The Champions Spirit
Volume 68, Issue 48
Dec. 6, 2009
In This Issue
“Hurry”
Everywhere we look it seems, in the stores, the parking lots, and on the roads and highways, we see the same sight—people in a hurry. While in one sense “hurry” is a normal part of life (in the middle of working on this, I had an appointment, then car trouble, and even in hurrying was late!). Yet, at this time of the year the level of “hustle and bustle”—and hurrying—goes off the charts!
We should take a moment to be sure that we aren’t part of the crowd that has hurry as a central part of their lifestyle. Hurry and buy something, hurry and give it away. Hurry here. Hurry there. Hurry home. Hurry, hurry, hurry...
May hurry not be the “name of the game” in our lives! There is a time to slow down. There is a time to “stop and smell the roses.” There is a time to “be still” and know God. There is a time to spend time, real time with family and friends and say, “I love you.” Let’s learn to slow down. Let’s learn not only to “take” time, but to “use” it wisely. (Eph. 5:15-16) Let’s learn to spend life wisely and that we needn’t always be in such a Hurry.
—Larry Keele
FAMILY MATTERS...
Our guests are always welcome to the services of the church of Christ in Champions. We hope that you will be uplifted in your walk with God through our worship experience. If you have any questions, or if there is some way we can be of help to you, please indicate that on your visitor’s card that you can place in the offering plate when it is passed around. We are so glad that you have come!
Our prayers are with Joshua and Lauren Freeman as they asked for the prayers of the church in their behalf last Sunday. We pray that both will find the strength and comfort through the Lord and His people as they continue to face the various stresses of life.
Your generosity was once again clearly seen in the way you responded to the gifts for the children who are in the care of Arms of Hope. The gifts you so freely gave will brighten the lives of precious children. God will bless you for your generosity!
There are so many “extra-curricular” activities this month! Isn’t it wonderful to see the expressions of love and care that are so obvious! It is great to be a part of the Lord’s family and, particularly here at Champions.
One of those great “extra-curriculars” is our Progressive Dinner. This process of visiting in the homes of members for appetizers and salads, then meeting with everyone else at the building is always great fun. While it is great fun for all, there are some who put in a great amount of work! Thanks to Jeanie Kuehl, Anita Keetch, and others for putting this together for the rest of us!
Just a reminder! Next year, we will be reading the Bible, basically “from cover to cover.” One of the resources you will want to have is a durable copy of a good translation of the Bible for your daily readings. What a resource you will have at the end of the year as you read through (and made notations, etc.)! It will be a treasure that you (and perhaps generations to come) will treasure.
HAVE A BLESSED WEEK!
Jeremy's Junction
On Saturday the 5th, several of our teens and adults got together at my house to play Marvel Monopoly. You have probably noticed the announcements the last couple of weeks in the teen news, and might have even thought to yourself, "What is that crazy youth minister up to now?" Marvel Monopoly is a game that several of our teens, college students, and adults have helped develop over the past couple of years. Using lead figurines from the comic book store and an actual Marvel Comics themed playing board, we developed our own rule book which is about 32 pages long. If you have played the game or seen it played then you know how extensive the game is. One match typically last 5-7 hours. It is a lot of fun and provides a great opportunity for fellowship.
As you can tell, we have some very creative people in the youth group. One of things we have been talking about comes from Philipians 2:4. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.
A part of being a Christian who strives for unity is being someone who looks into other people interests. Whether someone is interested in comic books and games, football, baseball, basketball, movies, video games, ice skating, bowling, Bible bowl, fishing, camping, knitting, reading books, mathematics, science, drama, shopping, etc., when we look to their interests and fellowship with them in their activities it creates and strengthens our bonds with these people. Never act like you don't care when others are sharing some interest about which they are passionate. Sometimes, for the sake of unity, we have to do things with people that may not interest us. And who knows? We might even discover some new interests ourselves.
Challenge yourself to learn about other people's interests. Find people who enjoy your interests as well. Find more ways to fellowship with each other and learn about each others lives. Use your interests to serve God and His church.
Phil 2:1-4.
If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.
—Jeremy Geurin
John's Jogs
EVEN IN MAYBERRY
The Andy Griffith Show is a popular American sitcom first televised by CBS between October 3, 1960, and April 1, 1968. The show continues to be shown in syndication today. In the series Andy Griffith portrays a widowed sheriff in the fictional small community of Mayberry, North Carolina. His life is complicated – often in a humorous and entertaining way – by an inept but well-meaning deputy, Barney Fife (Don Knotts), a spinster aunt and housekeeper, Aunt Bee (Frances Bavier), and a young son, Opie (Ron Howard), and other residents of Mayberry.
The inspiration for the fictional town of Mayberry is Mt. Airy, North Carolina, Andy’s home town. Due to the success and notoriety of the television show, “Mayberry” has been used as a term for both idyllic small town life and for rural simplicity (for both good and ill).
Mt. Airy, North Carolina, recently made headline news. The headline read:
“Man charged with killing 4 in Mayberry Model Town.”
On Sunday, November 1, four men were murdered in Mt. Airy. They were shot in the shadow of a water tower that says “welcome to Mount Airy” and has a picture of Griffith and “Opie.”
Steve Higginbotham laments that in incidences such as these, we face the harsh reality that even the “town that is supposed to be the model of ‘small town America,’ is not immune from the influences of the world.” The truth is that none of the cities and town of the world – as well as the lives of their inhabitants – is exempt from problems.
The GREATEST problem in the world is SIN. Sin separates us from God and from all that is good, right and holy. Everyone in the world has sinned: “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).
But the GOOD NEWS of the gospel is that God loved us so much that He gave His one and only Son, Jesus, to die on the cross for our sins (John 3:16). In His death, Jesus paid the price for our redemption from sin (Eph. 1:7). Through Jesus we can be saved from our sins by trusting in Him and confessing His name, repenting of our sins and being buried with Him in baptism to rise and walk in a new life.
People all over the world have a problem with sin – even in Mayberry! But everyone in the world has the opportunity to be saved in Christ. Jesus will save those who trust and obey Him.
“Living Water” (e-mail)
—John Qualls