All the folks who are going on winter retreat with us need to be at the church at 5:00pm Wednesday night to help with setting up and serving the soup for our fundraiser. Whoever is there to help will get equal share in the profits for their tickets. Hope to see you there!
Don’t forget that THIS Sunday night is Elevation…. We are meeting at South Flint at 5:00 pm! If you are late you will miss the bus! Everyone plan on coming for a great night of worship, teaching, and prayer! See you all then!!
This was a letter that was smuggled out from the underground church in Romania. Here is what that letter said……
“We don’t pray to be better Christains, but that we may be the only kind of Christians God meant us to be; Christlike Christians, that is, Christians who will bear willingly the cross for God’s glory.”
We can say that we carry the cross of Jesus Christ in America, but do we? The worst thing that could happen in America if we tell people we are Christians is getting laughed at. Think about the people in Romania that have to meet in secret to worship God so they don’t get killed. Think about the people in China that walk 10 miles every week to church. Think about the people in India that have left the muslim faith to Christianity. If other Muslins find out about this person they and their family would be killed. Think about the cross these people willingly carry!
Now look at yourself! None of us has it this hard. Yet I bet they share Christ to more people then we do! Remember only 2% of Christians share their faith. Make a honest effort today to witness of God’s love and mercy to someone today!
~Til next time, Pastor Shawn
Hey, youth don’t forget next Wednesday is our annual harvest party!!!! It starts at 6:30 and ends at 8:30! Don’t forget your costume! Be ready for some great games and of course food!!!! See you then!
When we see the familiar V-formation of a flock of geese flying north for the summer of south for the winter, we are reminded of the changing seasons. The often-untold story of the geese, however, teaches us the value of teamwork.
What many don’t know is that when one goose becomes sick or wounded, it never drops out of formation alone. Two other geese also fall out and follow the suffering goose. Once on the ground, the healthy birds protect and care for the frail goose, even throwing themselves between the weakened bird and possible predators. They stay with him until he is either able to fly, or is dead. Then, and only then, do they launch out.; In most cases, they wait for another group of geese to fly overhead and join them, adding to their safety and flying efficiency.
If only we human beings would care for one another this well! God’s design is for us to grow and thrive in our relationships. When we isolate ourselves and cut each other off, we become sickly and weak. However, when we help others and allow others to help us we are strengthened, and everyone is enriched.
“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.”
Hebrews 10:25 NIV
Sadhu Sundar Singh and a companion were traveling through a pass high in the Himalayan Mountains when they came across a body lying in the snow. They checked for vital signs and discovered the man was still alive, but barely. Sundar Singh prepared to help this unfortunate traveler, but his companion objected, saying, “We shall lose our lives is we burden ourselves with him.” Singh, however, could not think of leaving the man to die in the snow. His companion quickly bade him farewell and walked on.
Sundar Singh lifted the poor traveler onto his back. With great exertion, made even greater by the high altitude and snowy conditions, he carried the man onward. As he walked, the heat cast off by his body began to warm the frozen man. He revived and soon, they were walking together side by side, each holding the other up and keeping warm. Before long, they came upon another traveler’s body lying in the snow. Upon closer inspection, they discovered him to be dead, frozen by the cold.
He was Sundar Singh’s original traveling companion.
Don’t forget, by reaching out to help others, your own problems are usually forgotten and often solved.
“Look not every man on his own things,
but every man also on the things of others.”
(Philippians 2:4)
If all mankind had been righteous and only one man a sinner, Christ would have come to endure the same cross for this one man. He so loves every individual. ~Saint Augustine
Think about this today! Christ so loves you that he would have went through all the punishment, the torture, and the seperation from God. THAT WAS ALL FOR YOU!!! That is how deep the love of God is for you!
(FYI: The first three people to comment on this post will recieve a prize!)
A biology student found a cocoon one day and brought it to his teacher. She put it in a glass box with a warming lamp. About a week later, the students saw a small opening appear on the cocoon. Suddenly, tiny antennae appeared. The students watched the progress of the emerging insect throughout the day. By noon it had freed its listless wings. It wiggled and shook, but try as it might, it could not seem to force its body through the small opening. One student decided to snip off the end of the cocoon to help the insect. Out it plopped. Only the top half of it looked like a butterfly, however. The bottom half was large and swollen. The insect crawled about, dragging its listless wings; and a short time later, it died.
The next day, the biology teacher explained that the butterfly’s struggle to get through the tiny opening is necessary in order to force fluids from the swollen body into the wings so they will be strong enough to fly. Without the struggle, the wings never develop.
Rather than working to avoid struggle in life, we should work through our struggles. Our struggles develop inner character and the ability to soar.
“If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small.” Proverbs 24:10
HEY YOUTH, JUST A REMINDER THAT ON SUNDAY NIGHT WE ARE SERVING PIE AND COFFEE TO THE ADULTS AS THE “THANK YOU” FOR THE PRAYER AND SUPPORT THEY HAVE GIVEN US. WE WILL BE MEETING AT NAN’S ON SATURDAY TO PREPARE THE DESSERTS. LOOK FOR MORE INFO COMING SOON!
Do not forget about the flag football game on Saturday 20th at noon. It will be right here at South Flint. Lunch will be provided to you, so please bring your friends and enjoy the games!
Pastor Shawn
