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The Elmira Seventh-day Adventist Church February 2006 Newsletter |
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The Elmira Seventh-day Adventist Church February 2006 Newsletter |
Everlasting Peace
The pursuit of peace amidst a world of never ending waves of havoc seems impossible. In an anxious world, peace and tranquility have been marketed. Go to any music or book store and you will find volumes of materials promising rest, peace, and tranquility. Medications have been created to help one deal with the turmoil in the heart; psychiatry has been an ever exploding market.
Talking with a psychiatrist - he stated that one in three that visit his office are overcome with anxiety and or depression. (Please don't misunderstand me, I am not saying that it is wrong to seek psychiatric help.) Many are overcome with this fast-paced world and never-ending bombardment of unrest and uncertainty, and many may need the help of outside remedies.
But….can one find peace in this fast-paced world of never-ending bombardment of unrest and uncertainty? The answer is yes.
Peace can not be bought or sold, peace must come from within. But how does it get there in the first place?
John 14:27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
Philippians 4:7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Colossians 3:15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts . . .
The answer is found in these Bible verses - True peace can only come through Jesus Christ. But, what is this peace that Christ desires for us to have?
Let's take a moment and look at the Bible's definition of peace, in other words.
Strong's dictionary - Peace: rest, quietness:
1. a state of national tranquility - exemption from the rage and havoc of war; 2. the tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ, and so fearing nothing from God and content with its earthly lot, of whatsoever sort that is.
The Peace that comes from God is rest, quietness, tranquility, and lack of fear. (bold supplied)
Jesus exemplified this type of peace in a boat, fast asleep. You can read about it in Mark 4:35-41.
While Jesus was fast asleep in the boat a great storm came upon Him and His disciples. Jesus showed just how powerful peace can be when peace is in the heart. While the disciples were frantic and overcome with fear, Jesus was fast asleep, at rest, at peace. What a testimony to all about the peace that comes from above.
On the other hand, the disciples hearts failed with fear in effort to save the boat and themselves. Thinking it about to sink, they awake Jesus and cry out, "Don't You care that we are about to die?" Their present circumstance left them hopeless and their end certain death!
In this, Jesus was about to teach them a valuable lesson - peace comes when we have faith in God and trust in Jesus. Jesus rises up and rebukes the wind and the waves saying, "Peace be still." Jesus' rebuke was not one of a loud cry, but of a quiet nature. You can almost hear him saying "hush, be quiet" or "shhh, quiet". (Something like a mother raising her finger to her lips quieting her rowdy child during a church service.) And immediately the wind and the waves ceased their billowing and there was a great calm.
So miraculous was the event that the disciples lost all fear of death and now were affright because of what Jesus was able to do. The Bible says they "feared exceedingly."
What lesson can be learned here? When the disciples turned their attention away from their near death circumstance and to Jesus - they lost sight of themselves and witnessed the wonderful miraculous power of God!
So, we too, when we lose sight of self and turn our focus away from the present circumstances of our lives or that in the world - it is possible to see the wonderful miraculous power of God!
If Jesus is able to calm the wind and the sea He most assuredly can calm the wind and the waves that are so apparent in our lives.
After Jesus quieted the wind and waves there was a great calm or a great peace. Do you want this type of peace in your life? You can have it right now.
Peace comes when we trust in Jesus - and Jesus promised Peace.
John 14:27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
So then
. . . let the peace of God rule in your hearts . . . (Colossians 3:15).
As for the world - let's remember that old song we used to sing in cradle roll "He's got the whole world in His Hands!" God is in control and when He is in control we find peace.
Let me leave you with an old
hymn chorus:
Peace! peace! wonderful peace,
Coming down from the Father above;
Sweep over my spirit forever, I pray,
In fathomless billows of love.
Many Blessings,
Our Bible Study series, "In the Footsteps of Paul," continues each Thursday, at 7:00 PM.
Subjects during February will be:
February 2 - Proving That Jesus is the Christ
February 9 - The Blessed Hope
February 16 - The Noble Bereans
February 23 - Revealing the Unknown God
. . . will be Sabbath, February 11. "In this experience of Communion Christ is present to meet and strengthen His people. As we partake, we joyfully proclaim the Lord's death until He comes again." Fundamental Beliefs, 15.
This in-depth satellite series will feature Shawn Boonstra, Speaker/Director of It Is Written Television as he explores the mysterious signs of the book of Revelation in a chapter-by-chapter study. Meetings begin at the church Friday, March 10, at 7 p.m. and continue through April 8, every night except Monday and Thursday. The first night's topic will be "A New World Order," followed Saturday evening with "A Planet in Upheaval." Invite your family and friends!
The annual Religious Liberty campaign begins with an offering taken January 28. This will sponsor Liberty magazine to government officials and religious leaders throughout North America. It will also be used to support the North American division litigation fund, and to aid in religious liberty promotion and education in the Atlantic Union. Anyone wishing to sponsor LIBERTY magazine, please contact Mac Dwyer, 739-7748. Subscription deadline will be March 13, payment deadline is March 25.
Elder Randy Maxwell will be at Union Spring Academy February 3-5 to present a Prayer Conference. Meal tickets at the academy cafeteria can be purchased in advance through Andrew Fish at 315-889-7134. For further information, contact Pastor Tim Bailey at 315-730-0387 or Patricia Kimble at 315-889-5122.
Monday, February 20, 5:00 - 6:30 PM there will be a spaghetti dinner in the Church Fellowship Hall. The menu includes spaghetti with vegetarian meatballs, salad, bread, and desert.
Cost will be: Adults - $4.50, Children under 12 - $3.00 Pay at the door. Personal Ministries Inreach/Outreach.
Our next drive is scheduled for Tuesday, March 21 from 1:30 - 6:30 PM in the church fellowship hall. We have had 3 very successful blood drives during the last few months. The Red Cross has asked us to pick up the rotation for the Southside Community, which means we will plan on hosting a drive approximately every two months. Thank you to all who have helped out or donated in this outreach in our community.
In December our Community Services Department provided cookie plates with holiday greetings for two residents at Bethany and two at Elcor, as well as a fruit plate for a handicapped person. A comforter was provided for an unemployed man who was in need, as well as a fleece vest for an elderly man, and a telephone stand for a lady at Elcor. In January we made a donation to the Peterson family whose house exploded in Horseheads and made four nursing home visits. A card ministry has begun, as well as a project making hats for cancer patients at the Falck cancer center.
We are receiving some very tasty recipes - from entrees to soups and desserts. If you haven't turned some in yet, it isn't too late! Each person is allowed to submit 3 recipes to the project. We are looking for a variety of types: appetizers, beverages, entrees, vegetables, salads, soups, breads, desserts, etc. Turn in your recipes to Barb or Sharon. If you have a computer, send to: Sharon.
Everyone is invited to our luncheons each Sabbath following the worship service. If you are a regular participant, please help out by bringing a dish to pass. Our guests are always welcome. Soup & Sandwich Luncheon in February will be February 25.
So far we have $58,808.52 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 this first quarter of 2006 our lessons focus on "Families in the Family of God." "Christian families face the challenge of seeking to live according to God's will for life and for relationships. . . Our goal is, through study of the Word, to help homes and families be what God would have them to be: more loving, more secure in Christ." (Sabbath School Lesson Quarterly, p.3) Please join us as we study each Sabbath morning. Song service begins at 9:20. Classes are provided for adults and children.
Mission Spotlight is also shown once each month. This quarter the programs are from the Southern Africa-Indian Division.
Thank you for saving your newspapers, magazines, and health food labels for Investment. During 2005 we received $681.97 from our various Investment projects. We very much appreciate the work of Alvin Jackson, our Investment leader.
The portion of the Mission Investment funds received by the North American Division each year is divided between two unions on a rotating basis. The Division has approved the following projects for 2006: building a new church in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada; planning an outreach program with the hope of planting a church in Gander, the largest city in Newfoundland; operating an ex-offender program located in Charlotte, NC in an attempt to work with those in prison and those being released from prison to reintegrate them into society; building and establishing a church in previously un-entered Franklin County, NC.
Remaining Fruit Sale dates are: February 12, and March 12 in the Nature's Garden building.
Sales will be will be 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM. Oranges and Pink Grapefruit are available by the full case, half or quarter. This is a fund-raiser for paving our church parking lot. To order fruit or to offer your help, contact Larry or Cindy Taft, 732-0463. Thank you to each one who has been helping out at our monthly sales.
The February Bake Sale will benefit the Community Services Department. Your baked goods and/or donations are greatly appreciated.
Check with Larry for monthly sales on case lots. Orders go in monthly.
STORE HOURS Thursday, 4:00-7:00 p.m.