West Main

 

WHOM DOES IT SERVE?

 

Hopefully you have noticed the posters and heard the announcements about our upcoming seminar entitled, Jesus at the Crossroads of Faith and Social Media. A crossroad is a point of intersection between two roads heading in different directions. What happens when the path of faith in Jesus and the path of social media intersect?

 

 

Starting on Friday evening January 25^th and running through the weekend we will gather to discuss the impact our faith in Jesus and our use of social media are having on one another. By social media we mean things like Facebook, Twitter, texting, Instagram, Cinemagram, Linkedin, and Google. Our focus will be primarily on how various social technologies are changing the way we think, socialize, and yes, even worship.

 

 

Even if your use of social media is little to non-existent you need to come to this seminar. The obvious truth of the matter is that our world economy, culture, and even the physiology of our brains are being impacted by the pervasive presence of social media technology. Do we as individual Christians and even more importantly as the body of Christ have anything to say about such a powerful societal, physiological, and cultural power? Do we as a church stand silently at such a powerful intersection of culture and the gospel? I think not.

 

 

As the Church of Christ we have a moral, spiritual, and biblical obligation to speak the truth of Christ to power. For instance, Jesus says, “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money” (Matthew 6:24). Money is a power. Now money may appear as just an object or tool and so we often say, “Money is neither good nor evil, people who use money are good or evil.” Yet our Lord and Savior begs to differ about our thinking concerning money as simply an inanimate object. Money is an object that claims to master us like God would be our master. People worship money like Christians worship God. Money is not a neutral object but an idol seeking our submission.

 

 

If Jesus were to give the Sermon on the Mount today, I wonder if he would not say, “You cannot serve God and social media.” Does not social media demand constant contact as the Lord commands us to “pray without ceasing” (1 Thess 5:17)? Do not many in our society feel they could not live without their cell phones as we cannot live without God? If you doubt such notions, then try and take a cell phone away from a teenage girl (not that I have any experience with that…smile).

 

 

The power of an idol is to fool you into thinking it is neither good nor evil but all in how you choose to use it. The deception of an idol rests in the fact that once you begin to use it, then it begins to use you. The master becomes the tool and the tool becomes the master as we can no longer “live without it.” All of creation is charged with the meaning, power and presence of God. Therefore, nothing that human beings, made in the image of God, create is to be left untouched by His will and Word. Social media technology is the creation of humanity. The question is whom does it serve? Come to the seminar January 25-27 and discover the answer with us.

 

– Terry

 

 

 

 

 

“YOU’LL NEVER BE SORRY”

 

I was only an eighteen year old college freshman. I just stepped from the baptistry dressing room, my hair still wet from my “burial” with Christ. Dozens of people I didn’t know were shaking my hand and congratulating me. Looking back on it, many of the impressions – the faces and words – are blurred by time.

 

One person and his words are not blurred. He was an aged man, many years an elder in the church. He shook my hand warmly and said, “You’ll never be sorry for what you’ve just done.”

 

I needed to hear that, because at that moment, frankly, I wasn’t really sure. It had been a difficult decision. Some of my dearest loved ones and friends weren’t happy about my choice. But here was this frail figure who’d been through it all, telling me I’d never be sorry.

 

He was right. That was twenty years ago last week, and being in Christ means more to me every year. And if I’m never sorry in this life, can you imagine how thrilled and thankful I’ll be in eternity?

 

Perhaps you’ve contemplated your own obedience to Christ, but have hesitated. Maybe you aren’t sure it’s the right thing. Let me pass on some words of wisdom, tested by experience – you’ll never be sorry you did the Lord’s will, and that you have the hope of life everlasting.

 

Go ahead, my friend. There aren’t many things in life that carry that kind of guarantee.

 

Tommy South

Richmond, Virginia

(From the Files)

 

 

 

Directory Photos  --  If your photo was not in our 2012 directory and you would like to be included in our upcoming 2013 directory, please contact Sandra Cummings to schedule an appointment for your photo to be taken in January. Photos will be taken after Sunday morning services.

 

 

Hilltopper Meeting  --  We want to invite all Hilltoppers (our members who are sixty years or older) to a meeting, Sunday, January 27^th, following morning services in the Fireside Room. Please bring a sack lunch.   We encourage all Hilltoppers to come join us for this important meeting.

 

 

Coffee Servers are needed for 2013. If you can help, please sign up on the sheet posted by the stairs in the front entryway. Thanks! :)

 

 

Nursery Help Needed  -- We are staffing our Nursery for 2013. If you are able to help on a Sunday during worship services, please contact Diane Liles to volunteer.

 

 

Prayer Requests . . . For Lillian Casebier who is in Hearthstone, Room 56, recovering from some broken ribs...The Liles family requests your prayers for Nick, Danielle and family as they travel to visit family. Nick’s next duty station will be at Fort Lewis, WA...Britney Livingston asks prayers for her uncle, Russell Kelton, not to have lung cancer and for safe travel for her uncle, Johnny Kelton, who is moving to Colorado. We want to wish Johnny all of God’s blessings in his new home...For Mia Witt, granddaughter of Mel and Mary Hamilton, and the niece of Jessie and Brian Pannell, who had surgery today. Her gall bladder and duct with cyst was removed. Her liver is ok...David Mayes requests prayers for his friends, Cora, Barbara, and Brandi, and that he might be a Christlike example to them...Jenn Newcombe requests prayers for her mother’s depression and for guidance for her brother, Jay. Also, prayers for their family as they rebuild their home as a result of their recent house fire...For our President and all of our military men, women and families.

 

 

 

Special Contribution  -- Due to Doyle Fenley’s special circumstances, the Elders would like to ask you to prayerfully consider how you might help his mother and sister with his final expenses. We will have a special collection this Sunday, January 20, to help with this. Thank you.

 

 

January 25-27: Faith & Social Media Seminar

 

January 27: Hilltopper Meeting in the Fireside Room Following Morning Worship