To all of you who have come as our guests during this time of Fellowship, we extend a hearty, Christian WELCOME! It is always a blessing to have brethren come our way for a time of sharing together the wonderful things of God's Word. It is our sincere prayer that in this series of meetings every heart may be blessed -- every life enriched.
    We are not able to entertain as we would like -- due to the smallness of our number and of our facilities. But we appreciate your willingness to accept what we have and the graciousness with which you accept being "crowded" -- both in the services and in our homes.
    When this many people assemble there is bound to be diversity of opinion on various issues. We very deeply appreciate the fact that, in the past, brethren have not looked for issues that may be magnified as instruments of division. Rather, there has been a commendable subjection of "pet theories" -- all being desirous of exalting the name of our common, glorious Lord Jesus.
    May this same spirit of love, respect, considerateness, humility, and a mutuality of "preferring one another" (if there be any honor)

characterize our services during this Thanksgiving period.
    If there are any special needs that we fail to recognize; or if we may be of any assistance in making your visit to Rockford more enjoyable; we hope that you will not be hesitant to ask.
    Thank you for coming; and we sincerely hope that you will be strengthened, spiritually, by the experience. It is always a blessing for us to have an opportunity of sharing with you in the fellowship of the Gospel of our Dear Lord.

    Thankfulness or unthankfulness is largely a "matter of eyes". Two men look at the same scans: one notices the defects and imperfections; the other beholds beauty and brightness. If you cannot find anything worthy of thanksgiving, it is your own fault; you ought to ask God for a new heart -- one that can see His goodness and respond in grateful praise.
    A happy heart transfigures all that is around it. It finds cause for thanksgiving in the leanest circumstance, and even in the night of sorrow. Once we learn to

discern the beauty and goodness of all God's works and ways our grumblings will cease. Songs of praise will arise in our hearts and burst forth in blessings upon those about us.
    TRY IT! You will wonder why you insisted on continuing in blindness for so long. And others will be blessed.

    A call from Bro. Andrew Vickers informs us that Bro. Bill Alsept has recently resigned as pastor of the El Bethel Missionary Baptist Church of Alvin, Texas. They are desirous of the prayers of their sister churches in behalf of their need of a spiritual leader.
    Any brother who is free to visit El Bethel Church, in view of a call may contact them at:
        Route 3, Box 294-A.
        Alvin, Texas 77511
    May the Lord send them a leader with the heart of a TRUE SHEPHERD!

    Too many people who have really trusted God to save them from sin - guiltiness are, tragically, endeavoring to make progress, in their spiritual experience, on "secondhand" Bible knowledge. Their heads are stored full of catechism, creed and Scripture, but when trouble comes they have nothing on which they can confidently lean -- nothing that gives them any genuine help or support.
    It is indeed a tragic thing for one to have a vast accumulation of Bible doctrines carefully categorized and filed away for future use, but no "rod and staff" on which to lean in an hour of weakness and sore trial. How foolish it is to have a warehouse full of lamps -- hanging in great clusters, but not one of them burning so as to throw its light upon a darkened pathway! Nor does it make any sense to have bundles of alpenstocks tied up in "text and creed", but no stars to walk with over the rugged mountains of life.
    Let each of us learn the importance of studying the Scriptures FOR OUPSELVES. It is not enough to know "what we believe"; we should also know "why" we believe it.
    Second-hand Bible knowledge is not the kind of food that will sustain our souls in time of need. But hear the testimony of one to whom the Word of the Lord was loved and valued: "The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart: The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes ..... The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding ..."

    There is a silent, personal influence that, like a shadow, goes out from each life -- leaving results and impressions wherever it touches. No one can live for a single day without touching some other life. For better or for worse our shadows fall on the lives of others.
    The nature of our influence depends more on what we ARE than on what we DO. It is by beautiful LIVING that other lives are blessed and enriched. Holy activity, good deeds and faithful works ought to characterize every life. But when a life is noble, beautiful, holy and Christlike -- one that is in itself a benediction and inspiration -- its worth and influence is multiplied.
    What we do is surely important. Gifts of time, talents and possessions; aid to the sick, the homeless and distressed; these MUST be a part of genuine Christian living. But one MAY engage in such activity without being genuinely Christian. Only when such activity is rooted in, and motivated by, one's love for Christ; only when it is done IN HIS NAME is it really "Christian service". We need to be absolutely honest with ourselves. Are we living as we are BECAUSE WE LOVE THE LORD? or is it because we think this is the way to "make a name for ourselves"?
    Every Christian may, by his life, preach effective sermons every day -- at home and among his associates. Every child of God ought to an

inspiration to others wherever he goes. Our silent influence ought to touch the lives of others with blessing. They ought to be stronger, happier and more earnest after our lives have touched them. Our faces ought to reflect the light of God's glory because of our steadfast gaze on the face of Jesus.
    But no life can be such a blessing, and such a reflection of divine glory, unless self is entirely hidden. No grace shines more gloriously in a Christian than that of humility. Self mars the beauty of the work God would do through us. Our service should be done noiselessly -- not drawing attention to ourselves, but to Christ. When attention is drawn to self, men think of what a beautiful thing WE have done. When this is the case, we have FAILED the Lord. It is HIS GLORY that we ought to seek; He is the one that ought to be seen in us.
    Oh, that we might be content to let the riches of Christ flow thru us into other wasted, weary lives, and see them blessed and beautified -- while self is so carefully hidden that Christ is honored and His name magnified! Our labor ought always to be with God's eye in mind -- even then with little thought of reward. As we desire to be a blessing, our motive should be free from such an ulterior design as that of "self-advancement" We must not worry about "credit" for our labor, or for "monuments" erected to our memory. Life's greatest joy is found in that abandonment of self which enables one to be content in doing THAT WHICH IS RIGHT "In Jesus' Name". E.G.

    What a privilege, what a blessing and joy it is to be able to go forth "in Jesus' Name" with the wonderful message of salvation! In His Name we preach "repentance and remission of sins", In His Name we have life, health and spiritual sustenance all through the journey of life. In His Name we may pray with full assurance of faith; He hears and answers. In His Name we ought always to be giving thanks to our heavenly Father for the unmeasured blessings so abundantly bestowed upon us -- for the many benefits that are daily "loaded" upon us, To Him be glory and eternal praise!!

    The real measure of a man's worth is equivalent to the measure of divine love stored up within his heart -- effectively motivating him to live so as to enrich the lives of others. What are YOU worth?