News for the Week Ending March 24
Some might say, "What draw back?"
We can cover the rent with what the men contribute and earn and our insurance company will write a rider for it.
The new air/heating system for the office will be installed next week.
John Munoz has been doing a great job on the grounds and in keeping the building nice and clean. Thanks, John!
This tear's Good Friday service will be at Westminster Presbyterian Church on Good Friday, April 6 at Noon. There is an opportunity for those who'd like to sing in the choir. Rehearsal is at 11:00 A.M.. See Pastor Tom to get a copy of the music.
Pastor Tom will be proposing soon that Andrea Sims be brought on staff as Director of Non-Profit Development and Business Manager - title and compensation to be worked out (and raised from unknown sources). Pray about this. Yes. Andrea is Mrs. Sims !
Pastor Jack's father is in the last stages of his earthly journey. pray for John, Jack, Harriet (Jack's sister) and the entire family.
Pastor Randy Maynard's father died in Kentucky. Randy is pastor of Cornelia Ave Baptist Church and a good friend of Pastor Tom's and of this church and its staff.
Ruth Forrest has been very ill at her daughter Linda's home. Pray for her. Falma Parker has not been feeling well for several weeks. She had surgery about 3 weeks ago to service a pacemaker.
We n ow have children's church during the morning service. The kids stay for the songs and are then dismissed.
Here is a rough outline of Sunday's sermon:
Romans 13 -- From the NIV
Submit to Authority
1 - Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. 2 - Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. 3 - For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and he will commend you.
From the Message
1-3 - Be a good citizen. All governments are under God. Insofar as there is peace and order, it's God's order. So live responsibly as a citizen. If you're irresponsible to the state, then you're irresponsible with God, and God will hold you responsible. Duly constituted authorities are only a threat if you're trying to get by with something. Decent citizens should have nothing to fear.
Honor God’s Civil Servants
4 - For he is God's servant to do you good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for nothing. He is God's servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. 5 - Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also because of conscience.
From the Message
3-5 - Do you want to be on good terms with the government? Be a responsible citizen and you'll get on just fine, the government working to your advantage. But if you're breaking the rules right and left, watch out. The police aren't there just to be admired in their uniforms. God also has an interest in keeping order, and he uses them to do it. That's why you must live responsibly—not just to avoid punishment but also because it's the right way to live.
Pay Your Taxes
6 - This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God's servants, who give their full time to governing. 7 - Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.
From the Message
6-7 - That's also why you pay taxes—so that an orderly way of life can be maintained. Fulfill your obligations as a citizen. Pay your taxes, pay your bills, respect your leaders.
Pay Your Debts – The Greatest Debt Is Love
8 - Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law. 9 - The commandments, "Do not commit adultery," "Do not murder," "Do not steal," "Do not covet," and whatever other commandment there may be, are summed up in this one rule: "Love your neighbor as yourself." 10 - Love does no harm to its neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.
From the Message
8-10 - Don't run up debts, except for the huge debt of love you owe each other. When you love others, you complete what the law has been after all along. The law code—don't sleep with another person's spouse, don't take someone's life, don't take what isn't yours, don't always be wanting what you don't have, and any other "don't" you can think of—finally adds up to this: Love other people as well as you do yourself. You can't go wrong when you love others. When you add up everything in the law code, the sum total is love
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Keep The Time in Mind
11 - And do this, understanding the present time. The hour has come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. 12 - The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. 13 - Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. 14 - Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature.
From the Message
11-14 - But make sure that you don't get so absorbed and exhausted in taking care of all your day-by-day obligations that you lose track of the time and doze off, oblivious to God. The night is about over, dawn is about to break. Be up and awake to what God is doing! God is putting the finishing touches on the salvation work he began when we first believed. We can't afford to waste a minute, must not squander these precious daylight hours in frivolity and indulgence, in sleeping around and dissipation, in bickering and grabbing everything in sight. Get out of bed and get dressed! Don't loiter and linger, waiting until the very last minute. Dress yourselves in Christ, and be up and about!
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