Our_Bulletin_7_11

Family News and Notes

Men's Business Meeting today following evening services. All men are encouraged to attend.

Summer Youth Series meets Tuesday at Talco church of Christ at 7:00 PM. On July 20 they meet at Mount Vernon church of Christ and on July 27 will meet at New Boston church of Christ. All the youth are encouraged to attend. Adults who wish to attend are welcome.

Oak Grove church of Christ has a Gospel Meeting beginning next Sunday, July 18 and will run thru Thursday, July 22. They will meet each evening at 7:30 PM.

At the printing of this bulletin the following were in Titus Regional Medical Center:

Louis Bell Room 327

Ola Mae Simpson (She hopes to be able to go home on the 13th)

Wayne Charlton's Mom

Lois DeWahl (great aunt of Lee Moses) is in intensive care in Connecticutt.

Winnie Patton has been sick at home.

Dorothy Sargent is out of the hospital and is back at IHS.

Bobby Joe Phillips has been experiencing health problems.

We need to keep all these folks in our prayers, as well as any other this editor has not been made aware of.

Working behind the scenes are many in this congregation those who clean, prepare the Lord's Supper, make phone calls, write letters, etc. Many thanks for the things these people do.

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Are You In Hot Water?

By Gayle Oler

The naturalist says: "If a frog is put into a bowl containing cold water, and the water is then brought up slowly to the boiling point, the frog is so unconscious of the gradual change in its condition that it is boiled to death when, at any moment, it might have jumped out."

Sin makes its increase and tightens its hold on men so gradually that men are unaware of their really depraved condition. The gradual progress of sin is described by James: "Each man is tempted, when he is drawn away by his own lust and enticed. Then lust, when it has conceived, give birth to sin; and the sin, when it is full grown, brings forth death" (James 1:14-15). The progress, step by step, is (1) lust, (2) enticement, (3) temptation, (4) sin, and (5) DEATH.

That sin gradually tightens its grip on man is indicated by the words of Paul in 2 Tim 3:13, "But evil men and impostors shall grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived." From circumstances of innocence to those of guilt they go, and then the sin begins to tie, deprave and shackle its victim.

If you are someone who is planning to do right tomorrow, obey the gospel tomorrow, come to church and correct your life tomorrow, you are just letting sin get a tighter, harder grip on you. If you find it difficult to break away from it now, how much harder will it be then!

Death and judgment creep upon thousands of people who are concerned too much with the affairs of this life. Without realizing the certain approach of old age, death and the judgment, they still keep fighting and striving for the elusive wealth and fame they covet so much, keep striving for health and happiness here, and never concern themselves with the coming fire of eternity against which they must make some provision. Listen Friend: If you have any reason whatever to suspect yourself of frog-like tendencies jump now. Don't wait for the water to boil!

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PRAYER LIST

Justin Barker, Louis Bell, Annah Brown, Sue Browning,

Josephine Cooper, Perry Cooper, Howard Horton, Elna O'Neal, Winnie Patton, Bobby Joe Phillips, Dorothy Sargent, Ola Mae Simpson

ALSO: Tom Dooley, Robin Embree, Kelsey Meyers

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Frustration Or Joy?

Is living your life as a "Christian," frustrating to you, or does it bring you real and lasting joy? These two feelings are poles apart, but most people who claim the name "Christian," will fall into one of these two categories.

What accounts for the difference between these two emotional extremes? Why do some people find great happiness, peace, contentment, joy, and satisfaction in living the Christian life, while other folks find only disillusion, fear, guilt, frustration, insecurity, disappointment, uncertainty, and depression?

The answer to that question is found in the word "commitment." In other words, the level of your commitment to the cause of Christ has a direct bearing on whether or not you find Christianity to be a blessing or a burden to your life. Those who really enjoy Christianity are those who are truly committed to Christ and His religion as a way of life, as opposed to those folks who are frustrated by only playing at Christianity.

God's Word is filled with passages which warn us of the futility of a half-hearted attempt at living the Christian life (read Lk. 9:23, Mt. 6:24, 10:37-38, 12:35, 22:37, & Rev. 3:14-22). Sadly, though, many "Christians" have not heeded these warnings. Far too many are just "warming the pews" and "playing at church," which will result in their not only missing the joys of heaven, but also missing the spiritual joys of this life as well.

If we don't commit our lives wholly to God, and make living the Christian life our first priority, then our "Christianity" will be in vain. Partial commitment will not do! A little bit of effort will not cut it! Rather, in every aspect of our lives, our first consideration should be our responsibility to serve God and to live within the bounds of His will for our lives.

If we are truly putting Christ first in our lives, then everything else will revolve around our commitments to the Lord and His church. Rather than trying to fit the activities of the church around our social calendar, we will fit our social plans around the church. In all that we do, in how we dress, in what we say, in where we go, and in how we act, we will be guided by a solemn answer to the question, "What would Jesus do, if He were in my shoes?"

Make no mistake about it, there are great rewards for embracing Christ with whole-hearted devotion. The Bible tells us, that those of us who put the Lord first in everything will be blessed beyond measure (Mt. 6:33). Joy unspeakable will be ours for the claiming (I Pet. 1:8). The peace which passes all understanding will be freely given to us (Phil. 4:7). The love of Christ which exceeds knowledge will fill our minds (Eph. 3:19), even as we trust that all things will work together for our benefit (Rms. 8:28). Certainly the life of a true and faithful Christian is the most happy, fulfilling, and rewarding life a person can have on the face of this earth. Besides that, it's the only life that holds any promise for a joyful life after death.

Are you putting Christ first in your life? It's the smart thing to do, you know, for it's the only way to avoid frustration and to find real joy! David McCain

...We will be away this Sun. and Wed. as we take our boys back for another week of camp, and as Janice and I take a little R.&R. time in the Smoky Mts. Thanks for the time off & thanks to Lee Moses for filling-in for me while I'm gone. Lord willing, we'll be back with you on Sun., 7/18.

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When the Body Betrays Its Head

The psalmist exclaimed to God, "I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made" (Psm. 139:14). The psalmist understood that God's creation of humankind was an unparalleled achievement. The human body works together in amazing harmony, as brain impulses are sent throughout the body to control movement, breathing, and heartbeat. The way in which the body functions is so wonderful that God compares the relationship of the human head to its body with the relationship of Christ to His beloved bride, the church (Ephesians 5:22-32).

Sometimes the human body does not work in perfect harmony with itself, and sometimes the spiritual body does not work in perfect harmony with itself. And what if different parts of the body were to rebel against each other? We would have the frenzied state of chaos warned against in I Corinthians 12:12-27. How much more is this true when the body betrays its head? The New Testament warns against traitors from within who would betray the body and its Head (Matthew 24:10; Acts 20:30; II Timothy 4:3). The body's betrayal of its head is currently taking place.

The preaching of false doctrine is one area in which the betrayal of the Head is seen. Jesus promised, "If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free" (John 8:31-32). Yet as Jesus seeks to make mankind free with the truth, certain members of His body have sought to keep mankind in bondage with false doctrine. In order to bring themselves crossover appeal, these men intentionally leave out essential requirements of salvation from their "preaching," and replace them with others of their own choosing. It is as Paul warned, "Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them" (Acts 20:30).

Another way the betrayal is seen is in the changing of the Head's plan of work and worship for the body. There are churches of Christ (or so they profess to be) who have changed the mission of the church from seeking and saving the lost to providing them "jazzercise classes" and serving them with a country club atmosphere. The holy worship of God has been transformed into entertainment for the masses.

A third way the body has betrayed the Head is by becoming friends with the world. In some places, there is no distinction between the church of Christ and the rest of the community. They dress the same, talk the same, and live the same. These "Christians" do nothing to indicate that they are "a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light" (1 Peter 2:9). To such the Lord's reply is, "Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God" (James 4:4).

A body is designed to be controlled by its head. The current betrayal is causing the body to lose any control of movement. This betrayal is causing the body to gasp for air. This betrayal will eventually remove the heart from the body. But know thisa body is identified by its head. Those who continue to hold fast to Christ as their head will continue "having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God" (Colossians 2:19).

Lee Moses

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