Bulletin / Prayer List 3-5-17

Prayer List
Frank Rhoden needs our prayers.
Dale Brown a friend of Kerry and Carla King is in rehab.
A friend of Butch Balzen’s, Thomas Mako has begun radiation and chemo.
A friend of Kathy Hill, Della Price is in 7 Oaks Nursing Home, room 14 in Bonham.
Robert Embry’s niece Yvette Steward is recovering at home.
Don Boyd cancer has returned.

Andy LeDane, Eddie Griffin, Florene Griffin, Jimmy Griffin, Jerry and Betty Harris, Don Hickerson, Lester and Billie Phillips, Dan Tucker, Mary Jean Turner, Armanda family, Jack and Diane Arnold, Betty Clark, Doris James, Gary Hickerson, Bobbie King, Dan LeDane, Carol Moore, Beryl Miller, and Ronnie Brown.

Serving in the military: 
Faith Balzen, 
Cody Blomstedt, 
Travis Counts, and 
Dakota Smitherman all are in the U.S..

Let us pray for our country and government leaders and those who are in harms way, military and civilian personnel.
The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much…

The Mem’s Business Meeting is next Sunday after evening worship service. All men are invited and encouraged to attend..

Pantry Item:

Mar.12th Prayers: Morning: Robert Embry –Don Harrington
Evening: Jerry Harry – Charles Counts
Scriptures: Robert Courtney
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As the deer panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God. My soul thirsteth for God, the living God; when shall I come and appear before God? (Psalm 42:1-2)



ONE EXCUSE
IS JUST AS GOOD AS ANOTHER
By Freddie Clayton

The matter of excuse making is common diversion of mankind to avoid responsibility. Many believe that an excuse is a good defense and acceptable justification for the failure to do this or that. We are not talking about valid reasons, but excuses. While there are justifiable reasons for many things not accomplished, we are examining the excuse which is, as brother Mid McKnight used to say, “the skin of reason stuffed with a lie.”

Notice the excuse used in Proverbs 22:13: “The slothful man saith, There is a lion without, I shall be slain in the streets.” The idea was not that the circus had come to town and wild animals had escaped, therefore it was dangerous to go outside. This is comparable to saying: “I will not go to work today because I might have a flat, which would cause me to be pulled in the path of a tractor trailer that I might be meeting whose driver is exceeding the speed limit. So you see the possibility exists for me to be killed on the way to work. I better stay at home today for my own good.” Ridiculous you say? Not any more so than excuses people give for failing to obey the gospel or return to faithfulness.
Jesus spoke of excuse makers in Luke 14:15-24. Excuses are less than honest answers and Jesus showed that to be the case. If a person were honest in his refusal to obey the gospel, it would be something like this: “I know I must obey the gospel to be saved, but I rather enjoy the approval of my friends and family that are lost than to inherit heaven.” In matter of excuses, one is just as good as another. All are worthless. The fact is, NO EXCUSE IS A VALID REASON FOR FAILURE TO DO WHAT ONE KNOWS TO DO, HAS THE ABILITY TO DO, FAIL TO DO IT.
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It is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favor.”

George Washington