Our_Bulletin_9_21

Family News and Notes

Copies of the Minutes from the Men's Business Meeting and Financial Report for the month ending August 31, 2003 are available on the table in the foyer. Please feel free to take a copy if you wish.

Brother David McCain and his family will begin working with this congregation on October 12th. We look forward to working wiht David, his wife Janice, and their children.

Mailing address for Tom & Johnnie Ann Wacaster:

Tom & Johnnie Ann Wacaster

c/o V. W. Alston

324 CR 4765

Boyd, Texas 76023-5278

Woodrow Cooksey passed away at 9:45 AM Friday morning. At the printing of this bulletin his funeral services were pending.

Sandra Cooper is still in Houston. Her doctors wanted her to go on temporary dialysis to help remove the fluid from her lungs and she has refused treatment at this time. Her son, Kent, and her mother, Lurlene Johnson, has gone to be with her and Darrell.

R. C. Grissom is at home but is not doing well at this time.

Hazel Phillips was able to return home last Thursday, September 18, 2003.

Mary Glover has been suffering from chronic back pain.

Rhodney Freeman was not able to be at services last Wednesday evening due to low back pain brought on by helping lift a lawnmower into the back of his truck. He is feeling much better today.

Dwight Fetters, brother of Keith Fetters (stepfather of Jim Duncan) passed away last Thursday in Iowa. At the printing of this bulleting funeral arrangements were pending.

Floy Claxton, former member of the North Ridge congregation, passed away September 16, 2003 in Conroe, Texas. Funeral Services were held at Bates-Cooper Funeral Home Chapel on September 19, 2003 with Bro. Lee Moses

preaching. Burial was at Winfield Cemetery. She is survived by her husband, Leon Claxton and other family members.

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Eight Gifts That Do Not Cost A Cent ...

1) THE GIFT OF LISTENING But you must REALLY listen. No interrupting, no daydreaming, no planning your response. Just listening.

2) THE GIFT OF AFFECTION Be generous with appropriate hugs, kisses, pats on the back, and handholds. Let these small actions demonstrate the love you have for family and friends.

3) THE GIFT OF LAUGHTER Clip cartoons, share articles and funny stories. Your gift will say, "I love to laugh with you."

4) THE GIFT OF A WRITTEN NOTE It can be a simple "Thanks for the help" note or a full sonnet. A brief, handwritten note may be remembered for a lifetime, and may even change a life.

5) THE GIFT OF A COMPLIMENT a SIMPLE AND SINCERE"You look great in red,' "You did a super job," or "That was a wonderful meal" - can make someone's day.

6) THE GIFT OF A FAVOR Every daygo out of your way to do something kind.

7) THE GIFT OF SOLITUDE There are times when we want nothing better than to be left alone. Be sensitive to those times and give the gift of solitude to others.

8) THE GIFT OF A CHEERFUL DISPOSITION The easiest way to feel good is to extend a kind word to someone. Really it's not hard to say, "Hello," or "Thank You."

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PRAYER LIST

Justin Barker, Louis Bell, Sandra Cooper, Bonnie Horton, Howard Horton, Carl Lee

ALSO: Judy Betts, Marie Butler, R. C. Grissom, Gene Riley, Nelcene Steele

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Service Arrangements

ANNOUNCEMENTS...............Jim Duncan

SONG LEADER...................Weldon Miller

PRAYERS Sunday

AM First Prayer..................Johnny Barrett

AM Closing..............................David Neal

PM First Prayer..................Wayne Pickrel

PM Closing.......................William Embree

PRAYERS Wednesday Nite

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

Closing................................Frankie Sargent

COMMUNION FOR SEPTEMBER

AM Wayne Pickrel...........Wayne Charlton

David Neal....................Rodney Cook

Ronnie Stewart............George O'Neal

PM Tim Jones...............Rhodney Freeman

ATTENDANCE COUNTER..Grady Duncan

TRANSPORTATION.....Call Frankie Sargent

903-572-2647

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"A Personal Relationship With Jesus"

by Lee Moses

God is a personal God. There are three individual Persons Who make up the Godhead.

And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased (Matt. 3:16-17).

God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are present in this passage, and they are clearly three separate persons.

God also has an interest in each being of His creation: "Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one of them is forgotten before God?" (Luke 12:6). God's interest is far more keenly seen toward mankind, whom He made ruler over all His creation (Gen. 1:26-28). The sparrows of which God takes note are of small value compared to that of each human being: "But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows" (Luke 12:7). Jesus emphasized the value of one human being's soul when He asked, "For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?" (Matt. 16:26). One soul is worth more than all the world, and "The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance" (II Peter 3:9). Christ is the only way to salvation (John 14:6), and it is essential that one has a certain relationship with Him if that person desires his soul to be saved.

However, in modern denominational terminology, "the speech of Ashdod" (Neh. 13:24), a "personal relationship with Jesus" has come to mean something far different from any Scriptural concept of such. One denominational website features an article entitled, "Personal Relationship with Jesus? Hah!" This article contains the following "characteristics of personal relationships":

1.You recognize each other's voice over the phone before they identify themselves.

2.You also recognize their handwriting.

3.You share each other's feelings & hopes.

4.You spend time playing together.

5.You provide mutual emotional support for each other, as needed.

6.You tolerate imperfections in each other.

7.You communicate w/ gestures in addition to words ("That look")

8.You spend time together without much concern over what, if anything, is getting done.

9.You require interaction. It is not a very personal relationship if the communication back-and-forth between the people isn't personal.

10.Mass market communication is not personal. Something written to 'everyone' is not personal.

While applying such criteria to human relationships would certainly be subjective, applying such to relationships with Christ is blasphemous. Brief response is given to each of these. 1. Jesus is not going to call anyone on the telephone. 2. The writer's reference to handwriting is vague. 3. Christians indeed strive to grow more like Christ, and thus to share His feelings of love for His Father and for mankind, and in the hope of eternal life. 4. Christians do not "play together" with Christ! While Christians have authority to participate in recreational activities and must continue to manifest Christ in their lives during such activities, Christ will not interact in playing. 5. Christ provides emotional support for Christians, but the Divine Christ has no need for "emotional support." 6. Christ has NO imperfections (Heb. 4:15; I Peter 1:19; 2:22). He may tolerate imperfections in mankind, but He cannot tolerate sinthe very reason He had to die for all humanity. #7 is ludicrous, as is #8: Jesus has a great concern for what, and whether anything, is getting done (John 4:34; 9:4; Rev. 2:5). 9 and 10. Jesus speaks to us through His word: "God . . . hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son" (Heb. 1:1-2). This is something that has already taken place, yet the words continue to speak to each person who will hear (Rev. 2:29; et al.). His word gives each person "all things that pertain unto life and godliness" (II Peter 1:3).

The writer's concept of what a "personal relationship" needs to be is self-designed and has nothing to do with what the Scriptures teach one's relationship with Jesus is to be. The apostle Paul described his personal relationship with Jesus, "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me" (Gal. 2:20). The relationship the Christian has with Christ is different than any held between any two human beings. It may not have some of the characteristics of relationships we consider to be our closest on earth. Yet it is far more beautiful. Christ is described to be IN us, and we IN Him (Gal. 3:27). Christ showed His love for us by dying for us on the cross, we continue to show our love for Him by following His word (John 14:15). Could any relationship be more personal?

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According to Moses (Lee, that is!)

I saw the following excerpt in the most recent issue of Tanzania 2000, a newsletter reporting on the work of the Lord's church in Tanzania, East Africa:

THANK YOU to Elly Martin and his crew, to Monty Lawley, Don Montgomery and

Jonathan McCain for a job well done. The congregation that meets up on Mt. Meru

will have a good meeting house because of your labor of love and all those who had

a part in this wonderful effort. God bless you every one! Thank you!!

Of course, Jonathan will be with us regularly in the near future as his father David begins work at North Jefferson as evangelist. It is great to know that the family joining us are all actively involved in the Lord's work. Let us prepare to give them a warm welcome as they will be arriving in only two weeks!

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There are a number of quality lectureships taking place in Texas in the near future. These provide opportunities to hear a number of quality speakers address a range of important Biblical subjects. Locally, the Redwater church of Christ will be hosting the 15th Annual Four States Lectureship, covering the theme "Enthusiastic Christianity." This lectureship begins Friday evening at 7, continuing on Saturday and Sunday mornings and evenings, with a ladies' class Saturday afternoon at 3.

For those with the ability to travel, the Sixth Annual Lubbock Lectures (on "The Revelation of the Mystery," a survey of the New Testament) and the Schertz Lectures (formerly the Annual Denton Lectures, on the book of Luke) will provide spiritual feasts. Both run Monday through Thursday; Lubbock on October 12th-16th and Schertz on November 9th-13th.

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