Highland Lakes church of Christ

“For no matter how many promises God has made, they are ‘Yes’ in Christ.” — 2 Corinthians 1:20.

God promised Abraham He would bless the world through his descendants — ultimately through Jesus and the message of Jesus. He said, “Yes!” to us through Christ.

Now a nation is saying “Yes” to receive this same message of God’s love by asking for Bibles. Ukraine is asking us to give them God’s Word. They are asking us to provide Bibles for their children — in their public schools, and universities, so they can learn about God’s love and His will for them. Three regions in Ukraine, Kherson, Ternopil, and Zaporizhzhya have formally invited Eastern European Mission (EEM) to place Bibles in 2,071 of their public schools, and 27 universities, so 341,000 students can read and study God’s Word on a regular basis. On September 28th, today, we will have an opportunity to say “Yes!” Please plan on giving, so Ukraine’s youth can have God’s Word available to them.

Ukraine has said “Yes” to God. Let’s say “Yes” to them! – JOE

“Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink” (John 7:37)

Anyone. Anyone who is thirsty. Anyone. Anyone who thirsts. Anyone who has become dissatisfied with a lifeless life. Discontent with existing but not living. Anyone.

Jesus stands on the last and the greatest day of the Feast of Tabernacles and declared that for those who are spiritually thirsty, living water is a present reality.

During the Feast of Tabernacles there were two primary ceremonies. One was the Festival of Lights in which lamps were lit all around the Temple courtyard on the final night commemorating the restoration of the Temple by the Maccabees during the inter-testamental period. It is as the light of these lamps flood the Temple grounds that Jesus stands and exclaims, “I am the Light of the world.” Earlier on the final day of Tabernacles was the water libation ceremony in which water would be poured out before the people upon an altar symbolizing the water from the rock in the desert wandering (Exodus 17) through which God saved and provided for His people. It is during this ceremony that Jesus stands and declares, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. Whoever believes in Me, as Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him” (John 7:37-38).

A few chapters earlier in Gospel of John, Jesus had spoken similar words to the Samaritan woman at Jacob’s well, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but those who drink the water I give them will never thirst again” (John 4:12-14).

“This water” (I envision Jesus motioning toward the well). Physical water, the water of this world, or “living water”. The choice is ours.

Why do we continue to believe that this world has anything to offer that satisfies? Why do we find ourselves returning to the well of despair? The well of heartache? The well of futility? Rather than drinking deep from the well of life? The living water of the Kingdom of Jesus.

“Taste and see that the Lord is good” (Psalm 34:8a)

“As the deer pants for streams of water so my soul longs for You, O God. My soul thirsts for the Living God” (Psalm 42:1-2a)

Living God. Living water. Life that is life. Life that is filled. For anyone who is thirsty.

Anyone. ~~ Via West Erwin church of Christ bulletin, Tyler, Texas

It is amazing how in a matter of moments, the world can fall off its axis for us. Panic can stalk us as life and death seemingly hang in the balance. Our pounding hearts betray the anxiety within us. “But where is God? Does He know what is happening? Why have the heavens grown dark and silent? What have I done to deserve this abandonment? Haven’t I served Him with a willing heart? What must I do to regain His favor?” As frustration and fear accumulate, our human spirit recoils in distrust and confusion.

The agony of a shattered faith is a circumstance in life with few other equals. It is a crisis that D. R.T. Kendall of Westminster Chapel of London calls “The Betrayal Barrier”. In his opinion, 100 percent of believers eventually go through a period when God seems to let them down. Something in life suddenly starts to unravel. It makes no sense. It seems so unfair. The natural reaction seems to say, “Lord, is this the way You treat Your own? I thought You cared for me, but I was wrong. I’m not sure I can love a God like that.”

So tell me, where did we get the notion that the Christian life is a piece of cake? Where is the evidence for the “name it, claim it” theology that God will skip along in front of us with His great Cosmic Broom, sweeping aside each trial and every troubling uncertainty?

Jesus told His disciples to anticipate suffering, John 16:33. Paul wrote about troubles, harassment, conflicts and fears, 2 Corinthians 7:4-5. Peter talks about painful trials and suffering, 1 Peter 4:12-13. You may note that in all there references, that there is a coexistence of it with joy. Clearly, what we have in Scripture is a paradox. Told to expect suffering and hardship and on the other hand, we are encouraged to be joyful and thankful. How do those contradictory ideas link together? How can we be secure when surrounded by insecurity? That is a mystery which, according to Paul, “transcends all understanding”.

It seems that ultimately it becomes what the Bible has always shown us, that trials and sufferings are part of the human condition and that people of God went through similar hardships. What has pleased God is faithfulness even when nothing made sense. Do some believers apparently feel God owes them smooth sailing or at least a full explanation for the hardship they encounter? Do we forget that He, after all, is God? He is majestic and holy and sovereign. He is accountable to no one. He is not an errand boy who chases the assignment we dole out. He is not our servant – we are His. And our reason for existence is to glorify and honor Him. Even so, sometimes He performs mighty miracles on our behalf. Sometimes He chooses to explain His actions. Sometimes His presence is real. But at other times when nothing makes sense, when what we are going through what we see as “not fair”, when we feel all alone in God’s waiting room, He simply says, “Trust Me!”

Lots to think about, but what do you think?

[Thoughts from “The Betrayal Barrier” by Dr. James Dobson — (When God Doesn’t Make Sense)] — via Ken Darnell

2,071 public schools have requested that Churches of Christ supply Bibles for their 317,000 students. 27 universities have requested Bibles for their 24,000 college-age students. These Bibles will be used as textbooks in the classroom!

Sadly, this is not happening in the USA…but it is happening right now in the Ukraine, a former part of the Soviet Union. Ukraine is having serious problems with its young people who have been taught atheistic evolution under communism. Alcoholism, sexual assault, theft and lying have all reached epidemic levels among the youth of Ukraine. The leaders of Ukraine have decided that evolution cannot teach their children to be ethical…but the Bible can! A door of opportunity has been opened for us to reshape the next generation in Ukraine.

Our brethren are trying to meet this need through the efforts of Eastern European Mission (EEM) which has set a goal of $1,000.000 to be raised in Churches of Christ on Sunday, September 28th, 2014. Our congregation will be having a special contribution on that Sunday in order to help this noble effort. Please pray about this and start planning now to be generous as we put Bibles in public schools and universities of Ukraine. One day, Lord willing, we may be able to do something like this for the children of America! — Joe

Our Annual Appreciation Breakfast for Teachers and Public Servants is now a part of history. This year we had forty-two guests who came to the breakfast, and dozens of members were there to cook, eat and visit with them. Judging from the comments I heard we made a very good impression on those we served. So once again, I’d like to say, “WELL DONE, CHURCH”! The success of events like this is directly traceable to you, the members of this congregation. Without your willingness to volunteer and serve, we simply could not do things like this. Thank you for your prayers, your cooking and your friendly, loving spirit that made our visitors feel so welcome.

Now . . . let’s start making our grocery list . . . for next year! — Joe