STILL AT IT!”

Still At It!”

by Keith Bellamy

Twenty years may seem like a long time. And it is when one has ministered to the same church for that long. When we left Bishop, Texas after 14-1/2 years, there was not any indication we would be in Woodville for twenty years.

When Lee Mann approached us about coming to Woodville, I had to let him know we couldn’t consider a move, as my mother had had her first heart attack. But, after some discussion we agreed to visit Woodville.

We were invited twice to speak to this church back in 1999. We thought we would be moving to West Texas. But it seems God had other plans for us. We believe in the providence of God (Romans 8:28).

I ran into a man recently who knew me from South Texas. I had preached his co-worker’s memorial service in Bishop, Texas back in 1995. The man asked me what caused us to move to Woodville. And I told him promptly, “The Lord sent us here.”

I have been asked if I was still preaching, or if I had retired. I’m kind of like a friend of mine once said, “If God called you to preach, then how can you retire?” I believe in God’s providence. He did push me to become a preacher. Whatever you want to call it, something moved me to leave the insurance business and become a preacher. I say God caused it.

God has made it possible for us to serve the Woodville church family for more than twenty years now. The Woodville church family has had many ups and many downs, but we know that this church is, because of God.

“I pray that out of his glorious riches He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever! Amen.” (Ephesians 3:16-21; NIV).

SPLIT-SECOND DECISIONS

Split-Second Decisions

by Keith Bellamy

Do you realize that in a split second your life can change or end?

This past week, a terrible automobile accident claimed the life of a young woman. While I didn’t actually see the wreck happen, I was there along with Mike Miller and Mike Gipson. I saw two young women try to help but it was too late.

So many things can happen to us. We can be involved in an automobile accident, a job-related accident, a flood, a storm or receive the bad news of a terrible disease.

In a split second anything can happen.

I guess my question would be: Are we ready when something bad happens? Are you ready? Are you ready to meet God?

It is easy to play the game of life. And when we don’t take our eternity seriously then maybe we need the proverbial wake-up call.

Many years ago, a man who later became my friend, was sleeping a drunk off. Twenty of his co-workers along with about six-hundred others died in an explosion that wrecked Texas City in 1947. My friend told me that was his wake-up call. He committed his life to the Lord then because he knew if he had died in that explosion, he would not have been ready to meet the Lord. In a split second his life changed. In a split second everyone’s lives in Galveston County lives were never the same.

Hiding our head in the proverbial sand will not help us at all. In a split second your life can change!

Please consider James 4:13, 14.

“Look here, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we are going to a certain town and will stay there a year. We will do business there and make a profit.’ How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog—it’s here a little while, then it’s gone.” (NLT)

“When the Bridge is Out”

“When the Bridge is Out”

by Keith Bellamy

Many years ago, I was driving home and there was no sign saying the bridge I was about to cross was out. I soon found out though--the bridge was out! Thankfully I try to pay attention to signs. If a sign says, “water over the road,” or “the bridge is out”, I will avoid going down that road.

Spiritually speaking though, could there be place we are not supposed to cross? Are there boundaries I am not to cross?

There seems to be many who think they can make up the rules for their life without ever consulting God’s Word. So very many will say that as long as one has a clear conscience, one can do whatever one wants to do.

Is there a guide I can go to for directions for my life? I sincerely believe I can go to the Bible for guidance and instruction.

God’s Word is sure. It doesn’t change!

There are so many examples in the Bible of those who ignored the warning signs and decided to go their own way instead of God’s way. The children of Israel wandered in the desert for forty years because they chose to ignore God’s Word.

Notice 1 Peter 1:25. “but the word of the Lord remains forever.” And this word is the good news that was preached to you.”