West Main

 

 

I Once Heard a Story That I Still Remember

 

I once heard a story that I still remember.  It took place at a small country church revival meeting. It had been powerful, and many had found faith. At the end of the week, the preacher said: "Is the person who most influenced you in becoming a Christian here? Maybe it’s a parent, youth minister, Sunday school teacher, minister, or neighbor.  I’d like you all to go and shake hands with the one who most influenced you to follow Christ." All over the auditorium people went and encouraged one another. They thanked each other. Many went to parents. Others went to teachers and ministers. The longest line, though, formed in front of an elderly lady in the church. She’d never taught a class or filled any leadership role in the congregation, but for years her quiet life of service had touched more people than anyone else! In worship, in her home, and in the town, she had led many to Christ, many times unknowingly, just by living a righteous and loving life.

This is the power of example of a godly life! This kind of life may convert someone when sermons and studies may not. It is the consistent acting out of faith and living of a truly changed life that will lead our kids to Jesus. Maybe you don’t have the ability to be a song leader. Maybe teaching isn’t your thing. Maybe you’ll never serve as a deacon or elder. So what? If you live a faithful, devoted life of service to the Lord, you will have a wholesome influence on all of those around you!

Let us all take advantage of opportunities to encourage those who have been a good influence on us in our lives. This family is full of people who have lived lives modeled on Jesus. Let us all strive to be that, for our next generation.

 

– Pannell

 

 

 

“I Will Punish Them for Their Sin”

 

The book of Exodus records one of the most horrific events in Scripture. In chapter thirty-two, we read of Israel’s worship of the golden calf. Recall, Moses went up on the mountain for forty days and nights to receive the Law of God. The text says, “When the people saw that Moses was so long in coming down from the mountain, they gathered around Aaron and said, ‘Come, make us gods who will go before us. As for this fellow Moses who brought us up out of Egypt, we don’t know what has happened to him’” (Exo 32:1). In an unbelievable act of cowardice, Aaron obliges and fashions for the people a golden calf to worship, saying, “These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of Egypt” (Exo 32:4). Then, to add more sin upon sin, the people “sat down to eat and drink and got up to indulge in revelry” (Exo 32:6).

 

When Moses finally does come down the mountain, he is so enraged at witnessing Israel’s idolatrous revelry, that he throws the tablets with the ten commandments written on them to the ground, shattering them into pieces. Next, Moses shouts, “‘Whoever is for the Lord, come to me,’ and all the Levites rallied to him’” (Exo 32:26).

 

What the Lord requires next is most sobering. Moses instructs the Israelites, “‘This is what the Lord, the God of Israel says’: ‘Each man strap a sword to his side. Go back and forth through the camp from one end to the other, each killing his brother and friend and neighbor.’ The Israelites did as Moses commanded, and that day about three thousand of the people died. Then Moses said, ‘You have been set apart to the Lord today, for you were against your brothers, and he has blessed you this day’” (Exo 32:29).

 

 

In a day like ours, in which sin is taken ever so lightly, the previous text can weigh heavily upon us. Moses’ censure of Israel’s sin is hard to fathom. How many of us would have been like the Levites, and willing to strap a sword to our side and begin killing brother, friend, and neighbor for their grievous sins against God? Now, I am not at all suggesting that we brandish swords Sunday morning, and kill all those would come forward confessing sin (besides, we would all have to wield the sword against ourselves first, and after that there would be no one left!).

 

Exodus thirty-two is a warning to all of us who do not regard the Lord as holy, or consider carefully what it means to serve the Living God (Cf., 1 Cor 10:1-5). The Levites on that horrific day captured the essence of what Jesus calls us all to do: “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters—yes, even his own life—he cannot be my disciple” (Lk 14:26,27). If you think this is all too extreme and more of an “OT sentiment,” then consider this warning from the New Testament: “For if the message spoken by angels was binding, and every violation and disobedience received its just punishment, how shall we escape if we ignore such a great salvation?” (Heb 2:2-3).

 

You may at times think the Lord’s promises and Word is a long time in coming, but do not abandon the Good Lord! Wait on him with all your heart, mind, and soul. God will not disappoint. God will reward. Consider carefully, O saints of West Main, the God whom we serve. He indeed is an awesome God.

 

– Terry

 

 

 

Daughters of the King – Our first session this year is this Saturday, January 22, from 10:00 a.m. to  2:00 p.m. All Ladies ages 10 years and up are encouraged to attend.  Michele Michael will be  speaking on the topic of, “How Can You Encourage My Small Children?” Lunch will be provided.  Please reserve these dates for future sessions: February 19 and April 2.

 

Men’s Retreat at Little River Christian Camp is January 28-29.  Our theme is taken from Titus 2: 11-13.  The price is $50.00 per person.  The retreat begins with dinner at 6:30 p.m. on January 28 and ends with worship on January 30. Our food will be catered for us this year, so plan on enjoying some great meals!   We will have guest speakers from Abilene, Texas, St. Louis, Missouri, and Kalispell, Montana.  Please be sure to bring your own bedding; sleeping arrangements are dormitory style.  Deadline for sign up is Friday, January 21.  Please contact Charlie Michael, Trevor Denn, or Mark Moreno to sign up or if you need more info.

 

 

Thank You Note:

Dear Family: Words cannot express the humility and appreciation we all feel for the outpouring of love and prayers for Branson and our family.  God has a way of opening the hearts and minds to the joys and fellowship of all His loved ones.  I am amazed how closely bonded in Christ we all are.  Your hearts, obviously, feel all our pain and hopes for Branson.  He has always loved life to the fullest and the Creator who gives us life.  We trust in a loving God who is and will bring about many blessings.  Thank you all for your outpouring love.  Brad, Ronda, Crystal, Shannon, Isaiah, Whitny & Ryan and  Shelby.

 

Prayer Requests . . . 

Please continue to pray for the healing of Branson Holm, who remains in critical condition following a snowboarding accident.  Please call Brian or Jessie Pannell or the church office for updates on his condition ... Please pray for Ed Way, his doctors, and for his family as he undergoes further testing and for treatment decisions ... Please remember Mel Hamilton and Sharen Rose as they heal from their falls ... Ernie Strawn needs our continued prayers as he goes through cancer treatment and its side effects ... For Julie, daughter of Melodie Miller, who is pregnant - she had an ultra-sound and it showed abnormalities.  She will have further testing this week ... Don Sweet’s surgery went well and he is doing ok ... Doris Sutherlin’s aunt, Hilda Hackworth, has been diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia which is very aggressive and her time is short.  Please pray for her and her family during this time ... Pat Morris’s sister, Bonnie Troxell, has stage three cancer.  Please pray for her and her husband, Dennis ... Bill Breeden fell on his face and is very cut up.  He also had a heart attack.  He is very confused.  The family requests NO visitors at this time ... Nanette Murphy requests prayers for her Aunt Jeri, who has lung cancer.  Please remember her family also ... Patsy Brophy asks prayers for her friend Marilyn Bright who had surgery this week for a mass in her abdomen ... Brian Pannell’s aunt, Marsha Williams, was injured in a fall and is improving ... Cooper Albright will have his fourth blood test soon ... Larry Albright will have cataract surgery this week ... Carter Thomas asks prayers for his grandma because she has cancer ... Bob & Joan Tisdel ask prayers for safe travel and for them to be good examples and show the Lord’s love to all they meet ... The Roach Family – Becky has gone to Bellevue, WA to begin a new job.  Nick and the boys will remain here until school is over or until God opens doors for a job for Nick ... For our President and all of our military men, women and families.

 

****Prayer Meeting  – We will have a Prayer Meeting next Wednesday, January 26, at 6:30 p.m. in the auditorium.  We have so many ill and injured within our West Main family and extended families and friends that we want to come together and lift them up in prayer.  Please join us. ****

 

 

Holm Family Donations – Many are asking how they can help the Holm’s with the costs of traveling and medical care that are mounting from Branson’s tragic accident.  If you want to help, we ask that you simply write a check to the church.  It is VERY IMPORTANT that you include a note with it that says, “Please apply to the Benevolence Fund.” This CANNOT be on the check memo line and must be a separate check.  Thank you.  If you have any questions please see Brian Pannell.

** If you would like to send cards to the Holm’s you may send them to:

Flagstaff Medical Center

1200 N Beaver

Flagstaff, AZ 86001

Attn: ICU North / Branson Holm 1015

 

Mexico Mission Fundraiser Dinner / Auction will be held on Saturday, February 5, at 6:00 p.m. in the Fireside Room.  Please contact Valda Newton if you can donate auction items or want to volunteer to bring food items.  Thank you for your support of our Mexico Mission work.

 

Coffee Servers Needed for 2011– Please sign up on the list posted by the stairs.

 

 

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

Jan 22 Daughters of the King; 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

Jan 26 Prayer Meeting; 6:30 p.m.

Jan 28-29 Men’s Retreat at Little River Christian Camp

Feb 5 Mexico Mission Fundraiser Dinner / Auction; 6:00 p.m.; FSR

Feb 7 Deacons & Ministry Leaders Mtg.; 7:00 p.m.; FSR