The Visitor » 2010 » January » 06

IMPOSSIBLE SILENCE
Should a person keep his religion to himself? Do you consider it “bad form” to talk about religion? Most of us at one time or another have had to deal with someone who used little tact in their approach. To put it mildly, they were obnoxious! So perhaps then and there we decided that from now on we would be silent about our Christianity. If that has been our choice, we have made a big mistake. Why? Because that’s incompatible with being a Christian. We have our marching orders from Jesus and that involves teaching all nations – something the early Christians did with enthusiasm. Being silent was not, and is not, an option (Matthew 28:18-20). The apostles had to deal with authorities who told them “not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus.” Obey man or God? That was the question, God said speak; man said be silent. Do you remember their response? “But Peter and John answered them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge; {20} for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard” (Acts 4:19-20). We should be thankful for their decision. As H. G. Wells once said, “The trouble with so many people is that the voice of their neighbors sounds louder in their ears than the voice of God.” Remember the conduct of the early Christians when they were being persecuted for their faith. They were scattered abroad, but they were not silent. They “went about preaching the Word” (Acts 8:4). We, too, need to understand that we are associated with God in a divine purpose and “we cannot but speak the things we have seen and heard.”
John Gipson Windsong Church of Christ
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HERE AND THERE
by Wes Price
We are pleased to tell the congregation about our newest member. He is Chester Rowland who was baptized on Monday afternoon. He is the brother-in-law of Oleta Landin, the widower of her sister Lillian. Oleta has been studying with Chester about his own destiny nearly since the passing of her sister. And her efforts were brought to fulfillment when Chester made the good confession and was baptized into Christ. He will be ninety-six on his next birthday. We hope that his health will permit him to be with us today, but we never-the-less rejoice over his new birth in Christ.
There are copies of the 2010 Budget of the Jefferson Boulevard church available in the foyer. Feel free to review it and ask one of the elders if you have any questions about it.
As best we can tell, all the members of this congregation have now received a copy of the book, “The Family of God” by Batsell B. Baxter. If you were missed, please let the office know and we will mail you a copy. You will be pleased to know that in their latest report, Doyle and Barbara Kee reported the distribution of Bibles which we sent funds last year to help purchase in the French speaking countries of Africa. They were distributed in Bujumbura and Muganyi, Brumdi and Goma, Bukava, Uvira and Fisi, RD Congo. Now let’s pray that God will work powerfully through His word in these Bibles for the salvation of those precious souls in Africa and continue to pray for Doyle and Barbara and their work there.
By Jan 4, 2010, we have sent World Bible booklets to new students in Kenya: 234 and in Sierra Leona, 199 for a total of 433. We have 43 members who have at least 1 WBS student and 7 of the 43 have students in both Kenya and Sierra Leone.
We still have addresses available for new students in Kenya. Please continue to join us in mailing these lessons.
We were saddened this past week on January 1, with the passing of our beloved sister and friend, Mary Taylor. She brought the new year in with great style by saying goodbye to this world and journeying to her new home in heaven. Her memorial service was held at the graveside in Laurelland on Sunday afternoon, January 3. Her son-in-law, Gayland Lamb did a beautiful job with his remarks about this wonderful Christian. I am personally glad to have been considered her friend for more than thirty years. We will look forward to seeing her again on the other side. When life gets rough, you want some good news. Today, there’s some really good news from the Word of God. It can make an eternal difference to your soul. The gospel is good news every person must have.
Join Mack Lyon and Phil Sanders on IN SEARCH OF THE LORD’S WAY, January 17, at 7:00 a.m. on Channel 27, KDFI-TV for their message on THE GOSPEL.

REJOICE! NEW CHRISTIAN (95 Years Old)
Chester Rowland
756 Bizerte Ave Dallas, TX 75224 Phone # 214-948-7284
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PRAYER LIST
Tom Duvall – Methodist Central – Room 4151 Felix Gonzales will begin radiation treatments on Jan. 26 for cancer. Rita Wood will have dental surgery Monday.
Remember All On The Prayer List: R. C. Bell; Addie Bennett; Dr. “J” Coats; Jack Coe (son-in-law of Wayne & Nadine Pruett); 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; Muriel McMillion, Pat Mercer; Dorothy Mooney; Billie Morgan; Bobby Muirhead (sister of Billie & Jean Thompson); Vernon & Mary Ruth Percival; Henrietta Pummill, Lois Rodriquez; Mary Russell; Nancy Spurgeon; Treva Traylor; Ann Tomaszewski’s Aunt Lou; Augustina Vasquez; Fran Womelsdorff; Marie Works
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VITAL SIGNS: January 3, 2010 Bible Study 59 Offering $3,651.50 Morning Worship 82 Budget $2,893.27 Afternoon Worship 42 Wed. Eve. Bible Study 12/30/09 26 ———–

Ladies & Men’s Bible Classes
Tuesday, January 12, 2010 at 10:30 a.m.
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NEW ADDRESS FOR:
Marie Works 7757 S. FM 148 Kaufman, TX 75142-7227

Mary Russell % Pat Morris 239 Autumnwood Trail Gun Barrel City, TX 75156

Phone 903-887-1498

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Reflections – By Jack Armstrong

By the time this article gets to you all the huffing and puffing and shopping and gift swapping will have come and gone. It’s a happy sentimental time, but somehow I think we’ve all gone a little overboard in the giving of gifts.

Even though we may not feel like this is the right time of year for our Lord to have been born, what with the shepherds out in the fields and all, we can still have a season of good will and family get-togethers. Actually, we celebrate the Lord each first day of the week by communing around his table to show our love for him, our faith in him, and our thanks to him for what he did for us.

Of all things to happen, our kids wanted us to have the get-together for the holidays at our house and eveything turned out fine.

We pray you all had some wonderful times with your families, and all went great!

We would like to take a line or two to thank Bro. Wes and Alma for the planning of the get-togethers and their special classes during the past year. I know it takes a lot of time and effort to do what you two do and we just want you to know we love you dearly and appreciate you so much!!

It’s been great visiting with you and we’ll see you next time the good Lord willing.

Remember: “When Duty Becomes Desire” Semper Fidelis (Always Faithful)