Meet David Dodd
It isn’t the most flattering of pictures, (unable to include photo) but it is a true image of my brother in Christ and dear friend, DAVID DODD. He is a hunter and fisherman, loves camping in the mountains, is a tremendous husband to TONNA, a great father to his two daughters HANNAH and RACHEL (who are now married, and I don’t remember the names of their husbands), and soon to become a grandfather! David is also a licensed locksmith, serving eastern Kentucky and western West Virginia. He has worked on domestic places and many cars. The Federal Government has employed him to work on locks within some very secure facilities within the defense department of our nation! He most certainly is a versatile man!
More than these worthy accolades, we have been friends for twenty-five years (or more) and have devoted countless hours to studying and discussing God’s word. His love for God, Christ, and the Holy Spirit is equally shared for the church! He recognizes fully it existed in the mind of God before the world was (Ephesians 3:8 – 12), was purchased with the blood of Christ Jesus (Acts 20:28), and it is to it we are added via our obedience to the gospel of Christ (Acts 2:36 – 47)! Since we first met, David has preached for congregations of the Lord’s church at Southport, Trafalgar, Franklin, and Ellis, (all in Indiana) and has been with the Winchester church of Christ in Kentucky for the past several years. He also serves as one of their elders.
David’s greatest joy, however, is preaching the whole counsel of God. His fervency in speaking truth and righteousness is not for self-acclaim but for the sake of saving souls! He expresses this care in his sermons, bible study classes, and especially when dealing “one-on-one” with souls. He uses no book but God’s and declares no creed but God’s word within that sacred volume. His study of God’s word is as it should be for all Christians – constant. He understands well and exhibits the practice of the proverb of Solomon, “Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.” (Proverbs 27:17)
If the Lord wills, David will be the speaker for our gospel meeting this week (October 6 – 11, each weeknight at 7:00). His lessons will center on the theme of PROVING THE VALUE OF ROMANS 15:4. We encourage your prayers, interest, and attendance to these lessons. They will benefit your soul!
There’s No Time to Waste
Time is an interesting object. For man, it comprises seconds, accumulating to minutes, then hours, days, weeks, months, and years. Most realize how fleeting time is, and we often relate the fact by saying, “I just don’t have the time.” We work feverishly to complete various tasks to meet time schedules. We plan to avoid last-minute problems. We make appointments with multiple matters and realize late arrivals receive penalties for not being on time.
Perhaps if we would more keenly understand that time is life, punctuality would improve! For example, we would carefully set priorities regarding our spiritual responsibilities. Jesus told us to “Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness …” (Matthew 6:33). The inspired apostle Paul wrote, “… in all things He (Christ) might have the preeminence.” (Colossians 1:18) Preeminence means “first in place” and that where our Lord and His kingdom should be in our list of ALL priorities! Yet, many place this requirement much lower on their list, giving heed to matters “under the sun” more than matters of the soul. From their actions, one would think these have a greater infatuation with this limited-time world than with the timeLESSness of ETERNITY! One is left to ponder their choice of LIFE!
Distractions exist both “under the sun” and in the spiritual realm. It’s how one deals with those distractions that is important. If one accepts the distraction, then they are showing what is more valued at the time of the distraction. For example, a child interrupts his/her father, and the father changes his attention to the child. Illness and emergencies are certainly distractions, but often are minor and treated as “major,” determined by the focus of the one being distracted. Regardless of which time-consuming issue receives the attention, it requires LIFE to manage it – and we dare not waste LIFE for TIME IS LIFE!
There simply is no time to waste. We simply cannot waste LIFE! Judgment day is set (Acts 17:31) and those who surrender their time to the matters “under the sun” will find nothing more than “vanity and vexation of spirit.” (See Ecclesiastes) Yet those who realize they have only the uncertainty of time within this mortal domain, prepare their hearts (aka. SOULS) for timeLESS ETERNITY with God the Father. That’s why Paul reminded us, “NOW is the accepted time; NOW is the day of salvation.” (2 Corinthians 6:2)