The Italian Memorandum

“And if any place will not receive you and they will not listen to you, when you leave,
shake off the dust that is on your feet as a testimony against them”

(Mark 6:11)

The word “dust” occurs seven times in the New Testament (Strong’s 286). Most of these uses are about moving on after attempting to communicate the gospel where it was not welcomed. For example, in Acts 13, Paul and Barnabas were harshly treated in Antioch in Pisidia. They actually drove them out of the city (13:50). It was at this point that they [Paul and Barnabas] actually carried out the Lord’s directive to “shake off the dust…as a testimony against them.” Acts 13:51 records: “But they shook off the dust from their feet against them and went to Iconium.” Notice in the next verse, Acts 13:52, that “the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.”
Active Christians know what it is like to invest in people, only to have those same individuals show ingratitude or simply not respond to the gospel. It is important, therefore, that Christians understand that those who reject them are actually rejecting the Lord (see Ex. 16:8; 1 Sam. 8:7; Lk. 10:16; Jn. 12:48). We mustn’t stop investing in people; believing in the best, while being prepared for the worst. We might recommend that every Christian take to heart the words of Paul in 1 Corinthians 15:58: “Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the
Lord your labor is not in vain.”
The Bible plainly teaches that not all will be interested in the gospel; and even those who are curious may never become committed (Matthew 7:14,21). So, remember to dust off, look up, and move on. The Lord is with you (Matthew 28:20).

-Robert M. Housby

(Reminiscences of the Gospel in the English Alphabet)

A – Abba: the intensive form of Father (Gal. 4:6).
B – Balm: of Gilead; Christian healing (Jer. 8:22; 1 Pet. 2:24).
C – Calvary: Latin for kranion; place of the skull, Golgatha (Matt. 27:33; Jn. 19:17).
D – David: the royal model of the Messiah (Acts 2:29-31).
E – Evangelism: the world class message and spread of the gospel (Lk. 24:47).
F – Faith: drawing near to God; access (Heb. 11:6).
G –Galilee: the great Galilean ministry set among the beauty of Palestine (Mk. 1:37-39).
H – Heaven: heaven came down; incarnation (Col. 1:5).
I – Immanuel: with us is God (Matt. 1:23).
J – Jerusalem: a city with fascination like none other (Lk. 2:43; Matt. 23:37).
K – Kingdom: Jesus preached it and died with it above his dying head (Lk. 23:38).
L – Lamb: An innocent and winsome lamb; a sacrifice to God for man (Acts 8:32-35).
M –Miracles: the gospel is a confirmed message (Heb. 2:3,4).
N – Nazareth: the boyhood home and early years of Jesus (Lk. 2:51,52).
O – Omega: the ultimate reality that Jesus is Lord of the universe (Rev. 1:8).
P – Palms: laid before the young prince on his journey; Hosanna (Matt. 21:8,9).
Q – Quotations: about 250 O.T. quotes in N.T. ; Jesus came to fulfill (Lk. 24:44-46).
R – Resurrection: there is power and newness for today and tomorrow (Rom. 1:4; 6:4).
S – Salt: reminding us that all Christians are responsible on earth (Matt. 5:13).
T – Transformation: the renewal of the Christian mind; life changing joy (Rom. 12:2).
U –Upper room: a reminder that there is a time to wait on the Lord (Acts 1:13).
V – Verse: Jesus was versed in the scriptures (Matt. 4:4,6,7,10; 19:4).
W -Wages: a man cannot live on the wages of sin (Rom. 3:23; 6:23).
X – Unknown: to many the Savior is yet unknown (Acts 17:23).
Y – Yesterday: Christ is timeless and yet timely (Heb. 13:8).
Z – Zechariah: the Lord remembers (Phil. 4:3).
When we think of the gospel, our minds are carried far away to a distant land; and yet, “…he is not far from each one of us…” (Acts 17:27). Make the gospel our immediate spiritual oasis today.

-Robert M. Housby

The content for this article was presented in sermon format by Robert M. Housby
on January 30, 2005 at the Cape Girardeau, Missouri Church of Christ.

“…and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever”

(Psalm 23:6)

The prophet Isaiah said, “It shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the house of the LORD shall be established… and all nations shall flow to it, and many peoples shall come, and say: Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob, that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths. For out of Zion shall go the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem” (Isaiah 2:2). This section of scripture speaks of “the house of the LORD.” Some definite points may be taken from this passage:

(1) The “house of the LORD” shall be established in the latter days.
(2) All nations shall flow to it (excitement and motivation).
(3) This house is identified with the will of God and the word of God.

Furthermore, in the book of Isaiah, “the house of the Lord” occupies a triple function:

1. A House (Beth) of Teaching (Isa. 2:2,3)
2. A House (Beth) of Assembly (Isa. 2:2,3)
3. A House (Beth) of Prayer (Isa. 56:7)

We know, today, that “the house of God” is the Lord’s church (1 Timothy 3:16). We are also aware that the church meets regularly; teaches consistently, and prays effectually. Yes, it all happens in the church!

– Robert M. Housby

(Judges 16:26; Song of Solomon 8:5; Micah 3:11; John 13:23; 21:20; Hebrews 11:21)

“Learning to lean / learning to lean”

(John Stallings, Learning to Lean, 1977)

We are all learning to lean on the Lord, to some degree and on some level. The Hebrew term, Adonai means, “my Lord.” If ever we’re going to learn to lean on the Lord, it must happen in a personal way. The point is, Adonai is the personal Lord of his people. It is this confidence that enables the believer to say with Psalmist: “Bless the LORD, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name” (Psalm 103:1).

Learning to lean is a life with characteristics:

1. Adonai (“my Lord”) – Deuteronomy 4:35 read: “…that you might know that the Lord Himself is God; there is none other besides him.” This LORD is a personal God, and faith in this God is monotheistic. This is why it is even possible to lean on the Lord— He is God and He personally cares.
2. Jesus is Lord (John 20:28; Philippians 2:11).

3. This Lorship is the faith for all that would become a “Christian” (Acts 22:16).

Jacob, when dying, leaned upon his wooded staff in worship (Hebrews 11:21). Jesus, in dying, leaned upon the wooden tree in agony (1 Peter 2:24). The gospel of Christ encourages all men to lean on the Lord.

– Robert M. Housby