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

Daily Bible Reading: Revelation 17:1 – 18:24 (“Then a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone and threw it into the sea, saying, ‘So will Babylon the great city be thrown down with violence, and will be found no more.'”)

This Week’s Memory Verse: “For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality.”  (1 Thessalonians 4:3)

Remember These In Prayer:

Charlie Grindstaff was admitted to Franklin Woods Hospital on Monday morning after several days of not being able to keep anything down.  He is undergoing tests, but nothing has so far been diagnosed.  Charlie asks that we send his love, and that he is anxious to be back with us in worship when things are better.

Linda Fenner is scheduled to return to Knoxville on July 31 for treatment of her Barrett’s esophagus syndrome.  She sends her thanks for the prayers that have been offered for her.

Skylar Strong, 19-year-old daughter of Judy Strong, continues to receive dialysis treatments at her home as she waits for a kidney for transplant.  Judy has passed the blood screening tests, and is now scheduled to have more tests done on August 7 at the University of Kentucky Medical Center.

Bella Eckert, twin daughter of Sharley and Jonathan French, came through her tonsillectomy surgery on Monday, and is now resting at home.

Dave Clark is scheduled to receive his third infusion of immunotherapy on Wednesday.  Pray that God will bless these treatments with effectiveness.

Bandy Tester returned to see her orthopedic surgeon on Monday, but the stitches had not healed enough for her to be fitted with a hard cast.  She will return next Monday for another evaluation.  She reports that the pain has diminished somewhat.

Betty Hamilton continues to experience a great deal of pain in her lower back due to a fall a few weeks ago.  A recent injection did not help with the pain, but in fact made it worse.  Keep our sister in your prayers.

Becky Blacklidge is dealing with some vertigo-like symptoms, and was unable to be with us in worship on Sunday.

The family of Willis Conrad, grandfather of Michael Conrad, is mourning his passing on Saturday in Buchanan County, Virginia at the age of 95.  The funeral service was held on Monday afternoon in Grundy, Virginia.  Pray for God’s comfort and peace to be upon the Conrad family.

Dorothy Jacobs, mother of Joe Jacobs, is now at a rehab facility where she is recovering from recent hip surgery.  Her recovery is complicated by the fact that she is also undergoing chemotherapy.

Jim Roten, cousin of Fred Roten, has been given only a couple of weeks to live, Fred heard on Saturday.  Jim is under hospice care in Ohio.

Larry Lloyd, a former elder of the North Jackson Avenue Church of Christ in Bartow, Florida, has been battling cancer, and is now under hospice care.  Larry is a close friend of June and Fred Selby.

The family of Beulah Burnette, former member of Central, continues to mourn her passing on Sunday morning in Crossville, Tennessee.  You may visit the family on Saturday, August 3 from 5:00 to 7:00 at Tetrick Funeral Home, Johnson City, and there will be a funeral service at the mausoleum of Washington County Memory Gardens on Sunday, August 4, at 1:30.

Have You Registered Yet?  We’re looking for every man at Central to be present for the Mountain Empire Men’s Fellowship on Saturday, August 3.  Go to this site to sign up; it only takes a couple of minutes.

Sunday, August 4 – Another Big Day: On that Sunday we will have a covered dish fellowship dinner.  David Shannon, President of Freed-Hardeman University will be our speaker at both the Bible study and morning worship hours, and the Presidential Trek Team will be present with gifts and activities.  You’ll want to be here for this big day!

Free Loan On A Laptop: We’re talking about a furry laptop, Lucy Hagerty’s pet cat Tinkerbell.  If you can provide foster care for this cat while Lucy continues in rehab, call the church office for more details.  An offer has been made to pay for food and litter during the time you’ll provide this service.

Decide!  *  “When you have to make a choice and don’t make it, that in itself is a choice.”  (William James)  *  “And Elijah came near to all the people and said, ‘How long will you go limping between two different opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him; but if Baal, then follow him.’ And the people did not answer him a word.”  (1 Kings 18:21)