Great Smoky Mountains

The past week we had an opportunity to go on vacation and we decided to go to the Smokies. I truly believe that the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is one of the most beautiful places you can visit. People come from all over the world to see this beautiful place. The view this past week was hindered by rain and fog, but the drive up the mountain is still worth it. It was amazing to us that you could be in Gatlinburg and the sun would be shining, yet drive up to Newfound Gap and it would be raining and foggy. We did this twice. The first time we went on to Clingman’s Dome where I decided to walk to the top in the rain. The temperature had dropped from 70 in Gatlinburg to 55 at Clingman’s Dome. It was pouring the rain and foggy, yet the walk was worth every step. Even with a rain jacket on, I was soaked by the time I returned to the car. I truly enjoyed every trail that we had to opportunity to walk on.

It made me think about the desire we have to do something. There were several others who made the climb that I made. We will walk up a steep mountain, knowing that we will not be able to enjoy the view because of the rain and fog, yet when it comes to assembling together to worship God on the first day of the week, we will stay home because it is raining or any of a thousand other excuses. We certainly will not get back out on Sunday evening or Wednesday evening to gather together to study God’s word. We have a warm dry building to assemble in. We have vehicles to travel in to keep us dry. Some even have shelters that you can drive up under and get out without ever getting wet. There is nothing wrong with enjoyed God’s creation in the outdoors and walking trails in the rain. The problem is priorities in the lives of people. God must be first in our lives (Matthew 6:33). We had the opportunity to assemble with other Christians at Gatlinburg on Wedneday night and then to meet with Lothair congregation in Hazard KY on Sunday morning and Mt. Zion congregation in London KY on Sunday night. It was a wonderful week. Thanks for the time given us to be away for the week.

LESSONS FROM AN ANT MOUND

Have you ever watched an ant colony at work? The complex tasks that the colony is able to perform while working together surely holds lessons worthy for our consideration. Solomon wrote by inspiration, “Go to the ant, thou sluggard and consider her ways” (Prov. 6:6). Let us take this inspired directive and consider a few of the things ants can teach us.

An Ant Will Work for Its Colony/Family. Ants move tirelessly, carrying loads far larger than themselves in order to provide for the family. How do we measure up? We must follow the ant’s example in providing for our families (I Tim. 5:8). Also, there is the responsibility for the Christian to carry his load in the spiritual family (Phil. 2:2-5; I Cor. 15:58).

An Ant Is Not Too Prideful To Do The Grunt Work. Could you imagine watching a line of ants scurrying to a recently killed beetle, each one dutifully taking his portion and returning it to the colony, only to have one step out of line and turn his nose up at the beetle? “I don’t transport beetle,” we might imagine him saying, “that is below me.” No, ants get it right when it comes to doing the grunt work; it is the humans that sometimes need a little help. Pride is the great enemy of a Christian who desires to do the work of the Lord (Prov. 16:18). The solution is to remember for whom we work: the Lord (Col. 3:23).

An Ant Works Well With Others. There are certain plains in Africa where there are no elephants, and why? Because ants live there! Siafu ants number up to two million ants per colony. The soldiers will literally form a covered bridge made form their own interlinked bodies in order to protect the workers. They work so well together that they devour everything in their path and can even kill and eat an elephant. Consider the “elephants” confronting the Lord’s church today: liberalism; denominationalism; Islam, secular humanism; the homosexual agenda; etc. When the Lord’s body works together, these “giants” move (Num. 13:31-33; 14:9). Shall we pick up stones (Num. 14:10) or pick up one another (Gal. 6:2)? Infighting and disputing will destroy the work (II Tim. 2:23; Titus 3:9). Can we challenge ourselves not to fall in line with stone throwers but to work together to move the “elephants?” Matthew Jones, The Forest Hill News. 9/15/09

MONTROSE FAMILY NEWS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

Sept 27, 2009

THOSE PRIVILEGED TO SERVE

WORSHIP----SUNDAY---9:00 AM

Co-Coordinator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mitchell Brooks

Announcements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Steve Anderson

Scriptures Reading.. ..Luke 14:22-24…. Kaleb Bush

Song Leader . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Glen Reece

Opening Prayer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jacky Carver Sr.

Lord’s Supper-Preside: Robert Hackett

Serve: Jacky Carver, Jr., Roger Draper

Addison Halliburton, Billy Halliburton

Closing Prayer................................ Brian Smith

Greeter- Robert & Linda Hackett

Greeter- Roger & Cynthia Draper

Count Offering. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jacky Carver, Sr.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kaleb Bush

AM Sermon- . Great Supper (Luke 14:15-24)

PM Sermon- - 4^th. Sunday Singing

WORSHIP---SUNDAY---6:00 PM

Announcements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Steve Anderson

Song Leader. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. Jimmy Smith

Scripture Reading.. Gal. 1:10-14. . . . . . . . Kaleb Bush

Opening Prayer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Harold Smith

Lord’s Supper . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Billy Halliburton

Serve . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ethan Leonard

Closing Prayer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Larry Kemp

BIBLE STUDY WEDNESDAY---7:00 PM

Song Leader . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Jacky Carver, Sr

First Prayer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Roger Draper

Opening Prayer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jimmy Smith

Closing Prayer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Glen Reece

Prepare Communion for Sept.

Melanie Smith

Note: If you are not able to fulfill your assignment listed above, please notify the coordinator so that he can find a replacement.

MONTROSE BULLETIN BOARD

NURSING HOME: Lucille Smith,

Those on the sick list:

Donald Chaffin (Zion) Lou Gehrig’s disease

Kathy Harville

Vaughn Allen –cancer has returned

Barry Wayne Kemp

OUR RECORD OF LOVE FOR CHRIST 09/20/09

Wednesday. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48

Worship Sunday AM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116

Bible Study Sunday AM .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83

Daily Bible Readers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47

Worship Sunday PM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58

Offering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,659.00

We have sign-up list on table in back for Hayride and for meal at Thomas House. Please sign up.

ACTIVITIES UPCOMING:

Oct. 10^th. Hayride at the Russells

Oct 18-21^st. Fall Lectureship with Ben Flatt

We are asking each family to bring items for the pantry to be used for needs in the community as they arise: Items for week: Pork n Beans.

BIBLE READING SCHEDULE FOR OCT.

01 Micah 5-7 02 Nahum 1-3 03 Habakkuk 1-3 04 Zephaniah 1-3 05 Hag. 1-2; Zech. 1 06 Zech. 2-4 07 Zech. 5-9 08 Zech. 10-12 09 Zech. 13-14;Mal.1 10 Mal. 2-4 11 Matt. 1-3

12 Matt. 4-6 13 Matt. 7-9 14 Matt. 10-14 15 Matt. 15-17 16 Matt. 18-20 17 Matt. 21-23 18 Matt. 24-26 19 Matt. 27-28; Mark 1 20 Mark 2-4 21 Mark 5-9

22 Mark 10-12 23 Mark 13-15 24 Mark 16; Lk.1-2 25 Luke 3-5 26 Luke 6-8 27 Luke 9-11 28 Luke 12-16 29 Luke 17-19 30 Luke 20-22 31 Luke 23-24 John 1