Western Hills Christian Church: “You are family here!”

SEE YA Sunday Volume XLIV, Issue 14, July 2, 2008

During my devotional reading, I read 1 Thessalonians 4:16 18 and those verses really struck home to me. They are not long verses, in fact they are very short verses, but they are packed with great wisdom. Paul advises us to establish three habits in our life.

First he says to live a joyful life always. He doesn’t say that we should be joyful only when everything is going our way, but to be joyful in all circumstances. Why would he say that? I think it is because without joy in our life, we just aren’t going to be very good examples for others. Who wants to be around a sour person? Not anyone I know. Is a grumpy person going to be a very effective witness in the community? Probably not! Can you begin to understand why we need to have joy in our lives?

Secondly, he tells us to pray continually. Notice that Paul doesn’t say to pray when it is convenient for us or just when we are desperate; he tells us to pray all the time. By keeping the lines of communication open with the Lord we are able to respond to his needs and his guidance.

Finally he advises us to give thanks in all circumstances. It is pretty easy to be thankful when everything is going our way, but there will be times when life has us down and we are to give thanks for those circumstances as well. Trust me, that is hard to do. I know that I don’t say thanks enough to the people in my life; both at home and here at the church. So here goes my shot at giving thanks.

I would like to give a GREAT BIG THANKS to Kathy Radtke for doing a great job directing the VBS program this summer. There were many new faces this year and hopefully we will be able to keep some of them during the coming years as part of the WHCC family. Thanks Kathy and everyone who worked so hard at making this a successful VBS.

I would like to say thanks to the elders of the church for their commitment to moving WHCC in the direction God is leading. It is not always an easy task, but they are committed to doing God’s will and being men of God. I am thankful for their leadership and friendship.

I would like to say thanks to the Ministry team leaders and the many, many hours of work that they and their teams do to keep the ministries of the church working. They are truly laborers in God’s kingdom.

I would like to say thanks to all of you here at WHCC for being patient as we have torn up the building and then remodeled, as we have reorganized ministries to more effectively minister to people, as we have moved, sometimes painfully, in the direction God is leading us. Thanks for your support and prayers.

This is a great church filled with good people and I am convinced has a great future as we move ahead doing the work of God’s kingdom.

Dave

Scripture Text - Philippians 2:5-11

What is your most “embarrassing moment?”

1. Jesus lowering Himself - Philippians 2:6-8;2nd Corinthians 8:9;John 1:1-5;10:17-18

1. Identity - Philippians 2:6-8
2. Self-inflicted - 2nd Corinthians 8:9
3. Progressive humbling - John 10:17-18

• Genesis 3:1-7
• Isaiah 6:1-5
• Luke 14:7-11;15:11-32
• 2nd Chronicles 7:14

1. Identity
2. Desperately demanding
3. Progressively prideful

Challenge: Jesus is our example. If we are to share in His glory, we must walk the path He walked - Romans 8:17

Western Hills Christian Church and it’s Multimedia ministry will be hosting a two-day seminar (10-11 October 2008) presented by Jason Moore & Len Wilson of Midnight Oil Productions.

The two sessions titled: “Creative Worship” & “Design Matters” focus on will run from 8:00 am - 4:30 pm each

Creative Worship - Learn how to work in teams to utilize the following for the sake of connecting people to God in worship:

• culture
• art
• technology

Design Matters - takes a closer look at creating powerful media for worship with a in-depth and hands-on examination of:

• principles for design
• ways to utilize media in worship
• tools of the trade

Interested in taking part in this opportunity? Visit Midnight Oil Productions site for more information and to register here or Contact Jay Craft at 580-536-1880.

Fine eloquence consists in saying all that should be, not all that could be said.
~Unknown

Source: “An Apple a Day: Treasured Selections from Apples of Gold” by Jo Petty

Grace and peace be with you.