Here comes Dorian!!  He is on every news station and in every newspaper!!  Heed the warning!!  We were told Dorian was a Category 4-5 hurricane with winds up to 155 mph.  Monday morning Dorian pounded the Bahamas with heavy rains and howling winds heading for the coast of Florida.  The news from the Bahamas showed destroyed homes, flooded roads and most people lost everything!!

If Dorian was going to hit the Campbell County area, what would you do?  I am sure most of us would do all we could to save our homes by boarding up the windows and siding.  What kind of valuables would you save?  Do you have any keep sakes handed down from generation to generation?  Do you have any valuable coins or paintings, trophies or sporting good equipment you would try and save?  Three weeks ago, the people of Florida knew that Dorian was heading their way, but many did not “Heed The Warning”.

Watch therefore, for ye know neither the hour nor the day wherein the Son of man cometh! Matt 25:13 

Brothers and Sisters Heed the warning; our Lord and Savior is coming back!

Jesus IS coming back to call his own to a place He has prepared for those that love the Lord!   Do all you can to save your friends, neighbors and most of all your family! Work with the same intensity you would use to save your house from a storm.  It is a matter of life or death.

Let him know, that he which converted the sinner from the error of his way, shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins. James 5:20

Lou Holtz, the coach for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish said:

“You know what true happiness is?”

You want true happiness for an hour——–eat a good steak!

You want true happiness for 8 hours——-play a round of golf with your buddies!

You want true happiness for a week———–go on a cruise!

You want true happiness for a lifetime——–take care of your family!!

Well said Coach Holtz! What better way to take care of your family than making sure they know the Lord?

Jesus said,” Inasmuch as you have done this to the least of these, you have done it to me!!

Heed The Warning!!

 

I had not heard the term “baby daddy” till a few years ago. Oxford defines is as “the father of one or more of a woman’s children, especially one who is not her
husband or current partner” and “she doesn’t feel the pressure to wed her baby daddy” (lexico.com).

As a society, how did we get to this point? Is it the removal of God from schools? Is it our despicably enabling social welfare? Or is it just that life is tough?

I know of one young girl for whom life was tough. Before she knew what happened, she was pregnant. Her mark was part of a childless marriage. And, as vile as this may seem, the wife had orchestrated the whole sick mess. But the bigger the young girl’s belly grew the more jealous the wife became. Soon the young girl fled the hostile situation. But, with no way to fend for herself, she ended up in a wilderness by a spring. It was there that God found her and told her to humbly return.

God does not turn His back on us. No matter how bad or vile the pit may be that we end up in. Realizing this Hagar replied:

Genesis 16:13 (ESV) So she called the name of the LORD who spoke to her, “You are a God of seeing,” for she said, “Truly here I have seen him who looks
after me.”

Friend, have you lost hope that things would ever get better? Right now, turn to God and notice that He is lovingly looking at you. And then reach out to a member of His Summit Church (Romans 16:16) or join us each Lord’s Day to discover His message for you.
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The Summit Church of Christ offers counseling. It is free to all who attend the 11 am services.

 

Last week we started our first session of Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace University program. During the instructional video, one of the financial counselors was talking about her own personal experience with money as she meekly expressed, “she was living in her strengths” when she was spending money. This reminded me of one of the verses Dad used to encourage all of the new and existing Deacons to rededicate ourselves to service for the church.

 

Romans 12:6-8 (NIV) ⁶We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; ⁷if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; ⁸if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.

 

Think about this list of gifts and imagine the kinds of people who would have each gift. It would be difficult for one person to embody all of these gifts. At the same time, realize that your own gifts cannot do the work of the church all alone. Be thankful for people whose gifts are completely different from your own and look for ways to let your strengths balance their weaknesses. Be grateful for others with abilities that make up your own deficiencies, together we can build Christ’s church.

 

God’s gifts differ in nature and purpose according to His wisdom and graciousness, not according to our faith. Our role is to be faithful and to seek ways to serve others with what Christ has given us.

 

Are you living in your strengths?

 

Matthew 11:28-30 – Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. [29] Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. [30] For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

Henry David Thoreau wrote, “The mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation.” 170 years later, things have probably only gotten worse.  We fill our days with busyness.  We frantically move from one thing to the next, never pausing to catch our breath, until we are exhausted.  At work, we spend our time climbing the ladder.  They hold our feet to the fire.  We keep paying the price to build our nest egg, waiting for someday when we can retire.  Apart from work, we take our children from one activity to another.  We move from one event to another, searching for something to make us happy.  We are generally over-scheduled and unfulfilled.

Thoreau also wrote, “It is not enough to be busy. So are the ants. The question is: What are we busy about?” We often say, “I don’t have time” which almost always means, “this is not a priority.”  When things are important to us, we find a way.  When it’s not important, we make an excuse.  When we care, it’s amazing how much we can get done. It’s critical for us, then, to be clear about our priorities; to decide what is really important and prioritize that over what is simply urgent. Unless we are serving the Lord, the rest of our labor is vain.  It is only in the Lord that we can find fulfillment and peace.

It’s Labor Day.  It’s time for most of us to take a break from school and work and spend some time relaxing and enjoying the last days of summer.  Take some time this weekend, step away from it all, and focus on what it is really important to you.

 

What an incredible evening of fun, food, and fellowship. Last Sunday evening we had over 50 brothers and sisters in Christ in our home. So many precious memories were created. Bill and Daryl led us in prayer. Tom read our devotional text. And Chris Guin led the singing. All the while Douwene, Jenny, and few other dear sisters where getting the Skyline Chili ready for prime time.

Two thousand years ago a multitude (5000 men plus families) followed Jesus to the banks of the Galilean sea. Jesus asked Philip to provide food for them. But instead of seeing this as a positive opportunity to meet needs, he instead gave a pessimistic reply. John 6:7 (ESV) Philip answered him, “Two hundred denarii worth of bread would not be enough for each of them to get a little.”

Fortunately, Andrew was slightly more resourceful: John 6:9 (ESV) “There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish, but what are they for so many?” So, Jesus changed their scarce resources to an abundant surplus.

Friend, Jesus still sees the deep needs around us and still asks us to help. John 6:5 (ESV) Lifting up his eyes, then, and seeing that a large crowd was coming toward him, Jesus said to Philip, “Where are we to buy bread, so that these people may eat?”

What is your answer?
•Is it pessimistically fearful because you’re focused on scarcity?
•Or positively faithful because you’re focused on His sufficiency?

 

Deacons likewise must be dignified, not double-tongued, not addicted to much wine, not greedy for dishonest gain. ⁹ They must hold the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience.¹⁰ And let them also be tested first; then let them serve as deacons if they prove themselves blameless. ¹¹ Their wives likewise must be dignified, not slanderers, but sober-minded, faithful in all things. ¹² Let deacons each be the husband of one wife, managing their children and their own households well. ¹³ For those who serve well as deacons gain a good standing for themselves and also great confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus. — 1 Timothy 3:8-13

 

Today Christ’s church that meets together here will designate three additional men to serve as deacons.  The guidelines given by the Holy Spirit through Paul are not easily or quickly attained.  The man and his wife who meets these qualifications has sacrificed the pleasure of popularity for the challenge of service.  The Summit family is blessed to have so many Godly men who choose to serve in God’s work among us.

 

These men will be given specific tasks and ministries to coordinate.  They can’t and shouldn’t do it alone.  Please take a look at the list of deacons/ministry leaders to the left of this article.  Encourage those men in their work.  Even better, find a ministry that matches your gifts and then ask the leader of it to put you to work.  You will never regret laying up treasure in heaven.

 

This week we gathered to say goodbye to a faithful Christian. Even though Shirley Hein was homebound (due to COPD) – she had found a way to remain a part of the Summit church via live streaming (t.ly/NzXAW). All we did was keep her well supplied with portable communion supplies.

As Jesus was saying goodbye to this world, He called out to His Father in Heaven saying: “Into thy hands I commit my spirit”. After several torturous beatings and hours on Calvary’s cruel cross, His body was giving out. He knew He had to commit His spirit to His Father’s care.

But what about those who would be left behind? How would they move on? In the American Journal of Psychiatry, 07/1997, p.904 (t.ly/wJqJx) seven symptoms are listed that point to Complicated Grief Disorder. The researches advised seeking help, if after 14 months, three of the following symptoms are still present:
1. Intrusive memories or fantasies about the deceased loved one
2. Strong pangs of emotion related to the lost relationship
3. Powerful yearnings or wishes that the departed person was still present
4. Intense feelings of loneliness or emptiness
5. Avoidance of people, places, or activities that remind the grief sufferer of the deceased
6. Recurrent sleep interference and disturbance
7. Significant loss of interest in work, social, personal, or recreational activities

So, how do we heal from such afflictions? By utilizing 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 Paul gives a road map to healing from even the most severe trauma.

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.

Paul is saying that the path through affliction involves us seeing, seeking, and sharing.

SEE (verse 3): First, focus on who God is when comfort is needed. Look carefully at verse three. See how God is described and bring that part of Him into your
traumatized heart.
SEEK (verse 4a): Second, notice where your hurting heart will find comfort. Search it out from God. Tell your soul to wait, in silence, before God only – expect healing to come from Him (Ps.62:5).
SHARE (verse 4b): And third, since we don’t grieve as the world who has no hope (1 Thess.4:14), Christians eventually find a semblance of normalcy. But there are many who don’t. So, share your comfort with others who are still afflicted.

Father God, thank you for being the God of all comforts to us. Help us to comfort those who are afflicted. This we pray through your merciful Son, Jesus Christ – amen.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This past Tuesday afternoon I was seeing a client out when a couple came walking towards me. Now the problem was they thought they had scheduled a session – but they had not. To make it worse, I had the next couple lined up, via Zoom, from a different continent.

Friend, what do you do when scheduling conflicts arise? Solomon says that “the heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps” (Proverbs 16:9). So, a better question would be, how do we remain open to the Lord establishing our steps?

In this world, there are two kinds of people – givers and takers. Givers always put the needs of others ahead of their own – even when they are being mistreated (Mt.5:44). Users always take. They continually feel sorry for themselves and ultimately end up all alone. After all, just how long can anyone survive in the presence of someone with narcissistic personality disorder (an excessive need for admiration, disregard for other’s feelings, an inability to handle any criticism, and a sense of entitlement)?

However, the givers of this world are always taken for granted and often treated cruelly by the takers. So, the givers may find themselves wondering just how much longer they can endure. To them, David, the sweet psalmist of Israel writes:

Psalm 37:21–24 (ESV) The wicked borrows but does not pay back, but the righteous is generous and gives; for those blessed by the LORD shall inherit the land, but those cursed by him shall be cut off. The steps of a man are established by the LORD, when he delights in his way; though he fall, he shall not be cast headlong, for the LORD upholds his hand.

My Blessed Friend, NEVER GIVE UP! Instead, focus only on taking up your daily cross and Jesus will hold you up with His strong right hand.

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