July 1, 2007
History records that it was a sermon that touched off a great spiritual awakening in America. It was preached by a man named Jonathan Edwards and was entitled, "Sinners In the Hands Of An Angry God". This fiery message about God's impending judgment struck a responsive chord with many in the 1740's and had a major impact on the course of America's history.
The message of God through Jeremiah the prophet was often about coming judgment, a subject that was none too popular. Throughout biblical history we find that God has often acted in righteous judgment, and yet today there is a strange silence on the subject. Much is said and taught about God being a God of mercy but little if anything is said about the fact that He is a holy God who acts in judgment.
Perhaps the most sobering passage in the Bible on this subject is 2 Peter 3:9-13: "The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up. Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be destroyed by burning, and the elements will melt with intense heat! But according to His promise we are looking for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells."
Nowhere else do we see the dual themes of God's mercy and judgment weaved together more intricately. They are both inseparable qualities of our Creator, and yet far greater emphasis is placed on His mercy these days. From the perspective of today's emphasis, God appears to be a kindly white-haired man who would never harm a flea, much less consign people to the judgment fires. Yet in our age, as in any age, there is behavior and lifestyle that is not pleasing to Him but the call to repentance is rarely heard. Can God truly be pleased with all He sees today?
Lest I sound too self-righteous, let me assure you that there is plenty in my own life that causes me concern. I find too common of a kinship with the lethargic, lukewarm believers in Laodicea (Revelation 3:14-22), among other things. But regardless of the condition of the messenger's own household, isn't there a responsibility to warm of danger to the unprepared?
It's not been my personal desire to unsettle or alarm you with today's thoughts, but rather to call you - and myself - to balanced introspection according to God's truth. This moment that we have right now is a sheer act of grace from our Creator. Let's use it to carefully consider our lives in light of the truth we learn from Peter, and from the great prophets throughout the ages.
Enjoying today's grace with an eye on accountability,
Pastor Steve Taylor, AZ, 6-27-07
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THANKS RICHARD MARSH for bringing what I hear was a most interesting message last Sunday using Nathaniel Hawthorne (1804-1864) as a captivating illustration for your thoughts. Much appreciated.
Our speakers for July 8, 15, and 22 will be Mark Cain, Richard Marsh and Steve Weaver. Pastor Rex & Sharon will be on vacation with some of it helping Dan and Rachel get settled in Omaha.
DAN AND RACHEL are now Mr. & Mrs. Daniel Cain. The wedding went beautifully with about 200 in attendance. They will return from their honeymoon in Alaska July 4th. Then on the 7th, they plan to move to Omaha for his internship.
We Welcome Our Guests!
If all went as planned, Jeff and Shilah Pryor and their two children, Chloe and Lex, will be visiting with us today from Pelzer, SC. Shilah is our granddaughter (Laura’s 2nd oldest daughter). They plan to visit through midweek. They are up in this area because of Dan’s wedding.
THE THERMOMETER GRAPH now shows that we have about $400 toward our goal of $1600 to buy Pastor Rex a MacBook laptop computer in lieu of a raise this year. Pam Weaver is spearheading this effort. THANKS EVERYONE!
What Is Church All About?
Church is a gathering of people trying to share God and Jesus in their lives. Gossip has no place in a healthy church. Sympathy does have a place in church. Political gain has no place in church. Helping others has a place in church. Hatred, prejudice, and fear have no place in church. Love, fellowship, and safety have a place in church. The perfect church comes later when Jesus returns. Until then we do the best we can with the one we have.
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Join Us at Church If You think You Might Fit In
NOTE: THIS WILL BE THE LAST PRINTED BULLETIN UNTIL ABOUT JULY 29
COMMUNION: Each first Sunday of the month, our church sets aside time to celebrate our redemption from eternal death by observing communion, the “updated” version of Passover that Jesus instituted in the upper room just before His crucifixion for our sins. Let’s observe this service with a mixture of sadness (that death was required to redeem us) and gladness (because our sins have been forgiven and Jesus now lives). Jesus commanded us to “Do this in remembrance of me.” (1 Cor. 11:23)
IN JUNE 1776 Richard Henry Lee, a delegate from Virginia, moved that Congress declare “that these United Colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent States.” The resolution was referred to a committee consisting of Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, Roger Sherman, Robert R. Livingston, and John Adams.
Jefferson wrote the declaration and Adams was spokesman for it when it was presented to Congress. A great debate preceded the final vote. There were many reluctant delegates who still hoped for reconciliation with Britain, but Adams won most of them over. On July 4, 1776, Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence. In a letter to his wife written on July 3, the day after Lee's resolution was approved, Adams wrote that "The second day of July…will be celebrated by succeeding generations, as the great anniversary festival. It ought to be commemorated as the day of deliverance…with pomp and parade, with…guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations, from one end of this continent to the other…”
PRAY FOR: Vicki Phillis, Pastor Beder (cancer, Peru), Kate Liauw (28, MS, by R Phillis), Iris Horst (cancer, by Roper), Emory Macy, Beth Marsh. June Routson, Amy Gunselman (cancer, by R Phillis), Evelyn Pennington, 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 & Rachel Cain (internship), 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
8 – Mark Cain will be our speaker
15 – Richard Marsh will be our speaker
16-20 – National Youth Camp / Taylor University, Upland, Indiana
22 – Steve Weaver will be our speaker
24 – Michal Sittek of Czechoslovakia, an exchange student, arrives in the U.S. – he will be residing with Frank Roper and attending church here.
August 2, 3 –
87th Annual Gen. ConferenceAugust 26 –
Annual SS Picnic
SUNDAY SCHOOL: 9:45A.M.
WORSHIP 10:45A.M.
Musicians: (Sharon and Mark Cain)
Welcome / Announcements
Worship Hymns / Mark Cain
542 Battle Hymn of the Republic
541 My Country Tis of Thee
Prayer / Offering
Message: “Under His Wings” *
Texts: Jn 20:19-21; Gen 3:8; Lk 13:34; Ps 40:1-3; Jn 10:27, 28; 17:12-26; Ps 91:4
Communion: Elder Steve Weaver
Under His Wings
(see bulletin insert)
“… how often I [Jesus] have longed to gather your children [Israel] together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing!”
(Luke 13:34)
By Calvin Miller
The Celts lived a long time ago, and though the Celtic language still lingers, only a whisper of it is left. Other than their intricate knotted art designs, which can still be found rather easily, most of us don’t know a whole lot about them. So why should we care? Well, they left paganism to become Christians, for one thing, and were particularly devoted followers of Christ. The author of this month’s review book says he wrote it because he is convinced that these ancient lovers of God understood how to strip away the institutional business and formal liturgies that often increase the distance between ourselves and God.
The Path of Celtic Prayer (An Ancient Way to Everyday Joy) by Calvin Miller - Miller focuses upon six Celtic principles of prayer he has put to work in his own life and which he feels may be of benefit to others as well. These include a deep love for God and His Word; praying the Bible back to its author; seeing life as a single, unending prayer; poetry and praise in ordinary life; asking God for protection; and living in agreement with God. Most of us, Miller feels, have blasé contentment with things as they are - Christless and self-managed. "Many of us are separated form God and are content with the divorce." However, in our searching moments at least, we want Jesus to come again because we want steadiness in our lives. "The second coming promises an end to our slippery relationship with God." The Celts found their way through prayer past a slippery relationship in the here and now, and perhaps we may as well. Miller says that the most amazing feature of grace is that though God has no need of us, being complete within himself, he earnestly desires that we be on speaking terms with him. This is not to say we should be folksy with God. The Celts were a poetic people who felt that "God must be sung to with carefully formed words that are rehearsed. One must not jabber in the presence of royalty."
