Our_Bulletin_4_11

Family News and Notes

Men's Business Meeting tonite following the evening services. All the men are encouraged to be in attendance.

Our Gospel Meeting is drawing nearer. Please mark your calendar and make plans to attend April 25 thru 28.

On Tuesday, April 27th, Michael Light will speak to the Ladies Bible Class. The topic will be on the book of Esther. Class begins at 10:00 AM.

Mount Vernon is having a Gospel Meeting April 18 thru 21 with Bro. Bill Burke. Also they will be having a Ladies Day on Saturday, April 24 beginning at 10:00 AM.

Many thanks to the ladies who helped make Ladies Day a success. Thanks to those who prepared dishes, coordinated the events and made the preparations. Thanks also to Kelly Pierce and April Miller for baby sitting during the event. 88 ladies were in attendance representing 13 congregations. Cindy Miller Armstrong was highly praised for her presentations.

Visitation Team No. 2 will meeting following morning services next Sunday ( April 18). We will have a luncheon so please contact Jerry or Alice Freeman to find out what you need to bring for the luncheon.

At the writing of this bulletin, Bill & Amy Jones were scheduled to return this past Thursday from M. D. Anderson in Houston. He is tentatively scheduled to begin treatments at Paris within a week to ten days.

Ruby Pipkin's daughter (Linda Walker) had her surgery last Tuesday and all went well.

Stan and Susan Garrett have donated the following books in honor of Vernon and Ruth Garrett:

"Rock Solid Faith - How to Build It"

"Investigating Christian Evidences"

"Wycliffe Historical Geography of Bible Lands"

"WycliffeDictionary of Christian Ethics"

and "WycliffeDictionary of Theology"

These books will be in our Library for you to check out if you are interested.

Edith Shiflet has donated the following books: " Traditions of Men versus the Word of God", a "Holy BibleNew Testament", "Good News America, God Loves You" and a Red Letter Edition of the "Holy Bible"

The following books have also been added to our Library:

"The Revelation of the Mystery"

"The Sayings of Solomon"

and "Studies in Luke"

as well as a pamphlet entitled "The Nation of Islam--From God or Man?"

THANK YOU "Dear Church Family: Thanks to all of you for your prayers, cards, calls and the food you brought to me while I was sick. I am so glad to be back with all of you! I love each of you so very much!

Mary Hall"

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PRAYER LIST:

Justin Barker, Louis Bell, Winell Blackard, Sue Browning,

Josephine Cooper, Perry Cooper, Barbara Duncan, Mary Hall,

Howard Horton, Bill Jones, & Amy, Weldon Miller, Winnie Patton,

Alva Mae Sheets, Ola Mae Simpson

ALSO: Judy Betts, Clovis Davis, Diane Johnson, Velma Lucky, Larry McCain, Kelsey Meyers, Helen Roper, Delaney Upchurch,

Linda Walker

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The A,B,C'S OF A GREAT GOSPEL MEETING

By David McCain

A--- ADVERTISE THE MEETING

ALWAYS PRAY FOR ITS SUCCESS

ABOUND IN ENTHUSIASM

ABSORB ALL THE GOOD LESSONS

ABANDON SIN

B---BE PRESENT FOR EVERY SERVICE

BRING EVERY FRIEND YOU CAN

BE ON TIME

BEAR YOUR SHARE OF THE COST

BE ZEALOUS IN YOUR EFFORTS

C---CALL AND INVITE VISITORS

CENTER YOUR THOUGHTS ON GOD

COME EXPECTING TO BE BENEFITED

CULTIVATE A LOVE FOR LOST SOULS

CAPITALIZE ON YOUR INFLUENCE

Gospel Meeting With Michael Light

Sunday, April 25th - Wednesday, April 28th

On the theme:

"Jesus - The Anchor of the Soul"

Who will YOU invite? Are YOU planning to attend EVERY service? Will YOU pray that God will bless this effort? Will YOU read and follow the A.B.C.'s above in order to help this effort be a great spiritual success? Please personally invite 10 non-Christian people to attend as your guests. Make at least 5 phone calls to erring or unfaithful members encouraging attendance and restoration. Knock the doors on your street and invite all your neighbors to attend. Pray each day for God's blessings for our speaker and meeting. Finally, be sure to be present for every service and to greet all visitors warmly! If we will all participate and do our part, we can have a great Gospel Meeting!

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A Brief Response to ABC's "Jesus and Paul"

By Lee Moses

Last Monday night, ABC television had a special entitled "Jesus and Paul. Apparently the timing of this special had nothing to do with the current amazing success of Mel Gibson's crucifixion portrayal, "The Passion." But what exactly was ABC's goal in this special is less than certain. It certainly did not have such noteworthy goals as to retell the Biblical account so as to move the hearts and minds of men and women toward Jesus. If anything, it was intended to move people away from a belief in the credibility of the Bible, or at least certain portions thereof. They proudly advertised, "ABC News will try to get at the real story of Jesus and Paul." Is this intended to suggest that the Bible does not tell the real story? At any rate, ABC was unsuccessful in their endeavor to find the real story regarding the incarnate Son of God and His apostle Paul.

They interviewed a number of scholars (or so the letters after their names are supposed to indicate) regarding the doctrine presented by Paul in his epistles. Only one appeared to be of a remotely spiritual mindset. The others gave speculation upon speculation, presented as fact. Paul was portrayed as an innovator; "a genius," as one woman called him. According to the scholars, Paul made changes in Christianity to make it accessible to all. Such might seem complimentary; but in light of the fact that he claimed, "The things that I write are the commandments of God" (I Corinthians 14:37), suggestions that he created religious doctrine without Divine assistance indict Paul as a liar and a fraud.

Throughout the special, Christianity was referred to as "The Jesus Movement." That is, Christianity was presented as a Jewish religion within Judaism. As one woman stated, "If it weren't for Paul, Christianity probably would have remained a small sect within Judaism." Although some in the first century misunderstood Christianity to be merely "a small sect within Judaism," it never wasit was the very fulfillment of the system of Judaism, thus marking the end of Judaism (Matt. 5:17; Luke 24:44; Gal. 3:19-25). God's intention was always that Christianity would include those of Gentile as well as Jewish origin (Gen. 12:3; Psm. 22:27; Isa. 2:2; Dan. 7:14; Zech. 2:10-11; Mal. 1:11). Jesus told His apostles, "Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature" (Mark 16:15, emph. LM). Certainly Paul's work was instrumental in accomplishing this, but it was not in opposition to the goal of Jesus.

However, the special presented the attitude that Paul's teachings in general contradicted those of Christ. Peter Jennings encouraged those he was interviewing by asking, "So did Paul corrupt the message of Jesus Christ?" Those whose responses were given affirmed that he did. Certainly there are subjects addressed in the epistles that were not addressed by Jesus while He was on earth. But remember what Jesus said to the apostles: "I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now" (John 16:12). Jesus would send the Holy Spirit to guide the apostles into all truth (v. 13). Thus, Paul could legitimately say that he had "the mind of Christ" (I Cor. 2:16). With the very mind of Christ inspiring his writing, he could not possibly contradict Christ.

There were many other errors promulgated in this special. But why did ABC fail "to get at the real story of Jesus and Paul"? Because the Bible was discredited as a source of information. They would apply passages out of context to support their pet theories, and disregard those that clearly refuted their theories. Instead of respecting the Bible as the word of God, these people approach it with more suspicion than they would any other book. How unfortunate that they refuse to let the Bible speak for itself! It is as Jesus lamented,

For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them (Matt. 13:15).

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