What Will We Look Like............

Jerry asked the question last week at our elders meeting, "What will we look like on September 2?"

What will the Central Church of Christ look like, and become, after we leave the corner of Huntoon and College where we have worshipped for 100 years?

What did the first church look like?

The first real church was Jesus and His 12 disciples. The first church was actually a training school for those who would establish the second-generation churches after Jesus ascended back to the Father. It was Jesus showing His disciples, first hand, how to have church. They met in houses and gardens, by the sea and on boats in the sea, in the middle of the road, on hillsides and on mountaintops. They met wherever Jesus happened to be. These meetings formed their understanding of what church was supposed to be and established a pattern for the next generation of churches.

Acts 2 talks about a church family meeting together continually. Trying to live like Jesus.

I see us doing the same thing.
I see us reaching out.
I see us ministering in homes, schools, hospitals, and in the work place.
I see us celebrating new births, marriages and grieving with our family members that have struggles and difficulties.
I see an eldership that will be on their knees asking God for continued direction as they lead their flock toward an even more exciting and rewarding life that is found only in Jesus Christ.

What will we look like on September 2?

We will look like His disciples!

We Hear You

We Hear You

We hear you calling us, Lord.
On good days we hear you loud and clear.
And even on bad days the world’s siren song
never completely drowns out your voice.
We hear you asking us to
follow you
trust you
honor you.
We hear you begging us to
seek you
find you
love you.
We hear you reminding us that you alone
are worthy of our
admiration
reverence
confidence.

We hear you, Lord.
And part of us wants more than anything
to find comfort and encouragement
in your voice, and to
respond to you with the best that we
have and are.
Part of us longs for the place of rest
your call offers.
Part of us knows that life
in you
would be the very best
of all possibilities.

We hear you, Lord.
But part of us finds it hard to let go
of our own ambitions
and the solutions we have
figured out for ourselves.
Part of us demands that we keep
trusting in ourselves
or at least in what
we can see and touch.

Cut through our layers of defense, Lord. Our
defiance
arrogance
self-sufficiency
greed
and all the things in us that keep telling us
to ignore your call.

Go to work on us, Lord.
In us.
Remake us in your image
so we can love you first and best.

We hear you calling us, Lord.
Help us, please,to listen.

(Submitted Via Internet Blog)

Memorial Day

Memorial Day is much more than a three-day weekend that marks the beginning of summer. To many people, especially the nation's thousands of combat veterans, this day, which has a history stretching back all the way to the Civil War, is an important reminder of those who died in the service of their country.

Dress Appropriatelly

The job I hated the most as a high school principal was dress code enforcement. Kids always tried to see what they could get away with wearing to school that was inappropriate. When it got warm………the shorts, tank tops, low cut shorts and sleeveless shirts came out. It was always such an enjoyable time explaining to the girls that the new low cut blouse you are wearing (just bought for $50) is not appropriate to wear to school, you will need to go home and change. After getting an ear-full from the parents on why they felt is was appropriate to wear, they were sent home to change. As a Superintendent, I don’t have to make those day-to-day decisions with students about dress any longer (unless the principals are gone) but there are times I have to talk to teachers and staff about appropriate dress. I never thought it would come to that. Our society has gone from one that covered up to one that wishes to display and flaunt. As a Christian, it’s sad to say it has come to church as well. I have been to congregations where I couldn't believe some of the revealing attire that was being worn.

I hope that all of us can re-examine our dress and what is appropriate attire this summer when we worship and in our daily living.

Remember we are the example of Christ, even in how we dress.

Thought for the Day

An optimist expects his dreams to come true;
A pessimist expects his nightmares to.

The Last Day of School

180 days later we come to the end of another school year.

Great memories.

Happy stories.

Sad stories.

Fun.

Suspense.

Tragedy.

Excellence.

Failure.

All make up the course of a school year.

Kids enjoy the summer. Be careful!

Parents I'm praying for you. Only 85 days until school begins in August.

A New Beginning

Sitting in my office on Friday morning reading Gary's e-mail that we sold the building made me think about what the church really is...

"The Church is not a physical building, but a group of believers; not a denomination, sect, or association, but a spiritual body. The Church is not an organization, but a communion, a fellowship of one body." (The Church - The Body of Christ, John MacArthur)

In Matthew 16:18, Jesus spoke firmly of His plans ... "I will build My Church; and the gates of Hell shall not overpower it."

"The Most exciting happening in history is the building of Christ's church. This church is not constructed with wood and stone, but with people who have come to trust Christ's loving forgiveness to the point of becoming His disciples.

His Church started with a few disciples who gathered together for prayer. When the Holy Spirit was poured out upon them, Peter preached a heart-stirring sermon and 3,000 new disciples were converted and baptized. Now the super-structure of His church began to take shape. These new disciples became participants in the greatest building project in the history of the world, They started to build Christ's Church and thus become part of the fulfillment of Jesus' promise, 'I will build My church and the gates of Hell shall not prevail against it."

We need to remind each other during this exciting period of transition that we (Central) are the Church. And we will be his people wherever we go.

Craig Home for the Summer

Craig returns home tomorrow from New York City. Looking forward having our little boy home for the summer...............

If That Isn't Love

My favorite Dottie Rambo song........

If That Isn't Love

He left the splendor of heaven,
Knowing His destiny,
Was the lonely hill of Golgotha,
There to lay down His life for me.

Chorus

If that isn't love;
The ocean is dry,
There's no stars in the sky,
And the sparrow can't fly.
If that isn't love;
Then heaven's a myth,
There's no feeling like this,
If that isn't love!

Even in death He remembered,
The thief hanging by His side;
There He spoke with love and compassion,
Then He took him to paradise.

Chorus

If that isn't love;
The ocean is dry,
There's no stars in the sky,
And the sparrow can't fly.
If that isn't love;
Then heaven's a myth,
There's no feeling like this,
If that isn't love!

Dottie Rambo Dies in Accident

Gospel singer Dottie Joyce Rambo dies
Associated Press

MOUNT VERNON, Mo. — Gospel singer-songwriter Joyce "Dottie" Rambo died early Sunday when the bus she was in ran off a road in southwest Missouri and struck an embankment.
Rambo, 74, of Nashville, Tenn., died in the crash about two miles east of Mount Vernon on Interstate 44, the Missouri State Highway Patrol said. Seven other people in the bus were injured, and were hospitalized in Springfield with moderate to severe injuries, the patrol said.
It was unclear if the accident, which occurred about 2 a.m., was weather-related, the patrol said. Severe storms and tornadoes hit the region about 6 p.m. Saturday, killing 14 people. Sustained winds and storms swept through the area later in the night, according to the National Weather Service.

"She was a giant in the gospel music industry," said Beckie Simmons, Rambo's agent. "Dolly Parton recorded some of her songs."

Parton sent condolences to "everyone involved in this terrible tragedy."

"I know Dottie is in heaven in the arms of God right now, but our earth angel will surely be missed," Parton said in a statement. "Dottie was a dear friend, a fellow singer, songwriter and entertainer, and as of late my duet singing partner."

Rambo was on her way to a Mother's Day performance in North Richland Hills, Texas, according to her Web site.

Rambo was inducted to the Kentucky Music Hall of Fame in 2006 and the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2007.

Rambo has had more than 2,500 published songs, including gospel classics such as "He Looked Beyond My Fault and Saw My Need" and the 1982 Gospel Music Association Song of the Year, "We Shall Behold Him."

Waiting

I am very impatient at times. Waiting is not one of my attributes. The Lord’s perspective is very different. He says those who wait on Him will be blessed. (Isaiah 30:18) Pausing to hear from our Father is always the wisest action we can take. That’s how we receive clear direction. As believers, we’re not to operate as the world does. We don’t determine our course by human reasoning or the example of others. Our guidance is to come from God—the one who instructs us in the way which we should go. (Psalm 32:8)

Deputy Carriger

Friday morning we traveled to Hutchinson for Brian's graduation from the Kansas Law Enforcement Training Academy.


Brian and his Grandparents.


Brian and cousin Emma.


Brian and his grandparents.

Brian and Sheriff Scot Brownrigg of Anderson County

Brian and his new 2008 Dodge Charger. Drive slow through Anderson County!

Brian and the proud Mom and Dad!

Brian and Allison.

Thursday Thought

“For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ”
Titus 2:11-13:

A Good Evening After a Hard Day at Work

Catfish season begins in about 4 weeks. This was a 4 pound cat I caught last week at my secret fishing hole. You should have seen the 10 pounder that got away on Monday.....it made me sick!

Worship

I like what Robert Webber wrote about worship...

We need to let go of our intellectual idea of worship and realize there is more to worship than a sermon; we have to let go of our evangelistic notion of worship and reckon with the fact that worship is not primarily directed toward the sinners who need to be converted; we must let go of our entertainment expectations and remind ourselves that we are not in church to watch a Christian variety show. We have gathered together in worship to be met by God the Almighty. God, the Creator of the universe, the One who sustains our lives, our Redeemer and King, is present through proclamation and remembrance. He wants to communicate to us, to penetrate our inner self, to take up residence within us. And, as we go through the experience of meeting with him in this mystical moment of public worship, we are to respond. But response is not just singing a hymn, not just saying a creed, not just saying a prayer. Response, from the very beginning of worship to the end, must be a powerful inner experience of actually being in the presence of God. When we sing a hymn or say a confession or prayer, we are not singing or saying words, but expressing a feeling, bringing our souls, truly responding and communicating to the living and active presence of a loving and merciful God. (Worship is a Verb, by Robert Webber, pg.114)

National Teacher Appreciation Week

"The dream begins, most of the time, with a teacher who believes in you, who tugs and pushes and leads you on to the next plateau, sometimes poking you with a sharp stick called truth."--Dan Rather

Tuesday, May 6, 2008, is National Teacher Day. Thank a teacher for making our public schools great! Teachers in communities across the nation will be in the spotlight this week, as students, parents, school administrators and the general public learn how teachers are making Great Public Schools for every child.

Few other professionals touch as many people as teachers do. National Teacher Appreciation Week is a good time to learn about the contributions educators make to our community every day. We recognize them as role models.

Thank you teachers for making a difference in the lives of our young people.

Order of Worship

Order of Worship
Sunday, May 4, 2008

Welcome

47 Holy, Holy, Holy (Verse 1 Only)

797 Lord, We Come Before Thee Now (Verse 1, 4)

Lord Reign in Me

Prayer

454 Rock of Ages (Verse 1 Only)

325 Boundless Love (Refrain Only)

365 How Beautiful (Verse 1 and 3 Only..NO BRIDGE)

Lords Supper

Contribution

452 Standing On the Promises (Verse 1 and 4)

Message Evan Burdan

Invitation 552 Have Thine Own Way

Announcements

Seniors Presentation

Closing Prayer