December 5, 1999 Humble Messenger

Authority...?  srf
We just finished a three month study on authority. Is such a study important? Read excerpts from the following article and you decide. My comments are in brackets [...].

AND THE BEAT GOES ON: A JOYFUL NOISE
Some Churches of Christ moving toward use of instrumental music

By Shanna Foust-Peeples
Globe-News Staff Writer - Amarillo, Texas

A fundamental change in the philosophy of some Churches of Christ is being set to music.
Traditionally, Churches of Christ forgo instrumental accompaniment in their worship services, but individual congregations are starting to rethink the issue, according to Southwest Church of Christ pastor Ben Mereness. ...
West Amarillo Church of Christ currently uses guitars in their youth meetings and has used instrumental accompaniment during Saturday night concerts, pastor Tommy Tony said.
"We've not ever used it (music) in one of our worship services on Sunday morning. We're probably about the most open to that kind of thing, but it's against tradition, and we don't want to offend anyone," he said. ["Against tradition"? "don't want to offend anyone"? Clearly, it is NOT a matter of divine authority with these folks . . . ] ...
Lawndale Church of Christ pastor Loren Harper said . . .  "We adhere to a restoration theology that stresses the worship and practice of the early church," he said. ["restoration theology"? What happened to adhering to the Scriptures?] ...
Lake Highlands Church of Christ in the Dallas metroplex has decided to take the step toward integrating instrumental music into Sunday worship, according to the church's youth minister, Donny Martin.
He said the church has used a keyboard, guitar, bass guitar, drums and bongos during worship services for the past two years. ...
"Instrumental music isn't really an issue (at the church). We like traditional hymns as well as progressive," he said.
The Lake Highlands congregation is focused more on evangelism rather than controversy, Martin said.
"God has really called us to be ambassadors of reconciliation to the lost world and to His body. It's real easy for people to get really concerned about what happens during one hour on Sunday morning. Worship is our life. We don't want to get bogged down with traditional man-made issues and forget about God," he said. ["man-made issues"? Is divine authority for worship a "man-made" issue? "The first covenant had regulations of divine worship" (Heb. 9:1). Nadab and Abihu found out God was rather concerned about these issues! (Lev. 10:1-2). Repeatedly God told Moses to "make all things according to the pattern" (Heb. 8:5). Paul, a true ambassador of Jesus Christ (we are NOT "ambassadors") wrote to a preacher, encouraging him, "Hold fast the pattern of sound words which you have heard from me" (2 Tim. 1:13). If we forget about God's pattern for worship, do we not thereby "forget about God"? Do not be deceived! And do not think the subject of authority is not a needed study in churches of Christ! Mechanical instrumental music in worship is still not "according to the pattern."]

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Wednesday Evening Close For December

Dec. 1 Boyd Hurst
Dec. 8 Gregg Hutson
Dec.  15 Larry Legg
Dec. 22 Tod Aldridge
Dec. 29 Mark Ary

Should any of the men on the Wednesday evening close list wish not to participate, please feel free to let one of the elders know. (The complete list is posted in the foyer.) We would like to encourage as many as we can to participate and this was the purpose of the list, but we do not want anyone to feel coerced to participate nor feel ashamed if they did not. Encouragement to develop and expand one's ability to serve is the intent, not force or intimidation. Likewise, if for some reason your name is not on the list and you would like to participate, please mention that to one of the elders. Due to change in work schedules, being out of town, illness, and simply personal choices, this list will be very fluid. In fact, it has already changed! (Note at the top of the list: "Revised 12/05/99") As we add, remove, and move men's name's around, the list will change and you might want to check it from week to week to see if you are still in the same spot. We want it to be a positive, not a negative. Let's work together to that end!

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News of Interest
Craig Moore was baptized into Christ Monday night after confessing Jesus Christ as Lord. Dawn, Craig's wife and the daughter of Sally Hodges, also confirmed what her
conduct has demonstrated‹she has repented of her life that was out of harmony with the will of God and has committed herself to serving the Lord. These fruits were the harvest of the seed sown by several people over the months and years past. To all who are sowing the seed of the kingdom and
encouraging others to obedience to the great and only God - don't give up! Both Craig and Dawn made know their desire to be members of the church in Humble. Lets welcome them! Dylan is their son. Address: 16406 Northcross, Houston, TX 77073. Phone: (281) 821-3913 . . . Michaela Yvonne was born to Kristina and Steven Schoolcraft last Monday in Knoxville, TN. Wally and Linda Ottersbach have gone to Tennessee to be with Steven and Kristina . . . Randy Smith's good friend, Mark Self, who was like a father to Randy, passed away unexpectedly last week . . . The Acts class material and a syllabus of the study on Isaiah can be downloaded at http://www.kingwoodcable.com/colblip/humblechurchofchrist/ . . . Only two slots left on the December ride list for Zelma Bobbitt . . . LORD'S SUPPER PREPARATION: Would you like to assist in preparing the elements for the Lord's Supper? If so, select a month from the list in the foyer. If you have never participated and would like to, ask someone who has done it before and they would be glad to assist you. It is requested you use fresh bread and fruit of the vine each week. Do not save the leftovers in the trays at the end of the first day of the week. If you would like to bake the bread, following is a simple recipe for unleavened bread. Suggestion: copy the recipe, cut it out of the bulletin, or download it to your computer from the web site so you will have it available later should you want it. One cup of flour; 1/4 cup shortening; 1/8 teaspoon salt. Sift flour and salt, and cut the 1/4 cup shortening in very fine. Use  enough water to make it hold together (2 or 3 tablespoons to make a dough. Roll out very thin and make lines diagonally and vertically so it can be divided easily. Bake at 250 degrees for 55 minutes.
 
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Transportation for Zelma Bobbitt

‹ December ‹
 Wed., 1, pm - Jim Crain
Sun., 5, am -  xxxxx pm - Jim Porterfield
 Wed., 8, pm - Schindler
Sun., 12, am -  xxxxx pm - Hurst
 Wed., 15, pm - Michael Gove
Sun., 19, am -  xxxxx pm - ______________
 Wed., 22, pm - _______________________
Sun., 26, am -  xxxxx pm - Jamie Whitehead
 Wed., 29, pm - Rocky Rodriguez

It might be a good idea to call Zelma before you go to pick her up to verify she feels like assembling.

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SCHEDULED TO SERVE
Wednesday, Dec.  8
Song Leader: Craig Ottersbach

Sunday AM, Dec. 12
Announcements:  Mark Hargrove
Song Leader: Boyd Hurst
First Prayer: Jim Crain
Lord's Table:
Bread: Mark Ary
Fruit of  the Vine: David Dickey
Contribution: Mike Head
Assistant: Matthew Hodges
Closing Prayer: Gregg Hutson

Sunday PM, Dec. 12
Song Leader: Boyd Hurst
First Prayer: Bill Faulkner
Lord's Table:
Bread: Johnathan Bernard
Fruit of the Vine: Kris Emerson
Contribution: Mark Hargrove
Closing Prayer: Doug Bernard