Our_Bulletin_11_13

Family News and Notes

Mark your calendar . our mid-week service for Thanksgiving week will be on Tuesday nite instead of Wednesday nite. Men's Business Meet tonight after services.

ATTENTION TEACHERS AND OTHERS INTERESTED IN TEACHING OUR CLASSES: Please plan to attend a meeting at 5:00 PM on Sunday, November 20th, in the Multi-purpose Room. We would like to have input regarding our current education program and future planning. Your attendance will be greatly appreciated.

Please check the round table in the foyer for a list of Pantry Items we need to replenish our pantry. Thanks.

There is a Wish List on the table in the foyer for two families from Boles Home. At the end of the month our young people will wrap and prepare the gifts for Boles Home.

Youth Activity next Saturday, November 19, from 3 PM until whenever. We will cut, split, deliver and stack wood to any shut-ins, widow, or elderly members who need it for the winter. David will buy Pizza for all participants following the project and maybe a movie if anything suitable is showing. If you know of a widow, shut-in, or elderly (even non-members) who need firewood please let David or Janice know ASAP.

Johnny & Iris Ramsey are away this week conducting a gospel meeting at Scurry, Texas.

Betty Ferrell had knee replacement on both her knees on Thursday, November 10 at Texas Spine and Joint Hospital. We joked about this Wednesday nite about the location for her surgery being the old Montgomery Ward Store. She will remain in Room No. 1 for about a week and then will be in rehab for a couple more weeks, at least, before coming home.

Billye Campbell got a good report from her doctor this past week and does not have to return for a year. She plans to be at services ASAP.

Coutney Marshall was dismissed from the hospital Friday and continues her recovery at home from her recent surgery. Brandon and Courtney said THANK YOU for all you have done for them.

Marie Plemmons has been in the Geriatric Unit at Titus Regional Medical Center this past week. May be there for several more days.

Weldon Miller had medical tests this past week to see what type treatment he will be needing for his problems.

Georgia Lide has been in Titus Regional Medical Center this past week. No updates at the printing of the bulletin

Joyce Lee is still in Room 408 at Titus Regional Medical Center. She is not doing very well and is not eating good.

Janice McCain's uncle, Guy Orbison, a faithful Gospel Preacher for over 50 years, passed away on Wednesday afternoon in Brownsville, Texas. His burial was at Albany, Texas.

We may have announced this but Jim Duncan's aunt, Mamie Kalil Duncan passed away on Thursday, October 3, 2006. Her funeral was conducted by Foust Funeral Home in Grapevine on Monday October 7 with burial at Bear Creek Cemetery in Euless, Texas. Mamie's husband, James Preston Duncan was born and lived his childhood in Mount Pleasant and he passed away about 10 months ago. Please remember this family in your prayers at this time of loss in their family.

THANK YOU "Dear Brethren: I appreciate so very much your prayers on my behalf and the get well cards.

With Christian love,

Wade Miller"

THANK YOU "Thank you for the spray of fresh flowers you sent for Mom's service. The love and support for our family during this time of sorrow has meant everything to us.

In Christian love,

Zeneth's family"

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PRAYER LIST:

Betty Abbey, Justin Barker, Rachel Barker, Louis Bell, Winell Blackard,

Annah Brown, Billye Campbell, Perry Cooper, Betty Ferrell, Hollis Lee, Joyce Lee, Georgia Lide, Courtney Marshall, Elna O'Neal, Wayne Pickrel, Marie Plemmons, Dorothy Sargent, Alva Mae Sheets, Edith Shiflet, Rebecca Tippitt

ALSO: Melba Boyd, Austin Cody, Wesley & Juanita DuBose, Dudley Farrell, Ruby Jeffery, Wayne Lineberger, Lonita Thompson

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Keep On Keeping On

Christ demands of His disciples total commitment and zealous work if we want to be rewarded with heaven someday. Lukewarm Christians make the Lord sick and quitters will never win the Lord's approval (Rev.3:15-16). Jesus warned the church at Sardis, that their unfinished works were jeopardized their spiritual standing with Him (Rev. 3:1-3). Brethren, when we think about the Lord's warnings to the churches of Asia, let us determine we will not be lukewarm quitters, but rather will commit ourselves wholly, zealously, and enthusiastically to the Lord, and to the work of His church, until the job is done and our mission is completed.

It's so easy for us to become discouraged and grow slack in our work for Jesus. Seemingly so few these days are interested in things spiritual. Complacency runs rampant even in the church. But we must not allow the disheartening fruit of the devil's work to cause us to slack off or quit. Please remember, there are no monuments erected to quitters in the Bible, and the "crown of righteousness" is reserved only for those who faithfully finish the race (I Cor. 9:24-27, Rev. 2:10, II Tim. 4:7-8, ).

So, "let us not grow weary in well doing, for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not" (Gal. 6:9). Let's keep on keeping on! Keep on believing and teaching the truth. Keep after your children to "grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus' (II Pet. 3:18), as you keep after yourself to make sure you "bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord" (Eph. 6:4). Keep striving to conform your will to the Lord's will. Keep on studying and praying. Keep on telling your friends about Jesus and inviting them to the worship services. Keep on faithfully attending every service. Keep on generously giving of your time, your money, your talents, and of yourself. Keep offering your life as a living sacrifice (Rms. 12:1- 2)!

Do all these things realizing your labors for God are never done in vain. It matters not what others do, only what you do. It matters not whether others turn a deaf ear to the teaching of Jesus, just make sure you don't. It matters not if others come or respond, only that you invite them. God has not commanded numbers. He has not even commanded success. He has only commanded obedience, service, faithfulness, and sacrifice on the part of all of His followers.

Just obey the Lord and do your part, and let Him worry about the success and about the numbers. Plant the seed and water the seed and God will give the increase (I Cor. 3:6 & 7). "Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord" (I Cor. 15:58).

Jesus said, "Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat; because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it" (Mt. 7:13 & 14). Brethren, it will be worth it to be one of the faithful few who find eternal life. So, don't give up the ship! Don't let the devil drag you down to the disheartening depths of discouragement and depression. Rather, fight the good fight, finish the course, and keep the faith (I Tim. 4:7). Then someday, when the Lord awards you the victor's crown, you will know all your efforts were worthwhile. As Paul said, "For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us" (Rms. 8:18). In other words, heaven will surely be worth the cost, so "keep on keeping on!"

David McCain

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STOUT-HEARTED MEN

Johnny Ramsey

One of the very first sermons I prepared as a young preacher was on the subject of "Courage." Later I added the title that heads this article and used the words of Romberg's stirring song as the basis for our appeal for conviction and loyalty and earnest endeavor as Christians:

"Give me some men who are stout-hearted men,

Who will fight for the right they adore;

Start me with ten, who are stout-hearted men

And I'll soon give you ten thousand more."

Jesus started with eleven faithful soldiers of the Cross and before they were through the Roman Empire trembled at the echo of their shout. Undaunted by the threats of persecution, isolation and even imprisonment valiant Christians of the first century persevered.

Today, in the midst of very few overt acts of hostility we are not as devoted, dedicated and determined. We need to apply, in a spiritual way, the magnetic words of Franklin Roosevelt in 1941: "We had rather die on our feet than live on our knees." In other words Christians will not surrender to the Devil; we will ardently fight his devious plans! There is another stanza in Romberg's classic song that illustrates the cumulative power of many soldiers marching together for a common cause. "Shoulder to shoulder and bolder and bolder they grow as they go to the foe, And there's nothing in the world can halt or mar their plan, When stout-hearted men stick togetherman to man!"

In Ephesians 6 and II Timothy 2:4 we are reminded that Christianity represents the army of the Lord. To be sure it is not carnal combat with material weapons (II Cor. 10:3-5) but it is nonetheless "mighty toward God to the casting down of strongholds." May we never forget to "fight the good fight of faith" if we would partake of eternal life (I Tim. 6:12).

Paul spoke tenderly and yet powerfully of his life as a child of God in II Timothy 4:7.

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