Eddie Griffin is having heart problems.
Monte Randolph has finished treatments and is awaiting a PET scan.
Kathy Hill is temporarily off her chemo treatments.
Nonie Tucker to see Doctor in McKinney Monday; hopes for good report.
Norma Garza (Walter’s neighbor) has bad back pain.
Ruby Slone is having head congestion & neck pain.
Ronald Hickerson will have surgery to remove melanoma on his shoulder.
Eddie Roland has blood clots & needs a hip replacement.
Pat Rivera (friend of Frank) is in rehab for COPD & several broken bones.
Ben Harrington (diabetes complications), Don Hickerson (arterial problems), Tabitha Griffin (cancer), Billie Bradford (in nursing home), Betty Clark (in remission from cancer), Les Hamel (weekly transfusions, stress), Gary Hickerson (disks fused), Beryl Miller (macular degeneration), & Alex Miller (spiritual issues).
Serving in the military: Tyler Davies, Josh Van Deren, Kirklynn Hance and Kirk Johnson in the USA. Cody Blomstedt is in Korea.
Our Spring Meeting will be April 7-10 Topic NEVER. GIVE. UP. - a study of the saints and what kept them going
By Clint Brown from Farmersville, Texas
Men’s Day at Howe church of Christ on March 23rd.
Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
James 5:16 (KJV)
Pantry Item: Pre Sweetened Koolaid - or other non-perishable items.
Men Serving Next Week March 24, 2019
Morning Prayers Walter McMillen, Don Baker
Evening Prayers Greg Counts, Robert Embry
Scripture Greg Counts
Six Reasons Elders Should Shepherd
Dan Jenkins
The greatest work of an elder (and the entire eldership) is that of shepherding the flock of God. Over and over this is seen in Scripture, but too few elders do that work. Many see the eldership as nothing more than a “governing board” or a “board of directors,” in place only to make decisions. While elders certainly must make decisions—sometimes, very difficult decisions—that is not their primary work. Their primary work is shepherding.
1. It’s commanded. This is the easy one! An elder who is not shepherding the flock isn’t doing what God has charged Him to do. Elders, always remember that this is your primary work, because God has said as much.
2. It’s wise. If elders will shepherd, it will lead to easier decision making. There will not be as many “blow ups” in the church, because those who work and serve will know that their leaders are constantly striving to help.
3. It’s common sense. I think this is why many don’t do it. Benjamin Franklin is quoted to have said, “Nothing is less common than common sense.” Elders need to see that it just makes sense for them to be involved in this work. The more they shepherd, the more they help their own work.
4. It leads to greater respect. While we should never berate elders, many members wonder why elders don’t do their primary work. When elders truly shepherd, it not only ends those questions, it also goes much farther. In fact, it leads the members to have a high level of respect for their leaders.
5. It helps raise future elders. Can you imagine how many young men would aspire to the office of an elder if elders took the time to shepherd them from birth throughout life? When leaders invest that kind of time in young men, our congregations will not suffer for future shepherds.
6. It helps the church grow. Many congregations aren’t growing because they are losing as many members as they might be gaining. When elders shepherd the flock, weaker members will be more likely to remain and grow. So, when we baptize the lost, we aren’t “replacing” someone, we are growing.
Adapted from Article by Adam Faughn
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The Cultural Problem with Truth
Doy Moyer
Oxford’s word of the year in 2016 was “post-truth.” That should not really be a surprise. For decades Postmodernism has eaten away at the concept of truth in favor of a subjective creation of one's own “truth.” Truth is no longer considered to be objective, but is relative and subjectively determined by the way one feels. If we feel something, then it is our own personal truth. The only feelings we can trust are our own, if we can even trust those. Consequently, we trust no one because no one can assure us of real truth. There are only feelings in a post-truth world, and those feelings rule the day. None can tell us otherwise.
A culture in which no one can trust truth or anyone else to discover objective truth is not in a good situation, particularly morally. The very fabric on which a society can function together is torn apart when truth is lost, or even if in constant suspicion. Without truth, there can be no justice, for justice requires that we know what really happened. Without justice, a society falls deep into oppression, selfishness, and chaos. And here we are. It’s as though we read Paul’s statement in 2 Timothy 3:1-5 and decided it was a good idea to follow the vices. We are, indeed, a culture that loves pleasure over God, and we love to have it so.
The irony is that at the same time that we don’t trust truth, we insist on justice for those who violate standards for which we don’t even know the origins. While we shun absolute, universal morality, we are demanding that violators of some unknown universal morality be brought to justice. We deny there are lines, then draw heavy lines based on our personal preferences. The problem isn’t that there are lines. There are. The problem is in how we as a society deny the foundation for the lines, then proceed to draw our own. Then, we react harshly and swiftly against perceived offenders, even though we would fall back to relativism if forced to defend our moral stance.
Think about the way our society has begun reacting to accusations and defenses. This is not about particular cases, but rather an observation of typical procedure. An accusation is made on the one side, and many automatically assume guilt. On the other side, many assume that the accuser is lying. Both sides jump to conclusions before evidence is ever weighed. Decisions are then made in the public court of opinion, and much of that is grounded in how we roll politically. We make up our minds ahead of time, we don't trust witnesses, and objective truth is left unknown and untrusted. We don’t know anything, but we react as if we know it all. Arrogance bitterly fights against arrogance, and like children in a playground, we are pulling hair, spitting, and thinking that whoever pins the other down wins and gets to say what is true.
Today we are living in the shadow of yesteryear's distrust of truth. This has, of course, also impacted the way people view religion. Any religion that claims objective truth is automatically held in suspicion, distrusted because the objective nature of truth often runs counter to the feelings that we yearn to protect. They cannot have the truth, for we know by our feelings or personal experiences otherwise.
The problem of truth is that it is easier to believe lies, and were there no truth, there could be no lies. “Truth” now is only on the side of our presuppositions and biases, and those alone can hardly be trusted either. This is where we find ourselves. We can trust no one, and society as a whole is in moral ICU wondering how they got here.
Let’s understand, however, that everything we as Christians stand for is based on the recognition of Truth. The truth does set us free, but only if it is real. “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me,” said Jesus (John 14:6). Without truth, and without Jesus as The Truth, there is no way to God. We would be hopeless and helpless. Sadly, as we have lost confidence in the reality of truth, so also have we lost hope.
The gospel accounts are grounded firmly in the historical reality of what happened (Luke 1:1-4). Jesus further knew the value and importance of having multiple witnesses in order to establish the truth of something (cf. Deut 19:15-19). His appeal to multiple witnesses helped to establish His identity (cf. John 5). Paul’s argument concerning Jesus’ resurrection is grounded in the reality of that historical event (1 Cor 15). Without it, all that we try to do in the Lord is in vain.
Truth is everything, and while we are breathing on this earth, we still have an opportunity to share the truth that can and will change a person’s life and give an eternal purpose. Speak that truth in love, in patience, and with resolve. Let’s make the most of it.
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Trivia Question This prophet spoke of the need to purify temple worship after the return from Babylon. He spoke of the coming of someone like the prophet Elijah.