Grant County church of Christ
January 27, 2008
WHAT WILL YOU WRITE?
"You do not know what will happen
tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little
time and then vanishes away" James 4:14.
In January 2006, a mine explosion in rural West Virginia
threatened the lives of 13 coal miners. I was among the millions who kept up
with the story the news for the next few days. Tragically, all but one of the
miners was found dead. To compound the pain of that loss, the first reports
given to the families said that all but one had been found alive. When the grim
news of the deaths came, the grief was compounded with angerand a desire to
blame someone for the whole gut-wrenching event.
At one of the funerals, however, Preacher Wease Day asked the hurting to look in a different directionwithin. During their last hours, some of the miners had written notes to their families, in some cases offering comfort and hope. In light of that, Preacher Day urged his congregation not to seek to fix blame. He instead challenged them to imagine what they would write in a farewell note if they had only hours to live.
In some ways we are like those miners. We are trapped in a dark world and are facing physical death. How we live our lives as followers of Christ becomes our "note" to the world. Paul wrote that "You are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read by all men" 2 Corinthians 3:2.
By Gods grace, what will you write with your life today?
Lord and
Savior, Christ divine,
Reign within this heart of mine;
May my witness ever be
Always, only, Lord for Thee. Brandt
A Christ-like life is a message of hope to a searching world.
GET-ALONG-ISM
Jerry W. Carmichael
We live in a culture that advocates getting along. A well-known phrase by an individual a few years ago cries out "cant we all just get along?" His impassioned plea has become a battle cry for many. If it was as easy as just saying it there would be no problem, but its vastly more difficult than that.
Some things are not worth getting along with. We have no obligation to get along with the wickedness that persists in the world. In fact, friendship with such wickedness puts one in a condition of not getting along with God. Remember "friendship with the world is enmity with God" (James 4:4). We dont have to be content in a world where murderers, thieves, adulterers etc. abound (1Corinthians 6:9-11). We ought not to "get along" with such people or their behavior. In fact, we ought to do our best to rid such behavior from the world through the conversion of their souls.
On the other hand, Christians ought to be the best "get-alongers" in the business. We ought "to be all things to all men" (I Corinthians 9:22). Paul gives us an attitude worthy of emulation. He realized if he was to reach the world, the world had to know he was there. This form of get-along-ism however, is very different from going along with sin. Its focus is to get along with sinners for the purpose of teaching them the truth.
How can we do this? Its no easy task but it is the task of the Christ-centered life. Our lives have to affect people. They need to see us as reasonable and credible. If we are not seen as such no word from our lips will alter the effect our lives have had on them. Most folks are smart enough to avoid people with whom they cannot get along. In no way, however, does that mean we ignore their sin or dismiss their behavior just for the sake of getting along. We ought to be an ever-present reminder to people of a better way of living and thinking. They may not like where we stand but they shouldn’tt fail to like us as people.
Not only should we work to get along with those outside of the church, we should especially work on getting along with our brethren. In matters of opinion we should always be willing to defer our own desires for the sake of peace among brethren. With the cause of Christ as our ultimate desire, our own personal pursuits will more easily be laid aside. "Let us be wise as serpents and harmless as doves" (Matthew 10:16).
The Narrow-minded Jesus"
We need to see Jesus as being narrow minded on the important teachings and principles mentioned above so that we can obey Him and eventually go to Heaven.
Visitors
You are our honored guest and we welcome you back anytime you are in the area. Please fill out a visitor card located in the rack on the back of the pew.
Prayer list
· Bill Mollett is doing better; continue to pray for his health.
· Ty Smith (grandson of Dan and Vivian Grise) is inChildren’s Hospital in Cincinnati and scheduled to have two brain tumors removed on Feb. 13.
· Clint and Miranda Benson have been ill this week.
· Timothy Speakman (Sandy Mill’s son) is having trouble with kidney stones.
· Jamie Mitchell’s father (Guy George) is very ill and in the care of hospice.
Note of Change
Beginning tonight we will have singing on the 4th Sunday evening of each month.
Upcoming Events
Our gospel meeting is scheduled for April 20-24, 2008. Ken Joines will be our speaker.
Statistics attendance Contribution
January 20, 2008 29 $228.00
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MEET WITH US
205 Hopperton Lane
Dry Ridge, KY 41035
(859) 824-6200
Sunday AM Worship……..... .9:30AM
Sunday Bible Study………...10:40AM
Sunday PM Service……….. .6:00 PM
Wednesday Bible Study…... 7:00 PM
Minister: Jerry Carmichael: jerrywc@juno.net
Website: www.grantcountycc.org