Family News and Notes
If you are able and have made plans to do so you may contribute to the Building Fund today.
BUSINESS MEETING .. Men, remember the Business Meeting following services next Sunday evening. All men of the congregation are encouraged to attend.
Wayne Pickrel had his last Chemo treatment on Thursday. He will have a Cat Scan on Friday, January 13th to check his progress.
Rachel Barker has been sick last week with stomach virus and dehydration. No update, but hope she is better.
Letha Fomby was scheduled for surgery this past Friday. No update on her.
Rhodney went to Tyler Neurosurgical Clinic in Tyler on Thursday morning where he received cortisone shots in his lower back and left knee in hopes of relieving some of the pain he has been having. First day results look promising. Doctor said is could be several days before great improvement occurs, but if not then a second treatment may be necessary.
Keely Aleah McCary was awarded a degree of Bachelor Science in Psychology from Texas A & M UniversityCommerce on December 17, 2005. 
Congratulations Keely!
THANK YOU "God bless each of your for all you have done for me. Thank you for the gift bag and goodies.
THANK YOU "Dear Brethren: Thank you for the lovely basket of goodies. I loved everything in it. Thanks most of all for thinking of me.
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Recipe for a Happy New Year
Author Unknown
To leave the old with a burst of song
To recall the rights and forgive the wrong;
To forgive the thing that binds you fast
To the vain regrets of the year that's past;
To have the strength to let go your hold
Of the non-worthwhile of the days grown old;
To dare to go forth with a purpose true;
To the unknown task of the year that's new,
To help your brother along the road
To do his work and lift his load;
To add your gift to the world's good cheer,
Is to have and to give a Happy New Year.
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PRAYER LIST
Betty Abbey, Justin Barker, Rachel Barker, Louis Bell, Winell Blackard, Annah Brown, Billye Campbell, Perry Cooper, Betty Ferrell, Hollis Lee, Joyce Lee, Georgia Lide,
Courtney Marshall, Elna O'Neal, Wayne Pickrel, Marie Plemmons, Dorothy Sargent,
Alva Mae Sheets, Edith Shiflet, Rebecca Tippitt
ALSO: Melba Boyd, Austin Cody, Letha Fomby, Ruby Jeffery, Wayne Lineberger, Lonita Thompson
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Leaders in the Lord's Church
-- Part Three (A Man of God's Word)
(Guest article from "The Southwesterner" from
Southwest Church of Christ of Ada, Oklahoma)
So far we have looked at "A person of Humility" and "A Man of Faith and Trust in God." These two are very important when it comes to being a leader in the Lord's church. We know that without these, being a leader will be a very trying time. Although these are very needed in leadership, I want us not to forget that to be a leader you must be a man of God's word; a man of the book, the Bible. When people see leadership displayed in you, they should not be surprised, for they have already read about it in the Bible. They know what it takes to be a leader. They know what to expect of you when you lead. They know that you get your leadership orders from the Bible. Therefore, being a leader is to be a man of God's word.
In Joshua's case we see that in order to be a successful leader he had to fulfill the law as given by Moses, Joshua 1:7. His success was directly related to his obedience to the word of God through Moses. This is something that we ought to try to remember at times when we start losing our focus. We must ask ourselves, "Why is this program being successful or unsuccessful?" "Is it from God or man?" But in order to ensure that what he was doing was right he had to meditate on the law day and night. He had to become a student of the law. Why so much time, you ask? Verse 8 mentions "so that he may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success." Without God's word you cannot be a successful spiritual leader. But you know something; it is no different than anything else! Example #1 You would not hire a fishing guide if he did not know how to fish or where to go fishing or even what you were fishing for! You would hire someone who knew what he was doing. Example #2 You would not expect to get hired at a hospital as a doctor if you have no history of a college degree in medicine. Who would trust your knowledge in what medicines to take for certain illnesses or symptoms? Who would trust you to do anything for them? It just doesn't make sense! In the same way why would you expect to be followed as a leader when you have not worked hard to be a leader? When a person decides to be a leader in the Lord's church, they have decided to be students of the word also. Understand that the Bible is our guide to becoming spiritual leaders. Without the Bible we are not spiritual leaders in the Lord's church but leaders in the church of selfishness.
Church, I pray that you may understand what I am trying to communicate in these articles. I am not saying that you can't ever be a leader in the Lord's church. In fact I beg of you to become a leader in the Lord's church but be sure of yourself. Make sure that the commitment you make to God will be fulfilled in a manner worthy of His calling. Make sure that you lead for Him and not for yourself or worldly things. Why? Because you will be held accountable for it, you will be held accountable for souls that are led astray through your leadership. You see, the Lord's church, when it comes to leadership, it should not be taken lightly. We all know what can happen to an institution that has poor leadership. We all know that if the leadership given is not what is needed then their leadership will be a failure. There will be no success because leadership is not successful. Do not let this happen to the church!
In Joshua 11:15 we read of Joshua's commitment to leadership in the family of God. Joshua was commanded to take over Northern Palestine and he does. He does exactly what the Lord has commanded him to do. The scripture says, "Just as the Lord had commanded Moses His servant, so Moses commanded Joshua, and so Joshua did, he left nothing undone of all that the Lord had commanded Moses." The example is clear church. We as leaders are to not stray from God's Word for our instruction for leadership. As Christian leaders we need His word for our spiritual life and for the spiritual lives of others. While near death Joshua gives us one last example, as a leader in the family of God and that is to stay on the narrow path, cling to the Lord and never stray. "Be very firm, then, to keep and do all that is written in the book of the Law of Moses, so that you may not turn aside from it to the right hand or to the left -- But you are to cling to the Lord your God, as you have done to this day." Joshua 23:6 & 8.
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TIME USE IN THE YEAR 2006
Do you remember back in the 1900's when the year 2000 seemed like only a distant dream? But, time marches on, 60 seconds in every minute, 60 minutes in every hour, 24 hours in every day, 7 days in every week, and 52 weeks in every year. The years slip by with hardly a notice, and one day you wake up to note that the once distant dream of the year 2000 occurred six years ago, for today is January 1, 2006.
Someone said, "time is all I've got!," yet, none of us are sure of exactly how much time we have left before our own death, or before the Lord calls an end to this old world. Really, the only thing we can know assuredly is, that with each tick-tock of the clock, we are that much closer to the end of time as we know it, and to the eternal Judgment of God.
As of midnight last night, 2005 is history, its 8,760 hours are gone forever, never to be available to us again. As we consider the past year, we will remember time we used wisely, and time that, regretfully, we wasted. However, there is a new year in front of us (if the Lord wills that we live another year), and thus a chance to start over with a clean slate and a clock almost full of unused time. I say "almost full" because if you are reading this between the Bible study and worship hours on Sunday, January 1, 2006, then 10 hours of this year's 8,760 hours are already gone. What are you going to do with the other 8,750 hours? Will you waste them or use them wisely?
My hope and prayer for this new year is that we will all use the time God gives us to the best of our abilities, so that we might be profitable servants in the Lord's kingdom. Listed below are some Christian priorities that should aid us in spending our time wisely. Think about them often as you make your resolutions and as you plan the use of your time during 2006.
TIME WITH GOD: Our absolute top priority must be time spent in worship, prayer, and in study of God's Holy Word (Mt. 22:35-38, II Tim. 2:15).
TIME WITH THE FAMILY OF GOD: There are few things in life that are more important than Christian fellowship. We all need to spend more time cultivating Christian friendships, so we can "bear one another's burdens and so fulfill the law of Christ" (Gal. 6:2). This would include fellowship both in conjunction with and outside of our regular periods of worship and Bible study (Heb. 10:23-26, Acts 2:42-47). Resolve now to be a faithful attendee to all of our services in 2006, and to draw closer to your Christian family through activities of hospitality, sharing, brotherly kindness, and Christian service.
TIME WITH YOUR OWN FAMILY: If the relationship between your own family and the body of Christ is understood, then certainly the most important part of the body of Christ to you is your own fleshly family. Your family is one of the most precious blessings God has given you. Your gratitude for God's blessings of family ought to be evident by the special time you share together as husband and wife, and parents and children. Take time to work together, play together, talk together, pray together, study together, learn together, and worship together at home. The family who puts the Lord first together will stay together, and the time you spend together in God's service will not be wasted (Eph. 5:22 - 6:4).
TIME FOR OTHER PEOPLE: No one can stand all of the people all of the time. However, all of us can stand some of the people some of the time. If we are truly God's servants, then our personal ministries must be people-oriented. We most reach out to others to help them with their physical, emotional, and spiritual needs, as we strive to bring them to Jesus, who alone can satisfy their every need (Mt. 22:39, Mt. 25:31-46, Col. 4:5).
As the apostle Paul exhorted, "Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men, but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil" (Eph. 5:15-16). I hope and pray that the year 2006 will be a wonderful prosperous year for you and your family, and that the North Jefferson church of Christ will grow spiritually and numerically in 2006 like never before.
David McCain
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