"May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ ..." Galatians 6:14

The cross was central to the life and ministry of the Apostle Paul. In the cross is found redemption, reconciliation and salvation. Paul made it clear that he preached the cross. The image of the Savior impaled for our sins burned deeply into his consciousness.

The cross has been an important sign and symbol to Christians for centuries. Daniel-Rops wrote:

"Our civilization is molded by Christianity. Everything that pertains to it, its institutions and its morality, its art and its habit of thought, its whole tradition, is contained in the light of the Gospel, without which we can understand nothing about that Western world of which we are a part. It is a world with the sign of the Cross on its heart and so there is always something in each one of us which permits us to approach Jesus." (Daniel-Rops, Jesus and His Times, p.56).

Daniel-Rops wrote these words in 1956. He had a high view of the Christian influence on Western Civilization. Rops was familiar with the great works of art by European believers who painted and sculpted masterpieces about Jesus. He mentions them in his book. In the architecture, art and music Rops could see re-enacted daily the life and death of Jesus. But that was 1956. Even much of the art he referred to in 1956 were actually produced around 1556.

Today, art and music do not reflect a deep societal conviction about the virgin birth, pure life, sacrificial death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. His Lordship is questioned, even reviled. National leaders and popular entertainers read ancient texts that rival the witness of the New Testament that we hold dear. In these texts Jesus is spoken of as a magician, adulterer, liar and blasphemer. Other religions vie for our attention and allegiance. Jesus is no longer the central personality of our lives or culture, but simply a choice among many.

Rops‚ book took me to the internet to research the artwork of the 1400's and 1500's. It made me wish I had taken "Art Appreciation" more seriously in college!! Michelangelo‚s "Pieta", Hans Holbein‚s "Passion Altar" and Philippe de Champaine‚s "The Dead Christ" all sought to pay tribute to the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. They are artistic and cultural masterpieces that should still be appreciated..

A similar search for artwork today left me rather disappointed. There are still artists today paying tribute to the Savior. Do we know who they are? Are we familiar with their works? I‚m not. But I easily found works by other artists today whose works are antagonistic of Christ, and who actually get more attention. Photographer Andres Serrano put a statuette of Christ on the cross in a jar of his own urine (some say it is beer or apple juice). His photograph of this "artwork" in 1987 won a major art competition sponsored by the tax-funded National Endowment for the Arts. Serrano produced a similar "masterpiece" in 1989 with "Madonna and Child II," a picture of Mary and baby Jesus submerged in the authors own fluid. wikipedia.org/wiki/Andres_Serrano <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andres_Serrano>

Once the cross was viewed with horror as an instrument of death. Later, it was viewed with adoration and veneration by Christians as the object (because of Christ) of our salvation. Now, it is viewed through apple juice, beer, or worse.

Christians today can‚t assume that a painting or sculpture of Jesus will elicit the same spirit of adoration from people. The sign of the Cross can no longer be relegated to canvas or marble. Today, the sign of the cross must be that of a consecrated life. We must be the artwork the world sees. Jesus challenged us to "take up our cross and follow him." Only when we bear the cross, in our consecration to Christ and our service to others, will the cross have power to convince men of the redemption, reconciliation and salvation Jesus brings. Rops thought he saw the sign of the cross in the culture around him; today WE must be that sign.

Warren Baldwin



IN OUR THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS

The Carters, Ronnie Lofland, Roy Bessire, Judy & Janea Tremmel, Joe Minor. Those expecting: Cinda Wolf, Nancy Jones, Meagan Bartlett, Amy Carter, Christa Murray & Jennifer Garrison.

Those with cancer: Les Ballard, Mary Turner, Levie Hughes, Gayle Caffey, Terry Pepper, Betty Jo Bartlett, Dewaine Moses, Darlene Lucero, Debbie Perry, Janett Smith, Larry Tremmel, Darris Hanes, Ryan Maturey, Valdene Huffman, Sharon Simpson, Teresa Haliburton, Lorraine Cook, John Stewart, Butch Wolf, Mark Lott, Teri Anderson & Norma Dudley.

Military: Matt Jones, Mark Aycock, Chris Maturey, Matt Cook, John Wilson, Dave Knight, Jerry Baker, Nick McGraw, Travis Kaufman, Kenneth Schwindt, Curtis Keene, Timothy Newman, Brian Kelly, Trafton Wieland, Mark Newman, Brad Anderson, Chris Brown, Jamin Hartman, Monty Duncan, Brett Scarborough, Nick Lane, Marcus Betzold, Kenny Henley, Cyrus Cole, Danny Graves, Peter Gangwer, Chance Carter, Corey Shelbourne, Jacob Bauregard & Tyler Humphreys.



AREA HAPPENINGS (info on board)

Feb. 10 - Hooker's Ladies Day

Feb. 18 - Ulysses Congregational Meeting

Mar. 16-19 Ski Trip

Mar. 22-24 Tulsa Workshop

April 6 & 7 LTC



SERVERS NEXT SUNDAY

Greeters: Tracy & Lynda Caffey

Opening Prayer: Joe Bill Vardeman

Song Leader: John Eveleigh

Lord's Table: Rick Trejo

Assist Lord's Table: John Steinbaugh

Scripture: Karl Baker

Closing Prayer: Justin Vardeman

Power Point (Sun & Wed): Tracy Caffey

Sunday PM Song Leader: John Eveleigh

Wed PM Song Leader: John Eveleigh

Back Room/Aisle Workers: Rob Berry

Weekly Budget needs: $2668

Last Weeks Contribution: $2518

Attendance Last Week: 88



TODAY

Elder Contact: Bill Brown

Greeters: Bill & Shirley Brown

Birthdays: Bill Brown, Linda Steele

Elders/Deacons meeting at 5:00.



ANNOUNCEMENTS

No one has signed up for this weeks Wednesday night meal. If you can help cook or clean up please sign up in the hallway.



NOTE CHANGE OF SCHEDULE:

Due to the Super Bowl falling on the first weekend in February, the last Sunday of January, the 28th, we will have regular evening services and NO pot luck. We will also have the elders/deacons meeting on the 28th at 5:00. February 4th we will have a pot luck lunch and NO evening services. If you have any questions please see one of the elders.

All LTC Pre-Convention items are due to Michael Tyler before February 20th!!

Our sympathy is extended to the families of Joe Waite. Joe‚s funeral was this past Wednesday.

Our sympathy is also extended to John Eveleigh and family in the passing of Viola. Her funeral was Saturday.

SKI MONEY IS DUE!

On our Special Mission Contribution Sunday(the 1st Sunday in February), any money we receive over our required amount will be sent to the Church of Christ Disaster Relief Fund effort.



ULYSSES CHURCH OF CHRIST WEEKLY NEWSLETTER JANUARY 28, 2007

THOSE SERVING US TODAY

SONG SERVICE: Ted Maple

OPENING PRAYER: Justin Carthel

LORD'S TABLE: Michael Tyler, Harold Jones

SCRIPTURE READING: Josh Sullivan, 1 Cor. 3:1-9

SERMONS: AM: Paul and Apollos; PM: Where Do We Get Our Character?

ANNOUNCEMENTS: Brian French

CLOSING PRAYER: Karl Baker

POWERPOINT: Rick Trejo

BACKROOM/AISLE: Richard Brollier



The Ulysses Church exists to reach the lost, to continue to grow as a family of God, to serve our fellow man, to worship God, and to do all this in the spirit of unity.