It’s back to school time and our children have their supply lists: pencils, pens, folders, paper and on and on. But there are things that we need help our children carry to school that aren’t found in Walmart or Target, we find them in God’s Word…

Listen Here: Back to School

“Understanding God’s purpose for marriage is of the utmost importance, because to marry and miss it is to enter into a life full of frustration and disappointment — setting the stage for great marital unrest.” (Reb Bradley)

The road you’re about to travel is at once an exciting and dangerous one. The road to higher education is laced with great possibilities, while at the same time offering pitfalls you will want to avoid at all costs. I just want a few minutes of your time to suggest some things to help you as you travel this new road and are immersed in this new environment. Is that OK?

My admonitions are based on the Psalm 119:9-16.

Wherewith shall a young man cleanse his way?” it asks.

Stay close to God’s word (vs. 9). “Wherewithal shall a young man cleanses his way?” That is the question. And the answer is forthcoming. “By taking heed thereto according to thy word.” No matter what you do this year, don’t stray far from the word of God. Keep it close. It’s your protection against evil inclinations and cultural temptations.

Seek the Lord whole-heartedly (vs. 10). “With my whole heart have I sought thee.” Some changes are inevitable, but that doesn’t mean everything needs to change. Some things need to stay as they are. You don’t want to change what you are. You’re a Christian. You decide what you’re going to do—and that’s well and good—but plan to seek God with your whole heart, no matter your plans. Keep your faith above all keeping. No change is needed there.

Take the word with you (vs. 11). “Thy word have I hid in my heart.” You’ll be going some places that are new to you; and some of those new places are dangerous. Hide His word in your heart so that you are armed against the invasions of evil you no doubt will face. What a good way to begin this new time in your life—with His word in your heart.

Invite divine instruction (vs. 12). “Teach me thy statutes,” he says. You will be getting considerable new information about how to live life in your new educational career, but you should not forget to invite some new instruction concerning your eternal career. Being a good Christian is more important than being a good engineer, or a good nurse, or a good anything else. Learn about Him and you get the best of all educations.

Don’t be ashamed of who you are (vs. 13). It’s easy to get caught up in this new life. And it’s easy to just follow along with others, some of whom don’t share your convictions. Don’t let that happen. It’s important that you make it known early on that you are different. Don’t be ashamed. Be glad about who you are and let others know. Declare it with joy and without timidity.

Don’t be dismayed at the discipline of God’s word (vs. 14). It’s easy, when you’ve just been loosed from the rules of home and you’re in charge of your life, to be a little loose about the discipline of God’s word. Instead of treating the word of God with rejoicing, you may feel somewhat hemmed in by it. Remember, God’s word never requires anything or restricts anything that is not for your good. “I have rejoiced in the way of thy testimonies,” says that you understand its discipline to be for your good.

Keep in mind the really important things in your life (vs. 15). No matter how good the education you get, it’s not as important, nor is it as functional, as is knowing and loving God and His word. “I will meditate on thy precepts,” the psalm says. Don’t get so busy with your new life that you don’t take time to contemplate the eternal, to muse about the spiritual, to remember what has true value and lasting consequences. Meditation takes time. Take the time.

Delight in His word and don’t forget its influence in your life (vs. 16). Of all the books you can study, none should delight your mind more than the word of the Lord. It’s the first thing you need to live a happy life, first before any other book. When it’s coupled with the good education you will no doubt achieve, it can bring you a totally satisfying life. Without it, you can never be truly happy. “I will delight myself in thy statutes: I will not forget thy ways.”

We love you, gang. We’re proud of you—every one of you. You continue to be a joy to all of us. As you leave, please remember who you are, from whence you are come, and where you’re going. And come home again soon. 

- Dee Bowman

Together. There is no such thing as family without together. No matter how the word is used — whether in regard to biology, or mathematics, linguistics, or physics — family always suggests something held together by a common bond.

The church is the family of God (Galatians 6:10; Ephesians 2:19). God is the Father, saints are His children. We are referred to as “sons of God” (Galatians 5:5-7).

There are things that bind families together — things like common goals, common interests, and even common struggles. The church is the same. All these things are both recommended and common in the family of God. Worship brings the family of God closer to the Father. Worship is filial (fatherly) devotion, an attitude of reverential respect, of love and high regard for the one who has given us life. When we direct our love toward our common Father, we become stronger in both our devotion to Him and our devotion to one another. We are told to “worship Him in spirit and in truth” (John 4:24). While this may refer to the attitude we are to have when we worship Him, I believe there is more to it than that. I believe He means we should reach down to the very depth of who we are and accord to Him the most reverent feelings of that inner being. In the ultimate reality, worship is the adoring reverence of the creature for the Creator, and that means our most fundamental feelings of love and devotion must be extended to Him. When that is the case, it is axiomatic that we also come closer to one another.

Being together as a family brings us closer to the Father. He is the focal point of our assembling. When we sing together, we bring honor to His name. “I will sing with the spirit and I will sing with the understanding also” (1 Corinthians 14:15) carries the same responsibility as the worship to which we earlier alluded — there must be a reaching down to the essence of who we are when we sing praises to Him. Colossians 3:16-17 begins with “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly,” a sure indication of the need for the deepest respect we can muster before we even begin to sing praises to Him. Also, as we are told to teach and admonish “one another” in songs, hymns, and spiritual songs, the command closes with the enjoinder that we sing “with grace in your hearts to the Lord.” Worshipful prayers brings us closer to God. As we each come closer to Him in our personal prayers and supplication, we come to be closer to one another, praying to the same Father, seeking the same blessings, extolling the same Savior. The Lord’s Supper, served in the assembly of the saints, brings us together so that we can “consider one another to provoke unto love and good works”
(Hebrews 10:23- 25). Worshiping together promotes an intimate relationship with the family.

Family love is never better or more to be desired than in the church of our Lord Jesus Christ. Love is the divine mucilage, it binds us all together in Him (Colossians 3:14). That love originated in Him, and is radiated to us; we ought therefore to radiate it to one another. “Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God” (1 John 4:7). There’s togetherness in that. Nothing brings us closer to Him than love for one another, born of love for Him. It makes peace possible. It solidifies unity. It emboldens hope. It gives security to a proper direction. It makes motive high and noble. Furthermore, to love the brethren is to be like the Father. “Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently” (1 Peter 1:22). We are brethren. We each belong to God our Father. Brethren love brethren.

The family together is a beautiful sight. Think about the pictures you have seen of families together — paintings, portraits, photographs — they all speak to togetherness, to a common love, and to a common devotion to a common father. The family together is what the church of our Lord is all about. Let us be careful that we don’t diminish its beauty by being derelict and neglecting the family together. I love my family, don’t you?

~Dee Bowman

2009 1000 Voices

This year the 1000 Voices event will be held on November 6th, 7th and 8th in Kernersville, NC.

Members from the Saraland congregation plan to attend this year.  Travel arrangements and hotels can be viewed from the 1000 Voices website.  The cost and free and the weekend will be packed with workshops and singing.

Nero is Emperor. Paul is under house arrest but is still free to welcome visitors into his home. Christianity is spreading quickly, but expressing a belief in “the Way” is growing increasingly dangerous. This Vacation Bible School will immerse learners of all ages in the life and culture of ancient Rome, allowing them to explore what it might have been like to live, work, and worship Jesus in Rome during the early 60s AD.

Each night will begin and end with a brief time of singing. Groups will gather in their “Roman family”, put on their Family sashes, look at the day’s Bible lesson, and prepare for their travel through Rome. Each day Families will visit Paul, sneak off to the underground church, and visit the Marketplace.

Along the way, Families will encounter Roman guards, a Senator, and a slave, and many other characters. Each day a “real life” drama will take place, connecting the Bible lesson to their experience in Rome. The book of Romans will serve as a framework for the Bible lessons.

Don’t miss it! Kids ages 3-18 are invited to join us as we “make ourselves at home in Rome”!

July 13 – 17, 2009

6:30pm – 8:00pm

UPDATE – Our VBS this year was a great success.  Thanks to all the volunteers and visitors from the community.  We are already making plans for next year!