Vladimir Paziy Fall 2015

Greetings brothers and sisters in Christ! Happy to send you some news from Ukraine, Eastern part of it.

September—October visits.

We had guests in Kramatorsk: George Spur-lock, Jeff Abrams, Ken Murthy, John Kahkelman and Terry Harmon. As always great to have some brethren here to help, especially during the fighting on our territory.

Thank you George for coming and visiting us. We enjoyed it. Thank you for your sermon.

John Kahkelman visited hospitals and local representatives of humanitarian help in Kramatorsk. Some items (blankets, t-shirts, clothes) were distributed among the people mostly refuges by the Downtown Church of Christ. The Boarding school got some clothes.

Fall Retreat.

Another great time together we spent in Svatogorsk with Jeff and Ken and brothers and sisters from local congregation. Jeff and Ken have been coming to Ukraine since 1993 so to spent time with them was a special blessing. About 120 people joined the meeting.

Were very happy to see Terry Harmon after 6-7 years. Terry taught couple of classes in ABC. Spent a special evening with him.

Early November

Had a seminar on “Ecumenism” Brethren from Kiev, Kharkov and West part of Ukraine were the speakers. About 60 people visited the meeting.

Schedule changes

We have changed every first Friday of each month on every first Sunday afternoon when the church get together for fellowshipping. So Sunday after church seems like a better time for that, more people have the opportunity to stay.

As for other days of the week the schedule is the same:

Tuesday 18:00 New Testament

Thursday 18:00 Old Testament

Friday 18:00 Women’s meeting

Sunday 10:00 worship; 11:30 Bible class.

Konstantinovka

Sunday— Bible class 9:00; worship 10:00

Wednesday—10:00 Bible class

Wednesday and Saturday— ABC Bible classes with Kate.

If you have any questions, please ask.

In Christ, Paziys

Bulletin Notes December 20, 2015

SUPERFICIAL HEALING

-Ben Hayes

I really hate sinus infections and colds. Like most people in this area—allergies seem to play a big part in when those infections hit. Certain times it is more prevalent. Blossoms and blooms are beautiful but usually bring about horrendous side effects. You have probably spent a lot of time taking antihistamines and other medications that help alleviate symptoms. They “heal” us or so it seems, for a time. However, for more serious infections there is a need for antibiotics: something to actually attack the problem at the core and not just mask it.

As I was reading from the book of Jeremiah this week I came across a passage that revealed that the people of God in the Old Testament did the same thing we do with infections: They covered the problem rather than get to the root of it. “For from the least of them even to the greatest of them, everyone is greedy for gain, and from the prophet even to the priest everyone deals falsely. They have healed the brokenness of My people superficially, saying, ‘Peace, peace,’ but there is no peace” (Jeremiah 6:13-14).

Jeremiah was living during a time when wickedness and idolatry abounded among the so-called people of God. Most of the children of Israel had turned their back on God and were worshiping idols. They had lost their faith and trust in Him and God chose Jeremiah as a prophet to call them out on their ungodliness. Things had declined so much in the land that part of Jeremiah’s message even addressed the holy men of God: the prophets and priests. If anyone was going to stay faithful it should have been these specially appointed men but they too were greedy and dealt falsely. Their worst crime: telling people things were ok (“Peace, peace”) when things were in fact, not OK at all. God was preparing to bring judgment down upon his people. The so-called spiritual leaders were putting a Band-aide on a mortal wound.

Jeremiah goes on to explain how the people were not ashamed of their sin- they had forgotten how to blush (6:15).  What a sad state of affair when we no longer can blush when we see or participate in out-right sinful activities. We live in a similar culture today. I can remember a time when certain things were not talked about publicly or seen on TV. Now, we find references to those very same things all over the place and I find myself trying to explain to my kids what they are witnessing in public and what God says about it. There is an “anything goes” attitude in our world. By all means, love needs to be exhibited to all, but neither the Old Testament, Jesus, nor the apostles condoned a continued life engulfed in sinful activities. If we condone such we doing the same thing that the priests and prophets did in Jeremiah’s day: “They have healed the brokenness of My people superficially” (6:14).

Jesus is an antibiotic. He is a true healer. He takes the sin and completely removes it so that it doesn’t continue to fester in the soul. If we continue in sin or refuse to allow him to remove it the result can be devastating. “The wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23). Thankfully, the gift and remedy is eternal life through Jesus. I don’t want a superficial healing of my soul. Oh, it may sound better and may not hurt as deeply to begin with but in the end it kills. Jeremiah was preaching destruction on God’s people because they had turned from Him. Eternal destruction awaits those who refuse to submit to Christ fully. But great blessings of healing await those who do submit.

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IN OUR PRAYERS-   SHUT-IN: Jason Duke (Camden Health Care), Levi Towater (skilled care in Mount Juliet), Jerry Young (Lakeside in McKenzie), and Kay Miles (at home). ONGOING: Hank Rook, David Spain, Ernest Thorne, Randy Hatch, Laverne Hatch, Charles Sisson, Jerry Massey, Matt Martin, Vickie Cox, Dwight Bullington, Ross & Darnell Cole, and Mercedes Gibbons. UPDATES: Mary Lou Christian (will return to Atlanta for another treatment on December 27^th) Jill Shomaker (in Vanderbilt Hospital), and Margie Martin (recuperating at home).

HOLIDAY FELLOWSHIP:   We will have soup and sandwiches following morning services today. Be sure to stay for lunch and then afternoon services at 1:00!

CONGRATULATIONS!   To Kimberlee Sloan who graduated with an RN degree from Jackson State Nursing School on December 10^th.

DEVOTIONALS:   We will have brief devotionals on the next two Wednesday nights, December 23^rd and 30^th, instead of our regular classes.

SCHOOL ITEM:   Antibacterial Wipes. We need 12 more.

Bulletin Notes December 13, 2015

IT IS WRITTEN

Nick Pace

In Matthew 4, Jesus is tempted by Satan on 3 separate occasions. Jesus was tempted the first time, just after fasting for 40 days and nights. Jesus must have been extremely hungry after fasting for this period of time.  Satan tempted Jesus to turn stones into loaves of bread. I am pretty certain that Jesus would have had no problem changing stones into bread, but Jesus was focused on something bigger. Something bigger than the physical hunger he was facing that very moment.

In order to stay focused, Jesus knew that He needed to focus on God’s Word. Thus we see in Matthew 4:4 Jesus responds  to  Satan’s  temptation  with  “It  is  written”  and  then quoted a passage from Moses’ law. Jesus used God’s Word to overcome the temptation that was put before Him by Satan. He used this same strategy in Matthew 4:7, 10 on the second and third temptations by Satan.

But how do we often deal with temptations in our lives? We  often  turn  to  popular  opinion,  the  latest  trendy  pick, friends,  family,  social  media,  Hollywood,  and  many  other things. What we ought to be doing is doing the same thing Jesus did to overcome Satan’s temptations. That is going to scripture and using our knowledge in His Word to deal with the issues presented before us.

We should remember that there is a connection between loving God and loving His Word. In John 14:15 Jesus says “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.” If we make the claim that we are Christians and that we love God, we must study, know His Word, & obey His Word.

When we fail to love and respect God’s Word, we will soon forget God and disrespect His Word. In Deuteronomy 8 Moses warns the Israelites not to forget God’s Word. But we know as time passed, they forgot, and began disobeying/disrespecting God’s Word. When we forget God’s Word, we tend to replace it with man’s teachings or traditions.

We must continue to cling to God and His Word even through troubles and trials we face.  Jesus  passed  these  3 temptations  in  Matthew  4 by  relying  on  God’s  Word.  We need God in our lives, especially through the tough trials and temptations we face. We have a much deeper need than just physical needs. We need God in our lives.

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IN OUR PRAYERS-   SHUT-IN: Levi Towater (skilled care in Mount Juliet), Jerry Young (Lakeside in McKenzie), and Kay Miles (at home). ONGOING: Hank Rook, David Spain, Ernest Thorne, Randy Hatch, Laverne Hatch, Charles Sisson, Jerry Massey, Matt Martin, Vickie Cox, Dwight Bullington, Ross & Darnell Cole, and Mercedes Gibbons. UPDATES: Mary Lou Christian (will return to Atlanta for another treatment) Jill Shomaker (in Vanderbilt Hospital), Gaye Massey (sick at home), Jason Duke (Jackson Hospital), and Margie Martin (recuperating at home following surgery).

SYMPATHY:   Our sincere sympathy is extended to our sister Patti Hill and all her family on the death of her husband, Donald Hill, this past Tuesday.

BUSINESS MEETING:   Today following afternoon services.

CONGRATULATIONS!   To Dawn Sloan on her graduation from Bethel University on December 5^th with an MBA. Great work!

WEDNESDAY DEVOTIONALS:   We will have brief devotionals on December 23^rd and 30^th instead of our regular classes.

HOLIDAY FELLOWSHIP:   We will have soup and sandwiches following morning services next Sunday, December 20^th. All come!

SCHOOL ITEM:   Antibacterial Wipes. We need 19 more.

Lviv Church of Christ November 29, 2015