NEWS NOTES August 24, 2025

 

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. Ephesians 6:10-11 ESV

 

Welcome to our in-person service.  Other services continue to be virtual via the GoTo App. 

 

Upcoming events: 

 

 

Make No Excuses - get to work

Adapted from a lesson by Emery Wright - 7/25/2021

 

But you, dress yourself for work; arise, and say to them [Israelites] everything that I command you. Do not be dismayed by them, lest I dismay you before them. And I, behold, I make you this day a fortified city, an iron pillar, and bronze walls, against the whole land, against the kings of Judah, its officials, its priests, and the people of the land. They will fight against you, but they shall not prevail against you, for I am with you, declares the Lord, to deliver you.” Jeremiah 1:17-19ESV

 

When God called Jeremiah to be a prophet, he made excuses as to why he couldn’t take on the role - he was too young, too inexperienced (Jeremiah 1: 4-10).

 

Excuses are still common today: I don’t know how. . . It’s too hard for me. . .  I don’t have time. . .  It’s someone else’s job. . .  I’m too old. . . I’m too young.  Excuses to “not try” are the tools leading to incompetence and the user of them seldom goes far.

 

Maybe Jeremiah envisioned himself as a priest like his father and grandfather.  The Jewish priest’s role was well defined with repetitive responsibilities and predictable outcomes.

 

Prophets had a lot of “x’s” (unknowns) in their equations.  They had a responsibility to take God’s word to people who were more interested in doing whatever they felt like rather than following God’s commandments.  Yet God’s prophets had to try to change the people in the present so there would be a future for them.

 

God knows the future and had a plan for Jeremiah before he was born (Jeremiah 1:4-5).  We need to let go of our own plans for God’s plan.

 

Jeremiah felt inadequate, not ready.  These feelings should make us rely more on God for strength.  The more we are aware of our inadequacy, the more we can rely on God.

 

God didn’t accept Jeremiah’s excuses nor did he tell him the job of prophet would be easy.  God told Jeremiah to “dress for work”, literally “gird up his loins.”  Physically this was rolling up the loose tunic and tucking it under a belt or tying it in a knot so a person could move freely to work, fight, or run.  Figuratively it means to be mentally and spiritually prepared to promptly answer God’s call to action in serving Him.  God promised He would be with Jeremiah and see him through the hard times ahead - like a fortified city, and iron pillar, or a bronze wall.  In God we will prevail.

 

Therefore, preparing your minds for action,[literally - girding up the loins of your minds] and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, I Peter 1:13-15 ESV

NEWS NOTES August 17, 2025

 

I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. John 10:9-11 ESV

 

Welcome to our in-person service.  Other services continue to be virtual via the GoTo App.  Contact us at comelearnofme5909@gmail.com for GoTo codes and instructions. 

 

Charles Fry speaks at LaVerne congregation today with a basket dinner and singing as well.  We will broadcast Charles' message for our afternoon study - about 4:15 PM. 

 

Upcoming events: 

 

 

Gratitude & Obedience - Not Complaining

Adapted from a lesson by Jay Graham  - 8/27/2023

 

And the people complained in the hearing of the Lord about their misfortunes, and when the Lord heard it, his anger was kindled, and the fire of the Lord burned among them and consumed some outlying parts of the camp. Then the people cried out to Moses, and Moses prayed to the Lord, and the fire died down. 3 . . .4 Now the rabble that was among them had a strong craving. And the people of Israel also wept again and said, “Oh that we had meat to eat! We remember the fish we ate in Egypt that cost nothing, the cucumbers, the melons, the leeks, the onions, and the garlic. But now our strength is dried up, and there is nothing at all but this manna to look at.” Numbers 11:1-6 ESV

 

Complaining is expressing unhappiness, dissatisfaction, or annoyance about something.  Chronic complainers focus on perceived problems and miss seeing and appreciating their blessings. 

 

Chronic complaining is also a serious sin.  The Israelites were always complaining to Moses.  They didn’t like the food, they didn’t think they had enough water, and on and on.  They were ungrateful that God had rescued them from oppressive slavery, provided daily bread from heaven, and made their clothing and shoes not wear out for 40 years.  They were untrusting that He would continue to care for them.

 

In Numbers 21 when they were again complaining, God send poisonous snakes that bit them and many died.  When they acknowledged their sin, God had Moses make a bronze serpent and put it on a pole.  If anyone bitten by a snake looked at the bronze serpent, he lived.  It required both faith and obedience to look.

 

Jesus Christ is the ultimate antidote and sin is the ultimate killing disease.  We live in a world of sin and death.  No one can spend enough money to escape death.  But when we are with Christ we have spiritual life abundantly.  Christ as the ultimate, final cure for sin was God’s plan from the beginning: Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. Ephesians 1:3-4 ESV

 

Just like the bronze serpent, we look up to Christ in faith, obey his commandments, and trust that God is faithful in keeping his promises (II Peter 3:9-10).  As we live here on earth as living sacrifices to Him, we do our best to live for Him and trust He will forgive when we fall short.

 

Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe,  for our God is a consuming fire.  Hebrews 12:28-29 ESV

NEWS NOTES August 10, 2025

 

Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied, “King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from Your Majesty’s hand. 18 But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.” Daniel 3:16-18 NIV

 

Welcome to our in-person service.  Jay Graham is our speaker and we will have a meal after services.  Some from Anaheim congregation plan to join us.  Other meetings are online via the GoTo App. 

 

Upcoming events: 

 

 

Trying Times

Adapted from a lesson by Michael Manning - 7/19/2020

 

But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine, and he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself this way. Daniel 1:8 NIV

 

I gain encouragement from reading about Daniel and his friends Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah in the book of Daniel. Probably still teen-agers, they were taken into exile in Babylon when Jerusalem was sacked and burned.  The Babylonians did everything they could to “re-program” these young men for their purposes:

 

Loss of family.  Their families were either killed or left behind.  They had no hope of reuniting nor could they talk about or outwardly grieve their loss.  They were surrounded by people who worshipped false gods and lived for the pleasure of the day.

 

Loss of identity.  The endings of their Hebrew names “el” and “ah” are associated with the name of the LORD God (Yahweh).  The Babylonians took away their birth names and gave them new ones that invoked the help of Babylonian gods.  To Daniel (God is my judge), the name Belteshazzar (wife of god Bel protect the king); to Hananiah (Yahweh is gracious), Shadrach (command of Aku- moon god); to Mishael (Who is what God is?), Meshach (Who is like Aku?); and to Azariah (Yahweh is a helper), Abednego (servant of the shining one - Nebo).  They were schooled in the language, literature, and customs of the Babylonians.

 

Loss of religious institutions.  They had no access to the Law of Moses, God’s Temple, offering sacrifices, or kosher (meaning clean) food.  Even worse the other exiled young Jewish men were eating the unclean royal food, peer pressure for them to also conform.

 

Despite this the four remained constant in worshipping the LORD God and following His laws while also being faithful in service to their Babylonian masters.  Daniel was persistent in asking permission to keep kosher.  He asked Ashpenaz, he asked the steward, he talked them into a 10 day test (Daniel 1:8-16).  The four resisted worshipping idols even if it meant a horrific death (Daniel 3).  They remained faithful in prayer and study (Daniel 6).  And God helped them.

 

To a certain extent we are also in times that challenge us.  God still speaks and instructs us in His word:

 

For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life. Therefore, he who rejects this instruction does not reject man but God, who gives you his Holy Spirit. Now about brotherly love we do not need to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love each other. And in fact, you do love all the brothers throughout Macedonia. Yet we urge you, brothers, to do so more and more. Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody. I Thessalonians 4:7-12 NIV 1984

 

And God will help us too.

NEWS NOTES August 3, 2025

 

As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten.Therefore be zealous and repent.Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. Revelation 3:19-20 NKJV

 

Welcome to our in-person service.  Other meetings are online via the GoTo App.  We missed several last Sunday.  Feel free to invite a friend to attend.  Next week Jay Graham will be our speaker and we will have a potluck meal.

 

Upcoming events:  

 

 

Doors of Choice

Adapted from a lesson by Jay Graham 9/15/2019

 

Then Jesus said to the twelve, “Do you also want to go away?” But Simon Peter answered Him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. Also we have come to believe and know that You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” John 6:67-69

 

Choice is the ability or opportunity to select something from two or more options.  Choice makes life worthwhile.  We are free to choose Christ and righteousness with God or Satan.  Christian parents can profoundly influence their children to choose the narrow way, but each ultimately makes their own choice. 

 

We are free to choose our words.  Our choice shows what is in our heart.  Words come from inside us.  Habits are the result of repetitive choices and can be either good or bad.  How we spend our time is also a choice.  We must overtly choose God, it doesn’t just happen.  However, our environment does impact our choices.  A good environment makes good choices easier. 

 

Do not be deceived: “Evil company corrupts good habits. I Corinthians 15:33 NKJV

 

The most important choice a person makes in their life is deciding to be a Christian.  Fearing God is a good motivator to choose God.  The second most important is choosing a godly spouse who will help us walk closer to God as we help them in the same way.  Friends do matter as well.

 

We will be judged by our choices.  Some false doctrines claim that God has already decided who is saved so we don’t really make that choice.  With a “not my fault” doctrine you can always blame your bad choices on someone else.  Free will started with Adam and Eve, God wants us to choose Him, but he does not make us.  Romans 12 is a good summary of choices God wants us to make.

 

We may have a choice of 31 flavors of ice cream, but we have only one choice for inheriting eternal life and is through Jesus Christ.

 

And if it seems evil to you to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” Joshua 24:15 NJKV

NEWS NOTES July 27, 2025

 

And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Colossians 3:15-17 ESV

 

Welcome to our in-person service.  Other meetings are online via the GoTo App.

 

Upcoming events: 

 

 

“God’s Love Letter”

Lee Wright’s description of what the Bible is to the world

 

You, however, have followed my teaching, my conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my love, my steadfastness, my persecutions and sufferings that happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, and at Lystra—which persecutions I endured; yet from them all the Lord rescued me. Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. 2 Tim 3:10-17

 

The U.S. Postal Service turned 250 years old yesterday.  It started a year before the Declaration of Independence was signed.  The reliable service - “undeterred by rain, sleet, snow or even gloom of night” - helped unify the colonies by spreading ideas of liberty and independence through letters, newspapers, and pamphlets.

 

Lee Wright often refers to the Bible as God’s Love Letter to man.  Between the availability of paper Bibles, phone apps, audio books, and internet access, we don’t have to wait for a delivery from the postal carrier for us to be able to read our love letter from God.  The Bible, originally written in Hebrew, Greek, and Aramaic, has been translated into more than 700 languages in full, with the New Testament alone in nearly triple that number.  This is good news.

 

But the most important place for God’s Word is inside of us (Jeremiah 31:33, Hebrews 8:10, Hebrews 10:16) - in our minds (meaning we know and understand it) and in our hearts (meaning we want to do everything possible to live it out in our lives).  God has always been consistent in His expectations, promises, and steadfast love.  And He has written it down for us so we can have the ultimate liberty with Him in heaven.

 

Only be strong and very courageous, being careful to do according to all the law that Moses my servant commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may have good success wherever you go. This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go. Joshua 1:7-9 ESV

NEWS NOTES July 13, 2025

 

Let brotherly love continue. Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.   Remember those who are in prison, as though in prison with them, and those who are mistreated, since you also are in the body. Hebrews 13:1-3 ESV

 

Welcome to our in-person service.  Other meetings are online via the GoTo App.

 

Upcoming events:

 

 

“No More Twain But One”

 

But from the beginning of the creation God made them male and female. For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and cleave to his wife; And they twain shall be one flesh: so then they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder. Mark 10:6-9 KJV [Jesus’ response to the Pharisees who questioned him about divorce in the Law of Moses.]

 

Think about married couples you have known where it is difficult to say the name of one without mentioning the other.  Some couples seem like a unit rather than two separate individuals.  That’s the case with two New Testament Christian couples: Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 5:1-10), and Aquila and Priscilla (Acts 18: 1-4, 18-28; Romans 16: 3-4; I Corinthians 16:19; and II Timothy 4:19).

 

Ananias and Sapphira agreed on important things: being Christians, being regulars at church, being financially responsible (they owned property), and in selling property so they could gift proceeds to the church.  They backed each other up to their dying breath.  What a great couple!  Sadly, they also agreed together to lie about the gift’s value - “all” was actually “part.”  Giving only part of the sale proceeds was fine, but trying to get the glory for giving all is described as lying to God.  Greed and desiring self-glory are fatal. Husband and then wife died suddenly; each to face God with their last words a collaborating lie.

 

The scriptures mentioning Priscilla and Aquila span much of the early Church days.  Impressive aspects of their marriage partnership were their spiritual influence on others and their generous gifts of hospitality.  Deported from Rome because they were Jews, they opened their new home in Corinth to Paul and welcomed him to join their tentmaking business.  From Corinth, they uprooted again and travelled with Paul to Ephesus where they helped Apollos understand the “way of God more accurately.”  Paul calls them out as “fellow workers in Christ Jesus” who risked their lives for him, and sponsored a church in their home.  Besides receiving greetings from others, they and the church in their home sent “hearty” greetings to the Corinthian brothers. Though far away they still cared deeply about those in Corinth.  Aquila and Priscilla weren’t just good and true to each other, they were good and true to others in general, and specifically to God.  Everyone benefited from Priscilla and Aquila - very different from the narcissistic behavior of Ananias and Sapphira.

 

As Paul and Philip’s daughters demonstrate, you don’t have to be married (I Corinthians 7:8; Acts 21:8-10) to have a wide spiritual influence nor to be hospitable.  It’s a matter of focusing upward (to God and our Lord Jesus) and outward (to others):

 

Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.  And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. Hebrews 10:23-25 ESV

NEWS NOTES July 13, 2025

 

Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life. I Timothy 6:17-19 NIV 1984

 

Welcome to our in-person service.  Others are virtual via the GoTo App.

 

Upcoming events:

 

 

Jesus At the Door - A look at the Church in Laodicea

Adapted from a message by Michael Manning 5/30/2021

 

"To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God's creation. I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm-- neither hot nor cold--I am about to spit you out of my mouth”. Revelation 3:15- 16 NIV 1984

 

Christ, The Amen, knew the deeds of the Laodicean Christians and he knows ours too.  John 2:24-25 says Jesus did not need man's testimony about man, for he knew what was in a man.  Jesus sternly warned the Laodiceans against being “lukewarm.”  At the crossroads of trading routes, it was one of the triad cities in the fertile Lycus River Valley, between the cities of Hierapolis and Colossae in what is now Turkey.  Hierapolis was famous for its hot springs that are similar to the Mammoth Hot Springs in Yellowstone National Park. These hot springs were valued for medical bathing and dying fabric.  Colossae was just the opposite with very cold, refreshing water from deep springs.  Laodicea’s water was piped in from a distance, drinkable but bad tasting because of its high mineral content and lukewarm temperature.

 

Laodicea was a wealthy city thanks to the trade routes, manufacturing, and specialty wool growing.  We live in an equally wealthy society where the deception of riches - that they bring happiness, power, and security - is prevalent.  Wealth is not evil in itself, but makes us vulnerable to pride, idolatry and selfishness. On the other hand, wealth can be used for great good, as the apostle Paul instructs in 1 Timothy 6:17-19. 

 

The Laodiceans struggled spiritually because of trusting in their wealth instead of God.  They needed to make critical changes.  Already baptized Christians, they needed to renew themselves by putting God first again in their hearts and actions. Failure to get rid of impurities in our life has eternal consequences.

 

Jesus describes Himself as standing at the door and knocking.  We have the power of choice to “pull the string” and let Him in.  He will not force Himself in.

 

Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest, and repent. Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me. To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I overcame and sat down with my Father on his throne. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches." Revelation 3:19-22 NIV 1984

NEWS NOTES July 6, 2025

 

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7 NKJV

 

Welcome to our in-person service. Other services remain virtual.

 

 

Persistence

Suggested by a message by Daniel Mobley 6/22/2025

 

I thank God, whom I serve with a pure conscience, as my forefathers did, as without ceasing I remember you in my prayers night and day, greatly desiring to see you, being mindful of your tears, that I may be filled with joy, when I call to remembrance the genuine faith that is in you, which dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am persuaded is in you also. Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. II Timothy 1:3-7 NKJV

 

In 2001, after much research, Dr. Daniel Schacter of Harvard University published a book about his conclusions called "The Seven Sins of Memory: How the Mind Forgets and Remembers. Having a good memory can be very helpful; but memories can also be problematic.

 

One of the “sins of memory” that Schacter coined was Persistence--the unwanted recollections people can't forget - unrelenting, intrusive memories of traumatic event(s) you or others close to you experienced/witnessed.   Or the tormenting memories can be something done/said or failed to do/say that harmed someone.  People who fixate on such memories often turn to drugs, alcohol, bitterness, or violence against self/others, which compound problems. 

 

Consider these examples.  After betraying Jesus for money, Judas Iscariot was overcome with remorse and committed suicide (Matthew 27:3). 

 

Overcome by human fear when he was challenged, Peter denied Christ three times.  Then Peter remembered Jesus’ warning and “wept bitterly” (Matthew 26:75).  But Peter did not follow Judas’ destructive path. Despite those horrid days between Christ’s crucifixion and resurrection,  he still trusted in God.  Then Jesus, in effect, talks Peter through the haunting memories by making sure Peter knew he was forgiven and loved, and by giving him purpose: “Feed My sheep” and “Follow Me” (John 21).  The past, cannot be changed, but Jesus Christ forgives and gives us His work to do (Titus 3:3-8) that changes today and the future.

 

The trauma of witnessing Stephen’s stoning and Saul’s (later called Paul) atrocities against Christians could have caused the believers to crumble.  Instead they went everywhere preaching the good news of Christ (Acts 8:1-4; James 1:2-8).

 

Paul never forgot what he had done: I am the least of the apostles, not worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.   Yet this remembrance did not negatively torment him.  Like Peter by God’s grace, he obeyed Christ (Acts 9:1-22).  But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they [other apostles] all, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me. Therefore, whether it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed. I Corinthians 15:9-11 NKJV

 

Peter and Paul show that persistence in memory does not have to be a “sin” the way Schacter described it or even a roadblock.  We are blessed when we persistently remember God has forgiven us of the sins we commit, and we can forgive ourselves and others who have traumatized us.  We are weak on our own, but loved and valuable to God who gives strength through His Spirit.  Because of this Paul, near the end of his life, writes to Timothy that he served God with a pure conscience. Paul focused on joyful memories and gratitude to God (II Timothy 1:3-7).

NEWS NOTES June 29, 2025

 

You, then, why do you judge your brother? Or why do you look down on your brother? For we will all stand before God's judgment seat. It is written: " 'As surely as I live,' says the Lord, 'every knee will bow before me; every tongue will confess to God.' " So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God. Romans 14:10-12 NIV 1984

 

Welcome to our in-person service.  Jay Graham is our speaker today with a potluck and birthday celebration after morning services.  We are expecting some from other congregations to join us for lunch.

 

Summer trips are in full swing with several missing.  Travel can be refreshing, especially when we are able to meet with other Christians. 

 

Upcoming events:  

 

 

Prepare to Meet Thy God

Adapted from a message by Douglas McKenzie 7/4/2021

 

"Do not let your hearts be troubled.  Trust in God; trust also in me.  In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.  You know the way to the place where I am going." John 14:1-4 NIV1984

 

I was watching an old episode of The Walton’s and it made me think.  The family was listening to FDR on the radio, the day after the December 7th, 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor.  Many fine young men died with great loss of ships.  People were suddenly living in fear.  Although the government knew something was brewing, the attack was a total surprise.

 

In the 1950’s during the Cold War with the Soviet Union, around Alaska, the US built the Distant Early Warning (DEW) Line  - a network of manned radar stations to provide early warning if a Soviet air attack was on its way to North America.  We didn’t want to be surprised again.

 

A wise man prepares for the unexpected (a rainy day fund) and future events (retirement savings; burial expenses).  Many people prepare for everything except what is inevitable - eternity. A true wise man also prepares for what comes after death.

 

No one can avoid meeting God.  Both the saved and unsaved will meet God at His great white throne to be judged according to what he has done (Revelation 14:11-15).  Like a river running unbroken through a valley, God’s demands are the same throughout the Bible - obey His commandments. 

 

Yet we are sinful and unrighteous in our natural state, how can we be saved?  How can we prepare?  The answer is Jesus Christ.  He has done his part (John 14:1-4).  We must reach out and embrace what Christ has done for us.  It starts with repenting, leaving our sin behind by living differently (Luke 13:1-9), being baptized (Acts 2:38), and then walking Christ’s direction always, to the very end of our life.

 

On the Niagara River (the border of US/Canada) signs and buoys alert boaters that once they pass the point of redemption, no matter how strong their vessel is nor how skilled the captain, they will go over the falls and likely be killed.  God has provided his Word to alert us to the consequences of sin.  Don’t delay in submitting to God.  Get out of harm’s way now and go God’s way (2 Corinthians 6:1-2, Hebrews 4:7). 

 

‘And now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized and wash your sins away, calling on his name.’(Ananias to Paul - Acts 22:16 NIV)

NEWS NOTES June 22, 2025

 

In the fear of the Lord there is strong confidence, And His children will have a place of refuge.  The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, To turn one away from the snares of death. Proverbs 14:26-27 NKJV

 

Welcome to our in-person service. 

 

Upcoming events: 

 

 

OUR  CONFIDENCE

Adapted from a message by Jay Graham

 

But the Lord is faithful, who will establish you and guard you from the evil one. And we have confidence in the Lord concerning you, both that you do and will do the things we command you. II Thessalonians 3:3-4

 

We can learn a lot from the Jewish leaders of Jesus’ time. While their attitudes of religious arrogance and self-righteousness were to their ultimate spiritual detriment, we are benefitted by our opportunity to observe such behavior and spirits. We can learn, not to be emulators of their behavior, but rather to learn from and do the opposite of what they did and thought. Their confidence was not in the Lord, nor was it in His Word through the Law He had given them. Their confidence was in themselves. That ultimately was their downfall. This misplaced confidence in themselves led to their lack of obedience and humble submission to the Lord.

 

We see this thread throughout the Gospels as Jesus and others interacted with them. We can see this as they either personally went out to hear Jesus’ words and teachings or they sent spies to try to trap Jesus and find faults with Him. They were not interested in truth. They were only interested in bolstering their own perceived “value” in the eyes of the people.

 

We see this in the attitude of the Pharisee in Luke 7:36-39 toward the repentant woman. He felt superior to, not just the woman, but also to Jesus.   He showed this by not showing the common courtesy of providing Jesus with water to wash his feet and then wondering how Jesus could be a true prophet if he allowed such a woman to touch Him!  We see this misplaced confidence as they challenged Jesus and His disciples for not following the “tradition of the elders” (Matthew 15:1-2).

 

Another Pharisee pitfall was comparing themselves to others (Luke 18:9-12).  Whether they be fellow Christians or non-believers, we should only compare ourselves to Christ (II Corinthians 10:12). We should not look at others with religious disdain or arrogance. We should look to them with the desire to help them walk with the Lord and His Ways, not our ways.

 

The apostle Paul assured the brothers and sisters the Lord would establish and guard them from the evil one (II Thessalonians 3:3-4). He felt assured the brethren would do the things they had been commanded. What gave him this assurance? It was his confidence in the Lord, not in his own nor their “righteousness.” It was in the Lord’s righteousness. Paul was confident in Christ and His crucifixion and Christ’s subsequent power and glory! Paul’s confidence was in the Lord’s working of His Grace and Peace in the lives of His people.

 

The apostle Paul also warned we should have “no confidence in the flesh” (Philippians 3:3).  What did he mean?  We can be tempted to put confidence in physical things such as our own efforts, our accomplishments or our family heritage for salvation.  Paul considered all these things as worthless compared to the surpassing worth of knowing Christ (Philippians 3:7-8).

 

As Christians, it can be easy to become like the Jewish leaders. To look at our own perceived “goodness and righteousness,” when in reality we have none. What goodness we achieve comes from Christ. What righteousness we have comes from Christ. This is why Paul said we should “let the Word of Christ dwell in us richly” (Colossians 3:16) Our confidence must be in Him alone.