Rejoice

“I rejoice in the Lord, I delight, gladden myself in Him; again I say rejoice! I do not fret or have any anxiety about anything, but in every circumstance and everything by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, I continue to make my wants known to God. Then God's peace is mine. I have that quiet state of a mind assured of its salvation through Christ. I fear nothing from God and am content with Gods goals for me in life. I have that peace which goes beyond all human understanding and it guards my heart and mind in Christ Jesus. I think on those things that are true, worthy of reverence, are honorable, and seemly, just, pure, lovely and loveable, kind and winsome and gracious, whatever has virtue and excellence, those things worthy of praise. I think on and weigh and take account of these things. I fix my mind on them. I practice these things and the God of peace is with me.”

Philippians 4:4-9

10 Things You Might Not Know About Me

1. When I was a kid, my favorite movies were Airport, Earth Quake, Towering Inferno and Jaws.

2. In college I was a Psychology Major. Lasted 2 Years.

3. My favorite colors are red and black.

4. When I retire (9 years from now) I want to open a Daylight Donut Shop.

5. I’m a clean freak according to my boys.

6. If I weren’t a school superintendent, I would own a fleet of trash trucks.

7. I grew up on chocolate ice cream, potato chips and pretzels.

8. I went to over 20 schools growing up from coast to coast.

9. Debbie was my high school sweetheart.

10. My dream retirement is a home in the desert and playing golf with Debbie.

Memorial Day

Memorial Day, originally called Decoration Day, is a day of remembrance for those who have died in our nation's service. There are many stories as to its actual beginnings, with over two dozen cities and towns laying claim to being the birthplace of Memorial Day. There is also evidence that organized women's groups in the South were decorating graves before the end of the Civil War: a hymn published in 1867, "Kneel Where Our Loves are Sleeping" by Nella L. Sweet carried the dedication "To The Ladies of the South who are Decorating the Graves of the Confederate Dead".

While Waterloo N.Y. was officially declared the birthplace of Memorial Day by President Lyndon Johnson in May 1966, it's difficult to prove conclusively the origins of the day. It is more likely that it had many separate beginnings; each of those towns and every planned or spontaneous gathering of people to honor the war dead in the 1860's tapped into the general human need to honor our dead, each contributed honorably to the growing movement that culminated in Gen Logan giving his official proclamation in 1868. It is not important who was the very first, what is important is that Memorial Day was established. Memorial Day is not about division. It is about reconciliation; it is about coming together to honor those who gave their all.

I'm thankful for the freedom we have because of the men and women that gave their lives for the United States of America!

Order of Worship

Welcome

23 Our God He is Alive

60 He Is Exalted

286 Wonderful Story of Love

288 Fairest Lord Jesus

Prayer

290 Shine, Jesus, Shine

382 Why did My Savior Come to Earth

Lord's Supper

Offering

122 The Love of God

Lesson

Inv.- 907 Hark the Gentle Voice

Announcements

Closing song- 801 Where No One Stands Alone

Closing prayer

What Must Be The Worshipper's Attitude?

What must be the worshipper’s attitude? Great responsibility has always rested upon the worshiper, in the Old Testament as well as in the New. Not only must one have the right object, but he must have certain attitudes.

First, the True Worshiper Feels the Desire To Worship. “Both young men, and virgins; Old men, and children: Let them praise the name of Jehovah; For his name alone is exalted; His glory is above the earth and the heavens” (Psalm 148:12-13). “These things I remember, and pour out my soul within me, how I went with the throng, and led them to the house of God, With the voice of joy and praise, with a multitude keeping holyday” (Psalm 42:4). David exclaimed, “I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go unto the house of Jehovah” (Psalm 122:1). Man needs to realize his need for His maker and thirst for Him. “As the heart panteth after the water brooks, So panteth my soul after thee, O God. My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God; When shall I come and appear before God” (Psalm 42:1-2)? Job cried, “Oh that I knew where I might find him! That I might come even to his seat” (Job 23:3)!

Second, the True Worshiper Feels Profound Gratitude for the Wonderful Grace of God. He seeks every opportunity to acknowledge his dependence upon God and his awareness that without God’s blessings, he could not live. “O praise Jehovah, all ye nations; Laud him, all ye peoples. For his lovingkindness is great toward us” (Psalm 117:1-2). “What shall I render unto Jehovah for all his benefits toward me” (116:12)? “I will pay my vows before them that fear him” (22:25). “Praise ye Jehovah. O give thanks unto Jehovah; for he is good; For his lovingkindness endureth for ever” (106:1).

Third, the True Worshiper Feels Reverence in and Worships God from the Heart. It is genuine: the emotions are involved. "These things I remember [what God has done for me and that my soul pants after God, CAC], and pour out my soul within me” (Psalm 42:4). “Glory ye in his holy name; Let the heart of them rejoice that seek Jehovah” (1 Chronicles 16:10). “Him shall ye fear [reverence, CACj, and unto him shall ye bow yourselves, and to him shall ye sacrifice” (2 Kings 17:36). “I will give thee thanks with my whole heart: before the gods will I sing praises unto thee” (Psalm 138:1). The worshiper is not passive in his worship, awaiting some entertainment or mystical uplift to result from the “performance” of the song leader, the preacher, and others. We actively lift up praise and adoration to God within His prescribed way out of a heart filled with reverence, gratitude, confession, praise, and supplication.

Fourth, the True Worshiper Realizes that God Is Close at Hand. Unlike many who think that God is so remote that He cannot see, know, or be concerned with our needs, thoughts, prayers, and joys, men need to realize that “. . . they should seek God, if haply they might feel after him, and find him [through His Word, of course, CAC], though he is not far from each one of us” (Acts 17:27). With the Israelites, God’s glory filled the tabernacle (Exodus 40:33-38), from whence He spoke to the people (Leviticus 1:1). Here we see the marvel of His condescension; He would later dwell among the people when the Word would tabernacle in the flesh (John 1:1-3, 14) and when He would dwell in His holy temple, the church (1 Corinthians 3:16-17). He is with His people in the worship (Matthew 26:28-29; 1 Corinthians 10:16-21; 11:23ff). The righteous people of the Old Testament walked with God, building a close relationship with Him (not the type of “buddy-buddy,” “daddy” relationship as some shallow, flippant souls would aver today). Study the faith and reverence demonstrated in the worship of Abraham, Moses, David, and others. Enoch walked with God: David was a man after God’s own heart; Daniel was greatly beloved.

—Curtis A. Cates

How Many Times Shall I Forgive?

A psychologist wrote once, that Christians, he felt, were very much like porcupines on a cold winter's night. The cold drives them to huddle together to keep warm, but as soon as they get close to another they start jabbing each other with their spines and that forces them to move apart; thus they are forever coming together and moving apart in a kind of slow dance.

Sadly, there may be some truth to that observation

Matthew 18:21-35
21 Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, "Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?"
22 Jesus answered, "I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.
23 "Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants.
24 As he began the settlement, a man who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him. 25 Since he was not able to pay, the master ordered that he and his wife and his children and all that he had be sold to repay the debt.
26 "The servant fell on his knees before him. `Be patient with me,' he begged, `and I will pay back everything.'
27 The servant's master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go.
28 "But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii. He grabbed him and began to choke him. `Pay back what you owe me!' he demanded.
29 "His fellow servant fell to his knees and begged him, `Be patient with me, and I will pay you back.'
30 "But he refused. Instead, he went off and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay the debt.
31 When the other servants saw what had happened, they were greatly distressed and went and told their master everything that had happened.
32 "Then the master called the servant in. `You wicked servant,' he said, `I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to.
33 Shouldn't you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?'
34 In anger his master turned him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed.
35 "This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother from your heart." (NIV)

It's All About You

Tomorrow concludes another school year in Osage City. My teachers and staff members will now prepare for a new year as we look ahead at the 2007-08 school year in August.

At Kindergarten Promotion on Tuesday, my Elementary Principal introduced the class as the graduating class of 2019. Wow! Had to think about that one. Where will I be in 2019? What will I be doing in 2019?

Then I thought not me, but where will God have me in his great plan? What will I be doing for the Lord? Will I be serving him in Topeka or some other location?

I needed to be reminded it’s not about me, it needs to be all about Him!


Jesus Lover of My Soul (It’s All About You)
Passion

It's all about You, Jesus
And all this is for You
For Your glory and your fame
It's not about me
As if You should do things my way
You alone are God
And I surrender to your ways

Jesus, lover of my soul
All consuming fire is in Your gaze
Jesus, I want you to know
I will follow you all my days
For no one else in history is like you
And history itself belongs to you
Alpha and Omega,
You have loved me
And I will share eternity with You

The Prayer

"The Prayer"

I pray you'll be our eyes,
and watch us where we go.
And help us to be wise
in times when we don't know
Let this be our prayer,
when we lose our way
Lead us to the place,
guide us with your grace
To a place where we'll be safe.

Craig Graduation 2007

On Sunday, May 20, I had the the honor as the Superintendent of Schools in Osage City and as a Father to give a high school diploma to Craig Sterling Carriger.

I did OK throughout the entire ceremony. Watching him walk down the aisle. Hearing him sing in the OCHS Chorus for the last time. Even the solo he sang. The standing ovation he got from his class. I was still doing OK. Then, when he walked to the stage so I could present his diploma he grabbed me for the hug, that was too much.

My heart broke with memories of the 18 years that God has given me watching Craig grow as a child into a young adult.

His dreams will take him far away from the small community in the Flint Hills to a fast paced city that never sleeps.

A part of me will go with him as he studies and builds his own faith and life in the Big Apple!
Craig, thank you for your love, your ability to bring joy to peoples lives and so many great memories that you gave your mother and I.

We love you and ask that you keep God number 1 in your life!

Love,
Dad

I Surrender All

The song I Surrender All was writ­ten in 1896 by Judson Van de Venter when he was con­duct­ing a meet­ing at East Pal­es­tine, Ohio, in the home of George Seb­ring (found­er of the Seb­ring Camp­meet­ing Bi­ble Con­fer­ence in Seb­ring, Ohio, and lat­er de­vel­op­er of the town of Seb­ring, Flor­i­da). For some time, he had strug­gled be­tween de­vel­op­ing his tal­ents in the field of art and go­ing into full-time evan­gel­is­tic work. At last the pi­vot­al hour of his life came, and he sur­ren­dered all. A new day was ushered in­to his life. He became an evang­el­ist and dis­cov­ered down deep in his soul a special song God blessed him with.

This song is still a very special hymn for many.

One that needs to be sung many times reminding us to surrender all the problems of this life to the one who loves us the most!


All to Jesus, I surrender;
All to Him I freely give;
I will ever love and trust Him,
In His presence daily live.

Refrain

I surrender all,
I surrender all,
All to Thee, my blessèd Savior,
I surrender all.

All to Jesus I surrender;
Humbly at His feet I bow,
Worldly pleasures all forsaken;
Take me, Jesus, take me now.

Refrain

All to Jesus, I surrender;
Make me, Savior, wholly Thine;
Let me feel the Holy Spirit,
Truly know that Thou art mine.

Refrain

All to Jesus, I surrender;
Lord, I give myself to Thee;
Fill me with Thy love and power;
Let Thy blessing fall on me.

Refrain

All to Jesus I surrender;
Now I feel the sacred flame.
O the joy of full salvation!
Glory, glory, to His Name!

Refrain

How Do You Treat Others?

A lady in a faded gingham dress and her husband, dressed in a homespun threadbare suit, stepped off the train in Boston , and walked timidly without an appointment into the Harvard University President's outer office. The secretary could tell in a moment that such backwoods, country hicks had no business at Harvard and probably didn't even deserve to be in Cambridge . "We'd like to see the president," the man said softly. "He'll be busy all day," the secretary snapped."We'll wait," the lady replied. For hours the secretary ignored them, hoping that the couple would finally become discouraged and go away. They didn't, and the secretary grew frustrated and finally decided to disturb the president, even though it was a chore she always regretted. "Maybe if you see them for a few minutes, they'll leave," she said to him! He sighed in exasperation and nodded. Someone of his importance obviously didn't have the time to spend with them, and he detested gingham dresses and homespun suits cluttering up his outer office. The president, stern faced and with dignity, strutted toward the couple. The lady told him, "We had a son who attended Harvard for one year. He loved Harvard. He was happy here. But about a year ago, he was accidentally killed. My husband and I would like to erect a memorial to him, somewhere on campus." The president wasn't touched. He was shocked. "Madam," he said, gruffly, "we can't put up a statue for every person who attended Harvard and died.. If we did, this place would look like a cemetery." "Oh, no," the lady explained quickly. "We don't want to erect a statue. We thought we would like to give a building to Harvard." The president rolled his eyes. He glanced at the gingham dress and homespun suit, and then exclaimed, "A building! Do you have any earthly idea how much a building costs? We have over seven and a half million dollars in the physical buildings here at Harvard." For a moment the lady was silent.The president was pleased. Maybe he could get rid of them now.The lady turned to her husband and said quietly, "Is that all it costs to start a university? Why don't we just start our own?" Her husband nodded. The president's face wilted in confusion and bewilderment. Mr. and Mrs. Leland Stanford got up and walked away, traveling to Palo Alto, California where they established the university that bears their name, Stanford University, a memorial to a son that Harvard no longer cared about. You can easily judge the character of others by how they treat those who they think can do nothing for them.

by Malcolm Forbes

Kansas Tornado Update

Kansas Tornado Destroys Homes of 11 Church Families
Date: Monday, May 07 @ 16:56:24 EDT
Erik TryggestadThe Christian Chronicle

Eleven families who attend the Mullinville, Kan., church lost their homes when a tornado demolished the nearby town of Greensburg, claiming 10 lives.The Friday night storm, more than a mile wide, tore the carpet from floors and destroyed about 95 percent of the buildings in the southern Kansas town of about 1,500 people, said Mullinville church member Sandy Mosshart, who is coordinating her congregation’s response. Most of the church members in Greensburg rode out the storm in their basements or shelters. One of the church’s deacons donned a motorcycle helmet and gave his wife a construction hardhat as the storm moved overhead, Mosshart said.Though no members were injured, the families emerged after the storm to find their homes reduced to concrete slabs. “It just cleaned off their homes,” Mullinville minister Russell Scott said.Only one of the members’ homes was left mostly intact by the storm — a mobile home, oddly enough, Mosshart said. As disaster workers sifted through the rubble Monday, displaced church members stayed in the homes of relatives or fellow members in Mullinville, about 10 miles west of Greensburg. Several church-supported relief agencies are sending assistance.Workers with Nashville, Tenn.-based Churches of Christ Disaster Relief Effort delivered water and food to the area late Saturday, executive director Joe Dudney said. A tractor-trailer truck of cleaning supplies, blankets and other necessities is due to arrive at the Mullinville church Tuesday, with additional trucks of supplies, including generators, to follow, Dudney said.The Churches of Christ Disaster Response Team is sending a mobile kitchen to feed displaced Greensburg residents and relief workers. The 30-foot kitchen, capable of feeding 5,000 people per day, should arrive in Greensburg later this week, said Laura Cremeans, a coordinator of the West Melbourne, Fla.-based ministry. The ministry also is sending supply trailers filled with tools and new clothing, Cremeans said.“The response has just been astronomical,” Mosshart said. Though the ministries are helping the church members and other Greensburg residents with their immediate needs, “we’ll need help from the brotherhood to rebuild,” she said.

Donations to rebuild homes destroyed by May 4 tornado may be sent to: Mullinville Church of Christ, P.O. Box 184, Mullinville, KS 67109-0184.

Young Professional Class Study

We begin a new series on Sunday asking the big question.....Why?

Many times we question God's actions in our lives. This coming Sunday we will ask the question, Why don't I always feel God? Has he left us? Did I leave Him?

Make this a week of service to others. Look for ways to reach out to those hurting and in need.


Knowing the Father's Presence by Jim Clark

Some mornings I wake up not feeling very close to God. It was one of those mornings earlier this week. I read some Scripture and prayed a bit before hopping in the shower. But as I said goodbye to my wife, I admitted that I didn’t feel much intimacy with Christ. There were no major problems at home or work. My ministry was going well. Jesus was Lord of my life. And yet there was this spiritual dryness that made me long for another drink of the living water of Jesus. How could I sense that closeness to Him once more?

That morning I wrote in my diary:
I long for that Father/son relationship with You, Lord, where I know You are there for me. Where I weep when reading the story of the cross, knowing that my Savior died for me. But today I feel so dry and distant from You. Please show me the way. I read of one believer who said that when he struggles he’s learning to run to You, not away from You. I want to do the same. I’m running to You, Jesus, because I desperately need You. Please reveal Yourself to me in a powerful way and give me faith to trust You even when I don’t feel You near me. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Our standing before God depends entirely upon His mercy. Later in the week I read these encouraging word from Michael Horton about the work of the Holy Spirit: “So much of contemporary spirituality and piety is focused on self. ‘How am I doing spiritually’ ‘How is my walk?’ ‘Am I living in victory?’ Reformation spirituality lifted people out of a purely introspective, inward-looking piety and directed them outside of themselves to Christ and the cross, from which vista they could now look out across the needy world.“ (In the Face of God, Word Publishing, 1996)

What a great reminder to continually come back to the cross and know that my salvation is not based on my feelings, how much I surrender, or how “spiritual” I may be that day. Our standing before God depends entirely upon His mercy displayed to us through the shed blood of Jesus. As we rest in that forgiveness by faith, the Holy Spirit frees us to love God and love others with vigor and joy. As God promises us in Romans 8:

Absolutely nothing can get between us and God’s love because of the way that Jesus our Master has embraced us.

Not even a bad mood.

"Knowing the Father's Presence"
Author: Jim Clark
Publication Date: April 7, 2002

Order of Worship

Order of Worship
Sunday, May 13, 2007

Worship Leader: Craig Carriger

Welcome

I Will Worship

Jesus You’re My Firm Foundation

Prayer

376 He Paid a Debt

377 He Still Came

Communion

Contribution

Holy Lord

Light the Fire

Message (Evan Burdan)

Invitation: 768 Jesus, Let Us Come to Know You

Announcements

446 Here, O Israel

Closing Prayer

The Power of Music in Worship

People are influenced by music because it has the power to transport them into God's presence. It can awaken them to dimensions beyond their ordinary experience and kindle in them a love for God's majesty, power, and splendor. Though this can also happen in prayer, Scripture reading, or a sermon, for most people it happens in music. It leads us into sacred space, sacred time.

According to George Herbert, England's greatest devotional poet and an accomplished musician, church music is "the way to heaven's door." Contemporary composers, worship leaders, and theologians make similar points. "Worship thrives on wonder," explains Matt Redman, who, with his wife Beth, authored the popular contemporary hymn "Blessed Be Your Name".

We can admire, appreciate, and perhaps even adore someone without a sense of wonder. But we cannot worship without wonder. For worship to be worship, it must contain something of the otherness of God. . . . [God] is altogether glorious–unequalled in splendor and unrivalled in power. He is beyond the grasp of human reason–far above the reach of even the loftiest scientific mind. Inexhaustible, immeasurable and unfathomable–eternal, immortal and invisible.

by Darryl Tippens,Chapter 12 excerpted from Pilgrim Heart: The Way of Jesus in Everyday Life

BBQ

I have a confession to make. I'm an amateur smoker. That is BBQ smoker and connoisseur. I love to smoke meat and have the family over for our summer celebrations and get togethers. My pulled pork is pretty good.

I love to find great BBQ wherever Debbie and I travel to play golf.

Summer is almost here, so here are my top BBQ places throughout the Mid-West:

Central's own Lon Weaver-Henry's BBQ (Topeka) best turkey and cheesy potatoes.
Arthur Bryant's (Kansas City), best beef sandwich anywhere.

Bubba's BBQ (Eureka Springs, Arkansas), best ribs in the world!

Buffalo Bob's (Lawrence, Kansas), good St. Louis style ribs.

Brothers BBQ (Denver, Colorado), great ribs.

Corky's (Memphis), great dry pork.

Disaster Relief for Kansas

Kansas weather in the spring is often unpredictable . . . and we've once again witnessed the disasters that can occur from acts of nature here in Kansas. Our hearts and prayers go out to the students, families and the entire community of Greensburg as they work toward rebuilding their town and to the families around the state who have been displaced by flooding or other related events the past few days.

We have contacted the local Red Cross office in Topeka and were told the best thing anyone can do is to make monetary donations for assistance to those affected by the tornado in Greensburg or the flooding in Northeast Kansas or other related natural disasters. Checks should be made payable to the American Red Cross. Designate the recipient (i.e., Greensburg tornado, Northeast Kansas flood victims, etc.) and mail checks to:
American Red Cross
1221 SW 17thTopeka, KS 66604
The local red cross will make sure the money gets to the appropriate place.

The following note was taken from the Greensburg School District website (http://www.usd422.org/):
The administration of Greensburg High School would like to send the message of hope and perseverance. In the spirit of not dropping our heads and letting this tragedy get us down, GHS would like to encourage the Ranger student athletes to continue to compete in their respective sports. We would also like to relay to seniors that we will hold a graduation ceremony. Details about graduation will be posted as soon as we get everything arranged.

Due to the fact that everyone is scattered, we will attempt to keep as many people up to date right here on usd422.org.

UPDATE

FROM THE INFORMATION WE'VE RECEIVED SO FAR, THERE ARE AT LEAST 10 FAMILES THAT ARE MEMBERS OF THE CHURCH THAT LOST THEIR HOMES IN THE TORNADO FRIDAY NIGHT THAT STRUCK GREENSBURG. WE ARE SENDING TEAMS TO THE AREA AND WILL KEEP YOU UPDATED. PLEASE CONTINUE TO KEEP THOSE AFFECTED AS WELL AS THOSE MINISTERING TO THEM IN YOUR PRAYERS.
FUNDING IS ALSO NEEDED FOR THIS DISASTER. IF IT IS IN YOUR HEART TO HELP IN THIS WAY, YOU MAY DO SO ONLINE OR BY POSTAL MAIL TO: CHURCHES OF CHRIST DISASTER RESPONSE TEAMC/O MELBOURNE CHURCH OF CHRIST810 HOLLYWOOD BLVD.WEST MELBOURNE, FLORIDA 32904

Elders Meeting Minutes (May 2)

Central Church of Christ Elders Meeting Minutes, May 2, 2007
Opening Prayer-Roger Hamm Scripture-I John 5:13

We interviewed Josh Yoho for our summer intern for guys position. Josh agreed to serve and will coordinate many activities with LeAnn Valerius. He will have routine devos with the guys on a night to be determined best for all. He will be under contract from May 29 until Aug. 5 (same as LeAnn). We had much discussion of expectations and accountability and are optimistic Josh will be a huge help to our Youth Program.

Scott Smith reported at our request on continuing communication with Twig McBroom from the Park Plaza congregation in Tulsa. Twig comes highly recommended and we plan to invite him to come at his earliest convenience.

We continue to try to meet with Brad and Kelly McPhail about their membership interest. Their work schedules pose problems, but we will get this done in the next few days.

Some discussion followed about the upcoming visit to the States of Max and Prisca Dauner from France.

Steven McClelland will be in town this summer and wants to speak on Sunday nights that might be available. We told Carl to check our schedule and then contact Steven and get him on the schedule.

Doug Goslin tells us help is needed at the Women's Prison ministry helping Richard McClelland from Northside. Jerry will contact Richard and get specific information about who, what and when. More info will be coming, but interested members should be thinking about this important work.

Roundtable items were addressed and closing prayer was led by Bill Carriger at 10:00.

Respectfully submitted,
Jerry Myers 5/2/07

Order of Worship

Order of Worship
Sunday, May 6, 2007

Welcome:

144 O Worship the King

153 Come, Let Us Worship and Bow Down

66 Doxology

96 I Stand in Awe

Prayer:

364 Come Share the Lord

Lords Supper

Contribution

Dismiss 2x2

452 Standing on the Promises (Verse 1 and 2)
453 Love Lifted Me (Verse 1 and 2)

Message Evan Burdan

Invitation 567 Restore My Soul

Announcements

Closing Prayer

611 Heavenly Sunlight (Verse 1 Only)

Hands

Ever think about how Jesus blessed people by touching them. The hands are important instruments in our daily ministry with people.

Jesus used his hands and touched the poor, the needy, the sick, even the dead.

When we touch a person it shows our compassion and love for people. A simple touch means so much to hurting people.

Try using that simple touch this week as you minister to those around you.

A hand shake, a hug, holding a baby, holding a friend you needs encouragement.

Last week, a hug that I gave to encourage and tell the person I was really concerned gave me more encouragement than what I probably gave to them.

A caring Church is a Church that touches peoples lives.

Clapping in Worship

I have appreciated the spirit of love and unity that continues to flow from the Central Family. We each have our personal preferences and beliefs (new songs/old songs) but appreciate each others differences. The following article discusses clapping in worship. I appreciate the love that is displayed at Central for those that wish to clap and those that don't desire to clap.

Churchgoers Disagree On Clapping in Worship
By ANITA WADHWANI
Staff Writer. Published: 03/31/07

In the larger scheme of the “worship wars,” it may be but a minor skirmish.But among many churchgoers, clapping — as in applause, putting one’s hands together in an audible display of appreciation — elicits opinions as passionate as those on the idea of replacing traditional hymns with Christian rock or wearing flip-flops and shorts to church.“Clapping isn’t reverent, and we’re told by the Bible to worship with reverent awe,” said Cindy House, 49.She’s a resolute non-hand-clapper during worship services at Tulip Grove Baptist Church in Old Hickory, where the pastor — an occasional church clapper — last month wrote an article in the church newsletter giving a biblical justification for applause in church.It didn’t sway House. “Clapping is something we do at sporting events or for political speeches or concerts,” she said. Clapping in church, she said, is “irritating. It often times ruins it for me.”It’s one small chapter in the ongoing saga of the so-called worship wars, a struggle over the best way to praise God that has generally divided churchgoers into two camps. Traditionalists view some of the more modern trappings — such as guitars and drums, casual dress, and a more relaxed church atmosphere — as inappropriate, secular, even sacrilegious. Clapping, they say, is one more sign of the secular entertainment world creeping into churches.Those interested in more contemporary worship styles say there are many ways to praise God and the younger generation find some more appealing. Clapping, if it’s a genuine expression of worship, is a fine way to praise God, they say.Ken Clayton is the pastor of Tulip Grove Baptist Church who wrote the newsletter article. He said applause is a fine way to worship — when it’s a genuine expression of faith, rather than a response to the performance quality of a singer or choir.“Some of the same people who would praise and clap at concerts and games would come to church and sit on their hands,” he said. “But it’s a natural thing to clap. I think we’ve allowed the world to take over a natural thing.”Clayton cited several Scriptural passages to support applause as appropriate during worship.• There’s Psalm 98:8, “Let the floods clap their hands; let the hills sing together for the joy at the presence of the Lord, for he is coming.” • And this one: Isaiah 55:12: “For you shall go out in joy and be led back in peace; the mountains and the hills before you shall burst into song, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.”“I think some people are worried that if you do that, the next step is you’re speaking in tongues or standing up and dancing in the pews,” Clayton said.In some denominations, applause is rare or non-existent. In Catholic or Episcopal churches, for example, applause is infrequent, generally reserved for announcements or accomplishments at the end of a service. In Churches of Christ, which, as a rule, don’t have musical instruments of any kind during church services, it’s also rare. In Southern Baptist churches — the largest denomination in Tennessee — “you hear it in places where you never heard it before,” said Paul Clark, a worship specialist with the Tennessee Baptist Convention. “It would have been almost unheard of twenty or thirty years ago.”At Victory Baptist Church in Mt. Juliet, in the midst of a particularly uplifting hymn, Glenda Burch, 46, said she was moved to spontaneous applause.“I clapped and several other people started clapping, too,” she said. “The music was beautiful. But no one else did.” Feeling awkward, she laid her hands in her lap, as did the other clappers.“I grew up in Southern Baptist churches all my life,” Burch said. “When I was growing up, women were kind of hush, hush. Men would sometimes say amen but women wouldn’t speak out in church. I think times change and people should change too.”Several months ago, Burch approached her pastor to say she thought applause was okay in church. But her pastor, Chuck Groover, disagrees, and has said so from the pulpit.“Part of what we’re dealing with in the church at this time in history is that we’re trying to maintain our uniqueness in helping people understand there is a difference between worship and what we experience at the symphony hall,” Groover said. “Quite frankly, we’ve reached the point whenever anyone shares anything in a gathering, it’s as if we must respond with applause.“Look at how popular American Idol is and if you ever listen to any of those folks, people clap. And some of them probably don’t deserve a clap.”Harriet Moore, 85, didn’t want to identify her Methodist church by name, saying she didn’t want to offend. But she called the clapping and all the amens “just distracting.“I guess I feel like there should be more listening to the sermons and that sort of thing instead of bringing in all these extra sorts of things. It seems like there’s not much message, just 15 minutes. Then you’ve got this group singing and that group singing. They’re trying to be active all the time,” she said.“When I was a child, it wasn’t that way. You just sat and you listened.”

Unity

The spirit of unity Sunday evening at Central was a true blessing. With the many area congregations that were present the love, fellowship and time of worship was a beautiful blessing to be a part of.

We are very fortunate at Central to have that unified spirit that is so adamantly spoken about in Ephesians 4.

Many Churches unfortunately fight and bicker over items that just are not important. Many times individuals say things and do things “in the heat of the battle” that split churches and destroy friendships. When it happens it takes sometimes years for the healing to occur.

So today, I am thankful that we have a loving and caring group of Saints that put up with the good and the bad in all our lives who encourage and build each other up and who praise our Heavenly Father for giving each one of us the hope of salvation that can only be found in Christ.