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Family News and Notes

Next Sunday will be the first day of August so if you are willing and are financially able you may contribute to the Building Fund at that time.

The Summer Youth Series meets at 7:00 PM on July 27th at New Boston church of Christ. All the youth are encouraged to attend. Adults who wish to attend are welcome. This will end this series.

All Ladies the lunch at "Our Special Touch" has been rescheduled for 11:30 AM on Tuesday, July 27. Please mark your calendar and plan to attend.

We need Volunteers to help clean the building for the month of August. If you are willing and able to help with this good use of your talents please sign the sheet on the table in the foyer so Grady will know what to expect. Thanks ...

Jan Hargrove was restored last Wednesday evening and wishes to be identified as a member of our congregation. Following is her address:

P O Box 215 ~ Talco, Texas 75487

Barbara Duncan did not get a very good report from her doctor this past week. Her red blood count is extremely low and a change in her medication was required. She will be undergoing more tests.

Zenith Hargrove has been sick for a while and has not been able to attend services. We need to keep her in our prayers.

Bud Roach continues to recuperate from the recent burns to his legs. He is undergoing therapy for the burns.

Ola Mae Simpson is still at the home of her son and daughter-in-law in Gilmer. She is taking therapy three times a week here in Mount Pleasant. She feels she has improved a little but still needs our prayers and encouragement. Her address is:

Ola Mae Simpson

c/o Delbert Simpson

773 Lyles

Gilmer, Texas 75644

Millie Leggett of Portland, Oregon (sister-in-law of Joyce Lee) passed away Wednesday of cancer at the age of 68. She was a faithful member of the Campos Congregation of the Lord's church and the wife of Joyce's brother (who she leaves behind). The funeral was conducted Friday in California where she will be buried.

Joyce and Hollis Lee are feeling better and hope to be at services today.

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PRAYER LIST

Justin Barker, Louis Bell, Annah Brown, Sue Browning, Josephine Cooper, Perry Cooper, Barbara Duncan, Zenith Hargrove, Howard Horton,

Elna O'Neal, Winnie Patton, Dorothy Sargent, Ola Mae Simpson

ALSO: Tom Dooley, Robin Embree, Kelsey Meyers, Lois DeWahl

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How Do You Spell "Security?"

Do you remember the old Rolaids commercials, which asked, "How do you spell 'relief,' and then responded with the answer, 'R-O-L-A-I-D-S'?" Well, that's the way I am asking the question which serves as the title for this article. How do you spell the feeling or the reality of "security?"

Not long ago, I read where the number one priority of college students today in regard to their career choice is the likelihood of job security in their chosen field. Considering the lack of stability in the job market in recent years, that's not surprising, is it? Of course security is important to all of us. In fact, according to Abraham Maslow's research into the hierarchy of human needs, our need for security is second only to our survival needs for air, food, and water.

Americans annually spend billions of dollars in search of security. Like me, you've probably received telemarketing calls in recent months about: security systems for your home; insurance for your house, car, and life; investments for the purpose of "securing" your retirement; and even safety inspections for your heating system - all in the name of security. We are the most protected and insured nation on the face of the earth, with warranties on everything from appliances to socks, and insurance on everything from auto accidents to malpractice coverage for preachers! The government has inundated us with laws to protect us from everything from unsafe air to unsafe toys, and even forces us to "buckle up" so we will be secure when we drive. And now, following 9/11, all kinds of new laws have been enacted to keep us safe when we fly, even to the point of taking away our nail clippers to protect us from becoming victims of the first nail clipper wielding terrorist!

Yet, the truth of the matter is, there really isn't any "absolute security" in the physical realm. All of the warranties, bank accounts, insurance, investments, legislation, and airport security in the world cannot provide any real guarantee of security. That's because a sudden economic depression, unexpected illness, terrible accident, or catastrophic terrorist attack could come at any time and take away our lives or wipe out every bit of material security we have amassed in this life. That little bit of absolute truth, that there is no ultimate security in the physical world, brings us to the whole point of this article. That is, that Jesus Christ is the only real and lasting security in any realm.

"In Christ" we find security because we transcend the material "rat race" to find happiness, peace, and hope in the spiritual realm. The security of a life lived faithfully "in Christ" cannot be destroyed by any force. Nuclear war holds no threat; terrorists pose no harm; neither financial reversal nor total economic collapse harbors any fear; not even sudden illness nor death can destroy the Christian's security, for in death we are only that much nearer to the Giver of eternal peace. As Paul said, "for me to live is Christ, and to die is gain" (Phil. 1:21). Our spiritual security "in Christ" is so great, it permeates every facet of life, even to the point of providing security in the physical realm. The best job security in the world is the Lord's promise to care for His children in both good times and bad (Mt. 6:33, Rms 8:28, I Pet. 5:7). Likewise the Christian marriage finds its security in the mutual commitment of both spouses to the Lord's standard of faithfulness "till death do us part" (Mt. 19:6, Rms 7:1-3). Finally the assurance of a meaningful life "in Christ" provides Christians a point of reference that is like a lighthouse in the times of life's storms (Jn. 10:10).

I think Maslow only missed it by one. Security is man's greatest need, not his second greatest need. Humanity wanders aimlessly through a world of darkness continually asking the question, "How do you spell SECURITY?" If only we would listen to God's reply, that security is spelled: "J-E-S-U-S!"

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Revival by Reminder

Occasions come when God's people need to be spiritually revived. As the psalmist pleaded with the Lord, "Wilt thou not revive us again: that thy people may rejoice in thee?" (Psalm 85:6). "Revival" can refer to a revival from sickness, from discouragement, from faintness, or from death (Brown, Driver, Briggs). More often than not, this refers not to physical, but to spiritual afflictions. And indeed the Lord will revive:

For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones (Isaiah 57:15).

As they stood before a gap in the mountains leading into the promised land, the people of Israel had a great need for revival. They had wandered in the wilderness for forty years and faced great trials, largely due to the people's own disobedience. As they prepared for the task of taking the promised land, the people could not go in half-heartedly. God would provide the people's need for revival. But did He do it by changing the pattern He had previously given them? Did He use grand theatrics and unexpected twists to revive them? No, the very oppositeGod gave them revival by reminder.

The book of Deuteronomy provides the account of this revival. "Deuteronomy" means "second lawgiving," and records the final sermons of the lawgiver Moses. Moses reminds the people of God's deliverance of them. He reminds them of God's care for them. He reminds them of God's law. He reminds them of the need for obedience to God's law. He reminds them of God's promises. He reminds them of God's love, and of the need to love Him. He reminds them of the rewards of obedience and the consequences of disobedience.

And Moses made an end of speaking all these words to all Israel: And he said unto them, Set your hearts unto all the words which I testify among you this day, which ye shall command your children to observe to do, all the words of this law (Deut. 32:45-46).

Perhaps no people ever stood in greater need of revival than did the Israelites on this occasion. And through reminder, they were given the opportunity of revival to the point of truly being able to "set their hearts unto all the words" that Moses exhorted them to perform.

The modern world does not view the reason for revival and the means for revival biblically. The denominational world has perverted the means of revival to the degree that the very definition of revival has been twisted. A revival does not demand new innovations of mankind. A revival is not an opportunity to escape reality through "better-felt-than-told religion." Revival is an opportunity to truly improve one's reality. Revival is not found in something new, but in something old (Jeremiah 6:16). As we consider our needs for revival today, let us consider how God met the needs of Israel for revival. Let us remind ourselves of God's law, His deliverance, His care, His promises, and of our need to love and obey Him. As revival comes by reminder, we can have our hearts truly "set" to perform "all the words" which the Lord has given us. Lee Moses

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