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A Note from the Preacher…Larry Sweeney         “As you have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving. Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ. For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power. . . .Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.” (Colossians 2:6-10, 15) (What a wonderful truth – “we are complete in Christ” – we need no one else! --LS)                  Always in Control!         Was Jesus in control of every situation? Was Jesus in control of His life as He approached death? Clearly, the Bible relates that Jesus was always in control of every situation and every circumstance. Let's study the scene in the Garden of Gethsemane as Jesus approached the cross and see if He was in control.        “Then Judas, having received a detachment of troops, and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees, came there with lanterns, torches, and weapons. Jesus therefore, knowing all things that would come upon Him, went forward and said to them, 'Whom are you seeking?' They answered Him, 'Jesus of Nazareth.' Jesus said to them, 'I am He.' And Judas, who betrayed Him, also stood with them. Then – when He said to them, 'I am He,' – they drew back and fell to the ground.” (John 18:3-6).         Who was in control? Not Judas, not the officers from the chief priests and Pharisees, and not a detachment of Rome's finest soldiers. They had come to take Jesus by force and now they lay in the dirt at His feet. Jesus had established who was in command. Yes, they would take Him and ultimately crucify Him, but it would only be according to the limits established by Jesus.         Isn't it wonderful to have a Savior who was always in control and continues to rule today!         --Larry Sweeney

Gallup Poll
        I noticed in the May issue of Religion Ethics Newsweekly that the Gallup Poll released a survey on April 14, stating that the church of Christ ranked first in the number of members (68 percent) who attend worship services at least once a week, followed by Mormons (67 percent); Pentecostals (65 percent); and Southern Baptists (60 percent).

--Neil Anderson in The Gospel Advocate July 2006.