Rom. 12:9-13 - Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil, cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with God‚s people who are in need. Practice hospitality."

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A farmer had some puppies he needed to sell. He painted a sign advertising the pups and set about nailing it to a post on the edge of his yard. As he was driving the last nail into the post, he felt a tug on his overalls. He looked down into the eyes of a little boy.

Mister," he said, "I want to buy one of your puppies." "Well," said the farmer, as he rubbed the sweat off the back of his neck, "these puppies come from fine parents and cost a good deal of money." The boy dropped his head for a moment. Then reaching deep into his pocket, he pulled out a handful of change and held it up to the farmer.

"I've got thirty-nine cents. Is that enough to take a look?" "Sure," said the farmer. And with that he let out a whistle, "Here, Dolly!" he called. Out from the doghouse and down the ramp ran Dolly followed by four little balls of fur.

The little boy pressed his face against the chain link fence. His eyes danced with delight. As the dogs made their way to the fence, the little boy noticed something else stirring inside the doghouse. Slowly another little ball appeared; this one noticeably smaller. Down the ramp it slid. Then in a somewhat awkward manner the little pup began hobbling toward the others, doing its best to catch up....

"I want that one," the little boy said, pointing to the runt.

The farmer knelt down at the boy's side and said, "Son, you don't want that puppy. He will never be able to run and play with you like these other dogs would. "With that the little boy stepped back from the fence, reached down, and began rolling up one leg of his trousers. In doing so he revealed a steel brace running down both sides of his leg attaching itself to a specially made shoe.

Looking back up at the farmer, he said, "You see sir, I don't run too well myself, and he will need someone who understands."

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True story? I don't know. At least, I don't know if this particular story about the farmer, the boy, and the limp puppy is true. But I know a story similar to it that is true. I know a lot of people who walk with a limp. The limp may be a sin, a bad memory, fear, anxiety, shame. It is hard to run about life, enjoying everything God has given us for our pleasure and enjoyment, when our walk is hampered by a limp.

But there is no circumstance in life, no harrowing defeat or shameful behavior, that has to subject us to despair. The one who came to give us abundant life in the midst of our limp himself assumed a limp for us: "... He humbled himself and became obedient to death, even death on a cross!" (Phil. 2:8). There is someone who understands our limp, and even offers to remove it someday.

Someone understands our limp and accepts us because of it. I'll bet that with a little bit of effort and heart, we could better understand a limp our brother or sister suffers with.

Warren Baldwin



Remember our Youth Rally this afternoon at 4:00. We will have activities, a meal and the worship service tonight. Please be inviting your friends! Also, lets pray for good weather for our travelers from other churches.



Thanks to all those who donated food items for the workers who were here helping Pioneer Electric. As of Friday January 19 everyone is to have power. PE says "Thank You."



IN OUR THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS



The Carters, Ronnie Lofland, Roy Bessire, Joe Watie, Judy & Janea Tremmel, Joe Minor. Those expecting: Nancy Jones, Meagan Bartlett, Amy Carter, Christa Murray & Jennifer Garrison.



Those with cancer: Les Ballard, Mary Turner, Levie Hughes, Leon Feazell, Gayle Caffey, Terry Pepper, Betty Jo Bartlett, Dewaine Moses, Darlene Lucero, Debbie Perry, Janett Smith, Larry Tremmel, Darris Hanes, Ryan Maturey, Valdene Huffman, Sharon Simpson, Viola Eveleigh, Teresa Haliburton, Lorraine Cook, John Stewart, Butch Wolf, Mark Lott, Teri Anderson & Norma Dudley.



Military: Matt Jones, Mark Aycock, Chris Maturey, Matt Cook, John Wilson, Dave Knight, Jerry Baker, Nick McGraw, Travis Kaufman, Kenneth Schwindt, Curtis Keene, Timothy Newman, Brian Kelly, Trafton Wieland, Mark Newman, Brad Anderson, Chris Brown, Jamin Hartman, Monty Duncan, Brett Scarborough, Nick Lane, Marcus Betzold, Kenny Henley, Cyrus Cole, Danny Graves, Peter Gangwer, Chance Carter, Corey Shelbourne, Jacob Bauregard & Tyler Humphreys.



AREA HAPPENINGS (info on board)



Jan. 21 - Area Youth Rally here

Mar. 16-19 Ski Trip

Mar. 22-24 Tulsa Workshop

April 6 & 7 LTC



SERVERS NEXT SUNDAY

Greeters: Bill & Shirley Brown

Opening Prayer: Justin Carthel

Song Leader: Ted Maple

Lord's Table: Michael Tyler

Assist Lord's Table: Harold Jones

Scripture: Josh Sullivan

Closing Prayer: Karl Baker

Power Point (Sun & Wed): Rick Trejo

Sun PM Song Leader: Ted Maple

Wed PM Song Leader: Ted Maple

Back Room/Aisle Workers: Richard Brollier



Weekly Budget needs: $2668

Last Weeks Contribution: $2278

Attendance Last Week: 108



TODAY



Elder Contact: Bill Brown



Greeters: Keith & Linda Steele



Birthdays: Shane Sullivan, Justin Vardeman, Gayle Archuleta, Linda Caldwell, Kathy Russell



We will be hosting the Area Youth Rally today.



ANNOUNCEMENTS



Jennifer Baker has signed up for this weeks Wednesday night meal of tacos. If you can help cook or clean up please sign up in the hallway.



NOTE CHANGE OF SCHEDULE:



Due to the Super Bowl falling on the first weekend in February, the last Sunday of January, the 28th, we will have regular evening services and NO pot luck. We will also have the elders/deacons meeting on the 28th at 5:00. February 4th we will have a pot luck lunch and NO evening services. If you have any questions please see one of the elders.



Wednesday is Western Prairie Care Home Devotional at 9:30.



PLEASE EMPTY YOUR MAILBOXES!!



All LTC Pre-Convention items are due to Michael Tyler before February 20th!!



ULYSSES CHURCH OF CHRIST WEEKLY NEWSLETTER JANUARY 21, 2007



THOSE SERVING US TODAY

SONG SERVICE: Brian French

OPENING PRAYER: Lloyd Martin

LORD'S TABLE: Tracy Caffey, Karl Baker

SCRIPTURE READING: Kenny Kistler, 1 Corinthians 2:1-5

SERMONS: AM: Demonstration of the Spirit's Power; PM: Youth Rally

ANNOUNCEMENTS: Brian French

CLOSING PRAYER: Spencer Smith

POWERPOINT: Jason King

BACKROOM/AISLE: Richard Brollier



The Ulysses Church exists to reach the lost, to continue to grow as a family of God, to serve our fellow man, to worship God, and to do all this in the spirit of unity.