Family News and Notes
If you have made plans and are able to do so, you may contribute to the Building Fund today. Thanks.
Men, remember next Sunday evening is Men's Business Meeting. All men are encouraged to attend.
David will be gone this coming Wednesday night. He is speaking in a Summer Series at the Collierville congregation in Memphis, TN. Johnny will teach the Wednesday night class.
Camp Cisco was a great success, with 8 baptisms and several re-dedications. We had one (1) rattlesnake killing. We all learned much about Jesus' parables, the identifying marks of the Lord's Church, and the death of Christ for our sins.
New address for:
Kent & Joy Cooper
104 Glen Eagles
Mt. Pleasant, TX 75455
Angie Barker
109 Brenda Drive
Mt. Pleasant, TX 75455
Lucy Anguiano, who visits with us from time to time says she would appreciate cards from time to time. Her address is:
Lucy Anguiano
407 North Avenue D
Haskell, TX 79521
Bonnye Horton is back at home but is still not feeling well.
James & Sue Browning have been sick at home this past week. James has had the flu and Sue had a kidney infection.
Edith Shiflet is back in Titus Regional Medical Center. Room 324. She was to have a procedure done Friday. We may have an update on her for you today.
Linda Jones is still not doing well. Still undergoing tests to determine her problem (s). She is still running a temperature and is scheduled to see a specialist later this month.
THANK YOU ... "The Family of Deborah Biesemeyer acknowledges with deep appreciation your kind expression of sympathy at the loss of Deborah. Thank you so much for the beautiful flowers and for all the caring.
Shirley Bishop & Family"
THANK YOU "Thanks for very much for sending the bulletin to me each week. It's so nice to know what your friends and loved ones are doing. I think of everyone often.
Alice Lovelady"
THANK YOU "Many thanks to all who helped me celebrate my 80th birthday. And, thanks for all the many cards I received. It was great!
I love all of you.
Myrtice Grissom"
PRAYER LIST:
Justin Barker, Rachel Barker, Jean Bell, Winell Blackard, Annah Brown, Nancy Chastain, Perry Cooper, Bonnye Horton, Hollis Lee, Joyce Lee, Georgia Lide, Marie Plemmons, Alva Mae Sheets, Edith Shiflet, Rebecca Tippitt
ALSO: Austin Cody, Juanita DuBose, Wesley DuBose, Wanda Abbey Rivera
He Knows What Makes Us Tick
When I was a kid, I loved to build model airplanes. Early on in my model building days, I was often so excited about a new model, that I would tear into the kit and start gluing pieces together without even looking at the instructions. However, it didn't take long for me to learn the meaning of that old adage, "when in doubt, read the instructions!" Yes, I royally goofed up a couple of good models before I learned to start following the blueprints. But, I soon came to realize that the creator of the model knew far more about how it was intended to go together than I ever would. I also learned that he had included the instructions to help me build a beautiful model, not to hinder or burden me with the rules of successful model building.
Can we find a spiritual application in the narrative above? The point is, since God is the one who created us, He knows better than anyone else what makes us tick. He knows what will make us happy and what will make us sad. He knows what is good for us, and what's not in our best interest. He's put all that information in writing for us in the Bible, so we can follow His "blueprint for life," and create a beautiful model of human happiness, peace, and hope.
I'm convinced God knows what's best for us, not some of the time, or even most of the time, but rather all of the time. It should be of great comfort to know that the strength to overcome any temptation, the power to bear all trials, and the solution to every problem can be found within the sacred page, if we will just take the time to carefully read, study, and meditate upon the instructions of God's Book.
Peter wrote that through the knowledge of Jesus our Lord, all things have been granted unto us pertaining unto life and godliness (II Pet. 1:1-3). Note, that's not some things, but rather all things! God has not left us to flounder in the dark, nor to muddle through life on our own, without a clue as to how to proceed. Rather, "His Word is a lamp unto our feet, and a light unto our pathway" (Ps. 119:105). Indeed, the Bible is the treasure house of the ages, the storehouse of true knowledge, and the repository of divine wisdom! Just let the Bible be your blueprint for every "nook and cranny" of life, and the results will overwhelm and amaze you!
Do you have some problem, which seems unanswerable? Take it up with Him who said, "Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and show thee great and mighty things which thou knowest not" (Jer. 33:3). Do you have a trial, which seems unbearable? Why not release that burden to Him who said, "Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest" (Mt. 11:28). Is there some temptation nagging you, which seems irresistible? By all means, seek God's help, who, "will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way of escape, that ye may be able to bear it" (I Cor. 10:13).
Have you lost your way in life? If so, why not seek the Source of life who said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life, no man cometh unto the Father, but by me" (Jn. 14:6). His way is best, all of the time, because He really does know what makes us tick! David McCain
Lessons We Learn From The Death of Christ
Johnny Ramsey
There are four great lessons we learn as a result of the cross. Each point is a fundamental one as regards religion in our day. In fact, were these truths understood and embraced by all, there would be no religious division. Notice carefully the results of the Lord's sacrifice at Calvary.
A. The Law of Moses was abolished.
In Matthew 26:28, we read that the new testament was ushered in through the blood of Christ. In Romans 7, we learn that men today are dead to the law that said, "You shall not covet," that we may be spiritually joined to Jesus who arose from the dead. Paul plainly declares in Galatians 2:21 that Christ died in vain if we are still under the law. In three distinct passages in Hebrews, we read that Christ is the mediator of the New Testament and that He could not have been until after His death. Therefore, at the cross our Savior took away the first covenant. We are now under the last will and testament of the Lord (Hebrews 8:6; 9:16; 10:10).
Comprehension of this scriptural thought will answer the often asked question about the thief on the cross. He lived and died before Jesus shed His blood of the new covenant. We live after that notable event. We are under the New Testament; the thief was subject to the Old Testament. While Jesus was on earth, He had the authority to forgive sins as He chose (Matthew 9:6). But when Christ died, His law for man was revealed in the New Testament. The terms for pardon, sealed in His blood, must not be changed. According to the words of the Savior, all accountable beings must now believe the gospel (Mark 16:16), repent of their sins (Luke 24:47), and be immersed in water (Acts 8:38; 22:16). This arrangement will last till the end of the world (Matthew 28:18-20).
B. His church was established.
In Matthew 16, our Lord promised to build His church. Even "the gates of Hades" would not prevail against this decree. Evidently this refers to the Grecian idea of "the bars of death."
The enemies of Jesus thought that by putting Him to death they would forever destroy His influence. But, up from the grave our Redeemer arose. He empowered the apostles to make the church a reality. On Pentecost, 50 days after the resurrection of Christ, Peter preached a magnificent sermon based on the triumphant death of the Son of God. That day the church was formally established and the Lord added the saved to it (Acts 2:47). In Ephesians 1:20-23, we learn that Christ became the head of the church after His resurrection from the dead.
C. Our hope of resurrection.
At the raising of Lazarus from the dead, the Master made a statement that thrills our very souls. However, it took His own resurrection to make it possible. Do you remember John 11:25?
"I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live."
Paul tells us in the 15th chapter of I Corinthians that Christ is the first fruits of those that sleep since He did arise from the dead.
John reports that when Jesus comes again "all who are in the graves will hear His voice and come forth" (John 5:28-29). Brethren in the first century comforted one another with the hope of one day being raised to be with the Savior (I Thessalonians 4:13-18). In the sixth chapter of the grand book of Hebrews, we read that Jesus became our forerunner into heaven by His resurrection. Thanks be unto God for such a precious hope.
D. The spiritual beauty and significance of baptism.
A sincere study of the death of Christ will just naturally lead one to the subject of baptism. In Romans 6:1-5, we see that the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ is vividly portrayed when a person becomes dead to sin, is buried with Christ in baptism, and subsequently raised to walk in a new manner of life. The identical point is referred to in Colossians 2:12. Thus, gospel baptism is neither foolish nor arbitrary. it is a necessary command of God for man that conveys the deepest spiritual meaning. The act of baptism puts a person into Christ (Galatians 3;27) where all blessings are found (Ephesians 1:3).
These are some of the grand lessons we learn as we meditate upon the death of our Lord. If we appropriate these blessings to our own lives, we shall never really die. To such ones the second death (eternal punishment) has no power. We agree with Wilbur Chapman who wrote:
"One day when heaven was filled with His praises,
One day when sin was as black as could be,
Jesus came forth to be born of a virgin,
Dwelt among men, my example is He!
Living, He loved me; dying, He saved me;
Buried, He carried my sins far away;
Rising, He justified freely forever:
One day He's coming
Oh, glorious day!"
