It seems as if winter would never go away, and spring would not come. Now, summer is nearly upon us with the first official day about a month away. Moses wrote, “While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease.” (Genesis 8:22.) The old saying that the time will come when one will not be able to tell the seasons of the year by the budding of the trees is false. As long as the world stands, thee will be seasons of the year. We will have our springs, summers, falls and winters. They may vary somewhat in temperature, but God tells us we will have them. The weather is cyclical. Over the thousands of years since the great flood, there has not really been much change. So, with summer approaching what are some things to remember?
Let us remember that our Vacation Bible School will be here even before the official day of summer. Schools will be out. It is a good time for us to encourage our children and their friends to come study the Bible with us in our VBS. The date set this year is June 6-9. Wednesday through Friday we begin each evening at 6:30. We conclude our VBS on Saturday morning, beginning at 10. Following VBS, we will have a meal together. The theme this year is “Fishers of Men.” We will have classes for all ages, even the adults. VBS is not just for children.
June 18-22 is my Bible camp. Ages 8-18 are welcome. We will be studying 1 Peter 4 this year. The younger campers will be learning Bible facts. Our mornings are spent in Bible classes and chapel. The afternoons are used for various activities. Every evening we have a worship service. It is a great week of fellowship. It is one of the highlights of my year. One of the things which makes it so special is that some of our former campers are now working with us in this effort. I especially enjoy the week because I get to see family that week. My sons, if their schedules allow, will come and work with us. We do not get to visit as we would like, because we are so busy in the work. However, what is better than a family working together for the Lord? We have great workers and good meals. I would say we have the finest of accommodations, but that might be stretching it a bit. Though there have been some improvements recently. However, camp life does make one appreciate the comforts of home a little more.
June 24th is our special contribution for the Pine Vale Children’s Home out of Corinth, Mississippi. Each year all given over the budget goes to this home. We try to keep this special day before the congregation all year long. James wrote, “Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.” (James 1:27.) We are giving regularly to a grandmother in the congregaton who is caring for her grandsons. They do not have a mother and father around to be good examples and to support them. However, we still want to continue to help Pine Vale Children’s Home.
The days are warming up, even though summer is not officially here. Modesty is always an issue, especially in the summer. God put clothes on Adam and Eve. After they sinned, they realized they were naked; so, they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves “aprons.” However, God saw them, and made them coats of animal skins to cloth them (Gen. 3:7, 21). God has always been concerned that we dress modestly. Moses gave instructions to the priests: “And thou shalt make them linen breeches to cover their nakedness; from the loins even unto the thighs they shall reach: And they shall be upon Aaron, and upon his sons, when they come in unto the tabernacle of the congregation, or when they come near unto the altar to minister in the holy place; that they bear not iniquity, and die: it shall be a statute for ever unto him and his seed after him.” (Ex. 28:42–43.) Paul wrote to the young preacher Timothy: “In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array; But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works.” (1 Tim. 2:9–10.) Both men and women need to dress appropriately.
Summertime means vacation time for many. Prior to traveling, one needs to find a faithful congregation with which to worship on the Lord’s day and for Wednesday night Bible study. Many years ago one could stop in at just about any place where there was a Church of Christ sign, but that is certainly not the case now. There is no telling what one will find. Of course, in Indiana, Ohio and other states in the north a congregation may have “Church of Christ” on its sign, but it may be a Christian Church.
When one is going to be away on vacation or business, he should also leave his contribution at his home congregation. The local work goes on. Bills must be paid. Preachers and missionaries continue to need support. We are still to give as we have been prospered on the first day of the week. One may make a small contribution where he is visiting, but his main contribution should go to the home congregation. If we want our home congregation to continue, we must continue to support it, even when we are on vacation. We have some who are very good at doing that; others, evidently forget. So, let this be a reminder to all of us.
Let us remember that the devil never takes a vacation (1 Peter 5:8). So, let us always be on guard. The Bible says, “For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.” (Titus 2:11–14.) Let each of us remember the importance of setting the right example before others (1 Tim. 4:12; Matt. 5:13-16.)
With more daylight during the summer, it gives each of us more opportunity to help others. Paul said, “As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.” (Gal. 6:10.) Let each of us do what we can with the opportunities granted us.
Have a good summer for the Lord.