Ladies, our congregation invites you to join us for our Ladies’ Day on Saturday, November 6th.  Registration begins at 9:oo a.m. (CST) with our program starting at 9:45 a.m.  Mary Green from the Lehman Ave. congregation is speaking on “Keeping Our Focus”.  Lunch will be provided.

Free By Richard Mansel, managing editor (July 6, 2010) by Richard Mansel, managing editor

Most of us understand the blessings and responsibilities of physical freedom. As we grow more mature, we see the latter more clearly. Someone has said that, “Freedom is never given, it is won.” Once obtained, we must do everything we can to retain it. The American colonists were tired of oppression and the rule of a king in another land. They hungered for freedom and independence. Therefore, farmers laid down their tools and lifted weapons to defeat the world’s most powerful army. Accordingly, we obtained our freedom and became a sovereign nation. We are all in a spiritual war and we must fight or be destroyed ( Ephesians 6:10-20). The spiritual armor protects us against the forces of Satan ( 1 Peter 5:8). Christ is the pure light and we must ride with him, if we will find victory ( John 8:12). Either we are in the kingdom with Christ or we are in the world with Satan. There are no other alternatives. In Christ, we are free indeed ( John 8:34-36). Our freedom was obtained by the life and death of Christ, who rose from the dead and defeated the last enemy ( 1 Corinthians 15:25-26). From what are we free as Christians? First, we are free from the bondage of sin. When Adam and Eve sinned, the door to Satan was open in this world, leading to countless numbers of destroyed lives ( Genesis 3:22-24; Isaiah 59:1-2; Romans 3:23). God, therefore, made a plan to heal the sin-filled heart. God established a covenant with the nation of Israel, so his plan could advance ( Exodus 34:10-11). The plan was conditional and limited, because God had a Savior for humanity. Christ would start a kingdom which would never be destroyed and rule in the hearts of men ( Daniel 2:44; Matthew 16:18). The Church would house all of those who entered Christ for the remission of sins ( Acts 2:38, 47; Galatians 3:27; Ephesians 1:22-23; Ephesians 2:19). We have freewill, which means that we can choose self-destruction or life. Without Christ, we are lost in darkness and confusion ( 1 John 1:5). He is our only lifeline and hope ( John 10:10). Jesus heals our soul, while Satan rips it to shreds. Christ will lift us up to the mountaintop, while Satan drags us in the slime. Second, we are free from the bondage of culture. We no longer have to listen to Satan in how to dress, speak, think and act. We do not allow him to use our bodies to destroy the faith and souls of others. Christ transforms us and we no longer use the perversity of culture as our barometer ( Romans 12:1-2; Ephesians 4:1). Godly women resist Satan’s ploy to define them by their sexuality. Men rise above the filth of the frat boy, to become men of character. Will we glorify God by our bodies, minds and spirits? Will we be trumpets of praise for God or sewers of filth for Satan? ( Psalm 50:23). God employs grace and mercy, while they exist as an anathema to the Devil. Thucydides said, “The secret to happiness is freedom. The secret to freedom is courage.” If we will stand against the rotting carcass of culture, we will need a substantial courage. For Christ, we stand out, by living sanctified. We are different from the world, and people notice ( 1 Corinthians 6:19-20). Yet, when they do notice, we direct them always to Christ ( Ephesians 3:20-21). We all have a choice. We can be free indeed or free perceived. If we are free indeed, we are walking in Christ. If we are free perceived, it is because Satan’s lies have convinced us we are in charge, while the evil puppet-master pulls the strings to do his repulsive will. Which freedom will we choose?

What An Invention! by Steve Higginbotham November 12, 2008

I once heard of a mother who was very frustrated one day as she was hunting all over the house for her cordless phone. After several minutes of searching, her little ten-year-old son said, “You know Mom, I’ve got an idea. We should invent a phone that stays connected to its base so it never gets lost.” Friends, sometimes the answers to today’s problems aren’t found in the cutting-edge of tomorrow, but rather in the old solutions of yesterday. Sometimes in order to go forward, we must go backward. That is never more true than when we are dealing with Christianity and our relationship with God.  The prophet Jeremiah put it this way, “Stand in the ways and see, and ask for the old paths, where the good way is, and walk in it; then you will find rest for your souls” (Jeremiah 6:16). The way to Heaven is not found by blazing new paths never before trod, but by returning to the old paths and walking in them.  “New” doesn’t always mean “better” and “right,” nor does “Old” always mean “worn out” and “wrong.”  Give it some thought.

Copyright © 2009, South Green Street Church of Christ, Glasgow, Kentucky Permission is granted to copy these articles.

Several years ago, I had a dog that was hit by a car.  Her leg and hip were broken in the accident.  Obviously, she was in a lot of pain.  So when I picked her up to take her to the vet, do you know what she did?  She bit me!  I was only trying to be kind and help, but she bit me.

Same song, second verse… Have you ever tried to reach out to someone who was obviously in pain in an effort to help them?  When you have done so, have you ever been “bitten” by those you’re trying to help?  If so, I wouldn’t be at all surprised.  You see, I’ve come to realize that hurt people hurt people.

So here are two challenges.  1) Don’t let you fear of being “bitten” keep you from doing good for others.  Seldom does doing good and helping another come without cost.  And 2) when you’re hurting, and someone tries to reach out to you and offer you help, resist the urge to “bite” and graciously accept their help, understanding that they are seeking your good.

*******Artical written by Steve Higginbotham*******

We all know if we plant corn in the garden we will get corn to harvest, not beans. Common sense and practice has taught us that. Yet some people have said that all denominations are just part of God’s plan, a part of His one church. However, this does not harmonize with the Word of God, or with common sense.

In John 15:5, Jesus spoke about the vine and the branches. He went on to tell us that He is the Vine and we are the branches. Since a single vine does not produce different fruits, the one true church built by Jesus (Matt. 16:18) cannot consist of different beliefs and practices.

This point is clearly seen by looking at the parable of the sower in Mark 4:3-20. When the seed, the word of God, is sown, it produces after its kind. It produces the church that Jesus built. This principle goes all the way back to Genesis 1:25. This principle clearly states that “Everything brings forth after its kind” (KJV).

If truth and only truth is sown, the resulting growth will be a New Testament Church that Jesus built and died for. If some truth and some error are sown, the resulting growth will not be a church that looks anything like what Jesus built. But when truth and human traditions are sown, the resulting growth will be denominations, like we have so many of today. When we interject our wisdom, our traditions, our man-made creeds into the mix, it ends up being nothing like what the Lord intended to build.

Now, consider this carefully, If the modern concept of denominationalism is right (This is the idea that God accepts all religious groups no matter what they teach and practice), why did Paul teach and write so strongly against divisions at Corinth (1 Cor. 1:2, 13)? If religious division is good, and that is their whole point, Paul would have been wrong to try to correct this. Instead, he should have commended them for their open mindedness, their diversity of opinions, and left them alone. However, Paul did not leave them alone, he worked hard in an attempt to correct the problems (consider 1 & 2 Corinthians).

Paul did not leave it alone and we cannot either. We must work diligently to build unity within the body and to reconcile others to the one true church. Truly there is only “One faith” (Eph. 4:5), and there is only “One body” (Eph. 4:4). When we obey the gospel of Jesus Christ we are added, by the Lord, to that one body (Acts 2:47). This is what it means to be a branch connected to the True Vine.

I don’t claim to know all there is to the teachings of evolution. I don’t claim to be a scientist. However, I do have some thoughts about this controversial subject. I have read and believe myself that Evolution is quickly becoming the new religion of our times. Religion can be defined as “faith in a Supernatural Power or Being”. Under the guise of science, a new religion has come on the scene and it is called “Atheistic Evolution”. With no real evidence to prove it, we are assured that it is really true, and the reason we cannot observe it is because it took billions of years to occur. In spite of all this many today still believe in it.

It’s funny but this reminds me of a story I use to read as a kid called, “The Emperor’s New Clothes.” Most everyone remembers this story. A couple of slick salesman convince the king that this new fabric is the best in the world, its woven so tight that only the really smart people can see it. Well we know what happens. The emperor gets his new clothes, made of the finest, most expensive cloth ever made and struts around for everyone to see. Everyone could see the king was naked but no one wanted to admit it. Because to admit that they did not see it meant they were not as smart as everyone else. Evolution is just like this king strutting around naked but no one wants to point out the obvious flaws, that he’s really naked. They don’t want to be the ones who get punished for pointing out the obvious. There are so many holes in the theory of evolution that it would be impossible for me for to list them all.

Without a doubt most people who believe in evolution do so because it is the accepted view by those who claim to know, by those who say they are scientists. Some accept it because it is presented with such confidence and with overwhelming proof. Now, correct me if I’m wrong but for a theory to be proven true it has to be repeatable in the lab or anywhere for that matter. We have to be able to observe the outcome of the experiments to decide if it is true or not. The problem with evolution is it’s not observable. Even those who believe in evolution will say that evolution is happening so slowly now, in contrast to the speed it was happening in history, that we would not be able to observe it. There are no labs big enough, no men smart enough, to devise a way to recreate in a lab, the creation of the world. Yet they say that it is proven to be true.

Evolution is at best just another idea on how we got here, how the world came into existence. As such it stands in opposition to the Bible and belief in God. The old saying, “You cannot have God and science” is wrong. But the saying, “You cannot have evolution and still believe in God” is true. Evolution is, in my opinion, an attempt to get away from our need to conform our wills to God’s, an attempt to free ourselves from being subjected to someone else. If evolution is true, then God is not! It’s that simple. 

On both sides of the argument, evidence is given to reinforce their positions, and on both sides there are consequences to our positions. If evolution is true, and it’s not, then we are nothing more than advanced animals but if God is true, and He is, then we are the work of a loving Creator. With no more evidence than that I would chose to believe in God’s creation. I would chose to believe in God because if I am wrong and God does not exist, I haven’t lost out on anything and in the end I would not know it anyway. But if evolution is false and God is real, then all those who failed to believe in Him, those who failed to accept His word will be cast into Hell, and they will know it for eternity. It’s a simple choice in my mind.

The other day I was reading a great article about Luke 2:52. Honestly I don’t remember where it was located or who wrote it but it was a great little article about Luke 2:52. This has always been an interesting verse for me. In this verse I see Jesus, God in the flesh, presented like a real person. The text tells us that He grew in height, in wisdom, and in favor with God and man. For all the power and glory that was His, in the flesh He was just like us. Don’t misunderstand now, I know that Jesus is much more than a mere man, He is God with us, He is the Word that was made flesh and dwelt among us. However, while on earth, He was just a simple guy.

The Bible tells us a lot about Jesus. It tells us about where He went, what He taught, and even at times telling us what He ate. The most intriguing things though are the simple things, like Jesus got tired, hungry, and thirsty. The Bible tells us that He spent time with people, enjoyed the fellowship of friends, and was kind to those who were on the fringes of society, like the little children. We know that He loved His family and His country. In every sense of the word Jesus grew up a simple guy just like us.

Jesus is called the word of God that became flesh and dwelt among us, the exact representation of God here on earth, and yet He did not isolate Himself from those people who were like us. Jesus was a friend to people from every walk of life. He did not refuse to spend time with tax collectors, religious leaders, and zealots. He talked with the downtrodden, the poor, the outsiders and the worst of sinners. Jesus came and lived just like the majority of His people. He lived in such a way that everyone felt welcome to come and talk to him. Our great God humbled Himself, knelt down and washed people’s feet.

Consider also the men that Jesus chooses to call disciples. What manner of people did He select? Did He go to the most prominent places in town to pick the very best society had to offer at the time? No, Jesus went to the common people, people like Him, to pick His disciples. Jesus called fishermen and tax collectors. He chose Thomas, who was so skeptical that he did not believe until he saw it with his own eyes. He chose a man named James the son of Alpheus, a man so average that we don’t anything about him except that he was a disciple and younger than the other James. The most amazing one that Jesus chose is Judas, knowing that he was a thief and His future betrayer, Jesus still chose him. Jesus chose the common people, those who are not extraordinary, to accomplish the extraordinary. Remember what 1 Cor. 1:26-28 says, “For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are:” (KJV).

Look around you. Those people you see are plain folks just like you. No one here is smarter than everyone in the world. We are not more powerful and we are not richer. We are simply people, trying to go back to the Bible and do Christianity the way God wanted it to be done. My friend, Jesus was a real person, a simple guy just like us. He wants us to follow His example, being open to those who would approach us, being kind and loving toward others, remembering that Jesus was just a simple guy with a simple purpose (Luke 19:10).

• Saved By The Foreordination And Predestination Of God (Eph. 1:3-5; Acts 13:46-48; Rom. 8:29-30; 1 Pet. 1: 18-20).
• Prayer Had a Part in the Salvation of Cornelius and His Kinsmen and near Friends (Acts 10:35, 10:24, 10:30-33), and also Lydia and Her Household (Acts 16:9-10, 16:13-15).
• Saved By The Great Love Of God (Jn. 3:16; Rom. 5:6-8).
• Saved By The Great Love Of Christ (Jn. 10: 17-18, 15:9; 2 Cor. 5:14-15).
• Saved By God’s Mercy (Eph. 2: 4-6; 2 Cor. 1:3; Titus 3: 5).
• Saved By God’s Grace (Eph. 2:8-10; Titus 2:11-12).
• Saved By The Death Of Christ (Rom. 4:25; 2 Cor. 5:21; 1 Pet. 2:24).
• Saved By The Resurrection Of Christ (Rom. 4:25).
• Saved By The Blood Of Christ (Rom. 5:9; Eph. 1:7).
• Saved By The Life Of Christ (Rom. 5: 10; I Pet 2:21-23; Heb. 7:25-26).
• Saved By The Gospel (Rom. 1:16; 1 Cor. 15:1-4).
• Saved By The Preaching Of The Gospel (Rom. 10:13-15; 1 Cor. 1:21).
• Saved By Works (Eph. 2:10; Jas. 2:21-26; Phil. 2:12-14).
• Saved By Hope (Rom. 8:24-25; Heb. 6:18-20).
• Saved By Hearing The Word Of God (Jn. 5:24-25, 6:45; Rom. 10:17; Jas. 1: 18).
• Saved By Faith (Jn. 8:24, 14:6; Rom.5:22-24; Heb. 11:6).
• Saved By Obedience (Rom. 1:5, 15:18, 16:16, 16:26; Heb. 5: 8-9).
• Saved By Repentance (Lu. 13:3; Acts 2:38, 17:30).
• Saved By Confession (Mt. 10:32-33; Rom. 10:10).
• Saved By Baptism (Mk. 15:15-16; Acts 2:38; Gal. 3:26-27; Rom. 6: 3-7; 1 Cor. 12:13).

As you can plainly see the Bible teaches that we are saved by a lot of things. A doctrine of salvation by faith only, or grace only, or a few things only, is false. With so much said in the Bible about this subject why do some people still insist that we are saved by anything only? The truth is that most people have never heard this before and therefore could not know it. That is why it is so important for us as a church to show them the way. As someone once said, “We are just hungry beggars telling other hungry beggars where to find the bread.”

Not long after moving here to Yeaman, several people asked Melinda and I if we had been to Moonlite Bar-B-Q in Owensboro, KY. It seemed like everyone here knew about Moonlite and most people actually liked the food. Being big BBQ fans we decided we would go one day. So finally one day we were on Parrish Ave. in Owensboro and there it was; all big and beautiful, so we decided it was time to try it. It was a great place with some good food. A place where a big boy like me could eat all he wanted, and then go back and get more. I left that day feeling like I had eaten a whole hog all by myself. I ate the pulled pork, the mutton, green beans, and you can’t forget the mashed potatoes. I skipped the other things like mac and cheese, gravy and all types of breads and deserts. There was just too much meat to waste time on those other things.

A couple of weeks ago, I began to think it was time to go back to Moonlite and it occurred to that a lot people treat God’s word like a trip to moonlight Bar-B-Q. They fill their plates with their favorites. They eat some things (Phil. 3:19), while totally passing over the things that are a bit harder to handle. For instance, some heap their plates with things like faith, grace, forgiveness and then pass over things like baptism for the remission of sins. They select “Some” of God’s word but not the “Sum” of God’s word. They claim to be bible believers but they are doing a Moonlite on those things that are harder to swallow.

Does the New Testament require baptism? No? Look again. According to Matthew 28:19-20 baptism is involved in my becoming a disciple of Christ. According to Mark 16:15-16 baptism is something I must engage if I want to be saved. According to Acts 2:37-38 baptism is something I must undergo in order to be forgiven of my sins. According to Acts 8:12-13, 38 baptism is something I must submit to, even if it means changing my religion. According to Acts 10:48 baptism is something I must obey because it has been commanded. According to Acts 16:14-15, baptism is something I will yield to — immediately — in order to be faithful to the Lord. According to Acts 22:16 baptism is something I must do if I desire my past sins to be taken away (cf. Acts 9:6). According to Romans 6:3-7 baptism is that which makes a difference (slave of sin vs. slave of righteousness) in my life. According to 1 Corinthians 12:13 baptism is the means by which I enter the body or church (cf. Ephesians 1:22-23). According to Galatians 3:26-27 baptism is the way that I become a child of God. According to 1 Peter 3:21 baptism saves. 

Back in Jeremiah 36 we have the story of Jehoiakim burning the scroll of Jeremiah because he did not like what it said. He took the penknife and cut it into pieces and then threw it into the fire. He was a man who would have loved Moonlite Bar-B-Q. Eat what you want, skip what you don’t, baptism = no, faith -Yes.

Christianity is not an all you can eat buffet spread the greatest food we can imagine. This is not Burger-King and we cannot have it our way. Nowhere does God give us the right to take something’s and reject other things of equal importance. We must take the whole council of God (Acts 20:27; 2 Timothy 4:2-4), including those passages that teach things like service, humility, and yes even baptism.

People often find many reasons for why they don’t have to go to church. I have heard many people say things like, “Why can’t I worship God in the comfort of my home, enjoying the best preaching and music TV has to offer?” “Why can’t I just enjoy being alone out in the woods – just God and me and the pine trees?” “Why can’t I meet God at the water’s edge, wiggling my toes in the warm sand surrounded by thousands of sun-worshippers?” Perhaps the better question is not, “Why can’t I, but why do I need the church?”

I need the church because it’s a FAMILY REUNION. Jesus said, “Who is My family? Those who do My will.” (Mark 3:33, 35) We are a family rejoicing with one another, crying with one another, helping each other. We need each other’s support.

I need the church because it’s a CLASSROOM. I’m preparing for a mission. I’m on an extended course of study. For the rest of my life I’m enrolled in a course of Christian discipleship. Each week builds on the one before.

I need the church because it’s a REFUGE. The church is a place to get away from the busyness of the world. It’s a mini-retreat. It’s a place to focus my thoughts on things above, to worship.

I need the church because it’s like a BILLBOARD. As my neighbors see me go down to that building week after week, they can tell what is important in my life. If all my brothers and sisters are there too, the neighbors may wonder what is going on that attracts people so regularly.

I need the church because it’s a MEMORIAL SERVICE. Imagine that I had been in a war and one of my buddies threw himself on an enemy hand grenade to save me-and it killed him. Suppose I learned there was to be a memorial service for him in my hometown. Would I be there? Of course! And since Jesus died for me, it’s to honor Him that I attend His memorial service. It’s to honor Him that I remember His death by observing the Lord’s Supper.

I need the church because it’s a VICTORY CELEBRATION. Jesus left an empty tomb. We can celebrate His resurrection together. At least one day a week should be set aside for remembering Jesus’ triumph over death and Satan.

Finally, I need the church because it’s a TIME TO SPEND WITH MY FATHER. I’m a child of God. As my Father, He’s not cold and aloof. He delights in spending time with me, and I want to be with Him. God wants to reveal His plans to me. And I want to get in on the details, to cooperate with Him.