Helping Our Neighbors

Our thanks to the family at Woodsfield for their prayers and financial suppor to the flood victims in Hundred, Pine Grove, Mannington, etc.  Out neighbors across the Ohio River needed help and the family at Woodsfield thanks God that we were able to help.  Continue to pray for these families as they struggle to get back on their feet.  Losing everything you own can be a horrible thing, but God can and will see you through the darkest storms if you trust and believe in him.  Thank you family for your help in providing aid to sister congregations.

“God Speak to Me”

The man whispered, “God speak to me,” and a wild bird sang. But the man did not hear.

So the man yelled, “God speak to me!,” and the thunder rolled across the sky. But the man did not listen.

Next, the man looked around and said, “God, let me see you,” and a star shone brightly. But the man did not notice.

Then the man shouted, “God show me a miracle,” and a life was born. But the man did not know.

Finally the man cried out in despair “God touch me and let me know that you are here.” Whereupon God reached down and touched the man. But the man brushed the butterfly away and walked on.

Please don ‘t miss out on a blessing just because it isn’t packaged the way you expect it to be.

New Directory

It's time to start thinking about that smile!!  If you were not in the 2011 directory, have not filled out an information card from Merna, or been personally hounded by her by phone, then please fill out the new directory card today.  We don't want to miss a single person!!!  Thank you a get ready to smile!

2017 Bus Inspection

A special thanks to Lester, Brock & Tina  Jones for helping with inspection this year  and a special thanks to Carla Rose, Dan  Christman, Dan Watkins, Jeff Bettinger and  Ronnie Beardmore for coming to the rescue  of preparing the buses for inspection.  Buses can fail inspection if they are dirty.  The State Highway Inspector looked at our  Bible school on wheels and said that they  were so clean you could eat off the floor!

Bible Bowl Winner

Congratulations to Rachel Platz (3rd from left) for winning the 2017 Bible Bowl at the Woodsfield Church of Christ.  All children who participated were winners in the eyes of God.  Special thanks to all the parents who helped their children prepare for the event.

Stepping Stones Update

The Monroe/Noble Stepping Stones chapter would like to THANK YOU for your most recent support of our fundraiser.  The total collected for the calendars was $2560 from area churches  (including you) and churches and individuals all  across the United States.  All of this money goes directly to OVU to support Christian education.  Thank you for your generous support!

We will be electing new officers at our next meeting, having a bake sale ( yum yum) in Caldwell on Friday, April the 14th, and attending the conference at OVU on April 22nd.  If you would like more information about any of these events, please ask Merna ☺

The theme for the conference this year is “Give Me Five.”  The chapter hosting the conference this year is attempting to get our all time giving total from $4,938,360.42 to reach a grand total of  $5,000,000.  Now that’s a lot of bake sales!!  In working toward this goal containers have been placed in the foyer for $5 donations toward the $5,000,000 goal.  So if your heart is inclined – won’t you “Give Us Five”?  Remember, not all students that attend OVU are Christians , thus by supporting efforts like this you are not only supporting Christian       Education ,but also helping spread the very word of God.  

Angry Words

How does the song go? ---“Angry words, O let them never from my tongi  unbridled slip.” Angry words, for many of us, are a part of our daily struggle to understand and properly express our emotions. A couple of interesting facts about anger...  

---Did you know that in the two hours after an angry outburst, the chance of  having a heart attack doubles?

---Repressed anger (expressing your anger indirectly or going to great  lengths trying to reign it in) is linked to heart disease.

---One study found that in the two hours after an angry outburst, there was  a three times greater chance of having a stroke from a blood clot 0r  bleeding within the brain. For people with an aneurysm in a brain artery  the chances of rupturing this aneurysm was six times higher.*

Any way you look at it, anger is dangerous---if you express it  inappropriately, it’s harmful, but if you don’t express it at all, it’s harmful  too. What do we do with anger? It’s not a sin in and of itself---Paul tells  the Ephesians “be angry and do not sin...” (4:26). Jesus was angry. God  gets angry often with the Israelites. It’s not the anger that’s the problem---it’s why we’re angry, how we handle it, and what it can lead to that  becomes the problem. This morning, we’ll talk about a few facets of  unhealthy anger, and what Jesus says about anger in the Sermon on the Mount.  Facts on anger taken from:  everydayhealth.com/news/ways-anger-ruining-your-health

It Doesn’t Depend on You!

...Not having a righteousness of my own...but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith.

--Philippians 3:9

Aren’t you glad that it doesn’t depend on you‘? Our salvation is given to us based on the righteousness of God, not our own. God sent His only Son Jesus to rescue us from our sin; you and I couldn’t do enough good to make it on our own. Only the blood of Christ makes us good enough. Have you ever watched a child try to color? Even though they may be doing their best, they can’t stay in the lines, don’t use the right colors, or produce a uniform look. I imagine that’s probably what God sees when we try to measure up on our own. It’s cute, but it still falls short. Even on our best days, we’re just children coloring...

It is tempting, though. If we’re not careful, even though we might know it’s impossible to do it perfectly, we try. We try to do enough, to be perfect enough. At some point, however, we need to stop. Just stop. It’s not that we stop being obedient to what God asks us to do, but we stop relying on our attempts to be perfect to be what we’re trusting in. If we’re trusting in our own righteousness, we Won’t make it. The picture won’t be perfect enough. What are you trusting in?

Scott

Introduction of Our New Minister

The Woodsfield church of Christ would like to introduce Scott McFarland. Scott joins the ministry staff at the Woodsfield church of Christ as their new Preaching Minister. He is originally from Westminster, Maryland, and is still trying to adapt from being raised as a Maryland Terrapin to an Ohio State Buckeye fan!

Scott attended Ohio Valley University in Vienna, WV, where he met his wife Abby and graduated in the spring of 2010 with a B.A.in Bible and minors in Christian Counseling and Biblical 
Languages. He is currently working on his Masters of Divinity through Harding School of Theology in Memphis, TN. Scott and Abby have a daughter, Hannah, and recently moved to the area after working with the church of Christ in Marysville, Ohio as their Youth and Family Minister. 

Scott enjoys spending time with his family, lifting weights, fishing, working on cars and houses. He looks forward to getting to know and working with the people of Woodsfield and Monroe County. Scott will be speaking Sunday mornings with worship beginning at 10:00 AM, and leading bible study classes Sunday evenings at 6:00 PM and Wednesday evenings at 7:00 pm.  The Woodsfield church of Christ welcomes anyone who wants to learn about God’s word.

One Final Word From The Past Preacher's Pen

Wow. It sure seems hard to believe that one year has passed since I last stood before  the Woodsfield congregation. You have been through a lot. Shannon and I have been  through a lot. Some years of our lives we may not mind the chance to relive, this hasn't been  one of them. Not long after my departure, calls and texts came in letting me know of the  passing of Larry, Fred, Chester, Ruth, Mary, and more, and more still! You lost parents,  grandparents, spouses -- some expected, some sudden and tragic. Then there was the news  of Keith's cancer returning and Randy's cancer. Others too were diagnosed. I guess I should be thinking, "I got out of Dodge just in time", but I actually wish I had been there to  experience it all with you -- the good and the bad. Let's pray 2017 is better.

My primary motive for writing this is to thank you so much for the packet of  sympathy cards and all the Christmas cards we have received from you. (I intend to respond  to each individually, but intentions don't always turn into actions). Shannon wants you to  know that she found great comfort in reading each and every one, as did I. Experience  suggests that unfortunately our communication with each other will wane over time. I wish  differently -- that just seems to be how life works. But for now, thanks for keeping in touch.  Your correspondence has made life more tolerable and me less homesick.

I have to say that when we first began our relationship in 2006, I considered myself  just your paid preacher, an outsider filling a position. I did not plan on getting so attached to  so many of you. I was never fond of the preaching position, but I sure fell in love with the  people! Thank you for continuing to be our friends.  

You are about to embark on a new relationship with a new minister. By all  accounts, including my own conversation with him, he is a fine, young, conscientious Christian servant. He will do you well. No doubt, you will grow spiritually and  numerically. You will treat him as kindly, and with as much love and patience as you did  Shannon and me. Always remember...what matters most is not that he is your preacher, but  that he becomes your friend, and your fellow laborer for the Lord.

With Christian Love,

Chuck