LIVE AND LET LIVE

Several of you may have read a recent newspaper article that talked about young people today being more spiritual than they are religious. USA TODAY’S April 27 front-page article “Young adults less devoted to faith” cited a survey of 18-29 year olds in which 72% responded they were more spiritual than religious. Various comments were posted later. People reason that young adults are less devoted to faith now because they are more intelligent and more exposed to the realities of life. Such a view has to be formed from the years of denying the existence of God and promoting the theory of evolution. Another reason for such a view would seem to be that everything is relative today, it is all subjective to what you think it means. There are a great number of people who do not believe there is a standard that should govern their lives. It is basically up to you to decide. If you believe the Bible, then you realize that there is indeed an objective standard and that standard is the word of God. You are not denying people their “basic human rights” as one stated, if you preach what God’s word says. Over a period of time, people have been conditioned to believe that they should be able to do and believe what they want and everything is fine. The “live and let live” philosophy will not work when it comes to pleasing God. It is an abuse of the scriptures to try to say that the Golden Rule (Matthew 7:12) teaches this view.

I really do not know where the distinction comes in between spiritual and religious. I think people are saying that they want to follow some spiritual teachings, but they want nothing to do with organized religion. You have to realize that Christ gave his life to purchase the church (Acts 20:28). That he is the head of the body, which is the church (Ephesians 1:22,23). You cannot have the head without the body and you cannot have the body without the head. It cannot function properly. No doubt the man-made religious institutions have contributed to this belief, but such is contrary to what God’s word teaches. If we would simply return to following God’s plan for the church, the kingdom, then there would be no difference between those who want to be spiritual and those who are religious.

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GOD’S GARDENERS

On Day Three, God created the imaginative and useful plants that made up His astonishing earth garden (Genesis 1:11-13). Even now, six thousand years later, botanists are just coming to understand many of them. One of the most interesting is “the century plan,” a common sight in America’s Southwest desert. This plant (Agave Americana) thrives in rocky, mountainous, desert sites. It can reach twelve feet in diameter and has dramatic, splayed leaves that grow up to a foot wide. But what makes the century plant unusual, as its name suggests, is its long reproduction cycle. For twenty or thirty years (no, not a literal hundred years), the six-foot-tall plant stands the same height and puts out no flowers. Then one year, without warning, a new bud sprouts. The bud, resembling a tree-trunk-size asparagus spear, shoots up at a fantastic rate of seven inches per day and reaches an eventual height of twenty to forty feet. Then it crowns itself with several clumps of yellowish blossom that last up to three weeks.

God made a new creation in the last days of the earth (2 Corinthians 5:17). This new “garden” grows inside each Christian and produces a variety of fruit (Galatians 5:19-21; I Peter 2:2; 3:18). To look at the same idea from a different perspective, God is growing “gardens of Christians” in communities throughout the world (Matthew 13:30; Mark 4:7, 27; Luke 13:19; Acts 5:24; Ephesians 4:15). Just as Adam and Eve were commanded to be gardeners, Christians are privileged to be the caretakers of God’s new gardens. Much like the century plant these gardens have some unusual characteristics that require patient care.

GOD’S GARDEN NEEDS CONTINUOUS PLANTING AND WATERING.. Like the century plant, many churches seem to sit still for a long period and then hit a sudden growth spurt. It may coincide with a strong Gospel meeting, a change in leadership, or even the death or moving of some ungodly soul whose influence had cast a shadow over the entire church. It is sometimes triggered by economic growth in the community. But even in churches where there is strong preaching, good leadership, godly members and community growth, there are lulls when it seems that the attendance chart hits a snag. It may seem that most Bible studies fall through or that most new converts soon fall away (cf. Matthew 13). But we can rest assured that the “century mark” is soon coming. Growth spurts are ahead. If we continue working through the slow times, then the spurt will be much larger. If we plant and water, God promises to give increase. Paul explained, “I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase…for we are labourers together with God: ye are God’s husbandry…” (I Corinthians 3:6, 9).

DON’T TRY TO FORCE GOD’S GARDEN TO BLOOM TOO SOON. We must not give in to the temptation to compromise the Truth for the sake of quick growth. Some cease preaching doctrinal matters because they may offend visitors (cf. Galatians 1:10), others begin to accept divorcees regardless of the reason for the failed marriage (cf. Matthew 19:9). Some turn to pseudo-spirituality (like dimming the lights, lifting hands, and piping in special music) or sensational gimmickry (chorus performances, door prizes, preacher-kiss-a-pig-if-attendance-goal-is-met) to draw crowds. These may provide temporary numerical growth, but they do not honor God. God’s gardeners understand that preaching the cross is what saves souls, though it may seem foolish to the unspiritual (cf. I Corinthians 1:18, 21). Zedekiah, the son of Chenaanah, turned to gimmickry in the name of religion, but God did not speak by him (I Kings 22:11). When Israel had “sin in the camp” God would not bless them in battle (Joshua 7). We must exercise patience and conduct our services Scripturally and do our work correctly (I Corinthians 14:40). The primary goal of the church is to “shew forth His praises” (I Peter 2:9). Paul wrote, “Now unto…God be honour an glory for ever and ever. Amen” (I Timothy 6:17; Revelation 7:12). Let God do the counting.

TEND GOD’S GARDEN FOR YOUR GRANDCHILDREN. Elton Trueblood said, “A man has made at least a start on discovering the meaning of human life when he plants shade trees under which he knows full well he will never sit.” Growth will come in the church, for God’s Word will not return void (Isaiah 55:11), but it may only happen after a long wait. We can look at church work either as planting pumpkins or planting dates. Pumpkins are harvested in six months; dates are planted by people who will not live to harvest them. Build a strong church for your grandchildren. The aging Psalmists said: “Now also when I am old and greyheaded, O God, forsake me not; until I have showed Thy strength unto this generation, and Thy power to every one that is to come”(Psalm 71:18). The wise man said, “Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof: and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit” (Ecclesiastes 7:8).

DON’T POISON THE FLOWERS OF GOD’S GARDEN. It would be better to have a millstone tied around our necks and cast into the sea than to “offend” (“trip up, entice to sin”) one of His “little ones”(Matthew 18:6). Patience is the cornerstone of church unity (Colossians 3:12-13). Impatient, short-tempered people destroy God’s gardens. Old men are to set the example by being patient (Titus 2:2). Strong Christians must be patient with weak ones (Romans 14:1; 15:1-5; cf. Luke 9:51-56). A lack of patience disqualifies one from serving as an elder (I Timothy 3:3) and renders a preacher ineffective (2 Timothy 2:24; 2 Corinthians 6:6). Chinese folklore has a story of a household so happy that for nine generations none of its members had left, except the daughters who married. The Celestial Emperor heard of this family and sent an envoy to discover the secret. The old father, taking paper and brush, painted many characters, then handed it to the envoy. When the emperor unrolled it, there was nothing but the character for “PATIENCE” repeated one hundred times. Great gardens take time, patience and sweat. -Allen Webster, The Green Plain Proclaimer, 5/11/2010

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MONTROSE FAMILY NEWS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

May 23, 2010

THOSE PRIVILEGED TO SERVE

WORSHIP----SUNDAY---9:00 AM

Co-Coordinator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ricky Kirby

Announcements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. Steve Anderson

Scriptures Reading.. Rom. 8:35-39… . . Brian Harville

Song Leader . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jimmy Smith

Opening Prayer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Jacky Carver Sr.

Lord’s Supper-Preside: Robert Hackett

Serve: Jacky Carver Jr, Roger Draper,

Ted Russell, Justin Draper

Closing Prayer................................ Brian Smith

Greeter— Robert & Linda Hackett

Greeter— Ted & Vicki Russell

Count Offering. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jacky Carver, Sr.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kaleb Bush

AM Sermon— Adversity in Your Life

PM Sermon— 4^th. Sunday Singing

WORSHIP---SUNDAY---6:00 PM

Announcements . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . Steve Anderson

Song Leader. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . …. Glen Reece

Scripture Reading..2 Cor. 1:1-7…….. Larry Cole

Opening Prayer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Harold Smith

Lord’s Supper . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Billy Halliburton

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Ethan Leonard

Closing Prayer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Roger Draper

BIBLE STUDY WEDNESDAY---7:00 PM

Announcement… . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Steve Anderson

Song Leader . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jacky Carver Sr.

First Prayer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..Jimmy Smith

Opening Prayer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Glen Reece

Closing Prayer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Tim Hommrich

Prepare Communion for May

Teresa & Susanne

Note: If you are not able to fulfill your assignment listed above, please notify the coordinator so that he can find a replacement.

We are asking each family to bring items for the pantry to be used for needs in the community as they arise: Items for week: Bars of Soap

MONTROSE BULLETIN BOARD

NURSING HOME: Lucille Smith,

Those on the sick list:

Donald Chaffin (Zion) Lou Gehrig’s disease

Hoss West—Smith County Health Care

Vaughn Allen

John William Leonard—spine problems

Francis Kemp—ICU Vanderbilt

OUR RECORD OF LOVE FOR CHRIST 05/16/10

Wednesday. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52

Worship Sunday AM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109

Bible Study Sunday AM .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86

Daily Bible Readers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47

Worship Sunday PM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63

Offering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $2710.00

Upcoming Events

Youth outing May 21-23^rd.

JSCYC camper application distribution at Bagdad May 23^rd. at 2:30 PM.

Our church picnic will be June 5^th at the Barn

Gospel Meeting with James Watkins will be June 20-25^th.

VBS will be July 5^th –9^th.

Jackson/Smith County Youth Camp will be July 18^th- 24^th.

The 5^th. Sunday contribution will go toward the compound we are building in India.

BIBLE READING SCHEDULE FOR MAY

01 II CHRON 28-30

02 II CHRON 31-33

03 II CHRON 34-36

04 EZRA 1-3

05 EZRA 4-6

06 EZRA 7-10

07 NEH 1-4

08 NEH 5-7

09 NEH 8-10

10 NEH 11-13

11 ESTHER 1-3

12 ESTHER 4-6

13 ESTHER 7-10

14 JOB 1-4

15 JOB 5-7

16 JOB 8-10

17 JOB 11-13

18 JOB 14-16

19 JOB 17-19

20 JOB 20-24

21 JOB 25-27

22 JOB 28-30

23 JOB 31-33

24 JOB 34-36

25 JOB 37-39

26 JOB 40-42

27 PSALM 1-5

28 PSALM 6-8

29 PSALM 9-11

30 PSALM 12-14

31 PSALM 15-17