Nile Street Notes

Anna Church of Christ

104 Nile Street, Anna, Illinois 62906

833-5815

Vol 23. Issue 2 Jan. 11, 2009

Hoping Against Hope

Thirty-six years ago today (12/31) Roberto Clemente was killed in a plane crash off the cost of Puerto Rico. At the time, I was a ten-year-old boy, and living about 30 miles from Pittsburgh, Clemente was one of my heroes. I have very distinct, and vivid memories of watching him play at the old Forbes Field in Pittsburgh.

It was New Year's Eve and my extended family were all gathered at our house for a New Year's party. Then the news broke into the regular tv programming to announce the crash of Clemente's plane. Because Clemente's body was never recovered, as a little boy who couldn't bear the thought of his hero's death, I chose to believe that Clemente escaped the wreckage, swam to a deserted island, and that it would be just a matter of time until he was rescued. Of course, that rescue never happened.

Now here's my point. Wishing things aren't the way they are will never change reality. Reality is nothing from which we should try to escape, but rather acknowledge. That is especially true when it comes to the Word of God. What is written is written. Whether we like it or not, we cannot change it. Too many people spend too much time trying to avoid the reality of truth. Instead, as we begin this new year, why don't we resolve to accept truth, whatever it is, however painful it may be, and believe it and practice it. After all, denying it, doesn't change the reality of it.

"Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away" (Matthew 24:35).

- Steve Higginbotham via MercEmail

SERMON TOPICS

A.M. – “Christian Fellowship”

(I John 1:1-3)

P.M. – “Questions & Bible Answers”

(Jas. 1:5)

Those For Whom We Are Praying:

Kathleen Ritchey

Loren Eddleman

Rosemary Dillow’s mother & Son–in-law

Jerry & Betty Ward

Rodney & Nikki Lingle

Bill Whitnel

Ken and Gilda Snell – Ken is having trouble getting around.

Lowell Karraker

Mitchell Shock – Grandson of Rosemary’s cousin. 16 mos. old and battling cancer.

Bonnie Mangum

Austin Detering – Newborn battling a number of birth defects.

Carlos Wright

Wisdom From Proverbs: “He that hideth hatred with lying lips, and he that uttereth a slander, is a fool” (Prov. 10:18).

Quotable Quote: “A liberal is a man too broadminded to take his own side in a quarrel.” -  Robert Frost

Sentence Sermon: “Some people mistake a short memory for a clear conscience.”

UPCOMING ACTIVITIES/ANNOUNCEMENTS

* Ladies’ Bible class will meet Jan. 20^th at Renee’s house, 7 p.m..

* Men - service lists are in the foyer if you need a copy.

* Communion sign-up list is on the bulletin board. Please sign up for a month in 2009 to prepare it if you’re able.

* We have invitation letters to our services to mail out. If you’d like to be a part of this, see R.W.

* Feel free to drop any Bible questions in theQuestion & Answer box in the foyer.

* Food Pantry needs canned fruit.

* Change cans for Schultz-Lewis Children’s Home should be turned in asap if they haven’t been already. See Ryan if you have

any questions.

* The Fourth Sunday Singing will be held at Dongola this month at 2:30.

Hearing assistance for any service is available upon request.

BIBLE QUESTION/ANSWER:

Last week’s answer: Gamaliel (Acts 5:34) & Zenas (Titus 3:13).

New question: Who built an altar, asking that a plague might end?

Birthdays & Anniversaries

Chuck Edwards - 1/11

Carlos Wright - 1/13

A Lesson From Lamentations

There can be no doubt that the prophet Jeremiah held a special place in God’s divine plan for mankind. In the book of Lamentations, one reads poetry that expresses Jeremiah’s grief regarding the sinful attitudes of the people of Judah. God judged and punished the people for their sins, so what can we learn from their lesson?

First, we must notice that God will punish those that seek to live against His will. Lamentations 1:8, “Jerusalem hath grievously sinned; therefore she is removed all that honoured her despise her, because they have seen her nakedness: yea, she sigheth, and turneth backward.” The people of Jeremiah’s time lost their freedom and homes because of their unwillingness to obey God. As Jeremiah recorded, the people were punished because of sinned. God allowed them to make their own choices, but the people had to also own up to their decisions. Even with that being said, God’s punishment is aimed to serve many purposes; one main one is found in Proverbs 13:25.

Second, we should always remember that God is always willing to give us a chance to return to Him as long as we are “the one making the move.” Lamentations 3:22-23 records Jeremiah’s hope, “It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning, great is thy faithfulness.” Today, in 2009, God still provides us with the opportunity to reconcile our lives to Him. There are two key words in the previous scripture. 1) Mercies are outward manifestations of pity and 2) Compassions are exhibitions of kindness shown as a result of being moved by pity. Both expressions are ascribed to God and both end with (s). My point is that God continues to shower us with pity and kindness in order to show us His love for us.

Finally, Jeremiah shows us in this short book that the way to reconcile with God must begin with man’s prayer for restoration. In Chapter 5 of the book, Jeremiah prays, “Turn thou us unto thee, O Lord, and we shall be turned; renew our days as of old.” (v.21) Prophets were men called by God to call the people back to Him. When the people forgot about His ways, He sent these men to remind the people. Today, we do not have such prophets. Regardless of what some may say today, modern day prophets do not harmonize with the Bible 1 Corinthians 13:8 and Hebrews 1:1-2. We do need, however, to pray to God. Prayer must be done with a penitent heart and by the individual who needs God’s pity, compassion, and mercy. Have you prayed today?

- Ryan Thornsberry