Tuesday, April 27, 2010

May 2010! Wow! Ladies’ Day 2010 at St. Andrews Road is this Saturday, May 1st. Registration begins at 9:00 a.m. Ladies: You won’t want to miss this very special ladies only event. Everything has been prepared for you to come and be “spiritually beautiful.” In addition to Saturday’s big event the young ladies (grades 6th – 12th) and their mothers, grandmothers, and/or guardians are invited to a “Girl’s Night Out” with Sheila at 6:00 p.m. on Saturday evening in the Fellowship Hall. Also, Sheila will teach a special ladies Bible class in the Fellowship Hall on Sunday morning at 10:00. Come and enjoy these wonderful opportunities for fellowship and spiritual growth with your Christian sisters.
Next up at SAR!
Mother’s Day Breakfast on Saturday morning, May 8th
Graduation Celebration on Saturday, May 15th at 6:00 p.m.
Men’s and Preachers’ Meeting on Tuesday, May 18th

Not long ago I read the following poem printed in the Myrtle Beach congregation’s newsletter (February 21, 2010).
ACCORDING TO YOU
The Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John are read by more than a few.
But the one most read and commented on is the Gospel according to you.
You are writing a gospel, a chapter a day,
By the things that you do and the words that you say.
Do men read His truth, and His love in your life?
Or has yours been too full of malice and strife?
Does your life speak evil, or does it ring true?
Say, what is the gospel according to you?
I would like to use this little poem to remind every Christian of the significance of our influence for Christ in the world around us. Are you showing and sharing the gospel of Christ in thought, word, and deed? Or are we showing and sharing something else? Our lesson from God’s word this Sunday morning is entitled “The Gospel According to Me.”

Think about it! When I am tempted what do I show others? When I have sinned, what do I teach others? When I am lonely, what is the gospel according to me? When I am afraid or worried or sick, what do people see in me? When I need help or advice or guidance, what do I do? When death is near, what do I teach others? I look forward to sharing this lesson with you.

Our series “Aquila and Priscilla – The Model Couple” concludes this Sunday evening with the third and final characteristic – Putting First Things First. Aquila and Priscilla teach us TOGETHERNESS. They teach us how important it is to be able to AJUST to the “curves” of life. This Sunday evening we will look at how Aquila and Priscilla put God at the center of their relationship. They were teachers. They taught Apollos the way of the Lord more perfectly. They were missionaries. They risked their own lives for the gospel. They were fellow workers with Paul physically (tents) and spiritually (teaching others). The church of Christ met in their home. Just what kind of home would you expect the church of Christ to meet in? Unfaithful? Stingy? Selfish? Sinful? Oh no! Aquila and Priscilla were true servants of God first and always. What about your home? Could the church meet where you live? If so, wonderful! Keep on keeping on. If not, make the changes that need to be made. You can do it – Philippians 4:13.

Thursday, April 22, 2010

Our Ladies’ Day 2010 is now only a week away, Saturday, May 1st. What a day this will be! Ladies, come early for a light breakfast, register, hear our very special guest speaker, Sheila Butt from Nashville, Tennessee as she speaks about spiritual beauty, and stay for lunch. We’re having Olive Garden salad, soup, and those delicious breadsticks. Take another look at the front of your newsletter for additional ladies’ day activities. Of course this is a “ladies only” event.

Men: We could really use your help serving lunch to the ladies on Saturday. We also need substitute teachers for our children’s Bible classes on Sunday morning, May 2nd. Go by the bulletin board in the lobby to sign up to help.

LADIES’ DAY 2010
Saturday, May 1st
9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Guest Speaker: Sheila Butt
Theme: SEEKING SPIRITUAL BEAUTY
Special Ladies Bible Class
Sunday Morning, May 2nd
10:00 a.m.
Fellowship Hall

Our Sunday Morning series “Now That I am a Christian” concludes this Sunday. Christ calls me to REJOICE, to be prayerful, to be thankful, and to be hopeful. He calls me to REMOVE from my life any sorrow or sin that would lead me in the wrong direction and to remove my life from any influence that would lead me away from the path to heaven. He calls me to REMEMBER my first love, to think, to decide, and to act. He also calls me to REFLECT the image of Christ to those around me at home, at school, at work, wherever I am. If you would like to read ahead, read Matthew 5.

On Sunday evenings at St. Andrews Road we are looking at the model marriage of Aquila and Priscilla to find three characteristics that we would do well to apply to our own relationships. We read about this model couple in Acts 18:1-3, 18-19, 24-27; Romans 16:3-5; I Corinthians 16:19; and in II Timothy 4:19. Last Sunday we noticed their “togetherness.” You never read about Aquila without Priscilla. You never read about Priscilla without Aquila. They were together in every way. This Sunday evening we will look at another characteristic that we need in our relationships today: THE ABILITY TO ADJUST. I hope you will make plans to be present for this study on Sunday evening.

We had a good men’s and preachers’ meeting this past Tuesday. Bill Young did an outstanding job on the subject of “The Preacher and Mental Health.” We had good attendance, good participation, and wonderful fellowship. We meet every third Tuesday in the month at St. Andrews Road at 10:00 a.m. except for June, July, and December. Cedric Anderson will present our program in May.

NEW PICTURE DIRECTORY COMING SOON! Josh and Aaron Moore will be taking our pictures in June for a new picture directory. Please go by the bulletin board in the lobby to sign up to get your picture taken. Let’s make it our aim to have 100% participation. Since the last picture Cindi and I had taken there have been three additions to our family; two grandchildren and a daughter-in-law. Our little Lily is now well on her way. Whew! Life just keeps on happening, doesn’t it?

Thursday, April 15, 2010

South Carolina in the spring! No wonder so many song writers write about our beautiful state…our beautiful sunrises, the ocean and the mountains, our diverse unique cultures (Low Country, Midlands, and Upstate). No wonder so many artists paint pictures of our beautiful places and our smiling faces. It is a very special privilege to call South Carolina our home.

Our newly remodeled facilities are serving us very well. Isn’t it great to walk in on Sunday morning, Sunday evening, and Wednesday evening to newly renovated classrooms, spacious restrooms, and clear bright hallways? We are so very thankful to God for His provision, thankful to those who have gone on before us for their sacrifices, and thankful to have the wisdom, the opportunity, and the faith to do our part for ourselves and for future generations.

Our Sunday morning series “Now That I am a Christian” continues. We have discussed every Christian’s calling to rejoice in Christ. We have looked at our mission to remove from ourselves every sorrow and every evil and to remove ourselves from the same. This Sunday morning we will consider the word REMEMBER as it applies to our theme. The church at Ephesus was a great congregation. The Lord knew their work, their labor and their patience. He recognized that they were standing firm against false teachings. However, the Lord had something against them. They had left their first love. God called them to remember, to repent, and to return (Revelation 2:1-7). We must love God and maintain that love to the end (Revelation 2:10).

This Sunday evening we will begin a new three lesson series entitled “Aquila and Priscilla – The Model Marriage.” We will take a look at their relationship and find principles that we can apply to our own relationships today. If you would like to read ahead, read Acts 18:1-3, 24-27; Romans 16:3-5; 1 Corinthians 16:19; 2 Timothy 4:19. I look forward to sharing these lessons with you. Sunday evenings are very special at St. Andrews Road. Every member of the church should make every effort to be here for worship, study, and fellowship. Can you think of a better place to be?

Our Ladies’ Day 2010 is just around the corner, only two weeks away. Several sign-up sheets have been placed on the bulletin board in the lobby for us to consider and volunteer our time and talents. Wouldn’t it be great to have every St. Andrews Road lady, young and older participating in this year’s annual ladies’ day? Of course this is a ladies only event. If you have a question or need any information about our ladies’ day, see Cindi Burleson, Monica Holton, Belinda Hutchison, or Sherry Pyle.

Also, our special guest speaker, Sheila Butt from Nashville, Tennessee will stay over on Sunday morning to teach a special ladies’ Bible class in the Fellowship Hall.

Guys: Our ladies need our help with lunch on Saturday and with substitute teaching on Sunday morning, May 2nd. Please drop by the bulletin board and sign up to help.

LADIES’ DAY 2010
Saturday, May 1st
9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Guest Speaker: Sheila Butt
Theme: SEEKING SPIRITUAL BEAUTY
Lunch: Olive Garden Salad, Soup, and Breadsticks

Friday, April 2, 2010

Our gospel meeting is now history. Brother David Pharr did an outstanding job presenting the gospel of Jesus Christ in a most effective way. We had good attendance at every meeting. The fellowship luncheon on Sunday…our newly renovated fellowship hall…the food…the friendship…the joy…the packed room…Wow! Isn’t it great to be a Christian? Isn’t it great to be a member of the St. Andrews Road church of Christ? It is!

Congratulations to Tyler Johnson, Ashton Gist, and Andrew Yuris. Tyler became a Christian this past Sunday morning. Ashton and Andrew confessed Jesus as Lord, Savior, and the Son of God and were both baptized into Christ this past Sunday evening. We welcome these new Christians into the Lord’s church. May these new Christians grow in the grace and in the knowledge of Christ every day! It is our prayer, our plea, and our plan to lead others to follow their example of faith in the days to come!

We are already well into planning for our next event at St. Andrews Road; LADIES’ DAY 2010. Our Ladies Day has been scheduled for Saturday, May 1st with registration beginning at 9:00 a.m. Our theme is “SEEKING SPIRITUAL BEAUTY.” Our special guest speaker will be Sheila Butt from Columbia, Tennessee. Ladies: Please mark your calendars for Saturday, May 1st for this special ladies’ day. If you can help in any way with this year’s ladies’ day please sign up on one or more of the sign-up sheets on the bulletin board in the lobby. It would be great to have every lady at St. Andrews Road helping with this year’s ladies’ day.

Lately the Lord has added several new Christians to the church of Christ at St. Andrews Road. We are so very thankful for God’s rich blessings. This month (April – Can you believe it?) I would like to look to the Bible to show these new Christians and remind every mature Christian that we must live our lives according to God’s instructions written to us in the Bible.

Every Christian should rejoice. It is true that life can certainly throw us some “curves.” It is also true that life is filled with people, things, and circumstances that can rob us of our joy. However, God’s purpose for every Christian is that we rejoice in everything.

Every Christian should remove from their life any sorrow, any evil, and any sin. Isn’t it true that these things can rob us of our rejoicing? Sorrow is part of life. It is not God’s will that we should continue in sorrow. We cannot get away from evil. Evil is all around us. However we must not participate in evil. We must not give a place for evil in our lives.

Every Christian should remember God in every thought, word, decision, and action. Putting God first in our lives means thinking like God, speaking like God, wanting the same things that God wants, and acting like God would act.

Every Christian should reflect on who and what is coming. Either Jesus will return in our lifetime or we will die and wait in death until He returns. Heaven or hell remains for every person. We must live our lives with this fact in mind.

On Sunday evening we will look at Galatians 6:7-8. What we sow we will certainly reap. Rebellion or obedience? Lying or the truth? Stealing or working to help and serve? Sexual immorality or purity? Addiction or discipline?

Cindi and I will be traveling to Clemmons, North Carolina on Wednesday to participate in the 64th Annual Carolina Lectures. I will present a lesson to the men on Friday at 2:30 p.m. Cindi will present a lesson to the women also at 2:30. Please pray for our safe trip and our return home on Saturday.