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NEWSLETTER
Wednesday Edition |
August 15, 2012 |
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Greetings!
Do you ever wonder why you are allowed to go through difficult times or circumstances? Many times Christians assume that being a follower of Jesus should exempt them from problems. Jesus even warned His disciples to expect tribulation (John 16:33), and, after all, Jesus Himself wasn't spared afflictions. Isaiah 53:3 called Him "a man of sorrows."
Throughout history trials have been the common experience of mankind. When you look back on such situations from God's perspective, you gain insight that helps you to respond wisely in another future situation.
Hardships achieve something good in your lives, but the benefits you experience will depend on how you respond to these challenges.
The Church Staff |
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A Word from the Lord
At our church staff meeting last week Pastor Jessie related a "word from the Lord" that came through Pastor Olai in Manila for Gospel Life Walnut: "Lord, please shorten the days of their agony..."
The words appear to be appropriate to the challenges that are before us. Let us all continue to put our complete trust and dependence on God who "owns the cattle upon a thousand hills." His words do not fail. | |
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Third Tuesday
Fund-Raising Dinner, August 21
Our monthly fund-raising dinner is coming up next Tuesday evening at 6:30 p.m. We will go once again to the Capital Seafood Restaurant located at Gale Ave. by the Nogales St. intersection in Rowland Heights.
This is the place, if you remember, where each table of ten is served a couple of appetizers, ten different dishes, plus dessert. As you enjoy your dinner, you are also helping raise funds for designated church projects, as you have in the past, for the Worship Ministry, the sound system, flood relief, and other worthwhile projects.
Please call Johnny Chua, (909) 228-2162, for your reservations. Invite your friends and other family members to join us. Those who attend your small group fellowship who do not come to our church are most welcome.
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Bible Ministry
Monday evening SGF project
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This may be getting redundant but we don't want for you to forget that the bible and book prison ministry of the Monday evening Small Group Fellowship continues.
This is the group coordinated by Ernie and Ruth Jordan, one of whose members, Luis Diaz, challenged us to join in this bible and book drive a couple of weeks back.
We do not have a current book count, but we will keep you informed as more bibles and books preferably with Christian themes are brought in.
There is a large white box in the church foyer where you can deposit the bibles and books that you bring in. Please make sure they have soft/paperback covers and no names, addresses or other personal information is written on them. | | |
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Ministry of Grace Corner
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"While this ministry is not to be viewed as obligatory, it requires intentionality, planning and organization."
2 Corinthians 9:3-5 "But I am sending the brothers in order that our boasting about you in this matter should not prove hollow, but that you may be ready, as I said you would be. For if any Macedonians come with me and find you unprepared, we -- not to say anything about you -- would be ashamed of having been so confident. So I thought it necessary to urge the brothers to visit you in advance and finish the arrangements for the generous gift you had promised. Then it will be ready as a generous gift, not as one grudgingly given."
(From the booklet published by Gospel Life Community Church, March 2011, "Christian Principles of Resource Mangement and Investment.") | |
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Marketplace Ministry
Settling Disputes
"Casting the lot settles disputes and keeps strong opponents apart." Proverbs 18:18 We prayed about it. We discussed it. My friend had one desire; I had a different one. "Okay, let's settle the issue the way the early Church settled matters when an agreement could not be achieved. Let's flip a coin." "You must be joking!" my friend lamented. "No, the early Church cast lots often to determine a course of direction or even select the disciple who would take Judas' place." "Okay," my friend agreed. We flipped the coin and the matter was quickly settled. In the Old Testament there are many examples of casting lots for determining a decision. We hear little of this method today. Most of us do not want to release the decision process to this seemingly "flippant" process; yet the Lord says, "The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the Lord" (Prov. 16:33). Flipping a coin is the equivalent to casting a lot. It removes our own opinions and leaves the final outcome to the Lord. Pray before you take such an action. It will surprise you who is willing to submit a decision to the Lord and who isn't. It removes the element of control from both parties. I believe the Lord would first have us make decisions through agreement and continued prayer for the decision. However, there are times when this approach can be the quickest and simplest. It removes each person's temptation to lord it over the other. Cast the lot and settle the dispute.
(Today God Is First (TGIF) devotional message, Copyright by Os Hillman, Marketplace Leaders.) | | |
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CHURCH GREETERS' SCHEDULE
August 19 - Lelit & Tony Luciano
August 26 - - Ruby & Ding Dijamco
September 2 - Linda & Danny Santos
September 9 - Vonnie & Tito Cabrera
September 16 - Penny & Conrad Miranda
September 23 - Eunice Alinsod | |
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Coming Up...
Wednesday, August 15, 7:30 p.m. - Intercessors' Meeting - Fellowship Hall
Sunday, August 19, 10:00 a.m. - Praise & Worship
11:00 a.m. - Good News Hour - Pastor Tony Luciano
Tuesday, August 21, 6:30 p.m. - Monthly Fellowship Dinner
at the Capital Seafood Restaurant
Gale Ave. at Nogales St., Rowland Heights, CA
Friday evening and Saturday morning, September 21 and 22
7:30 p.m. and 8:30 a.m.
Men's Breakfast Group Retreat | | |
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A Reminder to All Lunch Groups
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Please do not forget that each of our lunch groups are also responsible for clean-up after lunch, so group members, stay a while and help your other group members to vacuum the fellowship hall floor and the church sanctuary, foyer and porch; to clean pots, pans and other utensils used in serving food; to clean the rest rooms in the modular and in the church, and to make sure that the trash containers are emptied and new plastic liners are put on these containers. Please deposit all collected trash bags in the garbage bin located in the parking area just below the modular buildings. | |
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Please appropriately mark money gift envelopes to help flood victims in the Philippines and deposit them in the "treasure chest" sitting against the back wall of the church sanctuary. |
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| Meditation |
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"He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty" (Psalm 91:1).
Dear God, though man-made shelter may fall in the storms and fury of nature and war, nothing can destroy the strong and everlasting shelter I have in the shadow of the all powerful, Almighty God.
Thank You for keeping my soul and calming my spirit. Thank You, too, for taking care of those who are being affected by tornadoes, typhoons, and other storms of nature. thank You for protecting them, providing for their needs, and comforting those who have lost their shelter and possessions in storms that have passed through. May every need be met through your grace and mercy, and also through the assistance of the church, volunteers, and government aid where appropriate. In the name of my precious Savior Jesus, amen. |
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