Riverside Church Of Christ, Burlington, OK

06/11/2026

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There was a family of donkeys that lived on a farm between the towns of Byron and Burlington . There was a mom and a dad. The mom’s name was Gertrude and the dad’s name was Horace. There
were three young donkeys named Mary, Scott and Sam. There was also Grandma and Grandpa, their names were Raymond and Doris. Finally there was also an orphan donkey that lived with them. His
name was Oliver.

In the afternoon, Sam was doing his homework, it was Algebra. Sam was working on the problems and Oliver came over to watch. Sam tried to show Oliver how to do some of the problems but no matter how hard Oliver tried, he just couldn’t get the right
answer. After a while, Oliver just left in frustration.

“What’s wrong Oliver?” said Gertrude.

“I just can’t do Sam’s math problems,” said Oliver.

“Well, you won’t have to do those kinds of math problems for a long time,” said Gertrude.

“I might as well quit school now, because I am never going to be able to do those problems,” said Oliver.
“There are things you don’t understand now, but you will understand them later. There are things we don’t understand on this earth, but we will understand them in heaven. Remember the story of Job. Job lost everything and didn’t understand why. His friends
thought it was because Job had sinned, but Job knew that wasn’t why. Job didn’t understand and wouldn’t understand until he got to heaven. Job said, ‘How then can I dispute with Him? How can I
find words to argue with Him? Though I were innocent, I could not answer him; I could only plead with my judge for mercy’. (Job 9:14-15) Job also said, ‘He performs wonders that cannot be fathomed
and miracles that cannot be counted.’ (Job 9:10) Job had to go on faith because he couldn’t understand what was going on, Oliver you have to know that there will be a day you can do algebra, even
though you can’t do it now,” said Gertrude.

Song: Jesus Loves Me.
Scripture Reading: Job 9:5-6
Question: Are we always going to understand the things that happen? (No, we just have to have faith.)

06/11/2026

Baroque

I love words and especially unusual ones. I like the word baroque because it is like the word broke but has a very different meaning. It can refer to 17th Century architecture or music. It can mean ornate or intricate and it can mean misshapen. Like many people our family isn’t exactly what we expected. We are unusual. My oldest son is 29 and my youngest son is 5 and none of them have my eyes.
Because our family is a-typical, you may assume that our family is broken. The reality is that like all families our family was created by God. Paul wrote, “Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers and sisters. Every good thing given, and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow.”. (James 1:16-17) Some families are created typically. High school sweethearts marry, they have children and raise families. Those families are beautiful and no less miraculous than any other family. Other families are created through God’s providence. He intricately creates them outside normal means, and those families are miracles too. Sometimes people are fused together by God’s grace and without any shared biological heritage. Misshapen pearls are sought after by collectors. These pearls are called, “baroque”. Some families are intricate, ornate and a little misshapen. It is okay to call those families “baroque” but under examination you may see God’s hand in their creation. Paul wrote, “And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.”. (Romans 8:28) Your family may be a little misshapen too. That doesn’t mean it is not a gift from God.
By Douglas Graham

06/10/2026

Sam walked up to his Grandpa and looked confused.

“Grandpa Job had such a hard life. His wife didn’t help him and even his friends didn’t help him. Grandpa was there anyone of his friends that sup-
ported Job during his trials?”.

“No, Sam really there wasn’t anyone to help him.
Later, God helped Job understand but Job had to feel alone. Everyone around him thought he had done some evil thing that God was punishing him for. No one believed that he was righteous. His friend Zophar said, ‘If you would direct your heart right and spread out your hand to Him, if iniquity is in your hand, put it far away, and do not let wickedness dwell in your tents.’ (Job 11:13-14) Job had to feel lonely, but God was with him,” said Grandpa.

Song: Gospel Chariot
Scripture Reading: Job 11:10-12
Question: Did Job have a lot of friends help him with his struggles? (No, no one helped Job)

06/10/2026

Stigma

This may be a controversial idea. Stigma is a stumbling block to healing and a tool of Satan to harm and isolate the wounded. Supporting this idea are some important truths. First, sin is sin. We tend to categorize sins into groups according to what we see as the most shameful. James wrote, “But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust. Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death.” (James 1:14-15) All sin is hazardous and can lead to the outcome of eternal death. There are no safe sins and categorizing them is misleading. Second, Jesus did things that exemplified His disdain for stigma. The woman caught in adultery was rescued from a crowd by the kind truths that Jesus shared. (See John 8:1- 11) A sinful woman was allowed to wash Jesus’ feet. (See Luke 7:36-39) Jesus showed love and kindness to the people of the day who suffered from public stigma. Third, stigma prevents change. The shamed do not feel welcomed by the faithful. What do bars offer that churches do not? Bars welcome the broken better than the church. This is sinful. Paul wrote, “…the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”. (Romans 3:22-23) Be careful not to make distinctions where Jesus does not. Our job is to offer the healing of Jesus to the broken. The broken should feel as welcomed in the church as they do in the bar. The conclusion is that participating in shaming and stigma harms the cause of Christ. When marriages fail, bail is posted or antibiotics prescribed and the flawed person walks out into public, be the person who is kind. When the coffee shop chooses the victim of the day to rake over the coals, be the one who mentions a positive character trait of the day’s victim. Don’t participate in harming a soul. Help a person up who has stumbled. By Douglas Graham

06/09/2026

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Story 310. In the morning, a big semi truck backed up to one of the granaries. After it backed up, Farmer Smith filled it up with wheat.

“Where is all that grain going Grandpa,” asked Mary.

“Farmer Smith and the church are sending it to Africa,” said Grandpa.

“Why do they need wheat from Oklahoma in Africa,” said Mary.

“There are thousands of people without food there and Farmer Smith wants to help them,” said Grandpa.

“They don’t have any food?” asked Mary.

“Yep, the people and the animals are starving to death,” said Mary.

“Why does God allow people to suffer like that?” asked Mary.

“I don’t know Mary. The Bible tells us a little but it is still hard to understand. Remember Job. He didn’t understand why all the bad things were happening to him. He said, ‘Let me know why You contend with me. Is it right for You indeed to oppress, to reject the labor of Your hands, and to look favorably on the
schemes of the wicked?’ (Job 10:3) Job didn’t understand why he was having hard times and how there were wicked people who were having an easy time. Mary, just like Job there will be times
in your life that you don’t understand. These times you must hold onto your righteousness and your faith just like Job did,” said Grandpa.

Song: The Lord’s Army
Scripture Reading: Job 8:19-20
Question: Are we always going to understand what is happening in the world? (No, sometimes we just won’t understand.)

06/09/2026

God Is Close

Soon thoughts will go from harvesting to cultivating. When I was young, we plowed. The last row of the plow made a furrow. It was a small ditch that was not even two feet deep. In those days, you put the driver’s side, front tire in the furrow to keep things straight. The odd thing was that a variety of animals would get in the furrow. Rabbits, Kangaroo Rats, and lizards would find their way to the small ditch. When they would see the tractor coming, they would run forward and stay in the furrow. At first, they could stay far ahead of the advancing tractor tire but they would soon start to get tired. You could try to save them by chasing them out of the furrow but most times they would just run forward and stay in the small ditch. The animals would inevitably become increasingly tired and then they would meet their fate with the tractor tire. The odd thing was that the furrow was slopped and easy to escape, but they still died. People are the same way. They don’t think they need God and in the beginning, they seem to stay far ahead of the jeopardies around them. The problem is people get tired and soon exhaustion runs its course. Like the animals above, salvation is always close but it must be received. Paul said, “…He made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their habitation, that they would seek God, if perhaps they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us”. (Acts 17:26-27) Make room for God in your life before you get too tired.

By Douglas Graham

06/08/2026

Rich

The church at Laodicea was made up of very wealthy members, but they were criticized by Jesus for being poor. Jesus said, “Because you say, ‘I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have need of nothing,’ and you do not know that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked, I advise you to buy from Me gold refined by fire so that you may become rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself, and that the shame of your nakedness will not be revealed; and eye salve to anoint your eyes so that you may see.”. (Revelation 3:17-18) These financially blessed people were poor. This tells us that there is a richness available to those who do not have a lot and that some rich people are in poverty. Jesus said, “…make yourselves money belts which do not wear out, an unfailing treasure in heaven, where no thief comes near nor moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”. (Luke 12:33) Matthew records Jesus saying, ““Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”. (Matthew 6:19-21) There is a richness and joy in doing good. A family is another source of richness. Our generation ridicules building a family but families are a rich source of joy in life. Proverbs tells us, “By wisdom a house is built, and by understanding it is established; and by knowledge the rooms are filled
with all precious and pleasant riches.”. (Proverbs 24:3-4) Just like the Laodiceans, many in our world who have wealth are wretched, miserable and poor. Life is more than what we have. Jesus said, “Beware, and be on your guard against every form of greed; for not even when one has an abundance does his life consist of his possessions.”. (Luke 12:15) Life can’t be measured in stuff and you just may be rich and not know it.
By Douglas Graham

06/08/2026

06/07/2026

June 7th Worship Service