Our_Bulletin_12_12

Family News and Notes

Men's Business Meeting tonight following the evening services. All men are encouraged to attend.

UPCOMING EVENTS:

Youth Get-together scheduled for December 18th. There is a map on the round table in the foyer to the Sparks home on FM 1734. More details later.

On Wednesday December 29, all classes will meet in the auditorium with the adults where we will be singing that evening.

Your editor failed to mention that in addition to Hall Roper and his wife Karen, their children Keely and Bronson also placed membership with our congregation. I apologize for the oversight.

This past Wednesday evening Helen Roper placed membership with our congregation. Your editor has not yet been furnished with her address but as soon as it is available I will publish it here.

Overlooked last week:

Alva Mae Sheets

Villa of Mount Pleasant

1714 North Edwards

Room 6

Mount Pleasant, Texas 75455

The sign-up sheet for the Tanzania 2000 Mission effort Newsletter is on the rectangle table in the foyer for anyone who would like to be added to the mailing list.

This editor has not received a report on how the "Care Boxes" are progressing. However, if you wish to make a donation toward this effort you need to contact either Veleta McFerrin or Amy Jones ASAP. These are taken to shut-ins, nursing home residents and the elderly.

Charles Neal was in the local hospital this past week for minor surgery. He is now back at home and will be taking it easy for the next few days. He would appreciate our prayers and it would be good if folks would send him a card.

Jack Cooper has been experiencing lots of pain in his back and of course Narci has had to be home with him. They have been missed and it is hoped they can be back with us soon.

I sincerely appreciate all the prayers and support received during the past few weeks. Please continue to keep me and my family in your prayers.

Sincerely,Terri Lee

As I write this bulletin everyone is looking forward to the get-together at the home of David and Janice McCain on Friday and Saturday evening for a meal and fun fellowship. If the event is like it was last year everyone will be talking about it for days. I feel certain David will give us an up-to-date report this morning.

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PRAYER LIST

Justin Barker, Rachel Barker, Louis Bell, Annah Brown, Sue Browning,

Billy Carter, Jack Cooper, Narci Cooper, Perry Cooper, Zenith Hargrove,

Howard Horton, Ruby Lawhon, Carl Lee, Hollis Lee, Winnie Patton,

Dorothy Sargent, Alva Mae Sheets

ALSO: Ercell Fetters, Larry Freeman, Marie Holloway, Patricia McCracken, Kelsey Meyers

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Moving On Towards Perfection

We have a mission to accomplish in seeking and saving the lost (Lk. 14:23)! We have marching orders from "the captain of our salvation" (Heb. 2:10). The Great Commission compels us to immediately begin marching towards our objective (Mk. 16:15-16, Mt. 28:18-20). We have a wonderful goal to strive for - eternal life in heaven with God (Jn. 14:3, 17:24, Rev. 21:1-4). We have a perfect example to follow in Jesus (Acts 10:38, I Pet. 2:21-22).

Spiritually, there is no middle ground when it comes to pressing forward with the Lord's work. We are either marching forward with the banner of the Lord, or we are losing ground. It's great for awhile to bask in the joy of a successful project, but we must never rest on the laurels of our past accomplishments, lest we begin to stagnate spiritually. Stagnation in the Lord's work will eventually lead to spiritual death, so we must always be planning and working towards a better, brighter future.

We must ever strive for spiritual maturity (Eph. 4:13-15, Col. 1:28, II Cor. 13:9, Heb. 6:1). We must constantly examine our priorities and commitments (II Cor. 13:5). Vigilance, circumspection, and self-evaluation are all vital tasks of piloting our spiritual ships to the safe harbor of heaven (Heb. 3:12-13, I Thess. 5:6, I Pet. 1:13-16). The greatest of all spiritual dangers for mature Christians may well be spiritual complacency. It's easy to get in a rut and become self-satisfied. It's much easier to keep house for the Lord, than to launch out into the deep on a dramatic rescue mission. Preserving the "status quo" requires a lot less energy, time, money, and effort, than the planning and commitment required to reach great goals. However, it is still true, "where there is no vision, the people perish" (Prov. 29:18). Spiritual death is never far behind spiritual complacency!

Here are some challenges for the coming year to help us strengthen each Christian and to help the North Jefferson congregation move on towards perfection in our work for Christ!

Let every member read the Bible every day and pray every day. Strive to have some family devotional time in your home on a daily basis.

Make sure you and your family attend every worship and Bible study assembly of the church.

Give generously of your time, money, and effort to support the work of the Lord.

Take into consideration the activities of the church as you plan your weekly, monthly, and yearly schedule. Try not to be out-of-town during special events, rather support them with your best effort.

Talk about Jesus, salvation, the church, and other spiritual topics with your relatives, friends, and neighbors. Invite them to attend services with you.

Make meeting and greeting visitors at our services a high priority. Invite them to sit with you. Help them to find the classrooms or restrooms. Invite them out for a meal. Love them! Remember that a friendly church will be a growing church.

Develop a positive attitude! Be enthusiastic, it's contagious! Love the brethren! Talk up the church! Be a Barnabus! Send cards and make calls and visits of encouragement (Acts 20:35)! Believe we can succeed and work hard to see it happen.

Look for opportunities to enjoy fellowship with your brethren. Be hospitable (Rms. 12:13). Invite folks over for a meal. Take food to the sick and bereaved. Host the youth for a wholesome activity. "As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith" (Gal. 6:10).

Finally, never quit believing that, "with God, all things are possible" (Mk. 10:27).

Remember, a stronger church begins with a stronger YOU and ME! I hope all of us will work hard to move on towards perfection, as we strive to let the light of Jesus shine in the North Jefferson Church of Christ. To God be the glory! David McCain

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Diary of a Bible

author unknown

JANUARY: A busy time for me. Most of the family decided to read me through this year. They kept me busy for the first two weeks, but they have forgotten me now.

FEBRUARY: Clean-up time. I was dusted yesterday and put in my place. My owner did use me for a few minutes last week. He had been in an argument and was looking up some references to prove he was right.

MARCH: Had a busy day first of the month. My owner was elected president of the PTA and used me to prepare a speech.

APRIL: Grandpa visited us this month. He kept me on his lap for an hour reading Corinthians 1:13. He seems to think more of me than do some people in my own household.

MAY: I have a few green stains on my pages. Some spring flowers were pressed in my pages.

JUNE: I look like a scrapbook. They have stuffed me full of newspaper clippingsone of the girls got married.

JULY: They put me in a suitcase today. I guess we are off on a vacation. I wish I could stay home; I know I'll be closed up in this thing for at least two weeks.

AUGUST: Still in the suitcase.

SEPTEMBER: Back home at last and in my old familiar place. I have a lot of company. Two women's magazines and four comic books are stacked on top of me. I wish I could be read as much as they are.

OCTOBER: They read me a little bit today. one of them is very sick. Right now I am sitting in the center of the coffee table. I think the preacher is coming by for a visit.

NOVEMBER: Back in my old place. Somebody asked today if I were a scrapbook.

DECEMBER: The family is busy getting ready for the holidays. I guess I'll be covered up under wrapping paper and packages again just as I am every Christmas.