Speaking of Jesus, Mark writes, "The people were amazed at his teaching, because he taught them as one who had authority, not as the teachers of the law." (Mark 1:22)

What made Jesus' teaching...his words...different from the others? Well, one would certainly expect something amazing from "The Word Made Flesh."

For us, though, how can our words be different and make a difference in the lives of others?

Come worship with us, Sunday, as we explore the answer, together.

What they think.

Study: Christianity No Longer Looks Like Jesus

The Christian Post reports that young Americans today are more skeptical and resistant to Christianity than were people of the same age just a decade ago.

A new study released Monday from The Barna Group shows that negative perceptions toward the faith have outweighed the positive, as more younger Americans associate with a faith outside Christianity.

Only 16 percent of non-Christians aged 16 to 29 years old said they have a "good impression" of Christianity. Just 10 years ago, a vast majority of Americans outside the Christian faith - including young people - felt favorably toward Christianity's role in society.

from Religion Today Summaries
www.crosswalk.com

Travel Opportunity

Tour of Israel

March 5 - 16, 2008

Contact Larry Bell

(304) 677-8318

Worship

In John 8, the way the religious folks saw it, the woman caught in adultery should be stoned.

Jesus, however, saw things differently. He said, "If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her."

When we see things as black and white...Jesus sees them as red.

What does all this mean? Come worship with us and find out.

Cuba Mission Trip

Tentative dates for the 2008 Cuba Mission Trip are May 10-20, 2008. Contact David Hulme or Max Hill if you are interested.

Fellowship Breakfast

Join us for our quarterly Fellowship Breakfast, Sunday, September 23, at 10:00 a.m., in Judson Center. It's covered-dish.

Hope to see you there!!

ATM

ATMs: Automatic Tithing Machines

by Sam O'Neal

How can you pass the plate to people who don't carry cash? You can't. So the next big wave may be the "Giving Kiosk" in your church's lobby. "A lot of people no longer carry cash or a checkbook," says Marty Baker, pastor of Stevens Creek Church in Augusta, Georgia. So he installed two ATMs in 2005. The experiment has been a success.

Finish this article

Worship

Jesus was different.

Actually that is an understatement. Jesus is the biggest deviation from normal in history.

What does that say about those of us who claim to follow him?

Leonard Sweet answers the question this way..."People who don’t know who Jesus is are normal people. Jesus followers are the abnormal ones. Once you encounter Jesus, you can never return to normal."

Join us for worship, this week, as we begin a new series entitled...Jesus: Different.

Danger Zone Missions

Despite kidnappings, U.S. Christians still support mission trips to embattled nations.

by Eric Reed, CTI Rapid Response

American Christians who are active in their churches still strongly support missions work in dangerous regions, despite the recent kidnapping and killings of South Korean aid workers by the Taliban in Afghanistan. A new survey conducted by NationalChristianPoll.com for Christianity Today International shows 69 percent of Active Christians support missions work in places where the U.S. is engaged in military operations, specifically Iraq and Afghanistan, and 66 percent support missions in countries that are under U.S. sanctions, Cuba, for example.

finish the article at:

http://www.christianitytoday.com/leaders/special/dangerzonemissions.html

Worship

I hope you will join us for worship, this week.

Our special guest, this Sunday, is Dr. Maxwell Hill, Associate Executive Minister of the West Virginia Baptist Convention.

During the month of September, we will be taking the Mountain State Mission Offering. 100% of the MSMO stays in West Virginia and supports the mission and ministries of the West Virginia Baptist Convention.

Camp Cowen, Parchment Valley, Goldeneers, Youth and Children's Ministries, and the School of Christian Studies, are just a few of the ministries that benefit from your gifts.

Please give generously to the 2007 Mountain State Mission Offering.

Starbucks or Waffle House?

by Courtney Jones

In my Sunday service adventures, I've come across two types of churches: in my mind, I classify them as Starbucks and Waffle House.

Read the article at:

http://www.relevantmagazine.com/god_article.php?id=7405

What are you risking for God?

Paul Borden

Ultimately Christians are risking their eternal destiny on the belief that our God is and that He has revealed Himself in the Scriptures and through our Lord Jesus Christ. There is no greater risk producing no greater reward. Yet it all finally comes down to faith. .. More

Happiness

The Constitution only guarantees the American people the right to pursue happiness. You have to catch it yourself. ~Benjamin Franklin