THANKS
Thanks to Russell Springs Christian for hosting our July meeting. There were 100 men present from 21 congregations.

REMAINING 2024 SCHEDULE
September 23—Burkesville First Christian
October 28—Glenview Christian
November 25—Jamestown Christian

QUOTABLE QUOTES
“One of the most important reasons for studying history is that virtually every stupid idea that is in vogue today has been tried before and proved disastrous before, time and again.” (Thomas Sowell)

“If we are pronounced dead when our heart stops beating, why are we not pronounced alive when our heart starts beating?” (Missouri Right to Life)

“A bird released from the cage can be caught again. Words from my mouth—never again.” (Old Jewish Proverb)

WHO IS YOUR STEWARD?
Our Bylaws state “each congregation is expected to select a Men for Christ Steward (organizer) to help promote the work of MFC in his congregation and to help collect funds.” Does your congregation have such a person who encourages the men to attend and support MFC? If not, perhaps YOU would accept that responsibility. We need men to take the lead in promoting attendance and participation in our meetings. In your new role as Steward, talk it up in your classes and groups at church. Invite someone to come with you to this month’s meeting.

SYMPATHY EXTENDED
Our brother in Christ, Bro. Bill K. Welker, 85, passed away Monday, July 22. A Celebration of Life Service was held July 27 at Jamestown Christian Church.

WHITE MILLS CHRISTIAN CAMP
FALL RETREATS
Sept. 10—Seniors’ Luncheon (11-2)
Sept. 14—Men’s Day (10:30-4:30)
Sept. 20-21—Ladies’ Retreat
See www.whitemills.camp for details or call 270-862-3933.

QUOTES ABOUT THE BIBLE
“It is impossible to mentally or socially enslave a Bible-reading people.” (Horace Greeley)

“Those who find the most difficulties in the Bible are those who seldom read it.”

“There are mysteries of grace and love in every page of the Bible; it is a thriving soul that finds the Book of God growing more and more precious.”

“The great question is not what you make of the Bible, but what the Bible makes of you.”

“Dust on your Bible is not evidence it is a dry Book.”

“The Bible is the book above all others to be read at all ages and in all conditions of human life. Not to be read once or twice or thrice through and then laid aside but to be read every day.” (John Quincy Adams)

“Even after two thousand years of criticism, the critics have not produced anything better than the Bible.”

“Men do not reject the Bible because it contradicts itself, but because it contradicts them.”

“There never was found, in any age of the world, either religion or law that did so highly exalt the public good as the Bible.” (Bacon)

“The Bible is so simple a child can understand its truths, but so deep no man has ever mastered it.”

“No book that prepares you for tomorrow can ever be out of date or old-fashioned.”

“Most people are bothered by those passages in Scripture which they cannot understand; but as for me, I always noticed that the passages in Scripture which trouble me most are those which I do understand” (Mark Twain)

The Bible is God’s divine dictionary where He defines Himself to all those who sincerely seek to know Him.”

“The Bible is the word of life. I beg that you will read it and find this out for yourselves.” (Woodrow Wilson)

“It is impossible to rightly govern the world without God and the Bible.” (George Washington)

“I am profitably engaged in reading the Bible. Take all of this book upon reason that you can and the balance by faith, and you will live and die a better man.” (Abraham Lincoln)

“Generation follows generation, but the Bible lives on. Nations rise and fall; yet the Bible lives. Kings and Presidents come and go; yet the Bible lives.”

“Those who find the most difficulties with the Bible are those who seldom read it.”

IF GOD SHOULD GO ON STRIKE
How good it is that God above has never gone on strike because He was not treated fair in things He didn’t like. If only once He’d given up and said, “That’s it, I’m through,” “I’ve had enough of thee on earth, so this is what I’ll do.” “I’ll give my orders to the sun, cut off the heat supply, and to the moon give no more light and run the oceans dry. Then just to make things really tough and put the pressure on, turn off the vital oxygen till every breath is gone.” You know He would be justified if fairness were the game. For no one has been more abused or met with more disdain than God, and yet He carries on supplying you and me with all the favors of His grace, and everything for free. Men say they want a better deal, and so on strike they go. But what a deal we’ve given God to whom all things we owe. We don’t care who we hurt to gain the things we like. But what a mess we’d all be in if God should go on strike. (Author Unknown)

HOW TO BE A FRIENDLY CHURCH
Speak to people, even if you don’t know their names. There is nothing as nice or cheerful as a friendly word of greeting.
Smile at people. It takes 72 muscles to frown and only 14 to smile. Your smile is one of your finest assets. Use it regularly.
Call people by name. The sweetest music to any person’s ears is the sound of his/her own name.

THE CASE FOR CHRISTIANITY
“Why, then, did God give them free will? Because for wisdom, though it makes evil possible, is also the only thing that makes possible any love or goodness or joy worth having. A world of automation of creatures that worked like machines—would hardly be worth creating.” (C. S. Lewis)

FAITH
Faith doesn’t always take you out of the problem, Faith takes you through the problem. Faith doesn’t always take away the pain, Faith gives you the ability to handle the pain. Faith doesn’t always take you out of the storm, Faith calms you in the midst of the storm. (Mark Anthony Mitchell Sr.)

THANKS
Thanks to Hiseville Christian for hosting our May meeting. There were 80 men present from 22 congregations.

CURRENT 2024 SCHEDULE
July 22—Russell Springs Christian
August 26—Rolling Fork Christian
September 23—Burkesville First Christian
October 28—Glenview Christian
November 25—Jamestown Christian

QUOTABLE QUOTES
It’s easier to fool people than to convince them that they’ve been fooled.” (Mark Twain)
What a tragedy it is to believe in a big God and to settle for small dreams.
Don’t regret growing older. It’s a privilege denied to many.
When we water down the meaning of sin, we water down the sacrifice which paid for it.
The same disciples who couldn’t pray for one hour were able to fish all night. Your priorities matter!
A minister who cares about where you will spend eternity will preach not what you want to hear but what you need to hear.
It is not the will of God if it goes against the Word of God.
Truth does not mind being questioned. A lie does not like being challenged.
Your days are better when you focus on your blessings more than your problems.
It is impossible to rightly govern a nation without God and the Bible. (George Washington)
One day you will be just a memory for some people. Do your best to be a good one.

TRUTH VS. DECEPTION
Uncovering Three False Teachings Within the Church
#1 Prosperity Gospel
The Prosperity Gospel, also known as the Health and Wealth Gospel, teaches that God’s primary desire for believers is financial prosperity, physical health, and material success. It often suggests that you will be wealthy and free from suffering if you have enough faith. This teaching distorts the Biblical message of faith and misrepresents God’s intentions. It can lead to materialism, disappointment, and a shallow understanding of faith. The Bible does not guarantee material wealth and teaches that believers will face trials and sufferings.
#2 Universalism
Universalism is the belief that ultimately everyone will be saved and reconciled with God regardless of their faith or actions in this life. It suggests that there is no eternal punishment. Universalism contradicts the teachings and the need for faith in Jesus Christ for salvation and the concept of judgment and accountability. It undermines the significance of personal belief and repentance.
#3 Denial of the Trinity
Some reject the Trinity which teaches that God exists as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Each is fully God yet one in essence. Denying the Trinity goes against centuries of Christian consensus and the clear teachings of the Bible. The Trinity is foundational in Christianity and essential to understanding the nature of God. —Mark Anthony Mitchell, Atlanta.

HOW DO PEOPLE START ATTENDING CHURCH?
*A friend’s invitation. 86%
*An organized visitation. 6%
*A minister’s invitation. 6%
*Advertising. 2%
PEOPLE BRING PEOPLE!

BIBLICAL IGNORANCE
Following a recent Gallup study, it was concluded that “churches in America face no greater challenge than overcoming biblical illiteracy. Many Christians don’t know what they believe or why. Their faith is not rooted in Scripture. They revere the Bible but don’t read it. The Bible has not in any profound way penetrated our culture.” (Let God Speak,” Randy Frazee, Christian Standard, May/June 2024).

INDEPENDENCE DAY – JULY 4
PRAYER FOR LIBERTY
“Lord Jesus, thou who art the way, the truth, and the life, hear us as we pray for the truth that shall make men free. Teach us that liberty is not only to be loved but also to be lived. Liberty is too precious a thing to be buried in books. It costs too much to be hoarded. Make us see that our liberty is not the right to do as we please, but the opportunity to do what is right.” –Peter Marshall, before the U.S. Senate

MORBUS SABBATICUS
Morbus Sabbaticus (Sunday Sickness) is a disease common to church members. Some of the symptoms are:
*It never interferes with the appetite.
*It never lasts more than 24 hours.
*No physician is ever called.
*It is contagious.
*It can prove fatal in the end—to the soul.
The attack usually comes on suddenly every Sunday. No ill effects are felt on Saturday night, and the patient awakes as usual, feeling fine. He (She) eats a hearty breakfast. About 9 a.m. the attack comes on, and it lasts until around noon. In the afternoon, the patient is much improved. He (She) may have another attack which lasts through the evening. The patient is able to go to work Monday, as usual.

OUR APRIL HOST
From its beginning in the home of a faithful Christian woman in 1877 to locations on West Dixie, North Mulberry, West Poplar and now North Miles, the story of First Christian is simple and consistent. It’s a story of believers working together to lead people closer to Jesus Christ. We do this by Loving God, Loving People, and Serving Others. Stuart Jones is in his 16th year as Senior Minister.

THANKS
Thanks to Glendale Christian for hosting our March meeting. There were 127 men present from 23 congregations.

HOSTS NEEDED
If your church would like to host our June or October meeting, please contact Secretary Mike Vaught at mcv1788@gmail.com and Builder Editor, Charles Young at cw.young@windstream.net.

MAY MEETING DATE
When Memorial Day occurs on the FOURTH Monday of May, MFC meets on the THIRD Monday. The May 20 meeting will be at Hiseville Christian Church, 70 West Main Street, Hiseville.

CURRENT 2024 SCHEDULE
May 20—Hiseville Christian (3rd Monday)
June 24—OPEN
July 22—Russell Springs Christian
August 26—Rolling Fork Christian
September 23—Burkesville First Christian
October 28—OPEN
November 25—Jamestown Christian

A CHANGE IN PROCEDURE
To ensure a smooth transition from the speaker’s message to our business session, copies of the Minutes and Financial Reports will now be available for pick up PRIOR to the start of the meeting.

CHRISTIAN CAMP SEASON
Schedules for 2024 are available on the camp websites:
www.whitemills.camp
www.kycampcalvary.com

CAN YOU IMAGINE?
A minister had dinner at the home of a couple in his church. After he left, the wife said to the husband, “I think he stole our spoon!” This bothered her for a whole year. A year later, the couple had the minister for dinner again. Unable to resist, the wife asked, “Did you steal our spoon last year?” The minister replied, “No, I put it inside your Bible.” (Copied)

WELCOME
Every church sends a message through how they welcome and treat guests. Those with no strategy send the loudest message. “What we believe has not impacted how we treat you.” Not to be hospitable is to prove the message of God’s grace hasn’t impacted the totality of the church. Hospitality is the combination of two words: stranger and love. It literally means to show love to strangers and it is very biblical. God’s hospitality toward us is the foundation and motivation for our hospitality toward others. God loved us while we were still strangers. While we were His enemies, He pursued us. And now we are to accept others the way Christ has accepted us. Being hospitable is even a qualification for being a leader in the church (1 Timothy 3:2). Churches must have a plan for how they show love to those who are their guests. (Eric Geiger at ThomRainer.com)

ANSWERED PRAYER
Just because your prayers weren’t answered the way you wanted doesn’t mean your prayers weren’t answered!

CHRISTIAN STANDARD: PRESERVING OUR HISTORY WHILE PROVIDING FOR OUR FUTURE
In 2017, just months after we acquired Christian Standard, the accountants informed us of a storage unit in Cincinnati that we were paying a monthly fee to maintain. To eliminate this expense, I assembled our editors to explore the storage unit and then to clean it out. What we found was priceless. Inside that dark, sterile unit were the contents of what had been the Standard Publishing library, including the archives and bound volumes of some products that went clear back to 1866, the year Christian Standard started. I wrote about that adventure after we recovered those artifacts and rehoused them in a library we created in Quincy, Illinois. You can read about it in “Raiders of the (Almost) Lost Artifacts” at ChristianStandard.com.

In our latest issue of Christian Standard, we sought to show the incredible value of the Restoration Movement’s history and how it frames where we are today and how that knowledge might help us to face the future. Christian Standard considers this history and our role in it as a sacred trust—and so does our benefactor, The Solomon Foundation. To that end, TSF has incorporated a brand-new library which will serve as the archive’s permanent home within its nearly completed phase-three construction project at its headquarters in Parker, Colorado. Dedication of this facility should occur this summer, and preparations are underway to move the archive from its present location in Illinois to its new permanent home in Colorado. We thank The Solomon Foundation for their shared passion for the preservation and curation of our history!

But the Restoration Movement is about much more than history. History is a foundation upon which to build a future, and Christian Standard is dedicated to an effective, God-honoring future for our movement and its leaders and churches. This is why we make our print magazine content available online for free, and why we have an online-only news operation, and why we now have decades of old issues of Christian Standard accessible to everyone via our website. We do that because we believe our content is an indispensable resource for great churches and committed Christ followers! We seek to eliminate all obstacles so that our readers and all Christians can access the resources and receive the encouragement that we so desperately need today.

I am so encouraged by the number of people who have been responding to our donation appeals! Your gifts are making an incredible difference in our ability to provide these resources to you. I am asking that the churches in our movement consider making Christian Standard Media part of your monthly mission support. No amount of support is too small, and as a thank-you, we will provide an annual print subscription to all churches and individuals for every $50 donated. Just click on the donate button at our website, fill in your gift amount, and we will gratefully send you our print magazine all year. Please include your email and street address to receive print copies.

Once again, thank you so much and pray for us as we continue to play a role in building the kingdom! (Jerry Harris, Publisher, Christian Standard Media)
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The Builder is published by Men for Christ at Indian Hills Christian Church in Danville, KY.
Publisher: Judy Clay (judyclay01@gmail.com)
Editor: Charles Young, (cw.young@windstream.net)