Family News and Note
Ladies Bible Class resumes this coming Tuesday, September 05, at 10:00 AM. The ladies will meet in the Multi-Purpose Room. All ladies are encouraged to attend.
Also, on Tuesday evening at 7:00 PM the Visitation Program will resume. Everyone is encouraged to attend and participate in this important work.
Wednesday Night Ladies Bibles Class will resume this coming Wednesday evening with Iris Ramsey teaching. The lessons will pick up where they left off a few months ago.
Wade Miller experienced chest pains early this past week. He took a stress test on Wednesday. He had surgery on Friday in Dallas, about noon, and his doctor determined that the stints he had placed in 2003 were in good shape but he had some blockage elsewhere. and because the veins were so small he will be treated with medication. He was released to return home about 3:00 PM Friday and is scheduled to return to his doctor in a couple of weeks for examination. Naturally Wade was disappointed when his doctor told him to not do any heavy lifting for a few days. We are thankful for this good report on Wade.
Bonnye Horton was able to be out and attended services Wednesday evening, although she left a few minutes early. We are glad she is feeling better.
Keep Alice Lovelady in your prayers. Remember that she is at Mount Vernon House. She would appreciate cards, visits and phone calls.
James & Sue Browning celebrated their 50th Anniversary yesterday, September 02. Congratulations!
Grady Duncan continues to make updates to our Church Directory. Please watch for those new pages as they most likely will appear on the round table in the foyer.
Last week we did not have the address of Janaan Parker for you, so check here then watch for the new page for your directory.
Janaan Parker
1501 East 8th
Mount Pleasant, TX 75455
903-572-0577
e-mail: penneypj80@yahoo.com
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PRAYER LIST:
Justin Barker, Rachel Barker, Jean Bell, Winell Blackard, Annah Brown, Nancy Chastain, Josephine Cooper, Perry Cooper, Hollis Lee, Joyce Lee, Georgia Lide, Wade Miller, Wayne Pickrel, Marie Plemmons, Helen Roper, Alva Mae Sheets, Edith Shiflet, Ola Mae Simpson, Julia Terrell, Rebecca Tippitt
ALSO: Cristell Cato, Austin Cody, Juanita DuBose, Wesley DuBose, Carolyn Fox, Roy Fox, Edna Graves, Ruby Jeffery, Wayne Lineberger, Albert Miller, Johnine Phillips, Wanda Abbey Rivera
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GOD REQUIRES EFFORT
NOT RESULTS
Selected (Author Unknown)
"It won't do any good." This is the usual response made by many of us when we are asked to invite someone to hear the gospel preached, or when we consider trying to talk to someone about religion. This is wrong! It will do good, because it is what God requires. The reason behind this erroneous response is that we think God requires "results" from us in the form of numbers and such.
The only thing required of us is effort and lots of it. Paul said of the establishment and growth of the church at Corinth, "I planted, Apollos watered and God gave the increase." (I Corinthians 3:6) Planting and watering are the duties of God's childrenincrease is God's business. If we are diligent about our work God is faithful in His.
Far too often we get discouraged when God does not give us the increase we expect. Thus, we become lax in our effort to plant and water the seed, the Work of God. But to cure this evil Paul, by the Spirit, wrote, "And let us not be weary in well doing; for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not." (Galatians 6:9)
And the next time you have the opportunity to sow some seed, or water seed, don't think of it in terms of waster effort just because you think it won't do any good. Work and teach and invite others and encourage everyone with whom you come in contact to be what the Lord would have them be. Remember, "Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmovable always abounding in the work of the Lord forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not in vain." (I Corinthians 15:58).
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CELL PHONE vs. BIBLE
Author Unknown
I wonder what would happen if we treated our Bible like we treat our cell phones?
What if we carried it around in our purses or pockets?
What if we turned back to go get it if we forgot it?
What if we flipped through it several times a day?
What if we used it to receive messages from the text?
What if we treat it like we couldn't live without it?
What if we gave it to kids as gifts?
What if we used it as we traveled?
What if we used it in case of an emergency?
What if we upgraded it to get the latest version?
this is something to make you go, "Hmmm where is my Bible?"
Oh, and one more thing. Unlike our cell phone, we don't ever have to worry about our Bible being disconnected, because Jesus already paid the bill!
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GO ON TO GREATER THINGS
Johnny Ramsey
Since there is no area of the Lord's work that should concern us more than the conversion of the sinner and his subsequent spiritual advancement let us notice a few points calculated to make us think.
First, lest there be any misunderstanding let us compliment all who are striving to indoctrinate, nurture and encourage young Christians. This task demands mature Christianity. It is a most necessary yet rewarding work. Just to see the spiritual infant grow into adulthood in the Lord is indeed one of this life's richest thrills.
The New Testament affirms that the new birth is essential to entrance into God's family. Old things must pass away; all things must become new. Such a one must be a new creation; he must walk in newness of life (John 3, II Corinthians 5, Galatians 6, Romans 6). So far we have pretty well gone along with the usual approach, haven't we? But have you ever pondered the question: Why do so many "babes in Christ" die in their infancy? What makes the difference in the ones who grow and the ones who go? Is it not true that we have far the best program ever in most congregations to teach these new members? Do we not have excellent books, tracts, film strips, cottage meetings, etc. all geared to this phase of work? To make a long story short, the church is more conscious now about such needs than ever before. Yet, the Lord is losing multiplied thousands of potential laborers who turn back to Sodom. Why is it so? Does such tragedy have to occur?
In the physical realm we cannot eat, walk, work or grow for someone else. One cannot become or be a Christian by proxy. In our haste to have a well organized program for "the new converts' class" let us never overlook their individual needs for personal development. After all the material available on the market is purchased nothing will work so well as constant Bible study, a sincere desire to humbly serve the Saviour and much time spent in prayer. God will bless such devotion. This food for the soul is available for every new Christian. He has a responsibility to partake of it. We dare not cram it down his throat.
Can we not see that herein is the major difference between those "who grow by leaps and bounds" and the others who lag behind? A man needs to know before he ever enters Christ that there will be times when he must walk alone with God. Mature Christians will come to cherish such moments in the Divine presence. Have we failed to convey this view of the kingdom of God?
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