Author: janicevance

by Justin Morton

             We have four godly men who currently serve in the role of overseers of our congregation.  They, along with their wives, do so much for our congregation, much of which is never seen or heard.  We are grateful to these men and their families for all their years of service, and we look forward to many more wonderful years of them leading us well into the future.  And while these men are doing a terrific job of shepherding the flock right now, each one of them is mindful of the fact that the work is much bigger than any one of them.  They want to see God’s kingdom expand both now and for many more years into the future.  They understand that for this to happen, more servants are needed to help advance the cause of Christ.

Last Sunday our shepherds put forth Matt Lanius’s name for consideration to be appointed as a shepherd of the Walter Hill congregation.  Matt currently serves as one of our deacons and leads us in worship most Sundays as our song leader, something he has been doing since 2020.  When Matt is not leading singing publicly, he is still coordinating our song service.  He has helped in our Lads to Leaders program, taught in our education program and participated in various activities and ministries here at Walter Hill.  Matt, along with his wife Dayna, have two children: Lucas (the Sunday morning song leader at Stewart’s Creek Church of Christ) and Nicole (a senior at the University of Tennessee at Martin who faithfully attends the Martin Church of Christ while at school).

The elders are asking the congregation to prayerfully consider the qualifications of elders as taught in the New Testament.  Please spend some time reading and meditating on I Timothy 3:1-7 and Titus 1:5-9.  If anyone has a scriptural reason why Matt should not serve as an overseer here at Walter Hill, you are asked to submit that reason in writing with your name (print please) and to give it to one of our current shepherds.  Should there be no scriptural objections to Matt Lanius serving in the role of an elder, he will be appointed as a shepherd of the Walter Hill congregation on Sunday, January 26^th.

We are very grateful for our current shepherds and appreciate our brother Matt and his willingness to serve alongside these godly brothers in this role.  Please prayerfully consider this request from our elders and pray for the Walter Hill congregation.  All of us hope and pray this congregation will be a light in this community and throughout the world for many years to come.  To God be all the glory!

As we begin 2025, I would like to share a passage that helps summarize how we can live a life that is pleasing to the Lord.  The passage is Colossians 1:9-14, not only does it summarize how we can please the Lord, it’s also an example of Paul praying for his fellow disciples.  This passage begins with Paul expressing his frequent prayers on behalf of the Colossian brothers and sisters.  Paul was often prayerful in his epistles, many began with his prayers for those he was writing.  I hope that we will follow Paul’s example and pray for one another often.

As we look at this prayer, I want to encourage you to pray it specifically for our teens.  Read over Colossians 1:9-14 and use it to shape your own prayer on behalf of our youth.  Using scripture to shape our prayer life is a powerful way to ensure we are praying God’s will, and it helps keep our prayers and Bible reading fresh.  Certainly, we could all benefit from having someone pray this prayer on our behalf.  The reason I mention the teens is because I see what our youth ministry is trying to accomplish in the words Paul articulates.

Our mission is to equip disciples of Christ as a family to change our world.  We want to help our teens be world changing disciples, understanding that might simply mean changing one person’s world.  To use Paul’s language, we want them to live a life fully pleasing to the Lord.  If they are simply Christians while they are teenagers we haven’t accomplished anything.  Thankfully Colossians 1:9-14 gives us a helpful and practical explanation of how we can all live a life fully pleasing to Him and a prayer we can use as a model to benefit ourselves and one another. 

When we look at Colossians 1:9-14 we are able to identify five things needed to live a life that’s pleasing to God.  They are (1) knowledge with spiritual wisdom and understanding of His will so we can (2) bear fruit, (3) increase in knowledge of God, (4) be strengthened by God for endurance, and (5) give thanks to God who has orchestrated our salvation.  These are the objectives Paul lays out for us “to walk in a manor worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to Him.”

I hope we can see how praying this prayer for our teens would benefit them richly, and I hope you have been encouraged to study this passage farther, and will use it as a template to challenge yourself to grow this year.  Maybe these questions can help get us started: How can I increase the fruit I bear?  In what areas does my knowledge of God need to grow?  How do I need to ask God to increase my endurance?  How can I express more thanksgiving to God?

by Justin Morton

It’s that time of year. The decorations are out, the tree is up and the floor beneath the tree is filled with presents, or at least it will be soon. Growing up I vividly remember the excitement that Christmas brought. I could not wait to unwrap all those mysterious presents labeled with my name. Now that I am older, the thrill has moved from unwrapping presents for myself to watching my family and loved ones unwrap the presents I bought for them. I love being able to give presents and see the joy on their faces when they unbox a gift chosen just for them. 

Giving presents to those we love is wonderful any time of year. However, what if the gifts that fill the floor around our Christmas tree are not the best present we truly have to offer those we love? Instead of focusing on finding the one present that is going to bring a few moments of satisfaction, what if we look to give the gift of our presence to those we love? This gift will bring more than a few fleeting moments of excitement; it will bring a lifetime of joy and memories.

Many of us are so busy with our careers and activities that we struggle to slow down and give our full attention to those we love. Even during this time of year, we may become focused on shopping, decorations, events and parties, and we miss out on sharing valuable moments with our friends and families. Friends, never forget our time on this earth is very limited. James described our lives as a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away (Jam. 4:14). Some of us have experienced how quickly this life moves as we’ve had people we love pass from this world much sooner than we anticipated. May we always live with the realization that time with our loved ones is precious.

I truly believe this is the most wonderful time of the year. However, do you know what would make this time of year even better? If we focused less on the presents we want to buy and spent more energy on the presence we do have to give. This Christmas give your loved ones the only present they really need: your presence.

Each year seems to pass more quickly than the previous year.  As we draw near to the end of each year, it seems to be such a busy time.  No matter how much we think the next year will be different, 2024 doesn’t seem any different.  We may try to alter our plans so we will not be as busy, but it seems we wind up as busy or busier than the previous year.  We all have so many places to be and things to do at this time of the year as we celebrate the holidays and try to wrap up the year.

With Thanksgiving last week and Christmas in just a few weeks, it is easy to get caught up in the holiday rush and lose track of our priorities.  I hope that during the next few weeks, we can take some time to reflect on this past year.  Have we accomplished everything we set out to do at the beginning of the year?  Did we make new year’s resolutions and keep them all year?  Perhaps we planned to read our bibles every day, be more faithful in our attendance at worship services, pray more, visit others more, send cards of encouragement or teach the lost about Jesus and His saving power.  Did we plan to be a better example for others we work with or go to school with?  So, now it is time to look back and see how we did with all these plans.  Sometimes, we fall short of the plans we make at the beginning of the year and just give up.  In just a few weeks, it will be 2025.  What goals do we have for the new year and what are we doing to prepare to meet these goals?  A good place to start is to pray for God to give us wisdom and help us keep the goals we want to accomplish.  Pray that our plans align with God’s plans.  Isaiah 41:10 reminds us that God is never far from us.  “Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God.  I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.” 

As you plan for the new year, please make it a priority to put God first in everything.  Be grateful to Him for all the blessings He continues to give us.  We look forward to our worship and fellowship together in the new year.  As we come to the end of another year, I wish you peace and joy through the holidays and hope you enjoy all the blessings God gives you each day. 

From Numbers 6:24-26, “The Lord bless you and keep you;The Lord make His face shine upon you,
And be gracious to you; The Lord lift up His countenance upon you, And give you peace.”

by Chris Elrod

             While there is immense evil in our world, Genesis 6:5 helps us remember things could be worse.  It reads: “The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.”  At times it seems as if evil multiples in our world to the point that is all that exist.

We know things haven’t reached this point because we are able to witness so much good from our brothers and sisters here at Walter Hill.  While we can witness so much evil and craziness in our world, we are able to read Genesis 6:5 and be encouraged that this statement is not true to the degree it was then.  The rest of Genesis 6 describes God deciding to send the flood to condemn humanity for their wickedness.  Noah and his family are the only ones God chooses to save by allowing Noah to build an ark for his family.

God has dealt with the evil in our world in a very different way, yet there are many parallels between what God did then and what God has done for us.  God sent Noah to build an ark to save his family, likewise Jesus has been sent today to build a church to save His family!

On the day of Pentecost, Peter preaches the first Gospel message, and it is from this sermon that we can read a second verse that seems to describe our world so well, even though it (like Genesis 6:5) was used to describe a completely different generation.  In Acts 2:40 Luke records Peter’s exhortation to, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation.”  It’s as if Peter is saying this to us directly.

The way we escape our crooked generation does not involve entering an ark in preparation of a flood, but rather the church in preparation for the 2^nd coming.  We do this by being added to God’s church, through repenting of our sins, confessing Christ, and being baptized (Acts 2:38 & Romans 10:9-10).  Then we must be fully dedicated to God and His church, just as they were in the 1^st century (Acts 2:42-47).

There is a lot of evil in our world, but even so we can be just as sure that God has a plan to save those who are in His church, just as He saved Noah and his family who were in His ark.  How great to know we serve a God who is in complete and total control.  When the world around us seems out of control may we find peace in knowing we are safe and sound in God’s church.

For many years, Walter Hill has supported mission work in foreign countries and within the U.S.  This support has come in the form of financial support and personal involvement as groups over the years have made mission trips to various locations.  Sixteen missionaries or mission organizations were budgeted for 2024 and two more will be added in 2025.

Trampas McCracken is our deacon over missions.  He and his committee are to be thanked for their work.  In the article below, Trampas spotlights one mission effort that has shown to be productive in God’s kingdom.

The Multiplying Effect of Missions

Over the past two years at Walter Hill, we’ve embraced two powerful themes: 2023 Disciple – Be one, make some and 2024 Equip – Preparing His people for service (Ephesians 4:11-13). These themes have guided us through tremendous lessons and studies, equipping us to share the gospel and lead others to God. Our commitment extends beyond our local community, as we support several missions both locally and abroad on a monthly basis.

Last year, I had the privilege of traveling to Uganda with 12 fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. Despite some adventures and delays, we stayed focused on our mission to teach others about the gospel. The warm reception and love we received at each stop were truly heartwarming. One memorable encounter was with a preacher named Nason Nzoghu, who brought 25 members from his congregation to meet us. At the time, his church had 126 members. Since we began supporting his work with $250 monthly, the congregation has grown to 345 members.

Our additional support has enabled Nason to expand his outreach efforts significantly. He has been able to organize more community events, provide essential resources like Bibles and study materials, and offer support to families in need. This has not only increased church membership but also strengthened the local community by fostering a sense of unity and purpose.

Moreover, the support has led to many positive changes we’ve witnessed in many different regions in Uganda and are a testament to the power of your collective efforts and faith for this work.

If you’d like to learn more about our brothers and sisters in Uganda, please let me know.

by Chris Elrod

             Everyone is going through something. We often don’t know what people are going through but nonetheless, most people are going through something. This is vital to remember, as it makes interactions with others tricky. Sometimes frustration is poured out on us, but it doesn’t really have anything to do with us. These moments can make showing the love of Christ challenging. Yet, remembering that everyone is going through something can help us be more patient. Afterall, we have likely been guilty of taking our frustrations out on others, unjustifiably. Imagine how our world would be better if we applied the golden rule (Matthew 7:12) more consistently! Reminding ourselves that everyone is experiencing challenges and frustrations, helps us be more patient and calls us to action.

A large amount of the stress and hardships we experience today have to do with mental health. Murfreesboro has felt pain from multiple suicides in the past few weeks. I hope we will pray for the families impacted, and for others who are struggling with depression and various other aspects of mental health.  Situations like these reminds us of how desperately we all need Christ and His church! This is our call to action.

We must step up and share God’s love. People need to feel God’s love in the way we display our love toward them. We never know the impact we can have by saying an encouraging word. The world needs to know they are loved by God and His church. So, share the love of God with co-workers, neighbors, or even a random person in the grocery store. Smile, be kind, and respond with love, even to those who are hateful. Live like someone who has been redeemed, not because we deserve it, but because of God’s love.

Lean in on God’s family, and know we love you! We are so blessed to have a church family who loves us and supports us. We have elders who are wise men of God. They are capable of sharing wisdom no matter the challenges we face. Justin and I are here to support our elders in caring for you. All of us love you and are happy to pray for you. Johnny Trail, our church’s therapist, is available on Thursdays and his information can be found in the bulletin and on our church’s website. There are women in our church family who are more than capable of sharing wise counsel with our sisters who might need the help of another sister, and I know women who are Christian counselors who can help you navigate hardship. We are blessed with an abundance of support, if we will use it. The key is to find someone to lean on and to be someone who others can lean on.

by Chris Elrod

             They say, “never say never!”  Yet, there are things we should be willing to say never to, especially as Christians.  I am beginning to wonder if parents should tell their kids, “Never!” when it comes to social media.  Certainly, this is a bold take and might seem extreme.  Yet, the evidence points to social media as being extremely dangerous for teenagers and I’m not sure the benefits it offers adults is worth the spiritual and mental risk that comes to us as well.

The fact of the matter is that when we give our children access to social medias, we are giving them highly addictive platforms that allows companies to profit off our children’s attention.  Our teens don’t need any more worldly influences shaping them, yet when we allow our children to have access to social media, we are giving our teens the opportunity to become addicted to worldly influences.  The algorithms don’t care about spiritual growth.  No social media company is interested in our children’s safety, and this is why this matters.  Christians must be proactive.  God has given parents the responsibility to protect their children from physical and spiritual harm.

I wonder if giving our teens social media is like lighting a cigarette and putting it in our child’s mouth.  Much like lung cancer can stay undetected, the toil of social media goes undetected.  At least at first, until it begins to be seen in the teens diminishing mental health.  Or worse it allows sin to creep in and remain undetected until it’s taken over.

Young parents who have small children please develop a plan for how you will approach social media, now.  Don’t wait until your children begin to want social media, develop a plan now.  Maybe it looks like saying, “Never!”  Afterall, the men and women who lead the social media companies don’t allow their children to have access to these platforms.

If you have allowed your children to have access to social media, you are not a bad parent.  I would encourage you to ask how social media is benefiting your teen and research the dangers involved.  Remember you are the leading authority in their lives.  Maybe they need to see Matthew 18:8-9 come to life as you play an active role in helping them remove things that cause temptation.  At the very least, please have conversations with your teens regularly about the impact social media has on their life and help them put healthy boundaries in place.

Ultimately, we decide if it will be in our life and in our children’s life, and if it will be a spiritual hinderance.  I hope this reminder has been as helpful for you, as it has been for me.

by Chris Elrod

Just a few weeks ago our young men led us in worship. They did a fantastic job; we should be proud of them as a church family. When our young men lead in worship, I often speak of how proud I am of their effort, preparation, and willingness to lead. Then I often reflect and wish I would have mentioned our pride in the young ladies who faithfully serve the Lord. So, let’s recognize our young ladies and the ways they are a blessing. There are three things that come to mind when I think about the ladies in our youth group.

The first thing that comes to mind is the encouragement they provide to so many! Our ladies understand that no corrupt word should come out of our mouths but only such things that are good for building up(Ephesians 4:29).Our ladies are quick to say thank you, and to give an encouraging word. Many of our young ladies have the gift of encouragement and use it to God’s glory (Romans 12:8).

Not only are they encouragers, but they also are evangelistic. The ladies in our youth ministry often invite their friends to church and participate in Bible studies. They remind me of Priscilla, who along with her husband, Aquila, helped Apollos understand the way of God better (Acts 18:26). Our young ladies love God’s Word and want to help others know the goodness of God. They are quick to welcome visitors as honored guests and encourage involvement.

Lastly, our young ladies set an example of what it means to live for Christ. They love the Lord, and it is reflected in their actions. They understand their heavenly Father has called them to holiness (1 Peter 1:15) and they strive to live for Him, letting their light shine so that others might see their good works and glorify God (Matthew 5:16). One thing I certainly appreciate as their Bible class teacher, is that many of our young ladies regularly take notes during class. Their desire to understand God’s Word is refreshing.

I could continue and discuss the ways they care for the young children of our congregation, write cards, and help teach in the children’s classes. Certainly, our young ladies are a great example. Their faith and commitment to the Lord should encourage us and make us proud as a church family.

I am so thankful to work with the amazing youth at Walter Hill. I thank God for their parents who raise their children to be faithful Christians, and for the host of sisters who support our young ladies. But I am especially thankful that God blessed me with Emily, who partners with me in ministry and sets a great example for the young ladies at Walter Hill.

             The names attributed to Jesus serve as titles that He embraced to illustrate the diverse functions and roles He would undertake.  These names are found throughout the New Testament.  These titles and references contribute to a deeper understanding of His purpose and message.

Son of Man:

Emphasized His humanity, and was perhaps Jesus’ favorite reference to himself, and, due to the way He used it, was also a claim to divinity.

“Do not labor for food that perishes to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you.  For on Him God the Father has set his seal.” (John 6:27)

Bread of Life:

Refers to His life-giving role, and that He is the only source of eternal life.

“Jesus said to them, I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.” (John 6:35)

Light of the World:

Light is a symbol of spiritual truth.  Jesus is the only answer for man’s need of spiritual truth.

“Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, I am the light of the world.  Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (John 8:12)

Gate for the Sheep:

Faith in Jesus is the only way possible to reach heaven.

“So Jesus said to them, Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep.” (John 10:7)

The Good Shepherd:

Jesus claimed and used the prophecies of the Messiah from the Old Testament to be about Him; this was a claim to Divinity which focused on His love and guidance. 

The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” (John 10:11)

The Resurrection and the Life:

Jesus is the very source of life and the power over death.

“Jesus said to her, I am the resurrection and the life.” (John 11:25)

The Way and the Truth and the Life:

Jesus is the way, the method, and the truth for all people.  He summarized his purpose on earth by this title.

“Jesus said to him, I am the way, the truth, and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6)

I am the Vine:

This was another of the names of Jesus, and the rest of the title is, “You are the Branches.” 

Just as the branches gain life and cannot live apart from the vine, so we are utterly dependent on Christ for our spiritual life.  “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser.” (John 15:1)