The BIBLICAL MESSENGER

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The
BIBLICAL
MESSENGER

VOLUME XX SEPTEMBER 10, 2002 NUMBER 24

9th & Main

CHURCH OF CHRIST

San Angelo, Texas

ELDERS
John Mayfield
Ed Roper

EVANGELIST
John Hobbs

ASSEMBLIES

SUNDAY
Bible Classes                     9:30 .a.m
Morning Worship             10:30 .a.m
Evening Worship               5:00 .p.m

WEDNESDAY
Bible Classes 7:00 pm

In SEARCH of the Lord's Way

each Sunday morning at
8:00 a.m.

KIDY-TV 6 (Cable Channel 10)

CIVILIZATION'S CYCLES

Two hundred years is the average span of great civilizations of the world, with the following sequence of progression:

From bondage to Spiritual Faith.

From spiritual faith to Great Courage

From great courage to Liberty

From Liberty to Abundance

From abundance to Selfishness

From selfishness to Complacency

From complacency to Apathy

From apathy to Dependency

From dependency back to Bondage

Where on the above scale is the United States? To what do the signs around us point?

(From The Bulletin Digest)

###########################################

Jesus and Paul said to:

Hear	Mark 4:24; Romans 10:17
Believe	John 8:24; I Corinthians 1:21
Repent	Luke 13:3,5; Acts 17:30
Confess	Matt. 10:32; Romans 10:9-10
Be Baptized	John 3:4,22-23; Galatians 3:27
Live Faithfully	John 8:31; Romans 5:1-2

Office: JoshRomo@9thandmaincoc.org WebSite:http://9thandmaincoc.org WebEditor: JoshRomo@9thandmaincoc.org

COMING EVENTS

October 6 All church potluck. Plan to come and invite someone to come with you.

October 6 Men's business meeting following the potluck meal.

The decision has been made to schedule the men's business meetings on a bimonthly basis to coincide with the potluck meal. If there is urgent business at other times, a meeting will be called.

Beginning on Wednesday, Sept. 18, the men of the congregation will be offering the invitation on Wednesday nights. We hope all of the men will participate. More will be said about this on Wednesday night September 11.

        From time to time some of our members need a ride to services, or other places. At this time we do not have an organized transportation program.
        If anyone would like to volunteer their time and vehicle for this service, just let John or Ed know and we will keep a file.
        This is not a service we need every day, but should be prepared when the need arises.

Did you know that King Zimri ruled Israel for only seven days before committing suicide??

THE FOUR RULES OF CHURCH GROWTH

--The 30 - second rule. More guests will make judgment about us during the first 30 seconds after they enter. Great people at the doors with a handshake and a smile.

--The Front Door Rule. Many people need help to find their classes or a seat in the auditorium. If they find it difficult to locate a class or a seat, they may choose not to return.

--The Ten Foot Rule. Greet any person with whom you are not familiar who comes within ten feet of you. Make eye contact and be friendly.

--The Five Minute Rule. Take the first five minutes after services to seek out guests and greet them. Thank them for coming and encourage them to come again.

(Jack English, Fayetteville, Ark.)

Ten Mistakes to Avoid

Remorse over yesterday's failure.
Anxiety over today's problems.
Worry over tomorrow's uncertainty
Waste of the moment's opportunity.
Procrastination with your present duty.
Resentment of another's success.
Criticism of a neighbor's imperfection.
Impatience with youth's immaturity.
Skepticism of our nation's future.
Unbelief in God's providence.

--Author Unknown

via Burns, TN

From the pen of JOHN HOBBS....

CHURCH ATTENDANCE

There is a story that goes like this: On judgment day there was a long line. All of a sudden there was a roar of applause at the front of the line. One man standing at the back asked, "why are they shouting?" the man in front of him said, "We just found out that Wednesday nights don't count." This story is fiction. However, let us ask the very serious question: "Do Wednesday nights count?"

The Bible tells us we are not to forsake the assembly (Hebrews 10:25). When we meet on Sunday morning and observe the five acts of worship, we have fulfilled the command to assemble and worship. but, what about Wednesday nights, Sunday nights, and Gospel Meeting nights? Do these nights make any difference?

I think we need to approach the subject this way. Jesus taught that the most important command is to "love God with all our heart, all our soul, all our mind, and all our strength" (Mark 12:30). If we are able to come on Sunday nights, Wednesday nights, and Gospel Meeting nights and we do not attend, is that loving God with all our heart, all our soul, all our mind, and all our strength? The question answers itself -- doesn't it? Whatever reason we have for not attending, we will have to give to the Lord--not to me.

I have a friend whose parents only come on Sunday morning. When their son was old enough he quit attending altogether. I believe if his parents had attended every service, their son might be faithful today. I believe there is a strong case for attending services ever time the door is opened. We need to remember--A love for God that is so weak that it will not take one to assemble with the saints will be a love too weak to take one to heaven! True! True!

In Christian Love,
John Hobbs

"THE BIBLICAL MESSENGER" is published weekly by church of Christ, 901 N. Main St., San Angelo. TX 76903-4057.