Family News and Notes
BUILDING FUND Sunday is next week. If you are able and have made plans you may contribute on that day. Thanks.
Reminder for the ladies Tuesday, April 26 will be the last time the Ladies Bible Class will meet for this season because the lesson outline has been completed.
VBS PLANNING MEETING after evening services today. This will be in the Multi-Purpose Room. All teachers, helpers and those who are willing to assist in having a great VBS please attend.
We were able to get a few more tickets for the Rangers baseball game on Monday evening, June 13. Sign up on the sheet on the clipboard on the table in the foyer. First Come .. First Served.
Representatives from eight (8) area congregations met Tuesday to discuss plans for our 2005 Summer Youth Series (third annual). Can you pronounce and remember the acronym: "SYBSNET" - which stands for "Summer Youth Bible Series of Northeast Texas?" Our theme was selected as: "How Shall The Young Secure Their Hearts?" We will meet each Tuesday night of June and July from 7:00 - 8:30 PM, for singing, spiritual edification from God's Word, and fellowship / refreshments. We will host the first SYBSNET here at North Jefferson on Tuesday nite, June 7. Johnny Ramsey will be our guest speaker with a lesson entitled: "If I Were Young Again." This will also be "parent's night," where we are encouraging the parents to attend with their young people, and hear this renowned evangelist speak on this great theme. Make plans now to attend.
Carol Johnson (wife of Jerry and daughter-in-law of Lurline Johnson) is in the hospital in Nashville suffering from double pneumonia and staph infection. She also has a blood clot in her leg they are treating. The family has asked us to pray for Carol.
Howard Horton is out of the hospital and is back at Mission Manor Nursing Home in Mount Vernon.
Ralph Phillips is now back at Mission Manor Nursing Home in Mount Vernon and has a new Cell Phone: 903-714-7707
Mike'Shedra Traylor broke her right arm at school last week and is sporting a cast. Hopefully her healing and recovery will be quick. Keep her in your prayers.
Mary Glover's sister, Ruby Jeffery, was taken to the emergency room at the local hospital last Sunday nite. She was treated and released.
Also remember these in your prayers: Billy Carter Mt Pleasant Healthcare;
Helen Roperat her home; Dorothy Sargent, Pleasant Springs Nursing Center on
North Edwards (she is not doing well)
Marie Holloway (sister of Nelda Dunn & Elna O'Neal; Niece of Hallie Lang & Pat Lee; and cousin to many here in this congregation) passed away in Odessa on Wednesday morning. Her funeral was conducted at Bates-Cooper Chapel at 2:00 PM Saturday with burial at Nevill's Chapel Cemetery in Titus County.
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McCain's Baby Shower, Sunday evening, May 15, after services in the Multi-Purpose Room. Not for Janice and David, but their grandson who will be born in June to daughter Amanda & her husband Brent. Everyone is invited.
Regarding Amanda she has registered at the local WAL-MART for baby gifts
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Additional note from David .
The angels rejoice over the spiritual new birth of Nelda Justice, who put Christ on in baptism Tuesday afternoon here at the building. Several people were privileged to hear her make the good confession of her faith in Christ before being buried in baptism to wash away her sins. Both Darrell Cooper and Pat Dillard, among others, are to be commended for patiently teaching Nelda the Gospel over the past few months she has been visiting with us. We certainly extend a warm welcome to Nelda as the Lord has added her to the faithful members of his family here at North Jefferson. Her address and phone number are:
Nelda Justice
978 CR 3375
Cookville, Texas 75558
903-572-0588
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THANK YOU "Members at North Jefferson Thank you to everyone for the birthday cards, gifts, phone calls and kind thoughts at my 80th birthday celebration. They really helped make the day special. I appreciate your thoughtfulness.
In Christian Love, Kathleen Critz"
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PRAYER LIST:
Justin Barker, Rachel Barker, Louis Bell, Annah Brown, Sue Browning, Billye Campbell, Billy Carter, Perry Cooper, Zenith Hargrove, Howard Horton, Hollis Lee, Winnie Patton, Ralph Phillips, Helen Roper, Dorothy Sargent, Alva Mae Sheets
ALSO: Melba Boyd, Denise Dering, Jeanette Goss, Marie Holloway, Ruby Jeffery, Carol Johnson, Bascom Perkins, Johnine Phillips, Mike'Shedra Traylor.
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THE FINAL EXAM
It was the end of the semester and time for the final exam of the year. The professor made an interesting proposition to his students. "I know that many of you dread taking this exam. If you are satisfied with your grade in this class up until now and are willing to have that as your final grade, you are free to skip the exam."
Half of the class collected their belongings and promptly left the room. "I am completely serious," the professor reassured. "You do not have to stay for the final if you feel confident about your standing in this class."
Several more students walked out of the room, yet three students remained in their seats. "What is keeping you here?" the professor asked a young man seated in the back of the room.
"I was hoping to use the final to bring my grade up," was the reply.
"I can understand that," the professor replied. "What about you?" he asked of a young woman seated in the front row.
"I spent a great deal of time preparing for this final," she said,. "The test is the only tool I have to measure my comprehension of the course."
"I agree with you," said the professor. "And you?" he asked of another young man seated in the far corner of the room.
"Good enough just isn't good enough for me," the student responded.
"Well," said the professor. "I have to say that you three have just passed one of life's biggest tests. Never settle for what is good enough when you want more. You are now excused. Each of you will receive an A."
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Break My Heart, Dear Lord
Is it just a pretty song we sing from time to time, or do we really mean it when we ask God so beautifully to "gently break my heart?" If you really mean it, another question must then be pondered. Will God break my heart, if all I offer Him is a heart of stone? Think about it seriously! Will God break my heart, if I have not first tenderized it by my own free will, by humbling my heart to be open and receptive to the heart-pricking influence of God's Holy Word in my life?
As always, Jesus provides us a perfect example of what it means to be a tender-hearted individual. Over and over again throughout the four accounts of the Gospel of Christ, we see the picture of a loving, compassionate, merciful, tender-hearted, sympathetic, and empathetic Jesus. As He had the opportunity to help alleviate human suffering, He unselfishly used His power to do so. He rejoiced with those who met success, and He wept with those who suffered defeat. He then, as the Shepherd and Bishop of our souls, left us a perfect example of compassion, mercy, and love to follow (I Pet. 2:21-25).
Likewise, if we are to be faithful followers of Christ, we must strive to develop a tender heart, which can be pricked by God's Word, and which can feel compassion for the plight of other wounded souls and hearts. In Romans 12:15, true disciples of Christ are enjoined to prove the good, acceptable, and perfect will of God, by "Rejoicing with them that do rejoice, and weeping with them that weep." Time and again, the Scriptures exhort us to fill our tender hearts with compassion and mercy, as we do good to all men, but especially to our brethren (Phil. 2:1-4, Col. 3:12-14, I Pet. 3:8-9, Gal. 6:1-10). Paul beautifully summarized our responsibility towards one another in I Thessalonians 5:14-15, with this admonition, "Warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men. See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men."
With the example of Jesus, and the Bible's exhortation in mind, why then do we sometimes hear "Christians" gossiping against one another? Why do we get mad at our brother, but run tell the preacher, or the elders, or someone else, rather than doing what the Scriptures say, by first telling the brother (Mt. 18:15)? Why do we listen to only one side of a character assassination story, never bothering to consider there might be another side, or to give the accused a chance to defend herself? Why are we sometimes jealous toward a brother's legitimate success, talents, income, possessions, or blessings of good fortune, while at the same time perversely pleased by another brother's suffering and misfortune? Why are we not more caring, concerned, merciful, loving, sympathetic, and empathetic? The only answer I can come up with is that we don't yet possess the tender heart of Christ to the degree Christians should. Put another way, perhaps God won't break a heart of stone, which is not humbly open to His will.
Sinful King David prayed, "Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me" (Psalm 51:10). He then shared the key to the door of God's mercy when he so beautifully wrote, "The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise" (Psalm 51:17). Jesus knocks at the door of your heart, but you must open the door and let Him in (Rev. 3:20). Yes, God can accomplish some great spiritual renovations in your heart, but only if you unlock it with the "convicting tears" of humble obedience, as you beg for Christ to "come inside and gently break my heart."
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