The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Colossians 3:16-17, “Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one

another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God.

17 And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the

Father.”

This coming August will commemorate the end of World War 2, now 75 years ago. Thinking back on that era (I was only 10 when the war ended.), I recalled how much of a roll music played in our lives and the lives of men serving in the military. Songs, as Paul notes in verse 16 above, are encouraging and enlightening to those of us in Christ as well.

Paul calls our attention to three types of music: psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. It’s difficult to distinguish exactly what he means because music in his day was as different from music today, just as David’s music in the psalms was doubtlessly different from Paul’s day. What is MOST IMPORTANT, however, is that the songs he commends come from “the Word of Christ” that dwells within us. I grew up on music. My folks were musicians and sang and wrote poetry and music. (Why, pray tell, did my sister get all the talent?) I love classical music, soft orchestral music, and Gospel music that glorifies Christ. I seldom have gloomy times; but when I do, good, solid Christian music brings me out of it quite refreshingly!

The key point that I believe Paul wants us to understand is that it is the Word of God that produces the kind of music that glorifies our LORD Jesus. And it is the key to our thanksgiving for His salvation of our souls! Furthermore, good Christian music teaches and admonishes us to yield more completely to Him. Study this from Charles Wesley:

And can it be that I should gain
An int’rest in the Savior’s blood?
Died He for me, who caused His pain?
For me, who Him to death pursued?
Amazing love! how can it be
That Thou, my God, shouldst die for me?

No condemnation now I dread;
Jesus, and all in Him, is mine!
Alive in Him, my living Head,
And clothed in righteousness Divine,
Bold I approach the eternal throne,
And claim the crown, through Christ my own.

“And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him

to God the Father.” My prayer is that both of us might be what He died and arose that we might be!

God bless you abundantly!

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

P. S. Please keep praying for Whitney Tilson in NYC. He has heard the Gospel; now he needs to receive it.

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas 72764

United States of America

“We never know that God is all we need

until He becomes all that we have.”

Dear Grands,

Colossians 3:14-15, “And beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity.

15 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful.”

When Paul talked about forgiveness back in verse 13, he instructed that we should erase completely all thoughts of retribution toward those who had sinned against us. After all, the LORD forgave us much more than we could ever forgive others.

Now, Paul is promoting love and unity, the factors that result from forgiveness. Where “self” had previously ruled, he now insists that we allow the “peace” that Christ has given to rule in our hearts. Yet, how is that possible?

When we first trusted Christ as LORD and Savior or our lives, He forgave our sin, washed us clean within, and put the Holy Spirit within us. Christ demonstrated externally through His life how God wanted us to live. The Holy Spirit now works within us, knowing that left alone, we would reverse course and start living like we did before trusting Him as Savior. Thus, we have Jesus Christ’s example externally and the Holy Spirit’s leadership internally. This is precisely why we were saved: that we might show through our lives the power and love of the LORD: power to live; power to love.

“Self” cannot be trusted; thus, the Spirit was given to us to control us. Cars, motorcycles, and airplanes are all contain raw power in themselves; but to be effective and useful, they need someone to pilot and control them. That’s the Spirit’s responsibility. He is there to guide us. It’s our responsibility to listen to His direction and allow Him to control us. I think you will find it much to your advantage to allow the LORD to guide you over the rough spots in life.

Oh, and be thankful to the LORD for His love, forgiveness, and direction!!

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

P. S. Let’s keep praying for the salvation of Whitney Tilson! Remember, someone prayed for you.

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas 72764

United States of America

“We never know that God is all we need until He becomes all that we have.”

Dear Grands,

Colossians 3:12-13, “And so, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of

compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience;

13 bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord

forgave you, so also should you.”

Teaching doesn’t come easily. Universities have education programs that purport to demonstrate how to teach; nevertheless, graduates of those programs learn quickly that theories don’t always work. For one thing, students have to be programmed into those equations, and it is virtually impossible to predetermine how students will react to teaching.

In more than 40 years of teaching at the baccalaureate and graduate levels, I am convinced that teachers are born, not simply trained, although training has its values. All good teaching utilizes both negative and positive instruction.

Teaching also involves lifestyle. Students will observe what you do more than they will what you say for them to do.

In verses previous to our verses above, the Apostle Paul instructs his readers negatively; that is, he has told them what things are not to be a part of their Christian lives. Subsequently, he instructs them what things are to be a part of their spiritual lives.

God chooses from among His people those who are “holy and beloved.” He wants them to show compassion and kindness to others, along with genuine humility, gentleness and patience. Those are the qualities of a good teacher.

“Bearing with one another” relates to putting up with the present offences or failures of those we’re seeking to teach.

“Forgiving each other” relates to past offences or failures of those we’re seeking to teach. The key here is forgiveness.

Years ago, someone close to me was involved in a dispute without being granted a proper hearing. I was hugely offended because the man ultimately responsible for adjudication of the matter, I considered a close friend. It was years before I forgave him for not dealing fairly in the dispute. He was in the wrong, but I was more in the wrong than he, because I had not exercised forgiveness. Don’t let that happen to you! Be quick to forgive! After all, the LORD has

forgiven us; now, we should be quick to forgive others. Learn this lesson by instruction, not by experience!

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

P. S. Please remember to pray for Whitney Tilson. He is said to be meeting with Franklin Graham in the near future.

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas 72764

United States of America

“We never know that God is all we need

until He becomes all that we have.”

Dear Grands,

Colossians 3:5-10, “Therefore, consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion,

evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry.

6 For it is on account of these things that the wrath of God will come,

7 and in them you also once walked, when you were living in them.

8 But now you also, put them all aside: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive speech from your mouth.

9 Do not lie to one another, since you laid aside the old self with its evil practices,

10 and have put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who

created him.”

Our world is in a mess! Only one thing can be viewed as “good”: the COVID-19 pandemic has awakened many people to the reality of God and occasioned prayer that has led to the salvation of souls to Jesus Christ! But,

salvation in Christ is only the beginning of a new life. It is, in truth, a commitment to Christ – a commitment that promises dedication to Him and to Him alone! It means turning away from immorality, impurity, passion, evil desires and greed –all of which amount to idolatry, the worship of pagan gods. These transgressions will bring God’s wrath down upon the world-at-large.

Those are the “big ticket” sins. Yet, there’s more! Sin still reigns throughout the world and affects all human life. Paul names yet more vicious sins that still plague our lives, even the lives that have been committed to Christ. Impulsive anger, angry tempers, wickedness, abusive language, perjury –all sins of the flesh; and they work on us daily and

deny the very commitment we pledged to Christ.

We can resist all of that temptation to sin! Moreover, we must resist it! Examine your life! Root out all of those vicious sins named in the verses above. Pray that the Spirit of God, Who indwells you as a believer, will strengthen you in your resistance of evil. Let your life show forth to the Glory of Almighty God! Saying you’re a Christian is one thing; living as Christian is another! You’re not on your own! But, you must listen and obey the Spirit of God within you.

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

P. S. Whitney Tilson, the New York finacier, needs Jesus. Please pray for his salvation. Tilson says he never met an evangelical

Christian, until he encountered the group with Samaritan’s Purse. His influence for Christ could rock Wall Street and bring

many to faith in our Savior!

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas 72764

United States of America

“We never know that God is all we need until He becomes all that we have.”

Dear Grands,

Colossians 1:28-29, “And we proclaim Him, admonishing every man and teaching every man with all wisdom,

that we may present every man complete in Christ.

29 And for this purpose also I labor, striving according to His power, which mightily works within me.”

He was just a college football player coming off the field; but his encounter was an adult and the player turned the conversation to Jesus. He was well below the educational status of the man to whom he was talking, and only much later did he learn that the man was James M. Tour, Ph.D., an American nanotechnologist and both Professor of Materials Science and Nano-Engineering, and Professor of Computer Science at Rice University in Houston, Texas. Furthermore, Dr. Tour was a Jew!

Challenged like never before, Dr. James M. Tour began to read the Bible. His reading led him to faith in Jesus Christ, and he now admonish those he encounters to accept Jesus Christ as LORD and Savior just as he did. And it all started with a Rice University football player who dared to speak of Jesus!

Paul was rejoicing when he wrote those two verses above! “We proclaim Him,” he wrote. Furthermore, Paul continued to teach those whom he encountered. Admonishing is teaching what not to do; teaching is instruction concerning what to do. The wisdom comes from God; and the intention of it all is that every man, woman, boy and girl who hears and accepts the teaching might become complete (???????, teleios, mature) in the LORD Jesus Christ.

I know all the excuses. At times, I’ve used them myself. But this is no time for excuses. It doesn’t take a seminary graduate or a Ph.D. to tell others that Jesus loves them and wants to forgive their sin. You don’t have to have all the answers to the questions that some will ask. You just need the courage of a Rice University football player. After all, it not you who’s in charge; it’s Jesus! Share Him with someone today! You’ll both be better off for doing it.

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

P. S. Remember to pray for the salvation of Whitney Tilson! He said he had never met an evangelical Christian until he met those

who were with Samaritan’s Purse! He’s Jewish-related, so the LORD is doubly concerned for his soul.

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas 72764

United States of America

“We never know that God is all we need until He becomes all that we have.”