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Prayer Corner
FourteenSix is growing and we believe God is going to give our growth a serious
boost in January too. We've decided to look ahead and think about leasing a
facility we can use 24/7 instead of just once a week - a home of our own. Some
people think it's a little early to think along these lines, considering our
budget, but I think we need to start praying about it right now. We have a
facility in mind and plan to begin negotiations to lease it immediately after
our next mailer in January - but we need to begin praying to see if this is
God's will and ask Him to open up a door if it is His will. We need to pray for
direction from the Spirit before we begin talks with the owners. We also need
to know from the Lord if January is the right time to begin these talks. Take a
minute and pray right now.... |
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This Coming Sunday, November 29, 2009
The Manhattan
Manifesto, a 30 page document, was recently released calling all Christians to
stand up against the cultural threats to our religious freedom that are bearing
down on followers of Jesus. This manifesto outlines in grave detail how our
freedom to follow Jesus is being slowly eroded, even in America. Institutions
that once embodied "the American way", such as the Boy Scouts, are being
stymied by legal challenges and harassed by protestors. Hate crime legislation
threatens to make it a crime to even publically say "homosexuality is wrong",
some churches are losing their 501c3 status and outright persecution of
followers of Jesus is becoming more and more commonplace. What can we do in the
face of these challenges? The church at Smyrna was under the pressure of
persecutions we can barely imagine and Jesus had something to say to them that
we need to understand and copy in our own times. Come on out this Sunday as we
continue our study of Revelation chapter 2 with a message titled (part 2:
Smyrna) "To the Angel of the Church in Surprise write..." See ya Sunday. Coming up.... |
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A Word of Encouragement
2
Thessalonians 2: 1 - 2 (NKJV)
Now,
brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering
together to Him, we ask you, 2 not to be soon shaken in mind or
troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as if from us, as though
the day of Christ had come.
The
word "shaken" in Greek is sä-lyü'-ō
and it implies being tossed about, as from the winds of a great storm. The word
really implies being unhinged in mind or terrified. It is easy to allow fear
and anxiety to overwhelm us when we look around us and see so many blows
against all that we believe is holy and good. These gusts of cultural assault
come from all directions and, like a storm tossed sea, it can appear
overwhelming, even terrifying.
But Paul
wants us NOT to allow these things to "unhinge" our confidence in God. Many
followers of Jesus fret and cry out "what is happening to our world? What are
we to do?" But we are to consciously keep ourselves from being filled with fear
or anxiety, even in the face of stormy seas, because we have been warned that
these times would come. And also, with this warning, we've been given the
promise that God is in control. God holds the unveiling of the end of things in
His hand and He holds our eternal destinies. There is nothing to fear, for even
if we face physical loss in this life it is nothing in comparison to the rich,
eternal reward promised to all those who follow Him. So, let's remember the
last 2 verses of this chapter in 2 Thessalonians, and continue standing firm
for our king in these final and crooked generations: "Now may our Lord Jesus Christ
Himself, and our God and Father, who has loved us and given us everlasting
consolation and good hope by grace, comfort your hearts and establish your in
every good word and work."
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Thank You
Thank you
Kristina and Kyle Sanford (and children's ministry team) for composing a
Christmas kids skit for this month. Your help with our kids is inspiriting. And
also to Tom and Athena Bonner who have organized a Christmas Eve Candle light
service in the park - thanks friends.
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Vision
Developing
deep discipleship within our people is an enduring part of the vision God has
given us. Small groups are an important means to this end and we are committed
to establishing and growing our small groups. Each group is tasked with
developing its own practical servant evangelism outreach and investing in group
members for the long haul. Look forward to new small groups being started in
January.
We're
trying to get the word out about FourteenSix and I need your help.
Will you set aside just $37.50 each week for 4 weeks, put it in an
envelope marked "invitations" and put it in the offering basket?
If I can find 40 people to do this, we will raise most of the money
we need to send out our next set of 30,000 invitations to our church. Email me today at pat@fourteensix.com
and let me know I can count on you for the next 4 Sundays.
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Special Announcements
December
5 - Women's ministry breakfast: At Athena Bonner's house, 9 a.m.
December
6 - All Church After Service FEAST. Meet the family in the park after
church for hot dogs and other goodies.
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