Archive for 'October, 2009'

Please help Dorothy Noster celebrate her 90^th birthday, Nov. 4, by sending her birthday cards.  Address:

1704 N. 1^st St,

Merkel Nursing Center, Merkel, TX  79536.

Sunday, November 1, 2009

Sermon: Michael Bryan

Song Leader: Burl McCoy

Opening Prayers:  AM- Lou David Allen      PM-Tim Walker

Closing Prayers:  AM- Jimmy Bellah          PM- Larry Gill

Lord’s Table: Shelton Boyd, Finley Barnett, Kacey Toliver, Kelly Woolard, Lane Boyd, & Wayne Deen      PM-Shelton Boyd

Pick-up Cards: Tyler Jones & Jacob Toliver

Worship Helpers: Canyon Jarrett & Odell Walker

Nursing Home: Jim Goldsmith

Wednesday, November 4, 2009

Devo: Scott Carey

Song Leader: Shelton Boyd

Prayers: Opening- Jerry Russell     Closing- Joe Swinney

Month of November:

Announcements: Jim Jacobs

Greeters:  East Foyer- Scott & Charlotte Carey; and Finley & Christie Barnett

        South Foyer-June Gregory; Cathy Malone; Burl & Jan McCoy

During a confrontation between Malaysia and Indonesia in 1964, a group of Gurkhas from Nepal were asked if they would be willing to jump from transport planes into combat if the need arose. The Gurkhas had the right to turn down the request because they had never been trained as paratroopers.

The Gurkhas usually agreed to anything, but on this occasion they rejected the plan. However, the next day they sought out the British officer who made the request and said they had reconsidered and were prepared to jump under the following conditions: The ground was marshy or reasonably soft with no rocky outcrops and they wanted the plane to fly slowly as possible at no more that 100 feet high.

The British officer assured the Gurkhas that all these conditions could be met except one. To jump from only 100 feet was impossible, because the parachutes would not open in time from that height.

Then the Gurkhas said, “Oh, will we be wearing parachutes? You didn’t mention parachutes before. In that case we’ll jump anywhere with parachutes!”

When I read that story, I can’t help but compare the commitment those men had with the commitment that we ought to have to Christ. Here is a group of people so committed to their leaders that they were actually willing to jump out of an airplane from 100 feet without a parachute! And yet, that’s the kind of commitment that God expects from His people — a willingness to go anywhere, do anything, even if it means giving up our lives.

When God asks us to do something, our immediate reaction is often to ask, “How much time will I have to give up?” or “How much money will it cost me?” The faith of Abraham in being willing to give up his only son seems foreign to us. We are so resistant to giving everything to God.

But Jesus says: “If anyone desires to come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.” (Matthew 16:24-25)

When God says jump, our only response should be, “From how high?” -TFTD

God bless you all and have a great week,

Michael

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November 8^th will be our next time to meet.  Each group will meet in the following homes:

Lucas Group 1- Billy & Sarah’s

Carey Group 2- Lee & Vicki Reddin’s (Scott will take the van for those who need a ride)

McCoy Group 3- Kelly & Krystal Woolard’s

Neill Group 4- Joe & Mattie’s

Bryan Group 5- Jerry & Zoie Russell’s

Our congratulations to Cathy Malone, winner of the Teacher Tribute award sponsored by Arrow Ford, Abilene Reporter-News, KEAN 105 and KTXS of Abilene.  She was nominated by Kami Pursley, granddaughter of Philip & Jeanette Pursley.

Wednesday is our annual ‘Trunk or Treating’:

6:00 – 6:45 pm Hot Dogs in the FC

7:00 – Boy’s Night in the Family Center

8:00 – Trunk or Treating

We ask everyone to bring desserts, chips and vegetable or fruit trays, hot dogs will be provided.  We will have Boy’s Night in the Family Center and immediately following service we will hand out candy to the kids (bring extra candy for the visiting children.)

Sunday, October 25, 2009

Sermon: Michael Bryan

Song Leader: Lane Boyd

Opening Prayer:   AM- Scott Carey     PM- Joe Neill

Closing Prayer:  AM- Billy Bob Toombs   PM- Burl McCoy

Lord’s Table:  Jim Jacobs, Finley Barnett, Billy Lucas, Lou David Allen, Billy Jones & Jason Myers

      PM     Jim Jacobs

Pick-up Cards: Tyler Jones & Jacob Toliver

Worship Helpers: Cody Buczyna & Jonathan Juarez

Nursing Home: Logan Cravens

Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Devo: Lou David Allen

Song Leader: Joel Owens

Prayers: Opening- Michael Bryan     Closing- Dustin Simmons

I heard about an expert in diamonds who happened to be seated on an airplane beside a woman with a huge diamond on her finger. Finally, the man introduced himself and said, “I couldn’t help but notice your beautiful diamond. I am an expert in precious stones. Please tell me about that stone.” She replied, “That is the famous Klopman diamond, one of the largest in the world. But there is a strange curse that comes with it.”  Now the man was really interested. He asked, “What is the curse?” As he waited with bated breath, she replied, “It’s Mr. Klopman.”

Seriously, the true curse of any kind of valuable possession is its capacity to steal our hearts and souls.  As Jesus said,

Matthew 6:19-21 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.  For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

This passage is one of many references Jesus made to the use of money and possessions. In fact, someone has calculated that about 15 percent of everything Christ said relates to this topic — to give you a little perspective, that’s more than His teachings on heaven and hell combined.

So why did Jesus put such an emphasis on money and possessions? The reason is that there is a fundamental connection between our spiritual lives and how we think about and handle our money. We may try to separate our faith and our finances, but God sees them as inseparable.

God doesn’t care so much about your money. He wants your heart. But He knows that your heart will always follow your treasures. That’s the curse of all that we own.

“Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” - TFTD

God bless you all and have a great week,

Michael

-H. S. Girls’ Night Out:  Monday, October 19^th,  in the home of Katie Toliver at 7:00 p.m.; It’s movie night, bring your own drink and popcorn will be provided; if you need a ride let Amber know or call the church office.