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

Daily Bible Reading: Revelation 3:1 – 4:11 (“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”)

This Week’s Memory Verse: “And being made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him.”  Hebrews 5:9

Remember These In Prayer:

Bandy Tester continues to recover at home from surgery on Friday to repair her heel.  She will have to keep weight off that foot for quite some time.  Cards would be great to let her know you’re thinking of her.

Skylar Strong continues to wait for a kidney for transplant.  Until that happens, she will remain on nighttime dialysis at her home.  If you would like to learn more about what it means to be a living donor, click here.  Keep Skylar in your prayers, as well as her mother Judy.

James Hunt is scheduled to undergo some diagnostic procedures today as his doctors search for why he has experienced blood loss in recent weeks.  Rebekah asks for our prayers, as he has had to be off blood thinners for a couple of days for these procedures.

Jan Bennett is scheduled to undergo endoscopy this Tuesday as doctors try to learn why she has been having problems swallowing lately.  She asks that we pray for all to go well.

Amy Leonard, niece of Dawn Cox, Ann Cunningham, and Sherrell Shepard, is at Johnson City Medical Center after undergoing surgery for stomach ulcers.  Prayers for her recovery have been requested.

Becky Chisam, sister of Scott Chisam, was admitted to Johnson City Medical Center on Sunday after it was determined she has cellulitis in her leg.  Earlier last week she broke some bones in that foot.  It is best that there be no visitors, but she would appreciate our prayers.

Carolyn Tallman, wife of a man with whom Dan Bowman served in the Army Reserves, has been sent home with hospice care; she is suffering from terminal cancer.  Dan also worked with Carolyn’s son at NFS.

Dan Bowman’s father is at home resting after being hospitalized last week.  When nothing was found from the endoscopy to explain his blood loss, a colonoscopy was recommended; his father declined this procedure for fear it might worsen his condition, as he is on blood thinners.  Pneumonia was also found, and antibiotics were administered; Dan’s father responded to these very well.  Dan thanks everyone for the prayers offered for him.

The family of Katie Gardner is mourning her passing on Friday as a result of a horrific crash in Telford.  Katie, age 27, was the niece of Robert Harrison; her five-month-old son, Gabriel, was also killed in the crash, as was 2-year-old Ginger Hooks.  On Sunday morning Robert asked for our prayers for the family following this devastating accident.

Jim Roten, cousin of Fred Roten, has settled into the hospice facility in Ohio, and his spirits remain good, Fred learned on Sunday.  Jim is now essentially bedfast.  Our continued prayers for him are requested.

The family of Linda Estep is mourning her passing this past Tuesday.  We learned on Sunday through Megan Ryan that Linda was the aunt of Crystal Clark, and that Caleb was especially close to Linda.  Prayers for God’s comfort have been requested.

Identifying With Central: On Sunday morning Robert Harrison responded to the invitation to ask for prayers for his family as they mourn the tragic death of his niece and her young son.  He also said this had caused him to reflect on how short life is, and how he needs to be active in serving the Lord.  Robert has been a member of Central in the past, but in recent years had been attending other congregations.  Let’s welcome Robert back into our family, and pray for him and his family during this time of grief.

A Special Prayer Request:Christine and Charles Russell ask for our prayers for a smooth closing on the purchase of a new home.  The funds for this purchase were misdirected to the wrong account; they ask that we pray that these funds be returned quickly to the correct account.

A New Chapter: Today Josh Bacon, son of Charla and Jerry Bacon, begins classes at DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine on the campus of Lincoln Memorial University in Harrogate, Tennessee.  This is the same school Alisha Holt began last year.  Josh and Caitlyn will be living in nearby Middlesboro, Kentucky, and Caitlyn will begin work on her Nurse Practitioner’s degree.  We wish them both well!  Their address will be 602 Ilchester Avenue, # 7, Middlesboro, KY, 40965.

The Clock Is Ticking:  *  “You may delay, but time will not.”  (Benjamin Franklin)  *  “And as he reasoned about righteousness and self-control and the coming judgment, Felix was alarmed and said, ‘Go away for the present. When I get an opportunity I will summon you.’”  (Acts 24:25)