Keep Running! Part One

Transcription

1 Volume 22, Number 47 November 6th, 2016 Keep Running! Part One by Dave Rogers In 490 B.C. the Medo-Persian emperor Darius (the one mentioned in Daniel 5:30-31) sent a great army to capture Athens and Greece, one of the few areas not under his control. His army landed on the plain of Marathon, about 25 miles from Athens. When the Athenians learned of their arrival, they sent Phidippides, a swift runner, to Sparta to ask for help fighting the Persians. The Spartans refused to march before the full moon, and a small band of Athenians moved out to the plain of Marathon, where they held off the entire Persian army, ultimately defeating them. Legend says that Phidippides then ran the entire 25 miles back to Athens, where he died in the streets shouting Nike! Rejoice! We conquer! You can guess where we got the modern concept of a marathon, and why it s so long! How many of us would like to run in a marathon? Do you know the joke about the smiling jogger? (Show me a jogger who can smile while he jogs and I ll show you someone who s into pain!) When was the last time you ran until you had a stitch in your side? Humanity is divided into two basic groups: runners, and the rest of us! Yet running is an integral part of the Christian's life! Satchel Paige, one of the greatest professional baseball pitchers of all time, played in the major league in his 40 s and 50 s. Paige once responded with these words, to a question about his age and whether his records would ever be broken: Don t look back; somebody might be gaining on you! Don t look back: That s good advice for Christians! To be a child of God, you have to leave the world behind. We re running in a race, and we need to keep our eyes on the goal! There is tension between God s children and the world because our values, actions, speech, and goals all conflict! Paul warns in Colossians 2:8 about the world s challenges to our faith; Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ. Note the key words here; philosophy (here it speaks of the love of human wisdom; but in James 3:15, it is described as earthly, sensual, devilish ). Then there are vain deceit (empty words; untruths, lies calculated to sound believable), traditions of men (customs that result from human wisdom, without regard for God s will), and the rudiments of the world (the basics of worldliness and materialism: Ideas like Just once won t hurt, or You can control it ). We confront these things every day. In Hebrews 12:1-2 we read that as Christians we must run our race patiently, following the example of Jesus: but we must RUN to WIN, 1 Corinthians 9:27! Paul urges us (Philippians 3:14-15) to keep on pressing on and 2 Peter 2:19-20 shows that there s no benefit in going back where we came from (the spiritual sewer of the world)! You can t win by running the race from the end to the beginning! If we do that, we ve lost even more than we gained! Peter also wrote,...for by whom a person is overcome, by him also he is brought into bondage. 20 For if, after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the latter end is worse for them than the beginning. (2 Peter 2:19-20) (More to come)

2 Living Where You Do Not Belong by John Curtis, Paul's Valley, Oklahoma In Jesus' prayer to the Father in John 17, He states that His disciples are not of this world, just as He is not of this world. How can that be? Were we not born in this world? Of course we were. But, we have been called out of this world (2 Corinthians 6:17, 1 Peter 1:13-15), and we have been purchased with the precious blood of Jesus (Acts 20:28; 1 Peter 1:18.19). We do not belong to this world, or even to ourselves (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). If we do not belong to this world, than how do we live in this world? Missionaries, diplomats and others could give us some insight living in a culture that is not our own, but let's learn how from one that knows more than all of these put together, Jesus - the Son of God, who left heaven and dwelt as a man in a world in which He did not belong. How did He do it, and what did He teach that will help us do it? 1. Remember that you do not belong here (Matthew 6:19-21; 22:17-21). Jesus knew where He was from and often spoke of returning. 2. Do not fall in love with this world (Matthew 6:24; 1 John 2:15-17; 2 Peter 2:20). Jesus knew a better place, heaven, and knew that He was returning there when His mission on earth was complete. 3. Live holy lives (Matthew 5-7; 1 Peter 1:15). Jesus lived a perfect life, without sin, even in this dark world. 4. Stay focused on why you are here (Matthew 6:33; Colossians 3:22-24). Jesus constantly was concerned with fulfilling the will of His Father. 5. Stay in touch with the home land (1 Thessalonians 5:17; Matthew 22:29; 2 Timothy 2:15). Jesus frequently separated himself from the mob and disciples to pray. The Scriptures thoroughly. He also taught others to pray, and the importance of knowing the Scriptures. 6. Look expectantly to going home (John 14:3; Luke 12:L36-27; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26). Jesus spoke about returning to the Father and taking His disciples with Him. If we wil observe and practice the way Jesus lived and what He taught, then we too can live as we should in the world to which we do not belong. The Ol Farmer sez Words that soak into your ears are whispered.not yelled. It don t take a very big person to carry a grudge.

3 Save the Dates.... November 11 12, Fayetteville Church of Christ Marriage and Relationship Enrichment Weekend FRIDAY 11 NOVEMBER - 7:00 P.M. 9:30 P.M. KICK OFF THE WEEKEND WITH A DATE NIGHT! DINNER (NOMINAL COST PER COUPLE GAME NIGHT / ENTERTAINMENT SATURDAY 12 NOVEMBER - 8:30 A.M. 2:30 P.M. BROTHER DAVID SHANNON PRESENTING UPLIFTING MESSAGES ON BUILDING / STRENGTHENING MARRIAGES AND RELATIONSHIPS BASED ON BIBLICAL PRINCIPLES LIGHT BREAKFAST ICE BREAKERS MULTIPLE SESSIONS LUNCH PROVIDED BY CONGREGATION FREE CHILD CARE is AVAILABLE Friday & Saturday RSVP BY SUNDAY, 6 NOVEMBER TO THE CHURCH OFFICE AT MAIL@FCOC.COM OR (770) PLEASE INDICATE WHICH DAY/S YOU WILL BE ATTENDING AND IF YOU WILL NEED CHILDCARE. WE LOOK FORWARD TO LEARNING TOGETHER AND SHARING THIS TIME OF FELLOWSHIP! FAYETTEVILLE CHURCH OF CHRIST 870 REDWINE ROAD, FAYETTEVILLE, GA Dinner starts at 7pm Catered by Village Café Cost $15.00 per person 4th Annual Atlanta Area-Wide ThanksSinging Join us the Sunday before Thanksgiving for a joyous, time-honored tradition Date: Sunday, November 20, 2016 Time: Location: 2:00 p.m. Fayetteville Church of Christ 870 Redwine Road Fayetteville, GA Refreshments will be served in the Fellowship Hall For info call or us at: mail@fcoc.com

4 F a m i l y M a t t e r s Becky Higginbotham Is in Northside Hospital, ICU room 21 undergoing chemo treatments. Holly Dalman Is recovering from back surgery. Sarah Beth Haney Has been suffering with migraines and will have a procedure Nov. 7th. Members With Health Problems: Betty Jo Nash, Shelby Garner, Jim Garner, Mattie Croix, Mary Lawrence, Decieta Lyons, RuPearl Sharpe, Brenda Mitchell, Equillar Butler, Shirley Jones, Lucille Amon, Marlene Etheridge, Mattie Williams, Bernice Gillespie, Maylon Swann, Forrest & Burma Chapman Una Fortson, Shut-ins: Ruby Fowler, Annette Benefield, Butch & Joann Trawick, David & Shirley Lee, Lillian Gray, David Nash, Jane Lankford, Joe Clark & Frances Elder Others With Health Problems: Ray & Keven Barton, Kresta Braswell & Kyla Barton, Rose Osborn (friend of Marlene Elheridge), Harold Holt (Shirley Lee s brother), Sybil Hedden, Caylee Williamson (Terri Durden s niece), Cole Gilman, David Fredricks (Jeannie Pyron s brother), Meg Wallace (Sharon O Brien s cousin), Willard Mann, Bree Couch (Ginny s daughter-in-law), Gregory Crook (Lucille Amon s nephew), Tom Holcomb (Annette s Son-in-law), Greta Newsome (Jill Nash s sister), Joanne Daugherty (David & Wayne Nash s Sister), Carol Bomar (Charity Nash s aunt), Loretta Russell (Ray s mother), Nelda Hayes (Jack Sorrell s aunt), Nancy Ford (Joann Crook s sister), Virginia Poskevich (David s mother), Xernonia Fortson (Una s daughter), Eddie & Lil Cauthen (Joan Poskevich s B-i-L/S-i-L), Joe Hand (Jim Scoma s B-in-L) and Marvin Cook (Jean Johnson s brother) Prayer Requested Scott Kelly s address jpay.com (Web site) # (Scott / Robert Kelly) Cookies, powdered lemonade, decorative platters & pretty pitchers are needed for the ThanksSinging, put all items in the church office. Service Sunday & Luncheon November 6th- Promoting the Marriage Weekend & ThanksSinging Calendar Nov 4 Family Game Night at 6pm. LTL-Animals Nov 6 Service Sunday! Worship, lunch, devotional & service. We will use our service time for the upcoming Marriage Weekend & ThanksSinging; we will divide up that night and attend different congregations to promote the two events. Nov 8 Election in Fellowship Hall Nov Fayetteville s Marriage Enrichment Weekend, Friday Night Dinner at 7pm, Catered by Village Café, cost $15.00 per person Nov 18 SilverWings Thanksgiving Dinner at Fried Tomato Buffet in Newnan. Bus will leave the building at 5pm. Nov 20 ThanksSinging at Fayetteville COC Dec 3 Adult Holiday Party at 7pm in the fellowship hall Dec 11 Ladies Ornament Exchange hosted by Melanie Boelsterli Dec 31 - New Year s Eve Family Game Night at 8:30pm Mrs. Harry Mobley invites you to the Wedding of Margaret Mae Mobley and Caleb Austin McGaughy Saturday, November 19, 2016 at 6pm The Eclectic Warehouse 45 Main Street, Eclectic, Al Bible Bowl Snacks/Light Lunch Sign-Up Nov 6-Terri Durden - Snacks 13 Donna Hagin - light lunch Dec 4 Linda Armstrong - snacks 11 Needed someone - Snacks 18 Catherine Kelly - light lunch Youth Events Nov 4 Church Family Game Night (Animal) Nov 5 24th Annual Youth Lectureship at Lithia Springs COC Nov 13 Area Wide Youth Devo - Fairview Nov 19 Frog s Fruit Baskets for the Widows and Widowers at 10am Dec 9 Frog Holiday Party/Movie Dec 18 Area Wide Youth Devo - Tara Feb 4, 2017 Providers/Keepers Area Events: Nov 4-6 Central COC Annual Fall Lectureship, Building Up in a Crumbling World Nov 5 Buford COC Ladies Day Seeds of Blessing Lessons by: Cathy Powell Oct 8 Becoming Enough ladies ministry of Peachtree City COC Nov Buford COC Keep the Family Strong Raintree Village Food Truck on November 14th Put your donations I n the foyer. Urgent Needs: Undershirts (Girls-ladies sizes medium, large & extra-large. boys - men s sizes medium, large and 2XL.) School Binders (2 inch), Subject Dividers, Snack size snacks & chips, juice & water. A list is on the bulletin board.

5 November, /6 11/13 11/20 11/27 Call To Worship Greg Nash Greg Nash Greg Nash Greg Nash Scripture Reading Rory Bell, Jr Jake Garner Luke Quinn Zeke Poskevich Song Leader Stan Mitchell Jimmy Garner Stan Mitchell Jimmy Garner Prayer Jim O Brien Curtis Hurt Ray Russell Hugh Kelly Preside Lord s Supper Ken Fincher David Riley Larry Rose Steve Hopkins Server Mike Fields Morris Jones Mike Fields Morris Jones Server Wade Foster Jack Sorrell Wade Foster Jack Sorrell Server Greg Curtis Ben Rogers Greg Curtis Ben Rogers Server Randall Bell Jerry Riner Randall Bell Jerry Riner Server James Walker Shirley Allender James Walker Shirley Allender Server Charles Nash Brian Johnson Charles Nash Brian Johnson Server Zeke Poskevich Luke Quinn Zeke Poskevich Luke Quinn Server Tommy Chapman Larry Fields Tommy Chapman Larry Fields Sermon Dave Rogers Dave Rogers Dave Rogers Dave Rogers Response Elder Tom Durden Tom Durden Tom Durden Tom Durden Announcements Dave Rogers Greg Nash Dave Rogers Greg Nash Shepherd s Prayer Greg Nash Jim Garner Tom Durden Jim Pelfrey Evening Worship Announcements Greg Nash Greg Nash Greg Nash Greg Nash Song Leader Stan Mitchell Rory Bell Stan Mitchell Coney Johnson Prayer Lewis Armstrong Eric Hagin Paul Lyons Thomas Quinn Sermon Service Sunday Dave Rogers ThanksSinging Song Service Lord s Supper Greg Curtis Luke Quinn Randall Bell David Hopkins Lord s Supper James Walker Larry Fields Zeke Poskevich Michael Boesterli Prayer Bill Ruffer Anthony Stinson David Riley Ron Biles Fayetteville Church of Christ Goal - Evangelism Address: 870 Redwine Road Fayetteville, Georgia Monday Friday, 9-4 Office Telephone (770) , (770) Fax mail@fcoc.com Web Page: Ministers: Dave Rogers (361) Dave.rogers@fcoc.com Greg Nash, (404) (cell) gnash999@gmail.com Office Administrator: Susie Graham celiagraham@bellsouth.net Elders: Tom Durden ( Jim Garner (770) Greg Nash (404) Jim Pelfrey (770) Deacons: Dennis Graham David Hopkins Hugh Kelly Jerry Kendrix Andy Johnson Paul Lyons Stan Mitchell David Poskevich Anthony Ravenell Jack Sorrell Assembly Schedule: Sunday 9:00 am Bible Classes 10:00 am Worship Service 6:00 pm Worship Service 10:00 am Tuesday Morning Bible Class (September 11 May 14) 7:00 pm Wednesday Night Bible Study 7:00 pm Thursday Night Ladies Class (September-May) Communion Preparation Nov Malloy Chapman Dec Linda Howell Nursery Nov 6 Charity Nash, 13 Joan Poskevich, 20 Sandy Garner & 27 Linda Johnson Care of Building 1-15 Jack Sorrell/Larry Rose Anthony Ravenell/Eric Hagin Ushers Media Center Helpers Nov 6 Rory Bell, Jr 13 & 20 Brad Hopkins Open Arms 6 Susie Graham, Barbara Edmonds, Margaret McCain, Theresa Green, Tom & Terri Durden 13 Martha Vickery, Connie Kelly, Jessa Quinn, Anne Siebert, Hugh Kelly & Ron Biles 20 Linda Johnson, Jo Hurt, Zeke Poskevich, Linda Armstrong, Thomas & Meggi Quinn 27 Jo Ruffer, Sandy Garner, Joan Poskevich, Theresa Green, Paul & Decieta Lyons Wednesday Evening Devotional 9 Rory Bell, 16 Gayle Pelfrey Our Missionaries Graham, Elizabeth, Joshua, Megan, Bethany & Elijah McDonald Scotland,11 Woodhead Ct, Westfield, Cumbernauld, North Lanarkshire, G68 9DB graham@gmcd.net Skype: gmcd105 or Scott, Rebecca & Violet Shananhan Pohnpel scottshanahan@hotmail.com Kenloy & Ivell Walker Mandeville, Jamaica Old Harbouir Church of Christ, Forrest & Burma Chapman, State of Georgia ftc1952@alltel.com

6 Marriage & Relationship Enrichment Week-end Service Sunday! Worship, lunch, devotional & service. Marriage & Relationship Enrichment Weekend SilverWings Thanksgiving Dinner at Fried Tomato Buffet Frog s Fruit Baskets at 10am ThanksSinging 2 4pm