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Family News and Notes

The men are reminded of the Men's Business Meeting scheduled for this evening. All men are encouraged to attend.

The SIGN-UP SHEET is in the foyer for the "Adults Only Holiday Dinner Party" at the McCains on Friday evening, December 8th. Please read the information on the sheet and sign the list if you plan to attend.

Visitation Meeting next Sunday night (November 19) following services. We will be picking up cards and assignments. No meal or snacks.

MARK YOUR CALENDAR the week of Thanksgiving we will have mid-week services on Tuesday evening (Nov. 21) instead of Wednesday evening. We will NOT have classes that night but everyone will gather in the auditorium where will have singing and prayers.

Please keep the Marshall family in your prayers during this time in their lives.

Carl Lee did not get a good report regarding the tumor removed from his eye this past week. Diagnosis is that it was cancerous and he will have to return soon for more surgery.

Vernon Garrett is scheduled for cornea surgery on his eye on the 30th of this month, in Dallas.

Sue Browning's knee surgery had to be rescheduled to a later date.

Betty Abbey was able to return home from the hospital on Friday after her shoulder surgery and will continue recovery and therapy on an out-patient basis.

Hollis Lee received a bad report regarding the circulation in his leg and he must make a difficult decision about some additional dangerous surgery or possible amputation of his foot. Please keep him in your prayers.

T.V. LeMay (father of Kim Duncan and father-in-law of Odis Duncan), who has terminal cancer, has a new mailing address and would love to receive cards:

T. V. LeMay

27 Durrett Road

Leoma, TN 38468

Also, please keep him in your prayers.

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PRAYER LIST:

Justin Barker, Rachel Barker, Jean Bell, Winell Blackard, Annah Brown, Sue Browning, Nancy Chastain, Josephine Cooper, Perry Cooper, Vernon Garrett, Jan Hargrove, Carl Lee, 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, T. V. LeMay, Nola Vandusen

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Leaving A Legacy Of Love

Being a preacher, I have perhaps had more reason and opportunity to consider death than the average bear. A significant portion of my time has been spent at the side of the sick, the dying, and the bereaved. More than a few times, in the past twenty eight years of ministry, I have been present when word was received by the family that their loved one didn't make it through surgery, or couldn't be revived following an accident or heart attack. On a couple of occasions it has fallen my lot to be the one who had to tell a family that one of their loved ones had just died or been killed in an accident.

I have been there at the bedside of patients when they received the dreaded news of terminal illness. Several times I have held the hands of the dying, as they crossed the Jordan of death. More times than I care to remember, I have wept with family and friends as they journeyed through the valley of the shadow of death and buried their loved ones. I must confess, this aspect of ministry has been one of the most stressful tasks of the life I have chosen for myself as a preacher of the Gospel.

Through the years, I have learned that people deal with illness and death in different ways. Just like no two people have the same fingerprints, no two people deal with illness or death in exactly the same way. We are all unique, and we have to work through sickness and grief in our own individual ways. However, I have noticed one common denominator faithful Christians leave for their families when it comes their time to quit the walks of this life. The faithful Christian leaves his or her loved ones a legacy of precious, hope-filled memories of a life lived "in Christ." As the Psalmist wrote, "Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints" (Psalm 116:15).

Indeed, my experience at the side of hundreds of caskets has taught me we can leave our families no greater legacy than the precious memories of a life lived faithfully in Christ Jesus. No amount of wealth, position, or power bestowed upon your heirs, can even come close to equaling the rich bequest of joy, peace, and hope you will leave your loved ones if you die as a faithful child of God. As John wrote, "Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors and their works do follow them" (Rev. 14:13).

Brethren and friends, what kind of legacy will you leave your children? What kind of memories are you making for your family and friends? Will you leave behind a heritage of Christian living? Will your friends be able to legitimately eulogize you as a joyful, kind, and faithful Christian steward? Will they remember you as "a godly man" or "a worthy woman?" Will you leave for your relatives the assurance that you sleep in Jesus, so that at your graveside they need not sorrow as those who have no hope (I Thess. 4:13)? Will your epitaph be, "Well done good and faithful servant, enter into the joy of thy Lord" (Mt. 25:21)?

Why not leave your family a legacy of love? Become a Christian if you have not already done so. Then live for Jesus faithfully today and everyday! For what greater joy, what greater inheritance, what greater gift of peace and comfort can you leave your loved ones, than the precious memories of an obedient life transformed by the radiance of Christ? When that is the legacy of your life, then the chorus of that old funeral song by J. B. F. Wright will prove true: "Precious memories, how they linger, how they ever flood my soul; in the stillness of the midnight, precious sacred scenes unfold."

David McCain

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CHRISTIAN DUTIES AND EXHORTATIONS

Guest article by: David Harris of Brownwood, TX

From Bangs Church of Christ Bulletin

The epistle of Jude is written with the distinctive purpose of warning the brethren of the dangers of false teachers who would destroy the purity of the Gospel. It is a warning and an exhortation for all to earnestly contend for the faith. One of the striking features of this epistle is the terse manner in which it is written. Jude says much in a very little space. Couched in this warning is a wonderful exhortation issued to the brethren that often goes unnoticed. Jude 20-21: "But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, keep yourselves in the loveof God looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life."

The Holy Spirit through the pen of Jude wants us to edify one anotherbuilding up yourselves on your most holy faith One of our duties as a Christian is to edify the body.

Paul said: "But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head even Christ" (Ephesians 4:15). This is a reciprocal action between the members of His body. One building up the other, in times of joy, sadness, and service.

Notice Jude said to build up one another on your most holy faith. This is in contrast to an unholy faith a faith that has been mixed and not pure like the faith one receives from the word of God (Romans 10:17). We cannot edify the church with falsehood, untruth or a man made faith or organization.

Throughout the years men have done many good things through organizations, but one thing they cannot accomplish is the building up of the church, and glorification of our Lord.

Praying in the Holy Ghost, or the Holy Spirit, that means we must pray according to the doctrine revealed by the Holy Spirit in the Gospel. Paul said: "Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God" (Philippians 4:6). As Christians we must pray continuously, but we must also pray in the correct manner.

John adds: "And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us" (1 John 5:14). We have a duty as Christians to pray to the Lord constantly for ourselves and for one another.

Keep yourselves in the love of God, will involve our keeping the commandments of the "law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus" (Romans 8:2). Jesus said: "If you love me, keep my commandments" (John 14:15). All who are faithful to these commandments, will look with anticipation for the mercy by which we are saved (Titus 3:5). We have the responsibility to walk in the Spirit (Galatians 5:25), and also to exhort one another. Jude offers wonderful advice that will build up the church. May we always look to the Word for our learning and admonition.

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