You Need A Ruler

Here is a question. Are the longer lines parallel or do they waver? Looking at the picture sure makes them seem as though they are not parallel. However, they are. All you have to do is take a ruler and measure the distance between the lines at each end, and you will see that they are truly parallel to each other. The short diagonal lines that run through the long ones distort our perception.

There is an important lesson in this. Life is filled with short diagonal lines that will distort our perception. These short diagonal lines come in many forms. Many of them are barely recognizable. They enter into us in large doses through the television. They bombard our minds through our ears in the music we listen to. They reshape how we perceive the place of our friends, jobs, possessions, the money we make and what success in life is. This distortion can have grave consequences. The desire to be popular. The need to be accepted. The drive to accumulate. The urge to find significance in doing more and more. The longing to climb higher in life. And the list can go on and on. These are all part of the culture we live in. They may seem harmless. They may even appear to be commendable. But are these godly values?

God has give us a rulers that will help keep the world from distorting our perception on what is truly important in life. Paul makes a couple of statements that indicate we need to look deeper into the life that God has provided for us.

“. while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal” (2 Cor 4:18).

“I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints” (Eph 1:18).

In order to see things from God’s perspective, we need to live above the world. In other words, we need to walk with, talk with, reflect with, and work with God side by side so much that we can see the world through God’s perspective. Slowing down for devotional time will enable us to make all time God time and life above the world while yet in the world. If you are not already doing so, plan to spend time every single day in reading, reflection, and prayer. And take it with you when you leave. That is your ruler.

John Telgren
Qohelet Web Ministry
Leavenworth Church of Christ,
Leavenworth Kansas

Prayer Requests

A note from Josh Mongan.

Everyone,

I had mentioned a few weeks ago that my cousin Christie (16 yrs old) had a bad car wreck (she dropped her cell phone and was trying to find it while driving) and was in critical condition. Christie as of today is paralyzed from the armpits down and is in rehab for the 10 weeks as she just was released from intensive care today. There are some hopes of full or partial recovery but that is not for certain. There is a real possibility that she will not walk again and if she does it will come slowly.

To this point Christie has had surgery to remove bone from her hip and repair three crushed vertebra, as well as the typical things that go with this type of injury, feeding tube, tracheotomy, neck brace etc.

Christie is a member of the church of Christ where my parents attend in Mississippi. She is a member of the church despite her being the only member of her immediate family to attend church of any type. More than anything right now Christie needs the encouragement and prayers of other Christians both for her physical and spiritual health. My hope is that her family will see an outpouring of love from the church and be influenced by it.

Christie is athletic and full of energy and her favorite thing to do is pitch softball. She also plays basketball and most other sports. She has sworn she will pitch again! Please encourage her.

Christie looks forward to mail more than anything right now. Please take a moment and write here a letter or e-mail. To e-mail her visit the web site below or go to grandviewchurchofchrist.org and click on the link there. You will need to following information in order to e-mail her. If you are close to Christie’s age I am sure she would especially appreciate hearing from you.

http://secure.shepherd.org/shepherdhomepage.nsf/Message!OpenForm

To send Christie a letter please sent it to:

Christie Williams
RM 200C
Shepherd Center
2020 Peachtree Rd., NW
Atlanta, GA 30309

If you would like to give financially to a fund, which will help allow Christie’s mother to stay by her side for the next 10 weeks during her therapy, please give your money to one of the elders. These funds will go to hotel room expenses and food for her mother Deonne. Any excess funds will be used to remodel her bathroom at home to make it handicap accessible. We will plan on ending financial collections on January 10 th and will send the funds along with a letter from the Grandview Church to Christie.

In Him,
Joshua Mongan

Pray for John Dulaney’s mother Mary, who is recovering at home from a severe allergic reaction to medication given in the ER on December 29th. Her allergic reaction was misdiagnosed as a severe stroke for 2½ days. Mary’s paralysis is gone and her voice has returned. John plans to return to Des Moines in a week.

Millie Buxton has had continued problems with her eyes. Please keep praying that the spots she sees in her eyes will go away.

Lou Kelley is in the hospital this weekend to remove excess fluid. She suffers from congestive heart failure, and has had to have this done several times. Please keep Lou in your prayers.

Kate Wurtz, McClaran’s neighbor just received bad news about her cancer. Doctors have told her she has about three months to live without treatment, and possibly nine months to live with chemotherapy.

Bob McClaran’s neighbor, Dan, learned that his spinal cancer has gotten worse. Please continue to remember Dan in prayer

Please continue to pray for:

• Preacher search, that God will send the right man
• Jorden Kuyrkendall, who had a blood infection
• Donna Butcher, Karen Belk’s sister, who has multiple health concerns
• Vicki Bennett, Jake Ferrell’s mother, has emphysema
• Pam Dorrell’s dad, recovering from a fall
• Ruth Short, having neck pain
• Gerri Phelps uncle, Marion Stark, recovering from West Nile
• Brenda Johnson’s mother, Rose Nichols has pancreatic cancer
• Steve South, Darin Thompson, Phil Blankenship searching for jobs
• Terry Bonnett, Sherri Lange’s brother, stationed in Kuwait
• Bob McClaran, recovering from a stroke
• Karen Carico, Karen Hardy, Bob Kunce, Kim Greer’s father, who have cancer
• Walter Meyer and Kimball Matkins, who have ALS
• Willetta Stafford, Betty Demi, Bertha Jones, Lou Kelley who are shut in
• John Singer and his health concerns
• Jackie Harp, who has bronchial fibrosis

News & Notes

It’s time to prepare for Bible Bowl 2007! We will be studying Acts 13-26. We will be putting teams together to compete in the K-6 grade, 7-12 grade, and adult division at the Hickman Road congregation on Saturday, February 17th from 9:30 am – 1:30 pm. Practice for the K-12 will be Sundays from 4 to 6 pm beginning today. See Donna Bailey if your child is interested in participating.

Sign up now to make a cake for our All-Church Birthday Party on January 19th. Nine spots are still open!

Today is the first day for our new attended nursery, which will be in the cradle roll room through the east doors on the left side of the auditorium. This room is for children two years old and under, and will be supervised today by Rachel Johnson and Tammy Sparks.

The regular nursery is still in back of the library at the rear of the auditorium. It is for nursing and feeding mothers only, please. For your convenience, there are also changing tables in the men’s and women’s restroom for those that need them.

The Sonbeams will be going for breakfast this coming Tuesday, January 9th at 8:30 am at Country Kitchen on North East 14th.

One month down and two to go. Make sure you line up your F.I.S.H. dinner dates. Great fellowship is always a blessing!! -Joe

We will sing at Karen Acres on Sunday, January 21 at 2:00 pm. Please join your voices with ours to glorify our Lord before these precious people.

Don’t forget that we are still collecting magazines for the residents at Karen Acres. Please leave your magazines in the box next to the bulletin table in the fellowship hall.

Central Iowa Missions: This week, Mike Melvin will speak in the morning, and Darin Thompson will speak in the evening. Darin Thompson will also speak at Ogden this morning. Next week, Art Wallis will speak in the morning, and Mike Dorrell will speak in the evening. Darin Thompson will speak at Blockton in the morning.

TV · Radio · Web

In SEARCH of the Lord’s Way
TV: 8:00 AM Sundays on KDSM
Web: www.searchtv.org

Gospel Broadcasting Network
Web: www.gbntv.org

International Gospel Hour
Radio: 8:30 pm Sundays, 1520 AM
Web: www.gospelhour.net

Grandview Church of Christ
Web: grandviewchurchofchrist.org

AM Sermon

Mike Melvin – “…Through the Grapevine ”
Reading: John 15:1-11

PM Sermon

Darin Thompson

Birthdays & Anniversaries

Jan 9	Paul Augspurger
Jan 10	Orrin Nearhoof
Jan 12	JoAnn Wilson
Jan 13	Marge Nearhoof
Jan 13	Jess Mort

For the Record

	 Giving	 AM	 PM	 Wed
Last Week		134	76	91
5 Week Avg	3196	138	80	86
2006 YTD Avg	3438	142	94	99
2005 YTD Avg	3581	143	97	96

Calendar of Events (See also the Iowa Churches of Christ Calendar of Events)