January 9, 2011-Bulletin.html

January 9, 2011

LETTING PEOPLE KNOW WE ARE HERE

There is a lot going on in the Church's role in Dowagiac. We have distributed a large number of coats to children and adults, and all of those garments have been given to people in need. The number of people being fed by our food pantry continues to grow, and we have been working to replenish our supply as more and more people come in for help. In February we will have an ad in the special Leader issue that is sent out. We are still getting inquiries from the Fair Booth, the Children's Halloween give away, and the Christmas float. We are now on the weather alert system on the local TV stations so that when bad weather hits, our schedules will be announced.

One of the things we all need to do is to let people in the area we know to be aware of what we have available. There are business cards available which give the times of our services and our location. We have copies of periodicals in the lobby that can be given to friends and neighbors. You can encourage people to get the bulletin on our dowagiaccoc.org website and on the doesgodexist.org website. Invite people to come to our classes and join us in worship. We have visitors nearly every service, and most of those come because of a personal invitation from a member here. It is expensive to put ads in the paper or buy radio or TV spots, and the most effective way to advertise the Church and its work in the community is for its members to enthusiastically support it.

FAMILY NEWS

We have a lot of people going through tests and treatments for a variety of physical problems. Remember Thelma Raab who has been going through tests for a spot on her pancreas and some heart problems. Dave Pickens has gone through an angiogram and is anticipating more treatment of his heart. Larry and Lana Fox have been ill with cold and flu symptoms. Keep all the folks that are on the prayer board in your personal prayers, and keep everyone informed of needs that can be met by the body here, both physical and spiritual.

TODAY'S LESSON

WALKING THROUGH MESSES IN LIFE
1 SAMUEL 30

INTRODUCTION--

Ever feel like throwing in the towel (what that means).
1 Samuel covers 115 years.
Saul is on the throne 32 years to age 72.
David is popular--causes friction with Saul.
David tries to outrun his problems--1 Samuel 27:1.

We go to every source except God when in trouble.

Achish, King of Gath, gives David Ziklag.
Philistine military does not trust David (29:4).
Achish sends David home (29:10-11).
Good politics--Matthew 24:4-13--sound familiar?

THE MESS

Amalekites have found Ziklag--plunder it, burn it.
Women and children are taken as slaves (verses 1-3).
Anguish results (verse 4)--ever been there?
David's troops are ready to stone him (verse 6).

USING NOT LOSING RELIGION

David found strength in the Lord, his God.
David's men are looking for new leadership--bitter (verse 6).

Worldly solutions to problems do not work.

David looks for Godly advice (verse 7).

Follows the procedure of his day--"inquired."
Learning to look for Godly advice is critical.
Our source is His Word--2 Timothy 3:16-17.

DAVID IS NOT FOR SALE--NEITHER ARE WE!

Organizes a raiding party (verse 9)
Leaves 200 exhausted men at a ravine
Breaks up Amalekites party (verse 16)
Recovers everything material in nature
Non-believing warriers want world standard applied (verse 22)
David maintains his character:

Verse 23--God gave us what we have.
Verse 23--God protected us.
Verse 24--No one is top gun, we share alike.
We are brothers

APPLY WHAT DAVID SAYS TO THE CHURCH

God has given us what we have and protected us.
No one is top gun--we share good and bad.

THROUGH IT ALL

Today's lesson is aimed at the core of the struggles we all have. There is a constant invitation to all of mankind extended by God. The Church is just a vehicle through which that invitation is made personal and available. We all walk through messes in life, and doing it alone and without God leads to isolation, loneliness, desperation, and frustration. Walking in the light, that 1 John 1:5-10 talks about, does not mean that all problems go away, or that we will not have any more pain--that only happens when we as Christians leave this life and reach the other side. What it does mean is that we have God's love and His Spirit which helps us, and we have a Church family that cares about us and does everything they can to help us during the struggles we have in life.

Andre Crouch has written a song that is one of my favorite hymns. We will sing it this morning even though it is not in our song book. I hope you can sing the chorus with meaning and feeling; and if not, I hope you will seriously look at coming to God in obedience to His commands and teaching.

Chorus:

Through it all, through it all.
I've learned to trust in Jesus, I've learned to trust in God;
Through it all, through it all.
I've learned to depend upon His Word.

The Verses:

I've had many tears and sorrows, I've had questions for tomorrow,
There've been times I didn't know right from wrong;
But in every situation God gave blessed consolation,
That my trials come to only make me strong.

I've been to lots of places, and I've seen a lot of faces,
There've been times I felt so all alone;
But in my lonely hours, yes those precious lonely hours,
Jesus let me know that I was His own.

I thank God for the mountains, and I thank Him for the valleys,
I thank Him for the storms He brought me through;
For if I'd never had a problem I wouldn't know that He could solve them,
I'd never know what faith in God could do.