The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Colossians 3:8-11, “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–
11 a renewal in which there is no distinction between Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave and freeman, but Christ is all, and in all.
12 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.
14 Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity.

Were your parents the kind that really “laid it on you” when you did wrong? They would give you instructions that you needed, but then would repeat and repeat those instructions, adding a bit more with each “repetition”? Don’t ever think they were laying it on a bit too hard. They loved you and simply wanted you to be the best you could possibly be.

It was the same with the Apostle Paul. He knew the Colossian Christians better than they knew themselves. That’s why he spelled out all of the “wrongs” in these verses. Only he “spanked” them with words –and he did it
ahead of time.

“Anger” means “impulsive meanness”; “wrath” means “passion”; “malice” means “downright wickedness.” Not only did Paul not mince words, he poured
it on!! Just like my mother, Paul means business! If my mother had let me get
by with things, the other kids in my neighborhood would “beg off” from wrong by saying, “Gene’s mother let him do it.” So, Paul poured it on the Colossians.

How are we Christians going to lead non-Christians to faith in Jesus, if we engage in the same sinful activities as the non-Christians? Satan himself gets
a real boost when we act like he wants. Who is supposed to do what’s right?
You and I are! Yes, sometimes we slip. Paul knew that. That’s exactly why
he so forthrightly laid it on the Colossians! Isn’t the Biblical instruction exactly
what we all need? I’ll admit to that. How about 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

Dear Grands,

Colossians 3:1-7, “Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.
2 Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth.
3 For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God.
4 When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory.
5 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 because of these things that the wrath of God will come upon the sons of disobedience,
7 and in them you also once walked, when you were living in them.”

“I’m a Christian! I’ve been baptized! I go to church every Sunday! I read the
Bible! I…“ Hold on! There’s a whole lot more to being a Christian than just saying that you are. Paul cites this passage in his letter to the Colossian
believers with that very thing in mind! His emphasis on “keep seeking the things above” virtually says so. What are those things?

First, there are sins like “sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desires…”–
things of the mind – things that our lost and filthy world dangles before us,
things that mask our attention to the LORD, things that amount to idolatry!
Such things (and worse) are what brings the wrath of God down upon us.

True Christians are focused on Christ. They intentionally avoid worldly things.
The truly born again believers in Christ set the LORD’s standard in their lives,
so as to avoid evil and affect the lives of non-believing friends.

Is the Christian life hard? Let me just say that it’s impossible without Jesus!
Yet, it’s fruitful and joyful when you see the lives of unbelievers come to know
Him Whom they’ve previously ridiculed. If you don’t know Him, trust Him
right now!

“LORD Jesus, I truly regret the sins I’ve committed against You.
Forgive me for all my sins. Come into my heart and life and teach
me to follow You and Your teachings in the Bible. In Jesus’ Name,
I pray. Amen.

If you’ve genuinely prayed to receive Jesus as your LORD and Savior,
Let me be among the first to welcome you into the Family of our LORD!
Establish a time and place for reading His Word. Yield to His leadership
in your life. Get into a Bible-preaching Church and never stop thanking
the LORD Jesus for saving your soul. God bless 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

Dear Grands,

Mark 8:31-34, “And Jesus began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer
many things and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes,
and be killed, and after three days rise again.
32 And He was stating the matter plainly, and Peter took Him aside and began
to rebuke Him.
33 But turning around and seeing His disciples, He rebuked Peter by saying, “Get behind Me, Satan; for you are not setting your mind on God’s interests, but man’s.”
34 And He summoned the crowd with His disciples, and said to them, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow
Me.”

Only moments ago, as I was preparing to script this GRANDS LETTER, I received
a phone call from a former student saying, “The LORD just laid you on my heart–
to call you and tell you that I love you.” He has been a long-time friend and a competent servant of our LORD Jesus Christ. We’re both older now than when we first became acquainted, and our small physical “crosses” are somewhat the same.

Jesus was headed for suffering when He spoke the words above to His disciples.
He predicted His suffering and rejection to them. Simon Peter earned Jesus’ rebuke
when he argued that none of what Jesus said would surely happen to Him. It was a
strong rebuke, as. Peter’s mind had engaged in human thought; Jesus’ rebuke of Peter regarded His Father’s thought.

Ultimately, Jesus did suffer, just as He had said. His suffering set the standard for
Peter and for all of us. Satan hates Jesus! Furthermore, he hates Jesus’ followers,
because we love and serve Him. Do you know people who hate you? Don’t hate
them; love them! Love is always –and will ever be– Jesus’ way of dealing with hatred.

a negative respondent, just know that I understand. There were such in Jesus’ day, and there always will be. But Spiritual Love always exceeds discoloration. This Letter is intended for your benefit; and, like the friend, who phoned me, I love you, too.

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,

Psalm 19:7-14, “The law (instruction) of the LORD is perfect, restoring the soul; The testimony (warning) of the LORD is sure (faithful), making wise the simple.
8 The precepts (moral guides) of the LORD are right (and clear), rejoicing the heart; The commandment (positive instruction) of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes. The fear (reverence) of the LORD is clean, enduring forever; the judgments (penalties) of the LORD are true; they are righteous altogether.
10 They are more desirable than gold, yes, than much fine gold; Sweeter also than honey and the drippings of the honeycomb.
11 Moreover, by them Your servant is warned; In keeping them there is great reward.
12 Who can discern (know) his errors (sins)? Acquit me of hidden faults (transgressions).
13 Also keep back Your servant from presumptuous (arrogant) sins; Let them not rule over me; Then I will be blameless, And I shall be acquitted of great transgression.
14 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.”

These eight verses compose an exceedingly practical guide for all believers. It is the
LORD’s guidebook for all who are spiritually attached to Him or desire to be. The true believer knows what his LORD wants; therefore, he listens to the warnings for not obeying. He knows the reward for obedience is of inestimable value.

Moreover, the true believer does not just go on sinning, thinking he can obtain
forgiveness as he travels onward. He seeks to honor his LORD and Savior. Therefore, he moves along with caution, honoring the LORD all the way.

May our blessed LORD give us the grace to trust Him as we follow Him. May our
lives be always complimentary of our LORD and Savior, Jesus Christ.

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,

Genesis 43:9, Judah said to his father, Israel: “I myself will be surety for him; you may hold me responsible for him. If I do not bring him back to you and set him before you, then let me bear the blame before you forever.”

1 Samuel 25:24-25: Abigail “fell at (David’s) feet and said, “On me alone, my lord, be the blame. And please let your maidservant speak to you, and listen to the words of your maidservant.”

Job 1:21b-22: “The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away. Blessed be the name of the LORD. Through all this Job did not sin nor did he blame God.”

1 Thess. 5:23: – “Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Do you remember the silly, foolish rhymes kids used to sing in elementary school? This one was named “Freckles.” It was composed by Harry Edward Nilsson back in
The 1940s and 50s. (This question is exclusively addressed to the seniors on the
Grands List).

One of those rhymes had a tune and went like this:

Freckles was his name;
He used to always get the blame
For every broken window pane
And how they’d yank him
They’d always spank him.

The name of the game was “blame someone else,” of course. Yet, when we are
guilty of doing something for which we could rightly be blamed, we want to shift the
blame onto someone else. Such “shifting,” of course, is a form of lying.

It’s interesting to note, however, that those in biblical times found it better to admit
to a wrong-doing rather than shifting it to someone else. They knew the LORD
knew who was truly to blame; thus, denying it themselves was tantamount to
lying.

When was the last time you were blamed for something you didn’t do? When was
the last time you shifted blame to someone for something you yourself did? The
LORD knows who is to be blamed in every situation. Better that we should admit
to our wrong doing than to shift it to another or seek to cover it up. Not all of the
biblical people in the verses above were guilty of a “cover up”; they simply confessed
it quickly and bore the lesser consequences. Doesn’t that make good sense?

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

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

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