Assembling With the Saints
TOM MOORE

Attending worship services faithfully is of the utmost importance. It is important, because of the trials, temptations, and heartaches we face each week., As Christians, we ought to assemble together at each opportunity so that we might be stimulated and encouraged and to do the same for others. It is reassuring to be around – those of "like precious faith" (2 Peter 1:1). Many a strong Christian has become weak, and many a weak Christian has totally fallen away because at some point they began to miss worship services and Bible study on a regular basis. A Christian's attendance of the worship services, has been rightfully declared by many, as a thermometer indicating one's fervor for the Lord. One cannot truthfully say he is a faithful child of God if he does not attend worship services regularly. Jesus said, "If ye love me, ye will keep my commandments" (John 14:15). The Lord-informs us that we must assemble at every opportunity with the saints. If this were the only reason for attending worship regularly – it would be enough. If you really love the Lord you will keep His commandments.

Still another reason we should attend worship service's regularly is that we must be a good example to others. Paul said that we are to be "an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity" (I Tim. 4:12). What kind of example do you think we set for the non-believer by our apathetic attendance, or for the weak Christian? Not a good one I assure you.

Would you consider a car faithful if it only starts every other time? Would you consider your spouse faithful – if she cheated on your marriage once a month? Of course not! Then what makes, us think that we can be faithful. Christians if we are not attending worship services regularly? It is vital that we are faithful in attendance - our eternal destiny is hanging in the balances. We are not condemning those who are ill at home, or having to care for a sick loved one - we speak to those who have no reason for not coming other than being deficient in concern for spiritual matters. We love you and hope to see you in our next scheduled meeting time. ❦

Jumping to Conclusions
Kelby Smith

One of our greatest weaknesses is jumping to unwarranted conclusions. So often we pass judgment without first knowing all the facts.

On a cross country flight, a small child sitting with his father, was crying. A passenger sitting across the aisle said in disgust: "Why don't you take that child to his mother?" Those words would never have been spoken if he had known the mother's body was in the cargo area below, and was being transported for burial.

There was once a faithful dog who was a constant companion of a small child. They wandered away from home one day. Hours of searching proved futile. Later the dog appeared, and it was all bloody. The father jumped to the conclusion that the dog had become vicious and killed the child. So he got his gun and killed the dog. Later the child was found in the woods unharmed. Nearby was a panther the dog had killed in order to protect the child. The father knew that he had made a terrible mistake.

These accounts illustrate how easy it is to jump to conclusions. May we never form opinions and take actions before getting all the facts. Is that not the way we would want others to treat us?

"Therefore all things ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them" (Matthew 7.12).

Response
On Wednesday evening, January 18th, 2006, Donne Powell responded to the invitation asking forgiveness for sins in his life. Keep brother Powell in your prayers that he may have the strength to run the race that is set before him.

PM Fellowship
All are invited to meet in the annex after evening services tonight (Sunday) for a time of food and Christian fellowship in the annex. Members are asked to bring snacks, finger-foods and/or a covered dish.

February Calendar
The February edition of the Orange Street Activities Calendar and Men To Serve List is available today in the foyer. Be sure to get a copy and be informed of next month’s duty schedules and activities.

Don’t Forget the Weekly Prayer Session in Room #3 - Each Sunday at 5:30 pm.

ALSO: Remember the Change For Ghana campaign - fill up your collection jars with loose change.

A pessimist has no motor; an Optimist has no brakes. The Pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity. The Optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty....