Don't you just love the fall?

     We are enjoying a great week in the country, Enola, Arkansas.  The weather has been much cooler lately.  After all, it is October.  Can you believe that Thanksgiving is just around the corner?  I do enjoy the fall season.  Football, the leaves turning, chili,  beef stew, chain saws running in the woods, the morning dew, the smell of firewood burning in the fireplace, another blanket on the bed… are just a few wonderful things I love about this time of the year.  May God help us to appreciate His rich blessings every day.

     The Area wide Men’s and Preachers’ Meeting was held on Monday of this week.  The focus of this month’s meeting was on our youth.  Young men from various congregations in the area directed the meeting with singing, prayer, and lessons from God’s word that were aimed at encouraging every adult Christian man to build for future generations.  There were 21 present at the meeting.  The meeting was held at the home of Brother Alex Laferty (Mar’s Hill).  David Riley (Mar’s Hill) organized the meeting.  Rod Leslie, youth minister at Downtown/Morrilton provided lunch, a grilled pork loin…Mmmm!  The Men’s and Preachers’ Meeting will be hosted by Brother Shock and the Magnolia congregation in November.

     Our Sunday morning sermon series “The Parables of Jesus” began last Sunday with a look at the Parable of the Sower, the Seed, and the Soil.  Jesus could have been talking to any one of us at any time; mechanics, fishermen, teachers, lawyers, doctors, salespeople, anyone.  A farmer went out to sow seed.  A mechanic went out to repair a pickup.  A fisherman went out to fish.  A teacher went out to teach.  A lawyer went to court.  A doctor went out to help the sick.  A salesman went out to make a sale.  We all have enemies, obstacles, and distractions that often hinder us from working and reaping a great harvest.  In the Parable of the Sower, Seed, and Soil the devil, temptations, the cares of life, the deceitfulness of riches, and pleasures often hinder our work.  If we resist the devil, if we resolve not to yield to temptation, if we remember the promises of God concerning cares, riches, and pleasure, we will reap a great harvest in our lives.

     This Sunday morning we will consider another one of Jesus’ parables, the Parable of the Two Debtors.  This lesson will be somewhat different in its approach.  We will look at this parable through a series of questions that will need to be answered by each of us individually, personally, and privately.  How much do I love Jesus?  Do I love Him like the woman with the alabaster container of perfume loved Him?  You can find this parable in Luke chapter 7.

     On Sunday evenings we are fortifying the foundation of our Christian lives.  God has a plan of salvation for every person.  Faith is me comprehending my responsibility.  Repentance is me accepting my responsibility.  Confession is me deciding on my responsibility.  Baptism is me fulfilling my responsibility.  Living the Christian life is me being responsible.   This Sunday we will focus our attention specifically on the foundation principle of faith.  Faith is the substance of our hope.  Faith is the evidence of what we cannot yet see.  Faith is believing is God.  Faith is believing that God rewards those who diligently seek Him.

     The church of Christ at Enola is doing well.  If you are in the area, please come and join us for worship on Sunday morning at 10:00, on Sunday evening at 5:00 and on Wednesday evening at 7:00.  We would love to see you.