December 11 - Elmwood Church of Christ

Elmwood
C H U RC H O F C H R I S T
Knowing christ and Making christ Known
Vol. XXXVI, No. 50 | December 11, 2012
Reflecting on our Temptations
“Then one of the Twelve - the one called Judas Iscariot - went to the
chief priests and asked, ‘What are you willing to give me if I deliver
him over to you?’ So they counted out for him thirty pieces of silver.
From then on Judas watched for an opportunity to hand him over.”
~ Matthew 26:14-16
I ran across this passage as I was casually flipping through my Bible
looking for inspiration for the newsletter article. I continued flipping
pages after I ran across this passage, but for some reason I could not
get this one out of my head.
I am not sure why, but I have always pictured the chief priests going to Judas and tempting him with this offer. That is not the way it
happened. Judas “went to the chief priests and asked...” Temptation
didn’t seek him out. He sought out temptation.
If I am honest with myself, and with you, that is the way it works in
my life at times. True, many of the times I have fallen prey to temptation it has been when temptation came looking for me. There are
times, though, when I have gone out looking for temptation. I have
foolishly believed I was strong enough to get really close to the fire
without getting burned, so to speak.
Yes, Satan does “prowl around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8), but there are times when he doesn’t have
to. Sometimes we foolishly seek him out.
Another thing that really stood out to me about this passage was the
thirty pieces of silver that Judas was offered. I was immediately taken
back to Jesus’ time spent in the wilderness being tempted by the devil. The last of the three recorded temptations speaks of the devil offering Jesus “all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor” (Matt.
4:8-9) if only Jesus would bow down and worship him.
We know the rest of the story. Jesus would not betray his Father for
all the world. It only took Judas thirty pieces of silver.
Isn’t that true of most of us? In the grand scheme of things, what
we get out of our temptations is so miniscule. Perhaps a little extra
money. Instant gratification and pleasure that will soon disappear. A
quick rise up the ladder of success. We all have our versions of thirty
pieces of silver.
Judas put Jesus on the cross for thirty pieces of silver. What Judas
didn’t know was that Jesus was offered more to avoid the cross, and
he rejected the offer.
Adventures in
Missing the Point
It’s a thing we do. We look for the
ways in which we can apply scripture
to our everyday lives. This is not a
bad thing, but sometimes, in our effort to apply The Story, we completely miss the point of what the author
of the text wanted us to know in the
first place.
Take, for instance, the story of Jesus calming the storm: In order to
turn this story into a “good class” or
“good sermon” we may think about
the “storms” in our own lives which
Jesus can calm. Or perhaps we look
at the story of David and Goliath, and
think about how we can face the “Giants” in our own lives. (There was
even a movie about that one!) But the
reality is that the purpose of those
texts is not to give us comfort when
we are facing a giant or a storm (or
a giant storm, for that matter). And
when we focus on those “life application” meanings, we miss out on
the far more important and relevant
meaning.
The story of Jesus calming the storm
in the book of Matthew ends like this:
“The men were amazed and asked,
‘What kind of man is this? Even the
winds and the waves obey him!’”
(8:27). The point of the story is not
that God will help us in the midst of a
storm, but that He is supremely powerful! How great it is to be sons and
daughters of such a powerful Father!
Birthday
Celebrations
You’re invited to attend two birthday celebrations in honor of Bill Farris’ 96th birthday. On Wednesday, December 19, you
can join the Senior Servants at 11:30 a.m.
at Golden Corral. You can also wish Bill a
Happy Birthday on Thursday, December
20th at 5:30 p.m. at MCL Cafeteria in West
Lafayette.
December 15, 6 p.m.
Youth Group Christmas Party, Boyd Home
December 16, 6:00 p.m.
Christmas Musical
December 18, 7:00 p.m.
Ladies’ Game Night, A2
December 19, 11:30 a.m.
Senior Servants to meet at Golden Corral
instead of Church Building
December 19, 7:00 p.m.
Caroling to Shut-Ins (Meet in A2)
December 23
No Evening Service
December 24, 6 p.m.
Christmas Eve Service
December 24-26
Church Office Closed
December 25 - January 1
Food Pantry Closed
December 26
No Youth Class
December 30
No Evening Service
January 14
Prayer Shawl Meeting, Hunt Home
January 15, 7:00 p.m.
Ladies’ Game Night, A2
February 15 - 17
Winterfest Youth Rally
March 29 - 31
Midwest Leadership Training for Christ
Rejoice always, pray continually,
give thanks in all circumstances...
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
We praise God that Mike Shirley was baptized into Christ last
Wednesday evening. Please pray for Mike as he begins this phase
of his walk with Christ. Beth Holt’s father, John, was hospitalized
on Friday and had to have surgery. Praise God that he came through
surgery well! Please remember John, his doctors, and the Holt family in your prayers through this time of recovery. Travis Hutchinson’s
Grandmother was admitted to the ICU this week because of a staph infection. She will
also be examined by oncologists because of suspected cancer. Please pray for her and
her family through this time of uncertainty. Jerry Allen has an egg-sized lump on the
side of his neck that is causing him quite a bit of pain. He was scheduled for a CT Scan
yesterday to help determine what the nature of the lump is. Please pray for Jerry and
Tammy and Jerry’s doctors as they work towards diagnosis and treatment.
Continue praying for: Janet Achor, Bill Adams, the Anderson Family, Mark Andrews,
Pat Arthur, Mary Lou Baugh, Betty Beck, David Black, Brent Branstetter, Carol Bowles,
Christian Coats, the Davis family, Marie DeWoody, Cindy Hathaway, Gloria Holderfield,
Beth Holt, Louise Jones, Phil Judd, Kaden Koebcke, Betty Lucas, Marceena Miller, Margie Moffitt, Joy Myers, Max Raines, Judy Riddle, Mickey & Carolyn Rigdon, Lisa Shu,
Bob Stafford, Judy Stark, Chris Strountz, Cecil Thomas, Rut Tirado, Larry Todd, Everette
and Thelma Venable, Linda Weeks, and Wanita White.
Continue to remember the following people who are home-bound or in a nursing care facility: Ethel Cable, Ruth Carter, Hattie Coffel, Henrietta Frampton, Phyllis
Gray, Delores Hill, Dovie Hurst, Paul Marks, Charles & Carolyn Moore, Irene Sims, Valley
Stockton, Mary Walker, and Dorothy Walters.
In the military: Joe Mazzetta, Loren Sniffin, and Zach Whiteman
Thank you for all the prayers, cards, emails, calls, words of encouragement, visits, and other purposeful acts of kindness shown to Amy and
me relating to my recent surgery. The test results are back and all indications are that the surgery was successful in eliminating the prostate
cancer. I feel good and am getting back to a fairly routine schedule. God
is good - all the time.
- Bill Hodges
Dear Elmwood Family,
Wow! I can’t thank all of you enough for everything you did to make Christmas for Everyone
a success. Y’all make it easy to coordinate this effort because so many of you step into roles
and fill needs without needing to be asked. I’m overwhelmed by your response to CFE this year.
As a family, you made sure that 123 kiddos from 53 families will have something to open on
Christmas morning. You made Christ known to the parents who walked through our doors with
your kindness, thoughtfulness, and generosity. There are too many people who took on extra
roles for me to thank you individually here. Please know that you are appreciated and that your
service makes a HUGE difference in the lives of the families we serve and in the lives of other
people in our Elmwood family through your examples of loving, Christ-like service. I’ve been so
blessed by working with all of you for CFE this year - I’m already looking forward to next year!
Grace and peace, Rachel Ravellette
To see more events, visit
www.elmwood-church.org/wp/upcoming-events/
December 9, 2012
First Service: 87
Bible Study: 149
Second Service: 177
Contribution: $7,297.00
ELMWOOD CHURCH OF CHRIST newsletter (USPS 758-630) is published weekly,
except the week of Christmas, by the Elmwood Church of Christ, 2501 Elmwood
Ave., Lafayette 47904. Periodical postage paid at Lafayette, IN. POSTMASTER:
send address changes to ELMWOOD CHURCH OF CHRIST, 2501 Elmwood Ave.,
Lafayette, IN 47904.
Snow
Servants
The Snow Servant for the week is Dave Weckerly.
If we experience winter weather and you need help
with light snow removal, please contact Dave at
765.564.4155.
Attention 3rd 12th Graders!
It’s time to sign up for
Leadership Training for
Christ!
You have until this Sunday, December 16, to donate to the Christmas
Card Fund. This year, the Fund will benefit World Christian Broadcasting. You can learn more about
WCB at worldchristian.org. To donate to the Christmas Card fund,
simply write “Christmas Card
Fund” on your giving envelope
(not on your check). Your gift will
spread the love and joy of Christmas to Christians listening to
WCB all over the world!
LTC 2013
Youth Group Christmas Party
Plan to attend the Youth Group Christmas party this Saturday,
December 15 at the Boyd home. The evening will be packed with
several fun activities:
•
Leadership Training for Christ (LTC) is scheduled for
March 29-31 and the theme is “The Extra Mile.” In the
coming months, we will focus on Matthew as a course
of study and the idea of “The Extra Mile” as an overall
theme.
Jesus taught his disciples to not be bound by the law,
but to exceed the law in love and service to others. In
the midst of several examples of this principle, Jesus
says, “If someone forces you to go one mile, go with
him two miles.” We see in this statement that though
the Jews could be compelled to go one mile with a Roman soldier, Jesus said to go two. He wants us to go
beyond just what is required.
LTC participants can participate in events that are
preconvention and those that are presented during the
LTC weekend. See details for each event on the LTC
bulletin board in the Education Wing hallway or talk
to Bill and Carol Bell or Barb Tilley to find answers
to your questions. The cost is $40 and each participant will receive a T-shirt, plaque, and plates celebrating each event in which they participate. Registration
forms will be distributed within the next week or you
can find copies on the LTC board. The forms need to
be returned to Carol or Barb by the end of December.
Elmwood members can be ready to get involved as
coaches starting in January or as door monitors and
judges during LTC.
Keep an eye out for more news during this exciting
time for our youth as they go “The Extra Mile.”
- Barb Tilley
•
At 5 p.m., come with two dozen sugar cookies made from your
favorite sugar cookie recipe. From 5 - 6 p.m., you’ll be able to
decorate your sugar cookies in preparation for sharing them
with shut-ins when we go caroling the following Wednesday.
There will be a contest for the best cookie and best-decorated
cookie.
The party itself will kick off at 6 p.m. and will include dinner, an
ugly sweater contest and more. Be sure to bring a $5 gift for
the white elephant gift exchange.
If you have any questions, please contact Josh, Gina, or Yssa.
Holiday
Gift Lift
In the Farris Foyer, there is a box to collect items for Mental Health
America’s Holiday Gift Lift. This drive supports Tippecanoe County
adults with mental challenges who would otherwise be forgotten
during the holidays. You can make a cash donation (100% of all donations go to purchase gifts) or donate new, unwrapped items. The
most needed items include: long underwear, flannel shirts, sleepwear,
wash cloths and towels, sweat-suits, and warm socks - especially in
sizes large and extra-large. Donations of personal toiletry items are
also welcome.
If you will be in town on Christmas Eve, please join us at 6
p.m. for a Christmas Eve Service. You and your family can
spend time in worship, communion, and prayer with the
rest of our Elmwood Family
as we take time to celebrate
the coming of our Lord Jesus
Christ.
2012 Spiritual Adventures
Read:
Week 51: December 16 - 22
Jonah 1:1 - Haggai 2:23
Revelation 4:1 - 11:19
Psalms 133:1 - 139:24
Proverbs 29:26 - 30:16
Revelation 4:1-6
At the beginning of the epic that is Revelation, John is given a vision of God upon his throne in the midst of his heavenly
council ruling heaven and earth. The vision, however, is not about an ultimate “heaven” that is the final resting place for
God’s people. Rather, John is summoned to “heaven” as it is now. He is summoned to witness what is going on now as God
rules creation and to report it back to his churches. In a torrent of mytho-poetic language, John offers us a rich, dense, and
at times challenging description of the mercy, awe, and beauty that is our God.
Noteworthy is his concluding description in this initial passage. John writes, “In front of the throne there was something
like a sea of glass, like crystal.” In 1Kings 7, we recall that Solomon’s temple had a great bronze “sea.” Later, in Revelation
15, this heavenly “sea” becomes––for the faithfully enduring people of God––like the Red Sea through which Israel passed.
This “sea” is chaos, the anti-creation forces currently and dangerously at work in creation. But why is it in heaven? Isn’t
heaven eternally at peace? Not in John’s view. In Revelation 12, war breaks out in heaven and evil itself, the dragon, wars
against Michael and his angels. The “sea” is there because, while evil is an unresolved mystery, it does not lie outside of
God’s sovereign purposes for creation. John wants us to know that God is aware and watching the chaos swirling within his
creation. When we confront and groan against the great waves of evil crashing over the world, God wants us, straight off, to
know he has taken evil into account as he implements his restorative plan for creation. In a world drowning in the chaos of
evil, we are, at our core, to be assured and at peace. We are to trust God’s sovereign plan for His creation and to live towards
the great hope that is “new creation,” for as we discover in Revelation 21, in the new creation – the New Jerusalem that
comes down from heaven to the earth - “there is no longer any sea.”
- David W. Hunt
weekly schedule
Sunday
Worship
8:00 a.m. & 10:45 a.m.
Bible Study
9:30 a.m.
LIFE Groups or Evening Assembly
6:00 p.m.
Wednesday
Bible Study
Shepherds
Bill Bell
Joe Mathews
Joe Ruhl
Rick Swensen
Don Vice
ministers
7:00 p.m.
Church Office Hours
Monday - Friday, 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Rachel Ravellette, Office Manager
Carol Bell, Administrative Assistant
463.1139
474.8369
463.7012
463.6822
471.8653
world missions
Kevin Chambers
World Christian Broadcasting
Anchor Point, Alaska 99556
Loren & Penny Hollingsworth
Phuket, Thailand 83000
Email: lholly54@yahoo.com
Senior Minister
Gilbert Kerrigan
4 1 8.3652
Campus Minister
Phil Travis
Elmwood
C H U RC H O F C H R I S T
2501 Elmwood Ave, Lafayette, IN 47904
Phone :: 765.447.2874 | Fax :: 765.447.0878
office@elmwood-church.org | www.elmwood-church.org
743.0954
Bren & Cheryl White
Operation French World
www.ofwmissions.com
PO Box 245, New Market, MD 21774
Periodicals
Postage
Christian Student Center @ Purdue University
115 Waldron St
West Lafayette, IN 47906
765.743.0954
PAID
at
Lafayette, IN