Sunday Schedule
Bible Class Steve Horton "The Ideal Marriage"
Morning Worship Allen Weakland "The Church and the Christian Home"
12:00 - 1:30 p.m. Potluck Luncheon
5:00 - 5:45 Lon Howard "Single Again"
Evening Worship Burt Groves "Growing Old in Christ"
Where Art Thou?
Though this phrase is far from how we would normally talk in this day and time, we all understand what was being asked at this point in history. Adam and Eve had just partaken of the forbidden fruit and found themselves in the depths of sin. Instead of Adam seeking out his Maker, he, as an alternative, hid from God. Notice the alienation of Adam's soul (Is. 59:1-2). Yet, it was this very circumstance that led our God to ask this very pointed and yet profound question.
While the text manifestly teaches us the alienation of man from God, it also reveals the folly which sin causes.
Let's face it, sin made man a fool. For only a fool would try to cover his sin with fig leaves. Only a fool would try to
hide from an omniscient God beneath the spread boughs of trees. Ah, how foolish we are, brethren. Ah, how we repeat
the folly of our forefathers when we seek to hide our sins from our conscience, and then think it is hidden from God; when
we are more afraid of the gaze of men then we are of the searching of the Eternal One. And yet, as God looked upon this
disgrace He knew He could not allow it to continue. It is at this moment that we see God asking this vital question,
"Where art thou?" (Gen. 3:9). The purpose behind this inquiry is three-fold:
First, it was asked to arouse Adam's sense of where he was. Friends, Adam needed to understand that sin
stultifies the conscience. It's a drug that impairs and dulls our minds and makes them incapable of understanding the
destructive nature of sin. Just as man becomes lethargic from hypothermia and falls asleep, so does man when he is
chilled with the consequences of sin. It was for this reason that God asked Adam this stirring question. Its purpose was
to awaken him from his spiritual slumber.
Second, it was asked to convince Adam of his sin. In essence, God was asking Adam, "How did you arrive to such knowledge and conclusions?" What had changed for Adam and Eve, who had once been clothed with the clothing of angels, but now found themselves naked; what happened to exchange their glory for shame; what occurred that allowed them to choose disgrace over preference? It was sin. Sin had offered Adam its full cup of promises but only delivered woe. Sin offered them greatness, but provided sweat, tears, pain and sorrow. This very thing branded them as sinners for the entire world to see. It had soured what was once sweet, and it had poisoned what was joyful. Though Adam tried to blame Eve for his demise (Gen 3:12), God would hold him responsible for his own actions (Ezekiel 18:19-20). And it was that very sin that God would try to convince Adam of, so it would not be to his ruin (Ezekiel 18:30-31).
Third, it was asked to manifest God's mourning over the lost state of man. Oh, what a wonderful thought of how God feels about His creation. How He saw man lost and yet as He looked upon their disgrace He was still moved with compassion to ask, "Where art thou?" Like a father who mourns over his son being lost, so does God when He sees His creation lost (Rom. 5:8-9). Like our Lord's proclamation, "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, ...How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing" (Matt 23:37), so were the words of God when He saw Adam and Eve slipping into the abyss of sin.
Where art thou oh man? Will you not heed this stirring question? Will you not observe how this question arouses your soul from its spiritual slumber, how it convicts you of sin and how it pleads the case of God's mercy, compassion and love for your very soul? Please do not try to hide with fig leaves nor place the blame of your sinfulness on another. Rather, heed His merciful plea and awaken unto a new day.
Allen Weakland
Current Concerns
Mildred Heslip's surgery has been rescheduled for Tuesday, September 11th.
DeLora Wood had surgery on Wednesday, September 5th.
Rebecca Simmons, daughter-in-law of Charles and Susan Simmons, is in room 229 at Odessa Regional Hospital.
Due to high blood pressure she will be confined to bed rest for the remaining time of her pregnancy. The baby is
not due until December 18th.
Rosie Simmons, daughter-in-law of Charles and Susan Simmons, is scheduled for gall bladder surgery on Monday,
September 17th.
Guy McCrary, Cyndi Vara, and Julie Jones, co-workers of Larriat Mitchell, were involved in a serious accident on
Friday, August 31st. All three were taken to the hospital. Guy and Cyndi have been released; however, Julie is in very
critical condition with head trauma.
Prayer List
Alvie Adams; Venny Allen; Ashley Borchers; Halley Brookshire; Bill and Yolanda Carson; Aubrey Lawrence; Esperanza
Munos; Trevor Parker; Patsy Sanchez; James Smith; Charles Watson; Lucinda Webster; Junior Whitley;
Erin Whitlock; DeLora Wood.
Shut-ins
Mildred Bell; Mary Dunn; Fay Gann; Cecil and Mildred Hext; 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, "God's Word is a Light."
We have printed out some flyers for our fall gospel meeting in order for you to hand out to your family and friends.
Be sure to take enough and invite everyone you can.
Our upcoming Gospel Meeting will be highlighted on Channel 7, September 10th at 12:00 Noon. Be sure to watch Allen
Weakland and Steve Horton as they introduce to the community details regarding our gospel meeting which is scheduled
for September 22nd and 23rd.
As announced, we are planning to attend the Granbury Church of Christ Bible Search on November 16th and 17th in
Cleburne, TX. We need to register with them and give them a head count of those planning to attend. If you think you
might be able to attend please let Steve Horton or the office staff know as soon as possible.
FYI
Just a reminder, if you would like to contribute to 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.
The west and north doors in the classroom area will be locked after bible class on Sunday and Wednesday. Also, the doors
will stay locked during the evening services. This is for our security. Bill and Robbie have asked us to announce that they
are in no hurry for us to leave the building. We are free to visit as long as we want. If you see them lock the doors, do not
worry. You can still let yourselves out. The doors will automatically lock behind you. Thank you.
For the fall quarter, Allen's Sunday morning sermons will be focusing on the book of Luke. Also, upon completion of the
study of the book of James, his Sunday morning Bible classes will also focus on the book of Luke.
In a recent survey done by George Barna, it has been noted that 78% of visitors loved being greeted by the individuals
who sat around them. With this in mind, think of how this is true of us when we are visitors. Matthew 7:12 says,
"Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets." Members,
let's be sure to greet our visitors with the enthusiasm that expresses our joy of having them worship with us.
Office News
Our food coordinators for the month of September are June Smith and Debbie Marrs.
| September 9, 2007 | Morning | Evening |
|---|---|---|
Announcements |
Lon Howard |
Lon Howard |
Song Leader |
John Carroll |
Cameron May |
Sermon |
Allen Weakland |
Allen Weakland |
Opening Prayer |
Lon Howard |
Lon Howard |
Scripture |
Bill Brown |
Alex Martinez |
Second Prayer |
Billy Carson |
Larry May |
Closing Prayer |
Ben Ellison |
Elder McCarty |
|
||
West |
Don Easlon |
Craig Wesson |
East |
Harmon Rex |
Cody Wesson |
Other Responsibilities: Elder: Charles Wood Deacon: - Mike Smith 366 - Pulpit: Jimmy Nunley Table: Tony Marrs - Song Leaders: Ronnie Lane
Sunday AM "The Broken Column" (Luke 9:57-62)
Sunday PM "A Priceless Pair" (Philippians 2:19-30)
Our Records
Bible Class...117
Morning Worship...198
Evening Worship...119
Wednesday...134
Contribution...$4986.36