West Main

 

 

WE ARE FORGIVEN AND HEAVEN BOUND

 

 

Not too long ago, my friend shared a story of an encounter he had with a “street preacher” in Knoxville, TN. The man was yelling at the passersby of a UT football game, telling everyone who could hear, about their destinies in hell. My buddy and his friends stopped to talk to the man, as most just passed him by.

 

 

Despite them being the only ones to acknowledge him, he still talked very gruffly at them. He went immediately into his questioning. “Have any of you ever lied? Have you ever stolen anything? Have any of you ever looked at another with lust?” His last question was, “How many times would you say you’ve taken the Lord’s name in vain?” One girl standing there admitted, “I don’t know that I really ever have.” But he was ready! He replied, “Well have you ever said, ‘Oh, my gosh?’ What about ‘OMG?’” He was on a war path!

 

 

Then he began the close to his well-manicured pitch saying, “Now by your own admission, I’m not putting words in your mouths, you have said that you are all liars, thieves, blasphemers, adulterers…” Everyone knew what was coming. They braced themselves for the damnation. And he did not disappoint. He continued, “So, knowing all of this, where will you go when…”

 

 

But my friend could not stand there anymore. “Heaven!” he shouted! “I am going to heaven, because my sins are covered by Jesus.” Then, before he got any madder, he turned and walked away. I must say that I am proud of him.

I

 

It is SO EASY for us to be accusatory, derogatory and finger pointing. So often, people forget that yes, God will judge all sin, but also that God is loving, full of mercy and grace and literally dying to forgive! Despite all accusations, my friend knew that he was loved, and that what Jesus says and thinks about him is true. When Jesus asked God to forgive his killers, and prayed for us to forgive our debtors, and when He told us to forgive our enemies 77 times…he was being real! He meant it! Our Lord and Savior is ALL about forgiving. His death on the cross was NOT in vain.

 

 

And yes, I too am not perfect, but I am confident in the fact that my Jesus is, and because of this, I will be with Him in heaven one day. Please, let us never, never forget that!

 

-- Pannell

 

 

 

A FORCE TO BE RECKONED WITH

 

I remember studying poetry in my English composition class my senior year in high school. Prior to taking this class I cannot really recall having ever read much poetry. This is sad. I think part of my problem was that I was not much of a reader, so my list of vocabulary words was not up to the caliber of appreciating great works of poetry. Despite these deficiencies in reading poetry I did grow to appreciate and enjoy poetry. One poem in particular has stuck with me all these years from my high school class. The poem is by the poet John Donne (24 January 1572-31March 1631), Batter My Heart, Three Person’d God:

 

 

 

 

I believe this poem impacted me in a special way because I came to salvation in Christ my senior year in High School. I gravitated to the poem in part because of the title, Three Person’d God. I thought to myself, “Here is a Christian poem I can write about in a public school!” Over the years I came to appreciate Donne’s words more than my life experience at seventeen could possibly have fathomed. As a new Christian I did not comprehend the pain and struggle experienced in seeking to live true to the glory of God. Only after repeated failures to live faithfully to God does one begin to see the desire for a power to override free-will.

 

 

The poem creates in the reader a forceful tone. Consider these words of force, “knock, breathe, shine, seek, break, blow, and burn.” Donne’s poem is like a prayerful plea to override his sinful resistance to the love of God.

 

 

Recently I came across another poem that speaks powerfully to this desire of force to be the dominating power in our relationship to God. The poem is, Extinguish My Eyes, by Rainer Maria Rilke (4 December 1875-29 December 1926):

 

 

Extinguish my eyes, I’ll go on seeing you.

Seal my ears, I’ll go on hearing you.

And without feet I can make my way to you,

without a mouth I can swear your name.

 

Break off my arms, I’ll take hold of you

with my heart as with a hand.

Stop my heart, and my brain will start to beat.

And if you consume my brain with fire,

I’ll feel you burn in every drop of my blood.

 

 

Both Donne and Rilke desire for an overriding power to overcome anything and everything that would separate them from the love of God. I pray for all our hearts, whether from within or without, to be forcefully overrun by the love of God till we embrace Him fully face-to-face.

 

--Terry

 

 

2014 Church Directory  --  Our proof copy of the directory is posted in the hallway by the East Room.  Please review your listing.  Please initial if everything is correct or make the necessary corrections or additions.  If your name is not listed and you would like to be included in our directory, please add your information on the sheet posted for new names.  Also, if you would like to be added to or removed from the Prayer Chain, please check that listing also.

 

*Sandra Cummings will be taking photos again this year.  If your photo was not in our 2013 directory or if you would like to update your photo please call Sandra to schedule an appointment.  We will be updating the entire photo directory, so contact Sandra ASAP and please keep your appointment time.  Photos will be taken after Sunday morning services.

 

 

Elder / Deacon Selection Forms need to be returned to the Elders by this Sunday, January 19.

 

 

A Pro Life / Right to Life Rally will be held on the steps of the courthouse this Sunday, January 19, at 1:30 p.m.

 

 

Mexico Mission Dinner  --  Be planning ahead for our annual dinner and auction on February 22, at 5:30 p.m. in the Fireside Room.  Be watching for more details.

 

 

Children's Worship Snacks  --  We are in need of snacks!  Please remember to read labels  --  NO products with peanut in them or products processed on shared equipment.  Thanks!

 

 

Lost and Found  --  Our lost and found is overflowing!  Are you missing anything???  Please check the counter in the Fireside Room this Sunday to check for items you may be missing.  All items not claimed will be donated to a good cause.

 

 

 

Prayer Requests . . .  For Shirley Morgan as she recovers from pneumonia...For Rosa Gomez who has moved to an intermediate care facility to start chemotherapy...For Gaby Dimas who has health problems...Charlie Anderson's sister, Janet Huss, needs prayers for personal matters in her life and strength to overcome...Christina Duarte asks prayers that the black mold in their house can be treated and that they won't have to move...Lorie & Keith (guests) ask prayers for their aunt and uncle to remain happy and well...For our President and all of our military men, women and families.

 

 

 

Wedding Shower for Ashley Denn & Jed Rennels  --  We will have a Couples/All-Church Wedding Shower honoring Ashley Denn and Jed Rennels at 6:00 p.m. on Sunday, January 26th.    We will have a finger food/potluck fellowship.  Please bring lots of your favorite foods to share.  They are registered at Bed, Bath, and Beyond and Target under the names of Ashley Denn and Jedidiah Rennels. This is a "His & Hers" shower so address your card to Jed or Ashley so they both have gifts to open.  If you would like to give the couple money and a written blessing or encouragement see Michele Michael, Christi Olson, Jessie Pannell or Jennielle Denn for a note card.  We are creating a money/blessing tree which will be available at the shower as well.  If you would like more information, please contact Jennielle.  Ashley and Jed are planning their wedding for February 15th.

 

 

Engagements  --  Tony & Kim Testerman are very excited to announce the engagement of their son, Jordan, to Stacy Renard.  A wedding date of June 14, 2014 has been set and will take place in Salem, OR.  Their tentative plans will be to live in Pinon, AZ on the Navajo Reservation where Stacy is a teacher.

 

Nathan & Dawn Lake would like to announce the engagement of their son, Christian, to Haley Clasby.  They are planning their wedding for the summer of 2015.

 

 

Calendar of Events

Jan 19:  Elder Selection Forms Due

Jan 26:  Denn/Rennels Wedding Shower; 6:00 p.m.  in the FSR

Feb 15:  Denn/Rennels Wedding

Feb 22:  Mexico Mission Dinner/Auction; 5:30 p.m. in the FSR