Legacy

I was looking at a family gravestone the other day in preparation for a class.  I was trying to look at the dates on the stone so I could remember when the loved one had been born, married to their spouse, and died.  Later, after I gathered the proper dates, I was reminded of what someone once shared with me about gravestones.  You’ve probably heard about “the dash” before.  The idea is that while we often focus so much on the dates on a headstone, it’s the dash in between those dates of birth and death that ultimately counted.  The dash was where life was lived, other people were impacted, and what people remember the deceased for was determined. 

Most people will not remember your birthdate or the anniversary of your death, but they most certainly will remember the kind of person you were—how you made them feel, what you said or did around them, what kind of character you possessed.  These are the things that count, more so than the dates on a stone.  This morning, we’re talking about “Legacy”—what kind of person do you want to be and what kind of memory do you want to leave.  Remember, it’s not about the dates.  It’s about the dash.                                                                                                                                                               

Scott McFarland

In God We Trust…Really?

Many of us were shocked and saddened a week ago with the attempted assassination of former president Donald Trump.  It was a punctuation mark on a contentious election season so far, and a reminder of the delicate condition of our country.

I’ve been thinking a lot about this lately, not just as a concerned citizen of the United States, but more importantly as a Christian.  What should be our response to this and other events like it?  Obviously, we condemn these actions and pray for our leaders and those running for office, but what I’m asking is what do we do ongoing?  As Christians, what should be our ongoing response?  What should we be telling ourselves and our children/grandchildren?

Our coins all have a statement on them—In God We Trust.  This statement is a relatively new addition to currency, officially being added in 1955 by Congress and the Eisenhower presidency.  This phrase also replaced “E Pluribus Unum” (“out of many, one”) as the official motto of the United States.

Although we don’t carry physical currency much anymore, any time we look at a coin we see this phrase, “In God We Trust.”  As Christians, this phrase should be understood at a deeper level.  We don’t just trust in God for our nation, we trust Him for our very existence.  As we go through the next few months, and years, I would challenge all of us to think deeply about this statement we claim, “In God We Trust.”  Do we really?  Or, do we just say it?  Is it a motto that we believe or in reality do we trust more in a structure of government, a document, or a particular party or leader?

I believe God is challenging Christians in particular right now.  Do you really trust in God?  Or is it just something on your money?                                                                                                                                                        

Scott McFarland

Children's Bible Class

We have completed the Shaping Heart curriculum over the last 5 years and are now searching for a new one. If anyone else has any other curriculum ideas that would be beneficial for our next selection, please let Merna know.

The Schemes of the Devil

In our class on Sunday mornings, we’ve been studying about angels and demons, the spiritual realm.  I have often thought throughout the class how little we acknowledge the spiritual realm.  Apart from worshipping a spiritual God on Sundays, praying to a spiritual Lord throughout the week, and pledging our allegiance to a spiritual Savior at our baptism, our acknowledgement of the spiritual realm, let alone the spiritual battle taking place around us, is minimal at best.

In Ephesians 6, Paul ends his letter with a discussion about spiritual warfare.  He begins it with an encouragement to be strong in the Lord (v. 10) and a command to put on the whole armor of God (v. 11).  The purpose for this, he says, is to “be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.”  The idea Paul is trying to get across is that the devil has a scheme, a plan, to attack us and pull us away from God.  This plan, by the way, is not noticeable.  It is often subtle, slow, and unrecognizable until after the fact.  Most people don’t intend on wrecking their lives with sin.  It begins gradually, innocently even, and grows until whatever is happening is too big to stop or it’s too late to do anything.

This morning, we’ll discuss spiritual warfare and the need for us as people to be vigilant.  Don’t be naïve and think the devil doesn’t have a plan.  He does, and it is intentionally difficult to see and understand.  Our ability to detect it and fight against it, however, is of utmost importance.

 Scott McFarland

Thank You VBS

To all the workers, teachers and “kids” connected to the Woodsfield Church of Christ Vacation Bible School. Thank you SO MUCH for the canned peas, green beans, spaghetti sauce and man-n-cheese donated to the Manna Food Pantry. This was a huge amount of food that will be very much appreciated by those receiving the boxes and bags distributed each Wednesday to eligible families. May God bless each of these kids and their families in some special way for their caring attitude and generosity to help those in need.

Sincerely, Jim Barrow, MANNA Food Pantry Manager

YOU ARE STELLAR!!!

Thank you so much to EVERYONE that made the 2024 VBS a success! This church knows well the song: far and near the fields are teeming with children’s hearts so ripe God is sending forth His workers. Such a STELLAR crew UNITED!

I cannot attempt to name you all (55+) but know my heart praises God for every single one of you and all your WORK for the LORD and His children. It’s such a blessing to be a part of this church.

Who Do You Surround Yourself With?

As we continue our annual training, I'm reflecting on some observations from the week.  Proverbs 13:20 says, "Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm." I especially noticed this in my youth ministry days, and I'm seeing it again in my military service as well.  Well intentioned people are sometimes sidetracked in life, not because of their lack of ability but because of the people they choose to be around.  There are some really good soldiers that make some really sad decisions and permanently damage their career or lives, simply because of their lack of attention in who they choose to be around.  Sometimes these poor influences are in the unit, and sometimes they are outside.  I've watched one young man over the last year do this as he struggled to stay in the Army because of some poor life choices he made.  What is really sad about this story is that this individual is a phenomenal soldier and has the potential to be a really good leader.  However, because of his decisions and lifestyle outside the Guard, he has been demoted, kicked to other platoons, left out of career advancement opportunities, and become the problem child for leadership.

Most of us have our closest friends outside of church.  There is probably a lesson there for another time, but given this reality it is important that we be careful in who we choose to be around.  It's not that we can't be friends with everyone, but that we choose to limit the time we spend around certain people because we know their life is not one we want to imitate.  Humans are social creatures that adapt to the environments they live in.  If the environment you are in isn't taking you where you want to go, it's time to change the environment.  Obviously we can't choose the people we work with or who are in our family, but for the most part we can limit the time spent around people and seek better influences when necessary.

So, who do you surround yourself with?  Are they the kind of people you want to become? If not, it's time to make a change.

Scott McFarland

V.B.S. Starts Sunday

How Many Will There Be In Heaven

Despite all the wishful thinking in the hearts of men, Hell is as real as Heaven. Details and explanations are given in Scripture as to the condemnation of the unrighteous, willingly ignorant, and rebellious masses of the generations of men who’ve lived upon the Earth. The universal call of the Gospel, in its Truth (telling of Jesus our Savior’s death, burial, and resurrection, 1 Corinthians 15:1-4), states that we can be part of the blood-bought institution, the Church! The Church is admitted into Heaven as the Bride of Christ, but so many refuse the obedience that gets us there (into the church=added to the church, Acts 2:47).

Jim Patterson

PRIDE | How to Connect

Last week, we opened our two-part mini-series on PRIDE month by discussing what to say and what not to say.  This week, I want to continue the discussion by digging into a story from the book of Acts and watching how Paul engaged a secular culture and steered the conversation toward faith.  I’m hopeful that, in doing so, we can do the same.

Most of us are probably used to avoiding conversations about sexuality with people, particularly when it comes to moral conversations about homosexuality with people outside of Christianity.  In some ways, I understand the reasoning—we don’t want to offend, don’t want to cause distance, or in general we are uncomfortable with it.  In other ways, I’m not so sure it’s always a good thing to avoid, particularly with people outside of faith.  After all, we looked at I Peter 3:15 last week which encourages us to always have an answer for the hope in us, so wouldn’t this also apply to our understanding of Biblical sexuality as well?

Being able to have a conversation about sexual morals and go further than simply, “God doesn’t approve of homosexuality” is important.  While that statement is technically true, to someone who doesn’t have a very high respect for God or the Bible, it doesn’t really matter.  What we need to also be able to convey is the “Why?”  Why does God not approve of homosexuality?  Under what reasoning does the Bible speak against it?  Today, I’d like us to look at this style of reasoning in a story from Acts 17, in Paul’s Sermon on Mars Hill.

Scott McFarland