HIGHLAND DRIVE          CHURCH OF CHRIST

To worship and serve God we: Teach The Lost, Care For The Needy, Edify The Saved             Phone: (573) 785-2679                                             E-Mail: hilandcc@ims-1.com                                   Fax: (573) 785-1139 www.poplarbluff.churchofchristwebs.com

April 18, 2010 - God Has Spoken

Apr 25, 2010 - Sharing & Caring; and Never Forsake the Lord

May 2, 2010 - Moving!

August 1, 2010

Article from the Minister

Urgent --

I studied this word in a few versions of the Bible; the American Standard Version uses “urgent” 7 times. This verse is the most familiar to me, so it may be to you also. 2 Tim 4:2 “Preach the word; be urgent in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.” Some other translations use the word “ready”. Both seem to fit the context of the verse.

We know why it is urgent to preach the word. People who do not know God and do not obey the gospel will be lost! 2 Thess 1:8.

How long will they live to hear? How long will we live to tell? Salvation is urgent, today is the day of salvation. 2 Cor. 6:2. The time is urgent because eternity is long! We do not want anyone to be lost! So many are lost and they do not know the way. We must point them to God.

Twice in Luke 23 the word “urgent” is used. Both times the Jewish people are talking to Pilate. They wanted Pilate to make the decision to have Jesus crucified. To them time was important. The Jews knew that Jesus was innocent. The longer it takes to execute an innocent person, the more probability of that person’s release. Today we sometimes hear the urgent tone in people’s voices. Our teaching must show the urgency of the subject!  The word “urgent” is used two times in Daniel; 2:15 and 3:22. The King wanted to know the dreams and the interpretation of them. He had come to the conclusion his people could not interpret dreams as they claimed. So he had ordered them executed.

It is urgent that we stop putting off obeying God. I believe the more we study and obey, our eyes will be opened for more opportunities to do God’s will. The more we obey, the more abilities we will develop to serve God. Think of the opportunities you miss by procrastinating today!

We develop our abilities to do God’s will by exercising our senses in obedience, “But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.” Heb 5:14. So some people are stunted spiritually because they do not use the abilities they have. They just say no to every opportunity!

We must begin TODAY to use every opportunity we have to “practice Christianity.” Tomorrow or next year or ten years from now we will be able to do so much more than we ever thought. It is urgent that you do all you can today! Never give up! Push yourself! Do the jobs which need doing! You can do more things in service to God and your fellow man! Quit saying NO!

                                                                     Love, Vernon

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To Change or Not to Change

There are some things which never change in life. The need of love and acceptance is always there. I see older people who even in sickness or great pain never change. The Love of God is so great that it compels us to live for him.

“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” Hebrews 13:8. It is really wonderful to have a God and savior who will never change. We can depend on them to be the same. God loves righteousness and hates sinfulness. God punished the evil doers during the Old Testament times. So we know that he will punish the evil doers in our time also. He never changes.

“Jesus said to him, 'I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.' ” John 14:6. When you think about it, Jesus never changes. He is the “truth”. We must know then the truth never changes. When people want to change the doctrine which is taught, whether it is how to become a Christian or how Christians are to worship, they are teaching that Jesus has changed. There is no change in the doctrine of God. We must remember people may change what they teach, but God never will!

                                                                    Love, Vernon

IN OUR PRAYERS...

Please continue to remember the following in your prayers: Del Roach, Herb Warren, Pat Ivy, Alice Webb, Dathel Webber, Daaron Sarver, Boyd "Buzz" Vandermark, Floyd Howe, Peggy Webb, Charles Pinkerton, and Margaret Donica

Del Roach recently went in for surgery to have cancers removed from his face and neck. The melanoma on his neck was found to be quite large and inoperable.

Nadine Barton had a stress test on Tuesday. Please pray everything goes well for her.

Lavena Hillis has an appointment with the surgeon Tuesday to schedule a date for hip replacement surgery.

Cleo Crofford's daughter, Delores, recently had a liver transplant, is doing better, and has now been moved to a private room.

Kathy Harty's brother, Tommy Goins, recently had triple bypass surgery and is doing quite well. Please keep him in your prayers.

Wilma Poyner's niece, Sharon, had surgery recently. Please keep Sharon in your prayers.

Patsy Sullivan, friend of Linda Nelson, recently had knee surgery and is continuing to experience problems following surgery.

Alice Rogers has asked for prayers for her friend Chris.

Beverly Pippin, member of the church at Doniphan and good friend of Mary Jo Fry, has been diagnosed with Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma, and Mary Jo has asked for prayers on her behalf.

Mary Gilley, mother of Judy Curry, continues to have health problems and has been in and out of the hospital lately. Please keep Mary in your prayers.

Peggy Webb continues to deal with health problems; please keep her in your prayers.

Please keep Dennis Dunn, Ruby Dunn's son, in your prayers.

Mary Jane Watson, wife of Bob Watson, and cousin of Inis Kearbey, has an inoperable brain tumor. She is now in Cedargate. Please pray for Mary Jane and her family.

Bill Kenser's daughter-in-law, Gayla Kenser, who has suffered with multiple cancers is not doing well, and they would appreciate our prayers.

NURSING HOMES: Wanda Ashby (Room C-1) – River Mist Care Center; Imogene Stanley and Mary Dover – Oakdale; James Weathers - Manor; Emily Smith - Westwood; and Elsie Coleman is in Assisted Living at Oakdale.

FAMILY NEWS & ANNOUNCEMENTS

Vacation Bible School will be August 2, 3, and 4, 2010; hours will be 6:30 - 8:00 p.m. each evening.

Cookies for VBS -- Please bring cookies for VBS to the building today. Thanks to all of you who are helping out in this way.

Four or five volunteers are needed to work on a rotating schedule to run the projector for classes and sermons. Please see Mark North if you can help.

Phone Number Change: Robin Davis no longer has a home phone. Her cell number is 718-9360.

Inis Kearbey has a new e-mail address: ikearbey@semo.net.

The Highland congregation sent memorial gifts to the Paragould Children's Homes in behalf of our dear sister Nanna Lee Dollins, and dear sister Jo Davis. These wonderful ladies will be sorely missed. Mark North

Wedding Announcement: Natalea Rickman and Jeffrey Hovis, together with their parents, Mr. and Mrs. Sonny Rickman and Mr. and Mrs. Bill Hovis, invite you to share with them in their marriage on Saturday, August 7, at 3:30 p.m. at Highland Drive Church of Christ. A cake and punch reception will follow in the fellowship room.

3rd Annual Bootheel Youth Camp Benefit Fish Fry and Silent Auction, August 14. The auction will be from 11:00 - 1:00 and lunch at noon. There will be no charge for the lunch. Donations will be gratefully accepted. If you plan to attend, please RSVP by mail to: Laura Tessens, 19191 County Road 231, Bloomfield, MO 63825; or by phone: (573)820-1847, or by email: lauratessens@hotmail.com.

Summer Youth Series 2010, with theme "Young People: The Church of Today." Schedule: August 2 at Jackson, and August 9 at Shady Acres in Sikeston (see bulletin board for further information).

Ladies Day, August 14, at the S. Thornton Church of Christ in Piggott, Arkansas, with speaker Jane Maynard. For more information, call (870)598-3250.

Southeast Missouri Lectureship, Saturday, August 21, at the Sunnyview Church of Christ, in Farmington, Missouri (see bulletin board for further information).

Children's Homes -- the next food/supply run will be October 11. The featured items on this quarter's shopping list are: Sugar, Ravioli, Toaster Pastries (Brown Sugar or Chocolate preferred), Tea bags (decaff), Corn Chips, and Toothbrushes. Thank you for your generosity.

Week of July 25, 2010

Sunday Bible Class ..….....….... 100

Sunday Morning Worship .......  152

Sunday Evening Worship ….... 104

Wednesday Bible Study ….......  97

Sunday Contribution …........... $3,900.00

  (573) 785-2679
  Fax (573) 785-1139