April 15, 2001
Volume XXI - Number 15  


FRANK CHESSER (ADAPTED)

Brief sermons are in great demand. If one could package and sell twenty-minute sermons with "pre-heat and serve" instructions, he would become and instant Forbes celebrity. The "let's hurry up and get this over with" philosophy has found a home in the church.

"If a man cannot strike oil in twenty minutes, he is drilling with a dull bit," may provoke a chuckle, but not from the spiritual mind intent on drinking deep from the well of living water. Sunday's high noon sounds the gun for the Indianapolis 500 to the local restaurants; beating the neighbors to the drumstick has become a sporting event.

Some assemble to offer homage to God while others convene to worship the clock. Overtime is a delight in sports, but a source of irritation and discomfort in preaching. A prominently displayed clock in full view of the pulpit has become a distinguishing characteristic of the church.

One brother said, "When the sermon goes overtime, I turn it off." Rest assured he never said that about his favorite television program. One can easily discern Sunday's time of day by taking note of the activity in the pew. Proceeding past the "allotted time" is like scraping the top off an ant bed. Overtime is no man's land where preachers void of stout hearts fear to tread.

Some attempt to justify this disturbing lack of interest in God, worship, and the gospel by pointing to man's diminutive attention span. This is not true. The application of this point is always limited to small children or adults in a worship assembly. The truth is, the capacity of one's concentration is dependent upon his sense of priority and interest. One lacking in spirituality can devote rapt attention for several hours to some entertainment medium, while experiencing a severe shortage of mental vigilance under the sound of gospel preaching.

Missionaries tell of people who walk for miles to sit for hours on backless boards in thatched huts and scorching heat to feast on the treasures of the gospel. It is indeed tragic when one's interest in spiritual things can be exhausted during the course of a thirty-minute sermon.
AM SERMON:
"Clinging To The Old Rugged Cross"
(Matthew 27:32-35a)
PM SERMON:
"Do You Have God On Hold?"
(1 Thessalonians 5:16-18)

 

Ladies' Work Fund
The ladies here at Orange Street have contributed $1800 to the Ghana mission work. They are combining this money with funds donated by Venice ($2100) and using the money to do the following:

  1. Drill a well for a village without safe drinking water.
  2. Financially supporting a mobile clinic that will medically benefit over 100 villagers in remote areas.
  3. Treat 10 children for severe malnutrition who would likely die without our help.

Good job, ladies! All of the above will present numerous opportunities to preach the Gospel that might not otherwise exist.

The Ladies next project is collecting money for bibles - with Bob Bauer's trip to Ghana [September] as the deadline.

Youth Devotional
The youth group (approx. ages 11-22) will meet for a devotional and fellowship tonight in the annex, after the evening worship service. All of our teens are encouraged to attend.

Children's Class
Our youngsters meet every Sunday afternoon at 5:40 at the front of the auditorium for a period of story and song before the evening worship. Bob Bauer will be the teacher today and parents are urged to have their little ones present.

Home Bible Study
The regular monthly Home Bible Study and Devotional will be hosted this coming Saturday evening (21st) at the home of Bill and Nancy Norton. Sign-up on the sheet in the foyer if you plan to attend.


Today I will exercise my soul in three ways;
   1. I will do somebody a good turn, and not be found out.
   2. I will do at least one thing I don't want to do.
   3. I will let God speak to me through His Word of Truth, the Bible.

. . . . . . . . . . . . .



Check the Bulletin Board in the foyer for more information on these items

Upcoming Events

  • April 21 - Youth Service Day
  • April 27, 28 - Ladies' Retreat - Weeki Wachi (sign-up sheet posted)
  • May 4 - 6 - Spring Youth Retreat - Weeki Wachi (sign-up sheet posted)

Gospel Meeting

  • April 29-May 4 - Laura Street, Plant City w/ Ben Radford
  • May 6-9 - Church of Christ of Eloise w/ Marc W. Gibson

Don't forget to attend the weekly Prayer Session in Room #3 -
each Sunday evening at 5:30

Charlie & Betty Dupree, Jasper Sims, Cliff Powell, Betty Royal, Elsie Chambers,
Jr. & Marie Howard, Ervin & Alma Eubanks, Don & Sheila Adkins, Sue Church,
Jerry Hill, Norris Clark, Robert Cox, Earl & Vernon Wilkes, Seth Lott,
Roger Reece, Mattie Hughs, Mel Chambers, Vannie Dowdy, Frances Austin, Margaret Duh,
Sherry Hobbs, Linda Thompson, Karen Bauer, Alzonio Rhodes

In The Nursing Homes

Doc Anderson , Elizabeth Gillespie, Victoria Wooster