The apostle Paul had a way with words.  I noticed the word “manifold” only occurs one time in the whole Bible.  Paul’s way of teaching seemed difficult sometimes, because people had to connect the use of a common word to spiritual teaching.  Sometimes it made learning inconvenient, because they had to think differently to understand what he was saying.

Jesus used parables in a similar way, and the disciples asked Him, "Why do you speak to the people in parables?” Matthew 13:10.  Jesus answered with a passage from Isaiah 6 and in verse 10.  The reason is to dull our ears, close our eyes, and callous our hearts to force ourselves to see things God’s way and not our own.  That seems strange to me because our attempt to accomplish anything is to use our eyes, ears, and heart to figure things out.  How can God transform us if our eyes are closed, our ears are dull, and our heart is calloused?  I think God is telling us that we have to shed earthly excuses and means to learn a spiritual concept that only He can teach us.

We men like to put something together without instructions.  It is a way to look within ourselves and learn from accomplishing a task without traditional means.  God’s way is spiritual.  Our spiritual growth is like this example, because we are removed from traditional means to allow God’s special work.  Only God can make us grow and we need to grow closer to Him at any age, especially when we are young.  Ephesians 3:9-10 says, “to make all men see what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things; that through the church, the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places.”

A manifold is a way to distribute one thing to many places.  Woodlawn is one place for many of us to receive the wisdom of God.  God knows we need His wisdom and it is here that we get it as His church.  The way we see and understand the spiritual is through our physical participation, so our church attendance is all of us being here at one time to receive the wisdom of God together.

Mike Bailey

There will be a Song-N-Supper tonight, so make sure and bring your finger foods for a evening of fun and fellowshipping.

Congratulations to the newest great-grandparents, Ray & Linda Oden on the birth of Tyler Dane Benedict!  Tyler was born Monday to Tammy & Jarrod and is the grandson of Cindy & Sandy Detherage.

If you have been gracious enough to provide food, your dishes are back and in the floor of the foyer.

The offices will be closed on Tuesday in celebration of the 4th of July.

Mike Bailey will be on vacation from July 5th through 19th.

Baker Heights Church of Christ is hosting a “No Debt No Sweat” Seminar.  It will be June 18 & 19th and free childcare is provided.  For more information, see the brochure on the bulletin board.

The Singing School at ACU will be held from July 16 - 21.  At the school, they train song leaders, certify worship leaders, have workshops, labs, and certify women in church music.  During the worship leaders workshop, they have a class that is “Everything the Bible Says About Music (Genesis to Revelation)”.  For more information, grab a brochure from the table in the foyer.

Operation Blue Jeans starts on July 10!
The Christian Service Center is offering a new pair of jeans, and two pairs of socks and underwear to low-income children in Abilene. Children are also given an age-appropriate children’s Bible.  We are excited about a matching grant for this year's blue jeans drive: The Dian Graves Owen Foundation will match every dollar given this summer for Operation Blue Jeans, up to $5,000.  We welcome financial gifts to help cover the costs of this program.  We also need good, used children’s clothing, backpacks and brown paper sacks with handles.
Thanks for your help!
Jim Clark, Director

STATISTICS FOR JUNE 25, 2006