Family News and Notes
"Today is a day that will be remembered in infamy."----- Franklin Roosevelt,---WW II,---Pearl Harbor
Today is the first Sunday in December. so this is that day set aside for Building Fund Contributions. If you are able to contribute to this fund you may do so today. Thanks.
Remember.as stated earlier, beginning this Wednesday evening (the 2nd Wednesday in the month) we will be learning new songs, so bring your singing voices with you.
Men, remember that the Business Meeting is next Sunday following the evening services. Your attendance is important.. Please try to attend.
On December 16 the Ladies Bible Class will be filling holiday bags for our shut-ins. We will be needing baked goods, candy, crackers, nuts, any non-perishable goods and small toiletries. If you would like to donate money, give it to Billye Campbell, Veleta McFerrin or Amy Jones. Thanks for your help.
You need to mark your calendar now for the Bible Quiz that will be on January 27th, 2004 at the Clarksville church of Christ. Everyone who is able is encouraged to come and participate. We have lots of fun and we learn a lot. For that quiz you need to study the book of James.
If anyone needs any laminating done please contact Veleta or Joan.
Sister Phyllis Moon had hip surgery Tuesday and during the surgery she suffered a heart attack. She was transferred to Mother Frances Hospital in Tyler for further treatment. At the printing of this bulletin it is not known what her condition is nor her room number.
We still have a great number of our members who are out sick and we need to continue to remember them in our prayers. You are encouraged to check the Prayer List and if you know of any additional names we need to remember then please let the person making the announcements know about it ASAP.
DECEMBER BIRTHDAYS:
5 Audra Freeman
5 Clint Duncan
6 Mary Glover
9 Charles Neal
12 Jessica Wisdom
16 Jacques Glover
17 Josephine Cooper
17 Julia Ethridge
20 Judy Freeman
24 Carolyn Sargent
27 Ruby Lawhon
29 Alice Freeman
29 JoAnn Miller
31 Barbara Duncan
31 Barbara "Tina" Brown
ANNIVERSARIES:
07 Rhonda & Marty Newman
22 Wade & Vicki Miller
26 Glenn & Jeanette Parham
28 Billy & Ann Carter
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PRAYER LIST:
Justin Barker, Louis Bell, Ann Carter, Billy Carter, Sandra Cooper, Bonnie Horton, Howard Horton, Corine Hudson, Phyllis Moon,
Elna O'Neal, Winnie Patton, Dorothy Sargent, Alva Mae Sheets,
Janelle Stephenson,
ALSO: Judy Betts, R. C. Grissom, Elizabeth McGill, Kelsey Meyers, Ken Mullins, Jim Parker, Shawn Phillips, Chelsea Simpson
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Service Arrangements
ANNOUNCEMENTS..............Wayne Pickrel
SONG LEADER...............................Bill Jones
PRAYERS Sunday
AM First Prayer.......................Glenn Parham
AM Closing........................Rhodney Freeman
PM First Prayer...................Wayne Charlton
PM Closing...................................Bud Roach
PRAYERS Wednesday Nite
First Prayer...............................Grady Duncan
Closing................................Fred Harkrider, Jr.
COMMUNION FOR DECEMBER
AM Jerry Freeman.................Weldon Miller
Bud Roach......................George O'Neal
Jon McCain........................Ben McCain
PM Wayne Charlton......................Tim Jones
ATTENDANCE COUNT.........Grady Duncan
TRANSPORTATION....Call Frankie Sargent
903-572-2647
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Bring A Friend To Jesus
Recent studies of church growth patterns have uncovered one very important principle of church growth. Though there are many different methods we can use to reach people with the Gospel of Christ, the vast majority of our new converts had their initial introduction to the Gospel, and the Lord's church, at the invitation of a concerned friend. The research in this field shows that about 70% of new converts have come to know Jesus, and His church, as a result of what some call, "friendship evangelism."
At a seminar I attended several years ago in Tennessee, brother Jerry Jenkins, one of the guest speakers, defined evangelism in a very simple but profound way as, "God's love for those who are lost." Isn't that a beautiful description of the heart and soul of what evangelism is all about? When we bother to evangelize by sharing the Gospel, we are practicing the most basic principle of sharing God's love with the lost. What more beautiful or effective way is there to share God's love for the lost, than by inviting a friend to come meet Jesus? What better way is there to show your love for your friends, than by telling them about Jesus, and bringing them to meet Him? I can think of absolutely none.
This is Biblical! Do you remember what Andrew did when he first met the Lord? The Bible says that the very first thing he did was to go find his brother Peter, to tell him that he had found the Messiah, and then Andrew brought Peter to meet Jesus (Jn. 1:40-42). What else do you know about Andrew? Maybe the most important thing Andrew ever did for the Lord, was to bring Peter to meet Jesus.
Oh, how the world is richer for Andrew's simple act of friendship evangelism! Think how the story of Peter, with his ups and downs with the Lord, inspires us with hope. If the Lord could patiently put up with Peter, maybe there's hope for me! Think how the Lord changed Peter from a diamond in the rough to a dynamic defender of the faith. Think how those dramatic narratives in the book of Acts encourage and empower us to stand up and be counted for the Lord, just like Peter, who said in defense of the preaching of the Gospel, "Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye. For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard" (Acts 4:19-20). Finally, think how the tender epistles of Peter challenge us to "grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ" (II Pet. 3:18). But, none of this would be available to us for our edification and encouragement, had Andrew not bothered to practice friendship evangelism. Thank you, Andrew!
How many Peters are out there, just waiting for a friend like you to bring them to Jesus? As the old song says, maybe "you can't sing like angels, or preach like Peter or Paul, but you can tell the love of Jesus, you can say He died for all!" Be a true friend! Practice friendship evangelism! Bring your friends to meet Jesus!
How about this Sunday? David McCain
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THIS & THAT
Don't forget our singing service this Wednesday. All classes will meet in the auditorium. All men who can are asked to lead at least one song. We will also learn two or three new songs, and may have time for a few requests.
Adults please sign up for the holiday party at the McCains scheduled for Fri., PM, Dec. 19th.
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The Desire for a Clean Crib
by Lee Moses
Where no oxen are, the crib is clean: but much increase is by the strength of the ox (Proverbs 14:4 ).
The above words of wisdom penned by Solomon provide meat for consideration (one might even say that they provide food for thought). It is engrained into a young child that he is to keep his room clean, with the hopes that in later life he will have learned to keep his house, life, and possibly even his desktop neat and orderly. A desire to maintain cleanliness and orderliness is commendable. However, sometimes the desire for a "clean crib" inhibits needed work from being done.
Let us contemplate some possible benefits of a "clean crib." Consider a kitchen where no cooking takes place. There would certainly be some advantages to such an arrangementthere would never be any need for cleanup, nor would there be worry about a grease fire. Just sparkling kitchen appliances reflecting back your smiling face to you and a shiny floor off of which you could eat, although you certainly would not want any crumbs to fall on the floor. Consider a hospital with no doctors or patients. Surely this would be a way to avoid malpractice suits and those long, annoying waits in the waiting room. There would be no sick people distracting you by coughing while you are deeply immersed in reading "Peanuts," keeping you from finding out whether or not Charlie Brown will successfully kick the football.
The aforementioned situations are clearly absurdities. While certain hassles could be avoided by having a kitchen in which no food is prepared or a hospital where no doctoring is done, such would make either facility useless. Sometimes our desire to avoid confrontation or any type of unpleasantness hinders our use of reason in getting accomplished work that needs to be done. In the Lord's church, there are some brethren content with merely keeping housekeep the doors open and the building in good shape at all costs, but to knock doors? to try to set up Bible studies with friends? The desire for a clean crib makes too many not want to go "out on a limb." However, the limb is where the fruit is borne, and a tree which bears no fruit is useless. (Luke 13:6-9)
Solomon tells us that if "much increase" is to be had, there must be oxen. Oxen are not particularly pleasant, and often leave a mess. But when there is work to be done, oxen are strong and reliable. They do not spend time worrying if all will be neat and tidy, or if they will have the necessities of life tomorrow. The church needs "oxen," strong in the truth and reliable in deed, who will focus their eyes forward on the task the Lord has placed in front of them: To preach the Gospel to every creature (Mark 16:15). Such single-mindedness for the Lord is not intended to make life easier, nor to leave one without messes to clean. As a matter of fact, it might even require some occasional "fence-mending." But, as it has been well stated, "Those who keep that about them which is for use and service, not for state and show, are likely to thrive." The church has too many peacocks alreadybring on the oxen!
Let us, "if it be possible . . . live peaceably with all men" (Romans 12:18). Also, "Let all things be done decently and in order" (I Corinthians 14:40). But the time has come for us to put down our heads and plow ahead for the glory of the Lord.
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