Frank Chesser

Too bad human babies don’t hatch! Maybe then they would enjoy some legal protection! A panel of judges in Florida upheld a $108,800 fine against a man who poached 1088 turtle eggs from a state park. The public defender argued that an egg isn’t a turtle until it hatches; but the prosecutor affirmed that 80-90% of marine turtle eggs are fertile, and therefore, each egg must be considered a unit of marine life. The judges agreed with the prosecutor!
The pro-abortion establishment claims that a “fetus” is not a human “person” until birth has occurred. Several years ago the highest court in the nation agreed, and declared any and all laws protecting the unborn (humans, that is) to be “unconstitutional.”
Isn’t it more than ironic that laws protecting unhatched marine turtles are perfectly alright, but laws protecting unborn human beings are unconstitutional? An unhatched turtle is a “unit of marine life,” but an unborn human is just so much “tissue.” Swipe a thousand turtle eggs and we’ll fine you $100 each (not to mention sending you to jail for 60 days); kill a thousand unborn human children and we will reward you for your “work” with tax money and laud you as a champion of “reproductive freedom”!
How utterly absurd!

STEPHANAS, THE ADDICT
Dennis Gulledge

The King James Version of the Bible is often criticized for its archaic language. There is nothing archaic about the word used to describe the household of Stephanas in 1 Corinthians 16:15. Paul said that they were “addicted…to the ministry of the saints.”
There is nothing out of date about the word “addicted.” We hear so much about addictions of various kinds. In its bad sense it means one who has allowed himself to become a slave to a self-destroying habit. In its good sense it describes one who is enthusiastically devoted to a good cause. It is a word which describes the truly converted.
The ministry mentioned here is not limited to the preaching of the gospel. The family of Stephanas had already responded to the gospel (1 Corinthians 1:14-16). Now, they were carrying out the other half of the great commission (Matthew 28:20). With them as with us,
Something Needs To Be Done. Brethren needed to be cared for (Acts 6:1-3; Galatians 6:10). Things that need to be done do not just happen. Spreading the gospel doesn’t just happen. Relieving the destitute doesn’t just happen. Edifying the church doesn’t just happen. Work in the church involves seeing the need and meeting the need (Matthew 9:37-38). Two things are inexcusable: (1) blindness [not willing to see], and (2) laziness [not willing to do].
Someone Is Needed To Do The Work. Do we need some program of work before we can or will work? Programs are good. They involve many people in good works. However, would you work without a program? Stephanas and his family served God by serving their brethren (Matthew 25:31-46).
James did not say, “To him that is asked to do good and doeth it not, to him it is sin.” He said, “Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin” (James 4:17). Sgt. Alvin C. York, when asked how he performed his deed of heroism during WWI, said “I seen my duty and done it.” In like fashion the family of Stephanas felt they owed everything to God to whom they had been converted.
Somehow We Need More Addicts In The Lord’s Church. An addict is one who will give up anything for the thing that has control of him. He will give up anything that is beneficial to himself and his family for the sake of the power he is under. Too many Christians seem totally unwilling to give up anything for the Lord’s business. They would not give up sleep, time, money, TV or any convenience to better equip themselves to the ministry of the saints. To some brethren any sacrifice is too heavy. We would be so much more effective if we all became spiritual addicts to the cause of Christ.
This world is the sphere of service. The world to come is the sphere of both punishments or rewards. The service we have an opportunity of doing we must do while we have the opportunity (John. 9:4).

VOLUME 40 NUMBER 31 AUGUST 4, 2003

OUR SICK

Pearlie Baldwin is ill at home.
Richard Butler is now at home.
Mayo White is now at home.
Addie Boyce is now at home.
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RESPONSE

Baptized on Sunday, August 3rd: Zack Orick, son of Darrell & Sheila Orick.
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BIBLE BOWL

The van will leave at 8:00 AM on Saturday, August 9th, to go to Jessieville for the Bible Bowl. They will return about 3:00 PM.
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TEEN SING

The Teen Sing will be after the evening service on Sunday, August 17th at the home of Shawn & Kim Wallace. Girls bring chips and boys bring drinks.
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AREA WIDE SINGING

Our annual area wide singing will be on Friday, August 15th, from 7:00 to 9:00 PM. We will provide refreshments after the singing. Please bring finger foods.
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SERMONS FOR AUGUST 10

Morning
Sins Of Good People In The Church [Scott Perry]
Evening
“Go Into All The World” (Mark 16:15) [Wayne Brewer will be preaching and giving a report on his trip to Costa Rica.]
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SEARCH

Week of August 10
BIBLE PROPHECY AND FULFILLMENT
One of the strongest evidences that the Bible is the inspired word of God is the fulfillment of prophecy. The only infallible interpretation of prophecy is an inspired one. Meaning that when a passage says it is the fulfillment of a certain prophecy, it is. Prophets who prophesy falsely (if the thing does not come to pass) are to be rejected.
EVENTS OF INTEREST

August 9…..Bible Bowl Competition
August 15………Area Wide Singing
August 17………………...Teen Sing

OUR RECORD AUGUST 3, 2003

A.M. WORSHIP 188
SUNDAY BIBLE STUDY 148
P.M. WORSHIP 142
WEDNESDAY BIBLE STUDY 136

CONTRIBUTION 5583
BUDGET 6351
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MEN TO SERVE
August 3, 2003

David Gulledge Dennis Gulledge
Brad Horton Roger Horton
Tim King Jim Henson
Devin Long Nicolas Lowe

Evening Jim Mauldin
Greg King
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WEDNESDAY SONG DIRECTOR

August 13 Waymon Minor
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USHERS FOR AUGUST

Morning John & Jason Griffin
Evening Richard Butler & Devin Long
Wednesday Keith Golden & Ken Sullivan
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GREETERS FOR AUGUST

Bette Hendricks & Emma Brown
Thelma Blythe & Marie Rogers
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ELDER CHAIRMAN

August Bill Boyd
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