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The Elmira Seventh-day Adventist Church August 2005 Newsletter |
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The Elmira Seventh-day Adventist Church August 2005 Newsletter |
There is a joy in sinning; at times it seems we relish sin. If we didn't find some sort of joy or satisfaction in sin we wouldn't do it, right?
Sin, comes in many forms, shapes and sizes. It masquerades itself as something to be desired and is pleasurable.
It's so true, that cigarette companies appeal to the lesser appetites, such as base and perverse desires. You rarely see a cigarette add without an exploited half dressed person on the picture enjoying a breath of fresh (air) smoke.
The marketing strategy is to the younger generations before appropriate age. It's a well known fact that most, if not almost all, started smoking before the legal age. People, who make it to the legal age without smoking, typically don't start. After all who's dumb enough to puff on the other end of a 200 degree stick of burning organic matter?
So, in order to get the youngsters to hack and choke their way to an early grave they appeal to the lesser appetite (if it feels good, do it). The advertisements then send a message, suggesting that you must be "stupid" not to puff on their wonder sticks. After all, look at how good we look and feel.
Cigarette manufactures know full well the sooner you hook ‘em, the probability for them to support their companies for a life time will be much greater.
Did not Satan tempt Eve with the lesser appetite and masquerade disobedience as something to be desired? "For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil" (Genesis 3:5).
It all sounds good until you bite into it! God never intended Adam and Eve to know evil (unhappiness or misery) - never.
There are many verses that point out, that sin is a part of our carnal nature. For example:
Psalms 51:5 "Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me."
Romans 7:14 "For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin."
Romans 7:17 "Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me."
Romans 7:18 "For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not."
Romans 7:21 "I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me."
Romans 7:23 "But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members."
Of course, Romans seven is a grand illustration of the challenge we face day by day wrestling against sin. But one must also note that Romans seven gives us a strategic plan in which to live victoriously.
Paul, under inspiration, penned Romans 7:24, 25: "O wretched man that I am! Who shall deliver me from the body of this death? I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord . . ."
So, victory is only accomplished through the authority and power of Jesus Christ.
Sin, for a moment, may seem to satisfy, but in time that satisfaction will drain, leaving you empty and wanting. Eventually you will be back for more… again and again.
The only true and real satisfaction comes from having a personal, one to one, genuine, relationship with Jesus Christ. If Jesus does not have your heart, you will seek happiness somewhere else, be it in food, TV, entertainment, etc. Seventh-day Adventists are good at masquerading. We've cut out - profanity, drinking, drugs, smoking, meat eating - and have replaced them with - overeating, junk food, TV, entertainment, etc.
Paul's inspired antidote is Romans 7:24, 25: "O wretched man that I am! Who shall deliver me from the body of this death? I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord."
Jesus, again, is the answer to our sin problem. Note too, a few more verses that promise victory in Jesus.
Gal 5:1 "Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage."
Rom 8:37 "Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us."
Phi 4:13 "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me."
Over and over again the Bible illustrates for us that the only true and real satisfaction comes from having a personal, one to one, genuine, relationship with Jesus Christ.
And, you can have that relationship with Him starting right now. Ask Him into your heart to live out His life with in you. You won't be sorry.
He will take away the joy of sin and replace it with the joy of Salvation; He will fill the emptiness of your heart. In fact He will give you a new heart, with new desires.
Ezekiel 36:26 says: "A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh"
Then you can proclaim like Paul and Joseph . . . "I delight in the law of God after the inward man," ". . . how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God" (Romans 7:22, Gen 39:9).
Why? Because Jesus lives within the heart. When Jesus lives in the heart, you can't help but delight in the law of God. Sin, then becomes what it really is- SIN.
What is sin?
· Bible - ". . . sin is the transgression of the law" (I John 3:4).
· Greek Dictionary - to miss the mark
· Webster Dictionary - to violate the divine law by actual transgression or by neglect.
Can we ever remind ourselves enough that our only hope is found in the spotless Lamb of God, Jesus Christ our Lord? Many Blessings,
Our "In His Steps" study series will resume Thursday, August 4, 7:00 with lesson 18, "The Law of God." All are encouraged to attend each week. This is held in the adult Sabbath School room at the church.
Elder Curtis has been doing a sermon series on the Trinity during the Sabbath worship service. Understanding the Trinity by Max Hatton is a paperback book available as a resource to accompany this series. If you are interested in obtaining this book, there is a sign-up sheet is on the bulletin board, or contact Barb or Sharon.
Sabbath, August 13 is our next planned service of foot washing and the Lord's Supper. Every disciple is called upon to participate publicly, and thus bear witness that he accepts Christ as a personal Saviour. It is at these, His own appointments, that Christ meets His people, and energizes them by His presence....All who come with their faith fixed upon Him will be greatly blessed. The Desire of Ages, p. 656.
The Master ordained the service of foot washing to signify renewed cleansing, to express a willingness to serve one another in Christlike humility, and to unite our hearts in love. Fundamental Beliefs, 15.
A video will be shown August 27 entitled,"Incredible Creatures That Defy Evolution" featuring Dr. Jobe Martin, an evolutionist and a scientist. How can certain birds can navigate over thousands of miles of ocean and never get lost; how can great whales dive to the bottom of the ocean without the pressure causing them to implode; how can some creatures be cut in half and still regenerate themselves and even grow a new head? A light supper will begin at 6:00 PM with the video to follow around 7:00 PM. Please bring a dozen of your favorite sandwiches, olives, pickles, potato chips, or fruit to share.
Thank You! to everyone who helped with our Work Bee at the Church, Sunday, July 17. Outside windows were pressure washed. Classroom windows and sanctuary storm windows were also washed.
. . . to Bill & Lorraine Parker on celebrating their 50th anniversary Sunday July 17th!
What a tremendous experience we all had July 14 when we sponsored a Red Cross Blood Drive in the Elmira Church fellowship hall! Our Personal Ministries Department decided that with the needs high and blood supplies low during the summer months, this would be a good outreach for our church. With calls to our Red Cross area coordinator, a site-evaluation, advertising on local radio, television, and newspapers, and a prominent sign out front, we prepared for the big day. Two days before the event, we received a list of previous donors in the area around the church. We enthusiastically began making phone calls to invite them to "give life."
When the day arrived with 90 degree temperatures, we turned on the fans and waited with expectation to see how many donors would come. How exciting it was as the cars began to pull into the parking lot! Guests were greeted at the door, and Signs magazines and other literature were available for the taking.
When the doors closed at 6:00 PM, we had seen 46 donors arrive, resulting in 34 pints collected. The Red Cross staff commented that this was the best turnout they had seen for a recent blood drive. We were pleased to hear comments about how friendly our church people were and what beautiful, clean facilities we had provided.
We are planning to make this a regular activity at our church, as we continue to reach out to meet the physical and spiritual needs in our community.
Many events are planned for the coming months as an outreach outside the church as well as for the spiritual growth of the members:
Live evangelism by Elder Roger Curtis will be October 20 - 29, excluding October 23 & 26.
A video series on Life of Paul is planned to follow the evangelism series.
November 4 - 12 will be ‘05 Revive, a revival series by Doug Batchelor and Amazing Facts.
...to Ben Miller who graduated from Waverly High School on June 24. He was a member of the National Honor Society. He is working as a lifeguard at the Waverly High School. His future plans include studying Criminal Justice at Corning Community College.
All are invited to join us each Sabbath following the worship service for lunch and fellowship. Please bring a dish to pass. If you do not cook, please see Lois Shappee for a list of suggested items to bring.
Picnics are planned for the summer months. The second Sabbath of each month, August and September (weather permitting) will be a picnic at Van Galder's cottage at Mormon Lake. Everyone is invited. Please bring a dish to pass.
So far we have $55,171.25 toward our goal of paving our parking lot. The weekly Children's Offering is added to this fund. Anyone wishing to contribute to this fund, please mark your tithe envelope "Church Parking Lot."
During the third quarter, are continuing our study "Experiencing Jesus Christ as Lord." Please join us as we study each Sabbath morning. Song service begins at 9:20. Classes are provided for adults and children.
Hymn biographies are being shown, one per month, during our adult Sabbath School program. Mission Spotlight is also shown once per month. This quarter the programs are from the Northern Asia-Pacific Division, featuring Taiwan, Korea, and Japan.
Thank you for saving your newspapers, magazines, and health food labels for Investment. See Alvin Jackson, our Investment leader. Please be sure the UPC symbol is on the food labels.
Teens and leaders will be leaving by bus from Syracuse, Sunday, July 31. Those going from the Elmira Church are: Rachael, Trip Director - Stewart, Girl's Director - Dawn, Craft Director - Rebekah. Topics to be covered during Vacation Bible School will be: Jesus' birth, Living in Nazareth, School in the Holy Land, The Carpenter Shop, and The Sanctuary. Pastor for the trip will be Robert Zegarra, Youth Director for the Ohio Conference, formerly from the New York Conference. Besides teaching Bible stories and crafts, the thirty teens will be doing work projects, and some sight-seeing along the way. Please keep our teens and leaders in your prayers as they go out to spread the gospel.
Check with Larry for monthly sales on case lots. Sale prices are good only on ordered items.
STORE HOURS Thursday, 4:00-7:00 p.m. Orders go in monthly