Topic(s): Priorities

How Do You Start the Day? A recent newspaper article revealed the results of a national survey taken by Robert Krups, a manufacturer of small appliances and home electronics. The survey was entitled “Morning Habits of America” and from the results of the survey there was listed the “Top 10 Morning Rituals”:

The top 10 activities the participants say they “can’t do without” each morning.

1. Personal hygiene (brushing teeth, washing face, taking a shower)—84%
2. Listen to the radio—55%
3. Drink coffee—53%
4. Make bed—53% (71% women; 32% men)
5. Make breakfast—50%
6. Kiss spouse—49% (83% couples married five years or less; 56% married 10 year or more)
7. Read newspaper—35%
8. Watch television—30%
9. Exercise—22% (split evenly men and women)
10. Iron clothes—11%

To a Christian there are some things that are missing from this list. Not one word was mentioned about prayer or Bible reading. Especially in a country where according to the Gallup poll 84% believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God, where 63% believe the Bible is the literal, inspired word of God and where 41% pray every day.

“How do you start your day?” is a valid question for Christians to consider. Is there prayer and Bible reading at the beginning of your daily routine? Or, is there prayer and Bible reading in your daily routine? I know many Christian who have made these two things near the top of their “Top 10 Morning Rituals” for all of their Christian lives.

David said, “My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, Oh Lord; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up” (Psalm 5:3). He also said, “Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice” (Psalm 55:17).

In the quiet of the morning we can begin our day by getting our thinking set on those things that are above (Colossians 3:1-2). We can equip ourselves just as our Lord did when He met Satan in the wilderness and resisted temptation by using the word of God (Matthew 4:1-11). We can be ready to handle the frustrations of life in a better way by beginning our day with the Lord. --Dave Dugan

The Balance I Saw in My Father, Gus Nichols: Part 1

By Flavis Nichols

Topic(s): Wisdom

I realize my father was just a human being, and therefore was subject to human frailties. “There is not a just man upon the earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not” (Ecclesiastes 7:20), applied to him, as to all other men (cf. 1 Kings 8:46, Romans 3:23). But none of his mistakes were of the grosser sort. Before his funeral I asked my siblings and other relatives: “Do you recall a single word you ever heard Dad say, or a single action on his part which you ever saw, of which you were ashamed—either at the moment, or later?” Not one of the kinsmen could recall such! (We all said the same thing also about Mother)!

“Be reasonable” was one of his rules for his household. He and Mother were parked in front of our house when Mary and I drove home with the baby boy we adopted. They stayed for lunch--and to play with their new grandson! Dad told us that day that this one rule, “Be Reasonable,” will take care of many situations in a family. He said, “If applied equitable, 'Be reasonable’ will make many other rules unnecessary.” Balance equals being reasonable!

There was not the slightest tinge of jealousy within Gus Nichols’ heart. He was not afraid somebody else would make a better outline, preach a better sermon, write a better book, or do a better job at any task than he could do! He sincerely hoped they would! And he would earnestly pray for them if he found out they were trying.

Balance was exhibited in the scope of Dad’s reading and study. He knew the Bible “from cover to cover,” most of it verbatim. While still farming, he would take to the field his New Testament in his overalls bib pocket. At the end of the row he would read a verse a time or two, and then recite it aloud as he plowed to the other end. There, while his mule, “Kate,” rested he would verify the accuracy of his memory work, read another verse, and quote that one allowed as he plowed another row. In this way my Father memorized much of the New Testament, verse by verse. [Old Kate heard the word—but it was to no avail “not being mixed with faith in them that heard it” (Hebrews 4:2)!] My father never quit reading, and re-reading, the Bible! His later knowledge of God’s Word was so extensive and so accurate that often he would ask one of the children in the back seat of the car to select any verse and read it. Then Dad would quote the verse before that one, the one read, and the verse after it—and tell the book, chapter, and verses. But he also read more than the Bible. He read books of sermons, commentaries, and brotherhood journals to keep abreast of current happenings on the religious scene. And he also was well-informed about world affairs, and goings-on in the local community.

In his preaching, Gus Nichols exhibited “Balance.” There was a day when some brethren were “Anti-Bible Class” and “Anti-Women Teachers of Bible Classes for Women and Children,” and “Anti-Individual Containers For Communion.” He preached against these hobbies, and debated with some of those brethren. But it did not become an obsession with him, and he never made a hobby of fighting his hobby! That was balance.

In the late ‘40s and early ‘50s, when a more recent kind of “anti-ism” arose, Gus Nichols helped focus God’s truth on congregational cooperation in evangelism, and the right of the church to support those not Christians. When a liquor referendum was held, he concentrated on that subject. When the feminist movement was in the limelight, he fought against it. When gambling was on the ballot, he fought it. With balance he preached the Gospel as it applies to saints, and to sinners.

Having himself come out of denominational error, he preached against their doctrinal perversions of God’s word. The first poem he ever wrote began:

Give me TRUTH! It will do!
For in John eight, verse thirty-two,
Our Savior said, as you may see,
It is the TRUTH that maketh free.