Grant County church of Christ
May 25, 2008
MEMORIAL DAY – A REMINDER OF ITS BEGINNING
Memorial Day had its beginning on an April morning in 1863 when the Civil War was at its height. One morning a little group of women met in Columbus, Mississippi, to decorate the graves of their soldier dead. It was a sad occasion. They thought of friends and relatives with the Army of Virginia and the boys they knew who had given their lives at Shiloh, Corinth and Stone River.
An elderly woman, after decorating the graves of her two sons, walked toward two mounds at the corner of the cemetery, her arms still full of flowers. Another woman cried, "Do you forget whose graves they are? They are two Union soldiers." "I do not forget," said the other. "They are nameless graves, marking where two soldiers lie buried. But somewhere in the North in some city, village or perhaps some lonely farm house, a mother or young wife or sweetheart mourns for them just as you and I grieve for our dead."
Then she pushed back the grass over the two graves and tenderly spread her flowers. She faced the other woman with tears in her eyes and said, "We bring these flowers to express our devotion and love. They are dead, our heroes of the South, and they are dead, those unknown soldiers of the North, lying here in our church yard in nameless graves. But when the war is over and peace comes again, we shall call them all heroes, so here are my flowers, red, white, and blue for both alike." "Mine, too," said one of the other women of the group.
In 1867 the New York Tribune printed the story of what took place in the Columbus church yard. The story was reprinted in many papers throughout the country. It was accepted as a beginning effort to replace hatred and passion with friendship and love.
In the year 1868, General Logan, National Commander of the Grand Army of the Republic, issued an order designating the 30th of May as a day set aside for decorating the graves of all who had fallen in war. The spirit and understanding and forgiveness expressed by this bereaved Mississippi mother in 1863 is still needed in a torn and troubled world. It is the finest, noblest message of Memorial Day.
REMEMBERING AND FORGETTING
One of the great blessings we have as humans is the remarkable ability to remember details of our past. Our most difficult challenge about memory, however, is to forget those memories that do us and others harm. It is a part of the process of forgiveness.
On the other hand, there are some experiences in life that we need to make sure we remember and cherish; for, they are memories of gratitude, encouragement, and lessons learned in life.
Chiseled in Stone or Written in the Sand?
When someone hurts us we should write it in sand where the winds of forgiveness can erase it away. But, when someone does something good for us, we must engrave it in stone where it will long be remembered. There are some things we need to remember and some things we need to forget. Some memories need to be filed away for future use and others need to be thrown away into the waste basket. Someone has said, "Happy is the man who knows how to use his waste basket." We need to learn to write our hurts in sand and carve our benefits into stone.
Things to remember: Kindness done to us; The debts we owe; Joyful experiences, Sacrifices made for us; Good turns that made a difference in our lives.
Things to forget: Hurts done to us; Discouraging experiences, Spilt milk occasions; Mistakes; Circumstances we cannot change.
We need to learn to write our hurts in the sand and carve our benefits in stone. If you have carved any of your hurts in stone, then get out the "sledge hammer" and turn them into sand so that the winds of time can blow them away. If you have written your blessings and benefits in the sand, then get the "chisel" and engrave them into the "granite" of your mind so that they will never be forgotten.
God is Like
submitted by Margie Wallace
A fifth grade teacher in a Christian school asked her class to look at TV commercials and see if they could use them in some way to communicate ideas about God. Here are some of the results.
God is like Bayer Aspirin. He works miracles.
God is like a FORD. He’s got a better idea.
God is like COKE. He’s the real thing.
God is like Hallmark Cards. He cares enough to send His very best.
God is like TIDE. He gets the stains out that others leave behind.
God is like General Electric. He brings good things to life.
God is like SEARS. He has everything.
God is like Scotch Tape. You can’t see Him, but you know He’s there.
God is like DELTA. He’s ready when you are.
God is like Allstate. You’re in good hands with Him.
God is like VO-5 Hair Spray . He holds through all kinds of weather.
God is like Dial Soap. Aren’t you glad you have Him? Don’t you wish everybody did?
God is like Chevrolet. . . . the heart beat of America.
God is like Maxwell House. . . Good to the very last drop.
God is like Bounty. He is the quicker picker upper, can handle the tough jobs, and He won’t fall apart on you.
VISITORS: You are our honored guest and we welcome you back anytime you are in the area. Please fill out a visitor card located in the rack on the back of the pew.
SINGING TONIGHT: Tonight we will have our monthly fourth-Sunday singing. Please try to be here.
PRAYER LIST Alma Gray (Cancer); Roger Hensley (Cancer); Otis Bowen (Cancer); Bo Mollett (bone spur); Bob Hamon; Sandy Mills; Bill Allen
"THE TRUTH IN LOVE": Sundays 11:00 a.m. ICN channel 6
VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL: Our VBS will be July 13-16 from 6:30 to 8:30 each evening. Ages 3 to 15. There will also be a class for adults.
SYMPATHY: We extend our sympathy to Emma Willoughby and Lorene Abshire in the death of their brother Woodrow Good.
VAN RIDERS If you need a ride to worship, please call Jerry as early as possible. @ (859) 242-2652
STATISTICS: May 18, 2008: Attendance Sunday 34; Contribution $484.00
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MEET WITH US
205 Hopperton Lane
Dry Ridge, KY 41035
(859) 824-6200
Sunday AM Worship…………….9:30 AM
Sunday Bible Study ……………10:40 AM
Sunday PM Service………………6:00 PM
Wednesday Bible Study………….7:00 PM
Minister: Jerry W. Carmichael:
jerrywc@juno.com
Website:
www.grantcountycc.org