Afterglow of last Sunday's service

Great fellowship after the service

After the service-stunned rapture at the profundities uttered from the sacred desk

The books and other teachings covered from 2011 to current
Sunday School:
Began ‘11 Sunday School on Acts series, chapter 13
Interrupted Acts series after Acts 15 on April 17
Started Dueling Denominations series April 24, survey of the major Christian denominations
Catholicism April 24 to July17
Episcopalians July 24
Lutherans August 28
Presbyterians October 2
November 6 Methodists
December 18 Wesleyan/Holiness movement
January 15, 2012 Nazarenes
Currently discussing Pentecostalism

Sermons:
Began 2011 on Gospel of Matthew series, Matthew 23 (Matthew series began 2/21/10, completed 4/3/11)
Began series on Minor Prophets April 10 until Sept 25:
Joel, Micah, Amos, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Nahum, Hosea (previously studied Zechariah, Malachi and Between the Testaments 2010)
Some topical sermons interspersed between series: The Problem of Guilt; Heroes and Heaven; Christian and the Law; Freedom and Total Depravity; Giving Thanks (Thanksgiving sermon)
Began series on the Gospel of John Oct 2, ‘11, not in typical expository order but jumping from section to section, calling it Trampolining Through John (had some topical sermons in between sections of John)
John 17 Jesus’ Prayer for Us
John 8 Jesus the Light
John 5-7 Controversies and Hostility (completed series Jan. ’12)
John 1:1-18 Prologue of John: Christmas
Began John 1:19 through John 4 Jan. 29
Sermon for March 4 - Jesus and the Samaritans/the sequel

A Whole Lotta Teaching Has Gone On: Sunday February 26

The books and other teachings covered from 2011 to this Sunday
Sunday School:
Began ‘11 Sunday School on Acts series, chapter 13
Interrupted Acts series after Acts 15 on April 17
Started Dueling Denominations series April 24, survey of the major Christian denominations
Catholicism April 24 to July17
Episcopalians July 24
Lutherans August 28
Presbyterians October 2
November 6 Methodists
December 18 Wesleyan/Holiness movement
January 15, 2012 Nazarenes

Sermons:
Began 2011 on Gospel of Matthew series, Matthew 23 (Matthew series began 2/21/10, completed 4/3/11)
Began series on Minor Prophets April 10 until Sept 25:
Joel, Micah, Amos, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Nahum, Hosea (previously studied Zechariah, Malachi and Between the Testaments 2010)
Some topical sermons interspersed between series: The Problem of Guilt; Heroes and Heaven; Christian and the Law; Freedom and Total Depravity; Giving Thanks (Thanksgiving sermon)
Began series on the Gospel of John Oct 2, ‘11, not in typical expository order but jumping from section to section, calling it Trampolining Through John (had some topical sermons in between sections of John)
John 17                 Jesus’ Prayer for Us
John 8                    Jesus the Light
John 5-7                 Controversies and Hostility (completed series Jan. ’12)
John 1:1-18          Prologue of John: Christmas
Began John 1:19 through John 4 Jan. 29
Sermon for February 26: The Samaritan Woman at the Well, John 4:1-42

Sneak Peek at Feb 19: Enjoyin' Friday but Sunday's Comin'

Daylight Saving Time begins March 11^th (2^nd Sunday in March); it ends 1^st Sunday in November (Nov. 4^th)
We have new missions letters from Sister Craig and Ed Potter on the bulletin board in the library. Ed’s is from his December blog along with photos I thought you would enjoy. He has more recent posts regarding his family that you can check out at madeirabaptist.blogspot.com. There are updated prayer requests from both missionaries. (I posted the most recent letter from Larry Morgan on the bulletin board also)
I’m working harder at keeping our church blog more updated along with photos. I hope to keep it just a little more interesting for you to check it from time to time
Sunday's Teaching
Sunday School: Dueling Denominations
Pentecostalism #2 - Entire Sanctification vs. Finished Work Sanctification; origin of Assemblies of God and Oneness Pentecostals
Today’s Sermon
John 3:22-36
He Must Increase and I Must Decrease: the Farewell Discourse of John the Baptist

Prayer Requests:
*Lynn, chemo resumed, only 2 treatments remaining
Osban niece Paula, illness
Osban friend Charlene, illness
Osban family friend Thompson, passing of son
*Emma, upcoming back surgery 2-22, Parkinson’s  meds
Dennis’ nephew James in Elizabeth, CO, cancer spread
Dennis’ sister Kaye, surgery recovery/cancer
Pastor Wayne Ruff from Pueblo, cancer and hospitalized
*Darrel/Carolyn friend Tony Ludiker, Wranglers, surgery
*Ed Potter’s granddaughter, illness
*Sister Craig, illness
*All those traveling: Craig’s, Griffith’s, Heald’s

Yesterday at Freedom

We had good services yesterday although missing a few that have been ill. As God's people we work for the kingdom of God, wait for next Sunday and hope for the Lord's soon return!

Sneak Peek at This Sunday

Church News

For any who have prayer requests still listed on the back of the bulletin, let me know which ones need to continue and which can be removed in order to turn over our requests for the year.

 February Celebrations

Eddie Olsen, 6^th; Richard and Joann Motzkus, 11^th; Ben Campeau, 13^th; Joy Sunderland, 14^th; Vicky (Peterson) Burschia, 16^th; Michael Eells, 17^th; Melody Tucker, 28^th

The Sarah Corner

Why Teachers Retire Early

These are reported actual test answers from various schools in the Huntsville, Alabama metropolitan area:

Q: Name the four seasons.       A: Salt, pepper, mustard and vinegar.

Q: What is a planet?   A: A body of earth surrounded by sky

Q; Name a major disease associated with cigarettes A: Premature death

Q: How can you delay milk turning sour?          A: Keep it in the cow

Q: What is the fibula?      A: A small lie

Q: What does "varicose" mean?              A: Nearby

Q: What is a seizure?                 A: A Roman emperor

Q: What is a terminal illness?  A: When you are sick at the airport

Q: What does "benign" mean? A: Benign is what you be after you be eight

Q: What is a Hindu?                    A: It lays eggs.

A banker is someone who lends you an umbrella when the sun is shining. Ancient Chinese Fortune

Today's Teaching

Sunday School: Dueling Denominations

Pentecostalism #1

Early Pentecostals considered latter day restoration of apostolic power

Came out of Holiness movements and evangelical revivals turn of 20^th century

These revivals led to greater attention on person and work of the Holy Spirit with emphasis on miracles of healings and tongues

 Sermon

Jesus and Nicodemus             John 3:1-21

Nicodemus was at the pinnacle of Jewish excellence, a member of the Sanhedrin and a Pharisee, when he sought out Jesus

The Sanhedrin was made up of 70 men responsible for religious decisions and some civil rule under the Romans. Two Sanhedrin members who appeared in a favorable light in the Bible were Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus

A Word from the Pester: NEW CD DONE!

We have prepared a new CD of The Music of Freedom that features The Music of Heaven. I thank pianist (extraordinaire) Lisa Heald for playing and Jon Campeau for producing the CD's. As  my church family and friends know I have been singing in church since I was 13 years old. I started in the Halstead Bible Baptist Church in Halstead, KS, singing in the choir, and then learned gospel quartest music from songleader Kenny Kraus. I led the singing at my home church, Arkansas City (KS) Missionary Baptist Church during my high school years, with Jana Noble as our accompianist. At the Independent Baptist College I sang in the choir and performed with the Ensemble as they traveled to various supporting churches throughout Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Colorado. It was (mostly) fun traveling with Bro. Wendell McHargue and the various members of the group. After college I became Associate Pastor and music director at the Grace Baptist Church in Colo.  Spgs. As pastor of Freedom since 1988 I have led the worship services and continued to sing my brains out (I may have run out a long time ago).
As I have reviewed this little bio of my singing I realize that I have been singing in chuch for 44 years. I could no more separate singing from my ministry than you could separate gravy from mashed potatoes. And gospel music is just as much a deliverer of the message of God's Word as preaching is, and most of the time is more effective. "When we all get to heaven, what a day of rejoicing that will be!" May that rejoicing be yours every Sunday, and indeed every day of this life, with the song "to be continued" in heaven.