Nile Street Notes

Anna Church of Christ

104 Nile Street, Anna, Illinois 62906

833-5815

Vol 23. Issue 39 Sept. 27, 2009

Great, It's Wednesday!

Imagine the scene...It's been a very difficult week at work. You've been given more to do than you can possibly get done. Your superiors don't seem to care that you're overloaded, they just want results. You're stressed out and frazzled. Supper is over and it's Wednesday night, and your spouse says, "It's time to get ready for Wednesday night Bible study." Question: What are you thinking at this point?

Some might answer that question with an answer similar to the following, "Oh great! It's Wednesday night and we have Bible study. I've had a rough week, I'm just not up for it tonight."

Others might answer that question with an answer similar to this, "Oh great! It's Wednesday night and we have Bible study. I've had a rough week, and I need something to lift my spirits."

Same scenario, different responses. Which would you give? Friends, if our response would be more in line with the first answer, then at least one of two things are wrong. 1) Our assemblies aren't offering the fellowship and encouragement they should be offering, or 2) We have lost perspective of what a privilege and blessing it is to be able to open God's word, learn more of Him, and fellowship with the saints.

Have you had a hard week? It's Wednesday, and most places will have Bible study tonight. What will your decision be?

"I was glad when they said to me, 'let us go to the house of the Lord!'" (Psalm 122:1).

- Steve Higginbotham via MercEmail

SERMON TOPICS

A.M. – “If Thy Brother Shall Trespass

Against Thee...” (Mt. 18:15-20)

P.M. – Questions & Bible Answers

(Luke 11:9-10)

Those For Whom We Are Praying:

Kathleen Ritchey

Rodney & Nikki Lingle

Bill Whitnel

Mitchell Shock – Grandson of Rosemary’s cousin.

Austin Detering

Carlos Wright

Charles Dillow – Freda’s brother-in-law

Paul Etherton - Sara Wilkins' father. Cancer in lymph nodes.

Jean Brown – Kris’s aunt.

Diana Schultz - Recovering from injuries sustained in a car crash.

John Bradley – Hand is healing.

Wes Boie – Terminal cancer.

Wisdom From Proverbs: “Though hand join in hand, the wicked shall not be unpunished: but the seed of the righteous shall be delivered” (Prov. 11:21).

Quotable Quote: “Just going to church doesn't make you a Christian any more than standing in your garage makes you a car!” – Unknown

Welcome! If you're visiting with us, we extend you a special welcome and invite you to come back at every opportunity. If our worship seems unusual to you, please let us know what you find different. We endeavor to worship "in Spirit and in truth" (Jn. 4:24) and do only what scripture authorizes (Col. 3:17, Deut. 4:2; Rev. 22:18-19).

UPCOMING ACTIVITIES/MEETINGS

* Gospel Mtg., Jackson Oct. 4-7 w/Paul Sain.

* Our Gospel Mtg. Nov. 1-4 w/Jeremiah Tatum.

* “Friends & Family Day" Oct. 18 at Vienna. Cookout to follow a.m. service.

* Ladies’ Day at Marion on Oct. 3.

* Little Egypt Youth Camp Retreat Oct. 9-10. Details on Bulletin Board.

* Fall Lectureship at Marion congregation Oct. 11-14 w/various speakers.

* Gospel Mtg. in Centralia 9/27-9/30 w/John Polk.

* There will be a baby shower for Brittany Carter this afternoon from 2-4 p.m. in the Yates home at 307 East Poplar St. in

Cobden. Brittany is having a girl.

* Christian Chapel Homecoming today w/4^thSunday singing at 2:30.

* Please continue to drop any Bible questions in the Question & Answer box in the foyer.

* Please continue boycotting Pepsi & Frito-Lay products as they support the homosexual agenda.

* Brother Ryan Thornsberry was appointed an elder last Sunday morning. We wish him well and maywe all support our elders

as much as we can.

BIBLE QUESTION/ANSWER:

Last week’s answer: Jesus rebuked the wind and said, “Peace be still,” to the sea in a storm (Mark 4:39).

New question: Does God know how many hairs are still on your head?

Sentence Sermon: “Troubles, like babies, grow larger through nursing.”

Birthdays &Anniversaries

Ann Harvick – 9/27

Mary Karraker – 9/30

A Healthy Attitude for Christian Living

The devastation of sin and the demands of the Christian life can sometimes seem overwhelming – especially when non-Christians or weak Christians seek to continually remind us or others of the sins of our past, but in Philippians 3:13-14, the apostle Paul speaks of the faithful Christian’s proper approach to life: “Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, ¹⁴I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus” (3:13-14).

Even in the strongest, most seasoned Christians, there is always room for growth. The tireless apostle, as great a man as he was, recognized that he had not yet “apprehended” (Phil. 3:12). This shows us that Paul didn’t buy into the false notion that his salvation could never be lost (I Cor. 9:27).

Human beings, because of our weak nature, will always experience spiritual failures that cause us pain (Rom. 3:23). Hopefully though, we’ll fight against the weakness of the flesh every day.

One must resolve to forget the past – especially a sinful past – and reach toward the future. Granted, even though one may not be able to actually “forget” his past, he may resolve within himself that his past won’t overshadow his present or future life.

Many hypocritical or weak Christians point their finger at a Gospel preacher who has sin in his past and wrongly state that he’s not fit to fill the pulpit. They do this to hide their hypocrisy or weak faith. Paul was able to forget his past and not be discouraged by his detractors, and so can any faithful Christian once he or she has repented.

What you or I may have done in the past can never take the place of present service to the Lord. Paul had a distinguished Hebrew background (Phil. 3:4-6), but from the Christian perspective, all these trophies were trash (Phil. 3:8).

As one’s level of spirituality grows, he may very well wonder how he could have ever committed some of the heinous sins that once peppered his life. He may hurt deeply over his sinful ways, as apparently Paul did his (I Tim. 1:15). We must learn, however, to accept God’s wonderful grace as offered through His plan of redemption (Acts 2:38; 22:16). We cannot change the past; we can only live in the present, and look toward the future. A faithful Christian’s sinful past, when he or she has repented of the sins that were part of it, will not hinder him or her from great service in the Lord according to what one’s gender allows, be it preaching, serving as an Elder, Bible class teacher, etc.

Many a person has allowed his or her thoughts to dwell on the “good old days” when he or she shut down the bars every weekend night, “chased women,” or “picked up men,” etc. Those worldly ways must be ejected from the mind as much as is humanly possible, else they open the door to apostasy.

Not only are we admonished to forget certain things, we’re encouraged to “reach forward” and “press on” toward the heavenly prize. These verbs are in the present tense, demanding a constant effort from each Christian. There will be no crown without cross-bearing first (Lk. 9:23).

Finally, there’s the prize found at the end. Paul would later write: “...I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day…” (II Tim. 4:7-8).

Dear Christian, if you’re ashamed of your past but have repented of it and are doing your utmost to live for God today, then you have no reason to be ashamed and there’s no reason why you can’t serve God in whatever capacity your gender and talents might enable you. Forget those things which are behind and continue pressing toward the mark.

- R.W.