3/6/2009
The Visitor – March 8, 2009
Here and There
by Wes Price
Roger Owen preached us a fine lesson at the morning hour and a most moving lesson on “The Passion of Christ,” at the afternoon hour. We are indebted to hiim for these message. Royal did a wonderful job of leading the singing at both services and since he and Roger are both from Muskogee, Oklahoma, we had TWO Okies from Muskogee leading our worship service. Viva our Oklahoma brethren.
This Sunday morning, we will have a very dear friend of mine, brother Perry Cotham who just recently celebrated his 97th birthday, to preach. He has written a new book that I have just finished reading that I think all of you ought to read and have a copy of. It is entitled, “Beyond the Sunset.” All the questions you have had over the years about the life after death, the resurrection, Hades and Hell, the kind of change we will experience at the coming of the Lord and many more. It is well written and very understand- able. I am asking him to bring several copies with him and you might ask him for an autographed copy. The price is very reasonable.
I’m glad that he is here with us this morning and I know you will be blessed with having been here.
At the afternoon service, one of the students from Brown Trail School of Preaching will be with us again. He is Paul Delgado. I know you will be inspired by his message and you will help encourage him as he seeks to grow in his ability to preach the word of God.
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After the afternoon service be sure to plan to stay for a pinto bean, corn bread and salad or chunky beef soup & cracker supper in the fellowship hall. All are welcome.
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The lesson on The Search Sunday morning, March 15, is “By Grace Have You Been Saved.” Join either Mack or Phil for a wonderful lesson on Channel 27, KDFI-TV at 7:00 a.m.
Too much truth cannot be said about the demonstration of God’s grace in our salvation. The sinner is dead in trespasses and sins. But God offers him salvation through the death of His Son. Why? Was God not the offended one in man’s choice to sin? The answer is “grace.”
You will be blessed by this message.
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INDIFFERENCE
An article in a past issue of US News and World Report on religion reveals some interesting statistics. According to the article “In God We Trust,” church membership is higher by percentage today than it was during the colonial period. This certainly does not reflect the image we have of that time in our history. When asked about this statistic in a television review, one of the magazine’s editors responded there is a difference in the level of dedication and commitment spiritually today; more was expected of one’s religious convictions then than now. Perhaps the comparison is equivalent to “quantity” vs. “quality”.
Whether or not these statistics are accurate, it is true that many who profess some religious affiliation (names on a church roll), may also have little depth of commitment. A word that aptly describes such a condition is indifference. They have warm feelings for religion, and want to consider themselves religious, but may not be actively involved in work and worship. It’s not that they are antagonistic or opposed to it. They are just indifferent, apathetic and unconcerned how it applies in daily life. The results, however, can be just as bad.
The late Guy N. Woods once wrote about indifference in the Lord’s church, “Indifference is slowly choking the life out of many congregations over the land. It is a sad and tragic fact that, in the average congregation today, not over 50% of the members attend any service except Lord’s Day morning services; and in many instances the percentage is even lower. This evidences total disinterest in the progress and work of the church on the part of these people.”
He continued, “Indifference characterizes many people today; many members have not the least hesitancy in abandoning the services, if they feel so disposed, in order to engage in materialistic activities & practices. One can easily see how far removed they are from total commitment to Jesus Christ and the cause for which He died. I attend the services of the church not because I have to or ought to (although I ought), but because I want to and because I find pleasure and satisfaction in fellowship with my Lord and with my brethren.”
May we not be indifferent to that for which our Lord died, but grow in our love and knowledge of Him, and our commitment to Him. In work and worship, let us be devoted to what life in Christ is all about. May we take our charge as Christians joyfully and seriously to be “”zealous for good works”
(Titus 2:14).
Robert Johnson
PRAYER LIST
Catherine Coronado – UT Southwestern Hospital – Room 1628 – Phone No. to Catherine’s room – 214-645-1628.
Kerryn Cox – VA Hospital.
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Wes & Alma Faye Price, Jerri Locke, Mary Ruth Percival, Pat Mercer, Jimmy Mooney, BillHinton, Lois Rodriquez, Augustina Vasquez, Mildred Head, Estell Lee, Nancy Spurgeon, Mary Carmen McMillion, Urbanelle Cox, Tom Dipprey’s brother-in-law; Mary Dunn, Grady Theobalt, Mary Jean Calvert, Marie Works, Ed Horn, Larry Reynolds, Henrietta Pummill, Edna Faye Johnston, Mary Taylor, Dorothy Mooney, Ada Couch, Dorothy Jackson, Tommy & Treva Traylor, Jack & Oleta Armstrong, Mary Catherine Jayroe, Angie Sabedra, Vertie Lee Stanley, Bea Dipprey, Billie Morgan, Ruby Faas, Weldon Siler, Holly Lee, Ida Smith, Joe Benedick, Marjorie Moore, Geraldine Hurley, Dr.J & Dorothy Coats.
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Schedule for Sunday, March 15, 2009
Joe Hancock will teach Wes’ Bible Class and the Morning Worship Service.
Albert Serna, will preach the afternoon Worship Service.
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The Tuesday Morning Bible Classes will meet Tuesday, 03/10/09 at 10:30 a.m.
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You are invited to see our weekly bulletin on the church’s web site at
jeffersonblvd.org
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VITAL SIGNS: Mar 1
Bible Study 60 Offering $3,645.00
Morning Worship 80 Budget $3,410.46 Afternoon Worship 49 Wed. Feb 25 41
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After the afternoon worship service there will be a pinto bean and cornbread or chunky beef soup and cracker supper in the fellowship hall. Make a pan of your favorite cornbread or a dessert and come and enjoy the fellowship.
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The new House to House-Heart to Heart and the March Calendar are on the table in the foyer.
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Church of Christ Area-Wide Programs
“Let’s Do It Christ’s Way” Sunday 6:30 a.m. KFWD (TV) Channel 52
“In Search of the Lord’s Way Sunday 7:00 a.m. KDFI (TV) Channel 27
“The Truth in Love” Sunday 7:30 a.m. KFWD (TV) Channel 52
Reflections
by Jack Armstrong
We would like to tell you about the man we all admire very much and like to consider him a good friend. I’m talking about Robert Johnson who was our minister at Mountain View for sereral years and we all learned to love him and his wonderful family. We often use his columns in our Visitor and they are all very good articles. If you slipped over them you should go back and read them. Like our own preacher, Robert preaches fine sermons and the best part is he lives what he preaches as does Bro. Wes.
Over at Mountain View his son was in my class and I wasn’t really sure all the time if I was teaching him or if he was teaching me. It was a case of one on one, and I had to dig deep to stay ahead of him. I’m sure he is now out of college.
Maurine wanted me to mention a thing or two about our Campbell Soup labels we are all supposed to be saving for Cherokee Children’s Home.
They exchange them for educational material. Our main purpose is to send the bar codes on the labels and also the Campbell Kid. There is a box on the flip top desk in the foyer to put the labels in, or just hand them to me. We just sent them an envelope full of bar codes, and if you will please start saving them too, on a regular basis, we can send many more. I know all the kids from Cherokee Home will thank you from the bottom of their hearts.
We are all looking forward and prayerfully our own preacher will once again proclaim the Gospel to us in his own down to earth unequivocal style. He should have lots of good stuff to bring us after being off loading his guns for action. Seriously though we will welcome him back to the pulpit with open arms. I sure will miss all the hugs I received in his place while he was gone. We have had some fine preachers come over to fill in and still have more to come.
We are so fortunate to have men like Bro. Paul Lawrence and Tom Duvall fill in for Wes & Alma Faye in their classes.
We have been having some great turn outs in our Sunday P.M. And Wednesday P.M. Services.
We also want to thank our fine Elders, Jacob Locke and James Schoolfield for doing extra duty while Wes was out.
Oleta and I want to thank all of you for your callls and prayers and words of encouragement while we’ve had to miss services. We love you all.
Since we are on the Internet with our Visitor I’ve cut back on the mail outs to out of towners, but if you would still like for me to send it to you, let me know.
“We’ll see you next time the “Good Lord” willing, and may he keep you in his loving arms. Remember the Campbell labels. We pray all of our sick and shut-ins are doing much better!!
“When Duty Becomes Desire”