Teaching, Loving and Caring in the Country

     It’s been a very busy week!  Monday was a day that I will not soon forget.  The Lasley family was completely devastated at the passing of their beloved Tammy.  We all were filled with sorrow for the family, for our community, and for ourselves at the passing of such a fine young woman.  She was only 49 years old.  Such an experience serves as a reminder of the brevity and the volatility of life.  Death is only a heartbeat away.  We often pray with our children and grandchildren at bedtime.  Our prayer goes something like this, “As I lay me down to sleep.  I pray the Lord my soul to keep.  If I should die before I wake.  I pray the Lord my soul to take.  In Jesus name.  Amen.”  This prayer now has a renewed significance to me.  On Thursday evening, Tammy went to sleep.  She died during the night.  The Lord took her soul to Paradise.  Blessed by  the name of the Lord.  We do not know when our own appointment with death will be, only that we have an appointment that we will keep.  Our task is to be in Christ, walking in the light as He is in the light, striving to live our lives before God and others with kindness, gentleness, and humility and with courage, integrity, and honor.  We are not perfect in ourselves.  We are made perfect in Christ Jesus.  I am so very thankful.

    God always requires those who are following Him to heaven to make adjustments to His will and purposes.  This Sunday morning at Enola we will take a look at some examples from the Old Testament that prove this point.  What adjustments did Noah have to make in order to follow God’s purpose?  What about Abraham?  And Moses?  What about David?  The Book of Ruth shows the beautiful consequences of one who adjusts their life to God’s purposes.  I look forward to sharing this lesson with the church and our guests.

     On Sunday evening we will continue in our series; “Jesus is King of Kings – Jesus is the King of Action.”  We will be looking at specific examples from Jesus life to show that we can depend on Jesus to take action when action is required.  Jesus is indeed the King of Kings.

     Can you believe that January is gone and that February is now upon us.  The church of Christ at Enola is growing and changing every week, maturing in the ways of God and His Son reading, praying, working, serving, and sharing the gospel.  Already this year we have experienced the spiritual birth of three new Christians.  We are overjoyed!  Of course, we have also experienced one of our faithful families moving their membership elsewhere.  We are saddened, but we try to understand.  Maybe you are thinking about making a change in this new year.  Make the drive out to the country to Enola and experience the honesty, simplicity, and joy of Christians worshipping and working together in unity, harmony, and happiness.