Bulletin for 4-10-22

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Birthdays and Anniversaries:

4-16 Maksim Camacho

Prayer requests:

Darlyne Stewart, Karl’s sister, her cancer seems to be under control for the moment.

Shirley Weeks, Steve’s mom, is not well.

Sharon Best, Steven’s mom, still recovering from surgery.

Sarah, Chris Girvin’s sister, on hospice care

Eleuterio Oviedo recovering from knee replacement surgery

Doris Coley, regular listener, also recovering from knee surgery.

Robert and Sue Waller, health issues.

David Shaffer, being treated for leukemia.

Darla Nitti, Wendi’s mom, stage 4 kidney disease, stroke. New living situation!

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

Tammy Jones, Weeks’ neighbor, kidney failure/dialysis

Condolences and Sympathy:

Camille Crossen, friend of the Reames’, passed away this week. Please keep her family in your prayers.

Article:

God most high

“And Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine; now he was a priest of God Most High. He blessed him and said, ‘Blessed be Abram of God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth; and blessed be God Most High, who has delivered your enemies into your hand’” (Genesis 14:18-20, NASB).

When Abram returned to the plains of the Jordon River after rescuing his nephew Lot and other citizens of the cities of the plains from the Mesopotamian armies who had captured them, he was met by the King of Sodom and by Melchizedek. This second man is identified as both the King of Salem and a priest of “God Most High”. The Hebrew for this title is “El Elyon.“

This title for God conveys various meanings including priority of position (“highest”), and therefore of order (“first”), and ultimately, supreme authority. Technically it may not demand a monotheistic view of God, but practically speaking it at least led to such faith. If God is the highest and most powerful of all beings, he is of course the only one to whom the title “God” may be logically attributed. “Most High” implies “only” just as does the description “Lord of Lords and King of Kings” (1 Timothy 6:15).

Abram accepted the blessing which Melchizedek bestowed from God Most High, but he also amended the priest’s identification of the one true God slightly, by adding the personal name of God, Yahweh, which is translated in our English Bibles by the word “LORD” spelled with all capital letters. Lest there be any doubt as to who exactly this supreme God is, the patriarch identified him by name (Exodus 3:13-14).

One is reminded of Paul’s sermon in Athens (Acts 17:22-31) in which he identified the “unknown god” to whom they had erected an altar as the creator and giver of all life. Their worship of such a deity without recognition of his identity, nature, or will, was unacceptable and unprofitable.

Many today argue that faith in any god, regardless of who it may be or how he or it may be perceived is sufficient to satisfy the requirements of salvation. Both Abram and Paul stand in opposition to such a view. God must be known (2 Thessalonians 1:8), he must be submitted to (Matthew 4:10), and his will must be obeyed (Matthew 7:21).

We worship whom we know (John 4:22). The God whom we worship and serve is the Creator (Genesis 1:1), the Father of Jesus Christ (Luke 1:30-32), the God of the Bible, and the only living and true God (1 Thessalonians 1:9). Our God is “eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God” (1 Timothy 1:17). He is “the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords” (1 Timothy 6:15). God is love (1 John 4:8) and has given his Son so that sinful mankind might have the hope of salvation (John 3:16; Romans 5:8).

Abram’s meeting with Melchizedek reminds us of the importance of properly recognizing and identifying exactly who God is. Our faith is not simply an impulse to plea for help from “whoever might be out there” whether person or force. Rather, “He who comes to God must blieve that he is and that he is a rewarder of those who seek him” (Hebrews 11:6).

Image to this article is courtesy of Jan van ‘t Hoff of GospelImages.com.

Michael Brooks, link to original article

Bulletin for 4-3-22

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Birthdays and Anniversaries:

None this week

Prayer requests:

Darlyne Stewart, Karl’s sister, her cancer seems to be under control for the moment.

Shirley Weeks, Steve’s mom, is not well.

Sharon Best, Steven’s mom, still recovering from surgery.

Sarah, Chris Girvin’s sister, on hospice care

Eleuterio Oviedo recovering from knee replacement surgery

Doris Coley, regular listener, also recovering from knee surgery.

Robert and Sue Waller, health issues.

David Shaffer, being treated for leukemia.

Darla Nitti, Wendi’s mom, stage 4 kidney disease, stroke. New living situation!

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

Tammy Jones, Weeks’ neighbor, kidney failure/dialysis

Condolences and Sympathy:

Jesse Chase, Steve’s cousin’s son, passed away this week. Please keep Lisa & Russell Chase and family in your prayers.

Article:

The Judge

Even when driving the speed limit, nervousness erupts upon seeing a police car in the rearview mirror. The predictable behavior might be to slow down another mile per hour or casually change lanes.

If this is true about being within the gaze of an officer, how much more anxiety would arise beneath the scrutiny of a judge. Shift this to the Judge of all the earth and, well … anxiety can go off the charts. So what about the Judge of the whole earth?

From the very beginning, we have had a sense of what is fair. Righteous people should not be destroyed along with the wicked. Therefore Abraham when speaking to the LORD asserted the principle, “Far be that from you! Shall not the Judge of all the earth do what is right?” (Genesis 18:25).

Imagine how horrible it would be to live each day seeking to do good, but then in the final judgment be condemned without good reason. Or imagine being condemned for what others chose to do.

Paul affirmed how every nuance of God’s judgment will be fair. Whereas in this life we might face prejudice from others, there will be no favoritism before God (Romans 2:11). Rather, God’s foundational principle in judging involves giving to each person according to what he or she has done (Romans 2:6). At the end of time we won’t be judged based upon what our social or ethnic groups chose to do.

Paul’s mind pressed further into the details. But how can people who do not know God’s ways know the good they should do or the unrighteousness they should avoid?

God will judge everyone based upon what they knew to be right and wrong. Those who possessed God’s Law will be judged by it (Romans 2:12-13). The rest of humanity will be judged by their conscience, that is by their awareness of right and wrong (Romans 2:14-15). This is fair!

Thus no one will be condemned because they were in the wrong place and never heard God’s message. Rather, condemnation will be issued if someone transgressed what he or she knew to be right. However, such fairness creates a huge problem.

Each of us knows we have transgressed what is right. While we may have chosen to do many good things, we are accountable for everything that violated the good.

This brings us to another characteristic of our Judge. Both the Old and New Testaments teach us the same truth about God. God said, “I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked” (Ezekiel 33:11). Likewise, God does not wish for any to perish (2 Peter 3:9). Not only is God just, God also seeks our wellbeing.

As we are aware, it was out of love that the Judge of all the earth chose to provide a solution for our sinful ways. While God will not corrupt his righteous judgment by turning a blind eye to sin, God has provided his faithful son as our mercy seat, that is, the place Christ’s sprinkled blood redeems us if we will trust in his death (Romans 3:22-26).

Through Christ’s blood, God redeems us making us holy and blameless in his sight. We can receive Christ’s righteousness as a gift enabling us to inherit eternal life.

What will it be like to stand before the Judge? If we are disciples of Jesus sprinkled by his blood, we can have confidence entering into God’s presence (Hebrews 10:19,22). We can stand before the One who loves us and who gave everything in order that we might live.

Our Judge is for us, not against us. Our hearts can be at peace.

Our Judge cares for us. We are OK when God looks at us.

Bulletin for 3-27-22

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Birthdays and Anniversaries:

3-29 Luis Camacho

Prayer requests:

Darlyne Stewart, Karl’s sister, her cancer seems to be under control for the moment.

Shirley Weeks, Steve’s mom, is not well.

Sharon Best, Steven’s mom, still recovering from surgery.

Sarah, Chris Girvin’s sister, on hospice care

Eleuterio Oviedo recovering from knee replacement surgery

Doris Coley, regular listener, also recovering from knee surgery.

Robert and Sue Waller, health issues.

David Shaffer, being treated for leukemia.

Darla Nitti, Wendi’s mom, stage 4 kidney disease, stroke. New living situation!

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

Tammy Jones, Weeks’ neighbor, kidney failure/dialysis

Condolences and Sympathy:

Kay Sweat, Wendi Camacho’s aunt, passed away. Please keep this family in your prayers!

If you have more prayer requests, just message or text Steve and we will update!

Article:

Reasons or excuses?

“But he said to him, ‘A man was giving a big dinner, and he invited many; and at the dinner hour he sent his slave to say to those who had been invited, ‘Come; for everything is ready now.’ But they all alike began to make excuses” (Luke 14:16-18a, NASB).

Jesus’ parable of the dinner to which no one wanted to come is well known to many of us. When the original guests were summoned, they asked to be excused based on sudden new circumstances. One needed to examine a new property; another wanted to try out teams of oxen; and the third one had just gotten married.

The host was offended and became very angry. He invited the common and poor people of the region to replace those who had treated his invitation with contempt. Jesus’ point is fairly obvious and its application to the Jewish leaders who were rejecting him is very appropriate. Other lessons may also be derived by considering the nature of the offered excuses and similar language in the Law of Moses.

In Moses’ review of the Law given on Mount Sinai to the people of Israel, he identifies those who should not be compelled to go to battle when Israel went to war (Deuteronomy 20:5-9). Those include:

  • the man who has built a house but not yet dedicated it
  • the man who has planted a vineyard and not yet harvested its grapes
  • the man who is engaged but not yet married
  • the man who is faint-hearted and afraid

There is much similarity between the excuses offered by the invited guests, and the reasons for allowing someone to avoid conscription to the army. Both lists include new endeavors and new relationships. But in the parable of Jesus these are unacceptable excuses. In the Law of Moses they were justifiable reasons. What made the difference?

One difference is in the kind of commitment required. A man going to war was asked to risk his life for an unknown, but probably extended period of time. If he had begun a substantial enterprise but not yet completed it nor reaped the benefit of his labors, he was excused until a later time when those things had been finished. In the case of the prospective dinner guests, they were committed only to a single meal, in which there was no danger or cost to them.

I believe that Jesus used the excuses he chose in part because of that very difference. By offering them the guests were indicating their opinion of the host and his dinner. It was not a privilege and pleasure in their opinion, but an onerous duty which they would prefer to avoid. No wonder the host was offended.

Does this attitude not surface today in many people’s reaction to religion? How often do we hear, “I know I should go to church, but …?” Religion is too frequently presented as duty and obligation, which offers little real benefit or pleasure, at least in this material life. Its rewards are delayed — what some have called “pie in the sky by and by” — and therefore less desirable than those pleasures we might enjoy right now.

Jesus rightly identified the Jewish leaderships rejection of Messianic prophecy and the Kingdom of God which it envisioned. They much preferred their own status and success within the system of their time. The invited guests of the parable were saying to their hosts, “leave us alone to do what we like; we are not interested in your dinner.” Jesus applied that same sentiments to his audience and their attitude toward God.

God’s reaction was the same as the parable’s host. “If you don’t want my dinner (or kingdom), I will offer it to those who do.” No matter how many in our day turn away from faith in God and refuse his Word, there will always be those who are hungry and thirsty for righteousness, who will hear, believe, and obey God’s word and receive his blessings. Let us continue to search for them and invite them to the feast.

Michael Brooks, link to original article

Bulletin for 3-20-22

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Birthdays and Anniversaries:

 

Prayer requests:

Darlyne Stewart, Karl’s sister, her cancer seems to be under control for the moment.

Shirley Weeks, Steve’s mom, is not well.

Sharon Best, Steven’s mom, still recovering from surgery.

Sarah, Chris Girvin’s sister, on hospice care

Eleuterio Oviedo recovering from knee replacement surgery

Doris Coley, regular listener, also recovering from knee surgery.

Robert and Sue Waller, health issues.

David Shaffer, being treated for leukemia.

Darla Nitti, Wendi’s mom, stage 4 kidney disease, stroke.

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

Tammy Jones, Weeks’ neighbor, kidney failure/dialysis

Condolences and Sympathy:

Marilyn Jones services were held yesterday, keep Karl in your prayers.

If you have more prayer requests, just message or text Steve and we will update!

Article:

Expectation of judgment

What kind of a judgment do you expect?

In some lands people can expect injustice. They know that the state is corrupt and the judicial system is a farce. In other places the judicial system is built on noble ideas, but local corruption or animosity may sway judgment. In most countries the quality of judgment has varied by area and time throughout that nation’s history.

The quality of earthly judgments is determined, in part, by the quality of the written law, the quality of those applying and enforcing the laws, and the quality of those involved in the determining of guilt. (No doubt there are more variables than these.) Easily we can see that an unjust law, or an incompetent official, or a biased judge or jury, can greatly impact the quality of the judgments rendered.

We should strive for the ideal, but we must still grapple with the practical reality that we are flawed human beings.

While many of us will never appear before a judge or a magistrate, or be tried by a panel of our peers, “we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ” (2 Corinthians 5:10 ESV). There will come a day when when every knee will bow and every tongue will praise God and each of us will give an account of himself to God (see Romans 14:11, 12).

The Hebrews writer states that if Christians continue walking in sin, they cannot look forward to another sacrifice to save them. What they can expect — and fearfully so — is judgment (Hebrews 10:27). What type of judgment should we expect?

Do we expect a flawed judgment where either by ignorance, incompetence, or intentional action we are misjudged? Will we cry foul and seek appeals? No! And let us thank God for that.

While either the appearance of misjustice, or the actuality of it, is far too common in the world, neither will be present in the judgment that comes at the end of the world.

That judgment will be without controversy, for the sitting judge is also the very author of life, the creator and sustainer of it, and the one sent to save it. His righteousness has been on display since creation in every century of human existence, and in every corner of nature.

Abraham’s piercing question, “Shall not the judge of all the earth do what is just?” (Genesis 18:25), demonstrates the necessity of this great Judge to be just, to be righteous. As important as it is for a judge over temporal matters to be right it is infinitely more imperative that the Judge over eternal matters is righteous.

Paul argues for God’s righteousness in Romans 3, in light of the Gentiles being welcomed and some Jews condemned. If God is unrighteous in a temporal judgment, as some might allege, Paul states that would disqualify him from judging the world (Romans 3:6). Praise God that he is a “righteous judge” (Psalm 7:11), who judges the world with righteousness (Psalm 9:8).

He who loves all, sees all, and can discern the thoughts and intentions of the heart (Hebrews 4:12). That should be a comfort to us that our fleeting thoughts are looked upon differently than those we ponder and wish to realize. The Lord will “bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart” (1 Corinthians 4:5).

Perhaps this is terrifying. Let us also realize that the judge on that day will be the Son of Man (2 Corinthians 5:10; Acts 17:31). While he will judge righteously, he also wishes to be merciful. We can be “justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus” (Romans 3:24). For God is both just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus (Romans 3:26).

Who can stand confidently before the judgment of God? Those who are justified in Jesus.

“Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing” (2 Timothy 4:8).

The standard is clear, the Judge is just. A righteous judgment awaits us all.

Lee Parish, link to original article

Bulletin for 3-13-22

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Birthdays and Anniversaries:

3-16 Karl & Marilyn Jones

Prayer requests:

Marilyn Jones went to her reward Saturday morning about 5:35. Services pending. Keep Karl in your prayers!

Darlyne Stewart, Karl’s sister, her cancer seems to be under control for the moment.

Shirley Weeks, Steve’s mom, is not well.

Sharon Best, Steven’s mom, still recovering from surgery.

Sarah, Chris Girvin’s sister, on hospice care

Eleuterio Oviedo recovering from knee replacement surgery

Doris Coley, regular listener, also recovering from knee surgery.

Gary & Sally Nelson, Gary’s dental surgery went well.

Robert and Sue Waller, health issues.

David Shaffer, being treated for leukemia.

Darla Nitti, Wendi’s mom, stage 4 kidney disease, stroke.

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

Condolences and Sympathy:

Marilyn Jones, keep Karl in your prayers.

If you have more prayer requests, just message or text Steve and we will update!

Article:

Judges with evil motives

“My brethren, do not hold your faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ with an attitude of personal favoritism. For if a man comes into your assembly with a gold ring and dressed in fine clothes, and there also comes in a poor man in dirty clothes, and you pay special attention to the one who is wearing the fine clothes, and say, ‘You sit here in a good place,’ and you say to the poor man, ‘You stand over there, or sit down by my footstool,’ have you not made distinctions among yourselves, and become judges with evil motives?” (James 2:1-4 NASB).

When we consider the Biblical teaching about judging others, we often fail to consider what one could call inadvertent or unconscious judgment. Our fundamental attitudes, which we base our behavior upon, frequently include pre-judging, or as we most often term it, “prejudice.” Etymologically, prejudice is the act of making a decision before considering all of the facts. More practically, as used in our society, it is the set of convictions which we hold which determines our interactions with others. Racial and social prejudices are only some of those.

James’ condemnation of prejudice against certain social classes is a practical application of Jesus’ command, “Do not judge so that you will not be judged” (Matthew 7:1). To practice favoritism on the basis of social class, economics, or race (among many other distinguishing features) is to judge unjustly.

Some such prejudices are obvious and widely disapproved in modern society. Others may be more subtle. One’s accent, style of dress, occupation, or almost any other distinctive feature may mark him as less acceptable or of lower “quality” in the eyes of some. We remember the ethnic jokes so popular a few decades ago, and the “Irish need not apply” signs that were said to be prevalent in parts of the U.S. in the nineteenth century.

The pervasive danger of such judgments is the ease with which they can become ingrained in a person, group, or entire culture. For example, people of Jewish heritage have suffered persecution including genocidal pogroms over much of the world for centuries. During the Spanish Inquisition many faithful Christians were imprisoned and killed because they were Jewish, even when their conversion was obviously sincere. Anti-Semitism has flourished almost without thought or intention on the part of millions. It simply seems to be the way things are.

But whatever the prejudice, it is wrong, anti-Christian, and ungodly. “Love your neighbor as yourself” is not limited to those in the same town or region, or to those who look like ourselves.

In the parable of the Good Samaritan, told to apply the command to love one’s neighbor, the one who was a good neighbor was of different ethnicity and of a despised social order. But he was the neighbor, not the religious officials of the same ethnic group and nationality who ignored the needs of the man who was beaten and robbed (Luke 10:30-37).

Sometimes we need to be reminded of the lesson taught by Paul in his sermon in Athens:

“He (that is, God) made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their habitation” (Acts 17:26).

All humans are God’s children, made after his image. To practice favoritism or discrimination is to challenge God’s love for his whole creation. It is to judge by a standard which we could not bear to have applied to ourselves. James declared that those who do this dishonor those whom they judge, and, even worse, they blaspheme Jesus Christ (James 2:6-7).

Bulletin for 3-6-22

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Birthdays and Anniversaries:

3-6 Gladys Ramirez

3-8 Dena Weeks

Prayer requests:

Kennedi Reames, recovering from thyroid surgery.

Marilyn Jones is at Lakepointe Hospital. Brain tumors are causing breathing issues. Pray hard.

Darlyne Stewart, Karl’s sister, her cancer seems to be under control for the moment.

Shirley Weeks, Steve’s mom, is not well.

Sharon Best, Steven’s mom, still recovering from surgery.

Sarah, Chris Girvin’s sister, on hospice care

Eleuterio Oviedo recovering from knee replacement surgery

Doris Coley, regular listener, also recovering from knee surgery.

Gary & Sally Nelson, Gary’s dental surgery Thursday.

Robert and Sue Waller, health issues.

David Shaffer, being treated for leukemia, bone marrow transplant.

Darla Nitti, Wendi’s mom, stage 4 kidney disease, stroke.

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

Condolences and Sympathy:

Charles Couch passed away last week. Also, another classmate of Steve’s, Benny Garner, passed away.

If you have more prayer requests, just message or text Steve and we will update!

Article:

The pilgrim’s place

The founder of Forthright has lived in Brazil since 1984. Current regular contributors to this publication live and work in countries in Asia, Europe, North America, and South America. Though published in English, one might say that this is an international affair.

Yet in a very real way that is a misnomer. While the writers — and readers — of Forthright live in various places all over this globe, as Christians we are all citizens of the same country.

There have been many good articles written about our pilgrimage on this earth. You can see some of them here

In one very real sense, Christians are all wanderers, exiles, pilgrims. We are strangers in a strange land (see 1 Peter 2:11). God’s people have a history of being strangers.

Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob lived in tents in a foreign land.

“These all died in faith, not having received the things promised but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth” (Hebrews 11:13).

David claimed the mantle of a sojourner or “foreign resident” (Psalm 39:12; Psalm 119:19).

Perhaps the best preparation for the Christian exile is that of the Babylonian captivity. All those carried away lived in exile in a foreign land (see Jeremiah 29:1).

While the New Testament makes clear that Christians are strangers on earth, we are not hopelessly homeless.

Paul wrote to the saints in Ephesus who were once connected with the kingdoms of this world but disconnected from the kingdom of God.

“Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called “the uncircumcision” by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands—remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world” (Ephesians 2:11, 12).

Those who are not a part of God’s kingdom today share the same designation as those in Ephesus before they came to Christ. They are citizens of the kingdoms of men, but aliens to the eternal kingdom.

“So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God” (Ephesians 2:19).

What happened?

They have been brought near by the blood of Christ (Ephesians 2:13), who gave them access to the Father (Ephesians 2:18). They were delivered from the domain of darkness and transferred to the kingdom of the Father’s beloved Son (Colossians 1:13).

Those who were once at home on earth, have found a new home. Note the contrast in Colossians 1:13 (ESV, LEB), between the “domain of darkness” and the “kingdom” of his beloved son.

From an earthly perspective, Christians are sojourners, pilgrims, exiles, and aliens. But from a heavenly perspective, we are fellow citizens with the saints, part of the everlasting kingdom of the Most High (see Daniel 7:13, 14, 27).

Contemplate for a moment the implications of this phrase, “fellow citizens with the saints.”

This means that I am connected to the fellow saints who contribute to Forthright, not in some nebulous or tenuous way, but we are fellow citizens of the same kingdom!

Christians all over the world, in every country where they may be found, are joined into one everlasting kingdom.

“It shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the house of the LORD shall be established as the highest of the mountains, and it shall be lifted up above the hills; and peoples shall flow to it, and many nations shall come, and say: “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob, that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths.” For out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. He shall judge between many peoples, and shall decide disputes for strong nations far away; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore; but they shall sit every man under his vine and under his fig tree, and no one shall make them afraid, for the mouth of the LORD of hosts has spoken. For all the peoples walk each in the name of its god, but we will walk in the name of the LORD our God forever and ever” (Micah 4:1-5).

The prophet’s vision of this great kingdom is a reality.  May it press upon our minds and sink deep within our hearts.

Lee Parish, link to original article

Bulletin for 2-27-22

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Birthdays and Anniversaries:

3-1 Mauricio Ramirez

Prayer requests:

Kennedi Reames, recovering from thyroid surgery.

Marilyn Jones is not doing well. Some new developments in her brain scans… keep praying.

Darlyne Stewart, Karl’s sister, her cancer seems to be under control for the moment.

Shirley Weeks, Steve’s mom, is not well.

Sharon Best, Steven’s mom, still recovering from surgery.

Sarah, Chris Girvin’s sister, on hospice care

Eleuterio Oviedo recovering from knee replacement surgery

Doris Coley, regular listener, also recovering from knee surgery.

Gary & Sally Nelson, Gary’s dental surgery rescheduled due to icy weather.

Robert and Sue Waller, health issues.

David Shaffer, being treated for leukemia, bone marrow transplant.

Darla Nitti, Wendi’s mom, stage 4 kidney disease, stroke.

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

Condolences and Sympathy:

If you have more prayer requests, just message or text Steve and we will update!

Article:

Loving the brotherhood

“Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor” (1 Peter 2:17 ESV).

What is “the brotherhood”? It is the “family of believers” (NET), “God’s people” (CEV), who have become brothers and sisters in the Lord (see Philemon 1:16).

Loving the brotherhood is not an option, but a command. It is essential that we love God’s people. God loved us, and “anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love” (1 John 4:8). Loving God is the first and great commandment (Matthew 22:37), and love of neighbor as self is second (Matthew 22:38), upon these two depend all the law and prophets (Matthew 22:39).

“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you” (John 15:12).

“If anyone says, ‘I love God,’ and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen (1 John 4:20).

Loving the brotherhood includes liking it.

“Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor” (Romans 12:9, 10).

Our selfless love (agape), must be authentic. It leads us to hate sin (Jude 1:23), and cling to what is good (1 Peter 3:10-11). But that selfless love also includes affection, which drives us to be “devoted to one another” (NET). Instead of desiring places of honor for ourselves, we urge them for others. Instead of pushing for recognition, we push to recognize others.

“Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart” (1 Peter 1:22).

Loving the brotherhood requires sacrifice.

God demonstrates his love for us through his sacrifice (John 3:16; Romans 5:8, 9; John 15:13). If we love God we will sacrifice (Luke 9:23, 24). If we love the brothers we will sacrifice.

“By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers” (1 John 3:16).

Love compels us to sacrifice our time (Hebrews 10:22-25), our comforts (1 John 3:17, 18; James 2:16), and our rights (Romans 14:15).

Love impels us to speak when the body of Christ is in peril. The Scriptures detail many different approaches to dealing with error (e.g., 2 John 9; Romans 16:17-18; 1 Corinthians 5:1-8; 1 Timothy 5:19-20). Restoring the fallen comes with risks. Yes, we risk the anger of those in sin. We risk accusations from those without and within. But love will gladly bear that burden time and again.

Love seeks unity in truth.

“I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment” (1 Corinthians 1:10).

When we are baptized into Christ, we are added to the church that he purchased (Acts 2:47; 20:28). Christ established the brotherhood. He establishes fellowship.

Our task is not to make or break the “unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace,” but to maintain it (Ephesians 4:3). This takes work. Left to our own, we might “bite and devour one another,” and like the Pac-Man game, we will consume each other (Galatians 5:15). Yet it is the power of love that directs us away from such destruction (Galatians 5:14).

Our influence in our community is tied to our unity in truth. In his prayer to the Father, Jesus asked the Father to “sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth” (John 17:17). He sent those who were sanctified in truth into the world. Their unity — based upon the unity of the Father and the Son — would determine how the world recognized them (John 17:21-23). But Jesus also prayed this very thing for you (John 17:20).

When brothers abuse and malign us, we are called to peace (Romans 12:18). We are to love those who hate us; and to those who give to us evil, we return good (Romans 12:17-21).

Truth is the foundation of love.

A man of God must not insist on his own way (1 Corinthians 13:5), but he must insist on truth. If love is the foundation of unity, truth is the foundation of love. Unity is just an illusion if it is not based upon truth.

Love the brotherhood by cherishing it, sacrificing for it, and being united in it in truth.

Lee Parish, link to original article

Bulletin for 2-20-22

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Birthdays and Anniversaries:

2-20 Eleuterio Oviedo

2-22 Lucas Camacho

Prayer requests:

Kennedi Reames, recovering from thyroid surgery.

Marilyn Jones good MRI report. Another PET scan in the future, some side effects to radiation.

Darlyne Stewart, Karl’s sister, small cancer spots on liver, therapy ongoing.

Shirley Weeks, Steve’s mom, is not well.

Sharon Best, Steven’s mom, still recovering from surgery.

Sarah, Chris Girvin’s sister, on hospice care

Eleuterio Oviedo knee replacement surgery coming up

Paul Tyler has had some rough times with illness and his vehicle.

Gary & Sally Nelson, still recovering from Covid. Gary has major dental surgery this week.

Robert and Sue Waller, health issues.

David Shaffer, being treated for leukemia, bone marrow transplant.

Darla Nitti, Wendi’s mom, stage 4 kidney disease, stroke.

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

Condolences and Sympathy:

Al Sissom passed to his reward last Thursday. Services are at Laurel Oaks on Lake June. Visitation, Wed. 6-8 pm. Funeral and burial Thur. 12:30 pm.

Sean Brooks, friend of Paul’s, passed away for complications of covid.

Sharon Gerstman, passed away suddenly from a massive stroke.

Keep these families in your prayers, please.

If you have more prayer requests, just message or text Steve and we will update!

Article:

Come to me

A man once told his friend he was in deep trouble. He used a well-known figure of speech to describe it. He said, “I’m at the end of my rope.” The figure means he was out of solutions to his problems. He didn’t know where to turn.

He isn’t alone.

People are in desperate trouble everywhere. According to the World Health Organization, 3.8 percent of the earth’s population has depression.

For those who consider themselves religious, there is also trouble. According to the Pew Research Center, government religious restrictions (or persecutions) have risen to their highest level since 2007.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, pressures have driven people into isolation where their problems are compounded and seem almost insurmountable.

Many have become fearful and nervous. They have endured several situations for so long they don’t know how, when, or where to get help. They feel lost, lonely, and vulnerable. What can they do?

Jesus has the answer. He said,

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke on you and learn from me because I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and my load is not hard to carry,” (Matthew 11:28-30).

There has never been a better time to go back to the Bible and find the salvation you need for your soul. Jesus offers the only help anyone could ever get. He has the answers to the most difficult problems in life.

One who needs his help, however, must go to him and obey his word. Find him now in the New Testament. Grab a copy and start reading and studying.

John Henson, link to original article

Bulletin for 2-13-22

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Birthdays and Anniversaries:

None this week

Prayer requests:

Kennedi Reames, thyroid surgery Feb 9. Removed part of it. Recovering at home.

Marilyn Jones good MRI report. Another PET scan in the future.

Darlyne Stewart, Karl’s sister, small cancer spots on liver, therapy ongoing.

Shirley Weeks, Steve’s mom, is not well.

Sharon Best, Steven’s mom, still recovering from surgery.

Sarah, Chris Girvin’s sister, on hospice care

Eleuterio Oviedo knee replacement surgery coming up

Paul Tyler has had a rough time with covid this week.

Sharon Gerstman, regular member of our radio group, moved to skilled nursing facility.

Gary & Sally Nelson, still recovering from Covid.

Robert and Sue Waller, health issues.

David Shaffer, being treated for leukemia, bone marrow transplant.

Darla Nitti, Wendi’s mom, stage 4 kidney disease, stroke. Wendi back home now.

Sean Brooks, friend of Paul’s, has covid.

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

If you have more prayer requests, just message or text Steve and we will update!

Article:

Faithful defiance

One of the characteristics of a faithful Christian life is submission.

As our perfect example, Jesus submitted to the Father (John 6:38; Philippians 2:5-9). As Jesus submitted to the Father, the church must submit to Christ (Ephesians 5:23-24). Christians submit to each other (Ephesians 5:21), by subordinating our own will for the needs and desires of others (Philippians 2:3). We should submit to shepherds (Hebrews 13:17; 1 Peter 5:5), as they watch out for the souls of the sheep. Wives are to submit to their husbands (Colossians 3:18), slaves to their masters (1 Peter 2:18), and all Christians to the government (1 Peter 2:13).

It matters not if we like the decisions that are made. There is no room for prideful disobedience to these commands, for we have completely submitted ourselves to the Father of spirits and to his law (Hebrews 12:9; Romans 8:7).

Yet this submission also demands a type of defiance, a faithful defiance.

We find an example of this in the life of Nehemiah. The former cupbearer to the king turned governor had many enemies. Sanballat was greatly displeased “that someone had come to seek the welfare of the people of Israel” (Nehemiah 2:10). He accused Nehemiah of rebelling against the king (Nehemiah 2:19), and jeered at the Jews (Nehemiah 4:1). He tried to lure Nehemiah away in order to harm him (Nehemiah 6:2). When that failed he paid Shemaiah to convince Nehemiah to seek shelter in the temple (Nehemiah 6:10; see Numbers 18:7). Nehemiah’s response is one of faithful defiance, “Should such a man as I run away? And what man such as I could go into the temple and live? I will not go in” (Nehemiah 6:11).

He would not run from the threats, for he was God’s man. He would not enter the temple, for that was sin. His piercing question reverberates to this day, “Should such a man as I run away?”

Nehemiah would not abandon the LORD or his people, but would stand in faithful defiance of those who would entice him to sin.

We stand in faithful defiance when we heed the words of Paul to Corinth, “be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong” (1 Corinthians 16:13). We stand in faithful defiance when we “stand firm and hold to the traditions that [we] were taught” (2 Thessalonians 2:15).

Elders stand in faithful defiance when they “hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught,” so that they “may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it” (Titus 1:9). There are those who are “empty talkers and deceivers” who must be “silenced” (Titus 1:0, 11). Shepherds are God’s men for the task.

Preachers stand in faithful defiance when they “teach what accords with sound doctrine” (Titus 2:1). Paul’s warning to Timothy that there would be those who will not endure sound teaching (2 Timothy 4:3-4), is fulfilled with each new generation. And the solution to such a problem remains the same, “preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching” (2 Timothy 4:2).

Christians stand in faithful defiance when we cling to God’s glorious word in the face of “false teachers” who bring in “destructive heresies” (2 Peter 2:1). We stand in faithful defiance to the pride and selfishness of the world, when we “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 3:18), and become more like our Lord.

In 1955, William F. Buckley, Jr. stated that his new magazine’s task was to stand “athwart history, yelling Stop, at a time when no one is inclined to do so, or to have much patience with those who so urge it.” At the risk of mixing the holy with the profane, I say we stand in faithful defiance when we stand athwart the truth, yelling stop to those who would exchange her for a lie.

Those who submit to God must resist the devil (James 4:7). It may be that we feel we are alone — we are not. It may be that people have little patience for our plea. But the man of God will — with all love and faithfulness — fight the good fight of the faith (1 Timothy 6:12).

Like Nehemiah before us, let us pose this question, “Shall people such as us run away?”

Bulletin for 2-6-22

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Birthdays and Anniversaries:

2-8 David Mendoza

2-10 Sam & Alice Pirozzo, Dan & Carolyn Anthony

Prayer requests:

Kennedi Reames, thyroid surgery Feb 9.

Marilyn Jones maintenance chemo, scans last week, doing well with physical rehab.

Darlyne Stewart, Karl’s sister, small cancer spots on liver, therapy ongoing.

Shirley Weeks, Steve’s mom, is not well.

Sharon Best, Steven’s mom, still recovering from surgery.

Sarah, Chris Girvin’s sister, on hospice care

Eleuterio Oviedo knee replacement surgery coming up

Steve Weeks, negative for covid! Thanks for the prayers!

Paul Tyler has had a rough time with covid this week.

Sharon Gerstman, regular member of our radio group, hip surgery in Feb 2.

Gary Nelson, dental surgery postponed due to Covid.

Robert and Sue Waller, health issues.

David Shaffer, being treated for leukemia, bone marrow transplant.

Darla Nitti, Wendi’s mom, stage 4 kidney disease, stroke. Wendi back home now.

Sean Brooks, friend of Paul’s, has covid.

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

If you have more prayer requests, just message or text Steve and we will update!

Article:

Blindsides

“Woe to you, Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cummin and have neglected the weightier provisions of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness; but these are the things you should have done without neglecting the others” (Matthew 23:23 NASB).

For more than two years the world has been battling the Covid 19 pandemic. Hospitals have been over-filled, non-emergency surgeries have been postponed or cancelled, and a great percentage of medical time, talent and resource has been devoted to this single virus. Yet people continue to contract other diseases which require attention.

For example (though not involving Covid), a young child in India was admitted to a hospital to be treated for leukemia, but before those treatments could begin, he contracted Dengue fever. He could not be treated for the life-threatening disease until the less severe (but dangerous) fever was cured.

A spiritual application of this same principle is obvious. Jesus once pointed out to religious leaders in Israel that their efforts to apply even relatively minute features of the law of Moses was blinding them to the importance of major principles (Matthew 23:23). Sometimes it is the trees which prevent us from appreciating the forest; at other times it is the “big picture” which blinds us to smaller important details.

This leads to the neglect of important duties of Christian living and to the participation in socially acceptable sins. We “go to Church,” give generously, and avoid “major” sins (adultery, theft, etc.), yet spend little time in private devotional activities, instructing and influencing our children, or showing mercy to others. We also often indulge ourselves in anger, resentments, greed, and gossip (Ephesians 4:25-32).

One’s fear of Covid may cause him or her to avoid doctor’s offices even when symptoms of other ailments suggest the need. Our over-emphasis on certain religious activities or doctrines may also cause us to neglect commands of equal importance, whether of duties we must perform or sins we must avoid.

This also applies to the Church’s teaching and preaching. Paul was able to state to the elders of the Church in Ephesus, “I did not shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable and teaching you publicly and from house to house” (Acts 20:20). And, again, “For I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole purpose of God” (Acts 20:27).

A perceived overemphasis on doctrine in earlier generations has caused a more recent focus on “spiritual values” such as God’s love and mercy, and lessons which lead to a good self-image and greater harmony with others. Many older Christians long for more teaching on sin, judgment, and “sound doctrine.” “Millennials” are happy with what they perceive to be a more tolerant and less demanding approach.

The late Ira North wrote an important book on “Balance.” He emphasized the need for wholistic preaching and teaching, as well as attention to all parts of a congregation (all ages, social strata, etc.), and to every part of individual life – body, spirit and soul. We neglect groups with dire consequences. We neglect human needs at the same risks.

In the text used at the beginning of this article, Jesus’ last phrase is critical: “. . . but these are the things you should have done without neglecting the others.” His response to Satan’s first temptation in the wilderness is also to the same point: “It is written, “Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4). At the end of his time on earth he instructed the apostles to make disciples by, after baptizing them, “teaching them to observe all that I commanded you” (Matthew 28:20a).

No sin is minor. No command of God is unimportant. Let us not be blindsided by overemphasis on a few things while neglecting others.

–Michael Brooks, link to original article