4th of July Worship Tomorrow

Tomorrow is the last Sunday before the 4th of July so we will be singing patriotic songs during our worship service. It is still important for us to sing these songs at this time of year to remember our country for what it was, what it is and what it still can be. Some are disappointed with it while some are happy with it and those emotions have swung like a pendulum throughout our long and tumultuous history. Regardless of recent events, this is still the country in which we are called to live our relationship with Christ and to sing about freedom, grace and truth is still something we ought to do. His truth is marching on, His grace continues to shine upon us, it's still our sweet land of liberty, the flag still stands for freedom and we really need God to bless America! This does not mean we approve of everything about her, but she's all we've got, so let's spread the news across the fruited plain, from every mountain side, of thee I sing! And if God chooses to judge and not bless us either now or later, He's still our King of Kings and Lord of Lords, and as always we ought to obey God rather than men!

Our upcoming schedule for our “Thinking Like a Christian” midweek Bible study: we will meet tomorrow night Thursday the 25th at 7pm. It will be meet the Chandler grandkids night as they will be in from Alaska. We will then not meet again until Wednesday night July 15^th

We will not have our study tonight on Thinking Like a Christian but will resume next Wednesday night at 7pm. Too many scheduling conflicts with the onset of summer but we'll get it going again next week with the section on "Ethics." See you then

It's Saturday and Sunday's Coming

Hey Freedom folks, it's Saturday and Sunday's coming like a freight train at us! Choo-choo ch-boogie!

Tomorrow we will have our Summer Begins Potluck; the Songspinners will perform at 5pm and potluck will follow

The Campeau's and Chandler's have provided the pork, bread and sauce

The rest of you folks bring picnic/BBQ sides and desserts

The church has coffee and lemonade

We will break down the auditorium after church tomorrow and set up for the fellowship

The Spinners always look forward to the shows at our church because we are so receptive

And I know you come to see how Greg will embarrass himself this year; I assure you it's an astounding embarrassment and you will enjoy it

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We have not heard anything further on the roof; assume too much rain continuing but supposed to be drier this weekend

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Bob Mahan is still in the hospital; Bertie reports he is slowly recuperating and will move to rehab when ready but no date set yet

Ruth continues to recuperate from her shoulder surgery this past Wednesday; she hopes to be at church in the evening but we'll see

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Bless ya'll's hearts and let's have a good time tomorrow!

The Pester

Memorial Day Weekend 2015 at Freedom

Hey church folks, hope you have a good Memorial Day Weekend planned

I don't have any shows so I'm doing a lot of puttering around the house and getting ready for Ruth's surgery and the grandkids from Alaska coming for 3 weeks this summer; lots to do

Will be smoking some meat; that's nothing but good!

I heard from the landlord and he has a roofer under contract as soon as the weather breaks it will get done so there is a plan; we may be coming in from the rain soon and I'll keep you posted

Pray for all our sick ones

Some will be traveling; some will be staying home; some will be tired; some will be refreshed; pray for them

And some gave all including their life; thanks to our veterans this Memorial Day

And we all will be basking in the grace of God; thanks to God for giving us life and blessing in this great land of ours

See you Sunday, Lord willing

The Pester

We are moving our Christian worldview study Thinking Like a Christian to Wednesday nights 7pm at the church. This best fits our fast-changing whacky schedules; we may move it back to Thursdays later in the summer but for now Wednesday night is the night. Our next section to study is on Psychology so come ready to psychoanalyze the pastor (scary thought).

It takes a cross to gain a crown: Easter 2015

Receiving the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls (1 Peter 1:9)
The consummation of faith is salvation. Salvation is possible only because of the cross of Christ. Victor in this life and in eternal life is possible because of the resurrection.
The cross is necessary because of sin. Resurrection is necessary because of the triumph of righteousness over sin.
The only path to victory is through the cross and the empty tomb; they go together and cannot be separated in our Christian experience. It takes one to receive the other; therefore we will suffer in this life.
We are now currently receiving (before our full inheritance) the “end of our faith’” that is, the goal or culmination of our faith. As we grow in faith we begin to gain a sense of the timelessness of our salvation: the past, the present and the future start to blend together in the glory and the blessing that salvation brings.
Each day brings us closer to the final realization of what salvation will bring. Each trial gives us more faith which gives us more joy and hope that is becoming more like our full inheritance. Therefore we begin to welcome trial so we can experience more of the benefits of our salvation today. All of this is certainly cause for “inexpressible joy.”
What the resurrection means:
·         The priceless emotion of hope
·         A protection and shield in persecution
·         Daily joy under pressure
·         Growing in trial, not shrinking or regressing
·         A joyful soul
·         The final culmination of our faith in joy and glory
 
It is not just this life, is it? Is this all there is?
No; there is “more to come”

More that is glorious and wonderful beyond our wildest dreams

The good stories of hope and heroes and “ever after” are true; dare we believe them?
 

We know this because of the resurrection

Therefore we live - in hope, in faith, in love and in joy
Have a joyous Easter!