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The leaders of the Estes congregation believe financial planning for the future is an important part of our spiritual lives and are providing an estate planning seminar to help each family get their financial house in order. This seminar, provided by professionals, is presented free of charge. Further individual planning sessions may be scheduled after the seminar has concluded (at no additional cost and no future obligation).

The seminar teaches God’s principles of money management in simple terms and highlights the blessings that come from putting these principles into practice. The professionals conducting the seminar sell no other products or services. They are prepared to give each participant hope and motivation to wisely manage the assets God has placed in their care. You will learn the benefits and blessings of understanding and living by the Biblical principles of money management. You will also learn why it is so important to create your own estate plan and how these Biblical principles can help you do this.

The timeless lessons on money management from the Bible are important for Christians of all ages. The young are learning the importance of living within financial restrictions while giving to the Lord. Matured couples see how the promises of God really are fulfilled in an abundant manner. Older couples want to make certain their own needs and those of their loved ones are taken care of. All of these are addressed with Biblical wisdom in an enjoyable, easy-to-apply way.

Imagine what the church could do if these statements applied to each of our families:

  • Out of debt and free of financial worries
  • Building wealth, while maintaining a Christian perspective
  • Giving as they prospered
  • Believing God when He said that He would bless those who bless others
  • Teaching their children about money management and financial priorities
  • Appreciating the fact that everything belongs to God
  • At peace from knowing that they had enough to live on for the rest of their lives
  • Wrote letters to heirs concerning the spiritual values that they want to pass on
  • Had a current estate plan which took care of them, their heirs, and the church

The Estate Planning Seminar for Christians will meet from 9-11 am in Room 5 on Saturday, January 30. So that we will know how many copies of materials to provide, please RSVP to info@esteschurch.org or sign the list on the Activities’ Board.

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Seeds

He presented another parable to them, saying, “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and sowed in his field; and this is smaller than all other seeds, but when it is full grown, it is larger than the garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and nest in its branches.” –Matthew 13:31-32

How many times have you heard the phrase, “You never know what might grow from the seeds you have planted”? If you grew up in the fellowship of Christ’s people, this might seem old hat to you, even a cliché. But sometimes sayings become clichés because there is truth in them. That can certainly be said for this important idea that we should remind ourselves of any time we feel as though our efforts for the kingdom are in vain. Perhaps the new year, as we are all thinking about renewal and doing things better, is an excellent time for us to be reminded of this old “cliché” and to strengthen our “resolution” to continue our work in the kingdom even when we cannot see the results.

Jesus frequently used images of gardens, growing plants, and planting seeds in his parables to illustrate our relation to his kingdom and how it works. My grandfather was a farmer—an expert on growing things from seeds and having faith in a result. He planted even though he had seen those seeds drained away by floods, blown away by winds, or dried up by the scorching sun. Despite these farming hazards, many years he watched acres of land sown with tiny seeds turn into fields of tomatoes or peppers, or corn that was enjoyed by thousands of people every summer. He knew the potential of those tiny seeds, and he knew the potential reward at the end of the season—a bounty of life-giving blessings.

Once when my grandfather was already elderly, but much younger than the 92 he was when he died, he was planting tiny trees along the dirt road that snaked its way to the back of our family homestead. My brother, a teenager, was helping him with the task. My brother’s mind was likely on something else, girls, or cars, or whatever it is that teenage boys think of when they are working on something they see as pointless. He had worked in the field with my grandfather many times; he had picked tomatoes and peppers for days on end. My brother, as a teenager, was already well aware of the rewards of planting and reaping. But these were tiny sticks. The dirt road went back into a wooded wilderness. There were trees all around. Why would we need to plant trees here?

Pa always had a vision—a good quality for a farmer, or a Christian for that matter—and he often shared those visions with his grandchildren. That day he told my brother about his vision for the roadside sticks they were establishing along an unused dirt road. “Someday, these will be tall trees, and they will form a tunnel of green along the road. It’ll be real pretty. I won’t get to see it, but maybe you will.” That road is now a city street that is well used by the residents who live along it. Most of them know nothing of my grandfather who is long gone, or even my brother who lives in another town now. Recently, a public figure in the community filmed a commercial on the street. The commercial pictures her jogging through the tunnel of green that my brother and grandfather planted so many years ago. The beauty and bounty of my grandfather’s vision for something good and useful that he would never even see was there for the benefit of a large community. We should not lose sight of the plans that our Father in heaven has for the souls of those who live in the world with us. We never know who will reap the benefits of our work; we never know what the bounty will be that comes from our efforts.

Now He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness; 2 Corinthians 9:10

–Submitted

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What we see is what we get.

What do we see, and what impact does it have?

I have been intrigued by a number of principles in the physical and behavioral sciences that perhaps help answer these questions. Heisenberg’s uncertainty principle, the observer effect in quantum physics, the Hawthorne effect, and behavioral confirmation that comes through self-fulfilling and self-defeating prophecies share the common perspective that the mere observation of a phenomenon changes that phenomenon. In other words, what we look for or what we expect is what we most often find because of our interaction with the phenomenon. Perhaps stated another way, “What we see is what we get.”

As a middle school band director, I often pushed these concepts to their limits. Teaching youngsters how to play a musical instrument can at times be a torturous and challenging task. Getting them to love, appreciate, and perform quality music can appear insurmountable. After the first couple of years of teaching, it became evident that the more I expected of my students, the better they responded. I also learned that middle school students were some of the best people on earth because they had no fear, they were not aware of their limitations, and they sought affirmation from their peers and adults.

If I set the bar high, most would work hard to achieve it, and the higher it was set, the harder they would work. Looking back, those were some very fun years that ultimately resulted in those ensembles performing music usually only approached by high school ensembles and in years to come produced several all-state musicians and future music educators. Hopefully, all of my students better understood their potential, grew to value the benefits of hard work, and grew in their affinity for music.

What is it that we see in the people around us? Do we focus on their limitations? Do we point out their shortcomings? Alternatively, do we see their potential or their positive qualities? Better yet, do we see and encourage that potential? Do we see those around us as individuals who are made in the image of God and as individuals who have souls that need support and encouragement to reach their potential on this earth and to ultimately claim the prize of heaven?

Jesus looked for the best in some of the most unapproachable people. He looked for and encouraged the best in those that he worked with and knew most closely. Ultimately, he completely gave of himself to provide an example and The Way.
How was he able to do this? Christ is love, and love is patient and kind. Love does not envy or boast. It is not proud, rude, self-seeking, or easily angered. It keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, and always perseveres. Love never fails. (1 Cor. 13:4-8) Love was the lens through which Christ observed and interacted with people. He saw with love. He shared love. He expected love. People responded to that love. Most importantly, people will continue to respond when authentic and caring individuals love them through encouragement and support, especially when that love is rooted in the truth, peace, grace, and mercy of the Gospel.

What we see in others is what we get….or perhaps Jesus said it best: we will find that which we seek (Matthew 7:7).

–C. J. Vires

December Haiti Updates

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As the work in Haiti continues, the challenges will also continue. We ask everyone to continue in prayer for Haiti, especially the following areas.

Ministry Opportunity: The Estes Church of Christ is seeking a married couple to serve as houseparents at Sonlight Children’s Home in Port au Prince, Haiti. Primary responsibilities include providing daily care and spiritual nurturing of children ranging in age from infancy to teenage. Interested persons may requires more information or provide a resume and letter of application by email (info@esteschurch.org) or by postal mail (P.O. Box 191, Henderson, TN 38340).

Update on JoJo: Despite reports we received several weeks ago that JoJo (Jonathan, the four-year-old that was abducted at the time of Roberta’s death) was alive and that his location had been revealed, authorities have not yet been able to find him. Please continue to pray for JoJo’s safety and recovery.
Coordination: During this time of recovery, there are many needs and many who want to help. In order to be good stewards and to avoid conflicting efforts, if you receive a request for help or if you would like to offer aid to the children and workers and Sonlight, please contact the Estes congregation so that we may serve as a hub of information and coordination.

 

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Poinsettias

Donor                                                      In Memory of
Frank and Susan Bradford                      Beverly Bradford
Frank and Susan Bradford                      Herbert Bradford
Frank and Susan Bradford                      LaVonne Scott
Susan Edmonds                                         Jim Edmonds
Rex and Denise Phillips                           Vickie Ellis
Rex and Denise Phillips                           C. H. Phillips
Mary Lou Hardy & Family                      Neil Hardy, Sr.
Hibbett & Moore Families                      Gene Hibbett
Anne Phillips                                             O. H. Phillips
Trent and Suzanne Scott                         Mae Mathis
Trent and Suzanne Scott                         Norman and Linda Scott
Sandra Wilson                                           Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Mathis
Sandra Wilson                                           Mr. and Mrs. C. E. McGonagill
John McCaskill Family                            Howard McCaskill
Roy and Dorothy McIntyre                     Roy and Lucille McIntyre
David and Keith Ross                               Willie Mae Ross
Mildred Beard                                            Edd and Lillian Scott

Donor                                                     In Honor of
Jesse, Alex & Andrew McCaskill            John and Michelle McCaskill
John McCaskill Family                            Jim and Glenda Stanley
Martha Waller                                           Mildred Beard

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Clone the Shepherd!

In 1997, when Dolly the Sheep was cloned, Newsweek’s Kenneth L. Woodward famously asked “Today the Sheep…tomorrow the Shepherd?” This title of the news magazine’s article was the start of a flurry of moral, philosophical, and religious debate over the ethics of human cloning. Whether or not scientists achieve this ability or governments allow the practice, perhaps Christians could place a more important metaphorical focus on the question posed by the Newsweek writer all those years ago.

Yes, we should “clone the Shepherd!”

Too many times we are cloned from other sheep or those in the world. We want to LOOK like everybody else, DRESS like everybody else, SPEND like everybody else, BE like everybody else. When others change, we change. We do everything we can to fit in with the Smiths and keep up with the Joneses. We are simply cloning ourselves after sheep.

There are examples of those in the Bible who had a choice between being cloned after the sheep or the Shepherd. In 1 Sam. 15 Saul had a choice to make. He could utterly destroy the Amalekites as the Lord instructed (vs. 3), or spare the best as the people desired (vs. 21). We know his choice (vss. 9, 24). He was cloned after the sheep. We also know the result (26).

The rulers in Jn. 12:42 faced much the same decision. They heard the word of the Shepherd proclaimed and believed it. But would they be cloned after Him? At the present they were cloned after the Pharisees. They decided to stay as they were, “for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God” (vs. 43).

It is time to clone the Shepherd! The apostles were His clones. In Acts 5 they are being persecuted for following Him, but in vs. 29 they boldly say, “We ought to obey God rather than men.” Oh, for more people with that attitude today!

Paul makes it clear after whom he is cloned. In Gal. 1:10 he says, “For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ.” Notice that Paul admits at one point in his life he was cloned after men (“if I STILL pleased men”). But in Acts 9 the Shepherd comes into Paul’s life, and he becomes a changed man. In 1 Cor. 11:1 we see the cloning of Paul to be like the Shepherd when he says, “Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ.”

Can we speak like Paul to others? Are we imitating the Savior to that degree? Have we cloned the sheep or the Shepherd? Clone the Shepherd!

–adapted from Bulletin Fodder, Valley Station Church of Christ

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Estes Kids Support the Work in Haiti

Sunday night at Estes, we saw an outpouring of love from our young people who are learning all about what it means to be caring servants of God. Partly in tribute to the legacy of our beloved sister Roberta’s work in Haiti, the kids at Estes held a “Haiti Fair” to raise money for the Lord’s work there in general and the SonLight Children’s Home in Port au Prince in particular. With their combined efforts, the event raised $1442.44.

While this was a combined effort of kids, parents, and the Estes members who bought lots of stuff, it was the brainchild of Dana Blackwelder, Kelsey Rotz, and Kelda Massey who developed and organized the event. Kelsey said that she was just “overjoyed” by the support given by the Estes members who came. Parents were excited to be involved and to have a fun way for their kids to be involved in the important task of helping others. She also said that one of her favorite things about the evening was seeing the excitement on the kids’ faces.

Kelda explained that once the idea was proposed to the Estes parents, they just ran with the idea. The kids were asked to come up with their own money-making ideas–something that they could make to sell, or a service that they could provide. The wares were quite varied and demonstrated a wide range of personalities and means of expression. Items and services included cookies and other baked goods, Christmas ornaments, birdhouses, original paintings (including some high-demand robot paintings!), dog sitting, and the melodies of our resident saxophonist. In all, 30 kids were involved. Parents, kids, and organizers all hope that this can even become an annual event.

Let’s all thank God for sending such tender and willing hearts that through his will can serve the church, the Lord, and his people into the next generation!

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Bible Chronology

The 66 books of the Bible are not arranged chronologically, and this can sometimes cause confusion. Two considerations are (1) when each book was written, and (2) what periods of history are covered in each book. Having a general idea of Bible chronology helps put the whole biblical story into perspective.

Bible history can be divided into three major dispensations, and while the dividing line between each of them can be linked to a significant historical event, transitional periods made the change more gradual than abrupt.

The Patriarchal Age is the historical period from Creation to the time of Moses, in particular to the giving of the Law at Sinai. A “patriarch” is a father-figure, the head or ruler of a family or tribe. During this period of history God communicated His will through the patriarchs. The first eighteen chapters of Exodus may be considered a period of transition.

The Mosaic or Jewish Age covers historical events from Moses (at Sinai) to the time of Christ. During this time the divine will was communicated through the Law of Moses and the prophets (cf. Luke 16:29). The life and ministry of Jesus might be considered a transitional or developmental period, with Jesus’ death on the cross being the turning point (Col. 2:14).

The Christian Age is the period from Christ’s death and subsequent resurrection until the end of time. Throughout this dispensation God has spoken through Jesus by way of the New Testament (Heb. 1:1-2). During the 1st century AD, as the new covenant revelation was gradually unfolding, the Jewish system slowly faded away (cf. Acts 21:20-27; Heb. 8:13b) until the Roman destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70 administered the crushing blow (Matt. 24:1-2, 34).

From the very beginning the Bible story has pointed to the Christian Age which God had planned since before the foundation of the world (2 Tim. 1:9). Throughout the Patriarchal Age the Lord was working to accomplish this scheme (Gen. 3:15; 12:3; 22:18). During the Mosaic Age God continued working toward the realization of this divine plan (Gal. 3:19-29). Finally, when the time was right, the divine purpose was brought to fruition in the Christian Age (Gal. 4:4-7).

–Kevin L. Moore

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Growing Up

The maturity of children from babes to adults is a fascinating development. They’re born into this world totally ego-centric. For all babies know, the whole world revolves around them. All they care about are themselves. Babies weep when they’re hungry, whine when they’re uncomfortable, wail when they’re irritable. But to the glory of God they grow out of this in time with the proper training. Eventually they’ll mature out of the desire to always be first. Their little egos will need to be stroked less often as they learn to accept their value from God instead of from other people.

As much as I love babies and children, I’m surely glad they mature and don’t remain trapped in immaturity throughout their lives. It is God’s plan for people to mature. Although it’s God’s plan, the choice is ours to do so. The scriptures command to us, “Press on to maturity” (Hebrews 6:1). We are commanded to grow up: “Grow in the grace and knowledge of our savior Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 3:18). It happens often, however, that believers stop maturing or even go backwards in their development.

It has been my observation that much of the spiritual immaturity in the church today comes from attitudes. The Apostle Paul teaches us to, “Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 2:5). He writes on to teach us about the humility and self-denial of Christ. Is that the type of attitude you have? Or do you think only about yourself? Do you desire attention? Do you lust to have your ego stroked by others? Do you threaten to quit when things don’t go your way? If so, then this is not the attitude of Christ.

It seems to me that when many people speak of spiritual maturity, they’re not thinking about having the attitude of Jesus. Spiritual immaturity is seen in people who, like young children, always desire attention and recognition. Spiritual immaturity is seen in the person who, like a baby, always wants to be fed, but never does any feeding for others. Spiritual immaturity is illustrated by the kid who threatens to take his ball home and quit if the game isn’t going the way he likes.

Tenure as a Christian should not be confused with spiritual maturity. The number of years a person has been a Christian doesn’t guarantee maturity at all. There are plenty of people who’ve been Christians for decades who still need to grow up. Do not confuse Bible knowledge with spiritual maturity. Although we are to mature in our understanding of God’s word (1 Peter 2:2; Hebrews 5:12-14), one may know the scriptures exceptionally well, yet think and behave like a child. Church attendance should not be confused with spiritual maturity. We’ve all known “three times a week brethren” who have displayed the attitude of babies. But thinking less about self and more about others is a definite sign of spiritual maturity.

Self-centeredness is at the heart of spiritual immaturity and a violation of scripture. Paul warned Timothy that, “Men will be lovers of self” (2 Timothy 3:2). He warned the Philippians of, “Those who seek after their own interests” (2:21). Being self-centered often results in problems for marriage, families, and church. “What is the source of quarrels and conflicts among you? Is not the source your pleasures that wage wars in your members?” (James 4:1-2). Jesus, after observing the behavior of several religious people, condemned those who are always seeking a place of honor and recognition and told his disciples not to be this way (Luke 14:7-11).

As Christians we’re told, “Do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interest of others” (Philippians 2:4). Why? Because love “does not seek its own” (1 Corinthians 13:5). Learning to think of others and not just of yourself is a major sign of spiritual maturity. This is a sign that we have grown up in our faith. “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me” (Jesus, Luke 9:23).

–Caleb Cunningham
–Submitted from the Salem Story, bulletin of the Salem Church of Christ in Salem, Alabama

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