By Mae Buice

Blessed Assurance! The beautiful old hymn written by Fanny J. Crosby, who became blind at the age of six weeks. She wrote more than 6,000 hymns and poems. She studied and later taught at the New York Institution for the Blind. In 1858 she married Alexander Alstyne, who was also blind. I said all that to say this, everyone in our congregation came to see and worship Jesus on Sunday morning. If you don’t have the assurance you need you should go down to the altar. Fanny Jane Crosby had this assurance. Lou, taking his sermon from 1st John 5: 13 entitled his sermon, “We Have Assurance.” He brought out so many good points I’m trying to condense his message to bring out the highlights. We all need that assurance if we were to face death today. We need to be able to say that He is my Savior, Jesus is mine! Lou gave several points of having the assurance of an eternal life. We can have the assurance of eternal life if we have peace and righteous instead of sin. We can have the assurance of eternal life if we believe on the name of Jesus. We can have the assurance if we love the Father and the Son rather than the world. You cannot serve two masters. We must humbly follow Jesus and live as He lived, from the heart. We must long and hope for the return of Jesus. Do you have his longing? Even though we want to stay on with our loved ones and family? If you want to study deeper please read 1st John 5.
The beautiful blood red rose bouquet was placed by Danny and Ginny in memory of James Bell who would have celebrated a birthday last week.
We were sorry to receive the word that Steve Barrett of the Sugar Creek community was in a bad accident and is now in serious condition in Grady Hospital. We pray his recovery will be swift and complete.
James recently visited with Wayne and Jo Ann Hix who live in the Brownwood community.
Congratulations to Tyler Ward who is a rising senior at Morgan County High. He has been accepted to Brewton Parker College and will be able to play baseball.
We are glad to report that James Vanwhy is now safely home from his recent time in Iraq. We’re all looking forward to seeing him.
    Plans and practice are coming on strong for our Easter program. Betty King puts her “all” into our special programs. Be watching for the date it will be performed.
Bud Malcom seems to be recovering from his foot operation. Cliff Walker is nursing a dog bite on his right hand. We seem to be doing better with all our folks that have been sick with various virus, flu and pneumonia infections.   
Birthday blessings to Justin Walker and O. L. Jordan on the 28.
Until next week may the Lord bless you real good.