October 25, 2009
Bell Gardens Baptist Church
Ocotber 25, 2009
Photographic Memory
One Sunday morning the Junior Department Sunday School stood still long enough to take this photograph. Who do you recognize?
"Christianity is more than a hope, however glorious. It is, even now, 'Christ in you'! Full salvation belongs to the last day, but a real salvation belongs to the Christian here and now. If a believer cannot yet say that he is free from the presence of sin, he certainly should be able to say that he is free from the penalty of sin. And by God's grace, it is his daily privilege to find Christ at work in him saving him from the downward pull of sin." —R.C. Lucas
Remembering His Grace, Begging His Mercy
Would you ask God to give us, as a church, a thirst for righteousness that we would grow spiritually, hunger for the Scriptures, and pursue His holiness?
Peggy Mann had cataract surgery last week. The soreness and pain are diminishing slowly. Ask God to renew her strength and sight. Peggy also asks prayer for a friend who has been hospitalized and not expected to live.
Jeannie Leonard learned this week that she has a unit in the Senior Housing in Bell Gardens. She is pleased with this answer to prayer and aware of the new challenges before her. Continue to pray (she may be moving next week!).
Armon Siemsen is scheduled for surgery Tuesday, October 27 at Whittier Presbyterian Hospital. Ask God to guide the doctor and restore Armon's health.
Norma and Shirley Brennan's cousins had a good visit with them last week and are working to help. Continue to pray for their safety and well being.
Pastor Tony Núñez is making progress on his dissertation but has encountered a couple of set backs that might affect its final completion. Please pray!
Woody Blalock is receiving therapy at the hospital to prepare him to go home. Please continue to pray for Woody and Barbara and their family.
Art and Carol Mead ask prayer for daughter Kim who was recently laid off from work. They praise the Lord that son-in-law John has finished chemo and received a good report from the doctor.
Teri Lopez has injured a knee and is again restricted from working. Please pray that her knee will heal without another surgery.
Pastor Yoon will be conducting a Bible conference in New Jersey October 31through November 2. Pray for the growth of the believers in Jesus Christ.
Alice Covington asks prayer for Debbie and her mom. Debbie's mom is ill requiring all night assistance. Ask God to give them strength and health.
Alice and Jim Covington arrived back from Texas safely Monday evening. Thank you for praying. Good news: Beverly is progressing in walking and will soon have her "moon boots" exchanged. Bad and Good news: Patsy was hospitalized Thursday with a rapid heart rate and low blood pressure. After two days in the hospital she was sufficiently stable to be released and follow-up appointments were scheduled.
We pray for the physical safety. emotional stability, and spiritual awakening of the men and women of our military forces who are engaged in fulfilling their responsibilities.
- Marvin Funkhouser—deployed to Iraq for 18 months
- Coleen—a friend of Woody and Barbara Blalock
- Tony Loving—flying troops in and out of various areas
- Bryan Miller—in Guam, will be in Iraq soon
- Sam Im
- Jorge Avalos
- Ryan Bareng
- Jeremy Peters—currently in Iraq
- Jeremy Thomas—currently in Afghanistan
- Jason Kiser—currently in the Gulf
- John Kiser—currently in Iraq
Hearing and Reading the Word
Isaiah 36. Hezekiah and Judah were ridiculed for their trust in God and challenged to surrender unconditionally to the Assyrian king. How do you respond in times of fear? Listen to recent sermons.
Our Bible reading during October is in the Gospel of John, the Epistles of John (1, 2, 3 John) and the Revelation of Jesus Christ given to John.
The suggested 2009 Bible reading guide (1 page) can be downloaded here.
"Lust is the craving for salt of a man who is dying of thirst."
Letters
Pete and Joy Palmer. New Tribes Mission
You might think this is an odd way to start a prayer letter, but after all it is a prayer letter, and we want you to know what the prayer of our heart is so you can better stand with us in this new endeavor. Read the entire letter. Send an email.
Steve and Eida Irwin, New Tribes Mission
This update will focus on the things we are doing besides our ministry of providing resources in Spanish for Latin American cross-cultural church planters. Read the entire letter. Send an email.
The Kisers, The Baja, Mexico
A GREAT BLESSING! Here in Mexico it REALLY pays to know someone that knows someone. Most of you know that the Mayor of Rosarito has been a longtime friend of ours and recently has become involved with our Boys Ranch. He has great respect for Oskar and Beatriz. Read the entire letter. Send an email.
"Life is filled with meaning as soon as Jesus Christ enters into it."
The largest little word I know
The visit with our mid-West relatives in Texas is now complete. The hospitality was, as you would expect from the South, far more than we deserved. The family is generally healthy and active, moving in a thousand opposite directions at the same time, yet they always (as in regularly) make time to enjoy a meal and get together for an afternoon (even if it is just to watch their beloved Cowboys almost be defeated by an 0-4 team). The muggy rain left the final six days clear and crisp, then returned in our absence.
One special highlight of this trip was getting to visit Woody and Barbara Blalock in Oklahoma City. I know that is not in Texas (however, I understand the Okies call that State to the south "Baja Oklahoma"). To keep things in perspective you can ask who won the annual Texas-OU college football showdown at the Cotton Bowl our second weekend.
Woody has been hospitalized for several weeks now and is determined to go home. At the same time he is also wanting to discover what purpose God has for his being hospitalized just now. It has been five years since Woody and Barbara moved to Oklahoma City. Their absence from Bell Gardens Baptist seems much longer. Throughout the day of my visit nurses and therapists of every variety came to fulfill their responsibilities. Generally each one would begin by asking, "How are you today, Mr. Blalock?" Woody responded with a smile, "not as good as you." That happy quip brought a chuckle to us all and made Woody "the favorite patient" among the staff in his section of the hospital.
As is often the way things are, I found myself being far more encouraged by Woody and Barbara than I could ever hope to be for them. On the four hour trek back to Texas I thought about Woody's engaging response in the midst of his illness. I always learn a little something from Woody and this time was also true to form. Paul's remark to the Philippians came to mind. "Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice."
Did you ever notice the insignificant word in that verse? I'm referring to that little word "alway." What does "rejoice in the Lord, alway" mean? We like to think that "rejoice in the Lord" means "I am most apt to praise the Lord when everything is moving with vigor and just the way I want life to be." But that is more like "happiness" (which in itself is dependent on my circumstances) rather than "joy" (which is founded in Jesus Christ, who is also the object of our expressions of rejoicing).
So, if "rejoice in the Lord" is already in itself not dependent on my circumstances, why does Paul find it necessary to add that one little word "alway"? From our perspective the word appears to be redundant, but that would make Paul's repeated exhortation "and again, I say…" doubly repetitious. Paul must have had something else in mind than simply saying the same thing over and over. In other verses where this same Greek word is used these ideas are expressed: "In every season," "all the days," "at all times," "on all occasions," and "evermore." With a single stroke Paul carefully, cleverly united rejoicing in Christ with something we understand a little better, time.
The Philippians were encouraged to delight in the person and work of Jesus Christ, not just when their life situation was good. They were challenged to rejoice without regard to time or the times. That is a mighty tall order. After all, what does Paul's admonition say about our whinging and gripes? Since Paul doesn't explicitly say, is it possible that for the Christian, there is no place for grumbling? (yicks!)
So, how is this "rejoicing always" mindset Paul calls the Philippians to live developed? Not always, but more times than not, Jesus enlarges our capacity for rejoicing through the experiences of sorrow (Romans 5:3-4), through persecution for Christ's sake (Matthew 5:11-12), through troubles, through tribulation. Let's see if I understand what I am saying. Adversity (and not prosperity) is a better enabler in rejoicing? That is the exact opposite of what I normally think. Then again, God's ways usually are.
As I thought about all that "rejoice…always" could mean, I noticed my many wasted opportunities. I also realized that in myself, this is something I can't do. But Jesus Christ can and chooses to do so through each of us who call Him our Savior and Lord. Occasionally we get to observe this "rejoice in the Lord always" spirit in others. His work in them can ignite a desire in us to please God, allowing Him to live through us in the same way. "Always."
Use this handy link to send an email to Jim Covington
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