The famous plastic surgeon, Dr. Maxwell Malts, tells the amazing story about a woman who came into his office one day and told him that her husband had been in a terrible fire.  She sadly announced to the doctor that his face was so disfigured from the burns that he had locked himself in his room and would not let anyone, including his own wife, into his life.

Dr. Malts told her, "You have come to the right place.  We have make tremendous advances in plastic surgery and we have all the latest technology here at my office.  Just tell him to come in and I'll take a look at him.

The woman responded, "You don't understand; he will not come.  I did not come to ask you to help him.  I have come to ask you to disfigure me so that he will let me back into his life."

Dr. Malts was utterly amazed.  Of course he didn’t do it.  But he did go to the man’s house, knock on the door and try to convince the man to come out.  There was simply silence.  Finally, Dr. Malts said, "Listen you, your wife came to me and begged me to disfigure her so that you would let her back into your life."  He heard weeping behind the door.  Then the man came out and entered a new life.

This story serves as a good illustration for what Jesus did for us.  John 1:14 says: "the Word became flesh and make his dwelling among us."  This profound statement proclaims that God loved us enough that He chose to come down to our level so that He could have a renewed relationship with us (see Philippians 2:5-11).  He now stands knocking at our door, waiting..."Here I am!
I stand at the door and knock.  If any one hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me" (Revelation 3:20).

Russ Whitten - Florida

We are very happy to announce the engagement of Zach Griffith and Sarah Braim!  Plans are being made for an August wedding.

Shane has given us a chance to see an example of the baskets that the donated popcorn goes into and given to newcomers of Abilene as an outreach ministry.  This basket is located in the foyer and will be there for a couple of weeks.  Please continue to give popcorn and money donations for this ministry.

Medina Children’s Home will send their truck for our winter collection during the week of March 28.  They have asked us to collect toilet paper.  There will be boxes in the foyer for your donations.

There are February and March calendars for the youth on Brad’s door.  Anyone willing to host a youth devotional, please see Brad.

This week is ACU Lectureship week.  Click here for schedule.
Tonight there will be a short devotional for those who do not wish to attend the Lectureship.  Classes for Wednesday will be cancelled and in its place, we will be having a short devotional.  Monday morning Prayer and Care and Wednesday Ladies Bible Class are also cancelled.

Attention! The youth group is putting together an activity room. They would be happy to accept any donations of televisions, VCRs, DVD players, a pool table, a foosball table, air hockey, cards and board games.

"The Gathering" has been cancelled for tonight, instead there will be LTC skit and puppet practice tonight at 5:00 in the youth room.

Karen and Kathy would like everyone to be on the watch for pictures of animals that they could cut out of magazines, post cards, etcetera.  The children will be making an animal collage for a take-home project during VBS.  They hope to have a big turn out and need everyone to help them out with this.

The nursery needs teachers!  There is a sign-up list on the nursery door if you would like to help.

STATISTICS FOR FEBRUARY 13, 2004