IRA NORTH

Until his death, Ira North, was the preacher at the Madison Church of Christ in Madison, TN. He was a wonderful preacher and teacher. One article he wrote for the church bulletin had to do with a robin and a buzzard. Read it.

“On our farm near Madison it is most interesting to note the difference between the robin and the buzzard.

In the springtime it is such a joy to note the robin. He sings so beautifully and sees the good and beauty of the farm. But the buzzard is something else. He flies over a thousand lovely, beautiful things and just keeps circling until he finds something that is dead and corrupt. He is never satisfied to look for the clean and beautiful.

There is a great lesson from these two birds. One is always looking for the good, the beautiful, the clean. They find different things because they are looking for different things.

In the local congregations in our brotherhood the ‘robins’ are such a joy-they encourage us, they inspire us to greater heights, they keep us going.”

PHYSICAL-SPIRITUAL

Preacher Bill Dillion of Hickory Ridge, AR relates the following story: “Birds can go nine days without food; some dogs twenty days and some turtles five hundred days. For man, about four weeks is the limit.” Think about this because there is a lesson. If physical food is essential for physical life then it is spiritual food that is essential for spiritual life. Perhaps some members may not get the proper amount of spiritual food. Be in Bible class and worship assembly and make sure you read and study your Bible.

BIBLE

In his Bible Handbook, George DeHoff, quotes from a poem by an unknown author. The poem is entitled “The Bible.”

Blessed Bible, how I love it,
How it doth my bosom cheer.
What has earth like this to covet?
Oh, what stores of wealth are here.

Yes, sweet Bible, Bible, I will hide you,
Hide you richly in my heart;
And through all my life will guide me.
And in death we will not part.

100 YEARS

I just read an article about the importance of Bible school. For 100 years churches of Christ have used separate classes to teach different age groups. One preacher used to say, “As goes the Sunday school so goes the church.” There is much truth in this statement. I want to encourage everyone who can to be in a good class. Parents make sure your children are in a Bible class. Start them early. They will learn so many good things. Be in your place every Sunday. Come with a Bible in your hand and a smile on your face and a spring in your step. I’ll look for you in your place.

-Pat Casey