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| SEPTEMBER 20, 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: We are having Church services at 10:00 a.m., until further notice. 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 SEPTEMBER 2nd Hubert Crowson; 6th Sylvia Vera; 6th Don Henderson; 14th Ramona Walker; 16th Brittany Clayton; 19th Reagan Begnaud; 22nd Margo Dearing; 27th Sheryl Loyd; 30th Elliha Baker; HAPPY ANNIVERSARY FOR SEPTEMBER 24th Jeff & Ramona Walker; READING THE NEW TESTAMENT: TITUS Chapter 1:1-16: Salutation: Paul, a bond-servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, for the faith of those chosen of God and the knowledge of the truth which is according to godliness, in the hope of eternal life, which God, who cannot lie, promised long ages ago, but at the proper time manifested, even His Word, in the proclamation with which I was entrusted according to the commandment of God our Savior. To Titus, my true child in a common faith: Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior. Qualifications of Elders: For this reason I left you in Crete, that you would set in order what remains and appoint elders in every city as I directed you, namely, if any man is above reproach, the husband of one wife, having children who believe, not accused of dissipation or rebellion. For the overseer must be above reproach as God’s steward, not self-willed, not quick- tempered, not addicted to wine, not pugnacious, not fond of sordid gain, but hospitable, loving what is good, sensible, just, devout, self-controlled, holding fast the faithful word which is in accordance with the teaching, so that he will be able both to exhort in sound doctrine and to refute those who contradict. For there are many rebellious; me, empty talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision, who must be silenced because they are upsetting whole families, teaching things they should not teach for the sake of sordid gain. Of themselves, a prophet of their own, said, “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.” This testimony is true. For this reason reprove them severely so that they may be sound in the faith, not paying attention to Jewish myths and commandments of men who turn away from the truth. To the pure, all things are pure, but to those who are defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure, but both their mind and their conscience are defiled. They profess to know God, but by their deeds they deny Him, being detestable and disobedient and worthless for any good deed. (More Next Week! Stay Tuned!) WHY DOES GOD ALLOW SUFFERING? Part Two of Two: By Allen Webster, Heart to Heart/House to House Bulletin To recap from last week: In view of recent events, one writer suggested that we all “boycott God.” The writer proposed that if we all stopped praying, attending church, and praising Him, that this just might make Him stop killing so many people in tragic disasters. Upon reflection, we can see the impossibility of God intervening in every disaster. Every evil that befalls His children. Why doesn’t God do something? We saw that People would live in chaos. God is a God of order. People would become reckless. God wants His children to be prudent and careful. Now for Part Two: PEOPLE WOULD FAIL TO DEVELOP SPIRITUALLY In example, the moth struggles within its cocoon. If it is somehow released before its time, it will wander aimlessly and soon die. The struggle it has within the cocoon to development gives it the growth, strength in its wings, to be born as a beautiful butterfly, to display its beauty as God intended. Without the struggle within the cocoon, the moth will not live. Without the challenges of life for a Christian, we would become shallow, selfish, and spoiled. Hardships teach us patience, endurance, resilience, courage, and self-sacrifice. God’s goal is our spiritual growth. He wants us to mature to be like Christ—pure, righteous, wise, and loving (2 Cor. 3:18; James 1:2-4; 1 Peter 2:2; 2 Peter 3:18). Our suffering helps us to comfort others (2 Cor. 1:3-4); Therefore, hardships are necessary. PEOPLE WOULD COMPLAIN THAT THEIR FREE WILL WAS TAKEN AWAY Sometimes people think they want God to intervene, but perhaps it is not that simple. The trade-off would be more than bargained for. People do not want God to intercept every evil act or thought. They want to be free to make the wrong decisions as well as the right ones. God gave us volition (the right to make voluntary decisions) (Joshua 24:15); (allowing us to choose our own path (Prov. 14: 12). He desires that we serve Him out of love (John 14:15; Rev. 22:17), but He will not force us to do so (Luke 13:34; Rev. 3:20). With volition, consequences naturally follow. PEOPLE WOULD FOLLOW CHRIST FOR THE WRONG REASONS If God protected His followers from all harm, then people would follow Christ for physical rather than spiritual reasons. If no Christian ever got cancer, had a heart attack, suffered from a disease or was injured in an accident, would churches have any problem baptizing people? Every patient in every hospital, rehab center, and nursing home would line up at the door waiting a turn.Jesus strongly desires that all follow Him (Matt. 11:28; 1 Tim. 2:4), but He wants followers to understand the need for the healing of the eternal soul, not just the earthly body (1 Peter 2:24). Back to “boycotting God.” C. S. Lewis observed, “A man can no more diminish God’s glory by refusing to worship Him, than a lunatic can put out the sun by scribbling the word ‘darkness’ on the walls of his cell.” David wrote, “The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord, and against His anointed, saying, Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us. He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision” (Psalm 2:2-4). Instead of boycotting God, let’s serve Him. Instead of blaspheming, let’s bless His Name. Truly, “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts” (Isaiah 55:9). We can trust God. Amen. NOTICE: We are having worship today at 10:00 a.m., for everyone. We plan to have services next Sunday and the next, if the Lord Wills. The speaker will be announced later. May God bless the Westfield Church and its efforts to present the gospel to the world. Amen. ATTENTION: Let’s not forget to restock the pantry. As a reminder, the pantry is ‘always’ open. If you know of any that have a need that can be supplied by the pantry items, you can get access to the pantry at any time with a phone call. May God bless the volunteers in their effort to help others in 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.I believed not the angel Gabriel, who prophesied for me a son of note; For this I was unable to speak, until “His name is John,” I wrote. 2.Do not despise persecution, nor discouraged, be hastened; Rebuke and scourges come, “For whom the Lord loves He _______,” 3.Without this in our heart, the Hebrew writer says it can’t be done; For it’s impossible to please God, unless we possess the only one. Answers to Last Week’s ‘Bible Riddles’: 1. John (Book of Revelation); 2.Pharisees & Scribes (Mark 7:1-8); 3. Herod (Acts 12:1-4, 20-24). <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><> Our memory verse for September comes from the New Testament book of 1st John. Only one verse. Easy and familiar. Repeat it over and over. You can do it. “Little children, let us not love with word or with tongue But in deed and truth” (1st John 3:18). REPEAT IT AGAIN; THEN AGAIN; TEN TIMES TEN BUT, I AM FAITHFUL . . . ! A preacher was asked to define “faithful attendance at worship.” He replied that the best way to understand it was to apply the same standards of faithfulness that we do in other areas of our life. Consider His examples: If your car started one out of three times, would you consider it faithful. If the paperboy missed Monday and Thursday, would those papers be missed? If you didn’t show up at work randomly, would your boss call you faithful? If you attend worship only often enough to show a little interest but not enough to get involved, would you be considered faithful. God is faithful! Why not show the same diligence to Him, who has done so much for us, to demonstrate His faithfulness? 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; Ethel & Hubert Crowson; Don Blackwell; Maya Briggs; J. O’Brien; Ina Henry & Family; SPECIAL PRAYERS TODAY FOR…. Sis. Ethel Crowson is now back at the home nursing facility, 830 Hodgkins, Hou., TX, 77032. She is doing better but she is still having extensive medical problems. Remember her, Hubert and family in your prayers. Sis. Ina Henry doing well. Remember her and family in 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. 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) |