Bulletin for 8-28-22

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Birthdays and Anniversaries:

8-28 David and Rosibel Mendoza

8-30 Jennifer Mendoza

Prayer requests:

Paul Tyler has a bad sort Parkinson’s. Please pray for him, his family and friends.

Tonita, Paul’s friend, mild heart attack

Dena Weeks had cataract surgery on both eyes now. Doing amazingly well.

J R Medellin, Tiffany’s (Chance) husband, still doing well. Vanessea‘s surgery coming up.

Shirley Weeks, Steve’s mom, continues to have trouble.

Leslie Girvin, had a fall and sprained both wrists, 6-8 weeks recovery.

Sarah, Chris Girvin’s sister, on hospice care

Robert and Sue Waller, health issues

Darla Nitti, Wendi’s mom, not doing well.

Leta, has a recurring cancer, prayer request from her granddaughter via our website.

Tammy Jones, Weeks’ neighbor, kidney failure/dialysis

Back to school

Article:

Priorities: how different our experiences are

“He who loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me. And he who loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me” (Matthew 10:37 NKJV).

I grew up in the U.S Bible Belt, the child of devout Christians. Everyone I knew went to church and thought that it was important to do so. Later, when I would visit members whose attendance was irregular, they would often say something like “I know I ought to be in church.” Putting God and his work ahead of other things was a principle which was accepted by many.

I don’t need to tell most of you that this is not true of most of the world, and not nearly as true in the area where I grew up as it might have once been. Here in South Asia the local religions do not practice regular assemblies in the same way that Christians do. The Islamic Friday, for example, is a day when people (especially men) will go to the mosque at some point to pray, but not necessarily at a set time. The idea that everyone must attend worship assemblies is unknown to the majority of people.

For that reason, it can be difficult to teach new Christians the importance of assembly. I was recently invited to a birthday party on a Sunday evening for the young son of a local church member. When I asked about a potential conflict with worship it had obviously not really occurred to him that it might be a problem. A few minutes discussion of the importance of putting God first caused him to change the celebration plans.

One of the issues I struggle with in adapting to different cultures is to appreciate how very different our experiences are and how much those experiences affect our understanding and practice. It is not that the people of other nations disagree on what one should do – it is that some of the things which we value and practice have just not really occurred to them. And it may take the evangelist some time to realize just what gaps exist.

A simple principle, like putting Jesus first, has many applications. Some seem very obvious to us. Exposure to others may reveal that we are mistaken. Patience and understanding will often help us to teach and develop proper applications, resulting in spiritual growth for all.

Michael Brooks, link to original article

Bulletin for 8-21-22

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Birthdays and Anniversaries:

8-24 Ruben Turcios, Jr

Prayer requests:

Paul Tyler has a bad sort Parkinson’s. Please pray for him, his family and friends.

Tonita, Paul’s friend, mild heart attack

Dena Weeks has cataract surgery, one down one to go, Wed 24. So far, so good.

J R Medellin, Tiffany’s (Chance) husband, still doing well. Vanessea‘s surgery coming up.

Shirley Weeks, Steve’s mom, continues to have trouble.

Leslie Girvin, had a fall this week and sprained both wrists, 6-8 weeks recovery.

Sarah, Chris Girvin’s sister, on hospice care

Robert and Sue Waller, health issues

Darla Nitti, Wendi’s mom, not doing well.

Leta, has a recurring cancer, prayer request from her granddaughter via our website.

Tammy Jones, Weeks’ neighbor, kidney failure/dialysis

Back to school

Article:

A moment in time

How much is a moment worth? What can you really gain or lose in a moment?

When Jesus was tempted, “the devil took him up and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time” (Luke 4:5 ESV). The NET says, “in a flash.” The word means “literally a mark made by a pointed instrument, a dot” (Vincent’s Word Studies). It is “like our ‘second’ of time or tick of the clock” (Robert’s Word Pictures).

It is a fascinating thought that in a particular instant, Satan showed Jesus all the “kingdoms of the inhabited-earth” (MLV). While a second seems so inconsequential, a moment can be very significant.

These moments can seem to come suddenly. My wife wisely told my oldest that it is good to determine in your mind what you will do before you are asked to do something consequential.

Sin so often comes down to a moment, where one decision to do or abstain, to go or stay, to speak or remain silent is the difference between faithfulness and sin. Lives of countless people can be altered in a moment of time. Souls can be won or lost in a moment of time.

Eve, Esther, Judas, and Peter each had a significant moment. What happened in those moments and after them are instructive.

“So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate” (Genesis 3:6)

“So when the woman saw,” is a moment that changed the world. Sin doesn’t just happen. The sin progression is described in James 1:14, 15:

“But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.”

Being tempted is not a sin, but it is our moment of decision. When Eve “saw,” was the moment her desire conceived and she acted upon her temptation.

All of us have been impacted by this moment. Every pain we feel and every life lost to sickness can be traced back to this moment in the garden.

Esther was queen to Ahasuerus. Her cousin had learned of a plot to kill all the Jews. When Mordecai brought this to Esther’s attention, her first thought was that she could not speak to the king without risking her life. Mordecai convinced her:

“Do not think to yourself that in the king’s palace you will escape any more than all the other Jews. For if you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance will rise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” (Esther 4:13, 14).

Her time was now. Esther’s moment saved a nation.

We all know the tragedy of Judas’ life. A chosen disciple, Judas used his position to help himself financially. While the Jewish leaders were constantly plotting to kill Jesus, Judas went to the chief priests and asked for blood money to deliver Jesus over to them.

“And from that moment he sought an opportunity to betray him” (Matthew 26:16).

After Jesus was delivered to Pilate, Judas changed his mind. But he could not get back that moment. The Jews would not take the money back, and what was done could not be undone. Seeing no other way, Judas hanged himself.

While we cannot relive a moment, no moment is beyond repair. Peter denied the Lord three times, each an opportunity to confess the Lord before men. But Jesus was willing to redeem that moment of betrayal.

‘Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?’ He said to him, ‘Yes Lord; you know that I love you.’ He said to him, ‘Feed my lambs.’ (John 21:15).

In Jesus’ mercy, Peter found forgiveness and direction. God desires to be merciful toward our iniquities, and he promises to remember our sins no more (Hebrews 8:12).

We all have moments that we wish we could have back. God is willing to redeem those moments. Jesus would have forgiven Judas, and he forgave Peter, he is willing to forgive you.

Prepare for your moment, be ready to serve. But remember that God can and will forgive.

Lee Parish, link to original article

Bulletin for 8-14-22

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Birthdays and Anniversaries:

8-10 Wendi Camacho

Prayer requests:

Paul Tyler has a bad sort Parkinson’s. Please pray for him, his family and friends.

Tonita, Paul’s friend, mild heart attack

Dena Weeks has cataract surgery coming up, Aug 17, 24

J R Medellin, Tiffany’s (Chance) husband, still doing well. Vanessea‘s surgery coming up.

Shirley Weeks, Steve’s mom, continues to have trouble.

Sarah, Chris Girvin’s sister, on hospice care

Robert and Sue Waller, health issues.

Darla Nitti, Wendi’s mom, not doing well.

Leta, has a recurring cancer, prayer request from her granddaughter via our website.

Tammy Jones, Weeks’ neighbor, kidney failure/dialysis

Back to school

Article:

As rain drops upon the grass

Have you ever stood out in the rain as if to soak it all in? Perhaps the rain felt violent and drove you inside to find shelter? The same rain can have differing results depending on the land which receives it.

Moses had felt all kinds of rain and understood its great blessings and power. Given the unenviable task of shepherding Israel, he served God faithfully for forty years.

Plucked from obscurity, this former prince turned sheep herder reluctantly, then wholeheartedly followed the voice of Jehovah. He sacrificed his pride and was willing to sacrifice his life for the people who often vexed him.

When first called, Moses demurred that he was an ineffective communicator. “I am slow of speech and slow of tongue,” he argued (Exodus 4:10 NET). His assessment would prove to be incorrect. While Aaron did indeed serve as his brother’s spokesman, Moses proved to be a very forceful orator.

As his service to God, and thus his life, drew to a conclusion, Moses recited the words of a song “from start to finish in the hearing of the whole assembly of Israel” (Deuteronomy 31:30).

This song, directed to a rebellious and stubborn people (Deuteronomy 31:27), begins with a plea for the heavens and the earth to hear the words of Moses’ mouth.

“Listen, O heavens, and I will speak; hear, O earth, the words of my mouth. My teaching will drop like the rain, my sayings will drip like the dew, as rain drops upon the grass, and showers upon new growth. For I will proclaim the name of the LORD; you must acknowledge the greatness of our God. As for the Rock, his work is perfect, for all his ways are just. He is a reliable God who is never unjust, he is fair and upright” (Deuteronomy 32:1-4).

I am struck by the beauty of this introduction. This humble and meek man, calls heaven and earth to hear his eloquent defense of Jehovah — the Rock — and his bold accusations against his foolish and unwise people.

His words would begin gently, dripping like the dew. Then as light rain falling upon the grass grows steadily into showers, so would his words be to those who heard.

Rain can sweep away the rebellious in judgment, as God did with the flood. But rain can also nourish and refresh.

“For the ground that has soaked up the rain that frequently falls on it and yields useful vegetation for those who tend it receives a blessing from God” (Hebrews 6:7).

It behooves us to soak up the rain of God’s word so that we might yield useful vegetation for his kingdom. That was Moses’ desire for his people, and the motivation for his final psalm.

Some speak to win, desiring to “own” or to “destroy.” Some speak to cut, desiring to belittle and demean. Moses spoke to nourish. He spoke directly, rebuking them for their “sin” (Deuteronomy 32:5). Knowing what would happen to them (see Deuteronomy 31:16), he warned them against unfaithfulness. He did it not to win an argument, or to bully them. Rather, he spoke as he did so that they might live (Deuteronomy 32:47).

As rain drops upon the grass, may our words be motivated by a desire for the spiritual health of our hearers. May the words we choose glorify our Creator, and help others to be refreshed in him.

Bulletin for 8-7-22

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Birthdays and Anniversaries:

8-10 Wendi Camacho

Prayer requests:

Paul Tyler has a bad sort Parkinson’s. Please pray for him, his family and friends.

Dena Weeks has cataract surgery coming up, Aug 17, 24

J R Medellin, Tiffany’s (Chance) husband, still doing well. Vanessea‘s surgery coming up.

Shirley Weeks, Steve’s mom, continues to have trouble.

Sarah, Chris Girvin’s sister, on hospice care

Robert and Sue Waller, health issues.

Darla Nitti, Wendi’s mom, not doing well.

Leta, has a recurring cancer, prayer request from her granddaughter via our website.

Tammy Jones, Weeks’ neighbor, kidney failure/dialysis

Back to school

Traveling: Luis and Wendi and boys have gone to see Her mom.

Sympathy:

Please keep Karl Jones and Gladys Ramirez and their families in your prayers.

Article:

Where has all the time gone?

It is easy for people to think time is an inexhaustible resource. The years before us seem as if time will never end. Then, in old age, those years disappear.

Husbands don’t have enough time for wives. Fathers don’t have enough time for children. Employees believe there is enough time to complete a project until they discover the deadline is upon them. Writers often have the same problem. There is just not enough sand in the hourglass.

Eventually, we will come to a moment in life when the days behind us are more than the ones in front of us. We wonder how something like that could happen.

My children were born in the 1970s. My wife and I thought we’d have a long, happy time watching them grow. Now they are all grown and have children of their own. Our oldest grandson is nearing college graduation. Where did the years go?

We should think of the coming eternity than how much time we have left in this old world. In Ecclesiastes chapter nine, Solomon wrote,

“Whatever you find to do with your hands, do it with all your might, because there is neither work nor planning nor knowledge nor wisdom in the grave, the place where you will eventually go,” (Ecclesiastes 9:10).

Instead of our preoccupation with the time we have left, we need to think of how we can help ourselves and others by preparing to use the remaining time we have to the glory of God.

Eternity is stretching itself out before us. Are we ready for it? We must prepare for eternity by obeying the gospel and spend the remaining time given us by serving God.

John Henson, link to original article