Family News and Notes
Today is our Building Fund contribution day. If you are able and willing you may make a contribution. Thanks.
Thanks to all those who participated in our prayer and song service last Wednesday evening on behalf of the Hurricane Katrina victims in Mississippi, Louisiana and Alabama. If you were not here you missed out on a wonderful service.
Mark your calendar Next Sunday we will be taking up a SPECIAL CONTRIBUTION for the hurricane victims. If you are able and willing you may wish to help in that effort.
Helen Roper was admitted to Titus Regional Medical Center early this past week with heart problems that she developed during tests she was receiving. Her blood pressure was messed up and she developed systemic kidney problems. As of noon Friday she still had not been transferred to a hospital in Tyler for lack of rooms in ICU to handle her dialysis. Her blood pressure is coming up and she feels slightly better. She is waiting to hear about room in Tyler.
Wayne Pickrel was in Tyler at UT Tyler for a biopsy on his lung. No further report on his tests, but he should hear something soon. Then, at that point the doctors will discuss what methods of treatment he will require to take care of his problem.
Joyce Lee was taken to the emergency room at Titus Regional Medical Center Thursday morning suffering from what was originally thought to be a heart attack, but was just really high blood pressure. They were scheduled to administer medication to lower it.
David, via cell phone Friday morning, stated that Tina Lance was still in New Orleans attempting to get out of there and into Houston. The New Orleans airport (or portions of it) are now re-opened and she is waiting on a flight out.
We need to be mindful of all the refugees in town from Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama who will be needing further help in the days ahead.
Also, please don't forget to continue to remember the folks on our prayer list.
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PRAYER LIST:
Justin Barker, Rachel Barker, Louis Bell, Annah Brown, Billye Campbell,
Perry Cooper, Zenith Hargrove, Hollis Lee, Joyce Lee, David Neal, Winnie Patton, Wayne Pickrel, Helen Roper, Dorothy Sargent, Alva Mae Sheets, Edith Shiflet, Rebecca Tippitt
ALSO: Melba Boyd, Austin Cody, Wesley & Juanita DuBose, Ruby Jeffery, Lonita Thompson
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Rhodney's "Funny Bone"
I used to be schizophrenic, but we're OK now.
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Service Arrangements
ANNOUNCEMENTS.....................................Gene Campbell
SONG LEADER (AM)...........................................Hal Roper
(PM)...........................................Hal Roper
Wednesday Nite..........................Grady Duncan
PRAYERS Sunday.
AM First Prayer..............................................Gene Campbell
AM Closing........................................................Glenn Parham
PM First Prayer.................................................Rodney Cook
PM Closing....................................................Wayne Charlton
PRAYERS Wednesday Nite
First Prayer...............................................................Tim Jones
Closing...............................................................David McCain
COMMUNION FOR SEPTEMBER
AM Jerry Freeman Wayne Pickrel
Jody Sparks Darrell Cooper
Daniel McCary Joe Ferrell
PM Frankie Sargent Wayne Charlton
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Special Report
Katrina Harricane Relief Effort
Hattiesburg Update
Rhodney Freeman
About 3:00 AM Friday morning Wayne and Sid Charlton departed with a trailer load of goods for the hurricane victims in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. They were scheduled to meet up with Bro. David McCain and a group from Mabank at the large truck stop in Longview near I-20 to form a convoy to Mississippi.
Donations of food, water, miscellaneous items, and monetary contributions poured into our building Wednesday afternoon and evening and really steady all day long on Thursday right up until 9:00 PM. We had dozens of volunteers in shifts working throughout the day Wednesday and Thursday separating and packing goods into boxes from Chapman Transfer & Storage. As each box was packaged and labeled as to its contents, the young men loaded everything onto the trailer that had been donated by Pilgrim's.
Items collected and packaged consisted of: Baby Items, Water, Canned goods of all kinds, paper goods, over-the-counter medications, hygiene items, sanitary supplies, chainsaws, tools, extension cords, candles, several portable generators, stuffed animals for the children and gasoline cans (which were later filled) On a separate vehicle, driven by David McCain was over 100 5-gallon plastic cans filled with gasoline to be used for the generators and chain saws. At last report early Friday morning from Richland, MS, they were carrying more than 560 gallons of fuel in 2-gallon and 5-gallon containers.
At about 9:30 AM Friday morning David telephoned in an update. At that time they were somewhere between Vicksburg and Jackson, MS. He was leading the convoy with all that fuel, followed by Wayne Charlton and the 18-wheeler, then the convoy of trucks and trailers from the Mabank congregation and surrounding area. They were getting lots of looks and thumbs-up from folks all along the way.
Upon arrival at Hattiesburg about noon Friday, they were to unload the water at what was left of the Kensington Woods church of Christ building and the other items at safe emergency locations throughout the city for distribution by the members of the Kensington Woods congregation.
At 10:17 AM Friday phone report from Richland, MS (just West of Jackson, MS) from the church convoy some power has been restored there and cars were lined up on both sides of the road for more than 5 miles awaiting a turn at purchasing gasoline for $2.41 per gallon. There were 3 to 4 police cars at every station to monitor and allow only about 3 to 4 cars at a time up to the pumps.
The response from you, our members, area congregations, businesses, other churches, was phenomenal.
More news forthcoming when our folks return from the trip.
Thanks to all the Volunteers who helped Wednesday and Thursday.
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"Kindness Wins"
-Borrowed
Guest article from the Bangs Church of Christ Bulletin
June 16, 2002
(Today we are witnessing a need for kindness and brotherly love due to the recent hurricane disaster in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama in addition to many other times. It was felt this article fit in at this time.)
Solomon had much to say about the control of one's spirit and the value of wisdom over brute force. On one occasion he wrote, "He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; And he that ruleth his spirit, than he that taketh a city" (Proverbs 16:32). Unfortunately those who control the spirit are becoming less in number with each passing day.
Meanwhile the entertainment industry would have the younger generation to believe that sheer force and violence is preferred over kindness. But Solomon addressed this as well: "A wise man scaleth the city of the mighty, And bringeth down the strength of the confidence thereof" (Proverbs 21:22).
History tells of an encounter between Taxiles and Alexander the Great. With a mighty army Alexander had come into India. Cities, yea nations, had crumbled beneath the might sword of this great man of war. Where Alexander and his army marched the earth shook beneath his feet. Taxiles was a prince whose territory was as large as Egypt and contained rich pasture lands as well as fertile arable land. He was no fool, this Taxiles. With great wisdom he faced Alexander the Great with more than an army equipped with spears, swords, and shields. Upon greeting Alexander he asked him, "Why should we fight battles with one another? You have not come here to rob us of water or of the necessities of life, and these are the only things for which sensible men are obliged to fight. As for other kinds of wealth and property so-called, if I possess more than you, I am ready to be generous toward you, and if I have less, I shall not refuse any benefits you may offer."
Alexander was impressed with the man's words, and taking the hand of Taxiles he said, "Perhaps you think that after your kind words and courtesy our meeting will pass off without a contest. No, you shall not get the better of me in this way. I shall fight with you to the last, but only in the services I offer you, for I will not have you outdo me in generosity." History goes on to tell us that Alexander received an abundance of gifts from Taxiles, but not to be outdone, returned unto Taxiles even more than he received.
Kindness is a trait of God. When we love our enemies, and do them good, we emulate our Father, for He is "kind toward the unthankful and evil" (Luke 6:35). Thus we are told, "be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving each other, even as God also in Christ forgave you" (Eph. 4:32). Make it a point to be kind to someone this week. The opportunity may not come this way again.
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