Friends of Faith Baptist of North Chili,
We’ve had some trouble getting out this e-mail lately, so I’m going to go back to the old method for a while. If you experience a problem, let me know.
Speaking of problems – the windstorm on Wednesday morning pushed a tree against the power lines going into the church building and disrupted our electricity. We had no heat all day in the church building (the parsonage was unaffected) and half the lights worked, but the other half didn’t (weird, I know). The crew came to take the tree off the lines and then about 8pm the electric crew came back to re-connect the power lines. Let me make the obvious connection – it’s not good to be powerless or even at half-power, either physically or spiritually. There, I did it!
However, the disrupted service did fry a relay in the boiler room, so we ended up without heat yesterday either. I called a heating company and they got us going again last night and will bring the replacement parts today (Lord willing). As far as travails go, this is more of a minor nuisance than a major life disruption. And to that we say, Praise the Lord!
We seek to be at full power (at least spiritually) for the Lord’s Day – thanks for praying with us to that end.
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Time for a smile (not advocating this behavior):
An elderly couple was celebrating their sixtieth anniversary. The couple had married as childhood sweethearts and had moved back to their old neighborhood after they retired.
Holding hands they walked back to their old school. It was not locked, so they entered, and found the old desk they’d shared, where Andy had carved, “I love you, Sally.”
On their way back home, a bag of money fell out of an armored car, practically landing at their feet. Sally quickly picked it up, but, not sure what to do with it, they took it home. There, she counted the money–fifty-thousand dollars.
Andy said, “We’ve got to give it back.”
Sally said, “Finders keepers.” She put the money back in the bag and hid it in their attic.
The next day, two FBI men were canvassing the neighborhood looking for the money, and knocked on the door. “Pardon me, but did either of you find a bag that fell out of an armored car yesterday?”
Sally said, “No.”
Andy said, “She’s lying. She hid it up in the attic.”
Sally said, “Don’t believe him, he’s getting senile.”
The agents turn to Andy and began to question him. One says: “Tell us the story from the beginning.”
Andy said, “Well, when Sally and I were walking home from school yesterday….”
The first FBI guy turns to his partner and says, “We’re outta here.”
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Sunday, February 3, 2008
Family Bible Classes – 9:30am
The auditorium Bible Class is studying I Timothy in a series called, “How To Behave In the House of God.”
Morning Worship Service – 10:45am
The message for this Sunday will be from John 9:13-34. The title of this message is “You’re Not Listening!” This comes from verses 26-27 when the man who was born blind but healed by Jesus is asked by the Pharisees, again, “How did He open your eyes?” His response was, “I told you already and you did not listen.” He was a brave soul to speak that way to the religious leaders of his day, but it was true, they weren’t listening. The question is rightly put to us – are we listening as Jesus explains Who He is and why He has come?
Evening Celebration – 6:00pm
Our evening celebration will continue to develop our understanding of prayer. The message is, “Dear Heavenly Father.” Our text, Matthew 6:9, tells us: “In this manner, therefore, pray: ‘Our Father in heaven….'” Is that kind of like the e-mail address that lets the server know where to send your prayer? I believe it is such a rote part of our praying that we don’t really think about what that phrase means or what we are really saying when we mouth those words. Let’s think about it together. Plus, we will observe the Lord’s table as part of our 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