Good Morning Church Family,

I just wanted to say hi and wish you a great week. We had a wonderful service Sunday morning. I especially enjoyed singing the song, "Jesus, We Crown You With Praise." My message was entitled, "Is Holiness Contagious?" and I know that God gave me that special message. I'm sorry to inform you that we had some technical difficulties yesterday morning and the service did not get recorded. The sound guys are not sure what the problem was. It is being worked on. Guess I'll have to preach it again sometime.

Sunday night brought 54 people out for our "Leave it to Beaver" night. We had a good time singing, watched a couple episodes of the Beave, ate some excellent chili, and had open discussion on parenting. The good news is that we made $81 clear for our fundraiser. Thank you, Betty Schofer and Cathy Hilliard, for preparing, cooking, and giving of your time and talents. It is appreciated!

I read a story a while back about a psychologist who had some special patients. In 1964, in Ypsilanti, Michigan, there was not one Jesus Christ, not two, but no less than three Jesus Christs. They were all residents in a psychiatric ward of a hospital. Psychologist Milton Rokeach eventually wrote a book, "The Three Christs of Ypsilanti." Mr. Rokeach did everything he could do to break these men of their delusion, but little progress was made. Sitting at a table one day, one of the patients said, "I'm the Messiah, the Son of God. I'm on a mission. I've been sent to save the world." "How do you know that?" Rokeach asked. "God told me" One of the other men shouted back, "I never told you any such thing." They had a bad case of it.

These men were suffering from what we could call, "THE MESSIAH COMPLEX." All of us have symptoms of it from time to time. You've had thoughts just like I have. I've got the answer. Why don't those blockheads listen to me. It all depends on me. I'm the only one who has the big picture here. All of us in varying degree suffer from the MESSIAH COMPLEX, thinking we've got the inside track with God.

The truth this morning is this -- God does want us to have the MESSIAH COMPLEX. I'm not delusional. Listen to Paul speak, "Be imitators of God, and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God." This MESSIAH COMPLEX is really a call to imitate God. You do it by being a servant, giving cups of cold water, and welcoming little children in His name. Would you help me show the world this week what the MESSIAH COMPLEX is all about? Let's be humble and learn selfless, servanthood. Remember -- Imitators of Christ.

Till next time, Pastor Don


P.S. Next Sunday, Sammi Justice from the Eastside Mission will be with us in the morning service to share for a few minutes.


P.S.S. JOKE OF THE WEEK

A MAN IS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AND SEES A RABBIT JUMP OUT INTO THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. HE SWERVES TO AVOID IT BUT UNFORTUNATELY THE RABBIT JUMPS RIGHT IN FRONT OF THE CAR.

THE DRIVER, A SENSITIVE MEN AS WELL AS AN ANIMAL LOVER, PULLS OVER AND GETS OUT TO SEE WHAT HAS BECOME OF THE RABBIT. MUCH TO HIS DISMAY, THE RABBIT IS DEAD. THE DRIVER FEELS SO AWFUL THAT HE BEGINS TO CRY.

A BEAUTIFUL BLONDE IS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY, SEES THE MAN CRYING, AND PULLS OVER. SHE ASK HIM WHAT'S WRONG AND HE BEGINS TO EXPLAIN. "I FEEL TERRIBLE. I ACCIDENTALLY HIT THIS RABBIT AND KILLED IT." "NOT A PROBLEM," SHE SAYS. SHE RUNS TO HER CAR AND PULLS OUT A CAN OF HAIR SPRAY. SHE WALKS OVER TO THE LIMP, DEAD RABBIT, BENDS DOWN AND SPRAYS THE CONTENTS ONTO THE RABBIT.

ALL OF A SUDDEN, THE RABBIT JUMPS UP. WAVES ITS PAW AT THE TWO OF THEM AND HOPS OFF. TEN FEET DOWN THE ROAD THE RABBIT STOPS, TURNS AROUND AND WAVES AGAIN. HE HOPS DOWN THE ROAD ANOTHER TEN FEET, TURNS AND WAVES AGAIN. THIS CONTINUES TILL HE IS OUT OF SIGHT. "WOW," THE MAN SAYS. "HOW CAN THIS BE?" "WHAT DID YOU SPRAY THE RABBIT WITH?"

THE BLONDE TURNS THE CAN AROUND SO THE MAN CAN READ THE LABEL. IT SAYS,
HAIR - SPRAY . . . . RESTORES LIFE TO DEAD HAIR, AND ADDS PERMANENT WAVE.
 

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