January 7, 2007
“Spiritual Assessment”
Kent Ross (Georgia)
Yesterday’s devotion was intended
to stimulate our thinking about “judging,” and using the same basis for judging
ourselves as for judging others. Too often our judgment tends to be harsher on others
than the basis we use for judging ourselves.
But feeling
guilty is not the intent of this devotion, but an honest assessment of where we
are and how 2007 might become a spiritually better year than was 2006.
Let me
share those areas of “spirituality” with which I’ll be working on “again” this
year:
1)
Bible Reading – my intention this year is to read the Bible in its entirety. I
know many do this, but I also know many do not; even if you can’t see yourself
reading the whole Bible, as a Christian there ought to be a commitment and
desire to read some of it at least daily. Even a verse or two is better than
none. How about one chapter per day? Yes, you’re busy, but you can find the
time for this. Maybe your pastor has a reading program to suggest, or start
with the book of Mark, and then go to Acts.
2)
Prayer – my intention this year is to make my prayer time longer and deeper.
Several have sent me prayer requests. I take those very seriously and will be
spending more time in prayer. In the past my prayer life has been pitiful, not
that I didn’t pray, but I want to take it really seriously in this New Year. If
we, God’s people, took prayer seriously we could make profoundly important
impact in many areas – our churches, our conference, but more importantly our
own and our family’s lives.
3)
Tithing – Oh, boy. Quit tithing talk. Nope. The tithe is from the Old
Testament, but it preceded the Law, coming from the time of Abraham, when he
paid tithes to Melchizedek. It is not clearly prescribed as New Testament
behavior*, but it makes sense. Probably
no family should give less than $25/week. “WHAT? YOU’RE NUTS,” is what you
might be saying. Certainly there may be exceptions, and you’re only checking up
on yourself, but even if you receive $1000 per month from Social Security, the
10% would be $100/month or $25/week. But this is a matter of a heart attitude,
more than of our pocketbooks. My intention is to continue the practice of
tithing, because of what God promised – Malachi 3:10.
With this beginning my 2007 can be, will be even better than was 2006. I want to grow deeper and richer in the things of God.
Kent Ross, Dec. 29, 2006 THRIVE devotional / www.thriveministry,net
*I
would just add regarding this point that Jesus affirmed tithing (Matt. 23:23;
Lk 11:42) and the oft used phrase “tithes & offerings” implies that tithing
is minimal & giving more than our tithes is an excellent practice blessed
of God! An example: (Mal 3:8) Will a
man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In
tithes and offerings. - Pastor Rex
Cain
<<<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>>>
Our Sympathy
BERNEDENE JONES (88), fell asleep in Christ Dec. 30th. Bernedene was married to the late Delbert Jones who was a Church of God pastor. She is also a sister to our own Mary Ellen Jones (Bernedene’s husband & Charles Jones are not related). Please keep this family in your prayers. Bernedene now waits for the glorious resurrection! Paul wrote:
Behold, I show you a mystery; We
shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling
of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall
be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put
on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this
corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on
immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is
swallowed up in victory. (1 Cor.
15:51-54)
Our Sympathy
EARLENE POLZER fell
asleep in Christ January 2, 2007 at age 85 after a long battle with
Alzheimer’s. Our love and prayers to
the family as they grieve this loss.
Earlene sleeps in hope!
Earlene
V. Polzer (nee
Richter). Cherished wife of 63yrs to William; loving mother of Jerivona (David)
Fairbanks and Teresa (William) Pawlowski; beloved grandmother of six, Marcella
Fairbanks, Gaynell (Bryan) Nawrocki, Gregory Hendershot Jr., William
Hendershot, Quentyn Fairbanks and Jarod Pawlowski; great grandmother of 8;
sister of the late Raymond and Richard. She was dearly loved and will be
greatly missed. Memorial contributions may be made in her name to the
Alzheimer’s Association Cleveland Area Chapter, 12200 Fairhill Rd., Cleveland,
Ohio 44120. Funeral Service in the funeral home Saturday, January 6, at 11am.
Interment Knollwood Cemetery. Friends may call at the Brickman-DiDonato Funeral
Home, 21900 Euclid Ave. from 2-4 and 6-8pm Friday. 216-481-5277
GUEST TODAY might
include Jennifer & Michael Koryta & Jennifer’s friend, Brian Hall plus
Dorene Marsh. Welcome!
GLORIA SCHULD FAEHNRICH fell Dec.
26th breaking her foot. She is spending
a few weeks in a nursing home for rehabilitation therapy. Keep Gene & Gloria in your prayers.
2007 New Year’s
Resolution?
“THROUGH THE BIBLE IN A YEAR” reading pamphlets are laying on the back table. What a great New Year’s resolution – to read the Bible all the way through. But, like the cover article says, even one chapter a day is far better than what most people do! God bless and enrich you for reading His Word! PICK UP BIBLE READING TRACT ON BACK TABLE!
DANICA K. MACKIN (Margo
Onderdonk’s baby) was born Sept. 28th with an imperforate anus and had
corrective surgery last Thursday. Baby
Danica came through surgery well and is doing fine.
THANKS RICHARD MARSH for
speaking while I was away. I heard the
sermon was very well done – as always!
CARDS ON OUR
“CHRISTMAS DOOR” came from:
Jennifer Wetzel / Al & Arlene Szekely / Jack Hearp / David & Megan
Frederick / Jim & Penny Frederick / Sam & Sarah Cain An / Susan
Stickley Olling / John, Kim & Danielle Humphrey / Tony & Tammy Koston
Lisiecki / Helen Matthews / James & Mildred Dennis / Rock River Christian
College / Dorothy Robertson / Bud & Mary Ellen Jones / Fred & Doris
Schuld and Dan & Nancy Koston.
REX & SHARON want to
express our deep appreciation for those who prayed regarding my 12-21 cataract
surgery. All went well and I’m seeing
much better even before getting new lenses in 4 weeks. I was strengthened by your thoughts and
prayers.
Our thanks, too, for the church’s Christmas bonus check
and for the many other cards and gifts we received from the membership. We are blessed to be working with such a
kind and loving group of Believers!
HELEN MATTHEWS writes: “Give my regards to all the friends of
your church … love to all. Faithful
Follower, Mrs. Helen Matthews.
PRAY
FOR: Earlene Polzer family
(see above), Bernedene Jones’ family (see above), Danica K. Mackin (see above),
Katie Cramer (chemo), Pastor Ray Hall (chemo), Ralph & Iona Childs, Ruby
Korode, Penny Frederick, Lucinda (by Szekely), Gene & Gloria Faehnrich,
Edith Speer, Grady Hudspeth*, Jacob Hinton*, Kathy & Destiny Reed*, (*by
Skip), W.C. & Craig Blankenship, College students: Jackie
Schuld, Rachel Weaver, Dan Cain, Rachel Cunningham, Shut-ins:
David Onderdonk Sr., Helen Matthews, Military: Rodger Schuld, Those
serving in other countries: Lupe Badillo-Mexico, Tracy
Zhykhovich-Russia, Beder Ucañay-Peru, Pastors in Malawi & Mozambique, Lesly Bertrand and the Pastors
in Haiti. Colleges /
Churches: RRCC, ABC, Golden Rule, Grace Brethren and for the peace
of Jerusalem, Ps. 122:6; Isa. 62:6,7
SKIP & MARGE REED wanted to thank the congregation for
remembering those they have requested for prayer in our weekly prayer list
above.
07 Year
in Review / Communion
13 Wedding:
Clyde Whaley & Grace Allshouse / 1:30pm
21 S.S.
Teachers and Staff Meeting
28 Andy
Griffith movie in S.S. / Rachel Weaver leading
SUNDAY SCHOOL:
9:45A.M.
WORSHIP 10:45A.M.
Welcome / Announcements
Worship Hymns / Mark Cain
485 Will Jesus Find Us
Watching?
437 Moment by Moment
Prayer / Offering
Jennifer Koryta: Violin
Message: Growing
Spiritually
Key
Texts:Matt 5:48; Eph 2:9,10; Col 3:14-17; Jam 1:25-2:4;
Eph
4:13,15; Ps 19:12-14; 1 Jn 2:3-6
Communion: Steve Weaver
219 Blest Be the Tie That
Binds
By Lawrence D. Hart
The title for this month’s review book comes from a quote by 17th century poet and mystic Angelus Silesius, "In you is hell’s abyss, in you is heaven’s grace, what you elect and what you have in any place." That is to say, we choose our own heaven or hell every moment of every day, either going the way of violence or peace. It is this inner choosing each person makes which ultimately decides whether or not we have a peaceful world or a world of war. As the author puts it well, "War, before it is ever manifested in physical, observable violence, and peace, before it is ever felt as harmony or seen in acts of kindness, are the inner realities of the human heart and mind. They are states of consciousness, conditions of the soul."
Hell’s Abyss, Heaven’s Grace (War and
Christian Spirituality) by Lawrence D. Hart - People can’t get along with one
another because they cannot get along with themselves says this Episcopal
priest / author. The outer visible hell
we see in the world is indicative of hell in the inner heart of humanity.
Inevitably that inner hell within humanity eventually breaks through in the
all-out chaos which is war. However, as
with all big, chaotic things, it begins small, and that is the point Hart is
making here. If we want a less violent world, we must begin with ourselves in
the most private center of ourselves where we think the thoughts which
eventually come out as actions toward our fellow humans. As we reach out to
those around us with genuine compassion, love, kindness, we will aid them
toward getting along better with themselves influencing the wider world, kind
of like ripples in a pond. As William
James has said, "I am for those tiny invisible molecular forces that work
from individual to individual, creeping through the crannies of the world like
so many soft rootlets, or like the capillary oozing of water, but which, given
time, will rend the hardest monuments of men’s pride." This is the way of
good overcoming evil. If you read this
provocative book, expect to be fundamentally challenged in your thinking in
ways you may not have previously been challenged.
