Peace in the Midst of the Storm...

As catastrophic as these natural disasters can be, in many ways, they are not all that different from the storms of life that confront us on a daily basis. They can be the storms that we experience as the result of the loss of a loved one, or the loss of a job that provided income we counted on for years, or even the tragic loss of a marriage that has simply begun to fall apart at the seams.   

Whether your storm is the result of some natural disaster or simply the result of dramatic changes in the circumstances of your life, God's desire is that we experience peace in the midst of our storms. One of the many passages that continue to be a source of great comfort and strength for my family during these tumultuous times is what the Apostle Paul said to the believers at Philippi. In Philippians 4:6-7, he says: "Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."  

I believe the peace that God desires for His children to experience is not merely that which will come to us in the midst of a storm, but it is the peace that can be ours long before there is a storm on the horizon. It is the peace that comes when we are willing to present our concerns and worries to Him each and every day, trusting that our cares, as well as our lives, have been placed in good hands.

Pastor Charles A. Tapp

Sligo/WAU Unity Day

On Saturday, September 17, 2011, during the 8:45 & 11:15 a.m. worship services,our guest speaker will be Barry C. Black, the 62nd Chaplain of the United States Senate. He was elected to this position on June 27, 2003, becoming the first African-American, the first Seventh-day Adventist, and the first military chaplain to hold the office of chaplain to the United States Senate. He previously served for over 27 years as a chaplain in the United States Navy, rising to the rank of Rear Admiral (UH) and ending his career as the Chief of Navy Chaplains, commanding the United States Navy Chaplain Corps. He officially retired from the Navy on August 15, 2003. In addition to opening the Senate each day in prayer, Chaplain Black provides counseling and spiritual care for Senators, their families, and staff - a combined constituency of over seven thousand people. We hope you can join us!  

Chaplain Black is the best-selling author of his autobiography entitled From the Hood to the Hill, as well as The Blessing of Adversity. Both of these  books are available at  Potomac Adventist Book & Health Food Store.