THE HEIGHTENER

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

Volume XXX

September 8, 2009

Number 36

VIEWPOINT

"SUNDAY MORNING WITH THE 7 DWARFS"

Sleepy: “Oh, I’m so tired! That party last night went on way too long I didn’t get much rest. What if I nod off in Bible class? I think I will just stay home.”

Dopey: “I don’t know whether I will go or not. I want to, but I just don’t know.”

Sneezy: “I don’t feel too good, and besides, I may give my hay fever to someone. Worse still, I may catch something from someone. I’ll just stay home today.”

Bashful: “I might not know everybody in class. I hate to meet so many people. It’s just too much to expect from anyone.”

Grumpy: “I don’t like the teacher, and besides, we are studying an uninteresting subject. And, I really don’t like it when the holidays fall on Sunday.”

Doc: “What a gorgeous day! It’s a shame to waste such a great day by not playing golf! I could miss just this one Sunday.”

Happy: “Smile, brethren, and be happy and thankful for the opportunity to go to Bible class to learn more about God and His will for us. Make someone else happier as you go to Bible class with a smile on your face.”

Ron Bradshaw, at the Douglasville church, says, “We might take a lesson from the dwarfs! Where were you this past week during the Sunday A.M. Bible class, Sunday evening, or the Wednesday night gathering?”

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

Lord, Teach Us to Pray

THIS, THEN, is how you should pray: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name” (Matthew 6:9).

THIS PRAYER is a pattern for all Christian praying; Jesus is teaching that prayer will be acceptable when, and only when, the attitudes, thoughts, and desires expressed fit the pattern. That is to say: every prayer of ours should be a praying of the Lord’s Prayer in some shape or form. (J. I. Packer, Growing in Christ)

GOD ALONE is worthy, but he can make us worthy too. That, too, is what “our Father” means: The grace of God conscripts us both as receivers and givers of forgiveness. (Telford Work, Ain’t Too Proud to Beg)

ALL BELIEVERS are sons of the Father and brothers of one another, regardless of their race, nationality, education, money, or any other difference. And it is high time that the followers of Jesus Christ either faced up to this truth or quit repeating this prayer. (Clarence Jordan, Sermon on the Mount)

THAT WE PRAY to God in heaven is a reminder that we become part of a large struggle by praying this prayer. The thing between us and Jesus is not merely personal; it’s cosmic. The God whom we have been taught by Jesus to address as “our Father” is the one who rules the whole cosmos, who speaks in earthquake, wind, and fire. Any less of a god wouldn’t do us much good. (William H. Willimon and Stanley Hauerwas, Lord Teach Us: The Lord’s Prayer and the Christian Life)

HEAVEN, biblically, means the realm where God rules fully and God’s will is done. Jesus is affirming that God really is the Ruler, and that God really is our Father, present, bringing deliverance into our lives. (Glen H. Stassen, Living the Sermon on the Mount)

HOW does [God’s name] become holy among us? The plainest answer is: When both our teaching and our life are godly and Christian. Since in this prayer we call God our Father, it is our duty in every way to behave as good children so that he may receive from us not shame but honor and praise. (Martin Luther, Large Catechism)

PRAYING without ceasing, “hallowed be your name,” I ask for God’s grace that we may continue together to learn to see and respond with wonder, gratitude, and love to God’s holy beauty not only in our own lives, but in the life of every human being who bears it. (Roberta C. Bondi, A Place to Pray)

– Compiled by Richard A. Kauffman

FROM THE MAILBAG

A letter from Stentson Carpenter, Chairman and CEO of Rainbow Omega, reads:

"I appreciate the recent package of thank you notes and we are thankful that you continue to pray over our residents. We also thank you very much for your monthly support which allows us to provide beneficial services to 80 adults with developmental disabilities."

ATLANTA INNER CITY MINISTRY

Food and clothing for the Atlanta Inner City Ministry is an ongoing project. Plans call for these items to be taken to AIM early in November.

YOUTH GROUP NIGHT

Arlington Christian School invites young people to a Youth Group Night on Friday, September 11. Pre-game activities will begin at 6:00 p.m.

CHURCH DIRECTORY

We are in the process of printing a new membership directory. Plans are to make pictures of all our members for the directory. W will begin taking pictures on Sunday, September 20. There will be a sign-up sheet on the bulletin board.

You’re Invited to

Georgia AGAPE’s Celebration Banquet

Georgia AGAPE’s Celebration Banquet is scheduled for Thursday evening, September 24^th this year and will be held at the beautiful Westin Atlanta North at Perimeter from 7:00-9:00 p.m. Wesley Brown will be the featured speaker. He is the minister at the Moreland Avenue congregation and was the minister at the West End congregation for over 30 years. There will be other touching presentations also. AGAPE’s banquets are always filled with great fellowship, delicious food and a fun and inspirational program. The cost is $27.50 per person (less than AGAPE’s cost) and is a great night out! To order your tickets, call the AGAPE office at 770-452-9995.

MAGI PROJECT

With your help, thousands of children will have a reason to celebrate the holiday season. Like the Magi of old, you'll bring a simple Christmas gift box to one that Jesus called "the least of these." Filling your "magi Box" is an opportunity to help a child who otherwise might have very little in the way of gifts. It is also a way to experience the simple joy of giving But the boxes MUST be brought to the church by Sunday, September 27.

OUR SICK

Lynda Elam is scheduled for tests on September 22.

Continue to remember Susan Carson, J. W. Raines, Paul Smith, Richard Smith, Geneva White, and Bob McDowell.

THOSE TO SERVE - September 13, 2009
Welcome	Ross Anderson
Song Leader	Jimmy Pulliam
Opening Prayer	Jim Warren
Lord's Table	* Dick Massey
	* Jim May
	Steve Putman
	Bobby Elam
Scripture Reading	Romeo Brinkley
	John 14:23, 24
Closing Prayer	Trent Burnett
Welcome -PM	Jim Warren
Song Leader	Jimmy Pulliam
Opening Prayer	Kenneth Fincher
Scripture Reading	Chris Thompson
	John 21:18-21
Closing Prayer	James Elliott
Communion Preparation	Susan Fincher
Nursery Attendant	Shannon Greenwald Riley Minichowski

RECORD 9/6/09

Bible School	85
Worship AM	120
Worship PM	54
Wednesday Bible Study	46
Contribution	$ 4,167.50