“WHAT A FRIEND WE HAVE IN JESUS!”
July 13th - 16th
Begins Sunday Night @ 5:00 p.m.
7:00 p.m. nightly (Mon.- Wed.)

In this series we see how Jesus proves His friendship to us and how we can return that friendship to Him. In lesson one we look at reasons why Jesus is a friend every person should know and especially every young person. Then we see how Jesus is a friend of those who are cheerful givers—those who first give of themselves to Him then a portion of their time, talents and money. Next we look at how Jesus can be our friend in time of temptation by noting how He dealt with this ever-present problem. Combining lessons four and five, we study how Jesus is a friend to sinners through the wonderful story of Zaccheus, and we observe how the young man Timothy shows that he is Jesus’ friend through his faithfulness, starting with his youth.

What A Friend We Have In Jesus!
Day 1 - A Friend Every Young Person Should Know
Day 2 - A Friend To The Cheerful Giver
Day 3 - A Friend In Time Of Temptation
Day 4 - A Friend To The Sinner and The Faithful

SPECULATIVE VIEWS ON HEAVEN

Dennis Gulledge

While doing some reading on the subject of heaven I was impressed at just how freely some writers like to speculate in this area. It is not my habit to take issue with the late G. C. Brewer on many things, but a statement toward the end of a sermon on heaven made me wonder. He said, “You may call these thoughts speculative, and perhaps they are, but this is one field in which speculation can do no harm…” (Brewer’s Sermons, p. 272). I have never cared to speculate in any field of spiritual thought, and that includes what we know about heaven, and matters pertaining to life after death. Even though that knowledge may not be all that we would like it to be, to speculate is not our business.
F. W. Farrar, Canon of Westminster and Rector of St. Margaret’s (1876), provoked great controversy in the religious world in 1877 with the release of a book called Eternal Hope, being a collection of sermons wherein he forcefully denied the doctrine of eternal punishment. He also called heaven a state rather than a place, something to be rather than someplace to go. (p. 19).
In the church, F. G. Allen, of Old Path Pulpit fame, believed and defended a very interesting speculative position on heaven and the intermediate state of the dead. Brother Allen maintained “…that previous to the ascension and coronation of Jesus there was an intermediate state of the righteous dead called paradise…” It was Allen’s contention that after the ascension of Christ the intermediate state is not recognized in the New Testament. He concluded that since that time the spirits of just men enter immediately into their final reward in heaven. The main problem with this, or any view that denies the intermediate state of the dead, is that it skips the resurrection (Jn. 5:28-29; 1 Cor. 15:42-44, 50-54). Guy N. Woods noted, “The ablest men among us…have always rejected Allen’s position” (Questions and Answers, Open Forum, p. 341).
Another bold speculator on the subject of heaven is Robert Shank. In his little book, God’s Tomorrow: The Life Beyond Death (1975), Shank freely engages in speculative conclusions about heaven drawn without Scriptural support. He gives a literal interpretation to figurative passages in the book of Revelation, and Old Testament apocalyptic literature. He is wrong in his conclusions, but his book is interesting from the standpoint of the “unorthodox” ideas he sets forth. Have you ever wanted to know what the “heaven on earth” idea is all about? Allow Shank to explain it:
For the fulfillment of God’s ultimate purposes in creation, some day in his own appointed time, “the Jerusalem which is above” will descend to earth to be the eternal dwelling place of God among men, as John foresaw in the Revelation. “The new heaven and the new earth” will unite heaven and earth for all eternity to come. As wonderful as heaven now is, somehow in the perfect plan of God it is not complete without earth. And earth, even made totally new and perfect, would not be complete without heaven. As God planned from the beginning, heaven and earth will merge and the heavenly Jerusalem which is now “above” will no longer be above, but will be united with a perfect earth for ever. (p. 58).

VOLUME 40 NUMBER 27 JULY 7, 2003

OUR SICK

Ruth Hamilton went home on Saturday.
Olive Dove is having health problems and is not doing well. She is confined to home. Please no visits at this time but cards would be appreciated.
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SYMPATHY

We extend our sympathy to Thelma Blythe on the loss of her husband, George, on Thursday, July 3. The funeral was Saturday at Huson Funeral Home. Burial was in Tillar.
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THANK YOU

I would like to say thank you for the cards, visits, phone calls and food during my illness, but most of all for the prayers that were offered on my behalf. I appreciate so much everything that has been done for us. Geraldine Chambers.
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BABY SHOWER

All ladies are invited to a baby shower for Audrey Oliver on Sunday, July 20th, from 3:00 to 4:30 PM in the multipurpose room. She is expecting a boy.
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VBS REFRESHMENTS

We will need home baked cookies and caffeine free soft drinks for VBS. Please bring them to the kitchen on July 13.
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SERMONS FOR JULY 13

Morning
Christ – The Friend Of Sinners (1 Timothy 1:15-17)
Evening
A Friend Every Young Person Should Know – Bill Graddy (Adult class for VBS)
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SEARCH

Week of July 13
IS IT GOD OR AN IDOL?
God speaks in Isaiah 44:10-11: “Who would form a god or mold an image that profits him nothing? Surely all his companions would be ashamed…” However, “An individualistic faith demands an individualistic god.” If it doesn’t matter what a person believes, does it matter whether he believes in God or a god of his own making?
EVENTS OF INTEREST

July 13-16………………...Our VBS
July 20..Audrey Oliver Baby Shower
July 20……………………Teen Sing
August 1-8...Mission Trip to Arizona

OUR RECORD JULY 6, 2003

A.M. WORSHIP 141
SUNDAY BIBLE STUDY 181
P.M. WORSHIP 125
WEDNESDAY BIBLE STUDY 133

CONTRIBUTION 5640
BUDGET 6351
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MEN TO SERVE
July 13, 2003

Jim Henson Darren Gowen
Jason Griffin John Griffin
Dennis Gulledge David Gulledge
Greg King Devin Long

Evening Roger Horton
Tim King
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WEDNESDAY SONG DIRECTOR

July 16 VBS
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USHERS FOR JULY

Morning Mike & Nathan Moore
Evening Ray Wehunt & David Gulledge
Wednesday Jim & Shawn Wallace
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GREETERS FOR JULY

Ken & Dawn Sullivan
Rick & Teresa Wooldridge
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ELDER CHAIRMAN

July Gene Sullivan
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