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THIS WEEK
7/6/25
Praise the Lord we're open for
business!
| TODAY: |
Bill N - Morning Class
Kevin K - Speaker
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WEDNESDAY: |
Bill N will continue a Study in Zechariah |
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Bill is doing the announcements
and Paul is in charge of the program.
Serving one another is
how we help and encourage each other. Please let
the Elders know how you can serve.
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THIS AND THAT
July:
Communion Preparation - Bill & Barbara
Collection Counting - Sam/Ed
“A miracle by definition is an exception”
Miracles don’t seem to produce lasting faith, we need GOD’S Word to do
that, Romans 10:17.” Rick
Sparks
How I love Your instruction! It is my meditation all day long.... I have
more insight than all my teachers because Your decrees are my
meditation.—Psalm
119:97,
99
One of the highest priorities in order to stay spiritually fresh is to
cultivate the art of Scripture meditation.
For some reason, Bible meditation has become a lost art in our day. A
survey conducted among Christians in the United States showed that only
one in ten thousand knew how to meditate on the Scriptures.
What, then, is the art of Scripture meditation? Is it reading parts of
the Bible as slowly as possible so that every word sinks in? No. Is it
studying a passage with the aid of a commentary so that one understands
exactly what the Scripture is saying? No. Is it memorizing certain texts
and recalling them to mind whenever one has a spare moment? No. You can
do all of these things and still not know how to meditate.
Andrew Murray describes it as "holding the word of God in your heart and
mind until it has affected every area of your life." My own definition
is this: meditation is the process by which we place the Word of God
into the digestive system of the soul, where it is transformed into
faith and spiritual energy.
Psalm 1:2-3
paints a picture of amazing freshness and vitality: "His delight is in
the Lord's instruction, and he meditates on it day and night. He is like
a tree planted beside streams of water that bears its fruit in season
and whose leaf does not wither." What is the secret of this amazing
freshness? It is simple—meditation. To draw from Scripture the
inspiration and power we need to stay spiritually fresh, we must do more
than read it, study it, or even memorize it—we must meditate on it.
(Every Day with JESUS Bible)
PRAYERS NEEDED:
Cancer
| Titus |
Star G |
Steve S |
Tony H |
Dan G |
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Kim & Dave R |
Jack D |
Barbara N |
Ed S |
Brian R |
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Carol R |
Wes S |
Debra B |
The See sisters |
Jim G |
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Kathy T |
Janel R |
Marlene B |
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| Other Health |
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Sheena |
Carolyn G |
Carroll B |
Dora B |
Kristopher B |
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Jerry N |
Juna R |
John R |
Michael S |
Daniel |
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John M |
McKenzie L |
Dakota |
Jackie D |
Kari Ann |
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Ed S |
Conner B |
Harriet N |
Noah W |
Gaylene G |
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Shawn C |
Sandra H |
Gavin F |
Debbie Z |
Bill N |
| Nina B |
Dang Family |
Wes S |
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| Upcoming
Surgeries/Procedures |
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| Elderly & Shut-In |
| Carol G |
Juna R |
Jerry N |
Rita P |
Shirley V |
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| Others: |
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| Service Men &
Women |
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| Expectant Mothers |
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Always
remember our young people who have grown out of the family home and
are pursuing studies and careers, that they continue to seek wisdom from
the omni-present Father. And that they continue to hold Him first in
their lives.
THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK
I never took a course in Art Appreciation. I
don’t comprehend stain glass art. The taking of colored glass and making
a jigsaw puzzle picture out of it is beyond me. I only put together such
puzzles while constantly referring to the picture it is supposed
resemble. Sure, some are works of art - the making and choosing just the
right piece of glass so that when sunlight passes through illuminates it
to create a picture. They are pretty! I can appreciate the skill in not
just choosing the right color of glass, but the cutting and assembling
of it to illustrate what the artist had in mind; the work in soldering
into position making the jigsaw puzzle come to life.
It is a type of
“stained glass” that has come to my mind - “stained glass” language.
Usually, when this phrase is mentioned it in reference to “Bible speak.”
Religious people “see” the picture of certain words that non-artists may
not comprehend. But, we use these words so frequently that we just
assume anyone with a little comprehension understands what we are
talking about. Or, at least we think we all have the same appreciation.
For instance, if I
asked what is faith, I would probably get the Book answer-“Faith is the
assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen
(Hebrews 11:1 ESV.” That is correct. But it is like saying a painting is
a mixture of pigment on a piece of canvas (or wood). It doesn’t really
explain what faith actually is and how it is demonstrated. The writer of
Hebrews takes considerable time to illuminate the meaning of the word
faith. “By faith Abel offered ... by faith Enoch was taken up ... by
faith Noah constructed an ark ... by faith Abraham obeyed, etc.” So,
this “stained glass” language word “faith” is more than an assurance or
conviction. It includes them. It is based on them and requires action,
obedience, sacrifice and steadfastness, the outgrowth of conviction.
If one does not
act on their “faith” where is the assurance or the conviction? If I
claim that this bridge is safe to use but always go around it, do I
really have faith in it? I can point to the State’s sign by the bridge
proclaiming it to be certified safe. But, where is my assurance in the
stoutness of the bridge? Where is my conviction? I can claim faith in
it, but it is to no avail unless it is tested or put to use. My family
visited the Royal Gorge in Colorado which claims to have the world’s
highest suspension bridge. It is a beautiful site. But, unless we cross
the bridge we miss out on its beauty.
Many people say
they have faith in God. I don’t doubt their commitment as they see it.
But, how can they have faith if they do not obey Him.
I recently was
involved in a discussion with a man who doubted the reality of the Bible
as God’s revelation to man. Yet, he claimed that the Bible was a story
about love and an encouragement for men to love one another. This,
according to him, was the purpose of the Bible. What? Is it not written,
“If you love Me, keep My commandments (John 14:15)”? Where is the proof
of the love he proclaims? John, in his first letter gives a threefold
test, three times (I guess that means that it is important.) - obedience
to God (keep His commandments), love for the Brethren (thereby showing
love for God) and a righteous life (the manner of living). This man was
using “stained glass” language of “faith” and missed the whole purpose
of man and of God and the meaning of the word “faith”.
What I am trying
to say is that we can appreciate the “stained glass” language. It is
beautiful! But, we need to be plain when talking with others. We need to
illuminate its beauty. But, we need to make sure that others see its
beauty, the image portrayed by the words we use. If we can do this, we
can put that endless debate of works vs faith to rest once and for all.
As long as we don’t define our terms in a clear manner we're pitting one
Scripture against another, just using “stained glass” language.
Jack (10/2/19)
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