APRIL 2016

      Many are in a hurry, becoming quickly irritable when they are forced to wait even seconds.  How long does it take for the driver behind you to angrily blow his horn if you hesitate at a green light?  How long does it take for you to become impatient when you are loading a slow internet page?  We don't want to be late.  We hurry around on a mad dash to nowhere.  Things must be instant.  We grow anxious when we must wait.
     God works on different time.  Jesus didn't rush around Galilee.  He took time to "consider the lilies of the field that neither toil nor spin."  God promised Abraham that he would found a great nation.  Abraham then waited 25 years before Isaac was born.  The Hebrews toiled as slaves in Egypt 430 years before God sent Moses to set them free. They wandered 40 years in the wilderness before they entered the promised land.
     Over 2000 years ago Jesus promised to return in glory.  We are still waiting.  God's timing is mystifying.  Isaiah 55:8 says: 8 "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD.  Ecclesiastes 3:11 adds: 11  He has made everything beautiful in its time.  He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end."
       We do well each day to surrender to God's eternal perspective and wisdom.  Rome was not built in a day.  Good things take time.  We need to trust and hope in God when we wait.  Isaiah 40:28-31 says: 28 'Do you not know? Have you not heard?  The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth.  He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. 29 He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.  30 Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; 31 but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength.  They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faith".
                                                                Love,
                                                         Pastor  Randy
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                                                     I said, "God, I hurt":
                                                 And God said, "I know."
                                                    I said, "I cry a lot."
                            And God said, "That's why I gave you tears."
                                                 I said, "Life is so hard".
                       And God said, "That's why I gave you loved  ones".
                                      I said, "But my loved one died!"
                                      And God said, "So did mine".
                                     I said, "It's such a great loss!!"
                            And God said, "I saw mine nailed to a cross".
                                   I said, "But Your loved one lives!!"
                                       And God said, "So does yours!!"
                                         I said, "Where is he now??"
                                  And God said, "My Son is by My side
                                       and your son is in My arms!!"

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    SPIRITUAL ACROSTICS *
      "Only God can move mountains, only prayer can move God".
                                       APRIL - POP
       So, now what could "pop" ever have to do with our Christian walk?  Well, of course, our Father God is our Pop!  But actually, when I usually think of Pop, I think of my dad.  Ever call your dad Pop?  What about Grandpa - Pop?  When did you drink your last soda pop?  Ever listen to your bowl of rice crispies  go 'snap, crackle, pop' or ever eat a bowl of Supar Pops?  When I was little, my Jack in the Box played the tune of "Pop Goes the Weasel"!  Here's an oldie from 1904: Jim Thorpe's college coach's name was Glenn Scobey "Pop" Warner.
     Well now, how can we make a spiritual application out of the "pop"?    
     Over a year ago our Sister Carol Lobaugh was in the hospital and had missed worshipping with us several Sundays.  Then PTL!  the Sunday sister Carol was in church once again I had mentioned to Brother Leonard that it was "good to see your better half in church today!"  His reponse back to me was, "The power of prayer!"  I thought to myself for a second and responded back to Brother Leonard, "Yes, pop, the power of prayer!"
      Prayer is our life's motor, not our spare tire because seven days without prayer will make one weak!  You'll never get a busy signal on the prayer line to heaven! (Jeh. 33:3)  Our greatest tragedy is not answered prayer, but offered prayer.  Amen!  Our church body's two fold prayers were lifted up for Sister Carol as well as others to our" Pop" in heaven and the Lord showed us His power of prayer to us when we saw Sister Carol back in church worshipping with us.  Amen!

                                                                InChristian love,
                                                                 Bro. Jeff  <><




        
                

The Law of the The Garbage Truck

        One day I hopped in a taxi and we took off for the airport.

        We were driving in the right lane when suddenly a black car jumped out of a parking space right in front of us.  My taxi driver slammed on his brakes, skidded, and missed the other car by just inches!  The driver of the other car whipped his head around and started yelling at us.  My taxi driver just smiled and waved at the guy;  and I mean, he was really friendly.

        So I asked, 'Why did you just do that?  This guy almost ruined your car and sent us to the hospital!'  This is when my taxi driver taught me what I now call, 'The Law of the Garbage Truck.'

        He explained that many people are like garbage trucks.  They run around full of garbage, full of frustration, full of anger, and full of disappointment.  As their garbage piles up, they need a place to dump it and sometimes they'll dump it on you.  Don't take it personally.  Just smile, wave, wish them well, and move on.  Don't take their garbage and spread it to other people at work, at home, or on the streets.

        The bottom line is that Christian people do not let garbage trucks take over their day.  Life's too short to wake up in the morning with regrets, so . . . . . 'Love people who treat you right.  Pray for the ones who don't.'

        Life is ten percent what you make it and ninety percent how you take it.
                                                -Author Unknown  The Law of the The Garbage Truck



        A blind boy sat on the steps of a building with a hat by his feet.  He held up a sign which said: "I am blind, please help."  There were only a few coins in the hat.
        A man was walking by.  He took a few coins from his pocket and dropped them into the hat.  He then took the sign, turned it around, and wrote some words.  He put the sign back so that everyone who walked by would see the new words.
        Soon the hat began to fill up.  A lot more people were giving money to the blind boy.
        That afternoon the man who had changed the sign came to see how things were.  The boy recognized his footsteps and asked, "Were you the one who changed my sign this morning?  What did you write?"
       The man said, "I only wrote the truth.  I said what you said but in a different way."
        "I wrote: "Today is a beautiful day, but I cannot see it."       
        Both signs told people that the boy was blind.  But the first sign simply said the boy was blind.  The second sign told people that they were so blessed that they were not blind.  Should we be surprised that the second sign was more effective?
        Moral of the Story:
        Be thankful to GOD for what you have.  Be creative.  Be innovative.  Think differently and positively.  When life gives you a 100 reasons to cry, show life that you have 1,000 reasons  to smile.
        After all, you can read this story.
                                                                                -Author Unknown   



    SAVVY LIVING by Donna Marion
        The word "busy" seems to be the key word I keep hearing so much lately.  It seems that with work and careers, children's activities, family obligations, church, social obligations, volunteer obligations, the world is a very busy place.  All of this activity makes practicing thrift a very difficult issue.  However, our budgets are demanding some level of thrift.  Evaluate your thrifty practices and your time constraints and see if your thrift is an investment in time or saving only a few pennies.  A few of these suggestions may help:
         1. Be more organized.  Before you roll your eyes, think about it.  This will save time as well as money.  At certain times of the year, different merchandise goes on sale.  Being organized enough to take advantage of these sales may save quite a bit of money.  If you can plan meals in advance, you won't be trying to thaw a frozen piece of meat for dinner or ordering out.  Give your daily schedule some thought and see what steps you can take to be just a little more organized with your weeks and months.

         2. Scale down.  Expect to do less, have less, and spend less.  Eliminate nonessentials.  Eat out less.  You don't always have to be entertained, preparing large meals, running all the time.  Simplify your meals, your home, and your lifestyle.

         3. Do those time-consuming things that count.  If comparison shopping will save you money on a new vehicle, put the time into that comparison shopping instead of stopping at the first auto dealer you encounter.  And don't ever shop when you are tired.

         4. Think of your spare minutes as a way to accomplish small tasks. If you have a few minutes while dinner cooks, don't get on Facebook.  Sort your mail, start a load of laundry, set out breakfast items for tomorrow, clear off your counters or table top.  A lot can be accomplished in five or ten minute intervals.

         5. Don't try to live up to other's expectations.  It's your life!

                 Here's to Savvy Living!


,
                    

CHUCKLES
Daddy's Gonna Eat Your Fingers
      This one is for all who:
      a) have kids
      b) had kids
      c) was a kid
      d) know a kid!
      As I was packing for my business trip, my 3-year old daughter was having a wonderful time playing on the bed.  At one point, she said, "Daddy, look at this," and stuck out two of her fingers.
      Trying to keep her entertained, I reached out and stuck her tiny fingers in my mouth and said, "Daddy's gonna eat your fingers!" pretending to eat them before I rushed out of the room again.
      When I returned, my daughter was standing on the bed staring at her fingers with a devastated look on her face.
      I said, "What's wrong, honey?"
      She replied, "What happened to my booger?"*
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ATTORNEY: The youngest son, the 20-year-old, how old is he?
WITNESS: He's 20, much like your IQ

ATTORNEY: She had three children, right?
WITNESS: Yes
ATTORNEY: How many were boys?
WITNESS: None
ATTORNEY: Were they all girls?
WITNESS: Your Honor, I think I need a different attorney.  Can I get a new attorney?

ATTORNEY: Do you recall the time that you examined the body?
WITNESS: The autopsy started around 8:30 PM
ATTORNEY: And Mr. Denton was dead at the time?
WITNESS: If not, he was by the time I finished.



  CHRIST THE LORD IS RISEN TODAY
                           Charles Wesley, 1707 -1788
                    What a glorious truth to ponder - Jesus is not the
                      "Great I WAS" but rather the "Great I AM!"  He is not only
a historical fact but a present-day, living reality.  The whole system of Christianity rests upon the truth that Jesus Christ rose from the grave and is now seated at the Father's right hand as our personal advocate.
        "Christ the Lord is Risen Today" has been one of the church's most popular Easter hymns since it was first written by Charles Wesley just one year after his "heart-warming" experience at the Aldersgate Hall in London, England, in 1738.  The Wesleyan Chapel in London,  was a deserted iron foundry.  It became known as the Foundry Meeting House.  This hymn was written by Charles for the first service in that chapel.
        Following his Aldersgate encounter with Christ, Charles began writing numerous hymns on every phase of the Christian experience, some 6,500 in all.  It has been said that the hymns of Charles Wesley clothed Christ in flesh and blood and gave converts a belief they could easily grasp, embrace with personal faith, and if necessary, even die for.
         If all of our eternity is to be realized on this side of the grave, we are hopeless and to be pitied (1 Corinthians 15:19).  But for the Christian, the resurrection assures us of God's tomorrow.  This anticipation makes it possible to live joyfully today, regardless of life's circumstances.
         Christ the Lord is ris'n today, Alleluia!  Sons of men and angels say: Alleluia! Raise your joys and triumphs high, Alleluia! Sing, ye heav'ns, and earth reply Alleluia!
         Lives again our glorius King, Alleluia! Where, O death, is now thy sting? Alleluia! Dying once He all doth save, Alleluia!  Where thy victory, O grave? Alleluia!
           Loves redeeming work is done, Alleluia!  Fought the fight, the battle won, Alleluia!  Death in vain forbids Him rise, Alleluia!  Christ has opened Paradise, Alleluia!
          Soar we now where Christ has led, Alleluia! Foll'wing our exalted Head, Alleluia! Made like Him, like Him we rise, Alleluia!  Ours the cross, the grave, the skies, Alleluia!  CHRIST THE LORD IS RISEN TODAY
          
 
        The cross of Christ is either a blessing or a curse, depending on our response to it.  Either it leads to our eternal redemption, or it condemns us to eternal damnation.  This is demonstrated by the two thieves who hung on either side of the Savior.  One responded and received divine mercy, the other rebelled his way into hell.  God never violates man's free will and forces His love on anyone.  And He has never rejected anyone who cries out to Him in believing faith.  It is man who rejects God and the salvation that He provided at Calvary.

      Ask God to use this Easter season to awaken your appreciation of His suffering and death at Calvary and to be more desirous of sharing His love with others.  Be sensitive to the possiblilty of denying your Lord even in some small word or deed.  *

                                                       Amazing Grace, 366 Inspiring Hymn Stories for Daily Devotions
                                                                                                        - Kenneth W. Osbeck




BITS ' PIECES . . .
     It's always good to hear from home - here's the address for our Navy person: 
                       FC3 - Ellis John Yentzer
                       USS Gravely
                       100337
                       FPO AE09570
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 Also:  A wrong telephone number on the Address Listing for the Reed's -8839.  Sorry for the transposed numbers.
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        On a personal note:  As I sat watching the Pre-Worship video on Sunday I was wondering if everyone felt like I did and appreciate the messages that are shown there every Sunday.  They are so very  good and presented very attractively.  Thank you, Michael for providing these timely reminders for us!

       Mark your calendars for this years Vacation Bible School dates, July 18 - July 22 with the theme God is Wild About Us