Family News and Notes
Preaching this morning:...Johnny Ramsey
Preaching tonight:...........Mike Demory
We had a good meeting last Sunday evening to plan activities for our youth. The first major service project will be Sunday afternoon, February 12, and will be a banquet hosted by our young people to honor all our sweet widows. All widows in the congregation are encouraged to sign the sign-up sheet in the foyer. It will be great if you can attend and it will be a very special afternoon with lots of surprises planned.
On Sunday evening January 29, after the evening service is the VBS Interest and Planning Meeting. We hope to hold the meeting to 30 minutes or less. This will be our first of several meetings to begin thinking and planning for our summer VBS and will discuss time, dates, teachers, helpers, etc. All teachers and helpers who can possibly participate are encouraged to attend. We are considering the theme of : "The Christian Soldier's Armor," but will discuss other ideas, and try to firm up dates, times, and teachers.
We keep reminding the ladies Ladies Day is coming in April: April 01 has been selected as the date for our Annual Ladies Day Seminar. Iris Ramsey has agreed to be the speaker. Ladies, please mark this on your calendar and reserve this for a special day of edification and fellowship!
Helen Roper has been having some difficulties and has been taking treatments. Please add her to your prayer list.
Ola Mae Simpson is still in Room 511 at Titus Regional Hospital. She is making progress but is not a happy camper.
LaShedria Traylor is in Room 425 at Titus Regional Hospital. She has pneumonia and asthma problems.
Wayne Pickrel got a good report from his doctor Thursday. He is not scheduled for any more treatments but will be monitored every two months.
Chuck Kyle is now back at home with Charles & Dorothy.
THANK YOU "To all my Brothers & Sisters in Christ at North Jefferson Church of Christ: I want to thank you all for having me in your prayers, which to me were better than any treatment my doctor could prescribe. I believe in prayer! I'm doing better. My test results were good. I appreciate the cards I've gotten from some of you and thanks to all of you for thinking of me.
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PRAYER LIST:
Justin Barker, Rachel Barker, Louis Bell, Winell Blackard, Annah Brown,
Billye Campbell, Perry Cooper, Irene Duncan, Patsy Duncan, Betty Ferrell, Hollis Lee, Joyce Lee, Georgia Lide, Courtney Marshall, Elna O'Neal, Wayne Pickrel,
Marie Plemmons, Helen Roper, Dorothy Sargent, Alva Mae Sheets, Edith Shiflet,
Ola Mae Simpson, Julia Terrell, Rebecca Tippitt, LaShedria Traylor
ALSO: Melba Boyd, Cristell Cato, Austin Cody, Letha Fomby, Ruby Jeffery, Chuck Kyle, Wayne Lineberger, Lonita Thompson
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Division In The Name Of Unity?
There is a strange practice occurring among some congregations in our brotherhood. It seems some elders and members aren't satisfied with the style of worship that has characterized churches of Christ for hundreds of years. Evidently, it is too "old-fashioned" to suit their tastes. It is not "exciting" enough for some and not "politically correct" enough for others. What with our "out-dated" male-dominated leadership roles, our "traditional" style of worship is just not "with it" for so many of the "X-generation." As I heard one disgruntled erring brother lament, "there is just a whole class of disenfranchised-Christians out there, who find our traditional style of worship doesn't meet their needs."
So, in the name of promoting "unity," and to make sure those "disenfranchised-Christians" have "their needs met," some congregations have arrived at a "solution." They now have multiple worship services, with different styles of worship in each, so everyone can find a style of worship, which makes them happy and meets their needs. For the modernists there will be an instrumental music service. For the neo-Pentecostal bunch there will be a service with hand waving, foot stomping, hand clapping, shouting, and maybe even some "speaking in tongues." For the feminists and the "P.C." crowd, there's a service with female leaders. And, by all means remember, "they're promoting unity," so there will even be a "traditional service" for "old fogies" like me!
What a wonderful solution! No more "disenfranchised-Christians." No more unhappy campers. No more unfulfilled worshippers. Everyone will be happy! Everyone will have "their needs" met! Unity will be promoted! The church will be saved from self-destruction! Or will it?
OK, so I got a little carried away with my tongue-in-cheek description of the various services. Presently, the congregations who are leading this new movement to "save the church" really have only two services. They have a "traditional service" and a "progressive service," or a "celebration service," as they sometimes call it. But, don't be surprised when it goes as far, or even further than I described, because that is the next logical step where this "unity-promoting" gimmick is headed.
My question is, can't these brethren see that in the name of unity, they are dividing the body of Christ? As my mother often said, "anybody with one eye and half sense can see that!" That leads me to conclude these brethren are either blind, or they haven't got half the sense they think they have. Perhaps the god of this world has blinded their minds (II Cor. 4:4). But more importantly, where is it written that worship is for man's pleasure, or that its primary purpose is to "meet man's needs?" The last time I read John 4:20-24, I got the distinct impression that worship is supposed to please God, not man; that worship is God-centered not man-centered. Truly, only God has the right to dictate our worship forms. When man's needs becomes the focus of worship, worship becomes vain, according to Jesus (Mt. 15:7-9).
Oh, and about those disenfranchised-Christians," whoever or whatever they are? So what, if they don't like worship as God instructs? So what, if they get mad and quit the church? Did Jesus run after the rich young ruler, and say, "Wait a minute, maybe I've been too harsh. Let's re-negotiate. How about half of everything you own?" I don't think so!
"Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment" (I Cor. 1:10). David McCain
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The Way of Wisdom
Johnny Ramsey
Parents must ever be reminded of the principle of sowing and reaping. This does not mean that every person who chooses, of his own free will, to go astray from the truth is a product of ungodly parents. Just as children brought up in evil homes can later choose to be righteous (Joshua 24:15), so can offspring from spiritual homes decide to leave the Lord (Romans 11:22). After all, the Bible says, "So then each one of us shall give account of himself to God" (Romans 14:12). However, parents who fail to both teach and live the genuineness of Christianity before their children will one day answer for such tragic blunders. We build today the house we and our children will live in tomorrow. As the psalmist said, "Except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it" (Psalm 127:1).
Young people who choose worldly associates will reap the whirlwind (Hosea 8:7) of such poor decisions: "Be not deceived: Evil companionships corrupt good morals" ( I Corinthians 15:33). Rather wisely, should all youth heed the admonition, "Remember now thy creator in the days of thy youth" (Eccle. 12:1). To be an example of purity (I Timothy 4:12) will make their sojourn upon this earth one to glorify God (Matthew 5:16). Such wisdom will evidence itself in a life of peace and joy that no earthly wealth could provide (Philippians 4:7, 11, 13, 19).
There is never any peace for the wicked (Isaiah 57:21). And all temporal wealth will someday be dissolved (II Peter 3:11). Let us, therefore, cease to sow the seed of mundane pleasure, lest we reap the dividends of our shameful emphasis. No verse says it better than this: "What fruit then had ye at that time in the things whereof ye are now ashamed?" (Romans 6:21). Let us ever be alert to the fact that we do reap what we sow. May we ever be dedicated, loyal and disciplined as we march on toward eternity.
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Wise Words
Johnny Ramsey
A gracious word may smooth the way. A joyous word may light the day.
A timely word may lessen strife. A loving word may heal and bless.
We must exhort and admonish and even rebuke error (II Timothy 4:2), but our motive must always be love and concerned compassion, so that God can remove our transgressions from us (Psalm 103:12). Seeing others on the swift road to hell must prompt us to intervene and save a soul from perishing. Many people who talk a lot seldom say anything worthwhile that will affect eternity. Some who profess to be Christians only talk about weather, sports, crops and material matters. While souls are dying in sin, we speak about trivial things. We need to fill our speech with spiritual values and heavenly concern before it is too late to avert a tragedy. We shall have solemn regret at Judgment Day if we turned our back on Calvary by being ungrateful for the sacrifice of the Savior.
It is a real outrage against heaven that so many are untouched by the incomparable love of God that makes pardon and cleansing from sin available to the world. But few ever consider the horror of rebellion and spiritual mutiny. Anarchy is a popular way of life for millions who desperately need a Redeemer. When time shall be no more (Revelation 10:6), many shall reflect, in deep sorrow, over all their overlooked opportunities in the divine realm To refuse heaven's offer, to make foolish decisions, to fail to value our souls and to walk the wrong road with the wrong crowd will guarantee that hell will have standing room only! Wasting our life will bring sorrow and powerful regret through all eternity. Whittier was very perceptive when he penned these famous words: "Of all the sad words of tongue or pen, the saddest are these..."It might have been!" Let us determine now that such will not be true of us.
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