We had a great Sunday August 14 with Missionary Ed Potter and his wife Abbie at the church. We also had the privilege of welcoming the Potter clan and the Rogers clan from Pueblo in our services. We had a great fellowship following the service. The presence of Ed and Abbie and the Pueblo folks was most appreciated by our Freedom folks. You guys are welcome back anytime, and make sure you bring the grandkids!
Greg and Ruth have had the joy of several trips this year: last December to Virginia Beach, VA to move Tim and Christa. We traveled back to Virginia Beach in April for the birth of our 4th grandchild, Neva. We went to Bolivar, MO and Branson in July to visit Greg’s mom and Ruth’s mom and dad. Christa and Neva joined us along with Ruth’s sister Mary, with Shawn and Josh. Then August 1-12 we went to Ketchikan AK to see our daughter, son-in-law and three grandchildren, Bethanne, Melody and Tate. It was wonderful to see everyone but we are glad to be home.
The church updated the kitchen to include cabinets and a sink so we now have a more normal fellowship area. We also recently painted the interior of the church so our little storefront is actually quite comfortable and aesthetically pleasing to worship in. We thank Johnie and Jackie Jackson for obtaining the used cabinets and Johnie for installing them.
I have been preaching through the Minor Prophets recently, a sermon series that the folks will tell their grandchildren about, and mightily bored they’ll be! It is good to be reminded of the great prophetic messages that God gave to His people through these shorter books (hence the name “Minor” only in volume, not content). The prophecies and events mentioned in the Minor Prophets are forerunners of our future. We have studied Joel, Micah, Habakkuk and Zephaniah so far and will conclude with Haggai, Hosea and Nahum. (We have previously studied Obadiah, Jonah, Zechariah and Malachi.) The common theme through these books is that even though the Lord brought judgment against His people because of their disobedience, He also brought restoration and blessing. He will do the same for us: even though the future may have some dark days of judgment ahead, the Lord will bring restoration and renewal. Even so, come quickly, Lord Jesus.
The LORD thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; He will save, He will rejoice over thee with joy; He will rest in His love, He will joy over thee with singing.
At that time will I bring you again, even in the time that I gather you: for I will make you a name and a praise among all people of the earth, when I turn back your captivity before your eyes, saith the LORD. Zephaniah 3:17, 20 (KJV)
