The Italian Memorandum

“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like this. A merchant looking out for fine pearls found one of very special value; so he went and sold everything he had and bought it.”

(Matthew 13:45,46 REB)

The parable of The Pearl of Great Price raises a profound question, “How important is the pearl to you?” Since the entire context of Matthew 13 is about the kingdom, not to mention the preface to 13:45,46 being “kingdom” content, we are to understand, therefore, that this pearl is also about the kingdom.
Now, we know that the kingdom has specific content:

1. The kingdom is about people (Matt. 13:2)……………………………. Church
2. The kingdom is about the word of God (Matt. 13:23)……………… Bible
3. The kingdom is about the harvest (Matt. 13:39)…………………….. Service

Now, regarding Matthew 13:45,46 – the pearls are concretions formed within the bodies of certain mollusks, especially, Avicula margaritifera, found in the Persian Gulf and Indian Ocean. But, we must keep in mind that we are in parabolic territory, where the point is not about what’s being pointed out, but, rather, about what the Master meant. And, what did Jesus mean here? If the merchant is Christ, the pearl is the church (see Tenney, ZPBD, 632). If, however, the merchant is a disciple (as we tend to think), then what is meant here is nothing short of the disciples’ commitment to obtain what is truly valuable in this world, and in the next.
Two lessons appear significant in this parable: (1) There is a cost to be made to
acquire the pearl, and (2) According to Jesus, the pearl is worth every cost involved.
So, with Jesus, we say: “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful
pearls, who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and
bought it” (NKJV).
How important is the pearl to you– Church, Bible, Serving?

-Robert M. Housby

The Scarecrow, the Tin Man, and the Lion

(Adapted from The Wizard of Oz by Robert M. Housby)

Dorothy and Toto were enroute to the Emerald City. In order to make the journey, though, they had to leave Kansas. Along the way, Dorothy met a Scarecrow: ” I’m going to see the Wizard of Oz,” she said. ” I don’t know Oz,” said the Scarecrow. ” In fact, I don’t know anything, because I haven’ t any brains!” Dorothy sighed. And, as they journeyed, another poor fellow emerged, called, the Tin Man. Now, the Tin Man wondered whether the Wizard might possibly give him a heart. They had not traveled much farther before a huge lion bounded out of the woods. When he turned, as if to pounce on Toto, Dorothy shouted: “Don’ t you dare hurt that dog you big coward.” It was then that the lion began to cry, ” I am a coward,” he said. “How can I be the King of beasts without courage?” Then the lion apologized for his rude behavior, and joined the others on the yellow brick road.
In The Wizard of Oz, there is an honest assessment made of what these travelers needed. Dorothy longed for home; Scarecrow for brains; Tin Man for heart; and, the Cowardice Lion for courage. How interesting that Jesus, himself, made mind, heart, and will essential to loving God (Matthew 22:37). The strange thing about “Bible Study” is that it is not really about Bible Study; it is about getting the Christian mind, the Christian heart, and the Christian will. The Lord knows that we need to become more intimate with Him (John 17:3). So, what is it that you should, yourself, be seeking? Honestly, isn’t there something in all of us like the travelers on the yellow brick road?
It is written in the Psalms: ” The works of the Lord are great, Studied by all who have pleasure in them” (Ps. 111:2, NKJV). May the works of the Lord (from the Creation to Calvary) bring you to studiously apply yourself today!

“And whenever you are fasting, do not look gloomy and sour and dreary like the hypocrites, for they put on a dismal countenance that their fasting may be apparent and seen by men. Truly, I say to you, they have their reward in full already”

(Matthew 6:16, The Amplified New Testament)

What happens when Christian commitment turns into discontentment? Consider the man of Matthew 6:16. Here is an individual practicing “fasting” as a religious commitment. But, Jesus cautions this person not to become like the hypocrites of his day, who tend to turn such an expression of faith into a sick form of personal pain. It is written, elsewhere, “Because you did not serve the LORD your God with joyfulness and gladness of heart…therefore you shall serve your enemies” (Deuteronomy 28:47,48). There is a tendency among God’s people to show discontent: “In the morning you shall say, If only it were evening! and at evening you shall say, If only it were morning!” To these, the Lord says, I will send you back to Egypt in ships! (see Deuteronomy 28:67,68).
So, how do we feel about church, scripture, giving, serving, singing, and praying? Do you serve the Lord with gladness? Do you enter his gates with thanksgiving, his courts with praise? Part of being a Christian is doing a personal inventory. The apostle Paul, in speaking of the Lord’s Supper, said: “Let a person examine himself” (1Corinthians 11:28). He would again encourage the Corinthians: “Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?” (2 Corinthians 13:5).

Dismal cannot be your demeanor, because it is not your destiny. Now, while the sands of the hourglass are falling, lift up your heads, for your redemption draweth nigh (Rom. 13:11; Lk. 21:28).

-Robert M. Housby

“…I do not box as one beating the air”

(1 Corinthians 9:26)

In the new television series, The Contender, Sugar Ray Leonard and Sylvester “Rocky” Stallone bring their expertise to a group of common, everyday men and their families. These men are battling as underdogs for a better life. The apostle Paul, himself, uses a boxing illustration in 1 Corinthians 9:26. He is expressing how serious and committed he is to the cause of Christ in his own life. He is not “shadow-boxing,” as it were, he is a Christian, contending in the very arena of reality itself.
In the story of the Jews, Jacob plays a major role. Jacob was the son of Isaac and Rebekah. The Bible tells the story of how Jacob was born, struggling in the womb (Gen. 25:22) and holding on to his twin brother’s heel (Gen. 25:26). Genesis 25:23 plainly expresses that these two brothers would be two nations (Gen. 25:23). Later, in the life of Jacob, he is found wrestling with an angel in a symbolic action that would change his name from “Jacob” to “Israel” (Gen. 32:28): “What is your name? And he said, Jacob. Then he said, Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel, for you have striven with God and with men, and have prevailed…And there he blessed him” (32:29).

The biblical basis for contending is relevant (Eph. 6:12; 2 Cor. 10:3-6; 2 Tim. 4:7):

1. May our prayer be the prayer of Psalm 35 – “Contend, O LORD…” on our behalf and for our welfare (Ps. 35:1,23,27).
2. May we contend for the gospel (Philippians 1:27).
3. May we contend for Christ and His church (Eph. 3:21).
4. May we contend for our families (Eph. 5:33-6:4).

The Contender is more than a made-for-television series. The Contender is in you.

-Robert M. Housby

“How To Welcome New Members”

“Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk,
that by it you may grow up to salvation”

(1 Peter 2:2,ESV)

This article will serve to remind the Cape congregation that as new members come into our fellowship, it is extremely important that every member show the love of Christ to them. Below are some updates and suggestions for each member to understand:

1. Enfolding new Christians is the responsibility of every member:
a. Never let them sit alone.
b. Introduce them to other members.
c. Phone them during the week.
d. Take them to area gospel meetings, camps, ladies’ days, etc.
e. Invite them to lunch.
f. Verbalize your appreciation.
g. Listen to them.

2. Remember the five basic needs of new Christians –
a. Help them to understand that they have been born again into a family.
b. Befriend them that they might belong.
c. Encourage them to learn the Scriptures (Bible Class).
d. They will need to find a ministry for themselves in which to contribute.
e. They will need the watchful care of other Christians (your concern).

Basic Scriptures which support the above recommendations:

1 Cor. 12:12-26; Eph. 4:15,16; Rom. 12:3-21.

The spring campaign continues. Pray for further success. And, may God bless us, as we develop ourselves, by putting others first, and realizing that church leadership awaits the next generation of the faithful to carry on the Lord’s work (1 Cor. 15:58).

-Robert M. Housby

“Thus saith the Lord”

1. The Bible is a firm, fixed point of reference. For example, in Daniel 9:2,
Daniel searchs in “the books” to determine the length of captivity before the
Jews would return to their Jerusalem homeland. Then, hundreds of years later,
the apostle Paul would encourage Timothy to remain firm to “the sacred
writings” (2 Tim. 3:14,15). Today, the Christian has access, not only to the Old
Testament treasury of sacred writings, but also to the New Testament repository
of apostolic letters and gospel accounts (1 Cor. 14:37; Lk. 1:1-4). Truly, the
Psalmist was correct in his appraisal of the Bible: “Forever, O LORD, your word
is firmly fixed in the heavens” (Ps. 119:89). The Bible is a user’s manual for the
will of God via the word of God. The Bible is, therefore, the standard of
religious reference to which all men are directed (2 Tim. 2:3,4).
2. The Bible is a Witness to the Coming of the Christ. For example, in John
5:39 Jesus said, “You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you
have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me…” Here we have an
unmistakable association of the Scriptures as a witness to Christ. The Old
Testament said that someone was coming (Matt. 21:9); the New Testament says
that he has come (Jn. 4:26); and the Epistles say that he is coming again (Heb.
9:28). To go back to the Bible is to affirm the coming of the Christ.
3. The Bible Alone Without Human Tradition is the Word of God. It has
been our experience to encounter many who attend some particular
denomination, and who also affirm that they use the Bible. Yet, after an
interview, it becomes rather evident that while these do indeed “use the
Bible,” they use it in conjunction with their church creed or denominational
catechism, or, supposed special revelation. It is therefore subject to the criticism
of Jesus as expressed in Mark 7:13 “…making void the word of God by your
tradition”.
To go back to the Bible, is to return to the Christ of the Bible; the church of the
Bible, and to accept the Bible alone as the Bible. Anything less than this is
explicitly condemned (Deut. 4:2; Gal. 1:6-8; Rev. 22;18,19).

-Robert M. Housby

[Adapted and revised by Robert M. Housby, from a July 12, 2003, America Online: e-mail, PVO KID; Entitled, Close To, Round About, Or Nearby]

One Sunday, a denominational minister gave a sermon on baptism. The sermon was obscured, however, by his attempt to avoid the actual meaning of baptism as immersion, with the substitution of sprinkling. He proceeded by talking about the baptism of Jesus in the Jordan River. It did not mean “in,” he protested, but rather, “close to, round about, or nearby.” Again, he continued, when the Bible speaks of Philip baptizing the Eunuch in Acts 8, it did not mean “in the water,” but rather, “close to, round about, or nearby.”
After the sermon, a man approached the speaker and declared how great the essage was, and how it had cleared up many mysteries for him. For instance, he said, the story about Jonah getting swallowed by the whale has always othered me. Now, I see that Jonah was not really in the belly of the fish, but, close to, round about, or nearby. Then, there is the story of the three Hebrew oys thrown into the fiery furnace, but were not burned. Now, I see that they ere really not in the furnace, but, close to, round about, or nearby, keeping arm. Then, there is the story of Daniel in the lion’s den. I see that he was not in” the lions’ den, but, close to, round about, or nearby, like at a zoo.
He continued with delight, these explanations have been a great comfort to me, eeing that I’m a wicked man. Now, I am grateful to know that I won’t be in hell, just close to, round about, or nearby. And, next Sunday, I won’t need to be in church, but close to, round about, or nearby. Thank you so much! You have ut my mind at ease.
The reader is urged to consult Deuteronomy 4:2 and Revelation 22:18,19, which plainly states not to add to, nor subtract from the word of God.

-Robert M. Housby

“Very few things matter and nothing matters very much.”

(F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Last Tycoon)

Sometimes we encounter those who have given up, or are considering giving up. But, from this low spiritual condition, man raises a profound question— “What matters anymore?“, or, a kindred question—“Does anything matter anymore?” In the religious reforms of King Jehoshaphat of Judah, othere is redirection from this spiritual malaise:

1. Seeking God Matters (2 Chron. 19:3).
2. Bringing People “Back to the Lord” Matters (2 Chron. 19:4).
3. The “Matters of the Lord” Matter (2 Chron. 19:11).
4. Prayer to “the Lord God” Matters (2 Chron. 20:5-12).
5. The Biblical Philosophy: “We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you” Matters (2 Chron. 20:12).

These reforms matter. So, when the price index of energy goes sky high, and you’re running on empty, and about to give up, give in, or go inward, hear again the reforms of 2 Chronicles 19-20. We reject the secular adage, “Very few things matter and nothing matters very much.” There is a crossroads in Palestine which once-and-for-all time answers the question, “What matters anymore?” You matter–and the cross says that you matter very much (Romans 5:6-11)..

-Robert M. Housby

“… behold, chariots of fire …”

(2 Kings 2:11)

“The chariots of God are twice ten thousand,
thousands upon thousands; the Lord is among them …”

(Psalm 68:17)

Her name is Katie Elizabeth Kirkpatrick. She was crowned as Lapeer East High School 2000-01 Homecoming Queen. She was also co-valedictorian at Lapeer. One day, in 2002, she was informed that she had a brain tumor. It would return in the form of a lung cancer the very next year. On Saturday January 15, 2005, Katie appeared in a sparkling gown of crystals, and walked without the tank of oxygen down the aisle on her father’s arm before 500 wedding guests! Then, five days later, after marrying her high school sweetheart, 21 year old Katie Kirkpatrick Godwin went home to be with her Lord.

Most of Rochester College attended her funeral. The ceremony began with a photo collage and a strand from Sarah McLachlan’s, “I Will Remember You.” Her favorite worship songs were also included: “I Stand in Awe,” and “The Joy of the Lord.” Then, in an excerpt from Katie’s valedictorian address, the minister read: “It makes no difference how deeply seated may be the trouble, how hopeless the outlook or how great the mistake, a sufficient realization of love will not redeem.” Tears fell that day, as the audience of some 1200 heard: “In the ears of my heart, I think I can hear the trumpets sounding for our girl, Katie.” [Thank you, Lord, for Katie: a faithful member of your church].
Yes, “The chariots of God are twice ten thousand…” (Ps. 68:17). God’s power
is depicted in terms of endless vehicles of His glory in history. Habakkuk 3:8
even speaks of a “…chariot of salvation” (see 3:13). To be involved in this
kind of drama for God, with God, and unto God, is only possible today. For, His
chariots are in motion, and He is among them.

-Robert M. Housby

“And they shall make the ephod of gold, of blue, and purple and scarlet yarns, and of fine twined linen, skillfully worked.”

(Exodus 28:6)

The Old Testament priest wore a sacred vestment called an ephod. This ephod was very colorful (Exodus 28:6). The colors which God here specified, are colors well known to artists as the primary colors (red, yellow, and blue). The Bible tells us why these colors were used: “And you shall make holy garments for Aaron your brother, for glory and for beauty” (Exodus 28:2,40). Three reasons are suggested: sacredness, dignity, and the unmistakable importance of the priestly service of worship. Exodus 28:31 infers that the robe of the ephod was “all of blue,” perhaps suggesting it as the dominant color. We may also note that these colors are the colors of the fourth day of creation (Genesis 1:14- 17), namely, the blue heavens and the golden sun. The tabernacle, itself, was comprised of these same colors (Exodus 35-36), and, notably, so also was “the veil” (Exodus 36:35-38; see also Hebrews 6:19; 9:3; 10:20; 4:14).
Today, all believers who are “in Christ” (Eph. 1:3, 10, 11,12,13), through baptism (Acts 19:5), are also priests under the New Testament (Rev. 1:6). As such, they “worship by the Spirit of God” (Philippians 3:3; Jude 20), in the “temple of the Holy Spirit” (1 Corinthians 6:19,20). Their worship and service to God are, therefore, of the highest dignity, sacredness, and importance; no less than the sons of Aaron (1 Peter 2:9).
When Christians worship today, it is worship of great importance (John 4:23,24). It is worship offered in the blue ephod. Make God primary in your life today.

– Robert M. Housby