THE HEIGHTENER

"Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall exalt you." -James 4:10

VIEWPOINT

Could all human knowledge be contained on your iPod? Technical experts think that is where we’re headed. It’s enough to make a book lover smile and cry at the same time!

Michael Duduit quotes from an article in the New York Times Magazine, It’s a story about the contemporary quest for the “universal library” – a collection of all the works ever created – now made possible through the use of digital media.

“From the days of Sumerian clay tablets till now, humans have 'published' at least 32 million books, 750 million articles and essays, 25 million songs, 500 million images, 500,000 movies, 3 million videos, TV shows, and short films, and 100 billion public web pages. All this material is currently contained in all the libraries and archives of the world.

"When fully digitized, the whole lot could be compressed (at current technological rates) onto 50 petabyte hard disks. Today you need a building about the size of a small-town library to house 50 petabytes. With tomorrow's technology, it will all fit onto your iPod. When that happens, the library of all libraries will ride in your purse or wallet – if it doesn't plug directly into your brain with thin white cords. Some people alive today are surely hoping that they die before such things happen, and others, mostly the young, wont to know what’s taking so long. (Could we get it up and running by next week? They have a history project due.)”

What a great time to be alive! With the tools that God has placed in our hands, we have opportunities like never before to advance the kingdom of Christ and present the gospel message.

On the other hand, all the books every written – combined – do not match the wisdom of the single volume God authored, the Holy Bible. To know all the others and to forsake the Scriptures is to remain in darkness when light is available (2 Peter 1:3).

I look forward to seeing you Sunday with a Bible, a smile and a positive word! RA

Those Who Hunger

BLESSED are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. (Matthew 5:6)

IF THIS VERSE is to you one of the most blessed statements of the whole of Scripture, you can be quite certain you are a Christian; if it is not, then you had better examine the foundations again. (David Martyn Lloyd-Jones, Studies in the Sermon on the Mount)

IT IS THE DESIRE for God which is the most fundamental appetite of all, and it is an appetite we can never eliminate. We may seek to disown it, but it will not go away. If we deny that it is there, we shall in fact only divert it to some other object or range of objects. And that will mean that we invest some creature or creatures with the full burden of our need for God, a burden which no creature can carry. (Simon Tugwell, The Beatitudes)

THIS BEATITUDE prompts a look at our heart's desire. What hungers and desires operate within us? Which of them commands our utmost loyalty? (John W. Miller, The Christian Way)

THUS, because it is commonly thought that the rich are made wealthy through their own greed, Jesus says in effect: “No, it is just the opposite. For it is righteousness that produces true wealth. Thus, so long as you act righteously, you do not fear poverty or tremble at hunger. Rather, those who extort are those who lose all, while one who is in love with righteousness possesses all other goods in safety.” (Chrysostom, Homilies on the Gospel of Saint Matthew)

IT IS NOT the one who has attained righteousness but the one who hungers for it whom the Beatitudes assert God blesses. (Bonnie B. Thurston, Religious Vows, the Sermon on the Mount, and Christian Living)

THE HUNGER for righteousness is the one appetite that Christ blesses—not to covet possessions or achievement or recognition, but to live, through every action and perception, the kingdom of God. (Jim Forest, The Ladder of the Beatitudes)

ONE MIGHT EAT and eat of the superficial, cotton-candy righteousness vended by the professional religious hucksters and never have his hunger assuaged. Or he might drink and drink of their holy water and never have his thirst quenched. But the kingdom righteousness is meat indeed and drink indeed—rich, nourishing, satisfying. (Clarence Jordan, Sermon on the Mount) – Compiled by Richard A. Kauffman

Here is an idea that you can use. We have a number of extra copies of the “House to House” publication. You can take a handful and leave in the waiting room of your doctor’s office or your dentist. If there’s a break room or reception area at your work place, that’s another area where you can leave the pamphlets. You never know what seeds may be planted!

There is a new list on the bulletin board for nursery helpers. Please take time to go by and sign up for the earliest dates first. Thanks for your help!

Continue to remember Susan Carson, Nell Peters, J. W. Raines, Richard Smith, and Geneva White.

THOSE TO SERVE - May 18, 2008
Welcome	Ross Anderson
Song Leader	Greg Cannon
Opening Prayer	Romeo Brinkley
Lord's Table	*Doyle White
	*Jimmy Pulliam
	Bill Moore
	Chris Thompson
Scripture Reading	Joe Maddox
	Psalm 28:6, 7
Closing Prayer	Ed Kelly
Welcome -PM	Ross Anderson
Song Leader	Greg Cannon
Opening Prayer	Keith Bearden
Scripture Reading	Jason Ray
	Psalm 134:1-3
Closing Prayer	Dick Massey
Communion Preparation	Betty Bearden
Nursery Attendant	Heather Thompson, Anne Raines

Bible School	88
Worship AM	110
Worship PM	104
Wednesday Bible Study	60
Contribution	$ 2522.36