AROUND MABELVALE
Dennis Gulledge

Last Sunday, August 18th, it was my privilege to speak at the Points
Southwest congregation during their morning worship service. They are
inviting representatives from congregations who have assisted in their
support, allowing them to purchase a facility on Chicot Road in Little Rock.
Harold Pigue, one of our elders, will also be speaking in the near future.
I addressed them on the subject, "Building A Glorious Church" (Ephesians
5:25-27). It was a pleasure to visit with our brethren at Points Southwest.
We wish them well for the future.
We had a great area-wide congregational singing last Friday night. We
had a number of visitors from other congregations, and outlying areas. The
singing was great! The fellowship during the singing, and afterwards as we
enjoyed refreshments together, was wonderful!
We are gearing up for an effective gospel meeting with Gary Colley,
September 8-11. Many people are working hard in the various areas of
preparation necessary to insure a great gospel meeting. Brochures, ads,
invitations and announcements are being printed. We are inviting people and
getting the word out about this gospel meeting. Are you praying for it?
While he is here brother Colley will speaking at our area-wide preachers
meeting on September 9th (11:00 AM), our All Comers Bible Class on September
10th (10:00 AM), and he is scheduled to speak at CAC chapel on September
11th (10:00 AM).

A MEMORIAL TO THE KING
Dennis Gulledge

It was interesting to observe the entire fanfare surrounding the
celebration of the 25th anniversary of the death of Elvis Presley, the
undisputed "king of rock & roll." Like many people, I remember where I was
when I heard the announcement on the radio of Presley¹s death on August 16,
1977. My wife and I had to be in Memphis the day after the funeral. With
the crowds mainly dispersed, we stood outside the gates to Graceland, and
went to the cemetery to view the famous gravesite.
Now, twenty-five years later, many people are all but worshipping at the
memorial of a dead idol. Between twenty-five to thirty thousand people went
to Memphis to participate in a candle light vigil on August 15th. People
being interviewed were heard to say that they still couldn¹t believe he is
dead. Some were sure they could feel Elvis¹ "presence" at the gathering.
It struck me as odd that people were in such a celebratory mood over one
man¹s death. Then, I heard Paul Harvey mention that Elvis Presley was the
only human being whose death we "celebrate." I still find it odd to say the
least.
In vivid contrast, another king and another memorial presented
themselves to my mind. The king of which I speak is Jesus Christ ­ "King of
kings, and Lord of lords" (1 Tim. 6:15). Jesus said, "Thou sayest that
I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the
worldS" (Jn. 18:37). The memorial of which I speak is not a granite
monument, cathedral or icon erected to his memory on some Palestinian site,
to be visited by throngs in annual pilgrimages.
This memorial is a regularly celebrated supper (1 Cor. 10:16-17). It is
what Jesus promised to observe with his disciples in his Kingdom (Mt.
26:29). This memorial is observed every Lord¹s day (Acts 20:7) as millions
of New Testament Christians all over the world gather to remember the
atoning sacrifice of Jesus in his death upon the cross (Heb. 10:25; 1 Cor.
11:23-29). In following the example of what Jesus did when he instituted
the Lord¹s Supper, Christians take unleavened bread and fruit of the vine
(Mt. 26:17-29; 1 Cor. 11:23-25) in humble adoration for his loving
sacrifice. In this way the memory of the Christ is kept alive. Of course,
the lasting nature of this memorial is not attributable to the perishable
elements of bread and grape juice. The everlasting gospel perpetuates this
memorial feast for faithful Christians two thousand years from that day.
Every Lord¹s day all of those around the world, who are faithful in
Christ, will gather to remember their King in this memorial. It is a
memorial that is upward in gratitude in the giving of thanks (Mt. 26:27; 1
Cor. 11:24); it is backward in memory of the suffering Savior on the cross
(Mt. 26:28; 1 Cor. 11:24-25); it is outward in declaring to the lost world
the Savior¹s dying love (1 Cor. 11:26); it is forward in anticipation of his
return (1 Cor. 11:26), and it is inward as the participant engages in self
examination before communing with Christ in that supper (1 Cor. 11:27-28).


VOLUME 39 NUMBER 33 August 19, 2002

OUR SICK

Harold Pigue had surgery on Friday at St. Vincent. He went home on Saturday.
Jr. Stracener had heart surgery on Thursday. He is in room 921 of Baptist
Hospital but expects to be moved to rehab on Tuesday.
Ann Medlock, a member at Somers Avenue found out last week that her cancer
has returned.
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THANK YOU

Thank you to everybody for all the kindnesses show to me since I have been
sick. Thanks for the cards, calls, visits, food, and especially for the
prayers on my behalf. Eleanor White.
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YOUTH DAY

The van will be leaving at 3:00 PM on Friday, August 23rd to attend the
Youth Day at Southaven, Mississippi. We will return about 6:00 PM on
Saturday, August, 24th .
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BIBLE BOWL

The Bible Bowl will be hosted by Mabelvale on Saturday, September 7 from
9:00 a.m. to 12:00 Noon. We will need to provide sandwiches.
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SERMONS FOR AUGUST 25

Morning
Will All Good People Go To Heaven? (Titus 3:4-7)
Evening
The "Excuse Me" Parable (Luke 14:16-24)
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SEARCH
Week of August 25
DELIVER US FROM EVIL
The title of the fourth sermon in the series is also a petition in the model
prayer which Jesus used to teach His disciples to pray. Could He be saying
we should pray to be delivered from an evil lifestyle? Or from the suffering
effected by the evil deeds of evil people? Or something else? What could
that something else be? Is there any deliverance? If so, where? And, how?

EVENTS OF INTEREST

August 25.............Bible Bowl Practice at 4:30 at the building
August 31.............Door Knocking
September 7.........Bible Bowl
September 8-11...Our Gospel Meeting
September 10......All Comers Class Resumes at 10:00 AM

OUR RECORD AUGUST 18, 2002

A.M. WORSHIP 202
SUNDAY BIBLE STUDY 155
P.M. WORSHIP 153
WEDNESDAY BIBLE STUDY 139

CONTRIBUTION 5548
BUDGET 5570
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MEN TO SERVE
August 25, 2002

Nicolas Lowe Richard Lowe
Roger Horton Greg King
Tim King Mike Moore
Nathan Moore Devin Long

Evening Jim Mauldin
Waymon Minor
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WEDNESDAY SONG DIRECTOR

August 28 Worship In Song
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USHERS FOR AUGUST

Morning Ken Sullivan
Evening David Moore
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GREETERS FOR AUGUST

Bette Hendricks & Emma Brown
Thelma Blythe
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ELDER CHAIRMAN

August Bill Boyd
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