E-pistle for March 18, 2005
Posted by: info <info@...>
Dr. Curt Scarborough, President FreeWay
Foundation March 18, 2005
In This Issue:
"Eunice & Lois"
Degree Program
Curt Scarborough's "Holy Ground Interviews"
Featuring today's special guests EUNICE & LOIS
CS Lois and Eunice, we've heard the old saying, "Behind
every
great man there's a great woman," so Timothy was doubly
blessed! But didn't he miss having a male role model?
Eunice My husband, Marcus, was a good role model!
CS But I assumed that, as a non-believer, he was not a
positive
influence.
Lois Marcus became a convert to the faith later in his
life, and he was
very proud of his only son, the pastor of the great
church in Ephesus.
CS I'm sorry. I just assumed that he wasn't very
religious.
Eunice Marcus was proud of his Greek heritage, and he wanted
Timothy to
grow up as a Greek, not as a Jew.
Lois Later, Timothy did become a Jew, so that he could
accompany Paul
without offending the Hebrews who converted to
Christianity.
CS But Paul commended Timothy's genuine faith, which he
said first
dwelt in his grandmother Lois, and in his mother
Eunice. (II Timothy 1:5)
He didn't mention Timothy's father.
Eunice Mother and I taught Timothy the Scriptures before he
could walk.
Lois Tim's religious education was left to his mother and
me, and we used
the Old Testament to teach him God's ways.
CS In my boyhood church, I remember there was a Sunday
School class
named TEL, for Timothy, Eunice, and Lois.
Eunice We've heard about it . . . and the nickname of the class
. . .
Lois "Tired Elderly Ladies!"
CS Moving along! Eunice and Lois tell me about your
life-changing
encounter with God . . . your highest "holy ground"
experience.
Eunice It happened one day when Paul and Barnabus came to our
city of
Lystra, in the province of Lycaonia.
CS On Paul's first missionary journey, I remember.
Lois As Paul and Barnabus entered the town, they met
Stephano, a
neighbor boy who was crippled from birth, in both
feet.
Eunice Paul told him to "Stand up!" and he was healed
instantly.
CS That must have caused quite a stir!
Lois The city officials thought Paul and Barnabus were
Greek gods.
Eunice Those superstitious Gentiles started to worship them as
Zeus
and Hermes.
CS The Romans called those gods Jupiter and Mercury.
Eunice Yes. Paul had to talk fast to head off those heathen
officials.
Lois With his usual "tact," Paul commanded them to turn
away from
their useless mythology and worship the living God.
CS That sermon turned the worshipping crowd into a lynch
mob!
Lois They dragged Paul outside of town and stoned him.
Eunice Mother and Timothy and I, along with Barnabus and some
others,
gathered around his body and prayed. To our very
great shock,
Paul got up and walked back into town.
CS Was he dead?
Eunice We never knew for sure, but he miraculously recovered
from his
serious wounds . . . whether they were fatal or not.
Lois That night, the three of us . . . Timothy, Eunice, and
I . . . all
received Jesus the Messiah as our Lord and Savior,
and were
baptized. Next day, Paul and Barnabus left Lystra.
CS He returned later, I think.
Lois A couple of years after that, Paul came back with a
new partner,
Silas.
Eunice Paul invited Timothy to join his party. That was good
news and
bad news! We felt honored that Paul wanted Timothy
to accompany
him, but it was dangerous work.
CS That's when Paul had Timothy circumcised to make him
officially
Jewish.
Eunice That's right.
Lois In a few days, Timmy and the others left.
CS Did you ever see him again?
Lois Oh yes. The missionary party came back through Lystra
for another
brief visit.
Eunice They told us such exciting adventures! Dr. Luke had
joined the party,
and he was writing a manuscript. He told us about
the Macedonian
vision, and Lydia, and the Philippian jailer. God
was moving!
CS How long did Timothy travel with Paul?
Eunice Off and on, about ten years. Some of that time, Tim was
conducting
evangelistic endeavors on his own.
Lois And, of course, Paul had been arrested and sent to
Rome . . .
CS Ship-wrecked on the way!
Lois Paul was imprisoned by Nero, twice.
CS So I've heard.
Eunice Between those two jail terms, Paul took Timothy to
Ephesus, where
he appointed him a pastor or bishop of that church.
CS That was a very prominent group of believers.
Lois Oh yes; Paul addressed one of his most beautiful
epistles to them.
Eunice Not only that, but the Ephesian church was one of the
seven visited
by the Master, according to the Apostle John in his
Book of Revelation.
CS Did either of you get to visit Timothy at his church
in Ephesus?
Lois Regretfully, no. It was too far away!
Eunice More than 300 miles, over rugged mountain terrain.
CS Do you have any final words of wisdom for our readers?
Eunice As I told Timothy: "Stay in the Word!"
Lois And take good care of yourself! (Timmy had stomach
problems,
you know.)
CS I know. Thank you, ladies for talking with me today.
Lois You're welcome. It's always a pleasure to talk about
my grandson!
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"All the world's a stage and most of us
are desperately unrehearsed!"
- Sean O'Casey
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