May 18, 2014 WELCOME! WE'RE GLAD YOU'RE HERE We are a group of believers who simply try to follow the Bible as a guide for all we do. Everything done in our worship service is something for which we have a Bible basis. You are welcome to participate as much or as little as you wish. We will sing hymns together and we will observe the Lord's Supper or Communion together. We will also have an opportunity to give to the work of God in this area. This collection is for the members here, and if you are visiting you should not feel and pressure to give. Our lesson time will be divided into two groups. The young children will go to our classroom area in the basement where they will be taught the Bible at a level they can understand. The adults will stay in the auditorium for a lesson at an adult level. We do try to serve the community, and if you have some needs that we can help you with, mention it to one of the members. Thank you for worshipping with us.

FAMILY NEWS

HELP NEEDED: There are a lot of things that need attention on our property. We need to set up a schedule of people to mow the grass, and right now there is a lot of pickup needed as the tough winter put a bunch of dead branches and limbs all over the yard under the trees. This needs to be addressed so that the mowing can be handled. In addition to all of that, our flower beds need attention. See Richard Hoyt or Bill Gibson for more details, but let us not leave it on one or two people to do all of that work. This is something we can all do. Please help!

SHULTS-LEWIS AND CAMP INDOGAN COMMODITIES REQUESTED: One of the ways we support programs for young people is to assist organized efforts in our area to serve them. Shults-Lewis Children's Home in Valparaiso, who we help, has asked us to collect all kinds of sauces for them to use in feeding their children. Bring any sauce you would like and we will relieve their needs by giving them everything from barbeque sauce to Picante. Camp Indogan has asked us to collect saltines and cake mixes for the same purpose. Just bring what you can and leave it on the pew in the lobby.

TODAY'S LESSON

THREE OTHER COMMISSIONS
John Clayton

THE BACK PAGE

WHAT DO WE HAVE TO OFFER?

Why does the Church of Christ on M-51 exist, and what do we have to offer that is not available somewhere else? An outsider may look at our small group, our simple facility, our plain and unsophisticated worship service, our untrained teachers, worship leaders and preachers, and wonder why we continue to go on. People can go almost anywhere in the area and enjoy a more entertaining worship service. They can hear a better preacher just by turning on their radio or television. They can enjoy a sanctuary that has historical significance, beautiful art work, or which reflects the ethnic values of people of this area.

In 1996 my wife and I came here from a congregation of people where we had been worshipping for 37 years. The preacher was full time, spoke eloquently, gave entertaining sermons, and organized a first-class worship service that had a professional quality song leader. The service was entertaining, motivational, and contemporary. A visitor would be impressed with all they saw and heard.

What a visitor would not have seen was a political posturing, division, and manipulation that went on behind the facade the public saw. As we visited other churches we saw little enthusiasm for the Bible as the Word of God, and every congregation and church had an "issue" that consumed much of the energy of the membership — everything from divorce to how money was to be used. They were not at peace with one another and power struggles between leaders were apparent.

When we visited this congregation we saw people who did not pretend to have all the answers, but wanted unity, faithfulness to God's Word, and service to be where energy was spent. This congregation continues to be an oasis in the spiritual desert of Michiana. We offer acceptance to all, a search for unity, a desire to know and follow God's Word, and a desire to serve the area with whatever needs exist. We have SO much to offer those who are seeking spiritual riches in Christ.

— John Clayton

Through It All

I've had many tears and sorrows, / I've had questions for tomorrow, / there's been times I didn't know right from wrong. / But in every situation, / God gave me blessed consulation, / that my trials come to only make me strong.

Chorus

I've been to lots of places, / I've seen a lot of faces, / there's been times I felt so all alone. / But in my lonely hours, / yes, those precious lonely hours, / Jesus lets me know that I was His own.

Chorus

I thank God for the mountains, / and I thank Him for the valleys, / I thank Him for the storms He brought me through. / For if I'd never had a problem, / I wouldn't know God could solve them, / I'd never know what faith in God could do.

[Chorus] Through it all / through it all, / I've learned to trust in Jesus, / I've learned to trust in God. / Throught it all, / through it all, / I've learned to depend upon His Word.

Written by Andrae Couch

I'm Not Ashamed to Own My Lord

I'm not ashamed to own my Lord, / Or to defend His cause, / Maintain the honor of His Word, / The glory of His cross.

Jesus, my God! I know His name, / His name is all my trust; / Nor will He put my soul to shame, / Nor let my hope be lost.

Firm as His throne His promise stands, / And He can well secure / What I've committed to His hands / Till the decisive hour.

Then will He own my worthless name / Before His Father's face, / And in the new Jerusalem / Appoint for me a place.

Song 298 from Praise for the Lord songbook, published by Praise Press, Nashville, TN, 1997

Will You Not Tell It Today?

If the home of the Savior is precious to you, / If His care has been constant and tender and true, / If the light of His presence has brightened your way, / O will you not tell of your gladness today?

If your faith in the Saviour has brought its reward, / If a strength you have found in the strength of the Lord, / If the hope of a rest in His palace is sweet, / O will you not, brother, the story repeat?

If the souls all around you are living in sin, / If the Master has told you to bid them come in, / If the sweet invitation they never have heard, / O will you not tell them the cheer-bringing word?

[Chorus] O will you not tell it today? / Will you not tell it today? / If the light of His presence has brightened you way, / O will you not tell it today?

Song 783 from Praise for the Lord songbook, published by Praise Press, Nashville, TN, 1997

Will Your Anchor Hold?

Will your anchor hold in the storms of live, / When the clouds unfold their wings of strife? / When the strong tides lift, and the cables strain, / Will you anchor drift, or firm remain?

It is safely moored, 'twill the storm withstand, / For 'tis well secured by the Savior's hand; / And the cables passed from His heart to mine, / Can defy the blast, thro' strength divine.

It will firmly hold in the straits of fear, / When the breakers have told the reef is near, / Tho' the tempest rave and the wild winds blow, / Not an angry wave shall our bark o'er-flow.

It will surely hold in the floods of death, / When the waters cold chill our latest breath, / On the rising tide it can never fail, / While our hopes abide within the veil.

When our eyes behold thro' the gath-'ring night, / The city of gold, our harbor bright, / We shall anchor fast by the heav'nly shore, / With storms all past for evermore.

[Chorus] We have an anchor that keeps the soul / Steadfast and sure while the billows roll, / Fastened to the Rock that can not move, / Grounded firm and deep in the Savior's love.

Song 776 from Praise for the Lord songbook, published by Praise Press, Nashville, TN, 1997