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| January 3,2010 |
Gospel Life Community Newsletter
Monday Edition |
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Greetings!
Whether we know it or not, our Father takes a personal interest in each of His children and that He hears each of us when we call Him. May this New Year entrench us in the joy of knowing and serving Him, and bring us greater peace and a deeper intimacy with Him. The Church Staff |
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 | First Sunday |
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Pastor's Preview of Next Week's Topic 
Pastor John indicated in his remarks that as we enter another year we need to know what our destination is and the route we need to take to reach that destination. That will be the subject of his sermon next week.
Pastor Hansel reviewed for us what transpired last week during "The Lab" sessions with the youth. Chris Seger and Joey Miranda who taught the Filmmaking class each testified of their experience as they worked with their middle school and high school aged kids.
Linda Rivera gave us a short talk on her list of New Year's do's and don'ts with a Bible verse to support each item on her list.
Tony Jordan gave a testimony and an invitation to prayer ministry. He also announced his recent engagement to his fiancee, Norma. Congratulations! May the Lord bless you both as you plan for your life together.
We also had a joyful communion, inviting our guests to join in this memorial to the Lord's Supper.
Dave Tan blessed everyone by his presence and attendance. Pastor John led out in a solemn prayer for healing for Dave.
All three groups that take care of our fellowship lunches pooled their collective resources for yesterday's lunch. The groups will be back on their usual rotation beginning next Sunday. |
| Systematic Benevolence |
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The Habit of Giving 
There is no reference to tithing (giving back a tenth of one's income to support the Lord's work) in the New Testament. Instead, we read about believers selling what they had so they can share their goods with their fellow believers. However, we need to be practical in support of our church and the projects we embark in. Let us not wait for what is left after taking care of all our personal and family needs for the support of the church. Most times when we do this, what is left is a piddly little nothing for our offerings.
Systematic benevolence is a practice worth doing. We set aside a specific amount, for example, to support our church. This is much like setting aside so much out of our income for the utility bills that we know are coming up this month, and for the gasoline we will need for our cars, or for the groceries we will buy this week or next. By doing this we avoid getting to that place where come Sunday, we may have only a dollar of spare change in our pockets, and that's what we give, perhaps grudgingly at that, when the offering basket is passed. Let's make giving a habit. Like, we will feel like we've missed doing something when we are not able to give. God has promised that our deeds to help others, to help the church, to bless the needy, will be returned to us many times over. Test the Lord, and you will not be disappointed. |
| Baptism |
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There is a baptism scheduled for next Sunday, January 9 
If there are any others desirous to be baptized, having already accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior, please notify Pastor John or any of the pastoral staff so that they can be readied for baptism. |
| Marketplace Ministry |
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by
Os Hillman,
TGIF Today God Is First, Volume 1 | |
Freedom and Boundaries
"Now the serpent was craftier than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, 'Did God really say, "You must not eat from any tree in the garden"?'" - Genesis 3:1
God is big on giving man freedom and boundaries-freedom to manage what He has entrusted to us, boundaries to protect us from evil. The boundaries in the Garden of Eden were not set for the purpose of limiting Adam. Man got into trouble when he questioned those boundaries. God had provided everything he would need for life. He also entrusted man with responsibility to manage and work the Garden. God gave him freedom in that responsibility. God knows we were made to express ourselves creatively through our work.
Each of us must have freedom and boundaries in our work life. Whenever you are hired for a job, you must have the freedom to make certain decisions. You must have the authority to manage things within your area of expertise. You must also have limits within your area of responsibility. You need to know where those limits are and stay within them. Both freedom and boundaries are always under the umbrella of God's authority and our authorities at work.
Jesus understood these boundaries. When He was tempted for 40 days by the devil after being baptized, He was challenged by satan to go outside His freedom and boundaries. (See Matthew 4:1-11.) Satan said that He had the power to turn a stone into bread. Jesus was hungry and easily could have justified using His power to feed Himself. However, Jesus understood He could do nothing outside the boundaries of God's will for His life. It was God's will for Jesus to be tempted and to withstand the temptation. God was showing His Son that "man does not live on bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God" (Mt. 4:4b).
You and I are tempted every day to go beyond our God-ordained boundaries. Whether it is solving financial problems that have arisen through debt, making wrong decisions due to pressure, or manipulating someone in order to achieve our ends, it all represents rebellion toward God.
Ask God to show you His freedom and boundaries for your life. These are meant to enhance your life, not hinder it.
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| Greeters' Schedule |
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January 9 - Lelit/Tony Luciano
16 - Ruby/ Ding Dijamco
23 - Linda/Danny Santos
30 - Vonnie/Tito Cabrera
February 6 - Penny/Conrad Miranda
13 - Eunice Alinsod |
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