Monday, March 1, 2010
Bible Study Menu thus far
Heather tells me she is bring ham and soup beans, Paulette will make the cornbread to go with it along with a ground beef hashbrown casserole. That's it for now! I believe there is still iced tea and some pop at the Church for drinks.
FYI
Just wanted to let everyone know that the new Western Work newsletter arrived and copies are on the table in the foyer at Church. It gives a nice view of the happenings within Western Yearly Meeting along with information on Missions and youth happenings with the Christian Education. So, if you think of it, pick one up Sunday.
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Scripture for thought...
John 14:27
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
Thanks
Just wanted to say thanks for all who took the time to help and arrange everything for our couples night, and yes, Bob, that includes you too for all our clean china dishes]!lol My boyfriend kept telling me how friendly everyone was to him and he could see how I liked going there. I thought you all did a great job decorating for the occasion and for those who were not able to make it you missed a fun night! Hopefully we will have more in the future. Thank you! Pam
Friday, February 26, 2010
Happiness
There is tremendous happiness in making others happy,despite our own situtions.
Shared grief is half the sorrow,but happiness when shared is doubled!
Shared grief is half the sorrow,but happiness when shared is doubled!
Couples night
Hey, everyone don;t forget couples night tomorrow evening at 6;30 if you signed up for it! See you there, Hope the snow don;t keep us away! Pam
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Scripture for Thought
Proverbs 16:24
Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.
e-mail from Annette VanWinkle
Isaiah 65:24
This beautiful story was written by a doctor who worked in Central Africa.
This beautiful story was written by a doctor who worked in Central Africa.
One night I had worked hard to help a mother in the labor ward; but in spite of all we could do, she died, leaving us with a tiny, premature baby and a crying two-year-old daughter. We would have difficulty keeping the baby alive; as we had no incubator (we had no electricity to run an incubator). We also had no special feeding facilities.
Although we lived on the equator, nights were often chilly with treacherous drafts.
Although we lived on the equator, nights were often chilly with treacherous drafts.
One student midwife went for the box we had for such babies and the cotton wool that the baby would be wrapped in. Another went to stoke up the fire and fill a hot water
bottle. She came back shortly in distress to tell me that in filling the bottle, it had burst (rubber perishes easily in tropical climates).
'And it is our last hot water bottle!' she exclaimed. As in the West, it is no good crying over spilled milk, so in Central Africa it might be considered no good crying over burst water bottles. They do not grow on trees, and there are no drugstores down
forest pathways.
'All right,' I said, 'put the baby as near the fire as you safely can, and sleep between the baby and the door to keep it free from drafts. Your job is to keep the baby warm.'
The following noon, as I did most days, I went to have prayers with any of the orphanage children who chose to gather with me. I gave the youngsters various suggestions of things to pray about and told them about the tiny baby. I explained our problem about keeping the baby warm enough, mentioning the hot water bottle, and that the baby could so easily die if it got chills. I also told them of the two-year-old sister, crying because her mother had died.
During prayer time, one ten-year-old girl, Ruth, prayed with the usual blunt conciseness of our African children. 'Please, God' she prayed, 'Send us a hot water bottle today. It'll be no good tomorrow, God, as the baby will be dead, so please send it this afternoon.'
While I gasped inwardly at the audacity of the prayer, she added, 'And while You are about it, would You please send a dolly for the little girl so she'll know You really love her?'
As often with children's prayers, I was put on the spot.. Could I honestly say 'Amen'?
bottle. She came back shortly in distress to tell me that in filling the bottle, it had burst (rubber perishes easily in tropical climates).
'And it is our last hot water bottle!' she exclaimed. As in the West, it is no good crying over spilled milk, so in Central Africa it might be considered no good crying over burst water bottles. They do not grow on trees, and there are no drugstores down
forest pathways.
'All right,' I said, 'put the baby as near the fire as you safely can, and sleep between the baby and the door to keep it free from drafts. Your job is to keep the baby warm.'
The following noon, as I did most days, I went to have prayers with any of the orphanage children who chose to gather with me. I gave the youngsters various suggestions of things to pray about and told them about the tiny baby. I explained our problem about keeping the baby warm enough, mentioning the hot water bottle, and that the baby could so easily die if it got chills. I also told them of the two-year-old sister, crying because her mother had died.
During prayer time, one ten-year-old girl, Ruth, prayed with the usual blunt conciseness of our African children. 'Please, God' she prayed, 'Send us a hot water bottle today. It'll be no good tomorrow, God, as the baby will be dead, so please send it this afternoon.'
While I gasped inwardly at the audacity of the prayer, she added, 'And while You are about it, would You please send a dolly for the little girl so she'll know You really love her?'
As often with children's prayers, I was put on the spot.. Could I honestly say 'Amen'?
I just did not believe that God could do this. Oh, yes, I know that He can do everything; the Bible says so. But there are limits, aren't there? The only way God could answer this particular prayer would be by sending me a parcel from the
homeland.
homeland.
I had been in Africa for almost four years at that time, and I had never, ever, received a parcel from home.
Anyway, if anyone did send me a parcel, who would put in a hot water bottle? I lived on the equator!
Halfway through the afternoon, while I was teaching in the nurses' training school, a message was sent that there was a car at my front door. By the time I reached home, the car had gone, but there on the porch was a large 22-pound parcel. I felt tears pricking my eyes. I could not open the parcel alone, so I sent for the orphanage children.. Together we pulled off the string, carefully undoing each knot.
Anyway, if anyone did send me a parcel, who would put in a hot water bottle? I lived on the equator!
Halfway through the afternoon, while I was teaching in the nurses' training school, a message was sent that there was a car at my front door. By the time I reached home, the car had gone, but there on the porch was a large 22-pound parcel. I felt tears pricking my eyes. I could not open the parcel alone, so I sent for the orphanage children.. Together we pulled off the string, carefully undoing each knot.
We folded the paper, taking care not to tear it unduly... Excitement was mounting.
Some thirty or forty pairs of eyes were focused on the large cardboard box.
From the top, I lifted out brightly-colored, knitted jerseys. Eyes sparkled as I gave them out. Then there were the knitted bandages for the leprosy patients, and the children looked a little bored. Then came a box of mixed raisins and sultanas - that would make a batch of buns for the weekend.
Then, as I put my hand in again, I felt the..... could it really be?
I grasped it and pulled it out. Yes, a brand new, rubber hot water bottle. I cried. I had not asked God to send it; I had not truly believed that He could.
Ruth was in the front row of the children. She rushed forward, crying out, 'If God has sent the bottle, He must have sent the dolly, too!
'Rummaging down to the bottom of the box, she pulled out the small, beautifully-dressed dolly. Her eyes shone! She had never doubted! Looking up at me, she asked, 'Can I go over with you and give this dolly to that little girl, so she'll know that Jesus really loves her?'
'Of course,' I replied!
That parcel had been on the way for five whole months, packed up by my former Sunday school class, whose leader had heard and obeyed God's prompting to send a hot water bottle, even to the equator. And one of the girls had put in a dolly for an African child - five months before, in answer to the believing prayer of a ten-year-old to bring it 'that afternoon'.
'Before they call, I will answer.' (Isaiah 65:24)
When you receive this, say the prayer. That's all you have to do. No strings attached.
From the top, I lifted out brightly-colored, knitted jerseys. Eyes sparkled as I gave them out. Then there were the knitted bandages for the leprosy patients, and the children looked a little bored. Then came a box of mixed raisins and sultanas - that would make a batch of buns for the weekend.
Then, as I put my hand in again, I felt the..... could it really be?
I grasped it and pulled it out. Yes, a brand new, rubber hot water bottle. I cried. I had not asked God to send it; I had not truly believed that He could.
Ruth was in the front row of the children. She rushed forward, crying out, 'If God has sent the bottle, He must have sent the dolly, too!
'Rummaging down to the bottom of the box, she pulled out the small, beautifully-dressed dolly. Her eyes shone! She had never doubted! Looking up at me, she asked, 'Can I go over with you and give this dolly to that little girl, so she'll know that Jesus really loves her?'
'Of course,' I replied!
That parcel had been on the way for five whole months, packed up by my former Sunday school class, whose leader had heard and obeyed God's prompting to send a hot water bottle, even to the equator. And one of the girls had put in a dolly for an African child - five months before, in answer to the believing prayer of a ten-year-old to bring it 'that afternoon'.
'Before they call, I will answer.' (Isaiah 65:24)
When you receive this, say the prayer. That's all you have to do. No strings attached.
Just send it on to whomever you want - but do send it on.
Prayer is one of the best free gifts we receive. There is no cost, but a lot of rewards. Let's continue praying for one another.
Prayer is one of the best free gifts we receive. There is no cost, but a lot of rewards. Let's continue praying for one another.
This awesome prayer takes less than a minute.
Heavenly Father, I ask you to bless my friends reading this. I ask You to minister to their spirit. Where there is pain, give them Your peace and mercy. Where there is self doubting, release a renewed confidence to work through them. Where there is tiredness or exhaustion, I ask You to give them understanding, guidance, and strength.
Heavenly Father, I ask you to bless my friends reading this. I ask You to minister to their spirit. Where there is pain, give them Your peace and mercy. Where there is self doubting, release a renewed confidence to work through them. Where there is tiredness or exhaustion, I ask You to give them understanding, guidance, and strength.
Where there is fear, reveal Your love and release to them Your courage. Bless their finances, give them greater vision, and raise up leaders and friends to support and encourage them. Give each of them discernment to recognize the evil forces
around them and reveal to them the power they have in You to defeat it. I ask You to do these things in Jesus' name. Amen.
P.S.
Passing this on to anyone you consider a friend will bless you both.
around them and reveal to them the power they have in You to defeat it. I ask You to do these things in Jesus' name. Amen.
P.S.
Passing this on to anyone you consider a friend will bless you both.
Passing this on to one not considered a friend is something Christ would do.
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Scripture of the day
The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.
Galatians 6:8
Galatians 6:8
Food update for tonight
Pam is bringing a mexican casserole, Heather is bringing some sort of casserole and a dessert, and Paulette is bringing beef strogenoff and iced tea. I'm making coffee this time at the Church (decaf). There are cookies, chips, and some soda drinks already at the Church. Hope that helps.
Food Pantry Need
As many of you know, Paulette has been involved in making laundry soap to provide for the Food Pantry. If anyone is interested in being involved in this, she will be glad to share the recipe. The soap is excellent for the laundry and can even be used in a dishwasher. It costs very little to make the soap and she has been pleased how well it cleans. But, the bottom line here is the need for containers. The request from the man who is in charge of this is for donations of your empty laundry soap plastic containers. They need to be 50-100 ounce size. The larger ones are not workable since the soap needs to be shaken before each use. The larger containers make that difficult to do. When Paulette makes the soap (she makes at least 5 gallons at a time) she takes it to the Pantry and pours it in a large barrell they have set up with a spout on it that they use to fill the empty soap containers. So if you could help with this it would be great. What a wonderful way to recycle your empty plastic containers!
Monday, February 22, 2010
Genesis: Study 3
Genesis: Study 3
Genealogies are an important element of many of the books in the bible. They are meant to convey a sense of connection between what takes place in the present of the biblical figures described by biblical writers and the events and people of the past. These generational lists substantiate and/or validate the blood lines of biblical figures, showing an important genealogical trail traced back to the patriarchs. The list of Adam’s descendants we are given in chapter 5 of Genesis is actually the second genealogy in the bible. What are the differences between this genealogy and that of Cain and his descendants? What are the similarities? In chapter 6, we read an intriguing account of God’s decision to start the human race over with Noah and his descendants. We need to look closely at this account because there are various interesting parts within it as well as many lessons we need to take away from it.
Genesis 5:1-32 (Adam’s Descendants)
Questions for Discussion
How were Adam and his immediate descendants able to live for so long? Are we to take these ages literally?
Is the Enoch listed in this genealogy the same figure mentioned in the list of Cain’s descendants?
In a related question, did Enoch die? What are we told of his end in this section? What does this mean?
Where can we find other important genealogies in the bible?
Genesis 6:1-22 (The Wickedness of Mankind, Noah Pleases God)
Questions for Discussion
Who were “the sons of God”? Who were the Nephilim, or “fallen ones”? When did God create these beings?
Why does God plan to wipe out humankind from the face of the earth? Here again, God is given a very anthropomorphic image, as He is actually “sorry” for creating mankind. Did God not know what mankind would do? How could He be sorry for what he created when He is omniscient? Didn’t He see this coming?
Why does God give Noah the task of building the ark? Why did He not build it Himself so that He would know there would be no flaw in its design?
Why does God give Noah such specific instructions for the construction of the ark? Based on the measurements God gives him, is the ark large enough to hold that many living things?
What is the major lesson to be learned from God’s decision to wipe out humankind from the face of the earth in chapter 6?
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