Post on 30-Jul-2018
July 29, 2018
Serving Our Community
for the Glory of God
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SHEPHERDS Bill Murray 901- 476-8587
Andy Whaley 901- 626-2911
Jerry Gatlin 901- 296-5166
DEACONS
J.J. Brown
Jimmy McMahan
Benny Collins
John Combs
Wayne Dalrymple
Brian Dickey
Grant Edmonds
David Keith
Craig Robinson
Alan Otts
Terry Wall
David Stewart
Shawn Anderson
Rusty Cartwright
PULPIT MINISTER Mike Rogers 901- 476-9269
Cell # 901-229-4305
mdrogers57@comcast.net
ASSOCIATE MINISTER
Jeff Phillips
Cell # 901-233-9495
philjeff9@yahoo.com
OFFICE 901-476-8278
FAX 901-476-8749
churchofchrist.covingtontn@
comcast.net
Website
www.covingtoncofc.com
SERVING THIS WEEK 7/29/18 AM Worship Service
Announcements Brandon Matlock
Song Leader Wayne Dalrymple
Sermon Mike Rogers
Presiding Over the Lord’s Table: Craig Robinson
Ben Evans Chris Max
Ron Sutton Coley Max
Opening Prayer: David Stewart
Closing: Evan Coats
Nursery Worker: Zoe Liles
July Food Committee Leader: Judy McCool
Close Building: Rusty Cartwright
PM Worship Service
Song Leader Beau Phillips
Opening Prayer Brad Evins
Closing Andrew Evans
Sermon Mike Rogers
Mid-Week Bible Study (August 1)
Song Leader Jedidiah Phillips
Opening Prayer: Benny Collins
Closing: Eric Keith
Speaker Tim Alsup
PROOF OF OUR LOVE
Sunday Bible Classes 180
Worship AM 1st Service 124 2
nd Service 79 Total 222
PM 160
Wednesday Bible Study 183
VISITORS ARE OUR SPECIAL GUESTS
Beverly Russell Atoka, TN
Mary Lynn Isome Covington, TN
Frank & Martha Brown Hockley, TX
Shanna Parker Haleyville, AL
Too Rich to Sleep? In Ecclesiastes 5:12 we read: “The sleep of a laboring man is
sweet, whether he eats little or much; but the abundance of
the rich will not suffer him to sleep.” Many are those who lose sleep worrying about bills. The visions of looming debt and
hardship often chases sleep away. Were there enough money
then perhaps sleep would come.
Yet our text speaks of the wealthy being unable to sleep. One
has to wonder why those with no financial worries would be
unable to sleep. Solomon, in his great wisdom, is teaching us another valuable lesson. Money, in and of itself, will not bring
peace of mind. Perhaps the rich person is unable to sleep due
to fear that his wealth may disappear. Indeed, “. . .riches
make themselves wings; they fly away as an eagle toward
Heaven” (Prov. 23.5). The rich man may lose sleep over fear that somewhere there is someone with more wealth. He may
stay awake trying to imagine more ways to garner more
wealth. Or he may live in constant fear that there are those
among his family or acquaintances who would rid this world
of his presence to attain his possessions. Many are the rea-
sons for lack of sleep among those who love their possessions. It is not money which brings peace of mind or rest for the
body. Such comes only from “the peace that passeth under-
standing” of which Paul spoke in Philippians 4:7. This great
apostle spoke of need and plenty in Philippians 4 and came to
the conclusion that he had learned “in whatsoever state I am, there with to be content.” It is not wealth, nor poverty, that
brings the gentle sleep. Rather it is the contentment which
comes from serving Our Lord.
Tim L. Long via Bulletin Digest McMinnville, TN
Sunday, July 29th will be the Fifth Sunday. We will have
only one AM Worship Service. Bible Classes will be at
9AM, Worship at 10AM, PM Worship will be at 5:30.
JULY EVENTS *Men’s Prayer Breakfast, Wed. mornings @ 6:00. LOOKING AHEAD
Family Day, will be Sunday October 28th
. The
guest speaker will be Terry Edwards.
AREA EVENTS *Mid-South Youth Camp Fish Fry, Saturday, July 28
th, 4-6PM at Mid-South Youth Camp,
Henderson, TN *July 29-August 1—Gospel Meeting at Hatchie Church of Christ, Sunday-10AM, Dinner will be served from 1PM-2:45PM, Afternoon Service will be at 3PM, Monday-Wednesday, 7PM *There will be an Apologetics Press Dinner Thursday, August 30
th @ 6:30PM,
Henderson church of Christ, Henderson, TN. Kyle Butt will be the guest speaker. If you would like to attend please sign the sheet in the foyer. *August 5—“Life In A Small Church” Common Challenges In Small Church Life at Gilt Edge church of Christ, Burlison, TN- 10AM, 11AM,2PM,& 3PM;Speaker: Steve Brown
BIRTHDAYS JULY 29-AUGUST 4
July
29—Camille Starck, Lisa Johnson
30—Ann Huggins, Carson McWherter
31—Courtney Watkins, Kristin Sallee, Lesa Hall
August
1—Caleb Smith, Paulette Pennington
3— Linda Gordon
4—Ken Bringle
ANNIVERSARIES
4—Cameron & Rachel Dickey
SYMPATHY
We extend our deepest sympathy to Heather Keith in the
death of her aunt, Linda Claire Warpool.
BIBLE READING SCHEDULE JULY 29-AUG. 4
29 – Acts 23: 1-22 Job 20-21
30 – Acts 23: 23-35 Job 22-23
31 – Acts 24 Job 24-27
1 - Acts 25 Job 28-29
2 – Acts 26 Job 30-31
3 – Acts 27: 1-12 Job 32-33
4 - Acts 27: 13-44 Job 34-36
Saul’s Conversion
The journey from Jerusalem to Damascus would have taken
five or six days on foot; and Luke records that Saul was
“approaching Damascus” at “midday” when “suddenly, a
light from heaven flashed about him” that was “brighter
than the sun” (Acts 9:3b; Acts 26:13). Saul was blinded by
the “brightness of that light” (Acts 22:11a).
The King James Version has the word “glory” in place of
“brightness.” These words translate a Greek word that is
often used to stress the visible manifestation of the risen
Christ (cf. Tit. 2:13, Phil. 3:20-21). Therefore, it was more
than the bright light that blinded Saul. It was the radiance,
the splendor, the grandeur of the risen Christ that blinded
him. Saul not only saw Jesus on that occasion, (1 Cor. 9:1;
15:8), but also heard Him. Saul’s companions saw the light
(Acts 22:9), but did not see Jesus (Acts 9:7; 22:9). They
heard the voice (Acts 9:7), but did not understand His
words (Acts 22:9). Saul both saw Jesus and understood Him
(Acts 22:9).
Blinded by the majesty of the risen Christ, Saul “fell to the
ground and heard a voice saying to him, ‘Saul, Saul, why
are you persecuting Me’” (Acts 9:4)? In Paul’s recounting
to Agrippa he includes, “It is hard for you to kick against
the goads” (Acts 26:14b).
Jesus knew Saul’s heart. He knew that it was going to be
hard to go against everything for which he had been con-
victed. But He also knew Saul could and would do it. It was
“hard,” but not impossible. The “goads” then, refer to
Saul’s struggle between devotion to the Law, and what he
has heard about Jesus as the resurrected Messiah.
Saul’s confusion is recognized by his words “Who are you,
Lord?” The answer Christ gave must have pierced Saul’s
heart like a knife, “I am Jesus the Nazarene, whom you are
persecuting” (Acts 22:8b). Saul could no longer deny what
he had heard about Jesus being the Messiah. He must have
relived in an instant the stoning of Stephen, and the count-
less beatings, imprisonments, and murders of other Chris-
tians as that word . . . “persecuting” . . . reverberated in his
mind (cf. Acts 22:4, 26:10). Then, the penitent Saul begged,
“What shall I do, Lord” (Acts 22:10)? Jesus responds, “Get
up, enter the city, and it will be told you what you must do”
(Acts 9:6). Saul recognized there was something more he
was obligated to do . . . but what? This question would
haunt him for the next three days.
Join us Sunday for “the rest of the story.”
--Mike Rogers
HEALTH CONCERNS
John Dickey—Methodist North, Rm. 524, recover-
ing from surgery
Shirley Laxton—Baptist East, Rm. 3226
John Evans
Pat Stephenson
Al Chaney—The King’s Daughters & Sons Home,
Rm. 125
Joyce Scott
Dianne Nutt—Home, recovering from surgery
Paxton Messer—Broken elbow
Frank Brown
Derek Garner—Recovering from surgery
Joyce Smart—Friend of Mary Jean Stockton
Debbie Medford—Friend of Genie Renfroe
Betty Jane Coln—Sister of Faye Shankle
Kalista Sanders—Sister of Chris Sanders
Angie Craig
J. C. Holley
Mary Blackmon
Colbie Cooper—Grandaughter of Laura Petree
Roberts
Leona Harris—Sister of Robin Higgins
Annette Short
Connor Peebles—Home, recovering from surgery
REMEMBER IN PRAYER Our group on the
Mission Trip to Costa Rica. Dot Peyton, Jack Alex-
ander, Sonny Arwood, Rosie Barnes, Corey Bates,
LaVerne Baxter, Linda Beard, David Blakely, Gary
Bowie, Margaret Boyd, Cleo Burch, Jack Burris,
Carolyn Carol, Laurie Cates, Bobbie Cooper, Ken-
neth Coulston, Joyce Cox, Jeff Creighton, Bobbie
Deen, Linda Gordon, Jere Hadley, Curtis Hearn,
Melba Herring, Albert Jackson, Shelley Dickey,
Jason Elliott, Carly Glass, Terry Griffith, Houston
Hall, Nancy Harris, Jackson Huey, Maurice Jadon,
Nellene Kidd, Lucy Krull, Jean McIntyre, Lukas
McNail, Lynn Moore, Grady Moss, Mike Owens,
Sabrina Pearce, Carolyn Poe, Beverly Russell, Car-
ol Scott, Sherry Scott, Frank Shaw, Tom Short,
Tonya Stanley, Shannon Tankersley, Regina Tay-
lor, Robert Taylor, Paulette Watkins, Tina Whaley
NURSING HOME Covington Care: Otis Poole,
(202)
MILITARY Logan Bridgeman, Bradley Evins,
Alex Fendley, Nic Hunter, Seth Kellow, Tanner
Mason, Scott E. Moore, Chris Nowak, Michael J.
Pena, Jessica Whaley
After a long hard day Jesus sent His disciples across the
sea. He’d catch up but now he needed time to pray.
After feeding the multitudes the disciples no doubt had
questions but the questions could wait. The plan was to
meet across the sea, apparently no one wondered how
Jesus was to get there. The winds picked up and made
life difficult, discouraging and uncertain for the men in
the boat. They had been rowing all night. It was in the
fourth watch when things changed. This is the last
watch of the night so the dawn was approaching but
when your waiting on the light of dawn, it seems to
never come. Through the strong wind and building
waves He came. The Gospel of Mark tells us He was
intending to pass them by (6:48). Imagine the looks,
rowing all night, against the wind, making no headway
and then He comes and not in a boat! They thought He
was a ghost and were afraid (imagine that). He then
spoke to them calmly, assuring them that He was real.
Peter then spoke up verbalizing the doubts of many, “IF
it be though, bid me come to thee upon the waters”
(Matthew14:28). Of course it was Jesus, who else
could accomplish such a feat with apparent nonchalance
so He simply said, “Come.” To Peter’s credit he got out
of the boat and amazingly it worked – for a moment. It
was not the power of Christ that failed and cause him to
sink but an inability to remain focused on the master.
Our life is also filled with challenges, difficulties and
times when we are discouraged because it appears we
are making no headway. One step forward two steps
back. In these times we can identify with the struggles
of the disciples in the boat. Maybe there was grumbling
and even a few prayers, sound familiar? Even when He
came, they couldn’t believe what they saw - a Savior on
so many levels. As witnesses to His awesome power
and glory, they still could not believe. Believe. Look
for Him. He is coming. In the midst of troublesome
and frustrating times He is near, calming the sea and
making possible what seems impossible. When the
Grass weeds and even trees have begun to grow up-
through the cracks in the foundation of what once was a
hotel and restaurant in the lot next door to our hotel. Get-
ting up early this morning I walked with my cup of coffee
through leftover debris, garbage and the growing jungle.
As I walked and looked closer, this blight was filled with
color. The first I saw turned out to be the light blue flow-
er of a lone chicory plant. As my walk continued, I found
the dense pink bloom of the thistle with a bumble bee
working his way down to the nectar through the dense
petals. So busy was he, I was able to stand and lean with-
in inches to watch him work without disturbing him. I
watched as the pollen sacs on his legs filled up. When he
flew I watched him fly over to a wild pink rose. I fol-
lowed and observed three distinct species of bees work-
ing the rose bush with it flowers ranging in color from
whitish yellow to bright pink. There must have been a
hundred blooms. As I returned to the bus, low to the
ground I saw the velvety leaves and budding yellow spike
of what turns out to be a mullein plant; not even native to
this country, it was brought over from Europe by Puritans
and now it is here in north central Kentucky. Later in our
morning devotional, we sang “Open the eyes of my heart
Lord, open the eyes of my heart. I want to see you …” It
dawned on me I had seen God. Amidst the blight of ille-
gally dumped garbage, the rubbish of a failed hotel and
unattended urban blight, I had seen God in countless spe-
cies of plant and insect. I remembered Romans 1:19-20,
“For what can be known about God is plain to them, be-
cause God has shown it to them. For his invisible attrib-
utes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have
been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the
world, in the things that have been made.” As I thought
of all I’d seen, I thought of what I was about to see as I
began to knock doors and meet people. I was about to
see and meet God’s greatest creation; those also made in
the image of God. I might have forgotten, or never no-
ticed the beauty and potential of those I would meet
amidst backdrop of life untended, unkempt, often failed
and broken; life without God. Open the eyes of my
heart Lord. Open the eyes of my heart I want to see you
in all your creation. I want to see you in those I meet. I
want to remember Christ died for all the world. Help me
Lord to be a light and color so others may also see you in
After a long hard day Jesus sent His disciples across
the sea. He’d catch up but now he needed time to pray.
After feeding the multitudes the disciples no doubt had
questions but the questions could wait. The plan was to
meet across the sea, apparently no one wondered how
Jesus was to get there. The winds picked up and made
life difficult, discouraging and uncertain for the men in
the boat. They had been rowing all night. It was in the
fourth watch when things changed. This is the last
watch of the night so the dawn was approaching but
when your waiting on the light of dawn, it seems to
never come. Through the strong wind and building
waves the He came. The Gospel of Mark tells us He
was intending to pass them by (6:48). Imagine the
looks, rowing all night, against the wind, making no
headway and then He comes and not in a boat! They
thought He was a ghost and were afraid (imagine that).
He then spoke to them calmly, assuring them that He
was real. Peter then spoke up verbalizing the doubts of
many, “IF it be though, bid me come to thee upon the
waters” (Matthew14:28). Of course it was Jesus, who
else could accomplish such a feat with apparent non-
chalance so He simply said, “Come.” To Peter’s credit
he got out of the boat and amazingly it worked – for a
moment. It was not the power of Christ that failed and
cause him to sink but an inability to remain focused on
the master.
Our life is also filled with challenges, difficulties
and times when we are discouraged because it appears
we are making no headway. One step forward two
steps back. In these times we can identify with the
struggles of the disciples in the boat. Maybe there was
grumbling and even a few prayers, sound familiar?
Even when He came, they couldn’t believe what they
saw - a Savior on so many levels. As witnesses to His
awesome power and glory, they still could not believe.
Believe. Look for Him. He is coming. In the midst of
troublesome and frustrating times He is near, calming
the sea and making possible what seems impossible.
When the wind blows and the waves rise, more than
ever we need to focus on God. He is our rock, our an-
chor, our strength. May your week be filled with much
joy and happiness because of Him, even if the seas of
life are stormy around you.
-jeff