By Herb Alsup, Woodbury, TN All we know of Lemuel and his mother is recorded for us in Proverbs 31 :1-9. Within this text, we find several reasons to appreciate this mother and the example she leaves us.
She named her son “Lemuel” meaning “devoted to God.” Thus, she was a godly mother wanting her son to grow up to be one devoted to God. Every mother ought to look her child in the face and call him/her “Lemuel.”
She was a mother who taught her son. Mothers are our first and most effective teachers. “The mother’s heart is the child’s first classroom” said Henry Ward Beecher. She taught him … MORAL PURITY. .. “Do not spend your strength on women, your vigor on those who would ruin kings.” – Provo 31:3
She taught him … DANGERS OF ALCOHOL … “It is not for kings, 0 Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink intoxicating wine, Nor for princes intoxicating drink.” – Provo 31:4 Of great significance is that this mother felt the need to talk with her son about two great issues of life: sex and alcohol. Mothers and Fathers still need to talk with their children about these dangers!
She taught him … JUSTICE … “Speak up for those who speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute:
Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy.” – Provo 31 :8-9.
Throughout Scripture, God manifested His great interest in the poor, the lowly, and the oppressed. His anger is directed toward those who take advantage of the poor for their personal gain. He blesses those who speak up for, defend, and assist the helpless. Lemuel’s mother instilled into his heart a compassion and fairness for all people.
Probably all of us know godly mothers like Lemuel’s mother. Taday, I thank God for a Christian mother who often shared with me her heart and Christian life-style. I appreciate all she sacrificed for me. I thank her for her character, virtue, integrity,.,justice, and self-control. I thank her for her devoted loved to me and our family.

-Bruce Daugherty-

By Chris Smith, Nashville, TN It’s graduation time, and we plan to honor our graduates today at our fellowship meal. With graduation comes ceremonies, excitement, good byes, thoughtful reflection and unsolicited advice. Allow me to add to the latter. Lessons I’ve learned since my walk across the stage a few years ago include:
The most important decision you’ll make is who you marry. Just yesterday I heard of another young man, a marginal youth group member and infrequent attender of church in recent years who is marrying a strong Christian girl. My prediction is that he will be a future deacon. Marriage can make you or break you spiritually. Choose wisely.
Judge carefully. You never completely know what has gone on before. A fellow preacher once observed after many years in ministry that “what he used to think were blemishes in people turn out to be scars.”
Most problems are not worth the energy I spend worrying about them. Today’s trauma is next month’s forgotten memory.
Use credit sparingly. How I wish I’d listened to the college professor who advised using credit only for purchasing a home. Pay cash for everything else, including cars, he said. I thought he was crazy. Now I know he was-crazy like a fox.
Learn to love the church. You may experience some disappointment from church members from time to time, but try to see the beauty in God’s household. As preachers from long ago used to say, “We’re not what we ought to be, and we’re not what we’re gonna be, but thank God we’re not what we used to be.”

-Bruce Daugherty-

The Bible mentions many young people: some good like Joseph, some bad like the rich young ruler. But one of the most outstanding young persons we can meet in the Bible is Daniel. Daniel was an exile, removed from family and his environment, and just a youth, but Daniel kept his faith. His secret, I believe, is found in Daniel 1:8, where the Bible says, “But Daniel purposed in his heart, that he would not defile himself with the king’s delicacies.”
We may think that God’s dietary laws were a small thing, but it was indicative of a determination to follow God despite his surrounding culture. And this determination sustained and carried Daniel all his life as he served God in a foreign land. And in daring to go against his peers and popular culture, Daniel serves as a model of godly behavior for all time.
Headlines and news reports are full of bad news about young people involved in crime, delinquency, and drugs. “If it bleeds, it leads” is the news maxim. But there are a lot of good young people doing a lot of good things all around us who will never make the evening news. I want to call your attention to the efforts of one young man in our congregation. His name is Daniel and like his namesake from the Bible, he too is daring to follow God’s way.
A couple of months ago, Daniel Tyler approached his Bible class teacher and asked if he might have some extra Bible school material. He said he wanted to start a Bible study group in his after school program. And this is what he has done.
In the after school program, Daniel leads fellow students in prayer, singing, reading the Bible, and study of the Bible message. As a result of his effort, several of Daniel’s school friends are committing themselves to greater dedication to God and the reading and study of His word. As he shared this good news with me, he also told me that he wants to be a preacher when he grows to’ adulthood.
We may never know all the good that comes from this initiative, but God knows. What is important is that we be seed sowers and this is what our daring Daniel is doing. May God continue to fill his heart with a passion for doing good.
We have a lot of good young people in this congregation. let us praise and encourage them in every way.
-Bruce Daugherty-

The approach of summer also means the arrival of Vacation Bible School. Our theme this year is “All Aboard the Kingdom Express – Staying on the Right Track in a Troubled World.” Lessons from some familiar Bible stories will be brought to us with a train theme. As part of the literature says, “For a train to reach its destination, it must stay on track. This is true of us spiritually.”
As VBS approaches, we want to encourage everyone to have a part in this good work. There will be a few changes this year and we believe they will help make our favorite week of the summer the best that it can be.
First, VBS has been moved out of its traditional time slot. Due to the schools running longer into June this year we are moving VBS from the first week of June to the fourth week. Dates are June 24th through the 29th.
Second, we are planning to cap off VBS with a congregational picnic. This will be a great way to finish the week and also say “thank you” to all who work so hard to make VBS successful. Plan now to be a part of this great fellowship.
Third, we will have our summer Youth intern, Vince with us to help lead songs and lead the “determination junction” skits in the material. Vince’s enthusiasm will bring a strong dose of energy to VBS.
As always, we will have great singing, exciting classes, crafts, and refreshments. But most of all, we will be learning God’s word in an exciting, fun way. We plan to have-adult Bible classes with a few gue’st speakers whom I am sure you will want to hear.
We will be meeting soon to get started on VBS preparations. With the help of everyone using their talents we can have a great VBS. Let’s do the best we can for our children, for our congregation, and for our Lord.

Our elders want to encourage the growth and fellowship of our congregation.
As a part of this encouragement, the commitment has been made for our summer youth intem, Vince Daugherty, to be with us. In addition, plans are being made for the continuation of this ministry after Vince returns to school in the fall. As we get ready for the summer, there are some important things for all of us to keep in mind.
First, we want to consider the purposes of these activities. We are not just concemed about numbers. Otherwise, we can fill our calendar with events that are entertaining but have no spiritual value. We can also become so focused on meeting physical needs, that we forget the primary needs of the soul. Activities described of the early Christians in Acts 2:40-47 apply to Christians today of all ages. In this beautiful passage we see the joy of Christian fellowship and the importance of having a strong group to which to belong. Our congregation benefits from activities that unite us in worship, work, and fellowship.
Second, we want to support Vince with other good adult supervisors. Adults who are patient, mature, and spiritually reliable are needed to assist the planned activities. The passing of the baton of faith from one generation to another (2 Timothy 2:2) needs the input of concemed parents, wise elders, and mature Christians of all ages. Your presence at these activities will be a living example of love.
Third, we need to keep in mind the economic challenges to our families. We want to keep the cost of activities reasonable so that we do not add to financial pressures. Our goal is to make our activities affordable for all. James 2:1-9 teaches us not to show favoritism on the basis of wealth. May we all respond in a way that honors Christ and honors our family here at Beville Rd.
Fourth, we want to pray and plan carefully for these activities. We are not planning something just to fill the calendar. In short, we are talking about the quality of our planned events. Quality events take some planning and work. But remember, we are investing in the souls of young people and laying a foundation for the future of the church.
Finally, we need to communicate with youth and parents about the events scheduled. This is especially true as we are going to have many first time activities. Details such as start and ending times, transportation, food, and items needed, will all need to be clearly communicated.
Every event will not be able to be attended by all of our youth.
Every activity will not get a 100% approval rating. But we will not be discouraged or deterred from doing right. Let us be salt and light in the lives of our young people and God will bless our efforts.

-Bruce Daugherty-