No Sunday School This Sunday May 30

Hey Guys! We will not have Sunday School this Sunday for two reasons:

*Patty and I are going to Fort Benning in Columbus GA to visit our son who is in the military.

*Memorial Day Holiday with alot of people out of town.

On another note...Mindy Beard had a little boy last night (Wed. 5/25)...Pray for her, Chris and baby Brayden.  

Visitors on May 23

We welcomed three visitors to our class last Sunday...Hollis/Amy Collier and Heather Head.  Hollis and Amy are a part of our Mother's Day Out ministry and visited our church for the first time.  Heather and her husband Keith are members of Wynndale where she sings in the choir and Keith is a teacher in our Youth ministry.

Sunday School May 9

Hey guys!  Our Sunday School lesson this Sunday is about how we can show love to our spouse (Session 5 in Love Dare Bible Study).  We will be looking at several verses with an emphasis on the 1 Cor. 13:4-7 passage.  Bring your Bible and join us this Sunday...even if you have never been before!!  And come even if you are going to be late!

The Watch

My son is serving in the military at Fort Jackson, S.C.  Before going to Ft. Jackson, he did his Basic Combat Training at Fort Sill in Lawton, Oklahoma.

One of the primary activities of all military personnel is P.T (Physical Training).  They run, do push ups, sit ups, and then run some more.  My son wanted a Sports Watch so he could time his runs and so I ordered him a Timex Triathlon Sport from Amazon.com. They shipped it to him at his post (military installation) and he was excited about being able to monitor his progress.  

Being young, naive, and careless,he left his new watch on his bunk (bed) while he showered one day and someone stole it.  My son saw his watch on the wrist of one of the other soldiers and reported him to the Sargent.  The thief was written up on an Article 15 violation and ordered to pay restitution to the Army in the amount of one month's pay...$1000.00.  Can you believe that!  A $50 watch cost him a thousand bucks!

But then again, what a lesson in the consequences of sin!  How many times have you and I paid dearly for a sin that we have committed?  We committed a $50 sin that carried a thousand dollar consequence!  

I know that you are enjoying my new picture.  My computer has some kind of technological ability to affect my facial features and make them look like I came from outer space!  Along the same line, sin has the ability to affect our lives in such a way that we don't recognize ourselves and say like Paul, "What I want to do, I do not do, but what I hate to do." (Romans 7)

Stay alert my brothers...the devil is a roaring lion and he is on the prowl! Do not let sin be your master and walk in the power of the Holy Spirit!

Baby Sawyer

Please pray for Matt and Ashley's little boy that was born last Friday. His name is Sawyer and he has some kidney problems. He was taken to a hospital in Birmingham, AL yesterday for dialysis. Matt and Ashley are with him and they are very concerned. Please keep this family in your prayers ....*Bro Jerry

Congratulations!

Scott and Lauren Bowers with new baby Emily!

The Reject

A quick Google Search will yield the Top 20 Illegitimate Children in history. The ranks include Pope Clement VII, the once spiritual head of the Catholic Church; Leonardo da Vinci, Napoleon's wife, Josephine; Marilyn Monroe; and James Smithson, the inceptor of the Smithsonian Institution. Not a bad list for kids whose parents just hooked up!

The list of the Top 20 Illegitimate Children is missing one very important person...Jephthah, the 9th Judge of the nation of Israel (See Judges 11). He had an adulterous dad and a prostitute for a mom. He REALLY DID have a prostitute for a mom...unlike WR Dez Bryant who was the Dallas Cowboys 24th pick in the first round in last weekend's NFL draft. In a pre-draft interview, the General Manager of the Miami Dolphins asked Bryant if his mother was a prostitute...ouch! He apologized today for his classless inquiry.

In addition to having a mom and dad of questionable character, Jephthah had several jealous brothers who led a crusade to run him out of town. But even with his tarnished family background,God was able to use him to lead the nation of Israel to a military victory over the hated Ammonites.

You should read the story...its not that long....and it will remind you that no one is disqualified for God's service if he comes with a humble and willing heart to be used...even if your mother WAS a prostitute! ...*Bro. Jerry

Welcome New Members!

We had two new couples yesterday in Sunday School! They are Wes/Melanie Gibson and Scott/Valerie Davis. Welcome!

There were 28 present in class yesterday and we had a lively discussion about how we should "study our spouse." We discussed learning more about our spouse's spiritual history, family relationships, and events of the past that can impact the present and future health of your marriage. Have a great week! ...*Bro Jerry

Sunday, April 25 Lesson

Based on what you know about your spouse's likes and dislikes, what degree do you hold in your marriage? A Master's degree? A Doctorate? A GED? Are you still in Elementary School? Our lesson this week will be on "Understanding Your Spouse" from Session 4.

Invite a friend and join us at 9AM this Sunday...even if you have never attended before!

The Elaeagnus Bush

One of my friends had a disagreement with his weekend neighbor over some minor irritation. They both had cabins on a lake, and the neighbor had to look across the property of my friend to enjoy the beauty of the lake. After their little dust up, my friend went to Callaways Yard and Garden and asked for information about the "fastest growing hedge" they sold...they said, "the elaeagnus bush." My friend bought 30 or so bushes and promptly went to his lake house and planted a hedgerow so as to block the view of the lake from his neighbor.

He was relentless in his care for the elaeagnus bushes...he watered them each day with a mixture of Miracle Grow and bitterness. And boy did they thrive! They grew as fast as his resentment, and after several growing seasons, the neighbors view of the prettiest part of the lake was completely cut off!

The Apostle Paul counseled the christians at Ephesus, "Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you." (Eph. 4:32) Here's the application:
1. If you are considering buying some elaeagnus bushes...DON"T!
2. If you have planted some elaeagnus bushes in your marriage...STOP WATERING THEM!
3. If you consider how much the Lord has forgiven you, I'm sure you should be able to find some kind of tool of forgiveness to CUT THOSE BUSHES DOWN! .....*Bro Jerry