[Biblemat] The Defender, 12/30/07

[Wayne S Walker]

The Defender
"...Knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the gospel" (Phil.
1.17)
Published weekly by the Church of Christ of Affton
Meeting in South Saint Louis County at
9700 Mackenzie Rd., Suite #101, Affton (St. Louis), MO 63123
Office (Suite #222) phone: (314) 544-1612
Editor: Wayne S. Walker, 9024 Amona Dr., Affton, MO 63123; Home phone: 
(314) 638-4710 ; e-mail: wswalker310 at juno.com; Website:
www.defenderoftruth.com
Sunday Bible study: 9:00 a. m.; worship: 10:00 a. m. and 5:00 p. m.
Wednesday: Bible study: 7:00 p. m.; 
______________________________________________________________________
Volume 49; December 30, 2007; Number 52
HAPPY NEW YEAR
     "You crown the year with Your goodness, and Your paths drip with
abundance" (Psalm 65:11). The beginning of a new year is a convenient
time to look back at the past year, to rejoice in our accomplishments and
learn from our mistakes. We can also look forward to the coming year, to
try and do the best that we can with the time which God gives us. 
     Christians should be HAPPY. "Rejoice in the Lord always. Again, I
will say rejoice!" (Philippians 4:4). Each of us has to make his own
choices and decisions in this world, and there are many things which can
happen to make us sad in the process. But whatever way we go and however
we approach our lives, we can be happy if we seek to apply God's will to
all of our activities. "If you know these things, happy are you if you do
them" (John 13:17). When we know that we are doing what God wants us to
do, then we can always be happy.

     Christianity is not something that is NEW, because it has been
around for nearly 2,000 years. But because the gospel offers forgiveness
from sin by the grace of God through the blood of Jesus Christ, it is
possible for us to begin anew. "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is
a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have
become new" (2 Corinthians 5:17). It is not necessary for us to go on
living the old life with its guilt of sin. "We have heard the joyful
sound, Jesus saves! Jesus saves!" We can praise God for that. "He has put
a new song in my mouth--Praise to our God" (Psalm 40:3). 
     Living for God is something that we can do all the YEAR. Oh, we may
have days off from work and vacations from school, but obeying God is
something that must be done every day. "If anyone desires to come after
Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me"
(Luke 9:23). All year, we should be learning about God and finding His
plan for our lives. Due to varying circumstances, some years may be more
difficult than others, but if we keep at it, as the years pass by we
should see the benefits. "Hear, my son, and receive my saying, and the
years of your life will be many" (Proverbs 3:10).
     Time is somewhat relative. "With the Lord one day is as a thousand
years, and a thousand years as one day" (2 Peter 3:8). However, while we
live on earth, God has given us the sun, moon, and stars "for signs and
seasons, for days and years" (Genesis 1:14). Therefore, as the old year
begins to fade away and the new year, may we dedicate our lives to
serving our Creator. We want to wish everyone a happy new year. --- Wayne
S. Walker
THE END OF AN ERA
     As everyone here knows, today will be the last Sunday that the
Church of Christ of Affton will exist and meet together. The reasons for
this are too numerous to give details right now, and having been here
only five years I do not think that I am really in a position to know
everything about them. However, from my discussions with others it
appears that the circumstances which have led to the current situation
date back to problems that occurred some thirty years ago. As local
evangelist and editor of The Defender, I have had the privilege for the
past five years of walking where some great men have trod. The Defender
was begun around fifty years as the bulletin of the Spring and Blaine
Church of Christ in St. Louis, the forerunner of the Affton church, when
Grover Stevens was located there, and it was mailed out all over the
United States, accomplishing a great deal of good.
     The Defender was continued by Ferrell Jenkins and then Jimmy Tuten
but was stopped and replaced by a News Bulletin under the editorship of
Gordon Wilson when the Spring and Blaine church was in the process of
moving to Affton. During much of this time, The Defender was capably
co-edited by Gene Sewell, a long-time elder first at Spring and Blaine
and then at Affton. The News Bulletin was continued by Bill Wallace, but
The Defender was resumed by Ben Shropshire and others since then. Many
additional folks, both preachers and other members, have contributed to
its publication through the years.
     Since this will be the last issue of The Defender that I, or anyone
else for that matter, will edit for the Affton congregation, I want to
express my thanks for the privilege of laboring here and being allowed to
present in both spoken and written form the truth of God's word. Next
week, members of Affton will be assembled with different congregations. I
believe that some will be at Ellisville, some at Kirkwood, others maybe
at Hazelwood, and still others at perhaps various places. We would simply
encourage everyone, wherever you go, to demand the preaching and practice
of nothing but the truth of God's word.
     Some may be wondering about the Walkers. Since June, I have been
contacting brethren, writing letters, and sending out resumes in the
process of looking for a place to move, and I do have a couple of current
possibilities, but it has been a somewhat discouraging process, and we
simply do not have anything definite to show for it yet. The vast
majority of the places which I contacted because I was told they were
looking for a preacher never responded one way or the other. A few
replied that they had already found someone, and a couple said that their
preacher had announced that he was going to leave and so they had been
looking but then he changed his mind and decided to stay. Some I decided
against for personal reasons. We had really hoped to be moved or at least
have some specific plans by now. I do not know whether it is because of
the time of year, or because churches are more picky about choosing
preachers than they used to be, or maybe because I am a little more
picky. But we are still looking.
     In any event, we appreciate the fact that the men here at Affton,
knowing that the decision to disband might put us in a difficult
situation, have made arrangements that my full support will continue at
least through the end of next May (or until we find a place to move) to
give us as much reasonable time as needed to look. It will require some
adjustment on our part, but we are very thankful for the kindness in
making this provision. Our current plans are to worship with the church
at Ellisville until we move. Hopefully, we will have found a place to go
by May. We love all of you and wish you the very best in your service for
the Lord. ---Wayne S. Walker
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