You Better Check Yourself

By: Randy Latner

Sometimes in our lives we have to take a step back and look at where our priorities truly are from time to time.  Let’s take a look at what are busy summers are like and I think you will see the point I’m driving at. We drive hundreds of miles just to see a desolate terrain of sand with non-drinking water crashing against it.  We spend a huge amount of hours on the roads of America visiting sites that we’ve already seen before in magazines, the internet or on the travel channel.  We run ourselves ragged to make sure that we don’t miss a birthday party, cookout, family reunion, date night, softball game, pool party, movie premier, or clothing sale at our local shopping center.  

So what happens to us on Sunday morning at 9am?  What about 6pm that very same day?  We get so wrapped up in our social lives at times that our spiritual lives tend to be placed on the backburner.  I’ve visited many congregations of the Lord’s Church in my lifetime and while I’m there, I like to take notice of the board that they post their attendance numbers on.  If you’re like me, you’ve always wondered where those 75 or more members are between 9 and 10 am.  Or even wondered why people seem to be so punctual on Facebook in their statuses but can’t even make it to worship on Sunday or to one night of Vacation Bible School.  

What’s the answer? What’s the solution?  In Luke Chapter 14 starting in verse 25, Christ talks about the cost of being His disciple.  He says that we will have to hate our families including ourselves if we truly want to be a follower of Him.  He then goes on to discuss in two separate examples where a builder isn’t able to finish building a tower because he didn’t count the cost and also where a king needs to figure out how many men it will take to win a war so he doesn’t have to send for help once the battle begins.  While there’s nothing wrong with any of the above mentioned events in our lives, I feel that so many of us fill our time with these things that we don’t have room for the Lord’s church and its’ activities. We aren’t willing to give up our social lives for the Cause of Christ and in turn if we are not careful we will place our own families and lives above His. I challenge you to look over your schedules this week and see where you can make adjustments to fit in time with your Christian family.  As the old saying goes, we better check ourselves, before we wreck ourselves. 

About the Author: Randy Latner is married to the love of his wife Mandy. He is a fireman for the city of Tuscaloosa. He is also a campus minister for the Cottondale church of Christ.

The Other Side of the Phone

       

I have been running crazy since the storms hit on Wednesday, April 27. We, as a congregation, have worked hard to do what we could to help. We’ve worked with chainsaws and we’ve worked in kitchens. We’ve gone to those in need and the needy have come to us. We’ve tried to support our members and support our community. We’ve tried to address physical needs and spiritual needs, encouraging brethren and reaching out to those outside the church. We’ve seen hard work from our very young and from our older members. For what we’ve been able to do and for what we can do, I am thankful.

A fixture in my life since that day in late April has been a cell phone stuck to my right ear. For a short period of time that first weekend, my cell phone was lost. While I felt very lost without it, I must admit there was a type of “relief” not hearing it ring. But, in a box that was being delivered, my phone was found, and the “chaotic” pace continued. I wish I had kept up from the beginning with every state that made a call to me. It has been quite an experience. The common denominator has been they call wanting to help. What can we do? What do you need? The amounts have not been the same but the genuine interest from brethren has been of such unity that I’m reminded of the words of the song, “Blessed Be the Tie that Binds.”

I really cannot give you a number of people I do not know that I’ve spoken with in the last month. It should have hit me long before now, but I really had my “aha” moment as I sat at my desk on Monday, Nay 23. I had just gotten off the phone with a man named Jack Wall. Jack is an elder of the church in Evant, Texas. He is a county commissioner in that area and seems to be a very personable man. After we spoke, it really hit me. What kind of people have I been talking to? What kind of Christian people have been on the “other side of the phone?” These are people that I do not know, could not pick out of a police line-up and, in many cases, have never been to the places they call home. Yet, somehow, I have a very special bond with them. I anticipate being with them in that place called Heaven. I understand the beautiful description of the first century church. They had “all things common.” It does not mean they all liked Andy Griffith, okra and lemonade. It does mean in that deep part of your life and soul that means absolutely the most, they shared. It is a bond that is not limited to this life. It is a shared relationship that will go with us into eternity.

To my brethren that have been on the “other side of the phone,” I am thankful that with you, I have “all things common” and I do look forward to meeting you some day!

~ Clark Sims  

The World Needs People of Great Character

By Guest Blogger: Jon Townsend

I'll be the first to admit that I'm not perfect, however, I try to live each day to the best of my ability. I wake up purposed to accomplish personal change. I organize my tasks and agenda to accommodate those changes, and it becomes my priority. Why? So I can be a better Christian, husband, father, and friend. I hear people talk about how others need to change so everything could just be better, but I rarely hear those people admit that they need to change. Here is a simple truth: when we transform ourselves we ignite the fires of change in others. If each of us was willing to change our Character for the better, incrementally, then our churches would begin to build stronger members, incrementally. Our community would share greater moral awareness, incrementally, and ultimately the integrity of our society would grow into a harvest of people exhibiting great Character, incrementally.

Jesus tells a story of an Unmerciful Servant in Matthew 18 that inspires us to self realization. In the parable, a servant owed the king a debt that equated to 200,000 years of a laborer’s salary. This exorbitant debt was as unfathomable then as it is today. After some time the king called the servant to settle his account. The servant begged for his debt to be forgiven, and the king had pity on him. The absurd debt owed by the pitiable servant was forgiven. So what happened to the newly freed servant? He had no debt, none! Did he call the Dave Ramsey show and scream, "I'm debt free!"?Did he go and celebrate his new found freedom? No, he went and found a fellow laborer who owed him 100 days worth of salary and he tried to collect the debt. When the fellow laborer couldn't pay, the debt free servant  had the proportionally insignificant debt laden servant thrown into jail! When this came to the king's attention by other workers, the unmerciful servant was summoned to come back. The king was furious, and he sentenced the merciless servant to be thrown into prison until he could satisfy his debt of 200,000 years of wages. Here is a person who owed more money than was ever possible to earn, yet when someone slighted him with an insignificant sum in comparison with his own he was unwilling to forgive. Jesus closed the parable by saying," So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you if you do not forgive your brother, from your heart." (Matthew 18.35, English Standard Version)

Selfish people want to examine the faults of others to make themselves feel better about personal weaknesses. It allows them to think, "I'm not as bad as so and so, therefore, I don't really have to change." The sad reality is fault finders are some of the most pitiful and miserable people. I can say this because I'm a recovering selfish fault finder. I'm working hard to overcome this debilitating weakness one step at a time. I have found that seeking the highest good within myself helps me to seek the highest good in others. That search for strength within my life lets me realize two profound lessons. One, I have made mistakes and will make mistakes. Two, when I fail I must be willing to say I'm wrong, gain forgiveness and move on. When I adjust my perspective from having obtained, some stature to trying to obtain a Christ like stature I'm humbled because I know my present character doesn't favorably measure to His. That's why Paul so wonderfully said, "Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But, one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you. Only let us hold true to what we have attained." (Philippians 3.12-16, ESV)

The key to incrementally building great Character is exhibiting the humility which gives us the ability to assess ourselves, setting daily goals to change our specific faults, and realizing that everyone struggles therefore, we seek to assist others because we have been where they are and we understand weakness. "Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you." (James 4.10 ESV)

Other Bible Passages to Consider: Matthew 7.3; Luke 18.9-14

About The Author:   Jon Townsend is married to the love of his wife Jenn. Jon and Jenn have two beautiful girls Eleigh Kaye (4) and Emma Bess (2). After 8 years as a campus and preaching minister in churches of Christ, Jon now has his sights set upon becoming a lawyer. He is a J.D. candidate at Faulkner University's Jones School of Law. Jon holds a B.A. in Biblical Studies from Amridge University and a M.Min from Freed-Hardeman University. Jon teaches the 5th and 6th grade Sunday school class at Cottondale church of Christ where he and his family are members. He is the founder of coachingcharacter.com

Tuscaloosa Tornado Victims: Call Us! We Have Food, Clothes, And Other Necessities!

If you or someone you know is a victim of the tornado that came through Tuscaloosa, AL on April 27, 2011 call Cottondale church of Christ at (205) 310-2480. We have clothes, food, water, baby items, and other necessities in large quantities at our church building. If we don't have what you need we can get what you need. We will deliver what you need to you. You can also come and pick up what you need at 

Cottondale church of Christ

2025 Prude Mill Road

Cottondale, AL 35453

A member of our church will be there to assist you Monday through Friday from 9 am to 1 pm or at any time by calling (205) 310-2480.  Thank you. We are here to help you in any way possible.

Donate for Disaster Relief in Tuscaloosa Through PayPal

Dear Friends,


As you probably know our community of Tuscaloosa, AL was devastated by a Tornado on 4/27/11. Many have lost their own lives, everything they own, and loved ones. You can now give electronically through Pay Pal to the Tuscaloosa Tornado Disaster Relief Fund sponsored by Cottondale church of Christ. Churches have requested we set this up to allow funds to reach us more quickly. This works the same way as when you use Pay Pal using Ebay. All donations will be used to provide relief to those affected by the Tornado. Go to this link below to give. Thank you in advance for your generosity.


http://goo.gl/ON7Wm

Two Disaster Relief Teams Are Working Tomorrow. Can You Help?

Cottondale church of Christ has two teams of volunteers giving relief in Tuscaloosa tomorrow in the aftermath of the Tornado that destroyed our town. Can you help us?

Team 1 will be distributing water and snacks at the fire college by University Mall from 9-2 pm. If you can help this team call Tracie Sims at (205) 310-3359. They will meet at Cottondale church of Christ at 8:15 am.

Team 2 will be assisting David and Erica Watkins recover their belongings and clean up their yard. Their home was destroyed by the Tornado. Molly Blomeley will be keeping the Watkins children and Erica’s sister’s children. She could use some additional help. If you can help this team call Charles Steiner at (205) 310-2480. They will meet at Cottondale church of Christ at 9:15 am.

Tuscaloosa Disaster Relief

Cottondale church of Christ is collecting donations to provide disaster relief in the aftermath of the tornado that has left Tuscaloosa, AL devastated. Donations can be sent to:

Cottondale Church of Christ

2025 Prude Mill Road

Cottondale, AL 35453

Call (205) 310-2480 to get more information.

All donations will go to provide relief for those in need in Tuscaloosa. Thank you.