Our elders have placed a challenge before us with the 2005 budget. I am personally grateful they have decided to advance rather than retreat! 2005 is the time to take new ground from the devil! The Lord's army cannot battle the forces of darkness if we succumb to defeat. Resources abound for the Lord's work - it's just a matter of funneling those resources to the front lines. 'The silver is Mine, and the gold is Mine,' declares the Lord of hosts. (Haggai 2:8) God's promise is "he who sows bountifully shall also reap bountifully." (2 Cor. 9:6) Overseers have given the troops an opportunity to grow in stewardship! May we each give to the Lord the best of our time, talents, and monies for His glory!

The metaphor most often used to describe the church is "body." The Lord's body is an organism whose members work together for the sake of the whole body. (Eph. 4:16) We each have our own function but every member is interrelated and dependent on the other members of the body. The Central congregation is the body of Jesus and each of us need one another. If something happens to one member of the body, it affects the whole body. In a physical body, some of the most important parts of the body are unseen. So it is with the body of Christ. There are many at Central who get little or no recognition but their place in the body of Christ is irreplaceable. We count each other important not because of beauty or intelligence; we count each other important because we belong to each other. My prayer is that each member of the body of Christ at Central will fulfill their God-given function.

SERMONS FOR SUNDAY:

AM - "External Challenges Facing the Church Today"

PM - "Internal Challenges Facing the Church Today"

Hope to see you here Sunday!

We extend our loving sympathy to Vesta Mays in the loss of her brother-in-law, Jake Reese this past week.

Mr. and Mrs. Bill Lawerance

request the honour of your presence

at the marriage of their son

to

Saturday, the twenty-ninth of January

Two thousand and five

at twenty-two minutes past two o'clock

Immanuel Baptist Church*

Shawnee, Oklahoma

Reception immediately following

Elks Golf and Country Club

*If you have received an invitation in the mail, please note the change in location.

Former Central member, Juanita Arrington, is celebrating her 85^th birthday, Saturday, January 22, from 2 to 4 p.m. at the West Wing of the Northridge church building. She would enjoy seeing her friends from Central.

The Tipton Home supply truck will be by Central sometime between January 31 and February 3. Their special needs at this time are: cereal, corn meal, Nestles Quick, pre-sweetened Kool-Aid, peanut butter, grape jelly, spray starch, kitchen trash bags, paper towels, Q-tips, Spray & Wash, Lime-away, soft soap, 409 cleaner, and bleach.

Dear All, Thank you so much for the beautiful poinsettia, cards, and prayers for our family. It is such a comfort and a blessing to know others are thinking of us during this difficult time. We appreciate you. With love,

Thank you notes have been received from the following people for the recent bags of fruit: Roe & Louise Honaker, Horace & Leoh Roberts, Joe & Phyllis Scheidt, Viola Yates, Sue Merritt, DeLila Nelson, & Lillie Smith.

Tollie Zitterkopf was admitted to Unity Health Center last Friday. She was in room 206 at publication time of the Gospel Guide. Harvey and Carletta Moore left for Houston this past Sunday. Harvey will be having tests at M.D. Anderson Hospital. Rella Wyatt remains in room 753 and Lee Wyatt has been moved to room 760 at Presbyterian. Vesta Mays was scheduled to have cataract surgery at Unity Health Center on Wednesday of this week.

Gertrude Andes, Jack Aylor, Gwen Barrett, Jearline Bates, Chad Beard, Betty Bernard, Betti Boswell, Harold Carothers, James Childers, Harold & Clydean Decker, C.F. Drain, Ola Fitzwater, Mary Gaines, Geneva Green, Dwight Harber, Phyllis Heald (Doris Whittern's daughter), Roe Honaker, Anna Jarvis, Earnest Johnson (Yuavonda Sperry's uncle), Phil Lairson (Rosie Brightwell & Ellen Childers's nephew), Lloyd Lofties, Betty Martin, Mary Martin, Don Allen McNutt, Aubrey Mercer, Harvey Moore, Eddie Morris (Louise Dixson's brother & Jim Pettyjohn's cousin), Ruth Nevills, Monroe Pettyjohn, Ruth Pratt, Polly Reece, Alice Rice, Horace & Leoh Roberts, Naomi (Richards) Rutledge, Lillie Smith, Sarah Smith, Mary Sorensen, Chub & Dorothy Strickland, Charles Thomas, Floy Turner, Alvie Vanlandingham, Argil Wiggins, Emma Wilson, Carl Worley, Viola Yates, Verna Nell Young, and Tollie Zitterkopf. All these members and friends have continuing health concerns or other special circumstances. They appreciate your interest and prayers.

We extend congratulations to two of Central's own this week. Kenton McGalliard walked away with 1^st and 2^nd place awards last Saturday at an academic meet, while Chad Beard and his basketball team came home from a Dallas tournament with a 2^nd place trophy. Both of these guys are not only good looking, they're smart and tough! Good job Kenton and Chad!

We have yet another Central teen turning sixteen shortly. Sean Parman will be of driving age on the 23^rd. He's still going through the learning process of the "manual" transmission, but I hear he's a quick study. Keep up the good work Sean!

This Friday night we will be going to Tecumseh to see Matt and Andy Stephens play basketball. The van will be leaving at 7 p.m. and the cost for students is $2.00.

Coming Youth Events:

He spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets, who have been since the world began.

To give light to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace. (Luke 1:70, 79)