The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

John 6:1-14, “After these things Jesus went away to the other side of the Sea of Galilee (or Tiberias).
2 A large crowd followed Him, because they saw the signs which He was performing on those who were sick.
3 Then Jesus went up on the mountain, and there He sat down with His disciples.
4 Now the Passover, the feast of the Jews, was near.
5 Therefore Jesus, lifting up His eyes and seeing that a large crowd was coming to Him, said to Philip, “Where are we to buy bread, so that these may eat?”
6 This He was saying to test him, for He Himself knew what He was intending to do.
7 Philip answered Him, “Two hundred denarii worth of bread is not sufficient for them, for everyone to receive a little.”
8 One of His disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said to Him,
9 “There is a lad here who has five barley loaves and two fish, but what are these for so many people?”
10 Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” Now there was much grass in the place. So, the men sat down, in number about five thousand.
11 Jesus then took the loaves, and having given thanks, He distributed to those who were seated; likewise also of the fish as much as they wanted.
12 When they were filled, He said to His disciples, “Gather up the leftover fragments so that nothing will be lost.”
13 So they gathered them up, and filled twelve baskets with fragments from the five barley loaves which were left over by those who had eaten.
14 Therefore, when the people saw the sign which He had performed, they said, “This is truly the Prophet who is to come into the world.”

Israeli kids are everywhere! I will never forget the lad that asked me if I knew where America was. I tried to look puzzled as I asked him, “Where is it?” He grinned as he said, “It’s right in the middle of Jerusalem!” Do you see what he meant?

It is kids like that who followed the crowds that followed Jesus. We will never know the parting words of that mother to her son; but my guess would be that she said, “Don’t go too far and don’t forget to take a lunch.” She would never have guessed the value of that meager amount of food.

What does it take to convince people of the love and concern that Jesus has for them? Would what Jesus then did have convinced you? It caused His disciples some concern when they discovered the lad had only five small barley loaves and two very small fish.

Still, it’s not how much do you have; it’s how much power does Jesus have! First, everything was set in order. At Jesus direction, the nearly 5,000 people were ordered to sit on the ground. Jesus then prayed over the food, recognizing His Heavenly Father’s
provision.

When we have too much, and it costs us nothing, we have a tendency to waste what is left over. So, when the multitude had eaten as much as they wanted, Jesus orderd that what was left be gathered, so that nothing was wasted.

“When the people saw the sign which He had performed, they said, ‘This is truly the Prophet who is to come into the world.’”

Have you ever thought that the LORD provides the food that you eat? That’s why we pray over our food. Have you ever thought that the LORD, who provides your food, provides everything you have –and for your good? Do you thank Him for it?

“Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow” (Jas. 1:17). Just don’t forget to thank Him.

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.
Springdale, Arkansas 72764
United States of America

“We never know that Christ is all we need until He becomes all that we have.” – Corrie ten Boom

Dear Grands,

Judges 8:21-23, “Then Zebah and Zalmunna said, “Rise up yourself, and fall on us; for as the man, so is his strength.” So Gideon arose and killed Zebah and Zalmunna, and took the crescent ornaments which were on their camels’ necks.
22 Then the men of Israel said to Gideon, “Rule over us, both you and your son, also your son’s son, for you have delivered us from the hand of Midian.”
23 But Gideon said to them, “I will not rule over you, nor shall my son rule over you; the LORD shall rule over you.”

There is a lot to be said of what occured prior to the few verses we have noted above. Gideon was the leader of 300 men, who marched around the camp of the Midianites carrying pitchers with torches inside. They routed the camp of the Midianites with their blowing of trumpets and hoisting lamps, bringing a marvelous victory in the Name of the LORD.

Gideon’s bravery notwithstanding, his spiritual life was even greater. They wanted to exalt him and make him their ruler. Yet, he knew the victory had come from greater hands than his. And because of that, he refused the position, exalting the LORD God as the One who produced the victory.

Gideon, however, was far from perfect. You’ll discover that if you choose to read the following chapters. Nevertheless, he stood spiritually tall when he insisted that the LORD was the true Victor.

We have today (8 November 2022) elected some people to govern us over these next few years. Hopefully, we have prayed over our selections; nevertheless, the LORD is in charge! He has given us either the leaders we need for returning our nation to what it once was, or He has given us the leaders that we deserve.

Throughout Scripture we can find strong, Godly men, whom the LORD allowed to lead His people; yet, even they often turned aside from the LORD’s desire. It can happen so with us. We must simply get our lives in order and continue to pray for His Leadership. In the end, we will then say, “He has done all things well” (Mark 7:37).

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.
Springdale, Arkansas 72764
United States of America

“We never know that Christ is all we need until He becomes all that we have.” – Corrie ten Boom

Dear Grands,

Numbers 27:18-23, “So the LORD said to Moses, ‘Take Joshua the son of Nun, a man in whom is the Spirit, and lay your hand on him;
19 and have him stand before Eleazar the priest and before all the congregation, and commission him in their sight.
20 ‘You shall put some of your authority on him, in order that all the congregation of the sons of Israel may obey him.
21 ‘Moreover, he shall stand before Eleazar the priest, who shall inquire for him by the judgment of the Urim before the LORD. At his command they shall go out and at his command they shall come in, both he and the sons of Israel with him, even all the congregation.’
22 Moses did just as the LORD commanded him; and he took Joshua and set him before Eleazar the priest and before all the congregation.
23 Then he laid his hands on him and commissioned him, just as the LORD had spoken through Moses.’”

The verses listed above seem appropriate to the time in which we live. The LORD appointed (elected) Moses to appoint Joshua to stand before Eleazar, the priest of the congregation. The appropriate authority was then vested
in others, who, in turn, worked more directly with the people.

We are at this very time engaged in an off-year election. It’s difficult not to believe that the way our election procedures are arranged came originally from the passage above or other like-passages of Scripture. Were that so, we would be all-the-more responsible to research the candidates and then vote for those most honoring to God.

Searching the Scriptures reveals that those, who were charged with spiritual responsibilities, but neglected to properly attend to them, were disenfranchised from their responsibilities. Our enablement of that today would be called “term limits.” What business tolerates employees who doddle around instead of tending to matters for which they were hired? It should be so in government. Elections will take care of indigent office-holders, if “we the people” pay attention to what’s going on!

I have long been an advocate for “term limits!” Your representative or senator (state or national) may be –without question— excellent in representing and voting for your views. Yet, when he (or she) is elected again and again and again, it says in point-of-fact that there is no other person in your city, county or state who can represent your views as well. And, in my view, that is just not so!

One more thing… we the people lack Biblical morality! Thus, we send those who lack it also to represent us. Then, we wonder why we are so inundated with “trans-this” and “trans-that”!! The Constitution that has a Biblically moral basis, is by-passed and trampled upon, as if the LORD Himself did not exist! Well, He does exist! And those who ignore Him will one day “cry for the rocks and the mountains to fall upon them,” so heinous and reprehensible they are!

Pray for our Beloved United States! Vote for Godly office holders! And remember that you and I are responsible to to God for what we do!

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.
Springdale, Arkansas 72764
United States of America

“We never know that Christ is all we need until He becomes all that we have.” – Corrie ten Boom

Dear Grands,

Luke 12:16-21, “And He told them a parable, saying, ‘The land of a rich man was very productive.
17 ‘And he began reasoning to himself, saying, “What shall I do, since I have no place to store my crops?”
18 ‘Then he said, “This is what I will do: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods.
19 ‘And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years to come; take your ease, eat, drink and be merry.”‘
20 “But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your soul is required of you; and now who will own what you have prepared?’
21 “So is the man who stores up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.”

What do you do to relax? Some people engage in household duties, like cutting grass and taking care of flowers. Others, prefer to read a book or research things on the Internet. People who are involved in mathematics or statistical things find it relaxing to find something different.

The man in Jesus’ parable was quite rich. You would think he would find it relaxing to avoid business elements. Instead, he elected to tear down the barns he had and build new ones. I’ve often wondered why he didn’t just build new barns and leave the old ones standing. Maybe it’s my frugal nature that thinks that.

Whatever your calculation regarding this rich man, Jesus called him a “fool.” The man’s foolishness had little-to-do with building. His problem was that he neglected the spiritual aspects of life –and death.

When I was young, I worked for a funeral home. I’ve seen the poorest of the poor and the richest of the rich. Death was the leveling factor to all of their lives. The LORD required the souls of those in both groups, even when they denied in life the reality of the LORD and His Word.

The basis of God calling the man a “fool,” lay in his neglect of spiritual matters –the chief matter being trust in the LORD Jesus Christ! Once life slips from us, all that truly matters is whether we have trusted Jesus as our Savior and Lord. Have you done this?

It’s not which church you attend; it’s not how nice you are to your neighbors; it’s not whether you have contributed to the physical needs of others. It’s totally whether you have trusted Jesus Christ as LORD and Savior of your life. Death comes unexpectedly! Even as I write, I am aware that this could be my last Grands Letter. So, I plead with you to repent of your sin and accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior. You do this through prayer. Talk to Him as you would to me –only put your trust in HIM!

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.
Springdale, Arkansas 72764
United States of America

“We never know that Christ is all we need until He becomes all that we have.” – Corrie ten Boom

Dear Grands,

Ezekiel 22:11-14, “One has committed abomination with his neighbor’s wife and another has lewdly defiled his daughter-in-law. And another in you has humbled his sister, his father’s daughter.
12 “In you they have taken bribes to shed blood; you have taken interest and profits, and you have injured your neighbors for gain by oppression, and you have forgotten Me,” declares the Lord GOD.
13 “Behold, then, I smite My hand at your dishonest gain which you have acquired and at the bloodshed which is among you.
14 “Can your heart endure, or can your hands be strong in the days that I will deal with you? I, the LORD, have spoken and will act.”

It is difficult to believe all that is happening around us. Ministers of the Gospel forced to leave their pulpits because of indescent activities with women and children. Teachers at elementary and high school levels engage in sexual activities with their students. Politicians, known for their scandalous activities, glibly mention God, and then ask for still another opportunity to prove that given the chance, they can be scandalous again! What kind of world has surrounded and infiltrated our thinking?

Ezekiel lived in times like ours. The promise of the LORD was that their enemies would fall upon them in victory. In fact, the very Hand of the LORD would be against them. They wilfully sinned against Him; now it is His opportunity to hold them accountable!

“Can your heart endure, or can your hands be strong in the days that I will deal with you?” the LORD asks. Yet, to ask the question is to answer it. He charges the people with failing to be what He willed them to be; and He promises losses to match their faithlessness.

What leads us to believe that the LORD might deal negatively with us? We have no claim on His protection when we openly fail to reverence Him for all He does. Yield your heart and life to Him. He cares for you.

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.
Springdale, Arkansas 72764
United States of America

“We never know that Christ is all we need until He becomes all that we have.” – Corrie ten Boom