David Neal............................ .Joe Ferrell
PM...Bob Hedges..................Fred Harkrider, Jr
ATTENDANCE COUNTER.........Grady Duncan
TRANSPORTATION......Those needing transportation can call;
Frankie Sargent at 903-572-2647
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Family News and Notes
Summer Youth Series begins tomorrow -June 9th
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Seventy-seven folks were present for the special presentation of the Bibles to our graduating Seniors last Sunday nite. Thanks for your support.
Many thanks to all of the folks who taught the classes during our Vacation Bible School. You are appreciated. Attendance was good. Following is the attendance record:
Monday...28 Tuesday...32 Wednesday.34
Thursday.28 Friday.27
MEN'S BUSINESS MEETING following services tonight in the Multi-Purpose Room. All men are encouraged to attend.
Djuana Thomas had surgery last week. She is now at home and is doing OK. She extends her THANK YOU to everyone for all the cards, phone calls, prayers in her behalf and also for the food.
Woodrow Cooksey has not been feeling well. He continues to have his good days and his bad days.
Sandra Cooper got the results back on her bone marrow test. She does not have cancer, but has a rare blood disease. She will be coming home for a few days and then go back to Houston to M. D. Anderson for treatment. Our prayers in her behalf have been answered.
Julia Ethridge has been dismissed from the hospital and will be staying with her daughter for recovery. Diagnosis is that she does not have cancer. We are thankful that our prayers on her behalf have been answered by the Lord. Her address for now is:
Julia Ethridge
c/o Bob and Sharon Palmer
507 Greenhill Park Avenue
Mount Pleasant, Texas 75455
Pat Dillard continues her recovery from foot surgery and although she still suffers some discomfort this is subsiding and she hopes to be back to normal soon.
Update on Barbara Duncan. She has been experiencing side affects with her change of medication. She is making a slow recovery from the stroke she had and her doctor advises it will take time to heal and for the side affects to subside.
Jim Duncan's uncle, Harold Sandlin, passed away on Tuesday. Graveside services were conducted Thursday afternoon in Texarkana.
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THANK YOU "Dear Christians at North Jefferson: Thank you for remembering me during my graduation. You have shown much love and support throughout my life. The Bible you presented to me is very appreciated."
In Christian love,
Karen Sargent
THANK YOU "Dear Christian Friends: Thank you for the many cards, your phone calls and food. But most of all, thank you for the prayers. I am slowly recovering from knee surgery.
I love all of you, Myrtice Grissom
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PRAYER LIST:
Bob Adams, Justin Barker, Louis Bell, Nona Bell,
Iona Carpenter, Billy Carter, Geneva Cooksey,
Woodrow Cooksey, Sandra Cooper, Barbara Duncan,
Julia Ethridge, Howard Horton, Corine Hudson, Hollis Lee,
ALSO: Donald Deaton, Tillman Ethridge, Linda Ferrell,
Minnie Moore
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Tom's Pen
by Tom Wacaster
This has been a busy and profitable week. I am just about to catch up with my reading and filing that collected while I was away in mid-May (though from the looks of my desk and office you would think I am so far behind that I will never catch up). I have finally learned how to take the "stacks" of paper work, periodicals, letters, etc. and "stack" the "stacks" in such a way that I can reach new heights on my desk. The problem arises when I need something at the bottom of the stack.
The elders recognize the need to address the subject of leadership in a series of lessons on Sunday morning. I think that most of us take leaders for granted. We just sort of assume that leaders will always be there to fill the shoes of those who have to step down for one reason or another. Leaders are not born, they are made. Years of training go into developing an effective leader. Unfortunately the Lord's church has, to a large degree, neglected the training of men to be preachers, elders, and deacons. Like a number of other things, it seems that we procrastinate, fail to plan, and then wonder why a problem arises down the road. Douglas Mac Arthur once wrote, "The history of failure in war can be summed up in two words: TOO LATE! Too late in comprehending the deadly purpose of a potential enemy; too late in preparedness; too late in uniting all possible forces for resistance; too late in standing with one's friends." To this I might add that failure in any work is the result of failing to look ahead and meet the crisis before it becomes a crisis. A little more than a decade ago, there were men warning that the Lord's church was facing a leadership crisis. Too few desired to serve as elders and/or deacons. Others were not qualified. As a result a number of men were permitted to become leaders who were not (and are not) qualified to lead the Lord's church. As a result we have seen the Lord's church slow in growth and we have witnessed more false doctrine being taught and tolerated than at any previous time. Beginning this morning I want to do a series of sermons on leadership in the Lord's church. I hope you benefit from them.
Finally, the following came across my desk this week. It has been a few years since I last saw this, but it is worth repeating.
While our Lord walked upon the earth in the humble form of a man, He required all the basic needs of life, including such necessities as food and water. However, on one occasion when Jesus had been traveling, likely famished, His disciples urged him, "Master, eat."
But he said unto them, I have meat to eat that ye know not of. Therefore said the disciples one to another, Hath any man brought him ought to eat? Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work (John 4:31-34).
Jesus used the concept of "food," or "meat," in a spiritual sense. Earlier the same day, He used "water" in a spiritual sense with a Samaritan woman; and as she failed to understand the spiritual significance of Jesus' words, so did His disciples in this instance. On this particular day, many Samaritans would hear the word of Christ and believe on Him. This is where Jesus found His greatest sustenance: in bringing souls unto salvation and doing the work of God. The very reason for His earthly existence was "to seek and to save that which was lost" (Luke 19:10). The meaning of life for all mankind is given in Ecclesiastes 12:13: "Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, For this is man's all" (NKJV). As was the case with Christ, the Christian's "food" is also to do God's will. There are several characteristics seen in the consumption of food; three of which are that it provides (1) enjoyment, (2) satisfaction of desire, and (3) refreshment and strength [See McGarvey and Pendleton's Fourfold Gospel, p. 151].
Food provides enjoyment. At most get-togethers, people will enjoy eating various foods which have been prepared for the occasion. For the Christian, doing the will of God provides enjoyment. It is said of the blessed man of the first psalm, "his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he mediate day and night" (Psm. 1:2). A Christian finds it a joy to pore over the word of God, to sing praises to His name, and to do His work.
Food provides satisfaction of desire. When Jesus did not eat for forty days, Satan attempted to take advantage of Jesus' desire for food (Matt. 4). But Jesus responded, "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God" (Matt. 4:4). The Christian is not satisfied when he hears error being taught or sees souls lost. At such times, his desire is to see these situations corrected; a desire that can be satisfied by doing God's will.
Food provides refreshment and strength. Oftentimes when one is sick, doctors will desire that he eat to regain his strength. If one is spiritually sick, it is likely that he is lacking in spiritual food. A Christian who is regularly studying God's word, actively participating in all the services of the Lord's church in his community, and involving himself in the work of the church is highly unlikely ever to separate himself from his source of strengthGod. This is because he is continually provided his spiritual food.
There is no gluttony as regards doing the Lord's will. This spiritual food will continue to make the Christian stronger. Jesus sought to provide Himself His spiritual food before He did His physical foodHe knew which was the more important, with the more enduring effects. Each Christian needs physical food while on earth, "but seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you" (Matt. 6:33). Be nourished spiritually.
Roger Grimes.................Lewis Robertson