I am a soldier in the army of my God. The Lord Jesus Christ is my commanding officer. The Holy Bible is my code of conduct. Faith, prayer, and the Word are my weapons of warfare. I have been taught the Holy Bible, trained by experience, tried by adversity and tested by fire. I am a volunteer in this army, and I am enlisted for eternity. I will either retire in this army or die in this army; but I will not get out, sell out, be talked out, or pushed out. I am faithful, reliable, capable and dependable. If my God needs me, I am there. If he needs me in the Sunday school, to teach the children, work with the youth, help adults or just sit and learn, He can use me because I am there! I am a soldier.

I am not a baby. I do not need to be pampered, petted, primed up, pumped up, picked up, or pepped up. I am a soldier. No one has to call me, remind me, write me, visit me, entice me, or lure me. I am a soldier. I am not a wimp. I am in place, saluting my king, obeying His orders, praising His name, and building His kingdom! No one has to send me flowers, gifts, food, cards, candy, or give me handouts. I do not need to be cuddled, cradled, cared for, or catered to. I am committed. I cannot have my feelings hurt bad enough to cause me to quit. When Jesus called me in this army, I had nothing. If I end up with nothing, I will still come out ahead. I will win. My God has and will continue to supply all of my needs.

I am more than a conqueror. I will always triumph. I can do all things through Christ. No one can defeat me. People cannot disillusion me. Weather cannot weary me. Sickness cannot stop me. Battles cannot beat me. Money cannot buy me. Governments cannot silence me, and hell cannot handle me. I am a soldier. Even death cannot destroy me. For when my commander calls me from this battlefield, He will promote me to Captain and then allow me to rule with Him. I am a soldier in the army, and I’m marching claiming victory. I will not give up. I will not turn around. I am a soldier, marching heaven bound. Here I stand!

“Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth and having on the breastplate of righteousness; and your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God” (Ephesians 6:13-17).

Copied from The Sandusky Sower (Adapted from original by Cindye Coates)

The past several years have produced an uneasy, unfounded shift in brotherhood terminology. Much as been written in various journals and papers, and even more has been said in countless lectures and sermons concerning “our movement” and “our fellowship,” with less and less being said about the Lord’s church.

Not so long ago, preachers of the gospel proudly proclaimed the beauty and singularity of the Lord’s church. But times have changed, as has the language and conviction of many current preachers, editors and church leaders. It appears that now, at least in the minds of what appears to be an ever-growing segment among us, loyalty to the Lord and His blood-bought church is being blindly bartered for affiliation with either an historical, humanly-devised movement, or some undefined, nebulous, and vaguely-bounded fellowship.

It is true that we, as God’s people living now in the twenty-first century, owe much to the honest and truth-seeking leaders of what has been commonly coined, “The American Restoration Movement.” Good and courageous men such as Alexander Campbell, Barton Stone, James O’Kelly — along with countless others of like faith and fortitude — performed a tremendous service to the world by leading men and women back to the Bible. But our roots run deeper than the American Restoration. As the church built by Jesus Christ, our history traces all the way back to the first Pentecost Day following the Lord’s resurrection, that wonderful day of beginnings described in the second chapter of the book of Acts.
We are not members of a denomination founded by Alexander Campbell. Campbell never intended such. He rather sought to point men back, beyond himself, to the risen Savior. He urged men to unite in the one, non-denominational, New Testament church.

I am thankful for “our movement.” I appreciate the blessing and warmth of “our fellowship.” But my allegiance, loyalty, my very life, belong to the Lord and His church. Furthermore, I intend to continue calling the Lord’s church, the church of Christ, what it is — THE CHURCH.

Copied from Central’s Bulletin, Clearwater, Florida

To a friend...loyalty.

To an enemy...forgiveness.

To your boss...service.

To a child...a good example.

To your father...respect.

To your mother...devotion.

To your wedded mate...love and faithfulness.

To all people...charity.

To God...your life.