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Home Email About Us Services Articles Bulletin From God's Word Area Events Announcements Calendar Prayer Requests Plan of Salvation Audio Sermon Library Photographs	MORNING PRAYER (Luke 2:10-14) January 4, 2004 Give me strength to meet each day With quiet will. Give me the strength to know Thou art My Shepherd still. Give me the light to find my way When shadows fall. Be Thou my steady, guiding star, Father of all. In Jesus' name, Amen. (THE ADMONISHER, London, KY)
	"There, Where The Blood Of The Lamb Was Spilt" By Doug Post Was the blood of Christ “spilt”? Does Scripture teach that? If so, does it mean the death of Christ was an accident? Some contend that saying Christ’s blood was “spilt” is somehow unscriptural. They claim the word "spilt" (spilled) implies that it happened by accident. They say, "Christ did not SPILL His blood, as one might spill a bucket of milk. There was nothing accidental about His sacrifice." I agree! Many go even further and argue that spill, spilled, and spilt appear only four times in scripture, and not once in reference to the blood of Christ. I agree! However, several things are wrong with this argument. First, the word EKCHEO, translated "spilled" (Luke 5:37) is also translated as "shed," in connection with blood, at least eleven times in the New Testament. The word means "pour out, shed, spill, cast forth, or cause to flow." The same is true of the Hebrew words, which are translated "spill" and "shed." They are in most instances completely interchangeable. Where one is used the other could just as well be used. "Spill" is not necessarily accidental. For instance, Onan's “spilling” was deliberate and he was punished for it (Genesis 38:9). Most English dictionaries will tell you that "spill" is equivalent to "shed" when it is used in reference to blood. Blood spilling, blood shedding, and bloodletting are synonymous, and all refer to killing. Jesus was killed. True enough! He gave Himself for our sin and He offered Himself once for all (Gal. 1:4; 1 Tim. 2:6; Heb. 7:27). But scripture does not say Jesus "shed" His own blood. That would mean He killed Himself. He did not kill Himself; He did not "shed" or "spill" His own blood. That was done TO Him, by others, and He allowed it to be so. Jesus had not spilled His own blood, but it was spilled. He Himself said, "This is my blood of the new covenant which is shed for many for remission of sins" (Mt. 26:28). The blood of the Lamb was spilt at Calvary. Those who took His life spilled his blood. It was no accident. It was planned and deliberate murder by wicked and lawless men (Acts 2:22-23).
	So Close and Yet So Far! By Doug Post They used to be called the “Aints.” Their fans used to wear paper bags over their heads in shame. However, the New Orleans’ Saints football team has had success in recent years. Last week they stood at the brink of the playoffs with time running out. They were losing 20-13 with only six ticks on the clock. Quarterback Aaron Brooks, completed a pass to Donte Stallworth, who lateraled to Mike Lewis, who pitched it to Deuce McAllister, who lateraled to Jerome Pathon, who finally scored one of the most memorable TDs in NFL history! They were back in this game! The score now was now 20-19 and all they needed was an extra point to tie and send the game into overtime. Up from the ashes of certain defeat, the New Orleans Saints were on the brink, the verge, the edge of overtime! Just a routine Point After Touchdown (PAT), a kick snapped from the 1-yard line was all that was required. These PAT’s are routine for great kickers, such as Saints kicker John Carney. He never misses! He hasn’t missed an extra point in 2 years. This was what is called a “gimme” point – it’s automatic. But you guessed it. He missed – wide right. The final? 20-19. The loss automatically eliminated New Orleans from the playoffs. The team’s entire season ended on the normally sure-footed toe of one man's foot. What struck me is what a player from the opposing team had to say. Star receiver Jimmy Smith philosophized, "That's just another example that you have to keep playing until the clock hits zero." Almost all the way, is not all the way. Nearly there, is still not there. In fact, coming close only compounds the tragedy. Of greater significance is the journey through life each of us is taking. Cast as a matter of winning or losing, the battle we each wage to win the heavenly prize will have been an uphill climb against a most formidable foe. *Coming close* will still mean eternal loss. *Being faithful almost all of one's life, yet turning away before death, still means everlasting separation. What a greater tragedy to have been very faithful as a Christian, only to give up before time is up (2 Pet. 2:20-22). I know good people right now, once faithful, who have now rejected the Lord. Unless they repent, they face the worst kind of defeat known to man. They knew the truth, they once fought the fight, but as of now they will come up short of heaven. Oh, how we must run until we obtain (1 Cor. 9:24). Don't give up until it's over! To be close* is still yet to be far!!**
	TOO BUSY! J.C. Penney, the successful and religious American businessman, once said, "*If a man is too busy to worship God on Sunday, he has more business obviously than God!” Indeed, that individual would be much busier than God intended him to be. WE DO THE THINGS WE WANT TO DO!* For instance, there are many people who are extremely busy, having demands at work and at home. Additionally, they have recreational and hobby interests, or perhaps they hold second jobs. I know some serving on different civic and business committees as well. Yet, with all these demands for their time, they still make all the services of the church. Reason? They want to! [Doug]