Closing.........................Fred Harkrider, Jr.
COMMUNION FOR APRIL
a.m. Joe FerrellWayne Charlton
Rodney Cook Charles Kyle
Ronnie StewartTim Davis
p.m. Frankie Sargent Rhodney Freeman
ATTENDANCE COUNTER Grady Duncan
TRANSPORTATION: Those needing transportation can call; Frankie Sargent at 903-572-2647
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Family News and Notes
Today is Building Fund day. If you are able to contribute toward this fund you may do so today.
MEN'S BUSINESS MEETING next Sunday following evening services. All men of the congregation are urged to attend.
Please check the table in the foyer for the sign-up sheet for cleaning of the building for the month of April. We still need Volunteers in a couple of areas. If you are able to help please sign the sheet.
CORRECTION: The amount shown in last Sunday's Bulletin as the average weekly amount was in error. It should have been $3,785.21.
Jessie Wisdom went a UIL Contest in Hallsville last Saturday, March 29th, and won "Best Actress." Congratulations Jessie!
Bud Roach was taken to Baylor in Dallas Tuesday by Charles Kyle. He had stints put in Wednesday and Charles went back to Dallas to bring him home on Thursday. He is doing good.
Barbara Duncan had more tests last Monday & Tuesday in an effort to determine how best to treat her problems.
Ruby Pipkin is improving and hopes to be back at services soon.
Iona Carpenter was admitted to Titus Regional Medical Center, last Monday. She is suffering severe back problems and was scheduled for an MRI and other tests to determine what type treatment she will be receiving.
The following were able to attend services last Sunday after lengthy illnesses. (There may have been others)
Joyce & Hollis Lee, Howard Horton, Barbara Duncan
Tillman & Julia Ethridge, Myrtice & R. C. Grissom
Woodrow Cooksey, who is in Titus Regional Medical Center (Room 414), continues to improve. His wife Geneva (in room 413) at TRMC had surgery to clear a carotid artery last Monday.
Christine Smith had triple by-pass surgery at Scott & White last Monday. She is doing OK. She is now in the Rehab Unit and her address is:
Christine Smith
Weston Inn Health Center
2505 South 37th Street
Room 802
Temple, Texas 76504
Phone: 254-298-7355
Rebecca Tippet, who many of you know, was restored to the Lord last Wednesday evening and wishes to work and worship with our congregation. Her address is:
Rebecca Tippet
P O Box 910
Mount Pleasant, Texas 75456
903-572-5013
Lewis & Dorothy Robertson have a grandson who is involved in the Iraq campaign. Dorothy requests that we send him a card, as the men can no longer send or receive Internet E-mail. Send to the following:
LCPL Harvey, Dustin
VMGR234
DETA USMC
APO AE 09317
Birthdays in April: Fay Gilmore-April 7....April Miller-April 9
Jerry Freeman-April 29
Anniversaries in April: Vernon & Ruth Garrett-April 20
Tim & Linda Jones-April 20
You are cordially invited to a Bridal Shower honoring
A popular song from the early 1970's began with the words, "We live in the modern age." And so we do. So modern in fact that it threatens the church and her mission. Individually, these traits I will mention are innocent. In and of themselves they pose no great danger to the church. But combined with a self-indulgent mind set, they pose a great threat to the work God has given us to do. The three fatal factors are (1) mobility, (2) financial affluence, and (3) time to spare. Lets consider each of these individually, and then collectively.
First, there is mobility. This is the "jet" age. It takes only 6-7 hours to travel across the ocean, and that has been reduced to less than half the time with the super-sonic transport jets. We are blessed in our country with a highway system that enables us to travel anywhere in a relatively short period of time. For example, I got up early this past Monday morning, drove to Germantown, Tennessee, took in two lectures at the MSOP lectures, ate lunch, and made the return trip to Mt. Pleasant all in less than 16 hours. That same journey a century ago would have taken days, not hours.
Second, there is financial affluence. Americans are rich. The poorest family on welfare assistance has a better income than 90% of the rest of the world. It used to be that we were thankful for the necessities and even more thankful for the few luxuries with which we were blessed. Now it seems that we wallow in luxuries and think they are necessities. It seems that if we do not have two cars in the driveway, a three-bedroom house with two baths, and a triple digit income that we have somehow been deprived of "the American dream." Having traveled to a number of third world countries, and having lived in countries that have sub-modern facilities, I can say without fear of contradiction that we are truly blessed, perhaps even more than we realize.
Third, there is time to spare. It seems that the 40-hour workweek is accepted as normal. Anything beyond that is "overtime," and should be treated as such with financial bonuses and/or additional vacation time when the work is done. Now it seems that the unions are talking about 35 hour workweeks. Vacations are getting longer, holidays are being rearranged to provide more three and four day weekends, and time off for family responsibilities are becoming frequent benefits as incentives for employees and employers.
This brings me to the thrust of this article. With our modern mobility, financial means, and time to spare, we are witnessing more and more "weekenders" among God's people. The "weekender" is the man, woman, and/or family that takes advantage of every opportunity to "get away," and enjoy those two or three days they might have off from the daily routine. While we are not opposed to an occasional retreat, it is important that we not loose focus with regard to our priorities. Frequent weekending is detrimental to the work of the church and the well being of the child of God. Think with me on this.
For one thing, frequent weekending weakens the local congregation. We are to come together to strengthen one another, and admonish one another. Though each individual absence may be legitimate, the adverse influence exerted on a weak member or a new convert due to the repeated and frequent absence of families who, week after week, find themselves off on another excursion, is quite detrimental.
Then there is the systematic teaching and learning that comes with regular attendance at your local congregation. Some years ago we had a brother who was absent a good 50% of the time. He was retired and financially able to travel. So he made frequent trips out of town. On one occasion he was highly critical that I never seemed to preach on God's love, or grace. I attempted to point out that there was no way he could make a fair assessment of the balance in my preaching since he was gone so much. When parents take their children out of town they deprive them of the "flow" of subject matter that comes with organized Bible classes.
Next, there is the impact that frequent weekending has upon the overall work of the Lord's church Soul winning is deferred, visitation is put on the back burner, contributions are neglected, and needed talents in worship, classes, etc. are taken away from the local congregation. The problem is compounded when we are bombarded with the idea that we come to church to get something rather than give something. Those who complain, "I just don't get anything out of church services" might turn the question on themselves and ask, "What have I given to God?"
Weekending, or any other form of recreational activity for that matter, can pass the point of being wholesome recreation and move into the state of self-indulgence. Paul warned Timothy (and us) that it is possible to become "lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God" (2 Tim. 3:4). Many affluent Americans have long ago become lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God. I fear that a growing segment of the Lord's church is following suit. While occasional time away can have positive affects, we must always keep in mind the admonition of our Lord: "But see ye first his kingdom, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you" (Matt. 6:33).
Make your plans NOW for our upcoming Gospel Meeting, May 1-4. It is time to start telling our friends about the meeting, and to mark our calendars for this important annual activity. Circulars and hand outs will be forth coming. But for now, lets plan and pray that God will open doors of opportunity for us to extend the boarders of His kingdom.
My sincere thanks to the Ladies class for helping me assemble the bulletins for binding. We had 18 orders for Volume IV of North Jefferson's weekly bulletins and Tribune articles. Your help is really appreciated.
There is a box of my newly released commentary on Galatians. For North Jefferson members we offer a considerable discount off the retail for the simple reason that you provide me time to study and write. It is only right that you should share in the fruits of my labor. The cost is normally $10 plus tax. Your cost is $8 including tax. Thanks to so many of you who encouraged me in this task. My next book are study notes on Psalms 1-25, due for release in about 60 days.
Joe Ferrell
