GRANT COUNTY CHURCH OF CHRIST
April 26, 2009

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


BE GRATEFUL
Neal Pollard

Frank Crowninshield related a time when Clarence Darrow spoke to a woman’s club on the civilization of ancient Phoenicians. He finished his lecture, and the chairlady said, “Oh, how can we thank Mr. Darrow for the fascinating lecture he has given us tonight?” Darrow returned to the podium and made one final observation: “I entirely forgot to tell you that it was the Phoenicians who first invented money.”
Darrow wanted to be properly “appreciated.” To him, that meant money. Today, in a world where the thank you note is getting to be like an ancient manuscript, where “common courtesy” is scarce, and “manners” are to too many a mystery, there is a great opportunity for a revolution and a revival. Our society is primed for thorough thankfulness. It is due employers, teachers, law enforcement, neighbors, friends, family (both physical and spiritual), waitresses, cashiers, and even strangers.
But, most of all, it is due Almighty God! It should be so natural to join in with David and ask, “What shall I render to the Lord for all His benefits toward me?” (Ps. 116:12). He answers both in this Psalm (“I will call upon Him and pay my vows to Him”—13-14) and in Psalm 103:2 (“Bless the Lord” and “forget not”). This gratitude will show itself in our giving, but it will also show itself in our living.
By developing a spirit inclined to find blessings and express gratitude, we will draw people to the Lord. We will also improve every conversation, activity, and relationship in which we find ourselves.
New Testament writers repeatedly urge thankfulness and show it themselves (cf. Rom. 7:25; 1 Cor. 15:57; 2 Cor. 9:15; Eph. 5:4; Col. 3:15; etc.). New Testament Christians ought to be characterized by it, too. Sure, there will always be plenty about which to be depressed and discouraged—taxes, health, betrayal, disappointments, sorrows and losses. But, even in these things blessings and benefit can be found. The old adage, “Have an attitude of gratitude,” is the need of the hour. If you are wanting to shine like a light in a world of darkness (cf. Matt. 5:16; 1 Pet. 2:9), a grateful spirit will do the trick.


INTERESTING PLACES FROM THE BIBLE
THE CITY OF PHILIPPI
Phillippi or (city of Philip) was a city in eastern Macedonia (modern Greece) visited by the apostle Paul. Situated on a plain surrounded by mountains, Philippi lay about 10 miles inland from the Aegean Sea. The the main overland route between Asia and the West, ran through the city. Philippi was named for Philip II of Macedonia, the father of Alexander the Great. In 356 BC Philip enlarged and renamed the city, which was formerly known as Krenides ("wells, springs"). Philip resettled people from the countryside in Philippi and built a wall around the city and an acropolis atop the surrounding mountain. Other points of interest in Philippi included a forum the size of a football field, an open-air theater, two large temples, public buildings, a library, and Roman baths.
In 42 BC Mark Antony and Octavian (later Augustus Caesar) combined forces to defeat the armies of Brutus and Cassius, assassins of Julius Caesar, at Philippi. In celebration of the victory, Philippi was made into a Roman colony this entitled its inhabitants to the rights and privileges usually granted those who lived in cities in Italy. Eleven years later, Octavian defeated the forces of Antony and Cleopatra in a naval battle at Actium, on the west coast of Greece. Octavian punished the supporters of Antony by evicting them from Italy and resettling them in Philippi. The vacated sites in Italy were then granted to Octavian's own soldiers as a reward for their victory over Antony.
The apostle Paul visited Philippi on his second missionary journey in A.D. 49 AD (Acts 16:12; 20:6). Evidently the city did not have the necessary number of Jewish males (ten) to form a synagogue, because Paul met with a group of women for prayer outside the city gate (Acts 16:13).

French excavations at Philippi between 1914 and 1938 unearthed a Roman arch which lay about one mile west of the city. This arch may have served as a zoning marker to restrict undesirable religious sects (Jewish perhaps?) from meeting in the city.
One of the women of Philippi who befriended Paul, named LYDIA, was a dealer in purple cloth (Acts 16:14). A Latin inscription uncovered in excavations mentions this trade, thus indicating its economic importance for Philippi. Philippi also is mentioned or implied in Acts 20:16; Philippians 1:1; and 1 Thessalonians 2:2.

After the death of Paul we hear little about the church or the town of Philippi. Early in the 2 nd century Ignatius, bishop of Antioch, was condemned as a Christian and was taken to Rome to be thrown to the wild beasts. After passing through Philadelphia, Smyrna and Troas, he reached Philippi. The Christians there showed him affection and respect, and after his departure wrote a letter of sympathy to the church at Antioch where Ignatius had served as an elder.

No historical account of the destruction of Philippi has been found. The site is now uninhabited, the nearest village being that of Raktcha (Modern Day Turkey) among the hills immediately to the North of ancient Philippi.

All that is now left of the once great city are the ruins of a stone fortification, a theater, some columns, some traces of a temple and the remains of an arch.
NOTE: The classic play “Julius Caesar” written by William Shakespeare in 1623 involved events that took place in and near the city of Philippi.