This is the last issue of the bulletin for the year 2009. The year sure has flown by. I appreciate the comments concerning the lesson yesterday. I truly hope that more people will make the commitment to Christ and the church in this coming year. To those who are thinking about it, but keep putting it off for some reason, donÕt wait any longer. Quit trying to date the church and take that step to be committed. To those who have sometime in the past made that commitment, but are not being faithful, correct it before it is too late.
Yesterday also seemed to be a day of special announcements. Glen & Patsy are going to be grandparents, then the announcement that Chelsea is now engaged. There was a lot of excitement with the Bush family over the Christmas holiday. If I remember correctly, that is three announcements of engaged over the last month or so. Congratulations to all of those.
We ask that you continue to remember several families in your prayers who are dealing with sickness. Mrs. Marie Castleman, Vicki RussellÕs mother, is gravely ill in Nashville as of this time. She has been under Hospice care for several weeks now. Also, Mrs. Margaret Lankford fell and broke her hip last week. She is doing well following surgery at St. Thomas Hospital and there is a possibility that she will be moved to a rehabilitation center in Cookeville later today. Remember Margaret and Everett in your prayers.
Let me take this opportunity to wish all of you a Happy New Year. My family is grateful for the many acts of kindness shown to us, not only during this time of year, but throughout the year. Our lives are blessed because of good people like those from the Montrose congregation. Thanks for all the gifts, cards, etc., you have given to us. Our prayer is that the congregation will continue to grow spiritually in the coming year and we will also grow numerically. If we all work together, this can and will happen. ÒAnd now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctifiedÓ (Acts 20:32).
STOP GUNKY
BUILD-UP
I SAW THIS sign at a gas station while I was traveling... ÒSTOP GUNKY BUILD-UPÓ
It made me think about instances when I've had to deal with "gunky build-up" in my life. For me, gunky build-up occurs when I let less important stuff squeeze out the real priorities in my life. Maybe you've experienced it too:
. Sometimes I believe the lie that I can't afford to take a break and rest. The reality is that I'm far less effective in my family and leadership roles when I'm tired and grumpy.
. Sometimes I believe the lie that I'll spend quality time with my wife at the end of the day after everything else is done. The reality is that the last things on my priority list rarely get done.
. Sometimes I believe the lie that I'll get to the next big projects after I knock out the more routine tasks. The reality is that there will always be other routine tasks to complete.
. Sometimes I believe the lie that the more I do, the more valuable I am to the team. The reality is that I'm not being effective if I'm busy doing the wrong things.
. Sometimes I believe the lie that the little problem I have isn't jeopardizing my leadership. The reality is that most times everyone else is already being impacted by my little problem.
. Sometimes I believe the lie that I need to correct every false statement and negative comment. The reality is that many times those faint voices become a distraction when I draw attention and make them loud.
. Sometimes I believe the lie that goals will be accomplished without a plan if I'm just patient and faithful. The reality is that most goals worth pursuing require counsel and strategy and hard work and commitment.
. Sometimes I believe the lie that I need to jump at a good opportunity. The reality is that someone will always have a good opportunity for me to pursue, and many times those good opportunities squeeze out time and energy needed to fulfill a greater mission and calling.
Do you know that I'm talking about? Have you dealt with similar cases of gunky build-up? I'm still trying to learn how to deal with this, but along the way I've also learned some preventive maintenance that helps clean up my engine. Here are some things I've learned I need to do to "de-gunk" my life:
. Schedule my week in advance, including scheduling time to work on major projects.
. Prioritize time with my wife.
. Surround myself with friends who will push back when needed.
. Stay disciplined about my faith, my exercise, and my eating habits.
. Learn to say no.
. Decide in advance what I hope to accomplish.
THOUGHT: So is it time for you to stop the gunky build-up in your life? Now is the time to do something about it. Don't delay. (Tony Morgan) --KneEmail 4/29/09
TODAY
ÒBeware, brethren, lest there
be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God;
but exhort one another daily, while it is called ÔToday,Õ lest any of you be
hardened through the deceitfulness of sinÓ (Hebrews 3:12,13).
AS LONG AS LIFE LASTS, IT IS
NEVER TOO LATE TO START LOVING GOD.
Nevertheless, it is of the utmost importance that we start loving Him as soon
as possible. We must not wait any longer than TODAY to begin doing this thing
that we were created to do. When we finally realize what it is like to love God
Ñ and more important, to be loved by Him Ñ we will wish that weÕd learned this
enjoyment earlier. We will begrudge the time we lost in other pursuits. However
early in life we embark on our journey toward God, we will wish we had begun
this adventure much sooner.
And what will it be that we regret? It will not only be that
weÕve lost some of the joy that could have been ours in this life. More than
that, it will be that the days that are now lost forever could have been given
to God. It will seem to us that what is left of our lives is too little a gift
for Him. We will regret that what we have to give is not more complete, more perfect.
The truth is, every day that we live in this world is a
difficult day. We are surrounded by influences that push us into selfishness
and pull us away from God. In its present condition, our world is enemy-occupied
territory. It is so much under the dominion of the evil one that he is
described by Jesus Himself as Òthe ruler of this worldÓ (John 12:31). So we
live on somewhat of a battlefield, and since we do, it is all the more
necessary for us to be careful. The temptations are great, and the opportunities
for devotion to God are not unlimited. The apostle Paul wrote, ÒSee then that
you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because
the days are evilÓ (Ephesians 5:15,16). Like a commodity in short supply, our
days need to be Òredeemed.Ó Without wasting any more time than we already have,
we need to Òbuy upÓ every day that is left on the shelf. The entire length of a
long human lifetime is too little to give to a God who has loved us as our true
God has. But if the days that are left are all that we have to give, it is
another token of His grace that He will accept this as our all.
ÒToo late I loved thee, O thou Beauty of ancient days,
yet ever new! Too late I loved thee!Ó
(Augustine of Hippo).
--Gary
Henry Ð Diligently Seeking God Ð Dec 28
MONTROSE FAMILY NEWS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
Jan 03, 2010
WORSHIP----SUNDAY---9:00
AM
Co-Coordinator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Robert Hackett
Announcements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jacky Carver, Sr.
Scriptures Reading... . .Gal. 6:1-5.. Justin Draper
Song Leader . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . ..Jacky Carver, Jr
Opening Prayer. . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . .. Jimmy Smith
LordÕs Supper-Preside: Harold
Smith
Serve: Glen Reece, Kaleb Bush,
Leslie Bush, Cole Bush
Closing Prayer................................ Larry
Kemp
GreeterÑGlen & Patsy
Reece
GreeterÑLeslie & Kim Bush
Count Offering. . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . Jacky Carver, Sr.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . .
. . . . . . . . . .
Kaleb Bush
AM SermonÑ What Must I Do To
Be Saved?
PM SermonÑ Old Testament Examples (1 Cor. 10)
Announcements . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . Jacky Carver, Sr.
Song Leader. . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . Glen Reece
Scripture Reading.. Gal. 6:6-10 . .Justin Draper
Opening Prayer . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . Brian Smith
LordÕs Supper . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Roger Draper
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mitchell
Brooks
Closing Prayer . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . Steve
Anderson
BIBLE STUDY WEDNESDAY---7:00 PM
Song Leader . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . .
. Jimmy Smith
First Prayer. . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . Billy
Halliburton
Opening Prayer . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . .Mitchell
Brooks
Closing Prayer . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . Glen Reece
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.
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
Clayton & Vivian WintersÑErwin TN
Wednesday. . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
48
Worship Sunday AM . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . .
96
Bible Study Sunday AM .. . .
. . . . . . . . . . . .
79
Daily Bible Readers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. 43
Worship Sunday PM . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . 60
Offering . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . 2362.00
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.
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
.