September 5, 1999 Humble Messenger
Consistency (Modern Style)
- Guthrie Dean
A man argued with me thirty minutes that is wrong to debater.
A lady told me that it doesn't make any difference what a man believes, and then tried to
enroll me in a program to fight Communism.
Some parents told me that they liked to let their children make up their own minds about
going to church services, but whipped them because they didn't want to go to school.
A member argued with his neighbor that the church of Christ is right because it observes
the Lord's Supper every Sunday, but he missed the next Sunday himself and went fishing!
A family, figuring income tax, showed a 10% deduction as contribution tot he church, and
when the collection plate came around on Sunday they dropped in a total of one dollar and
a dime.
A man, opening a fresh pack of cigarettes, explained to me that he didn't have money to
but his mother some badly needed medicine.
An individual griped because the sermon was so long, then went out in the cold the next
night and spent two and one half hours on the hard bleachers watching a ball game.
A member didn't come to services Sunday morning because it looked like rain, and then
waded out to his neck in ice water the next morning before dawn duck hunting.
A lady stayed at home Sunday morning with a pain in her left ear, and went to work early
Monday morning with a pain in both ears.
The whole family had to stay home with the sick child on Sunday, then left the child alone
and went their respective ways on Monday morning.
A member gossips to the preacher's back about the preacher not having "the spirit of
Christ."
Some members want the WHOLE gospel preached until you start preaching on church
cooperation, the work of the church, the all-sufficiency of the local congregation, the
evils of the social gospel, the danger of the pastor system, the importance of speaking as
the oracles of God, the unscripturalness of man-made religious fraternities, the
importance of giving as prospered, worldliness, discipline, bringing up children in the
nurture and admonition of the Lord. Oh yes, and steer clear of the marriage question.
What's left to preach to the members of the church? Why, BAPTISM, of course! I've never
seen a "baptism Christian" yet whose religion didn't remind me of WATER -- weak,
shallow, and stagnated.
People who [sic] resent the preacher trying to tell them how to run their business or
office, but at the same time try to tell the preacher how to run his.
Let us practice what we preach (Rom. 2:1)!!
"Therefore you are without excuse, every man of you who passes judgment, for in
that you judge another, you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same
things." Romans 2:1, NASB.
"Thus says the LORD of hosts, 'Consider your ways!'" Haggai 1:7, NASB.
News of Interest
Bill Faulkner is scheduled for surgery this Thursday, September 9 . . . Derek
Huddleston is scheduled for surgery on his esophagus this Friday, September 10 . . .
The new quarter for classes begins today. The auditorium class will study the
subject of "Authority." Lessons can be obtained in the foyer . . . Sally
Cashion received two bypasses and had a heart valve replaced in open heart surgery
last Friday in Conroe (Hospital: 281-364-7900). Lowell and Maxine Montgomery's
(Sally's daughter) phone number is (281) 362-1227 . . . New report from Ruben
Amador in foyer . . . Three men have expressed their desire to serve God and His
people in the role of elders: Doug Bernard; Boyd Hurst; Larry Legg. These men were
encouraged to serve by others. If you know anyone besides these three men that you believe
is qualified to serve, please discuss it with that individual this week. The work is that
which must be undertaken "not under compulsion, but voluntarily"--"if any
man aspires to the office of overseer, it is a fine work he desires to do" (1 Pt.
5:2; 1 Tim. 3:1). Once the men have been identified who desire to serve, it will be the
congregation's responsibility to select any or all of these men as qualified to serve in
this capacity.
Communion Preparation - 1999
September Head
October Hodges
November Dwight Osteen
December Rocky Rodriguez
Transportation for Zelma Bobbitt
‹ September ‹
SCHEDULED TO SERVE
Wednesday, Sep. 8
Song Leader: Craig Ottersbach
Sunday AM, Sep. 12
Announcements: Tod Aldridge
Song Leader:
First Prayer: Michael Gove
Lord's Table:
Bread: Kris Emerson
Fruit of the Vine: Boyd Hurst
Contribution: Larry Legg
Assistant: John Knudsen
Closing Prayer: Gregg Hutson
Sunday PM, Sep. 12
Song Leader: Craig Ottersbach
First Prayer: Mark Hargrove
Lord's Table:
Bread: Jim Crain
Fruit of the Vine: Jim Porterfield
Contribution: Verlan Wilson
Closing Prayer: Derek Huddleston