David had not always been there for Solomon, but before his death he helped prepare his son for the construction of the temple in six ways:

1. He had a vision. Although he would never see it with his eyes, David envisioned a house for the Lord that was “exceedingly magnificent, of fame and glory throughout all lands” (1 Chron. 22:5).
2. He shared his vision with his son, saying to him, “the Lord be with you, so that you may succeed in building the house of the Lord your God, as he has spoken concerning you” (1 Chron. 22:11).
3. He left Solomon the tools necessary to complete the task, gathering iron, bronze, cedar, gold, silver, and craftsmen of every kind (1 Chron. 22:3-5, 14-16).
4. He left Solomon with a good reputation. When it came time to build the temple, Hiram king of Tyre sent servants and supplies to Solomon because “Hiram always loved David” (1 Kgs. 5:1). It was Solomon himself who said, “A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, and favor is better than silver or gold” (Prov. 22:1). The legacy David left behind was worth more to Solomon’s construction project than all the gold and silver he may have collected.
5. He warned his son, saying, “Only, may the Lord grant you discretion and understanding, that when he gives you charge over Israel you may keep the law of the Lord your God. Then you will prosper if you are careful to observe the statues and the rules that the Lord commanded Moses for Israel” (1 Chron. 22:12-13). Solomon could expect success only if he put the Lord first and followed his commandments. We need more homes where this kind of warning is sounded. Without the word of God, our children may accomplish a few things, but in the end their lives will amount to a spiritual disaster.
6. He encouraged him, saying, “Be strong and courageous. Fear not; do not be dismayed” (1 Chron. 22:13).

Parents, pay attention to the kind of lives you are modeling before your children. Listen to what you say to them. Are you preparing them for success?

Solomon may get credit for building the temple, but he could not have done it without his father. The same is true for most of our accomplishments. Behind our successes, however great or small they may be, usually stands a loving mother or father who cared enough to teach us to put God first and follow his ways.

Arrangements have been made for the visitation to be held Saturday morning, August 28, at 9 a.m. at Jefferson Memorial Gardens in Trussville.  The funeral will follow at the same location at 10 a.m.

If you would like to assist in preparing a meal for the family, call Julie Kizer.  The meal will be served at the Trussville Senior Activity Center. Below are directions to the Senior Center located at 504 Cherokee Rd.

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The question in his mind was ridiculous, because it was DEFINITELY worth it in his mind. His zeal was so great that it made me want to go with him. His enthusiasm for the sport far outweighed the sacrifices that he had to make. Such is the case for our Christianity. Often it comes down to a sacrifice for us in relation to the well-being of our spiritual lives. It would serve us well to catch a little bit of the enthusiasm that we have for our hobbies, jobs, and families, and transfer it over to our spiritual lives. No sacrifice should be too great for us, and we should enthusiastically take what the world gives us; because enthusiasm can catch on real quick!

At this time though, I feel that it is important that we all take a look at our ministries. Just because one doesn’t have their name at the beginning of the directory doesn’t mean that they can’t do effective work for Christ. There are so many different ways that each and every one of you can contribute to the big picture here at Ashville Road.

The way I view the work being done here is a train that is leaving the station: you can either get on or stay off, but regardless this thing is picking up speed. I know that I will begin doing a better job of using each and every one of your talents. We all have talents, and we all can contribute. So the question is: how are you going to contribute? Are you going to jump on the train and start working? Or are you going to stay seated at the station? We have some great days ahead of us here at Ashville Road, and I hope that you will be able to jump on board!

Tim L. has worshiped with the Ashville Road congregation for more than fifteen years. During that time he has served a number of important roles, including song leader, Bible class teacher, Lads to Leaders coordinator, and Education Director. His wife Millie is a Bible class teacher, and contributes in countless ways to various works performed by our congregation.

Stan M. began worshiping with us in 2008. He has proven to be very useful in technical areas as well as in our youth program and in teaching Bible classes. Also, Stan has been serving as a Care Group leader in our visitation program. His wife Gina teaches classes and is a supportive partner in whatever Stan does.

Both men are likeable and are marked by unimpeachable character. They are fathers of respectful, loving children. They have supportive wives. We are grateful to God for having been blessed with such men at a time when new leadership is needed in our congregation!

Any time we appoint new leaders it is imperative that we reflect upon the following qualifications given by the Holy Spirit:

Deacons likewise must be dignified, not double-tongued, not addicted to much wine, not greedy for dishonest gain. They must hold the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience. And let them also be tested first; then let them serve as deacons if they prove themselves blameless. Their wives likewise must be dignified, not slanderers, but sober-minded, faithful in all things. Let deacons each be the husband of one wife, managing their children and their own households well. For those who serve well as deacons gain a good standing for themselves and also great confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus. (1 Tim. 3:8-13)

These men would not have been nominated in the first place if they did not have the confidence of our elders. Now that the congregation has been praying about this decision and reflecting on the above qualifications, it is clear that they have the backing of the entire church.

Leadership has a direct correlation to the growth of a congregation. We have lost two deacons since 2008, and this has put a strain on our efforts to grow. New deacons will not solve all our problems, but they will certainly fill a void that will assist us in our mission to bring lost souls to Christ. As we take this next step, let us pray that God will strengthen these men for the new responsibilities they will assume and that as a congregation we will support them as they lead us forward.

We still have several activities planned for this summer.  This Thursday we will be traveling with the Riverchase Church of Christ youth group to Rainbow Omega.  We have an On-Site Devo this week.  We are calling a big audible and moving it to Tuesday night at 6:00 pm.  Signups for Taylor as well as Backwoods Christian Camp are still up on my door.

I also want to talk about the upcoming Girls’ Night Out for the youth group girls.  It will be August 6.  If you are a chick and in the youth group, definitely make plans to come.  It will be hosted by Jackie, Beth, and Rachel and that is all I can say about it because I am a guy, and it is not “Girls’ Night Out + Neil”.  Regardless, we still have a lot of things going on and be sure to mark them down and remember the dates on your calendars.

Take care.

Cusco is a capital city in southeastern Peru with a population of close to 360,000.  The city is nestled in the Andes mountains and is perched at a staggering elevation of 11,500 feet.  The city was built ages ago by the Incans, making it a place of great historical significance.  The Sacred Valley of the Incans is nearby, over which looms the ruins of Machu Picchu, the most familiar icon of the Inca Empire.

Ashville Road helps support a mission team that moved to Cusco in the fall of 2009.  Comprised of three families, the team includes Barton, Allison and Cole who used to work with our congregation.  Before the Cusco Mission Team arrived, by all accounts there were around 60 Christians in Cusco.  Imagine the city of Birmingham, a metro area of comparable size, served by only one congregation of 60 Christians!  Obviously, there is a great need for missions in this part of the world.

One of the most recent developments in the mission efforts in Cusco is the purchase of an abandoned movie theater.  The aim of our trip next week is for our three men to join a larger group of workers that will remodel the building and make the necessary repairs to convert it into a place for worship.  A schedule for the week shows the work beginning the evening of our arrival and continuing through Thursday evening.  Friday, July 23, we will begin to make our way home.  We should arrive home Saturday evening, July 24.

I hope to make a presentation on the trip the Sunday evening after our arrival.  Please pray for our group next week, and continue to keep the Cusco Mission Team in your prayers.  They are still in the beginning stages of their work, but so far the Lord has blessed them with many opportunities, some of which they could not have anticipated.

Cusco needs the gospel, and we are fortunate to play a small role in evangelizing this ancient city.  At one time it was held in the grip of an ancient pagan religion.  Now it is dominated by the traditions of Roman Catholicism.  Our prayer is that the pure New Testament gospel will penetrate ages of human tradition and bring hope to the Sacred Valley.

We should not be stingy with what we have, even if we don’t think we have enough physical possessions to “give away”.  Whatever we have, be it time or leather interior, we should remember that it is for us to enjoy, but for the Lord to use.

It’s amazing that Jehovah invites believers to call Him “Father.”  Paul spoke of this beautifully in Galatians 4:4-7:

But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.  And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!”  So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.

Due to the redemption that is in Jesus Christ, God has adopted us as his children.  In those days, as it is now, adoption was as good as the real thing.  There is no difference to a father between a biological child and an adopted one.  Both are, in a very real sense, his own.  For this reason we cry, “Abba! Father!”  It is uncertain why Paul chose to use this mix of Aramaic and Greek.  Some have trivialized the phrase to mean something like “Daddy,” but a closer rendering is Phillips’s “Father, dear Father.”

I’ve noticed a trend in prayer to stray away from the traditional opening “our heavenly Father” and go with something else, such as “God.”  I would not say this is unscriptural, but I do not think it is best.  Here’s how Jesus taught us to pray:

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.  Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.  Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.  And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil (Mt. 6:9-13, emphasis added).

The gods of the pagans never sought after a relationship like this one.  In mythological tales, they rarely aided man.  Never did they call him “son.”  Only the true and living God seeks a father-child relationship with His creation.

Christians are remarkable for their God.  They call Him “Father.”