The Visitor » The Visitor – November 25, 2008

Here and There
by Wes Price

The saga of my ailing back continues. I had hoped that with the doctor’s visit on Wednesday last week, I would have a date set for my surgery. It was not to be. The surgery will be performed when the doctor’s assistant can work me into the large number of other patients who were already in line. The date will be sometime between now and the first of the year, if I’m blessed. I’m not discouraged, I’ve just turned the date over to the Lord and will await His timing. This means that I may be able to enjoy the holidays, or for sure, Thanksgiving and our church Holiday party.
Thank you for your prayers and concern, keep them up. While you are praying for me, ask the good Lord to increase my patience, not because of my pain, but because of my limitations. But of course, you remember how often you have heard me say to many of you, “We must learn to live within our limitations.” Now, preacher, practice what you have preached!
———————
The Holiday party is just around the corner and we need to have your reservations in by the first of December. Just call the church office and have your name put on the list. You can provide payment ($12 per person) later.
———————
With Thanksgiving coming this week, our annual Thanksgiving Devotional will be conducted on Wednesday evening this week. Come and enjoy expressing your gratitude to the Lord for all His wonderful blessings.
———————
It was my honor and privilege this past week to conduct the grave side service for Lewis Manchen. He and his wife Helen were frequent visitors in our services when their daughter and son-in-law, Jean and David Hooten, came to visit. Helen was not able to be present. She is still recovering from cuts, bumps and bruises from an automobile accident. Please continue to keep her in your prayers. Her mailing address is elsewhere in our bulletin.
———————

“HELPERS”
And God has appointed in the church…helpers. 1 Corinthians 12:28

God appointed in the church some very impressive folks. Just go down the list and see for yourself: apostles, prophets, teachers, workers of miracles, healers, administrators, and speakers in various kinds of tongues.
There’s a certain glamour and sheen to be found in each of these words. They are folks to be looked up to and respected because of the gifts God has given them.

But right in the middle of such distinguished company the Lord saw the need for “helpers.” And maybe that’s where I can fit in. If so, I will be rubbing shoulders with some very elite folks in God’s scheme of things.

I think of some helpers in the first century. There was Dorcas who sewed and ministered to practical human needs. There were four men who let the paralytic down through the roof of a house so that Jesus might heal him.
And there were those who held the rope so Paul could slide down the outside of the city wall in a basket and escape those seeking to kill him. Apollos is said to have greatly helped those who through grace had believed .
Timothy and Erastus are both called helpers of the apostle Paul. And Paul says of Phoebe that she was a helper of many, and of himself as well. I even read of some who helped by praying (surely something all of us can do). And who can forget those ladies who worked side by side with Paul “whose names are in the book of life”?

There’s a place in the Kingdom for you and for me. We can all belong to the “Honorable Order of Helpers!” Remember the words of Paul to Titus, “And let our people learn to apply themselves to good deeds, so as to help cases of urgent need, and not to be unfruitful” (Titus 3:14).
John Gipson
Windsong Church of Christ

Prayer List
Betty Thornton will have cataract surgery November 26.
Wanda Maloy is having problems with pinched nerves caused by bulging disc.
Patrick Maloy is also having health problems
Catherine Coronado – Select Specialty – RM 125 – Her phone # 972-780-3521.
———-
Wes Price, Edna Faye Johnston, Rebecca Martinez, Sherry Reynolds, Josh Armstrong, Larry Reynolds, Jimmy Mooney, Dorothy Mooney, Ada Couch, Eula Matthews, Cheryl Zacharias, DorothyJackson, Tommy and Treva Traylor, Jack & Oleta Armstrong, GradyTheobalt, Doris Henry, Roger Schrum, Mary Catherine Jayroe, Angie Sabedra, Nancy Spurgeon, Carmen McMillion, Vertie Lee Stanley, Billie Morgan, Urbanelle Cox, Bea Dipprey, Ruby Faas, Lois Rodriquez, Weldon Siler, Holly Lee, Cathy Wood, Ida Smith, Joe Benedick, Marjorie Moore, Geraldine Hurley, Dr.J & Dorothy Coats
———-
There will NOT be a Ladies or Mens Bible Class Tuesday, 11/25/08. The
schedule for the rest of 2008 is as follows: December 2, 9, 16 – then
January 6, 2009.
———-
You are invited to see our weekly bulletin on the church’s web site at
jeffersonblvd.org
———-
The Christmas Party is very near, December 6, 2008 at 2:00 p.m. Please call the church office ASAP for your reservations. The cost is $12.00 per person. Please come and bring a friend.
———–
If you would like to send a sympathy card to the family of Lewis Manchen, the following is the mailing address of his daughter and son- in-law.
David & Jean Hooten P. O. Box 20484 Waco, TX 76702
———–
Vital Signs: Nov. 16 Bible Study – 67 Morning Worship – 87

Afternoon Worship – 41 Offering – $3,244.40 Budget – $3,410.46

——
CHURCH OF CHRIST AREA-WIDE PROGRAMS
“Let’s Do It Christ’s Way” Sundays 6:30 a.m. KFWD (TV)
“The Truth In Love” Sundays 7:30 a.m. KFWD (TV)
”In Search of the Lord’s Way” Sundays 7:00 a.m. KDFI (TV)
“Church of Christ Hour-Heaven 97” Sundays 7:30 a.m. 970 AM (Radio)
“Main Street Church of Christ Sun. 11:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.1630 AM (Radio)
Repeat Broadcast: 9:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.
GBN” Dish Network 9407 11:00-12 noon daily. Also on Direct TV @ 7:00 a.m.
“Good-News-Network” (24 hours a day)
www.good-news-network.org (Internet)

Reflections
by Jack Armstrong
Well folks the elections are all behind us now, so maybe we can get down to every day stuff again, like getting Bro. Wes’ back straightened out and free from pain once again. Don’t know how he keeps going like he does.
It was so good to see Sylvia McMillion, David Johnston, Ed Horn, and Donna John back with us on 11/09/08. I spoke to Ben Choate last week and he said they were getting settled in their new apartment in Rockwall. In case you missed their address, it’s 1325 Goliad Apt. 5204 Rockwall, TX 75087 and their new phone number is 1-972-722-6520. Give them a call. I know they would love to hear from you. We are going to miss this fine couple here at the JBCoC. Like we know though, “when the Lord closes a door he always opens a window.” We got Donna John back with us from Sulphur Springs.
Some have asked about our grandson, Josh, and we love you for your concern and your faithful prayers. He is in terrible pain after they closed off his leg and it will be a long healing process. Prayerfully he will bring the Lord into his life and let him help in the healing process, as well as his spiritual well being. We are all praying for that to happen, and know personally what takes place when the Lord is involved in our lives.
Oleta and I made a big step last Saturday, we traded our old Caddy in on a Chevy (gets 24 miles per gallon) and we’re sure enjoying it.
We were sorry to hear of the death of Robert G. Bell, the son of Bro and Sis Bell, but we know he is now in that place of no pain with the good Lord, and I know that made it easier for R.C., Juanita, and the family to let him go. They did everything humanly possible to make things easier for him, and that’s all any of us can do.
We received word that Cloyce and Kay Jurecka are going to be with us at our Christmas party and that’s great news. When Kay is around it’s like having our dear friend, Estelle McLarty with us, since they are so much alike. In case some of you don’t know, Kay is Estelle’s daughter. She has been gone a few years, but we still miss seeing her smiling face. What a great addition Estelle was to our congregation and to the Lord’s family wherever she was.
We hope and pray Jimmy Mooney and Edna Faye Johnston’s doctor visits came out favorable this week. Seems like we are all going in for one thing or another these days. Wonder how we got by all those years while we were growing up and didn’t even go to the doctor. Guess what you don’t know won’t hurt you, huh?
We pray all is good for our shut-ins, those in the nursing homes and convalescent homes. We love you and miss you! See you all next time, “the Good Lord” willing, and may he keep you all in his loving arms!
Remember…
“When Duty Becomes Desire”