California Ave. Church of Christ Newsletter

Sunday, May 30, 2021 Vol. 2-21

WELCOME! We welcome any visitors today to our worship service and we hope that you will come again at your next convenience.

The Spiritual Encouragement Hour continues this evening at 5:30 pm. Thanks to all of you who continue to join in on ZOOM each Sunday evening at 5:30 pm. Bro. Don Warner, the minister of the 69th St. church of Christ in San Diego is scheduled to join us. Please share the ZOOM Bro Antoine McMultry Link with others and invite them to join us. Bro Willie Porter Sis Tammy Thibideaux Baptisms: Adam and Marie Aguirre and Leslie Shaw were baptized into Sis Linda Andrews Christ yesterday. Please encourage and pray for them. Sis Edna Fisher Sis Karla Sandifer FROM THE MINISTER'S DESK.... Sis Marian Dixon Sis Joyce McCray Thank you to everyone who continue to worship with us in person and Sis Susan Jackson thank you to those who may still be at home who watch on Facebook or Sis Gail Ray Sis Wanda Carroll YouTube. In spite of being separated for over a year due to the Sis Rose Gordon Pandemic, the good Lord has richly blessed us. We are still able to Sis Shekeylia Wheeler communicate, set up our classes, and utilize the social media in a Bro & Sis Singleton positive way by preaching, teaching the word as well as edifying the Saints. It is important that we realize that this tool is one that can be used In Bereavement – The for evangelism by the church. However, we need the human aspect Jones/Wilburn family (Their Aunt which is your participation. You are encouraged to invite your friends, Willie Ruth Gresham passed relatives to join us and you can do this by simply sharing the link and away) reminding people about its importance. If you have someone who wants to do a bible study, please let me know and I will be glad to engage them “Let us Pray without ceasing” along with you. Our youth are being encouraged by the in-person Sunday School as well as the Wednesday evening Youth Bible Study with the Figueroa congregation in Los Angeles. Parents, please make sure that they are attending. Above all, much prayer is needed. This is not an easy navigation, and your help is needed. So, please stand ready to Measuring Our Love assist/help when you are called upon. We must walk in wisdom, work May 23, 2021 together, and continue to support the Lord's work at California Ave. Be A.M Assembly…….. well & God bless you all. Offering ……$2,974.00 “Give And It Shall Be Given Unto ISJ You” Luke 6:38 We are grateful for your financial support for the Lord’s Church. We are also encouraged with your in-person worship attendance.

By A. C. Quinn You Win None Like Him "Times have changed" is a common By Rick Woodall By Joe Slater refrain from those who find themselves in As life passes challenges come and there are many hurdles to jump contradiction with the Word of God. This over. Discouragement creeps through the door of many lives and one Some people just naturally stand out from the rest. happens especially when moral standards may get to the point where they feel as if the floor under their feet has Of three individuals the Bible says there was “none are involved. disappeared. We can become so preoccupied with what hasn’t like him.” First of all, one might question what folks happened that we cannot see what has. When Israel clamored for a king so they could be mean when they say “Times have How has God blessed us? Is there anything that stands out in our like the nations around them, God reluctantly gave changed.” Are they talking about a mind that is delightful and positive? Maybe if we would just stop and them Saul, the son of Kish. The prophet Samuel changing culture? Are they talking about calculate the awe-inspiring moments the hurdles will appear shorter. anointed Saul and asked Israel, “Do you see him changing attitudes—one’s view of the In the family of God, we all have our worries and troubles. Sometimes whom the Lord has chosen, that there is no one like world? It is most likely the latter. we fill the overload of deadlines and personal goals. We get caught up him among all the people?” (1 Samuel 10:1, 24). What The idea that times have changed seems in the nervous tension of the moment. We can’t hear the soothing was so special about Saul? “When he stood among to indicate to many folks that somehow song that causes worries to flee. the people, he was taller than any of the people from God’s standards have changed with One can get all caught up in the physical that it blinds the eyes to the his shoulders upward” (10:23). Unfortunately, his fine regards to the sanctity of marriage, sexual spiritual. The promises of Christ represent His teaching. While on this physique didn’t make Saul a good king. He started out improprieties, and myriads of other sins. earth the people envisioned a physical kingdom. His promise was not well but came to a disastrous end. There is a fundamental truth that is lost in based on things cash could acquire. Like them, we sometimes have Hezekiah, unlike Saul, was renowned not for his this thinking which leads many to lives of trouble seeing the big picture. good looks, but his godliness. “He trusted in the Lord sin: “Whosoever commiteth sin My gift reminds me that no matter how big the stress, God is still God of Israel, so that after him was none like him transgresseth also the law: for sin is the taking charge. One must finish the journey to fully get the picture. among the kings of Judah, nor who were before him” transgression of the law” (I John 3:4). “Beloved, I do not consider that I have made it my own; but (2 Kings 18:5). Hezekiah had inherited a kingdom Clearly, sin is sin, regardless how much this one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining mired down in the idolatry and immorality of his father, human attitudes may change. Not only so, forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the Ahaz. Despite his youth and regardless of the neither God nor his Word changes: “For I prize of the heavenly call of God in Christ Jesus.” - Philippians difficulty, Hezekiah instituted sweeping reforms to am the Lord, I change not...” (Malachi 3:13-14 bring Judah closer to God. 3:6); “God is not man, that he should lie; Keep focused. Better days are just beyond the finish line. Even better than Hezekiah was the patriarch Job. neither the son of man that he should God Himself said of him, “There is none like him on repent: hath he said, and shall he not do the earth” (Job 1:8a). What made him so exceptional? it? Or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?” (Numbers 23:19); “Heaven The Lord said he was “a blameless and upright man, and earth shall pass away, but my words one who fears God and shuns evil” (1:8b). Job’s shall not pass away” (Matthew 24:34). conduct was such that no one could successfully find fault with him. (His friends tried, but failed miserably!) It is certain that there will be the judgment Job’s reverence for God led him to shun wickedness. day coming. Sadly, for many, what people Christians ought to stand out from the world. We think will not be the standard. Jesus may not have marvelous physiques, nor should that said, “He that rejecteth me and receiveth be our concern. Let us trust in the Lord like Hezekiah! not my words, hath one that judgeth him: Let us strive to be blameless and upright, reverencing the word that I have spoken, the same God and shunning evil! May God say of us, “There is shall judge hm in the last day” (John 12:48). none like them!”

Schedule of Services Sunday Bible Classes…………..9:30a.m. A.M. Worship ………….10:30a.m. Prayer & Encouragement Zoom Session……5:30p.m.

Wednesday Zoom Bible Study…………6:00p.m.

1020 E. California Avenue Bakersfield, CA 93305 Church Office (661) 861-0594/ Cell (661) 496-0475 Website: www.californiaavechurchofchrist.com Email: [email protected] YouTube: California Ave Church of Christ Facebook: California Avenue Church of Christ