The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Ephesians 4:25-32, “Therefore, laying aside falsehood, SPEAK TRUTH EACH ONE of you WITH HIS NEIGHBOR, for we are members of one another.
26 BE ANGRY, AND yet DO NOT SIN; do not let the sun go down on your anger,
27 and do not give the devil an opportunity.
28 He who steals must steal no longer; but rather he must labor, performing with his own hands what is good, so that he will have something to share with one who has need.
29 Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear.
30 Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
31 Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice.
32 Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.”

One of the earliest things a child learns to say is “No!” Selfishness reigns and angry words find their way out of the mouths of all children. Learning to be selfless and putting away angry words is, perhaps, the most difficult of the early lessons.

“I want it!” the child cries. “No, it’s my time to have it,” the other child says. Now, the lady in charge encourages the selfish child to relinquish his grip on the toy. No one can deny the child from wanting the toy, as that is the natural attiude of a sinful and selfish heart. But, the lady in charge knows that life itself demands a timely relinquishment or everything that one holds.

Angry words often follow, when a person is denied his will. The words and angry looks are always a grievance to the Holy Spirit. Anger often becomes bitter and “wrath and anger and clamor and slander” must cease. Such attitudes are wrong and displeasing to the LORD.

Kindness is the warm attitude of the Holy Spirit, and forgiveness is (or ought to be) the way of every born-again soul. Regardless of your current age, do you more resemble the LORD Jesus or one who does not know Him? Search your life thoroughly! Search it honestly. If you’ve never received Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, He is what is missing in your life. When you come to know Him, the kindness He has shown you and the forgiveness He has shown to you, will become what you will wish to show others. Trust me, it’s true!

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,

Esther 1:2-8, “In those days as King Ahasuerus sat on his royal throne which was at the citadel in Susa,
3 in the third year of his reign he gave a banquet for all his princes and attendants, the army officers of Persia and Media, the nobles and the princes of his provinces being in his presence.
4 And he displayed the riches of his royal glory and the splendor of his great majesty for many days, 180 days.
5 When these days were completed, the king gave a banquet lasting seven days for all the people who were present at the citadel in Susa, from the greatest to the least, in the court of the garden of the king’s palace.
6 There were hangings of fine white and violet linen held by cords of fine purple linen on silver rings and marble columns, and couches of gold and silver on a mosaic pavement of porphyry, marble, mother-of-pearl and precious stones.
7 Drinks were served in golden vessels of various kinds, and the royal wine was plentiful according to the king’s bounty.
8 The drinking was done according to the law, there was no compulsion, for so the king had given orders to each official of his household that he should do according to the desires of each person.”

There’s a saying that states, “If you’re going to do it, do it in style!” Whether King Ahasuerus was familiar with that saying, I do not know. Yet, his lavish arrangements,
including this banquet, was certainly in line with that saying.

What’s more, the food was luscious and plentiful. The drinking of the royal wine was also plentiful, although it was done “according to the desies of each person.” No one was compelled to drink, or presumably, limited. It was left to a man’s own desire.

There’s another old saying that goes: “Man takes a drink; drink takes a drink; then drink takes the man.” That’s more than an old saying, that’s the truth! And from that
point onward, man becomes the victim of what Billy Sunday used to call “booze.”

Today, we have too many people adhearing only to “laws” of their own making. And when they then become inebriated, they engage in activities that lessen a good life for themselves, and for others.

Do you live your life with a consideration for others? Or do you think others should with a consideration for you? Having “no compulsion” to abstain should not ever be viewed as a “free-for-all” for anyone. “Do unto others as you would have others do unto you.” You’ll feel better yourself, and the crowd around you will grow!

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 24:16-21, “And behold, two of them were going that very day to a village named Emmaus, which was about seven miles from Jerusalem.
14 And they were talking with each other about all these things which had taken place.
15 While they were talking and discussing, Jesus Himself approached and began traveling with them.
16 But their eyes were prevented from recognizing Him.
17 And He said to them, “What are these words that you are exchanging with one another as you are walking?” And they stood still, looking sad.
18 One of them, named Cleopas, answered and said to Him, “Are You the only one visiting Jerusalem and unaware of the things which have happened here in these days?”
19 And He said to them, “What things?” And they said to Him, “The things about Jesus the Nazarene, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word in the sight of God and all the people,
20 and how the chief priests and our rulers delivered Him to the sentence of death, and crucified Him.
21 “But we were hoping that it was He who was going to redeem Israel. Indeed, besides all this, it is the third day since these things happened.”

It’s always a bit amusing when you encounter someone who is wondering about the meaning of something that has occurred. These two Jewish friends had learned of the Resurrection of Jesus, but appeared to know very little about what it meant to the nation of Israel.

Verse 16 tells us that their eyes were miraculously “closed” to the fact that Jesus was Himself in their very midst. When He began to walk and talk with them, He revealed what the Scriptures had foretold of Him. They seemed to grasp His meaning, but were blind to everything until they ate together. It was when Jesus prayed that their eyes were opened.

None of this problem is far removed from where we are today. We see “bits ‘n pieces,” of the meaning of Scripture, but never grasp it fully until we recognize Jesus Christ as present with us, and pray.

Does the Scripture have meaning to you? Do you truly understand the Resurrection? The old song says, “Because He lives, we can face tomorrow”; yet, how many who sing it, truly understand it? or are committed to Him as they face their tomorrows?

It pays to know the One who walks the paths of life with us. It pays to know His Word, too. Give some prime time thinking to a careful reading of the Bible. That’s how we walk with Him and learn.

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,

Mark 13:3-33, “As He was sitting on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter and James and John and Andrew were questioning Him privately,
4 ‘Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign when all these things are going to be fulfilled?”
5 And Jesus began to say to them, ‘See to it that no one misleads you.
6 ‘Many will come in My name, saying, “I am He” and will mislead many.
7 “When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be frightened; those things must take place; but that is not yet the end.
8 “For nation will rise up against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; there will be earthquakes in various places; there will also be famines. These things are merely the beginning of birth pangs.
9 “But be on your guard; for they will deliver you to the courts, and you will be flogged in the synagogues, and you will stand before governors and kings for My sake, as a testimony to them.
10 “The gospel must first be preached to all the nations. ‘Truly I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place.
31 “Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away.
32 “But of that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone.
33 “Take heed, keep on the alert; for you do not know when the appointed time will come.”

The home in which I grew up was a home of many surprises! Birthdays, Christmas, Thanksgiving, –all of these events were filled with some kind of surprise. My sister and I could usually wangle something out of our Dad, but never out of our Mother!

Four of Jesus’ disciples had questions about things to come. They were like small children, asking about things they did not know. Jesus was cautious giving His answers, but He warned that there were people that could easily mislead them, so He clearly warned them, lest they be misled.

“Many,” He said, “will come in My name.” Some will pretend to be Me, and many will believe and follow them. Subsequently, Jesus revealed that there would be numerous wars among the nations of the Earth. Those who believe upon Him will be summoned before legal authorities and grossly mistreated simply because they are His disciples. Jesus’ watchword, therefore, was: “Be on your guard!”

Currently, we have opportunities to share the Gospel of Jesus with just about anyone; but as antagonists to the Gospel become bolder, it will be a risk for us to share Jesus. How long has it been since you shared Jesus with someone? Even a small Gospel tract can start a conversation.

Be spiritually and mentally alert! There is no time to lose. People die; and those who die without Jesus, will spend eternity separated from Him! Due diligence says: Tell others about Him today! God bless you! You are in my prayers.

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,

Mark 16:1-7, “When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, bought spices, so that they might come and anoint Him.
2 Very early on the first day of the week, they came to the tomb when the sun had risen.
3 They were saying to one another, ‘Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance of the tomb?’
4 Looking up, they saw that the stone had been rolled away, although it was extremely large.
5 Entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting at the right, wearing a white robe; and they were amazed.
6 And he said to them, ‘Do not be amazed; you are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who has been crucified. He has risen; He is not here; behold, here is the place where they laid Him.
7 ‘But go, tell His disciples and Peter, He is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see Him, just as He told you.’”

It seemed an impossible dream. Three believing and devoted women –all followers of our LORD Jesus Christ—went early in the morning to the tomb where Jesus had been buried.

They were well en route when they remembered that the tomb had been

barricaded with a huge stone. “Who will roll it away?” they wondered. Yet, upon arrival been there and rolled they discovered the stone was already moved, so they entered the tomb. Inside they discovered an angel who said, “‘Do not be amazed; you are looking for Jesus… who was crucified… He has risen; He is not here….”

Having received and believed the angel’s announcement, the women hurried back to the disciples with a confirmation of Jesus’ Resurrection! Life was now worth living! They had a message to share with the world.

Many of you reading this Letter have loved ones who have preceded you in death. We have all visited the places of our loved one’s burials, knowing that they were not there. The Good News is that one day they will arise from their graves
in much the same manner as Jesus’ Resurrection. And those who were by faith committed to Him will arise to be with Him forever.

In the meantime, since we know Him as our Savior and LORD, we have been given the responsibility to share Him with others –our children, grandchildren, family and friends. Remember how your life was changed when you first surrendered it to the LORD Jesus? We are to share that change with others. We cannot afford to be found faithless. Life goes on, and we are to live it just as He has directed us. May He ever find us faithful and sharing of His Good News!

Faithfully 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