July 6, 2010

Number 27

VIEWPOINT

With Independence Day still on our minds, you will enjoy this story:

“It may well have been the unknown – of having to trust in God, because there was nowhere else to turn – that was causing many delegates to Congress in 1776 to turn their thoughts back to a less perilous time of the 1740’s, or fifties, or sixties.

“There were, however, a few realists in Congress who were not trying to escape into fantasy – men like John and Samuel Adams, and Patrick Henry and the others from Virginia.  At least, John Adams, often the most persevering of the realists, had the benefit of having a wife with an extraordinary awareness of exactly what was at stake. As Abigail wrote to him on June 18:

“‘I feel no anxiety at the large armament designed against us.  The remarkable interpositions of heaven in our favor cannot be too gratefully acknowledged.  He who fed the Israelites in the wilderness, who clothes the lilies of the field and who feeds the young ravens when they cry, will not forsake a people engaged in so righteous a cause, if we remember His loving kindness.’

“Adams and the other realists saw clearly that events had progressed beyond the point of no return, and that to go back now would be to go back under England’s terms – under a far-from-benevolent dictatorship. For despite the support of eloquent and high-minded Members of Parliament, the prevailing sentiment there reflected the King’s own intransigence (as well it might, since George III’s personal patronage had bought the majority of the seats).  In the King’s eyes, the only way to deal with rebellion was to crush it. To show even the slightest mercy was to invite a recurrence in the future.”

Thanks to Alan Henderson for giving me the “Message in Song Titles.”  I look forward to seeing you Sunday with a Bible, a smile, and a positive word!                                  RA

A Message in Song Titles

Because This Is My Father's World, I will Praise Him, Praise Him for all He has done for me. Love Lifted Me from the depths of sin there At the Cross.  Because of this, I can go Anywhere with Jesus, for I know He will be there because I'm in the Gloryland Way!  Life is so much Sweeter as the Years Go By, for I know that in Paradise Valley, There's a Land That Is Fairer than Day, a place Where the Soul Never Dies; moreover, I know that This World Is Not My Home, so when I Kneel at the Cross in prayer I can truly say, my God, How Great Thou Art!

When I think of His Amazing Grace, and what He has done for me, I know that Our God, He Is Alive!  For all these reasons, someday My God and I will live together with all those who have gone on before me, in the beautiful Ivory Palaces that God has prepared for me. Yes, it was On a Hill Far Away that our blessed Lord, the Rock of Ages, gave His life that I might have Victory in Jesus. Because of these Precious Memories of His life and His death on the cross, I'm Living by Faith and I will always give Glory to His Name as I sing that wonderful old song, Whispering Hope.

What a song of praise will be outpoured When He Comes in Glory By and By.  Yes, someday I'll Fly Away to my home on high; Just Beyond the Rolling River of death I Will Meet You at the River of life with the redeemed of all ages.  But while here on earth, I Will Sing of My Redeemer until I reach the land, where In Heaven They're Singing a wonderful song, a theme that shall never grow old.  Because of His loving grace, I now can sing It Is Well with My Soul; and I can also sing, All Will Be Well Just Over in the Gloryland.  So Meet Me There.

The grandest of all great days will be When all of God's Singers Get Home, and they'll dwell in The Summerland of Bliss with our Lord for an endless eternity, and there experience No Tears in Heaven, yea No Disappointments in Heaven.  How Beautiful Heaven Must Be.  There He Keeps Me Singing.

Friends, because Swiftly We're Turning life's daily pages, Prepare to Meet Thy God.  Trust and Obey, Sing and Be Happy, Pray All the Time, Sing to Me of Heaven, and Ring Out the Message.  Proclaim O What a Savior!  And ponder two important questions:  Do You Know My Jesus, and What Will You Do with Jesus?

            Live that others too will say O I Want to See Him, and look upon His face.  There to sing forever of His saving grace; On the streets of glory let me lift my voice; Cares all past, home at last, ever to rejoice.

                                                                                       (by Arthur Pigman)

More than Survivors

2010 Wednesday Summer Series

Those who are more than survivors . . .

Walk by Faith not By Sight (Like Abraham)

June 9                   Alan Henderson

 Don’t Let Sin Get the Best of Us (Like David)

June 9                      Alfred Donald

 Risk Everything for God and His People

(Like Ruth)

June 16                     Scott Franks

 Serve God with Passion (Like Joshua)

June 23                      Patrick Gray

 Rebuild Spiritual Protection (Like Nehemiah)

June 30                                 Mike Sparks

 Always Does Good (Like Tabitha)

 July   7                    Ron Bradshaw

 Make Spiritual Choices (Like Moses)

    July 14                      Taylor Hammett

 Serve God with Passion (Like Joshua)

    July 24                      Dan Thompson

 Engage Spiritual Battles with Courage

(Like Elijah)

July 28                     Bob Staples

See Possibilities Not Just Problems (Like Caleb)

August 4                    Ben Slocumb

Hold on to Their Dreams (Like Jacob)

August 11              Barry Blackburn

Share God's Love with Those Around Us

(Like Paul)

August 18                   Chris King

Look at Life through God's Perspective

(Like Joseph)

August 25                 Ron Edwards

Watch Out for Compromises (Like Daniel)

September 1               Mitch Grubb