July/August 2015 - First Christian Church
Transcription
July/August 2015 - First Christian Church
The Oracle First Christian Church J U LY A Uof G UScottsburg ST 2015 Inside this issue: Soccer League K-8th Grade—Boys & Girls Register Now for the August 5-September 23 Season Read more about Upward Sports inside. Play With a Purpose Mullinator’s Message 2 Wonder Valley Camp Information 3 Missions 4 Kitty’s Korner 5 Kids’ Stuff 6 M ullinator’s essage “Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. I Corinthians 9:24 NIV Upward Sports is a non-profit organization based in Spartanburg, South Carolina. It is a Christian sports league designed for kids in grades K5–8 offering four sports programs: basketball, flag football, soccer and cheerleading. Upwards Sports was founded in 1995 by Caz McCaslin to provide children with "skills for the sports arena and values for life." While training children with the athletic skills needed to participate at the next level, Upward Sports stresses Biblical values—such as leadership, teamwork, integrity and respect—as much as winning! Today, approximately half a million players at more than 2,000 churches in 47 states participate in camps, clinics, and leagues though Upward Sports’ Recreation Division. Upward Sports equips local churches with everything needed to run their own leagues, including training, play books, sports apparel and other online tools. Volunteer opportunities in Upward Sports' leagues include: Head coach, assistant coach, advertising commissioner, evaluation and orientation team, greeter, set-up and cleanup crew, cheerleading coach, referee, prayer partner, half-time devotion team, scorekeeper, follow-up team, and other opportunities. I am very excited about the opportunities for First Christian Church to partner with Upward Sports. I hope in the upcoming weeks you will be praying for this program to be effective for our youth and evaluate an opportunity for you to serve in a creative way. Sports-minded or not, there is a way to get the entire church involved. One simple way would be to pray, or pass coffee out to parents in the stands with the intent of building a relationship. Middle School Basketball Saturdays, August 15-September 12—8:30 am Contact Eric Mullins 812-752-2115 to sign up! See you on His field!! Eric Mullins Jr. High/Recreation Seniors’ Ministry...by John Lowry John Stowell said “I have often wanted to jump into a time capsule and watch from the bushes as God put Adam to sleep and created Eve from his side. Imagine Adam’s first glance out of his groggy recovery. I doubt if there has ever been a more exhilarating moment in the history of humanity than the moment that Adam first laid eyes on Eve. She was made like him, yet wonderfully different. Together they had the created capacity to communicate, to share life on the same wavelength and to participate in life’s endeavors with a compatibility that would connect them intimately in each aspect of life. Together they would be satisfied and sustained, not just in their own relationship but also in their mutual Page 2 connectedness to their God. The created order around them would be an additional source of satisfaction and sustenance. God provided the Garden of Eden as a place where they would know the joy of keeping it and subduing it for His glory. It would be a place where Adam and Eve could demonstrate their unflinching devotion to God as they maintained the Garden and obeyed His instructions for life within its boundaries. It would never satisfy or sustain by itself. Only in the context of their connectedness to God and each other would the material order have meaning and significance. This, then, is life as it was meant to be. An unhindered trust and confidence in an all-sufficient God, the enjoyment of intimate fellowship in an earthly trusted relationship, and the pleasure of an abundant environment to support them—all within the context of a glad and obedient priority relationship to God who created and gave it all to them.” This is the result of one being revived, back to God, back to family, back to church and back to loving God. “...Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and, Love your neighbor as yourself.” Luke 10:27 Love each other… John The Oracle Wonder Valley Christian Camp 2015 Important dates for the upcoming Wonder Valley summer camp— The following camps are just a few that are offered, but what makes these camps special are the Deans who are from First Christian Church! Register @ www.wondervalleycamp.com 6th 7th & 8th Pioneer II—July 14-17 Come and explore life as a pioneer, studying God’s Word, cooking outdoors, hiking, fishing, caving, archery and sleeping in real log cabins nestled back in the pine trees at the Wonder Valley Pioneer Camp. Dean: Oakley Barger Grades: 6-8 Registration: Tuesday, 4-4:30 p.m. Check-out: Friday, 12:00 noon 8th 9th & 10th Pioneer—July 10-12 This will be a high-energy weekend. Challenge yourself spiritually and physically. Climbing, low initiatives, caving, leadership and Bible studies. Dean: Eric Copple Grades: 8-10 Registration: Friday, 5-5:30 p.m. Check-out: Sunday, 1:00 p.m. 3rd, 4th & 5th Grade—July 12-17 ROUTE 316: All 3rd-5th graders are invited on the best road trip of the year! We will be following the Apostle Paul on his journey throughout the New Testament and having a blast with friends as we learn together. Come ready for adventure! *Campers are also invited to bring supplies and materials for our annual talent show. Dean: Kasey Comer Grades: 3-5 Registration: Sun., July 12, 4:00-4:30 p.m. Check-out: Fri., July 17, 12:00 noon Primary Sleepover—July 17-18 The theme is: Time to become ROCK SOLID! Listen up! Stand up! Give up! Listen up! Jesus visits the home of Mary and Martha. We will learn about the importance of listening to God and making time for Him. Stand up, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego! We will realize that God will always be with us if we put our trust in Him. Give up, Daniel and the Lion's den! We will understand the importance of obeying God even when it means giving up what we want in order to do what God wants. For many campers, Primary Sleepover is their first time to stay overnight at a camp. We have great staff members who understand this and are kind, patient, and caring. Wonder Valley is a great place to have fun and learn about God. We hope you will join us! Dean: Eric Mullins—Grades: 2-3 Registration: Fri. July 17, 5:00-5:30 p.m. Check-out: Sat. July 18, 6:00 p.m. Scott County Men’s Fellowship—Scott County Christian Churches take turns hosting the meeting on the second Monday every other month for a wonderful meal and fellowship at 6:30 pm and a worship service at 7:30 pm. Hibernia Christian Church has joined the rotation. Men of all ages are invited to go with us. Listed below is the schedule for the remainder of 2015. July 13—Mt Eden Christian Church Aug 10—Hibernia Christian Church Sept 14—First Christian of Scottsburg Nov 9—Zoah Christian Church 75+ Appreciation Dinner Sunday, August 2, 2015 FCC Gym @ 6:00 pm Seniors, We appreciate you! If you are 75+ you and your spouse or guest are invited to join us for an evening of entertainment, food and fellowship. To make your reservation please call the church office at 812-752-2115. The Oracle Page 3 Missions—Counting the Cost, Answering the Call.....by Marvin Sandlin Galatians 6:9, “Let us not weary in well doing, for in due season we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” Brothers and sisters I beseech you by the Living God, press on, pray on and we shall experience that harvest when we stand around His Throne where God reigns in sovereignty and majesty! Exalted! High and lifted up! May His Great Name be praised for ever more. A brother in a closed country writes, ‘Mounir, after reading Luke 24:46-48, “that the Christ would suffer, on the third day rise from the dead and that repentance and forgiveness of sins be proclaimed to all nations…” boldly stated ‘this means that God’s plan continues.’ Prophetically he continued, ‘the Bible has been compiled and Christ’s work is completed, but God’s purpose continues through the lives of His disciples, through us.’ Hallelujah, clarity from a former Muslim seeing Jesus as the ‘way, truth and the life.’ In that same country another worker writes, ‘a broken family speculated that all religions were as bad as Islam, but felt compelled to investigate. God gave one of the daughters a dream saying, “The Bible is the Truth. There is nothing above it, and nothing below it.” They searched the internet to learn more, and contacted us. As they awaited our first meeting, the sisters said, “Here we are saying our last words to each other,” believing it was a setup by Islamic fundamentalists who would kidnap and kill them. What a relief when they were met by a Christian woman! Soon the whole family was studying God’s Word together and realized the need for baptism, so a missionary baptized the son, who then baptized a sister, who then baptized another sister. Before the day was over six family members were baptized followers of Messiah. Because they are independently pursuing the Great Commission, we consider them our partnership’s first church. Oh praise His Name! Pray fervently for more churches to be formed. We are on the brink of seeing it happen! Read on with joy! *A school teacher, Bessam, was given a Bible. It was incredible to see the joy as he began studying God’s Word! Several colleagues have joined him. Pray this is another church forming. *A girl from the university English Club, is working through the Discovery Bible study series with her sister, a cousin and another friend. *A young man, Sharif, found an English Bible in a book store (in a Muslim country, imagine the odds of that!). Sharif’s English is good enough to comprehend and he has just completed Matthew’s Gospel. *Rami, a young reporter is studying the Bible with several friends and they are requesting more Bibles. Matters of Prayer *Pray for Tim and Amy in a parched land in the south of a Muslim stronghold. Pray Back to School Bash Monday, August 3, 6-8 pm FCC Shelter House Load up the kids and come out to our free Back-To-School Bash RAIN or SHINE on Monday, August 3 from 6-8pm at First Christian Church, Scottsburg - Shelter House located at 750 S. Gardner! Come and enjoy hotdogs, drinks, sno-cones and popcorn. Artists will be on hand for face painting and caricatures. We’ll also have games, a playground and inflatables for the kids (K-12). Students will receive school supplies at several of the stations - limited number available, so come early and stay late! Register for a drawing to win gift cards along with several other AMAZING giveaways - you must be present to win prizes! This is a totally free event so bring your family and friends to the celebration. Page 4 for God’s power and love as Isis is making bold moves there. Ironically, they are seeing more baptisms than ever. Pray for new contacts and many more baptisms. Each baptism is a confirmed follower of the risen One, Jesus. *Pray for a husband/wife team in a closed Muslim country, who distribute the Bread of Life, salvation, as they also distribute food (much like our Clearing House). They have been threatened with their visas not being renewed and kicked out of country. *Hayet, only a Believer for a few months, says she cannot lie, and shares Truth in Christ even when it is hard and might bring trouble. *That God will raise up more men and women of courage, to stand firm, resolute; “That they do not love their lives so much as to shrink from death.” Rev. 12:11 *Praises for security, the gift to serve, and the forever joy of following the One who wears the Victor’s Crown. Pray for the possibility for tribes and ethnic groups everywhere to have the chance to know Jesus and follow Him obediently. *Kairos course here at First Christian, beginning this August. Study with us— 10 weeks, 2 & ½ hours each night. Childcare provided. Participants should commit to be present each night, barring health or emergency situations. God’s heart for all mankind through the Great Commission, Matthew 28:17-20 Time Change!! To allow a few more minutes between services, beginning on August 9 our service times will change to 8:00 am and 10:45 am. Sunday School will begin at 9:30 am. SANITY Support Group led by Lori Croasdell and sponsored by New Creation Addiction Ministries will help you regain control of your own life, regardless of the outcome in your adult children’s lives. This is open to parents, grandparents and siblings. We will meet every Thursday of each month, 8 to 9 pm, in Room 213 at Scottsburg First Christian Church. The Oracle Kitty’s Korner…..by Kitty Perkinson As a young girl, I always loved the times when we had revival at our church. It was a time when relatives and old friends would come together with the regular congregation and sing and pray and listen to the preaching of some of our former pastors, and even have a pitch-in meal. We usually had a week of revival in the spring and another in the late summer. But what I remember most is the feeling of renewal, of a new start, another chance to make things right and promise to do better. But as I grew into a young woman and then beyond, I realized that revival was not just a series of sermons twice a year, but revival was a time of renewal each day of my life and that I had a responsibility in being renewed. I could listen to the songs, Revive Us Again, or Send a Great Revival in my Soul, and hear the sermons and greet the people, but I also had a responsibility in doing the will of God and being Christ-like. And if I were going to be Christ-like, I had to know the characteristics of Christ and spend time with Him daily in prayer, in His Word and listening to what He was saying to me. Revival was not something that was just going to be sprinkled on me or something that I would just sit and wait on, but something that I needed to do—put feet on my prayers, show love instead of say it, and spend more time reading Jesus’ love letter to me, His Word, to learn how to be like Him. Revival can and will happen, but each of us has a part in the process. Pray for revival, then walk with Christ each day to continue in that renewal. Psalms 116:8-9, For You have rescued my soul from death, My eyes from tears, My feet from stumbling. I shall walk before the LORD In the land of the living. To God Be the Glory, Kitty Women’s Ministry Events Date Change!! Life Skills Class, July 18—Ladies, you are invited to Linda Dwyer’s home where she will show us how to freeze corn— everything from shucking the corn to getting it bagged and ready for the freezer. This is the first of several Life Skill Classes we will be offering. Bring a friend and come join us. The Family of Jesus, Wednesdays, June 17-July 22 at 6:30 pm. Kitty is leading a new Bible Study for ladies, The Family of Jesus, by Karen Kingsbury, on Wednesday nights that will run through July 22. Hope you can join us for this study. Widows’ Luncheon, July 28 & August 25—11:00 am at The Rock SOS will resume in August. No Regrets Summer…..by Jeff Kukuk No Regrets Summer - Creating the Setting for Revival in Your Family The Summer heat is upon us and so is the ability to connect with your child in a way that you might never have before. As the Summer roars by, don’t miss the opportunity to interact with your family at a deeper level so that you can truly have a “No Regrets Summer.” I encourage you to carve out time with your child and minister to them in several different settings per day: Meal time is a great opportunity to sit down (no tv or phones) and have a formal conversation about faith. Your role would be a teacher and the goal would be to establish values. Drive time can be used as informal dialogue with your child in which you can take the role of a friend in which you can help them interpret life. The Oracle Bed time is an intimate time in which you can be a counselor and build intimacy with your child. Morning time provides the setting to offer encouraging words in which you take on the role of a coach in order to instill purpose in your child’s life. Here at First Christian Church, we believe families are important. Whether you are raising kids, empty nesters, single, newly married, or grandparents, we all have the responsibility of being faith influencers in our family and the church family. As a way of keeping us focused on being a faith influencer in our own personal families and the church family, here are some questions that will challenge us and make us think about our effectiveness in this area of discipleship. We encourage you to meditate on the questions, answer them honestly and make lifestyle changes accordingly. Does my calendar reflect that Christ and His church are a priority? Have I made decisions this week that lead my family and other Christ followers towards an intimate relationship with Jesus Christ? How have I influenced my family and other followers of Christ in their faith this past week? What conversations need to take place with my kids or other Christian brothers and sisters this month to instill direction and Christ-like identity in them? What sacrifices have I personally made this past month to be more intentional about spending time with my family and other believers? Have I encouraged my child or other Christian brothers or sisters in any particular activity more than I have encouraged them towards their faith in Jesus? Page 5 ...First Christian Church… KidzMinistry Happenings July/August 2015 Sign Up for Camp! Check out wondervalleycamp.com to get your summer plans lined up for fun, friends and growing in Jesus! We will be there for the following camps: 3rd—5th Grade Week: July 12– 17 Primary Sleepover: July 17 & 18 6:00 9 5 July pm Scottsburg Christian Preschool and Daycare Ministry.....by Sherry Mosley Kids have a way of making life interesting, putting a different spin on things and blessing us in many ways. As I sit here contemplating “revival” I decided to ask the kiddos what they think revival is. The responses were basically “I think my grandma goes there” to even having trouble pronouncing the word. How many times, as adults, do we struggle with defining revival in our spiritual journey? If our commitment and interest in our own spiritual lives is wavering or even lacking, how are we supposed to spark an interest in the lives of the kiddos who are the future leaders of our churches, our communities and our nation. One of Page 6 the definitions I found for the word “revival” is a time of reawakened interest in religion. The word “reawakened” stuck out to me the most because our kiddos need the awakening first. How often is it that we think we are teaching the young ones and as adults we come out more educated than we first began? How often is it God’s purpose for us to be “educated” and continue to learn and grow in His word? My prayer for all kiddos and families we are blessed to minister here at Scottsburg Christian Preschool and Daycare Ministry is that we as a Christian staff of believers can provide these kiddos a firm foundation on God’s word and that we can continue to grow and learn together with Christlike vitality, commitment and mentorship. With God’s Grace, Sherry Mosley, Director The Oracle Book Nook.....by Ginny Watterson This Book Nook report is a “catch-up” report. With illnesses and infirmities, we have a backlog of books to be put on the shelves. If any of you have talents which include application of contact paper, please contact Ginny Watterson at 812752-5886, and we will let you share your contact talents with our paperback books. There are approximately 60 that need contact protection before putting on our shelves! Missionary Account of Mary Esther Hermiz, written by Janene A. Dubbeld, tells a wonderful true story of a woman who was called to be a missionary nurse. She was called at the age of four! After studying nursing in America, she went to serve in Papua New Guinea. Later she began the nursing school for Tenwek hospital in Kenya, East Africa. This book The first book is by Ben Carson, M.D. who, by the way, is running for president. The book is called One Nation. Dr. Carson was raised by a poor single mother in Detroit. He recently retired as director of pediatric neurosurgery at Johns Hopkins Hospital. This book delineates the dangers that our country faces and addresses some ideas about how to combat our troubles regardless of political party affiliation. Also new in our library are five more devotion books for women. They are: Coffee Break with God, God’s Words of Life for Moms, Prayers for a Woman of Faith, Extravagant Grace, and Breakfast with God. These will be located in the Women’s section of the library. 7 Practices of Effective Ministry by Andy Stanley, Reggie Joiner, and Lane Jones is a guidebook for any leader who is interested in a simple, more effective way to evaluate current and future programs. It is written in a very personal style by people who have walked this walk and been successful in implementing these ideas. The next book is a Women of Faith publication titled The Great Adventure. There are several authors beginning with Patsy Clairmont, Barbara Johnson, Marilyn Meberg, Luci Swindoll, Sheila Walsh, and ending with Thelma Wells. Each of the ladies writing the book has written several devotional journeys, each one short, enjoyable and to the point, using true stories from their full and varied life experiences. Mike Huckabee has written a book called A Simple Christmas, Twelve Stories That Celebrate the True Holiday Spirit. These Christmas memories come from Huckabee’s childhood in Arkansas to his years as a young husband and father, on to his experiences as a politician— governor and presidential candidate. Keep Christmas in your heart all year long! Tony Dungy in his book, Quiet Strength, has stated this about his book, “It’s about the Journey—mine and yours—and the lives we can touch, the legacy we can leave and the world we can change for the better.” It’s a very personal book about Dungy’s journey in family, football, and faith. Adventure with Jesus, A True The Oracle is located in the children’s section of the library. In The Virtuous Woman, Shattering the Superwoman Myth, Vicki Courtney has claimed that women are in big trouble if Proverbs 31 is our path to perfection. Courtney encourages women to focus on where the truth comes from in a virtuous woman—the heart. This book contains much advice without being “holier than thou”, admitting mistakes made and unraveling what a modern day “virtuous woman” is with humor and practical advice. Dianna Booher has written Your Signature Life, Pursuing God’s Best Every Day, about doing your best and glorifying God according to what the Bible says. It helps define your life so you can sign your name with pride for the way you have lived your life. It’s about personal choices, your work, and your relationships. The sections of Part One on “Your Signature Self” are : Honesty, Wisdom, Determination, Courage, Compassion, Loyalty, and Perseverance. This surely contains lots of inner challenges to examine who you really are. The other parts of the book are Part Two: Your Signature Relationships and Part Three: Your Signature Work. Kay Arthur has written a book titled Our Covenant God, Learning to Trust Him. God loves us unconditionally, unshakably, and unfailingly because of an unbreakable covenant between Himself and us. This book leads us to discover why and how we can have unfailing trust in our God always. The author gives many examples and stories of God’s love for us. She uses Biblical, historical, and personal examples of God’s unconditional love for us, His total commitment to us for eternity. National Geographic Kids, Taste of Home, Southern Living, Family Fun, and a LOT of quilting magazines! Just check them out on the card on the back of the magazine with the DATE, NAME, and PHONE NUMBER. A special thank you goes out to the generous people who have donated books and magazines to our library. The following people have given books which will entertain and enlighten you: Carry Gray, the Homebuilders Class, Gary Hurtienne, Lois Nolan, Margaret Rumple, Phyllis Skelton, and Vera Sparrow. Last, but not least, are some romance books. Summer weddings are abounding and light, fun stories are what you need on a hot summer day. Here is a list of titles and authors: Montana Weddings—Linda Ford Log Cain Christmas Collection— Wanda E. Brunstetter A Cascades Christmas—Mildred Colvin, et al Aloha Brides—Yvonne Lehman The Texas Brides Collection—DiAnn Mills, et al The Farmer’s Bride Collection— DiAnn Mills, et al The Discovery Series—Wanda E. Brunstetter Husbands for Hire Trilogy—Kelly Eileen Hake Full Circle—Davis Bunn Connecticut Brides—Pamela Griffin Love’s Abiding Joy—Janette Oke Maine Brides—Susan Page Davis The Bartered Bride Collection— Cathy Marie Hake, et al The Prairie Romance Collection— Cathy Marie Hake, et al Indiana Cousins Trilogy—Wanda E Brunstetter Come peruse our new magazine section with magazines such as the following: Page 7 Non-Profit Organization F I RST C HRI S TI A N C HU RC H O F S COT TS BU RG U.S. Postage PAID 255 West McClain Avenue Scottsburg, IN Permit No. 47 Phone: 812-752-2115 Fax: 812-752-7502 E-mail: [email protected] Return Service Requested No Regrets: Your Roadmap for Revival…..by Dr. Timothy Lueking Psalm 85:6—Will you not revive us again, that your people may rejoice in you? Revival is a term that many Christians have heard about over the years but few have witnessed. Many Christians have read about historic revivals and the mighty working of the Lord during these times but few pursue this same working of the Holy Spirit in their life today. If we are honest, every Christian must come to the conclusion that our country is in desperate need of revival today. We observe that the country as a whole has lost its moral compass and lacks the fear of the Lord which results in more people growing more distant from the Lord. As people become more distant in their pursuit of the Lord they drift farther away from Him in the areas of morality, ethics, integrity, character, leadership and family values. God is calling His people to come to Him and be restored, revived and renewed in order to impact the world for His Kingdom. G. Campbell Morgan once observed, “We cannot organize revival, but we can set our sails to catch the wind from Heaven when God chooses to blow upon His people once again.” Your Roadmap for Revival The great news for Christians today is that God is working all around you. God is moving in this community in a powerful way and He is preparing His people for revival. This is one of the reasons why we have established the different Summer Events for you and your family to be fed spiritually and reach out to others in our community for the glory of God. Several of these events are as follows: July 3—Outreach Event at Austin Fireworks (5-7 pm) July 11—Men’s Prayer Breakfast at FCC (8 am) July 11—Church on the Streets at Austin Firehouse (12 Noon) July 12—Outreach Event at Scott County Fair Parade July 25—March of Hope (12 Noon) August 3—Back to School Bash at The Rock August 8—”Reel Men” Fishing Event at The Rock August 12—Wednesday Night Live Starts for the Fall A detailed list of these summer events can be found in the insert of this newsletter. You will also be able to find more information on our website at www.ComeToTheBurg.com and in the weekly bulletin. How can I experience an authentic revival today? The answer to this question will be provided each Sunday as we go through the series “No Regrets: Your Roadmap for Revival”. Join us as we pursue revival together over the next few months and give God the glory with your life!