The BIBLICAL MESSENGER

9th & Main
CHURCH OF CHRIST
San Angelo, Texas

ELDERS
John Mayfield
Ed Roper

EVANGELIST
John Hobbs

ASSEMBLIES
SUNDAY

Bible Classes	9:30 am
Morning Worship	10:30 am
Evening Worship	5:00 pm

WEDNESDAY

Bible Classes

7:00 pm

In SEARCH of the
Lord's Way

each Sunday morning at
8:00 am

KIDY-TV 6 (Cable Channel 10)
Program Transcripts

KEEP YOUR FORK

       There was a woman who had been diagnosed with a terminal illness and had been given three months to live. As she was getting her things in order she contacted her minister and had him come to her house to discuss certain aspects of her final wishes. She told him which songs she wanted sung at her service, what scriptures she would like read, and what outfit she would like to be buried in. The woman also requested that her favorite Bible be buried with her. Just as everything appeared to be in order, and as the minister was preparing to leave, the woman suddenly remembered something very important to her. "There's one more thing," she said insistently. "I want to be buried with a fork in my right hand."
       The minister was puzzled and didn't quite know what to say. The woman's explanation was as patient as her planning. "In all my years of attending church meetings, socials and potluck dinners, I always remember that when the dishes of the main course were being cleared, someone would inevitable lean over and say, 'keep your fork.' When they said that, a smile would break out inside of me because I knew that something better was coming. . .like velvety chocolate cake or deep dish apple pie. Something wonderful and with substance!
       "So, I just want people to see me there in that casket with a fork in my hand and I want them to wonder 'What's with the fork?" Then I want you to tell them that I said: "Keep your forks. . .the best is yet to come."

Borrowed

Answer to our last BIBLE question:

Jonah was the prophet who asked to be thrown from a storm tossed ship. (Jonah 1:12) (Daniel 1:6-7) [What nervous prophet asked to be thrown from a storm tossed ship?]

This weeks question:

Which two apostles are mentioned most in the Bible?

Answer next week.

       The following announcement was read at Sunday morning services:
       "After prayerful consideration, the elders are submitting the names of the following men to constitute the Board of Elders here at Ninth and Main.

In alphabetical order:

John Mayfield
Benny Rogers
Ed Roper
Jim Vinson

Names of men submitted to serve as deacons:

Don Cheek
Dennis Reed

       You have one week (until May 4) to come forth with any scriptural objections to any of these men. If there are no objections, we will recognize them as our new leaders next Sunday, (May 4).
       Let's all pray for and support these men as they lead this congregation.

SHARING

       There isn't much that I can do, but I can share my bread with you, and sometimes share a sorrow too---
       There isn't much that I can do, but I can sit an hour with you, and I can share a joke with you, and sometimes share reverses too---
       There isn't much that I can do, but I can share my flowers with you, and I can share my books with you and sometimes share your burdens too---
       There isn't much that I can do, but I can share my songs with you, and I can share my mirth with you , and sometimes come and laugh with you---
       There isn't much that I can do, but I can share my hopes with you, and I can share my fears with you, and sometimes shed some tears with you---
       There isn't much that I can do, but I can share my friends with you. And sometimes share a prayer with you.

Author Unknown

(This poem was given to us by Florine Klein, and we wish to thank her for that.)

        May 10 will be the day that our mail delivery people will accept non perishable food items to be delivered to the local food bank. Annually, the food bank distributes over a million pounds of food to non-profit organizations throughout the Concho Valley, including Ninth & Main.
        If we could all put a few cans of food out on May 10 for our mail person to pick up, it would be a big help.

From the pen of John Hobbs:

A TRIBUTE TO MARY ETTA

       Monday, April 28, 2003, Mary Etta and I will celebrate our 30th Wedding Anniversary.
       Mary Etta has been and is a great preacher's wife. She has taught Bible classes in every church that I have preached except one. The only reason she didn't teach at that church was because we had no students to teach. She is a great asset with her singing ability. Everyone agrees with that. She has always helped with the visitation programs, Christian Youth Camps, preparing food when called upon, etc. Some preachers wives refuse to do what she has done, and does.
       I have known some preachers who have had to quit preaching because their wives were not assets - they were hindrances instead. Not so with Mary Etta.
       Mary Etta is not only a PK (preacher's kid); she is also a MK (missionary's kid). I personally know one mother who told her daughters, "Do not marry a preacher." I have heard of others. I am glad Mary Etta's mother never taught her any such foolishness.
Mary Etta has smuggled Bibles into communist countries.
       She is a very friendly and hospitable person. Every church that I have preached for and left, they have always told be they miss Mary Etta. Are you surprised? I am not!
       Yes, I tease Mary Etta a lot. I will continue to do so. My Dad told me, "People don't tease people they don't like." How true!
       I am very grateful that I have a Christian wife who is a great asset in my work as a pulpit minister.

In Christian Love,
John Hobbs

(Editor's Note: With this article we start a new feature. We'll call it the "tribute Series". If you have anyone in your life to whom you wish to pay tribute, write it up and give it to Ed. We reserve the right to edit the material for space and content. Keep those tributes coming)