IT IS COLD OUTSIDE

This morning as I prepare the bulletin it is 24 degrees and a light snow is falling. It is only supposed to be above freezing one day this week, and then turn even colder. How thankful we should be for warm houses to live in and warm clothes to wear. Instead of complaining about the cold, we should be thankful we don’t have to live out in it. We need to be especially aware of the elderly during periods like this. Check on your elderly neighbors and those you worship with to make sure they have the things that are needed to stay warm.

This past week has been a difficult one for several families. Mrs. Marie Castleman passed away on Monday night and her funeral was conducted Thursday afternoon in Nashville. She was the mother of one of our members, Vicki Russell. Mrs. Castleman had been under hospice care for some time. The week before, Mrs. Margaret Lankford, a lady who was a member of the Montrose congregation fell and broke her hip. She was taken to St. Thomas hospital where she had surgery. Mrs. Margaret passed away Thursday night and her funeral was conducted on Sunday in Carthage. Please remember Vicki’s family in your prayers and remember Everett Lankford and his family in your prayers as well. Everett and Margaret had been married 63 years. Both of these dear ladies will be greatly missed.

Job said in the long ago, “Man that is born of a woman is of few days and full of trouble. He cometh forth like a flower, and is cut down; he fleeth also as a shadow, and continueth not.” (Job. 14:1,2). The Psalmist said “The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away.” Even though we may know these things, it is still a difficult time.

One more request, please remember Cody Anderson and his family in your prayers as Cody leaves for basic training in the United States Marine Corp next week. I know the family would appreciate that very much.

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THINGS CERTAIN TO HINDER SPIRITUAL GROWTH IN 2010

If we wish to please the Lord it simply has to be our constant goal (not just on New Years’ Day) to grow spiritually (Ephesians 4:11-16). Sometimes we might begin to think that we have grown quite enough spiritually, and we may consider ourselves to be safely mature. I deny that this position is ever reached in this life by any of us. I think a good way to picture the matter is to compare spiritual growth with walking up an inclined plane. So long as we are moving forward/up, we are doing well. However, if we stop for a while, what happens is that we begin to SLIP BACK. Our Lord expects us to continue making progress onward and upward.

On the other hand, we do have an ENEMY, Satan, who wants the exact opposite of what is best for our spiritual health and what our Lord demands. He wants us to halt any progress toward spiritual maturity. Let’s briefly consider some of Satan’s most used tools in his quest.

Self-centeredness. This is one of Satan’s most powerful weapons which actually demands very little effort on his part. Folks just have a tendency to cooperate with the old devil on this one, voluntarily. It has been my contention for many years that we can find this spirit of independence in the hearts of God’s people at some interesting points in Bible history. Study it and see if those periods in Israel’s history when they had this independent spirit, thinking they could go it alone, not needing God, were not the very times that God had to punish His people. Want an example of the opposite position? Consider the household of Cornelius. Acts 10:33 informs us that they were gathered to hear Peter because they wanted to hear all things that are commanded thee of God.

Not Listening to God. Now where have I heard of that happening before. Yes, that’s right, way back at the Garden. Satan convinced Eve not to listen to God by adding to His words the little word NOT (Genesis 3:4). God’s great prophet Jeremiah called upon the people to walk in the old paths where is to be found the good way, but they refused to listen (Jeremiah 6:16-17). The rich man of Luke 16:19ff did not listen and found himself in torment, but he wanted to get a message back to his brothers so they would. He was told: “THEY HAVE MOSES AND THE PROPHETS, LET THEM HEAR THEM” (Luke 16:29). Unless we open up our Bibles, read and study, attend Bible classes and worship, let’s be assured, spiritual growth will not happen. Satan’s face turns smiley.

Apathy. The ruin of many great enterprises is indifference, unconcern, and lack of caring. The Hebrews writer points Christians back to their knowledge of the Old Testament as he gives this strong warning, Hebrews 2:1-4… “Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip. 2 For if the word spoken by angels was steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompense of reward; 3 How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him; 4 God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will?” A person is guilty of the worst form of neglect or apathy who pays no attention to the great plan God has for saving the souls of men. A man might be drifting down the Niagara River in a rowboat. He can take oars and change the direction he is going. But if he NEGLECTS to do so he will reach a point at which certain destruction becomes his destiny.

Prejudice. Paul wrote to Timothy these words: 1 Timothy 5:21… “I charge you before God and the Lord Jesus Christ and the elect angels that you observe these things without prejudice, doing nothing with partiality” [NKJV]. In this particular context, Paul is evidently urging Timothy to follow through on the instructions just given relating to different groups of Christians. He is not to deal with any of them in a prejudicial manner. It seems to me that the word can also be applied to picking and choosing which commands of Scripture we will decide to obey and which we will decline to obey. Following God’s will is nowhere in Scripture portrayed as to be done “cafeteria-style.” Many folks would readily see what the Lord expects of them if they would approach His revealed will with a mind free from preconceived ideas!

It is my prayer for each of you that you will gain a great victory over Satan in 2010 and will grow, GROW, GROW spiritually. --by David Lemmons

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SERMON WITHOUT A WORD

A member of a certain church, who previously had been attending services regularly, stopped going. After a few weeks, the preacher decided to visit him. It was a chilly evening. The preacher found the man at home alone, sitting before a blazing fire. Guessing the reason for his preacher’s visit, the man welcomed him, led him to a comfortable chair near the fireplace and waited. The preacher made himself at home but said nothing. In the grave silence, he contemplated the dance of the flames around the burning logs. After some minutes, the preacher took the fire tongs, carefully picked up a brightly burning ember and placed it to one side of the hearth all alone, then he sat back in his chair, still silent. The host watched all this in quiet contemplation. As the one lone ember’s flame flickered and diminished, there was a momentary glow and then its fire was no more. Soon it was cold and dead. Not a word had been spoken since the initial greeting. The preacher glanced at his watch and realized it was time to leave. He slowly stood up, picked up the cold, dead ember and placed it back in the middle of the fire. Immediately it began to glow once more with the light and warmth of the burning coals around it. As the preacher reached the door to leave, his host said with a tear running down his cheek, “Thank you so much for your visit and especially for the fiery sermon. I shall be back in church next Sunday.”

We live in a world today, which tries to say too much with too little. Consequently, few listen. Sometimes the best sermons are the ones left unspoken. –Selected

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MONTROSE FAMILY NEWS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

Jan 10, 2010

THOSE PRIVILEGED TO SERVE

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

Co-Coordinator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Billy Halliburton

Announcements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Glen Reece

Scriptures Reading.....Romans 13:1-4.. Tim Hommrich

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

Opening Prayer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jacky Carver Jr.

Lord’s Supper-Preside: Roger Draper

Serve: Steve Anderson, Craig Anderson,

Cody Anderson, Brian Harville

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

Greeter—Roger & Cynthia Draper

Greeter—Brian & Kayla Harville

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

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

AM Sermon— Origin of the Bible

PM Sermon— Bright Eyes (Psalm 19:8)

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

Announcements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Glen Reece

Song Leader. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . Harold Smith

Scripture Reading.. Gal. 6:11-18….. Tim Hommrich

Opening Prayer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mitchell Brooks

Lord’s Supper . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jacky Carver, Sr.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Addison Halliburton

Closing Prayer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jimmy Smith

BIBLE STUDY WEDNESDAY---7:00 PM

Song Leader . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Harold Smith

First Prayer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jacky Carver, Sr.

Opening Prayer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Roger Draper

Closing Prayer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mitchell Brooks

Prepare Communion for January

Karen Halliburton

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

Hoss West

Vaughn Allen

Barry Wayne Kemp

Rick & Debbie Slagle—Karn’s congregation

Clayton & Vivian Winters—Erwin TN

OUR RECORD OF LOVE FOR CHRIST 01/03/10

Wednesday. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54

Worship Sunday AM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98

Bible Study Sunday AM .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86

Daily Bible Readers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49

Worship Sunday PM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60

Offering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2758.00

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: We cleaned out the pantry so we need non-perishable items of your choice.

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Our sympathy to Vicki Russell in the death of her mother, Mrs. Marie Castleman. Funeral was 12/31/09. Sympathy to Everett Lankford in the death of his wife, Mrs. Margaret Lankford. Funeral was 01/03/10. Please remember both of these families in your prayers.

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BIBLE READING SCHEDULE FOR. JAN

01 Gen. 1-3

02 Gen. 4-6

03 Gen. 7-9

04 Gen. 10-12

05 Gen. 13-15

06 Gen. 16-19

07 Gen. 20-23

08 Gen. 24-26

09 Gen. 27-29

10 Gen. 30-32

11 Gen. 33-35

12 Gen. 36-38

13 Gen. 39-42

14 Gen. 43-46

15 Gen. 47-50

16 Exod. 1-2

17 Exod. 3-5

18 Exod. 6-8

19 Exod. 9-11

20 Exod. 12-14

21 Exod. 15-19

22 Exod. 20-22

23 Exod. 23-25

24 Exod. 26-28

25 Exod. 29-31

26 Exod. 32-34

27 Exod. 35-37

28 Exod. 38-40 Lev. 1-2

29 Lev. 3-5

30 Lev. 6-8

31 Lev. 9-11