Friends of Faith Baptist of North Chili,
Somebody asked me, “How do you respond to a person who comes from a formal church background and asks why the Lord’s Prayer isn’t used at every service?”
My answer: I remember a wise friend telling me one time, “A good idea used all the time becomes a bad idea.” That wasn’t the context of his statement, but I think it applies here. The Lord’s Prayer is one of the more familiar passages of Scripture, often memorized and used with great profit. However, over-use would make it so familiar as to turn it into a meaningless ritual. I believe the value of that portion is to be sure we order our thoughts correctly when we pray, starting with an awareness and acknowledgment of the Lord’s awesome majesty and holiness. I like to personally think through the Lord’s sample prayer as a way of approaching God with the correct mindset – focusing on Him and His will first, rather than my list of wants and/or needs. I don’t lead our church family to quote it every week because I don’t want it to be viewed as a magic chant which might gain favor with God or increase our leverage to get what we want. It’s better that our minds are engaged when we pray and we are speaking what is in our hearts as we communicate with the Lord.
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TIME FOR A SMILE
Have you ever gotten this recorded message? “Hello, you have reached an office that thought it was so smart getting all it’s employees cordless phones. The person you are trying to reach is here right now, staring at me as I answer this call and searching desperately for their cordless phone in the mess on their desk. It won’t matter if they find it since they didn’t leave it on the charger last night and the battery is dead. So you might as well leave a message with me and I’ll have them call you after the 4 hour handset recharge period is completed.”
The prospective father-in-law asked, “Young man, can you support a family?”
The surprised groom-to-be replied, “Well, sir, I was actually just planning to support your daughter. The rest of you will have to fend for yourselves.”
A woman says, “My husband bought me a mood ring the other day. When I’m in a good mood it turns green, and when I’m in a bad mood it leaves a red mark on his forehead.”
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Sunday, April 1, 2007
* Family Bible Classes – 9:30am
* The Adult Class (meeting in the auditorium) continues the study “Crises and Crowns” — the Old Testament biographies of Samuel, Saul, David and Solomon. This week we will look at 1Samuel 14-15 as Saul’s son, Jonathan defeats the Philistines and is almost put to death by his father, the king. Later, Saul attacks the Amalekites, but fails to fully obey God’s command – for that there are serious consequences.
* Morning Worship – 10:45am
* From John 2:13-19, this Sunday morning’s message title is “Zeal Eaten You Up Lately?” Jesus made a whip of cords and drove out the oxen and sheep along with those who sold them and the moneychangers. The disciples connected that with Psalm 69:9, “Zeal for your house has eaten Me up.” I’m sure that’s what we all were thinking too, Psalm 69:9, right? David wrote that Psalm as a cry to God for help in his trouble. One reason David has trouble–implacable opposition–from his foes is their unwillingness to understand or sympathize with his profound commitment to the temple. Jesus is teaching us something with His profound commitment, His zeal.
* Evening Celebration – 6:00pm
* We will finish up the book of Micah, with a look at MIcah 6:9 – 7:20 in a message entitled, “Trust The Lord.” Micah 7:18 says, “Who is a God like You, pardoning iniquity…? He does not retain His anger forever, because He delights in mercy.” How do you like those thoughts for reasons to trust the Lord?
* We will observe the Lord’s Supper as part of our Evening Celebration.
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That’s all for this edition of FaithFriends. Pray with me that God’s people will be equipped and encouraged and the lost will hear the good news of the Gospel and trust Christ for their salvation!
Your faithful Minister of the Word,
Pastor Harriman
www.fbcnorthchili.org