THE CHRISTIAN ATHEIST
I have always loved oxymoron's, but this is one I could have done without. Craig Groeschel has written a book called “The Christian Atheist.” It is about people who live as if God does not exist, even though they claim that he does, and even claim to be Christians. I do not plan to buy a copy of the book, but I understand why it has been written. When Christians spend their money pretty much the same way their non-Christian neighbors do, are they not living as atheist? When the entertainment choices of Christians and non-Christians are virtually indistinguishable, does this not indicate a problem? When people who claim to be Christians consider it a burden rather than a blessing to worship God, are these people not Christian atheists? No, they may be 'church member atheist' but they are not Christians. Sorry to burst a bubble, but the Lord's judgment will be, “I never knew you” (Matthew 7:23).
Ask yourself (perhaps as you stand in front of the mirror), 'Do I know any church member atheists?' “Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 7:21).
“If you love Me you will keep my commandments” (John 14:15). “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves” (James 1:22).
Let's make sure we act like a Christian and our lives show that we are a Christian!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY
Macey Looney (5-21).
HAPPY ANNIVERSARY
John and Stacy Stracner (5-23).
SPECIAL EVENTS:
May 31-June 4,
VBS at Center Ridge Church of Christ. Title: “Claiming the Kingdom.”
July 12-15,
GOSPEL MEETING at Jerusalem Church of Christ. Time: 7:00 p.m. Speakers: Terry Joe Kee (12th,a.m.) Mickey Burleson (12th, p.m.), Wyatt Reid (13th, p.m.), Ted Knight (14th ,p.m.), Gary Frazier (15th, p.m.).
October 3,
2020 Youth Rally under the Tent, 5th& Greenwich Church of Christ, Russellville. Speaker: Willie Franklin. Theme: “Looking Unto Jesus” with 2020 vision. Time: 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Grades 7-12. More info on the bulletin board.
SYMPATHY:
Marion Henderson passed away Sunday. The family had a private graveside service at the Robertstown Cemetery. He was the son of the late Jeff and Nina McCoy Henderson. He was preceded in death by his wife of 68 years, Louise Huneycutt Henderson and his daughter, Sheila Sommers. He was survived by son, Dennis (Annette) Henderson, grandchildren, great grandchildren, sisters and brother.
PRAYERS:
Prayers needed for our country, for our National Leaders, State Leaders, Local Leaders. Do pray for those sick, especially those with the flu and virus. Pray for those who have lost loved ones. Pray that each of us are working and doing the will of God. We need to pray for each other and show our love toward all including our enemies. Pray for the doctors and nurses plus National Guard working with the Covid-19 patients.
PRAYER LIST:
Ross Spurlock has had several surgeries and is taking chemo plus radiation due to the cancer coming back
.
Roland Prince is home with hospice.
John Harper is home from rehab but taking treatments.
Gary Bradley has improved with his blood pressure and blood sugar readings
Kevin Underwood, Dardanelle, was to have more tests at Houston but don't know the results of the tests.
Randall Bradley was not feeling well and seemed to be having problems with his heart. He had tests made and medication was prescribed but problem was not his heart.
James Bartlett is in Conway Regional and has improved some.
Ronda Sommers is having a lot of pain in her right hip. She had an appointment Tuesday with an orthopedic doctor. Ronda will have an MRI tomorrow.
Linda Wheeler's house burned Tuesday. She is Pam Hampton's mother.
Sandra Collins has health problems.
James Bartlett has improved some last week.
Nursing Home & Rehabilitation:
MARY BRANCH,
JERREL HENDERSON,
CLARA LOVELAND.
Service Personnel:
DESTRY BRANCH,
JOHN and KIMBERLY BREWER,
JEFF THOMPKINS,
CLINT WILSON,
J. O. DREWRY,
DAVID SEXSON
Cancer:
JACK SMITH,
DARANDA GOLDEN,
AIDEN WATERS,
CONNIE WILLILAMS,
BRUCE BLANKENSHIP,
VIRGINIA LOVEJOY,
GLADYS NORWOOD,
TERRY EPPERSON,
RACHEL RAMSEY,
BILL KOONCE,
DAVID BRADLEY.
Health Problems:
MACK and EURA FAYE NORWOOD,
JAMES and RUBY MAE ELKINS,
MARION HENDERSON,
SHIRLEY WILLIAMS,
SHARON STACKS,
BETTY BLANKENSHIP,
SYLVIA BUSH,
MIKE LOVEJOY,
TED and BARBARA KNIGHT,
TROY DUNHAM,
ODELL and JOAN EUBANKS,
WALLACE WILLIAMS,
JOHN A. LOVEJOY,
WANDA PAYTON,
JIM LOVEJOY,
WILL LANG,
VAGAN BRYANT,
JERRY BOZE,
SANDRA COLLINGS,
COURTNEY ROGERS,
MICAH SEXSON,
DEWITT YINLING.
THE VALUE OF BEING A GOOD SPOUSE
One of the kindest things God did for humans was to institute marriage. Marriage is not a Christian ordinance; it is a general concept for all mankind (Genesis 2:24).
It is the oldest of all earthly institutions. Spiritual Help. There is no greater relationship help in going to heaven than the constant help of a loving mate. It is difficult for one to make it through the strait and narrow passage of life; however, a good spouse, who has common values and a common love for God, certainly helps. One' loyalty to God will be made evident as he tries to help his family grow spiritually. It will also be seen as she sees priorities in rearing children to believe in and respect the God of heaven. Spouses with respect for God treat each other with respect. The husband loves his wife as himself, the wife is in subjection to her husband (Ephesians 5:25-33).
Child Rearing. Your faith is a great tool to make your family a better one. Children see the faith of parents in action in making good choices, so their faith grows. Parents have the assurance that God will answer their constant prayer for wisdom to guide their children in the right way (James 1:3-5).
Heirs Together. Husbands and wives are “heirs together for the grace of life” (I Peter 3:7).
No other way in life leads to such blessings. Zacharias and Elizabeth are a good example. “They were both righteousness before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless” (Luke 1:6).
Christ's Greatest Gifts
He gave Himself a Sacrifice to God (Ephesians 5:2).
He gave His life a ransom for us (Matthew 20:28).
He gave peace as a legacy to us (John 14:27).
He gives glory as a crown awaiting us (John 17:22).
When The Pod Is Put Under The Sod
A simple little piece of prose seen on the tombstone of Mr. Peas reminds us of the momentous Bible truth that life does not end at death: “Here lies Peas under the sod. Peas not here, only the pod. Peas shelled out, gone home to God.” What happens when the pod is put under the sod, that is, when life on earth ends and the body is buried? One of the most awesome teachings advanced in the Bible is that God will raise human beings from the dead to give account for the way they lived while on earth. For two thousand years Christianity has confronted men and women with Jesus' claim in John 12:25-26: “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me though he may die, he shall live. And whosoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?” The apostle Paul believed there would be a resurrection of the dead, and that belief powerfully impacted the way he chose to live his life. This being so, he always strive to have a conscience trial before the Roman governor Felix, Paul stated: “I have hope in God...that there will be a resurrection without offense toward God and men” (Acts 24:15-16). Paul believed that when the pod is put under the sod, Peas shell out and goes home to God.
But not everybody believes that. A few days before Jesus' death, He was confronted by some Sadducees in Mark 12:18-27, Mark makes a telling statement about this Jewish sect in verse 18 when he records that the Sadducees “say there is no resurrection.” That statement is repeated in Acts 23:8 where we are told that they also “say there is no angel or spirit.”
The Sadducees believed that when you put the pod under the sod, Peas stayed in the pod! The Sadducees' spiritual descendants are still with us. Modern day naturalists/materialists insist that when a person dies, life is over. Period. As in “stick a fork in them” because they are done. The modern naturalist insists there is no God, no judgment, no eternity, no Heaven, no hell. Just the grave. Their belief that there is no God forces them to the same conclusion the Sadducees reached: when you put Peas' under the sod, he stays there with his pod.
British theologian R. C. Sproul summed up the mindset of millions when he said, “Modern man is betting his life that this is it, and that there is no judgement and that there is no eternity.” Do you believe there is life after death? If you do, how is that belief affecting how you are living your life before death? Unless Jesus returns first, we will all have to die. What will happen when your pod is put under the sod?
-Dan Gulley, Smithville Church of Christ