Family News and Notes
David McCain will be preaching this morning and this evening Johnny Ramsey will be preaching.
If you have not yet picked up your new church directory you need to see Grady Duncan.
SYBSNET meets Tuesday evening June 21st at 7:00 PM at Mount Vernon Church of Christ. Topic for the evening is "Guarding Our Lives From Sin" and the Teenage Boys will be in charge.
Summer Christian Camp at Camp Cisco, for 8th grade thru 12th Grade, July 24July 29. See Bob Hedges for applications. If you have already sent in an application please advise Bob so we can obtain an exact number attending, for transportation arrangements.
Cory Kestler (grandson of Weldon and Jo Ann Miller) wants to be recognized as a member of this congregation. He is staying with them this summer. Cory went to Camp Cisco last summer with the young people from here, and while at camp he obeyed the Gospel and was baptized into Christ.
Vernon Garrett continues his recovery at home. He has been experiencing some pain during the time since his surgery a couple of weeks ago, but hopes to be better soon.
Austin Taylor Dennie (grandson of David and Janice) has had the valve in his stomach repaired and is now out of the hospital and back at home.
Meagan Biesemeyer was diagnosed as having a virus and is being treated for that at this time. She is back at home.
Jody Sparks continues therapy and recovery following hip surgery.
David Neal will be having surgery on his neck in late July.
Edith Shiflet went to Tyler Thursday for treatment on her neck.
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You are cordially invited
to a
Bridal Shower Honoring
Keely Roper
Bride-elect of Daniel McCary
on June 19, 2005
2:00 pm to 3:30 pm
in the multi-purpose room
North Jefferson church of Christ
2311 North Jefferson
Mt Pleasant, Texas
Selections at: Mason Hardware,
Target, and Wal-Mart
(Keely would love to have a copy of your favorite recipe)
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PRAYER LIST
Justin Barker, Rachel Barker, Louis Bell, Annah Brown, Sue Browning,
Billye Campbell, Perry Cooper, Vernon Garrett, Zenith Hargrove, Howard Horton, Hollis Lee, David Neal, Winnie Patton, Johnnie Rex Phillips, Helen Roper,
Dorothy Sargent, Alva Mae Sheets, Edith Shiflet, Jody Sparks
ALSO: Meagan Biesemeyer, Melba Boyd, Denise Dering, Austin Dennie, Wesley & Juanita DuBose, Ruby Jeffery, Bascom Perkins, Lonita Thompson
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A Dad Is
A Dad is someone who helps you find your smile.
Who accepts you for who you are.
Who lets you know that you can do anything,
that your efforts really are worthwhile,
and that your accomplishments are worthy ones.
He lets you know that he will catch you, if you fall.
He's so much more wonderful than he will admit to being.
He watches out for you and helps you through it all.
A Dad is someone you'd be very proud to call your Dad.
As your Dad, he has given you memories
that you wouldn't trade for anything
and the knowledge that even when the two of you
are far away from each other,
your thoughts will make sure you stay together.
A Dad is a person who is great to have around.
He's someone who laughs at your jokes (sometimes)
and he understands the times
when you need his shoulder to cry on.
He is always there for you
and you know he will always love you,
as you will always love him.
A Dad deserves to know that even though
you don't always get a chance to show it,
he is absolutely essential to the happiness
that lives within your heart
Happy Father's Day, Dads!
THANKS
A big THANK YOU to everyone who worked so hard to make our 2005 Vacation Bible School such a great success! We had good attendance every day, with larger numbers than last year, even though we had one less class than last year (no cradle roll class this year). Our attendance totals were as follows: Mon. - 47, Tue. - 47, Wed. - 47, Thu. - 54, & Fri. - 49. Our teachers and helpers worked hard to make everything run smoothly, and I know the kids were taught a whole lot of Bible. The kids were the best behaved group of "VBSers" I have ever worked with in over 28 years of conducting VBS, and all of the staff were "top drawer" and so very helpful, well-prepared, and great examples of the Christian light of Christ. Special thanks to all of our teachers, helpers, craft and refreshment personnel who included the following: Bob Hedges, Veleta McFerrin, Jody Sparks, Jon McCain, Ashley Clark, Mary Glover, Linda Bradford, Pam Farmer, Patsy Duncan, Joan Cook, Karen Roper, Ben McCain, Kristin Marshall, Tori Carter, Shannon Hargrove, Janice McCain, Kelly Pierce, April Miller, Vicki Miller, Reta Eubanks, Cassie Bragg, Stephanie Sparks, Connie Stewart, Carolyn Sargent, Amy Jones, Ginger Jones, Jo Ann Miller, Francis Neal, & Linda Jones (if I left anyone out please forgive me, as it was unintentional). Finally, thanks to all who either donated money to purchase refreshments, or who baked cookies and provided soft drinks! To God be the glory!
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The Joys Of A Christian home
How are things at your home? Is it a happy or a sad place? Is it a refuge from the storms of life, or is it the vortex of the storms? Is your home a place of love, warmth, acceptance, forgiveness, security, and thus happiness, or is it a place of hatred, coldness, rejection, grudges, fear, and thus sadness?
From personal experience, I believe the loving Christian marriage and home is the happiest environment we can experience this side of heaven. But, from observation of many failed marriages and homes, I also believe the unloving, ungodly, and thus unhappy marriage and home may well be the saddest state of life on this earth. Your marriage and home environment can be either heaven or hell on earth, depending on what you, your spouse, and your family make of it.
The Bible indicates that marriage founded on Christian principles has the best chance of surviving and resulting in a peaceful, loving, and happy home. Why? Because two Christians who love God supremely, will build their marriage on the foundation of God's Holy Word. Divorce, then, is not an option, nor a solution to their problems, because they realize God hates divorce (Mal. 2:16). Therefore, they look to God's Word for the solution to life's problems and there find the answers that lead to joy in the Christian home.
First, there is joy in the Christian home because we have "a standard to live by." The Bible is the perfect standard, the final authority inside the framework of a Christian marriage and home. It sufficiently provides all rules, guidance, and solutions to our problems, so that we can build a happy, loving home (II Pet. 1:3, Eph. 5, Tit. 2). It is the bedrock foundation of the Christian marriage (Mt. 7:24-27). It is the harbor for our souls in times of stormy weather (Jn. 6:68).
Secondly, the Christian marriage and home is filled with joy because we have "a common purpose to live for." In Christ, we share the common purpose of pleasing God and getting to heaven. Sharing is the cornerstone of a happy marriage and home. Thus, the Christian home should be happiest, because we are able to share every facet of our lives together, including: shared goals, shared dreams, shared experiences, shared happiness, shared spirituality, and shared work together in the kingdom of God. The Christian home gives you someone to depend on, who will help you to live faithfully, in a world full of unfaithfulness.
Finally, the Christian home is best, because it provides "a hope to hold on to." We're all dying (Heb 9:27). In view of that fact, the non-Christian marriage and home loses everything at death. They have no hope to hold on to in times of distress and loss. This is not so for the Christian home. The Christian home "sorrows not as those who have no hope" (II Thess. 4:13-18). No one can peacefully face the death of a child, a parent, or a spouse without the help and hope of Christ in their life.
To the unmarried, I offer the following counsel. For the sake of your soul and the souls of your future children, marry the very best Christian you can find! If he/she won't put God first before marriage, he/she probably won't do so after the "I do's" are said. Put God at the center of your marriage and don't ever move off the foundation of His Word. When one of you stands by the casket of the other someday, you'll be glad you married a faithful child of God.
To the married, let me close with three suggestions for maintaining the joys of a Christian home. Practice undying love (I Cor. 13:4-7)! Practice kindness and forgiveness (Eph. 4:32)! Practice the golden rule (Mt. 7:14)!
David McCain
