BRANSON

The Big Church of Christ gathering is this weekend. Hundreds of people from many congregations have a wonderful time of fellowship. Every year there is good singing, praying and preaching. A number of members from Central are there. Hopefully all will return with a renewed joy and love. It is good to meet brothers and sisters in the church family who live in different parts of the country. New and good ideas can come by talking with others. Although a number are not with us in today’s assembly, let us fully enjoy and be blessed as we have gathered to worship and praise the Lord.

DO BETTER

Let me ask every member to reflect on what I preached Sunday morning, September 20th. The title of the sermon was “We Can Do Better.” Two Scriptures were used at the beginning. Amos 6:1 says, “Woe to you who are at ease in Zion…” and Revelation 3:17 states, “Because you say, I am rich, have become wealthy and have need of nothing…” The following matters were set forth: One, we can do better in being a friendly church. Everybody is somebody in the family of God. Studies have shown that first impressions are important. Be friendly. Two, we can do better in our weekly offering. How long has it been since you read I Cor. 16:1-2 and 2 Cor. 9:6-7? Three, we can do better in faithful Sunday attendance. Always remember the Lord keeps the eternal records. Four, we can do better in inviting people to “church.” The Bible gives examples of individuals who invited others. We can do the same. Five, we can do better in ministering to the sick and needy in preparing food, calling, sending cards and visiting. Everybody can do something.

LAUGH

**With only two tellers working at the bank, the line I was standing in was moving very slowly. As I waited I began to fill in my withdrawal slip. Not sure of the date, I turned and asked the woman behind me. “It’s the fifth,” she replied. A man from the back of the line advised, “Don’t write it in yet!”
**There’s this blonde out for a walk. She comes to a river and sees another blonde on the opposite bank. “Yoo-hoo!” she shouts. “How can I get to the other side?” The other blonde looks up the river and down the river and shouts back, “You ARE on the other side!”
**The fellow who says he is as good as many church members should be required to specify which members.
**Some consider it a good sermon if it was directed at somebody else.
**The problem is not the church in the world….it is the world in the church.

CUSTOM

The life of Jesus was lived on earth under the Old Law and Jesus had a custom of going to the synagogue on the Sabbath Day. This is recorded in Luke 4:16. We can learn a number of lessons. One, we are to have the right customs under the New Law. Two, we are to be with individuals of like faith. Three, we are to read, believe and obey the Word. We need to worship. Come let’s praise and honor the Lord. Come with a Bible in your hand and a spring in your step and a smile on your face. I’ll look for you.

-Pat Casey