Hailey’s Comments

(02/05/2012)                

Next Saturday (02/11/2012) at the Brentwood Oaks Church of Christ in Austin, Austin Graduate School of Theology and the Brentwood Oaks church will be hosting:  Psalmfest 2012.  This will be a day of experience with the Psalms.  Registration begins at 9:30 a.m. and the program will be over at 5:00 p.m.  There will be special music by:  Psalom, Hope Chapel Choir, Brentwood Oaks Chorus, Sweet Expressions, The Austin-Abilene Chorale, and the Greenville Christian Chorus.  The speakers for the day will be:  Dr. Andrew Dearman, Fuller Theological Seminary, Dr. Jack Reese, Abilene Christian University, and Dr. David Worley, Austin Graduate School of Theology. There will also be congregational singing.  A meal will be provided so you need to register in advance.  If you would like more information, please visit the following website:  www.timelesspsalter.com.   We will be taking a group from the church and we will meet at the building at 8 a.m.    

This morning, we will be continuing our study of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount found in Matthew 5-7.  Our lesson is entitled:  The Bliss of the God-Controlled Life.  Our primary focus will be on the third beatitude found in verse 5.  We must understand that the beatitudes are not pious hopes of what shall be; they are not glowing, but nebulous prophecies of some future bliss; they are congratulations on what is.  In face of the beatitudes a gloom-encompassed Christianity is unthinkable.  First, we must see our need for God and how great God is.  Second, we are made keenly aware of our own failures and we mourn over those failures realizing how much we need God’s grace and mercy.  Third, we realize how much we need God to control our lives.  I hope you will open your Bibles and follow along with this critical study of this material from Jesus. 

Our Care Groups will meet this afternoon and evening.  Their times and locations will be listed in the bulletin and announced this morning.  I hope you will make an effort to meet with a Care Group today.  Care Groups is a great way to have fellowship and spend some time in Bible study.

I hope you will be able to stay for the Potluck following this morning’s worship time together.  This is always a great time of good food and great fellowship.  Also, I want to remind all of our Senior members to remember the Sweetheart Banquet next Sunday morning following our worship.  The young people serve the Seniors at this special event each year.  I hope you will plan to attend.  It is always a real treat!           

I love you with the love of the Lord.                        Bob