Skip to main content

Pastoral Emphasis from 11/11

Monday is Veterans Day and we want to recognize them for their service to this country.

The Youth Ministry will be selling fruit and 2008 calendars to raise funds. All interested members should stop by the Welcome Center for info and materials.

Here's a warning about an upcoming fantasy movie called The Golden Compass, which is coming out on 12/7. It's based on books by Philip Pullman who is an avowed atheist. Critics of his books point to the strong anti-religion and anti-God themes they incorporate. Pullman left little doubt about his intentions when he said in a 2003 interview that "my books are about killing God". These books and this movie will be targeted at children as a direct challenge to C.S. Lewis' Chronicles of Narnia. C.S. Lewis is a Christian author whose fantasy stories incorporated many Christian themes. I would not recommend anyone taking their children to see the Golden Compass or supporting this movie in any way.

Sacrificial Giving Campaign: A businessman was traveling with a missionary in Korea when they saw in a field by the side of the road a boy pulling a crude plow, while an old man held the handles and directed it. That's a curious picture! I suppose they are very poor," he said to the missionary. "Yes," was the quiet reply. "That is the family of Chi Noui. When the church was being built they were eager to give something to it, but they had no money so they sold their only ox and gave the money to the church. This spring they are pulling the plow themselves." The businessman by his side were silent for some moments. Then he said, "That must have been a real sacrifice." "They did not call it that," said the missionary. "They thought it was fortunate they had an ox to sell."

Instead of complaining about what we don't have, we should be thankful for what we do have to give to God. As our giving campaign winds to an end, let's finish giving what we vowed to give before God and don't worry about the amount but be thankful that you have something to give sacrificially.

Thank everyone for their generous giving towards today's love offering. It will go to help those affected by the wildfires in southern California.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Mortgage Burning Ceremony (10.6.24)

Today is a day of celebration and gratitude as we come together to witness the burning of our church’s mortgage! This moment represents years of faith, commitment, and sacrificial giving from this congregation. It’s a testament to God’s faithfulness and the dedication of His people. What we are celebrating today is not just the end of a financial obligation, but the beginning of new possibilities for missions, outreach, and service in our community.   ---     Psalm 127:1 says, ‘Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain.’   This building has been more than just bricks and mortar; it has been a spiritual home where so many lives have been touched by the gospel. We recognize that while we’ve paid off the mortgage, it is the Lord who has truly built this house, sustaining us through every season.   --- History of the Vision         Though this chapter is closing, the mission God has ...

My Hope Sunday, M:T Not a Competition, Prayer Gathering (Pastoral Emphasis for 10/13)

Today was My Hope Sunday ! We had several invited guests, and my message was from 1 Samuel 8:4-9 on "Looking for a Savior".  Israel wanted a king like the other nations who would “save” them. This is the very definition of a functional savior. A functional savior is anything or anyone a person looks to for ultimate hope, security, identity, or fulfillment in place of God. Whatever you look to to “save” you from your problems, fears, or insecurities is your functional savior. But all of our functional saviors cannot save us. Jesus is the Savior we really need!  Our greatest need in this life and the life to come is to have our sins forgiven by trusting in Jesus as our Lord and Savior! Today, my wife shared her My Hope Testimony .   (RSS Subscribers: click here to watch the video) Missions:Together’s "Not a Competition" is a powerful missions gathering designed to re-ignite your passion for missions on Saturday, November 2, hosted at The Summit Church in Apex. Wheth...

December Birthdays & Anniversaries, Bible Display, Verse by Verse Challenge (Pastoral Emphasis for 12/1)

As we step into December, it's a time for reflection, celebration, and coming together as a community. Here’s what’s happening this month in our church family:  ---  🎉 Birthdays and Anniversaries December is a special month for many in our congregation. Let’s take time to celebrate these milestones:  Birthdays : Join us in wishing a heartfelt “Happy Birthday” to all who are celebrating this month.  Anniversaries : We wish “Happy Anniversary” to these couples and ask God to bless their commitment to one another.   ðŸŒŸ December Senior Birthday Surprise We are also excited to celebrate Deaconess Peggy Credle with a special birthday surprise. Let’s make her feel loved and appreciated for all she does in our church community.  ---  📖 Theological Seminar: The Forge Mark your calendar for Thursday, December 7, at 9:00 AM. We will gather for a special Theological Seminar featuring The Forge . This event will include a viewing of the seminar followed by a...