Author: Bryan Gibson

Weekly Bulletin
October 16, 2022

Strangers and Pilgrims
by Greg Gwin
Traveling in a foreign country is an enlightening thing. There is always a “culture shock” associated with the experience. What we consider odd they regard as normal, and vice versa. Traditions, customs, life styles, clothes, etc., are often very different. Language barriers are always a big problem. And the food—WOW! We may regard as inedible and disgusting what they consider a fine delicacy. (On a recent trip we were treated to horsemeat, goat and raw fish!)
We make this point simply to emphasize the obvious. When you are a stranger in a foreign land the things there seem odd to you—and you appear odd to the native people. That’s why we say, “there’s no place like home.”
There is a spiritual application to these observations. The people of God are described as “strangers and pilgrims” here in this world (1 Peter 2:11). As such, we must realize that we operate on a much different set of “norms.” People of the world will often dress, talk, and act in ways that are—or should be—odd to us. On the other hand, worldly people will see us as being very peculiar—at least they should. We’re different. We don’t do things the same way they do. We don’t think and act as they do.
If we begin to feel too comfortable with the ways of the world—if we begin to adopt the norms of those around us—then we have lost the unique identity the Lord wants us to possess. He warns us: “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world” (1 John 2:15). We need to be like the great heroes of faith who “confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth,” and, like them, we should constantly “desire a better, that is, a heavenly country” (Hebrews 11:13,16). Christian, where is your country? Where is your “home”? Think!

Send More Rattlesnakes
Author Unknown
There was a family of wayward church members, a father and three sons, once active and faithful but now indifferent. Preachers and elders had visited them. Everything within reason had been done to restore them, but it was all in vain.
One day, while they were working, a large rattlesnake bit John. The doctor was summoned and pronounced his condition grave, observing that about the only thing left was prayer. Immediately, the preacher and the elders were called for and came. The preacher was asked to pray for John’s recovery. This was his prayer in part:
“We thank Thee that thou hast in thy wisdom sent this rattlesnake to bite John in order to bring him to his senses. He has not been inside the meetinghouse for years, and it is very doubtful he has, in all this time until now, felt the need of prayer. Now we trust this proves a valuable lesson to him, and that it may lead him to genuine repentance...
“And now, wilt Thou send another to bite Sam, and another to bite Jim, and a big one for the old man! We have done everything we know for years to restore them but to no avail. It seems, therefore, that what all our efforts would not do, this rattlesnake has done. We thus conclude that the only thing left that will do this family any good is rattlesnakes; so please send us bigger and better rattlesnakes.”
This was not written to just get a laugh; it was written to provoke you to ask this all important question: Is it you who needs the rattlesnake?

Contact Information
	P.O. Box 680872 / Prattville, AL 36067
	(334) 365-5887 / (334) 868-0801
	prattmont@gmail.com / prattmontchurchofchrist.org

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The Prattmont Church of Christ is just what the name suggests, a church that belongs to Christ. We are not a denomination; we are simply a group of Christians trying very hard to practice the teachings of our Head, Jesus Christ. The New Testament offers a complete pattern for what each local church should be like—its organization, its worship, its work, etc. We are committed to following that pattern. We cordially invite you to attend our services. We would also welcome any comments or questions about this bulletin.

TIMES OF SERVICES:
Sunday
Bible Classes………...9 A.M.
Worship 10:00 A.M.
Worship/Bible Study..5 P.M.
Wednesday:
Bible Study 7:00 P.M.