Bulletin June 28, 2020

One Final Hour
If you had but one final hour of life, what would you desire to do? How many friends would you call? How many prayers would you speak? How many deeds of kindness would you wish to impart? Would it be then that you would desire to obey the gospel and be buried with Christ in baptism? Would it be then that you would call that brother or sister you offended to apologize? Could it be that in that final hour you would find the time to read your bible or bless the day of some stranger? 
Would you count the seconds until eternity beckoned you into its grasp? Would it be in that final hour that you would find the courage to tell a friend or kinsmen of Christ’s saving grace? In that final hour would you change habits that for so long have burdened you? What would you do in that final hour? How do you know that this isn’t it?

“God's Commands Are Tests” 
The church at Corinth included a brother who was having an ongoing sexual relationship with his father's wife. For whatever reason, the rest of the brethren did nothing about it. When the Apostle Paul heard of the situation, he ordered bold action: "Remove the wicked man from among yourselves" (1 Corinthians 5:13). Withdrawing from the ungodly brother was essential, both for his benefit and theirs. Hopefully it would impress upon him the seriousness of his wrong and lead him to repentance (v. 5). Regardless, it would check the spreading influence of sin within the congregation (vv. 6-8). In 2 Corinthians 2, Paul spoke of a brother whom the church had punished. Evidently this refers to the same case. If so, the disassociation had produced its desired result. The brother was now seeking forgiveness. Paul advised, "… forgive and comfort him, lest somehow such a one be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow. Wherefore, I urge you to reaffirm your love for him" (2:7-8). Then he added, "For to this end also I wrote that I might put you to the test, whether you are obedient in all things" (2 Corinthians 2:9). How did the instruction to cut off association from this brother test the Corinthians' obedience? Perhaps in several ways:
 • Since taking such action is anything but enjoyable, it was a test of whether they would obey commands of God that are unpleasant.
 • Some in our day question whether withdrawing is an effective way of dealing with brethren in sin. If any of the Corinthians felt the same way, it was a test of whether they would obey a divine command in which they saw little wisdom. 
• This brother may have been popular or influential. If so, it was a test of whether they would put God's will above personal relationships. 
You may not often think of it this way, but every command God gives "puts you to the test, whether you are obedient in all things." Anyone will obey requirements that are pleasant, seem wise, and demand no hard choices. That says nothing about us. The real test of our obedience, and therefore the real test of our faith, comes when God's commands are otherwise. How well do you score on this exam? –Frank Himmel
 

News/Notes/Quotes 
THE SICK. …Remember Herb Starr in his ongoing health problems… … Priscilla Cullison is now at home. She has cancer of the liver and has decided not to undergo the treatments… Phil Cullison was flown to Little Rock with a ruptured aneurism in his aortic artery. He needs our prayers… Debbie Spencer continues to recuperate at home from knee surgery… Ronald Dunman had cancer surgery Friday and they believe they got it all…Cherilyn McFarland will have surgery Monday a NEA Hospital…Kathy Blackford will have surgery on Tuesday…Beverly Allen is confined at home…Gail Brooks was able to be at worship last Sunday!… Shirley Coots is confined at Walnut Ridge Nursing Home… Norma Carr at Randolph County Nursing Home in Pocahontas… 

CROSS TIES! We are happy for Tyler Morgan who obeyed the gospel last Thursday night after several Bible studies together. Rejoice with him! GOSPEL 

JULY BIRTHDAYS. 4 th – Priscilla Cullison, Elizabeth Kennedy; 6 th – Luke Bodeker, Sharon Parrish; 7 th - Kathy Blackford; 10th – Teddy Horton, Addison Lands; 13th – Jeff Ladyman; 16th – Paul Pierce; 17th – Sherry Boylls;18th – Sara Stevens; 22nd – Kristie Lands; 27th – Karleen Sheets; 28th – Konor Erickson; 29th – Taty Rossman 

GOSPEL MEETINGS 
Oct 4-9 – StoneRidge! - Meeting With Men We Support 
April 4-9, 2021 – StoneRidge! – Mickey Galloway 
 
Experience is a wonderful thing. It enables you to recognize a mistake when you make it again.

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