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THIS WEEK
4/22/18
275.4 329.2 250
| TODAY: |
Robbie Grogan
will
lead the Adult Class study in Galatians.
Steve
Wright, Morning & Afternoon Speaker
Bill Norman, in Charge of Afternoon Services
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WEDNESDAY: |
Paul Walker, 1 Samuel
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Paul Walker is doing the announcements
and Bill Norman 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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ATTENTTION!
Please make
sure that you lock your cars while
attending services. Suspicious activity
was reported in the parking lot. March 12 one
of the members had his catalytic
converter stolen. |
Special prayer request:
Update on Donna Walker: Hospice has been activated to
care for Donna’s health needs. She would enjoy short
visits but call first. For now, she will be able to make
short trips as she feels able.
There may be times when, even though she’d love to see
or talk to you, Donna won’t be able to do so. Thank you
for your understanding.
THIS AND THAT
Reminder: Several of our members are aroma intolerant.
Please keep this in consideration when you think about using cologne or
perfume.
MONTHLY ASSIGNMENTS:
(LET'S TAKE
RESPONSIBLITY! - If you can't perform a task, please find a
substitute!)
April:
Communion Preparation - The Grogan's
Collection Counting - David & Brian
FOOD PANTRY:
Nothing
needed ATT
.
REMEMBER:
Whenever you have a change of address,
e-mail address, or phone number, please let us know; the information is
needed for the Church Directory. You can e-mail the info to Denton
Lancaster at
webmaster@gregoryblvdcoc.org.
PRAYER
REQUESTS
SPECIAL PRAYER REQUESTS WILL BE LISTED BELOW FOR TWO WEEKS.
PLEASE RE-SUBMIT THE REQUEST IF YOU WANT THE PRAYERS
TO CONTINUE.
Cancer
– Donna Walker;
Sharon Amos (friend of Linda Terry) - successful surgery;
Kim Houseman (Friend of Nina); Pat Blodgett
(George's sister); Melba McDaniel;
Sarah Emory;
Sabrina Porter;
Eldon Cox;
Bobby May & wife
Kizzie; Steve Shelton (Nina's friend)
Other Health Concerns:Maxine
Morrison - torn muscle in back of the knee; Leroy
Cassidy, Tom's uncle - broken shoulder & hip;
Steven Vigus (Cody Gentry's father-in-law);
Makenzie Lederer (Blue Springs); Sandy Hummel - recovering well -
back at work in a wheelchair; Harriett Nelson - back pain: Paula Waldowski (Barb Landes'
sister); Jane Stoneman's son-in-law, Jim Lamm - brain tumor; Richard Meiner - heart attack; Neal Wagley (Donna's brother); Walt Ridenhour; Rita Prier; Dale & Wylie Herrington; Elden Grittman; Patti
Martin; Doug Twaddell;
Dylan Sparks; Jean Norman.
Elderly & Shut-ins:
Fred Rickner;
Chad Freeman;
Marge Sade; Daryl &
Janie Lancaster; Carol Grittman;
Jane Stoneman; Jerry & Jean Norman.
Others:
Juna's grandson passed away; Nina's daughter,
Amber; Coen, relative of Glenda Grogan, severe burns along with his father who
burned his hands trying to rescue him;
Robbie & Glenda's son; Stacy Green;
Alyssa Coombs;
Michael Rhodes;
Brandon Krahenbuhl.
Service Men & Women:
Rob Landes, Dillon Myers, Kyle Martin, Max Prier, Mason Hernandez - on a
ship off of South Korea, Kellie Brassfield, specifically requests
prayers for Mason Hernandez's wife and daughter, Jolee & Nina. Nina
misses her daddy terribly. Ayden Twaddell, Max Prier, Juna's granddaughter's husband
Nick - Guam.
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.
So many have serious illnesses…our prayers may help to relieve
suffering and bring comfort:
| Sharon Amos |
Pat Blodgett |
Eldon Cox |
Sarah Emory |
Elden Grittman |
Kim Houseman |
| Patti Martin |
Bobbie May |
Melba
McDaniel |
Richard
Meiner |
Sabrina
Porter |
Steve Shelton |
| Jackie Todd |
Doug
Twaddell |
Steven
Vigus |
Neal
Wagley |
Donna Walker |
Jerry Weichelt |
BIRTHDAYS AND
ANNIVERSARIES
APRIL ANNIVERSARIES
Walt & Juna Ridenhour (18).
APRIL BIRTHDAYS
Jean Norman (1), Alex & Nick Aguirre (3),
Rita Prier (6), Maxine Morrison (10), Janie Lancaster (13), Paul Walker
(14), Carol Grittman (24), and Denton Lancaster (24).
Scripture Gives Us Some
Wonderful Verses to Pray
For example, there's a great prayer to pray for
yourself and your loved ones in
Colossians 1:9-14 asking
God to "give you complete knowledge of his will and to give you
spiritual wisdom and understanding."
Paul explains the
purpose of this prayer:
1. So we'll live
lives worthy of the Lord - v.10 (Matthew 10:37-39).
2. So we'll please Jesus in every way - v.10
(Ephesians 5:8-17).
3. So we'll bear fruit in every good work -
v.10 (Ephesians 2:10).
4. So we'll grow in knowledge of God - v.10 (Jeremiah 9:23-24).
5. So we'll be strengthened with God's power
- v.11 (2 Corinthians 12:9).
6. So we'll have endurance, patience, and
thankfulness - v.11-12 (Romans 5:3-5).
And why do we want to pray for these?
Because God "has rescued us
from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his
dear Son, who purchased our freedom and forgave our sins." (Col.1:13)
Wow! If that doesn't knock your socks off, I'm not sure what will.
THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK
When a few of us used to get together after
church to play Risk or Rook, I could never remember the name of the song
I had to listen to. It was always identified as "the song with the
beat." Years later I learned it was the theme to "Midnight Express." (Is
that right, Rich?) I never remember the name of a song or artist who
sang it. So, when reading Ezekiel 8-11, yes a song came to mind- "Behind
Closed Doors when the lights are turned low...." (Whoever performed it,
I'm not sure.)
"Behind closed
doors, what one chooses to do behind closed doors is no one's business
but our own," has been a popular battle cry. "Keep your nose out of my
bedroom!" For the record-I HAVE NO INTEREST what you do behind closed
doors. No one knows but you and God. As Ezekiel learned, God is
concerned and if it is against His will, He will one day act. In the
Prophet's days, the priests and the leaders claimed "God does not see."
Yet, the Glory of the Lord left His Sanctuary, the place of grace, and
He proclaimed a thorough house cleaning. When God gets up from His
throne, we better wake up for the results will not be pretty! Jerusalem
was about to be destroyed, these leaders and priests were about to get a
wake-up call that could not be shut off by a snooze button.
God doesn't seem
to appreciate what "is done behind closed doors." In Ezekiel 8-11 what
was going on was an abomination to Him. What happened in the dark of
night was to hide it from the people they were "leading." He often uses
the illustration of working while it's day and night is a time of rest.
He often uses the night to illustrate the opportunity for the thief to
come and destroy. He said what is done in secret will be shouted from
the house tops.
The "Show Me"
state has what is called the "Sunshine Law" where the actions of the
Missouri government agencies are required to be transparent, meetings
are to be open to all. Yet, a recent test conducted by the State Auditor
found only a third of the information requests allowed by this Sunshine
Law to various state agencies were successfully answered timely
according to the law, some responses were received months later and some
requests were "blown off." Do we really require more out of our elected
representatives than God does of those who represent Him? I don't think
so!
So, what lessons can I learn from these
events from Ezekiel 8-11? What is done in secret is known to God, He
sees all. As hard as it was for the Prophet, he was given a message to
proclaim. It was heartbreaking to see the corruption, the abomination
committed in secret. It was twice as painful to have to proclaim the
destruction of his family, his country and all he holds dear. But God,
did not leave the Prophet without hope! God promised out of the children
of Israel in exile God would call His people and they would return to
Him. These people would not have hearts of stone, but would walk in His
ways and be His people and He would be their God (Ezekiel 11:17-20). The
lesson from this text is that I should seek God and follow Him.
As to what happens
"Behind Closed Doors"? This is God's business! He will take care of it.
I need to make sure that whatever happens "Behind my Closed Door"
glorifies Him as I seek recovery from this strange and scattered land.
Jack
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