OCTOBER 13, 2013 WEEKLY NEWS

Posted on October 10, 2013 by highlandlakeschurchofchrist

With Sympathy

Jacqueline Herring, the mother of Leana Futrell and Troy’s mother-in-law, passed away on Friday evening, October 4th, at age 90. Funeral services were conducted at the Mahomet Christian Church on Sunday, October 6th. Our love and prayers for comfort go out to Leana, Troy and all the family and friends.

Workday at the Building!

This coming Saturday, October 19th, we will have a workday here at the building. All volunteers, men and women alike, are needed to do some special cleaning around our church building. It will start at 9 am. Bring whatever tools you know can be used for this purpose, or call Bill Flanary for advice of what to bring.

VISITING FOR THE MASTER

(VISITATION PROGRAM) Team #2 (leaders: Cary & Brenda Miller) will meet on Wednesday, October 23rd, at 6:30 pm in the Library for their assignments.

Food Pantry Needs

Personal hygiene products, canned meat (very much needed!), peanut butter. Plastic bags are not needed at this time.

Update!

Please update your directories for Barry & Judy Womack’s new address, call the church office if you need it.

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NEW ADULT BIBLE CLASSES

Posted on October 10, 2013 by highlandlakeschurchofchrist

New Adult Bible Classes are starting Wednesday, October 13th

The following class will be offered in the Fellowship Room:

IS IT GOSPEL OR IS IT CULTURE?

The practices and commands that appear in the New Testament are in a sense all scriptural— that is, they are all in the Bible and are true. The question is, which are meant to be gospel, that God wants all people in all ages and in ever culture to practice or are they cultural, as they are the commands or practices present among the people of God with some validity in one situation but not in others, but not the universal command of God?

Clearly, Christians today, through an examination of scripture, can benefit and be blessed to recover the core essence of New Testament Christianity. Class participation will develop a deeper understanding of the ”essential” or the “universal” or the “gospel”, but also the freedom and flexibility in matters of cultural or nonessentials. Ken Darnell will lead a class discussion in an analysis of fifty New Testament practices and commands.

Another class will take place in the Auditorium:

PORTRAIT OF A CHRISTIAN

What is a clear definition of the word “portrait”? It originally meant a drawn, painted, or carved picture of something or someone. In this series of lessons it will mean a written description or dramatic portrayal of a person.

You cannot read very far in the Scriptures without numerous graphic description, both of good people and evil people and the world in which they lived. This study will allow us to study some portraits of the first-century church in a world which confronted its members as they gave their all for His work. We will answer the question, “Who Is A Christian.” The teacher will be Charles Greenawalt.

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OCTOBER 6, 2013 WEEKLY NEWS

Posted on October 3, 2013 by highlandlakeschurchofchrist

VISITING FOR THE MASTER

VISITATION PROGRAM Team #1 (leaders: Teri & Joe Winnett) will meet on Wednesday, October 9th, at 6:30 pm in the library for their assignments.

Workday at the Building!

Saturday, October 19th, is designated as a workday here at the building. Able bodied and willing men and women are needed to do some special cleaning around our church building. It will start at 9 am. Bring whatever tools you know can be used for this purpose, or call Bill Flanary for advice of what to bring.

A Written Note Is Always Best

If you have any announcement that is important and/or of interest to the whole congregation, or if you would like to have your prayer needs appear in the prayer list (even if you have told other people about it): it is a very good idea to give the secretary a written note with the facts of your requests, as early as possible in the week, no later than 10 a.m. on Thursday. Then it can be incorporated in the upcoming bulletin.

Please check . . .

. . . The “Continue to Remember” list and the “In The Military” list periodically. If you think that your name or the name of a loved one needs to be removed (or added), please let the secretary (Helga) know!

Your help is really and greatly appreciated!

New Phone Number!

Todd Gerald has a new phone number to add to your directories.  Call the church office to get it.

Food Pantry Needs

Personal hygiene products, canned meat (very much needed!), peanut butter are needed. Plastic bags are not needed at this time.

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RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCE OR LIFE APPLICATION?

Posted on October 3, 2013 by highlandlakeschurchofchrist

2013 09 27 iphone 043It is, at least in my opinion, tragic that so many people do not understand the value of congregational fellowship. There are way too many individuals who look at church as a “thing to do” a couple of times a week, rather than times to look forward to and cherish. Where else can we spend an hour or two with like-minded individuals, praising the Creator and our Savior, while encouraging each other? The problem — compartmentalizing the religious experience!!!

There is a disconnect between personal life and Bible class, Bible class and praising, praising and sermons and sermons and communion and communion and everyday life. Each is seen and treated like a separate experience instead of being what it is supposed to be, a combined experience that enriches. We may come to worship after Bible class because we do not see the inherent value of learning about God’s Word in a classroom of our peers. We just ”go to church”! We may treat a Sunday as if it is just about communion and not everything else. Of course, there is no denying the importance of communion but when we place the entire Sunday experience into that one event, we think it is OK to leave directly after. This causes us to miss the opportunity to be encouraged by further praise and great sermons. I also know of individuals who see praise and worship as being more important than the sermon, singing heartily with the song leader and then nodding off for the sermon. Of course, it is not our fault that the sermon was “boring” (as if God’s Word can ever be boring!), or that the message was not intended for us on that day. We even sit in the auditorium and insult some of our fellow congregants as we lean over to our loved ones or friends and “discuss” things unrelated to the sermon. We also behave one way in church and a completely different way when we are at home. That is what I mean by compartmentalizing the religious experience. When we compartmentalize religion we lose the benefits of the combined experience and, psychologically speaking, create a dichotomy (separation) between our personal lives and our religious experience. What we need to do is see the value of experiencing our Christian life as a series of events that, although different in inherent value, are all equally important to our spiritual encouragement and maturation.

How do we do that? By praying for a change in attitude and allowing ourselves the benefit of enjoying every aspect of our Christian life and worship as a combination of many different events of equal spiritual importance. Cleve Stafford, Whiterock church of Christ, Dallas, TX (adapted)

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SEPTEMBER 29 WEEKLY NEWS

Posted on September 27, 2013 by highlandlakeschurchofchrist

Food Pantry Needs

Personal hygiene products, canned meat (very much needed!), peanut butter are needed. Plastic bags are not needed at this time.

Prayer Request

Heavenly Father, we thank you for the recent rains. Please bless us with more; our lakes need so very much to be filled up!

Upcoming Events:

Sunday, September 29th – We will have our Annual Corporate Meeting immediately following our morning worship assembly. This only takes a couple of minutes. All members are encouraged to stay for this important vote!

Sunday, September 29th – Our monthly Fellowship Meal takes place this evening after our worship hour. Make your plans to come and bring your favorite food! We also always enjoy it when our visitors stay as our very special guests! Our hosts and hostesses are: John & Tina Brewer, James & Vicky Williams, Dollene and Sheri Wills.

Saturday, October 5th -You are invited to an 80th Birthday Celebration for Claude Fletcher from 1:00-4:00 PM at the Highland Lakes church of Christ Fellowship Room. No gifts. Your presence is gift enough.

Wednesday, October 9th – VISITING FOR THE MASTER (VISITATION PROGRAM) Team #1 (leaders: Teri & Joe Winnett) will meet at 6:30 pm in the library for their assignments.

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BEFORE THE FOUNDATION WAS LAID

Posted on September 27, 2013 by highlandlakeschurchofchrist

2013 09 27 iphone 044Because of their idolatry, Israel was carried into Babylonian captivity. Seventy years was the prophesied time for her to be subjected to another nation. Cyrus was God’s chosen vessel to help Israel return and start to rebuild their lives. They needed to rebuild their worship and their personal lives. As soon as they returned, they started to work on their worship. “On the first day of the seventh month they began to offer burnt offerings to the LORD, though the foundation of the LORD’S temple had not yet been laid” (Ezra 3:6). Their enthusiasm was one of their more commendable attributes. It is as if they said to themselves, “It will be a while before the temple is built, so, let us start to worship anyway.” And then they encountered difficult times. Those around them began to discourage them in the work on the temple. They worked harder on their personal lives than they did on their spiritual lives.

God sent the prophet Haggai to Israel. Sixteen years had lapsed since Israel returned and started working on the temple. Haggai has a statement that highlights their problems. “Is it a time for you yourselves to be living in your paneled houses, while this house remains a ruin?” (Haggai 1:4). They lived in wood paneled houses and the temple still was not built. They were going through the motions of worship in offering sacrifices just like they had started sixteen years ago. But they had failed to complete their obligations to God.

I wonder if we could be accused of some of the same things Haggai pointed out to Israel? Do we fail to honor God? Oh, we go to church and offer our sacrifice of praise, prayer, and collections of money. But do we in the words of Jesus, “seek first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness” (Matthew 6:33)??? This concept of Jesus is the spiritual foundation to the Church, the New Testament temple.

We live in a prosperous country and we have been busy building our paneled houses (our personal lives). Is it not time to finish the temple of God (the Church) by honoring Him and putting Him first every day?   Ken Hamilton, Church of Christ in Granite, OK

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SEPTEMBER 22, 2013 WEEKLY NEWS

Posted on September 24, 2013 by highlandlakeschurchofchrist

Upcoming Events:

  • Sept. 25 — * Visitation Team #2 meets (leaders: Cary & Brenda Miller) will meet, at 6:30 pm in the Library for their assignments.
  • Sept. 25 — * Singing night.
  • Sept. 28 — * Men’s Prayer Breakfast (9:00 am).
  • Sept. 28 — * Ladies Day @ the Llano church of Christ, 9:00 to noon (flyer is on the bulletin board). All ladies are invited to attend the Ladies Day at the Llano church of Christ. The topic will be “Let the Beauty of Jesus Be Seen”, presented by Karylon (Bitsy) Russell. Lunch will be provided.
  • Sept. 28 — * Annual Auction at the Cherokee Home for Children, starting at 9:00 am (informational flyers are on the bulletin board).
  • Sept. 29 — * Annual Corporate Meeting after our morning worship. All members are encouraged to stay for this. It only takes a few minutes!
  • Sept. 29 — * Fellowship Meal after the evening worship assembly. Hosting are: John & Tina Brewer. James & Vicky Williams, Dollene Pearson and Sheri Wills.
  • Oct. 5 — * You are invited to an 80th Birthday Celebration for Claude Fletcher, from 1:00-4:00 PM at the Highland Lakes church of Christ Fellowship Room. No gifts. Your presence is gift enough.

Food Pantry Needs

Personal hygiene products, canned meat (very much needed!), peanut butter. Plastic bags are not needed at this time.

Thank You

I would like to thank everyone for the phone calls concerns about my eye surgery, which did not go as planned. After coming home the pressure on my brain was so severe, I was unable to sleep at all and was not able to get hold of my doctor. Anyway, I was able to get into the doctor’s office the next day and they were able to relieve the pressure.” – Bill Flanary

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REAL LIFE

Posted on September 24, 2013 by highlandlakeschurchofchrist

To my mind, one of the things that proves to me that the Bible is the word of God, is its view of life and death. It gives an honest approach to living. There are no myths, no fairy tales, and in many cases no happy endings. As an example, David a man after God’s own heart failed as a father, his own children suffering for his failures. Yet in God’s Word the text deals with the greatness and the failures of David’s live in an honest and realistic way, and also with the lives of others of God’s people.

The Bible shows us how to live and the results of not living that way. It speaks of consequences, salvation and condemnation; it presents joy and great sorrow. It then goes on with the story. Think how our news media would deal with some story in the Bible, such as Adam and Eve being forced out of the garden! It would be on the five o’clock news, the ten o’clock news, and the story would run for at least a week or more. In God’s Holy Word its briefness is a sign of its divine nature.

The Bible remains a number one best seller and yet the least read volume in the world. Let it not be that way in your house! Read and study it and follow its precept and be wise. Floyd C. Johnson – Huntington Park church of Christ, Shreveport, LA

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SEPTEMBER 15, 2013 WEEKLY NEWS

Posted on September 13, 2013 by highlandlakeschurchofchrist

Upcoming Events:

Sept. 25 — * Visitation Team #2 meets.

* Singing night.

Sept.28 — * Men’s Prayer Breakfast (9:00 am).

* Ladies Day @ the Llano church of Christ, 9:00 to noon (flyer is on the bulletin board).

* Annual Auction at the Cherokee Home for Children, starting at 9:00 am (informational flyers are on the bulletin board).

Ladies Day at the Llano church of Christ

All ladies are invited to attend the Ladies Day at the Llano church of Christ on September 28th from 9:00 am to noon. The topic will be “Let the Beauty of Jesus Be Seen”, presented by Karylon (Bitsy) Russell. Lunch will be provided.

Food Pantry Needs

Personal hygiene products, canned meat (very much needed!), peanut butter. Plastic bags are not needed at this time.

VISITING FOR THE MASTER

(VISITATION PROGRAM) Team #2 (leaders: Cary & Brenda Miller) will meet on Wednesday, September 25th, at 6:30 pm in the Library for their assignments.

The Book Order Is Here

Some of us have ordered a copy of the book A Capella Music in the Public Worship of the Church. If you haven’t picked up your copy yet, you may do so after our worship service, either this morning or this evening. Come to the library for the book and give Paula Welch the $5.00 payment. If you pay by check, please make it out to the Highland Lakes church of Christ. A combined payment will be made to the Desert Willow Publishing Company.

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CAVE COMPARISONS

Posted on September 12, 2013 by highlandlakeschurchofchrist

Tory's%20Cave%20-%20JansenRecently the author of this article had the pleasure of taking a couple of young people into a local cave. He had been in this cave several times and had no concerns about their trek. Of course, the cave was very beautiful with the stalactites, stalagmites and other formations. When it was time to turn back and start heading out, something unexpected happened. As the group got closer and closer to the entrance, the sound of roaring and rushing water could be heard. Unbeknownst to them a torrential downpour on the surface had occurred and the water was seeking the path of least resistance which was straight into the cave. There was only one way out and that was the entrance they came in. As the group neared the entrance, they had to brave themselves through three hard-pouring waterfalls and waist deep rushing water. The sound of the falling and gushing water was deafening. The volume of water that was entering into the cave was absolutely astounding. But they made it! How great it was for them to be out and be alive.

After reflecting on this experience, it came to the mind of the author that a comparison could be made in regard to our lives here on earth. Consider for example…

…Things can change very quickly. What was a peaceful, serene environment in the cave almost instantly turned violent. It’s that way with life as well. In a moment, without warning, our lives can be transformed from ones of peace to turmoil. There is no guarantee of what tomorrow holds upon the earth. See James 4:13-14.

…It can become very treacherous. The normally relatively easy passageways in the cave were made very difficult to navigate due to the extra water which made everything slick. Life on earth is treacherous, as well. Satan provides opportunities to slip and fall all along life’s journey. We must step carefully. See Psalm 31:9-10.

…We have to know the way out. When you are in a cave, it is very important that you know how to get out — it is literally a matter of life and death. Knowing the location of the exit was vital for the group, but they still had to crawl out! It is the same with our lives in this world. There is only one way out to safety — through the passageway Jesus provides. We must know it and follow it. See John 14:1-6.

…It always helps to pray. An honest confession from the author: with time being a critical factor, he did not stop to pray. But he says, he did not stop praying until all were safe! Prayer is powerful and we need to always remember that it is a great aid when we are struggling through the issues of life upon this globe. See Philippians 4:6-7.

Through life’s uncertainties, twists, and turns, know that Jesus provides a way of safety. When we come to Him in baptism, His help begins. And He continues to help through our journey, walking with us, and interceding for us as we pray along the way. Edd Sterchi, Jackson church of Christ, Jackson, MO

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