| GO TO EXPLANATION OF WHY WE DO NOT USE MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS |
| JANUARY 10, 2021 WESTFIELD CHURCH OF CHRIST 1610 WESTFIELD LOOP, HOUSTON, TX 77073 ELDERS: James Fillyaw: 713-560-5104; Hubert Crowson: 281-732-9606; Jerry Loyd: 713-775-5377; Church Office: 281-821-8531 CHURCH SERVICES Sunday worship services only at 10:00 a.m., until further notice. Amen “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is, but exhorting one another, and so much the more, as you see the day approaching” (Hebrews 10:25) . HAPPY BIRTHDAY FOR JANUARY 14th Rebecca Stone; 25th Louise Burns; 27th Heather Drake; 26th Kamryn Fillyaw; HAPPY ANNIVERSARY FOR JANUARY None Listed If there is anyone left off either list and should be on, please let Hubert know. READING THE NEW TESTAMENT: HEBREWS Chapter 11:1-16: The Triumphs of Faith: Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. For by it the men of old gained approval. By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things which are visible. By faith Abel offered to God a better sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained the testimony that he was righteous, God testifying about his gifts, and through faith, though he is dead he still speaks. By faith Enoch was taken up so that he would not see death; “and he was not found because God took him up;” for he obtained the witness that before his being taken up he was pleasing to God. And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him. By faith Noah, being warned by God about things not yet seen, in reverence prepared an ark for the salvation of his household, by which he condemned the world, and became an heir of the righteousness which is according to faith. By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed by going out to a place which he was to receive for an inheritance; and he went out, not knowing where he was going. By faith he lived as an alien in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, fellow heirs of the same promise; for he was looking for the city which has foundations, whose architect and builder is God. By faith even Sarah herself received ability to conceive, even beyond the proper time of life, since she considered Him faithful who had promised. Therefore there was born even of one man, and him as good as dead at that, as many descendants “as the stars of heaven in number, and innumerable as the sand which is by the seashore;” All of these died in faith, without receiving the promises, but having seen them and having welcomed them from a distance, and having confessed that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. For those who say such things make it clear that they are seeking a country of their own. And indeed if they had been thinking of that country from which they went out, they would have had opportunity to return. But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them. (More Next Week! Stay Tuned!) LOVING THE UNLOVELY By Ken Weliever, Church of Christ, Stonewall, LA If you have children, you have seen “Beauty and the Beast.” In fact, you probably own a copy! For those not into fairy tales, “The Beast” is a Prince who could not love and was placed under a spell. In order to turn back into a Prince, he had to win the love of another and return it before his twenty-first birthday. But who could love a grotesque beast? Well, this is where the lovely Belle, a girl from a small French town who is dissatisfied with life, enters the picture. At first, Belle views him as nothing more than a monster. He sees her as stubborn and difficult. But soon they begin to change. And the beautiful Belle, sees something beyond the surface. Something deeper. Something valuable. Something lovable. The author and theologian, G. K. Chesterton, once observed that fairy tales are more than childish capers or juvenile diversions. They often teach great moral lessons for adults (Like Jesus’ parables do.) Chesterton’s observation about “Beauty and the Beast” is “A thing must be loved before it is lovable.” God did that. He loved us when we didn’t love Him. When we were sinners. When we were unlovely. And so, God wants us to take the next step. He wants us to learn from Him. “Be holy for I am Holy,” He implores (1st Peter 1:16). The teacher wants us to be like Him (Luke 6:40). We are called to follow in His steps. To feel as He felt. To care as He cared. To love as He loved. And who did He love? The scattered. The tired. The weary. The downtrodden. The dregs of society. The Publican. The prostitute. The sinner. In a word, the unlovely. Jesus challenged them and us in His immortal sermon on the Mount to “love your enemies.” When we only love those who love us, how are we better than others? It’s easy to love our friends. To love the lovely. But it is a challenge to love our foes. To love the unlovely. To begin such a quest, you don’t have to volunteer at a homeless shelter. Or pick up a beggar on the street. You might start in your own neighborhood. Your own family. Or in the same church building where you worship. How often do we find people that we ought to love irritating and aggravating? Maybe they are socially inept. Or flawed with a bristly personality. Or not very bright. Or not very much fun. Or not very attractive! It’s easy to gravitate to the winsome personality; the engaging conversationalist, and let’s be honest, the pretty face! And in so doing, to ignore the unlovely. And the unloved. God calls us to a higher standard! A nobler motivation! A deeper love! It is love that looks beyond the surface. That delves into the heart and the soul. That sees the image of God in everyone. That remembers how God loves him or her, too. That I, too, have been unlovable, but God loved me. Never forget, “A thing must be loved before it is lovable.” Pick someone today to share your love. ATTENTION: Let’s not forget to restock the pantry. As a reminder, the pantry is ‘always’ open for any that have a need. Amen. NOTICE: The program, ‘In Search of the Lord’s Way’, airs on Sunday mornings. Check your network provider for time and channel. ATTENTION: The worship service at Village on the Park, on Sundays, has been put on hold for an unspecified time. It shall return soon. TEST YOUR BIBLE KNOWLEDGE! ‘Bible Riddles’ You Should Know (Easy From the N.T.): 1.On these Gentiles the Holy Spirit fell, as on the Jews at Pentecost day; In whose house had they gathered, as Peter preached to them the way? 2.I journeyed to Tarsus, seeking a brother named Saul; We went to Antioch, and for a year we taught the Word to all. 3.What will be the standard by which all will be judged? It will not be our opinion nor can the rules be fudged! Answers to Last Week’s ‘Bible Riddles’: 1. Joppa (Acts 10:5-16); 2. Emmaus (Luke 24:13-27); 3. Isaiah (Acts 8:26-40). <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><> Our memory verse for January comes from the New Testament book of Ephesians. Only one verse. Easy and familiar. Repeat it over and over. You can do it. “Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience” (Ephesians 5:6) REPEAT IT AGAIN; THEN AGAIN; TEN TIMES TEN <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><> Lifetime memories: By Anthony Witham. Pause with your child when others hurry by; walk with your child when others are running. Smile with your child when others can find only frowns; listen to your child when others appear preoccupied. Talk with your child when others prefer shouting; praise your child when others can find only fault. Hug your child when others fail to sense the power of touch; read with your child when others prefer television. Learn from your child when others have forsaken curiosity; play with your child when others prefer being entertained. Discipline your child when others fail to establish limits; apologize to your child when others pretend perfection. Pray with your child when others have lost faith; dream with your child when others have become too cynical. REMEMBER IN PRAYERS…. Norma Hicks; Sharon (Norma’s dtg.in-law); Violet Kendrick & family; Jean Williams; Kenneth Bone; ‘Ro’ Higgins (Roy Higgins son); Selena Baker; Louise Drake; Ramona Jackson; Ed Walker; Ken, Beverly, Kamryn Fillyaw; Ronnie Weaver; Suzie Stephens; ‘Cotton’ Weaver; Evalette Dunbar; Jim & Sande Endy; Amelia Williamson; Rebecca Stone; Faye Stephens; Billie Nelson; Henderson family; Don Blackwell; Maya Briggs; J. O’Brien; Sis. Burns dtg., Xavier; Donnie & Ina Henry & family; SPECIAL PRAYERS TODAY FOR…. Sis. Burns’ dtg. Xavier, undergoing tests. Remember her & family in prayers. Donnie & Ina Henry doing well. Remember the family in your prayers. Jim & Sande Endy doing well. Remember the family in prayers. Sis. Evalette Dunbar having some tests. Remember her in your prayers. Baby Maya Briggs doing better. Remember her and family in your prayers. Sis. Rebecca (Becky) Stone needs our prayers. Remember Ken, Beverly, and Kamryn Fillyaw in your prayers. Remember Bro. Cotton Weaver in your prayers. Bro. Kenneth Bone doing well and still needs our prayers. Ronnie Weaver still needs our prayers. Ed Walker still needs our prayers. Bro. Shawn Henderson & family needs our prayers as they deal with illnesses. “. . . The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much” (James 5:16b). The Power of Demonstration For 2 decades, ecologist Mike Hands has worked to help farmers in Central America adopt more effective methods of growing their crops. But, instead of merely talking to them, Mike shows them a better way. In the documentary film, ‘Up in Smoke’, he says: “It has to be demonstrated. You cannot preach it. You can’t describe it. People have got to be able to get their hands on it and see it.” Paul took a similar approach to sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ. He wrote to the believers in Corinth, “My speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God” (1st Cor. 2:4-5). Later in his letter, Paul told them again, “The kingdom of God is not in word but in power” (1st Cor 4:20). ---David McCasland. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Please keep Brother Crowson and family in your prayers. LINK TO SISTER CROWSON'S MEMORIAL |