December 8, 2010
SUNDAY MORNING CHALLENGE
Our shepherds had a great idea. While it is important to offer a variety of classes for us to learn, they thought once a year it would be beneficial to all meet together for Bible study. Last Sunday we began that time together in an interesting look at Christian Stewardship. We decided it would also be a great tool to include the teens in this study as well. It was a great study, and we are all looking forward to the rest of the series. It was a special treat for me to get to meet in an adult class. Ninety-nine percent of the year I am upstairs with the teens for class, so this was pretty cool! I was surprised to see that the class was not near as crowded as I expected. I expected it to be at least twice as full. I had to wonder was this reflective of our normal adult participation in classes? Or, was it just an exception and the numbers were smaller than normal? If this is the case, I am about to make a BOLD challenge to you. So, brace yourself.
I would like to challenge EVERY member of this body to make it a priority to join this class for December and January. Even if you normally do not come to Sunday School, I am calling on you to try it for these few weeks! It has been a fabulous year full of all kinds of successful ministries from CIA service work to Emigrant Lake Worship, to Christmas basket programs. We’d like to end the year with this important facet of our family life together. Jesus commanded us to “Teach them to obey everything that I have told you. You can be sure that I will be with you always. I will continue with you until the end of the world.” - Matt.28:20. It is very good to study His word. And what better way to do it than with our entire body together, diving into the revealed word of our living God? So, I am calling on you! I am placing a challenge before each of us. Let’s commit to making these few weeks a very powerful time!
-- Pannell
Pleased to Make You His Own
“So do not be afraid,” Samuel replied. “You have done all this evil; yet do not turn away from the Lord, but serve the Lord with all your heart” (1 Samuel 12:20). The “evil” the Israelites had committed was in asking for a king to rule over them like the kings of the pagan nations. Up to that time in Israel’s history God had been their sole King. Granted, the Israelites were rebellious subjects, but subjects to God the King nonetheless. Why did Israel want a king like the pagan nations? Scripture reveals that it was because, “when you [Israel] saw that Nahash king of the Ammonites was moving against you, you said to me, ‘No, we want a king to rule over us’—even though God was your king” (1 Samuel 12:12).
In a nutshell, the reason for Israel asking for a king besides God was that Israel walked by sight and not by faith. Israel panicked when they saw the immanent and immediate threat of the Ammonites. I can only imagine what transpired in the minds of the Israelites when they realized the Ammonites were about to invade Israel. Perhaps they thought, “How can an invisible king protect us from a visible enemy? How will we know when and how to fight our battle? How can we follow and listen to our king who is invisible and does not audibly speak to us directly?” Surely, all of us could empathize with Israel’s predicament. After all, do not we ask questions in a similar vein today? We often wonder, “How can I follow God’s will for my life when I cannot see Him? How can our invisible God lead us through life’s visible difficulties? How will I know what God wants when He does not speak directly and audibly to me?”
Here is the heart of the matter: If the Word of God does not give a black and white written word for every dilemma we face, then are we free to use our own “common sense”? Are we left to our own devices? . . . No, we are not. The Apostle Paul in his letters often repeats this prayer in one form or another: “And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God” (Philippians 1:9-11).
As we grow in our knowledge of God’s Word and our exposure to the Word, we develop a Christ-like mindset. Paul will often speak of the “renewing of our minds.” However, the problem in discerning God’s will for our lives in specific details comes from our lack of transformation. For example, the reason Israel panicked when they saw the Ammonites was because they did not allow God’s Word to discipline their minds. How could they have forgotten the oft-repeated refrain, “I am the God who brought you up out of Egypt”? If God saved Israel from Egypt, how much more could He save them from the Ammonites? Our God does not always cater to our way of doing things, but He does act and likes to “cater” to our needs.
The same issue that faced Israel faces us: will we walk by faith, or by sight? Will we make decisions based on statistics and human wisdom, or will we pray and wait on the Lord? Will we follow the world’s way of answering life’s dilemmas, or will we seek the providential guidance of our God the King? Samuel warned Israel, “Do not turn away after useless idols. They can do you no good, nor can they rescue you . . .” (1 Samuel 12:21). What idols are we turning to when we say, “God does not address my specific question”? Give your idols up, O’ Church, and “the Lord will not reject his people, because the Lord was pleased to make you his own” (1 Samuel 12:22). God is the good and gracious King, who will not allow His people to go unaided in facing life’s visible and concrete questions. What King are you asking for in your life today?
–Terry
FIREPROOF YOUR MARRIAGE
SESSION SIX - A BETTER WAY OF LOVING
December 15, 6-8:00 p.m.
Men’s Retreat at Little River Christian Camp, January 28-29, 2011. Reserve these dates!!
Children’s Worship Bulletin - Children, remember to pick up your bulletin each week and then put your completed worksheet in the container for the reward party in December.
Christmas Baskets
If you are bringing food for Christmas Baskets, please place it along the back wall of the auditorium. If it is frozen, please put it in the big freezer off of the Fireside Room and label it “Teen Baskets.”
Also at the back of the auditorium is the “Angel Tree.” Take one or more of the “angels” from the tree (these are members of the families we are helping). Each one has an item needed! You may bring them back unwrapped, but PLEASE include the FAMILY NUMBER AND CHILD NUMBER on each gift you bring back so that we can make sure it goes to the right family! Have all donations (food and gifts) to the building by December 19. Call Pannell with any questions. Thanks for your support!
**The tree is full of more names, so please be sure to pick up a couple the next time you are at the building.**
Prayer Requests . . .
Mel Hamilton fell ten feet off of a ladder on Monday afternoon and severely broke his right ankle - please pray for his complete healing and for his relief of pain. He hopes to be released from Providence Hospital this week ... Please continue your prayers for healing for Sharen Rose for her broken arm. She thanks everyone for the cards, flowers and prayers. She is doing better ... Glenda Rennels as she recovers from surgery ... The Rios Family is undergoing persecution from their family. They are friends of the Ivey’s ... Jeff Westeren requests prayers for Mike Hamilton and Family on the passing of his wife, Sandee ... For the cousin of Bob Stapp, Alan Stewart, who has been diagnosed with throat cancer ... Eva Loy Knight requests prayers for Jacklyn Smith who is very ill and also for the mother of Bob Faulconer who is in ICU with no life support ... The Albrights request prayers for their grandson, Cooper, that he has a good report on his blood tests this week ... Debbie Rose requests prayers for her friend, Deborah Lawton, who has been diagnosed with cancer ... Mike Thompson requests prayers that his son, Joshua, can find a job ... For our President and all of our military men, women and families.
Children's Christmas Program
We will have practice THIS SUNDAY at 4:00 p.m. We will also have an additional practice on Thursday, December 16, at 6:00 p.m. Our program will be Sunday evening, December 19, at 6:00 p.m. We will have a Finger Food Fellowship following our evening service. Any questions, please contact Wyndee Thomas or Christi Olson.
News and Notes . . .
*** We will NOT PUBLISH a bulletin the week of December 26th. If you have any news or notes that need to be announced for that week, please turn them into the office by December 21st.
***Ladies Class Winter Break: Dec 14- Jan 4.
***We know that it is a few months off in the future...but it is not too early to start planning for camp. Camp dates for 2011 are July 10-16. P.S. It’s not too early to start saving for camp...more info to come at a later date.
***Looking ahead to January 2011 ... our series Daughters of the King will begin. Please be looking forward for more information to come.
Bulletin Mailing - During the holiday season, our bulletin will probably be delayed in getting to you in a timely manner - please read your bulletin on the internet. It is posted to our website at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it by Thursday morning. We want you to be up-to-date on all of the current activities and news.
CALENDAR OF EVENTS:
Dec 12: Christmas Program Rehearsal at 4:00 p.m. in the Auditorium
Dec 16: Christmas Program Rehearsal at 6:00 p.m. in the Auditorium
Dec 19: Christmas Program Rehearsal at 4:00 p.m. in the Auditorium
Dec 19: Christmas Program and Evening Worship Services; 6:00 p.m.
Finger Food Fellowship to Follow Services
Jan 11: Ladies Class Resumes
Jan 28-29: Men’s Retreat at Little River Christian Camp
