The Only One Pulling
Alan Smith via  Bulletin Digest

An out-of-towner drove his car into a ditch in a desolate area. Fortunately, a local farmer came to help with his big strong horse named Buddy. He hitched Buddy up to the car and yelled, "Pull, Nellie, pull!" Buddy didn't move. Then the farmer hollered, "Pull, Buster, pull!" Buddy didn't respond. Once more the farmer commanded, "Pull, Coco, pull!" Nothing. Then the farmer nonchalantly said, "Pull, Buddy, pull!" And the horse easily dragged the car out of the ditch.

The motorist was most appreciative and very curious. He asked the farmer why he called his horse by the wrong name three times.

The farmer said, "Oh, ol' Buddy is blind and if he thought he was the only one pulling, he wouldn't even try!"

We're a lot like Buddy. We don't like to do something if we think we're the only one pulling. Need an example? Ever said, "Why should I put my time and effort into the work of the church? No one else seems to care!" "The Only One Pulling" (continued from page one)

Or, "Why should I put forth the extra effort to do a good job at work? No one else does, and it wouldn't be appreciated anyway!" Or, "Why should I be nice to him? He's certainly not going to make any effort to be nice to me!" See what I mean? Like Elijah in the cave, we say to God, "I alone am left" (I Kings 19: 10). Nobody else is faithful. Nobody else is tying.

But God told Elijah he had 7,000 on His side. Like Buddy and Elijah, we may be blind. Blind to what others are doing around us. But, even if we are the only one doing what is right, we need to continue.

"And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart" (Galatians 6:9). Hang in there, there is work to be done!

Bring out the Best China!
Gordon Smith

This is a story about a couple who had been married for fifty years. The husband died. After the funeral, the mourners were invited to a meal at the home of the widow. The bereaved wife began to weep, as her friends comforted her, she lamented, "We were married for fifty years and I never once used our best china. I kept waiting for a special occasion and special guests. That special occasion has come and those special guests are here. For the first time I am using our best china, but the most special guest of all —my husband— is not here to enjoy it. How I wish I would have brought out the best china for him!

Friends and brethren, your mate should be the most special person in your life. Don't wait until it is too late to bring out the best china.

Ladies Work Group
The Ladies Work Group is scheduled to meet tomorrow (Monday) evening at 7:00 in the Ladies Work Room. All of our ladies are encouraged to attend and participate in the group's activities.

FSOP Extension Class
The Florida School of Preaching extension class that is hosted each semester in the annex, here at Orange Street, will begin next month on Thursday evening, August 17th, at 7 pm. The subject for this semester is “The Life of Christ” and the teacher is Bob Bauer. See Bob for more information.

>
WHAT IS THE CHURCH?
The Church is not a refrigerator for the preserving of perishable piety. It is a dynamo for charging human wills with power. The object of the church is not to tell men how to dodge difficulties, but to furnish strength and courage to meet them. The business of the church isn't to furnish hammocks for the lay; it is rather to offer well-fitting yokes for drawing life's loads.