FAMILY NEWS AND NOTES
Volume 10 03 August 2008 Issue No. 23
Service Arrangements
COMMUNION FOR AUGUST 2008
SOUTH SIDE NORTH SIDE
AM
Jerry Freeman
Bob Hedges
Rodney Cook Darrell Cooper
Ben McCain Charles Kyle
PM
George O’Neal Fred Harkrider
ANNOUNCEMENTS ….....……...… Jerry Freeman
SONG LEADER (AM)…........……. Randy Eubanks
(PM) …...…........ Randy Eubanks
Wednesday Nite ...….....….. Ben McCain
PRAYERS —– Sunday.
AM First Prayer …….................. Randy Robison
AM Closing……................………….. Jim Duncan
PM First Prayer……..................…... Ben McCain
PM Closing………….……................. Jon McCain
PRAYERS — Wednesday Nite
First Prayer……..............……..… Bronson Roper
Closing…………….……................ Daniel McCary
PRAYER LIST:
Justin Barker, Rachel Barker, Doris Bell, Louis & Nona Bell, Winell Blackard,
Billye Campbell, Joyce Lee, Mary Jo Lee, Georgia Lide, Lacy Farmer Maxwell,
Ben McCain, Thelma Reed, Rebecca Tippitt
ALSO: Lana Downs, Wesley DuBose, Ercell Duncan, Steve Ferrell, Ercell Fetters, Michael Gilbert, Betty Newman, Whayln Payne, Don Shuette, Paul Unger
And now for … FAMILY NEWS AND NOTES
Mark your calendar and plan to attend here at the building in the Multi-Purpose Room beginning at 2:00 p.m. August 16th for a Birthday Party honoring our beloved Irene Duncan and wishing her a Happy 100th Birthday.
WEDDING SHOWER … to honor Jessie Wisdom and Jacob Massey, to be held here in the Multi-Purpose Room August 24, 2008 beginning at 2:00 p.m.
Ladies, please mark your calendars for next Sunday, August 10, at 5:00 PM, as the next planning meeting for our LADIES DAY in September. Also, mark Saturday, September 20, on your calendars for our LADIES DAY, with Cindy Armstrong as the featured speaker.
The next-to-last SUMMER YOUTH BIBLE SERIES will be tomorrow nite, Monday, August 4th, at 7:00 PM at Talco church of Christ, with Jacob Rutledge as speaker, preaching on the “Principle of Priority”. The carpool will leave our building at 6:30 PM. The final installment of the series follows on next Monday, August 11th, at Redwater church of Christ.
Billy Wayne Gaddis (uncle of Randy Eubanks) had a heart catherization on Thursday. No update on him at the printing of this bulletin.
Tracy Frank Owsley, close friend and classmate of Rhodney Freeman, passed away in his apartment here in Mount Pleasant last Sunday afternoon, July 27, 2008. A private graveside service will be conducted with the family at a later date. Please remember this family in your prayers.
At the printing of this bulletin don’t have an update on Wade Miller’s condition. Keep praying for him.
Jerry & Alice Freeman are proud grandparents. “Maddox Avery Thomas” was born July 29, 2008, 8:10 p.m. He weighed in at 6 pounds and 13 ounces and was 20 inches long. Proud parents are Audra & Ben Thomas and Great Grandmother is Hallie Lang.
Bob & Rhonda Hedges are double grandparents with two granddaughters born into their family on July 30, 2008. Parents Robbie and Beth Hedges welcomed “Ellyse Bryanne Hedges” here at Titus Regional Medical Center on Wednesday morning at 7:39 a.m., weighing 8 pounds and 1 ounce and 20 inches long.
And then … Wednesday evening at St. Michaels Hospital in Texarkana parents Jay and McKenzie Hedges welcomed “Kenadee Jaye Hedges” at 8:50 p.m., July 30, 2008, weighing 7 pounds and 2 ounces and 20-1/4 inches long. Great grandparents are Carl and Pat Lee. Both mothers and babies are doing great, but the jury is still out on the proud fathers and grandparents.
Correct mailing address for Lacy Farmer Maxell as shown below:
Lacy Farmer Maxwell
2207 Texas Hwy 49
Mount Pleasant, Texas 75455
(She loves to receive cards during this time of recovery from her illness.)
Are You Willing To Stand Up And Be Counted?
I have always been impressed with godly righteous folk who are bold and brave enough to stand up for what is right, no matter what the consequences. Two notable Bible examples, one in the Old Testament and the other in the New Testament, come to my mind when I think of those who were not afraid to stand up and be counted, even when it was unpopular to do so. In the third chapter of Daniel, we read of the three young Hebrews, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, who were questioned by King Nebuchadnezzar about their refusal to bow down and worship the golden image he had set up. Their response is a classic example of standing up fearlessly for what is right, no matter what the consequences.
“Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter. If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up”(3:16-18).
In the New Testament, the adventure story of the Apostles during the early days of the church’s existence, stands out as a hallmark of spiritual courage. Chapters four through seven of Acts are the heart of this drama. Beginning with the arrest and imprisonment of Peter and John and continuing through the martyrdom of Stephen, we read of men who were willing to stand up and be counted for the Lord no matter what the personal cost.
“Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marveled, and they took knowledge of them that they had been with Jesus” (4:13). “And they called them, and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John answered, Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye. For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard” (4:18-20). “Then Peter, and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men (5:29). “...And when they had called the apostles, and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let then go. And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name. And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ” (5:40-42).
Would to God that we today might have the same courage of conviction to stand up for what is right, no matter what the cost or the consequences. Too much in the world, the vocal minority have been allowed to have their wicked way, simply because the silent majority failed to stand up and be counted. Sadly, sometimes even in the Lord’s church, the malcontents and the ungodly are allowed to “run the show,” and often wreak havoc on the faithful, because too few of the righteous are courageous enough to take a stand for what is right. I believe it was Edward Burke who made the salient statement, “All that is necessary for the forces of evil to win the world is for enough good men to do nothing.”
Brethren, it’s high time for the true disciples of Christ to “stand up and be counted” as we boldly defend what is right, according to God’s will. False teachers, some even in our own brotherhood, have been allowed to tout their denominational doctrines with impunity, because far too many brethren, who know better, are afraid to rock the boat and make some waves. Some are more afraid of offending their family than of offending the heavenly Father. Sadly, the ravenous wolves have had their way in far too many congregations, because some shepherds have lacked the courage to stand up and defend the sheep.
Brethren, a stand for what is right is often an unpopular stand. Fiery furnaces, prison, beatings, and stoning sometimes threaten those who bravely choose to do the right thing. Loss of popularity and friends is definitely a possibility for the spiritually courageous. But, when a stand needs to be made, may we be found standing on the Lord’s side! Like the great men of old, our answers really need no careful thought, for they have already been decided. Yes, we too, “ought to obey God rather than men.” David McCain
