Prayer List
Ruby Sloan is having severe back problems.
Don Hickerson will have 2 heart stints inserted Jan.18.
Monty Randallph is taking radiation and chemo treatment.
Archie Balzen has heart problems and need our prayers.
Don Hickerson’s brother Gary has been diagnosed with cancer on his spine.
A.C. Quinn’s daughter Brenda Williams is wearing a heart monitor.
Floyce Hunter needs our prayers.
Don and Dannie Baker, James, Florene and Tabatha Griffin, Kathy Hill, Billie Phillips, Billie Bradford, Leona Brown, Betty Clark, Les Hamel, Dorothy Hodges, Bobbi King, Angel Johnson’s and Beryl Miller,.
Serving in the military; Cody Blomstedt, Tyler Davies, Josh Van Deren and Kirk Johnson. All are in the U.S. at this time.
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…
A Sympathetic Gesture
Edgar Guest, a renowned American poet at the turn of the century, tells of a neighbor by the name of Jim Potter. Mr. Potter ran the drug store in the small town where Edgar Guest lived. Guest recalled that daily he would pass his neighbor and how they would smile and exchange greetings, but it was a mere causal relationship.
Then came that tragic night in the life of Edgar Guest, his first-born child died. He felt lonely and defeated. These were grim days for him, and he was overcome with grief. Several days later Guest had reason to go to the drug store run by his neighbor, and when he entered Jim Potter motioned for him to come behind the counter. “Eddie,” he said, “I really can’t express to you the great sympathy that I have for you at this time. All I can say is that I am terribly sorry,, and if you need for me to do anything, you can count on me.”
Many years later Edgar Guest wrote of that encounter in one of his books. This is how he worded it: “Just a person across the way—a passing acquaintance. Jim Potter may have long since forgotten that moment when he extended his hand to me in sympathy, but I shall never forget it—never in all my life. To me, it stands out like the silhouette of a lonely tree against a crimson sunset.”
How will your friends and brethren remember you as they look back on their difficult days? I am reminded of the words of our Lord in Matthew 25:31-46. Friends, most importantly, will the Lord see you living a life of a benevolent spirit toward your fellowman? Will your friends and brethren encouragingly and joyfully remember your acts of kindness? Remember, “For not one of us lives for himself, and not one dies for himself” (Rom. 14:7). A good daily Christian goal is to try to make a positive difference in someone’s life each day. A visit, phone calls, emails, encouraging words, and notes of encouragement are valuable to this end.
(- via THE SOWER, a weekly publication of the Arthur Church of Christ, Arthur, IL.)
Pantry Item: Grape Juice
January 13 Prayers: Morning: Jerry Harris – Walter McMillen
Evening: Don Harrington – Charles Counts
Scriptures: Robert Courtney
**********
WHEN
THEOLOGY GETS IN THE WAY
J.
K. Gossett
(Minister,
retired, Jonesboro, AR)
On the day of Pentecost, the ones who crucified Jesus inquired of the apostles, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?” (Act 2:37) Then Peter said unto them , Repent, and be baptized everyone of you in the name of Jesus Christ FOR THE REMISSION OF SINS, AND YE SHALL RECEIVE the gift of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:38). We read further in verses 40-41, “And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, save yourselves from this untoward generation. Then they that gladly received the word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.” The question here is clear. What then is the problem? Read on.
A student in a West Tennessee University inquired of a Greek professor, “Did Peter actually say in the original language, ‘repent and be baptized everyone of you in the name of Jesus Christ FOR THE REMISSION OF SINS?’” The professor said, “Yes, that is what he said grammatically, but theologically, I do not believe that is what he meant.” Clearly, the professor thought more of his theology than he did of the inspired word of God.
Jesus said, “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be condemned” (Mark 16:16).
__________
A Sympathetic Gesture
Edgar Guest, a renowned American poet at the turn of the century, tells of a neighbor by the name of Jim Potter. Mr. Potter ran the drug store in the small town where Edgar Guest lived. Guest recalled that daily he would pass his neighbor and how they would smile and exchange greetings, but it was a mere causal relationship.
Then came that tragic night in the life of Edgar Guest, his first-born child died. He felt lonely and defeated. These were grim days for him, and he was overcome with grief. Several days later Guest had reason to go to the drug store run by his neighbor, and when he entered Jim Potter motioned for him to come behind the counter. “Eddie,” he said, “I really can’t express to you the great sympathy that I have for you at this time. All I can say is that I am terribly sorry,, and if you need for me to do anything, you can count on me.”
Many years later Edgar Guest wrote of that encounter in one of his books. This is how he worded it: “Just a person across the way—a passing acquaintance. Jim Potter may have long since forgotten that moment when he extended his hand to me in sympathy, but I shall never forget it—never in all my life. To me, it stands out like the silhouette of a lonely tree against a crimson sunset.”
How will your friends and brethren remember you as they look back on their difficult days? I am reminded of the words of our Lord in Matthew 25:31-46. Friends, most importantly, will the Lord see you living a life of a benevolent spirit toward your fellowman? Will your friends and brethren encouragingly and joyfully remember your acts of kindness? Remember, “For not one of us lives for himself, and not one dies for himself” (Rom. 14:7). A good daily Christian goal is to try to make a positive difference in someone’s life each day. A visit, phone calls, emails, encouraging words, and notes of encouragement are valuable to this end.
(- via THE SOWER, a weekly publication of the Arthur Church of Christ, Arthur, IL.)