Saturday, November 26, 2011

The official day we call “Thanksgiving” has come and gone, but hopefully our gratitude for life and all the rich blessings we enjoy every day from our Father will continue throughout the holiday season all the way into and through the New Year 2012. Cindi and I are so very thankful to be Christians and members of the Enola Church of Christ. It is difficult for me to believe that I have been your minister and friend for only five short months. It is my daily prayer and sincere desire to God for a lifetime of service to you and our Enola community.

Last Wednesday evening we had a great lesson from God’s word that reminded us of the languages of thanksgiving. We had several guests with us, here for the holiday weekend. This coming Wednesday, November 30th we will have our monthly singing. I always enjoy our time together singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. Let’s make our monthly singing a priority in our schedule for this week.

Tomorrow, Sunday, November 27th I will preaching a lesson entitled “Thanksgiving – Today and Every Day.” I am thankful when I remember the past and all that God has done for me. I am thankful when I appreciate the present and all that God is doing for me. I am thankful when I decide to trust and obey God in the future and all that He has planned for me.

On Sunday evening our series entitled “Growing – What Does It Take?” continues. This Sunday evening we will look at how we can become a warmer, more loving and compassionate congregation through fellowship. The more we come together to worship, study, pray, work, and play the warmer we become. Of course fellowship has its requirements: 1) Walking in the Light, 2) Continuing in the Apostles’ doctrine, 3) United together in the grace and discipline of Jesus Christ. May God continue to bless every member of the Enola church of Christ with all that we need!
Don’t forget our Birthday and Anniversary Get-Together at the Burleson’s tomorrow evening immediately following our Sunday evening assembly. If you are a member of your family has a birthday or an anniversary in November, come and celebrate with your fellow Christian family. We will provide drinks, cupcakes, utensils, and some finger-food snacks. If you would like to bring a finger-food snack, please do. We always have a wonderful time together. Also, we have planned a Congregational Luncheon on Sunday, December 4th following our morning worship hour. This will be my first luncheon with you. From what I hear, our Enola brothers and sisters can really cook. Please make plans to be here for this very special time of fellowship together. Remember: We grow warmer through fellowship.
Our elders will be meeting together to calculate our budget for the coming year. Please remember the Enola Church of Christ in your own budget for the rest of the year and into the coming year 2012. There is much to do to make an impact for Christ locally and in other parts of the world. Money is required. You know what Jesus said, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” We all love to receive and receiving is a blessing. A greater blessing can be found in giving. Jesus is always right. But you know that already. God bless us all.

Tuesday, November 15, 2011

Can you believe that Thanksgiving is only a week away? Many will be traveling near and far to visit family and friends as the holiday season begins. Let’s make a very special effort to travel safe and sound. Be patient. You know the traffic will be heavier than usual. Be more kind to those around you. During the holiday season people seem to be more stressed out than usual. Remember Paul’s instructions to the church at Rome in Romans 12:1-2. We must not be conformed to the world. We must be transformed by God’s word. Drive within the speed limits. We are Christians. This means that we live our lives according to the rules and the law of the land. Try not to over-eat, over-spend, over-extend, and over-do. You and I both know what our income is and what our monthly bills are. When we do not stay within our budget, things can get very tight in January and February of the new year. School will be out next week. This means that children will be running around in our communities. Be more careful and more watchful as you travel to and from work. Of course, may we all remember to be more thankful for the rich blessings we enjoy every day from our Father who loves us! I hope you will take these suggestions into consideration as we enter the holiday season.

This Sunday morning our sermon is entitled “Committed to the Father through the Son – Really?” We will evaluate our commitment to God through His Son Jesus Christ. People are committed to many things. Every Christian must be committed not to the fad, or to the food, or to the fun, or even to the fellowship when it comes to our Christian life and living. We must be committed to the Father through the Son.

On Sunday evening we will begin a new series of sermons entitled “GROWTH – What does it take?” This Sunday evening, November 20th we will introduce the series and then take a look at lesson 1 – Growing Warmer Through Fellowship next Sunday evening, November 27th Lord willing.

We are having a very good study on prayer on Sunday morning at 10:00 with Brother Eddie Hawkins, one of our elders here at Enola. I believe that this study has helped us all to have a better understanding of the power of prayer. I teach the adults on Wednesday evening from the book of Romans. We are studying through the book and are currently in Romans 12. If you are not involved in one of our Bible studies, please know that you are missing out on a wonderful opportunity to grow in your Christian walk with God. Jesus said that we do not live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God. Come and grow with us. You will be so very glad that you did.

Don’t let the rain and winter weather keep you away from worship and fellowship with your fellow Christians at Enola. Our doors are open. Our elders are leading us toward God’s blessings. Our deacons are working with a vision for service and growth. Our preacher is on the job every day in prayer, study, and service in the community. Our teachers are prepared and excited about sharing lessons from God’s word with their students. God is blessing us on every side. We are thankful.

Friday, November 4, 2011

Remember to “Fall – Backward” on Saturday night before you retire to bed. Think about this small thing: setting our clocks back one hour in the fall and then ahead one hour in the spring. Just goes to show you what people can do when we are united together. It is true that Daylight Saving Time is primarily a North American choice and that the majority of the world’s population does not adhere to time changes. I didn’t realize just how much information was available on this subject. Check the internet and you will see.

Paul wrote about unity so many times in the Bible. Let me mention a couple.

“Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; that you speak the same thing; and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment” (1 Corinthians 1:10). Of course, Paul was writing about unity in the Lord’s church. No wonder people in the world today often look with distain at the church with so much disunity and discord. Please, Enola brothers and sisters, let us consider Paul’s pleading and live, work, play, and worship together in unity. This past Wednesday evening we sang hymn #358 in our books “O To Be Like Thee.” This song is tough. “O to be like Thee, blessed Redeemer; This is my constant longing and prayer. Gladly I’ll forfeit all of earth’s treasures, Jesus Thy perfect likeness to wear. O to be like Thee, O to be like Thee, Blesses Redeemer, pure as Thou art; Come in Thy sweetness, come in Thy fullness; Stamp Thine own image deep on my heart.” We can have unity only when we can sing that song with the spirit and with the understanding.

“I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (Ephesians 4:1-3). When you read on down through verse 6 you will notice that there is ONE BODY (The church of Christ – Ephesians 1:22-23). There is ONE SPIRIT who has given us the Bible. There is ONE HOPE of our calling in Jesus Christ. There is ONE LORD, the Son of God, Jesus Christ. There is ONE FAITH. Not many faiths, ONE FAITH. There is ONE BAPTISM. This is the baptism that puts us in Christ and saves us, the new birth. There is ONE GOD. All other “gods” are silent, powerless, useless, and a waste.

This Sunday morning we will conclude our series “Counting Our Blessings – Naming Them One By One.” I count my blessings one by one when I understand how God blesses me, when I decide to live one day at a time, when I decide to live my life optimistically, and this Sunday; I count by blessings one by one when I decide to love life and see good days. I hope you are benefiting from this series. I certainly am.

I am enjoying our Sunday evening series very much: Lessons from Four Fishermen – Peter, Andrew, James, and John. Peter taught us about service. He said to the lame man, “What I have a give to you.” Andrew was quietly effective. We can be quietly effective too. This Sunday evening we will learn that, like us James often blundered, and many times misunderstood Jesus’ plan for him. Through it all, James stayed close to Jesus.

I look forward to seeing you on Sunday here in beautiful Enola, Arkansas. We are growing in the love of the Lord every day.