Ponderings of the Preacher...

     During the last few weeks, I have been sorting through a lot of “stuff.”  We all have stuff and I thought you might enjoy the following article.

STUFF

     Every Fall I start stirring my stuff.  There is closet stuff, drawer stuff, attic stuff, and basement stuff.  I separate the good stuff from the bad stuff, then I stuff the bad stuff anywhere the stuff is not too crowded until I decide I will need the bad stuff.

     When the Lord calls me home, my children will want the good stuff, but the bad stuff, stuffed wherever there is room among all the other stuff, will be stuffed in bags and taken to the dump where all the other people’s stuff has been taken.

     Whenever we have company they always bring bags and bags of stuff.  When I visit my son, he always moves his stuff so I will have room for my stuff.  My daughter-in-law always clears a drawer of her stuff so I will have room for my stuff.  Their stuff and my stuff…it would be so much easier to use their stuff and leave my stuff at home with the rest of my stuff.

     This Fall I had an extra closet built so I would have a place for all the stuff too good to throw away and too bad to keep with my good stuff.  You may not have this problem, but I seem to spend a lot of time with stuff…food stuff, cleaning stuff, medicine tuff, clothes stuff, and outside stuff.  Whatever would life be like if we didn’t have all this stuff?

     Now there is all that stuff we use to make us smell better than we do.  There is the stuff to make our hair look good.  Stuff to make us look younger.  Stuff to make us look healthier.  Stuff to hold us in and stuff to fill us out.  There is stuff to read, stuff to play with, stuff to entertain us, and stuff to eat.  We stuff ourselves with the food stuff.

     Well our lives are filled with stuff…good stuff, bad stuff, little stuff, big stuff, useful stuff, junky stuff, and everyone’s stuff.  Now when we leave all our stuff and go to heaven, whatever happens to our stuff won’t matter.  We will still have the good stuff God has prepared for us in heaven!  -- copied

     I hope to see all of you this coming Sunday morning.

                                                                                                            C U N   Church,

                                                                                                            David

     What a great day yesterday was for First Christian Church and God’s Kingdom!  It was wonderful to witness Cory Rahn’s baptism into Christ and to welcome Cory and Lindsey into our church family.  Their daughter, Lauren, is already a member of our congregation.  They have two other children, Blake and Natalie.  If you have not met them yet, make it a point to extend your welcome to this family this coming Sunday.  It is fantastic to see so many young people in our services.  Continue to pray that God would continue to send more our way and that we would be able to care for their spiritual needs.

      Once again on Sunday, I was reminded and humbled that God would choose to use someone like me to preach and teach His Word.  Jon Zerkel in his Communion meditation mentioned something I had written years ago.  Isaiah 55:11 says, “so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.”  We all need to be reminded that God can and will use our efforts to serve Him to bring glory to His name.  You may not see the results of your efforts in this lifetime, but remain faithful, stay the course, don’t give up, keep on keeping on!  God will use your efforts to help others come closer to Him.

     This coming Sunday, I will be continuing in the series of messages I have been sharing about getting back to the basics.  I will be preaching about the church, encouraging you to love the church even as Jesus loves her.  I hope to be able to greet each of you and look forward to worshipping together.

                                                                                                            C U N   Church,

                                                                                                            David

     What is the church?  How would you answer that question?  We are an army, not an audience.  We are a body and not a building.  The church is a company of participants and not

an auditorium full of spectators.  We are an organism and not an organization.  We are a hospital for sinners, not a country club for saints.

     The church is a training center and not an entertainment center.  We are to make disciples, not to play religious games.  The church is to equip for ministry, not just to enlist for membership.  We are fishers of men and not keepers of the aquarium.

     The church is here to meet needs and not just here because we need to meet.  We are here to save the lost and not here to just satisfy and pacify the saved.  We are to provide fellowship for the hurting, wounded, discouraged, and weary.  We are to extend hope, love encouragement, care, grace, and forgiveness in the name of Jesus.

     We are sinners made saints; people with a passion to serve; disciples who are doers; soldiers in warfare, children of the King; members of God’s family; and branches of the vine.  We are saved, redeemed, forgiven, adopted, born again and waiting for the return of our Lord.

     Let us be the church of the Lord Jesus Christ!

     I hope to see each of you this coming Lord’s Day morning as His church comes together for worship and fellowship.

                                                                                                         C U N   Church,

                                                                                                         David

     Our church is facing a major decision.  Yesterday, the elders recommended Martin Reyes to be the next Senior Pastor of First Christian Church.  On Sunday January 30, the congregation will have the opportunity to either accept or reject that recommendation. 

     As I read the New Testament, I find that God’s people when faced with major decisions would pray seeking God’s will on the matter and would often fast.  Our Lord Himself as He was preparing to begin His public ministry went into the wilderness and there fasted and I would assume prayed.  Before appointing 12 of His disciples to be apostles, Jesus spend all night in prayer.  Barnabas and Saul (Paul) along with two others were worshiping and fasting as they were seeking the Lord’s guidance.  I would urge the members of our church to earnestly seek the Lord’s guidance during these next few days to be able to make the right decision.  The question that should be asked is not whether I want Martin to be the next Senior Pastor but whether God wants Martin to be the next Senior Pastor.

     If you have questions about Martin assuming this role, then I would suggest that you talk to Martin and ask those questions.  He would be glad to talk with you and discuss the future of First Christian Church and what you and he can do to accomplish God’s will in this community.  Talk to one or all of the elders.  Talk with those ladies that were mentioned yesterday who have worked closely with Martin during the last ten years.  But most of all, talk to the Lord asking for His guidance in making this decision.

     I will be preaching this next Sunday and Martin will be preaching on January 30.  I hope to see each of you this coming Sunday as we gather together for worship.

                                                                                                C U N   Church,

                                                                                                David

     For those of you who are always looking for a new recipe to try, how about trying this one?

Recipe for a Great “2022”

Take 12 full-grown months

See that they are thoroughly free from all old memories of bitterness, hate, and jealousy.  Cleanse them completely from every bad feeling.  Pick off all specks of pettiness   

     See that these months are freed from all the past.  Have them as fresh and clean as when

     they came from the great storehouse of time.

Cut each month into 30 or 31 equal parts (Remember – Do not attempt to make up the whole

     batch at one time but prepare one day at a time)

Into each day put Faith, Courage, Work, Hope, Faithfulness, Generosity, Kindness, Rest, Prayer,

     Meditation and Bible Reading

Into each day add a sprinkling of good humor

Pour into the whole batch love without measure and mix them vigorously

Cook thoroughly in a fervent heat

Garnish with smiles of thankfulness and springs of joy

Serve with Quietness, Unselfishness, and Cheerfulness

Enjoy a Happy New Year!

Irma and I would like to thank everyone for the Christmas cards we received, the gifts shared and the bonus the church shared with us.  We wish all of you a very happy and blessed New Year.  We have a lot of folks in our congregation who are sick.  Let’s pray for them and look forward to having our whole church family back together again in worship.

                                                                                                                C U N   Church,

                                                                                                                David 

     Most of you are probably familiar with “The Family Circus” cartoon strip.  One of the things that always stood out to me about the cartoon was the frequent references to Christian themes.  I saw one of the cartoon strips reprinted in one of the Chicken Soup books.  It depicted Billy, the eldest child being confronted by some reminders concerning Christmas.  One reminder said, “Don’t forget wrapping paper.”  Another one urged people to “Don’t forget last minute gifts.”  Still another poster urged people to “Don’t forget tree lights and tinsel.”  One was directed especially to children – “Don’t forget: Visit Santa.”   Apparently the idea of not forgetting impressed Billy because in the last panel of the cartoon, he is busily involved in printing his own reminder poster.  It had as its headline “Don’t Forget” and the picture that accompanied it was the baby Jesus lying in a manger with Mary and Joseph bowing before the infant king.  Although surrounded by all of the trappings of the season, Billy did not forget the real reason why we celebrate Christmas.

     The Christmas season is rushing past rapidly and will soon be over.  I encourage you to not forget the One we say is the reason for the season.  Don’t forget Jesus, the eternal Word of God, became a human being.  He came to earth as a tiny baby, grew up to become a man, and then died on a cross to pay the penalty for our sins.  Thank you God for this indescribable gift!

     So, in the midst of a season crowded with gift buying and giving, decorating, cooking, and gatherings with friends and loved ones, please do not forget Jesus.  Take time to read again the biblical story of Jesus coming to earth (Luke 2:1-20; Matthew 2:1-12).  Take time to worship with other believers.  Take time to tell the Lord thank you for His amazing gift.

     Irma and I wish all of you a very Merry Christmas and a blessed New Year!

                                                                                                               C U N   Church,

                                                                                                               David

     In the stores all of the Halloween decorations and merchandise are disappearing and are being replaced by the merchandise and decorations for the next big holiday –Christmas.  Wait a minute!  I thought Thanksgiving came in there somewhere.  Thanksgiving is the forgotten holiday.  That is unfortunate because Thanksgiving is truly a Christian holiday.  We pause to acknowledge the blessings we have received and to give thanks to our God for His mercy and grace.  So in order to disrupt this practice of overlooking Thanksgiving, I want to begin reminding you to give praise to God throughout this month of November.

Count Your Blessings

I am thankful. . .

For the teenager who is complaining about doing dishes, because that means she is at home  

   and not on the street.

For the taxes that I pay, because it means that I am employed.

For the mess to clean after a party, because it means, that I have been surrounded by friends.

For the clothes that fit a little too snug, because it means, I have enough to eat.

For the shadow that watches me work, because I am out in the sunshine.

For a lawn that needs mowing, windows that need cleaning, and gutters that need fixing,

   because it means I have a home.

For all the complaining I hear about the government, because it means, that we have freedom

   of speech.

For my huge heating bill, because it means I am warm.

For the lady behind me in church who sings off key, because it means, that I can hear.

For the pile of laundry because it means I have clothes to wear.

For the weariness and aching muscles at the end of the day, because it means I have been

   productive.

For the alarm that goes off in the early morning hours, because it means that I am alive.

And finally, I am thankful for Jesus who taught us that we have a loving Heavenly Father, who is mindful of our every need, and who will see us through every dark hour. 

 “Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”  1 Thess. 5:18

                                                                                                           C U N   Church,

                                                                                                           David

     Yesterday, we were privileged to hear reports from four of our partners in missions.  It was good to hear about the souls that have been won to Christ, the lives that have been changed because of Christ, and the needs that have been met in the name of Christ.

     I encourage you to come this Wednesday night and next Sunday morning to hear additional stories about how we have helped enable faithful servants of Christ to help others.  The ministry of First Christian Church is not limited to what goes on in our building or even in our community.  Our influence is being felt around the world.  Also be sure to check out the displays from our missions that are located in the overflow area.  Our missionaries have always been willing to bring or send a display about their work.  Our support for their ministry is important to them and we hear monthly from most of them.

     What does God want me to do as far as financially supporting this work?  Please be praying about this important question.  Depending upon God to supply, what will I promise to give toward the work of sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ with others?  We will be turning in our promises next Sunday.  Please remember that this promise is between you and the Lord.  You will not be contacted personally concerning this promise since your promise is anonymous.  We do need to know the amount of the promise but not the name of the one promising.  This is to help us make plans in regard to our missions budget for the coming year.

     There is a potluck dinner following next Sunday’s worship service.  The church is providing the meat but we are asking those coming to the meal to bring a covered dish of food to share.  Please call the office if you have not yet signed up for this meal.  This will be a great time of fellowship and celebration!

                                                                                                                    C U N   Church,

                                                                                                                    David

     October is an extremely busy month on our church calendar.  There are many opportunities for you to become more involved in God’s work here at First Christian Church and around the world as well as developing relationships with fellow Christians.

     Our Faith Promise Week will begin on October 17th and will conclude on October 24th.  Almost all of the missions we support here at First Christian Church will be represented during that week.  Be sure to visit the displays from our missions that will be set up in the overflow area.   Tyler Mulvany, Executive Director at Oil Belt, will be speaking on Sunday morning the 17th.  We will encourage you to take a Faith Promise commitment card to take home with you on that day to pray over throughout that week.  Please bring them back on the following Sunday.

     Look elsewhere in this newsletter to see when each missionary will be present with us.  Don’t forget to come on Wednesday night the 20th to hear reports from our missionary partners.  Come early to share a meal with them and catch up on what’s been going on with them during this past year. 

     On the 24th, in addition to hearing reports from more of our missionary partners we will be receiving the promises.  Please be praying about what God is asking you to do as far as your giving toward world-wide missions.  We will close out our Faith Promise week with a meal at noon on that Sunday.  We will be able to hear the results of the promises at that time.  Please be praying for our missions program and faith promise week.

     The ladies’ group will meet at 10 a.m. on the 23rd and the men’s group will meet for breakfast at 8 a.m. on the 16th.  These are wonderful opportunities to bond with your fellow Christians, so plan on taking advantage of those times of fellowship.

     We are still in need of some volunteers to help with the Trunk or Treat to be held on Sunday evening, October 31.  This will be an outside event to help prevent the spread of the virus.  If you would like to hand out treats to children, then please notify the office.  Trunk or Treat will be held from 6 to 8 p.m.  This is a great opportunity to help First Christian Church demonstrate our love for the community.

     I hope to see each of you this coming Sunday morning as we gather for worship.

                                                                                                             C U N   Church,

                                                                                                             David

     We are watching the first season of “The Chosen” at WOW.  In that first episode we are introduced to several people about whom we read in the New Testament.  We know their names even as their peers knew their names.  However their peers not only knew their actual names but they also attached other forms of identification to them.  For example: Mary Magdalene known by most as Lily (in the film) was a demon possessed woman; Matthew was known as Tax Man hated by his peers; Nicodemus a Jewish leader was known as Teacher, Man of God; Simon was known as fighter and gambler.  Regardless of their identity with their peers, God knew them in a different fashion.  “But now, this is what the Lord says – he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: ‘Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name, you are mine.” (Isaiah 43:1)

     You and I are also known by our peers.  They see our lives.  They know our name but they also know our character.  Hopefully the qualities connected with our names are good, but thankfully our identity is not dependent on what we think or others think about us.  God also knows each of us individually and personally.  He has given each of us new names.  No, we have not lost our personal identity but we have a new identity in Christ.  As we consider that first episode, “I Have Called You By Name,” I want to remind you of the other names by which God has called us.  Some of those that we will examine this coming Wednesday night are

     1. Christian

     2. Child

     3. Disciple

     4. Saint

     5. Priest

     6. Brother.

How rich and wonderful these names are!  How great is God’s love for us!

     I invite you to come to WOW.  Even if you have already watched “The Chosen, ” we will be exploring additional truths and concepts to help you grow in your faith.

                                                                                                                  C U N   Church,

                                                                                                                  David

     As I write this column it is Monday, September 6, Labor Day.  We celebrate the first Monday in September as Labor Day.  It was in 1894 that Congress made the first Monday in September a legal holiday and called it Labor Day.  This day has been set aside to honor the labor force that is the strength of the American economy.  As we observe this day we give deserved recognition to workers and their many achievements.  I thought it might be fun to share with you a list of jobs and see if you can guess what the job actually is.  The answers can be found elsewhere in the newsletter.

     Sanitary Engineer

     Nourishment Consultant

     Media Distribution Officer

     Color Distribution Technician

     Domestic Technician

     Hygiene Technician

     Mass Production Engineer

     Coin Facilitation Engineer

     Transparency Enhancement Facilitator

     Field Nourishment Consultant

     Highway Environmental Hygienist

     Sanitation Consultant

     Petroleum Transfer Engineer

     Thank you for the work that you do to keep our country moving.  Thank you for the work you do to help the Kingdom of God to continue expanding.  May we never lose our desire to work and to be useful.  “And as for you, brothers, never tire of doing what is right.” 2 Thess. 3:13

     I hope to see you this next Sunday morning as we gather together for worship.

                                                                                                           C U N   Church,

                                                                                                           David

Quiz Answers

Here are the jobs mentioned in Ponderings of the Preacher in the order that they appeared.

Garbage collector, Lunch lady, Paper boy, Painter, Housewife, Dish washer, Factory worker, Toll booth collector, Window washer, Waitress or Waiter, Road sweeper, Toilet cleaner, Gas station attendant

     God has blessed our church during these last several days!  In troubled times it is sometimes easy to forget the blessings God shares and focus more on the problems we face.  We do live in difficult days, but our God is faithful sustaining us with His love.  To keep us mindful of His goodness we need to count our blessings.  Let me share with you a couple of the blessings He has shared with First Christian Church recently.

     Last Wednesday morning, John and Cathy Weiffenbach were baptized.  Their nephew Troy Bloemker performed the baptisms.  They are now members of First Christian Church.  If you were here for our worship services yesterday, you were able to see the video of their baptism.  Congratulations John and Cathy and welcome to our church family!

     Yesterday evening, our church family was able to join together for an end of summer picnic at Lake Sara.  There were 32 people in attendance.  The food was plentiful, the fellowship was sweet, the worship was inspirational and the weather was delightful.  The worship time was a “Galilean Service” (Mark 4:1).  Thanks to Jane Ann Zerkel for leading us in worshipful songs and thanks to Denny Bushue for piloting the boat.  If you were unable to attend, then I am sorry that you missed out on a truly marvelous evening.  We will be planning another time of fellowship for the church family coming up in the fall.

     “To him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy – to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore!  Amen” Jude 25

     I hope to see you next Sunday in church and to be able to greet each of you personally.

                                                                                                                   C U N   Church,

                                                                                                                   David

     Mother’s Day is this coming Sunday.  In honor of all mothers and those ladies without children who have had a motherly influence on many kids, I dedicate my column.

     Several years ago, Gigi Graham, daughter of Billy and Ruth Graham, wrote the following about her mother:

     My first impression of Jesus was my mother.  I could have sung this song, “Jesus love me, this I know, for my mother shows me so.”

     Mother never considered it a sacrifice to stay home with us children.  We were full of life and quite a handful, though she never complained.  I think at times that it must have been difficult knowing that her husband was traveling the world, meeting interesting people, seeing exciting places, and doing what many considered a great work for the Lord.  She must have now and then felt “confined” to the mountains of North Carolina, with five small children and all that this entailed.  I never realized just how hard this must have been until I had my seven.  Mother has often been asked how she raised us with Daddy being gone so much of the time.  Her immediate replay has always been, “On my knees.”

     Those words remind me of the two mothers that have played such an important role in my life.  First of all, I would mention my wonderful wife, Irma.  I can’t count the number of times that I was gone and Irma was left at home taking care of our kids.  She undoubtedly would like to have been with me on many of those occasions but she stayed home with our children.  Both of our children are followers of Jesus and I owe a debt of gratitude to Irma for the impact she has had on both of them!  Thank you sweetheart!  Young mothers, please remember that you have a once in a lifetime opportunity to influence your child for Jesus.  When you are caring for your children, you are involved in a vital ministry.

     Second of all, I would mention my own mother.  I won’t mention the countless meals she prepared and the clothes she washed.  I do want to mention the Bible stories she read to me and the Sunday School and VBS lessons she taught.  The knowledge I have of the Bible did not come from a Bible College education but from a godly mother who taught me and who exposed me to opportunities to learn from God’s Word.  Thank you Mom!

     Praise God for Christian mothers, grandmothers, and women!  You are and have been a blessing to our world and to the church.

     I hope to see you this coming Lord’s Day morning!

                                                                                                         C U N   Church,

                                                                                                         David

     Yesterday was the 18th of April.  When I thought of that I was reminded of Longfellow’s poem, “The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere.”   The second line of that poem was “‘Twas the eighteenth of April of ’75 and hardly a man is now alive who remembers that famous day and year.”  Revere is given the credit for sounding the alarm to the people of Lexington and Concord that the British were coming.  In response to his message, the minutemen came out to face the British soldiers.  Minutemen were the colonial civilians who formed militia companies who would answer to the call to arms at a minute’s notice during the American Revolution.

     As Christians we are called to be minutemen and women.  We have been called by God to perform His service at a moment’s notice.  Are you a member of our Chain of Prayer?  If you are then throughout the course of the day you might be notified of a need and asked to pray for the individual and his/her particular need.  When you receive that call, you probably spend a moment asking for God’s help or a few minutes praying for that situation.  Romans 12:12 commands us to be “Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer.”  (King James Version) 

     Another situation in which we must be ready to respond instantly is sharing our faith.  Peter wrote, “But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord.  Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.  But do this with gentleness and respect” (1 Peter 3:15).  Paul said it this way. “Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season” (2 Timothy 4:2).

     One other time of which I can think that we must be ready at a moment’s notice is God’s call to us to leave this world.  Although death is certain, the time of our death is uncertain.  We do not know when God will call us home.  In order to be ready for that time, we must continually be making preparation.  I am thinking about our dear sister in Christ, Reenie Miller, who was suddenly and without notice called to go be with Her Lord.  Reenie was prepared although she did not know when God would call her home.  Knowing these things should encourage us to live each day as if it were our last one.

     I hope to see you this coming Lord’s Day morning as we come together for worship!

                                                                                                           C U N   Church,

                                                                                                           David

     Easter 2021 is now history.  Thanks to everyone who helped make the celebration of the death and resurrection of our Lord an encouragement and inspiration to all of us.  Thanks to all who prayed during our Good Friday chain of prayer.  There were several who took more than one time slot.  I know that each person who participated was blessed.  Thanks to Martin for leading in the Good Friday worship service on Friday evening. 

     Sunday’s services were truly a blessing!  There were 30 people who attended the sunrise service.  What an amazing experience to be able to celebrate Christ’s resurrection while watching the sun rise above the horizon.  Thanks to Martin and Troy for sharing devotional thoughts and to Jane Ann for leading the music.  Thanks to the ladies who prepared casseroles for breakfast.   It was special being able to share a meal with your church family after a year when that was not possible.  What a great service the regular morning worship service was!

Praise God for the baptism of Lauren Rahn!  Thanks to the choir for sharing the 2 special musical numbers.  It was wonderful to see faces in our services that we hadn’t seen for many months.  Counting all of the different people who worshipped with us at both the sunrise service and the regular morning worship service, there were 101 different people.   It was a blessed day all the way around.

     As we come to the close of the Easter season, I want to share the words of the Apostle Paul found in 1 Corinthians 15:58.  “Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm.  Let nothing move you.  Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.”

     I will be finishing the sermon series on “The Greatest Story Ever Told” based on Philippians 2:5-11 this coming Sunday.  I hope to see you then!

                                                                                                                     C U N   Church,

                                                                                                                     David

     Easter is three weeks away.  This Easter may be a little more like those we are accustomed to than what last Easter was during the pandemic.  With the different activities associated with Easter, it might be easy to lose sight of the true meaning of the “holiday.”  I hope the following story will help remind you of what Easter is all about.

     The story is about a 12 year old boy named Jeremy who was living with a terminal disease.  He seemingly was unable to learn and often seemed unable to comprehend what others were saying.  In order to make his life as normal as possible, Jeremy’s parents had enrolled him in a parochial school.  Although he was older, Jeremy was in second grade with 18 other children who did not have any learning disabilities.  The teacher of the class, Doris Miller, often was exasperated with Jeremy in the class.  Despite her frustration, Doris determined to do her best at reaching out to Jeremy as well as continuing to teach the other children.

     As spring approached, the children began to talk excitedly about Easter.  Doris told them the story of Jesus’ death and resurrection, and then to emphasize the idea of new life, she gave each child a large plastic egg.  She instructed them to take the egg home and bring it back the next day with something inside that showed new life.  She wondered if Jeremy understood and decided she should call his parents to make sure the assignment was understood.  However because of other issues, Doris completely forgot to call his parents.

     The next day at school, all of the children including Jeremy brought their egg back putting them in the basket on the teacher’s desk.  Following math class, it was time to discuss the eggs.

One egg held a flower, another one contained a plastic butterfly and still another a rock with moss on it – each demonstrating new life.  She explained how each of them showed new life.  The fourth egg had nothing in it at all.  Doris knew that must be Jeremy’s egg and in order to prevent embarrassment set it aside.  Before she could take the next egg from the basket, Jeremy spoke up.  “Miss Miller, aren’t you going to talk about my egg?”  She responded, “But Jeremy, your egg is empty!”    The boy looked into her eyes and softly said, “Yes, but Jesus’ tomb was empty.”  When Doris was finally able to speak, she asked Jeremy if he knew why the tomb was empty.  “Oh yes!”  Jeremy went on to explain, “Jesus was killed and put in there.  Then his Father raised him up!”

     The recess bell rang and the children excitedly ran out to the playground.  Doris Miller cried.  All of the exasperation she had ever felt toward Jeremy disappeared.  Three months later, Jeremy died.  Those who paid their respects were surprised to see 19 eggs on top of the casket, all of them empty.  Many may have wondered at the meaning of those eggs but one teacher and 18 classmates understood completely.  Don’t forget – because the tomb is empty, we have the hope of eternal life with God in heaven.  John 11:26

                                                 C U N   Church,

                                                 David

     The signs of spring are beginning to be visible everywhere.  Some of you have tulips, crocuses, and daffodils coming up.  Spring and summer clothing has made its appearance on the racks at the store.  I watched the first spring training baseball game on TV yesterday afternoon.  It won’t be long before grass will need mowed, gardens will be planted, and a host of other spring activities will begin.  Easter is only 5 weeks away.  Let me share with you a few of the activities that will be a part of our spring here at First Christian Church.

     I am encouraging you to join me in reading once again the story of Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection, the greatest story ever told.  I have compiled a reading schedule for you to follow that has the accounts broken up into very easily read segments.  If you did not pick up a copy of that schedule yesterday, it is available online on our website.

     The possibility of strong storms is always a part of the spring season here in the Midwest.  If a tornado would hit our city, how would we respond?  We are offering a workshop on Emergency Preparedness on Saturday, March 13 to equip us to be God’s hands and feet in case a disaster would occur.  Ed Sanow a representative from International Disaster Emergency Services (a mission we regularly support here at FCC) will present that workshop.  Everyone is invited to attend.  Check elsewhere in the newsletter for more information.

     On Palm Sunday, March 28, the children will present a program that is a continuation of the Christmas program.  It is entitled, “An Easter Letter to the Son.”  If you were blessed by the Christmas program, you will certainly be blessed by the Easter program.

     On Good Friday, April 2, we are inviting you to join us in our annual Good Friday Prayer Service.  A sign-up sheet will soon be available for you to sign and be a part of a time of continual prayer from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.  For those who have never participated in this activity, you will commit to a 15 minute time segment of prayer.  More details will be available soon.

     On Easter Sunday, we will have a Sunrise Service.  Weather permitting; we will have this service outside.  The sun rises at 6:34 on April 4, so the tentative time to begin the service is 6:15.  The theme of the service is “Because He Lives, I Can …” I am looking for different individuals who might be willing to share their testimony based upon that theme.  What could you share with you church family based upon that statement?  Because Jesus lives, I can ________________________.  You fill in the blank.  Let me know if you would like to share a short testimony at that service.  We are also organizing a choir to present special music at both that service and at the regular worship service held at 10 a.m.  Let me know if you would like to be a part of that choir and able to sing at one or both of those services.

     Have a great week and I hope to see you Sunday!

                                                       C U N   Church,

                                                       David

     Today we are celebrating one of the big holidays of the year – Groundhog Day.  The first official celebration of Groundhog Day occurred in 1887.  If any of you don’t know the significance of the day, let me explain.  If the groundhog comes out of its burrow and sees its shadow, it means there will be 6 more weeks of winter.  If it comes out of its burrow and doesn’t see its shadow, then it signifies an early spring.  Although I don’t see it as a part of the tradition, I wonder if the groundhog, afraid of its own shadow, is scared back into its burrow.  Is there any application for us as Christians in this “hallowed” tradition?  Maybe not, but I would like to make an application.  I received the following from a missionary friend of mine named Douglas Montague He used the turtle as the example but I would like to change that to groundhog in honor of the holiday.

     When we see all of the events that are transpiring around us, we can become a little frightened and unsettled.  Does God see what is happening?  Are things out of control?  Certainly our God is not asleep in relation to all the nations. He knows what is going on, and He is the living and active One, not passive, not unconcerned.  Yet a temptation for many saints is to imitate the lowly groundhog, which when it feels there is the slightest threat (its own shadow) nearby, to just pull itself back into its burrow.  It just waits, hoping for danger to pass by.  But we are not groundhogs.  We may at times feel like fearful Gideons.  But the testimony of Scripture says that our Lord took that fearful little man, and turned him into a fearless and bold leader of men to drive away the enemy.  There are still prayers to be prayed, Scripture to be read, saints to seek out for fellowship, churches that are not to be forsaken, and truth that must be quoted to the lost so that Jesus is lifted up to continue drawing them to Himself.  None of that has changed regardless of what has transpired upon the political stages of each and every nation.  And thankfully, our Lord Jesus was never elected to sit at the right hand of the Father. He is the King forever above all governments.  He will call all nations before Him one day to separate sheep from goats.  So let us keep our eyes on the prize, and that prize is the hope and promise that we shall one day cross over, and be welcomed into His glorious presence, and we shall see His smiling face. We shall live forever in His Kingdom where everything is righteous!

     I hope to see you this coming Sunday.  If you are unable to be with us in person, please join us online. 

                                                                                                        C U N   Church,

                                                                                                        David

     In 1903 Nicholas II who was the Russian Czar at that time noticed a sentry posted for no apparent purpose on the Kremlin grounds.  Upon inquiry, he discovered that in 1776 Catherine the Great found there the first flower of spring.  "Post a sentry here," she commanded, "so that no one tramples that flower under foot!"   For over 125 years a guard stood at that spot.  The purpose for that posted guard had long been forgotten but the practice continued for over a century.  It is a sad state of affairs when purpose is lost and forgotten.

     The Church of Jesus Christ must never forget its purpose.  This coming Sunday morning, we will be looking at Philippians 1:12-18.  In that passage, Paul talks about the purpose of the church and how he as an individual fitted in with that purpose.   Paul identified the purpose of the church as “advancing the gospel,” “speaking the word of God,” and “preaching Christ.”  When he saw that purpose being fulfilled, he rejoiced.  It may not have been in the way he envisioned it, but it was being accomplished and that brought him joy.

     Our purpose as a church must coincide with that God-given purpose revealed in the Bible.  Our purpose statement is as follows: “First Christian Church is a family of believers in Christ who loves God, one another, and our community called by God to restore the principles and practices of the New Testament Church.”  How are we doing in accomplishing our purpose?

     I look forward to sharing the message with you this Sunday and joining together with you in worship.  If you are not able to be present with us, then please join us online.

     Keep praying for our church, our community and our nation!

                                                                                                                     C U N   Church,

                                                                                                                     David

     The Duke of Wellington was the great British military leader who commanded the forces that defeated Napoleon at Waterloo.   His given name was Arthur Wellesley.  Following his career on the battlefield, Wellesley became Prime Minister of Great Britain.  He was a brilliant and demanding man.  As he grew older, he realized that there were areas in his life that needed to change.  In his old age a woman asked him this question, “What would you do differently if you had your life to live over again?”  He thought carefully and replied, “I would give more praise.”

     That is a good lesson for all of us to learn.  We should become a people of praise and thanksgiving.  Throughout the Bible we are taught to give thanks to God.  As we enter into this special season of Thanksgiving, I would like to share some ways to practice an attitude of thankfulness in our everyday life that I found on the internet.

     Thank and praise God for everything in your life.  That includes not only the good things but also the trials that we all go through.  “Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise – the fruit of lips that confess his name.” (Hebrews 13:15)

     Don’t allow yourself to complain about anything.  We can always find things to complain about, but when we complain we are emphasizing the negative.  Instead of complaining, let’s think of ways we can verbally offer God the sacrifice of thanksgiving.

     Don’t compare yourself with others.  When we compare ourselves with others, we always compare ourselves with those who seem to have more than we do or with those who seem to have it easier than we do.  It is never with those who have less or who are experiencing harder times.  When we begin to thank God for what we have rather than comparing ourselves with others, it opens the door for God’s blessings.

     God smiles when we praise and thank Him continually.  Few things feel better than receiving heartfelt praise and appreciation from someone else.  God loves it, too.  An amazing thing happens when we offer praise and thanksgiving to God.  When we give God enjoyment, our hearts are filled with joy.”  - Rick Warren

     May you and your family have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

                                                                                                                C U N   Church,

                                                                                                                David

     This Tuesday which is Election Day, someone is going to get some bad news.  It doesn’t matter who wins the election, someone is going to be disappointed.  That someone could be you or me.  How do we handle bad news?

     “Blessed is the man who fears the Lord, who finds great delight in his commands. … He will have no fear of bad news; his heart is steadfast, trusting in the Lord.  His heart is secure, he will have no fear;” (Psalms 112:1b, 7-8a)

     There are a variety of responses that can be made to bad news.  When you receive bad news, you can fall apart and then make bad decisions.  You can try to lessen the impact of the news by using humor.  Or you can be like the man in Psalms 112 whose heart is steadfast and secure having no fear.  I don’t know about others but I want to be the man who has no fear when bad news comes.  The key to being able to do that is “trusting in the Lord.”

     If I am trusting in the Lord, then I will be praying.  When the prophet Daniel received the bad news that practicing his faith which specifically included praying was illegal, the first thing he did was pray (Daniel 6:10).  If I am trusting in the Lord, then I will be giving thanks for what I have – even if everything has been taken from me, I still have God.  Job was the recipient of some bad news.  He lost his flocks, herds, servants and his children but he still was trusting in God (Job 1:13-22).

     The lesson I learn then from this passage is keep trusting in God.  Throughout life, I will periodically get bad news but I don’t have to be afraid of bad news because God is still in charge.

     This is a preview of my sermon for this coming Sunday.  I hope that you will join us for our worship service either in person or online. 

                                                                                                                              C U N   Church,

                                                                                                                              David

     Before Jesus left this earth to return to the Father, He gave a specific command to His disciples.  We know that command as “The Great Commission.”  It is found in different forms in the gospel accounts and Acts (Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15-18; Luke 24:45-49; John 20:21; Acts 1:8).  The early church was obedient to the command of Jesus and sent missionaries out to spread the good news of Jesus Christ.

     One of those churches that sent missionaries was the church at Antioch.  This church sent Paul and Barnabas out to share the message with those who did not know Christ (Acts 13:1-3).

Paul went on three of those missionary journeys (those are the ones we have record of in Acts).

A part of the process was that at the end of those journeys, the missionary would come back to the church and report on the progress of the work being done.  “From Attalia they sailed back to Antioch, where they had been committed to the grace of God for the work they had now completed.  On arriving there, they gathered the church together and reported all that God had done through them and how he had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles (Acts 14:26-27).  Other instances of this are recorded in Acts 18:22-23; 21:17-19.

     It is important for the ones who have been sent to share the good news with others to report to the ones who have sent them about the work being done.  That is what is happening right now during our Faith Promise Rally.  We are hearing about the work being done for Christ by the ones we have been supporting with our financial gifts.  I am happy to report that every one of our missionaries has sent a report to us.  When a church supports a missionary, the question is often asked, “Do we ever hear anything from them?”  Our missionaries are being faithful and responsible in the use of the money we have sent them. 

     Yesterday and next Sunday, you had and will have opportunity to hear what has been happening on their field of service.

     Please be praying this week concerning what God is challenging you to promise to give for the cause of world-wide missions during the coming year.

     I hope to see you this coming Sunday but if you are unable to join us in person, please watch the services online.

                                                                                                            C U N   Church,

                                                                                                            David  

     God continues to pour His blessing out on our congregation!  We have been able to have our in-person worship services for a period of four months.  This seems like a small matter but after going 11 weeks without being able to come together in worship (March 22 – May 31), the privilege of being able to assemble as a church becomes a much bigger blessing!  During that period (June 7 – October 4) we have averaged 55 in attendance.  There have been over 100 different people who have come to worship with us.  What a blessing!  This doesn’t count the number of people who continue to watch our services on the internet.  I hope the pandemic has made each of us realize what a blessing it is to be able to go to church.

     Two things normally happen in October in the life of our church.  Due to the Covid-19 crisis, one of those things will go on but just in a little different fashion and the other one will not go on.  We have been holding our Faith Promise Rally in October for the five years.  During our rally we hear reports from our missionaries concerning the work they have been doing in their respective fields of service.  Our missionaries have often been present to personally share those reports.  This year it will be a little different.  They will not physically be present but several have sent videos that will share with us what has been going on with their mission.  On October 25, we will be asking you to make a promise in faith to share financial gifts over and above your regular giving to help support the work of our missionaries.  Please be praying about what God is asking you to share for the work He is doing around the world.

     The event that normally happens in October is our Treat Town.  Because of the crowded conditions and our inability to sanitize our facilities during the event, treat town has been cancelled for 2020.

     In November we will be preparing shoe boxes to send to children around the world in Operation Christmas Child.  During a time of fear and hopelessness, children need to know that God still loves them and He sent His Son to die for them.  When there doesn’t seem to be any good news, we can share a message of hope.

     As always I hope to . . .

                                                                                                     C U N   Church,

                                                                                                     David

     I was able to watch an amazing baseball game on Sunday afternoon.  The Cardinals beat the Indians by a score of 7 to 2.  That is only a summary of the story that unfolded before and during that game.  The Cardinals went into that game on a four game losing streak and a pitching staff that was tired and worn down.  The pitching staff and the team desperately needed a pick me up and a shot in the arm.  They needed someone who could step forward, stop the losing streak and get the team moving in the right direction again.  On Saturday night after the heart breaking loss to the Indians in 12 innings, Adam Wainwright (the oldest active player in the National League) stepped up.  He texted the manager and told him “I got you.”  This was Wainwright’s way of telling the manager that he would “fill the gap.”  In essence he was telling the manager that he would do everything within his power to be the guy tomorrow who would pitch as many innings as needed.  The veteran pitcher true to his word pitched a complete game (something very unusual in today’s era).  Wainwright did it on his 39th birthday; most guys have retired from major league baseball at that point in their life.  What a great story!

     So what’s the application for us as Christians today?  “I looked for a man among them who would build up the wall and stand before me in the gap on behalf of the land so I would not have to destroy it, but I found none.” (Ezekiel 22:30).  A gap in the wall of a city would allow the enemy to enter the city.  Who would step up and fill that void?  In the days of Ezekiel, God didn’t find anyone to fill the gap.  Will He find anyone today to stand in the gap for our own country?  We need to be those “gap fillers” in our own community and we should pray that there would be others who would rise up to stand in the gap for God on the state and national level.

     I hope to see you next Sunday in our services.  If you don’t feel comfortable yet with in person attendance, please join us on the internet.  Have a great week!

                                                                                                               C U N   Church,

                                                                                                               David

     Yesterday, I shared a message entitled “The Prayer That Saved A Nation.”  The sermon was based on the prayer that King Hezekiah offered up to the Lord at a critical time in Judah’s history.  Things looked hopeless as powerful Assyria threatened the existence of his nation.  I did not mention how God answered that prayer.  An angel from God struck down 185,000 soldiers in King Sennacherib’s army and the Assyrian king withdrew in disgrace.  Judah was saved temporarily.  But then Hezekiah’s son Manasseh led Judah into sin again – to the point of no return (2 Kings 21:10-16).   Judah eventually fell to the Babylonians being punished for their sins.

     I had mentioned the article from The Christian Standard written by Bob Russell.  I made copies of that article available but I am afraid that they may not have been very legible.  I apologize for that.  If you want a better copy, please contact me and I can either email it to you or send a hard copy through the mail to you.  I do encourage you to read it.

     Delaine Donaldson informed me that Mr. Russell had also published a prayer for America this past Independence Day.  You will find that prayer printed elsewhere in this newsletter.  Please read it and please continue to pray for America!

     This coming Sunday I plan to share a message with you dealing with the great revival that King Josiah led the nation of Judah in.  You can read about that in 2 Kings 23:1-30 and

2 Chronicles 34-35.  Please be praying for me as I prepare that message.

     I am so thankful for those who are faithfully attending our services and also for those who are continuing to watch our services online. 

                                                                                                       C U N   Church,

                                                                                                       David

...

     Solomon in Ecclesiastes 1:9-10 wrote, “What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun.  Is there anything of which one can say, ‘Look! This is something new’?  It was here already, long ago; it was here before our time.”

     How often have you heard it said in recent months, “We are living in unprecedented times”?  Is that actually true?  If we believe the Word of God, we would have to disagree with that statement.  In our short memory, we can’t seem to recall a time when there was a disease that had no vaccine to prevent its spread or antibiotic to treat its symptoms.  Some of our older citizens surely remember the dreaded disease polio.  Although it has almost totally been eliminated there was a time 70 years ago when polio was terrorizing our population.  The vaccine was developed in 1955, the year of my birth.

     How should we respond to this current pandemic as a church?  The church has been handling epidemics for 2000 years.  In the second century A.D. there was a plague that killed off a quarter of the Roman Empire but it led to the spread of the Christian faith as Christians cared for the sick.  Christians shared the message that this plague was not the work of an angry god but had come as a result of a broken creation in revolt against a loving God.

     In the third century, the Plague of Cyprian broke out.  In his sermons, Cyprian the bishop of Carthage told Christians not to grieve for the plague victims because they lived in heaven but to make more effort in caring for the living.  A century later the pagan Emperor Julian talked about how the Christians would care for even non-Christian sick people.  Those early Christians took very seriously the instructions of Paul in Galatians 6:10.  “Therefore, as we have opportunity. Let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.”   The claim has been made that the death rates in cities with Christian communities during that plague may have been just half that of other cities.

     These times may be unprecedented for us but not for the family of God.  Through the centuries in the face of pandemics, persecutions, wars, depressions, and disasters the church has continued to point people to the Lord Jesus Christ as the answer to our problems.  May we be found faithful to the One who has called us even as those who have gone before us were faithful!

                                                                                                             C U N   Church,

                                                                                                             David

     There are some verses in the Bible that in our minds just seem out of place.  However, God has a reason and purpose for every verse that is found in the Bible.  Sometimes it just takes a little time and a lot of effort to discover that purpose.

     One of those verses is 1 Kings 16:34.  “In Ahab’s time, Hiel of Bethel rebuilt Jericho.  He laid its foundations at the cost of his firstborn son Abiram, and he set up its gates at the cost of his youngest son Segub, in accordance with the word of the Lord spoken by Joshua son of Nun.”

I have read that verse many times and saw it as a verse that just recorded an obscure piece of history.  Only in the last few days have I seen it differently.

     I now see it as a commentary on the very troubled times through which the nation of Israel was going.  Approximately 500 years before this, Joshua had pronounced a curse on anyone who would venture to rebuild Jericho (Joshua 6:26).   For 500 years people respected the boundaries God had set.  Then those boundaries disappeared.  People no longer respected the sacred things of God.  Why did that happen?  A key to understanding why this rule and pattern from the past was ignored and torn down is found in where Hiel was from.  He was from Bethel, a center of calf worship.  Calf worship had just come into prominence 60 years before courtesy of Jeroboam who was the first king of the northern kingdom of Israel.  It only took 60 years of God’s worship being neglected and forgotten for the sacred things of God to be disregarded.

     Could there be a parallel in our own time and circumstances?  Interestingly enough it was 58 years ago that the Supreme Court ruled that school sponsored prayer was unconstitutional.    Since that time, some of the sacred things of God have been ignored and disregarded to a greater extent than ever before.  Some of the things that the Bible declares to be holy in the sight of God are life, marriage, sex, the Sabbath Day, the tithe, and the name of God.  I am not

under the illusion that before 1962, we lived in a perfect country.  I do contend that the respect for sacred things has deteriorated substantially in the last 58 years.  By disregarding God and His Word, a society opens itself up to a host of problems.

     Into the mess that existed in Israel God sent the prophet Elijah with a message.  Into the mess in which we find ourselves today, God is sending His church with a message.  May we be faithful in sharing that message with our culture even as Elijah was faithful in sharing his message!

                                                                                                                C U N   Church,

                                                                                                                David

     Can you believe that this year is almost half over?  It has surely been an unusual one and one that we all hope will not ever happen again.  These are interesting times in which we live.

     Is anyone in charge of this mess?  Psalms 31:14-15a says, “But I trust in you, O Lord; I say, ‘You are my God.’  My times are in your hands;”.   What an encouraging passage of Scripture!  Despite the uncertainty of the times we can always rest secure in God’s care.  Our times whether they are bad, good, certain or uncertain are in His hands.

     Psalms 11:3-4 says, “When the foundations are being destroyed, what can the righteous do?  The Lord is in his holy temple; the Lord is on his heavenly throne.”  We can certainly identify with the first part of this passage.  It seems like many of the things that we once thought were secure and reliable (the foundations) are crumbling.  How should we respond?  We can respond with confidence knowing that our God is still in charge and on His heavenly throne.

      It seems like that I have written these words before during this current crisis.  I don’t mean to be repetitive but there are some truths which we need to be reminded of frequently.  One of those truths is that God is in control and He is going to take care of His people. 

     Writing to the Philippians Paul said, “It is no trouble for me to write the same things to you again, and it is a safeguard for you” (3:1). Peter in his second letter said, “So I will always remind you of these things, even though you know them and are firmly established in the truth you now have.  I think it is right to refresh your memory as long as I live in the tent of this body” (2 Peter 1:12-13).  These two apostles knew there were certain ideas that Christians needed to be reminded of often.  They were not embarrassed to be repetitive in their teaching.

     Let’s remain faithful always trusting in God’s care.  Let’s stay the course always being faithful in serving our Lord.

     I hope to see you in one of our services on Sunday.  If you feel uncomfortable in being there in person, I encourage you to continue to watch our services online.

                                                                                                                             C U N   Church,

                                                                                                                             David

     I am sure that many of you have been wondering how the services went on Sunday.  It was the first time we had gathered together as a church family since March 15.  Almost ¼ of the year has gone by since our last church service.  That comes out to 2 ¾  months, 12 weeks, or 83 days.  It was so good to see everyone who was present.  In the two services that were held, there were 54 who were present;  33 for the first service and 21 for the second service.  There were 8 who attended the first service who also helped with the second service.  Let me express my appreciation to all those who came and especially to those who helped make both services run smoothly. 

     The first service was recorded and later posted on Facebook and YouTube.  In addition to those who were at the services in person, there were approximately 30 others who watched online on one of the two social media venues.  Let me remind you once again that the joy of the Lord is our strength.

     We will continue to hold two services for the next several weeks to help make social distancing possible as well as protecting those who may be more susceptible to the Covid-19 virus.  Thanks for your cooperation in using the designated seating areas.  We hope that you will feel comfortable in attending our in-person services but if you don’t then we want you to know that the services will be available for your viewing on Facebook and YouTube.

     Elsewhere in the newsletter you will find a study guide for the books of the month for June and July.  I will be preaching from those books in the coming weeks.  In the days in which we live when our nation is facing troubled times, there are many lessons we Christians can learn about how to help make our country more Godly.  I encourage you to read these books prayerfully asking God to speak to you through the events of ancient Israel.

     The last thought I want to share with you is a special invitation (also found elsewhere in the newsletter).  Irma and I are celebrating our 40th wedding anniversary on July 5.  We are having a reception in the church fellowship hall.  Please stop by on that day to share a moment or two with us and our family.

                                                                                                                          C U N   Church,

                                                                                                                          David

     As I am writing this column, it is Monday afternoon, Memorial Day 2020.  It is a beautiful day in Effingham, Illinois, USA.  All seems to be peaceful and calm.  One of the reasons why I am able to enjoy a peaceful afternoon is because of those brave men and women who have made the ultimate sacrifice to secure and ensure my freedom.  May we remember those who died for the cause of freedom!

     Freedom is a concept that has become a little more real and dear to our hearts in recent weeks.  Because of the lockdown due to the Covid-19 crisis, some of our freedoms have been limited.  The freedom that most readily comes to mind is the freedom to assemble for worship.

To prevent the spread of the virus, governors in most states had forbidden the meeting of churches.  In some instances, when those executive orders were violated, arrests were made and fines were levied.  Three months ago, I could not have imagined this happening in America.

I understand the reasoning on the part of the government for taking such actions.  I am not ignoring the importance of what our government has asked the churches to do.

     However, I want you to think with me for just a moment.  Isn’t it interesting and unsettling how quickly one of our most cherished freedoms, the freedom of religion and worship, was suspended?   How quickly we willingly gave up that right.  We were obedient to the governing authorities even as we are commanded to do in Romans 13.  How quickly the position of the church in the nation was recognized as a threat to the health and well-being of our society rather than a contributor to the health of the nation.  How quickly we went from being essential to being non-essential.

     Today it was the suspension of our freedom for a legitimate reason.  What will tomorrow bring?  Since it seemed so easy to get the church to comply with lockdown restrictions today, perhaps it would not be difficult to get them to comply with other restrictions tomorrow.

     "The condition upon which God hath given liberty to man is eternal vigilance; which condition if he break, servitude is at once the consequence of his crime and the punishment of his guilt."  John Philpot Curran (Irish lawyer, orator and statesman of the 18th century)

     I urge you to continue to pray for America and to always be on guard to preserve the freedom that was bought for us at a great price.

                                        Hoping to see   C U N   Church really soon,

                                        David

     If you would have told me a month ago that our country would have been “shut down” by the Corona Virus, I would have not believed you. Who would have thought that businesses would close their doors?  Who would have believed that other businesses would be limiting the number of people who can come into their buildings?  Who would have thought that many people would be wearing protective face masks?  Who would have imagined that we would have canceled church services for an extended period of time?   Isn’t it amazing that something so small can cause such a disruption of our schedules and plans?

     This is a reminder to us that we are not always in charge of our destiny.  Each of us had probably laid out some plans for the spring.  We knew what we were going to do for Easter.  However, those plans did not work out.  The events of these last several weeks certainly verify the truth of God’s Word.

     Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year 

     there, carry on business and make money.”  Why you do not even know what will happen

     tomorrow.  What is your life?  You are a mist that appears for a little while and then

     vanishes.  Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.” 

     As it is you boast and brag.  All such boasting is evil.  Anyone, then who knows the good he

     ought to do and doesn’t do it, sins.   James 4:13-17

There is an old saying that goes like this: Man proposes, God disposes.  What does that mean?  Simply put it means people can make plans but whether or not they are successful in carrying them out depends on God.   This is a quotation from a devotional work written in Latin by Thomas a Kempis in the 15th century. 

     One of the greatest generals of all time, Napoleon as he was laying out his plans for the battle of Waterloo commented about this quotation when he was reminded of it by one of his generals.  Not appreciating the idea that someone else might have a say so in his plans, the arrogant general replied,  “I want you to understand sir, that Napoleon proposes, and Napoleon disposes.”  Napoleon’s battle plans failed because of something rather tiny – a raindrop.  Multiply that one raindrop by approximately 21 trillion and you have a muddy mess.  The history of the world was changed because of the tiny raindrop.   The tiny Corona virus has also changed many of our plans and undoubtedly written its way into our history books.

     As we make plans for our lives after the Covid 19 lockdown, let’s remember to consider what God’s will is and try to follow His leading. 

                                                                                         Looking forward to C-ing  U  N   Church,

                                                                                         David

...

     ‘I have never seen anything like this.”  How many of you have said this or have heard it said by someone else in the last few days?  These are interesting and unusual times aren’t they?  I have certainly missed being able to be together for worship and fellowship with my church family during these last couple of weeks and I know you have too.  Sundays just aren’t quite the same.  I would remind you that this too shall pass.  Have you ever noticed how many times in the King James Version of the Bible the phrase “It came to pass” appears?  (According to Biblegateway.com the phrase appears 463 times.)  Please notice “it came to pass”, it did not come to stay.  We will get through this. 

     One of the things we all need to do is to keep looking to God for strength and help.  As God’s people we can remain optimistic because we know that God is in charge.  I have just recently started posting devotional thoughts on Facebook.  I have been on Facebook more in these 10 days than I had been on that site in the last 10 years.  The reason for my renewed activity on Facebook is that I feel Christians need to be leading the way in bringing encouragement to our friends and neighbors.  Some of you have seen my postings.  Some of you who do not have access to the internet have not.  For your benefit, we will reprint those postings here in the newsletter.  I hope that they will be an encouragement to you.

     Our newsletter will look a little different this time because of all our activities and services being canceled until after the Covid 19 crisis is past.   This does not mean that the church has been shut down.  As I have seen on Facebook and I agree – the church is not empty, the church has been deployed.  If all we are known for is that we meet at 901 N. Henrietta Street in Effingham, then we are not fulfilling our mission.  Look around.  See who you might be able to assist and encourage whether it is by phone, text, email, delivery, mail, prayer, etc.  We are the body of Christ – His hands and feet.  Let’s be active in serving Him!

                                                                                            C U N  Church after Covid 19,

                                                                                            David

     The books of I & II kings and I & II Chronicles record the history of Israel during the times of the kings.  Following the reigns of Saul, David and Solomon, the nation was divided into two kingdoms, Judah (the Southern Kingdom) and Israel (the northern kingdom).   During the time that the nation was divided, there were many kings who led the two kingdoms.  We are unfamiliar with many of the names of those kings.   Let me tell you about one of those kings.  The king’s name was Asa.  He was Solomon’s great-grandson.

     On one occasion, the Cushites came against Judah with a vast army and many chariots.  Asa called out to God and said, “Lord, there is no one like you to help the powerless against the mighty.  Help us, O Lord our God, for we rely on you, and in your name we have come against this vast army.  O Lord, you are our God; do not let man prevail against you.”  (2 Chronicles 14:11)  God enabled Judah to defeat the superior force from Cush.  All in all, Asa was a good king.  However, there is one final note on Asa’s life that casts a shadow on his life and reign.  It is recorded in 2 Chronicles 16:12.  “In the thirty-ninth year of his reign Asa was afflicted with a disease in his feet.  Though the disease was severe, even in his illness he did not seek help from the Lord, but only from the physicians.”

     This reminds me of our present situation with the corona virus.  Should we listen to the advice of the medical professionals?  Absolutely!  Should we be careful to follow the instructions on hygiene to prevent the spread of the virus?  You bet!  Are these the only resources we have available?  Definitely not!  Let us continue to call on the name of our God asking for His help and intervention.  We did this on Sunday as we participated in the national day of prayer that the President had called for.  Let us continue to pray for His help:

     1. Ask God to stop the pandemic and to save lives.

     2. Ask God to give wisdom to our government leaders

     3. Ask God to use this situation to help people realize their need for Him.

     4. Ask God to protect our missionaries and their families around the globe.

“God is our refuge and strength, and ever-present help in trouble.  Therefore we will not fear, though the earth gives way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea” (Psalms 46:1-2)

I hope to see you this coming Lord’s Day morning.

                                                                                                                 C U N   Church,

                                                                                                                 David

     The Bible is not boring and sermons shouldn’t be either.  Preachers must do their very best to make sure the sermons are prepared and presented well.  Sometimes, this preacher fails to make the proper preparation and his presentation is not as good as it should have been.  However, let me remind you that the preparation and presentation of the Sunday morning message is not totally dependent upon my abilities.  God is also involved in it; you are involved in it too!  In the next few “Ponderings” columns, I want to share some suggestions with you on how you can become better listeners.

     The first suggestion is to prepare.  Before the sermon ever begins, prepare you own heart and life for God to speak to you.

     1. Protect Sunday morning so that you can be physically and mentally present.  Sometimes work or health may prevent us from attending church.   But as a rule you and your family need to know that Sunday mornings are reserved for worship with your church (Hebrews 10:25).   Irregular attention to biblical preaching within the congregational setting weakens our heart muscles so that when we do hear a sermon, we are much less prepared to respond.

     2. Pray for God to open your eyes and give you a willing heart to respond to Him.  Pray for God to guide the preacher in his preparation and in his presentation.

     3. Confess your sin.  Ask God to reveal sin in your life and repent of it.  Sin will create a calloused and unresponsive heart.  Examine your practices and change your pattern of life.

     4. Expect God to be present in the service.  When God’s people are together, He has promised to be present with us.

     5. Arrive early.  This allows you to prepare yourself to listen.  It also encourages others to be ready to join in the service and listen to God’s Word.

     6. Get rid of distractions.  I know that many people today use their phones to read the Bible.  If you can do that without yielding to the temptation of answering a text message or checking email, then that’s great.  However, if you are distracted by the phone, you might resort to the old fashioned method of reading the Bible in the book form when you are at church.

     The bottom line: if you want the best experience in listening to the sermon, you have to prepare yourself to do so.  My next column will deal with participating in the sermon.

     I hope to see each of you this next Sunday and be able to greet you personally.

                                                                                                                C U N   Church,

                                                                                                               David

     Do you ever feel discouraged in serving God?  Some people might think that this is not something a “true” servant of God would ever feel.  If he/she is feeling discouraged, then it must be a lack of faith that is causing that.  Before we become too quick to jump to that conclusion, let me tell you about a couple of men who became discouraged.  After reading about their experience, then maybe you can understand discouragement in service a little better.

     The first man was really excited about serving God.  However, no one around him seemed to share that excitement.  In fact, he thought that he was the only one who was still loyal to the cause.  His life had even been threatened because of his service and faithfulness.

     The second man was serving God by being a missionary.  The pressures of the mission field were really getting to him.  He wasn’t even sure he was going to be able to stick it out.  He found no joy in life and his heart was weighed down with despair.

     According to some people, they must have been lacking in faith.  Before you agree with that assessment, let me identify these two men.  The first one’s name was Elijah.  Read about him in 1 Kings 19.  The second one’s name was Paul.  Read about his feelings in 2 Corinthians 1:3-11

     God reassured Elijah that there were still many who were faithful to him (7000 in fact).  Paul realized that he was going through tough times so that he could understand that he needed to rely on God and not himself. 

     Let’ remember the words Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 15:58.  “Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm.  Let nothing move you.  Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.”

     I look forward to seeing you this coming Lord’s Day morning.  Let’s all do our very best to be present when First Christian Church gathers for worship!

                                                                                                            C U N   Church,

                                                                                                            David

     Punxsutawney Phil did not see his shadow on Sunday.  According to legend, that means we will have an early spring.  Despite the fact that the winter has not been hard or severe, I believe everyone is ready for spring to arrive.  You may already have made for those months when we are blessed with warmer weather.  I don’t know that I have made definite plans but certain indefinite plans have been circulating through my mind.  I look forward to gardening, fishing, golfing, watching Cardinal baseball and just enjoying a nice summer evening out on the porch.

     It doesn’t hurt to make plans, but we should always remember that we should make them with the understanding that our time is in God’s hands.  We must remember the words found in James 4:13-16.

     Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year

     There, carry on business and make money.”  Why you do not even know what will happen   

     tomorrow.  What is your life?  You are a mist that appears for a little while and then   

     vanishes.  Instead, you ought to say, “if it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.” 

     As it is, you boast and brag.  All such boasting is evil.”

Consider the words of the poem “Life’s Clock.”

The clock of life is wound but once,

And no man has the power to tell

 just where the hands will stop

at late or early hour,

To lose one’s wealth is sad indeed;

To lose one’s health is more.

To lose one’s soul is such a loss,

As no man can restore.

The present only is our own.

Live, love, toil with a will-

Place no faith in “tomorrow”

For the clock may then be still.

Let’s use and enjoy today!  I hope to see all of you this coming Sunday!

                                                                                                                C U N    Church,

                                                                                                                David

     For the last several weeks during our Sunday worship services, I have been sharing with you thoughts and ideas about our purpose statement.  I hope those messages have been helpful and challenging.  One of the benefits of a purpose statement is to keep a person or group on task.  It is so easy to become involved and focused on doing things the right way but forgetting

the reason for doing them.

       One of golf's immortal moments came when a Scotchman demonstrated the new game to President Ulysses Grant. Carefully placing the ball on the tee, he took a mighty swing. The club hit the turf and scattered dirt all over the President's beard and surrounding vicinity, while the ball placidly waited on the tee. Again the Scotchman swung, and again he missed. Our President waited patiently through six tries and then quietly stated, "There seems to be a fair amount of exercise in the game, but I fail to see the purpose of the ball.   Although a great deal of attention was being given to the stance prior to the swing and a lot of effort was being put into the actual swing, the main purpose of the game was not being achieved.

     We can become focused on making sure our building looks beautiful, our services are pleasing to those who attend, our finances are stable, our teaching is biblical, and our reception to guests is friendly; yet we can forget our purpose as Christ’s Church.  We want to be a family of believers in Christ.  We want to love God, one another, and our community.  We want to be true to God’s call to be His Church.

     I hope to see each of you this coming Lord’s Day morning as we come together to worship our God.  Our worship service without your presence just won’t be complete!

                                                                                                                      C U N   Church,

                                                                                                                      David

     Yesterday morning I was sharing with you thoughts about our purpose statement.  I asked the question about whether our purpose was to survive, succeed, or to be significant.  As a church our desire should be to be significant – to make a difference in the lives of our members and in our community.  Sometimes it is hard to see beyond the pressing issues of each day.  Unfortunately, our goal often becomes little more than meeting those immediate needs and simply surviving to see another day.  I want each of us to see our participation in the life and ministry of First Christian Church as important.  It is more than mere survival

     With which of the following three workers do you identify?  A traveler came upon three men working.  He asked the first man what he was doing and the man said he was laying bricks.  He asked the second man the same question and he said he was putting up a wall.  When he got to the third man and asked him what he was doing he said he was building a cathedral.  They were all doing the same thing but their perspective on the work they were doing was quite different.

When it comes to your service for God, how would you describe it?  Are you welcoming people to church, serving Communion, teaching a class, trimming bushes, sweeping floors, serving food or are you building the Kingdom of God, helping prepare people for heaven and helping people come to know Jesus.  Your contribution of time, talent or treasure helps our church accomplish its God-given purpose.

     I look forward to seeing you this coming Sunday.  During the month of January, I will be sharing more thoughts about our purpose as a church.  Please make you best effort to be present for our Sunday morning worship services.

                                                                                                                      C U N   Church,

                                                                                                                      David

     Besides the Christmas Story found in the Bible, two of my favorite Christmas stories are A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens and The Gift of the Magi by O Henry.  The story told by Dickens is quite familiar having been made into movies and used by countless TV programs so I really don’t have to tell you anything about it.  However The Gift of the Magi is less familiar, so let me tell you a little about it.

     This short story is about two young people recently married.  Their names are Della and Jim.  Like many couples just starting out, they were strapped financially.  Between the two of them, they had two things of value: Della’s magnificent hair and Jim’s gold watch.  It is Christmas time and they have no money to buy one another gifts.  Della had saved $1.87 but that would buy virtually nothing worthy of her Jim.  She decided to sell her hair and received $20 from the transaction.  She then searched through town looking for just the right gift for Jim and finally found it.  It was a platinum chain to go with his gold watch.  Della was so excited and couldn’t wait to present the gift to Jim.  When he came home and saw that she had cut her hair, a peculiar look came over his face.  She didn’t want him to be upset with her and explained that she had sold her hair to buy him a gift.  Jim had also bought a gift for her and gave it to Della.  That gift was a set of beautiful combs that she had longed for in order to adorn her magnificent hair.  Now that the hair was gone the combs were of no use.  Her disappointment didn’t last long because she still had her gift to give to Jim.  When she showed him the gift she had gotten for him, he simply smiled and suggested they put their gifts away for a while.  He then told her that he had sold the watch in order to buy the set of combs.  Both had sold their most valuable possession in order to buy a gift for the one they loved.

     To many the actions of Jim and Della were foolish.  However sacrificing your greatest treasures for someone you love is not foolish but actually wise.  That kind of giving is in imitation of our God who gave what He treasured most – His Son.  What will we give to Him in return?  Can we give any less than our best?

     Please join us for Sunday’s service and then for the candlelight service on Christmas Eve as we continue to celebrate God’s greatest gift.

                                                                                                                           C U N   Church,

                                                                                                                           David

     We are now in the middle of the holiday season.  I am sure that your calendar is filling up fast with events and engagements.  I want to encourage you to set aside time during the holiday season to remember the reason for the season.  We are celebrating the greatest gift ever given.  “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believes on Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)

     In addition to all the activities you are involved in within your own family, school, job, and community, I want to remind you of the activities within our own church family.  Please make time for these so that you can be reminded of God’s incredible gift.

     Here is a list of the services being held at First Christian Church in December.

     Sunday morning, December 8 – “The Wrapping Paper”

Sunday morning December 15 – Children’s Program

Followed by the all church Christmas Dinner in Beebe Hall

Sunday morning, December 22 – “The Gift Exchange”

Tuesday evening, December 24 – Candlelight Christmas Eve Service at 5 p.m.

Followed by caroling at the hospital

Lighting of the Advent candle each Sunday by the youth of our church

     I want to remind you that the theme of the messages in December is “An Amazing Gift from God.”  These messages are based in the gospel of John.  The message that I will be sharing this coming Sunday is entitled “The Wrapping Paper.”  It will focus on the incarnation of Jesus.  Jesus’ incarnation is truly one of the most amazing teachings in the Bible.  The doctrine of the incarnation could be summarized in the following words: Jesus, who is the non-created second person of the triune God; took on a human body and everything that is human and became both man and God.

     May each of you be truly blessed this Christmas season!  I hope to be able to greet each of you personally this coming Lord’s Day morning.  Let’s all try to be present when First Christian Church meets for worship this Sunday.

                                                         C U N   Church,

                                                         David

     Thanksgiving is next week.  What a wonderful thing to have a national holiday dedicated to the giving of thanks to God!  An emphasis on thanksgiving is good because ingratitude seems to come easily to us.

     Someone once said, “As a rule, a man’s a fool.   When it’s hot, he wants it cool.  When it’s cool, he wants it hot – always wanting what is not.”  The renowned philosopher Immanuel Kant said, “give a man everything he wants and at that moment, everything will not be everything.”  Regardless of what a person possesses, he never seems to be satisfied,  always wanting more or something else.

     Our nation could be characterized by ingratitude.  We have been blessed in so many ways and yet we have forgotten the source of that blessing.  The great Puritan minister Cotton Mather said, “Religion begat prosperity, and the daughter hath consumed the mother.”   America became prosperous because of our Christian roots but in that prosperity we have forgotten God.  We like the fruit, but not the root.

     Two of our greatest leaders offer some keen insight into the subject of gratitude.   George Washington said in his First Inaugural Address, “No people have more reason to acknowledge and adore the invisible hand which conducts the affairs of men more than those of the United States.  Every step by which they have advanced to the character of an independent nation seems to have been distinguished by some token or providential agency.”  Washington said America should be grateful.  He was the first President to declare a National Day of Thanksgiving to God.  Abraham Lincoln made Thanksgiving an annual event.   He said, “We have been the recipients of the choicest bounties of Heaven.  We have been preserved, these many years, in peace and prosperity.  We have grown in numbers, wealth, and power as no other nation has ever grown; but we have forgotten God.” (underlining mine)

     May we as God’s people lead our nation in giving thanks to God for all of His abundant blessings!  May you and your loved ones have a blessed and happy Thanksgiving.

                                                   C U N   Church,

                                                   David

     One of the things most people want today is to be able to make a difference in the community, nation, and world.  As we look around us at the monumental needs that exist, we might be discouraged and think that there is no way that I can make a difference in the world.  Let me encourage you by saying, “You can make a difference.”

     You can make a difference in many different areas but the area upon which I want to focus is the eternal difference in the lives of people.  As we prepare for our Faith Promise Week, we will be challenged to consider making a promise in faith to give a certain amount of money for the cause of world-wide evangelism.   You will be tempted to think that the little dab of money that you have cannot make any real difference in the lives of others.  That is a lie that Satan would love for us to believe because we are then tempted to spend that money elsewhere.   The truth is that each dollar that is given through our missions program at First Christian Church can and does have an impact upon the lives of others.

     Consider for a moment the dollar that is given to Oil Belt Camp.  Because of that dollar there is a child that hears about Jesus and gives his/her life to Him.  That dollar has made an eternal difference in that person’s life.  Another dollar given to the camp may help a young person to be challenged to give his/her life to specialized Christian service.  In the coming years that young person may touch many lives for Christ in his/her service through the local church or on the mission field.  Once again the dollar you have given has an eternal impact on someone’s life.

     Our money does make a difference!  I urge you to take advantage of the opportunity to hear the reports from those missions we support.  See and hear what God is doing with your dollars to make a difference in the lives of others.  Please be praying that God would speak to you letting you know what He wants you to do in respect to world-wide missions.   Check out the activities for our Faith Promise week (a listing is found elsewhere in our newsletter) and plan to be present as often as you can.  It looks like a great week.

     I hope to see each of you this coming Lord’s Day morning and be able to greet you personally.

                                                 C U N   Church,

                                                 David