Author: Bryan Gibson

Weekly Bulletin
December 22, 2019

Sacrificing Children
By Phil Roberts
“Moreover you took your sons and your daughters, whom you bore to Me, and these you have sacrificed to them to be devoured. Were your acts of harlotry a small matter, that you have slain My children and offered them up to them by causing them to pass through the fire?” (Ezekiel 16:20-21).
The Lord accused the Israelites of having sacrificed their children to idols. This is only one of many references to this abominable practice recorded in the Old Testament. And almost without exception, whenever one of these references is read in a Bible class some mother will exclaim that she just cannot see how any mother could do such a thing to her children.
Surely, we all imagine to ourselves, they must have been the worst sort of barbarians to do such!
How blind we are. For all our pious lamentations, I seriously doubt that there has ever been a nation of people who sacrificed more children to their idols than the people of America today.
And, I do not speak just of “un-Christian” Americans. In the Lord’s church I have seen mothers and fathers recoil in horror at the mention of the human sacrifices practiced by the Israelites, while at the same time allowing their own children to run straight to every altar Satan has erected in our land. Some even push them down the road faster.
Parents who encourage their children to seek popularity through immodest dress and dancing; parents who by their examples teach their children to drink, curse, lie, and break the law; parents who fail to love and discipline their children; parents who give their children everything they want; parents who are too wrapped up in their own lives even to teach their children the Bible and take them to worship God—in what respect do they differ from the Israelites who sacrificed them to idols?
We sacrifice them to the gods of our jobs, televisions, materialism, and social popularity, and then have the gall to be appalled at the practice of the Israelites. Lord, forgive us, and help us to see our folly before it is too late—before judgment comes on us, too.
Note: The poem on the following page was written years ago by an individual who had wrecked his marriage and was dealing with the consequences and pain of what he had done. It should help us all see the importance of maintaining the marriage relationship the way God intended.

Looking Back
Looking back, about my life, I see
the pain and heartache caused by me.
Like a fool, I skipped out on being a dad
Never once realizing what a great life I had.
I thought that I was unhappy at the time
So little did I know until I crossed that line.
If I could have only known the pain ahead
I would have done anything to stay with the one I first wed.
I miss living with my two kids, as it should be
To watch them growing up every single day with me.
To be able to put them to bed and kiss their heads at night
or to just comfort their hurts and make everything all right.
Being able to know and make decisions about their life
Having the wonderful peace to know their mom as my wife.
Unless you’ve been divorced, you know nothing of that I write
So if still married to your first, keep what God said was right.
There is no other woman worth ruining your life
So turn your eyes off her and back on your wife.
Look further down the road for your daughter and son
Because living a life away from them is not any fun.
I can't change the past and all the pain I did start
But I will be a better father, I say that with my heart.

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 Study 9:00 A.M.
Worship 10:00 A.M.
Training Class 5:00 P.M.
Worship 6:00 P.M.
Wednesday:
Bible Study 7:00 P.M.