MEMORIAL DAY
This past weekend was Memorial Day Weekend. We generally think of it as the beginning of summer. It was not initially intended for that purpose. Memorial Day, originally called Decoration Day, is a day of remembrance for those who have died in our nation's service. Flowers were placed on the graves of Union and Confederate soldiers when this holiday began, soon after the end of the Civil War. Today it is generally observed to remember all of those who have passed from this life. People will decorate the graves of soldiers and others as a way of respect and remembrance of those who are buried there. Memorial Day today is a time of reflection for all of those who have passed into eternity.. It is a special time to remember those who have died for this country to give us the freedoms that we enjoy. We should be grateful for those men and women who have made the ultimate sacrifice. It is a time to remember those we loved and respected, those who meant a great deal to us. It may be a husband or wife, a child, a parent or grandparent. It may be someone that was a wonderful Christian example to you.
When I think of Memorial Day, I cannot help but think of the ultimate sacrifice made by the one who died for you and me. His death on the cross means far more than just freedom from another country, or a cruel leader. The death of Jesus Christ on the cross means I can be set free from sin and now have the opportunity to live in heaven eternally. ÒAnd that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose againÓ( 2 Corinthians 5:15). Each Sunday Christians remember the death of Christ when we partake of the LordÕs Supper (Acts 20:7; I Corinthians 11:23-29). Christ instructed us to do this in remembrance of the sacrifice that was made for all mankind! The apostle Paul stated, ÒBut God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.Ó(Romans 5:8). Hopefully you remembered those who have given their lives for us to enjoy the life we have, but do not forget the ultimate sacrifice made by Christ for you to have eternal life.
LIVING
IN THE MOMENT
The masses rush
head-long through life never slowing down from their frenzied pace to examine
the direction of their lives. Our schedules are crammed full of running Òhither
and yon,Ó leaving little or no time to take inventory of our journey with God.
We are so busy that we seemingly have no time to reflect on our past or look to
whatever future might lie ahead. This frantic lifestyle has caused so many to
simply live for the moment. The Bible affirms that we have not been promised
life beyond the present (Prov.27:1). Yet, it is utterly foolish to restrict our
view of life to the Òright here and right now.Ó Peter speaks of one who goes
through life with blinders upon his eyes: ÒBut he that lacketh these things is
blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his
old sinsÓ (2 Pet.1:9). The child of God who fails to mature in the faith will
constantly struggle to see beyond today.
We must never forget
from whence we have come. I am not referring to our cultural, social,
political, economic, or educational backgrounds. I speak concerning our undone
spiritual condition before being washed in the saving blood of Jesus Christ.
ÒAs it is written, There is none righteous, no, not oneÉFor all have sinned,
and come short of the glory of GodÓ (Rom.3:10, 23). Had it none been for the
grace of God and the vicarious death of Christ on CalvaryÕs cruel cross, we
would still be in our sins and without hope: ÒThat at that time ye were without
Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the
covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the worldÓ (Eph.2:12).
Gratitude and thanksgiving abound in the heart of the child of God who
constantly remembers his condition before his obedience to the gospel.
We must also never lose
sight of where we are headed. Those who have been forgiven of their past sins are
sojourning toward eternal life. We must firmly fix our eyes on the goal ahead
of us lest we be side-tracked from the pathway of the redeemed. ÒIf ye then be
risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on
the right hand of God. Set your affections on things above, not on things of
the earthÓ (Col.3:1-2). Christians must see beyond the mortal coil, and remain
transfixed on the realm of eternal day. ÒWhile we look not at the things which
are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen
are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternalÓ (2 Cor.4:18). The
ability to look beyond the here and now will remind us that we are strangers
and pilgrims upon the earth (Heb.11:13).
May we ever be mindful that the decisions we make now,
and the actions we undertake in the present have repercussions that echo into
eternity. We cannot be so foolish as to live only in the moment, never pausing
to consider how the choices we make will affect our souls and the souls of our
children and on through subsequent generations. As we grow and mature in the
faith of Jesus Christ, we will lock our gaze upon heaven, while never
forgetting all that God has done for us.
--Patrick Morrison,
sixthavenuechurch.org
Golfers call it a "mulligan." Kids call it a "do-over."
Whenever we make a mistake, we want the opportunity to make it right. Sometimes, in this life, we get second and even third chances.
But one day Ñ and no one knows when that day will be Ñ the opportunity for "do-overs" will be gone. One day, it will be too late to make things right.
Jesus makes this point in Luke chapter 16 in the story of the rich man and Lazarus. Both men die and go to Hades to await final Judgment. Lazarus had been a beggar living a miserable life. The rich man lived as the rich often do, in comfort and luxury.
But when they die, their roles are reversed. The rich man is in agony, "tormented in this flame" (v. 24). Lazarus the beggar is now comforted, resting at last in Abraham's bosom.
The rich man sees Abraham in the distance and asks him to send Lazarus over with a drop of water to relieve his suffering. Abraham says no. "Between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence" (v. 26).
It's not that Abraham, the father of the Jews, doesn't want to help relieve the rich man's suffering. He can't. When death comes and our spirits travel to Hades, it's too late for us to change our condition.
Here's a wake-up call: The one suffering in flames in Luke 16 isn't an atheist or a cultist. He's one of the Israelites God had separated to be His special people.
Are you religious? Do you think that you are right with God? The Bible is full of religious people who think they are living, worshipping and serving God acceptably, yet they aren't.
Study your New Testament with an open mind. Preachers, relatives and friends might counsel you, but the words of Christ are the only roadmap to heaven (John 8:31-32). They are the standard by which our lives will be judged (John 12:48).
One you die, that's it Ñ no "mulligans," no "do-overs," no second chances. It won't do any good for your relatives to pray for your sins to be purged. And no one can obey the Gospel for you. Death seals your fate. Like the rich man in Luke 19, whatever spiritual condition you are in when you die is the condition you will be in forever. Are you ready?
--Nathan Brewer,
gospelpreceptor
MONTROSE FAMILY NEWS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
June 05, 2011
WORSHIP----SUNDAY---9:00
AM
Coordinator . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mitchell Brooks
Announcements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jacky Carver Sr.
Scripture Reading.. Titus 2:6-8 . . . .Ethan Leonard
Song Leader . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . .
Jacky Carver Jr.
Opening Prayer. . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . Jimmy Smith
LordÕs Supper-Preside: Harold
Smith
Serve: Glen Reece, Kaleb Bush,
Austin
Clay, George Clay
Closing Prayer................................ Larry
Kemp
GreeterÑ Harold & Patty Smith
GreeterÑ George & Teresa Clay
Count Offering. . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . Jacky Carver, Sr.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . .
. . . . . . . . . .
Kaleb Bush
AM SermonÑ Ben Smith speaking
PM SermonÑ Ben Smith speaking
Announcements . . . . . . . .
. . . . . .. Jacky Carver Sr.
Song Leader. . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . Jimmy Smith
Scripture Reading.. Titus 2:9-10.. Ethan Leonard
Opening Prayer . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . .
Harold Smith
LordÕs Supper . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . Roger Draper
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Alex Armour
Closing Prayer . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . Steve Anderson
BIBLE STUDY WEDNESDAY---7:00 PM
Announcements . . . . . . . .
. . . . . Jacky Carver, Sr.
Song Leader . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . Harold Smith
First Prayer. . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . .Billy Halliburton
Opening Prayer . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . Roger Draper
Closing Prayer . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . .
. . .Glen Reece
Prepare Communion for June
Sherry Jo & Kelly
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: Ketchup
NURSING HOME: Lucille Smith, Hoss West, Geraldine Kemp,
Those
on the sick list:
Donald Kittrell-cancer
Kathy HarvilleÑCarolyn HalliburtonÕs sister
Sammy CooperÑmelanoma on the liver
Julie GrubbsÑsurgery this past week.
Remember the family of Dr. Todd Lewis who passed away
this past week.
Wednesday. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . .
55
Worship Sunday AM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . 100
Bible Study Sunday AM .. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
.
72
Daily Bible Readers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
Worship Sunday PM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. 70
Offering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . .$13,137.00
June 19-24th. Gospel Meeting with Tom Miller.
June 19th. Meal at Thomas House.
July 3-7th. VBS at Montrose (Sunday-Thursday)
July 17-23rd. Jackson/Smith Co. Youth Camp
01
Psa. 18-20
02
Psa. 21-23
03
Psa. 24-28
04
Psa. 29-31
05
Psa. 32-34
06
Psa. 35-37
07
Psa. 38-40
08
Psa. 41-43
09
Psa. 44-46
10 Psa. 47-51
11
Psa. 52-54
12
Psa. 55-57
13
Psa. 58-60
14
Psa. 61-63
15
Psa. 64-66
16
Psa. 67-69
17
Psa. 70-74
18
Psa. 75-77
19
Psa. 78-80
20 Psa. 81-83
21
Psa. 84-86
22
Psa. 87-89
23
Psa. 90-92
24
Psa. 93-97
25
Psa. 98Ð100
26
Psa. 101-103
27
Psa. 104-106
28
Psa. 107-109
29
Psa. 110-112
30 Psa. 113-115