Family News and Note
This is the first Sunday of new month. If you are able and have made plans then today is the day you can contribute toward our Building Fund.
The men are reminded of the Men's Business Meeting scheduled for next Sunday evening. All men are encouraged to attend.
Kristian Marshall has requested our prayers on her behalf to help her to be a better Christian and example to others. Her desire is to put Christ first in her life so she may have a home in Heaven. Please continue to pray for Kristian.
Clevie Johnson has requested that we remember his daughter and son-in-law in our prayers (Alicia and Brandon Nance). Alicia is in Germany. She is expecting a baby. This will be Clevie's first grandchild. Her husband, Brandon, is on his second tour of duty in Iraq.
PLEASE NOTE We NEED help filling the list on the table in the foyer regarding Christmas items for Boles Home. Won't you check this list and see if can help out. We need to finalize this by December 3rd.
MARK YOUR CALENDAR The ANNUAL HOLIDAY DINNER / PARTY for all adults in the congregation is scheduled for Friday evening, December 8th. This will be in the new residence for the McCain family. I really think David is expecting a large crowd. Watch for the sign-up sheet.
Carl Lee is back at home following the removal of a tumor behind his eye. He is feeling better, evidently from the relief of pressure. He waiting to hear from the doctor concerning the pathology report, but is hoping the tumor was benign. Carl supposes that "no news is good news."
Vernon Garrett is scheduled to go to Dallas this Wednesday (November 8th) to see his eye doctor regarding what treatment(s) can be done to help correct his eyesight difficulties.
R. C. Grissom was admitted to Titus Regional Medical Center gain on Thursday morning. He is having more difficulties.
Helen Roper was dismissed from the hospital on Thursday, after having a spell with her heart last Sunday. She is in good spirits and is doing better. She is back at her home, next door to Hal and Karen.
Rhonda Newman had gall bladder surgery on Thursday morning and had to stay overnight in the hospital. She was dismissed Friday morning and is at home recuperating. Grandparents are pitching in the help with Zoe.
Doug Abbey is now back at home after spending a week in the hospital. He is learning to cope with his diabetes.
Hollis Lee is scheduled to go to his doctor on Wednesday to see about further treatment(s) regarding his legs.
THANK YOU "We would like to express our "Thank You" for all the cards, phone calls, prayers and visits that we have received. A "Special Thank You" to the Ladies Bible Class for the beautiful card. It is so wonderful to have all the Christian love we have received. Thoughtfulness like yours makes the day brighter and the world a little better.
In Christian Love
William & Patsy Embree"
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PRAYER LIST
Justin Barker, Rachel Barker, Jean Bell, Winell Blackard, Annah Brown,
Nancy Chastain, Josephine Cooper, Perry Cooper, Jan Hargrove, 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: Bobby Brewster, Cristell Cato, Austin Cody, Lana Downs, Juanita DuBose, Wesley DuBose, Carolyn Fox, Roy Fox, Edna Graves, Ruby Jeffery, Carlos Kidwell, Wayne Lineberger, Nola Vandusen
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A Loving Letter To Our Absentee Members
Dear Brethren,
We've certainly been missing you lately, and are very concerned about you, though we sometimes don't know how to approach you about the matter for fear we might make the situation worse than better, if we say the wrong thing and make you mad. Of course, we're not talking about those of you who have been sick and shut-in, although we miss you too and are concerned about you too, howbeit with a different kind of concern. However, the focus of this letter is toward you brethren who have been willfully neglecting the feeding of your souls and are backsliding into a "worldly lifestyle." No, we're not accusing you of gross immorality when we say you are slipping back into a worldly lifestyle. We're just very concerned for your souls because your recent absenteeism forces us to conclude you care not for assembling with the saints, as the Lord commands.
Can we assume you no longer wish to be a member of Christ's church? Should we remove your name from the roll of faithful members at North Jefferson? Do you think we are out of line to think of you as an unfaithful, backsliding, negligent, worldly, delinquent member of the body of Christ? If you say, "Well, I haven't quit the church," let us ask you, what more would you have to do, or not do, in order to quit the Lord and His church?
Your absenteeism has kept you from communing with your Lord, causing you to be in clear violation of I Corinthians 11:26. It has kept you from offering support and encouragement to your brethren. It has limited your opportunities to praise, adore, and thank your Heavenly Father. It has kept you from supporting the Lord's work financially, since you are obviously not "laying by in store on the first day of the week" (I Cor. 16:2). It has prevented your active participation in the work of the church. It has brought spiritual starvation to your soul, as you have absented yourself from the teaching and preaching of the "bread of life." Now, really, if this does not describe someone who has quit the Lord and His church, what does? If you never showed up for work, how long do you think it would be before the boss would assume you had quit your job?
Of course, you may be thinking, "those folks down at church just don't understand my situation! I've got a legitimate excuse for being absent so much." Don't you realize, if you're looking for excuses, Satan is at your service? His list is endless: "I'm too tired, I have a headache, I have to work late and would have to come in my work clothes, I'm just too busy, the kids had a ballgame (scouts, school activity, homework, etc.), company came so we had to entertain them, I had a prior commitment, the weather was bad, it's too hard to get everyone up and ready by Bible class time, one family member was sick so the whole family had to stay home to care for him/her, it's just impossible to come because we have small children, I don't like the teachers, or the subjects, or the preacher, or the members, the benches are too hard for my back, large crowds make me nervous, ad infinitum."
No, we're not saying God expects us to be at services when we are really unable, but we do believe He is not gullible, like our excuses imply. We don't let excuses keep us from going to work, to school, or to the lake or golf course. They don't keep us from eating or sleeping, or watching TV, or doing almost anything else we really want to do. So, we are forced to conclude the real excuse is you really don't care about things spiritual, for as the old saying goes, "You do what you really want to do!"
Through the years I have personally watched the people who couldn't sit through a church service, who somehow found the stamina to sit in an uncomfortable boat seat for an all-day fishing trip.
I have observed folks who were too sick to come to church, but not too sick to crawl out of bed and into the motor home for a vacation. I've seen brethren, who couldn't stand big crowds, sitting in the midst of a football stadium with 10,000 screaming voices. I've witnessed folks who couldn't get their children to Bible class on time, but who somehow make sure they're never late to school, soccer practice, piano lessons, and the Cub Scout meetings.
God expects all His children to be at every service if possible. Jesus promised to bless those occasions with His presence (Mt. 18:20). Why would any of us ever willfully miss an opportunity to be with God and Christ? No, it is not a sin to miss a church service when we are legitimately hindered from being present. However, it is sinful to forsake (meaning: "to abandon, give up, desert, renounce, to quit or leave entirely" - Webster) the assemblies (Heb. 10:25). The Hebrew writer warns us of the consequences of forsaking the assemblies when he concludes with this frightening statement: "For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries. He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace? For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people. It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God." (Hebrews 10:26-31).
Missing brother or sister, we are sincerely concerned for your soul. We are concerned for the souls of your children and all others who live within the bounds of your influence. What is your example teaching them? Do you really think your example shows that Christ and His church are preeminent in your life? Do you really believe you are committed to Christ when you willfully and habitually forsake the assemblies of the church? When you forsake the services of the church, you not only do so to the detriment of your own soul, but you also hurt the church. You discourage the other members who are present. You discourage the teachers who have prepared lessons for you and your family's edification. You discourage the preacher who has worked hard to prepare a sermon to challenge your thinking. And, you discourage the elders who are charged with watching for your soul. Most of all, you grieve the Holy Spirit by "trampling under foot God's Son" (Hebrews 10:29).
So, as Johnny Ramsey often said, as he quoted the Apostle Paul, "have we become your enemy by telling you the truth (Gal. 4:16)? We hope not, because we are not your enemy. Rather it is love for you and your soul that causes us to call this matter to your attention. We love your precious soul that will be lost eternally in that "certain fearful expectation of judgement," unless you repent now, and once again become a faithful and active member of the Lord's church. We'll be looking for you at services this Sunday!
In Christian love,
Authored by David McCain
On behalf of the elders, deacons, Bible class
teachers, and faithful members of the
North Jefferson church of Christ
P.S. If this letter makes you angry and causes your blood pressure to rise, it's a pretty good sign you are guilty of forsaking the assemblies. If this letter does not concern you because you are faithful in your attendance, why not mail it to some brother or sister who is not faithful, along with a note of concern encouraging them to come home and make things right with God before it is everlastingly too late. David McCain
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