Schedule of Services:

Sundays:

Morning Worship 9:30 AM

Bible Class 10:45 AM Evening Worship 5 PM

Monday Night Study: 6:30 pm

Tuesday Ladies Bible Class:

9:30 am

Wednesday Night Devotional/Bible Class:

6:30 PM

Senior Living Services: Spring Creek Nursing Rehab 2660 Brickyard

Road (Bmt.) Sundays @ 2 pm / Jerald Bass

Lucas Place Sr. Living 2910 Toccoa (Bmt.)

Sundays @ 3:30 pm / Mike Culver

Church Mailing Address: Meadows Church of Christ

P.O. Box 5126 Beaumont, Texas 77726

409-892-7063 Office 409-892-6420 Office 409-892-7068 Fax

On the web:

Meadowschurchofchrist.com

All bulletin requests must be submitted to the office by 10 AM on Thursdays to be published in the following Sundays bulletin. Requests can be made by phone 409.892.7063 or email to:

meadowschurchofchrist@aol.com

Meadows Church of Christ Leadership: (Please keep these men in your daily prayers)

Elders: Derrell Hart (409) 769-0099

Donnie Landrum (409) 842-3236, Brad Mansfield (409) 781-3987 Carl Sundgren (409) 658-0027

Deacons: Jerald Bass, Bobby Case, Joey Case,

David Owens, Daryl Phelps, John Scott

Pulpit Minister: Rick Walker (303) 359-9160

email: rickwalkerpreacher@gmail.com

February Food Committee Head: Carolee Bibb

Rena Baxley, Bettie Bibb,

Tami Browning, Rhonda Crabtree,

Terry Gonzales, Norma Gonzalez,

Frances Howard, Doris McQueen,

Cheryl Probst, Gloria Sanders,

Shirley Sturm, & Sherrie Thomas

Biblical “Quid Pro Quos”

Is there anyone in the United States who hasn’t heard (and become tired of hearing) the Latin phrase quid pro quo? If we didn’t know any better people might believe this phrase is right up there with, “The Unforgiveable Sin!” So, what does this term mean? Merriam-Webster’s on-line Dictionary defines this expres-sion, “something given or received for something else.” It can be easily explained by saying, “I will do this for you if you do that for me,” i.e., this for that!

The scriptures are filled with these types of agreements. Indeed, either God is the One making the agreements or He is the One demanding us to keep these agree-ments. Let us now look at one example from the Old Testament and then one from the New Testament.

[THIS…] “Now it shall be, if you will diligently obey the Lord your God, being careful to do all His commandments which I command you today, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations of the earth. And all these blessings will overtake you, if you obey the Lord your God. [FOR THAT!] Blessed shall you be in the city, and blessed you will be in the country. Blessed shall be the offspring of your body and the produce of the ground and the offspring of your beasts, the increase of your herd and the young of your flock. Blessed shall be your basket and your kneading bowl,” Deuteronomy 28:1-6. Moses later goes on to tell them what will happen if they don’t obey God, (see vs. 15ff).

In the New Testament (this one is much shorter) God combines both the blessings for obedience and the consequences for disobedience in the same verse. [THIS…] “Obey your leaders and submit to them; [FOR THAT!] for they keep watch over your souls, as those who will give an account.. [THIS…] Let them do this with joy and not with grief, [FOR THAT!] for this would be unprofitable for you,” Hebrews 13:17.

Therefore, quid pro quos, by themselves are not wrong, bad or sinful. But there are times when they can be. A couple of examples are; “The Lord God commanded the man saying, ‘From any tree in the garden you may eat freely. [THIS…] But from the tree of knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that

you eat from it [FOR THAT!] you shall surely die,” Genesis 2:16-17. Then later, [THIS…] “Judas went away and discussed with the chief priests and officers how he might betray Jesus to them. [FOR THAT!] And they were glad

and consented to give him money,” Luke 22:4-5. Let’s make sure our actions are

always in keeping with the commands of the Lord! Rick Walker

February 2, 2020

Vol. 4 # 5

“Greeting Ministry” Schedule

2/2 … GR: Linda Landrum VS: Steve & Cathy Henley

2/9 … GR: Connie Owens VS: Kevin & Karen Barry

2/16 … GR: Chris Walker VS: Larry & Vicki Thomas

Be Imitators of God

“Be ye therefore followers of God as dear children; And walk in love, as God also hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling savior” Ephesians 5:1-2. We cannot attain to His almighty energy nor to His unfathomable wisdom. Yet we may imitate the method of these divine attributes in the exercise of corresponding human qualities. But the resemblance to God that is both most important and most attainable is moral and spiritual likeness in character and conduct. Consider especially in what points we most need to be like God; purity, truth, and generous giving. We also need to imitate God in His gentleness with sinners, His longsuffering patience, and His forgiving mercy. Love is nearest to the heart and the very being of God, for God is love. It is our natural duty to imitate God. Nothing short of this will satisfy the claims of right. Duty is infinite - a ceaseless climbing to higher and yet higher regions of holiness. We cannot reach the pinnacle of perfec-tion at once, and we are not guilty for not doing what lies beyond our present powers. We are blameworthy if we aim at less than perfection and if we ever rest contented with any lower stage of progress. “Ye therefore shall be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect” Matthew 5:48. We are under obligations of gratitude to become imitators of God. The word “therefore” calls our attention to these obligations. It points back to the previous words, wherein we are exhorted to forgive one another, even as God also in Christ forgave us. Our highest blessedness will be found in our resemblance to God. He is ever blessed. Everything ungodly must be ultimately a source of pain and death. Though the imitation of God begins in toil and sacrifice, it grows in to the deepest peace and the richest gladness. Jesus commands us to love our enemies and pray for them. If we do that we will be following God’s lead. Jesus healed His enemy in Luke 22:51. He prayed for and forgave His enemies in Luke 23:34, and He died for His enemies as explained in Romans 5:10. If we love our enemies, we act in the same way our heavenly Father acts. We become “imitators of God.” Like God (who sends the sunshine and rain on all people), we too can give forgiveness to His obedient

children and to His enemies. Derrell Hart

If you would

like to donate

to the

Meadows “Hot Spot”

coffee fund, please give

your donation through

one of the adult Bible

classes or drop in the

coffee donation box

hanging on the wall by

the coffee. Thanks!

Current Events & Activities:

Attendance / Contribution: 2020 Weekly Budget: $10,995.00

Sunday AM (1/26) ... 184 Sunday Bible Class (1/26) … 119 Sunday PM (1/26) … 72 Wednesday PM (1/29) … 60

\

Online /Weekly Collection for 1/26: $7,742.10 Up-to-Date Averaged Weekly Contribution for 2020: $10,548.53

Meadows Family:

Tiggie Boswell (rec. from heart procedure)

Margie Crabtree Fred Culver

Raye Dorrell Eva Garza

Barbara Hood Sharon Hood Ebony Keller

Vicki Mansfield (surgery 2/3) Tina & Fawnn Paul

Erskine & Alexis Reliford Martha Richardson

(heart issues) Larry Thomas (Shingles)

Rick & Chris Walker

Members Unable to

Worship With Us:

Johnnie Bean John & Jane Beard

John Davis Floyd & Georgia Guillory

Ed Hart Frankie King

Dorothy Landrum Pearl Leigh

Sherry Reagan Connie Ruppart

Jerri Stroud

Our Friends & Family:

Steve & Gloria Bean Andy Bell (going to Afghanistan)

Diane Bellamy Vallery Chaney

Gary Corzine (cancer trmt) Ashley Cunningham (rec.

from lung surgeries) Vel Dickerson

Bryan Henley (health) Shannon Henry

Johnny Hood (Cancer) Judy Keen (future kidney trans) Brad Klein (blood transfusion)

Beau, Emily, & Eli Owens (2 auto accidents in 3 weeks)

Esaw Peavy Beth Phelps

LaWanda Rector Don Roerick

Felix Smith (Leukemia) Robert Tankersley

Beverly Theirot Kathryn Townley (pacemaker)

Royce Whitehead Jr. Mrs. Williams (rec triple bypass)

Prayer

Warrior

List:

Birthdays this week:

2/2 … Zach Browning 2/2 … Vicki Thomas 2/4 … Robert Peden 2/4 … Betty Whitehead 2/5 … Rick Walker 2/7 … Elias Leyva 2/7 … Abran Leyva

Men Serving this Morning:

Song Leader: Weldon Dunlap

Opening Prayer: Derrell Hart

Scripture Reading: David Owens

Table Leader: Larry Paul (3)

Table Servers: Travis Fife (1),

James Coatney (2), Larry Sanders (4),

Jay Johnson (5), Brad Mansfield (6)

Closing Prayer: Del Barnett

Men Serving Tonight:

Song Leader: Auston Barnes

Opening Prayer: Elder

Table Leader: Bill Baxley

Table Server: Mike Culver

Closing Prayer: Dwain Dorrell

Men Serving this Wednesday:

Song Leader: Joey Case

Opening Prayer: Mike Culver

Men Serving Next Sunday Morning 2/9/20:

Song Leader: Joey Case

Opening Prayer: Del Barnett

Scripture Reading: Dwain Dorrell

Table Leader: Larry Paul (3)

Table Servers: Larry Thomas (1),

Travis Fife (2), Bill Baxley (4), Mike

Culver (5), James Coatney (6)

Closing Prayer: Weldon Dunlap

Men Serving Next Sunday Night 2/9/20:

Song Leader: Weldon Dunlap

Opening Prayer: Elder

Table Leader: Guy Crabtree

Table Server: David Owens

Closing Prayer: Brad Mansfield

Men Serving Wednesday 2/12/20:

Song Leader: Auston Barnes

Opening Prayer: Mike Culver

***If you are scheduled to serve, please show up 15 minutes before services

Young Men Serving in Youth Worship

This Morning:

Song Leader: Nate Pearson Opening Prayer: Nolan Bailey Scripture Reading: Hudson Draper Prayer Board: Nate Simmons

Next Sunday 2/9/20:

Song Leader: Nate Simmons

Opening Prayer: Hudson Draper

Scripture Reading: Henley Cloud

Prayer Board: Nolan Bailey

Be sure to meet Remington, Cammy, & son RJ Afre this morning.

Remington will be teaching a combined Jr. & Sr. High school class

during Bible class time in room # 106 (children’s wing). All youth group

families are invited to go out to lunch with them after church. There will

also be a congregation ice cream social tonight after PM services. Please

keep them in your prayers for a safe trip back to Oklahoma.

There is a sign up sheet on the

welcome desk for nursery/toddler

checkers during the Women’s

Conference. We have paid childcare

workers to work in both rooms, but

still need Meadows ladies to sign up

to be checkers (one per 1-hour period)

on that day. You will be over

checking with the

two classrooms

(during your

hour) to make

sure nothing is

needed. Thanks!

Women’s Conference

“Time”

Saturday, February 22nd 9AM @ Meadows

Speaker: Becky Blackmon (author of several books)

There will also be Q & A session by 4 young ladies: Natalie

Autrey, Randi Owens, Carley Robertson & Hayley Waldron

***Lunch is provided

Congregational

Budget Meeting

Sunday, March 8th

More details

to come!

Anniversaries:

2/14 … Kevin & Karen Barry 2/17 … Brian & Cheryl Probst

Meadows Meals on Wheels Wednesday, February 12th

Spaghetti / Meatballs, Green Salad, Rolls, & Cookies

Need: 4 cooks @ 1 pm, 8 deliverers @ 4 or 5 pm,

4 bakers to bring 2 dozen homemade Valentine cookies to building by 1 pm for packaging. There

is a sign up sheet located on the welcome desk.

Our YOUth group will be hosting the 2nd annual Senior Valentine’s Dinner on Saturday, February 15th. If you are 65 (or older), you should be receiving your invitation in the mail this week. Hors d’oeuvres will be served at 5 pm, with dinner starting at 5:30 pm. Please RSVP to Debbie in the church office if you will be attending. You will be served your dinner as you enjoy entertainment. Thanks!

*** Teens/Parents, you will need to be at the building by 1 pm to decorate/prepare food. Don’t forget to wear red and bring your smile!

“Too many

C H R I S T I A N S

want a padded cross”