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

Volume XLIV,Issue 17, August 26, 2009

While the "RETURN THE BLESSING" Sunday has come and gone it is still not too late to turn in a special offering and/or a pledge toward the building project. You will find pledge cards at the information center and you will find special building fund offering envelops in the pews.

So far we have received $42,000.00 in cash donations toward the building fund and at last count, $2,100 per month in pledges. To accomplish our goal of paying off the building in two years, we need around $4,800.00 per month in pledges or additional cash gifts. I know God will provide for us as we step out in faith. The kids in children’s church are collecting aluminum cans to redeem and use the funds toward the building project. If you have any cans, please see Jackie Green. What a great way to get everyone involved in the project.

It will be interesting to see how he blesses different families over the next couple of years so that we will be able to pay off our debt. God continually amazes me as he provides for us in unusual ways. You may be thinking that you can’t afford to give to this project. He tells us ask and we will receive. I believe in that promise and I hope you do as well. Keep praying and God will provide.

I will begin a series on Discipleship taken from various scriptures during the month of September.   Discipleship is something we don’t discuss in the church or in our society. However, it was the key method by which Jesus trained his key followers so they would be able to carry on the work when he left. We will take a close look at the importance of discipleship and some ways by which we can become disciples of Jesus.

Since there will be a lot of construction taking place around the building, please be careful. There will be periods of time when the gym will not be available for use, so please contact the church office before you schedule any activities in the gym.

Dave

Volume XLIV, Issue 10, May 13, 2009

During the National Day of Prayer service this past week, I realized that there is little if any unity among the churches of Lawton. Letters were sent to over 100 different churches within the community and only a handful responded to the service. And out of those that responded, only a very small percentage showed up to represent each congregation.

I reflect on that incident, not to lay a guilt trip on anyone, but to illustrate the lack of unification within the church community. Understand that I am not saying that we have to agree on everything, because that is probably not going to happen. But we should agree that there is a spiritual battle being waged in Lawton-­Ft. Sill and as long as Satan has us divided, he will keep us defeated.

Being defeated is not an option for me, nor is it an option for God. Paul understood victory and penned these words:

Death has been swallowed up in victory.’ “Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?”[b] 56The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. (1st Corinthians 15:54b-57).

But Paul doesn’t stop with his proclamation of victory. Instead he travels a little further down that path and commands us to stand firm.

“Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain” (1st Corinthians 15:58).

Why would he interject this command? I think he knows that the battle continues and the fight will take its toll. It is difficult being assaulted on a daily basis by the deceptions of Satan and remain firm in your faith. At least it is for me. What keeps me going is that I truly believe that the victory is already mine as long as I stand firm.

When I stand firm and you stand firm and every Christ follower in Lawton begins to stand firm in our faith and let nothing move us, then we can begin to see the power of the Lord move in this city.

It is my prayer that all of us, as a united church, as a united community of believers stand firm and let nothing move us as we go into battle for our community, Will you join me in this battle by beginning to pray for the Lawton?Ft. Sill area on a daily basis? Pray that God will begin to work and that he will show us where he is working so that we can join Him in His work. Then the victory will truly be His.

Dave

Volume XLIV, Issue 7, April 1, 2009

I hope you enjoyed the Book “Rich Toward God”, by Dr. Kregg Hood.  I was challenged to rethink my giving and see if there were ways in which I might improve in helping others with their needs.  I hope you were challenged as well.

During the month of April, I am going to be preaching a series of sermons around the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus.  I always look forward to this time of the year because, for me, talking about the cross is very emotional and challenging.  I find it amazing that God would come to earth and die for His creation, including me.  His love is overwhelming when you really begin to think about it.

Our Home Bible Fellowship groups are beginning to finish their lessons and will take a break over the summer.  If you have a group that would like to continue over the summer, please let me know and I can make some arrangements fro teaching material.  however, for those that want to take a break, the HBF’s will start up again in September.  Will you continue to pray for them over the summer?

I would like to remind you of our Easter services on April 12th.  We will have a Sun Rise service at 7:30 am, followed by a breakfast in the Family Life Center.  The at 9:30 a.m., the children will put on an Easter play during the Sunday School hour.  This will be in the auditorium.  We will have our Easter morning worship service at 10:30 a.m.  Please invite everyone you can to come and worship with us.  many people are open to attending church on Easter Sunday, so please make a point to invite your friends and family.

Speaking of inviting friends, I made a recent discovery that I am very excited about.  On the back of our guest cards are several areas that a guest can check concerning how they found out about the church.  “Being invited by a friend”; is one of those choices.  For a long time, it was not the number one choice; “Driving by the building” was the first choice.  But last year “driving by” fell to number 2 and “being invited by a friend” became the number 1 reason people were visiting the church.  I think that this is great news and it is the best way to connect people with church.  So please keep inviting your friends and let’s fill the building.

Dave

Easter Sunday – 12 April, 2009

• 7:00 am Sunrise Service
• 8:15 am Breakfast
• 9:30 am Children’s Easter program
• 10:30 am Morning Service