Volume 44 October 3, 2017 Number 40

THE FOREST HILL NEWSForest Hill

Church of Christ 3950 Forest Hill-Irene Rd

Memphis, TN 38125

Office: 901-751-2444 Info Line: 901-531-8849

www.foresthillcofc.org office@foresthillcofc.org

Elders: Anthony D. Callahan

Warren Davenport Gregory D. Mangrum Harold D. Mangrum Keith B. McAlister

Ministers: Barry M. Grider, Pulpit Evangelist Matthew Jones,

Personal Evangelist Garrett Olney, Youth

Sunday: Bible Study………… 9:30 A.M. Morning Worship.… 10:30 A.M. Afternoon Worship….1:30 P.M.

Wednesday: Bible Study ……….. 7:00 P.M.

HOME OF THE MEMPHIS SCHOOL

OF PREACHING www.msop.org

Missions Supported: Far East/World Evangelism

Good News Today Gospel Broadcasting Network

House to House, Heart to Heart Kakinada, India

Murmansk, Russia Four Seas Bible College

Truth for the World

Free Bible Correspondence Course Email: fhbiblecourse@gmail.com

A woman in Bible class could not figure out the combination to a cabinet lock. She summoned the help of an elderly woman. The elderly woman would turn the lock looking up toward heaven and moving her lips. The lock opens and the teacher is impressed thinking when the elderly lady prayed the lock opened. She said: “You must have a straight line to heaven!” The elderly lady said to the teacher: “The combination is on a piece of tape on the ceiling.” People always joke about “Having a straight line to God” when they pray, but the truth is: all Christians have a straight line to God. Paul wrote: “Be careful for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God” (Philippians 4:6). The writer of the book of Hebrews wrote: “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:16). Peter wrote: “For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous and His ears are open unto their prayers, but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil” (1 Peter 3:12). Clearly, the Bible teaches that God’s ears are open and ready to listen to all His children everywhere. The moody family gathered around for Bible study and prayer before they ate a meal and fellowshipped together. Mr. Moody was about 80 yrs. old and he often had trouble staying awake. As the family concluded their Bible study, they all bowed in prayer. At the end of the prayer Mr. Moody still had his head bowed and everyone thought he was still praying. They decided to give him a minute… After a little time they realized that he was not praying when he started to snore a little and they realized he was asleep. If one is not careful he can reach a point in his life when his prayer life is asleep. It is the goal of his writer to help encourage children of God to be a people of prayer, to be people who seek God regularly. After all, Paul wrote: “Pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17). In this article, the writer would like to notice four points under the title: “When We Talk to God.” The writer would like to discuss: (1) TIME of prayer, (2) THOUGHT of prayer, (3) THANKSGIVING of prayer, and the (4) TRUST of prayer. Notice first, the TIME of prayer. WHEN DO WE PRAY? Luke wrote: “And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint” (Luke 18:1). Paul concluded the Christian armor with   this statement: “…praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit…” (Eph. 6:18). David was a man of prayer. What was his example of when a person should pray? David wrote: “My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O LORD; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up” (Psalm 5:3). “When I remember thee upon my bed, and meditate on thee in the night

watches” (Psalm 63:6). Jesus was a great example of when to pray: “And it came to pass in those days that He went out into a mountain to pray and continued all night in prayer to God” (Luke 6:12). “And in the morning rising a great while before day, He went out and departed into a solitary place and there prayed” (Mark 1:35).A law was passed in Babylon that no one could pray to the God of heaven, but Daniel was not afraid. He prayed three times every day just like he had been doing before: “Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime” (Daniel 6:10). You see, TIMING is everything when it comes to talking to God. We do not want to be a people who call on God only when we get into trouble. Charles Spurgeon said: “Prayer is like a rope that is pulled and rings a bell in the ears of God. Some only ring when they need something, but the true child of God pulls at the rope causing it to become worn.” May we all be a people who continue instant in prayer. Notice second, the THOUGHT of prayer. What is my prayer supposed to be about? There are specific things for which God wants us to ask. The first is for our daily needs. Jesus taught His disciples to pray: “Give us this day our daily bread” (Matthew 6:11). God wants us to pray for wisdom to make good decisions. James wrote: “If any of you lack wisdom let him ask of God that giveth to all men liberally and abraideth not; and it shall be given him” (James 1:5). Jesus wants us to pray to God for workers in the vineyard to do the Lord’s work: “Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth laborers into his harvest” (Matthew 9:38). God wants us to ask for forgiveness of our sins and confess those sins to Him. John wrote: “If we confess our sins He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). Jim Elliot was a missionary that was murdered in a foreign country. He once said: “God is still on His throne and man is still on God’s footstool, but there is only a knees distance in between.” God wants us to make any and all requests (Philippians 4:6). He loves us and wants to fulfill the desires of our hearts. Jesus said: “If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?” (Matthew 7:10-11). Notice third, the THANKSGIVING of prayer. We cannot forget to give thanks for everything God has done. Paul wrote: “Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God which passeth all understanding shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7). Paul wrote: “Pray

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Page 2 The Forest Hill News October 3, 2017

WHEN WE TALK TO GOD Josh McCrary

HEARTS AND HANDS

TEAM “E” (JIM WOODY) and TEAM “F” (STEVE ALLMOND) will have a covered dish luncheon in the fellowship hall after morning service Sunday, October 15.

UPCOMING EVENTS

LADIES AND MEN’S CLASSES will not meet Tuesday, October 10. TENNESSEE CHILDREN’S HOME FALL FOOD DRIVE is underway and will continue until Sunday, October 8. There is a listing of items needed on the church bulletin board. LADIES BIBLE STUDY Tuesday, October 10 at 6:30 p.m. in the fellowship hall.

YOUTH RETREAT at Chickasaw State Park October 13-15. Cost is $30 per person/$50 for 2 family members. See Keith McAlister to pay.

NEW STUDY TO BEGIN in the auditorium class Sunday, October 15 taught by Greg Mangrum entitled “Who Is the Lord?” WORLD EVANGELISM SEMINAR October 13 and 14. KIRBY PINES Retirement Community worship service each fourth Sunday 8:00-8:45 a.m., conducted by Forest Hill. Our next service will be Sunday, October 22.

FALL FAMILY NIGHT: Friday, October 27 at 6:30 p.m. Coordinator: April Tomlin; details forthcoming.

__________________

CONGRATULATIONS TO: the 5th and 6th grade class who learned all the required cards for the fall quarter.

__________________ To the Church, Thanks for all you have done for Christine and myself including the food, cards, prayers, calls, visits, and support.

In Christian Love, Allan Hart

Page 3 The Forest Hill News October 3, 2017

Irwin Thomas Bob Gitter Evan Manning Jack Woods

PRESIDE: ASSIST:

C.J. Stafford Brad Bynum Kevin Knipple Billy Rodgers

A.M. OPENING: A.M. CLOSING: P.M. OPENING: P.M. CLOSING:

BIBLE STUDY: A.M. WORSHIP: P.M. WORSHIP: CONTRIBUTON:

240 310 200

$17,831.00

JD Crowe received good results from his biopsies this past week.

_________________

OUR SYMPATHY IS EXTENDED TO Jim and Sherry Brown in the passing of their niece, Rhonda Lee Noles.

MEMORIAL SERVICE honoring Denise Barnett, daughter of Jim and Sherry Brown, Saturday, October 7 at 2:00 p.m. at Getwell Church of Christ.

_________________

PLEASE CHECK YOUR BOX!

If you are unable to lead prayer or serve at the Lord’s table, please contact Cedric Huff or Paul Connell.

RECORD, WEEK of October 1, 2017

CORNERSTONE Scryptogram: Each letter in the passage is replaced with another.TM QLVN QZ LPIZ WZOZNKHTVM HLWVXAL LTB EYVVO, HLZ CVWATIZMZBB VC BTMB, PDDVWOTMA HV HLZ WTDLZB VC LTB AWPDZ;

D=C Solution next week. M=N

Last week’s solution: But if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not steadfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which glory was to be done away: How shall not the ministration of the spirit be rather glorious? II Corinthians 3:7-8

Joe Baxter Bessie Berry Ann Castleman Virginia Ditto Hazel Eskew Tommy & Nell Herndon

HOMEBOUND

Anita Hopper Albert & Ruth House Clarine Justice Ryan McCullar Helen Palazola Jerry & Betty Robbins

Marion Maund Steve Allmond Raymond Pipkin Jerry Manning

The Forest Hill News Forest Hill Church of Christ 3950 Forest Hill-Irene Road

Memphis, TN 38125

Address Service Requested

Page 4 The Forest Hill News October 3, 2017

(continued from page 2) without ceasing. In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you” (1 Thessalonians 5:17-18). Prayer is connected with thanksgiving. God wants to hear us being thankful just like anyone else. He wants to love and be loved. A girl prayed: “Dear Father in heaven, will you please send my mother a son-in-law? In Jesus name, Amen.” Well, at least she got the point across that she wanted a husband! What if God answered her prayer? Should she not give Him thanks? May we give God THANKSGIVING in our prayers. It would be good to pray one prayer of thanksgiving every day.

Notice fourth, the TRUST of prayer. It is important for us to TRUST God to answer our prayers correctly. Jesus prayed: “Nevertheless, not my will but thine be done” (Luke 22:42). If I take a boathook and throw it to shore, can I pull the shore to me or pull myself to shore? Prayer is not pulling God to my will, but aligning my will to the will of God. William Culberston said: “Keep praying, but be thankful that God’s answers are always wiser than your prayers.”

May we all be people who love God and desire fellowship with God in prayer.

(Josh McCrary is a 2007 graduate of Memphis School of Preaching. He is married to Moriah and they have four children Josiah (8), Maylie (6), Manna (4), and Madynn (2). Josh has deep roots with the Forest Hill church. His mother, Connie Streiber, and grandparents, Cecil and Becky Sowell, are members. It was the privilege of your editor to baptize Josh. Presently he serves as the pulpit evangelist of the Ripley, Mississippi Church of Christ.