Each year we try to go back over the things that happened at Montrose over the past year to give you an idea of all that things that have gone on. Several people came forward requesting prayers and two were baptized (Craig Anderson and Gabrielle Armour). We had two deaths in the congregation and numerous deaths that were connected with members here.
We hosted the Bible Bowl in February and had 113 people present. Each year in February we have a Skating party. In March we had Heath Rhodes come and speak. He was the student we help support at MSOP. We really enjoyed having his family here for the day. We also hosted the Friday Night Singing in March with 148 people present and 25 different song leaders. The young men from the congregation conducted the 5th. Sunday services and did a wonderful job. In April we have an outing in Cookeville with a meal and bowling, which was well attended. We also had Senior night for two who were graduating: Jeremy Robinson and Cody Anderson. Church picnic is always the first Saturday in June and then our Gospel Meeting is third week in June. This year, because of conflict, Charles White was not able to come at the last minute, so we scrambled to find a speaker. Gary Hampton, director of East Tenn. School of Preaching, did a wonderful job. Wally Kirby lead the singing each service as he has done for a number of years. Several of us made the trip to Knoxville to work in Bible camp the last of June.
In July we had VBS and then another week of Bible camp. This one was the JSCYC. If I counted correctly, we had eight campers and five workers. Youth Day in August saw a good turnout with Glen and Brian Harville speaking. In September we had the Ladies Breakfast at the barn. We began collecting school supplies for children at Defeated. The young people attended Teens for Christ at Zion (14 went). October is a full month with Nursing Home Gift Bags, Hayride at Russells and Fall Lectureship with Ben Flatt speaking. We closed out the year by delivering clothes and food to seven different families in the community and the gathering at the Barn to welcome the New Year in. Pray that 2010 will be an even greater year for Montrose!
Would You Be Free?
Studies have been made in prisons to determine the times most likely for prisoners to try to escape who have been incarcerated for many years. It was discovered that the most attempts would be made in the
first few weeks, with fewer and fewer desires evident as time passed. The conclusion was that the longer the men were not free, the less they wanted to be!
It is the same with sin! More attempts are made early in a life devoted to worldliness than after time has passed. The conscience is given to us, clean, tender, and free, as we are made in the image of God (Gen. 1:26). But sin hardens and mars the faculty by which we know right from wrong as sin gradually enthrones itself more and more in the deceived heart (Gal. 6:7- 8). Finally, so many "chords" of sin have
shackled the sinner that he does not any longer attempt to escape from its clutches even when a way is prepared. The wise man Solomon wrote, "His own iniquities shall take the wicked, and he shall be holden with the cords of his sin. He shall die for lack of instruction; and in the greatness of his folly he shall go astray" (Prov. 5:22-23). The once pure, tender, conscience becomes "seared with a hot iron" (I Tim. 4:1).
He no longer has the desire to escape sin!
There is a way prepared by the Saviour, Jesus Christ (Heb. 10:16-25), by which man can be made free if man will meet the conditions. Though he is under the sentence of death for his sin (Rom. 6:23), Christ has purchased and built the church (Acts 20:28; Matt. 16:18) where man can escape from sins and the sentence of death for a new life (Matt. 11:28-30; Rom. 8:1-2). Remember Paul's words, "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ (Eph. 1:3, emphasis mine). Would it not be a shame if we spurned the Lord's invitation and hardened our heart to His overtures of mercy? But the sinner does!
Jesus said to the Jews that believed on Him, "If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free" (John 8:31- 32). There is no "maybe," "perhaps," or "suppose" connected with Jesus' statement ÒThe truth shall make you free." This is freedom, indeed, which cannot be located anywhere else! We can be made free from sin, error in teaching and
practice of false teachers, vain worship, God's wrath, and being accursed, by continuing in His Word.
Bible study is the key! Paul said to Timothy, "Till I come, give attendance to reading, exhortation, to doctrineÓ (I Tim. 4:13). This study should be done in our homes as well as in the planned programs for Bible study in the church. When you quit attending classes, you can expect the following results to follow:
1. Spiritual malnutrition will set in (I Pet. 2:1-2).
2. Worldly cares will take first place in life (Matt 13:22).
3. We will forget the Lord of our lives (Heb. 12:2).
4. We will neglect and let our talents rust (I Tim. 4:14-15).
5. The deceitfulness of riches will take hold (Mk. 4:19).
6. We will find fault with the work of the church (Phil. 2:14-16).
7. Pleasures will be more desired than worship (Lk. 8: 14; Heb. 10:25).
8. Our hearts will "wax cold" for the Lord's church (Matt. 24:12).
9. We will exchange our soul for material surroundings (Matt. 16:16).
10. We will influence our family and friends to be lost with us (Lk. 16:19-31).
For those who continue in "well-doing" through the study of God's Word (II Tim. 2:15), they will enjoy the pleasures of a wonderful life here and, in eternity, the crown of life (II Tim. 4:6-8). Which will you choose? Would you be free?
--Gary Colley, Good News from Getwell, 06/09
A Cross With Wheels?
Just this past weekend, while I was driving in Bowling Green, I saw two men carrying crosses on the side of the road, followed by a crowd of about 30 or 40 people. As I passed these two men, I looked at the crosses they were carrying and I couldnÕt help but notice that both crosses were accessorized with wheels!
Now, I understand why they placed wheels on these crosses. The wheels make the crosses they are carrying easier to carry. The wheels make the crosses more convenient to bear. But thatÕs the impetus for this article. You see, thereÕs nothing convenient about a cross! In fact, it was designed to be an inconvenient, excruciating, and humiliating means to kill someone. Convenient crosses? They donÕt exist...or at least shouldnÕt.
If I can jump from what I saw this past weekend to a spiritual application, I would say that from the looks of things, I believe that many people have attempted to put Òwheels on their cross.Ó Remember that Jesus said that in order to be one of his disciples, one must be willing to deny himself, take up a cross daily, and follow him (Luke 9:23). From what IÕve witnessed in some, rather than denying self, and bearing one's cross daily, some have attempted to accessorize their cross. Unwilling to reject Christ completely, they have attempted to fashion a cross of convenience - crosses with wheels.
Our society has made an icon out of the cross. We wear them around our neck, they dangle from our ears, and they are even tattooed on our bodies. This all makes me wonder if we have failed to comprehend the true significance of the cross. The cross represents selflessness, sacrifice, obedience, dedication, and self-denial. Do you think most people realize that? The cross is more than a piece of jewelry or a trinket, and it certainly doesnÕt have wheels.
My advice to those who wish to gain public attention by carrying a cross...take off the wheels! Those wheels are incongruous with the message of the cross. I for one, noticed the wheels, not the cross. DonÕt lessen the burden of the cross by accessorizing it with something that makes it convenient. What do you think?
--Steve
Higginbotham January 11, 2010
MONTROSE FAMILY NEWS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
Jan 24, 2010
WORSHIP----SUNDAY---9:00
AM
Co-Coordinator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mitchell Brooks
Announcements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Steve Anderson
Scriptures Reading......I Cor. 13:1-3.. . . Brian Harville
Song Leader . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . .. . . . Glen
Reece
Opening Prayer. . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . Jacky Carver, Sr.
LordÕs Supper-Preside: Robert
Hackett
Serve: Jacky Carver Jr, Roger Draper,
Ted Russell, Addison Halliburton
Closing Prayer................................ Brian
Smith
GreeterÑRobert & Linda
Hackett
GreeterÑRoger & Cynthia
Draper
Count Offering. . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . Jacky Carver, Sr.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . .
. . . . . . . . . .
Kaleb Bush
AM SermonÑ A Peculiar People (I Pet. 2:9)
PM SermonÑ 4th. Sunday Singing
Announcements . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . Steve
Anderson
Song Leader. . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . .
Jimmy Smith.
Scripture Reading.. I Cor. 13:4-7É . . Larry Cole
Opening Prayer . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . .
Harold Smith
LordÕs Supper . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Billy Halliburton.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Ethan Leonard
Closing Prayer . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . Roger Draper
BIBLE STUDY WEDNESDAY---7:00 PM
Song Leader . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . .
Jacky Carver Sr.
First Prayer. . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Glen Reece
Opening Prayer . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . Jimmy
Smith
Closing Prayer . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . Billy Halliburton
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.
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 really need non-perishable
items of your choice.
NURSING HOME: Lucille Smith,
Those on the sick list:
Donald Chaffin (Zion) Lou
GehrigÕs disease
Hoss West
Vaughn
Allen
Barry
Wayne Kemp
Rick & Debbie SlagleÑKarnÕs congregation
Pat Davis- step-sister of Janice Pinckley (cancer)
Ruby SuttonÑNHC, Franklin TN.
Terri Loftis recovering from knee surgery.
Kirk Malone recovering from a fall.
Wednesday. . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
47
Worship Sunday AM . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . .
70
Bible Study Sunday AM .. . .
. . . . . . . . . . . .
62
Daily Bible Readers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. 42
Worship Sunday PM . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . 57
Offering . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . 2545.00
Memorials were also received in memory of Mrs. Marie Castleman from Billy & Karen Halliburton
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