This past Thursday, Travis and I spent a majority of the afternoon trying to obtain passports for the upcoming mission trip to Jamaica. As it is with any event that involves government paperwork and red tape, it was a hassle. We were finally able to get our birth certificates, paperwork, driver’s license and the cost handed over and should have our passport in the next few weeks. Despite the hassle of getting them, we knew it was necessary and knew we were not so special as to get treatment.
While physical passports are good to have, one’s heavenly passport is of even greater importance, and just as on earth, they are not freely handed out, but requirements must be met. One must have proof of their birth. It isn’t a physical birth that concerns God, but the spiritual birth that occurs in the act of baptism (John 3:5), the culmination of one’s initial obedience to the Gospel.
Being born is only the beginning though. This world expects us to grow and mature in ability (being able to drive for example) and knowledge (as in filling out paperwork with information). In the same sense, God commands us to continue as new Christians to grow, not only in knowledge, but in our actions as well. With these things combined, a new birth followed by faithfully maturing can one obtain a heavenly passport, just without the ridiculous amount of red tape to go through.
-Carl Jenkins 3/20/2011
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
When God Says No
Nothing seems to disappoint Ben more than when I tell him no, that he can’t do something or have something he desires. We all know that sometimes a “No” has to be the answer, even if we don’t like it. Just as loving parents sometimes have to tell their children no, God sometimes tell us no as well.
God told Paul, “No.” Paul was afflicted with a thorn in the flesh, and prayed thrice that it would be removed. God responded "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness” (II Cor 12:9). Paul desired the hindrance gone, but God knew it was something from which Paul would grow.
God even told His own Son no. In Gethsemane, Christ prayed, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will" (Mat 26:39). To accomplish God’s will though, Christ received a “No,” there was nothing else that could be done.
We don’t always like the answer, “No,” but sometimes it is the best answer. May we remember to always trust God and His care regardless of the answers we may get.
God told Paul, “No.” Paul was afflicted with a thorn in the flesh, and prayed thrice that it would be removed. God responded "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness” (II Cor 12:9). Paul desired the hindrance gone, but God knew it was something from which Paul would grow.
God even told His own Son no. In Gethsemane, Christ prayed, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will" (Mat 26:39). To accomplish God’s will though, Christ received a “No,” there was nothing else that could be done.
We don’t always like the answer, “No,” but sometimes it is the best answer. May we remember to always trust God and His care regardless of the answers we may get.
Monday, March 7, 2011
The Marriage Commitment
This past Saturday we were blessed to witness two people dedicating their lives to each other. Kaleb and Kristin left their fathers and mothers and were joined to each other becoming one flesh (Gen 2:24). They made the commitment to each other to begin their own family and serve one another in it (Eph. 5:22-33). Their commitment was to stick with each other through thick and thin that no matter what came before them, they would endure together. There are many in this world that make that promise, but fail to fulfill it when the trials come.
The passage from Ephesians 5 compares the relationship of the husband and wife to Christ and His church. Those in the church are the bride of Christ. When we decided to obey God and were added the church, we made a commitment. Regardless of what comes before us, we will stand with God and endure it with Him. As we think of the commitment of Kaleb and Kristin, let us also remember the commitment we have made to God.
-Carl Jenkins 3/06/2011
The passage from Ephesians 5 compares the relationship of the husband and wife to Christ and His church. Those in the church are the bride of Christ. When we decided to obey God and were added the church, we made a commitment. Regardless of what comes before us, we will stand with God and endure it with Him. As we think of the commitment of Kaleb and Kristin, let us also remember the commitment we have made to God.
-Carl Jenkins 3/06/2011
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
When His Longsuffering Ends...
We have difficulty grasping God with our limited intelligence. Although we cannot fully understand God, we can learn things about Him through His Word. One of those things that we know about God is that He is longsuffering. “The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9).
Webster defines longsuffering as “long and patient endurance of offense.” There is little doubt to those with just a little Bible knowledge that God has been longsuffering. There are countless examples in the Bible of this very fact.
God was longsuffering during the days of Noah (1 Peter 3:20). From the time He commanded Noah to build the ark till the flood came, God waited approximately 120 years. Over a century was given for the world to turn before God’s longsuffering ended.
God was longsuffering toward the nation of Israel. God’s longsuffering towards Israel was even longer than that shown in the days of Noah. God pleaded with them through His servants Moses and Joshua, through the judges, through some of the kings, and through His prophets. Sometimes the people heeded the words of God’s messengers, but their obedience was always short lived. God was longsuffering for centuries, but eventually it ended.
God has also been longsuffering to you and me. If you have not yet become a Christian, He has been longsuffering to you giving you another opportunity. If you are a Christian but are living unfaithfully, God is giving you a chance to get your life right. God has been longsuffering, but that longsuffering will run out.
Although God’s longsuffering is great; it does eventually end. When it came to an end in the days of Noah, all but eight individuals died because of the flood. When His longsuffering ended toward the nation of Israel, they were taken into captivity.
And eventually His longsuffering will end for you. “And to give you who are troubled rest with us when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ” (2 Thessalonians 1:7-8).
But there is good news. If you are reading this, then He has extended His longsuffering to you once more. He is longsuffering to you because He wants you to be saved (2 Peter 3:15). Don’t put it off any longer, because when His longsuffering ends…
- Justin Paschall of Ripley, Tn.
Webster defines longsuffering as “long and patient endurance of offense.” There is little doubt to those with just a little Bible knowledge that God has been longsuffering. There are countless examples in the Bible of this very fact.
God was longsuffering during the days of Noah (1 Peter 3:20). From the time He commanded Noah to build the ark till the flood came, God waited approximately 120 years. Over a century was given for the world to turn before God’s longsuffering ended.
God was longsuffering toward the nation of Israel. God’s longsuffering towards Israel was even longer than that shown in the days of Noah. God pleaded with them through His servants Moses and Joshua, through the judges, through some of the kings, and through His prophets. Sometimes the people heeded the words of God’s messengers, but their obedience was always short lived. God was longsuffering for centuries, but eventually it ended.
God has also been longsuffering to you and me. If you have not yet become a Christian, He has been longsuffering to you giving you another opportunity. If you are a Christian but are living unfaithfully, God is giving you a chance to get your life right. God has been longsuffering, but that longsuffering will run out.
Although God’s longsuffering is great; it does eventually end. When it came to an end in the days of Noah, all but eight individuals died because of the flood. When His longsuffering ended toward the nation of Israel, they were taken into captivity.
And eventually His longsuffering will end for you. “And to give you who are troubled rest with us when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ” (2 Thessalonians 1:7-8).
But there is good news. If you are reading this, then He has extended His longsuffering to you once more. He is longsuffering to you because He wants you to be saved (2 Peter 3:15). Don’t put it off any longer, because when His longsuffering ends…
- Justin Paschall of Ripley, Tn.
Prayers We Don’t Mean (2)
When we come together to worship, we usually have at least six prayers said on behalf of the congregation for whatever part of the worship we might find ourselves in. Oftentimes a prayer is also said on behalf of the preacher and the sermon he will soon deliver and along with that we often pray that he will have a ready recollection and that God will strengthen him. At least in my case, I suppose the ready recollection is a prayer that my brain will continue to function normally allowing me to think, which is a prayer I desperately need! Can this prayer become a prayer we don’t mean though?
If we pray for this, that the message of God would be preached in strength, but refuse to apply it to ourselves, is it not a vain prayer? Why would we pray, or pray with the one praying, for the preacher to teach in strength, and that he might be able to effectively teach if we don’t plan on paying attention or applying what is taught to our lives? If we pray for the message to be carried out, we admit its importance, yet if we do not take heed to it our actions treat the Gospel as unnecessary to life.
What we pray for is important, but it is just as important to make sure we practice that which we pray. If our prayers are from the heart, we will give true diligence to fulfill the petitions we take before the Lord.
-Carl Jenkins 02/27/2011
If we pray for this, that the message of God would be preached in strength, but refuse to apply it to ourselves, is it not a vain prayer? Why would we pray, or pray with the one praying, for the preacher to teach in strength, and that he might be able to effectively teach if we don’t plan on paying attention or applying what is taught to our lives? If we pray for the message to be carried out, we admit its importance, yet if we do not take heed to it our actions treat the Gospel as unnecessary to life.
What we pray for is important, but it is just as important to make sure we practice that which we pray. If our prayers are from the heart, we will give true diligence to fulfill the petitions we take before the Lord.
-Carl Jenkins 02/27/2011
Prayers We Don’t Mean (1)
The Lord condemned vain prayers saying, “when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words” (Mat 6:7). While we may not have the repetitious prayers of the Catholics, and while praying for the same thing over and over is not wrong, it can be easy to offer up a prayer that is more of habit than heart. It’s easy to offer up prayers we don’t mean. Maybe we pray them, but don’t act upon them.
Surely Christians have a concern those that are not as faithful in attendance as they could be or should be. We surely pray for them and hope to see them more often. The question to answer is what do we do outside of prayer for them? Do we expect God to just put a tug towards the building in their heart, or cause them enough trouble that they reconsider coming more?
What if along with our prayers we put effort, calling those who are absent. How much of an affect would the majority of the congregation calling the absent have on the ones missing? Calling those frequently absent on Saturday night could help too.
It is important to pray for the things we desire and care about, but if we don’t put our action behind them, are they prayers we truly mean? If we want others to be faithful, let us pray, but also help.
-Carl Jenkins 02/27/2011
Surely Christians have a concern those that are not as faithful in attendance as they could be or should be. We surely pray for them and hope to see them more often. The question to answer is what do we do outside of prayer for them? Do we expect God to just put a tug towards the building in their heart, or cause them enough trouble that they reconsider coming more?
What if along with our prayers we put effort, calling those who are absent. How much of an affect would the majority of the congregation calling the absent have on the ones missing? Calling those frequently absent on Saturday night could help too.
It is important to pray for the things we desire and care about, but if we don’t put our action behind them, are they prayers we truly mean? If we want others to be faithful, let us pray, but also help.
-Carl Jenkins 02/27/2011
Getting to Know Us
Hi, and welcome to the website for the church of Christ at Canal Heights. We want to thank you for taking time to visit us here and we hope to be able to meet you some day if we haven't already.
Our motto here is that the Canal Heights church of Christ is "where the Gospel is preached and the people are loved." That is our goal in everything we do. We desire to follow nothing for or doctrine but the Bible. We are not a denomination, but strive to be the one church that our Lord Jesus died for (Matthew 16:18).
We are blessed to have two elders and two deacons that serve this congregation whole heartedly. We are thankful for these strong men willing to guide this congregation and we are thankful that they hold to the truth. Our minister is Carl Jenkins. He has been with us since January of 2011.
We meet at different times throughout the week, and you can find us assembling at the building at these times:
Sunday Bible Class- 10 A.M.
Sunday Morning Worship- 11 A.M.
Sunday Evening Worship- 6 P.M.
Wednesday Bible Class- 7 P.M
Our physical address is 1118 S Walnut Ave. Demopolis, AL 36732 and our mailing address is P.O. Box 100. If you need to call, our phone number is 334-289-3484. You can reach us by e-mail at canalheightscofc@gmail.com
Our motto here is that the Canal Heights church of Christ is "where the Gospel is preached and the people are loved." That is our goal in everything we do. We desire to follow nothing for or doctrine but the Bible. We are not a denomination, but strive to be the one church that our Lord Jesus died for (Matthew 16:18).
We are blessed to have two elders and two deacons that serve this congregation whole heartedly. We are thankful for these strong men willing to guide this congregation and we are thankful that they hold to the truth. Our minister is Carl Jenkins. He has been with us since January of 2011.
We meet at different times throughout the week, and you can find us assembling at the building at these times:
Sunday Bible Class- 10 A.M.
Sunday Morning Worship- 11 A.M.
Sunday Evening Worship- 6 P.M.
Wednesday Bible Class- 7 P.M
Our physical address is 1118 S Walnut Ave. Demopolis, AL 36732 and our mailing address is P.O. Box 100. If you need to call, our phone number is 334-289-3484. You can reach us by e-mail at canalheightscofc@gmail.com
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