New directories are finally here Many thanks to

New directories are finally here! Many thanks to each who assisted in getting these together Special thanks to Michelle Earnhart, Tom Duff and Jim Harrington Following morning worship the directories will be distributed in the foyer

If you had your picture made for the directory, you will have a directory with your name on it in the foyer after worship this morning

Before receiving directories, some things of which we should be aware A couple of purposes for the directory are: 1) To become more familiar with each other as members at West Side; 2) To have information and a picture of each member to share with new members who come our way

These being true, the more information that can be provided about each member, the better So, along with each person’s picture and name there is other information about that person (birthday, anniversary, email address, etc. )

In order for it to be of even greater assistance, the directory also has abbreviations by each one’s name in order to help new members especially to know more about each of us Some may have more than one of these Following are these abbreviations with an explanation and clarification of each:

These are the ones who have never obeyed the gospel They’ve been so delineated because we love them and want to see them become members of the Lord’s church In their current condition they are lost, without hope and in danger of being eternally separated from God

That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.

Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you; And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from

But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. I Thessalonians 4: 13

As indicated, these are the ones who, for no good reason, only attend worship on Sunday mornings If you want to catch one of these folks to speak with them, you must do so on Sunday morning, even though the Bible is clear in its directives about this

Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. Hebrews 10: 25

But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Matthew 6: 33

These are folks who engage in gossip Although the word “gossip” is not found in Scripture, the concept of it is, and its practice is greatly condemned Three Greek words are associated with the concept of “gossip” These words are translated as “whisperers, ” “tattlers, ” “slanderers” and “false accusers”

Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, Romans

And withal they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house; and not only idle, but tattlers also and busybodies, speaking things which they ought not. I Timothy 5: 13

Even so must their wives be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things. I Timothy 3: 11

The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things Titus 2: 3

But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men's matters. I Peter 4: 15

Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles. Proverbs 21: 23

These folks will seldom miss a Bible class or worship assembly, but find it difficult to do anything else for the Cause of Christ They may well be deeply involved in civic organizations, community activities, charitable works and various other things that occupy much time and require much of their energies

However, when it comes to the Lord’s work they have adopted the “let someone else do it” approach “Here am I, Lord, ” but send someone else They have long forgotten their purpose in being a follower of Christ

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. Ephesians 2: 10

Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. Titus 2: 14

Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord. I Corinthians 15: 58

These are the ones who want “member of the church of Christ” included in their obituary, despite the fact it might come as a shock to those who know them best It is this type of individual for whom Jesus reserved some of His sharpest criticism

Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness. Matthew

Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying, This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. Matthew 15: 7, 8

These are the ones who have seen fit to place about everything else above serving God These members have hobbies, careers, friends, social lives, sports and other such things that take precedence over the Lord’s work, even though His word warns us against such

Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God. James 4: 4

Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for

Although these folks may often be seen in the building, they have a god which they consider greater than the God of the Bible

Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: Colossians 3: 5

Although these folks may often be seen in the building, they have a god which they consider greater than the God of the Bible The Lord compared them to the thorny ground, and said they have become “unfruitful”

He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful. Matthew 13: 22

Although these folks may often be seen in the building, they have a god which they consider greater than the God of the Bible The Lord compared them to the thorny ground, and said they have become “unfruitful” Their treasure is no longer in heaven

Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

These are the ones who always find fault with what is being done They can never seem to “rejoice with them that rejoice, ” but can always manage to find something about which to be critical They are constantly taking jabs at those around them

There is that speaketh like the piercings of a sword: but the tongue of the wise is health. Proverbs 12: 18

He that hath a froward heart findeth no good: and he that hath a perverse tongue falleth into mischief. Proverbs 17: 20

But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another. Galatians 5: 15

How Critics Turn Out A little seed lay on the ground, And soon began to sprout; Now, which of all the flowers around It mused, shall I come out? The lily's face is fair and proud But just a trifle too cold; A rose I think is rather loud And then, its fashion's old

The violet is all very well But is not a flower I'd choose; Nor yet the canterbury bell-I just never cared for blues. And so it criticized each flower, This supercilious little seed, Until it woke one Summer morn, And found itself--a weed.

These are individuals who wear their feelings on their sleeves They are constantly trying to find hidden meaning in everything that is said They seldom have a positive attitude They cause those around them to walk on eggshells

Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: teach a just man, and he will increase in learning. Proverbs 9: 9

These are the malcontents who are famous for nearly always causing problems and stirring up controversy They just can’t seem to be happy when things are going well They often times have the “run it, or ruin it” mentality

Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. Romans 16: 17

You’ll need to study these pictures closely because you’ll seldom get the chance to see them personally Their attendance is so sporadic and infrequent that you may mistake them for visitors if and when they do show up

And, be warned, if you mistake one of these individuals for a visitor they will let you know very quickly that they are indeed members of this congregation “I haven’t quit just because I quit attending”

These are ones who, according to the New Testament, should have been withdrawn from, but have not been yet

Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us. II Thessalonians

These are ones who, according to the New Testament, should have been withdrawn from, but have not been yet It is likely that if this is descriptive of a person he likely has some other of these letters by his name as well These need to repent of their sins and be restored to the Lord

Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent. Revelation 2: 4,

These are the ones who attend regularly, worship enthusiastically, participate actively These give as they ought, and not because they must They are a joy to be around and encourage those who are around them

These are the volunteers, the Bible students, the class teachers They pray frequently and regularly They seek opportunities to teach the lost and help restore the erring These are the ones to be admired and emulated They are not perfect, but they are faithful

These are the ones to whom the Lord promised the crown of life

Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life. Revelation

These are the ones to whom the Lord promised the crown of life These are the ones we want to point new members toward These are the backbone of this congregation

I thank my God upon remembrance of you, every Philippians 1: 3

These abbreviations not actually in our new directories But, what if they were? What would be beside your name? How would newcomers be able to identify you?

NC Not a Christian SMO Sunday Morning Only BB Busybody POC Pew Only Christian H Hypocrite

W Worldly C Covetous H-C Hyper-Critical H-S Hyper-Sensitive

ACP Always Causing Problems HSM Haven’t Seen in Months UM Unfaithful Member FC Faithful Christian

Idea and some points taken from an article by Kevin Rhodes, Sound Words