West Main

 

We just returned from Russia. It was a stunningly beautiful place. It surprised me in so many ways. One of the highlights was visiting their beautiful orthodox churches and cathedrals. Everywhere you turned were these amazing structures full of people. But the people were not all tourists. In these were also some folks there to worship. Everywhere you turned there were people with tears in their eyes singing to themselves, and no one would walk by without crossing their chest three times as is their custom.

 

I was talking to our tour guide and she reminded me, “you must remember, for three generations we were not allowed to worship. We could not go to a church without risk of our lives. So now, there is a huge revival.” It was shocking to realize. Not so long ago, these people were oppressed and had no religious freedom at all. So now, they were flocking to their churches in droves.

 

 

It made me think that I rarely ever stop to be thankful for my religious freedom. I cannot imagine fearing for my life if I wanted to pray! As such, I encourage us all to stop and reflect on that today. What a blessing we have, that many in this world do not know! And with this freedom, let us TRULY be free! May we not bind each other with trappings of legalism or tradition, but may we walk boldly in the freedom that Christ died for! Celebrate your freedom today!

 

Galatians 5:1  --  "It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery."

 

– Pannell

 

 

 

OUR  AIR  CONDITIONED  EARTH

PART  FOUR

 

 

Planting a vegetable garden in cold country was a new experience for me. My work had taken me and my family to an Illinois climate where the ground froze in the winter. But when the spring thaw came, the fertile soil in my back yard brought out the farmer in me. Although I was a casual gardener, I was surprised by the bounty of beans and tomatoes.

 

 

Having grown up in San Diego County, where farmers had to work hard to get good vegetable production, it is common there to prepare for planting by fumigating the soil for harmful bugs. In the case of my Illinois garden, I realized the Lord had done this for me with a hard freeze. This reminded me that a uniform temperature on Earth would have many drawbacks. People are best served by the range of temperatures God has given us on our air conditioned Earth.

 

 

The dormancy produced by cold is important for many trees and vines. A sufficient number of wintertime cold days are needed by almond trees for good yields. My grandson, Jacob, a gifted plant grower, recently supplied young live oak trees for a nature preserve. The acorns he planted were first refrigerated for a period of time to insure they would sprout.

 

 

And what should we make of summertime heat in the Caribbean? There, where hurricanes are strengthened with heat before moving over land, it might be difficult to think well of a climate that explodes with such potential harm. And yet it is heat that supplies water molecules with the energy to become airborne as a vapor. Without warmed water, there would be much less rain. Hurricanes may be thought of as a safety valve for the tropics by soaking up heat from there.

 

 

A major part of the study of thermodynamics deals with heat-powered engines. There we learn that we must waste a large amount of heat when using it to produce work, such as generating electricity or powering our automobiles. But before we can exhaust waste heat, we must have a cold place to dump it. This is why radiators and fans are needed by the engines in our cars.

 

 

The body of a man is also a heat engine that must get rid of waste heat. Because of this, we are most comfortable when our house thermostat is set at some twenty degrees below our body temperature. When very hot, our bodies radiate unseen infrared light, and sweat to cool off.

 

 

Even the ice covered arctic regions serve us. They can handle the excess heat shipped from the equator via air currents. This allows tropical areas to be habitable.

 

 

The stimulation of cold weather has invigorated man in industry and invention. A look at a world map will identify countries with moderately cold climes as the “developed” nations, whereas countries in warmer places have often lagged behind.

 

 

These examples illustrate why God has given us limiting boundaries for cold and hot rather than a fixed temperature. His work is marvelous.

 

-- James Gibbs

 

 

 

Back to School Clothing and School Supplies Giveaway  --  This exciting activity will be held on Saturday, August 24, from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.   We have boxes located in the courtyard to put your donations of good, clean clothing.   We are also  in need of financial donations to purchase school supplies, backpacks, new socks and new underwear.    

Please prayerfully consider how you can help with an extra donation for this ministry.  You can give your contribution to Betty Lake, September Flock, in the church office or put it in a contribution envelope marked for school supplies and clothing giveaway.

This is one of our best community outreaches that we do for our neighbors around our building.  This is an opportunity for you to both share Jesus and serve like Jesus.  We need volunteers to come help sort clothes on Wednesday evening, August 21, at 6:00 p.m. and to help serve at the Giveaway, Carnival and Barbeque on August 24.   

We want ALL members to be there to serve the people and get to know them and make this a special day for our neighborhood.

 

 

Emigrant Lake Encampment  -- We will have our fourth annual worship encampment at Emigrant Lake, on Sunday, August 25, at 10:00 a.m.   We have reserved Picnic Area C.  Entry fee is $4.00 per vehicle.

*If you need a ride please let the office know.*

This is another good opportunity for you to invite family, friends and neighbors to enjoy a time of worship and fellowship.  This is a wonderful experience of worshiping outdoors and getting to know one another and others in a relaxed and beautiful environment.

Please bring your lawn chairs, games, and a potluck dish to share.  We will provide the hamburgers and hotdogs but ask that you bring the side dishes.  There is a  sign up sheet at the back of the auditorium  for the side dishes.  We also need to know how many people are coming, so please turn in your sign up sheet from the brochure or call the church office to let us know how many people are coming (include any friends or family) with you.

*Services at the building will begin at 10:15 a.m. for those not going to the Worship Encampment.  We will NOT have Bible Class or Nursery Care that morning.

 

 

Prime Timers and your guests are invited to a potluck luncheon in the Fireside Room at 11:30 a.m. on Wednesday, August 28.  We will have a fun afternoon of games following the luncheon.  Please bring a lunch dish to share and your dominoes if you have any.  Contact Joan Tisdel if you need more information.

 

 

Coffee Servers Are Needed for the months of September, November and December.  If you can help during one of these months, please sign up on the list posted in the hallway by the stairs.  Thank you for all of your help.

 

 

 

Prayer Requests . . . Our sympathy is extended to Boyd Westeren on the passing of his younger brother this past week - he was 77 years old and a father of three and a grandfather to many...Vedous Striplin (former member) is in the hospital in Texas with pneumonia and heart problems - please pray for her recovery...For the daughter-in-law of Harvey and Helen Martin, Connie, who fell and broke her pelvis in two places...For a friend of Melanie Rennels who has cancer and is going to Arizona for treatment...For safe travel for Amber Parker as she drives to Nebraska...Jack Spodnik asks prayers for all of our firefighters that they might be safe and for those pilots flying the air tankers...For Stephen Liles whose Aunt Denise passed away last week - prayers for the family as they gather this week and as they deal with their grief...For a friend of the Wilmoth’s, John Davis, as he undergoes chemotherapy - prayers for his healing...Christina Duarte requests prayers for the family of a young man who committed suicide this past week...For David Mayes to be a more Christlike example and for Cora Sawyer to influence her friend, Barbara...For our President and all of our military men, women and families.

 

 

 

Thank You Note  -- I would like to thank everyone who prayed for me, called and sent cards for my recent surgery.   Love, Patty Heffner

 

 

Calendar of Events

August 21: Set-up for Clothing Giveaway; 6:00 p.m.

August 24: Clothing and School Supplies Giveaway, CIA Carnival and

                   BBQ 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

August 25: Emigrant Lake Encampment; 10:00 a.m.; Area C;

                   Entry fee- $4.00 per Vehicle

August 28: Prime Timers Potluck Luncheon and Games; 11:30 a.m.; FSR