The Grand
Strand Church of Christ
Surfside Beach, SC - Just
South of Myrtle Beach, SC
|
The Grand
Strand Church of Christ
|
|
If memory
serves me correct, and it may not since it seems to be getting worse and worse,
today marks the beginning of my 7th year of ministry with you. Six
years ago today I preached my first sermon as the newly hired minister. That was
an exciting day for me. You were so kind, so welcoming, so encouraging. Six years
later and that has remained the same. You have treated me far better than I
deserve and continue to be generous towards me in numerous ways. Other
things over the last six years have changed. Loved ones have died. Babies have
been born. Special friends have moved. New members have moved in. Some have lost
their way and vanished from the kingdom. Others have discovered the kingdom for
the first time and remain steadfast in their faith in the Lord. A new building
has been constructed. An old building has been renovated. Things have changed.
A
CONTEST OF WORDS Three words –
Vacation, Bible, School. Which word excites you most? Be honest. Vacation? I just
returned from a vacation. We planned it six months earlier and then got tired of
thinking about it. Then something happened two weeks before the vacation began.
I realized it was close and I was ready to go! I got real excited! Very few
people deplore vacations. Most of us get excited about them and then relive them
from time to time with all those pictures we took that no one else is really
interested in seeing but us. What about the word
“Bible?” Does that word excite us as much as the word “vacation” does?
Not a fair comparison, you say, because vacations occur far less frequently than
our interaction with the Bible? And how do you compare a book with an experience
like a trip to the beach? So, when you hear the word “Bible” what thoughts
or feelings stir within you? Do any of them include excitement? School? Did I hear a
groan? Is that word like a black cloud raining down on your parade? It is hard
to imagine that in a remote place in Pakistan somewhere at the foot of K2 there
are children who sit on the ground without any shelter overhead and practice
their lessons all by themselves that the teacher who visits their village once a
week taught them two days ago. I guess school doesn’t look so bad when placed
in certain contexts? Once our children, however, return to school in a few weeks
the first thing we will do is find the vacation days on the calendar. So what happens when we
put these three words together –
VBS
HERE WE COME While the era of Melissa Boyd is our VBS director. (Just think, less than 10
years ago you wouldn’t have found Melissa in a church building, let alone
living the life of a Christian!) She works hard, has earned our respect and more
than deserves our help when she asks for it. So go up to Melissa and say
“yes” to whatever she needs! I think that we do a pretty good job of resisting the urge to
jam-pack our church calendar with a constant array of activity. We understand
that our “church lives” include all of our lives – cooking dinner for our
families, talking to a neighbor in the front yard, and going to the office
during the week. That being said I would hope that every church member feels an
obligation to participate in the few “big events” we plan for the entire
church. So resist the urge to stay home to watch Family Feud next week. And give
up your usual practice time at the driving range after dinner next week. Hustle
to get out of the office like you would if you had tickets to a big concert and
drive over to the church building next week. After all, it’s VBS. Here we
come! I hope that “we” includes “you.”
THE
BIGGEST ISSUE FACING THE CHURCH I don’t
know much about the church at large. I swim in a small pool and like it that
way. I marvel at how so many can make broad observations about the entire
church. I figure they get around a whole lot more than me, which wouldn’t take
much effort. Or they just observe something in their own pool and assume it is
true for everyone. I try real hard to resist the urge to make sweeping
generalizations and sound more knowledgeable than I really am. (Have I set this
up enough?) That being said I want to take a stab at what I believe is the
biggest issue facing the church. I do not
believe it is change agents or those resistant to change. I do not believe it is
liberals, legalists, or moderates, whatever those labels imply. I do not believe
it is instrumental music, a cappella singing, praise teams (sitting or
standing), choral groups, or singing while communion is served. I do not believe
it is divorce and remarriage, social drinking, Bible translations, or eating in
the church building. I do not believe…ok, you get the picture. I believe
the biggest issue facing the church is what it has always been – love. Will we
love each other in spite of our differences? Will we love each other in spite of
our conclusions? Will we love each other in spite of our quirks and opinions? Jesus said
that his disciples would make their mark on the world through their love for
each other (John 13:35). How good are we at loving disciples who disagree with
us, make fun of us, or condemn us? That is my biggest issue; maybe it is yours
too?
BABYSITTING
OUR LIPS Let’s borrow this prayer request from Scripture and make it
our own: “Set a guard over my mouth, O Lord; keep watch over the door of my
lips.” (Psalm 141:3) Does our mouth really need a guard? Do our lips honestly need
a babysitter? Come on! Are you serious? Of course they do! Make a list of things you wish you never said. Include in
your list the angry words, profane words, and cruel words. Oh, and don’t
forget the words of gossip, rumor, and deceit. Now make a list of things you wish you said more often. Like what? I love you. I’m sorry. I forgive you. I believe in you. Our words have great power over the people we direct them
towards. Words can give life or breed death. Words can bless or curse. Words can
lift up or bring down. Words aren’t just words. They mean something. So let’s pray the prayer above as often as possible. Ask
the Lord to guard your mouth and watch over your lips. There is no one better
suited for that job. After all, HE made them.
SEX
BEFORE MARRIAGE What could
we compare sex before marriage to? Sex before
marriage is like opening up your Christmas presents before Christmas without
anyone knowing, putting them back under the tree, and then reopening them on
Christmas morning and trying to act surprised. You may still like your presents,
but the wonder has since past. It is this wonder that God reserves for two
people to share and experience for a lifetime in regards to sex during marriage.
In God’s view it’s always best to “wait for Christmas” before opening
this present. Trust Him on this! Sex before
marriage is like marinating a filet mignon overnight, grilling it to perfection
the next day, and then serving it in your dog’s food dish on your beautiful
dining room table. The steak may still taste delicious, but in the back of your
mind you have some concerns. Is that canine I smell? What germs live in this
dish that I can’ detect with my eyes? If only I could have eaten this steak on
a clean plate, then everything would be perfect. The steak doesn’t belong in
your dog’s food dish, does it? Sex before marriage can be fun, but it is
better served on the plate that comes from God’s kitchen. This is where sex
belongs because the marriage bed is pure (Hebrews 13:4). Trust Him on this! If neither
one of these analogies are helpful, let me add one thought to those who believe
that sex outside of marriage is ok. If later in life you grow close to the Lord
you will not look back upon your sexual experiences outside of marriage and
relish them. Instead, you will regret them. You will wish they never had
happened. (I say this because I have never known a mature believer who glories
in the sins of his past. He finds forgiveness and peace, but never joy.) Waiting
to have sex until you get married is worth it for a number of reasons. Trust Him
on this!
RICH
TOWARDS GOD Do you
remember the punch line in the parable of the rich fool as told by Jesus? Here
it is: “This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself
but is not rich toward God.” (Luke 12:21) We are pretty good at collecting
stuff. Just take a look in the garage or attic if you disagree. In the 1960s the
self-storage industry did not exist in our country. Today the self-storage
industry is larger than the music industry; we spend $12 billion to pay someone
to store our extra stuff. This must mean that we are pros at storing up things
for ourselves, right? It also means that we are pretty rich. In
contrast, are we rich toward God? This is Jesus’ concern. We invest ourselves
in stuff, but do we invest ourselves in God? Like the man in the parable, the
answer is often “no.” No time for church? No time for prayer? No time for
service? No time for fasting? No time for fellowship? No time for Bible study?
No time for witnessing? Why not? Maybe it is because, like the man in the story,
we have invested all of our energy into our stuff. Richness
towards God means investing ourselves in God and people. The greatest commands
in Scripture are to love God and to love people. Our stuff won’t last; but God
and people will. So let’s love them more than our stuff. Instead of heading
out to the mall today, get down on your knees and pray. Instead of washing your
car, spend some time with your family. And instead of watching TV or curling up
with a good book, go to church. Be rich towards God!
Living
in Fear
Hydrophobia is fear of water. Nyctophobia is the fear of darkness.
Acrophobia is fear of high places. Xenophobia is fear of strangers.
Claustrophobia is fear of confined places.
According to the National Institute of Mental Health, approximately 6.3
million American adults, ages 18 to 54, have some type of specific phobia. That
is a large number of people living in fear.
Without God, this world is a frightening place, but there is no need to
lead a life of trepidation. We know the one who created the heavens and the
earth and told the wind and the waves to obey Him.
If we are faithful children of God, we do not have to fear the things of
this world because God tells us that He “hath not given us the spirit of fear;
but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind” (2 Timothy 1:7). The only fear
we need to live in is the fear of the Lord, for He is awesome in might and
perfect in holiness.
God is down in front. He is in the tomorrows. It is tomorrow that fills
men with dread. God is there already. All the tomorrows of our life have to pass
Him before they can get
to us.
-copied-
A big man came forward to be baptized. The country church building has no
baptistery, so they took him out to a creek. He emptied his pockets to get into
the water, but one noticed a lump in his back pocket. “Sir, you forgot to take
out your wallet.” The man responded, “I didn’t forget. I figured that if I
baptize that part of me, then everything will be okay.”
That expresses a great truth. If we are willing to give our possessions
to God, then God will most likely have us with them. Too many are possessed by
their possessions and are unwilling to part with them for any reason. God owns
us, and all that we have is His. We are simply stewards, with the obligations to
be found faithful. “Moreover
it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.” (1
Corinthians 4:2)
EARLY
SERVICE SET TO BEGIN It was a
Monday morning. I was praying at my desk. From out of nowhere (?) a memory from
the previous day flooded into my consciousness. It was a conversation with
someone I hadn’t seen at church in quite a while. “I started a new job,”
she said. “This is the first Sunday I have been off in three months. It is
great to be here!” I wondered if there were others like her, church members
who couldn’t attend our 10:30 a.m. and 6 p.m. service because of work. A few
names came to my mind. “Lord, should we do something about this? Is there any
way we can help them?” I felt like the Lord wanted me to find out. I asked
around and a handful of members said they would love to come to an early service
on Sundays because of work obligations. I decided that I would be willing to
serve them if our elders’ approved. They did. Our first
“early service” will begin on June 29. The meeting time is 8:15 – 9 a.m.
We will meet in the fellowship center. We will worship in song, prayer,
scripture reading, study, and communion. The assembly will be less formal and
polished than our 10:30 a.m. service; it will be more like a small group worship
service designed specifically for people who have to work on Sundays. We want
our members who don’t work on Sundays to continue to come to our 10:30 a.m.
service; we don’t want to detract from that special assembly. We do want to
help those who just can’t be there by offering them an earlier opportunity to
honor the Lord in worship with the church! I’m glad we are!
-copied- If you are
not working in the church because no one has given you a job, wait no longer.
Christ has a job for you. * Feed the
hungry, give a drink to the thirsty, help strangers,
clothe the naked, visit the sick Christ has
already handed out the assignments. Let us strengthen our hands to the task that
is before us.
DID
YOU THINK TO PRAY? If you
ever run into a Gibeonite, be careful. Before you enter any kind of agreement
with one, do your research. But don’t stop there. Pray real hard. Then listen
to God. Trust me. You will thank me later. When the
Gibeonites approached God’s people in Canaan they presented themselves as
distant travelers seeking to make peace with this up and coming nation called
Israel when, in fact, they were really next door neighbors. This is how they
pulled off this ruse: “They went as a delegation whose donkeys were loaded
with worn-out sacks and old wineskins, cracked and mended. The men put worn and
patched sandals on their feet and wore old clothes. All the bread of their food
supply was dry and moldy. Then they went to Joshua in the camp at Gilgal and
said to him and the men of One
comment records where God’s people went wrong – “The men of Our eyes
and ears aren’t nearly as perceptive as the Lord is. So just when we think
we’ve got a situation covered, be sure to pray. The Lord knows who and what we
are dealing with better than we do but sometimes He won’t speak up unless we
ask. I recently
read two novels, both set in A As
Memorial Day approaches make some time to remember the men and women who know
what it is like in
GET
BACK TO BIBLE CLASS Do our
children need to attend Bible classes? Who among us would say, “No. I don’t
believe it is important for my children to become familiar with God’s word.
School work, playing ball, and relaxing at home are far more important.” While
we wouldn’t say this, do our actions suggest that we believe this? What about
us? Is Bible study still important at our age? Who among us would say, “I’ve
studied the Bible long enough, I know enough, and I have had enough. I am at an
age where other things interest me more.” We
wouldn’t actually say this, but do our actions suggest that we believe this? A new
quarter of Bible classes are set to begin here on Sunday, June 1 and Wednesday,
June 4. Teachers are set and ready to bless our children with instruction from
God’s word. I want to encourage you to get your children involved in our Bible
school program this summer. It is what your children need! On Sunday
mornings, we will offer two classes for our adults. In the auditorium class,
Chuck Cahoon (June), Charles Clark (July), and Eddie Smith (August) will serve
as teachers. The “Families for Him” class will meet in the fellowship center
and be taught by Jay Thornell. On Wednesday nights our adult class will study
“The Life of Joseph” and use dvd material presented by Bob Russell. As a
church let’s get back into the Word this summer. “Blessed is the man who
does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit
in the seat of mockers. But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his
law he meditates day and night.” (Psalm 1:1-2) I hope to see you in Bible
class this summer!
MOTHERS
GET A DAY Mothers
get a day while we get a year of their consistent love and care. It doesn’t
seem fair, does it? Mothers labor and toil on our behalf while we pause for a
few minutes, buy them a card, maybe some candy, say “I love you” and go on
our merry way. Ironically, though, it’s not the mothers who are complaining.
That is just their nature. They feel called and compelled to bless their
children even when they aren’t blessed in return. I’ve
said it before – “You can’t outwork a mother.” Don’t dare try. If you
do, you will find yourself zapped by exhaustion and staring out into space as
she continues to fold the clothes and balance the checkbook. Tabulating the
contributions of a mother to her household is impossible. No one is quick enough
to keep up with her. Just accept what I’m telling you – “You can’t
outwork a mother.” You can
tell her “Thank You,” though. Mother’s Day is on the calendar as a
reminder. Otherwise, we might forget. Some of us still do. One day doesn’t
seem adequate, does it? Moms, forgive us for not honoring you more. You are just
so good at what you do that sometimes we stop noticing. Your service is as
constant as the air we breathe and water we drink. We take them and you for
granted. When we
fail to honor you, please remember this Scripture – “God is not unjust; he
will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his
people and continue to help them.” Moms, God is the one who knows everything
you have ever done for us. We may forget them, but he doesn’t. I believe that
God is very fond of mothers. In some way, he is honoring you today! And so are
we.
WHAT’S
IN IT FOR ME?
“What’s in it for me?” Sometimes this may be a fair question to
ask. At other times it may betray a trait that lives deep within us –
selfishness. At heart we are often most concerned about ourselves. Why do
something that doesn’t benefit me? An individual with secular values may have
difficulty answering that question. Ironically, so may some Christians. Take a
look at Did you
notice the question? Apparently it is not a new one. “What did we gain by
carrying out his requirements?” The question reveals the believer’s
expectation that obedience to God should produce personal benefit. Based on the
comment about evildoers, the benefit in mind has something to do with
prosperity. Prosperity can take many forms – health, wealth, security, and
relationships to name a few. Did these believers grow frustrated because their
obedience did not benefit them in ways like these? How many
believers today are still holding on to the notion that obedience to God is
about them? Doesn’t this notion reveal what is truly at the heart of our faith
– US? Let’s abandon the expectation that God owes us something. We are His
creation. He is the Creator. Our obedience to Him isn’t about what we may
gain. It is all about HIM.
SUCH
THINGS DESERVE DEATH? This
verse caught my attention in a new way during a recent Bible class I attended
– “Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such
things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but
also approve of those who practice them.” (Romans 1:32) Notice
the phrase “those who do such things deserve death.” What kind of things are
in mind here? The previous verses tell us. I’ll name a few of the one’s
listed: Greed, Envy, Deceit, Gossip, Disobedience to Parents. Come on? God
decrees that people who do those things deserve to die? That sounds extreme. Now
death for murderers, the depraved, and the ruthless; we can understand why these
are listed in this section. Their actions sound worthy of death, but not the
others. What
this verse teaches us is that in God’s economy every sin is rebellion against
Him and deserving of death. What we call “little sins” merit more than a
slap on the wrist. In God’s world sin of all shapes, sorts, and yes, even
sizes, fall under the same general category called “sin.” We deserve to die
for any sin that we commit. This
teaches us two important lessons. One, how fortunate we are to be forgiven
people through Jesus Christ. Two, how important it is for us to fight against
the power of sin in our lives. After all, such things deserve death. That’s
pretty bad! DO
I HAVE TO GO TO CHURCH? Do you have to hug your little children? Do you have to remember your wife’s birthday? Do you have to call when you’re late coming home from work? Do you have to buy Christmas gifts for your family? Do you have to attend ball games and band functions in which
your children are involved? Do you have to attend the funeral of a close friend or loved
one? Do you have to say, “I love you” when you love someone? “I
was glad when they said unto me, ‘Let us go into the house of the Lord.’” (Psalm
122:1)
Want the key to a lasting marriage? Try apologizing to your spouse! A
study of 7,950 Americans conducted by pollsters Zogby for ThePearlOutlet.com
found that having a willingness to apologize strengthens a couple’s bond.
“The secret of a lasting marriage is being prepared to accept that the
other person has an equally valid viewpoint and being willing to apologize
because you love them and want them to be happy,” says Andrea Marshall, a
marital therapist and author.
Married folks are also far more likely than singles to apologize first
when they feel they’re just partly to blame for an argument. Why? People who
are dating often believe if a relationship isn’t perfect you should just move
on, but those in a marriage have realized the perfect relationship doesn’t
happen overnight. – Marriage
Partnership “Go,
humble thyself, and make sure thy friend.” (Proverbs 6:3)
SOME
HEADLINES WE’D LIKE TO SEE THIS YEAR Crime
Wave Plummets as Nation Turns to God Millions
turn to Jesus; Huge crowds on Sundays
“They
need it more than we do,” says wealthy senator.
People
aren’t interested anymore,” complains adult bookstore owner.
“So many people have quit, there’s no money in it
anymore,” complains a former drug lord.
Terrorist
attacks ease as peace reigns.
Tobacco
companies complain of record losses
I really
appreciate how church members have responded to our desire to improve our Sunday
school program by volunteering to teach weeks before classes began. We also have
several new teachers participating this quarter. We even have some volunteers
already signed up to teach during the summer quarter. Your response fits well
with our goal to improve our Sunday morning church experience by keeping
teacher’s fresh, creating a greater teacher base, and responding to this need
in advance instead of at the last minute. It is GREAT! To all of you working in
this area I want to say “Thank You!” We are
getting closer to the day when we will break in our new Our
church secretary, Dorothy Clark, does more than we will ever know. And she is
always willing to do whatever we need. She is a woman with a sweet and gentle
spirit. Simply put, she is GREAT! To her I also want to say “Thank You!” Have you
seen my new office? Leo Wilkins didn’t remodel our old nursery into a decent
office. He cut no corners and made it into a GREAT office, far better than I
deserve! Leo’s work models our goal to be GREAT in 2008! Thanks, Leo! And thank
you for being a
Groups.
This church has more groups than you realize! Take a look:
Women’s Study Group: Meets on Tuesdays at 10 a.m.
Over 40’s Group: Meets monthly
College Age Group: Meets on Sunday nights at 6 p.m.
Families for Him Group: Meets on Sundays at 9:30 a.m. for Bible study
Children’s Ministry Group: Meets most Sunday nights at 6 p.m.
Teenage Ministry Group: Meets regularly for study and fellowship
Caring Group: Meets on the first Sunday of each month for fellowship,
prayer, and study
Softball Group: Plays in a church league every spring from March-June
Church Group: Meets on Sunday mornings, Sunday nights, and Wednesday
nights
Parents Night Out Group: Meets monthly
Wednesday 60 Group: Adults of all ages meet for Bible study on Wednesdays
at 7 p.m.
Mommy and Me Group: Meets on Thursdays (I’m probably forgetting some groups, too!) After Jesus died, the disciples met in a group. Once Jesus resurrected, he appeared to a group of disciples. And after Jesus spoke to them before ascending into heaven, the disciples went out as a group to let the world know that Jesus is alive! When we become Christians God adds us to his group called the Church. The Church proclaims the Lord’s death and resurrection to the world until Jesus returns. Let’s always be a part of this group! If you are not, please join us!
MARRIAGE
RETREAT SET FOR APRIL 12 By Jay Thornell Someone
asked me why so many married couples are having a rough time. In my opinion, one
reason is time. Couples don’t spend enough time together. Regardless of how
short or long we have been married, it takes time to feed and nurture a
marriage. If for no other reason, please attend this marriage retreat so that
you and your spouse will be able to spend some time together feeding and
nurturing your marriage. If your
spouse is unable to attend, please come anyway. It will be good for you to be in
a quiet place with other Christians as you meditate on your marriage. Escape
from the hustle and bustle of your ordinary routine and relax among friends. Let
the Lord renew your strength as a husband or wife amidst the backdrop of Don’t
expect to be lectured for four hours on marriage during this retreat. We’ll
have fun together. Couples will share their stories. We’ll pray together for
our marriages. We will watch a couple of sessions from a marriage seminar led by
Jerry and Lynn Jones. We will be able to ask questions that intrigue us about
marriage. And we will have time to explore Brookgreen without having to keep an
eye on the clock. This
retreat won’t be a cure all for our marriages. It will be, however, a breath
of fresh air to pump into our marital systems. Any marriage could use some of
that. The retreat starts at 10 a.m. and concludes at 2:30 p.m. (You can stay
longer to enjoy Brookgreen even more! Or leave earlier if you have too.)
Babysitting will be provided at the church building from 9:30 a.m. until 3 p.m.
Deadline to sign up is April 1 so lunch can be ordered and your name given to
the ones working at the entrance to the Gardens. Sign up sheets are located at
various parts of the church building; or just call Jay at 650-9711 if you want
to come.
DON’T
FORGET OUR GOALS So let’s do a quick check; how are we doing so far? Being “great” at commitment is one of our goals. How are
you doing? Are you keeping your word, paying your bills, serving your family,
and making a contribution at church? Being great at marriage is one of our goals. What have you
done so far to make your marriage great this year? Surprised your wife with a
gift? Cooked your husband’s favorite meal? Held hands and talked about why you
love each other? Being great at the Sunday morning church experience is one of
our goals. Anything happening here out of the ordinary? Started to attend Sunday
school? Singing out during worship service? Saying hello to guests and members
before rushing out of the building? Being great at community service is a goal, too. Name one
thing you’ve done to serve your community thus far. Donated blood? Picked up
trash in your neighborhood? Delivered meals to the elderly? For us to be great in 2008 it is important that we identify
specific ways in which we are meeting our goals. How are we doing so far?
There is a
reason why God describes what certain leaders in the church should look like.
Churches don’t need leaders. Churches need great
leaders. This is why elders are described as men who “must be above
reproach…self-controlled…hospitable…not given to drunkenness…not a lover
of money” and why deacons should be men “worthy of respect, sincere … and
not pursuing dishonest gain.”
(See 1 Timothy 3:1-13) When it comes to church leadership any ole
person will not do. It takes a special person to lead His church. In order
for us to be a great church that “takes it to the next level” we need more
great leaders. This church is hungering for leaders on all levels. We need more
men to aspire to serve as elders and deacons. We need more men and women to lead
various ministries. In general, we need more people with a passion for Christ
who are willing to step forward and take responsibility for the work of the body
of Christ. Some of
you will remember Phil Barr. He lives in BEING
GREAT MEANS NOT GIVING UP Abraham
Lincoln’s greatest attribute, according to some, was his perseverance.
Consider this review:
Failed in business at age 22 Lincoln
just wouldn’t quit. His perseverance led him to the White House. God calls
us to “run with perseverance the race marked out for us.” (Hebrews 12:2) It
won’t be perfection or will power that helps us across the finish line. It
will be simple perseverance, the determination to get up when we fall and to get
up again and again, never giving in to the temptation to quit. Greatness
in the kingdom of God isn’t about being perfect; it’s about giving our best
to the Lord each and every day. Let’s Be Great in 2008! WINDEX
AND THE HOLY SPIRIT While
cleaning the bathrooms the other day I prepared to Windex the mirrors. I noticed
that in my daughter’s bathroom the only part of the mirror that was dirty was
the lowest part closest to the sink. As I wiped it down I realized that in the
blink of an eye I’ll be wiping down the middle of the mirror. (Or who knows,
maybe she’ll be cleaning her own bathroom by then?) She’s going to continue
to get taller, older, and smarter. But right now she’s seven years old and I
need to realize that as I clean the lower regions of her mirror. Why? So that I
can make the most of this time in our lives. Scripture says
to “Be careful, then, how you live - not as unwise but as wise, making the
most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.” (Eph. 5:15-16) The way
to do this is by being filled with the Holy Spirit. When we allow the Spirit to
fill us we will do spiritual things (like sing, give thanks, and submit to
others – see v. 18-21) and see the world with spiritual eyes. I’d like to
think that the Holy Spirit helped me to slow down enough that morning in the
bathroom to think about more than just the dirty mirror. I’d like to think the
Holy Spirit helped me to realize how important it is to redeem the time with my
daughter while she is seven years old. Without His help I could easily rush
through life and miss all of the good stuff. With his help I can identify what
really matters. I did that morning in the bathroom and I believe I have my
Counselor to thank for this! Time is passing
us by. With the Spirit’s help we can make the most of it for His Glory!
We are
told very little about Jesus’ childhood. Much of it is left to our
imagination. Years ago some took theirs and ran with it, describing times when
Jesus performed boyhood miracles like turning clay birds into live ones. Of
course, no such thing is found in Scripture. This statement about Jesus’
childhood, however, is: “And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor
with God and men.” (Luke 2:52) Some types
of growth take place very naturally. Others take far more commitment. Some may
never take place without awareness that growth is needed. For people who believe
they are poor in spirit that awareness should always live close to our hearts. I
may be a preacher, elder, Sunday school teacher, or long-time believer but I
still need to grow because I know who I am. It is far
easier to become stagnate, to rest on past work, and to tread spiritual water.
When you feel like you no longer need to study because you’ve already done
that and know what you believe, you are already there. When you believe that
you’ve done your part and disengage yourself from Christian service, you are
already there too, swimming in the waters of spiritual stagnation. One thing
is for sure about each of us. There is room to grow. So get back into the Word.
Read a Christian book. Fast and pray. Volunteer to serve. Decide to grow. The
Lord will take care of the rest! CARING
GROUPS MEET TODAY (Check the inside of the bulletin for more details!) OUR
ATTENDANCE GOAL: 100 LET’S
BE GREAT IN 2008!
Ira
“Gordie” His wife
and daughter are still with us, serving faithfully in the church just like
Gordie. Of course, they still miss him. Below is something Jan and Michelle put
together in honor of Gordie:
“Memories are like an album full of special and priceless thoughts.
They help us to feel we’re together still and they help to soothe our sad
heart. They span the years we shared together, and build a special bridge of
love, and help bring us peace of mind. They are precious moments kept forever in
the pages of our heart.”
For
What Will This Church Be Known? For its love of selves, or its love of lost souls? (1
Thessalonians 2:8) For its spreading gossip, or its spreading the gospel? (Mark
16:15) For its rudderless drifting, or its strong leadership? (1
Peter 5:1-4) For its low ideals, or its lofty goals? (Colossians 3:2) For its knowledge of the world, or its knowledge of the Word?
(Acts 17:11) For its financial limitations, or its generous giving? (2
Corinthians 8:1-6) For its comatose Christians, or its many active members?
(Ephesians 4:16) For its selfish pursuits, or its selfless serving? (Galatians
5:13) For its internal strife, or its brotherly love? (John
13:34-35) For its cold shoulders, or its warm fellowship? (1 Peter
1:22) For its living below God’s expectations, or its living
above the world? (1 John 3:3-6) For its helping itself, or its helping the needy? (2
Corinthians 9:12-13) For its innovations in worship, or its spiritual and true
worship? (John 4:24) For its accolade of men, or its glorifying of God? (Ephesians
3:21) For its stagnation, or its vibrancy? (2 Peter 3:18) For what will this church be known? Actually the question is,
for what will you be known? Because if you are a member of this church, then the
church will be known for these things to the extent that you are!
CHURCH
THEME FOR 2008 Last
week I introduced our theme for 2008. In case you missed it, here it is! LET’S BE GREAT IN
2008 Commitment (We
want to be great at keeping our commitments!) Marriage (We
want our married couples to be great at marriage!) (We
want to have a great Sunday school and A.M. worship experience!) Community Outreach (We
want to be great at serving our community!) MEMORY VERSE FOR THE
YEAR “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men” (Colossians 3:23)
BEGINNING WITH
THANKS The
evening before I left town for the Christmas holidays you presented me with a
generous Christmas gift at the conclusion of
Bible class. THANK YOU! It was far more than I deserved, but that is how you
have always treated me, better than I deserved. It is hard
for me to realize that I am in my sixth year of ministry with the church here.
Thank you for inviting me to join you here on the beach. I was told before my
arrival that my skills as a minister would be challenged here. They sure have
and for the better! We are at
a very challenging stage in our church’s history. I am looking forward to
seeing how we meet those challenges. New people are going to have to step up and
lead, serve, and love in ways they have not before. I wonder who the Lord will
bring to the front to meet these tasks. Thank you for the privilege of serving
in a church who is facing some growing pains. It is a good “problem” to
have. The Lord
has assembled a wonderful church of diverse people here. Some are new
Christians; others have walked with God for decades. Some have similar opinions;
others just don’t agree on some things. I like the diversity. Thank you for
being a church where there is room for differences under the rule of God. I am going
to be presenting our goals for 2008 this morning. Let me thank you in advance
for meeting those goals. That’s just the kind of church you are!
ARE
ALL RELIGIONS THE SAME? So
I am trying to learn about other religions. I have recently read two books on
Islam and am almost finished reading the book “The Religions Next Door.”
Buddhism is about detachment; the first Buddha was not the one whose statue I
was familiar with (the little guy with the big belly). I didn’t know that.
Hinduism involves the worship of many gods; it’s sort of a “pick a god, any
god” religion because all gods eventually flow into one God. The later
writings of Muhammad have precedence over his earlier ones recorded in the
Koran; I didn’t know that. Nor did I know that Islam and Judaism are both
religions which teach salvation by works. There is so much I still do not know,
but I am learning. Before
reading about other religions it was easier for me to hold out hope that God may
be working through various religions in order to bring people to faith in him.
Today I hold out far less hope; I hope I’m wrong. My experience has been like
those who say that all religions are basically the same. It is easier to say
that when you haven’t studied various religions. Once you do you realize that
Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam, Judaism, and Christianity are miles apart. While
reading through the missionary journeys of the apostle Paul recently I noticed
how “combative” he was. He tried to persuade Jewish people to believe in
Jesus as the Messiah and he pleaded with those who worshipped idols to turn to
the one true God. He didn’t tell people that one religion was as good as
another. The apostle desperately tried to turn all people to Jesus because he
believed one’s eternal life depended on his submission to the Lordship of
Christ. After learning about other religions, I can see why. Don’t
be afraid to lift Jesus up. After all, Jesus does rule!
By Brian Atwood Christ was
born in “But
thou, Bethlehem, Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah,
yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel: whose
goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.” (Micah 5:2) Bread is
one of life’s most common things, and without it man would not survive. God
wanted his Son to be “common” in the sense that He is available to all.
Without Him, there is no life. And Jesus said unto them, “I am the bread of life: he that
cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never
thirst.” (John 6:35)
I’M
DREAMING OF A …. The
apostle Paul ran into some trouble with the Jewish community in I can’t
help but want to hear God tell me the same thing about This Holiday Season I’m not dreaming of a white Christmas. I’m dreaming that the Lord is saying to us, “I have many people in this city.”
SHOULD CHRISTIANS
BUY NAME BRAND MERCHANDISE? By Jay Thornell In his
book The Brand Gap, Marty Neumeier uncovers the ways corporate brands affect
individual consumers: “Depending
on your I am not
sure what to make of this observation. Is it wrong to buy name brand
merchandise? No. Is it spiritually dangerous for the Christian to favor certain
brands? I don’t think so. But it may be toxic to the soul to build our
identity around brand names. And it certainly is harmful to our spiritual health
to serve our possessions rather than simply allowing them to serve us. Jesus
said, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man’s life
does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” (Luke 12:16) That’s
important to remember during Christmas season and every season!
FIRST
SUNDAY NIGHT CARING GROUPS MEET TODAY Join in on the fun.
Meet new people. Get to know other church members! (For more information about when and
where groups are meeting, check the inside of the bulletin!)
COUNT THIS BLESSING
TOO! Did
you count your blessings last week? In case you forgot be sure to give thanks
for the stay-at-home mom. The following was posted on www.denverpost.com
The salary for the many duties of stay-at-home moms would equate to
$138,095. - according to an annual survey. This is a 3 percent increase over
2006. Based on 10 typical job functions – from computer work to laundry to
driving – the survey calculated pay based on hours worked by more than 40,000
stay-at-home moms. (Some other duties include gardener, family counselor,
maintenance worker, housekeeper, cook, errand runner, bookkeeper/budget manager,
interior decorator, caterer, dietitian, secretary, public relations, and
hostess.) A significant chunk of the $138,000 is based on overtime, which adds
up to an average of 52 hours a week. That’s a total salary of $2,655.67 a
week. Mom’s,
whether stay-at-home or not, do so much for their families.
Be sure to give thanks for them today!
MAKE
A PROMISE WITH ME In the Old
Testament book of Nehemiah God’s people who have returned home renew their
commitment to God and pledge to demonstrate this commitment in several concrete
ways: 1. Will no longer intermarry with their foreign neighbors. 2. Will stop
doing business on the Sabbath. 3. Will give to support the functioning of the
house of God. Their
pledge ends with this promise – “WE WILL NOT NEGLECT THE HOUSE OF GOD.”
That is a good promise to make and an even better one to keep. In the New
Testament the church is referred to as the house of God or God’s household (1
Tim. 3:15). Our association with the church is easily neglected by believers
today. Work gets in the way. Chaos at home interferes. Over commitment to other
things impinges. Before we know it, we’ve stopped attending Bible classes,
stopped volunteering for assignments, stopped giving from our earnings, and
started to skip worship services more and more. If this
describes you, isn’t it time for you to renew your commitment to God and say,
“I WILL NOT NEGLECT THE HOUSE OF GOD?” Other things should be neglected,
like the house or the lawn, long before we begin to neglect the house of God.
Let’s never do that. Say it with me – “WE WILL NOT NEGLECT THE HOUSE OF GOD.”
SOME
GOOD THINGS GOING ON HERE It is easy for me to make a list of some good things going on
here at church. For instance: 1. Our Spiritual $ense Sunday School Class led by Kevin
Lemmons has been a smashing success. I know people in the class who are turning
the corner and bringing order to disorder because of what they are learning. How
we handle our wealth is a spiritual issue and Kevin has hit a home-run each
Sunday in class. 2. Our Caring Groups are so inspirational to me. I love being
with other Christians and listen as them share their faith. 3. Our Benevolent Work is touching a number of lives. We have
helped a number of people in crisis in recent weeks. 4. Our Evangelistic Efforts are still alive. In recent days
church members have invited co-workers and clients to church. Others have gone
the extra mile to show love to people who need a church home. 5. Our Family Life Center is coming along. Last week guys
like Charles Trent, Wes Gordon, Charles Craddock, Gary Leibbrandt, and Andy
McClellan installed some steel in creative ways. 6. Our College Group continues to meet on Sunday nights as
one of our elders, Chuck Cahoon, shepherds them through this phase in their
lives. I am so glad that new members like Kevin and Michelle Cornine have been
connected to this group of believers in their own peer group. 7. Our Tuesday morning Ladies Bible Class has grown in number
this quarter. It is encouraging to see these women get together to help each
other in spiritual matters. My list could go on, but my point is made. We aren’t a
perfect church, but there are plenty of good things going on here. Get involved
in them! FIRST
SUNDAY NIGHT CARING GROUPS MEET TODAY Join in on the fun.
Meet new people. Get to know other church members! (For more information
about when and where groups are meeting, check the inside of the bulletin!)
THE LESSON OF THE
ANTS
Several missionaries were having tea one afternoon, when an ant appeared
on the white tablecloth, made its way to a tea cake, walked around it, and
finding nothing to eat, made straight for the sugar bowl. After eating several
bits, it walked off with a small piece. They watched it disappear underneath the
door. It soon returned with several of its relations. They climbed the table
leg, entered the sugar bowl, and ate their fill. They then departed, each with a
piece of sugar in its mouth. But it did not end there – presently a swarm of
ants arrived to partake of the same sweet food.
These ants teach us a lesson. The first went and told others the “good
news,” who, in turn, went and told the glad story to many more. Like Isaiah,
the demoniac, the woman of ++++ First Sunday Night Caring Groups meet next Sunday. Everyone make preparations to attend you respective group!
HOW
DID I SPEND MY 75 YEARS?
Statisticians tell us that the average life span is now around 75 years.
If you are under 30 then you think that is a long time. If you are around my
age, you are beginning to realize that is not really very long at all.
A few years ago, someone went to the trouble to research what most people
do with their time. If we live to be 75, most of us will have spent: ^
3 years, 24 hours a day, acquiring an education-grade school, high school,
college. ^
7 years eating, 24 hours a day- some more, some less,
obviously. ^
14 years, day and night,
working. ^
5 years riding in automobiles or airplanes. ^
5 years talking with each other- again some more and some less. ^
1 year sick or recovering from sickness. ^
24 years of our life sleeping. ^
3 years reading books, magazines, and newspapers. ^
12 years amusing ourselves – watching TV, going to the movies, fishing,
etc.
That totals to 75 years. As I looked at these statistics I began
thinking. Let us suppose that you spent every Sunday of your life, for 75 years
– through infancy, childhood, adulthood, old age – worshipping during two
church services each Lord’s day. Now, if you did, how much time would you have
spent worshipping God? Figure it out – the answer is less than 11 months.
Let’s double it because you have always attended two Bible classes a
week. If you have never missed a Bible class in all your life, that still just
totals 11 months.
Think about it – 5 years in an automobile and just 22 months in church!
12 years amusing ourselves in front of a TV, and just 22 months in church. And
that is if you have always attended and never missed! That tells us a little bit about the brevity of time and our priorities in life.
|