Family News and Notes
Next Sunday Building Fund Contribution Day.
Grady has made some updates to our Church Directory. Please check the table in the foyer and take one page of each for your family's own directory.
There will be a Luncheon in the Multi-purpose room following the AM Service on Sunday, March 5. Bring your favorite dish and a good appetite. Everyone is invited.
Graveside services were conducted last Monday at 11:00 AM at Bogata Cemetery for Elizabeth Roach (mother of Bud Roach) who passed away on February 17.
Velma Baker (mother of Iris Ramsey) passed away in Mount Vernon on Tuesday. Her funeral was conducted Friday at 11:00 AM at Blodgett Church of Christ with burial in that cemetery.
Courtney Marshall has had some additional medical problems this past week a possible blood clot in her arm.
Narci Cooper had arterial catherization on her legs Tuesday due to some blockage. In doing this she will then be more in a position to move to Las Vegas to a Retirement Center to be near her sister, Ruby Jacob, and brother, Eddie Akridge, She hopes to go in a couple of weeks. She will certainly be missed.
Ben McCain has been in Mother Frances Hospital in Tyler undergoing a series of tests in an effort to determine what is causing his ailments. A scope of his stomach showed some irritation but no ulcers or bleeding. He was scheduled for a colonoscopy on Friday afternoon. He is doing a little better but is still undergoing tests. Direct phone to his room is: 903-531-5306
Hollis Lee entered East Texas Medical Center last Wednesday for surgery on his arm to aid him in taking dialysis.
Thelma Reed was dismissed from the hospital last week and is going to live in Universal City for a while to be near her son.
Ruby Pipkin is at Pleasant Springs Nursing Center on North Edwards.
Darlette Nunley (daughter of Janice Lineberger) is in Room 222 at Titus Regional Hospital following surgery last Tuesday.
Steve Thomas's grandmother, Winnie Hall, passed away last Wednesday. Her funeral was at the Jefferson Funeral Home on Friday.
Betty Newman (mother of Marty Newman and mother-in-law of Rhonda Freeman Newman) had a colonoscopy Tuesday morning where polyps were removed and a tumor was found. She will undergo surgery soon to remove the tumor but the doctors are testing to see if the cancer has spread to any other part of her body. Marty and Rhonda have requested that we keep Betty in our prayers.
THANK YOU "To my Christian family: I want to thank you for all the love, cards, calls and pot plants .. and those who came to the funeral of my brother Lee Roy Reese. It is such a blessing to be a Christian.
God Bless us all,
***************************
A WEDDING
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
God has led two lives to
take one path
Dara Renee Newman
and
Joshua Wayne Elliott
together with their families
invite you to witness their
vows as they begin their lives
with one another
on the fourth of March
Two Thousand and Six
at two o'clock in the afternoon
The Gatherings Chapel
1227 County Road 4045
Cookville, Texas
* * * * * * * ** * * ** * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Directions: Take Hwy 67 for 6.6 miles from Sandlin Motors.
Take a right onto FM 1000, take the first right, CR 4045.
The church will be on your right.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
PRAYER LIST:
Justin Barker, Rachel Barker, Louis Bell, Nona Bell, Winell Blackard, Annah Brown, Billye Campbell, Narci Cooper, Perry Cooper, Irene Duncan, Patsy Duncan, Betty Ferrell, Hollis Lee, Joyce Lee, Georgia Lide, Courtney Marshall, Elna O'Neal, Wayne Pickrel, Marie Plemmons, Thelma Reed, Helen Roper, Dorothy Sargent, Alva Mae Sheets, Edith Shiflet, Ola Mae Simpson, Julia Terrell, Rebecca Tippitt, LaShedri Traylor
ALSO: Deloris Blackburn, Melba Boyd, Cristell Cato, Austin Cody, Larry Freeman, Horace George, Ruby Jeffery, Wayne Lineberger, Lonita Thompson
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
LET FREEDOM RING
On September 17, 1787, the members of the Constitutional Convention signed the Constitution of the United States of America, establishing it as the rule of law for the central government of our nation. We should all be grateful for the personal freedom we enjoy by the designation and protection of this great document. Though not perfect, our nation's system of law, based upon the Constitution, provides liberty and justice for Americans, which a lot of the earth's population only dream of enjoying. We ought to be especially thankful for the freedom of lawful assembly and the free practice of religion, both of which are rights protected by the first amendment, and which allow us to practice Christianity without fear of government intervention or reprisal.
At the same time, let us remember there is a far greater freedom document than even the Constitution of the United States of America. The document I speak of offers freedom to all mankind, not just a fortunate few who are privileged to live in America. That document is, of course, the Bible, which contains the Gospel of Jesus Christ, which is the constitution of Christianity. This constitution was not created by mere human authorship, but was inspired by the Holy Spirit of God, in order that God's will might be known by all humanity. This document provides more than mere physical freedom, for it addresses man's desperate need for spiritual freedom.
Ring Out The Message
(James Rowe/Samuel W. Beazley)
"There's a message true and glad
for the sinful and the sad,
Ring it out, ring it out!
It will give them courage new,
it will help them to be true,
Ring it out, ring it out!
Ring out the Word o'er land and sea,
still far from Jesus many live in sin and doubt,
Ring out the news that makes men free,
to all the lost of ever nation, ring it out!"
Jesus said, "Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free" (Jn. 8:32). Therein lies real freedom for every man and woman who will hear and heed the truth of God's Word. God's constitution provides freedom from slavery to sin, Satan, and death. The Gospel provides the faithful Christian the freedom to enjoy the truly abundant life here in this world (Jn. 10:10), and more importantly, provides hope for eternal life in heaven to come.
Brethren, it is our responsibility to let true freedom ring by sharing the Gospel with all who will listen, for only in obedience to the Gospel can mankind truly be free! We should make every effort every day to ring out freedom's message to every one we meet. Will you share the freedom? Will you ring the message out?
David McCain
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
SEVEN REASONS WHY I ATTEND ON WEDNESDAY NIGHT
Guest Article, By Richard Guill
1.I want to learn as much of God's Word as I possibly can (Col. 1:9-10).
2.I love my brethren and enjoy meeting with them as often as I can.
3.I want to set the right example for others. I don't believe I can have the right influence upon others, particularly those who are weaker in the faith, if I do not attend those periods of Bible study.
4.I am encouraged by being around the most diligent workers in the church. They will be at the mid-week Bible study periods.
5.I attend because I believe we ought to have the attitude of "What more can I do?" instead of "What do I have to do?"
6.I believe that the first and greatest commandment, "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind" (Matt. 22:37), and the sobering words of Jesus, "But seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness" (Matt. 6:33), can best be fulfilled by those who attend mid-week Bible study.
7.The Bible teaches that Jesus may come at any moment (Matt. 25:13) and if He should come on Wednesday night, I certainly would want to be there with the saints studying His Word and worshipping Him rather than to be somewhere else doing something which is not nearly as important to me spiritually.
Now these are seven of the reasons (there are more) why I attend Wednesday night Bible study. I know that some who read this may NOT attend these services. If you are among them, would you do me a favor? Would you list the reasons (any number) why you do NOT attend?
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
SPIRITUAL INVENTORY
Johnny Ramsey
1.Can I give a scriptural reason for what I do and teach religiously? (I Peter 3:15; I Peter 4:11).
2.Do I worship in spirit and in truth? (John 4:24).
3.Do I wear any religious name that cannot be found in the Bible? (Acts 11:26; I Peter 4:16).
4.Is the church that I'm a member of mentioned in God's word? (Romans 16:16; Matthew 16:18).
5.Have I refused to obey the simple commands of Christ? (Luke 6:46; Acts 2:38).
6.If claiming to be a Christian, do I engage in worldly practices? (II Corinthians 6:17).
7.Do I absent myself from the worship of the church? (Acts 20:7; Hebrews 10:25).
8.Am I growing spiritually?
9.Do I truly love my brethren and even my enemies?
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
