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Solid Rock Christian Church
March 2007 Newsletter
By: Craig Rippy
The simple truth is we can enjoy a life robust with the joy of salvation. Yet, we get "Joy of salvation" confused with temporal happiness. We can have the wealth of God at our disposal. Yet, we get the "Wealth of God" confused with personal riches. We can have the "Peace that is hard to understand." Yet, we confuse the peace that comes from God as having no stresses.
Do you think Jesus was happy in the Garden of Gethsemane? Do you believe the Master who "had no place to lay His head" lived off His hoarded riches (Matthew 8:20)? Do you considered the relationship Jesus had with the religious leaders as harmonious?
What seems to cloud our ability to be simplistic Christians is lust. Lust can be seen in the Garden of Eden when Satan lured Eve by lust (Genesis 3:6). Moses addresses this deceptive attitude in the tenth commandment, "You shall not covet." David saw the bathing Bathsheba and lusted for her sexually. Ananias and Sapphira saw others receive honor when giving generously and lusted to have honor bestowed on them. Lust or coveting is desiring something not useful in Kingdom endeavors. This desire blinds the person from seeing that which is most important and from recognizing the direction of God for true satisfaction.
The parable of the Sower clarifies this for us. Matthew 13:22, The one who received the seed that fell among the thorns is the man who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke it, making it unfruitful. Mark 4:18-19, 18 Still others, like seed sown among thorns, hear the word; 19 but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful. Luke 8:14, 14 The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life's worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature. (NIV)
Two of the Gospels use the word "Deceitfulness." They use the words worries, wealth, things, riches, and pleasures as the deceiving agents. To have the right attitude about these things can help us live a "fruitful" and maturing life. To be fruitful and maturing is to be joyful, wealthy and at peace. Yet, the deception caused by lust causes us to be worried and joyless.
Simple isn't it. All we have to do is put each of these in Godly perspective and have a satisfying Christian life.
Remember the rich ruler. He apparently was unsatisfied and needed something else. Christ simply told him to sell all his possessions and follow Him. The lust of the ruler deceived him and he went away sad (Luke 18:18-30).
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Bits of News Beginning in 2007, Daylight Saving Time will start the second Sunday of March and end on the first Sunday of November. Remember to change your clocks to reflect this change as this is new to all of us. (New Federal Law) On March 14, Greg and Kelley Campbell will be offering a Wednesday night class at their home entitled "Empty Baskets - Offering Your Life as Worship". If you would like to join them, be sure to sign up for this eight week adult study. You will be able to sign up on Sunday's only. Carrie Gibson has started her ministry in the Nursery this month. If you will notice, she is down to work quite often every week. If you would like to help in this ministry, please contact Carrie. This is an important ministry. Parents need to know that their children are well cared for while they are in the worship service. It is too late to vote, but it is not too late to come and hear what won the vote for the Top 10 x 2 favorite Hymns and Praise Choruses on Sunday evening, March 4. After the Top 10 x 2 we will have our Linger Longer and the theme is "Spring is Coming!" I don't know how that relates to food, but use your imagination, what food comes to mind when you think of spring!
Danny Camp of Christian Prison Ministry of Missouri will be here during our Sunday School time to give us a presentation.
There will be a VBS meeting on Tuesday, March 20 at 6:30 for all Station Leaders. Stations are the different areas of VBS. The Kitchen would be a station, Crafts would be a station. So, if you are a leader of one of the stations, you would need to be at this meeting. Mark your calendars now for April 5. The men of our congregation will be offering a play entitled "Reflections on the Lord's Supper". This is the Thursday before Resurrection Day at 6:30 p.m. It isn't too early to start planning to go to the Missouri Christian Convention on April 13-14. This year's theme is "Living in Grace – Standing on Truth" and the speakers are Dr. Jack Cottrell and Robert Cox. It will be in Springfield this year at the University Plaza Hotel & Convention Center. |