SCHEDULE OF SERVICES SUNDAY

MID-WEEK

_____________________

ELDERS EVANGELISTS EMAIL: office@degaulledrivecoc.com WORKS SUPPORTED:

Benevolence: Childhaven of Cullman, Alabama Media: Gospel Broadcasting Network In Search of the Lord’s Way The Old Landmarks The Truth in Love MISSIONS: Budapest, Hungary: Curry Montague,

curry.monta@gmail.com India: Ron & Karen Clayton

RCIndia@sonet.net Padova, Italy: Jeff & Tia Brauer

Family, brauer@padovateam.org Marshall, Texas: Azael & Dinora

Alvarez PREACHER TRAINING: Memphis School of Preaching

WesArabie 504-858-2881 HowardGoodale 504-319-3572SteveTucker 504-812-2617ScottCain 504-392-4110WesArabie 504-858-2881

CHURCH OF CHRIST 4700 GENERAL DEGAULLE DRIVE

NEW ORLEANS, LA 70131 www.DegaulleDriveCOC.com

August 20, 2017

MorningBibleClass MorningWorshipPewPackersEveningWorship

9:00AM 10:00AM5:30PM6:00PM

TuesdayLadiesClass(September—May)

WednesdayBibleClass

10:00AM

7:00PM

1

On occasion, I have been near the entrance/exit of one of the popular convenience stores when suddenly, over the speaker was heard, “Please return to the store; you have activated our inventory control system.” Obviously one of two situations has occurred. Either the person is attempting to leave the store without paying for an item or the appropriate clearing procedures were not followed at the register

to deactivate the security strip on the purchased product.

Now I would not think of stealing something but I must admit that I am often very reluctant to approach the scanner at the exit in fear that it might alarm out of error. You can imagine the scene: the preacher standing there with bag in hand and the alarm suggesting that he had stolen something. That would be embarrassing, to say the least. It is my guess that the installation of such systems has cut down on the number of shoplifters, because most sensible people fear public exposure for wrongdoing.

Suppose for a moment that the Lord had installed at the entrance and exit of the church facility such a system that would detect and broadcast our violation of His laws. Admittedly, many Christians would not bother coming to services out of fear of being exposed as practicing sinners. Still, I wonder what sort of broadcasts would come over the loud speaker.

First, there would be the “Excuse me, but your late for the third time in a row” alarm. Surely the fear of such public attention would motivate us to get out of bed a little earlier so that we could make it to services, at least on time.

Second, there would be the “Where have you been for three weeks?” alarm. The fear of having our assembly-forsaking practices announced during the middle of the announcements would certainly be a deterrent to absenteeism (Hebrews 10:25).

Third, there would be the “Are you going to repent of your sinful behavior today?” alarm. Far too many Christians are openly practicing sin and yet they show up

Each September the Lord’s church at DeGaulle Drive emphasizes the importance of Bible School in our growth as God’s people. Growing closer to anyone requires learning more about & appreciating that person. The same is true with God.

This year’s Bible School Emphasis will be each Sunday morning from September 3rd-24th, studying the theme “Marching to Zion.”

As we travel to Bible class & worship, what sights fill our eyes? What thoughts fill our minds? What sentiments fill our hearts? Psalms 120-134 are a series of inspired songs

that were sung by Jewish pilgrims journeying to Zion, to the temple in Jerusalem to worship Almighty God. God’s temple today is the church (Ephesians 2:19-21). As we

gather together, as we March to Zion, are our thoughts where theirs were? Are our hearts where theirs were?

“I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the Lord.” (Psalm 122:1).

Joey Davis

2N D ANNUAL

DEGAULLE DRIVE CHURCH OF CHRIST

MEN’S LEADERSHIP RETREAT

OCTOBER 12TH-14TH Berry Creek Cabins, Bogalusa, LA

FREE OF CHARGE & open to all men of the DeGaulle Drive Church of Christ.

TheEarlier,theBetter!Thursday,October12th,willbeadayoffellowship,preparation,&enjoyingthearea.Comeoutearly&

havesomefun!

AllareencouragedtoarriveASEARLYASPOSSIBLEonFriday,October13th,aswewilllookathoweachofuscanbecometheleadersGodwantsustobe!

Don’t miss out on this weekend of fellowship & leadership.

2

at worship services in an attempt to worship God. I am persuaded that pleasing God is not their real motivation for coming anyway, else they would repent. Are we so naive to think that God is ignorant of our evil deeds? It is pointless for a Christian to offer worship to God when they have sins in their life that they are unwilling to acknowledge and of which they are unwilling to repent (Isaiah 59:1-2).

Fourth, there would be the “You are blowing another opportunity to obey the Gospel” alarm. Sunday after Sunday, individuals sit in pews and listen to heart-wrenching appeals to move them to obey the Gospel and yet they leave as if it was not intended for them. An alarm at the door would surely help them make personal application of the sermon.

It is a sad commentary on our society that we need security systems in stores to discourage us from stealing things that do not belong to us. Yet the saddest commentary of all is that of church members who would only change their behavior if they feared a public announcement of their sinfulness. The mere fact that God knows our wrongs ought to be sufficient motivation to correct them (Hebrews 4:13).

--------

It was Ben Franklin who said, "Dost thou love life? Then do not squander time, for that is the stuff life is made of." What is time? Einstein said it is what the clock read. There is solar time, Atomic time, daytime, nighttime, local time, good times, and old times.

The Bible says that Felix waited for a "convenient time." Paul said that “now is the accepted time" (2 Cor. 6:2) and that the "time is short" (1 Cor. 7:29). James said “life is but a vapor, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away” (James 4:14). Every birthday is a milestone of the relentless march of time and a reminder that we are quickly passing through the sands of this world. “As for man, his days are as grass: as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth. For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone; and the place thereof shall know it no more. But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear Him, and His righteousness unto children's children; To such as keep His covenant, and to those that remember His commandments to do them” (Psa. 103:15-18). We know that we can never go back, only forward in time.

Time comes from God, though God Himself lives outside the boundaries of time. “But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day” (2 Pet. 3:8). Time began when God created the universe—“And God called the light Day, and the darkness He called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day” (Gen. 1:5). God created the stars in their courses that determine our hours, days, months, and years (Gen. 1:16). As the one who has control over time, God gives it out to us a moment at a time. Someday, we shall stand before God and turn in, as it were, a time card accounting for how we have used His gift (cf. 1 Cor. 4:2; Lk.

3

16:2). Are we good stewards of the “time” we have been given by God? We should all say with Moses, "So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom" (Psa. 90:12).

We are to look to Jesus for our example (1 Peter 2:21). Jesus was never too busy, and He did not waste time. He always took time to pray and mediate (Lk. 9:18), to go to worship services (Lk. 4:16) to give attention to the sick (Gal. 6:9), to rest (Lk. 8:22-25), to give attention to the children (Mt. 19:13, 14), and even found time to attend a social event, the wedding feast in Cana (Jn. 2:1-10). Jesus was certainly the example we should imitate. Jesus was master over His time, and we should ever strive to be the same. “Wherefore He saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light. See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil” (Eph 5:14-16).

We should learn to prioritize the things in each of our lives, so that our ultimate goal is fulfilled—to bring glory and honor to God through our service and daily offering (Rom. 12:1-2).

HAVE WE BECOME

Wayne Rodgers

Attendance

Bible Reading

NEEDING CARE & PRAYERS Our Members & Visitors.

Paul & TeNeal Macaluso: Are expecting their first bundle of joy February 6th. They ask for prayers in the days & months to come.

Family of A lice Ri ley: Voncile Lieteau’s mother; funeral was yesterday in Chalmette. Mary Cullum Sandy Jones Family of Margaret Rodney

Our Shut-In Elwanda Piskorik

Our Family & Friends The Family of Larry Blackburn: Margaret Spahr’s cousin who recently passed away. The Family of Carl Joseph: Father-in-law of Patricia Joseph passed away. He was a

great source of encouragement for Patricia since they lost Dan. This is another very difficult loss for their family.

Al ton Ke ith : Brother of Roland Keith; has mouth cancer & is receiving chemo. Skylar Nicoul in & Family : Coworker of Stephen Goodale; is charged with negligent

homicide in the fatal shooting of his friend. Joann Punch : Mother of Jeff Lacaaze; recently had surgery & has other health

problems. Family of James Thomas: Family friend of the Lieteau’s; was murdered last Saturday

morning. Pam White: Sister of Mary Cullum; is recovering from surgery on her rotator cuff. Matt Woodson: Nephew of Margaret Spahr; was in ICU at Vanderbilt after a fall. The Family of Frances Zorn : Former member at DeGaulle Drive; passed away on

July 15th in Sylacauga, AL. Kaiyah Alexander Sue & Tom Gibi l terra Mary Jo Knigh t Benjamin Macaluso Paul Meacham

Our Deployed Military Personnel Vauchel le DeArmas: Her address is: Spc Dearmas Vauchell, 1086 Trans CO, APO

AE 08366. She is in Kuwait on the base & will be there until time for her missions in Iraq & Afghanistan.

PRIVILEGED TO SERVE NEXT WEEK

AUGUST 27 Sunday AM

Welcome: Howard Goodale

Prayer: Roland Keith

Song Lead: Howard Goodale

Wes Arabie Mark 14:22-25

Lord’s Table: Ron Landis

Sermon: Scott Cain

Dismissal: Ron Landis ———————

Sunday PM Welcome:

Howard Goodale Prayer:

Keith Cooper Song Lead:

Scott Cain Lord’s Table:

Ron Landis Sermon:

Wes Brown Dismissal:

Stephen Goodale

THIS WEEK AUGUST 20

Sunday AM Welcome:

Wes Arabie Prayer:

Jerome Riddick Song Lead:

Stephen Goodale

Nicklas Smith Matthew 27:24-37

Lord’s Table: Ron Landis

Sermon: Wes Arabie

Dismissal: Keith Cooper ———————

Sunday PM Welcome:

Wes Arabie Prayer:

Eugene Carter Song Lead:

Ron Landis Lord’s Table:

Ron Landis Sermon:

Wes Arabie Dismissal:

John Cullum

LAST WEEK’S

RECORD

Service Time

2017 Goal

Last Week

Bible Study Sunday AM Sunday PM Wednesday

70 100 60 60

69 95 49 45

Reading

Plan 2017 Goal

Last Week

Daily Readers 45 32 Bible in 2017 45 29 NT in 2017 60 38

Please submit all prayer requests in writing to Scott or Melissa Cain. Please supply regular updates on each individual in order to keep our prayer list up-to-date. For the sake of space, any name (except for shut-ins) will be removed after four weeks unless a new update is received. Thank you for helping us all to stay informed of the spiritual & physical needs of our members, friends, & family.

NEW ANNOUNCEMENTS UPCOMING EVENTS: 1. SONG LEADING CLASS: Will not meet this week. Class will resume August 27th at 4:30PM 2. WORK DAY: Saturday September 23rd beginning at 9AM. Your help is desperately needed, as

there are have several pressing tasks to accomplish, especially working on repairing sections of fence around the property.

SECURITY ALARM: Law enforcement is overburdened with false alarms from security systems. In

the event of a false alarm, please follow the instructions by the alarm keypad so as to avoid having police unnecessarily dispatched to the church building. Multiple false alarms could result in fines.

BIBLE CLASS PROMOTION: Parents, please visit with your children’s teachers as to which class they will begin attending September 3rd & 6th.

ADDRESS CHANGE: Bill Burchett’s new address is Bill Burchett c/o South Breeze 3168 Hacks Cross Rd Apt. A6

Memphis, TN 38125