The Visitor » 2009 » December » 31

Here and There – By Wes Price
Welcome to the New Year, 2010. It seems only a few days since we enjoyed the approach of this new century when the nation was not quite sure how the computer operations of government, business and owners of personal PC’s would handle something that had not been quite anticipated, the beginning of a new millennium. Aren’t we glad things went well. We could wish that other events which have shaped our lives over these last nine years could have gone as well. At any rate, we are here, at least some of us are. This past year we saw several of our most faithful members depart this life and go on to be with the Father. They, like those who preceeded them, are sorely missed but some of us might even envy them. Let’s let their example of faithfulness serve as both a reminder and an encouragement to us. A reminder in that they can still have an impact on our lives as we remember their faithfulness. An encouragement in that we saw them depart in the faith with great joy and peace. Long may their memory live in our hearts and bear fruit in our lives.
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We welcome brother Perry Cotham to our pulpit this morning. He has been with us in January now for the past several years and is always welcomed as a true man of the Word. He is now approaching his 98th birthday in January. I know we will profit by his message.
The church still has two copies of his excellent book, “Beyond the Sunset,” and you may have one for the price of $10 which is about 2/3 of the book store price. You might like to have one to read as you get nearer and nearer to destination’s end in this life and learn what you can about the journey.
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The first Sunday of each year is designated by our Texas State Charter as the time of our annual stockholders meeting. We will have that meeting this afternoon following our worship service. Church members are the church’s stockholders and the elders are the board of directors. We promise that the meeting will not be long.
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Speaking of meetings following our Sunday afternoon worshp services, we had a great meal of leftovers last Sunday evening. We really got a lot of mileage out of the Annual Holiday Party with plenty of food for both occassions. Thanks to all of you who helped us get things ready and serve and clean up. “May your tribe increase.”
————– Join Mack Lyon and Phil Sanders on IN SEARCH OF THE LORD’S WAY, January 10, at 7:00 a.m. on Channel 27, KDFI-TV for their message on Knowing Christ. People are heard saying, “Knowledge is power.” If you could closely and personally know someone who could give you eternal life, would you want to meet Him? In this message we will explore what it means to know Christ. ========================================

PRAYER LIST
Tom Duvall – Methodist Central – Room 4151 – Heart Problems. Muriel McMillion and Mary Ruth Percival both had cataract surgery and are home and doing well. Henrietta Pummill has been in the hospital with pneumonia but is back home and will be moved to a nursing facility soon.
Remember All On The Prayer List: R. C. Bell; Addie Bennett; David & Mary Jean Calvert, Dr. “J” Coats; Urbanelle Cox; Ruby Faas; Gloria Garcia; Magdalena Gonzalez; Rita Harrison; Doris Henry; Bill Hinton;Lewis Hinton; Ed Horn; Mike & Mary Jackson; Mary Catherine Jayroe; Jean LaPine; Nancy Lindley; Jacob & Joyce Locke; Pat Mercer; Dorothy Mooney; Billie Morgan; Bobbie Muirhead (sister of Billie & Jean Thompson); Vernon Percival; Lois Rodriquez; Mary Russell; Nancy Spurgeon; Mary Taylor; Treva Traylor; Ann Tomaszerski’s Aunt Lou; Augustina Vasquez; Fran Womelsdorff; Marie Works
VITAL SIGNS: December 27, 2009 Bible Study 55 Offering $2,985.50 Morning Worship 82 Budget $3,410.46 Afternoon Worship 41 Wed. Eve. Bible Study 12/23/09 32 —————–
Ladies & Men’s Bible Classes
Tuesday, January 5, 2010 at 10:30 a.m.
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The January, 2010 Calendar is on the table in the foyer and in the community room. A list of the Parking Lot Monitors for the month of January is in this bulletin.
—————- The January, 2010 Power for Today is on the table in the foyer and on the table in the Community Room
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A NEW YEAR – A NEW ME
Admittedly, the world is in pretty bad shape. A gunman enters a department store and takes the lives of innocent people, but that is just one story among many. The news is filled with stories of corruption, crime, robbery, murder, rape, immorality, divorce, social injustice, bombing, war, etc. And each new day just adds additional evidence of a world gone wrong.
The problem? Sin! It is sin that has brought such heartache, sorrow and distress into our world. And the source of sin originates in the human heart. No less an authority than Jesus says, “For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, fornication, theft, false witness, slander. There are what defile a man…” And these are what defile our world!
Wouldn’t it be wonderful as we begin a new year to have a new world? But for this to be accomplished, the human heart must be changed. I need, and you need, a new heart! Only then will our world be better.
Many of the citizens of the ancient city of Corinth practiced the same sins we commit today, but they found the solution to their sins in Christ. The Bible says, “Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither the immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor sexual perverts, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor robbers will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But (emphasis mine) you were washed, you were sancfified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God.” (1 Corinthians 6:9-11). Christ, who died for our sins, changes a man from within. Jesus calls the process being “born anew,” or being born “from above” (John 3:1-8) And the apostle Paul assures us, “Therefore, if any one is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has passed away, behold, the new has come” (2 Corinthians 5:17).
It’s a new year, so what about a new me?
John Gipson, Windsong Church of Christ