wBible-Based wChrist-centered

wPeople-oriented wHeart-filled

wSent out

       

One quality that really impresses God (and it’s not a really long list) is humility. Humility is one of those things that just when you think that you’ve got it, you don’t. And it’s one of those qualities of Jesus that is most evidenced in the lives of those who are genuinely seeking to imitate Him.

Jesus is fully God. He steps into the world as Immanuel “God with us” (Mt 1:23). In Colossians the Apostle Paul is writing to address issues that have arisen in the church in which some are questioning the deity of Christ. He affirms, “God was pleased to have all His fullness dwell in Him (Christ), and through Him to reconcile to Himself all things” (Col 1:19-20a).

And yet he “emptied Himself” and became “obedient to death, even death on a cross!” (Phil 2:7-8). And for this reason we are called to have the very same attitude and mindset as that of Christ Jesus (v5).

Jesus always goes about being “God with us” from a position of humility. It’s never a power play with Jesus. The only One who actually has the right to demand everything from a position of power because of who He is, comes to serve and comes to show us what true love and humility look like.

Too often we’re not enough like Jesus. We manipulate. We force. We coerce. That’s not Jesus….

Jesus’ call upon our lives is if we want to be His disciples we must first deny ourselves. And I believe humility plays a key role here.

Jesus never forces Himself on anyone. “You want to be my disciple? Take up your cross and follow me,” He says. “You want to come and learn and share and be a part of the bigger picture and the things that I am about in the Kingdom? Good. Follow me.” Discipleship is a choice. Following Jesus is a choice. And humility is a choice.

When you are full of yourself, God cannot fill you. Only when we empty ourselves can our God fill us. Only when we empty ourselves of all pride and all arrogance and all selfishness… only when we “humble ourselves before the Lord” can He then lift us up (James 4:10).

Jesus begins the Sermon on the Mount, “Blessed are the poor in Spirit… (Mt 5:3).”

Maybe that’s a good place for us to start.

Glory to God!

Jason

Humility and Discipleship

“The Church With Heart”

REEVES’ RHETORIC

Crawford’s Clipboard

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Aug. 22. Help us serve the community. We serve from 6:00-7:00 and are prepping at 5:00. Join us!

IMPORTANT DATES

Aug. 21 Small Groups Meet Aug. 22West Erwin hosts Karing Kitchen Aug. 28 All Church Worship Aug. 28 All Church Luncheon Aug. 31 End of Summer Celebration Sept. 4 Combined Activity Sept. 25 Area Wide Youth Gathering Sept. 11 Middle School Devo Sept. 25 Area Wide Youth Gathering Oct. 1 “Courageous” Men’s Day Oct. 30 Fall Festival Nov. 6 Area Wide JR. High Dodgeball Nov. 18-20 Middle School ZEW Retreat Jan. 20-22 Winterfest Apr. 6-8 LTC

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Youth With Heart... by Danny WEDNESDAY NIGHTS THIS FALL…

Teens: Join us on Wednesday nights for Bible Class. This is a great way to start the new school year! We will be having a Girls Bible Study and a Guys Bible Study. Stay tuned for more details.

THANKS! Thanks to all of you who came Sunday night and shared

in our end of summer celebration. I am proud of our teens who led the worship: Mason Reeves, Dalton Harris, Chandler Cook, Matthew Kimball, Justin Parrish, Spencer Shaw & Jerrod Wilson. Thanks to all the teens and sponsors who helped make this an amazing summer!

Thanks to Mark & Melissa Frick for helping with the devo this past Sunday night.

KARING KITCHEN West Erwin will host the Karing Kitchen on Monday,

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GROWING IN GRACE by Mike Gravois

A Shepherd's Joy

“And when the shepherd comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost!’”

- Jesus to the Pharisees (Luke 15:6)   In response to the Pharisees’ judgmental and cheerless spirit, Jesus emphasized the importance of joy in His parable of the Lost Sheep. Not only does the shepherd rejoice upon finding the sheep, but he also calls for a celebration when he arrives back in the village. In the Jewish culture of Jesus’ day, the townspeople often shared shepherding responsibilities for their flocks, which meant that the loss of one sheep was a loss for the community and not just one owner. Consequently, when the shepherd would arrive safely back in the village, there would follow a time of jubilation and thanksgiving for his safe return. The joy of finding the lost sheep quickly spread beyond the shepherd to the community at large.

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Jesus’ parable strikes at the heart of the Pharisees’ hypocrisy, for they were more concerned with their own righteous deeds than the people around them. Jesus’ mealtime manners created more of a stir for them than the “weightier matters of the law” that they themselves had neglected. Rather than celebrate over the repentance of those around them, the Pharisees were envious of the popularity that Jesus had with the people. Today, Christ invites us to join with Him in celebration over those who have been saved. There is no room for envy, pride, or competition in the church of Jesus Christ. When the flesh reigns supreme in our lives and churches, joy is stifled and the “homecoming” celebration for the once-lost is met with passive indifference. Jesus wants us to rejoice not only when someone is found by Him, but also as that someone grows spiritually mature through discipleship. The church is the place of joy where we, as Christians, share shepherding responsibilities in taking care of new believers.

Jubilation and thanksgiving should flow from the hearts of church members as they see lost people around them being found by the Good Shepherd, and then being discipled by His followers through the Holy Spirit.

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“R” Words Used in the Bible

The word “Regular” is used 12 times in Numbers chapter nine. It says, “Include one male goat as a sin offering, in addition to the regular burnt offering…” Regular means the customary. Luke 4:16 tells us that going to the synagogue was customary for Jesus. That was his regular path. Acts 17:2 tells us Paul went into the synagogue “as was his custom.” It was automatic. His regular way. Rather than being negative about our

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routines, why not be positive? Why not program Christ’s likeness into our lives? Right choices may be difficult at first, but can become our automatic, customary, regular way of life; like practicing the holding of our tongue when we would rather let it fly; or squelching our temper when we want to explode; or walking away when faced with immoral or unethical temptations; or like doing our best in everything we do every time? Let Christ be your example until all your right turns become second nature. Who knows what GOD has in store for you down the road when following Christ becomes your “regular” way of life?

 

Bible  Lectureship  in  Longview  You are invited to the 19th Annual Bible Lectureship at Longview Church of Christ August 26-28. Call 903-236-0988 for more information.

Thank  You  Dear West Erwin family, What a blessing you are to Archie and me! Words cannot express how thankful we are to be a part of West Erwin! Thank your for your prayers, your cards with your sweet notes, the good food and your visits during my surgery & after I came home. God bless you all. You are always in our prayers! My love to all,

Faye Kennard Thank you very much for your prayers, visits, cards and calls during my recent hospital stay. I am making excellent progress toward a full recovery.

Charles Rachui  

Congratulations! A big congratulations to Cade Suggs and the rest of the Rose Capital East All-Star baseball team as they are the Southwest Region Senior League Champions. As of this publication, they are playing in the World Series in Bangor, Maine. Way to go, guys!

 

Church  Directory  Be looking for details this Fall as we will begin the process for making a new church directory. Visit our website to submit recent contact info. Be aware that the online directory is still under construction.

Adoption  &  Foster  Care  Info  You are Invited to the 2011 Adoption & Foster Care Conference at Lake Pointe Church in Rockwall, Texas - C100. It will be held Saturday, September 10, 2011 from 8am-3pm. This is a FREE conference will FREE lunch & FREE childcare (through 5th grade). The Keynote speaker is Dr. Karen Purvis, Director of TCU’s Institute of Child Development & best selling co-author of The Connected Child. At least a dozen agencies & organizations will be present! For more information & to register visit: adoptionconference.net.

Ladies  Day  at  North  Tenneha  Ladies are invited to a Ladies Day at North Tenneha Church of Christ on Saturday, August 27 from 8:30 a.m. to noon with guest speaker Kimberly Triplett of Nashville, TN. Call 903-593-6868 for more information.

Address  Change  Priscilla Mayer: 2722 Rand Morgan Rd. Apt. D

Corpus Christi, TX 78410

A fresh look at the Ten Commandments

2011 Wednesday Night Summer Series

AUG 17: “Don’t Covet” Paul Faulkner No desserts.

West Erwin Playschool Enrolling West Erwin Playschool is gearing up for another great year!

There is still space available in all classes Nursery through Pre K.

Call Angie Coleman today for enrollment information! 903.312.7020.

 August  18,  2011                  From  The  Heart  of  Tyler            Vol.  42  –  No.  33  Records Sun.-Aug. 14 Sun.- Aug. 7 Year Ago Bible Class 428 418 423 Worship a.m. 683 671 662 Worship p.m. 391 400 417 Wed. p.m. 325 319 313 Contribution $25,251.19 $30,846.93 $25,894.09 Weekly Budget $27,981.00

 

SERVING SUNDAY Call to Worship Danny Snell Prayer Corey Coleman Scripture Chad Chauncey Dismiss Ron Lott Presiding At The Lord’s Table Howard Dickson

SERVING COMMUNION David Hammond Drew Harris James Hardin Mike Harris Charles Harris Matt Haws Dalton Harris George Hill

6:00 P.M. ASSEMBLY Prayer Melvin Crow Scripture Barry Ciaschini Dismiss Don Crowder

GREETERS Arnold & Agnes Ables & Will Weathers Tony & Mary Adams & Kyler Whatley

Terrence & Jeanie Ates & Reagan Whatley Visitor Center: Ernest & Gail Bennett Carolyn Womack & Burney Wilson

Pick up cards for 8/21 & 28: Matthew Christian, Luke Metcalf, Ethan Stone, Logan Stone & Caleb DuPree

Sound booth for 8/21: Todd Kempton & Daniel DuPree

Minibus driver for Sunday & Wednesday: Don Ingram, ph. 903.253.4600. Please call if you need transportation.

Children’s Ministry for 8/21: Nursery a.m.: Kim Frick| Toddlers a.m.: Karen Fedell | Toddlers p.m.:Kayla Gallegly| Children’s Worship: Morgan

PRAYER & CARE: Mother Frances Hospital: James Hardin, no visitors at this time. | Sharen Wester, knee replacement surgery |Updates: Roy Bench is now home. |Wini Cullinan had back surgery at Mother Frances 8/12. | Norma Durham will have surgery at Mother Frances 8/29. |Matthew Farokhrouz, 23 year old grandson of Mary Daugherty is in grave condtion in a Houston hospital with Wilson's disease. |Juanita Graf is now home. | Bill Hawkins is undergoing tests for an aneurism of his aorta. | Kalli Huff is now home. | Charles Rachui is now home. | Carolyn Stitt will have back surgery at Mother Frances 8/29. | West Erwin Family: Scott Baker | Linda Boudreau | Jim Cox | Clinton & Louise Culpepper | Norma Durham | Chase Fisher | Fannie Jackson & family | Clay Kirby | Tommy Lowrance | Wade McDonald | Forest & Mary McFadden | Anita Potter | Sue Ramsour | Winona Shankle | Lorraine Whaley | Kelsi Wicks | Ongoing concerns: Johnny Anders | Darrell & Nell Beard | Delle Bullard | Kalli Huff | Archie Kennard | Opal Mathews | Bill McCain | Penny McDonald | Samuel Mink | Kay Parrish | Maxine Ray | George Richardson | Ira & Esther Wilson | Dorothy Woods | Family & Friends:Nancy Chandler, daughter of Wanda Cook | Jay & Brandy Culpepper | Ray Hardin, brother of James | Inez Kennedy, sister-in-law of Rita Sitton | Doyle Manley, father of Nora Gravois | Harold Nichols, uncle of Judy Hamm | Charles Smart, son of Barbara Smart