Family News
A late Happy New Year You All !!
We are still short of Volunteers to help clean the building. If you are willing and able, please sign the sheet on the table in the foyer. Thanks.
OK if you are able to do so and have made plans today is the day you may contribute to the Building Fund. Thanks you in advance for your contribution.
A Special Contribution of $100 was received for the Library Fund.
A REMINDER FOR THE MEN OF THE CONGREGATION.
The Men's Business Meeting will be next Sunday following the evening services. Please make plans to attend. Your input is important.
On Monday evening, January 05, the Monthly Ladies Devotional will be at 7:00 PM .You will be meeting in the multi-purpose room. Please plan to attend. See Vicki Miller for more details if needed.
On Saturday, January 10, there will be a Youth Rally at Las Vegas Trails in Fort Worth. We will be leaving at about 6:50 AM and should be back at approximately 9:00 PM. You will need to bring enough funds to cover a late breakfast and your evening meal. David McCain will speak and there will also be 3 good preachers there as well. All those who plan to attend this all day event need to contact either David or Lee by Wednesday evening. The theme will be Youth Serving Christ.
Many thanks to all the men who presented a lesson regarding "God's Promises" last Wednesday evening. Those participating were: Jerry Freeman, Bob Hedges, Fred Harkrider, Jr., Rodney Cook and Wade Miller. We continue to be witness to the many talents among the men of our congregation.
We have had a great number of our members who have been ill at home. We hope we have not missed anyone, but if you know of anyone who is not on the list please let someone know.
Irene Duncan has been in Titus Regional Medical Center for several days due to double pneumonia. She was feeling much better but was having stomach pains and the doctor determined she was having gallbladder problems. She is scheduled for further exam on Monday and surgery this coming Tuesday.
Ola Mae Simpson hurt her back and may require surgery. She is presently at the home of her son in Gilmer. The phone number there is 903-762-1136 if you wish to call her.
Phyllis Reese Moon passed away on 27 December 2003 following a lengthy illness. Bates-Cooper Funeral Home conducted funeral Services at 10:30 AM December 30 with burial at Nevill's Chapel Cemetery.
Walter Freeman (cousin of Rhodney, Jerry, Linda and Brenda and nephew-in-law of Hallie Lang) passed away on December 27. Bates-Cooper Funeral Home conducted his funeral on December 30 at 2:00 PM with burial at Greenhill Cemetery.
Vada Lawrence Banks (aunt of Carl Lee) passed away on December 29. Bates-Cooper Funeral Home conducted her funeral services on Thursday, January 01, 2004 with burial at Monticello Cemetery.
Sandra Sue Johnson Cooper passed away on Monday, December 30, 2003 at M. D. Anderson Hospital in Houston following a lengthy battle with her health. Her funeral was conducted at Bates-Cooper Funeral Home at 10:30 AM, Friday, January 02, 2004, with burial at Nevill's Chapel Cemetery. Memorial contributions were (and can still be ) made to either the Building Fund at North Jefferson church of Christ or to the Nevill's Chapel Cemetery.
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PRAYER LIST
Justin Barker, Louis Bell, Irene Duncan, Bonnie Horton, Howard Horton, Corine Hudson, Winnie Patton, Hazel Phillips, Dorothy Sargent, Alva Mae Sheets, Ola Mae Simpson,
Janelle Stephenson, 
ALSO: Judy Betts, R. C. Grissom, Velma Lucky,
Kelsey Meyers, Shawn Phillips, Chelsea Simpson
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Service Arrangements
ANNOUNCEMENTS.Ralph Phillips
SONG LEADER .......Bill Jones
PRAYERS Sunday
AM First Prayer...Bob Hedges
AM Closing..George O'Neal
PM First Prayer..Jack Cooper
PM Closing..Devon Phillips
PRAYERS Wednesday Nite
First Prayer...Jim Duncan
Closing...Rhodney Freeman
COMMUNION FOR JANUARY
AM Bob Hedges.............Grady Duncan
Vernon Garrett..........Rodney Cook
Joe Ferrell...............Ronnie Stewart
PM Frankie Sargent...Rhodney Freeman
ATTENDANCE COUNT....Grady Duncan
TRANSPORTATION...Call Frankie Sargent
903-572-2647
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A New Beginning
by David McCain
Ahhh January - what a month! A blank slate - a new beginning - a chance to start over again! I love January. It's my favorite month. I was born in January 50 years ago yesterday. But, celebrating my birthday is not the main reason I love January. The thing I love most about January is that it provides us with something all human beings need from time to time - a break with the past and another chance to try one more time to accomplish something in our lives which has escaped our best efforts and intentions in the past.
I know it's a mind game we play with ourselves, but isn't it nice, at least once a year, to erase the memory banks of our faults, failures, and forgotten resolutions, and once again start over with a calendar full of unlimited potential for good? All the things we intended to accomplish last year, but somehow were thwarted in doing, can be attacked with renewed zeal from a fresh perspective. Sometimes all it takes to see improvement is just a mental break with the past, and the renewed resolve to try once again to conquer the obstacles that clutter our pathways to success and ultimate victory.
Maybe that's why God created the structure and limits of time. In His infinite wisdom, He knew we needed new days, new weeks, and new years to inspire us to put the past behind and press on toward greater accomplishments. Undoubtedly, that's why the Bible puts such great emphasis on "the new beginning" each of us can enjoy in Christ.
I Corinthians 5:17 says that, "in Christ," we are "new creatures." As the blood of Jesus washes our sins away, we are spiritually set free from the past, to become new people in Christ. Paul wrote of putting on the "new man" that is like God in righteousness and holiness (Eph. 4:24). Romans 6:4 states we are raised from the watery grave of baptism to walk in "newness of life." Romans 7:6 says that under the "new covenant," we serve the Lord in "newness of spirit, not in the oldness of the letter." Many other passages touch upon the "new beginning" and the "new life," which are ours "in Christ." (Gal. 6:15; Eph. 2:15; I Cor. 5:7; Col. 3:10). The Old Testament even prophesied of a "new name" (Christian) which would be worn by Christ's disciples (Isa. 62:2).
Yes, Christ offers all of us a clean slate, and "a new beginning" in Him. However, along with that opportunity to start over again, comes some new responsibilities and new attitudes that must be assimilated into our lives. We have a new way to talk, dress, think, and act. We must daily struggle with giving up our old sinful ways, to live the "new life" in Christ. A fresh start means we must realize, like Paul, that we profit most from putting the past behind us and beginning again, as single-mindedly we press on toward the goal of thinking and acting like Christ (Phil 3:13-14).
Perhaps "A New Beginning," would be a great motto for us to adopt and live by in 2004, here at North Jefferson, as we mentally put behind us the fears, discouragement, failures, and even successes of the past, and instead think only of the great potential for good which lies before each of us. Each day in the Lord's kingdom becomes a new day, full of potential for service to Christ, if we will seize every opportunity to do His will.
May God help us to truly be "new creatures in Christ", and to experience "a new beginning" in His work here at North Jefferson in the year 2004. By faithfully living the "new life" in Christ each day, we can expect someday soon to receive the crown of life (Rev. 2:10) and to inherit eternal life in heaven (II Pet. 3:13).
Jan. 1, 2004 ---A New Beginning
(My Blank Slate)
Things To Do This Year:
1 Read the Bible everyday__
2. Pray often & more fervently
3. Attend every church service_
4. Bring a friend to Christ __
5. Give more generously__
6. Help the sick, sad, and needy
7.
8.
9.
10. ________________
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When Leadership is Lacking
by Lee Moses
When one considers the source of Israel's undoing in the Old Testament period, particularly during the period of the judges, the first thoughts to arise include disobedience, rebellion, unbelief, and such like. This is certainly true. However, there was also another underlying problemlack of leadership. After the great leader Joshua died, as well as those who had been under his leadership, "there arose another generation after them, which knew not the LORD, nor yet the works which he had done for Israel. And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD" (Judges 2:10-11). While Joshua had been alive, such had not been the case, at least not to a comparable degree into which the Israelites descended after his death. Throughout the period of the judges, after God would raise up a judge to deliver them from their oppressors, they would again fall into disobedience after the death of that judge (2:18-19). The general state during this period is described: "In those days there was no king in Israel, but every man did that which was right in his own eyes" (17:6; cf. 21:25). The people were self-directed, instead of being led by godly shepherds (Jeremiah 23:4). Each man and woman had to account for his own actions, but strong leadership could have staved off much of the apostasy that took place.
While surveying the apostasy taking place in various locales throughout the brotherhood today, one might well ask, "Where are the elders?" The elders have been given the oversight of the flock (Acts 20:28; I Peter 5:2), yet they are allowing wolves to enter in and devour the flock. When Rubel Shelley, Max Lucado, and others of their ilk began persuading souls to leave salvation in favor of condemnation, where were the elders? Regarding their elders, Christians are told, "They watch for your souls, as they that must give account" (Hebrews 13:17). Far too many elders are apparently neither concerned for the souls of their flock, nor for their own on the day of reckoning. Because of this, formerly faithful members and congregations of the church of Christ are now wallowing in a sea of self-direction, confusion, and condemnationmuch like the time of the judges.
Thankfully, a great many congregations have stood strong against the apostasy of the day. This is, in great measure, due to strong leadership; men who have been willing to hear the voice of reason, while uncompromising regarding the truth of God. But are steps being taken to ensure that strong leadership continues? Younger, faithful men need to be given opportunities to lead. They should be encouraged to live godly lives, even so as to meet the qualifications of elders (I Timothy 3:1-10; Titus 1:5-9). Responsibility and accountability must be underscored, not ignored. Above all, a thorough grounding in the word of God is essential for every member of the Lord's church, from the pulpit, in the classroom, and by personal study; for it is only through God that the church will resist the wiles of Satan (James 4:7). It is in a Scripturally nurturing environment that leaders of the church are bredmay the church provide this now more than ever. May those who desire to serve their Lord and to preserve the souls of His flock prepare themselves for leadership.
