The
West Side Epistle
men—
—II Corinthians 3:2
Ye are our epistle written in our heart, known and read of all men
West Side
Church of Christ
1705 Starview Drive
Salem, VA 24153
540540-389389-9139
Elders:
Jeff Durham
Eddy Gilpin
Danny Guard
Charles Gwaltney
Deacons:
Fred Altizer
Jerry Anderson
Jonathan Beavers
Mike Durham
Greg Edwards
Bob Garby
Jim Harrington
Tom Richardson
Squeaky Valentine
Josh Whitlow
Minister:
Eddy Gilpin
Associate Minister:
Jerry Anderson
Visit our website at
www.westsidecofcwww.westsidecofc-salem.com
Sponsors of
“House to House/Heart to Heart
Missions
FHU Student Missions;
Truth for the World, Jim Dearman
(radio);
Preaching the Gospel, James
Watkins (TV)
House to House/Heart to Heart
Voice of Truth International (print)
Fishers of Men
We’ll take a Dozen – preacher
student support – Arusha,
Tanzania;
Gimme $5 for Tanzania
Supporting:
Ukraine Preacher Training
Sean Hochdorf, Tanzania, Africa
Joshua Ankiah, South Africa
Layne White, MSOP
Glenn Head, MSOP
Burt Jones
Flying Witches? No Problem!
Kyle Gilpin
Swaziland is a small country on the continent of Africa. It is so small, in fact, that it is
almost completely surrounded by South Africa, with only a small border with Mozambique. This
impoverished country has many difficulties with which to deal, including drought and poor
agriculture, careless spending by their king, the world’s last absolute
monarch, the HIV epidemic, and constant threat of civil war. There is one From the Elders’ Desk
thing, however, they can now mark off their list: Witches in their air space.
That’s right. In May of this year, the country of Swaziland made it illegal for
witches to fly their broomsticks above 150 m (about 500 feet). The
country apparently has a history of witchcraft and the fear of this has given
rise to the need for such a law. According to the nation’s Civil Aviation
Authority’s Marketing and Corporate Affairs Director, Sabelo Dlamini, “A
witch on a broomstick should not fly above the 150 meter limit.” Any witch
caught violating this law will be subjected to a fine of R500,000 ($53,000).
According to one news source, it is unclear how air-traffic authorities plan
to enforce the law.
There certainly are some silly laws made by men today. (Lest you want to get too critical of
the Swazis, look up some of the laws made by our state governments. For example, it’s illegal for
you in Alabama to have an ice cream cone in your back pocket.) The Swazis are so afraid of
witches and the myths that surround them that they spent time writing a law about witches and
their “abilities” to fly using broomsticks. Meanwhile the very real problems mentioned above are
going unchecked.
Other than the absurdness of the law itself, there is something else that I noticed. It’s fine
for witches to fly BELOW 500 feet. According to the law, a witch flying at, say, 200 feet, is perfectly
fine. But if she were to rise 300 more feet, then she is in trouble! Incredible! They are OK with a little
bit of flying witches, but just don’t get carried away with it!
Too many times we are like the Swazis when it comes to sin. We are fine with a little bit of
it. A few drinks, a few lies, a few moments in the pleasure of sin. A little sin is OK, just don’t get
carried away. To us, there seems to be nothing wrong with this way of thinking (as I’m sure the
Swazis see nothing wrong with theirs). But when we see sin for what it is, as a black spot on our
souls, we soon realize that even a little is too much. Sin is what separates us from God (Isa. 59:2).
Sin is what brought death to this world (Rom. 5:12). Why would we want to spend ANY time in it (c.f.
Heb 11:24-26). When it comes to sin: Run (2 Tim. 2:22). Don’t spend even a moment in its grasp,
because many times, it won’t be done with you when you are done with it.
Welcome! We Love Visitors!!
You are invited to all our assemblies.
Sunday
Bible classes for all ages
Worship Services
Evening Services
9:30AM
10:30AM
6:00PM
Wednesday
Midweek Bible Study 7:00PM
Look who’s having a birthday
February 10 -Jim Bush
February 13 -Lynn Anderson
February 13 -Charlotte Harrington
February 14 -Charlie Maness
Kid Camp
Nine Good Minutes @ 5:49
Kid Camp Explore - July 20
2/9/14 Q: Who in the church watch for our
souls? A: the elders (Heb. 13:17)
Fabulous February Anniversaries
February 17 -Bob & Sandy Garby
February 18 -Don & Mitzi Pettit (50)
Renovation Request “Now that we are in our
newly-remodeled facilities we ask that there be NO
FOOD, DRINKS OR GUM brought into the auditorium
(unless absolutely essential for medical reasons).
This includes coffee and water. Thank you for your cooperation in helping keep our facilities looking nice.”
TNT - Tuesday Feb 11 - Plan to join
us at 6:00 for supper (BYO) and 6:30
for talents.
NewMover Visitation - please take a
name and make a visit
TODAY ! ! February 9 -PAC Meeting after AM services. WE will be completing a Valentine’s service project. Bring your favorite Valentines’ dish to share for lunch. We also need packs
of “EXTRA” brand chewing gum. Sign-up list
posted.
Questions, see Amanda Brown
Youth Events
Reminder to all WS Youth: Bryan will meet
with you TODAY at 5 PM in the Sr High
Classroom to study/review the Bible Bowl
material.
March 1, 2014- SW VA Bible Bowl
June 22-27 -VCC
July 6-11 Horizons 2014
Education Banquet March 8 @ 5:45 pm
West Side Fellowship Room
All teachers and workers
who contribute to the education
program here at West Side are
encouraged to attend. This is
our banquet to honor you and show
appreciation for all your hard work.
Please come.
Barnabas Project
“Family of Focus" is:
FEBRUARY ITEMS
for the STAFFORDS:
Danny & Cha Guard
222 Howard Drive
Dream Whip envelopes, Hormel real bacon bits,
Truvia sweetener
Spring Ladies’ Class
with Jeranny Gilpin
Sign up on the library
door to receive
Upcoming Events at West Side
Senior Servants
February 9 -PAC Meeting after AM services -Valentine project
Lynn Anderson Thomas Kelly
Jo Musgrove Evelyn Scott
Elsie Smith
Grace Myers
Willard Campbell Robert Glass
Feb 11 - TNT Supper @ 6:00 talents @ 6:30
March 1, 2014- SW VA Bible Bowl
March 8, 2014 -Educator’s Banquet 5:45 pm
March 15, 2014 -Pascali/Glass Wedding 3:00 pm
Please do not leave personal items in the auditorium.
It will be cleared and all extra items put in the
“Lost and Found” box in the lobby closet. Thank you.
Sunday Lunch Bunch All who are interested in eating lunch together
(Dutch Treat) after Sunday worship, please meet in the Sr. High classroom to
determine where you will go. You do not have to participate every Sunday, but for
those who would like to go together occasionally, we will meet each Sunday
following a.m. worship (unless a congregational function is planned for that
particular Sunday). Visitors are cordially invited.
Pray for our
family & friends
Mitchell Floyd is now at Lewis Gale
Hospital. He has developed a massive
blood clot. Please pray earnestly for him.
This request from Steve Hall and his
family: My step-father, Frank Quesenberry, (member at Lake Drive-JD) was
taken to RMH . The Dr's are running
tests.
Jim Bush is being treated for lyme
disease.
Sunshine baskets for
Jim Bush
Gene Benefield
Bonnie Quesenberry
Krendy Brown
Mitchell Floyd
David Bonham
Dena (Justin’s mom)
Melissa Mitchell
Jackie Piercy
Ellen Horn
Mike Durham
PRAYER LIST
Annette Shrader
Brandi Beavers
Piet Jager
Ruth Hartman
Susan Pascali
Shelley Bender
Rick Hutchens
Tyler Shannon (4)
Area Events
March 14-15 - 25th Annual Men’s Retreat @ 4-H Center on
Smith Mountain Lake
March 23 -Star City church of Christ Ladies Day
March 29 -Central Church of Christ Ladies’ Day
April 26 Dale Ridge church of Christ Ladies’ Day 2014 with
speaker Becky Blackmon
Polishing the Pulpit - 20th Anniversary
are on the table in the foyer. Please
bring items on Saturday evening and
Sunday.
Layne & Amanda White’s new
address:
3941 Yokefellow Circle Apt 204
Memphis, TN 38125
Sympathy - Our sympathies are expressed
to Jeanny Gilpin in
the loss of her uncle,
“Luther “Buddy” Phillips, of
Wildomar, California (who
passed away in his sleep
early Friday morning).
Arrangements are pending
as of this writing.
February 2014
Announcements: Jeremy White
Song Leader (AM):
Opening Prayer (AM)
2/2
Mike Durham
2/9
Philip Doss
2/16
Jim Cooke
2/23
Tom Richardson
Preside at Communion: Philip Doss
Serve Table: Mark Grubb, Mark Brooks
David Brown, John Black
Closing Prayer (AM):
2/2
Jim Harrington
2/9
Charlie Maness
2/16
Dylan Tyler
2/23
Bryan VanRavestein
Song Leader (PM): David Brown
Opening Prayer (PM)
2/2
Jim Cooke
2/9
Akeem Hobson
2/16
Glenn Hartman
2/23
Robert Glass
Scripture Reader: Andrew Gibson
Closing Prayer (PM)
2/2
Charlie Gwaltney
2/9
Robert Glass
2/16
Jeff Durham
2/23
Mark Grubb
Serve Table (PM)
Harry Higgs
Jim Bishop
Song Leader (Wed): Bob Garby
Prayer (Wed)
2/5
Don Pettit
2/12
Walter Jenkins
2/19
Noah Laplante
2/26
Garrett Laplante
Open/Close Bldg: Squeaky Valentine
Greeters: Valentines/Guards, Browns
Nursery Attendants: Leah Durham
Ushers: Curtis Oakes
Squeaky Valentine
Handouts: Garrett Laplante, Kevin Mickens
Prepare communion: Shirley Baker, Mary
Ellen Gabbard
Baptismal Garments: Sandra Altizer
Cards/Pencils: Emma Whitlow, Zoey
Anukpui
Attendance 1/26/2014 - 1/29/2014
Bible Class– 134 Worship Service- 155
Sunday PM– 142 Wednesday PM– snow
Contribution-
$ 5454
February 2, 2014
Number 3312
“First” (21)
Of the over 400 instances in which the word “first” is
found in the Bible, it occurs 14 times in the book of
Hebrews. We turn our immediate attention to this great
book for our study of this word.
Preacher’s Column
Monthly Servants
The basis for the book of Hebrews itself was the
defection of so many from Christianity back into Judaism
because of the terrible Jewish persecution of the church. It is likely that others left
the fold simply out of complacency and/or dispassion for Christianity. From the
many references to the practices of Judaism, it is likely that the book was written
prior to the destruction of Jerusalem. Thus, the temple with all of its fancies and
all the ceremonialism of the Jewish religion would have still been in place, drawing some away and back to where they once were. If one is unfamiliar with the
Old Testament he will have difficulty in understanding much of this tremendous
book.
Of the instances in which the word “first” is found, one gets right to the
heart of the matter regarding the purpose of the book. In Hebrews 8:7, the writer
stated: “For if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have
been sought for the second” (Heb. 8:7). At first glance it seems odd that an
inspired writer would speak of a covenant made by God as not being faultless (a
word meaning irreproachable, blameless). However, when compared with the
remainder of the context in Hebrews and with such passages as Galatians 3:21
(“…for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily
righteousness should have been by the law”), it is easily seen that the “fault” with
the covenant lay with the insufficiency of the atoning blood to be found therein
(Heb. 10:1, 4). It was never intended to be a covenant that could take away sin in
actuality; rather, it was merely a shadow of that which was to come (Heb. 10:1), a
“schoolmaster” to bring mankind to Christ (Gal. 3:24). Had its purpose been to
alleviate man of his sin, it would have been “faultless” in accomplishing its
purpose. However, it pointed out the destructive nature of sin (Rom. 7:13), and
man’s need for the Redeemer Who would be able to take away sin in actuality.
This principle of Scripture the religious world has, by and large, failed to grasp;
thus, they mix matters between the Old and New Testaments, and fail to
understand that man today is directed solely by the New Testament, the Law of
Christ (Gal. 6:2). The New Covenant (Testament) superseded the Old, making it
obsolete (Col. 2:14; Heb. 10:9).
-Eddy
Welcome Guests
Thank you for worshipping with us
today. Please fill out a card located
in the pew pockets and put in the
collection basket when passed.