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

Daily Bible Reading: Deuteronomy 23:1 – 24:22 (“If you make a vow to the Lord your God, you shall not delay fulfilling it, for the Lord your God will surely require it of you, and you will be guilty of sin.”)

This Week’s Memory Verse: “So we do not lose heart.  Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day.”  2 Corinthians 4:16

Remember These In Prayer:

Dave Clark is recovering in ICU at Johnson City Medical Center following a procedure on Friday morning to repair a ruptured blood vessel.  The tear was substantial, but all now appears to be good for healing.  Dave will remain hospitalized for another day or two at least, but it is still best that there be no visitors.  He and Gay greatly appreciate your prayers.

Chuck Jenkins, an elder for the Mountain City Church of Christ, remains at Johnson City Medical Center, where he has been for over a week.  It has now been determined that he has an adenovirus, and is quarantined in ICU.  He also needs surgery to remove a gall bladder, but that can’t happen until he is over this pneumonia.  Pray that God will bless this shepherd of the Lord’s flock.

Ron Edlin, older brother of Joyce Hall, is hospitalized in Cincinnati, Ohio after suffering an apparent heart attack on Thursday.  We don’t have much information at this time, but would appreciate your prayers for him.  If you would like to send him a card of encouragement, his address is 9336 Roundtop Road, Apt. B, Cincinnati, Ohio, 45251.

Lucy Hagerty is scheduled to undergo skin graft surgery on her leg on April 12.

Jane Fillers is scheduled to undergo a lithotripsy procedure on April 15.

Linda Squibb, sister of Kenn Neal, is recovering from surgery on Wednesday night to repair a hip that was broken in a fall.

Madelyn Neal, mother of Kenn Neal, is now under hospice care as her health declines.

Carl Walker, a neighbor to Central, continues to enjoy much better health.  A doctor’s appointment earlier this week confirmed that all is going very well.  Carl asked me to again express his thanks for all of the prayers offered for him.  He also appreciates the many cards he has received in recent days.

Worship God Tomorrow: God calls His people to assemble on the first day of the week.  Join your Central family tomorrow for Bible study at 9:15, and for worship at 10:15 and at 6:00.

Today Is The Day!!  Central’s Ladies’ Day begins at 9:00 a.m., and goes through 12:45 with a light lunch included.  If you’re not able to attend, you can hear the audio live stream of the program by going here.  Say a prayer that all will go well, and that all who attend will be encouraged to more wholly follow God.

Daily Focus On Pause: The next edition of Daily Focus will arrive in your in-box on Friday, April 12.  I’ll be driving to Prestonsburg, Kentucky later today to begin a gospel meeting tomorrow with the Lord’s church there.  The meeting will continue through Wednesday night.  Say a prayer that God will use me to proclaim truth, and that the church will be built up in the faith.

Another Baptism Behind Bars!!  On Friday Chuck Stewart, preacher for the Mountain City Church of Christ, baptized Thomas into Christ, a man with whom we had had a couple of Bible studies.  We don’t yet have permission to use his full name, but say a prayer that this new brother will grow in his walk with Christ.  Thomas is due to be released from prison next Friday.

Preparing For SOS: Remember to bring in your bags of cleaning and personal hygiene supplies; tomorrow is the last day for this part of our preparation for Streams of Sharing.  We are now collecting cans of chunky soup and bottles of fruit juices.  Let’s be ready for Saturday, May 4 when many neighbors from our community will be at our building.  Cash donations are also being accepted; see Tim Haywood if you’d like to contribute in this way.

Always Be Ready:  *  “The future has a way of arriving unannounced.”  (George Will)  *  “Come now, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit’—yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. Instead you ought to say, ‘If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.’”  (James 4:13-15)