SCHEDULE OF SERVICES SUNDAY

MID-WEEK

_____________________

ELDERS EVANGELISTS EMAIL: office@degaulledrivecoc.com WORKS SUPPORTED:

Benevolence: Childhaven of Cullman, Alabama Media: Gospel Broadcasting Network In Search of the Lord’s Way The Old Landmarks The Truth in Love MISSIONS: Budapest, Hungary: Curry Montague,

curry.monta@gmail.com India: Ron & Karen Clayton

RCIndia@sonet.net Padova, Italy: Jeff & Tia Brauer

Family, brauer@padovateam.org Marshall, Texas: Azael & Dinora

Alvarez PREACHER TRAINING: Memphis School of Preaching

WesArabie 504-858-2881 HowardGoodale 504-319-3572SteveTucker 504-812-2617ScottCain 504-392-4110WesArabie 504-858-2881

CHURCH OF CHRIST 4700 GENERAL DEGAULLE DRIVE

NEW ORLEANS, LA 70131 www.DegaulleDriveCOC.com

July 30, 2017

MorningBibleClass MorningWorshipPewPackersEveningWorship

9:00AM 10:00AM5:30PM6:00PM

TuesdayLadiesClass(September—May)

WednesdayBibleClass

10:00AM

7:00PM

Tertullian (A.D. 155-230) was the first historian to call Nero the “first persecutor of Christians” through wicked, vile, and merciless means.

Nero was Roman Emperor from A.D. 54-68. Tradition says that he had the apostles Peter and Paul killed. History tells of how he would take bodies of Christians (alive or dead), stuff their shirts with wax, and set their bodies afire to provide light in his gardens at night when he was throwing one of his great parties.

Tradition says 100 gladiators served under Nero. These men carried out barbarous acts of murder against the enemies of Nero.

Following the Roman games these gladiators walked the streets chanting: “One-hundred gladiators, Fighters for the Emperor, Fighting for the victor’s crown.”

Tradition says that Nero found out there were Christians in his household. An edict was prepared, “All Christians will be found and put to death.” The man in charge of Nero’s gladiators halfheartedly asked his men, “Are there any Christians in our number?”

To his surprise, forty men stepped forward. The leader was surprised and saddened. These were among his most loyal and devout men. At first, he failed to report this to the Emperor. However, pressure finally compelled him to ask again, “Are there any Christians among us?” The same forty men stepped forward, again.

They were offered the chance to deny Christ and pledge allegiance to Nero. They refused. The leader did not have the heart to kill his loyal men. He ordered the forty men to take off their clothes and to walk out into the middle of a freezing lake. They were ordered to stay there until they froze to death. Guards were posted all around the lake to ensure that none of the gladiators would escape. All night long the guards keeping vigil could hear the gladiators chanting: “Forty gladiators, Fighters for Christ, Fighting for the Victor’s crown.” Over and over this chant was heard, although growing weaker.

Then, out of the darkness, into the warm glow of the fire, crawled one of the gladiators. He came denouncing Jesus Christ and pledging his allegiance to Nero. Then the voices in the lake started to chant: “Thirty-nine gladiators, Fighters for Christ, Fighters for the Victor’s Crown.”

Upon hearing this, the leader of the group tore off his clothes, waded out into the cold water. There was a moment of silence. There was a splash in the water. Then, one voice, sounding much stronger than the others was heard: “Forty gladiators, Fighters for Christ, Fighting for the Victor’s Crown.”

With the coming of dawn, there were no more voices to be heard. Forty men had perished in the darkness of the freezing icy waters of the night. —Jess Whitlock

“BLESSED IS THE MAN THAT ENDURETH TEMPTATION; FOR WHEN HE HATH BEEN APPROVED, HE SHALL RECEIVE THE CROWN OF LIFE, WHICH THE LORD PROMISED TO THEM THAT LOVE HIM” (JAMES 1:12).

Jess Whitlock

2 N D ANNUAL

DEGAULLE DRIVE CHURCH OF CHRIST

FAMILY RETREAT AUGUST 10TH – 12TH

Fontainebleau State Park FREE OF CHARGE & open to all members of the

DeGaulle Drive Church of Christ.

Please plan to be there & to be a part of this chance to make memories together going apart & resting as God’s

family!

Don’t miss out on this weekend of fellowship.

1

Years ago in South Florida, a little boy decided to go to the swimming hole behind his house. He ran out the back door & flew into the water. As he swam toward the middle of the lake, an alligator was

swimming toward him from the other shore. In the house, his mother looked out a window & saw what was happening. Terrified, she ran toward the water, yelling to her son. Hearing her, the boy became alarmed & made a U-turn to swim to his mother. Just as he reached her, the alligator reached him. The alligator snatched the boy’s legs; the mother grabbed his arms. An incredible tug-of-war ensued. The alligator was much stronger than the mother, but the mother was more passionate. A farmer happened to drive by, heard her screams, raced from his truck, took aim, & shot the alligator. After weeks in the hospital, the boy was scarred but healed. A reporter interviewed him. He asked if he could see the scars. The boy lifted his pant legs. Then with obvious pride, he said, “Look at my arms. I have scars on my arms, too. I have them because my mom wouldn’t let go.” Every mother knows the feeling of seeing her child in danger & feeling hopeless. Usually the danger is not from a creature in the woods or swamp but from the world (James 4:4). When “alligators” grab our children, we hold on. Sometimes it is all we can do. We hold on & pray (1 Samuel 7:5; 12:23). In the end, if we are spiritual parents, if we model what we want our children to be, it has great power.

A little boy who lived far out in the country in the late 1800s had reached the age of twelve & had never in all his life seen

a circus. You can imagine his excitement when one day a poster went up at school announcing that on the next Saturday, a traveling circus was coming to the nearby town. He ran home with the glad news & the question, “Daddy, can I go?” Although the family was poor, the father sensed how important this was to the lad. “If you do your Saturday chores ahead of time,” he said, “I’ll see to it that you have the money to go.”’ Come Saturday morning, the chores were done & the little boy stood by the breakfast table, dressed in his Sunday best. His father reached down into the pocket of his overalls & pulled out a dollar bill—the most money the little boy had possessed at one time in all his life. The father cautioned him to be careful & then sent him on his way to town. The boy was so excited, his feet hardly seemed to touch the ground all the way. As he neared the outskirts of the village, he noticed people lining the streets, & he worked his way through the crowd until he could see what was happening. Lo & behold, it was the approaching spectacle of a circus parade. The parade was the grandest thing this lad had ever seen. Caged animals snarled as they passed; bands beat their rhythms & sounded shining horns; midgets performed acrobatics while flags & ribbons swirled overhead. Finally, after everything had passed where he was standing, the traditional circus clown, with floppy shoes, baggy pants, & a brightly painted face, brought up the rear. As the clown passed by,

Lonnie Davis

2N D ANNUAL

DEGAULLE DRIVE CHURCH OF CHRIST

MEN’S LEADERSHIP RETREAT

OCTOBER 12TH-14TH Berry Creek Cabins, Bogalusa, LA

FREE OF CHARGE & open to all men of the DeGaulle Drive Church of Christ.

TheEarlier,theBetter!Thursday,October12th,willbeadayoffellowship,preparation,&enjoyingthearea.Comeoutearly&

havesomefun!

AllareencouragedtoarriveASEARLYASPOSSIBLEonFriday,October13th,aswewilllookathoweachofus

canbecometheleadersGodwantsustobe!

Don’t miss out on this weekend of fellowship & leadership.

2

the little boy reached into his pocket & took out that precious dollar bill. Handing the money to the clown, the boy turned around & went home. What had happened? The boy thought he had seen the circus when he had only seen the parade! In our Christianity, we are sometimes like this little boy. We think we are enjoying Christianity when we have only seen “the parade.” In Christianity, there is forgiveness, worship, fellowship, Bible study, encouragement, brotherly love, & a host of other things we enjoy as God’s people. If we are not taking advantage of all that Christianity has to offer—then we are only seeing “the parade.” We passionately call to mind the words of Paul, “O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and the knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past tracing out!” (Romans 11:33). Are you enjoying the circus or just the parade?

THE CIRCUS

Attendance

Bible Reading

NEEDING CARE & PRAYERS Our Members & Visitors.

James Cobet te: Has had walking pneumonia for several weeks. Stephen Goodale: His co-worker (Kian) has a cousin that was recently stabbed. Paul & TeNeal Macaluso: Are expecting their first bundle of joy February 6th. They

ask for prayers in the days & months to come. Mary Cullum Sandy Jones Kacie Landis Family of Margaret Rodney Lorraine Stephen

Our Shut-In Elwanda Piskorik

Our Family & Friends Kaiyah Alexander: Was able to return home. Larry Blackburn: Cousin of Margaret Spahr; is in ICU with heart problems. Carl Joseph: Father-in-law of Patricia Joseph; Is in ICU at West Jeff & is on dialysis. Paul Meacham: Gospel preacher & teacher at Amridge University; will undergo surgery

Monday to remove a tumor in his brain. Skylar Nicoul in & Family : Coworker of Stephen Goodale; is charged with negligent

homicide in the fatal shooting of his friend. The Family of Frances Zorn: Former member at DeGaulle Drive; passed away on

July 15th in Sylacauga, AL. Luis Durango Gonzales Family Sue & Tom Gibi l terra Kei th Kreppein Mary Jo Knigh t Benjamin Macaluso Sandra Martin Tristan & Meagan McCann Terry Math ieu Yvette Milazzo Linda Reddish

Our Deployed Military Personnel Vauchel le DeArmas: Her address is: Spc Dearmas Vauchell, 1086 Trans CO, APO

AE 08366. She is in Kuwait on the base & will be there until time for her missions in Iraq & Afghanistan.

PRIVILEGED TO SERVE NEXT WEEK

AUGUST 06 Sunday AM

Welcome: Howard Goodale

Prayer: Paul Macaluso (2)

Song Lead: Howard Goodale

Ron Landis Eph. 1:3,7

Lord’s Table: Ron Landis

Sermon: Scott Cain

Dismissal: Tyrone Barthelemy ———————

Sunday PM Welcome:

Howard Goodale Prayer:

Roland Keith Song Lead:

Paul Macaluso (2) Lord’s Table:

Ron Landis Sermon:

Scott Cain Dismissal:

Nicklas Smith

THIS WEEK JULY 30 Sunday AM

Welcome: Wes Arabie

Prayer: Nicklas Smith

Song Lead: Howard Goodale

Steve Tucker Matt. 26:26-29

Lord’s Table: Paul Macaluso (2)

Sermon: Scott Cain

Dismissal: Eugene Carter ———————

Sunday PM Welcome:

Wes Arabie Prayer:

Wes Arabie Song Lead:

Stephen Goodale Lord’s Table:

Paul Macaluso (2) Sermon:

Singing Dismissal:

Stephen Goodale

LAST WEEK’S

RECORD

Service Time

2017 Goal

Last Week

Bible Study Sunday AM Sunday PM Wednesday

70 100 60 60

56 62 44 33

Reading

Plan 2017 Goal

Last Week

Daily Readers 45 30 Bible in 2017 45 36 NT in 2017 60 33

Please submit all prayer requests in writing to Scott or Melissa Cain. Please supply regular updates on each individual in order to keep our prayer list up-to-date. For the sake of space, any name (except for shut-ins) will be removed after four weeks unless a new update is received. Thank you for helping us all to stay informed of the spiritual & physical needs of our members, friends, & family.

NEW ANNOUNCEMENTS UPCOMING EVENTS: 1. SONG LEADING CLASS: Will meet today at 4:30 PM. 2. FELLOWSHIP MEAL: TODAY after AM worship. Those with last names M-Z are asked to set-

up & clean up. 3. GENERAL TEACHER’S MEETING: August 6th at 4PM. All teachers are encouraged to attend

as we will discuss promotion Sunday & the beginning of a new school year. 4. FAMILY RETREAT: August 10-12. See page 2 of the bulletin for more details. 5. MEN’S LEADERSHIP RETREAT: October 12-14. See page 2 of the bulletin for more details.

PLEASE HELP RESTOCK THE PANTRY: Items needed include canned tuna, chicken, Vienna

sausages, several boxed meals (tuna helper, chicken helper, kit meals, etc…), spaghetti sauce with meat, soups, & cereals. We are fully stocked & have no room for pasta, rice, & beans.

WORK NIGHT FOR THE MASTER: July’s work night produced 182 local mailings, 34 cards of encouragements, & 24 World Bible School Correspondence courses. Thanks to all who participated!