MEMBERS OF THE LOCAL (North Bend) CHURCH: Be sure to check your family mailbox for update pages to the Member Directory. New pages have been printed to include the most recent changes. Thanks to Karen O. for keeping this good work up to date. A recent feature added is that the very first page contains a listing of church "staff" (for want of a better word) in one handy place. Great for urgent/emergency access.

      Grandma Martin had the best buns! She made the most amazing bread rolls you could ever eat. Her buns were always offered at every meal. They were golden brown, yeasty, soft, sweet, and oh so comforting. Grandma’s buns were a perfect side, a perfect sandwich, or a perfect snack. Every time to this day when I see or smell a bread roll I remember my beloved grandmother. Her bread touched every sense of my being. The consumption of her food filled my stomach and comforted my soul. But more so than even the bread itself, it was the communion and connection with her that I delighted in. The time spent hearing her stories and sharing mine with her made those mealtimes the most meaningful. My Grandma Martin was a passionate follower of Christ that let the light of Jesus shine through her heart, home, and hospitality. No one was a stranger. Everyone was welcome around her table. She welcomed me with a smile and kept me with her love. I will forever think of her every time I break bread, especially when it is in the shape of a bun.

      The Lord knew what he was doing when he connected himself to something as common as bread and wine. Since the consumption of food involves every sense that we have been created with to experience life, the breaking of bread in remembrance of the Lord involves our entire being. Bread and wine were common everyday foods that were staples in almost all homes. The early Christians would meet daily in their homes breaking bread in communion and fellowship with the Lord and with each other.

      The Lord invited us to remember him every time we break bread. Jesus is the host that welcomes us and prepares the meal. Jesus is the onewho gives thanks and serves us his life. Jesus becomes the meal saying, ‘take and eat this is my body’ and ‘take and drink this is my blood.’ This meal is much more than eating and drinking. It is more about connecting with the Lord and giving thanks. Let us practice the discipline of communing daily with the Lord and with others every time we break bread. Let us be like the disciples on the road to Emmaus by having our eyes open to see the Lord. (Luke 24:30-31)

–Bryan Johnston, North Bend Oregon USA Church of Christ – www.churchofchristnb.com. May be freely shared.

The disciples in Luke 24 had left Jerusalem after celebrating the Passover and witnessing the death and burial of Jesus. As they began their seven-mile walk back to their hometown of Emmaus they were joined by him. They were kept from recognizing him while he explained to them everything that Moses and the Prophets said about the Messiah. Jesus was revealing to them the big picture of what God was doing through Christ to bring about the kingdom of God. Eventually the disciples stopped walking because they have arrived at their destination. Jesus acted as if he was going further and the disciples urged him to stay with them.

Of course Jesus was going further, because there is so much more that he is about than just these two followers. There were more people down the road that needed to hear his teachings. There was a whole world of sick and sinful people that needed to be restored and redeemed by him. The picture of Jesus’ purpose was so much greater than just spending time with Cleopas and his companion. Although Jesus is about bringing salvation to the entire world, he was and is available to everyone. The disciples invited him to stay with them, and he did.

Take courage fellow believers. The Lord has time for you. Why are we kept from recognizing his presence with us as we go about our daily lives? Whether we acknowledge him or not, he is still there. In John
1:12, John says, “To all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.” We are kept from recognizing him because of a lack of living faith. Belief in God is nothing without action. It takes daily effort and decision to walk in the footsteps of faith walking hand-in-hand with the Lord. Let’s not take the Lord for granted. Let’s not keep ourselves blind from
seeing the Lord and inviting him into every part of our lives. Jesus will be with you through the simple scenes of everyday life bringing to view the big picture. Let us confess Jesus Christ is Lord!

Bryan Johnston

       Could you imagine being an eyewitness to the gospel story? Those who walked and talked with Jesus had a challenging time accepting the fact that Jesus was the true Son of God. The disciples were raised hearing the words of Moses and the Prophets. They knew that the Messiah would come and how he would give his life for them. Yet just days after the death of Jesus we find a couple of disciples walking away from Jerusalem doubting that the one who spoke words and performed deeds of God was in fact the Messiah. Jesus patiently walks along the path with them as a father would walk with a child, tenderly reminding them of the teachings of their youth. He interprets the Scriptures through the lens of the death, burial, and resurrection of none other than himself. Let us not forget that the Messiah is with us today. We like the disciples need teachers who will walk the path with us so that we may come to knowledge of the truth. Let us not be foolish nor slow of heart to believe. I pray we have saints who will walk with us and lead us into paths of righteousness.

       I was blessed [on a recent Sunday] to share communion with Carson, a new young member to our fellowship, and Clair Farnsworth, a senior saint who is a battled warrior of faith who continues to march the path. We broke bread and drank from the cup together in unity and remembrance of the Lord. We were met by the Lord together on our walk down the road of faith. The gospel was shared and experienced in a beautiful way. I am thankful for the faith of men and women who have walked the long dusty road and who slow down to teach and patiently wait for followers like me who still have a lot to learn. Even the very young have a place at the Lords table and are welcome to share in Lords fellowship. Walk the path, experience the gospel, and share in the Lord together. We are a community of believers who love God, love others, and strive to serve the world. Young and old we are all welcome.

Bryan Johnston

     She picked up the ball at the opposing team’s free throw line and galloped toward our goal. Finnley had her head held high as she dribbled down the court speeding ahead of the charge of the defenders. Under control and with great confidence she came to a solid jump stop on the baseline. With the ball in hand and eye on the basket, she bent her knees, raised her arms, and let the shot go. The leather orb spun through the air with a perfect backspin and swished through the net. The crowd went wild. A smile a mile wide filled her face, and her dad, the coach, cheered in proud proclamation.

     It has been a great joy to coach Finnley’s basketball team with the Upward Sports program. It has been fun to see each one grow in his and her skills and also come together as a team of friends. During our training event, the directors highly stressed focusing on different levels of success rather than just winning games. The league we play in does not keep a score at the games. Yes, there is great excitement when baskets are made, but that is not the only measure of success that we have been encouraged to recognize. Successes are made with each catch, pass, controlled-dribble, matching up with the correct player on defense, and even running toward the correct goal. Success is recognized for having good sportsmanship and exhibiting Christ like attitudes.

     The disciples walking down the road to Emmaus were expecting a Messiah who would successfully redeem them through power, force, and victory over their enemies. Jesus came to show that salvation would come rather through sacrifice. Jesus conquered the world through humility, service, and love. How do you measure success in your life? I encourage you to put your hope in the Lord and to pursue service as a way of life. Serving both God and others above yourself, will bring happiness to your life in ways that serving only yourself could never bring. This will be a different way of living, but it is by this way of love that the world will know that you are of God and on his winning team.

Bryan