Family News and Notes
SPECIAL CONTRIBUTION THIS MORNING FOR THE KATRINA HURRICANE VICTIMS. If you are able and wish to contribute to this effort you may do so this morning. Thanks.
After evening service today the MEN'S BUSINESS MEETING is scheduled in the Multi-purpose Room. All men of the congregation are encouraged to attend.
LADIES BIBLE CLASS resumes on Tuesday, September 13th at 10:00 AM, here at the building. The topic of study will be the 1st Chapter of Matthew. Afterwards the ladies will go to Western Sizzlin to eat.
REMEMBER.mark your calendars Our Gospel Meeting begins on October 9th and runs thru October 12th with Bro. Michael Light. Tell your friends and neighbors.
SCHEDULE FOR WEDNESDAY EVENING, SEPTEMBER 14TH
the men of the congregation will be in charge of services. Please make plans to be here to see the good work these men do.
David, Janice, Jon and Ben McCain and Johnny & Iris Ramsey will be at Huntsville, AL this week for the "Polishing The Pulpit Workshop." Then the McCain family will be on vacation the week of Sept. 18th and Johnny Ramsey will be in a Gospel Meeting at Bremen, GA. Please pray for these good Christians.
WEINER ROAST scheduled for September 17th from 4:30 PM until Whenever at the home of Ronnie & Connie Stewart. This get-together is for the Young Adult Class taught by Bob Hedges. All other young adults are invited even if you do not attend this class. (DEFINITION OF YOUNG ADULT If you "think" you are young, then you are!) The event is for the purpose of the young adults to get acquainted No kids, please. Contact Connie Stewart, Vicki Miller or Stephanie Sparks for details. There is a sign-up sheet in the foyer. Please bring a 1-liter drink & chips.
Edith Shiflet is doing much better and was able to attend services last Wednesday evening.
Sherry Young, whom many of you know, is ill at home and requests our prayers.
Narci Cooper had to leave services early last Sunday morning because she was feeling ill. Turned out her potassium level was low. She is doing much better now.
Helen Roper was scheduled to be transferred by to Titus Regional Medical Center on Thursday or Friday. She is doing much better, but her treatment will continue for a while.
Myrtice Grissom is scheduled to have a colonoscopy early this week.
Wayne Pickrel has an appointment with his surgeon on Monday, in Tyler, to discuss treatment for his health problem.
Please remember in your prayers those previously mentioned, as well as those on our Prayer List.
New Members & addresses:
Douglas & Betty Abbey
2763 North Jefferson
Mount Pleasant, Texas 75455
903-575-1898
Doyle & Brenda Riley
Katrina Marlow & Brandon Riley
509 Southgate
Mount Pleasant, Texas 75455
903-572-2030
Daniel & Keely McCary
920 FM 1993
Cookville, Texas 75558
Daniel (Cell) 903-767-6211
Keely 903-767-5187
Check the tract rack on the south side of the foyer for photo updates for your directory.
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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, Denise Dering, Wesley & Juanita DuBose,
Ruby Jeffery, Lonita Thompson, Sherry Young
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Lessons From Hurricane Katrina
The news media has filled our eyes the past two weeks with the heart-breaking pictorial record of the awful flood in New Orleans and the terrible devastation wrought by "Hurricane Katrina" on the Mississippi and Louisiana gulf coast region. Hopefully, this has served to remind us of the finite nature of earthly life and the fragileness of earthly possessions. Viewing the sad results of "Katrina" makes me think of the words of that old song, "This world is not my home, I'm just a passing through." Having personally lived through a force one storm, "Hurricane Bonnie," which hit the southeast Texas gulf coast in 1986, when we were living in Bridge City, I can tell you that experiencing a natural disaster can remind you of several obvious, howbeit often taken for granted spiritual truths.
The first concerns the omnipotent power of God. Hurricanes are caused by the uneven heating and cooling of the ocean and are primarily the result of a natural process called "thermal convection." The forces of nature were established and set in motion by the omnipotent power of God (Col. 1:16, Rev. 4:11). "Hurricane Katrina" was a force five storm, the granddaddy of all "acts of God," as natural disasters are sometimes called. However, Katrina was a drop in the proverbial bucket, compared with the unbounded power God has at His disposal. Volcanoes, fires, floods, mudslides, hurricanes, earthquakes, tsunamis or tidal waves, tornadoes, and all other natural disasters vividly remind us not to take God's infinite power lightly.
A second self-evident truth which natural disasters forcefully proclaim is that material things are only temporary. It is often easy to take life for granted, or to get wrapped up in the "accumulation rat race" of trying to "keep up with or get ahead of the Joneses." Possessions, investments, and insurance create for us a false sense of security, but then along comes a terrible storm to rudely remind us that material things are not eternal. The not so subtle result of a natural disaster is that earthly possessions which were here yesterday are gone today. Thus, we are reawakened to the fact that "things" don't really provide happiness, meaning, purpose, or security for our lives.
Finally, disasters provide a lesson on preparation for eternity. To watch the people of a coastal area prepare for a hurricane would be almost amusing, if not for the seriousness of the approaching tempest. The hurry, scurry, flurry of activity, as folk rush to and fro preparing for the storm, resembles the frenzy of a flattened fire ant bed, or the busy buzzing bustle of a bothered beehive. The lines at gas stations and the chaotic crowds at Wal-Mart or the grocery stores make you wonder if you've missed the announcement of imminent nuclear war. All of which causes me to wonder, shouldn't we be as concerned about the approaching "storm" of eternal judgment (Jn. 12:48, II Cor. 5:10-11, Heb. 10:31), as we are about the approach of a hurricane? Think of what we could accomplish in the name of the Lord if we were to become as concerned about the destructive power of the final judgment by Christ (Rev. 20:12-15), as we are about the destructive power of earthly calamities!
Sadly, many people lost their lives as a result of "Hurricane Katrina," but I doubt any of them went to bed the night before thinking it would be their last night of rest here upon this earth. Undoubtedly they had plans for days, weeks, and months to come. However, today their souls are in Hades, awaiting the final judgment of God. Their lives are now a closed book, their destiny is sealed, and only God knows whether or not they were prepared to meet Him in judgment. You and I are different though, for we've been spared to live another day. If we are wise, we will let "Katrina," and other disasters, teach us the lesson of eternity. Are you prepared for eternal judgment? It may come sooner than you think.
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REAL LOVE
Johnny Ramsey
The life of brotherly love never ignores sin or error, but it does look for the best and strives to never be suspicious, or one who delights in exposing others. We use correction to prevent souls from being lost and the cause of Christ from being hindered (1 Corinthians 9:12,16). We cannot ignore untruth nor dare we "pass by on the other side" as the Priest and Levite did in Luke 10 when someone was in need. Brotherly love causes us to "seek peace and pursue it" as 1 Peter 3:10-13 demands.
In Galatians 6, we read of three bears:
Bear your own burdens
Bear your brother's burden
Bear the marks of Christ in your body
When we live the sacrificial and joyous life of brotherly love we will obey the enthralling ideals found in Ephesians 4:1-3. Notice the component points of this challenge in a section of Holy Scripture:
1. Walk worthy of the lord
2. In lowliness and meekness
3. Forbearing one another in love
4. Endeavoring to keep the unity of the
Spirit in the bond of peace
When this lofty message is combined with our steadfast commitment of presenting our bodies as living sacrifices (Romans 12) the angels of heaven will rejoice and the world will take notice that we have been with Jesus (Acts 4:13).
Let the beauty of Jesus be seen in me,
All His wonderful passion and purity;
May His Spirit divine all my being refine,
Let the beauty of Jesus be seen in me!
The life of brotherly love transcends earthly woes, heartaches and tragedy. Such a sweet fellowship between brethren overwhelms earthly kin who care not for things eternal. Jesus said that His family was made up of those who do the Father's will (Mark 3:35). We inherit, in Christ, by brotherly love, joy unspeakable and full of glory (Mark 10:30).
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