The New England Patriot

Patriot-[Greek-patriotes-compatriot\from- patrios-of one's father\
from pater father\ related by blood] 

"For you are all the sons of God through faith in Jesus Christ." (Galatians 3:26)

 

 

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Goals for the New Year

January 13, 2002

 

I read with interest of the goal for troop 215. They set the following individual goal. "Every Scout should strive for Eagle." They established the following troop goals: Every Scout shall attain First Class rank within the 1st year or advance at least one rank--Eagle Scouts to earn 1 palm. Increase total troop membership. Every Scout will pay dues in a timely manner. Provide community service hours. Camp outs should include fun, learning experiences, and opportunity for Scout advancement. Why are these goals set? As a benchmark to evaluate advances and to inspire and encourage each person toward a higher achievement. The Lord's church should take a lesson from these young men and establish personal and congregational goals. What personal goals would you set? What would you like to see us accomplish during the next twelve months? Here are some I thought of:

PERSONAL GOALS

  • Read and study the Bible daily.
  • Pray more frequently.
  • Behave in my life that it will truly glorify and honor the Master.
  • Tell ______ (# of )friends and relatives the Message of God.
  • Invite ______(# of) friends, workers, relatives to services.

CONGREGATIONAL GOAL

  • To be more friendly to brethren and to those who are not.
  • To be certain that our Bible class affective and effective.
  • To make sure the basics of God's word is taught.
  • To challenge members to effectively serve the Lord?
  • To have baptisms and conversions to Christ.
  • To reach an attendance size of 20 and increase each year.
  • To give more than ever in our regular contribution
  • What GOALS do you have in mind for 2002?

How Will hey Know?

"I felt discouraged and lonely today; Unimportant, forgotten and blue; When in the mail came a short little note that said, "I'm thinking of you. I haven't seen you in quite a long time, and I miss your dear, cheery smile...But how will you know I'm thinking of you if I don't tell you once in a while?" It set me to thinking when I got that note how much those words meant to me. If they brightened my day (and they certainly did), how much happier others would be… If we showed them our love and told them we cared with kind words and a warm, friendly smile... For how else will they know we are thinking of them if we don't tell them once in a while?"
(The Christian Visitor, Manchester, TN)……

The apostle Paul knew that Christians needed to be reminded by their comrades that they were being held in remembrance. That is most likely why he always was sure to include as many references to individuals as he could within the epistles that he wrote. Imagine having been one of those Paul mentioned at the conclusion of most of his letters. Wouldn't you have been filled with a renewed desire to faithfully serve the Lord? If Paul thought enough of you to include your name in a letter God inspired him to write, you must be doing something right! You would    convince yourself of the need to continue in that way so that you could continually please your brethren and, more importantly, God. Let someone else know today that you are thinking of them. Pick up your phone and call an old school friend or church acquaintance. Take a piece of paper and write some brother or sister a note. I am sure they would be happy to hear from you. I would like to conclude with Paul's words to the Philippian brethren as recorded in Philippians 1:3-11:

"I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always offering prayer with joy in my every prayer for you all, in view of your participation in the gospel from the first day until now. For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus. For it is only right for me to feel this way about you all, because I have you in my heart, since both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel, you all are partakers of grace with me. For God is my witness, how I long for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus. And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve the things that are excellent, in order to be sincere and blameless until the day of Christ; having been filled with the fruit of righteousness which comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God." (Doug)

Bible Quiz

Who is in David’s Tomb?
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