THE HEIGHTENER
"Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall exalt you." -James 4:10
| Volume XXIX |
April 15, 2008 |
Number 15 |
|
VIEWPOINT
Georgia
Outreach is close to its 25th year!
We celebrated that milestone with Robert
W. Gray Sunday as he shared some of the events of the past year.
The evangelistic ministry has concentrated on establishing new
churches, reviving fallen works, and helping struggling churches.
In 1983, 84 out of 159 Georgia counties had a congregation of New
Testament Christians. Now,
150 counties have churches within our fellowship.
We give thanks and pray for the continuing success of Georgia
Outreach. ------------ April
13 was the birthday of our third president, Thomas Jefferson.
Here are some of his memorable comments: “In
the spider-web of facts, many a truth is strangled.” “History,
in general, only informs us what bad government is.” “Were
we directed from Washington when to sow, and when to reap, we should
soon want bread.” “When
angry, count ten before you speak; if very angry, an hundred.” “How
much pain have cost us the evils which have never happened.” ----------- Since
this is April 15, here are some one-liners on taxes: “Taxation
with representation ain't so hot either” (Gerald Barzan). “When
there's a single thief, it's robbery. When
there are a thousand thieves, it's taxation” (Vanya Cohen). “If
the Lord loveth a cheerful giver, how he must hate the taxpayer!”
(John Andrew Holmes). “I'm
proud to pay taxes in the United States; the only thing is, I could be
just as proud for half the money” (Arthur Godfrey). “The nation should have a tax system
that looks like someone designed it on purpose” (William Simon). I look forward to seeing you Sunday with a Bible, a smile and a positive word!
RA
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OLD HOUSES I
often see them out in the country.
They are often falling down. They have sagging roofs, broken
windows, and overgrown yards. Sometimes
all that is left is an old chimney, or a cracked foundation.
You may have seen them too.
They are old houses — abandoned, useless, good-for-nothing,
unoccupied old houses. But
they were not always that way. At
one time they were new, freshly painted, and alive with the hopes and
dreams of their families. I
sometimes wonder what the plan was for these homes when they were
first built. Did they
envision generation after generation living in the family house?
Was this house the DREAM house?
How much did they sacrifice to build it?
When did the dream die? When
did it cease to be a home and when did it become abandoned?
What I see now cannot be what it was made for. What
if this scenario were reversed? What
if houses could look at us? What
would they see? I believe
we were created with a purpose. I
believe God made us for a reason.
God has dreams and plans for each one of us.
We were created to live in relationship with him and help
others to see him more clearly. If
we do not live in relationship with our Creator, then are we like an
old abandoned house? Have
we failed to fulfill our purpose in life? There
is a wonderful verse in the Bible that says we are “Created in
Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to
do.” Jesus came to this
earth to put us back into relationship with God.
God has a plan and purpose for us here.
When I commit myself to him, I find meaning and purpose.
I am doing what I was made to do. You
can fulfill the purpose for which you were created.
It starts by being in a relationship with the one who
“built” you. He is the
one who has a plan for your life.
It will keep you alive . . . both now and forever.
(Steve Ridgell)
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GOLF TOURNAMENT
The
11th Annual Camp Inagehi Golf Tournament will be on Saturday, April
26.
PIZZA AND MOVIE PARTY
A children’s event is planned for April 19 from 5:30 to
8:30 p.m. at the home of Phil and Peggy Hamby.
There will be pizza and a movie. There
is a sign-up sheet posted on the Involvement Team bulletin board to indicate if
you will be attending.
SYMPATHY
The sympathy of the congregation is extended to
Gary and Jana Kato in the death of Gary’s uncle last week.
The funeral was in St. Augustine.
ANNIVERSARY
Congratulations
to Everett and Martha Hayes on their 60th wedding anniversary on
April 17.
LOOKING AHEAD
April 13 – Robert Gray
will be visiting Cedar Grove for discuss Georgia
Outreach.
May 12 – AGAPE
Golf Marathon.
June 22-25 – Vacation Bible School beginning at 6:00 p.m. each evening.
OUR SICK
Jodi
Brinkley’s mother, Gail Woody, is scheduled to have surgery on April 17.
Nancy
Kirkland’s sister, Donna Bledsoe, is scheduled for knee replacement on April
21.
Jill
Marlow’s sister-in-law, Sandra Eagling, had surgery on Sunday following a car
accident.
Paula
Anderson, Nancy Kirkland, Bill Moore and Joyce Robbins were sick over the
weekend.
Continue
to remember Susan Carson, Nell Peters, J. W. Raines, Richard Smith and Geneva
White.
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THOSE TO SERVE - April 20, 2008 |
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|
Welcome |
Ross Anderson |
|
Song Leader |
Greg Cannon |
|
Opening Prayer |
Romeo Brinkley |
|
Lord's Table |
*Doyle White |
|
|
*Jimmy Pulliam |
|
|
Joe Minichowski |
|
|
Chris Thompson |
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Scripture Reading |
Bill Moore |
|
|
1 Corinthians 2:14-16 |
|
Closing Prayer |
Ed Kelly |
|
Welcome -PM |
Ross Anderson |
|
Song Leader |
Greg Cannon |
|
Opening Prayer |
Keith Bearden |
|
Scripture Reading |
|
|
|
Psalm
119:57-59 |
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Closing Prayer |
Dick Massey |
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Communion Preparation
|
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Nursery Attendant |
Randi Kelly & Joyce Shelton |
RECORD 4/13/08
|
Bible School |
93 |
|
Worship AM |
120 |
|
Worship PM |
64 |
|
Wednesday Bible Study |
47 |
|
Contribution |
$ 3,379.95 |