West Main

 

FIT  TO  RUN  AN  ETERNAL  RACE

 

Note how the Apostle Paul compares physical training to our spiritual training:

 

 

“Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified” (1 Cor 9:25-27).

 

 

“For while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come” (1 Tim 4:8).

 

 

Paul makes such a simple comparison between physical training and our spiritual training that comes down to a common denominator: exercise! Just as athletes must exercise their physical muscles to compete, so we must exercise our spiritual “muscles” to grow in faith. Like a muscle, faith will atrophy (grow weak) if not exercised. Therefore spiritual disciplines in our lives are a fundamental necessity. Our faith must be worked in such disciplines as prayer, fasting, the Word of God, and fellowship to mention just a few.

 

 

Since spiritual disciplines are absolutely necessary for our faith, why then do we generally seem to have such a difficult time exercising our spiritual disciplines? Like physical exercise we seem to struggle to be consistent and maintain a routine of spiritual disciplines. For instance, I have a membership at a health club that when I first joined I used religiously. Now however, I find myself feeling guilty because I have fallen out of the practice of going routinely. I often have an internal conversation with myself where I berate myself for paying for a membership I am not using. I say to myself, “You are wasting your money, Terry, so just quit already.” My lack of discipline in physical exercise seems to overtake me quickly. I miss a couple of times and then it seems like I am ready to completely give up. Yet I assure you I always have valid reasons for not going to work out! “I am too tired, I have more important things to do, I need a break,” and “I do not have time” are just a few of my legitimate excuses (smile).

 

 

In a similar way we can give up quickly on spiritual exercises. We might miss a few worship services, not read Scripture for a couple of days, or forget to pray daily, and before we know it we find ourselves ready to give up our Christian walk. Notice I did not say, “Give up on our faith in God,” but our “Christian walk.” Just like when I fail to physically work out, I still believe in the value of working out, so we may give up exercising spiritual disciplines, but still hold to our belief in God. Yet like the shortfall in working out physically will have consequences for what I can do in the body, so the shortfall in exercising spiritual disciplines will have consequences for my relationship to God. The book of Hebrews warns that if we do not grow in our faith beyond elementary teachings, then we are susceptible to trials that can overwhelm our faith to persevere (Heb 6:1-12). A marathon runner who only jogs a half-a-mile once a week will not be able to compete in a marathon of twenty-five miles. We are in a “race” for an eternal reward, and while Jesus’ victory on the cross has won the race for us, how we experience this race of faith will depend on how disciplined we are in our spiritual exercises. I imagine a runner who trains for a twenty-five mile race daily has a far more enriching experience of running that race than a runner who hardly trains at all. Let us train to be fit to run an eternal race, so we may more fully enjoy the course Christ has laid out for us (Heb 12:1-2).

– Terry

 

 

 

THE BIBLE IS LIKE AN ANVIL

 

 

Last eve I passed beside a blacksmith’s door

And heard the anvil ring the vesper chime;

When looking in, I saw upon the floor,

Old hammers worn with beating years of time.

 

“How many anvils have you had,” said I,

“To wear and batter all these hammers so?”

“Just one,” said he; then said with twinkling eye,

“The anvil wears the hammer out, you know.”

 

And so, I thought, the anvil of God’s word

For ages skeptics’ blows have beat upon;

Yet, though the noise of falling blows was heard,

The anvil is unharmed – the hammers are gone.

 

Bulletin Digest (From the Files)

 

 

 

Our Anniversary Sunday is this Sunday, October 28^th. Please invite your friends and former members as we celebrate Sixty-Two Years as a church family. We will have a potluck luncheon following the morning services. Please bring lots of your favorite potluck dishes to share with our guests.

 

 

Blanket Tying Party  --  Please come join us for a Blanket Tying Party on Wednesday, November 7, at 6:30 p.m. in the Fireside Room. Please bring your scissors. These blankets are given out to the pediatric unit at RVMC during the holiday season. Please contact Wyndee Thomas if you need more information.

 

 

 

Prayer Vigil and Fasting , November 17-18  --  Our prayer time will be from 9:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m. on November 17. Our Fasting time will be from 9:00 a.m. on Saturday to 8:00 a.m. on Sunday, November 18. We will break our fast with breakfast at the building at 8:00 a.m. on November 18.

 

 

Prayer Concert December 1 -- More details to come.

 

 

Christmas Program  --  Our annual Christmas Program this year is scheduled for December 16, at 5:30 p.m. Our theme this year is “God’s Gift of Jesus to Us.” We will be presenting our program in the format of “West Main’s Got Talent” in which all members, young and old, are invited to participate. Please be thinking about how you can share and bless us with your talent. Some suggestions are singing, drama presentations, poems, scripture readings, memorization, prayer, skits, etc. Please come prepared to share your ideas or talents at our first meeting/try-out at 4:30 p.m. on November 11 in the auditorium. Posters and sign-up sheets will be available this Sunday. Please contact Christi Olson or Wyndee Thomas for further details. Christi will be available this Sunday to answer any questions that you might have. Our rehearsal dates are scheduled for December 2^nd and 9^th at 4:00 p.m. in the auditorium.

 

Christian Relief Fund  --  Now is the time that we need to start collecting extra funds for our “adopted children” for their Christmas presents.   Please be generous as the donation can is passed around during our class time OR you may write a check and place it in an envelope marked CRF. Thank you so much for all that you do for our children - it is greatly appreciated.   :)

 

 

 

Prayer Requests . . . For Billie Kay Barnett as she recovers from hip surgery...For EEthel Flock who is still having health issues and is in RVMC...For Matthew York who is in the rehab unit at RVMC - no visitors yet, but he would appreciate your cards, phone calls and continued prayers for his complete recovery...For Mike Eddy - please pray for his complete recovery...For the brother of Becky Anderson, Gary Keaton, who is having surgery this week to remove skin cancer from his nose...For the nephew of Charlie Anderson, Ronnie Huss, who will be having surgery for prostate problems...For a friend of John Ivey, Rich, whose cancer was downgraded to phase 2. Also, Rich has created a non-profit organization, Sea-Mercy, to bring health care to an island in the South Pacific.   Please pray for his dream to become a reality...For our President and all of our military men, women and families.

 

 
 

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

Oct 28: Anniversary Sunday

Nov 7: Blanket Tying Party; 6:30 p.m.; FSR

Nov 11: Meeting/Try-Out for Christmas Program; 4:30 p.m.; Auditorium

Nov 17-18: Prayer Vigil and Fasting

Dec 1: Prayer Concert