E=KJ(2)

It probably would come as a shock to you if I told you that there will be a peace treaty between Iraq, Egypt, and Israel. But, as they say, fact is stranger than fiction: 

 

            "In that day there will be a highway from Egypt to Assyria, and the Assyrians will come into Egypt and the Egyptians into Assyria, and the Egyptians will worship with the Assyrians. In that day Israel will be the third party with Egypt and Assyria, a blessing in the midst of the earth, whom the LORD of hosts has blessed, saying, "Blessed is Egypt My people, and Assyria the work of My hands, and Israel My inheritance." (Isaiah 19:23-25)

 

            It's tremendously encouraging to me to think about what God can do in my life if He can work out something as big as a major peace treaty between violently warring peoples. And that's yet another reason why the Kingdom of God is so exciting to me: tomorrow's realities offer hope for today's challenges. If major issues will be ultimately solved in the Kingdom, then I can rely upon that power for living today. "That day" can effect this day when we allow the powers of that age to transform us today.

 

            Recently a simple formula came to mind. It's a derivative of Einstein's famous Theory of Relativity. I believe that this is the REAL Theory of Relativity: E=KJ(2). Energy (Spirit power) is equal to the Kingdom of God plus Jesus squared. Now, this "theory" may not be quite as absolute as Einstein's but the principle certainly is: tremendous Spirit energy is released when the Gospel of the Kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ (Acts 8:12) is proclaimed and believed. The power unleashed through this biblical gospel has the potential for both individual and group solutions. 

 

            Present world circumstances graphically reveal the inability and failure of human effort to solve today's problems. The greater the Middle East mess becomes the less we are prone to rely on human systems for solutions. Human helplessness leads believers to Kingdom hope.

 

            "Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen." (Hebrews 11:1). The highway between Assyria (Iraq) and Egypt isn't under construction yet, but it essentially is in the minds and lives of those who walk by faith. It's as real as the transforming power at work in our lives today to solve our most pressing crises and challenges.                                          

- Pastor Steve Taylor, 4-5-07

 

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THANKS STEVE WEAVER for speaking for me last Sunday and to the musicians who took care of the program and to all those who came to hear God’s Word! 

 

 

The Annual Membership Meeting, May 6

·     Mark’s opening devotional was about money – it was positive and encouraging.  Bedford does well in its giving – even in our treasurer’s report, this was mentioned!

·     They voted to have the trustees check into a new church furnace.  The trustees also are looking into other repair needs.

·     We have a treasury balance of about $12,000+ with a $11,000 CD

·     Proposed budget is about $57,000 / Expected receipts $66,257

·     Reports on various departments were given.

·     They approved getting a new laptop computer for Pastor Cain as this year’s salary increase. 

·     All church officers remained the same except for Fred Schuld who was added to our deacons.

 

Some of our distant readers might like to see the names of our officers – I’ll put them here: Church-Elders: Bud Jones, Frank Roper & Steve Weaver / Moderator: Mark Cain / Treasurer: Doris Schuld, Asst. Frank Roper / Trustees: Dan Koston, Al Szekely, Frank Roper, Richard Marsh / Deacons: Dan Koston, Al Szekely, Richard Marsh, Skip Reed, Fred Schuld / Deaconesses: Nancy Koston, Mary Ellen Jones, Pam Weaver, Marjorie Reed, Dorothy Robertson.  S.S.: Superintendents: Mary Ellen Jones, Steve & Rachel Weaver, Karen Cain, Skip Reed / Secretary: Bud Jones, asst. Pam Weaver / Treasurer: Pam Weaver

 

WE ARE REJOICING with our Lawrenceville brethren who voted last Sunday to purchase 25 acres of land about a mile south of their current location.  This past week they hoped to seal the deal with the owner.  Lord willing, sometime in the foreseeable future, they will build a new church.   Alan Cain is the pastor.

 

JIM RANKIN (71), from our Cashmere Washington Church, is known by many in our denomination.  He flew to the Philippines each year for 30 years to nurture, instruct and encourage our brethren living there.   While there doing what he loved most, he had a heart attack and died on May 7^th. [This is a rerun from last week’s mini bulletin handout that wasn’t mailed out; I want distance readers to see this news].  Keep the Rankin family in prayer

 

Welcome Harry and Sidney Crowcroft!

Karen Cain’s parents from Quincy Illinois

 

THE CHURCH ENTRANCE STEPS were repaired last Thursday – a much needed job well done. Our thanks to someone (?) who paid for the repair!

 

COMMUNION DEACONESSES for next Sunday will be Pam Weaver and Dorothy Robertson.

 

 

 

VICKI PHILLIS: Rex, the PET scan she will have Monday (21^st) will tell us if there is any cancer hiding elsewhere in her body. These treatments would give her the assurance of 97% chance that any cancer would not come back. Our first prayer is for a clean scan Monday. – Rick Phillis, 5-17-07

 

PASTOR CAIN plans to print a new church directory soon. Please provide him with address, phone # or e-mail changes.  Provide the information on paper – thanks!

 

Memorial Day …

THE UNKNOWN SOLDIER of WW I was buried here Nov. 11, 1921. On that day, a reporter wrote: “We are citizens of this land, and our freedom has been paid for at a high price.  Freedom has from time to time been taken for granted and it has faced the forces that would deny it to us.  Although it is not a perfect land, it is a land that is blessed and it is ours.  May we honor our brothers and sisters who have given us the gift of saving it from those that would introduce another system than government of and for the people.  We have a land where the dignity of man is important – let us keep it that way.  We are also citizens of heaven – our bodies may lie in the grave, but we await the glorious resurrection day when Christ comes again.”         

-     Reporter, Kirke L. Simpan, 1921

 

PRAY FOR: Vicki Phillis (chemo), Pastor Beder (cancer, Peru), Ginny Cramer (wrist), Kate Liauw (28, MS, by R Phillis), Lois Maze (by Robertson), Bobbie Weaver, Iris Horst (cancer, by Roper), Emory Macy, Beth Marsh. June Routson, Amy Gunselman (cancer, by R Phillis), Evelyn Pennington,, Ralph & Iona Childs, Ruby Korode, 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, Dan Cain, Rachel Cunningham, Shut-ins: 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

 

May 2007

27            Memorial Day Weekend / Pentecost Sunday

June 2007

3          Dan Cain, guest speaker / Carry-in Dinner / Graduation social for Dan Cain & “Money Tree” wedding shower for Dan-Rachel / In S.S., Andy & Barney movie

9          Joshua Onderdonk and Julie Schiemann’s wedding

10-15 N.E. State Camp / Higher Ground / St. Paris Ohio

23         Dan Cain and Rachel Cunningham’s wedding / Springfield Ohio

24         Richard Marsh speaking (Pastor & family at Dan’s wedding)

 

Future Dates: July 15-20 National Camp / Aug 26, Annual SS Picnic

 

 

Musicians: (Doris Schuld and Mark Cain)

Dorothy Robertson, Prelude:

“My Country ‘Tis of Thee”

Welcome / Announcements

Worship Hymns / Mark Cain

537 Back to God, America!

538 America, the Beautiful

Prayer / Offering

Message: God’s Power – Channeled Through Believers

Key Texts: Acts 2:1-13; 1:1-5; 4:13; 17:6; 2:47; 6:7; 1:8 / Acts 6, 8 & 10 bonus reading

80 With Thy Spirit Fill Me

 

BOOK REVIEW - JUNE, 2007 by Anita Cain

 

The Heart of the Artist

By Rory Noland

 

The memory of the day I tried out my artistic wings in the church is still a vibrant and painful one. The creative impulse takes many different forms in me, but it has always been vitally linked with my developing relationship with God. So, until then, it simply had not occurred to me that the creative part of me would be unwelcome in the church. I was assistant Sunday school teacher in a class for older kids, which meant I studied the lesson, too, and took over when needed. One Sunday I made cartoon-style posters as visual aids to help illustrate the lesson for the kids. Instead of the expected joy, though, kids and teacher alike seemed to regard them as an alien presence in the room, leaving me feeling hurt and confused. Much later I learned artistic types–except for musicians–often feel out of place in the church. Of course, artists must be sure they don’t contribute to the problem by un-Christlike behavior–everything has at least two sides. Fortunately, this problem is beginning to be addressed in a few books coming my way for review.

 

The Heart of the Artist (A Character-Building Guide for You and Your Ministry Team) by Rory Noland - Noland defines art broadly, as do I. He’s referring to anyone who performs, creates, produces, or enjoys anything artistic. That includes writers, poets, painters, visual artists, performers, musicians, dancers, dramatists, producers, photographers and more. He even includes those who work behind the scenes with sound, lighting, video, staging, computer graphics and design. "If you enjoy anything artistic, you’re an artist at heart." In the church, though, it isn’t enough merely to have talent–we must also have character and integrity. God is not calling us to live "the good life" but the abundant life, which is a life of sacrifice, self-denial, and commitment to the lordship of Jesus Christ. This means being content to serve an audience of One, to serve in anonymity, to throw ourselves into a bit part. The size of the audience and the size of the role we play is less important than being faithful and obedient. When artists are ministry-minded, humble members of the team, they will be better accepted by the church body.