The BIBLICAL MESSENGER

9th & Main
CHURCH OF CHRIST
San Angelo, Texas

EMail: COC9thandmain@netzero.net

ASSEMBLIES
SUNDAY

Bible Classes	9:30 am
Morning Worship	10:30 am
Evening Worship	5:00 pm

WEDNESDAY

Bible Classes

7:00 pm

ELDERS

John Mayfield	Benny Rogers
Ed Roper	Jim Vinson

DEACONS

Don Cheek

Dennis Reed

MINISTER

John Hobbs

A STEPPING STONE

     One day a farmer's donkey fell into a well. The animal cried piteously for hours as the farmer tried to figure out a way to get him out.
     Finally he decided it was probably impossible - the animal was old and the well was dry anyway, so it wasn't worth trying to retrieve the donkey. The farmer asked his neighbors to come help him cover up the well.
     They all grabbed shovels and began shoveling dirt into the hole. At first, when the donkey realized what was happening, he cried horribly. Then he grew silent.
     A few shovel loads later, the farmer looked down in the well and was astonished at what he saw. With every shovel of dirt that hit his back, the donkey shook it off and took a step up.
     As the neighbors continued to shovel dirt on top of the animal, he continued to shake it off and take a step up. Pretty soon he stepped up over the edge of the well and trotted off.
     The moral of this story is that life is going to shovel dirt on you. The trick to getting out of the deepest well is never giving up, shaking yourself off and taking a step up. What happens to you is not nearly as important as how you react to it. Every obstacle can be turned into a stepping stone.

(Borrowed from Sterling City COC bulletin)

Answer to last week's question.

It was David's harp playing that caused Saul's "evil Spirit" to leave him. (Samuel 16:23) [What caused Saul's "evil spirit" to leave him?]

This weeks Bible question:

What judge of Israel was blinded by the Philistines?

Answer next week.

THANK YOU. . . . . . . . . . .

Your thoughtfulness is appreciated.
My thanks for all you did for me. I still have a way to go. God bless all of you.

/s/Fay Billington

Bro. Jim Vinson brought us a great message on Sunday about the need for every member to be involved in the work of the church. The elders hope everyone will take the message to heart and lets all work together to do great things here at Ninth & Main.
The "willing to serve" questionnaire was given to every member. Everyone is asked to complete the form and return it as quickly as possible. If you did not get one of the questionnaire's, there are some on the table in the foyer. Please fill one out and get it back in.

The possibility of conducting a "New Testament" Greek class is being explored. If you are at all interested, or if you know someone who is, contact Jim Vinson. If this class should occur, classes will be held here at our building and taught by brother Hobbs.

COMING EVENTS

July 16 -	Bro. Dan Anderson will teach the adult Bible class. Come out and enjoy the lesson.
July 19 -	The Reed family will depart for this year's missionary work in Mexico. The Reeds pay their own personal expenses, but we should give them all financial help we can to pay for their other expenses, such as Bibles, tracts, clothing and building supplies used in their work.

If you wish to help with the work in Mexico, make your check out to the church and mark it for this purpose. Just place your check, along with your regular contribution in the collection plate, or hand it to Velton or one of the elders.

August 3 -	Pot-luck Sunday.
August 4-	Medina Children's Home grocery truck will be here to pick up PINE SOL. Let's give generously. This item is not available at the food bank, so we need to purchase it and bring it to the building or donate cash so they can buy it from their resources.

      Presently, the "Mexico Mission Fund" stands at $1155. We have very little time to get those donations in. Give as generously as you can.

       Nothing is really lost by a life of sacrifice; everything is lost by failure to obey God's call.

From the pen of John Hobbs:

LEAD ME TO SOME SOUL TODAY

The song "Lead Me To Some Soul Today" is sung every Sunday morning before worship service at Ninth and Main. I do not know when the "tradition" started, but I like the "tradition." (I hope we will all keep in mind that this "tradition" is not binding.) Personally, I hope we continue it!

I thing it is very important that we think about the words of the song. It is important that we put the words into practice.

Let me encourage every member to invite someone to come to worship services. If you will give me their names and addresses, I will invite them by mail to our October 5th fellowship potluck meal. We plan a mass mailout for this occasion.

We do not have to go across the ocean to do mission work. We can do mission work right here in San Angelo.

We may retire from a job, but we never retire from being a Christian and doing what a Christian should do! Jesus said, "If ye love me, ye will keep my commandments" (John 14:15) One of those commandments is to "preach the gospel to the whole creation" (Mark 16:15). We must do this.

At Ninth and Main let us be known for "reaching out." Let us not just sit back and say our sign is out front and people can come if they desire.

In the parable of the banquet, Jesus told His disciples to go out and invite others to come in. We must do likewise.

In Christian Love,
John Hobbs