Family News & Notes
WE HAVE A GUEST SPEAKER THIS MORNING Willard Holliday, from Alaska, will be preaching the morning service today.
OUR EVENING SERVICE FOR TODAY HAS BEEN CHANGED TO AN EARLIER TIME BY OUR ELDERS. For today, since it is Christmas Eve, we will be meeting at 5:00 PM instead of our regular time. Won't you please try to attend?
The last 1/2 of the 6th Video, "Searching for Heavenly Truth" will be viewed at tonight's 5:00 PM service. Outlines for all the videos are on the table in the foyer. Every family will be given a DVD copy of this video series at tonight's service. Additional copies to use in personal evangelism can be picked up in the office or from the elders, or preacher.
NEXT SUNDAY EVENING .. There will be a New Year's Eve get-together after the evening services Sunday, December 31, 2006. Everyone will be in the Multi-Purpose Room. If you are planning to attend bring sandwiches, CHIPS, DIPS, snacks of your choice, AND table and board games. Coffee and tea will be furnished.
THIS IS A REPEAT . BUT ...
Grady is preparing an updated 2007 Church "Condensed" Directory to be published sometime during January. There are proof copies on each table in the foyer. Please examine the information that we have and make any necessary corrections. Then place a check mark by your family's name. If other members of your family are listed separately, make the corrections necessary and place a check mark by their names also. This needs to be completed no later than the second Sunday in January (the 14th). The sooner, the better, tho.
Thanks, Grady Duncan
Hollis Lee's funeral was conducted here at the building on Thursday morning with burial at Masonic Cemetery. Remember Joyce in your prayers. And, thanks for all who provided food for the family.
Still recuperating at home: Charles Kyle, Sue Browning, Judy Freeman, Vernon Garrett.
Carl Lee and others. Please refer to our prayer list for the so very many who need our prayers.
R. C. Grissom will have to remain in the hospital through the holidays. Remember him and Myrtice in your prayers, and visit him in the hospital when possible.
Vicki Miller had corrective eye surgery last week. Says her vision is much better and should be able to not have to wear contacts again.
Denise Deering, niece of Jim & Barbara Duncan and granddaughter of Ercel Fetters) is still in Good Shepard Hospital in Longview. Please continue to remember this family in your prayers.
Judy Freeman continues to recover from her recent heart attack and began rehab at TRMC on Monday of this past week. She will be doing this for a period of 3 times per week for 3 months, at least. No more of the good eating everything she likes she has had to give up. Isn't that the way it usually is? If it tastes good, don't eat it!?
THANK YOU "Dear Christian Friends: Thank you so very much for your many kindnesses during the time Johnny and I were with you. Your love and encouragement was wonderful and will never be forgotten. Thank you especially for the nice farewell party. I am comfortably settled into a small apartment near family and friends. I miss all of you and hope to visit sometime soon. May our Heavenly Father bless you with many more good years. Lovingly, Iris"
THANK YOU "We want to say a very sincere Thank You to the congregation for the prayers, food, flowers, and many other acts of love and kindness at the loss of our grandmother, Alva Mae Sheets. Bryan & Barry Sheets"
THANK YOU "I want to offer heartfelt thanks to you all for all the prayers offered in my behalf. Also, for all the cards, calls, food, and visits they are so appreciated. Being the Lord's Will and more prayers, we will be improving. We love our Christian family. Vernon & Ruth Garrett"
THANK YOU "My Christian family: You have been so very nice to me. I wish I knew of some way to let you know the gratitude I feel but just can't say. So I hope this special thank you will show, at least in part, the warm appreciation that is coming from my heart. Love you all, Mary Glover"
THANK YOU Just a small note to thank all the Bible Class Ladies for the beautiful Christmas basket you brought to me for the holiday. You all are the best. Love you all, Edith - Merry Christmas"
If you have something that needs to be included in the announcements...please make certain you get it to the person making the announcements ... in legible, written form prior to announcement time.
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PRAYER LIST:
Judy Freeman, Vernon Garrett, Sue Browning, Hollis Lee, Justin Barker,
Rachel Barker, Jean Bell, Winell Blackard, Annah Brown, Sue Browning,
Nancy Chastain, Josephine Cooper, Perry Cooper, Judy Freeman, Jan Hargrove, Charles Kyle, Joyce Lee, Georgia Lide, Wade Miller, Carl Lee, Marie Plemmons, Helen Roper, Alva Mae Sheets, Edith Shiflet, Ola Mae Simpson, Julia Terrell,
Rebecca Tippitt
ALSO: Robert Brewster, Cristell Cato, Juanita DuBose, Wesley DuBose,
Carolyn Fox, Roy Fox, Edna Graves, R. C. Grissom, Ruby Jeffery, Wayne Lineberger
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What Does the Bible Say
About Celebrating Special Holidays?
As "Christmas" rolls around again tomorrow, we find ourselves right in the middle of one of the busiest, but perhaps most enjoyable times of the year - the holiday season! Some complain about the hectic pace between Thanksgiving and New Year's Day, but most of us probably enjoy this special time of year as much as any other season. I dare say, few things tug my heartstrings quite like the memories of joyous holidays past, or the pleasant anticipation of the good times ahead this holiday season, which I hope to spend in the company of my grandson who is just now old enough to enjoy it (can anyone say choo choo train?)!
The holiday season means different things to different people, mostly depending upon your upbringing. Some folks were brought up to ignore or shun any involvement in any "holiday" (holy-day), because some holidays (not all) had their inception in pagan practices or rituals. Others have been brought up to keep certain holidays as a religious observance, like those folks who celebrate "Christmas," as the birth of Christ, which the Bible says absolutely nothing about. However, the sincere Christian must always consider what does God want and what does God's Word authorize us to do? Is there any safe middle ground, between the extremes of celebrating what God has not authorized, and the "bah humbug" attitude of Scrooge, in demanding total non-participation in all holidays? Let's let the Bible answer.
In Galatians 4:10-11, we are warned not to observe special days, months, times, and years (special holy-days), as a binding religious observance, which God has not authorized. The context of that passage, and many others (see I Cor. 8:1-13, 10:19-31), warns us to be careful of involving ourselves in any religious observance that might hint at idolatry, or which might be generally understood by the masses to be directly connected to some pagan practice. The bottom line is, Christians must be very careful to guard our influence, lest any practice or observance on our part should cause someone to stumble or to do that which is contrary to God's will. As Paul wrote, we must not let our Christian liberty "become a stumbling block to them that are weak" (I Cor. 8:9).
However, the same Bible teaches we are free in Christ to individually esteem one day above another, so long as we don't violate any other commandment of God, nor bind such personal traditions on others (Rms. 14:5-6). Therefore most family traditions related to the "holiday season" fall into the category of matters of expediency (or human judgement). We should just be careful to exercise good judgement in the observance of our family traditions, and "be fully persuaded in our own mind," always according to the Scriptures' teaching, that what we are doing is acceptable in God's sight (Rms. 14:5).
As we find ourselves in the throes of "the holidays" this month, we must guard against becoming so busy with earthly pursuits, that we forget or neglect the Lord and His church. Shopping, traveling, and spending time with family and friends are great fun, but not to the neglect of things spiritual. In this busy season, Satan will encourage us to forsake the Lord for the sake of selfish enjoyment, to rob God to pay for holiday purchases, and to participate in activities unbecoming of God's children. Beware of Satan's devices (II Cor. 2:11). Don't let him entice you into turning the holidays into unholy days.
Likewise, we must make sure our observances, activities, and even our decorations do not convey vain religious practices that are not Biblically authorized (i.e. - think seriously about such things as nativity scenes, angels, religious carols or cards, or anything else that might cause others to think we celebrate Christmas as the birth of Christ). Again, "let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind" (Rms. 14:5).
With these balanced Biblical tenets in mind, we observe that the holidays sometimes bring out the best in people. It's a time that drives hearts and minds towards home and family. It's a time to settle family squabbles, reconcile differences, and cease estrangements, so all the family can come home together in unity and love. It's a time that causes us to be more thankful for the blessings God abundantly bestows upon us everyday (Col. 2:7). It's a time when the spirit of generosity exerts itself in doing for others according to the admonition of Jesus that, "it is more blessed to give than to receive" (Acts 20:35).
As another year draws to a close and a new year looms on the horizon, the holiday season provides for us a sober time to reflect on the progress of our earthly sojourn. It's a good time to take inventory of our lives, our relationships, and our commitments, and make what ever course corrections are necessary to keep us on the pathway to eternal glory (II Cor. 13:5). It's a great time in the presence of loved ones and friends to consider those things which are really important in life, and to remind ourselves of that which must have priority in life, if we want to get ourselves and our loved ones to heaven. That said, here's hoping you have a wonderful holiday season with your family and friends, and a Happy New Year!
David McCain
