Nile Street Notes Anna Church of Christ 104 Nile Street, Anna, Illinois 62906 833-5815

Website: www.annachurchofchrist.com

Vol 23. Issue 49 Dec. 6, 2009

WHY “GO TO CHURCH”?

In a “Letters to the Editor” column of a certain newspaper, a churchgoer had written this letter complaining that it made no sense to attend church every Sunday.  He wrote, “I’ve gone for thirty years now, and in that time I have heard something like 3000 sermons.  But for the life of me I can’t remember a single one of them.  So I think I’m wasting my time, and the preachers are wasting theirs by giving sermons at all.”  This resulted in an outpouring of letters for the column, which continued for weeks until someone wrote the following: “I’ve been married for 30 years now.  In that time my wife has cooked some 32,000 meals.  But for the life of me, I cannot recall the entire menu for a single one of those meals.  But I do know this: They all nourished me and gave me the strength I needed to do my work.  If my wife had not given me these meals, I would be physically dead today.  Likewise, If I had not gone to church for nourishment, I would be spiritually dead today!”

What benefits are there to assembling each week with other believers in Christ to worship God?   While some choose to attend a church because of entertainment that might be provided, a Christian should have more legitimate motives than this.  A few to be considered would be—

• Attending where the true gospel is preached, one learns of the salvation God has provided, and the proper response for one’s salvation. (Romans 1:16; 5:1-6, 18; 6:3-4)
• As a Christian one has a treasured opportunity to remember Christ in the weekly partaking of the Lord’s supper as He instructed (1 Corinthians 15:23-26; Acts 20:7).
• One is instructed and edified by the teaching and preaching of God’s word (Acts 20:22; 2 Timothy 4:1-4; Matthew 4:4).
• To do otherwise is to ignore a command of Scripture: “Let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another as ye see the day approaching” Hebrews 10:24-25). --Ron Bartanen

SERMON TOPICS

A.M. – “The Righteousness of God – His

Wrath & Grace” (Rom. 1:16-18)

P.M. – “The Righteousness of God – His

Will & Plan” (Rom. 8:26-28)

Those For Whom We Are Praying:

Kathleen Ritchey

Rodney & Nikki Lingle

Bill Whitnel

Mitchell Shock – Grandson of Rosemary’s cousin.

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

Bonnie Mangum

Ivis Wright

Larry Barnhart

Donna Bell - Recovering well from knee surgery.

Quotable Quote: “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” - Paul, the Apostle (Phil. 4:13).

Wisdom From Proverbs: “The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise” (Prov. 11:30).

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

* Ladies' Appreciation Breakfast Dec. 12 at 9 a.m. for women 45 and older.

* Men - It's time to schedule a Prayer Breakfast. Let R.W. know which date/dates work for you. Dec. 19^th?

* Please clip "Box Tops For Education" & put them in the box in the Preacher's office.

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

* Men's Bible class tomorrow night at 7 p.m.

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

BIBLE QUESTION/ANSWER:

Last week’s answer: King Saul (I Sam. 15:20-22).

New question: What did a magician or sorcerer want to buy from the apostles? Who was it?

Sentence Sermon: “Patience is trusting in God’s timing.”

Birthdays &Anniversaries

Miranda Hartline – 12/8

Wardell Barnhart – 12/9

Aaron Thornsberry – 12/11

Freda Dillow – 12/12

She Paid a High Price For Vanity...

Perhaps you recently heard about the young lady who held the title of “Miss Argentina” a few years ago. After winning that title, she became a wife and a mother of two healthy children and had a comfortable life of which many would have dreamt.

Tragically, she died last week. She didn’t die a noble death protecting the lives of her children. She didn’t sacrifice her life so that others might live. She didn’t die on the operating table while receiving some vital, life-saving surgery, either. She didn’t even die a senseless death at the hands of a drunk driver, but her death surely was senseless – and therein lies the real tragedy. You see, she died as a result of complications following gluteoplasty – what some would call a “butt lift.” Tragic, isn’t it? Her life is now over because she felt her “rear-end” wasn’t firm enough. In short – her vanity killed her, and she leaves behind a husband and 2 young children.

In I Tim. 2:9-10, the Bible says that women should: “adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array; But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works.”

Women – and indeed every Christian – should adorn themselves with good works. The outward appearance of man is less important to God than his inward appearance. God’s concern is that we be clothed with good works – that we possess inward beauty. We live in a shameful age where society disdains extra pounds, gray hair, wrinkles, bald heads, under-developed pectoral muscles, and so on. This disdain has given rise to an unprecedented degree of vanity. Now, as a result, bottles of hair color for both women and “just for men” fly off of store shelves, men are having pectoral implants, women undergo “breast enhancement,” and plastic surgeons are making money “hand over fist” performing “face lifts,” “tummy tucks,” “nose jobs” for purely cosmetic purposes, and all other forms of needless surgery.

The makeup industry is also a thriving business with countless “supermodels” pushing various brands of paints designed to hide so-called “flaws.” I’m certainly not against those things that aid in making oneself presentable, such as coming ones hair, bathing, dressing in appropriate clothing, etc., but as with everything else in life, we must keep our appearance in its proper perspective.

Men and women – the next time you contemplate spending your money on vanity, I pray you’ll stop and consider how much good those few dollars might do in the Lord’s service, and how much more pleased He will be with that decision. If only Miss Argentina had thought that way, her family might not be without her today. Give it some thought.

- R.W.