Our_Bulletin_8_10

Family News and Notes

Reminder to the men of the congregation. Don't forget the Men's Business Meeting following evening services today. Your presence is important.

Mark your calendar now FELLOWSHIP LUNCHEON, Multi-purpose Room, following morning services on August 24, 2003.

The Mount Vernon church of Christ invites you to a Skating Party tonight August from 8:15 PM to 10:15 PM at the Mount Pleasant Roller Rink. Please bring $3.00 to pay for you admission.

COOKOUT For all the high school age members there will be a cookout this Friday evening (August 15th) at 7:00 PM at the home of Lee and Kelley Moses. Please R.S.V.P. 903-572-5055

Chip Horton, from Batesville, MS preached to us last Sunday evening in Tom's absence. He presented a Power Point lesson on SIN.

Tom and Johnny Ann have been in South Haven, MS for the Power Lectureships the past week.

Rhodney and Judy Freeman celebrated their 33rd Anniversary last Thursday, 07 August 2003.

Brother Woodrow Cooksey has been in the hospital suffering from pneumonia but is now out and was in attendance at the Wednesday evening services.

R.C. Grissom is still in Titus Regional Medical Center (Room 416). He had some polyps removed and they turned out to be benign. He also had his gall bladder removed.

Elna O'Neal returned to Baylor Hospital last Thursday for further tests to determine why she keeps experiencing difficulties with her heart.

Sandra Cooper, who has been in Titus Regional Medical Center for a couple of weeks, is scheduled to return to Houston soon for further treatment. She is still losing blood and the doctors are having a difficult time determining why.

Georgia Lide is scheduled for knee surgery on August 11th in Paris.

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Church Football Definitions:

Quarterback Sneak - Church members quietly leaving during the invitation.

Draw Play - What many children do with the bulletin during worship.

Halftime - The period between Sunday School and worship when many choose to leave.

Benchwarmer - Those who do not sing, pray, work, or apparently do anything but sit.

Backfield-in-Motion - Making a trip to the back (restroom or water fountain) during the service.

Staying in the Pocket - What happens to a lot of money that should be given to the Lord's work.

Two-minute Warning - The point at which you realize the sermon is almost over and begin to gather up your children and belongings.

Instant Replay - The preacher loses his notes and falls back on last week's illustrations.

Sudden Death - What happens to the attention span of the congregation if the preacher goes "overtime."

Trap - You're called on to pray and are asleep.

End Run - Getting out of church quick, without speaking to any guest or fellow member.

Flex Defense - The ability to allow absolutely nothing said during the sermon to affect your life.

Halfback Option - The decision of 50% of the congregation not to return for the evening service.

Blitz - The rush for the restaurants following the closing prayer.

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PRAYER LIST:

Justin Barker, Louis Bell, Sandra Cooper, Howard Horton, Alice Lovelady, Elna O'Neal, Alva Mae Sheets

ALSO: Ray Nell Benson, Judy Betts, R. C. Grissom, Dana Rigano

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Service Arrangements

ANNOUNCEMENTS......Rhodney Freeman

SONG LEADER..........................Bill Jones

PRAYERS Sunday

AM First Prayer...................Lewis Robertson

AM Closing..............................Ralph Phillips

PM First Prayer........................Jack Cooper

PM Closing................................Bud Roach

PRAYERS Wednesday Nite

First Prayer............................Frankie Sargent

Closing..........................................Tim Jones

COMMUNION FOR AUGUST

AM...Grady Duncan.............Gene Campbell

William Embree............ George O'Neal

Roger Grimes............ Lewis Robertson

PM...Weldon Miller....................Bob Hedges

ATTENDANCE COUNTER......Grady Duncan

TRANSPORTATION...Call Frankie Sargent

903-572-2647

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"Render therefore to all their dues: . . . honour to whom honour" (Romans 13:7).

We were all certainly understanding, but sad to hear the news that brother Jamie and sister Betty Duncan made known last week. Due to the strain their long commute was placing on them, they will no longer be worshipping with us on a regular basis. I recently received the following poem written by sister Jan Hargrove in honor of brother Duncan, and thought it would be most appropriate to include in this week's bulletin:

My Preacher

by Jan Hargrove

Years ago you delivered on the airways Jesus'

message of lovewhich soothed my broken-heart,

For a loved one who did from this earth depart.

Your sermons on God's love were tempered by your voice,

Caused my heart to rejoice.

With your sermons, you painted an image of Jesus'

love for each.

Yes, your message went beyond a measured reach.

In your lessons of scripture that was by you noted,

Proves you are God's servant devoted.

Your words for my broken-heart a balm.

They were a comfort for me a way to calm.

To trust in His words was easy because they struck

my heart's chord.

I will reap in the future the reward.

I remember the moment of hearing the message in

the past,

Little did I know that His words spoken by you would

hold me fast.

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Spiritual Contentment

by Lee Moses

The apostle Paul was not one to worry about social status or financial stability. To the Philippians he wrote, "I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content" (Phil. 4:11). Modern society has most certainly not learned what Paul had. Most people are constantly striving not only to "keep up with the Joneses," but to surpass the Joneses in their "standard of living" - materially, that is. It seems that virtually no one is physically content. However, spiritual contentment can be found everywhere one looks. There are a number of different ways this contentment is seen.

"I believe I'm fine, so don't waste your time."

Very few people today believe that they are lost. Recent polls taken reveal that while most people in the United States believe in heaven, they do not believe in hell. The designation "lost soul" no longer refers to one condemned to hell, but to one simply going through a period of uncertainty. Even religiously active people generally believe that there are "many roads to heaven," although the Bible conclusively teaches that there is only one (Matt. 7:13-14; John 14:6; Acts 4:12).

With such a state of affairs, it is difficult to express to a person the importance of securing the welfare of his soul. Even though a person may be lost, others have told him that he is certain to go to heaven. Such a person will generally want to remain comfortable, rather than be urged to make drastic changes in his life.

"I'm outwardly whole, but devoid of soul."

Some have obeyed the Gospel in years past and continue to attend worship services regularly. However, this is the full extent of their spiritual activity. They have no prayer life outside of the worship assembly; they have no time spent in Bible reading or study other than the prescribed times the church meets for this purpose; and they do not put into practice Biblical principles of living. Their motivation is not to please God; but to show respect to godly parents, to maintain friendships, or such like.

"I've done sufficient, to do more is not efficient."

There are some who feel that they have done their duty in times past. They may have previously been very involved in the work of the church, but now feel that it is the responsibility of younger Christians to accomplish. Some even quit attending services altogether, arrogantly determining that they have "done enough" for a lifetime of service to the Lord. This is practical "once saved, always saved" doctrine. The apostle Paul said, "Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do . . . I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus" (Phil. 3:13-14). There is probably not a Christian living today whose evidence of devotion to the Lord could be compared to Paul, yet he had not yet "attained unto the resurrection of the dead," nor unto perfection (3:11-12). Yet he continued to strive that he might attain these things.

"No matter whether all else seems to fall apart, I do the will of God from the heart."

There is a sense of spiritual contentment that can be genuinely achieved. "Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus" (Phil. 4:6-7). One who does not focus on the physical things, which can never satisfy, but on the spiritual, can find contentment in both (II Cor. 4:18-5:1). When one is committed to fulfilling the will of God, he no longer has any need for worry: "For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens" (II Cor. 5:1).

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