Our_Bulletin_3_23

Family News and Notes

Please check the PANTRY ITEMS list on the table in the foyer. We are in need of some of the items. Please pay particular attention to those items with low numbers.

Mark your calendar...We will be having a Fellowship Luncheon next Sunday following the morning worship services in the Multi-Purpose Room . Everyone is welcome

Please change your records to reflect a new address for Alva Mae Sheets:

Alva Mae Sheets

Villa No. 2 Room 6

1714 North Edwards

Mount Pleasant, Texas 75455

As reported last week Ruth Taylor has now gone to a nursing home at Star City, Arkansas but will be receiving her mail as follows: (and not as previously reported)

Ruth Taylor

c/o Jean Tarver

P O Box 94

Star City, Arkansas 71667

Julia Ethridge is still sick at home and her recovery has been slow.

Tim Jones has been confined to his home with a virus. He has really been sick.

Bud Roach has been ill the past week but was able to be at services last Wednesday evening.

Dorothy Sargent fell at home last week and broke her wrist.

Barbara Duncan returned to her doctor last Wednesday and he was not pleased with her progress. He ordered a MRI of her head. They found some mild atrophy (small blood vessel disease) and a small area on the left side of her brain that might be causing some of her vertigo. She now has an appointment to see a neurologist in Tyler next Wednesday and hope at that time to determine exactly what her problem might be. Please keep Barbara and Jim in you prayers.

Bob Adams has been dismissed from the hospital following his surgery and will be staying with his sister:

Betty Martin

3841 Peter Pan

Dallas, Texas 75229

214-352-6035

Wade Miller has been sick at home but is now able to be back at work, although he does not really feel well.

Myrtice Grissom was able to return home from the hospital last Tuesday.

Billy Carter had a CAT scan last Wednesday. He was experiencing some swelling in some glands in his lower abdomen.

Irene Duncan was released from the hospital Tuesday. She is staying with Mary Hall for a few days and returns to her doctor on March 25th for blood work to determine further treatment(s).

Please pray for Blanche Justiss. At the writing of this bulletin Lee Moses and Joe Ferrell have been studying with her regarding obeying the gospel. She wishes to do that but there is a problem at the nursing home in that it may be difficult to move her for baptism due to severe osteoporosis. Possible scenarios are being discussed in order to fulfill her needs and your continued prayers are needed in her behalf.

We need to continue to remember the leaders of this country and the coalition of nations, as well as our troops overseas during this conflict with Iraq, which began last Wednesday evening. May our Lord grant that the war will be short with as few losses of life as possible and that all will work for the good of those involved.

You are invited to a Bridal Shower in honor of Brandi Duncan, bride elect of Jerod Parker, this afternoon, March 23rd from 2-3 PM at Northridge Church of Christ. (Brandi is the granddaughter of Jamie and Betty Duncan.) Selections are at: Mason's Hardware, Hamilton's Jewelers, and Botanical Elegance at 207 West 8th Street.

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PRAYER LIST:

Bob Adams, Delores Adams, Justin Barker, Billy Carter, Narci Cooper, Perry Cooper, Barbara Duncan, Irene Duncan, Patsy Duncan, Patsy Embree, Julia Ethridge, Jerry Freeman, Myrtice Grissom, Howard Horton, Tim Jones, Hollis Lee, Wade Miller, Murphy Ross, Ruth Taylor

ALSO: R. C. Grissom, Minnie Moore

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Hope Deferred and Heartsick

by Lee Moses

"Hope deferred maketh the heart sick: but when the desire cometh, it is a tree of life" (Proverbs 13:12).

Though they live on the earth, Christians have their hope elsewhere. Children of God oftentimes delight to sing the sweet words, "This world is not my home, I'm just a-passing through. My treasures are laid up somewhere beyond the blue; the angels beckon me from heaven's open door, And I can't feel at home in this world anymore." The Christian is not at home while dwelling upon earth, because his heart is where his treasures are being laid (Matthew 6:20-21). But it is the fact that his hope lies somewhere else, deferred until after death unless the Lord comes first, that sometimes makes him homesick-and heartsick.

Hope is essential to the Christian: Inspiration states, "We are saved by hope" (Rom. 8:24, KJV) or "In hope were we saved" (ASV). This does not mean that anyone is saved by hope alone-the hope a believer has in the promises of God cause him to strive toward the distant, yet nearer approaching, heavenly goal. Skeptics take a very cynical view of hope. Author Henry Miller said, "Hope is a bad thing. It means that you are not what you want to be. It means that part of you is dead, if not all of you. It means that you entertain illusions." Such a view is based on a misunderstanding of what hope is. Hope is correctly defined as "desire plus expectation"; it is not simply "wishful thinking." The Oxford American College Dictionary defines hope as "a feeling of expectation and desire for a certain thing to happen. . . . grounds for believing that something good may happen." The one who has hope has grounds, or a basis, for expecting that he will receive good things. When Miller said that hope "means you entertain illusions," he was correctly expressing a view on wishful thinking, not hope. Journalist and critic H.L. Mencken said, "Hope is a pathological belief in the occurrence of the impossible," ignoring the fact that if there is a true basis to believe something, it cannot be impossible.

The Christian has hope-assurance based on fact-because of the resurrection of Christ. There is evidence recorded by credible witnesses (apostles) who gained nothing earthly by providing accounts of His resurrection except persecution, torture, and death. The evidence given is substantial and irrefutable, therefore the Christian legitimately expects that there will be a resurrection, and desires and expects that he will take part. In the meanwhile, he is upon earth, wistfully anticipating the time when he will be with his Lord in heaven. The only hope that exists is hope deferred; because "hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?" (Rom. 8:24). Yet why would one want to depart this world without hope? (Jer. 18:12; Eph. 2:12; I Thess. 4:13). "Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the LORD" (Psalm 31:24). The Christian can enjoy the abundant life especially given him on earth; yet how much more will his joy be when that desire comes, and is truly a tree of eternal life? Brother Terry Hightower speaks of a missionary to Burma who wrote, "I am not tired of my work, neither am I tired of this world; yet when Christ calls me home I shall go with the gladness of a schoolboy bounding away from school."

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The following article appeared in the Mt. Carmel Messenger,

Just a Mother???

(Titled by Preparer)

Author: Odis Duncan

"A few months ago when I was picking up the children at school, another mother I knew well rushed up to me. Emily was fuming with indignation. "Do you know what you and I are?" She demanded. Before I could answer, she blurted out the reason for her question. It seems she had just returned from renewing her driver's license at the County Clerk's office. Asked by the woman recorder to state her occupation, Emily had hesitated, uncertain how to classify herself. "What I mean is, "explained the recorder, "do you have a job, or are you just a ?"

"Of course I have a job," snapped Emily. "I'm a mother," "We don't list 'mother' as an occupation 'housewife' covers it" said the recorder emphatically ."

I forgot all about her story until one day I found myself in the same situation, this time at our own Town Hall. The Clerk was obviously a career woman, poised, efficient, and possessed a high-sounding title like "Official Interrogator" or "Town Registrant."

And what is your occupation?" she probed. What made me say it, I do not know. The words simply popped out. "I'm a Research Associate in the field of Child Development and Human Relations." The clerk paused, ballpoint in midair, and looked up as though she had not heard right. I repeated the title slowly, emphasizing the most significant words. Then I stared with wonder as my pompous pronouncement was written in bold, black ink on the official questionnaire. "Might I ask," said the clerk with new interest, "Just what you do in your field?"

Coolly, without any trace of fluster in my voice, I heard myself reply, "I have a continuing program of research (what mother doesn't) in the laboratory and in the field (normally I would have said indoors and out). I'm working on my Masters (the whole family) and already have four credits (all daughters). Of course, the job is one of the most demanding in the humanities (any mother care to disagree?) and often work 14 hours a day (24 is more like it). But the job is more challenging than most run-of-the-mill careers and the rewards are in satisfaction rather than just money."

There was an increasing note of respect in the clerk's voice as she completed the form, stood up, and personally ushered me to the door. As I drove into our driveway, buoyed up by my glamorous new career, I was greeted by my lab assistants-ages 13, 7, and 3. Upstairs I could hear our new experimental model (6 months) in the child development program, testing out a new vocal pattern. I felt triumphant! I had scored a beat on bureaucracy! In addition, I had gone on the official records as someone more distinguished and indispensable to mankind than "just another mother." Motherhood what a glorious career. Especially when there's a title on the door. Send this to another Mother you know. Whether a stay-at-home Mom or a career Mom, we should all carry this title. (borrowed)

The same thing happened to Kim and me at the courthouse when we went to get our Alabama licenses. The clerk asked for Kim's occupation and I responded "housewife." For that answer, she proceeded to become infuriated with me and explained why it is inappropriate to refer to her in that way. I bit my tongue and refrained from telling her what I really thought of her assessment. Instead, I rephrased my answer to "domestic engineer." My real thought, however, was "What is wrong with housewife or mother?" Adam's view of his work is so high, he named his wife Eve, meaning "mother of all living." Solomon thought so much of the ideal housewife and mother he wrote 2/3 of a chapter to honor her (Proverbs 31:10-31). In addition to these two, the Holy Spirit thought the work of a mother and housewife is so important he wrote through Paul, "...encourage the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, to be sensible, pure, workers at home, kind, being subject to their own husbands" - (Titus 2:4,5)

There is nothing in the world more beautiful or important than the role of a godly woman in the home. This does not mean a mother cannot work outside the home, but her home must come first. The next time someone asks you what you do for a living, or why you are not using the degree you earned, do not be ashamed to tell him/her that you are a mother, or housewife. Sisters in Christ, be proud that you are doing the most important work in the world.

In Him, Odis Duncan"