Family News and Notes
FORMAT OF THE BULLETIN TODAY HAS CHANGED ONLY FOR TODAY Announcement, song leaders, prayers and communion assignments are shown on back page.
Men's Business Meeting following evening service today. All men of the congregation are encouraged to attend.
Brochures for the upcoming Gospel Meeting April 23 thru 26 are on the table in the foyer. Please take one or more as needed to give to friends and neighbors.
Visitation Teams meet Tuesday evening at 6:30 PM here at the building. Bring sandwiches, chips & dips. Drinks will be provided.
Beginning this Wednesday evening, April 12, there will be a NEW Ladies Class in the Multi-Purpose Room each Wednesday evening. Iris Ramsey will be teaching.
On April 23rd we will have a luncheon following the morning service, in the Multi-Purpose Room. Everyone is invited, especially our visitors. Everyone is encouraged to bring food for their family and a little extra. Your editor will be very hungry.
Johnny Ramsey was in Mabank on Saturday for a meeting and is scheduled to be in Austin today.
Charles and Norma Lewis have placed membership with our congregation. Their address is as follows:
Charles & Norma Lewis
2312 Matthew Street
Mount Pleasant, Texas 75455
Phone: 903-572-0934
Eighty-five ladies were present for the LADIES DAY on Saturday, April 01. The day was a great success.
Ruby Lawhon is back in town and will be worshipping with us again. Welcome her back.
Ann Carter has been sick at home this past week.
Elna O'Neal is back at home and continues to improve following her recent surgery.
Deborah Biesemeyer, still in Baylor Hospital in Dallas, Hoblitzelle Building, Room 425. Direct dial (214) 818-5325. She had 4 biopsies on Thursday on a couple of large tumors. Doctors need to determine where the cancer started and how to treat it with chemo, potentially beginning Monday. Please pray for her and Meagan.
Patsy Embree has been experiencing some pain with her left foot but nothing serious. She is feeling good overall.
Betty Abbey's daughter, Wanda Abbey Rivera, is in serious condition as a result of her cancer. Please pray for her and the family.
Nancy Chastain had one of her long chemo treatments Wednesday and was scheduled to return home on Friday.
Linda Jones had eye surgery at Minadeo Clinic Friday to treat a swollen tear duct.
A large group of our young people was scheduled to attend a Youth Forum in Mabank Friday nite.
Juanita DuBose, Judy Freeman's mom, came through her heart valve replacement surgery just fine last Tuesday at Baylor. She hopes to get to go home sometime this week.
Peggy Rodgers, niece of Lurline Johnson, passed away in Texarkana on April 01, 2006. Please remember this family in your prayers.
Leonard Rychlik, father of Wesley Rychlik, passed away near Betty on Thursday. His funeral was conducted by the Croley Funeral Home in Gilmer at 10:00 AM Saturday at the Gilmer Church of Christ with burial at Shady Grove Cemetery in Wood County.
BABY SHOWER (It's a girl!!)
Honoring Rhonda Freeman Newman
Saturday, April 22nd
At 2:00 PM
In the Multi-Purpose Room here at the building.
Hostesses: Pat Lee, Delores Traughber, Brenda Harkrider,
Hallie Lang, Ginger Jones, Crystal Freeman and Audra Freeman.
This will be a first grandchild for
Rhodney and Judy Freeman
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PRAYER LIST
Justin Barker, Rachel Barker, Deborah Biesmeyer, Winell Blackard, Annah Brown, Billye Campbell, Nancy Chastain, Perry Cooper, Irene Duncan, Patsy Duncan,
Vernon Garrett, 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, LaShedra Traylor
ALSO: Melba Boyd, Cristell Cato, Austin Cody, Juanita DuBose, Wesley DuBose, Larry Freeman, Horace George, Pat Hughes, Thelma Reed, Ruby Jeffery,
Wayne Lineberger, Lonita Thompson
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Lessons From Spring
Spring in all of its glory is bursting forth everywhere we look, and with its coming, some great spiritual lessons can be observed. The first lesson spring teaches us, concerns the creation of the material universe by the all-powerful God. The magnificent beauty of nature that surrounds us during this special time of year quite literally shouts forth the praises of God, the Creator. The changing of the seasons, the riotous explosion of plant life in a thousand different hues, the rebirth of a winter-dead earth, all point to the fact that God was, and is, and is to come. The atheists can babble their theories of evolution, but they are but a whisper compared to the roar of spring, which declares the creation by our omnipotent God (Psalm 19:l).
Another spiritual lesson illustrated to us by the event of springtime is what I call "the lesson of the second chance." Spring is a time of newness, of freshness, of rebirth, of beginning again. It's as if the slate has been wiped clean, and the earth once again has the opportunity to out-bloom, out-grow, out-produce previous years.
I think that's why we all enjoy springtime so much, because we feel that spirit of new opportunities everywhere around us. All of the things we failed to accomplish last year can be attempted again. Our resolutions and goals look more attainable in the warmth and freshness of spring. We have another chance to do better and not make the same mistakes again, and therein is another great spiritual lesson.
Like the clean slate of spring, God continually offers mankind new opportunities to do better. All of us are guilty of terrible sin or rebellion against God, but He offers us the opportunity of spiritual rebirth through His Son, Jesus, the Christ (John 3:1-8). We can, through obedient faith in Christ, become children of God, and have the slate of our past sins wiped clean (Acts 2:38, Romans 6:1-4).
But, even after we have become children of God, there are times when all of us fail the Lord miserably. However, through repentance and prayer we can again enjoy the wonderful feeling of a clean slate (Acts 8:11, I John 1:9). Like a loving parent, the Lord is patient with His children (II Peter 3:9 & 15), giving us the opportunity to amend our mistakes and misdeeds, and reaffirm our love for Him (John 21:15-17). We can be set free from the shackles of guilt to live better lives, more perfectly patterned after the flawless example of our Savior, Christ Jesus.
One final lesson of spring is what I would call "the lesson of the fruit trees." In wintertime it's hard to distinguish the dormant trees from the dead ones, but with the coming of spring the difference is readily evident. Living trees begin to bud, bloom, grow, and produce fruit. However, dead trees display their deadness by their withering branches and their lack of fruit. Young trees are given time to grow and mature. Slow or low producers will more than likely be trimmed and fertilized and given another chance. But mature non-productive or dead trees will be cut down and used for firewood.
You see the spiritual application already, don't you? As long as we live upon the face of this earth we have the opportunity to accomplish the Lord's purposes -- to bud, to bloom, to grow, to mature, and to produce fruit in the orchard of God. The clean slate of spiritual opportunity is always available to us so long as we are truly alive in Christ, but someday the spiritual spring will come, revealing the deadwood, which will be cut down and burned in the fire (John 15:1-8, I Cor. 3:10-15). The point is, Judgment is coming. Prepare for it! David McCain
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The Book of Books(part 1)
Johnny Ramsey
George Washington was correct when he said, "It is impossible to rightly govern the world without God and the Bible." Cowper, a great poet, said of the Bible:
"A sacred glory gilds the page
Majestic as the sun,
It gives a light to every age,
It gives, but borrows none."
How precious is the word of God; how glorious His revelation to man! The influence of the Scriptures has been tremendous. The power of the gospel has helped to elevate woman, abolish slavery, provide care for the needy, and generally, to enrich society. Whittier, another famous writer, has thrilled us by saying that when all of the wisdom of the ages has been recorded, we can go to "the book our mothers read" and find it already contained therein. The Psalmist informs us of this valuable point in Psalm 119:105.
"Thy word is a lamp to my feet and
Jesus has told us that His word shall judge us in the last day (John 12:48). Even though our life is transient, the Scripture will endure forever (Matt. 24:35; I Pet. 24-25). And so we gladly sing:
"Give me the Bible, Holy message shining;
Thy light shall guide me in the narrow way;
Precept and promise, law and love
Till night shall vanish in eternal day."
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Lord Forgive
© Grady L. Duncan
11/15/04
I saw a man the other day, who truly was in need.
but I turned and walked away. His begging, I did not heed.
I never stopped to think that day, how blessed I am to live,
and enjoy what comes my way. Dear Lord, will you forgive?
Touch my apathetic heart, and compassion place within,
that I should never turn and walk away again.
All blessings come from you; all I need and some to spare.
Remind me lest I forget that what I have, I should share.
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In anger, I said some things that offended a very good friend,
not knowing the sorrow it brings. I wish I could recall them again.
I often speak what's on my mind, no matter the consequence.
If in your heart you can find, please Lord, forgive my offence.
The tongue is a little thing, and is hard for me to control,
Help me to bridle it, lest it condemn my soul.
Sweeten its bitter words and restrain its every move.
teach me to use kind words, spoken in heartfelt love.
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I'm secure in what I know about your tender loving care,
and that you love me so. I know you're always there.
Neighbors are non-believers, Lord. Yet, I've had nothing to say,
even though I should share your Word. Forgive me, Lord I pray.
May your Word awake in me to become a burning fire,
that I may proclaim the news of your grace and saving power.
No greater deed could I do, than help them find their way,
so they may stand justified on the judgment day.
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Worldly pleasures allure me. Their enticements catch my eye.
Sometimes I can't resist them; sometimes I don't even try.
Though you may forgive me, guilt feelings still remain.
Help me to forgive myself. Please, remove the guilt and pain.
Instill in me a righteous mind, fixing my eyes on Thee.
When tempted to fulfill my lusts, may I learn to flee.
I trust in Thee with all my heart, to keep watch over my soul.
I'll do my best to do your Will, finding peace within your fold.
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