Family News and Notes
Today is Building Fund Contribution Day. If you have made plans to contribute you can do it today. Thanks.
There will be a Luncheon in the Multi-purpose room following the AM Service this morning. Bring your favorite dish and a good appetite. Everyone is invited.
VBS TEACHERS meeting this evening at 5:00 PM, before evening service. All teachers need to be present.
OK FOLKS!!! Our new fiscal year began March 1st. It is hard to believe that so many years have passed since 1999. This should be a year of commitment and growth. We need to pray for both.
Ladies . PLEASE turn in your recipes to Joan Cook today so she can get started on the recipe book.
Mark your calendars Our Gospel Meeting is scheduled for April 16 thru 19 with Bro. Johnny Ramsey doing the preaching. More details later, such as Topic, etc.
Edith Shiflet states she is feeling a little better and will try to be here today.
Sister Flemmings has been dismissed from the hospital.
Vernon Garrett was admitted to Baylor Hospital in Plano last week. His doctor intended to put in a stint but was unable to do so. Vernon was scheduled for double by-pass surgery at noon on Friday. He will be in ICU for a few days following surgery. We should have an update on him today.
Meryl Riley's daughter in Colorado was involved in a serious auto accident last week. She is in critical condition. Meryl has gone to be with her.
NEW BIRTHS:
Joy & Kent Cooper are new parents. Steele Cooper entered the world early, on Tuesday niteFeb. 28, weighing in at 7 lbs. 13 ounces. Parents and older brother are thrilled and grandparents are holding up pretty good.
Weldon & Jo Ann Miller have a new great granddaughter, born on February 28th to Dana's daughter and son-in-law, Meredith & Gabe Campos. Adriene Isabella Campos weighed in at 8 lbs, 3 ounces. Baby and everyone else doing OK.
Juanita DuBose (mother of Judy Freeman) recently in remission for cervical cancer has been diagnosed with a heart condition that doctors have told her cannot be repaired. She is to go to Baylor in Dallas on the 23rd for a second opinion. She has been told she can no longer drive, so Judy and her sister Dana will be taking her. Please place her on your prayer list again, as well as Judy's Dad, Wesley, who is wheelchair bound.
THANK YOU "To our family at North Jefferson: We greatly appreciate your kindness to my mother, Velma Baker, when she was here with us. She loved this congregation. Thanks for your calls, cards, and other expressions of sympathy. The flowers you sent were beautiful. We were touched by your presence at the visitation and funeral. You are a blessing to us.
THANK YOU "Dear Christian friends: Your thoughtfulness meant so much. Thank you so much for the calls, cards, prayers and food at the death of my mother. It's wonderful to be a part of such a caring family.
THANK YOU "Dear Brothers & Sisters: The cards you sent, the phone calls you made and the prayers you offered on my behalf have meant so much to me. Thank you for everything.
THANK YOU "Dear Brothers & Sisters in Christ: I thank God for all your prayers, thoughts and concerns for me while I was in the hospital. May God give Bro. David McCain a special blessing. He was at the hospital for the surgery. He and his wife visited in our home and brought food. We are sure others also prayed for us. After that I had another surgery and am trying to heal from both. We hope you will keep us on your prayer list. When we are able we will visit with you all again. Thank God for all our Christian sisters and brothers.
Love to all
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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, Vernon Garrett, 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,
Juanita DuBose, Larry Freeman, Horace George, Ruby Jeffery, Wayne Lineberger, Lonita Thompson
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Reflections And Dreams
On Wednesday, March 1st, the North Jefferson congregation began a new "fiscal year" (not to be confused with the word "physical"), meaning "a 12 month period differing from the normal calendar year in which an organization plans the use of its funds." You'll have to ask our shepherds as to exactly why they have chosen to do this, but my guess is that it allows us to focus on our financial plans and outreach goals for the church without the distractions of the busy holiday season.
Whatever the reason, as we stand just inside the threshold of a new year "fiscally," it might be good for us to take stock not only of our financial condition, but also of our spiritual standing before God. As we soberly reflect upon the past year's spiritual progress in the Lord's service, we should give serious consideration to the following questions. Did we accomplish all that we set out to accomplish last year? Is there anything to rejoice about, or to regret? The bottom line question should be, "Is God pleased with our spiritual progress?"
I don't know how you would answer those questions, but it is my honest belief that we did make some real spiritual progress at North Jefferson last year. I know I'm not alone in that estimation, because many members have recently expressed to me their belief that this congregation is seemingly in the best spiritual condition it has been in since its inception several years ago, and that to them, the future seems very bright for the Lord's church here. If that is true, it is cause for spiritual rejoicing and the giving of thanks to God for His blessings. But, it is also cause for us to be on guard for anything that might take that positive outlook away from us, for Satan will not be content to just sit by and let things progress without trying to stop our forward momentum.
In my opinion, nothing is more spiritually rewarding than to be involved in a congregation that is spiritually happy, peaceful, active, and growing. In that regard there are many good signs of spiritual health here at North Jefferson. Attendance at all services has been on the increase for all of this past year. Our contributions last year exceeded the challenging budget the elders set before us at this time last year, and demonstrates great generosity by our membership. Many wonderful works have been accomplished, including: increased evangelistic work both foreign and domestic, a very special Ladies Day, a thrilling Summer Youth Series, a wonderful Vacation Bible School, and a great Gospel Meeting, not to mentioned the strengthened programs of outreach, benevolence, and edification. One of the greatest things has been the addition of the sound teaching and preaching of brother Johnny Ramsey, which has challenged us all to live closer to the Lord's directives for our lives!
Of course, there is always room for improvement. As we reflect upon the past and dream about the future, here are some questions we should ask ourselves. Did I personally grow spiritually this past year? Have I studied God's Word diligently and prayed constantly? Have I faithfully attended the worship and Bible study opportunities of this church? Have I given generously of my means, in proportion to my blessings, to help support the Lord's work? Have I been an active participant in the work of the Lord? Am I helping or hindering the growth of Christ's kingdom.
It's a sobering experience to inventory our lives spiritually, but it can also be a very profitable one. God's Word tells us to examine ourselves to see if we are in the faith, and to make sure we are progressing spiritually (II Cor. 13:5-9). Undoubtedly when we do so, we will note areas of progress and accomplishment, as well as areas where we need to make some changes and do some more work. The faithful Christian will deal honestly with the results of his inventory, and will resolve to make whatever changes are necessary to please the Lord.
As we reflect on the past and dream about the future, I hope all of us will recognize the great potential for good that we have both here in Mt. Pleasant, and throughout the world. May God help us to dream big dreams and visualize great accomplishments for the good of His kingdom! Let us all work hard to accentuate the positive and eliminate the negative! Let us practice love, consideration, kindness, and forgiveness towards one another, as brothers and sisters in Christ, even as we strive to eliminate gossip, jealousy, murmuring, and discord from our midst. Let's go and grow for the glory of God! Let's be God's distinctive, dynamic, and dedicated people no matter what the cost! May God help us in our quest to grow spiritually, and to be more like Him each day that we live! David McCain
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THE HOLY SPIRIT AND INSPIRATION
Johnny Ramsey
In 2 Peter 1:21 we learn that "holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Spirit." In John 16:13 Christ promised the apostles that the Holy Spirit would guide them into all truth. The God-breathed Scripture were revealed so as to furnish us completely Spirit provided and thus his message was not the word of man but verily God's Holy Word! Such a message was capable of being read, understood and obeyed (*I Corinthians 14:37; II Corinthians 1:13; Ephesians 3:4; 5:17).
The verbal inspiration of the Bible means that the words of scripture are God's wordsnot God's thoughts in the words of men! In Jeremiah 1:9 the prophet was told by Jehovah: "I will put my words in your mouth." In Jeremiah 37:2 we learn that the Bible contains God's words. Perhaps no verse depicts better than 2 Samuel 23:2 the correlation between the Holy Spirit and inspiration: "The Spirit of the Lord spake by me, and his word was in my tongue."
The plenary inspiration of the Bible means that it is all inspired and God-breathed in all its parts. (2 timothy 3:16-17) and provide "all things pertaining to life and godliness." (2 Peter 1:3) Paul made it very clear in I Corinthians 2:13 and I Thessalonians 2:13 that he wrote the words which the Holy
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