C.A.R.E. - Bulletin 5-04-14

  C.A.R.E.

Connect - When someone is hurting, we often don't know what to say or do. But even simply expressing, "I'm sorry and I care about you," can make a tremendous difference.

Accept - When we try to help someone, it's easy to direct their emotions or give advice. But emotions need to be shared openly. You'll be a blessing by providing a safe place to grieve.

Respond - While it is important to take action. What you do can be practical (like providing a meal) or symbolic (like sharing a thoughtful gift).  “Thank you, Rochester church family!”

Extend - People are flooded with attention when a loss first occurs, but support usually decreases over time. By remembering and continuing to reach out, you can bring comfort and healing.

(This excerpt is from Comfort & Encouragement: A One-Year Ministry Guide for Helping Those Who Are Hurting by Holley Gerth.)

You Can, Because He Can

You can ask the Lord
because He will not give you a wrong answer.
You can wait upon the Lord
because His timing is always perfect.
You can trust in the Lord
because He makes no mistakes.
You can hope in the Lord
because He holds your future.
You can rest in the Lord
because He is in control of your life.
You can lean upon the Lord
because He is completely faithful.

“I know that You can do everything, And that no purpose of Yours can be withheld from You.” Job 42:2 NKJV

God is good all the time, and all the time God is good!  Mr. Steve  

Kidsʼ Prayers - Bulletin 04-27-14

Kidsʼ Prayers

Many of the Psalms are direct prayers from the worshipper to God.  Here is an anonymous sample of some children’s prayers to God: 

1. Dear God, Thank you for the baby brother, but what I asked for was a puppy. I never asked for anything before. You can look it up.  Joyce

2. God, I read the bible. What does beget mean?  Nobody will tell me.  Love, Alison

3. Dear God, I bet it's very hard for you to love all of everybody in the whole world. There are only 4 people in our family and I can never do it.  Nancy

4. Dear God, My Grandpa says you were around when he was a little boy. How far back do you go? Love, Dennis

5. Dear God, Did you mean for giraffes to look like that or was it an accident?  Norma

6. Dear God, Please send Dennis Clark to a different summer camp this year.  Peter

7. Dear God, I keep waiting for spring, but it never did come yet.  What's up? Don't forget.  Mark

8. Dear God, I do not think anybody could be a better God than you. Well, I just want you to know that.  I am not just saying that because you are already God.  Charles

9. Dear God, I am doing the best I can. Really!!!!  Frank

10. Dear God, I didn't think orange went with purple until I saw the sunset you made on Tuesday night.  That was really cool.  Thomas  

God IS good all the time & all the time God is good! Mr. Steve

“MOST PITIED?” - Bulletin 04-20-14

   “MOST PITIED?”

Who in this life is to be most pitied?

• Is the most pitied the orphan from the slums of this world, without family, without support, without hope?
• Is the most pitied the extremely affluent of our world with no desire to use his or her riches to better the lives of mankind?
• Is the most pitied the person who has never loved nor been loved?

NO!  According to the Apostle Paul (1 Corinthians 15:12-19), IF THERE IS NO RESURRECTION, then those of us who have risked everything to believe in the scandal of the cross and the mystery of an empty tomb are to be most pitied!  IF THERE IS NO RESURRECTION:

• Our preaching is vain!

• Our faith is vain!
• We are false witnesses of God because we testified against God that He raised Christ, whom He did not raise!
• The dead are not raised, and if that’s the case, not even Christ has been raised!
• Our faith is worthless and we are still in our sins!
• Those who have died before us have all perished!
• And all of us who have put our absolute hope in Christ – are to be most pitied!

ON THE OTHER HAND, IF THERE IS A RESURRECTION, THEN:

• All who have lived and now live as if there is no resurrection ARE TO BE MOST PITIED!
• All who have risked everything for this world’s goods ARE TO BE MOST PITIED!
• All who deny the Father and the Son are antichrists (1 John 2:22-23) and ARE TO BE MOST PITIED!

 “BUT NOW CHRIST HAS BEEN RAISED (1 Corinthians 15:20)!”  Praise God!  HE HAS RISEN!  

God is good.  Mr. Steve