Wednesday, August 8th-"Meeting God in Your Relationships" - David Easlon
Wednesday, August 15th- "Meeting God in Your Prayers" - David Vestal
Wednesday, August 22nd- "Meeting God in Your Decision Making"- Kevin Bullard
"The Challenge Is Now Before Us"
The Christian life has always required man to walk in a way that is worthy of Jesus Christ (Phil 1:27-30). To wear the name Christian demands that one shuns the things of this world (I John 2:15-17) and focuses their attention on implementing the will and wishes of God (Rom 12:1-2; Col 3:1-2). Anything that would deviate from such principles must and should be avoided. Therefore, it is vitally important that each and every Christian, young or old, heeds God's instruction in all areas including Paul's tutelage to not be "unequally yoked together with unbelievers" (II Cor. 6:14).
This admonition of the apostle Paul was very profound because he begins his instruction by using the words, "be ye not." Though small, these three words have a tremendous impact when applied to the Christian life. This admonition simply indicate the stopping of an act which is already in progress or the forbidding of a future occurrence of such an act.
With this understood, Paul was simply informing the brethren in Corinth to either stop or never start being unequally yoked with those who do not submit to the wants or wishes of our Lord. To do so is to find yourself in a different or unequal match. This meant that the Corinthian brethren were to never seek, in any form, to be yoked with those who are not of the same mind or the same judgment (I Cor. 1:10).
To illustrate his point, Paul turns the attention of his readers to several principles to clarify the glaring difficulty of mixing the two (II Cor. 6:14-16). Notice how Paul shows this contrast:
Being unequally yoked is trying to fellowship righteousness with unrighteousness v.14
Being unequally yoked is trying to commune darkness with light v.14
Being unequally yoked is trying to harmonize the all-sufficiency of Christ with the worthlessness of Belial v.15
Being unequally yoked is trying to get a believer to be a partaker of the evil deeds of an unbeliever v.15
Being unequally yoked is trying to set the temple of God (the church) in agreement with the world of idolatry
v.16
Paul concludes his thoughts by commanding the faithful of God to come out from among them for the purpose of signifying to whom we truly belong (Gal. 2:20). Beloved, rubbing shoulders with the world is avoiding the task of perfecting holiness in our lives (II Cor. 7:1). The challenge is now set before us, are we up to the challenge?
-Allen Weakland
Current Concerns
Alvie Adams' cancer has returned and he awaiting further tests.
Christopher Arbuckle, infant son of Michael and Jennifer Arbuckle, will be having surgery in Dallas on September
10, 2007.
Fran Arbuckle will be having cataract surgery on her left eye on August 21st at Odessa Regional Hospital.
Haley Erwin's tonsillectomy surgery went well. She is home recuperating.
Billy Carson had an angiogram done on Tuesday, August 7th at Medical Center Hospital.
James Smith, father of Nick Smith, is having serious health issues.
Ashley Borchers, great niece of Charles and Delora Wood, has had 5 surgeries so far this summer and is expected
to have more.
Baby Morales of the Deer Park Church of Christ was born with severe birth defects and will have to undergo
numerous surgeries.
Prayer List
Venny Allen; LeeRoy Bell; Cecilia Bethune; Earl Brewster; Halley Brookshire; James Drake; Joe and Gracie
Mendoza; Trevor Parker; Patsy Sanchez; Clayton Simmons; Lannie Simmons; Charles Watson; Delora Wood.
Shut-ins
Mildred Bell; Mary Dunn; Fay Gann; Cecil and Mildred Hext; Lela Jo McElroy; Wilma Mitchell; Virgie Price;
Charles and Pearl Tucker.
Events
Watch In Search of the Lord's Way with Mack Lyon every Sunday morning at 7:30 am on CBS, channel 7.
This week's topic will be titled, "Not Far From the Kingdom."
The Tipton Home will be here the week of August 27th. They have requested the following items: cereal,
assorted soup, Miracle Whip salad dressing, Nestles Quick, hot chocolate mix, Bush's Baked Beans, wet wipes,
Windex, and Crest toothpaste.
The New Mexico Children's Home will be here on September 4th. Some items they have suggested are: chicken
broth, Spray N Wash, and salad dressings. Monetary donations are also accepted.
Our next Ladies' Night is scheduled for August 14th at 7:00 p.m. in the annex. Bring finger foods. Robbie has
planned a special project for us to do. Please make plans to attend! Pantry items are Pinto Beans, spaghetti
noodles, and canned spaghetti sauce.
We are planning a fall gospel meeting on Saturday, September 22nd- Sunday, September 23rd. Watch out for
further information as the date draws closer.
FYI
If you would like to contribute the Jim Reyna's medical fund, you may use the special contribution envelopes
on the table in the east foyer and place it in the tape order box or you can give your donations to the office staff
or the elders. We will try to send whatever we have collected on September 17th.
Brad Harrub, Ph.D, will be speaking at Odessa College on August 10th-August 12th. He will be addressing
Atheism's Attack on America. There is a flyer posted on the bulletin board in the east foyer with more
information.
Odessa Christian School is needing a cook for the fall. The hours are 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. The pay is $9.45
per hour.
Congratulations
Bill and Mary Bayless celebrated their 61st wedding anniversary!
Thank You
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
I want to thank you all for your visits and prayers, and for the fruit baskets you have brought me over these
many years. I am doing better now and I hope to be out of the hospital soon. I covet your prayers on my behalf.
I want to confess my sins for the many times I didn't assemble to worship in spirit and in truth. Please pray
God will grant me forgiveness.
In Christian Love, Marilyn Upshaw
Thank you for all the cards and prayers. Haley's surgery was a success, and she is on the way to a good
recovery.
In Christian love, Carie, Haley, & family
Office News
Our food coordinators for the month of August are Betty Branson, Norma Daniels, and
Wilma Squire.
| August 12, 2007 | Morning | Evening |
|---|---|---|
Announcements |
Charles Wood |
Charles Wood |
Song Leader |
Ronnie Lane |
John Carroll |
Sermon |
Allen Weakland |
Allen Weakland |
Opening Prayer |
Charles Wood |
Charles Wood |
Scripture |
Jimmy Nunley |
Harmon Rex |
Second Prayer |
Steve Horton |
Rudy Ochoa |
Closing Prayer |
Elder McCarty |
D J Ray |
|
||
West |
C.M. Riggs |
Cameron May |
East |
Bill Ryan |
Ezekiel Martinez |
Other Responsibilities: Elder: Charles Wood - Deacon: Mike Smith
Pulpit: Mike Roemisch - Table: Frank Vargas - Song Leaders: Ronnie Lane
Sunday AM
"What All Men Need"
(1Timothy 2:1-7)
Sunday PM
"The Good Cheer of Christ's Presence"
(Mark 6:34-52)
Our Records
Bible Class...112
Morning Worship...178
Evening Worship...137
Wednesday...135
Contribution... $5,294.50