| JUNE 21, 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 been put on hold for a period of time. We will still put out a bulletin and send it to all members. “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 JUNE 1st John Higgins; 5th Jai Walker; 18th Thomas Lee; 24th Ethan Higgins; 30th Willia Osby; HAPPY ANNIVERSARY FOR JUNE 2nd Jim & Sande Endy; 24th Steven & Cyndi Middleton; READING THE NEW TESTAMENT: SECOND THESSALONIANS: Chapter 3:1-18: Exhortation: Finally, brethren, pray for us that the word of the Lord will spread rapidly and be glorified, just as it did also with you; and that we will be rescued from perverse and evil men; for not all have faith. But the Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen and protect you from the evil one. We have confidence in the Lord concerning you, that you are doing and will continue to do what we command. May the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God and into the steadfastness of Christ. Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep away from every brother who leads an unruly life and not according to the tradition which you received from us. For you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example, because we did not act in an undisciplined manner among you, nor did we eat anyone’s bread without paying for it, but with labor and hardship we kept working night and day so that we would not be a burden to any of you; not because we do not have the right to this, but in order to offer ourselves as a model for you, so that you would follows our example. For even when we were with you, we used to give you this order: if anyone is not willing to work, then he is not to eat, either. For we hear that some among you are leading an undisciplined life, doing no work at all, but acting like busybodies. Now such persons we command and exhort in the Lord Jesus Christ to work in quiet fashion and eat their own bread. But as for you, brethren, do not grow weary of doing good. If anyone does not obey our instruction in this letter, take special note of that person and do not associate with him, so that he will be put to shame. Yet do not regard him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother. Now may the Lord of peace Himself continually grant you peace in every circumstance. The Lord be with you all! I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand, and this is a distinguishing mark in every letter; this is the way I write. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Put Down Your Phone! By Johnathan Banning, Herty Church of Christ, Lufkin, Texas Early one Sunday morning, Lexi, our beloved German Shepherd, shattered my phone. No, she didn’t chew on it. She simply knocked it over in a fit of excitement, leaving me holding a shattered mess. This was not your run-of-the-mill single crack in the screen. No sir, we’re talking about an innumerable quantity of cracks and breaks, dislodged jagged pieces of phone screen falling out daily, and gaping holes. In terms of broken iPhones, this was the Hindenburg. To be sure, it was a hassle trying to accomplish anything on a phone in that condition. The holes in the glass made it nearly impossible to go back a page on the internet and the cracks made reading emails a painstaking process, but the circumstance wasn’t a total loss. It got me to thinking about just how strong of a grip my phone had on me. I used it a lot. In First Corinthians 6:12, Paul warns Christians about being “mastered.” Sometimes created things, which are intended to make our lives better, end up taking over our lives. Paul’s point is this: under the Law of Christ no food is denied. We are free to eat anything. Still, if a man is mastered by his appetite he transgresses, even if every piece of food he eats is clean. Maybe Christians should consider Paul’s point here as it relates to our devices. Everything you do on your phone may be “clean,” but even clean things can master us. Do your devices dominate your life? I’d rather not try to lay down hard and fast rules about our electronic escapades. Instead, I’d like to just provide you with a few thoughts I’ve had about our devices. Will you allow me to? I wonder if our tools have become our distractions. We get defensive whenever someone begins to ask questions about our use of electronics. I know because I get defensive, too. We defend ourselves by saying, “It is a tool; it is something we need!” and “We need it for safety, for work, and don’t forget that it is so useful in evangelism!” True enough. No one can honestly deny the effective applications of our devices, but the question isn’t whether it is a tool. The question is whether I’m allowing my tool to become my distraction, whether I’m allowing my phone to do more harm than good. For some of us, myself included, the phone, TV, iPad has crossed the line. No longer is it something we use, it is something we do. It may aid us, but wse also allow it to distract us from accomplishing good things. It is laziness dressed up as activity, the sluggard’s 21st century disguise. Go to the ant, brothers and sisters, observe and ask, “How would he use his phone?” (Proverbs 6:6-11). I wonder if our connection has led to family disconnection. Both parents and grandparents bemoan the phone. They can’t get their young ones to talk to them. “They’re always on their phones.” Their young ones complain, also. They want the attention of their parents but can’t get it, because dad is watching the game or mom is checking Facebook or Pinterest. We live in a time where we wear out our couches faster than our dining room chairs and tables. Is it possible that my addiction to entertainment has prevented me giving my family the time, love and instruction they require? Turn off the devices and focus on our homes (Eph. 6:4). More thoughts: Are our devices robbing God? Is God taking a back-seat to electricity? Do you pray more than you check your texts? Have you ever used your device during worship? Could you leave your device at home or in your car? Have you checked your device since you started reading this article? Are your eyes set on the things above or on the blue glow of the screen. Maybe my device has more power over me than I thought. Use to be, “I can’t wait to get home to check my answering machine.” Today, we don’t have to wait. “I bring my sins to Thee, the sins I cannot count; That all may cleansed be in Thy once opened fount; I bring them, Savior, all to Thee; The burden is too great for me; The burden is too great for me!” ATTENTION: We will have worship services Sunday, at 10:00 a.m. 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.How the youth laughed at me, for my head was nearly bald; They regretted their folly when by two bears they were mauled. 2.Joseph was my first born, his birth brought much joy; Death then came upon me, with the birth of Benjamin, another boy. 3.Hadassah was my Jewish handle, a brave queen was my fame; By studying the Old Testament, you’ll know my Persian name. Answers to Last Week’s ‘Bible Riddles’: 1. Joseph (Gen. 50:24-26); 2.Hannah (1st Sam. 1:8-11); 3.Goshen (Gen. 45:17-28; 47:1). <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><> Our memory verse for JUNE comes from the New Testament book of Romans. Only one verse. Easy and familiar. Repeat it over and over, ten times ten. You can do it. “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good” (Romans 12:21). REPEAT IT AGAIN; THEN AGAIN; TEN TIMES TEN 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; SPECIAL PRAYERS TODAY FOR…. Sis. Ethel Crowson was admitted to the Tomball Hosp. for observation No visitors. Hold up on the phone calls. Remember her in your prayers. Bro. Hubert Crowson has been under the care of his heart doctor due to some problems. It has been decided that what is needed is a pacemaker. Last Friday morning one was installed and everything seems to be running much better. Just a day or so makes a difference. Remember him in prayers. Bro. Jonathan O’Brien doing well. Remember him and family in 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. Sis. Billie Nelson needs our prayers. Remember Ken, Beverly, and Kamryn Fillyaw in your prayers. Remember Bro. Cotton Weaver in your prayers. Sis Amelia Williamson doing better. Remember her in 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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