The Champions Spirit
Volume 69, Issue 16
April 25, 2010
In This Issue
Always a Time!
The Preacher of Ecclesiastes begins what we know as the third chapter with these words, "There is an appointed time for everything, and there is a time for every event under heaven." You know the basic thrust of the rest of the passage, don't you? A time to give birth, a time to die. A time to plant and a time to pull up the plants. A time for everything. There are some things, however, that are always the right time. Last Sunday, was a great illustration of one of them.
The event was golf. While the sport might not appeal to everyone, the events of this day should. After three trying days of competition, the field had been narrowed down to two men. One was Jim Furyk, a name that even most casual observers of the game would recognize. The other was Brian Davis. Brian who? Brian Davis. Brian Davis, the golfer. Brian Davis, the Englishman, now from Florida. Well, after the events of last Sunday, I hope his name becomes a household word as parents teach their children to follow his example.
Davis and Furyk had played the regulation holes of the golf tournament. As they would continue to play to determine who would win the million dollar first prize, Davis hit a ball that bounced off the edge of the green and into an area of grass, leaves, and twigs. He hit that ball out of the rough, and would have had a chance to continue. The thing is, he thought he saw something on the ground move on his backswing. Wasn't sure...but thought he did. Moving an "impediment" during the backswing is against the rules and invokes a two shot penalty. Now get this....Davis thought he might have seen something move. He immediately asked for an official and told him what he thought he had seen. TV replays were checked. A slight movement of a twig...so slight it was only captured on slow-motion...occurred. Davis called the penalty on himself and conceded the match—and its first place prize money—to Furyk.
Honesty. Honesty in a day when often the rules are bent if not broken and then bragged about! Honesty to call a penalty that no one saw. The thing was, Brian Davis saw it—and that was enough. Such outstanding courage, such outstanding honesty—surely this action by Brian Davis is a great example for all of us, young and old. The Scripture says that it is the "good and honest heart" in which the Word can impact. Luke 8:15. Honesty ought to be a trait that we as Christians are known for. Honesty—not only the best policy, but a quality for which there be Always A Time.
—Larry Keele
FAMILY MATTERS...
We welcome you to today's services of the church of Christ in Champions! If you are visiting with us, please complete one of our visitor's cards and place it in the offering plate when it is passed. We are thankful for your visit.
While our "60%" chance of rain turned into 100% for our Sunday day at the park last week, it didn't put a damper on the spirit of those who were able to attend. Considering the storm, we had an outstanding attendance and an outstanding day! What is the old saying—April showers bring May flowers? God's world is wonderful—sunshine or rain!
Thanks to all who took the time and made the effort to invite their family and friends to our "Friend Day." There is no greater way of exhibiting true friendship than in sharing Christ!
Look at the Book: 2 Kings
Parting Thought: If we can't be thankful for what we receive, we should be thankful for what we escape! 
Jeremy's Junction
What a wonderful time to be a Christian! Well, everyday is a great time to be Christian, but I am thinking more of the many encouraging moments our youth group has experienced in the past few weeks. Our Lithuania mission team preparation retreat last weekend was a big success, and we all had a great time feasting with the congregation under the rain this past Sunday! Wednesday night, Kevin Dean did an amazing job leading the class discussion on Hebrews 10 and really showing his heart for scripture! A sophomore who was just baptized last summer while at Uplift, Kevin had never led a group discussion before. I can't wait to see what great things God will help him accomplish next!
Also, April 30-May 2nd is our youth group retreat. For several who are about to be in 7th grade or are new members to our group, this will be the first youth group trip they attend. This retreat is focused on looking at the ministries of Peter and the other apostles in Acts in light of Jesus' ministry on earth and the "growing pains" the apostles had to experience before they matured into the spiritual giants they became! We have some major events and classes planned that we pray will be a huge spiritual boost to our teens and all involved. Please dedicate yourselves to prayer for us that weekend--that God moves through everyone present and that Satan stays away!
Please keep us all in your prayers as we continue to work hard and seek first His kingdom. Summer is around the corner and we are looking forward to many opportunities to grow in the Lord.
"And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints. Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel" (Ephesians 6:18-19).
—Jeremy Geurin
John's Jogs
Bible Basics #12
We can't leave the Kings without mentioning two prophets – Elijah in 1 Kings and Elisha in 2 Kings. Elijah had a constant battle with evil King Ahab and his more evil wife Jezebel. His ultimate confrontation occurred with 400 Baal priests when they each built an altar and called on their gods to bring fire on their altar. Elijah's alter was burned and even consumed the water around it. 2 Kings reveals Elijah as an aged prophet turning the mantle over to Elisha and is then caught up in a fiery chariot. Elisha operated mightily for God in 2 Kings.
In closing out the Bible section of history we turn to Ezra, Nehemiah and Esther. In the days of Cyrus, King of Persia, he said, "The Lord, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth and he has appointed me to build a temple for him at Jerusalem in Judea." Zerubbabel led 42,360 plus 7,330 servants to return back to Jerusalem to build the temple that history refers to as Zerubbabel's Temple. This group had been turned over to the Persians by the Babylonians. Years later Ezra as the priest led 1,754 back to Jerusalem to rebuild the people.
In the twentieth year of Artaxerxes Nehemiah approached the king with a sad face. When the king asked why the sad face, Nehemiah responded that he had heard that his homeland lay in shambles. The king commissioned him as governor to return with materials and funds to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. In the seventh month after the Israelites were settled in their towns, all the people assembled as one man in the square, Ezra the scribe read the Law of Moses which the Lord had commanded for Israel. Then Nehemiah the governor, Ezra the scribe and the Levites who were instructing the people said to them all, "This day is sacred to the Lord, do not mourn nor weep."
The book of Esther is simply the story of a beautiful young Jewish girl who under the guidance of her "father figure" uncle who raised her became the Queen of Persia and saved her people from the first attempt at eliminating all Jews. Evil Haman persuaded the king to give him permission to exterminate a people who were his enemies. Mordecai, Esther's uncle, discovered the plot and told Esther. She made her own plans and turned the tide on Haman. Where he built a scaffold to hang Mordecai, he was hanged on it himself. This event became the "Feast of Purim" and continues among Jews today. This took place in the same general time period as Ezra - Nehemiah.
This ends the "History Books" of the Bible. Next: Prophets
A special thanks to Justin Sammons for writing my article last week and for all that he did to help with Bible Bowl this year.
—John Qualls
Attendance Goals for Bible Class that were met:
| Goal | Achieved | |
|---|---|---|
| Nursery | 10 | 11 |
| Junior High | 17 | 24 |
Bible Readers:
Auditorium 32 out of 100