Remember our monthly Midlands Men’s and Preachers’ Meeting is scheduled for this Tuesday, November 16th at 10:00 a.m. Brother Richard Ramkinson of the Windsor Lake congregation will be presenting the program on “The Relationship of Faithful Elders to the Local Congregation of the Lord’s Church.” This meeting is for any elder, deacon, preacher, or any other Christian brother. We always have good discussion and a great time of study and fellowship together. We will have lunch together (Dutch-treat) at Cracker Barrel on Bush River Road after the meeting. This will be our final meeting for the 2010. We do not meet in December due to the busy holiday season. We will meet in 2011 on the third Tuesday in January, the 18th. Remember to pray for Brother Richard’s mother who is very ill in Trinidad.

Thank you to our Brother Allen Hutchison and our entire youth group for hosting the “Double Nichol Banquet” last Sunday afternoon for those in the congregation who are 55 years of age and older. What a wonderful way to respond to my sermons on gratitude! Our older Christian brothers and sister are such a wonderful blessing to us. Our young Christians need those of us who are more mature in faith and in years to look up to and emulate. Maybe we can make this an annual event!

This Sunday we will once again focus our attention on gratitude (Thanks) and stewardship (Giving) since the Thanksgiving holiday is now less than two weeks away. On Sunday morning we will think about Paul’s request of Philemon concerning Onesimus in a lesson entitled “Now, That is How You Say Thanks.” Paul prayed for Philemon. Can you think of a better way to express gratitude? On Sunday evening we will note that when God asks us to give Luke 6:38, Galatians 6:7, Acts 20:35), He is simply asking us to share what we have been given with others. Do you know what sharing does for the one who shares? Sharing makes me more like God. When I share, I am very close to God. When I share with others, I win the victory over materialism. I want to be godly. Don’t you? I want to be as close to God as I can. Don’t you? I want to win the victory of worldliness. Surely you do, too! Paul said it best in Philippians 4:13: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

The Sunday morning Life Enrichment Bible Class (Teacher: me) will have supper together each Sunday evening immediately following the Sunday evening worship hour in the fellowship hall. If you are a member of this class you are cordially invited to this fellowship supper. We will announce the menu each Sunday morning during class. Nothing complicated; just soups, stews, sub sandwiches, pizza, KFC, and maybe casseroles. This will be a great time of fellowship together for the class.

If you are not currently attending one of our Bible classes on Sunday morning and Wednesday evening, know that you are missing out on a great opportunity to grow as a Christian. Get up an hour earlier on Sunday morning and be a part of one of our very special Bible classes. On Wednesday evenings we meet at 7:00 p.m. and dismiss at 8:00 with very few exceptions. Sometimes I get a little bit lengthy with the devotional lesson, but not too often. We love being together. That’s the way it should be.

The holiday season is quickly approaching. The traffic really picks up this time of the year with holiday shopping and family visiting. Be careful. Be thoughtful. Be patient. Be safe. Be thankful. Be the Christian you know to be.