FAMILY NEWS AND NOTES
As the men serving on the communion table make their way toward the front to be seated, please begin to prepare your minds for our worship services.
Please remember …Each Member and Visitor needs to complete an
ATTENDANCE CARD and pass them to the inside aisle where they will be picked up at the appropriate time.
Traditionally, we have set aside the first Sunday of each new month in order that those who are able may contribute to our Building Fund. So, mark your calendar … next Sunday is the day.
BIBLE BOWL practice at 5:00 PM this evening before evening services. Everyone is encouraged to attend. Again, we are grateful for the time and efforts of the young people who participate … and for the support of the parents.
Bridal Shower … for Laci Farmer … on Sunday afternoon, February 03, 2008, at 2:00 PM, in the Multi-Purpose Room. Laci is registered at Mason Hardware and Wal-Mart. More info to follow later. 
Singles Noon Luncheon … hosted by the youth of the congregation … scheduled for Sunday, 17th of February, 2008 after the morning service. This is to honor our widows and other singles so they know they are appreciated.
Don Shuette of Hooks, Texas (and friend to Bob and Rhonda Hedges) has been diagnosed with terminal illness. His family has asked that we keep him in our prayers.
Whayln Payne (wife of Bro. Dwight Payne) has a spot on her eyeball that cannot be removed. They have asked that we place her on our prayer list.
Mary Glover and her family need our prayers due to the fact they have lost two family members during the past couple of weeks. Mary lost a brother, John Thomas Thursby on January 22 in Fort Worth, Texas and a cousin … James Reed … this past week in Fountain Colorado. Several other family members suffer from various illnesses. Funeral for her cousin has already been conducted. They are planning a Memorial Service in honor of John Thursby at a future date just for the family.
LaShedria Traylor is in the local hospital, Room 321, with pneumonia.
Patsy Duncan is scheduled for knee surgery at about 7:30 AM Monday morning, January 28.
Edith Shiflet is very ill with a communicable strain of drug-resistant pneumonia. She is in an isolation room at good shepherd Hospital in Longview (Her address is below for mailing cards to her.) Edith is very low in spirits as well as physically. If you wish to visit her you will have to wear a mask and gloves, which are available at her the door to her room. She is in room 1185. Please send cards to her to lift her spirits:
Patient Edith Shiflet
Room 1185 Select Specialty
c/o Good Shepherd Hospital
700 East Marshall
Longview, Texas 75601
It is with deep regret that I failed to include the following in a previous Bulletin. Eula Patterson of Texarkana (grandmother of Tim Davis) passed away on Thursday January 10, 2008. Her funeral services were conducted by Chapelwood Funeral Home in Texarkana on Monday January 14, 2008. Please place this family on your prayer list.
Tina Brown & Mike Shedria Traylor have both had the flu this past week. Keep them in your prayers.
Josephine Cooper is doing great and it won’t be long until she is out and about again. She is still undergoing therapy at last report to this editor.
Perry Cooper is doing much better and the feeding tube has been removed. He is eating again, and was scheduled to return to the Care Center late Thursday evening or on Friday.
We need to continue to keep Perry & Josephine in our prayers.
Dorothy Kyle has been feeling better and has been at the last couple of worship services.
Justin Barker and Cody Sparks have been ill at home this past week. Add them to your prayer list.
The following Thank You note has been received from Nelda Cooper: “Thank you all for the lovely flowers, donations, words of encouragement and out-pouring of Christian love. I especially want to thank you for the many prayers offered on behalf of my mother and for myself.
— In Christian Love
Nelda”
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PRAYER LIST
Justin Barker, Rachel Barker, Doris Bell, Louis & Nona Bell, Winell Blackard, Annah Brown, Billye Campbell, Perry Cooper, Josephine Cooper, Patsy Duncan, Joyce Lee, Georgia Lide, Ben McCain, Charles Neal, Edith Shiflet, Cody Sparks, Rebecca Tippitt
ALSO: Wesley DuBose, Betty Newman, Whayln Payne, Don Shuette, Paul Unger
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Is There Any Security In This Life?
Not long ago I read where the number one priority of college students in regard to their career choice is the likelihood of job security in their chosen field. Considering the lack of stability in the job market in recent years, that’s not surprising, is it? Of course security is important to all of us. In fact, according to Abraham Maslow’s famous psychological research into the hierarchy of human needs, our need for security is second only to our survival needs for air, food, and water.
Americans annually spend billions of dollars in search of security. Like me, you’ve probably received telemarketing calls in recent months about security systems for your home; insurance for your house, car, and life; investments for the purpose of “securing” your retirement years; and even safety inspections for your heating system - all in the name of security. We are the most protected and insured nation on the face of the earth, with warranties on everything from appliances to socks, and insurance on everything from auto accidents to malpractice coverage for preachers! The legislative branch of government has inundated us with laws to protect us from everything from unsafe air to unsafe toys, and even forces us to “buckle up” so we will be secure when we drive. Since 9/11/01, all kinds of new laws have been enacted to keep us safe when we fly, even to the point of taking away our nail clippers to protect us from becoming victims of the first nail clipper wielding terrorist!
Yet, the truth of the matter is, there really isn’t any “absolute security” in the physical realm. All of the warranties, bank accounts, insurance, investments, legislation, and airport security in the world cannot provide any real guarantee of security. That’s because a sudden economic depression, unexpected illness, terrible accident, or catastrophic terrorist attack could come at any time and take away our lives or wipe out every bit of material security we have amassed in this life. That little bit of absolute truth, that there is no ultimate security in the physical world, brings us to the whole point of this article, that being, that Jesus Christ is the only real and lasting security in any realm.
In Christ we find security because “in Christ” we transcend the material “rat race” to find happiness, peace, and hope in the spiritual realm. The security of a life lived faithfully “in Christ” cannot be destroyed or removed by any force. Nuclear war holds no threat; terrorists pose no harm; neither financial reversals nor total economic collapse brings any fear; not even sudden illness or death can destroy the Christian’s security, for in death we are only that much nearer to the Giver of eternal peace. As Paul said, “for me to live is Christ, and to die is gain” (Phil. 1:21). In fact our spiritual security “in Christ” is so great, it permeates every facet of our lives, even to the point of providing security for us in the physical realm. The best job security in the world is the Lord’s promises to care for His children in both good times and bad (Mt. 6:33, Rms 8:28, I Pet. 5:7). Likewise the Christian marriage finds its security in the mutual commitment of husband and wife to the Lord’s standard of faithfulness “till death do us part” (Mt. 19:6, Rms. 7:1-3). Finally the assurance of a meaningful and purposeful life in Christ provides for Christians a point of reference that is like a lighthouse in the storms of life (John 10:10).
Ithink Maslow only missed it by one. Security is man’s greatest need, not his second greatest need. Humanity wanders aimlessly through a world of darkness continually asking the question, “Is there any security in this life?” If only we would listen to God’s reply, that security is found only in JESUS! David McCain
