NEWS NOTES April 20, 2025

 

Now after the Sabbath, toward the dawn of the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. And behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. And for fear of him the guards trembled and became like dead men. But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Matthew 28:1-6 ESV

 

Welcome and happy Resurrection Day.  Today we are again meeting with the Norwalk church of Christ congregation on Ferina Street.  Much work has been done at our building to remediate the physical and smoke damage, but there is still more to do before we can use it.  We thank our brothers and sisters meeting in Norwalk for inviting us in and opening their facilities so we can still have our potluck today.  Please stay for the fellowship and enjoy a meal together.  Our other services continue to be virtual via the GoTo application.  Contact us at comelearnofme5909@gmail.com for times and meeting codes.

 

Upcoming events:  Ben Fry will be our speaker May 11, which is also “Mother’s Day.”  Bakersfield Fairfax is hosting a Memorial Day meeting May 24-26. 

 

 

His Death & Resurrection

Adapted from a message given 3/27/2016

 

He [Christ] was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake. Through Him you believe in God, who raised Him from the dead and glorified Him, and so your faith and hope are in God. I Peter 1:20-21NIV

 

Jesus' death and resurrection were not just events, but central to God’s plan for man’s salvation.  God orchestrated it according to His will.

 

Old Testament prophecies provided numerous tiny details about how Christ’s life, and especially His death, would be.  For example, Zechariah prophesized Jesus would enter Jerusalem for the last time on a donkey colt (9:9) and would be betrayed for 30 pieces of silver (11:12-13).  Psalm 22 said His hands and feet would be pierced, lots would be cast for his inner garment, spectators would mock Him, and even gives words He would speak.  The Gospels record Zechariah’s and Psalm 22’s fulfillment (Matthew 21:1-11, Matthew 27:6-10, 42-46, and John 19: 23-37).

 

Jesus plainly told his disciples of his future death and resurrection the third day (Matthew 16:21-23, Matthew 20:17-19, and Mark 8:31). These teaching should have prepared them.  Still they were caught off-guard.

 

The jealous Jewish leaders thought they had cleverly arranged for the Romans to kill Jesus, breaking many of their own laws to do so.  Illegal acts included arresting Jesus at night on the eve of a high holy day, beating Him before a trial, and seeking false witnesses.  But the false witnesses couldn’t agree and Christ didn’t answer their false accusations.  Finally when asked if He was God’s son, Jesus answered in the affirmative (Matthew 26: 57-68) and He was found guilty of telling the truth.

 

Pilate acted out of character in sentencing Jesus to death to appease the Jewish leaders.  He never cared about offending them or killing Jews.  Luke 13:1 refers to a time when he had a group of Jews killed and their blood mixed with their sacrifices.  History tells us he stole part of the Temple tax to build an aqueduct.  Yet when Pilate came face to face with Jesus, he hesitated and even wondered aloud, “What is truth?” (John 18:38).  God worked Pilate and the Jewish leaders to His means.

 

Jesus said to him [Thomas], “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. John 14:6 ESV

NEWS NOTES April 6, 2025

 

It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. Galatians 5:1 NIV 1984

 

Welcome.  Today we are meeting with the Norwalk church of Christ congregation on Ferina Street.  Our building sustained smoke and heat damage Friday night from a fire at our neighbor’s property.  We have a company doing smoke remediation and they want us out of our building today. 

 

What a blessing - The winds from earlier in the week had calmed down, discouraging spread of the accidental fire.  No one was injured and the fire fighters safely rescued animals from the property.  We are especially grateful to the Long Beach Fire Department for sending a large response team that ensured the favorable outcome for our church building and the residences on the other side of the fire engulfed structure.  We thank our brothers and sisters meeting in Norwalk for inviting us in. 

 

Our other services continue to be virtual via the GoTo application.  The nine digits codes for those meetings are available by emailing us at:  comelearnofme5909@gmail.com

 

As mentioned last week, we plan to have a potluck meal together on Sunday April 20.  Here is a link for the “He Restores My Soul” segment from Lee Wright’s 23 Psalm teaching for Military Broadcast Radio (MBRadio): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kvH6dJL39r4

 

 

Watch Out!

Adapted from a message by Samuel Manning 7/18/2021

 

"Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves.  By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thorn bushes, or figs from thistles?” Matthew 7:15-16 NIV 1984

 

We often refer to Matthew chapters 5-7 as the “Sermon on the Mount.” Crowds followed Jesus to see His miracles.  But on a mountainside, Jesus gathered His disciples - those who weren’t just interested in the miracles - and talked to them about really important topics. 

 

In Matthew 7 starting with verse 15, He warns “watch out.”  This isn’t just good advice, but a warning of a real danger with real harm.  Beware of false prophets - people who deliberately make up religious doctrines to deceive people into believing lies.  The whole chapter of II Peter 2 is devoted to warnings about false prophets.  Near the end, Peter talks about false freedom: They [false prophets] promise them freedom, while they themselves are slaves of depravity--for a man is a slave to whatever has mastered him.  If they have escaped the corruption of the world by knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and are again entangled in it and overcome, they are worse off at the end than they were at the beginning. II Peter 2:19-20 NIV 1984

 

Freedom in our American mind is that I can do whatever I want.  False prophets feed on the “do whatever you want” doctrine, entrapping themselves and those who believe them into a slavery of moral and physical corruptness with physical and eternal consequences.  Paul describes the false freedoms as rotting, bad things, a disgusting stench The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. Galatians 5:19-21 NIV 1984

 

Real freedom is only found in doing what Christ wants us to do: live a Spirit-filled life comparable to a genuine, sweet fruit of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23).  Cultivating these attributes leads to a happier life.  Part of the way we are created in God’s likeness is that we are happier emotionally and spiritually doing good for others rather than indulging in selfish desires or bemoaning what we don’t have.  For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Ephesians 210 NIV 1984

 

So watch out!  Know from the Bible what God really wants and don’t be fooled by false prophets and the allures (fish hooks) of the world.

NEWS NOTES March 30, 2025

 

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. Romans 12:1-2 NKJV

 

Welcome to our in-person worship service.  Other services continue to be virtual via the GoTo application.  Please email us at comelearnofme5909@gmail.com for the nine digits codes for those meetings.   

 

 

Do  We  Need  the  Old  Testament?

Adapted from a message by Jay Graham 3/4/2025

 

For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope. Romans 15:4 NKJV

 

We have started a chronological study of the Bible in our Wednesday evening assembly.  Recently we were discussing a story in Genesis and a brother brought up something he had read online that “New Testament (NT) Christians do not need to study the Old Testament (OT).”  An older brother then observed that it was his understanding that churches of Christ from two generations back did not study the OT.  I pointed out, to my knowledge, the churches I work with have always and continue to study the OT Scriptures along with the NT.  This led to a discussion where we concluded the OT provides important information we continue to need and we should study it for many reasons.

 

All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.  II Timothy 3:16 NKJV

 

While a person can become a Christian knowing only the basic NT plan of salvation, we grow in the Lord with knowledge of both the NT and OT.  The OT helps us better understand the NT. We come to a surer understanding and appreciation of Christ, His work for us, His Church, and what the Lord expects from His people in their daily lives as we examine the OT Scriptures.  The principles and lessons established throughout the OT still apply to our lives and help us in maturing spiritually.

 

For instance, consider some topics that we would know nothing about if not for these OT Scriptures.  We are to be the Lord’s priests today (I Peter 2:9).  How can we learn what a priest is and does if we do not study the OT?  We need to understand Jesus’ sacrifice for us on that cross as well as the importance of offering the Lord our lives as a “living sacrifice” as taught in Romans 12:1-2.  How would we learn what a sacrifice was and entailed if we do not study the OT?  How would we learn what the divine principle of “holiness” is without the OT?  Just consider Christ’s Church itself.  The OT Tabernacle and Temple were types and shadows of the  Lord’s Church made clear in the NT.

 

Consider the vast number of people, lessons, and principles in the NT where the inspired writers referred to and used the OT to help us better understand what God desires of us.  The Gospel of Matthew opens with Christ’s earthly genealogy starting with Abraham.  If we don’t know who Abraham was, how can we understand why Matthew starts with him?  The apostles Paul and Peter and the writer of Hebrews used many parallels from the OT to establish NT principles.  Jesus Himself, used OT thoughts and lessons in His teaching.  It could be argued, He only used lessons from the OT to teach, since that was all mankind had at the time!

 

We should search the OT scriptures as the Bereans did (Acts 17:10-12).  Yes, we are under the New Covenant, for that is where our doctrine comes from for the Lord’s Church.  But we dare not dismiss the OT Scriptures, for if we do, we will miss out on many of the wonders and teachings that help us understand God, His love for us, and the consistency of His expectations for mankind.

NEWS NOTES March 23, 2025

 

The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.  Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge.  There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard.  Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them hath he set a tabernacle for the sun,  Which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, and rejoiceth as a strong man to run a race.  His going forth is from the end of the heaven, and his circuit unto the ends of it: and there is nothing hid from the heat thereof.  Psalm 19:1-6 KJV

 

Welcome to our in-person worship service.  Other services continue to be virtual via the GoTo application.  

 

We are sad to report that Marlene Mae Bown (88), LuAnn Woody’s mother, died March 19 after several years of failing health.  She was a long time member of the church of Christ in Martensdale, Iowa and preceded in death by her husband Alvin, son Randy, and son-in-law Tom Woody.  Services will be March 29 in Indianola, Iowa. 

 

 

Thinking About Time

Adapted from a message by Michael Manning (3/21/2021)

 

For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.  He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake.  Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God. I Peter 1:18-21 NIV 1984

 

Early in Creation, God set in place the natural processes and laws that still govern how we reckon time.  They are astonishing.  For instance, here are only two times of the year when the Earth's axis is tilted neither toward nor away from the sun, resulting in a "nearly" equal amount of daylight and darkness at all latitudes.  Last Thursday was one of those two times - the vernal equinox, meaning the sun was directly over the equator, marking the beginning of Spring.  We never have the sun directly overhead here because we are north of the Tropic of Cancer. 

 

King Hezekiah, who was one of the good kings of ancient Judah, had a miraculous encounter with time separate from the natural processes.  In II Kings 20, he was about 14 years into his reign when he fell gravely ill.  The Prophet Isaiah told him to put his house in order because he was going to die.  Instead Hezekiah prayed earnestly to the Lord.  God heard his prayer and granted him 15 additional years of life.  God provided a miraculous sign as proof of the “deal” by making the light shadow go back the ten steps it had gone down on the stairway of Ahaz.  In effect, time went backwards.

 

Hezekiah had an extra 15 years of health, wealth, and time to father an heir to the throne.  But he was short-sighted in not raising a godly son and in showing off the wealth of the Temple to his enemies the Babylonians.  Hezekiah was also selfish as he wasn’t concern about the future of Judah since God had promised him peace in his life time (II Kings 20:19).

 

Jesus Christ, on the other hand, left the wealth of heaven for earthly poverty to train up strangers who would become his “brothers and sisters.”  He was willing to die a tortuous death for all mankind.

 

King Hezekiah and Jesus Christ used their time on earth differently.  How do we spend our time here?  How will you spend it eternally?

NEWS NOTES March 16, 2025

 

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.  Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Matthew 5:3-6 NIV 1984

 

Welcome to our in-person worship service.  Other services continue to be virtual.  LaVerne congregation is hosting a potluck and songfest today.  Charles Fry is their speaker both morning and afternoon.  We will broadcast Charles afternoon message for our 4 PM meeting. 

 

 

Mercy

Adapted from a message by Douglas McKenzie (10/28/2018)

 

Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Matthew 5:7

 

Mercy denotes compassion and love expressed in tangible ways, not just kind feelings or emotions.  Mercy is an intrinsic characteristic of God.

 

The world, however, doesn’t have good examples of mercy.  Look at professional sports and politicians campaigning for a public office.  The World War I peace conditions were so mean that they led to World War II twenty years later.  The consequence for killing an opponent in many video games is that you get another life.  Mottos of “take no prisoners; show no mercy” are extolled in many industries as “smart business.”

 

God, who is all powerful, is not like that.  Early on Jesus defined a series of qualities and attitudes God values.  We commonly call these the “Beatitudes” - each begins with “Blessed are” (Matthew 5:1-12). These are foundational and build on each other.  Reinforced concrete has to be cured before you can build on it.  We are the same.

 

The first four “Blessed’s” are about our relationship with God.  Jesus starts with the “poor in spirit” because until we have a deep sense of our spiritual destitution, we will not seek the kingdom of God.  Until we have “mourned” - experiencing the loneliness of separation from God, we can’t be comforted in his kingdom.  We must humble ourselves in “meekness” and recognize our state of spiritual starvation in order to be filled.

 

Number five - being merciful - is about our relationship with others.   To be like Christ, we have to have compassion.  We want to get to know people’s circumstances and help others.  Each of us must grow and mature in the Lord to become merciful.  And being merciful is a requirement if we expect God to be merciful to us.

 

We can’t have a blind spot to mercy in legalism like the Pharisees did.  We need to have a soft side in presenting the right way to the Kingdom of Heaven.  Jesus is Lord and the only way of salvation (I Corinthians 9:19-22).  Hope, renewal, and mercy are key to salvation.  Jesus came to encourage, “come follow me” (Matthew 4:17-20); “go, and sin no more” (John 8:1-11).

 

What is it like to know the joys, anxieties, and hopes that others have?  Jesus wept. John 11:35

 

How blessed are those who show mercy.

NEWS NOTES March 9, 2025

 

Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And after He had fasted for forty days and forty nights, He then became hungry. And the tempter came and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.” Matthew 4:1-3 NASB

 

Welcome to our in-person worship service.  We are back on Daylight Savings Time, which means our internal clocks will take some time to adjust to getting up “an hour earlier.”  On the plus side, it feels like more daylight in the afternoons.  Other services continue to be virtual via the GoTo application.  

 

LaVerne congregation is hosting a potluck and songfest next Sunday March 16.  Charles Fry is their speaker both morning and afternoon.  We will broadcast Charles afternoon message for our 4 PM meeting.

 

A memorial service for Dennis Fry is planned for Saturday March 22 at 11 AM at the Bakersfield Fairfax church of Christ.  Lunch to follow.

 

 

In the Wilderness

Adapted from a message by Jay Graham (2/23/25)

 

As Pharaoh approached, the sons of Israel looked, and behold, the Egyptians were coming after them, and they became very frightened; so the sons of Israel cried out to the Lord. Then they said to Moses, “Is it because there were no graves in Egypt that you have taken us away to die in the wilderness? Why have you dealt with us in this way, bringing us out of Egypt? Is this not the word that we spoke to you in Egypt, saying, ‘Leave us alone so that we may serve the Egyptians’? For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness!” Exodus 14:10-12 NASB

 

The Wilderness is depicted in a variety of ways in the Scripture.  The Israelites wandered for 40 years in a physical wilderness to learn to trust in God so they could escape the emotional wilderness and idolatrous shackles of Egyptian slavery (Exodus 14). 

 

Jesus was led into the wilderness to be tempted by Satan.  Throughout his time on this earth he faced challenges and struggles, pain and suffering.  Isaiah prophesized He would be a “A Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief” (Isaiah 53:3).  Jesus did no wrong, lacked no faith, yet He agreed to learn what it was like to be a man, to suffer as a human: Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from the things which He suffered. And having been perfected, He became the source of eternal salvation for all those who obey Him, being designated by God as High Priest according to the order of Melchizedek. (Hebrews 5:8-10)

 

“The Wilderness” implies a place of discomfort to the point of hardship.  Perhaps a series of trials, troubles, or consecutive difficulties resulting from our own bad choices.  Sometimes we are in the wilderness due to life’s circumstances, not because of any fault of our own.  But a wilderness is also a place in our lives where we can learn spiritual lessons.  Many of these lessons are things we need to help us to make wiser and more godly decisions going forward.  They should be periods of growth to strengthen our relationship with the Lord and help us in future spiritual crisis.  Most of the important lessons I have learned in my life were when things were not going well. 

 

Paul told Timothy to “exercise yourself toward godliness” (I Timothy 4:6-11).  “Exercise” means effort, labor, pushing yourself to overcome adversities, to become stronger in a good, godly way.  Trials can teach us greater patience, humility, submission to God.  Diamonds are made under pressure.  As a result of the pressure, they become something very precious.  Our trials are similar.  They are uncomfortable situations, but the end result is we are more precious and valuable to God and others. 

 

Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up. James 4:10 NKJV

NEWS NOTES March 2, 2025

 

“Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me.In My Father’s house are manymansions; if it were not so,I would have told you.I go to prepare a place for you.And if I go and prepare a place for you,I will come again and receive you to Myself; thatwhere I am, there you may be also.And where I go you know, and the way you know.” John 14:1-4 NKJV

 

Welcome to our in-person worship service.  Other services continue to be virtual via the GoTo application.  Izzy Mounce-Hampton brought Ulises and Marianna to church last Sunday.  Both are wonderful additions to our children’s class.  We were also glad to have Gustavo Martinez, Amparo and children.

 

Their Day of the Lord: We are sad to report the passing of another two long-time faithful Christian men.  

 

Ron Murry (87) died suddenly February 26.  While Ron has been dealing with Parkinson’s Disease, this was very unexpected.  Ron leaves behind his wife Della, son Michael, two grandchildren Clayton and Kelly, and three step children: Cindy (Peter) Filippi, Jon (Sylvia) Acree, and Troy (Tamara) Acree.  He was preceded in death by his first wife Pat, son Timothy, parents Ruby and Emmett Murry, and brother Bob.  We remember Ron’s unwavering faith, loving care of Pat, and desire to always be pleasant, useful, and helpful to others.  Memorial service for Ron is March 8 (Saturday) at the Anaheim church of Christ at 11 am with lunch to follow.

 

Dennis Fry, Charles Fry’s oldest brother died February 28, nine days away from his 87th birthday.  Dennis’ health had been failing for some time, yet his peaceful, sudden death was still a surprise.  Born with Spastic paralysis, anything requiring balance was difficult for Dennis.  Despite his disability, Dennis worked for many years and was always helpful, first to his grandparents Lizzie and Ed Oxley, and then to his parents Allie and Charlie Fry as they aged.  He was a great favorite amongst his nieces and nephews through two generations.  Dennis, a member of the Fairfax Bakersfield church of Christ leaves behind his brothers Norman, Roger, Daryl (Laura), and Charles (Sue) Fry; and sisters Freda (Gene) Martin, Myrna (Larry) Oehlerts, and Wanda (Luke) Tillet.  He was preceded in death by his parents, grandparents, sisters-in-law Linda and Carol Sue Fry, and niece Brenda Martin.  Funeral is pending.

 

 

“Seek the Lord and Live”

Adapted from comments David LaRue made at the Memorial Service for

Paul F. McKenzie (9/1995)

 

Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit”; whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that.” James 4:13-15 NKJV

 

Of the three patriarchs Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the Genesis account tells us that each “breathed his last and died” (Genesis 25:8, 35:29, and 49:33).  This contrasts with God beginning mankind through Adam: "And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.” Genesis 2:7

 

As we remember our loved ones who have passed on, we should be reminded of just how frail the human body is, and how quickly death can over take us.  The scriptures compare our lives to a vapor that quickly disappears (James 4:14).  Since we have so little time, it behooves us to use the time wisely, to enjoy the pleasures of life that God has granted us, to appreciate God’s blessings, to raise our families to know God, and be obedient to His will.  Then when it’s our time to depart this physical earth, we can come boldly to the throne of God.

 

We never really appreciate just how short life is until a loved one passes on.  And then suddenly our lives feel so empty, and the time we had with them, no matter how long, is suddenly too short.

 

We know there is more to our existence on this earth than life and death.  God has promised that there are better things ahead.  Amos 5:6 tells us, “ Seek the Lord and live.”

 

Ron Murry and Dennis Fry sought the Lord, and today they live.  They’ll always live in our hearts, but more importantly their souls are living now with Christ, and we can rejoice and be glad in that knowledge.  They strove their whole life for a crown, and I believe they have attained it.  They are resting in a place where there are no more tears, no more pain, nor more suffering from disease, and no more worries.

 

So let’s try to redirect our sorrow to that of rejoicing for Ron and Dennis.

(Jeremiah 31:13)

NEWS NOTES February 23, 2025

 

Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope.  We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him.  I Thessalonians 4:13-14 NIV 1984

 

Welcome to our in-person worship service.  Other services continue to be virtual via the GoTo application.  We welcome Jay Graham from Arizona today as our speaker.  We will also have a potluck meal for lunch.  Please stay; we always have plenty.

 

 

“Grandma Was the Reason”

 

According to the Lord's own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep.  For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. I Thessalonians 4:15-16

 

After Arley Russell (8/25/1925-2/27/2012) died, her children and grandchildren held a fitting memorial service for a Christian woman who had devoted her life to the Lord, her husband, children, grandchildren, and anyone else who needed her.  A granddaughter read Proverbs 31:10-31, which describes the worthy woman.  Arley was indeed a hard and industrious worker at whatever she undertook.  But of all the comments and stories about Arley, most poignant was what her grandson said, “Grandma was the reason Grandpa became a Christian.”

 

Isn’t that something we want said about us - because of our efforts others became followers of Christ? 

 

In motivating her husband Ray to open his mind and heart to the Lord, Arley not only helped save his soul, but those of her children, grandchildren, and many others.  Ray became a powerful influence and faithful church leader to many.  Arley was rarely at loss for words to say, but still she reflected what the apostle Peter wrote: Wives, in the same way be submissive to your husbands so that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without words by the behavior of their wives, when they see the purity and reverence of your lives. I Peter 3:1-2

 

Keeping pure from the world and worshipful toward God is what we strive for in our daily walk.  We are grateful for those around us, from the young to the old, who exemplify Christ-like behavior and encourage us to be our best for God and those around us.  We miss those “children” of God when they leave us.  But we take comfort that they are safe in the arms of Jesus.

 

After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.  Therefore encourage each other with these words.

I Thessalonians 4:17-18

NEWS NOTES February 16, 2025

 

“What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We are those who have died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.” (Romans 6:1-4)

 

Welcome to our in-person worship service.  Other services continue to be virtual.  

 

Blessings: Christian sisters filled our back hall yesterday, deepening their knowledge of growing in Christ Jesus.  We thank our presenters and all those of our congregation who worked on class materials, food preparation, and clean-up.  We are grateful and our hearts refreshed by everyone who came. 

 

Reminder: Jay Graham will be our speaker next week and we will have a potluck after morning services. 

 

 

Repent and be Baptized

 

The New Testament Book of Acts is also called “Acts of the Apostles.”  But more than anything it records how people came in contact with the good news of Jesus Christ (Gospel) and the effect it had on their lives.  Those who believed that Jesus was God’s Son and wanted to change their lives, followed through with three actions: confessed their belief, were baptized, and began living a God-filled life: “When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.”  With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.”  Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.” (Acts 2:37-41)

 

“Baptism/baptize/baptized” are transliterated forms of the Greek word “baptizo.”  These three words are used about 70 times in the most commonly used English Bible rather than their translation “to immerse” or “submerge.”  Even without translating it, we comprehend the meaning in the account of Philip teaching and then baptizing the Ethiopian:  “The eunuch asked Philip, “Tell me, please, who is the prophet talking about, himself or someone else?” Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus.  As they traveled along the road, they came to some water and the eunuch said, “Look, here is water. What can stand in the way of my being baptized?” Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart, you may.” The eunuch answered, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.”  And he gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptized him. When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord suddenly took Philip away . . .” (Acts 8:34-39)

 

Peter and Paul confirm the importance of baptism in their subsequent writings: “to those who were disobedient long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In it only a few people, eight in all, were saved through water, and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a clear conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at God’s right hand—with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him.”  (I Peter 3:20-22)

NEWS NOTES February 9, 2025

 

Now, brothers, about times and dates we do not need to write to you, for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. While people are saying, "Peace and safety," destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. But you, brothers, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief. I Thessalonians 5:1-4 NIV 1984

 

Welcome to our in-person worship service.  Other services continue to be virtual via the GoTo application.  Many regulars still had various ailments last Sunday and were missing. 

 

Reminders:

 

 

The Three Biggest Sundays of the Year

Adapted & updated from a lesson by David LaRue 4/17/2011

 

Palm Sunday is the Sunday before Easter.  First celebrated about 300 A.D. it commemorates Jesus’s entrance into Jerusalem (Matthew 21:1–9) in A.D 29 before his arrest and crucifixion.  The name comes from the palm branches the welcoming crowds placed in his path.  These would have been like the branches on the Date Palms around our building - a branch is more than six feet long.  For many Christian denominations it marks the beginning of  the “Holy Week.”

 

Easter Sunday focuses on Jesus resurrection from the dead and has been standardized as the first Sunday after the first full moon on or after the vernal equinox.  This means Easter moves around from March 22 to April 25.  New Testament Christians commemorated Jesus’s death, burial, and resurrection each Sunday (Acts 20:7, I Corinthians 11:23-34).  However, the Emperor Constantine wanted an annual celebration not tied to the Jewish Passover (Jesus died just before Passover and arose from the dead the Sunday after it – John 19:28-34).  The Easter name and formula were established by his Council of Nicea in 325 A.D.  According to a March 2019 post, Easter is the Super Bowl of church attendance with many churches expecting twice the usual number of churchgoers on that day.

 

Super Bowl Sunday is the championship game of the National Football League (NFL), now played each February.  The game was part of the agreement that merged the NFL and rival American Football league in 1966 with the first game played in 1967.  This year Super Bowl 59 pits the Kansas City Chiefs (again) against the Philadelphia Eagles.  Non-football fans also like to watch because of the star-studded commercials and halftime shows.  For the last 12 years it has been the top single telecast TV program each year with more and more people also streaming the game.  Between TV and streaming, an estimated 120.25 million people watched the game in 2024. 

 

By comparison, on the ultimate Lord’s Day and final “time-out”, when Jesus comes again, the entire population of the earth (currently estimated at over 8 billion people) will see Him with their own eyes.  Plus all who have lived before will rise to judgment.  That will be The Super Day.

 

“8 But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 9 The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. 10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed. 11 Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness, (II Peter 3:8-11 ESV)