Address

Phone

Email

402 West Main Llano, TX 78643

325-247-4426

office@llanocofc.org

Next Meeting Time

• Sunday Morning Worship:

   	10:30 AM

• Bible Class:

   	9:30  AM

• Sunday Evening Worship:

   	6:00 PM

• Wednesday Classes and Devotional:

   	6:30 PM

• Wednesday Ladies Bible Class:

   	Dismisse

“A Perfect…Forgiver?”

            Two outs, bottom of the ninth, one batter away from making history. It’s the IDEAL plot for any pitcher, and on Sunday, August 8^th, Toronto Blue Jays’ pitcher Brandon Morrow was embedded in the scene. He threw a four seam fastball to Evan Longoria, who hit a sharp groundball between the second baseman and short stop. Toronto Blue Jays’ second baseman, Aaron Hill, dove powerfully for the ball, but the ball trickled off his glove into centerfield. The “No Hitter” was No More! How did Brandon Morrow handle the heartbreak? He regained his composure, and then he struck out the next batter to earn the first “Shut Out” of his career. Interestingly enough, Morrow never blamed his second baseman for missing the play. In fact, he told reporters, “He did the best that he could. That’s just part of the game.”

 

            It’s been a very interesting season in the world of Major League Baseball. Several “No Hitters” and “Perfect Games” have been thrown which is HIGHLY unusual. But what is even MORE odd? It was the second time this season these amazing achievements have been lost in the LAST out of the game! Earlier in June, Armando Galarraga, pitcher for the Detroit Tigers, was robbed from a “Perfect Game” because of a blown call by the first base umpire. Replays show without any discrepancies that the throw beat the runner to first base. Even after the Detroit Tigers challenged the call with the Commissioner, the call stood, and Galarraga did not receive the “Perfect Game” he EARNED! How did Galarraga handle his heartbreak? He publicly forgave the umpire and said, “Being an umpire isn’t easy. They have hard calls to make all the time. We all make mistakes!”

 

            It seems like our society is quick to place professional athletes and celebrities on pedestals that only few can reach. And most of the time, professional athletes have nothing to offer beyond the world of sports! However, it appears like Brandon Morrow and Armando Galarraga are men of different caliber.  Even with all of the glamour and fame of professional baseball, they remembered one of the most important facets of life, forgiveness!

 

            Surely as people who have been FORGIVEN by the blood of Jesus Christ, we can FORGIVE others! How much healthier would our families be if we chose to forgive? How much happier would our relationships be if we always forgave? How much stronger would the church be if it favored forgiveness? Instead of us “dreaming” what it would be like, why don’t we find out? “…Forgive as the LORD forgave YOU.” (Colossians 3: 13)

 

Jacob Hawk

 

 

Guidance from Gary

 

            If you’ve ever wanted to witness an “Answered Prayer,” you will witness one today! For some time, the Llano Church of Christ has fervently prayed that God would raise up leaders to lead His church in Llano. We have been blessed with exceptional elders in Dennis Raesener and Curtis Osbourn, but it’s very difficult for two men to handle every challenge of leadership. Today, August the 29^th, 2010, Gary Howell will be installed as a new Elder at the Llano Church of Christ!

 

            To accept the position of an Elder in the Lord’s church is beyond admirable. The Apostle Paul would say, “If anyone sets his heart on being an overseer, he desires a noble task.” (1 Timothy 3:1) He also wrote, “The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor…” (1 Peter 5:17) Not every man desires the “noble task”, and not every man is qualified to hold the office. Gary Howell houses the nobility to lead, and he meets all the Biblical qualifications to do so! We want to thank Gary for his courage, but we also want to thank his wife Joni for her support and Godliness as well. Gary has a strong encouragement and assistance in Joni, and we have full confidence that she will make him a better Elder! Gary and Joni raised Godly children, and we know that if they can lead their children in this way, they can adequately help lead this good church!

 

            There are many ways to diagnose a growing church. Growth can be measured in new buildings, new programs, new endeavors, and growing numerical statistics. However, a NEW ELDER is one of the BEST ways to see growth from God! We thank God for everything He’s giving the Llano Church of Christ, and we also thank Him for men like Gary Howell who want to contribute to this progress!

 

 

Jacob Hawk

 

 

Tragic Typos?

 

            As the “First day of School” fever is gearing up around the nation, there is one story that I can’t help but share. High Schools all around the country have been waiting for the school year to officially begin. Athletic teams have been running “Two a Days” in the scorching sun, bands and drum lines have been practicing like professionals for the “Friday Night Light” stage, and even School Administrations are preparing properly by getting necessary maintenance completed. A High School in North Carolina contracted with a Road Painter to paint the word “SCHOOL” on a new road leading into the campus. Look at the picture very closely! Here is something to make your old English teacher gasp in horror! Other companies have offered to correct the “typo” with a moderate $1.7 billion dollar bid.

 

            But even in the church, we are guilty of making “tragic typos!” In school, our teachers always told us to “check over our work” before we submitted the final copy. Why don’t we try “checking over our work” in these areas?

 

1)     In what we Say (We are so unbelievably talented at criticism! But before we show everyone our “talent”, why don’t we consider how it will make them feel?)

 

2)     In what we Show (Sure, we can’t ALWAYS worry about what other people will think. But before we make any “questionable” decision, why don’t we consider how that choice will affect our influence for Jesus Christ?)

 

3)     In what we Sanction (It’s never fun to be that “guy” who always makes every moment dull because we “disapprove” of what’s going on. However, sometimes if we don’t even say a word, it’s worse than ruining the “excitement” of the evening!)

 

Remember, some “typos” can’t ever be fixed; they will sear people’s hearts and memories forever. “Check over your Work!” Sometimes, you can’t afford the “tragedy” of “typos!”

 

Jacob Hawk