Breathing God

After this, the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision: “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward. ” But Abram said, “O Sovereign LORD, what can you give me since I remain childless and the one who will inherit my estate is Eliezer of Damascus?” And Abram said, “You have given me no children; so a servant in my household will be my heir.” Then the word of the LORD came to him: “This man will not be your heir, but a son coming from your own body will be your heir.” He took him outside and said, “Look up at the heavens and count the stars–if indeed you can count them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring be.” Abram believed the LORD, and he credited it to him as righteousness (Genesis 15:1-6).

Knowing the end of the story it is easy to say, “Of course Abram believed God!” However, place yourself in the shoes of Abram. While things had been going pretty well since God told Abram to pack up and move—this is a little different from an extraordinary increase in cattle, sheep, donkeys, camels, and servants. We are talking about God giving a child to a couple which, because of age, is a physical impossibility. Of course, God doesn’t stop there, He goes on to talk about Abram’s offspring and countless stars. While this in itself is interesting enough, my main fascination lies in Abram’s response, “Abram believed the Lord.”( Genesis 15:16) How is this possible? How could he believe something like this? You see God negates the impossible. While the world may consider it foolish, a wise person will place their faith in God and believe His promises every time.

Just today, I heard once again about the supposed “bones of Jesus” that is flooding the media. Satan would like to plant the idea in our minds that this is possible—undermining the whole foundation of Christianity. What is shocking to me is that someone could believe, at best, a very questionable box of bones over fact. Here are facts: If gravity were any more we would be unable to breathe, any less and we would float off this water covered ball. If the earth were a fraction closer or further away from the sun, (which just happens to be the exact type and size to support life), life could not exist. If water did not have the ability to convert into three different forms, with the solid form having the ability to float, life could not exist. How about oxygen—any tweaking and all life is destroyed. All of these things and countless others are examples of what is called the “Anthropic Principal,” a fancy way of saying the earth was designed for man. I think I would rather take this as proof of God than anything Satan can throw at me.

Here is the point. Without being able to ask him, I do not know why Abram believed God. I can give you my suspicions. I think Abram experienced too much of God to not believe. Because of this belief it was, “Credited to him as righteousness.” (Genesis 15:16) God credits belief. In my life I too have experienced God, and do so with every breath I take, therefore, I also choose to believe. Furthermore, I acknowledge Him as, “My shield and my very great reward.” Breathing God—there’s nothing like it! Wade

Wade McKnight
Centerville, Ohio

Prayer Requests

Sophina Pirtle responded to the invitation last week, and asked for our prayers, that she would be who God wants her to be. Saphina is Keith Maclin’s niece, and lives here in Des Moines. Keith is a former Grandview member who now lives in Atlanta, Georgia.

Jorden Kuyrkendall was in the hospital on Wednesday with a 103 fever last Sunday. Please keep him in your prayers.

Lyndsay Gordon’s cousin’s daughter, Morgan, who lives in Wisconsin has been in the hospital in Green Bay with repeated infections. Doctors are trying to discover the cause of caused by an immune system that is not working properly. Her blood and protein counts that are very low as well. Please keep Morgan in your prayers.

Rebekah Kuyrkendall has lost her job, and asks for us to pray for her as she looks for a job.

Linda Kaiser is scheduled to have repair surgery on her foot March 21st. Doctors say she will probably be off from work for two weeks, and it will take 6 months for complete healing. Please keep Linda in your prayers.

Please continue to pray for:

• Preacher search, that God will send the right man
• Pam Dorrell’s grandfather recovering from injuries sustained in a fall
• Pam Dorrell’s grandmother, who is gravely ill
• Glenn Stevens, having difficulty walking
• Sherri Lange’s brother, Terry Bonnet, in Kuwait
• Millie Buxton, continued problems seeing clearly due to spots
• Cristie Williams, Josh Mongan’s cousin, paralyzed below the arms
• Kate Wurtz, Bob & Gene McClaran’s neighbor has terminal cancer
• Donna Butcher, Karen Belk’s sister, who has multiple health concerns
• Brenda Johnson’s mother, Rose Nichols has pancreatic cancer
• Steve South, Darin Thompson, searching for jobs
• 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

News & Notes

The Tent Chapel congregation in Blockton is a Central Iowa Missions success story. We will not be sending anyone to Blockton again until later in the fall. The success of the program has been that CIM has been able to find two different men from out-of-state, who can live in the Blockton area and work full-time with the congregation for several months each, during the spring, summer, and early fall. This means the congregation has someone working with them in a full-time way for many months out of the year! Our thanks to those of you in the CIM program who continue to go out to preach from time to time. Take a little break from Blockton during the warm weather and be prepared to go to back to Blockton/Tent Chapel again in the fall. – Art

The Mexico Mission Team left Friday morning at 5:40 am, headed south to pick up six other team members. Darin Thompson joined the team at the last minute. Please keep each person on the team in your prayers this week.

Central Iowa Missions: This week, Art Wallis will speak at Grandview in the morning, and Orrin Nearhoof will speak in the evening. Next week, Orrin Nearhoof will speaking at Grandview in the morning, and Darin Thompson will speak in the evening.

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

Art Wallis: “An Appeal For Unity”
Reading: 1 Corinthians: 1:10-18

PM Sermon

Orrin Nearhoof : “Faith Walkers ”
Reading: 2 Corinthians 5:5-8

Birthdays & Anniversaries

Mar 18	Joe Breton
Mar 18	Doris Gaulke
Mar 22	Bertha Jones
Mar 22	Paul & Debbie Nieves
Mar 22	Jenna Mort
Mar 22	Tate & Susan Sinclair
Mar 24	Benton McClaran
Mar 24	Benton Jr. McClaran
Mar 24	Deb Kuper
Mar 24	Millie Buxton

For the Record

	Giving	AM	PM	Wed
Last Week	5945	121	60	95
5 Week Avg	4045	114	78	92
2007 YTD Avg	2919	112	76	85
2006 YTD Avg	3890	151	107	97

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