Loving Life in Enola, Arkansas

     We’re having another great week up in the country, Enola, Arkansas, population 338 family, friends, and neighbors.  The weather is simply beautiful.  Most of us have been working outside in the yard, planting flowers and vegetables, mowing and feeding the lawn, trimming up the trees after a long winter, and generally enjoying all that comes with this time of year.  I love getting my hands into the soil. The Enola church of Christ now has a brand new outdoor sign that will help us announce our upcoming events and activities in addition to showing and sharing simple statements of faith and encouragement to the community.  The sign has been delivered.  Our men have been busy this week getting the concrete foundation finished.  It could be that the sign will be placed before this Sunday (28^th) for everyone to see.  Our old sign has served its purpose very well in front of our building beside highway 107 north and at least in my opinion would continue to serve us well placed beside the road that runs behind our building.  We’ll see.  Thank you to the men who have given so much of their time and talents this week to getting our new sign in place.

     On Sunday morning our lesson series “Looking for the Door of Opportunity” continues with a lesson that answers the question, How?  We can find the door of opportunity when we associate with the right people.  Think about it.  What we think, what we do, and who we are usually develops from our associations.  If we surround ourselves with negative people, we are tempted to become negative.   If our associates are positive, then there is a greater chance that we will be positive.  If we surround ourselves with people who are disrespectful and disobedient, we are tempted to copy those same attributes.  If we surround ourselves with those who are respectful and submission, then we find that we will be the same.  If we surround ourselves with people who are dishonest and untrustworthy, there is a greater probability that we will not be people of integrity.  If our associates are people of integrity, then chances are, we will be people of integrity too.  Take a look at Timothy.  How did he become the fine young Christian gospel preacher that he was?  Could it be that his mother, grandmother, and of course, the apostle Paul had something to do with opening the door of opportunity to him?  Do you remember when Peter denied Jesus three times?  The third person that asked about Peter’s knowledge of Jesus, said, “Your speech gives you away.”  In other words, people could tell that Peter had been with Jesus because of the way of his life.  We’ll talk about these things.  I hope you can be here for worship, fellowship, and study this coming Sunday.

     On Sunday evening we are doing something interesting.  Our series is entitled “The Old Rugged Cross.”  Series One:  The Old Rugged Cross – Requirements.  Series Two:  The Old Rugged Cross – Experiences.  Series Three:  The Old Rugged Cross – The End Result.  We are using the letters of the word “CROSS” as our points.  This Sunday night (28^th) we will look at series two, lesson three:  In the Way of the Old Rugged Cross we will experience opportunities.  I am enjoying this series very much.  The points are easy to remember and very meaningful to our Christian lives.

     YOUNG ADULTS:  If you are college age to 30, single, single-again, or married, we have a very special Bible class available to you every Sunday morning at 10:00 a.m. in the Annex Building.  Andy Kelly and Patrick Breeding is teaching this class.  It is my understanding that a new study will begin this week on Attitudes.  If you are not involved in one of our Bible study sessions, you need to be.  Just get up a little bit earlier on Sunday morning and show up.  We have plenty of room for you.  If you have children, we have Bible classes for them too. 

     The Enola Church of Christ is doing very well.  It is true that some of our Christian brothers and sisters are struggling with various trials, temptations, sicknesses, and negative circumstances.  Life has been this way since the beginning of time.  Together we can keep on keeping on.  Don’t think that you are alone in your trials.  Know that your Christian family at Enola loves you and is praying for you.

See you Sunday...up in the Country

     Good day from up in the country and Enola, Arkansas.  Boy, have we had some very beautiful and very scary weather the past few days.  On Wednesday we had a terrible storm system come through our area.  Up in the country we had lightning, thunder, strong winds, and torrential rain.  The temperature went from 72 to 42 in a matter of seconds.  Pretty nerve racking.  I had our storm shelter ready to go; clean and swept out, chairs, candles, snacks, etc.  Cindi and I were ready.  How about you?  Is everything ready?  We need to be prepared.    If you are not prepared for the storm, get with it.  Now that leads me into something even more important.  Are you prepared for the coming of Jesus Christ?  He could be coming any moment.  He promised that He would return and told us that no one know when and that no one would be able to predict it.  This means that we need to be ready every day.  Put your faith in Jesus Christ.  No worries.  If you have sinned, repent and stay humble and true to your faith.  Have you confessed Jesus as the Son of God and have you been baptized for the remission of your sins.  If you have not then do so as soon as possible.  You cannot be saved unless you have obeyed Jesus’ simple command to confess Him and be baptized.  Are you living the Christian life?  You know whether you are living the Christian life or not.  If not, make the change and stay with it.  If you are, great!  Keep on keeping on.

     This Sunday (14^th) for our sermon time we will begin a new series of lesson entitled “Finding the Door of Opportunity.”  This week we will introduce the series.  There are so many verses in the Bible that refer to doors of opportunity.  We’ll look at a few on Sunday morning.  Over the next few weeks we will take a look at how to see the many opportunities that present themselves to us every day.  If we are looking, we’ll see them.  If we are ready to take those doors, we can.  I hope you will be present this Sunday morning for this sermon.

     On Sunday evening we will continue to study about the Old Rugged Cross.  There are requirements:  Courage, Reason, Obedience, Sacrifices, and Sincerity.  Now we will consider what we will experience as we walk with Jesus on the road to Calvary.  This Sunday evening we will look at the CHALLENGES we will experience on the road to Calvary.

     YOUNG ADULTS:  We have a brand new Bible class available to you in the Annex at 10:00 a.m. every Sunday morning.  Andy Kelly and Patrick Breeding will be directing this study in God’s word.  The first session was last Sunday and we had a good crowd.  If you are college age to 30 years of age, this class is for you.  Come and be a part of this very special time of study, fellowship, and discussion.  If you know of someone who would enjoy this class, extend to them a very special invitation to come with you.  Remember how our faith in God is strengthened…Romans 10:17 and Psalm 1.

     We doing well up in the country!  It would do you good to make the short drive from wherever you are to worship with us at the Enola Church of Christ.  

April Showers/May Flowers

     Can you believe that January, February, and March 2013 are now history and the April showers will soon bring us May flowers?  I love spring.  Maybe we can continue our lawn and garden work now that the cold weather has finally given way to the warm.  Everything up in the country has been waiting patiently to burst forth into blossoms and blooms.  I'm ready for brown to turn green.

     We had a fine Easter Sunday at Enola.  We had a good crowd (166) for the morning worship hour and had almost 100 for the evening worship hour.  Our weekly offering continues to increase.   God continues to bless our labors with prosperity and happiness.  We are not without our personal troubles, trials, temptations, and difficulties.  We know that through it all, God helps us and provides what we need.  You may be going through some rough times.  Read Psalm 30 and especially verse 5:  “For His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for life.  Weeping endures for a night, but joy comes in the morning.”  Don’t you just love that verse and the entire chapter?  Look at verse 11.  “You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; You have put off my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness.” 

     This Sunday (7^th) we will study about what God sees when He looks at you and me.  Our Scripture text comes from Romans 11, the last few verses and continues into chapter 12.  Just what does God see when He looks at me or you?  He sees that we are acceptable.  We are valuable.  We are lovable.  We are forgivable.  We are capable.  Come out for Bible class at 10 and for this sermon at 11:30.  Every Sunday at 11:00 at Enola we sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs.  We do a lot of praying.  We are happy to give as we have been prospered for the Lord’s work.  We share in the Lord’s Supper.  I love being a Christian.  I love being a gospel preacher.  I especially love being a member of the Enola Church of Christ.

     On Sunday evening we will conclude with the final lesson on “The Old Rugged Cross – The Requirements.”  We have looked at courage, reason, obedience, and sacrifice.  This Sunday evening we will look at sincerity.  Just think of the CROSS and place the topics we have been discussing with each letter.  Ask yourself the following questions:

1.        Do I present what it true in my life?

2.       Am I putting on a good show, or an act?  Or am I real?

3.       Am I authentic?  What does this mean?

4.       Does who I am change depending on who is or isn’t watching?

5.       Am I serious?  Honest?  Pure?

 

     I hope you are having a good week.  From what I hear, the weather this weekend is going to be wonderful.  I’m ready.

Everything is going to be fine up in the country!

     What a wonderful Sunday we enjoyed this week (24^th) when the church of Christ at Enola met for worship, study, and fellowship!  We had a good crowd (128) when you consider the cold windy weather we are having.  There were many smiles as we talked about the many ways God is blessing the church up in the country.  We have had two new additions to the church recently.  One of our Christian sisters got married.  We had a new baby to be born this weekend.  One of our Christian brothers who recently lost his job interviewed and was made an offer.  He starts to work again on Monday.  Some who have been sick are better.  I could go on and on.  Of course we still have work to do.  Some of our Christian brothers and sisters are having a difficult time right now.  Some are sick.  They need God’s tender loving care, our prayers and His healing.  Some are struggling with the mistakes of the past, errors in judgment, weakness, limitations, and sin.  They need our prayers, support, and love now more than ever.  God is faithful, merciful, gracious, and just.  He can make what is wrong right again.  He can strengthen every weakness.  Of course every searching soul must come to God in repentance and humility to receive the answers to their needs.  Some are doubtful and in need of a greater faith.  God’s word, the Bible was written so that those who are doubtful might believe.  God is ready, willing, and able to provide for our every need.  He is our refuge and strength, a very present help in times of trouble.  We must not be afraid or dismayed.  Let us hasten to Him.

     This Sunday (March 31^st) is Easter Sunday.  Remember that Easter Sunday will be no different than any other Lord’s Day at Enola.  We celebrate and remember the resurrection of Christ every first day of the week when we break bread together in the Lord’s Supper.  The unleavened bread that we share represents the body of Christ who was crucified for us.  The fruit of the vine represents the blood that Jesus shed when He died for us.  Of course we remember the day He rose from the grave just as He promised.  That was a Sunday, the first day of the week.  The church of Christ in the first century celebrated the death, burial, and the resurrection of Christ with the Lord’s Supper every Sunday (Acts 20:7, 1 Corinthians 16:1-2).  We do the same.  We have been given special instructions in 1 Corinthians 11 concerning the Lord’s Supper.  We must remember Christ’s body in the unleavened bread and His blood in the fruit of the vine.  We must also examine ourselves and so eat and drink.  We want to follow the pattern for worship we find in the New Testament.

     Our Sunday evening series is going well.  I am preaching a series on the Old Rugged Cross.  If I am living my life in view of the cross, I must realize that the way of the cross has requirements that must be met.  The road to Calvary requires C – Courage.  It requires R – Reason.  The Way requires O – Obedience.  This Sunday we find that the Way of the cross requires S – Sacrifice.  Jesus Christ gave Himself as a Sacrifice for us all.  What about us?  We must give ourselves as a living sacrifice to God.  I hope you will be present at 5:00 p.m. on Sunday evening for this series of lessons taken straight from the Bible.  Remember that faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God (Romans 10:17).

     I keep thinking:  April showers bring May flowers.  Today (Tuesday, March 26^th) when I walked outside to get Cindi’s car warmed up for her drive to work, the temperature was below freezing.  I know because the water in my garden fountain was frozen.  God has everything under control no matter what the news media says.  I will trust Him and obey Him.  That way, everything will be just fine.

Rules of Life

     Life should not be so complicated!  It really isn’t.  Keep the rules and enjoy life.  Break the rules and trouble follows.  We just can’t break the rules of life.  What are the rules you ask.  Well, let’s look at a few.

1.       Whatever you sow, you reap.  This is a rule of life.  We read this rule over and over again in the Bible and still we sometimes think that we can sow one thing and reap another.  I recently planted some apple trees in my yard.  I don’t know very much about trees, but the tag on one of  the trees, said “Granny Smith Apple.”  Now in a few days I expect to see blooms, then leaves, and then apples.  To expect peaches or plums or oranges or bananas would be foolish.  Cindi and I have been married for 33 years.  We’ll celebrate our 34^th anniversary in September.  I have learned that sowing seeds of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control in our marriage produces the fruit of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.  That is just the way it is.  This is a rule of life.  Also, the more you sow, the more you reap.  Likewise, the less you sow, the less you reap. 

I’m sorry to say that too many in our world today continue to reject this rule.  Hard living results in a hard life. 

2.        Marriage is one man and one woman for life.  This is a rule of life.  Break it and we’re in for a world of trouble.  In our society today, many are attempting to reject this rule and redefine marriage.  According to a recent poll I heard about on TV, a majority of Americans now believe that two women or two men should be able to get “married” and that this is an acceptable arrangement.  Think about it.  A culture can decide to accept the rules of life or not.  Their acceptance or rejection of the rules of life does not and cannot alter the consequences of their acceptance or rejection.  Divorce used to be the exception.  Now it seems that just about everyone you meet has been divorced at least once.  I was reading about a couple who had been married for many years, more than 60.  The wife was asked about her marriage and the answer to the longevity of her marriage.  She responded by saying, “My husband and I grew up in a time where when something breaks, we don’t just throw it away, we fix it.”  As a gospel preacher, much of my time is invested helping men and women “fix” what has been broken.  Satan is working hard to “steal, kill, and destroy” (John 10:10).  Jesus came to give us life, an abundant life.  We have a choice, life or death.  Oh that we may choose life.

3.        Salvation is by grace through faith.  This is a rule of life.  Salvation is not by grace only.  Salvation is not by faith only.  Salvation is by grace through faith.  God offers salvation to everyone through His Son Jesus Christ, grace.  This offer (grace) must be accepted (faith).  Unless God’s grace is extended, we cannot be saved.  Likewise unless God’s grace is accepted, we cannot be saved.  Doesn’t this make sense?  It does to me.  This is a rule of life.  Some oppose this rule of life.  Some people think they can save themselves outside of the Way, the Truth, and the Life.  They cannot.  Others think that they can live sinful selfish lives and still be saved.  They cannot.  Salvation is by grace through faith.  This is a rule of life.

4.       This is not found in the Bible per se, but this is also a rule of life.  If you play with fire, you’re going to get burned.  If you play in the mud, you’re going to get muddy.  If you play in the rain, you’re going to get wet.  If you speed, you’re going to get a ticket.  If you look for trouble, you’re going to find it.  This is just the way it is.  Fire should be respected.  Make sure you “respect” the lady or gentleman at work who seems to be extra friendly and nice to you.  Mud has its place in the world.  Pigs love it.  Dancing in the rain is a good movie title, but those who danced in the rain got wet.  And I don’t know if they ended up with a bad cold or not.  Speeding may be fun for the moment, but those blue lights in the rearview mirror certainly make for a bad day.  And when it comes to finding trouble, you don’t really have to look for it, trouble seems to find us.

Maybe we can escape the consequences of rule breaking for a time, but just know that eventually, today, tomorrow, next week, next month, the consequences of breaking the rules of life will catch up with us.

We have the Bible so that we may not sin (1 John 2:1).  How can we know the rules of life unless we get in the Book and stay in the Book, the Bible, specifically the New Testament, God’s word for us today (Hebrews 1:1-2)?  David wrote Psalm 1.  He said that the one is delights in the law of the Lord and meditates on the law of the Lord day and night will be blessed and will prosper in everything he does.  I want to be like a tree planted by the river.  Read Psalm 1 and keep the rules.