August 24, 2014
Longest Speech, Shortest Term
By Neal Pollard
The shortest inaugural address was George Washington’s second, in 1793, and it was comprised of
193 words! William Henry Harrison, though raised a cultured, educated man, campaigned on a folksy
ticket symbolized by the log cabin. To set a different, more cultured tone for his presidency, Harrison
decided to give a lengthy, erudite speech on a bitterly cold, early March day in 1841. He spoke for
nearly two hours, doing so without benefit of a topcoat or hat. While it is unclear if his exposure led to
the pneumonia that killed him exactly a month later, it still boils down to a lot of talk and very little
execution.
How often do congregations spend a seemingly endless amount of time outlining, discussing, and
rehashing grand plans? Goals and planning are vital to a church’s existence, but so often much talk
produces little action. In any congregation’s mind, they are going to be a fast-growing, active, moving,
and shaking bunch. Yet, so few churches are that.
We do that in our individual lives, too. We make big plans for tomorrow (cf. Jas. 4:13-15). Like the
poet expressed it, “He was going to be all that man should be. . . tomorrow; no one would be kinder or
braver than he. . . tomorrow.” Yet, the poet depicts the dreamer as one who died today while hoping
for tomorrow. Are we making grand, long-winded speeches about all
we are going to do? Are we spending so much time outlining it that
we have so little time left to execute it?
Thinking of all you know about William Henry Harrison compared to
George Washington. Both were thinkers and planners, but oh the
difference in how we remember each of them. Think, then do!
W HAT COM ES OUT?
—Jim Wilson, via KneeMail, Mike Benson, editor
Amy Carmichael has a note in her little book: “A cup brimful of sweet water cannot spill even one
drop of bitter water, however suddenly jolted.”
If it is full of sweet water and is jolted, what will come out of the cup? Sweet water. If you gave it
a harder jolt, what’s going to happen? More sweet water. If someone is filled with sweet water
and someone else gives him a “jolt,” what will come out? Sweet water! Jolts do not turn sweet
water into bitter water. That is done by something else.
Jolts only bring out of the container what’s already in the container. If you’re filled with sweetness and light, and you get jolted, you’re going to spill sweetness and light. If you’re filled with
honey, the honey will come out. If vinegar comes out, what does that prove? It shows what was
already in the container. In other words, bitterness is not based upon what the other person did
at all. It is the result of what we do and are.
“Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from
you, with all malice” —Ephesians 4:31
Healing Hands
We will once again be collecting items to
send to Healing Hands International. We will
collect the following items for the next two
months. A box is provided in the foyer.
Infant Care Kit includes:
Baby bib
Baby bottle
Baby blanket
Baby toy
Baby soap
Baby shampoo
Washcloth
Pacifier
Baby Outfit
Baby socks
Baby powder
Cloth diaper
8/3
8/4
8/6
8/8
8/15
8/21
8/24
8/25
Amanda Shannon
Brandi Williams
Bill Curtis
Ken & Faye McCurry
Jennifer Robinson; Ruth Koger
Scott & Jennifer Holloway
Patsy Smith
Jimmie Cameron; Keith Smith
PRAYER REQUESTS
UPCOM ING EVENTS
OUR SICK
Aug. 25
Fall Term, Chattanooga School of
Preaching & Biblical Studies
Aug. 29
Area Singing @ Risging Fawn;
7:30 PM
Aug. 30
Young Ladies’ Day @ Dunlap;
8:30 AM (CST)
Sept. 5
Singing @ Ft. Payne; 7 PM (CDT)
Sept. 7
First Sunday Fellowship
Sept. 7
Triple R Meeting; immediately
after 1:30 service
Sept. 8
Ladies’ Devotional Breakfast;
9 AM; Fellowship Room
Sept. 12-13
Diana Singing
Sept. 14
Teen Singing @ Mtn. Creek;
2:30 PM
Sept. 20
Ladies’ Day @ Trenton w/Sally
Gotkiewicz; 9:30 AM– 1 PM
Marilyn Drain, significant health issues
Burma Black, remains at LifeCare Ctr, Room 111
Lake Sisson, not doing well
Jeannie Granger, undergoing treatments
Please remember our shut-ins in prayer.
FRIENDS & FAM ILY
Marjorie Mavity, Sue Ann Wood’s grandmother
Darlene Perry, Norma Burney’s daughter
Patty Marshall, Barrett Williams’ grandmother
Joe Keith, Sylvia Edward’s son-in-law
Frank Doyal, Fred Doyal’s dad
Harold Isable, Lee Isable’s dad
Shelia Walker, Jenny & Melanie’s sister-in-law
Lori Teague, Jesse & Leslee’s sister-in-law
Roy Lee Johnson, Ronnie’s brother-in-law