Page 0: Page 1: Shepherds Stephen Batten 549-6625 Cell 786-4245 John Brock 234-5709 Cell 728-4082 Paul Brown 656-8791 Cell 770-0203 Minister Richard Foster 234-5300 Cell 620-727-2547 Richard Email ‘rlfoster75@sbcglobal.net’ Church phone/FAX 234-5107 Church email ‘stfdcofc@sbcglobal.net’ Sunday Assembly times: 9:30 AM Leisure Home Devo 10:00 AM Bible Class, all ages 10:45 AM Worship Lunch @ Noon...Worship @ 1:30 PM aTTENDANCE & FINANCIAL RECORD Attendance for Apr 11: 68 Contribution for Apr 11: $2,786 2010 Weekly Need: $1,983.65 Contributions for Feb: $10,407.45 Expenses for Feb: $10,262.87 Haiti Relief $855 God’s Forever Family Stafford church of Christ April 18, 2010 APPRECIATING VALUABLE THINGS The story is told of a man who was sued by a woman for defamation of character. She charged that he had called her a pig. The man was found guilty and fined. After the trial he asked the judge, "Does this mean that I cannot call Mrs. Johnson a pig?" The judge said that was true. "Does this mean I cannot call a pig Mrs. Johnson?" the man asked. The judge replied that he could indeed call a pig Mrs. Johnson with no fear of legal action. The man looked directly at Mrs. Johnson and said, "Good afternoon, Mrs. Johnson." Such name-calling is obviously wrong, but Jesus told us there are some people who are "pigs" (and not in the sense of eating too much). In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said: "Do not give what is holy to the dogs; nor cast your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you in pieces." (Matthew 7:6) There are some people who are "dogs" and "pigs" in the sense that they have no appreciation for things of a spiritual nature. Just as a pig has no appreciation for precious jewelry, so it is that some people have no appreciation for the precious truths of God's Word. John MacArthur has written, "There will be times when the gospel we present is absolutely rejected and ridiculed and we will make the judgment to turn away and speak no more, deciding that we should 'shake off the dust of [our] feet' (Matt. 10:14) and begin ministering somewhere else." (The MacArthur New Testament Commentary, Matthew 1-7) I agree. There are times when those I speak to show such a lack of appreciation for God's Word. My greater concern, though, is making sure that I don't have that same attitude. "Father, I pray that my heart may always be tender and open to the valuable lessons you want to teach me. May I never 'trample underfoot' those things which are truly important. In Jesus' name, amen." Have a great day! Alan Smith, Thought for the day Rotten Potatoes Suppose next Sunday at our church lunch the ladies set aside the best for themselves and they served us what was left? Suppose they tried a new recipe and instead of serving that, they served us the leftovers from the refrigerator? Suppose they took a sack of potatoes home and then mashed the old spuds from under the sink and served those old rotten potatoes? In far too many ways this is how we deal with our Father in Heaven. We set aside the best for ourselves and give God what is left over. We give God the leftovers. We don’t give Him the first or the best. Some are very diligent to write their “tithe” check first...but what about our service? Do I serve Him first before I serve others or even myself? Does He get the best of my ability? Do you remember the “widow’s mite?” Jesus focused on the heart involved. May we do well in God’s sight as we strive to become more and more like Jesus the Christ! AMEN! Borrowed from Pulpit Helps THOSE WHO SERVE TODAY April 18, 2010 Announcements for APR Paul Brown Songleader for APR Paul Brown Prayers Harold W., Paul B. Lord’s Supper Andrew D. ,Darrel M., Todd A., Pete F. Scripture Reader Luke Alpers Matthew 28:18-20 Leisure Home Devotional Shepherd Group #1 (Brown) Apr THOSE TO SERVE NEXT WEEK April 25, 2010 Sunday Sermon Titles TODAY, Apr 18 AM—”Friendship Evangelism” PM—Friendship Evangelism Think Tank Next Sunday, Apr 25 AM—Brent Hansen here preaching PM—YMLT with our young men Stafford church of Christ PO Box 43 419 N. Main Street Stafford, Kansas 67578 Announcements for APR Paul Brown Songleader for APR Paul Brown Prayers Jesse M., Pete F. Lord’s Supper Paul B., Keith M. Steve S., Stephen B. Scripture Reader Pake Sipes TBA Leisure Home Devotional Shepherd Group #1 (Brown) Apr Page 2: “I can see how a man might look down upon the earth and be an atheist, but I cannot conceive how he could look up into the heavens and say there is no God!” Abraham Lincoln RICHARD’S RAMBLINGS Welcome all guests! We are so pleased to have you here with us today. You have most definitely honored us by being here. Please join us again soon. Please fill out the white card located in the center aisle card rack and put it in the collection plate. Pink Cards to encourage. PRAYER CARDS are there too...prayer works! Shepherd Group #1 (Brown) we need you at the LH Devo next Sunday on each Sunday in April @ 9:30…singing, residents & serving special people! The blessing is always yours when you sing with the residents! “The best Mathematical Equation I have ever seen: 1 cross + 3 nails = 4 given” Volunteers are needed for one more track meet on April 30 here in Stafford. Want to be with kids and help the school? Katie Minks. I had a great time in Lakin KS this past week holding a Gospel meeting for them. They put me in the Windy Heights B&B and they are a lovely group of Christians. Robert and Margaret Duncan send their love and greetings. They had a big church lunch on Sunday at the county fairgrounds...LTC was presented...time with kids too Judy Walden who is helping develop the promotion of the Highways and Byways Scenic Drive will be in Stafford this Tuesday at the Historical Museum from 9:00-11:00 & all invited. DID YOU KNOW that this Wednesday is AGGIE MUSTER where Texas Aggies gather all over the world for an evening of fellowship? But with it being on Wed we have chosen not to muster with the Aggies in KS in Wichita but to Muster with our teenagers. Next weekend Cheryl and I will be in Okemah OK for her 40th HS reunion. I will teach class and preach in Okemah while there. Brent Hansen will be here preaching….and John will be teaching our adult class. Thanks to all. HOW ARE YOU REFLECTING JESUS? Run your race well brothers and sisters! Today, Apr 18 Ruby Hornbaker Encourage Lunch at Noon 1:30 PM worship is singing today Business meeting TODAY Next Sun, Apr 25 Lunch at noon Cleta McComb Encourage 1:30 PM YMLT on April 25 BE A DAILY BIBLE READER in 2010 Our April 25 Adult class “Angels, the Ministers of Heaven and the ‘Angel of the Lord.’” Isabel to host a Singing TODAY beginning at 5:00 PM. The details are posted...sandwich supper provided...the van trip is 3:45-8:30 PM. Sign the list this morning so we can know who will ride the van. TFC for all teens is NEXT SUNDAY from 4-7 in Great Bend. We need a parent to drive the van. There will be one more in October @ Eastwood. We need all teens on board...5th graders can go too! The van trip is 3:00-8:00...sign up in the foyer. Orphan Sunday is NEXT SUNDAY...special collection taken for orphans...we love kids. You may make your check to the church and mark it orphans. Luke Alper’s LTC Speech will be shared this morning before the sermon. You will love it. LTC Puppets will present their puppet show at 1:00 today after lunch and downstairs...all are invited. Stafford K-4 Spring Concert is this Thursday night at 7 PM and you will see a lot of our kids and encourage them with your presence. It is FREE. Ladies Study/Prayer will be on April 26 at 7 PM at Cheryl’s home with Jennifer sharing on JOY. A Women’s Conference will be held at the Stafford HS Commons THIS SATURDAY from 8:30-3:30 with speaker and author Kris Goertzen sharing. The Cost is $20 and please register by TOMORROW. Our AIM Encourage notes will be discontinued until around June 1 when the teams get to their AIM locations. They have all left Lubbock for their homes and additional fund raising. Our Prayers to God Whitney & Cody Rollman—lost their child Cindy Morris—Kiowa-Hodgkins Lymphoma-Fosters Veda Batten—Stephen st-mom-breast cancer-Lyons Reboul’s son Lou heart attack, in Wichita Evelyn Miller Armstrong—blood clots-aneurism-TX Dale Harper—Norwich, cancer returned, no Chemo Jennifer Aldridge—fractured back, recovering in FL Tammy—Kathy’s cousin, some depression, a son Tammy’s Mother—fell, broke arm, in Elkhart rehab Sipes Niece—Addison’s Disease, new tests Ralstin family/Mullinville church/Russell Scott Nancy Meyer’s Dad—Stomach cancer Mary Ann Eggleston—pancreatic cancer, OKC Don Riley—major health in AZ, bro to Riley’s.Marie Jim & Vera Lankford—health issues (J-lymphoma) Shannon Thys—traumatic brain injury, PTSD, Iraq Mark Hornbaker— Jerry Smith—Cheryl’s bro, cancer in OK Sonny Banning—Cancer, Wichita, chemo Julians—prayer for health concerns for all three Larry Hinsdale—Hutch, cancer, friend /Todd Allen Jonathan Batten—Stephen’s brother, cancer, GC KS Antonia Cruz—Robert’s mother, NY, severe cancer Robert’s brother—cancer also Karla Cruz’s niece—cancer, Nebraska, 12 years old Y-Vonna Krekel—breast cancer, GA, Batten’s friend Darrel Murphy—cancer treatment, skin cancer Orlin Heyen—cancer is progressing, oxygen Beth Boeka—cancer, chemo continues, in Hutch Dortha Heyen—Stafford hospital, Room 111 Eunice Rice—Stafford hospital, Room 109 Those serving in Iraq/Afighanistan—Philip McGhee (Sue’s grandson), Bob Orr (Darrel’s gr son) President Obama & Cabinet, world leaders, UN Our Sunday & Wednesday teachers for all ages KIDS and FAMILIES to impact for Christ Leisure Home Residents—Jimmy Riley, Idabelle Riley, Maurine Harrison Kenwood Apt in St. John—Cora Lee Hornbaker Lakewood in Augusta—Cleta McComb (health prob) Our Shepherds—John, Paul, Stephen Deacons Carpenter Place—children’s home in Wichita Our college students Klaus & Sigi Freis—Wiesbaden Germany Roger & Martha Dickson—Capetown So. Africa NHOWE Mission— orphans in Zimbabwe Our Prayers to God Libby Heyen—Kenya till July, with Harding group Michael Thys—AIM to Troy NY, needs $200/mo & $2,000 one time...his last report before NY is posted Rafael Espindola—AIM to Scotland (from Mexico), needs $600/mo & $2,000 one time Evelyn Graciano—AIM to Scotland (from Mexico), needs $950/mo and $2,000 one time Valerie Carthel—AIM to New Zealand (from TX), needs $750/mo and $2,000 one time Marcus Sabral—AIM to New Zealand (from Brazil), needs $600/mo and $2,000 one time. George Hamrick—AIM to Troy NY (from Alaska), needs $2,000 one time Princteon Palmer—AIM to Leon Mexico (from India/ UK), needs $900/mo and $3,880 one time Ladies Day @ Augusta is May 1...8:30 is registration, Terry Lemons of Edmond OK speaking, “Let Your Talents Bloom. The last Bible Street, YOUth group and Adult class is April 28. NO Cook Sunday will be on Mother’s Day or May 9 @ Noon. Please sign the list soon so we have enough fried chicken and all the trimmings. Men’s Prayer Breakfast is on the first Saturday or May 1 because of Mother’s Day weekend. Our cooks and study facilitators are Harold and Orlin. Our last Evangelism emphasis days is going to be May 2 on “Teaching the Gospel & Conversion” and the THINK TANK will be at 1:30 that day. We need all who are interested in the future here! Leisure Home Volunteer Appreciation Tea for all volunteers is Wed April 28 @ 2 PM. Please RSVP to 234-5208 by April 26 THANK YOU from Carpenter Place for groceries. SMC Camp Dates: Family Camp June 2026...First Session Ages 9-13 July 11-17...Day Camp Ages 8-11 July 13-15 from 9:00-4:30 PM each day ($5/day) with our own Bonnie Ward directing this...Second Session Ages 13-18 July 1824...Third Session Ages 9-18 July 25-31...Camp is $140 this year with the $50 pre-registration fee. Page 3: