“Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you.”  James 4:8

Daily Bible Reading: Malachi 1:1 – 2:17 (“For from the rising of the sun to its setting My name will be great among the nations, and in every place incense will be offered to My name, and a pure offering.  For My name will be great among the nations, says the Lord of hosts.”)

This Week’s Memory Verse: “If anyone’s will is to do God’s will, he will know whether the teaching is from God or whether I am speaking on my own authority.”  John 7:17

Remember These In Prayer:

Madge Street, mother of Debbie Pugh, underwent surgery on Tuesday for a fractured hip after falling at her home on Monday.

Tom Ellis learned on Tuesday that his heart function has dropped further; it is now at 25%.  He is also struggling with breathing, Jacquelyn reports.  Tom will wear the LifeVest for another two months, and then be checked to see if the new medications are helping to increase his heart function.  Prayers are requested.

Judy Jones underwent an outpatient eye procedure on Tuesday to repair a tear in her lens.  All went well, she said, and she is already seeing a bit better.  She will undergo heart tests early next month, and tests on her kidneys are also planned.

Lucy Hagerty is feeling some improvement after being put on new antibiotics over the weekend.  She is still struggling with a leg infection and other issues causing her pain.

Jerry Mitchell came through his eye surgery well on Tuesday, and is now back home.

Lee Davis is scheduled to undergo more complicated eye surgery on Thursday at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore.  He would appreciate prayers.

Louise Welch has recently moved within Cornerstone Village (formerly Appalachian Christian Village), and is now in room 120.  She asks that we offer a prayer for her now and then, but is otherwise doing okay.

Johnny Cripps, father of Tammy Williams, is now in a rehab facility in Smithville, Tennessee, following surgery last week for a broken femur.  He is still in pain, and that’s hampering his rehab program.  Tammy asks that we pray for him to push through the pain so he can regain his mobility, and, of course, that the pain be diminished.

Don Burleson, friend of the Fillers and Marie Johnson, has learned that his pulmonary fibrosis is an aggressive form.  We’ve been asked to pray for God’s guidance as difficult decisions are made about his care.

Mikki Vinson, daughter of Jenny and Ron Dowell, will be discharged today from the hospital in Birmingham, Alabama after spending several days recovering from open heart surgery.  She is reportedly doing much better.  Jenny and Ron, members of the Northeast Church of Christ in Kingsport who sometimes worship with us, send their thanks for prayers offered for their daughter.

The family of Jake Lankford, a cousin to Rebekah Hunt, is mourning his untimely death in a car crash last Thursday in North Carolina.  Rebekah says he was only 24 years old, and had two young children.  She asks that we pray for his family.

Let’s Open The Book Together: Several from your Central family will gather at our building this evening at 7:00 for Bible study.  We wish you would join us!  It will be warm inside, and you’ll feel even warmer after some good Christian fellowship.

The “Polar Vortex”?  That phrase has been used frequently in the last few days – but what does it mean?  This video gives a quick explanation.  Take a couple of minutes to learn why our weather is so cold right now.  (And note that “so cold” is a very relative concept!)

Is It Right?  *  “A long habit of not thinking a thing wrong gives it a superficial appearance of being right.”  (Thomas Paine)  *  “I will not set before my eyes   anything that is worthless.  I hate the work of those who fall away; it shall not cling to me. A perverse heart shall be far from me; I will know nothing of evil.”  (Psalm 101:3,4)