Our_Bulletin_7_4

Family News and Notes

First Sunday of the new month today.if you are willing and able you may contribute to the Building Fund.

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

Summer Youth Series meets Tuesday at Oak Grove church of Christ on July 6 beginning at 7:00 PM. On July 13 they will meet at Talco church of Christ. 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.

At the writing of this bulletin Louis Bell was in Room 417 at Titus Regional Medical Center due to heart problems.

Also at the writing of this bulletin Ola Mae Simpson was in ICU at Titus Regional Medical Center.

Dorothy Sargent is in Room 433 at Titus Regional Medical Center. She is in severe pain.

Sue Browning had knee surgery last week in Dallas but is now at home recuperating.

Grady Duncan had surgery Wednesday as an out-patient. He is recovering at home.

Elna O'Neal had surgery Wednesday. She had 2 arteries repaired and her blood pressure is better. She was scheduled to return home on Friday.

Carl Lee had a growth removed from his lip Wednesday. He will need to return to his doctor in a couple of weeks for additional surgery.

THANK YOU "Brothers and Sisters: The family of Jamie Duncan acknowledges with grateful appreciation the kind expression of your sympathy. Thank you for the beautiful spray. The love shown by the calls, visits, food, prayers and each expression of concern is greatly appreciated. Jamie has always loved each of you and I have come to love you since we married.

Love, Betty"

Aresser Thursby (mother of Mary Glover) passed away Tuesday morning. Her funeral services were conducted by Tumey Funeral Home at 1:00 PM, Saturday, July 3, at Shepherd Street church of Christ.

Virginia Ward passed away at 8:40 AM, Wednesday, 30 June 2004 at her home on West 11th here in Mt Pleasant. (She was the sister-in-law of Hallie Lang and aunt of Rhodney and Judy Freeman, Larry and Jennifer Freeman, Linda and Tim Jones, Brenda and Fred Harkrider and Jerry and Alice Freeman. She was survived by numerous additional nephews and nieces, great nephews and nieces and great-great nephews and nieces.

Her funeral was conducted at 2:00 PM Friday, July 2, 2004 at Bates-Cooper Funeral Chapel with burial at Greenhill Cemetery.

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PRAYER LIST

Justin Barker, Louis Bell, Winell Blackard, Annah Brown, Sue Browning, Josephine Cooper, Perry Cooper, Grady Duncan, Howard Horton, Carl Lee, Elna O'Neal, Winnie Patton, Bud Roach, Dorothy Sargent, Ola Mae Simpson

ALSO: Tom Dooley, Robin Embree, Kelsey Meyers

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Rhodney's "Funny Bone"

The good Lord didn't create anything without a purpose, but mosquitoes come close.

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Christians in America

This day, the United States of America celebrates her two hundred twenty-eighth birthday. When one living inside her borders truly contemplates the blessings he has been given, he cannot help but be thankful. Certainly, America has her share of problems, as many of her residents strive to transform America from a beacon of light into a citadel of darkness. Yet Americans are blessed with material wealth far exceeding almost all nations of the world, wealth which can be used to accomplish good. Americans still have the right to worship God freely, a privilege not held by Christians in many countries. Americans still have the right to proclaim the entirety of God's message, a privilege no longer held even by our neighbors to the north. Let us be thankful for what we have in Americaespecially that we can be Christians in America. And let us fulfill our responsibilities as Christians and as Americans:

Submit to American authorities.

God commands, "Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God" (Romans 13:1). If God expected the immoral Roman government to be obeyed, He certainly expects the same respect be given to the American government. One must not obey any law which might demand disobedience to God (Acts 5:29), but otherwise, "Submit yourself to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake" (I Peter 2:13). One may disagree with certain laws, but obedience is not demonstrated by one's doing that which he would do anyway.

Pray for American leaders.

I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; for kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty (I Timothy 2:1-2).

One should certainly pray for American leaders in this regard, whether leaders are good or bad, ethical or corrupt, favorable to Christian ideals or professed enemies of the cross of Christ. God has promised to hear the prayers of His people (James 5:16; I Pet. 3:12). America is a worthy subject of our prayers. That we can worship and serve God as He commands should be the cause of overflowing thanksgiving, and it should be our expressed desire that it continue.

Work for American righteousness.

We are blessed to live in a country that, according to the Declaration of Independence, is among the governments "deriving their just Powers from the Consent of the Governed." Americans are blessed with freedom, but as it has been well stated, "With freedom comes responsibility." As a Christian fulfills his rosponsibility within the American government, he must make decisions reliant upon the wisdom of God (Proverbs 3:5-7), always placing the Lord's will above his own (Matthew 6:33). As we vote and respectfully make our voices heard in the process, we exert our influence as to whether America returns to morality, law, and order; or whether she continues down the slippery slope of godlessness and immorality.

Christians are always Christians first in everything they do. But as we do put Him first, God expects us to be the best American citizens we can be. Thanks be to God that He has blessed this nation as He has. Having the privilege of being Christians in America, let us be just thatChristians in America. Lee Moses

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Whom Will You Worship Sunday?

The god of Ease?

"Had a hard week, gotta rest some."

The god of Mammon?

"Gotta get another dollar."

The god of Popularity?

"Folks came, gotta stay with them."

The god of Pleasure?

"Only day I have to hunt, fish, or play."

The god of Self-Pride?

"They do not do me right."

The God of Heaven?

"I love God more than anything, and I will be in the assembly regardless."

From The Clarksville Edifier, bulletin of Clarksville church of Christ.

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Visitation

Well, I went to visitation

Against my will, I guess.

I was hot and tired and troubled

And I wasn't at my best.

But they told me I was needed

So I knew I couldn't rest,

With my conscience making comments

About how I failed the test.

First, I went to see a shut-in;

She's been gone quite sometime.

Oh, how she missed the brethren,

But she tried hard not to pine.

Next, a brother who'd been absent

Several Sundays in a row:

He thought nobody missed him,

And said next time he'd go.

Last, I called upon a couple

Who's just moved into town.

I invited them to visit,

And they said they'd come around.

Back home again I pondered,

Why, I was feeling fine

Recalling those gladdened faces,

The pleasure was all mine!

Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world (James 1:27).

From Glad Tidings of Good Things, bulletin of Jacksonville, AL church of Christ.

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