West Main

 

 

What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has not deeds?  Can such faith save him?  Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food.  If one of you says to him, “Go I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it?  In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead, But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.”  Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do.  James 2:14-18

This has long been one of my favorite passages in my favorite book of the Bible.  Our brother Charlie Michael gave a stirring lesson at the Men’s Retreat, using this verse and many more, pointing out the importance of living out our faith in this world.  When reading the word of God, we were reminded that it is VERY clear that we are called to LIVE faith.  It is not a “spectator sport.”  We are called to show HIS love by loving others.  It was very convicting.

As I pondered the message that day I realized something.  I realized that we are a church full of “good deeds.”  It would take no effort to find these.  You would find the efforts of Safe Harbor.  You would see the efforts of those who build homes each year in Mexico.  You’d see youth serving underprivileged kids in the city.  You’d see our C.I.A. painting homes and repairing fences.  You’d see widows being helped.  The list goes on and on.  And these are just the things we know of!

I’ve heard stories of you guys dropping groceries on someone’s porch, anonymously paying another’s bills, and sacrificing hours to help folks unpack, move, etc.  And of course, any time a crisis presents itself, you all show up with love, money and support!

Thank you for being a family who shows their faith through their good works.  I am proud to work and serve beside you.  I look forward to a new year full of good deeds and faith!

– Pannell

 

 

 

 

And Who is My Enemy?

In the well-known biblical text concerning the Good Samaritan, an expert in the Mosaic Law seeking self-justification responds to Jesus’ command to “love your neighbor as yourself,” by asking, “And who is my neighbor?” (Luke 10:25-37). The answer in light of this famous parable is the one who shows mercy to you is your neighbor (10:37). The point of the parable is clear: when laying in a ditch, injured and helpless, your definition of “neighbor” will be quite wide and inclusive.

In a similar way, the command to “love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you” (Matt 5:44), prompts us to ask like the expert in the law, “And who is my enemy?” After all, how can one actually love an enemy? Like the expert in the law, we would seek to temper or restrict the radicalness of God’s commands to love enemies as well as neighbors. God’s command seems to ask too much of us. If I love an enemy, will I not become a victim? Will I not be exposing myself to harm? Will not my enemy take advantage of me? Enemies are to be defeated, not loved!

Jesus defines for us what he means by enemy in the context of Matthew chapter five. An enemy is in part defined as: those who revile us, persecute us, say evil things about us, lie about us, an adversary, and inflict injustice upon us (Matthew 5:11-25). Now you might well be saying to yourself, “There is no way I can be that perfect in love toward enemies!” If that is what you are thinking, then you are absolutely correct. You cannot be perfect in loving an enemy. Jesus says, “Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect” (5:48). The ability to love an enemy is not inherent within us, but is a power enabled within us by the fruit of the Holy Spirit (Gal 5:22). In other words, we need a love that is greater than what our human lived experience alone is capable of giving.

The ability to love our enemies is also rooted in the love God has demonstrated to all the world. Jesus tells us that God’s love for enemies is witnessed in how he “causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends his rain on the righteous and the unrighteous” (Matt 5:45). The Gospel of John speaks of how “God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” (3:16). Paul tells us how “God demonstrates his own love for us in this: while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Rom 5:8). Paul also reminds us that “God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions” (Eph 2:4-5). And who can forget Jesus’ cry from the cross as he is being crucified by his enemies: “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing” (Lk 23:34).

Since we have been shown such Divine love, how can we not love even our enemies, as God loved us while we were his enemies? Perhaps we would be helped in loving our enemies if we understood that such love does not annul the judgment of God on violence and evil. Scripture is clear that those who refuse to repent will be held accountable (see the book of Revelation). Thus, our present mission as God’s children is to convert the hostility of our enemies by the indiscriminate love of God. The question is, do we know how much we were God’s enemies, and just how much love God has shown and continues to show us? The question that began this short article is: “And who is my enemy?” The answer is: Whom do you love as God loves you? Such love turns enemies into family. I pray you love your enemies, so that the family of God at West Main will continue to grow with more and more of God’s children being added daily.

– Terry

 

 

 

 

 

 

2011  CHURCH  DIRECTORY

* Photos  – Sandra Cummings is now taking pictures for our directory of all our new members or families that have had babies this past year.  Please contact Sandra set up your appointment.

 

* Listings  – Please proof your directory listing posted in the hallway by the stairs.  Make any necessary changes or initial if all is correct.  If you would like your cell phone number or email address to be printed, please add them. *If your name is not on the printout, there is a sheet next to the listing for you to write down your information.

 

*Prayer Chain  – For those who would like to be added to or removed from the prayer chain, please check the listing posted by the directory.

 

 

 

Upcoming Seminars: Please mark your calendars for the “Personal Holiness and Spiritual Development Seminar” that is scheduled to begin on February 26^th. We will be begin with dinner at 5:30 p.m. (dinner is being prepared by Thadd Flock) in the Fireside Room.  Class, taught by Truman Scott, will begin at 6:15 p.m. Be watching for more details to come!

 

Our “Spiritual Disciplines Seminar” that was scheduled for February 11-13 has been postponed until a later date.

 

 

 

Prayer Requests and Praises . . .

 

Ed Way’s cancer can be controlled indefinitely with medication and does not require surgery or chemo at this time.  Thank you for all your prayers ... Cooper Albright’s blood test results were not good. He will head back to NYC for more tests, scans and possible treatments.  Good news  – he has no further hearing loss and does not need new hearing aids ... 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 ... The Burchett’s friend, Jo, is cancer free!  What a miracle after being told she wouldn’t survive the cancer or the chemo! ... Vicki Pearman is still not feeling well.  Pray the doctors can find out what is wrong ... Charlie Anderson’s sister, Gayle Stuart, had surgery this week.  Pray for a complete healing ...  Don & Alice Sweet’s nephew, Adam Bradfield, has terminal cancer.  He is 21 years old ...  The daughter of Colleen Abbott’s co-worker had a miscarriage.  Please pray for the family, as they are having a hard time ... Nancy Van De Hey asks prayers for her husband, who is ill and had surgery to remove half of his foot.  Please pray for his health and recovery ... Jean asks prayers for Sheldon Derr, who needs our love and prayers ... The Keltons ask prayers for their friend, Jesse, who was in a rollover accident and is not doing well ... Eva Loy Knight’s grandson, Forrest, as he leaves for a four month trip to Europe ... The Denns ask prayers for Travis, who will be in Africa for two weeks.  Please pray for safety and a successful trip ...  Hilda Hackworth has a very aggressive leukemia and her time is short.  Please pray for her and her family during this time ... Our President and all of our military men, women, and families.

 

 

 

MEXICO MISSION FUNDRAISER DINNER & AUCTION  will be held this 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.  Our mission trip is scheduled for March 19-26.

 

 

Deacons / Ministry Leaders Meeting is scheduled for Monday, February 7, at 7:00 p.m. in the Fireside Room.  Please make plans to attend.

 

 

Coffee Servers Needed for 2011  – You have your choice of months!  This is a great way to see and visit with a lot of our members each week.

 

 

Safe Harbor is in need of plastic grocery bags.  Please bring them to the kitchen or give them to Gloria Way.

 

 

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

 

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

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

Feb 19 Daughters of the King

Feb 26 Personal Holiness and Spiritual Development Seminar Begins