| JULY 26, 2020 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 NOTICE: Church services have, once again, been curtailed for a period of time. We will not meet on Sunday for worship. We do have available prefilled communion cups, masks and gloves on the table in the foyer, if you desire to worship with your family. If you need any of these items, call one of the elders for entry to the building. May God bless the Westfield Church and its efforts. 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 JULY 7th LeFaye Fillyaw; 8th Amanda Stone; 9th Weadie Burns; 15th Karter Fillyaw; 18th Alanna Briggs; 19th Karen Fillyaw; 20th Scothelia Martin; HAPPY ANNIVERSARY FOR JULY 20th Jerry & Sheryl Loyd; READING THE NEW TESTAMENT: FIRST TIMOTHY: Chapter 5:1-16: Honor Widows: Do not sharply rebuke an older man, but rather appeal to him as a father, to the younger men as brothers, the older women as mothers, and the younger women as sisters, in all purity. Honor widows who are widows indeed; but if any widow has children or grand-children, they must first learn to practice piety in regard to their own family and to make some return to their parents; for this is acceptable in the sight of God. Now she who is a widow indeed and who has been left alone, has fixed her hope on God and continues in entreaties and prayers night and day. But she who gives herself to wanton pleasure is dead even while she lives. Prescribe these things as well, so that they may be above reproach. But if anyone does not provide for his own and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever. A widow is to be put on the list only if she is not less than sixty years old, having been the wife of one man, having a reputation for good works; and if she has brought up children, if she has shown hospitality to strangers, if she has washed the saints’ feet, if she has assisted those in distress, and if she has devoted herself to every good work. But refuse to put younger widows on the list, for when they feel sensual desires in disregard of Christ they want to get married, thus incurring condemnation, because they have set aside their previous pledge. At the same time they also learn to be idle, as they go around from house to house and not merely idle, but also gossips and busybodies, talking about things not proper to mention. Therefore, I want younger widows to get married, bear children, keep house, and give the enemy no occasion for reproach; for some have already turned aside to follow Satan. If any woman who is a believer has dependent widows, she must assist them and the church must not be burdened, so that it may assist those who are widows indeed. (More Next Week! Stay Tuned!) I Have Heard That The Bible Has Mistakes In It Is That True? Part Two of Three Allen Webster, House to House/Heart to Heart Bulletin, Vol. 25, Num. 5 One said, “If I were Satan, I would put as many barriers around the Bible as I could. I would plant thorns and hedges to frighten people off.” The devil HAS been very busy planting thorns (cf. Matthew 13:18-22). These examples will help to show how to deal with such accusations: Last week we dealt with: ARE JESUS’ LINEAGE ACCOUNTS IRRECONCILABLE? And WHAT ABOUT THOSE EYES AND NEEDLES? Now in Part Two of Three, we will start with: DID THE CENTURION COME OR NOT? Matthew stated a centurion came to Jesus, pleading with Him to heal his servant (8:5- 10). Luke said the centurion sent Jewish elders on his behalf (7:1-10). Possibilities: (1) It is possible the centurion asked the elders to “soften up” Jesus and followed up personally later. Not including follow-up would fit Matthew’s style. He often abbreviated records (8:14-15/Mark 1:29-31; 9:1-8/Mark 2:1-12; 9:18-26/Mark 5: 21-43). (2) He appealed to Jesus through the elders. A maxim of law states that what one does through a duly constituted agency, he himself legally does. It was common to ascribe an agent’s words and actions to the one who sent him (cf. 2nd Sam. 14:19; 2nd Kings 14:27; Esther 3:15; 8:8; Ezra 1:7-8). If a June 6, 1944, headline read, “Eisenhower invades Normandy,” would it mean he personally stormed the beach? “The president asked Congress to pass this bill” does not mean he personally addressed Congress. “Pilate took Jesus and scourged Him” (John 19:1), means Pilate ordered it. Jesus “baptized more disciples than John,” but He did it through His disciples (John 4:1-2). Whether one requests personally or through an agent makes no difference. (3) Jesus drew near the house (Luke 7:6) and marveled “at him” (7:9). It sems the centurion was in his doorway, so Jesus addressed both him and the crowd. DID JESUS MAKE A WHALE OF A MISTAKE? Since a whale is a mammal, when Jesus called Jonah’s fish a whale (Matthew 12:40 [KJV]), He made His “most famous scientific error.” Answer: Neither Jonah nor Jesus spoke English and did not use the word whale or fish. Regardless of English translations, the meaning of Jonah’s Hebrew word and Jesus’ Greek word is the same (a giant sea creature). DID YOU HEAR THE ONE ABOUT THE THREE BLIND MEN? Mark said Jesus healed one blind man named Bartimaeus at Jericho (10:46-52). Luke has “a certain blind man” (18:35-43). (Matthew said there were two blind men (20:29- 34). Matthew and Mark said the healing occurred as Jesus left Jericho; Luke said it was as He “drew nigh.” Possibilities: (1) Possibly three blind men were healed near Jericho. Luke mentions one; Mark another; and Matthew an additional one. No one said there was only one blind man healed. Bartimaeus may have been well-known and the others unknown. (2) Edward Robinson said engizo (“drew near”) can mean “to be near.” (3) There were two Jericho’s. Old Testament Jericho (Joshua 6; 1st Kings 16:34), located at Elijah’s spring, was mostly ruins in Jesus’ day. Herod the Great built a new Jericho two miles south of it. This miracle may have occurred between the two. (Part Three Next Week! Stay Tuned!) ATTENTION: We will NOT have worship services Sunday. May God Bless the Westfield Church members in their efforts. Amen. ATTENTION: Our next open-pantry day has been put on hold for a few months. Let’s not forget to restock the pantry. NOTICE: The program, ‘In Search of the Lord’s Way’, airs on Sunday mornings: On DISH Network, 7 to 7:30 a.m., local TV channel 57. On Uverse, 6:00 a.m., Sunday, ch. 1180. Check your provider if different. 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 O.T.): 1.Knowing his life was in danger, as Saul continued to seek his life; David joined which enemy nation that had caused Israel much strife? 2.He was born before his mother; he had an older and younger brother; His name will live forever, yet, he died before his father. 3.High priest I became, when Aaron expired; In his priestly garments, Moses then had me attired. Answers to Last Week’s ‘Bible Riddles’: 1. Sampson (Jud. 16:23-31); 2. Elijah (1st Kings 18:17-40); 3. Ahab (2nd Kings 10:1-11). <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><> Our memory verse for JULY comes from the New Testament book of 1st Peter. Only one verse. Easy and familiar. Repeat it over and over. You can do it. “Who is there to harm you if you prove zealous for what is good?” (1st Peter 3:13). REPEAT IT AGAIN; THEN AGAIN; TEN TIMES TEN ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Love Those Dogs: The parents of an eight-year-old were having a tough time with their son’s going off to summer camp. They had never been away from each other for a whole week. After they had not heard from him in several days, they called the camp to see if he was all right. The parents learned that he had not missed them. Prying for more information, they asked “Have any of the other children been homesick?” The boy said, “Only the ones who have dogs!” 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 Endy; Amelia Williamson; Rebecca Stone; Faye Stephens; Billie Nelson; Henderson family; Ethel & Hubert Crowson; Charles Melvin; Don Blackwell; Mildred Edmonds; Maya Briggs; Jonathan O’Brien; Ina Henry & Family; SPECIAL PRAYERS TODAY FOR…. Sis. Ethel Crowson has been moved to the Nexus Acute Care Hosp., 9182 Six Pines, Rm. 314, Woodlands, TX 77380. No visitors or phone calls. She can receive cards. Remember her in your prayers. Sis. Ina Henry doing well. Remember her and family your prayers. Bro. Jim Endy doing better at home. 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. Mildred Edmonds is fighting cancer. Remember her 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). |
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