Deacons
   Guy Dale Adams - Transportation
   Bub Barron - Benevolence
   R. M. Bledsoe - Finance
   John Brownd - Fellowship
   Charles Burrow - Worship
   John Chronister - Worship
   Jimmie Darling - Worship
   George Leland - Fellowship
   Harold Rutledge - Building
   Justin Rutledge - Education

Staff
Pulpit Minister:
Glen Knabe
501-278-5628
glen@holdenavecofc.com
Youth Minister:
Ryan Wilson
870-217-5838
ryan@holdenavecofc.com
ymryan17@yahoo.com
Secretary:
Brenda Stegall
brenda@holdenavecofc.com
Custodian
Goldie Arnold

Leprosy was a disease of the skin. In some forms it was a rotting of the flesh that ended in death while other forms caused sores and scabs and caused the hair in the affected areas to turn white. The most common form in the Bible was for the entire body to turn white and the skin became scaly. This form is very rare today. To touch a leper was to become unclean and it was contagious. Lepers were forced into isolation, quarantined with other lepers until they were shown to be clean again. They were outcasts and had to warn people of their condition whenever anyone was near. A leper longed to be clean again because as long as he was a leper he suffered not only from the disease but also from rejection, humiliation, loneliness, and physical contact. His own wife was not allowed to hug him nor could he hold his children.

While coming down from the mountainside where He had just finished teaching the people, Jesus was approached by a leper who came and kneeled before Him and said, “Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.” This leper had faith. He knew that Jesus was able to heal. He knew that Jesus had the power. He just didn’t know if He was willing. He didn’t know if He would. To touch a leper was unheard of. It meant becoming unclean and this leper didn’t know if Jesus was willing to do anything or not, but he had to try. “Lord, if You are willing . . . .”

Leprosy is to the physical body what sin is to the spiritual body. Sin contaminates and causes one to become unclean, decaying the soul and isolating one from the presence of God. It is also quite contagious as others are easily led to it by those involved. The symptoms, however, are not quickly recognized. Many times it is not until sin has completely taken over and the individual has hit rock bottom that he/she realizes the severity of sin. By this time, one feels so repulsed and ashamed of himself that he does not even think God would look in his direction. By this time one realizes the weakness of self and seeks God, but is He willing? Is He willing to reach down into the filth and decay and stench of sin to touch my life? “Jesus reached out His hand and touched the man. ‘I am willing,’ he said. ‘Be clean.’” Jesus said, “I am willing.” Thank God!

Welcome to the Holden Avenue Church
of Christ.   We are especially glad that
you are here. We hope you enjoy your time
with us and come back to visit real soon.
It is our hope that you will find your time
here encouraging and beneficial. If you have
any comments, questions, or prayer requests,
please share those with us. We are here to
minister to you and your family.

Congratulations to

Jacob Ardrey!

Jacob was baptized into Christ
on July 27, 2008 by
his brother Justin Ardrey.
We rejoice with his decision
to put on Christ in baptism.

Please call the office for any updates to the prayer list.

Birthdays
Aug 10 - Clay Malone
Aug 13 - Vernon Smotherman
Aug 13 - Bob Swink
Aug 14 - Vera Brann
Aug 14 - Mackenzie Skelton
Aug 15 - Jerry Lancaster
Aug 15 - Melanie Reid
Aug 16 - Elouise Hite
Aug 16 - Judy Rennicke

Anniversaries
Aug 10 - M/M Don LaForge
Aug 12 - M/M Collin Manning
Aug 13 - M/M Jerry Lancaster

Everyone is invited to stop by
Wednesday for the last Brown Bag
Lunch of the summer. Bring your
lunch by and enjoy visiting with
other Christians during your
lunch break.

Everyone is invited to attend
Ruby Marlin’s 90th Birthday
Party on Saturday, August 16
in the Small Auditorium from
2:00 - 4:00 PM.

(No Gifts Please)

If you put a buzzard in a pen six or eight feet square and entirely open at the top, the bird, in spite of his ability to fly, will be an absolute prisoner. The reason is that a buzzard always begins a flight from the ground with a run of ten or twelve feet. Without space to run, as is his habit, he will not even attempt to fly, but will remain a prisoner for life in a small jail with no top.

The ordinary bat that flies around at night, a remarkably nimble creature in the air, cannot take off from a level place. If it is placed on the floor or flat ground, all it can do is shuffle about helplessly and, no doubt, painfully, until it reaches some slight elevation from which it can throw itself into the air. Then, at once, it takes off like a flash.

A bumblebee, if dropped into an open tumbler will be there until it dies unless it is taken out. It never sees the means of escape at the top, but persists in trying to find some way out through the sides near the bottom. It will seek a way where none exists, until it completely destroys itself.

In many ways, there are lots of people like the buzzard, the bat and the bee. They are struggling about with all their problems and frustrations, not realizing that if they look up, they’ll find the answer. “My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O LORD; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will” (Psalm 5:3).

(Article taken from House to House Heart to Heart)

POSSUMS:   The people gave up on the football team because they had lost so many football games. Will Clark is the “Voice of the Possums.” He refuses to give up on the team. Come watch and see if the Possums can turn things around.

Sunday Evening, August 10
Communion:   Stan McKee & George Leland
Announcements:   Justin Rutledge
Closing Prayer:   Jason Tubbs

Wednesday Evening, August 13
Announcements:   Junior Hinkle
Closing Prayer:   John Chronister
Devotional:   Guy Dale Adams

Sunday Evening, August 17
Communion:   O. L. Riley & Vernon Smotherman
Announcements:   George Leland
Closing Prayer:   Alfred Couch

Wednesday Evening, August 20
Announcements:   Stan McKee
Closing Prayer:   Larry Kesselring
Devotional:   Alcobra Hall

Nearly every hand in the congregation went up. Smiling, the preacher  said, "You are the very people I want to talk to today . . . Mark has only 16 chapters."

Welcome & Announcements
797 - Lord, We Come Before Thee Now
794 - Unto Thee, O Lord
768 - Jesus Let Us Come To Know You

Prayer
800 - What A Friend We Have In Jesus
453 - Love Lifted Me
490 - It Is Well With My Soul

Lord’s Supper/Giving
590 - Jesus Is All The World To Me
678 - More About Jesus

Sermon
129 - Amazing Grace

Prayer

Morning Worship:xxxxxxxxll260
Bible Class:xxxxxxxxxxxxxxl131
Evening Worship:lxxxxxxxxlll132
Evening Bible Hour:lxxxxxxxl19
Children's Home:lxxxxxxxxl$66.09
Contribution:llxxxxxxxxll $5,578.37
Weekly Budget:lxxxxxxll $5,400.00
YTD Budget:lxxxxxxxll  $1,864.79