Skip to main content

Orlando Shooting, Happy Father's Day, Donations Needed During VBS (Pastoral Emphasis for 6/19)

It has happened again. Another mass shooting. In Orlando, a man shot and killed 49 people and injured at least 53 people in a nightclub. As Christians, our response should be to pray for the victim's families and those injured and look for ways to love and serve our neighbors. Sadly, because this was a "gay" nightclub, some "Christians" are showing hate instead of love. I even heard a report of one Baptist pastor who rejoiced over this tragedy, saying more of "them" should have been killed. But this is not even God's attitude.  God said in Ezekiel 33:11: "Say to them, As I live, declares the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live; turn back, turn back from your evil ways, for why will you die, O house of Israel?"

How should we think about a disaster like this? Read Luke 13:1-5. People often try to find a connection between disaster and iniquity (deeming victims of a disaster as "worse sinners"). But Jesus responded by saying that such a calamity was not God’s way to single out an especially evil group for death, but as a means of warning for ALL sinners to repent. Final judgment is eventually coming to all if they did not repent.

Happy Father's Day to all the dads who are raising and caring for their children! Here's an encouraging word from Paul Tripp about fathering the fatherless within the community of believers (the church).

 
RSS or Email Subscribers click through to see the video


Today is the last day to register for VBS. VBS starts Wednesday, June 22nd through Sunday, 26th. The theme is "Egypt: Joseph's Journey from Prison to Palace". And as we have been seeing in Bible Study, Joseph is a type and shadow of Jesus Christ. On Saturday, we'll be serving at With Love From Jesus and the Helen Wright Center. We want to collect some items to bless the ladies at Helen Wright.


Here's what you can donate based on Zones...

Zone 1
Bars of Soap
Wash Cloths

Zone 2
Lotion
Deodorant

Zone 3
Toothpaste
Shower shoes

Zone 4
Shampoo
Petroleum Jelly

Please pray for my family & I as we'll be leaving for vacation tomorrow. I will see you all when we get back!

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...