South Main Church of Christ, Weatherford, TX

12/19/2024

Awsome song that captures part of Mary's response...

http://www.zoegroup.org/store/c1/Featured_Products.html

05/30/2023

When Cancel Culture Enters Family

What is “Cancel Culture”?
Publicly ‘canceling’ or calling out someone for words or actions that you find offensive, disagree with, or just plain don’t like — is everywhere. It can be simple finger-pointing or a coordinated demand for retribution for alleged transgressions, urging others to join in and add their voice to hasten the severe penalties of social ostracization. It started as a means of social change, a way of speaking individual truths to positions of power. But where it was once focused on authority figures, public humiliation and shaming have become the ‘go-to’ means of voicing disapproval, real or imaginary, against anyone. It’s gone from social issues to personal ones, from celebrities to classmates to family. We have a big problem if this is how we’re teaching our kids to deal with problems or conflicts with one another. Put bluntly, cancel culture is just bullying with a cooler name. It promotes ostracization over education, condemnation over compassion, and is deaf to redemption and change.

Cancel Culture is Polarizing
Cancel culture has picked up political overtones as name-calling and labeling have become embedded in social discourse, sometimes from the very people we should be able to look up to. The more you cancel, the more you can dehumanize the other person. The less human they are, the less you feel compassion, empathy, or the need to listen to their point of view. It gives no room for change and growth over time, accepting responsibility and learning. No effort to understand the other side and no interest in helping them change. Sorry, Prodigal Son, you’re out of luck in cancel culture.

What CC does to “family”
At one point, CC was more directed to government or corporations, but now “family” is on the menu as well. Vote for the wrong candidate or party—and your out. Rebuke my bad behavior and I’m gone. Disagree about Covid or CRT and you are out of my life forever. CC looks right past the direct commands of God about relationship: respect for those older than you (Lev. 19:22) and honor your parents (Eph. 6:2-3) going straight to, “if I want your opinion, I’ll call you—otherwise, just shut up!”.

What Cancel Culture Teaches.
CC teaches by example that it’s completely acceptable to openly attack those we disagree with, find annoying, or dislike. Under the banner of “truth” or accountability, CC touts public shaming and bullying as acceptable behavior for navigating power differentials with no attention to values and purpose. Evidence is not required beyond personal opinion and the more embarrassing--the better. This is not the kind of model that makes for a healthy or productive society, church or the family. It is devoid of grace.

Biblical Considerations:
Galatians 6:1-5 .. Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted. Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. If anyone thinks they are something when they are not, they deceive themselves. Each one should test their own actions. Then they can take pride in themselves alone, without comparing themselves to someone else, for each one should carry their own load.
Matthew 18:15 .. If your brother or sister sins, go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over.
Philippians 2:3-4 .. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.
Romans 12:16-18 .. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited. Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.

A Prayer: May God bless and guide us as we draw near to Him through His holy Word and Spirit. May he keep us from being conformed to our misguided culture and may we speak and act in a way that radiates the grace and love of Jesus Christ--especially in our families. In the name of Jesus, Amen.

-Michael Lum, Minister

04/05/2023

Wednesday With Jesus
(For a full account of the events of this day, see Matthew 26:6–16, Mark 14:3–11, Luke 22:3–6.)
The past several days have been a rush of tension and anger for Jesus’s opponents—and of unflinching resolve for Jesus. Words have been his currency, and he’s spent piles of them. But on the Wednesday before his death, Jesus is still.
He is in the home of Simon the L***r, a man known by what’s wrong with him. During their meal together, Mary of Bethany—Lazarus’s sister (John 12:3)—comes to Jesus with an alabaster flask of perfume. She’s been saving this perfume, worth a year’s wages, for this exact occasion (John 12:7). She begins pouring it on Jesus’s head and feet, which requires breaking open its container (Mark 14:3). Like popping the cork on a $20,000 bottle of champagne, this was a deliberate act. She is offering Jesus everything she has. By giving her most valuable possession to him, she is expressing her knowledge that what he’s about to give of himself is for her.
What Mary does is beautiful, and Jesus wants everyone to know it. She is preparing him for burial. There is honor and kindness in her gesture. Jesus returns the honor by saying history will never forget her act of beauty. And we haven’t.

03/31/2023

THE POWER OF WORDS (by: Mark Batterson)

Lately, it feels like no matter what you say, it’s never enough and it’s always too much. Low levels of civility coupled with high levels of cynicism have created the perfect storm to leave us feeling like we’re running on empty and always irritated.

One revelation I’ve had about myself in this difficult season of our world is that I was using negative words more and more frequently. I was speaking negativity into existence and giving it power. By emphasizing how hard leadership was during that season, for instance, I was making it harder than it had to be! My words became a self-fulfilling prophecy that reinforced a vicious cycle of negativity.

The same thing happens when you complain about people behind their backs, which was a second revelation for me. Want to change that dy­namic? You flip the script by catching people doing things right, then bragging about them behind their backs!

Your words are Occam’s razor—simple words can solve seemingly impossible problems. Your words are Archimedes’s lever—small words can make a world of difference.

But the tongue is a two-edged sword. “The tongue,” said Solomon, “has the power of life and death” (Proverbs 18:21).

James, the half-brother of Jesus, said: “With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be” (James 3:9-10).

James likened the tongue to the rudder of a ship, which determines its direction (James 3:4).Your destiny, to a large degree, is a derivative of your words.

As Jesus said, “Out of the overflow of the heart, the mouth speaks” (Luke 6:45).

Our words have the power to bless or to curse, to heal or to hurt, to give life or to cause death.

Want to change your relationships? Change your words.

Want to change your attitude? Change your words.

Want to change your life? You guessed it! Change your words.

Lord, help me see opportunities today to use words to build others up, to speak positively, and to praise you. Help me catch myself before complaining or putting someone down. I want my words to bring life, not death. Amen.

03/07/2023

Hunter Ponder from HGC Handyman called to see if we might know anyone who needs a part-time job. He is looking for people to hire for his handyman business. If you know of anyone who might be interested, his phone number is 817-995-9798.

03/07/2023

Some interesting points about the Jesus commercials...

He Gets Us is spending millions to talk about Jesus, yet the campaign is being criticized by secularists and Christians on the left and the right. Here’s what you should know about it.

02/10/2023

ACTS 29 Ladies had a great time at the Valentine party!

12/02/2022

Acts 29 Christmas Party fun!!

11/18/2022

What defines you?
Jesus was defined by His relationship with His father, not by the reaction or approval of His peers (John 17:1-3).
His very presence repelled some and attracted many who were hungry for real life. We are often defined by "who we seek to please or impress". Your value was stamped by the Hand of God at your creation in the womb and restated in the blood that stained the cross of Christ. You are a CHILD OF THE KING!