March 7, 2012
Y T C O
We live in a competitive culture. People will step all over us in a heartbeat to get to the next level themselves. We see it in every area of life. As followers of Jesus Christ, we are called to rise above this mindset. We are called to carry the burdens of ONE ANOTHER.
“Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself or you also may be tempted. Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” Gal. 6:1-2
A large portion of this text deals with confronting sin. But, I cannot sufficiently cover that in a mere 350 words. SO let’s take a look at what it means to carry each other’s burdens. THIS is one of the greatest duties of God’s church.
There are times when bearing each other’s burden has nothing to do with sin. To bear a burden is to lift ANYTHING that suppresses the spiritual development of a brother/sister. It could be relationships, finances, health, etc. and we are called to minister to all of these.
Many of us wear or have worn bracelets with the letters WWJD. I think as people of the church, we need new bracelets that say YTCO. It stands for
Yours To Call On. That is who are called to be! We are to be here for one another, ready to be called on at any time! This is who Paul is calling us to be.
This week, let’s look at one another and say, “I am yours to call on. I am here to help carry your burdens!” This is a BIG responsibility guys. This is MUCH more than confession we see in the movies. I LOVE the act of confession, just not the method used in Catholic churches! A parish priest sits hidden in a dark confessional anonymously and listens to an anonymous confession. Then he leaves the stranger with no real help other than “pray a few prayers and come again soon.” He extracts repentance, but offers NO HELP. No burdens are shared! This is NOT carrying one another's burdens.
This is not the way God called us to do it! Members of God's kingdom go to each other. We find the ones in trouble instead of waiting for them to come, and we gently begin restoration and then we carry their load! THIS IS THE LAW OF JESUS! This is the church that we will be!
-- Pannell
DEATH: AN UNWELCOME GUEST
Recently, I was listening to a panel of commentators who represented themselves as coming from a Christian perspective speak on the issue of death. One commentator made the following observation: “Death is a part of life and we need to welcome it into life, and not think of it as something evil imposed upon us.”
Death is certainly a part of life we experience in this world. Yet, to say that death is not something imposed upon us, but something we welcome as just a “fact of life” is as naïve and as it is ignorant. Consider for a moment the entire biblical account from Genesis to Revelation is the story of how death for humanity is anything but a part of the life God intended for us. The words of Genesis could not be more adamant on death being a punishment imposed upon us:
“By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground, since from it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you will return . . . . And the LORD God said, “The man has now become like one of us, knowing good and evil. He must not be allowed to reach out his hand and take also from the tree of life and eat, and live forever” (Gen 3:19, 22).
The New Testament on the other hand is the account of how God redeems us from death. The Hebrew writer is explicit when he says, “Since the children have flesh and blood, [Jesus] too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death-- that is, the devil-- and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death” (Heb 2:14-15).
If death is something imposed upon us and not what God intended for humanity, then how do we explain death as something as being “welcomed” by the Apostle Paul who said, “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far” (Philippians 1:21-23)?
Death can be welcomed by Christians because Jesus Christ has brought us life! In other words, we do not welcome death because it is a part of life, but we welcome death because we have a greater life in Christ. Furthermore, the life in Christ we share as Christians is what comforts us when we lose to death those who die in faith. We know that in Jesus death does not have the last word, but rather we will be re-united with those we love who love Christ (1 Thess 4:13ff).
The truth of the matter is that death is never welcomed, but rather death can be defeated and overcome in Jesus Christ. Without Jesus, death is an unwelcomed guest, enslaver, and the greatest evil in the world. Thank God for Jesus Christ!
30 Hour Famine -- Please support, encourage and pray for our teens during this 30 hour famine. Here are some ways you can help:
1. Pray for the effort to be a true blessing to them and that their fundraising efforts will help children worldwide.
2. Volunteer. Come join us this weekend (March 9-10). We will be at the church building Friday night and much of Saturday. We need volunteers to help with our teens during the lock-in at the building.
3. Give. Just $30 can help feed and care for a child for a month. Please make your check payable to West Main Church of Christ or to World Vision. Please put your contribution in a separate envelope and mark it for the 30 Hour Famine.
NOTE: Due to the 30 Hour Famine Friday and Saturday and the Elders’ Open House on Sunday afternoon, there will be NO Youth Cell Group this Sunday night.
Vacation Bible School is just around the corner!!!! It will take place the week of June 25th. Therefore, the time has arrived to begin plans for a great week for our kids and the kids in the community around us.
How can you help? Meet with us on Sunday, March 18, at 4:00 p.m. in the Fireside Room. Come and help us plan and put it all into motion. Please see Denise Beeks if you have any questions.
Elders Open House -- You are invited to come join us for an Elders’ Open House on Sunday afternoon, March 11, from 2:00-4:00 p.m. You are invited to visit the homes of Dan and Denise Beeks, Larry and Wydie Denn, and Ron and Sally Zielke. We will have maps to their homes on that Sunday for your convenience.
Prayer Requests and Praises . . . Remember our shut-ins: Sharon Englert, Katherine Martin and Jackie Riley ... David Mayes asks prayers for Cora & Barbara Sawyer, Herman, Brandy Duckworth, D’ette Long, and for himself to be more like Christ .. Moe and Nancy Miller request prayers for their mom, Jessie Simmons, who has kidney cancer ... Larry and Lynn Albright thank you for all your prayers for their family - Cooper is in good health and they were able to secure a RV spot in the Dayton RV park beginning June 1 ... Mark Moreno requests your prayers for a co-worker’s daughter, Karisa, who has a brain aneurism and also for their son, Dalton, for a good X-Ray on his arm ... For safe travel for all of our families who are going to Mexico during Spring Vacation ... For our President and all of our military men, women and families.
Our Sympathy is extended to the family of Helen Magee who passed away this past Saturday. Helen had been one of our shut-ins and hadn’t been able to attend for a number of years. Please remember her family in prayer. Her service will be held on Saturday, March 17, at 1:00 p.m. at the New Beginnings Church located at 5889 Hwy 62, Medford. Helen was 99 years old.
Thank You Note -- I am happy to be a part of this family. You are great and wonderful. I ask God to bless each of you. I appreciate you. Thank you again so much. Connie Kennedy
Mar 9-10: 30 Hour Famine
March 25 & April 1: No Children’s Worship Due to Spring Break
Mar 11: Daylight Savings Time Begins. Please turn your clocks ahead
one hour before you go to bed on Saturday night.
