AN HONEST HEART

Posted on February 27, 2014 by highlandlakeschurchofchrist

A person stands before judge and jury, places one hand on the Bible and the other in the air, and makes a pledge. For the next few minutes, with God as his/her helper, they will “tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.”

They are a witness. Their job is not to expand upon nor dilute the truth. Their job is to tell the truth. Leave it to the legal counsel to interpret. Leave it to the jury to resolve. Leave it to the judge to apply. But the witness? The witness speaks the truth. Let them do or less and they taint the outcome. But let them do that – let them tell the truth – and justice has a chance.

The Christian, too, is a witness. We, too, make a pledge. Like the witness in court, we are called to tell the truth. The bench may be absent and the judge unseen, but the Bible is present, the watching world is the jury, and we are the primary witnesses. We are subpoenaed by no less than Jesus himself: “You will be my witnesses – in Jerusalem, in all of Judea, in Samaria, and in every part of the world” (Acts 1:8).

We are witnesses. And like witnesses in a court, we are called to testify, to tell what we have seen and heard. And we are to speak truthfully. Our task is not to whitewash nor bloat the truth. Our task is to tell the truth. Period.

There is, however, one difference between the witness in court and the witness for Christ. The witness in court eventually steps down from the witness chair, but the witness for Christ never does. Since the claims of Christ are always on trial, court is perpetually in session, and we remain under oath. For the Christian, deception is never an option. It wasn’t an option for Jesus.

One of the most astounding assessments of Christ is this summary: “He had done nothing wrong, and he had never lied” (Isaiah 53:9). Jesus was staunchly honest. His every word accurate, his every sentence true. No cheating on tests. No altering the accounts. Not once did Jesus stretch the truth. Not once did he shade the truth. Not once did he avoid the truth. He simply told the truth. No deceit was found in his mouth.

And if God has his way with us, none will be found in ours. He longs for us to be just like Jesus. His plan is to shape us along the lines of his Son (Romans 8:28). Examine your heart. Ask yourself the tough questions. Do I tell the truth . . . always? If not, start today. Be just like Jesus. Tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. What do you think? Thoughts from reading “Nothing but the Truth” by Max Lucado (Just Like Jesus) — Ken Darnell

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Posted on February 27, 2014 by highlandlakeschurchofchrist

THANK YOU NOTES

We appreciate so very much all the prayers, cards and phone calls during and after James’ surgery. He is doing well and hoping to be back to normal activities very soon.  We love you all! James and Vicky Williams

Beloved Brethren,  We wanted to express our love and appreciation for your love, thoughts and prayers during the last couple of weeks for our family, especially for our son Evan. All of his tests have come back good so far and he will still have areas of stress and sleep to be examined. All my tests also came back good. We appreciate you all being Godly people of prayer and love. God bless you all as you continue to encourage and pray for others.  In Christian love, Ken and Gail Darnell

SYMPATHY NOTE

We want to express our sympathy to Mary Smith. Her aunt, Oma Gunn, passed from this life on Monday, February 17th, at the age of 98, still being mentally alert. She was the last one of Mary’s parents’ generation. Burial was on Sunday, February 23rd, in Aransas Pass.

Our prayers and love are with Mary and all who knew and loved Oma Gunn.

VISITING FOR THE MASTER

Visitation Team #1 (leaders: Teri & Joe Winnett) will meet on Wednesday, March 5th, at 6:30 pm in the library for their assignments.

FOOD PANTRY NEEDS

Personal hygiene products and peanut butter. No plastic bags at this time.

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FIGHT DISCOURAGEMENTS

Posted on February 27, 2014 by highlandlakeschurchofchrist

“I have had enough, Lord, take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.” Elijah had just seen God destroy hundreds of Baal’s prophets. This made old Jezebel angry and so she declared to kill Elijah.  In spite of being on God’s appointed mission and seeing how God was helping him carry out His plans, Elijah was afraid of Jezebel, so he ran away some 100 miles south and came to Beersheba where he sat down under a broom tree. “I have had enough, Lord,” he said, “take my life; I am not better than my ancestors.” Then he lay down under the tree and fell asleep.

An angel appeared to him and encouraged him, so he traveled further south 40 days and nights until he reached Horeb (probably Sinai) where he went into a cave and spent the night.

The Lord must have felt like He was having to push Elijah to carry out His divine plans when He asked, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”

Then Elijah answered, “I have been very jealous for the Lord God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, broken down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.”

God continues to push Elijah as He tells Elijah, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.” Not until Elijah heard a gentle whisper did he “pull his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave.”

God again asks, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” Discouraged Elijah repeats the same answer he gave earlier, still adding, “I am the only one left, and they are trying to kill me too.” Elijah was discouraged and felt like he was the only one who had remained faithful to the Lord. What he did not know was that God had reserved 7,000 in Israel who had not bowed down to Baal.

As we struggle in our short journey through this world we are much like Elijah in that we sometimes get tired and discouraged and feel like we are alone in our battles. Then we remember our God saying, “I will never leave or forsake you.” We remember His wonderful promises He has made to us and the many blessings we enjoy. We pray for stronger faith and for strength to handle our challenges. We make the futile attempts to really look at our spiritual blessings, that indeed are many, and then we are able to begin to win the fight with discouragement. (~~ I Kings 19)

~~ E.M. Walling, News Letter Editor, Churches of Christ – Disaster Relief Effort, Inc.

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FEBRUARY 23, 2014 WEEKLY NEWS

Posted on February 27, 2014 by highlandlakeschurchofchrist

Song Leader Rotation

Starting March 2nd and 9th, four men in the congregation will share song leading during the evening worship on consecutive Sundays. They are: John C. Brewer, John G. Brewer, Kynn Maxwell and Ken Parker, alphabetically. John C. will be the first one in this new arrangement.

An Oversight in the New Directory

You may have noticed that Valerie Cook’s husband’s name does not appear in our new directory. Please add his name, Dale Cook, and his birthday, 11/22, to the information.

If you find various other glitches, please make the corrections at your convenience. My apologies and thank you!!!

Our Fellowship Meal . . .

. . . will be this evening after our worship assembly. Host and hostesses are Bill & Mary K. Flanary, Guy & Charlotte Hastings and Ken & Thelma Thuleen. If you are a visitor stay and join us; you are always invited as our very special guest.

Visiting For the Master

Visitation Team #1 (leaders: Teri & Joe Winnett) will meet on Wednesday, March 5th, at 6:30 pm in the library for their assignments.

Food Pantry Needs

Personal hygiene products, spaghetti for the many cans of spaghetti sauce we have and peanut butter. No plastic bags at this time.

Our New directories are here!

 If you haven’t picked up your copy yet, you will find it on the table in the back of the auditorium with your name tag on it. There is one copy for each family or single member.

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FORGIVE ME WHEN I WHINE

Posted on February 27, 2014 by highlandlakeschurchofchrist

Today upon a bus, I saw a lovely girl with golden hair; I envied her –

She seemed so happy, and how I wished I were so fair;

When suddenly she rose to leave, I saw her hobble down the aisle:

She had one foot and wore a crutch, but as she passed, she wore a smile.

Oh God, forgive me when I whine, I have two feet – the world is mine.

And when I stopped to buy some sweets,

The lad who served me had such charm;

He seemed to radiate good cheer, his manner was so kind and warm;

I said, “It’s nice to deal with you, such courtesy I seldom find”;

He turned and said, “Oh, thank you, sir.” And then I saw that he was blind.

Oh, God, forgive me when I whine, I have two eyes – the world is mine.

Then, when walking down the street, I saw a child with eyes of blue;

He stood and watched the others play it seemed he knew not what to do;

I stopped a moment then I said, “Why don’t you join the others, dear?”

He looked ahead without a word, and then I knew he could not hear.

Oh God, forgive me when I whine, I have two ears – the world is mine.

With feet to take me where I’d go; with eyes to see the sunsets glow,

With ears to hear what I would know, I’m blessed indeed, the world is mine;

Oh, God, forgive me when I whine. ~~ Source unknown

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FEBRUARY 16, 2014 WEEKLY NEWS

Posted on February 27, 2014 by highlandlakeschurchofchrist

Our Next Fellowship Meal . . .

. . . will be on Sunday, February 23rd, after our evening worship assembly. Host and hostesses: Bill & Mary K. Flanary, Guy & Charlotte Hastings and Ken & Thelma Thuleen.

Food Pantry Needs

Personal hygiene products, spaghetti for the many cans of spaghetti sauce we have and peanut butter. No plastic bags at this time.

Wednesday Evening Classes

Our new Bible classes will start on Wednesday, March 5th. During the time that Ken Darnell is with his son, Joe will be teaching a combined class in the auditorium, except on the 26th, our singing night.

On March 5th, Charles Greenawalt and Ken Darnell will switch locations and repeat the lessons they have previously taught, Charles in the Fellowship Room and Ken in the auditorium.

Our New 2014 church directories are here!

You will find your copy with your name tag on the table in the back of the auditorium. There is one copy for each family or single member.

Are You confused?

We have 2 John Brewers! In order to keep us from being confused, the suggestion is that we call them by first name plus initial: John G. (Garfield) Brewer, the longest member, and John C. (Carlyon) Brewer, our newest member. Hope this helps!

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REGIFTING OR SACRIFICING?

Posted on February 27, 2014 by highlandlakeschurchofchrist

Do you consider regifting something you received over the holidays? Could be a good idea, I suppose (although I’ll let the manners police ultimately rule on that one). Regifting something you’re giving to God? King David didn’t, and neither should we.

“Now Araunah said to David, ‘Let my lord the king take and offer up whatever seems good to him. Look, here are oxen for burnt sacrifice, and threshing implements and the yokes of the oxen for wood. All these, O king, Araunah has given to the king.’  And Araunah said to the king, “May the Lord your God accept you.’  Then the king said to Araunah, “No, but I will surely buy it from you for a price; nor will I offer burnt offerings to the Lord my God with that which costs me nothing.” (2 Samuel 24:22-24)

David had the opportunity to offer a sacrifice to God that he received for free. It would’ve complied with the laws for sacrifice, but David’s focus was properly concerned with the spirit of the law, that sacrifice to God wasn’t about going through the motions but taking what we have and putting it all at God’s feet.

While we don’t have that same sacrificial system, giving to God that which costs us nothing is an easy habit to fall into, and usually something that can happen without us realizing we’re doing it. If we spend our Sunday time in worship with our minds set on a football game, what’s for lunch, work stress, or anything else, we haven’t given anything to God. When we get through the day without making time for study or prayer but slip in time to read a chapter and say a prayer as we drift off to sleep, we offer God the leftovers, something that costs us nothing each day.

Giving is about taking from what we want to have and sacrificing that for someone else. When we have time for Facebook, sports, TV shows, or anything else but don’t have time in our day to shut out the world, meditate on the Word, and pray, we’re sending God a clear message about where our priorities lie. Every day is a gift from Him, and when we give Him the spare minutes we don’t care to use anyway, we’re simply regifting what’s His. Let’s make that daily effort to give Him from the first fruits of our lives.

Surely some thoughts to think about, what do you think?

–       Ken Darnell:  thoughts from reading “Regifting” by Jack Wilkie

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FEBRUARY 9, 2014 WEEKLY NEWS

Posted on February 27, 2014 by highlandlakeschurchofchrist

VISITING FOR THE MASTER

Visitation Team #2 (leaders:  Cary & Brenda Miller) will meet on Wednesday, February 12th, at 6:30 PM in the Library for their assignments.

FOOD PANTRY NEWS

Our Food Pantry will henceforth go by this name:  “HELPING HANDS COMMUNITY PANTRY” a ministry of the Highland Lakes church of Christ.  The name in last week’s news was not correctly listed.

Needs – Personal hygiene products and especially, spaghetti for the many cans of tomato sauce on hand.  Peanut butter and plastic bags are not needed at this time.

DIRECTORY UPDATE

Birthday and anniversary dates for John C. and Ida Brewer are available from the church office to update your directory.

THANK YOU NOTE

Dear Highland Lakes church, Thank you so much for supporting my mission trip to Nicaragua.  Your donation has brought me much closer to my goal.  My teammates and I are preparing for Bible studies and are being briefed on what it will be like in Jinotega.  Your continual prayers are appreciated as March approaches.  I can’t wait to tell you all how it goes!  Sincerely, Jessica Fontenot

MEN’S PRAYER BREAKFAST

All men are invited to come to the monthly men’s prayer breakfast in the fellowship room on Saturday, February 22nd at 9 am.

CHEROKEE HOME FOR CHILDREN’S 1st ANNUAL LADIES DAY

“Living Intentionally” is the topic for this Ladies Day program on Saturday, February 22nd, from 10 am – 3 pm.  Two speakers will share their thoughts:  Robin wolf and Ester Cox.  More information is on the back bulletin board. Please give your RSVP to Gail Darnell before February 14th.

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HIS TRUTH MARCHES ON

Posted on February 4, 2014 by highlandlakeschurchofchrist

The indictment of Isaiah against his generation, a people who had temporarily succeeded in turning truth upon its head, is no less applicable today: “Woe to them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their sight!” (Isaiah 5:20-21).

Though Isaiah’s generation perished in captivity the truth kept on marching on. Their calling “evil good and good evil” did not make it so.

We face a similar challenge today, when right is called wrong and wrong is called right; when all things called “gay” are assumed to be good, while God, oddly enough, is portrayed as one of His world’s larger problems.

Everything we once thought was true is now decried as false; all we once thought to be false is now lauded as true.

“Sanctify them by Your truth, Your word is truth….having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever, because all flesh is grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of the grass. The grass withers, and its flower falls away; but the word of the Lord endures forever” (John 17:17; I Peter 1:23-25).

So never forget this: truth will prevail. In the final analysis, when all has been said and done, when once-powerful nations have long since crumbled into the dust of oblivion, God’s truth will prevail.

Men may deny the very existence of truth. They may denounce it and demonize it. They may debase it incessantly. But truth will prevail. In the words of Russell Lowell, “There is no good in arguing with the inevitable. The only argument available with the east wind is to put on your overcoat.” ~~ Ed Sterchi, Jackson church of Christ, Jackson MO

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FEBRUARY 2, 2014 WEEKLY NEWS

Posted on February 4, 2014 by highlandlakeschurchofchrist

THANK YOU NOTE

“Thank you so much for the beautiful flowers. Hunter loved coming to Texas and visiting with all of you. Hunter never met a stranger and loved GOD more than anyone. Your thoughts and prayers have meant a lot to us.”  Love, Michael & Sissy Smith, Anna Carole, Jonathan, Lauren & Presleigh McClallan, Mary Smith

Welcome, New Members!

We are so happy that John and Ida Brewer decided last Sunday to place their membership with us here at Highland Lakes. They had wanted to move to this area many years ago, but were unable until their house in the East Texas area was sold. We are glad that things finally worked out, and so we welcome you to our congregation, John and Ida! Addresses, phones numbers, birthdays and anniversary dates are available for your directory from the church office.

VISITING FOR THE MASTER

(VISITATION PROGRAM) Team #2 (leaders: Cary & Brenda Miller) will meet on Wednesday, February 12th, at 6:30 pm in the Library for their assignments.

News From the Food Pantry

What is currently needed in the Pantry: personal hygiene products and also spaghetti for the many cans of spaghetti sauce we have. Peanut butter and plastic bags are again needed.

Clothing contributions are also still welcome.

The new name for the Food Pantry is:  “Helping Hands Community Pantry.”

This name was chosen by the pantry workers. The hope is that this name will help us to reach out more effectively in Kingsland to those who might want to partner with us in this great work.

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