June 10, 2007
If
Going to Church Doesn’t “Earn You Points” …
Imagine
What Not Going to Church Earns You!!
It's amazing how many people believe that going to church earns them "points" with God. The assumption is that God is taking attendance and recording it in His judgment book and that, along with a record of good deeds, will allow one into the Kingdom if the good deeds and attendance outweigh the demerits accrued because of sin.
Jeremiah the prophet essentially warned the people of Israel not to rely on their temple worship to offset important lifestyle issues:
Do
not trust the lies that say, 'This is the house of the Lord, the house of the
Lord, the house of the Lord.'… "See, you are trusting in lies which
cannot help you. Will you steal, kill, do sex sins, make false promises, give
gifts to the false god Baal, and go after other gods that you have not known,
and then come and stand before Me in this house which is called by My name, and
say, 'We are safe and free!' and still do all these hated sins? Has this house
which is called by My name become a place of robbers in your eyes? See, I Myself
have seen it," says the Lord. (Jeremiah 7:4, 8-11nlv)
Temple worship did not offset negligence in areas of justice, oppression,
violence, and idolatry. As Jesus would later say, "these
are the things you should have done without neglecting the others." (Matthew
23:23)
Salvation is grace-based rather than merit-based, but the
"fruit" of salvation is both authentic worship and a lifestyle of
good works. We cannot depend upon faithful church attendance to offset
injustice, oppression, immorality, violence and idolatry nor can we depend upon
a lifestyle of good works to offset genuine worship. A part of worshipping "in
spirit and in truth"
(John
4:24) is integrity in all of these areas.
I'm convinced that worship can be the springboard to service and lifestyle. When we encounter our Creator in a dynamic way our heart's desire is to please Him in all our ways; lifestyle and service become expressions of love and worship. The real test of worship is not how well we sing or "amen" in church, but how we walk in faithfulness to that which pleases our God the rest of the time.
My prayer is for each of us to have an encounter in worship with the living God today such that our great joy is to walk with integrity and obedience to Him.
Working on the worship and the walk,
―
Pastor Steve Taylor, 5-29-07 (Edited slightly by Pastor Cain)
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MY
FOOTNOTE TO THE ABOVE ARTICLE:
Going to church is “natural” if you are a Christian believer.
Doesn’t “God’s family” want to be together?
We live in a time that continues to grow more volatile and violent.
There are forces at work now that claims Christians are infidels and
should be killed. If they ever gain
enough political power, you can imagine the laws that would be enacted to make
our lives difficult if not worse. Let’s
pray this never happens before the Lord’s return.
But in the meantime, God WANTS us to get together so we can grow strong
in our faith, learn how to help the poor and helpless and to encourage and build
up each other … to say nothing of plain old friendships where we help one
another any way we can at any time! I’ve
seen cases where people struggle to make ends meet whereas if they would only
become a part of the “family,” there are many people with many different
resources that could be very helpful. NOT
that we should join a congregation for the temporal benefits, but you can
consider it a bonus to being a part of the family.
Heb.
10:25: Let us not give up meeting together, as
some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another--and all the
more as you see the Day approaching.
―
Pastor Rex Cain
Dear
Bedford Family,
Thank you so much for the beautiful wedding shower and graduation party! We had a wonderful time visiting with all of you.
Thank you for the money tree. Your generosity is a huge blessing to us as we are preparing to move and start a new life with many responsibilities. We greatly appreciate your kind words and gifts. It was a blessing to see you all!
―
Love, Dan and Rachel
IT’S
NOT EVERY CHURCH
that
has its own chimney sweeps! Al
and Arlene Szekely got into the sooty work of cleaning the furnace
chimney (from the base / not on the roof) about May 31st – what a
mess! They also played “pick up
sticks” along the parking lot fence. They’ve
also done other jobs. Thanks for
helping to care for our church!
Rex
Vicki’s test are negative - PRAISE GOD! She also saw a different doctor and is
very pleased with what they feel should be done, no port or further surgery. I
know God will help her decide.
―
Rick Phillis, 6-6-07
JACK
HEARP
rode with Alan and I to Childs’ funeral service.
He wanted me to extend greetings to the Bedford congregation.
He resides in assisted living, has his home for sale and is doing very
well.
Israel
to Disappear
(VOA
News / June 3, 2007)
Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad says the world will witness the
destruction of Israel in the near future. Mr.
Ahmadinejad made his remarks Sunday in a speech marking the 18th
anniversary of the death of revolutionary founder Ayatollah Ruhollah
Khomeini. Iranian media quoted the president as telling foreign guests that last
year's war between Israel and Hezbollah guerrillas in Lebanon had started the
countdown to Israel's destruction.
Mr. Ahmadinejad sparked outrage shortly after coming to power in 2005 for
saying that Israel should be wiped from the map. He then repeatedly
predicted that Israel would disappear.
The Iranian president caused further controversy when he labeled the
holocaust as a myth. He later invited several Holocaust deniers to a
conference in Tehran, playing down the mass slaughter of Jews in World War Two.
―
DAVID DOLAN is a
Jerusalem-based author and journalist who has lived and worked in Israel since
1980.
“The
Great Trek”
OHIO
STATE CAMP
begins
today and Dan & Rachel are on staff. Camps
often give an opportunity to meet new Ohio young people (yes, they may actually
one day marry – this is the case with Dan and Rachel) and a great occasion to
learn God’s Word! Remember this
next week the campers and staff in your prayers.
GINNY
CRAMER got
her arm braces removed after several weeks and trying to return to normal in her
right hand and wrist.
PRAY
FOR:
Childs and Runyan Families, Vicki Phillis, Pastor Beder (cancer, Peru), Ginny
Cramer (wrist), Kate Liauw (28, MS, by R Phillis), 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
June
2007
10-15
N.E. State Camp / Higher
Ground / St. Paris Ohio / Dan-Rachel on staff
17
Father’s Day / a gift for all the men
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
SUNDAY
SCHOOL: 9:45A.M.
WORSHIP
10:45A.M.
Musicians:
(Sharon Cain and Frank Roper)
Welcome
/ Announcements
Worship
Hymns / Mark Cain
485
Will Jesus Find Us Watching?
470
Reach Out to Jesus
Prayer
/ Offering
Duet
by Mark & Karen Cain:
“Simple
Life”
Message:
“No One Bestirs Himself To
Take
Hold of God”
Texts:
Isa. 64:7; Matt 12:30; Josh 1:6-11; Ecc 12:13
481
He Is Coming Again
Life Is Like A Blind Date, You Need A Little Faith
It’s
Not What You Possess, But
What
Possesses You
