Worship Schedule for 11/5/00

Announce  Jerry Gilley

Sing AM  Larry Powell

Read  Maurice Powell

Pray  Wrelv Mears

Table  Brady Bogle

Stephen Powell

Seth Powell

Brian Witty

Dismiss  Clark Rains

Sing PM  Maurice Powell

Pray PM  Joey Ferrell

Prepare the Lord’s Supper

Larry Powell

Visit the Shut-in Today

Jerry Gilley

Wed. Night Schedule for 11/1/00

Sing  Stephen Powell

Read  Maurice Powell

Attendance and Contribution Last Lord’s Day

Attendance  119

Contribution  $1304.25

Visitor Last Week

Cora Lance

Sick

Jerry Powell, Pearl Wade,

Hope Wood, Jim Hughes,

Carlene Rains

Shut-ins

Woodrow and Lina Lorance,   

Ona Prater, Juanita Lowe,

William Condra

Deaths

John Melton III, Miriam Hawkins

James 5:8

Birthdays & Anniversaries This Week

Tues., October 31  Milton Parker

Thurs., November 2  Christy Wimberley

Fri., November 3  James Prater

Fri., November 3  Mayne & Dorothy Mooneyham

Current Events

Family Day

Woodbury Church of Christ

November 5th

Speaker:  James Watkins

9:30 A.M.:  "The Family"

10:45 A.M.:  Bible classes

12:00 P.M.:  All church dinner

6:00 P.M.:  "The Steadfast Love of the Lord Never Ceases"

BOOKS DONATED TO THE CHURCH LIBRARY

In memory of Mrs. Eunice Parton

In memory of Mrs. Ludie Gilley

DETERMINATION

I am only one, but I am one.

I cannot do everything,

But I can do something.

What I can do, I ought to do;

And what I ought to do,

By God's grace I will do.

The Unchanging Nature of God

There are some in the religious world today who seem bent on separating the "God of the Old Testament" from the "God of the New Testament." In their view the God of the Old Testament is harsh, vindictive and judgmental. On the other hand, the God of the New Testament is seen as loving, merciful and more of a "peaceful" being. This is a mistaken view for several reasons. First, some may have an agenda for doing so because of their desiring to believe or practice something that necessitates a less harsh and stringent God in the Christian dispensation. However, the most obvious reason that this is a mistaken view is that the Scriptures manifest that God's nature has remained constant and will continue to do so (Eccl 3:14; James 1:17).

Let us carefully examine several of the character traits of God and see that both the Old and New Testament declares that these have been a part of His attributes from the beginning. Due to the limitation of space we will analyze one "negative" and one "positive" aspect of His unchanging nature.

Wrath and Vengeance

The Old Testament is replete with examples of God manifesting His fierce wrath on mankind because of their rejection of His will. After the defeat of Jericho, God's people move on to Ai, somewhat confident because of their previous victory. However, they are doomed to defeat because of a direct violation of God's will. Achan kept one of the "sacred things" in direct violation of God's instructions to Joshua. Because of this violation Achan, his sons and daughters were stoned to death and they and all their possessions were then piled up and bumed (Josh.7:25-26). Nadab and Abihu, priests and sons of Aaron, were quickly devoured by "fire from the Lord" because of their choice to get their sacrificial fire from a different source (Lev.l0:l-3). Uzzah died a quick death when he stuck his hand up to right the ark as it was about to fall (I Chr.13:9-10). Further examination of each of these texts show that they all deserved that which happened to them as God's wrath was quick and sure because of their sin.

Lest we fall into the same mistake as those who attempt to separate the nature of God, we must also see that the New Testament has a great deal to say of God's wrath. In Acts 5 we see the account of the death of Ananias and Sapphira. They were involved in a good work regarding those less fortunate. However, they chose to lie about the amount they received from the sale of their property (apparently for selfish motives) and were both killed when they continued to further this lie (Acts 5:1-11). Numerous other references from the New Testament manifest, among other things, the wrath of God against Rome (Rev. 16:19) and the punishment of the wicked upon Christ's return (2 Th. 1:8-9). Suffice it to say that God's nature has not changed regarding His wrath.  (To be continued next week…)

Pat McIntosh