Family News & Notes
DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME . comes to an end this coming Saturday nite (October 29th...or at 2:00 AM Sunday morning October 30) so be sure you set your clocks back 1 hour before going to bed so you won't be here at the building 1 hour ahead of everyone else.
On Wednesday evening, October 26 the men of the congregation will present a study. They always do such a good job. You won't want to miss this.
FISH FRY at noon on Saturday, October 29th at Joe Ferrell's cabin in Cass County, for all the men and boys of the congregation. DIRECTIONS: Go to Avinger and turn left on HWY 155 toward Linden. After about 5 miles you will see Pruitt Lake Church on the right. About 200 yards passed that you take the first left. Travel to the first crossroad and turn right (hard to see). You are about 1 mile from the lake and should be able to find everyone. Brian & Joe will do the cooking. See Sign-Up Sheet in foyer.
The Youth will have a get-together on Saturday evening October 29 at 6:00 PM. Come dressed "tacky." (Youth: if you don't understand what dressing "tacky" is then you need to talk with your grandparents who frequently had "Tacky Parties" years ago.) If any member would like to donate to the PANTRY DRIVE please sign the sheet on the round table in the foyer. The Youth will come by in their 'tacky' garbs to pick up your donations. You get a visit from youth, they have a fun Fall party, and our pantry gets replenished! Everybody profits, the needy are cared for, and God is glorified.
IMPORTANT NEWS. Please remember and mark your calendar that on November 8, 2005 you will have a chance to vote regarding Proposition 2 on the ballot (The Marriage Amendment) stating that marriage in Texas is between a man and a woman. This is a special election and turnout is expected to be low. Each of us needs to weigh in on this important election to help insure that God's standard for marriage is the law of the land.
New pages for your Church Directory are available on the round table in the foyer. Please make certain you pick up your copy (1 per family, please).
Additionally, please correct your directory page for Helen Roper. Her correct birthday is: February 3, and NOT as shown. We regret the error.
Also, please change the work phone number for Bob Hedges. It should read
903-572-1911 instead of as shown.
Copies of the Minutes from the Men's Business Meeting and Financial Statement for the month ending September 30 are available on the table in the foyer. If you are interested you may take a copy.
Wayne Pickrel continues with his treatments. He was tired Wednesday evening after Wednesday's treatment and was resting at home.
Justin Barker, while using his walker and going to the car on Sunday evening, fell and broke his right elbow. We need to remember little Justin and his family in our prayers.
Hollis Lee, who is at Mount Pleasant Healthcare Rehab, goes for dialysis treatments on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. So if you plan to visit or call him he won't be available on those three days.
Elna O'Neal has been sick at home and was not able to attend Wednesday evening services.
Patsy Duncan, who has been experiencing difficulties with her eyes began a new type of treatment last week to help correct her vision problems. She has been diagnosed with Ocular Histoplasmosis, (a fairly common disease caused by a fungus spore born in the dust around chicken houses and bird roosts in dried droppings).
Gene Campbell suffered a bout of kidney stones early last week. A very painful experience, for those of you who have never had one. He is doing much better, now.
Billye was able to return home last Wednesday but early Friday morning she had to be taken back to Dallas because of complications. We will try to have an update for you ASAP.
Edson Reynolds (JoAnn Miller's brother) has been diagnosed with bladder cancer and had surgery on Friday, October 21. The family requests that we keep him in our prayers.
Winnie Patton passed away on Thursday morning, October 20, at Mount Pleasant. Her funeral was conducted at 10 AM on October 29 at Bates-Cooper-Sloan Funeral Home Chapel with graveside service and burial at Moore Cemetery in Clarita, OK at 4:00 PM.
Eunice Boules of Oklahoma City, OK (aunt of Wanda Carlock and Fay Gilmore) passed away last week. Her funeral was conducted on Thursday at 11:00 AM with burial at Mimms Chapel Cemetery near Jefferson.
THANK YOU. "We would like to thank everyone for the beautiful flowers sent for Eunice's funeral. It is nice to have a loving church family like you who always seem to remember their brothers and sisters in Christ in times of sadness."
Wanda Carlock & Fay Gilmore
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PRAYER LIST:
Betty Abbey, Justin Barker, Rachel Barker, Louis Bell, Winell Blackard, Annah Brown, Billye Campbell, Perry Cooper, Zenith Hargrove, Hollis Lee, Joyce Lee, Georgia Lide, Elna O'Neal, Wayne Pickrel, Dorothy Sargent, Alva Mae Sheets, Edith Shiflet, Rebecca Tippitt
ALSO: Melba Boyd, Austin Cody, Denise Dering, Wesley & Juanita DuBose, Dudley Farrell, Ruby Jeffery, Wayne Lineberger, Lonita Thompson
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Are You Prepared For Spiritual Service?
Several years ago, Janice and I had the privilege of taking the Red Cross CPR lifesaving course. In about 12 hours of classroom instruction, and a few hours of personal study and practice, we learned the basic techniques of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), which can be used to try to save the life of someone who is choking, who has stopped breathing, or whose heart has stopped beating. Although I hope I never have to use the skills I learned in that course, it's comforting to know that I have at least the basic knowledge and skills to administer CPR to a friend, neighbor, or loved-one, should the need ever arise.
Since taking that CPR course, I have often thought about all the people who have had to stand helplessly by and watch a relative, neighbor, or accident victim die, because they did not have the simple skills that were needed to possibly prevent that death. How heart-rending it must be, when one is forced to let an opportunity to save a life slip by, simply because they were not properly trained to render aid. Of course, that's why so many CPR classes are offered, because as the number of people trained in CPR grows, the more likely it will be someone with the training will be nearby to give aid during those critical first few minutes when an emergency situation occurs.
Just like we must prepare ourselves in order to be capable of rendering medical aid in an emergency, so must we diligently prepare ourselves to render spiritual aid to those who are dying in sin. In all areas of the Lord's work, evangelism, edification, and benevolence, it is quite evident that only those who are prepared to serve will be capable of rendering significant spiritual aid. However, how many times have we stood helplessly by, and watched a friend, neighbor, or loved-one die spiritually, simply because we were not prepared to prevent that spiritual death? As you contemplate your answer, surely you see the need for spiritual preparation, if you are to develop the necessary skills for the task of saving souls (James 5:19-20).
I'm glad I had the opportunity to take the CPR course, so I might someday be able to save the life of another human being. In fact, I would encourage everyone to take the course, if at all possible. However, how much more important it is that we prepare ourselves for saving souls!
The Bible says we are to have a ready answer for the questions of others concerning our hope in Christ (I Pet. 3:15). Are you prepared to give that answer? Are you prepared to render spiritual aid to those who are lost and dying in sin? May God grant us the desire to prepare for spiritual service, by having our "feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace" (Eph. 6:15), as we study the Scriptures to show ourselves approved and unashamed workmen in God's sight (II Tim. 2:15). Of course, a great place to begin preparing for spiritual service is to be present for every service of Bible study and worship each Sunday and Wednesday, and whenever other opportunities for study and growth occur. David McCain
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The High Cost of Calvary
Johnny Ramsey
Paul made it exceedingly clear in Romans 6:23 that the wages of sin is death! In the Bible, from Genesis 3 onward, death means separation. In Matthew 27:46 Jesus realized that He would be momentarily separated from the Father because of our sins the Savior bore at Golgotha. Jehovah, who is of purer eyes than to look favorably upon inequity, looked away from the Son to give sinners like you and me an opportunity for redemption (Habakkuk 1:13; I Peter 2:24).
Our precious Lord was born to die and become a sin-bearer for us (2 Corinthians 5:21). We must truly be loved in heaven (Rom. 5:8). The high cost of Calvary meant the separation, sorrow, suffering, sacrifice and surrender of the Lamb of God! Christ shed precious blood to purchase the church (Acts 20:28) and the remission of our sins (Matthew 26:28). This alone makes Him worthy to receive our praise, loyalty and eternal dedication (Rev. 5:12-14). A brilliant poem challenges our heart's adoration:
He borrowed a room on His way to the tomb
The Passover Lamb to eat.
They borrowed a cave for Him a grave
They borrowed a winding sheet
But the crown that He wore
And the cross that He bore
Were His own The Cross was His own.
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