Family News and Notes
Since this is Thanksgiving week we will meet on Tuesday night, November 21, instead of Wednesday night. Additionally, we will be having a singing and prayer service. No classes. Everyone will meet in the auditorium.
Reminder when the men who are assigned to the Communion Table make their way to the front of the auditorium to be seated this is a signal for all the visiting to end at that time and to begin preparing your mind for the Worship Service. We have frequently been negligent and our visiting has continued beyond this time. Thanks
Copies of the Minutes from the Men's Business Meeting and Financial Report for the month ending October 31 are available on the table in the foyer. If you are interested, please take a copy.
VISITATION TEAMS please take note. Since we are having a "Going away" fellowship this evening in the Multi-Purpose Room for Geneva Cooksey and Iris Ramsey, we will not meet. However the visitation cards are available on the table in the foyer. Please remember to pick up yours.
Following the evening service today we will have a "Going Away Fellowship" for Geneva Cooksey and Iris Ramsey. Bring sandwiches, chips and dip, and desserts. Soft drinks will be furnished.
Christmas for Boles Home We are still short dozens of items on the list for gifts for Boles Home. If you are able, won't you sign up for one of the items on the list. We have to finalize this by December 1st. Thanks.
The new quarter begins on December 1 and Bob Hedges is in need of teachers. He is especially in need of an assistant with the High School Class.
Nancy Chastain responded to the invitation on November 5, requesting prayers from the congregation on her behalf and expressed her desire to place membership with us. We are glad to have Nancy as a recognized member of this congregation. Please pray for her as she has requested.
Pat Lee continues to recover after a fall that hurt her back. She has been in lots of pain, but is feeling much better.
Carl Lee has been referred to another doctor regarding surgery with his eye. He has not yet heard when this will be scheduled.
Sue Browning will have a triple by-pass surgery on her heart at Baylor early Monday morning. When she has recovered, she will have knee surgery. Keep her in your prayers.
Hollis Lee will have to have his leg amputated soon as a result of his diabetes. The surgery is scheduled for early AM this coming Tuesday at Mother Frances Hospital in Tyler. Please remember Hollis in your prayers.
Wade Miller has been having lots of trouble with his right arm due to bursitis and a resultant infection. He has had to take triple doses of antibiotics. He has been in lots of pain. Wade has multiple health problems and we need to keep him in our prayers.
Judy Freeman's parents, Wesley and Juanita DuBose, are now residing here in Mount Pleasant at Mount Pleasant Assisted Living, 2900 North Edwards, Apt. 15A. They have just about settled into their new home and are happy to be near their grandchildren and great grandchildren. Wesley is wheelchair bound because of diabetes and Juanita requires a walker and/or a wheelchair to do the things she wishes to do.
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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, Brandon & Courtney Marshall, 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, Wayne Lineberger, T. V. LeMay, Nola Vandusen
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"Gossip"
(The Cowardly Character Assassin)
"Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth! ...It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison." James 3:5-8
God has always placed great emphasis on man's need to guard his speech. Two of the Ten Commandments referred to sins of speech, warning: "Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain," and, "Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor" (Ex. 20:7 & 16). Three of the seven things God hates, have to do with an unbridled tongue: "a lying tongue, a false witness that speaks lies, and he who sows discord among brethren" (Prov. 6:16-19). One of the most arresting warnings Jesus ever gave is, "...every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgement. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned" (Mt. 12:36-37).
Though the word "gossip" is not found in the King James Version of the Bible, sinful gossip is surely condemned therein. "Sinful gossip" is speaking evil of someone with the intent to hurt them, or to damage their reputation. Thus, the sinful gossip is a reputation assassin. The poet Jean Blewett well described the crime when he wrote: "The man who with the breath lent him by heaven, speaks words that soil the whiteness of life, is but a murderer, for death is given as surely by the tongue as by the knife."
Sinful gossip belies the worst sort of cowardice. Whereas the brave challenge their enemies face to face, the gossip only attacks when the back is turned. The gossip does his politicking on the sly, thinking his worth is built up by tearing others down. Innuendo, rumors, unjust criticism, and lies are the gossip's calling cards.
Literally hundreds of Scriptures condemn those who intentionally use their tongue to hurt others, to malign their character, or to harm their reputation. Leviticus 19:16 commanded, "Thou shalt not go up and down as a talebearer among thy people." Solomon admonished, "...he that uttereth a slander is a fool," and later wrote, "The words of a talebearer are as wounds" (Prov. 10:18 & 26:22). In other words, "Gossip HURTS." In the heinous list of crimes given in Romans 1:18-32, "whisperers" and "backbiters" anchor the center of the list (Rms. 1:18-32).
Finally, Paul spoke of some young widows who, "...learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house; and not only idle, but tattlers also and busybodies, speaking things which they ought not" (I Tim. 5:13). Certainly, women don't have the market cornered on being gossips or busybodies, any more than many men, who are often just as guilty of, "shifting their brain into neutral and letting their tongue rattle on."
Gossip can destroy individuals, as well as whole churches. It is a sin which should not be named among God's children, yet sadly is often practiced among us. We need to pray with the psalmist, "Set a watch, O Lord, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips" (Psa. 141:3), and "Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer" (Psa. 19:14). Indeed, may God help us to guard our speech, so we will never commit this cowardly and hurtful sin.
David McCain
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Time To Realize
by H. L. Gradowith
(From The Enon Endeavor, 1-15-2004
Enon church of Christ, Webb, AL)
I was rushing along in the sinners' way,
Not thinking of the price I would have to pay;
Just doing whatever I wanted to do
Never thinking my life would ever be through.
I never once took the time to realize
That playing, alone, will not win one the prize;
We play and then we either win, lose or tie:
But however we place we're still gonna' die.
I was foolish I now know but way back then
I thought it was just fun not damnable sin.
Like most of my friends I was wild and carefree
Never thinking the rules should apply to me.
But I to my senses was brought at long last
And humbled and shamed by my horrible past.
I thought myself hopeless defiled and undone
But that was before I met God's Precious Son!
I'm now walking along in the narrow way,
Relying on Jesus for my sins to pay!
I now do the things that He wants me to do:
Prepared for the Judgment when my life is through.
I'm glad that I took the time to realize
That playing, alone, will not win one the prize;
Because I have chosen on Him to rely
A LifeCrown is waiting for me when I die!
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AUDITING THE COURSE
Ken Jones
(Guest article from The Southwesterner
Southwest church of ChristAda OK)
Most colleges and universities will allow one to register for and attend a particular course without receiving academic credit. You may attend the class each time it meets, or you might be absent any number of times. You may choose not to do any of the homework, take notes, or even be there on the day of the final exam.
Similarly, I wonder how many of us are just auditing church. We "registered" (we were baptized). We attend "classes" (the worship assemblies). We sing the songs, hear the sermons, say the prayers, and eat the Supper; but we have no intention of taking it any further. We simply did not sign up for any of the work. We'll attend and we'll listen. We are just auditing, you see. Preacher, don't count on me to help with any churchrelated assignments; I'm just auditing the course!
But guess what! You'll be there for the final exam. "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in his body, according to what he has done, whether it is good or bad" (2 Cor. 5:10). "Be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves" (James 1:22).
Are you listening and participating and working, or just auditing the course?
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