Have You “Mained” God?

by Jake Upton

Some friends and I play a game called Super Smash Brothers. It’s a game where Nintendo characters like Donkey Kong, Mario, Luigi, and more fight each other to see who is the ultimate Nintendo character. My friends and I call your best character, your “main” because that’s the main character you play as in the game.

I was thinking about this concept recently as it pertains to God. Is God my “main” in real life like Donkey Kong is my “main” on Super Smash Brothers? Do I consider God to be better and more important than anything else in my life? If I do consider God to be the best and most important thing in my life, do my actions reflect this belief? Or is it possible that I have allowed something other than God to become the “main” in my life?

When something other than God becomes “the main” in a person’s life, God refers to this as an idol in scripture. “An idol is an image or other material object representing a deity to whom religious worship is addressed or any person or thing regarded with admiration, adoration, or devotion.” Most of us today, are not guilty of the first part of the definition. Assemblies devoted to worshiping a golden calf are scare in Tuscaloosa, AL. But listen to the second part of the definition of an idol again; an idol is “any person or thing regarded with admiration, adoration, or devotion.” Is it really true that we don’t have any idols that are more important to us than God? Is it really true that there is nothing or no one who gets more admiration, adoration, or devotion from us than God? Is there no one or nothing that gets more of our time or money?

Your parents always tell you that idols are bad, but why? Because God said so, that’s why. God says in I Corinthians 10:14 “flee from idolatry”. I like scriptures like this. You don’t have to think. It says it very plainly, “flee from idolatry.”

If God wants us to “flee from idolatry”, where are we supposed to flee to? We flee to Matthew 6:33, that’s where. “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” Jesus doesn’t say here, to seek classic rock first, or to seek mad skills in ping pong first, or  to seek first the pretty blonde girl you saw at the youth retreat. Jesus says to “seek first the kingdom of God” and as a result of that “all these things will be added to you.”

But what are “all these things”? As you look at the context surrounding this promise from Jesus, it becomes clear that the promise is saying this: If we put God and his kingdom first above any other idol, then God will make sure that all of our needs are met in the form of food, drinks, clothes, and a home to live in.

But the blessings of God go way beyond just the things that we need.  God says in I Corinthians 10:26 (the same book and chapter I read from earlier) “For the earth is the Lord’s, and all its fullness.” Everything is God’s, and he has created the earth and everything in it to be experienced and enjoyed by us. God said this originally to the Christians in Corinth, some of whom were concerned that it was a sin to eat meat that had been sacrificed to an idol.  God was encouraging them to go to the market and eat any kind of meat they wanted to, with a free and clear conscious, because all meat “is the Lord’s”, and there is no such thing as evil or sinful meat, because God has provided it all.

In the same way, classic rock, Ping-Pong, and the pretty blonde girl, have all come from God. Classic rock and Ping-Pong are here for me to enjoy. I know that there is a girl out there that God created just for me to enjoy life with, to be blessed and comforted by in the holy relationship of marriage. It may or may not be the pretty blonde I’ve seen on trips with the youth group, but God has created a girl out there somewhere just for me. I know that as I prepare myself to be the man that she needs, God is preparing her for me.

I Peter 3:10 says “For He who would love life
And see good days, Let him refrain his tongue from evil, And his lips from speaking deceit.” I love life. I enjoy the things of this life that God has created for our enjoyment. I enjoy classic rock, Ping-Pong, the companionship of a pretty blond and more. There is so much in life to love and enjoy. And God has created these things for you and I to enjoy.

But we must never put the created before the creator. We must never make an idol “the main” in our life. God must always be that. He must get more “admiration, attention, and devotion” from us than anything else. If he doesn’t, I have put an idol before him, and he’s already told me, I must flee from idolatry.

I have noticed that the more admiration, attention, and devotion that I give to God, the more he blesses me. He will do the same for you. Romans 2:11 says, “There is no partiality with God.” His blessings are waiting for you, if you will obey him.

Jesus said in Matthew 6:24 “No one can serve two masters.” In one hand is Ping-Pong and classic rock. In the other hand is the one who sent his son to die for you because he loved you. Which is more important to you? Which is your idol? Who is your master?

So, tell me, is God your “main”? Is he the one you rely on when your back is against the wall? Do you depend on him to carry you to victory? Or are your idols good enough to pull you through? Every time God is my “main”, I win. Who’s to say it won’t be the same for you?

If God is not your “main”, the first thing you must do is decide to become a Christian and become one with Jesus, allowing him to forgive you of your sins and to prepare you a home in heaven. You can do this today. The first thing you must do is believe in Jesus as the Son of God. Jesus said in Mark 16:16 “He who believes and is baptized will be saved. But he who does not believe will be condemned.”

The second thing you must do to be saved is repent of your sins. To repent means you are sorry about the way you’ve been living, and you are ready to change your ways. Jesus said in Luke 13:3 “Unless you repent you will all likewise perish.”

Thirdly, you must confess that Jesus is the Son of God. Jesus said in Matthew 10:32-33 “Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven.”

Finally, you must also be baptized into Jesus to be saved. Jesus said in Matthew 28:19-20 “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

Christians, pay close attention to the last statement Jesus makes in that passage. We are to be trying to observe all the things that he has commanded. How is this coming for you? If God is not your “main”, you can change that today.

If we can help you become a Christian, pray for you, or help you in any way please contact us at the Cottondale Church of Christ. Our number is (205) 553-1444. 

Visit us on facebook at https://www.facebook.com/CottondaleChurchofChrist  and online at CottondaleChurchofChrist.com Attend one of our assemblies soon. We are located at 2025 Prude Mill Road Cottondale, AL 35453, next to the Bank of Tuscaloosa on University Blvd before you get to Dunn’s Auto Sales. We assemble on Sunday for Bible study at 9 am and worship at 10 am and 5 pm. On Wednesday night we assemble for Bible study and worship at 7 pm.

A Church You Can Call Home

A History of The Cottondale Church of Christ

By: Kelly Sims

I don't remember how young I was the first time I saw the saying, but I know I did not truly understand it. But after maturing and spending countless time at a congregation that is the prototype for this slogan, I truly know what it means. The saying is one that can be found on the Cottondale brochure. It simply says what we are: “a friendly church working for a loving savior.”

A lot of churches claim to be a friendly church, but sometimes fall short. They claim to be friendly and Christ-like, but a visitor will pop-in and no one ever says a word to them. They claim to be friendly, but most members do not even know the name of that shy member who sits in the very back. They claim to be friendly, but they gossip about the new girl. So, saying that Cottondale is, “a friendly church working for a loving savior,” does not mean anything. It is the action of being, “a friendly church working for a loving savior,” that does the trick. To borrow a line from a preacher I heard recently, being a Christian should be a verb and not a noun.

Technically, the Cottondale congregation was founded in the late 1940's when “Aunt” Manie Englebert became a Christian by hearing a sermon on the radio. Manie had polio and was confined to a wheelchair. Her wheelchair was very large so it was virtually impossible for her to attend services. So a group of a few Christians, including our brother Alfred Akers, started worshipping with Manie inside her house. These people did not know it, but what it turned out to be was the beginning of the Cottondale Church of Christ.

Congregations are established on two things. First and foremost, they are established on the rock that is Jesus Christ. Following what the bible says about establishing a church and how to run the church is a must. But after the church has been established what does the church do. Does it fade? Does it remain neutral? Does it thrive? The answer is up to the members. Luckily for us, Cottondale had people who went forward with the Christ-like mentality we talked about. People like Alfred Akers, J.E. Palmer, and Max Wheeler are very rare to find and luckily we had those three, along with many other men, as staples of this congregation for decades.

In around 1952 G.M. Powell donated the land that the Cottondale Church of Christ sits on now and the building was built upon it. Once the building was built, “Aunt” Manie still could not attend services so brother Akers would head over to her house afterwards and have a service with her. A couple of other men would continue this tradition until her passing in the mid-1970s. I could not make up a better example if I tried. Think about this for a minute. Our church, from the very beginning, has been founded on the idea of practicing what you preach. How easy would it have been for brother Akers and the other members to get frustrated with the whole “Aunt” Manie situation? They are trying to get a congregation of the Lord's people started and they have to worry about that. But no, they knew there sister needed help and they took care of her every single time. I would like to think of that as foreshadowing.

You know those moments that let you know you are at home? Certain things that happens at your house all the time that lets you know that you are home? Well I have plenty of little things that let me know I am at home. Like when Patsy is literally trying to compliment every person in the church. When Stephen is trying to shake the hand of every person in attendance. When brother Ernie is trying out yet another joke. These are moments when I know I am home. Like when Charles Lollar tries to have a conversation with as many people as possible. (And it is not one of those, “Hey, how are you?” and then keep walking conversations) Or when Junior Latner is putting as many people as he can in a chokehold. Or even when Megan gives me a death-stare for something stupid that I said/did. These are moments that remind me that I am at Cottondale. They remind me that I am home.

The question is, how do you get a congregation where everyone feels welcome? How does a church get to the point where the members feel like actual family? The answer is simple. You have to have members that care for each other. They have to truly care for the soul of their brother or sister. Of course, at the center of creating this environment is the Bible and getting people to read, understand, and obey what it says. But I have found that a major reason that Cottondale thrives is because of something else. Something that many people just dismiss as unimportant. You would not think that asking the new family to lunch would be a big deal. You would not think that simply having a conversation with a visitor would be a big deal. You would not think inviting a shy member of the youth group to play ping-pong would be a big deal. But it is. It is a big deal, because it makes these people feel wanted. It makes them feel like they are a part of a church family and not just a place they happen to worship. Little things are so important when developing as a Christian and also when developing a congregation. If people ask me why Cottondale feels different than a lot of churches, my number one answer is just that. We do the little things.

When people think of leaders of the church most of the time they think of men. Of course with men being the ones to lead the congregation in worship, that makes sense. However, the role of the women in the church is very underestimated at times. Women can be leaders. Women can pitch in. (And no, I do not mean by just making the men a sandwich, although that would be nice.) I have always thought that women have almost an advantage in the department of being a leader. You see, being a leader is about taking action. Sure, talking and giving a pep-talk is helpful, but it is worthless if you do not back it up. Most of the leading women do is based upon action. So the only way a woman can lead is by taking action. Sometimes men think they can get by with just leading singing or delivering a lesson. That leads me to the women of the Cottondale Church of Christ.

Sometimes you have to search for female leaders of the church because they are not as blatantly obvious as the guys. But, do not be mistaken. Faye Akers and Josie Wheeler meant every bit as much to the growth and sustainment of this church as Alfred and Max. Having women such as this since the beginning is essential. A lot of people reading this have never even seen sister Olene Palmer, because of her illness. But, there was a time when this woman did everything. She was the secretary, she did the bulletin, and she helped with any legal matters that needed to be taken care of. Now I want you to listen carefully to these two statements that our sister Anne Causey said about Olene. This should be something that not only every woman should strive for, but every man as well. Number one, “Their was a time when she was doing at least something for every person at the church.” And number two, “She was the best friend you could ever ask for to everybody.” Get this. Her own husband and daughter knew nothing about most of these acts of kindness. It was not a case of her doing it for the glory, clearly. I cannot count on my hands how many times I have heard girls say that when they grow up they want to be just like Patsy. You think women cannot lead? Forget about it. That sounds marketable though. Move over, “I wanna be like Mike,” here comes, “I wanna be like Patsy.”

Douglas Dean, Axel Swang, Bill Wheeler, Rex Newborn, Jack Black, Charles Curtis, Larry Burke, Jerry Faust, John Robertson, Charles Blair, Chuck Webster, and Clark Sims are the men who have handled being the pulpit ministers at Cottondale. A lot of times when we think of people who can make a real difference, we tend to think elders and ministers. But the key to having a loving congregation is to have everyone pitch in. Dupree Galloway, Charles Lollar, Ernie Kimbrell, Randy Latner, Junior Latner, Charles Steiner, and Clark Sims are all men of God. But, it does not matter if the flock is continuously straying. Each and every person has to take responsibility for what they do as a Christian. That is another thing the people of Cottondale do well. For the most part, every person pitches in and helps in some way.

When we came to Cottondale fifteen years ago, I remember sitting in the pew at Northport on our last day and crying my eyes out because I did not want to leave and I did not want to go to Cottondale. But, fast-forward fifteen years and I do not want to leave Cottondale. Cottondale is my home. It says something about Cottondale that since 2007, the percentage of high school graduates that graduate as members of the Lord's church that remain in the church is 100%. The national church of christ percentage is around 60%. Since we got to the church it has grown significantly. Since we got here we have gained a youth minister and grown into having a real youth group. Since we got here we have gained a college minister and an entire college group that came with him. Yes, Cottondale has a long and interesting history. But, it has an even better future if we keep on the right path. Now that is not to say that a church cannot do a complete 180 and go in the wrong direction. You have to stay on the straight and narrow or all of this success will go down the drain. But I have confidence that Cottondale will stay on that straight and narrow that Jesus himself talked about.

Cottondale is not where it is because people did things that they wanted to do. It is where it is at because people did things that God wants them to do. The problem with this world and with so many churches is because they try to play to the wants and needs of the people. That does not matter. It is not your will. It is the will of the Father that needs to be done. Do not play to the needs of the people, play to the needs of the Father.

Patsy is not trying to to call every single person “handsome” or “precious” because it is fun. Brother Lollar does not go around exchanging pleasantries with every single person because he is running for office. Stephen does not go around and try to shake the hand of every single person because he wants to. They do it because they love their neighbor. They do it because they want everybody to feel welcomed and loved. They do it because Jesus Christ of Nazareth did it.

It has been a long time since they met for the first time at the Cottondale Church of Christ, but we are still, “a friendly church working for a loving savior.” So if you are ever in the area, stop on by the Cottondale Church of Christ or as I like to call it.....home.

Child Spiritual Development Resources

By: Charles Steiner

Today I’d like to let you know about a couple of resources that I am recommending to parents to assist in the spiritual development of your children who are in preschool or elementary school.

The first is a worksheet I have made available in the foyer of our church building called “My Worship Notes”. Many times it is such a struggle for parents with small children during worship, both in behavior and in helping them to learn to be active participant in worship. I hope this worksheet will help with both of these struggles. The worksheet asks children to write down the numbers of the songs we sang, their favorite song we sang, the number of times words like God and Jesus were said and it also includes a place for them to write down the lesson title, Bible verses, and a box where they can draw a picture that describes the sermon that was preached. The feedback I’ve received so far has been great. This worksheet is already helping several of our children learn and participate during worship.

The second resource I’d like to recommend is a book called The Beginner’s Bible. It is a Bible storybook for young children that help introduce them to the stories and characters of the Bible. More than 90 Bible stories are included with illustrative cartoon pictures that help the stories of the Bible come to life. It would be great if parents read at least one story out of this book and prayed with their children each day. Then as they get older, this pattern could be continued with an actual Bible and resources that are more appropriate for older children and teens. The Beginners Bible can be purchased locally in Tuscaloosa at Barnes and Noble or at Lifeway Christian Store. It can also be purchased online at Amazon.com with the current price being $8.17 for a new copy and $1.37 for a used copy. Order the Book Here The book is also available on the kindle and other ereaders if you prefer this.

Both of these resources can be used to further the spiritual development of your child. I hope they will be put to good use. 

Foolish

Scripture calls five of them wise and five of them foolish. That division would not have taken place if the bridegroom had not tarried. If he had just come at the right time, all “ten” would have been ready. There would have been no descriptions of the “foolish.” When Jesus told about these virgins, He wanted to be sure we understood our “readiness” does not need to be based on a “moment” but on a “lifetime.” We need to live every moment of every day ready for the bridegroom to come. The ones called wise prepared themselves so that they would be ready. On the other hand, five ladies are called foolish because, even though they would say they wanted to enter the feast with the bridegroom, they somehow convinced themselves there was a “moment” they were sure He was not coming. The bridegroom tarried. The five acted foolishly. They assumed He was not coming. At least, He was not coming now….And He came! They went into a state of panic. The wise were not going to give up their readiness! The foolish found themselves on the outside looking in. The bridegroom closed the door. They wanted to be ready. Surely He would not come now. Foolish.

All the best and I hope this gives you “Help for Today”

Clark

 

 

Hear Him (Luke 9:28-36)

 



 On many levels, I can appreciate the excitement and sentiment of Peter as he witnessed a conversation between Jesus, Moses and Elijah. After all, this was a collision of his worlds. This was a conversation between two names he had known and heard his entire life. For a Jewish boy in Biblical days, the names just do not get more prominent than Moses and Elijah. These names were a part of the history of God’s people. These names were a part of Peter’s history. Here they were on the mount called Transfiguration in conversation with Jesus, the one he had dropped his nets to follow. I can have an understanding of what he meant when he said to Jesus, “Master, it is good for us to be here; and let us make three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” It was at that point that the Father made clear a powerful reality to Peter, Clark and the rest of us. He made a statement of priority, preeminence and who the one and only one is that is His Son! A voice came out of the cloud and said, “This is My beloved Son. Hear Him!” Moses and Elijah were wonderful men who contributed much to the history of God’s people, but let us be very clear. If Moses and Elijah are saved eternally, they will be saved through the blood of Jesus Christ. There is no one like Him. No one compares. Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow! Hear Him!

Clark

Enlarge Your Vision

By: Charles Steiner

Ruth easily could have played the victim. Woe is me! My husband has died! My father in law has died! My brother in law has died! It’s just me, my mother in law, and my sister in law. What are we going to do now? (Keep in mind this is taking place thousands of years ago when it was not the custom for women to be financial providers). Ruth’s mother in law Naomi had a very negative attitude and even blamed God for her misfortune (1:13, 20-21). She encouraged her daughter in laws to go back to their home towns and families to start life over again (1:8b-14). Orpah did as Naomi suggested, but Ruth believed in Naomi and was loyal to her saying “Do not urge me to leave you or to return from following you. For where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God my God (1:16 ESV).” 

Because Ruth had a larger vision for what God could do, God blessed her more than Naomi and Orpah. Orpah went back to her home town and returned to the practice of worshiping false gods (1:15) and according to the writings of Jewish Rabbis became the mother of the philistine giant Goliath. Naomi was physically taken care of and was blessed with a grandson (4:13), but she thought she was to old to marry again or have children (1:11-12). I wonder if she had faith in God’s power, would he have blessed her with a husband and children. But what about Ruth? Though Ruth was not a Jew, she continued to worship and obey the commandments of the one true God, was loyal to her mother in law Naomi, and believed she would be blessed. The result? God blessed her with a rich Godly man named Boaz whom she had her son Obed with. And Obed became the grandfather of King David and was in the genealogy of Jesus, the savior of the world. Did Ruth just happen to be working in Boaz’s field? Did Boaz just happen to walk out into that particular field and meet his future wife Ruth? Was this just luck? I think not. God was that very day causing all things to work together for good for a woman who loved him and was called according to his purpose (Romans 8:28). 

God can do the same for you. Have you recently gone through pain, suffering, the loss of a loved one, or other adversities? Have a positive attitude, and believe in God’s ability to turn things around in your life. If you put your faith in God, and obey his commandments, God will bless you and your life will turn around for the better. Enlarge your vision of what God can do. 

Who’s Next?

By: Charles Steiner

I read a book recently called The Death of WCW. In the book the authors share how World Championship Wrestling, owned by billionaire Ted Turner, went from being the most popular wrestling company ever in 1998, to going out of business and being bought by it’s competition in 2001. One of the reasons the authors gave for the companies collapse was older wrestlers who were past their prime like Hulk Hogan refused to give up the spot light to younger wrestlers who were entering their prime. One of the wrestlers who should have carried the torch for WCW into the future was named Bill Goldberg. His catch phrase was “who’s next?” That’s exactly the question that WCW failed to answer. Who would be the next stars to follow the older guys on the brink of retirement?

Could what happened to WCW also happen in the church? More personally I ask could it happen to you and your family? We know through history that the church of the New Testament, which had rapidly grown in just a few short years, was almost non-existent just a few hundred years after it begun and had to be restored to its original form over a thousand years later. It can happen. We need to be asking ourselves “Who’s Next?” Who will be the adult church of tomorrow? And most importantly, what are we doing to ensure that there will be a church of tomorrow? Here are 3 things you can do to help increase the chances of your young loved ones being faithful Christian adults.

Pray. Pray with your children and grandchildren. Pray for them. Pray in every instance imaginable (happy, sad, mad, grateful, depressed). By doing so, you put your life into the hands of almighty God, and teach the young ones that you love to do the same. I Thessalonians 5:17 “Pray without ceasing.”

Apply the Bible to every day life. Reading the Bible is great and needs to be done. But scripture will never come alive more than when you apply it directly to the way your child behaves. If your child complains that someone is being mean to them at school and they don’t know what to do. The Bible comes alive when you explain that Jesus said to “love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you (Matthew 5:44).

Put the Kingdom first. “Jesus said seek first the Kingdom of God and his righteousness (Mt. 6:33).” Your children notice what is really the most important to you. If you sacrifice the extra hour of sleep to come to Sunday school, they will notice. If you choose to skip something that would have been really fun to do something spiritual they will notice that too.

Who’s next? It’s a question we all need to be asking to help our young loved ones get to heaven.