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Prayer Corner
The Lord commands us to be baptized as a testimony
to what has happened in our hearts. We are excited to see four people being
baptized Sunday, April 25th (could be a few more too) and we want to pray that
God will empower these new believers to fantastic growth. Take a minute and
pray right now for these new believers being baptized this weekend...
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Vision
Church is a family, not a business or a social club
or entertainment. We believe this and we want to integrate each age group into
the whole. For this reason we've decided to have a "Family Day" on May 9th.
Most folks celebrate Mother's Day on May 9th but we wanted to
include the entire family. So be prepared for a short service (we're thinking
about a shock collar for Pastor Pat J) and be even more prepared
for kickball and other games and fun in the park at 11 a.m. Family Day on May 9th
- don't miss it.
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This Coming Sunday, April 25, 2010
If you say you believe God
is everywhere but then do things "in secret", just because you're alone, then
you don't REALLY believe God is everywhere. If you really believed, you
wouldn't do those things "in secret. This isn't supposed to make us paranoid
but it does challenge our belief system. If I really believe that what I
believe is really real - it will change how I act. In the same way, if God
commands me to act, but I don't - then I have to wonder if I really believe God
has the right to tell me what to do or if I really believe God will give me the
strength to obey Him. God will never command us to do anything He won't also
empower us to do. When we act in faith, not based on our own desires or in some
attempt to manipulate God to do what we want, but in response to the lead of
His Spirit - He will do incredible things in our lives. We just have to act.
Come on out this Sunday as we study Mark Ch 3: 1 - 6 to find out more...See ya
Sunday. Coming up.... May 2 Mark 3: 7 - 19, "Chosen" Being part of the plan of God. May 9 Matthew 18: 4 - 5 "Enter the Kingdom" Family
Day: service ENDS at 11 a.m. for games and fellowship in the park.
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A Word of Encouragement
1 John 3: 18 - 20 (NKJV)
My
little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in
truth. 19 And by this we know that we are of the truth,
and shall assure our hearts before Him. 20 For if our heart
condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and knows all things.
The only real power the
Devil has over us is lies and fear. Often we listen to his lies about how
pathetic we are, how we've done this or that or, worse, how we just don't
measure up to what someone else is doing in their family or their church. We
join into this lie with self-criticism and the temptation to quit even trying
to live a life pleasing to God. But notice how practicing real love results in
two things: assurance that we really do belong to God and this practice defeats
our tendency, magnified by our self-criticism, toward apathy. When I feel like maybe
God is just "done" with me and when I feel reminded of my many, many faults I
need to remind myself (and the Devil) that the Bible says: "I can do ALL things
through Christ who strengthens me". And then, to further defeat this
depressing, heavy feeling I need to get busy in the service of other folks. The
love spoken of in this verse is a practical, hands-on effort toward seeking the
highest and best interest of others, even at our own expense. When you
volunteer in the children's ministry, take food to a sick person, take time out
to pray with a hurting friend or get involved as an usher, with a sincere heart
that is not self-seeking (that's REAL love), then God WILL begin to speak
assurance into your heart.
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Future Quest
Our new promo video is up on
the futurequestaz.info website. We need to say thank you times 10,000 to Rob
Chapman from Foothills
Church for making the
video for us. We begin meeting with other youth and senior pastor's all over
town with this video and promo flyers to promote Future Quest - so be in
prayer.
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Thank You
Thank you Jill Reid for
being willing to drive a rental truck all the way from Newark, California
back to Surprise with a donation of video games for our church. Our church was
given 10 arcade quality game systems but they were in a warehouse in Newark. Jill volunteered
to bring them back - and that's a 10 hour trip. Thanks Jill - you're awesome.
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Special Announcements
The
Truth Project - men's ministry, Monday nights at Joe Corea's house. You can still join
us at 7 p.m. for this fantastic Focus on the Family production.
Sunday,
April 25 -
Baptism. Denny and Betty's house, after church, 1 p.m. Info and directions are
at the visitors table Sunday morning. If you want to be baptized, let the
office staff or Pastor Pat know.
Sunday,
May 9th - Family Day. Shortened service, family games in the park, goodies =
priceless.
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