The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Philippians 4:1, “Therefore, my beloved brethren whom I long to see, my joy and crown, in this way stand firm in the Lord, my beloved.”

Over the past few months, I have sought and found sufficient time to engage in an exercise called “reading.” As strange as it may seem that I should read and be moved by some booksother than the Bible, still, it is true. The book, written in 2017 by pastor, producer, writer Greg Laurie, is entitled Steve McQueen; The Salvation of an American Icon.

McQueen, who never knew his father, and was reared by an alcoholic mother, leaves us no surprise that he himself became addicted to alcohol and drugs, and engaged in a turbulent, decadent lifestyle. Yet, through an almost silent pilot, who taught him to fly, McQueen was introduced to the LORD Jesus Christ, ultimately becoming an out-spoken evangelist to everyone he knew and to some who only knew him.

You and I may know or live nearby a spiritually lost “Steve McQueen.” From the lifestyle, we assess that they are incorrigible and would never listen to our witness of the Savior. Yet, deep down within themselves, they wonder –they know!– there must be something more to life than they’ve experienced. They just need someone to “show and tell” them what that that “more” is! It is Jesus!

In his book, Things to Come, Dr. J. Dwight Pentecost cites five rewards that will one day be presented to some Christian believers. I’m going to list them with their biblical references. Your assignment is to look up the references and assess how many apply to your own life. No test from me. The only failure is not reading and assessing the verses as they apply to your own life.

(1) an incorruptible crown for those who get mastery over the old man (1Corinthians. 9:25);
(2) a crown of rejoicing for the soul winners (1 Thessalonian. 2:19);
(3) a crown of life for those enduring trials (James 1:12);
(4) a crown of righteousness for loving His appearing (2 Timothy 4:8).
(5) a crown of glory for being willing to feed the flock of God (1 Peter 5:4).”
How many will you receive? God bless you abundantly!

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,

2 John 1:7-11, “For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh. This is the deceiver and the antichrist.
8 Watch yourselves, that you do not lose what we have accomplished, but that you may receive a full reward.
9 Anyone who goes too far and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God; the one who abides in the teaching, he has both the Father and the Son.
10 If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house, and do not give him a greeting;
11 for the one who gives him a greeting participates in his evil deeds.”

Have you ever encountered a deceiver? You probably have. It may have been a door-to-door salesman, or someone standing just outside a store you frequent. It might even be a “pastor,” who pretends to have all the answers –except that he always has a “price” for what he shares wiith you. Well, John says, “Watch yourselves…!” That one is a deceiver!

John also says that the one who “does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God…” Other writers of Scripture warn of deceivers, too; but John goes further. He says not to allow them into your house, and not to give them greetings. Isn’t that rude? Not in this instance. Read on – “…for the one who gives him a greeting participates in his evil deeds.”

There is a practical side of refusing entry into one’s house. A person weak in the faith can easily be led away from his faith in Christ. I have a book entitled, Churches that Abuse. The author exposes several churches whose pastors’ primary purpose is far afield from the purpose of Jesus Christ. Those who attach themselves to one of those churches, loses faith in Christ altogether.

Key Help: Find a Biblical Church! Attend Sunday services for several weeks. Listen carefully to the pastor’s preaching. Does his preaching come from the Bible? Does it uplift Jesus Christ as the only way of salvation? Is the church worshipping Jesus as LORD and Savior? If those elements are in place, schedule a consultation with the pastor. Share your spiritual needs and questions with him. Everyone needs salvation in Christ! Everyone needs Christian friends. The right church will provide the right friends. And you will be on the right track! God bless you!

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

P. S. Thank you for praying for Erin! Everythign went well.

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 13:19-26, “For those days will be a time of tribulation such as has not occurred since the beginning of the creation which God created until now, and never will.
20 “Unless the Lord had shortened those days, no life would have been saved; but for the sake of the elect, whom He chose, He shortened the days.
21 “And then if anyone says to you, ‘Behold, here is the Christ’; or, ‘Behold, He is there’; do not believe him;
22 for false Christs and false prophets will arise, and will show signs and wonders, in order to lead astray, if possible, the elect.
23 “But take heed; behold, I have told you everything in advance.
24 “But in those days, after that tribulation, THE SUN WILL BE DARKENED AND THE MOON WILL NOT GIVE ITS LIGHT,
25 AND THE STARS WILL BE FALLING from heaven, and the powers that are in the heavens will be shaken.
26 “Then they will see THE SON OF MAN COMING IN CLOUDS with great power and glory.”

Follow the stories in any current newspaper and you will learn of the multiple tragedies that plague the nations of the world. News writers differ regarding what nation is at fault, but none disagree that times are bad and getting worse. Individuals, commenting on the news reports, often cite Scripture saying that we are living in the end times of human history.

Mark notes that there is indeed coming a time of unprecedented tribulation in the world. He states that all humanity could be wiped out, except for the LORD’s declaration that He has elected to shorten the days of mass destruction. It is also the time of severe persecution where many will pretend to be Christ and many will give false teachings and false directions as to where the one they call “lord” is residing.

Today, many people are aroused by what is called a shortage of food. Some are even close to panic; yet in that day, people will seek the LORD, knowing that He alone can give light where there is darkness and truth where conflicting ideas of “Him” abound. Antichrist will be visibly on Earth in those days, yet he will pretend to be their savior. Think of how man so-called “pastors” today are found to be guilty of heinous sins.

The only hope for the peoples of the world is their faithful embrace of the LORD Jesus Christ. Have you embraced Him? If you have not, I would urge you to do so immediately! Better not to be late. There’s no second opportunity.

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

P. S. Please pray for my granddaughter, Erin. She is undergoing surgery in Tulsa, Oklahoma, as I write.

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 6:1-2; 8-10, “Then the sons of Israel did what was evil in the sight of the LORD; and the LORD gave them into the hands of Midian seven years.
2 The power of Midian prevailed against Israel. Now it came about when the sons of Israel cried to the LORD on account of Midian….”

8 “…the LORD sent a prophet to the sons of Israel, and he said to them, ‘Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, “It was I who brought you up from Egypt and brought you out from the house of slavery.
9 ‘I delivered you from the hands of the Egyptians and from the hands of all your oppressors, and dispossessed them before you and gave you their land,”
10 and I said to you, “I am the LORD your God; you shall not fear the gods of the Amorites in whose land you live. But you have not obeyed Me.”‘”

Most of the time we know when we’re in trouble. Most of the time we would know why if we looked at the situations clearly and honestly. It’s all really quite clear: 1) we do wrong in God’s sight; 2) God deals with us for our wrong-doing; 3) We choose either to admit to our wrong-doing and express sorrow for it, or we look for someone to blame and continue to stagnate in trouble. But, if we truly belong to God, the enemies that assail us will find it impossible to contend with His strength.

Do we really need to be reminded of why we get into trouble with God? We have His Instruction Book (the Bible) that tells us how to live according to His Divine will. If we do as we’re instructed, we will reduce the number of times we encounter trouble. But, if we neglect to follow His Instructions, we can well expect difficulties to rush wildly into our lives. Israel discovered this when she encountered the Midianites.

The answer to our dilemma, both personally and nationally lies in our yielding to the LORD. He is ever and always concerned for His people. The BIG question is: are we committed to Him? Are we willing to abide by His instructions? He is the LORD, we are His people. We have only to obey.

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,

Proverbs 25:25-28, “Like cold water to a weary soul, so is good news from a distant land.
26 Like a trampled spring and a polluted well is a righteous man who gives way before the wicked.
27 It is not good to eat much honey, nor is it glory to search out one’s own glory.
28 Like a city that is broken into and without walls is a man who has no control over his spirit.”

If you’ve ever gone for a considerable hike and forgotten to take water, you understand clearly what “cold water (is) to a weary soul.” Yet, the discovery that the water has suffered pollution by an earlier traveler will teach you all the more how important it is to live so that others may enjoy life, also.

And if you’ve travelled alone to a far-away place and been there for some time, you understands what joy it is to receive good news from home! Still, too much of anything –even a good thing—is tiriing.

You know more about yourself than anyone, except your mother. Still, it is wearying to others when you continue to recount all the people that you know and the places where you’ve been. Get control of yourself! Remember that you’re not as important as you think –even to your best friends,. Get control of yourself! Share the joys you’ve discovered in the LORD Jesus Christ. You will be blest, and so will your friends.

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