Nile Street Notes

Anna Church of Christ

104 Nile Street, Anna, Illinois 62906

833-5815

Vol 23. Issue 28 July 26, 2009

President Obama and Rush Limbaugh See Eye to Eye

This purpose of this article is not to compare political figures, ideologies, or parties. However, my purpose is to expose an issue agreed upon by President Obama and talk show host Rush Limbaugh. The issue is drinking. What is so serious about having a beer or a drink or two? Last week, in a controversial discussion with the White House Press Corps, President Obama invited a police office up to the White House to have a beer. It is noted that President Obama does drink alcohol (google March 3, 2009 for a picture of him with a beer at a NBA ballgame). The President’s invitation is not the first one laden with alcohol. Some in Washington D.C. call drinking just part of the culture. President Obama is not the first President to drink alcohol in the White House, but he surely is not embarrassed to publicly drink. What kind of influence is he showing his daughters? What about the youth of this country?

Early last week, Rush Limbaugh was talking with a woman about the activity of her aged mother. The mother had reached 100 years, and Rush’s response was “does she drink adult beverages?’ The woman quickly replied, ‘NO, “in which, Rush said, “Many Christians drink! Wine is all over the Bible!’ Rush’s statements demonstrate how lost souls think. Regardless of how Biblically ignorant Rush is, he has the right, just as President Obama, to hold a view about drinking. But what does the Bible say?

Christians are supposed to follow Bible orders by command, inference, or example. NEVER are any of these conditions applied with the consumption of alcohol. A Christian cannot be a drinker, socially or otherwise. If you would, take a few moments and compare the results of alcohol in the lives of Noah Genesis 9:20-26 and Lot Genesis 19:30-38 and the results of refusing alcohol in the lives of Daniel Daniel 1:5-17 and John the Baptist Luke 1:15. So what is a Christian to do today?

1 Corinthians 6:10 makes it explicitly clear that “drunkards will not inherit the Kingdom of God.” Does that mean that I can drink until I feel drunk? Does that mean that as long as I don’t get “hooked” on alcohol I can drink? Is Paul talking about the “hard stuff?” After all, beer isn’t hard liquor. My friend, one drink of any alcohol goes directly to the brain and begins immediately altering its functioning and perception. The old saying is true, “One drink is one drink drunk!” Stay away from that beer, wine cooler, shot of vodka,..etc. IT WILL COST YOU AN ETERNAL HOME. 1 Corinthians 5:11 tells us to not keep company with drunkards. Dear Soul, Paul means if you have friends, family members, coworkers, or even those in the church that drink, you should avoid them and not have fellowship with them. By doing so, you are placing your soul in jeopardy. I cannot not speak on behalf of President Obama or Rush Limbaugh, but I will pray that they can see the ignorance of their past. We should pray for that for each of us!

- Ryan Thornsberry

SERMON TOPICS

A.M. – “Prepare To Meet Thy God – Pt. 1”

(Amos 4:12)

P.M. – “Prepare To Meet Thy God – Pt. 2”

(Matt. 6:20-21)

Those For Whom We Are Praying:

Kathleen Ritchey

Rodney & Nikki Lingle

Bill Whitnel

Ken and Gilda Snell

Lowell Karraker

Mitchell Shock – Grandson of Rosemary’s cousin.

Austin Detering

Carlos Wright - Cancer has spread.

Charles Dillow – Freda’s brother-in-law

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

Jean Brown – Kris’s aunt.

Wisdom From Proverbs: “A talebearer revealeth secrets: but he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth the matter.” (Prov. 11:13).

Sentence Sermon: “Nothing you will ever lose matters much if you save your soul; nothing you will ever save matters if you lose your soul.”

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

* Men – Let RW know if Aug. 1 is a good date for a Prayer Breakfast.

* Area-wide Gospel Meeting with Dan Winkler at the Carson Center begins tonight.

* Ladies’ Day will be September 19. Shelley Hazel will be the speaker and the theme will be, “Women Teaching Women.”

* Let’s remember to contact those we haven’t seen in a few weeks.

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

* Also continue boycotting Pepsi products as they support the homosexual agenda. If you haven’t signed the boycott, why not?

Is it right for a Christian to financially support sin?

* Carlos Wright is needing a wheelchair (presumably electric) or scooter if anyone has one they’d like to part with. Call him

(833-6103) or let R.W. know if you have one.

Hearing assistance for any service is available upon request.

BIBLE QUESTION/ANSWER:

Last week’s answer: God with us. Mt. 1:23

New question: When the Magi (wise men from the East) came to see Jesus where did they find him?

Quotable Quote: “If you’re looking for friends when you need them…it’s too late.” -- Mark Twain

Birthdays &Anniversaries

Dawn Lackey - 7/31

Kris McAlister - 7/31

The Ten Commandments Today*

I’ve noticed a lot of signs in peoples’ yards over the last few years that say something like, “We support the Ten Commandments.” I remember studying the Ten Commandments in Sunday School as a boy, and I know I learned a number of lessons by studying them.

Seeing these signs standing in the yards of so many makes me wonder how much they really know about the Bible they claim to hold dear. Do they realize that there’s so much more to it than just these 10 commandments? Furthermore, how many of these people can actually name many of God’s commandments without reading the sign posted in the yard? I wonder if they realize that the Old Testament, of which the decalogue was part, has been abolished (Eph. 2:15)? Do they know it’s been nailed to the Cross (Col. 2:14)?

Since we no longer live under the Old Testament and its 10 commandments, does that mean that no law exists? Of course not, for we’re under New Testament Law (Heb. 8:6).

Certain guiding principles exist that have been in place since the creation of man and have been imparted to us since then in various ways. In the Patriarchal Dispensation, God revealed them through the patriarchs. In the Mosaical Dispensation, God wrote the principles on stone tablets for His people. In the Christian Age, the same principles are given to humanity through the gospel of Christ. The Law of Moses was done away with. We must no longer attempt to observe these righteous principles through Moses’ code of law, but instead through the New Covenant of Jesus Christ.

            *We refuse to have any other gods before God or make any graven images; not because Moses said so, but because the New Covenant says, “to us there is but one God,” and says that idolaters will not inherit the Kingdom of God (I Cor 8:6; 6:9,10).
            *We refuse to take the name of the Lord in vain, not because Moses said so, but because the New Covenant says, “Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth” (Eph 4:29).
            *We refuse to keep the Sabbath Day holy because the commandment regarding it has been abolished and no New Covenant statement authorizes any observance of the Sabbath Day. (Colossians 2:16).
            *We honor father and mother, not because Moses said to, but because the New Covenant says, “honor thy father and mother” (Eph 6:2).
            *We shun murder, not because Moses said “Thou shalt not kill,” but because Jesus said, “Thou shalt do no murder” (Mt 19:18).
            *We refuse to commit adultery, not because Moses said so, but because the New Covenant says, “But fornication,... let it not be once named among you” and “whoremongers and adulterers God will judge” (Eph 5:3; Heb 13:4).
            *We avoid any kind of stealing, not because Moses says so, but because the New Covenant says “Thieves... shall not inherit the Kingdom of God” (I Cor. 6:10).
            *We refuse to bear false witness, not because Moses said not to, but because the New Covenant says, “Let your conversation (manner of life) be without covetousness” (Heb 13:5).
            We’re not without any governing law just because the Old Testament has been abolished, because the New Testament has replaced it. The Old Law is good for our learning (Romans 15:4), but the New Covenant is what guides us today and is where we need to look for guidance and authority.   – R.W.

*this subject came up in our class last Wed. night, hence the reprint.