March 11, 2007
Volume XXVI - Number 10

. . .to the degree. . .
RAY WALLACE

To the degree that I work, I get a paycheck. To the degree that I fill my gas tank, I can continue to drive my car. To the degree that I do certain things, I keep on rejoicing!

Consider I Peter 4:13, "...but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing; so that also at the revelation of His glory, you may rejoice with exultation." What a great concept God has revealed here - I get to control the road to my own joy!

Caveat: I must be willing to share in the sufferings of Christ if I am to develop the ability to rejoice in His name (in spite of suffering). In our spoiled culture of ease, we have seldom been called to suffer for His name. In the USA we have basked in the luxury of a government either supportive or at least tolerant (historically) of Christianity. We struggle to see life from the perspective of the apostles.

After being told to, stop speaking about Jesus, the apostles reply, "We must obey God rather than men." After a. narrow brush with death (v. 33), we see them flogged (v. 40).

Then an amazing thing happens. The apostles, still in the severe pain of flogging, "...went on their way from the presence of the Council, rejoicing that they had been considered worthy to suffer shame for His name," (v. 41). Did you catch it? The rejoicing came after the faithfulness in suffering! "To the degree" was a genuine reality in their faith and in their persecution.

How is your joy? How is your rejoicing? To the degree you are faithful while suffering, you keep on rejoicing. Have some work to do? Me too. Let's work together, suffer together, and keep on rejoicing together.

Today
All are invited to meet with us after the morning services for a pot-luck dinner in the annex. ALSO, the time of our PM service today, will be at 2:00 instead of the regular time of 6 o’clock.

Men’s Breakfast
The monthly Men’s Breakfast will be hosted by the 5th Avenue congregation in Bartow this coming Saturday morning, March 17th. The breakfast will be held at the North Jackson Ave. Building. There is a sign-up sheet on the bulletin board for those who plan to attend.

Internet Subscribers
All members who have subscribed to or wish to subscribe to the Bulletin Is Online Notification or the Breaking News online mail lists and are NOT getting these notifications, please see Carl Chambers. Recent problems with AOL, MSN, Hotmail and Comcast blocking our mailings have caused a loss of these addresses in our system. They consider us spam. You may need to re-subscribe online or give your email address to Carl Chambers.

Guess Who’s Coming To Dinner
Members willing to “host” a Guess Who’s Coming To Dinner evening should sign-up on the sheet provided in the foyer. See or call Shirley Bauer if you have any questions about the program.

The God who made the heavens and the earth is not so much concerned about how much we give Him as He is in our personal willingness to give. That's why God doesn't expect the poor to do as much as the wealthy. The gift is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to what he does not have.
TODAY'S SERMONS

AM:"To Be Announced"

PM: "To Be Announced"

PRAYER LIST

Minnie Lee Stout, Sharon Johnson,
Corbin Hobbs, Trevor West,
Marilee DeBord, Shirley Bauer,
Pansy Sims, Patricia Martin,
Darin West, Wanda Greene,
Mona Howard, Zach Mathis,
Woodrow Hall, Brice Oliver,
Frances Black, Lindsay Jo Holt,
Mike Wells, Emily Rowe,
Juanita Hilborn, Frances Kidwell,
Gina Dupree, Johnny & Jewell White

-- Shut Ins --
Cliff Powell, Robert Cox,
Mirell Johnson, Mattie Hughs

– In The Nursing Homes –
Elsie Chambers (Auburndale Oaks #242)
Robert Pearson (Tandem)