Family News and Notes
Copies of the Minutes from the Men's Business Meeting and Financial Report for the month ending July 31 are available on the table in the foyer if you wish to have a copy.
Mark your calendar now FELLOWSHIP LUNCHEON, Multi-purpose Room, following morning services on August 24, 2003.
Tom and Johnnie Ann Wacaster are in San Augustine, Texas this weekend. Tom is preaching there today. They were in Hope, AR last week.
Ladies please mark your calendar for September 08. We would like to begin having monthly evening fellowship devotionals for all ladies. This first time we will meet at the building, beginning at 7:00 PM. We will talk about future get-togethers, have a short devotional, visit and snack. If you have any questions please talk to Vicki Miller or Ann Pickrel.
Guess who is celebrating a birthday today? HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Barbara Duncan!!
Sandra Cooper is in Houston. She is to undergo further tests and/or treatment with a new drug. She is currently at the home of her son and daughter-in-law. The address is as follows:
Sandra Cooper
c/o Kyle Cooper
10915 Desert Sp. Cr.
Houston, Texas 77095
Phone: 281-304-1663
Joe Ferrell began to feel badly while at worship services last Sunday and has been sick at home. He was able to attend services Wednesday evening.
Gene Riley is in the Winnsboro Medical Center.
Joyce Lee has been ill at home this past week.
R. C. Grissom was scheduled to be dismissed from the hospital last Thursday and should be at home at this time.
Woodrow Cooksey continues his chemo treatments this next week.
Georgia Lide will enter the hospital in Paris on Tuesday and will have her knee surgery on Wednesday.
Elna O'Neal was in Baylor Hospital a day or two last week but is now back at home. She had heart catheterization last Saturday.
Nita Horn (Wayne Pickrel's sister) is in the hospital in Chillicothe, Texas. She is losing blood and the doctors are attempting to determine the cause of her problem.
Kenneth Harralson (Betty Duncan's son) recently had a second hip replacement. He had to remain in the hospital for several days due to an allergic reaction to medication. He is out and is home, now, and is doing better.
Autumn Miller had a auto accident Friday. She was shook up but is OK. Her car did not do so well.
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PRAYER LIST:
Justin Barker, Louis Bell, Woodrow Cooksey, Sandra Cooper, Joe Ferrell, Howard Horton, Joyce Lee, Georgia Lide,
Alice Lovelady, Elna O'Neal, Alva Mae Sheets
ALSO: Ray Nell Benson, Judy Betts, R. C. Grissom, Nita Horn, Dana Rigano, Gene Riley
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Service Arrangements
ANNOUNCEMENTS..........Grady Duncan
SONG LEADER.........................Bill Jones
PRAYERS -- Sunday
AM First Prayer..............Rhodney Freeman
AM Closing.........................Vernon Garrett
PM First Prayer.......................Jim Duncan
PM Closing..........................Jerry Freeman
PRAYERS - Wednesday Nite
First Prayer...................................Bill Jones
Closing...................................Rodney Cook
COMMUNION FOR AUGUST
AM...Grady Duncan.............Gene Campbell
William Embree............George O'Neal
Roger Grime.............Lewis Robertson
PM...Weldon Miller..................Bob Hedges
ATTENDANCE COUNTER....Grady Duncan
TRANSPORTATION.....Call. Frankie Sargent
903-572-2647
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Rhodney's Funny Bone
One should keep his words both soft and tender, because tomorrow he may have to eat them.
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"Peace and Truth in my Days"
by Lee Moses
What will be the state of the church of Christ in the United States in 100 years? 50 years? 20 years? While it is difficult to know for certain, there are obviously some storm clouds on the horizon. Congregations considered to stand for the truth twenty years ago no longer consider adherence to the New Testament pattern essential to fellowship or salvation. Congregations once considered to be the staunchest stalwarts of the faith are now teetering on the brink of apostasy. These and other warning signs should cause alarm to the saints. And many faithful brethren are indeed alarmed at the direction of many of the Lord's people. However, far too many, while not necessarily in agreement with the change agents, are turning a deaf ear to these problems.
Though generally considered one of the righteous kings of Judah, King Hezekiah sinned against God by proudly displaying all the treasures of his palace to a group of Babylonian ambassadors (II Kings 20:12-13; II Chron. 32:31). God told Hezekiah that He would punish him for this by sending the Babylonians to take away all his possessions, and to take away his descendants as eunuchs into captivity-however, none of this was to happen within Hezekiah's lifetime (II Kings 20:17-18). Hezekiah responded to the pronouncement of God by saying, "Good is the word of the LORD which thou hast spoken. And he said, Is it not good, if peace and truth be in my days?" (II Kings 20:19).
Hezekiah was right in saying that God's word was "good." As always, God's pronouncement was righteous and just (Psm. 119:75; Rev. 16:7). However, Hezekiah's reasoning that it was good because he would have "peace and truth in his days" smacks of selfishness and lack of vision.
This may be a large part of the reason so many turn away from hearing about the problems facing the church today. They are not currently hearing any error preached from their pulpits, they are able to worship according to the Scriptural pattern, and visitors are able to hear what they must do to be saved. So as they perceive it, they have both "peace and truth." However, what about the church which they are leaving to their children, and to their children's children? They choose to be ignorant of the problems facing the church. Liberals and all false teachers feed on ignorance, because only knowledge can check their devious designs (Acts 20:29-32; Col. 2:3-4; cf. Hos. 4:6). And as liberalism goes unchecked throughout various parts of the brotherhood, other congregations enjoy "peace and truth" in their own hidden little corner.
The church of our Lord cannot be selfish; and if vision was needed at any time, it is now. We need leaders who will set goals for the future and form plans to achieve those goals. We need uncompromising preachers and leaders who will identify and address problems; not only in their own congregations, but wherever they are seen and need to be addressed. We need brethren in every pew who will see the need to address and correct error. We should all desire and endeavor to see peace and truth-not only in our days, but until the Lord comes again.
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TOP TEN SIGNS YOU'RE NOT READING
YOUR BIBLE ENOUGH
10. The Preacher announces that the sermon is from Genesis and you check the table of contents.
9. You think Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob had a few hits in the '60's but never really amounted to much.
8. You turn to Psalms and a WWII savings bond falls out.
7. When someone asks you your favorite Old Testament character, you say Hercules.
6. Your favorite Bible verse is "Cleanliness is next to godliness."
5. You get mad because you can't find Charleton Heston in the concordance nor in the table of contents.
4. Catching the kids reading the Song of Solomon, you demand: "Who gave you this?"
3. You think the minor prophets worked in the quarries.
2. You fall for it when the Preacher tells you to turn to 2nd Hezekiah.
1. You think that Job rhymes with Bob.
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