God's law? Is it faith to know completely that we are in God's hands, no matter the outcome of any given situation?

You may have heard the story of the man who fell off a cliff, but managed to grab a tree limb on the way down. According to the story, the following conversation ensued:

"Is anyone up there?"

"I am here. I am the Lord. Do you believe Me?"

"Yes, Lord, I believe. I really believe, but I can't hang on much longer."

"That's all right—if you really believe, you have nothing to worry about. I will save you. Just let go of the branch."

A moment of pause, then: "Is anyone else up there?"

We can laugh at situations such as that because we are not the man hanging by the branch on the side of a cliff.

In Hebrews 11:1 we are told that "faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." None of us has seen God directly, but as the years increase in our walk with God, we do see Him, don't we? We see Him in healings, in strength for keeping God's Word, in the peace of mind and trust in Him that we gain in our everyday lives.

In 1 John 4:18 we are told that perfect love casts out fear. Humanly speaking, we want that fear to be gone now! And yet, it is obvious as well that we don't have perfect love. Faith is also staying the course so God's love in us can be perfected and fear can be diminished.

One night a house caught fire and a young boy was forced to flee to the roof. The father stood on the ground below with outstretched arms, calling to his son, "Jump! I'll catch you." He knew the boy had to jump to save his life.

All the boy could see, however, was flame, smoke and blackness. As can be imagined, he was afraid to leave the roof. His father kept yelling: "Jump! I will catch you." But the boy protested, "Daddy, I can't see you." The father replied, "But I can see you and that's all that matters."

Faith is not merely your holding on to God—it is God holding on to you. He will not let you go (Deuteronomy 31:6)!

God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love and a sound mind (2 Timothy 1:7). Each week we can grow in faith. Each trial can add to our trust and reliance in God. Each year we should be able to look back and see God's hand guiding, supporting and encouraging us.

The answer to my earlier questions is "yes." Faith is all of those things and more. Faith is allowing God to live in us to change us into a son or daughter of God—no matter what this physical life brings.

— Dan Dowd
Pastor of the Milwaukee, Oshkosh and Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin, congregations

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Sweet Peaches or Sour Lemons?

Once upon a time, there was a peach pit. Someone had eaten the peach one hot summer day and tossed the seed into the nearby woods. The soil was dark and rich, and the seed harbored itself there as it slowly grew into a slender, young peach tree, bearing few but delicious fruits.

How many times do we unknowingly plant seeds from the fruits of the Spirit? Maybe someday we'll find they have grown into strong, sturdy young trees! More important, are we planting seeds from sweet peaches or sour lemons?

Though I personally believe in thinking positive, how about we think of a few biblical lemons? There was Nabal, first mentioned in 1 Samuel 25:2-3 where it says, "Now there was a man in Maon…and the man was very rich… The name of the man was Nabal…the man was harsh and evil in his doings."

Later in the story God "struck Nabal, and he died" (1 Samuel 25:38). God clearly does not like such sour lemons. But let's remember some good that came out of the story of Nabal. In verse 3 it says, "and the name of his wife [was] Abigail. And she was a woman of good understanding and beautiful appearance." How did a girl like that get stuck with a guy like him? Perhaps at some point the lemon looked a lot like a peach!

But let's also note that lemons can become peaches, like in Acts when Saul the persecutor was converted and became Paul the apostle—talk about a really good peach!

But what if we have a personal lemon? In Revelation 3:12, Christ promises us, "He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God… I shall write on him the name of My God and the name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem… And I will write on him My new name." What a time to look forward to while we "overcome" our personal lemons!

We need to toss peaches into the world, not lemons. We are told in 1 Timothy 4:12 to "be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity." You never know who is watching, but we do know God sees all things.

Psalm 1:1-6 says, "Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful; but his delight is in the law of the L ord, and in His law he meditates day and night. He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper. The ungodly are not so, but are like the chaff which the wind drives away. Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. For the L ord knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the ungodly shall perish."

What seeds do you leave behind—sweet peaches or sour lemons?

— Amanda Rupp
Youngstown, Ohio, congregation

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My Baby Thief

My unborn baby has taught me spiritual lessons already. One of these is about anticipation and faith.

I never realized that the most difficult part of the whole pregnancy would be the last couple of weeks, and not necessarily because of the aches and pains. But not knowing when our little one will appear has been exhausting.

You see, there have been signs for weeks—I have been having contractions for 19 days now, the baby has dropped into the right position, and the midwives have said many times, "any day now." My husband and I go to bed thinking surely the baby will come in the night, and wake up every morning eagerly anticipating our new arrival that day. The rollercoaster ride of excitement and uncertainty has tired us out.

And we have discovered a new danger—getting overly excited too soon can leave us without the energy when the time actually comes. Yet, the bags must be packed and ready in the car, the cell phones kept by our sides at all times, and we no longer venture more than 30 minutes from the birthing center—just in case.

What spiritual lesson has this taught me?

I am reminded that we all are eagerly anticipating Christ's return and all the joy that will bring (after some necessary "childbirth pains"). We have seen signs that the times are coming, but we cannot know exactly when. He will come "as a thief in the night" (Matthew 24:42-44; Luke 12:35-40).

In the meantime, we must balance our zeal and excitement with being in it for the long haul; we must metaphorically have the bags packed and in the car, always on the ready, yet living our lives day-to-day the best we can while we wait. We must go to bed every night and wake up every morning with that same hope and prayer—and yet not lose faith or energy when it doesn't happen yet.

In 1 Thessalonians 5:1-6, Paul writes that Christ will return as a thief in the night and as suddenly as labor pains upon a pregnant woman, and that we should not let this event overtake us unaware. My husband and I cannot wait to meet our little one, who surely is coming soon; even more should we be eager to meet our Savior!

— Kirsten Nelte
Tacoma, Washington, congregation

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Covetousness Lurks on the Wal-Mart Shelves

There are so many items in a Wal-Mart store that people see that make them say to themselves, "I need that! I want that!" This leads them to try to find a way to get the items, even if they don't have the money.

Exodus 20:17 says, "You shall not covet." But people go as far as to use the money that should be set aside to pay their bills, and that shouldn't be done.

Luke 12:22-24 reminds us that God provides us with our needs. Jesus Christ also said, "Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses" (Luke 12:15).

This world is filled with all kinds of things to want. We will have to say no to many of them. God wants us to learn contentment and not fall into the trap of covetousness. When we find something we really want, we can carefully consider it, plan and save and then buy it without regrets—or covetousness.

—Joel Fritts
Springfield, Missouri, congregation

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How to Stay in the Faith

Forty years ago this July, my wife and I were baptized into the Body of Christ. Many of the people there, friends and ministers alike, are no longer in the faith. They have chosen to give up on God's way and rejoin the world. Some of you have also stayed the course as long or even longer. What can we pass along to those who have come into the faith later and who are wondering, "What has kept you faithful?"

I was asked this very question and three points came to mind:

1. Keep your eyes on the Kingdom.

Jesus said, "Seek first the kingdom of God" (Matthew 6:31-34).

Early on, I heard a sermon about how we can block out the sun with a dime if we hold it close to our eye. Likewise, we can allow problems, which compared to the Kingdom of God are miniscule, to block out the vision of God's Kingdom. The gospel is of the Kingdom. The Sabbath and Holy Days point to—and our hope and the hope of the whole world is—the Kingdom. Nothing, no offense, no problem, no trial, no doubt can be allowed to block that vision.

2. Keep your hand on the plow.

Jesus said that no one who puts his hand to the plow and turns back is fit for the Kingdom (Luke 9:57-62). We must be doing the work, having our hearts, our prayers, our tithes and offerings in the work of the Church, preaching the gospel of the Kingdom of God to the world and serving in the local congregation. If we are an active part of the local church, we build that sense of belonging, community and family that binds us together. Like a threefold cord, we are not quickly broken (Ecclesiastes 4:12).

3. Keep your feet planted firmly on the Rock.

Never forget, Christ is the Head of the Church. People have problems—always have, always will. Christ will always work it out. The work will succeed. As He took care of things in the past, so He does today. Those who rely on Him, trust in Him and stand on Him will not be moved. We must build our house on that Rock (Matthew 7:24-27).

Jesus told us in Revelation 3, "I know your works…you have a little strength, have kept My word, and have not denied My name… Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial… Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown. He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go out no more" (Revelation 3:8-12, emphasis added).

We must keep our eyes on the Kingdom, our hands on the plow and our feet planted firmly on that Rock.

—Knute Josifek
Los Angeles, California, congregation

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Renew Your Membership

When Cindy turned 40, her sister gave her a special gift, a membership to a health club. She did want to get her body back in shape, after all. She had tried working out at home in her living room watching workout videos, but it was too easy to get distracted or put it off. Cindy knew that she needed the help and encouragement of the staff and other members to keep her on track.

At first Cindy was gung ho, went three times a week, lost 10 pounds and even started cycling with some of the friends she made. When the gym changed management, two of her friends got a better deal at another gym, and a third bought a Bowflex. Cindy didn't feel as motivated to go anymore.

She would show up once or twice a month just to appease her conscience. But she didn't go out of her way to get involved, take classes or meet more people. The weight started creeping back on.

Even though she often felt better after her workout, she usually didn't feel like making the extra effort. Life got busy and excuses came easy.

How many of us have signed up to be members in God's Church only to lose interest after a while?

We need to be involved and active in our membership like a member of a gym needs to be:

• Just because you're a member of a gym doesn't mean you'll become fit and lose weight. You have to actually go and exercise.

• You can't just show up and watch other people work out and expect any results.

• It takes active participation and sometimes effort.

The Church is essentially our spiritual health club. We are all members of the Body of Christ, fitly joined together. When a hand goes missing, the whole body feels its loss. The missing member loses out because she doesn't fulfill her potential or fulfill her role as an inspiration and example to others.

As I've watched several Cindys slowly let their memberships expire, it occurs to me that the hole they each left behind was never filled. I've experienced phantom pain from the loss ever since.

We are all needed by our brothers and sisters in the Body of Christ. If we're not available to help each other, we're not fulfilling our roles as members. If we don't relate our tests, trials, blessings and miracles, we're not building the bonds that hold the body together.

So, let's renew our membership!

— Jennifer Hoyer
Columbia, Maryland, congregation

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Turning the Hearts . . .Teach Your Children About Mercy

Consistency is an admirable trait when disciplining our children. Children feel more secure when they know what is expected of them and when discipline is applied when they do not meet the standards or keep the rules of the home or the laws of God.

However, there is another lesson to teach children along with being consistent in the way we handle discipline. That lesson is one of mercy and forgiveness. To help children grow up with an appreciation of the grace and forgiveness of God, it is essential that we teach them the quality of mercy.

Children learn primarily through behavioral methods when they are little. As they grow, they learn from example and positive instruction, which involve their cognitive or thinking abilities.

The best way to teach mercy is to employ mercy in their lives. Consider this hypothetical example.

You have asked your son Johnny to do his chores, but find that Johnny has only done one of his three chores. Instead, you find him playing video games on his Gameboy. When you remind Johnny that he did not finish his chores, he is genuinely sorry and promises to get right to them. (Remember, children are not yet converted and may not have the "deeper" repentance that we may expect of baptized persons.)

Instead of inflicting some form of appropriate discipline upon him, you as the parent tell him that you see that he is truly sorry that he forgot to do his chores and that you are going to forgive him this time. He still needs to finish his chores, but you will not punish him for forgetting this time. He will breathe a sigh of relief and learn a valuable lesson of mercy.

This helps model what God does for us. When we mess up and repent to God, we know He will forgive us upon true repentance. If the family knows of our mistake or sin, we may share with our families how glad we are that God is a forgiving God. This example will aid our children in realizing our God is not just waiting to discipline us, but is merciful (Psalm 130:3-4). He delights in mercy (Micah 7:18).

To lead our children to our loving Father, we must also show our children mercy so they may respond to God when they are older (Proverbs 22:6).

Remember Jesus' teaching in Matthew 5:7, "Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy." Please help your children learn the quality of mercy by applying it to them occasionally and by being examples of those who truly appreciate it in their lives.

— Gary E. Antion

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Share Your 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.

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