Vol. 04, No. 03

Mt. Baker Beacon - 2025

Steven J. Wallace
01/26/25 - Mt. Baker Beacon - 2025

“THE CHURCHES OF CHRIST”
(Generated from ChatGPT)

In humble walls, no grandeur seen, A place where hearts and souls convene. No gilded art, no ornate show, Just simple faith, allowed to grow.

The Scriptures stand as sole decree, God’s Word alone the only plea. No creed of man, no voice but His, A church restored to what it is.

Each voice in song, in harmony pure, No instruments, yet hearts assure That every note and every hymn Ascends to Heaven, honoring Him.

Baptism’s waters, a cleansing stream, A step of faith, a living dream. The Lord’s Supper shared with grace, In memory of the Savior’s face.

Unity sought, division spurned, To Christ alone their hearts are turned. A fellowship of love and light, The Churches of Christ, in faith unite.

(Thank you, Loren Parker, for sharing this!)

An AI Observation from ChatGPT

Below is an observation made about intelligent life by ChatGPT from the poem that artificial intelligence generated above:

“If artificial intelligence can accurately capture the essence of the church of Christ, how much more should intelligent life, created in God's image, recognize the truth given plainly in His Word?”

That sounds pretty intelligent!

PEACE
Philippians 4:6-7 speaks of the peace of God that surpasses understanding:

"Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." (NKJV)

This passage highlights the principle of peace through prayer. How so? It teaches us to surrender our worries to God. In every challenge we face, we have two choices. We can either be consumed by anxiety, allowing our thoughts to spiral downward in worry, or we can turn to God in prayer and trust. Anxiety fixates on everything that is wrong and all that could go wrong, trapping us in fear.

Paul presents a better option—bringing our concerns to God through prayer, supplication, and thanksgiving. Instead of being weighed down by worry, disciples can experience divine peace by trusting in God's provision and expressing gratitude. This peace, unlike worldly comfort, is not dependent on circumstances but on the all-powerful God who faithfully cares for His children.

Worry accomplishes nothing positive; it only pulls us down. Prayer, however, lifts our burdens, placing them in God's capable hands. One option leads to destructive stress, while the other leads to productive peace. The choice is ours. Will we allow worry to rule our hearts, or will we turn to God in prayer and experience His peace?

--Steven J. Wallace