The Visitor » 2011 » February

Here and There by Wes Price
I personally thank you for your response this past week in attending the visitation and funeral services for both Roger Schrum and Ben Choate. Your presence was very much appreciated by these two families. We particularly need to keep Betty Choate in our prayers and those of you who have lost a mate know why.

I wish I had known prior to Roger Schrum’s service about an incident in the life of Ollie Morris that Jo told me about after the funeral. Let me share it with you now as an additional memory to press between the pages of your mind about Roger.

Prior to Ollie’s becoming a Christian, Roger would come to see him on a regular basis at his home and what ever Ollie was doing, carpentry, mechanics, yard work, and what ever, Roger would roll up his sleeves and join in the project. I don’t recall how long this “friendship evangelism” went on, but it had its beneficial effect. One Sunday morning, without having said anything to Jo prior to his doing so, Ollie stepped out in the aisle and came forward to be baptized.

Now how’s that for a lovely memory of both Ollie and Roger. Thank God for Roger’s presence and his hands on help with Ollie’s various projects. Now they both can enjoy being together doing things that please the Lord.

For those of you who have been asking, I’m giving the addresses of Pat Schrum and Lou Carney for you to send a sympathy card. Pat Schrum, 22315 Bucktrout, Katy, TX 77449 Lou Carney, 961 Swallow Ave. #306, Marco Island, FL 34145.

Of course, you can send a card to Betty Choate at her present address which is Christian Care Center, McMillan Bldg. #122 946 Wiggins Parkway, Mesquite, TX 75150 Her daughter’s address is, Belinda Bunch, 349 New Hope Road, Sunnyvale, TX 75182.

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Your elders recently sent a contribution to the church in the Congo to assist in their building project. We were encouraged to do so by a letter from Doyle Kee. It might be that some of you would like to also send a gift to help in the completion of their building. If so, just make your checks out to Jefferson Boulevard Church of Christ and we will accumulate whatever gifts are received and forward it to them.

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You might want to mark your calendar for the annual Dallas/Ft. Worth metro Bible Teachers’ Workshop, March 5, 2011. The workshop is being hosted this year by the Pleasant Ridge Church of Christ in Arlington. Their address is 6102 W. Pleasant Ridge Road, Arlington, TX. A schedule of speakers and classes is posted on the bulletin board in the Community Room.

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On Sunday morning, March 6, In Search of the Lord’s Way will present a lesson on a significant question: Does Jesus Care? Life can quickly get harsh and hard to bear. It can leave us numb and wondering if Jesus cares. Does He care about me and my heartaches? How can I know He is paying attention to my struggles?

Join Mack Lyon and Phil Sanders on Sunday morning at 7:00 a.m. on Channel 27, KDFI-TV to hear this lesson.

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My wife and I will be away from you today to attend a Lectureship at the North MacArthur church in Oklahoma City. We feel blessed to be guests in the home of Mack and Lois Lyon for this two day event. We will be returning sometime Sunday night. Please keep us in your prayers.

My thanks to Roger Owen for his preaching for me last Sunday and again today at both of the services. Maybe tonight we can see if miracles still happen if all of you come to the 4:00 p.m. Service. ——————-
From a church sign: “The Church is a gift from God. Assembly required. Think about it.” Give it some thought. ——————-
A recent request from one of our members about the communion bread served during the Lord’s supper. So, now you can take your pick, either pinch off a small portion from the larger piece or select one of the smaller pieces. Both are unleavened bread.
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PRAYER LIST

Jennie Wright is home under Hospice Care.

Oleta Armstrong is now home. PLEASE, NO VISITORS

Sylvia McMillion’s latest test results were good. Hooray!

Ann Schoolfield is scheduled to have eye surgery on March 10.

David Tarbet is home and doing well.

Dan Sherbit’s knee is doing well and he will have therapy on his dislocated finger.

Mildred Sala is now a resident at Crestview Court . The address is: Crestview Court, Room 115, 224 W. Pleasant Run Road Cedar Hill, TX 75104 Office Number:972-291 -5977

The sister of Oleta Landin and twin sister of Lillian Rowland, Vivian Kenney, is in Texoma Hospital for tests and treatment of kidney failure. She is 96 years old.

Phil Murphy, son-in-law of Tom Duvall, will have knee replacement surgery, February 28.

Continue to Remember: R.C. & Juanita Bell; Roger Borne; Charlie & Nadine Brown; David & Mary Jean Calvert; Betty Choate and her family; Betty Conyers; Mary Dunn and her daughter, Debby Gaffney; Rita Harrison; Nancy Lindley; Mark Locke; Jo Morris; Vernon and Mary Ruth Percival; Sherry Sandage; the family of Roger Schrum; Rick Theobalt; Nathan Vincent stationed in Kuwait (Nathan is the nephew of Agnes Nelson); Willie Wright.

Remember All Others On the Prayer List: Addie Bennett; Dr. “J” Coats; Urbanelle Cox; Carol & Pete Diamond; Ruby Faas; Doris Henry; Bill Hinton; Ed Horn; Mary Catherine Jayroe; Nancy Lindley; Billie Morgan; Bobby Muirhead, sister of Billie & Jean Thompson; Lula Murray; Henrietta Pummill; Mildred Sala; Nancy Spurgeon; Treva Traylor; Marie Works. Vital Signs: February 20, 2011

Bible Study 56 Offering: $5,877.00

Morning Worship 75 Budget : $2,864.42

Afternoon Worship 38

Wed. Evening, 2/16 38 ————– The March Calendar is on the table in the foyer and in the Community Room. ============================================== REDEEMING THE TIME

Paul wrote the ephesians, “Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.” Eph. 5:16. Williams in his translation rendered it “continue to make the most of your opportunities, for the times are evil.” The Greek text literally means “buying up the time.”

But, what is meant by “the days (or, times) are evil? It seems to me that Paul is saying there are so many things which steal our time and cause us to misuse our opportunities.

Many times in scripture we are reminded that we are not owners but stewards. God has put us in trust with his goods. Time is one of those gifts of God that we must use wisely for we must give an account of how we use it.

As a new year begins, in one sense it is just another day. But, is any day just another day? On Sunday morning, December 7, 1941, it may have seemed to be just another day. But the events of Pearl Harbor proved otherwise. At 8 a.m., Wednesday, April 19, 1995, it seemed to be just another day. By 9:01 a.m., when the Murrah building in Oklahoma City was bombed, it was anything but just another day.

Some events are forced upon us. Others occur because we make them happen. Let us not simply react to what others do. We need to plan and deliberately make choices that will be productive in the kingdom of God. Make the most of every opportunity this year. Lewis G. Hale

Ole Mother Nature sure made up for the clobbering she gave us the past two weeks. Hasn’t the weather been great? And we hope we can look forward to a continuation of the warm days and cool nights. But, again, we concede that whatever she sends, we will accept her pleasure. —————-
On Wednesday, it wouldn’t have mattered what the weather was like because a big black cloud came over us beginning with a phone call I received early that morning from Pat Schrum. Roger Elder Schrum passed away around 4:30 a.m. Pat and I talked briefly about the plans for his memorial service and he promised to get back with me about the details. The plans for his funeral were made long ago just before Roger moved to Houston. They remained on the desk top of my computer until yesterday when I printed them off. The date on the memo was May 19, 2006. He preselected his pall bearers and songs and other details. That sounds like Roger, he didn’t want anyone else prescribing the details for his funeral. What a full range of emotions spring up in my heart about this man and our long friendship.

My wife and I drove to Charlton to drop by to see Oleta Armstrong, but before we could get to her room, I received another sad phone call from Clinton Bunch, Ben and Betty Choate’s son-in-law. The news only deepened the dark clouds. Ben passed away early Wednesday morning.

Again, as in Roger’s case, the things I could tell you about our long friendship and the wonderful blessing of knowing this dear man, known to many of us as “Gentle Ben.” —————-

The funeral services for Roger Schrum was on Friday morning at 10:00 a.m. at the Jeter Funeral Home on West Illinois. Burial was at the Farmersville Cemetery where his first wife, Patsy is buried.

The funeral for Ben Choate was at the Laurelland Funeral Home on Friday afternoon at 4:00 p.m.

The Jefferson Boulevard Church, extends its deepest sympathy to Rogers’ children, Pat and Lou and to the extended family, and to Betty Choate and her family. —————-

You will be blessed today with a sermon from Roger Owen who graciously accepted my invitation to preach in my place. At the afternoon service, we will have the pleasure of hearing from Spencer Ross who will preach and give us details of his recent mission trip to Mexico. Please be with us to encourage this young man and reap some of the benefits of having supported him on this mission trip. —————-
Join Mack Lyon and Phil Sanders on Sunday morning at 7:00 a.m. on Channel 27, KDFI-TV for a lesson on the second return of Jesus.

Some billboards in North Carolina predict we can know Jesus will return to earth on May 21, 2011. Can we know this? What does the Bible say about the time of His second coming and what will happen when Jesus comes again?

While we do see increased crime, breakdown of the family, world-wide conflict, especially in the middle east, but do these events speak of the second coming of Christ or is there a more biblical view of His expected return?================================================ PSALM 23 A Psalm of David

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

He maketh me to lie down in green pastures; he leadeth me beside the still waters.

He restoreth my soul; he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shaow of death, I will fear no evil; for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies; thou anoinest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

PRAYER LIST

Jennie Wright is home under Hospice Care.

Oleta Armstrong – Charlton Methodist – ICU – Room 7 No Visitors for Oleta at this time.

Ann Schoolfield is scheduled to have eye surgery in March.

David Tarbet – Presbyterian Hospital having physical therapy following his knee replacement surgeries and being treated for some other problems they found.

Mack Lyon fell and fractured some ribs.

Dan Sherbit fell and has a dislocated finger. He will go Monday and see his surgeon regarding his knee and finger.

Mildred Sala – Charlton Methodist – Room 4303

Roger Borne, husband of Linda Borne, niece of Agnes Nelson, daughter of Louise Lawrence had emergency eye surgery for a detached retina.
The following is a SPECIAL PRAYER REQUEST: Joy Gray, great niece of Alma Faye, has been diagnosed with a blood disorder that leads to leukemia. The family has requested our fervent prayers.
Continue to Remember: Oleta Armstrong; R.C. & Juanita Bell; Charlie & Nadine Brown; David & Mary Jean Calvert; Betty Choate and her family; Betty Conyers; Mary Dunn and her daughter, Debby Gaffney; Rita Harrison; Nancy Lindley; Mark Locke; Sylvia McMillion; Jo Morris; Phil Murphy; Vernon and Mary Ruth Percival; Sherry Sandage; Ann Schoolfield; the family of Roger Schrum; David Tarbet; Rick Theobalt; Nathan Vincent stationed in Kuwait (Nathan is the nephew of Agnes Nelson); Willie Wright.

Remember All Others On the Prayer List: Addie Bennett; Dr. “J” Coats; Urbanelle Cox; Carol & Pete Diamond; Ruby Faas; Doris Henry; Bill Hinton; Ed Horn; Mary Catherine Jayroe; Nancy Lindley; Billie Morgan; Bobby Muirhead, sister of Billie & Jean Thompson; Lula Murray; Henrietta Pummill; Mildred Sala; Nancy Spurgeon; Treva Traylor; Faelyn Watson; Marie Works. ————–

Vital Signs: February 13, 2011 Bible Study 44 Offering: $3,286.00 Morning Worship 71 Budget: $2,864.42 Afternoon Worship 43
SYMPATHY:

We want to offer our heartfelt sympathy and much love to the children of Roger Schrum, Pat and Lou, and the rest of the family. Roger passed away February 15, 2011. His funeral was Friday, February 17, 2011 at Jeter and Son Funeral Home, and his burial was at Farmersville Cemetery. He was a devout Christian and an Elder for many years. First at Sunset which became Jefferson Blvd. He will be missed by all so much. What a blessing it was to know and worship with this wonderful man.

We want to offer our heartfelt sympathy and much love to Betty Choate and her family. Ben passed away February 15, 2011. His funeral was Friday, February 17, 2011 at Laurel Land Funeral Home. Burial was at Laurel Land. Ben was also a devout Christian and such a blessing it was to know and worship with this dear man, known by many as “Gentle Ben.” ============================================== The following is the address, to send cards, to: Betty Choate Christian Care Center McMillan Building Apt 1221 946 Wiggins Pkwy Mesquite, TX 75150 Upon receipt, the addresses of the family of Roger Schrum will be put in the bulletin

Here and There by Wes Price
Well, those of you who love wiinter weather with ice, sleet and snow, you finally got a good dose of it! Now it’s funny that I haven’t found anyone who wholeheartedly embraced it. All I hear is what I want for myself, let us have sun and warmth and spring! We’ll get it in due time. I wonder what we will be saying when the heat of summer begins to broil our brains. “I’ll be glad when cooler weather comes!”

So we have had to dismiss two Wednesday evening Bible Study sessions because of the ice. While it is true that some of you could have made it, it was not worth the risk of some who should not be trying to drive or walk on ice. Maybe this will the be last gasp of winter. —————
While we think we had it hard, let’s not forget some of our brothers and sisters who live in Estherville, Iowa, who have endured a winter ten times as bad as ours. And, in the midst of that Steve Iverson had to take his wife Trish to the hospital for surgery. We are pleased to hear that all went well and she will be returning to work in a week or so. We (the church) sent her a lovely pot plant at the hospital. Steve sent us an email picture of it and I was going to post it on our bulletin board, but the printer only printed the left half of it. Anyway, they expressed their thanks for the plant, but also for the financial gift we sent to assist them in the hospital charges and Steve’s thank-you-letter included a note I want to share with you. He writes, “Thank you so much for your thoughtfulness! Please let me say this without reservation, through your Christian example you compel us to do even more so we too can be like you.” Let’s keep them in our prayers.

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I learned only recently that the new carpet on the platform in the auditorium was not only installed by our dear brother, Willie Wright, but it was also a gift from him, and his sweet wife, Jennie. Aren’t we blessed to have such caring and generous friends.

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Some of you have inquired about the extreme damages that the citizens of Australia have endured and if some of our brethren were victims. In Bob Marks’ latest bulletin, he commented about that and to our pleasure, none of the members of the church had any severe damage or injury. He did tell us of a friend of his daughter who lost everything in the flood waters. Let’s pray for those poor citizens and be ready to render aid when called upon to do so.

————— We are pleased to inform you that Steve Browning’s eye surgery was successful and that he hopes to be here today.

I also visited with Paula following David Tarbet’s knee surgery and she reported that it went well and was successful. I talked with her again on Wednesday and she said everything was going well and that David had been up for a few steps that day. We also learned that Alma Faye’s brother, C.G. Gray’s knee surgery was successful as well. Let’s give a word of thanks to the Lord for answering our prayers.

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Someone said grace is “God’s Redemption at Christ’s Expense.” We are thankful for all that God has done for us, but grace plays a far greater role in our lives than merely bringing us salvation. Join Mack Lyon and Phil Sanders for a lesson on “The Grace of God,” on Channel 27, KDFI-TV at 7:00 a.m. On Sunday morning, February 20. =============================================
WHAT YOU CAN CONTROL
YOU CAN’T CONTROL the length of your life – but you can control its width and depth. YOU CAN’T CONTROL the contour of your face – but you can control its expression. YOU CAN’T CONTROL the weather – but you can control the atmosphere of your mind. WHY WORRY about things you can’t control, when you can keep yourself busy controlling the things that depend on you?

Prayer List
Jennie Wright is home under Hospice Care. Steve Browning’s cataract surgery was successful. David Tarbet had successful knee replacement surgery on both knees Wednesday, February 8th. C. G. Gray, brother-in-law of Alma Faye, had successful knee replacement surgery.
The following is a SPECIAL PRAYER REQUEST: Joy Gray, great niece of Alma Faye, has been diagnosed with leukemia. The family has requested our fervent prayers.

Continue to Remember: Oleta Armstrong; R.C. & Juanita Bell; Charlie & Nadine Brown; David & Mary Jean Calvert; Betty Conyers; Mary Dunn and her daughter, Debby Gaffney; Rita Harrison; Nancy Lindley; Mark Locke; Sylvia McMillion; Dorothy Mooney; Jo Morris; Phil Murphy; Vernon and Mary Ruth Percival; Sherry Sandage; Ann Schoolfield; Rick Theobalt; Nathan Vincent stationed in Kuwait (Nathan is the nephew of Agnes Nelson); Willie Wright.
Remember All Others On the Prayer List: Addie Bennett; Dr. “J” Coats; Urbanelle Cox; Carol & Pete Diamond; Ruby Faas; Doris Henry; Bill Hinton; Ed Horn; Mary Catherine Jayroe; Nancy Lindley; Billie Morgan; Bobby Muirhead, sister of Billie & Jean Thompson; Lula Murray; Henrietta Pummill; Mildred Sala; Nancy Spurgeon; Treva Traylor; Faelyn Watson; Marie Works.

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Vital Signs: January 30, 2011 Bible Study 51 Offering: $2,364.00 Morning Worship 72 Budget $2,864.42 Afternoon Worship 41 Wed. Evening Bible Study 1/26 – 29

Vital Signs: February 6, 2011

Bible Study 41 Offering: $3,352.00 Morning Worship 57 Budget: $2,864.42 Afternoon Worship 43 ————–

SYMPATHY: We want to offer our love and sympathy to Sylvia, Muriel, and Margie McMillion, and family. Jim McMillion, cousin to Sylvia and Muriel, and son of Margie, passed away Thursday morning, February 10, 2011. Funeral arrangements are pending at this time.

“LOOKING FORWARD” by Jack Armstrong

First off, Oleta and I want to thank all of you for your concern, the calls and the beautiful cards we have received while we’ve been away from you. It’s folks like you that make us realize what a wonderful church family we have! When things look bleak you are always there to encourage us on.

I also want to take a line or two to thank Tom Conyers for bringing my bulletins by each week to send to our absentees. That’s what I call going over and beyond the call of duty, and also thanks to Alma Faye for going to all the trouble on her Sunday afternoons compiling the absentee list. Every time I send one of the Visitors out I think of sweet Mamie Maarschalk and how serious it was for her to send all who couldn’t be at the church service a Visitor, along with a sweet personal note from her.

Oleta and I were so sorry we missed seeing Charlie and Nadine there on January 23. I know all of you were sure glad to see them back!

It was so good to see two of our young men serving at the Lord’s table, Miguel Cuevas and Miguel Trevino.

It’s a shame Bro. Wes has to plead with us to attend the evening services on Sunday and Wednesday, and I’m sure Roger has put in lots of hours preparing his lessons for us. The sad part of it is, attending all the services is for our own benefit to help us be better prepared when outsiders ask us questions about religious matters that we can’t answer, plus the fact it makes us better prepared to live our own lives. I know some are probably thinking … ”he’s a fine one to talk since he is not there most of the time.” Well folks, all I want to say is … “if I could, I would”!

Please remember Agnes Nelson’s nephew, Nathan Vincent way off in Kuwait. Remember.. “Life becomes harder for us when we live for others, but it also becomes richer and happier!”

Semper Fidelis Always Faithful)