From Nathan Hodges, Rocky Mount, North Carolina…
To Nathan Hodges:
Fair enough.
Nathan, out.
Way to go, Woodland Hills Church of Christ!
ABINGDON, Va. – All she wanted was a simple oil change – $30, max.
But, as usual, when Karen Shearer went to get one, she was told there was $400 worth of work that needed to be done to her car, she said, emphasizing the word “needed” as if she doubted the veracity of the mechanic’s recommendation.
“I said ‘No way’ and pulled straight outta there,” Shearer said Saturday, while her oil was getting changed – in a church parking lot – for free. “The guy who looked at it a minute ago said it was just some dents in the oil pan. Nothing to worry about.”
The same story was told over and over Saturday morning by those who waiting for service at a makeshift mechanic shop in the parking lot of Woodland Hills Church of Christ. The temporary shop was set up for the church’s innovative new outreach effort: free car care and maintenance for the needy. For Faye Hill, the free oil change was serendipitous. Hill saw the church announcement in the newspaper about two hours after the red glow of the “check oil” light on her dash blinked to life.
Read more here.
Story by Amy Hunter, pic by Andre Teague.
Way to go, Wilmington church of Christ!
Angel Food Ministries comes to Clinton County
A new groceries ministry has come to Clinton County. The Wilmington Church of Christ has been authorized to become the host site in the county for Angel Food Ministries.
Angel Food Ministries is a non-profit, non-denominational organization dedicated to providing food relief to communities. The food ministry was founded by Joseph and Linda Wingo while they were serving a church in Monroe, Ga.
Angel Food Ministries distributes to more than 5,200 volunteer host sites across 42 states in the United States, who in turn provide boxes of food to individual families.
Read the whole story here.
Visit the Wilmington church of Christ here.
150,000 Hits!
As we pass this milestone, let’s use the opportunity to praise God. Although it may not be evident often enough here, that is the point of this blog.
“For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God.
Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.”
Ephesians 3:14-21
Image above from here.
Destin church’s clinic offers hope, healing
In the month since it opened, Hope Medical Clinic on Beach Drive has seen patients for high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, high cholesterol and “everything else,” the clinic’s Dr. Sam Traughber says.
The free clinic’s facilities inside Destin Church of Christ don’t look like much — a reception area, a short hall, two examining rooms — but Traughber, one of the clinic’s volunteers, said it can provide a lot of help for local residents who don’t have insurance.
Read the whole inspirational story here.
Two-state area churches of Christ… be like this!
Story by Fraser Sherman – the Destin Log
Picture by Kathy Harrison – the Destin Log
Church of Christ Doctrine Part II
Image from here.
I’m closing the comments on the old “Church of Christ Doctrine” page, because it has a ridiculous number of comments and takes a while to load if you don’t have a fast connection, or so I’ve been told.
So, this will be the new place to discuss doctrinal issues. I’m not going to give it a big prelude, since the old page went off original topic a long time ago. So, anything you would want to write over there, go ahead and write here.
Mr. Robertson’s Valid Point
Earlier, a comment came in from Johnny Robertson, a church of Christ television evangelist whose program is often, but not always, the subject of discussions on this blog. Among things, Mr. Robertson wrote:
“You rebuke Randy for “unethical” behavior and yet you say nothing about the statement made about me.”
and
“I try and demonstrate the lust for power and wealth that is clear in “unchecked” systems of religion. You on the other hand let people on here slander me and say all kinds of liable toward me.”
We don’t pretend to be unbiased with this blog, but we do want people – regardless of whether we agree or disagree with them – to feel like this is “safe” ground. That is the best way to allow discussions and conversations to be productive.
We, the administrators of this blog, request the following action be taken by all blog commenters:
• Be as factual as possible in what you write about each other.
• Avoid making personal comments or accusations about other commenters.
We remind everyone that the purpose of this blog is not to pull down any individual – but to be a place where civil discourse can occur centered around an exploration of the doctrine and methodology of “hyper-conservative” churches of Christ.
Mr. Robertson, we apologize for any offense you have received while visiting this blog. We will be more vigilant in the future for your sake and for the sake of all blog visitors. We hope that you will also resolve to do the same thing when posting.
After all, the point of any blog written by and for Christians (even those with whom we disagree – maybe especially those with whom we disagree?) is to glorify Christ.
The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray. Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen. 1 Peter 4:7-11
Local church of Christ readers… be like this! Part пять
Church Teaches Flock How to Find Good Jobs
By Brett Johnson
A North Richland Hills church is helping its members through the tough economic times by offering classes on finding a good-paying, career-oriented job.
The “Empowering Job Seekers” classes are held from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. on the first and third Tuesdays of the month at Richland Hills Church of Christ.
Church member Joel Schrimsher said the classes helped him adjust to life outside the military. He said he quickly discovered he was not well suited for the corporate life.
“I spoke military,” he said. “The great thing is, they taught me how to speak civilian” and how to write a professional resume.
For the whole story, read here.
Local folks, instead of spending so much time and energy tearing people down, why don’t you contribute something positive to the two-state area?
“He is not here. He is risen.” Luke 24:6
Hallelujah!
Answering the Church of Christ 
