Discover the historical facts that form the foundation of our faith. Visit the Archaeological Study Bible's special Easter site to learn more about the mysteries, controversies, and artifacts surrounding Christ's final days.
March 2009 Archives
Do you have a cardboard testimony you would like to share on Easter Sunday? If so, email Pastor Richard and join us for a brief meeting in the Family Room before church at 9:45 AM on April 12.
Watch these videos to see what I'm talking about.
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For the record Dave Demson won first prize, Ken Kelly won second, and Rich Mesnard won third. Thanks to everyone who helped make the event a success. We raised $1,226 for our mission trips to Ecuador and Los Angeles.
Thanks to Abe Savona for taking the pictures. Join our group and add your photos of Grace Chapel people and events.
From the autobiography of Patrick, originally written in Latin around AD 450:
34. Thus I give untiring thanks to God who kept me faithful in the day of my temptation, so that today I may confidently offer my soul as a living sacrifice for Christ my Lord; who am I, Lord? or, rather, what is my calling? that you appeared to me in so great a divine quality, so that today among the barbarians I might constantly exalt and magnify your name in whatever place I should be, and not only in good fortune, but even in affliction? So that whatever befalls me, be it good or bad, I should accept it equally, and give thanks always to God who revealed to me that I might trust in him, implicitly and forever, and who will encourage me so that, ignorant, and in the last days, I may dare to undertake so devout and so wonderful a work; so that I might imitate one of those whom, once, long ago, the Lord already pre-ordained to be heralds of his Gospel to witness to all peoples to the ends of the earth. So are we seeing, and so it is fulfilled; behold, we are witnesses because the Gospel has been preached as far as the places beyond which no man lives.
40. So for that reason one should, in fact, fish well and diligently, just as the Lord foretells and teaches, saying, `Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men,' and, again, through the prophets: `"Behold, I am sending forth many fishers and hunters," says the Lord,' et cetera. So it behoved us to spread our nets, that a vast multitude and throng might be caught for God, and so there might be clergy everywhere who baptized and exhorted a needy and desirous people. Just as the Lord says in the Gospel, admonishing and instructing: `Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always to the end of time.' And again he says: `Go forth into the world and preach the Gospel to all creation. He who believes and is baptized shall be saved; but he who does not believe shall be condemned.' And again: `This Gospel of the Kingdom shall be preached throughout the whole world as a witness to all nations; and then the end of the world shall come.' And likewise the Lord foretells through the prophet: `And it shall come to pass in the last days (sayeth the Lord) that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh, and your sons and daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions and your old men shall dream dreams; yea, and on my menservants and my maidservants in those days I will pour out my Spirit and they shall prophesy.' And in Hosea he says: `Those who are not my people I will call my people, and those not beloved I will call my beloved, and in the very place where it was said to them, "You are not my people," they will be called 'Sons of the living God."'
60. For the sun we see rises each day for us at [his] command, but it will never reign, neither will its splendour last, but all who worship it will come wretchedly to punishment. We, on the other hand, shall not die, who believe in and worship the true sun, Christ, who will never die, no more shall he die who has done Christ's will, but will abide for ever just as Christ abides for ever, who reigns with God the Father Almighty and with the Holy Spirit before the beginning of time and now and for ever and ever. Amen.
Although parents may warn their children against going places with strangers, most don't mind letting their kids go with trusted neighbors-- especially when the destination is church.
A study by LifeWay Research found that 76 percent of American parents agree with the statement, "If a neighbor I trusted invited my children to go to church with them, I would let my child go with them." Only 24 percent disagree.
From Breaking the Missional Code: Your Church Can Become a Missionary in Your Community, Ed Stetzer and David Putman
A prayer walk is simply what it says: walking (or driving) through a community while praying for the people. Ask God to reveal things to you as you walk. Here are specific things to request:
As you do the prayer walk, God will begin to reveal other things about which to pray - both things to stand against and things to affirm. Make spiritual warfare part of your strategy. Pray that God might reveal what keeps local people from trusting in Jesus Christ, and then ask the Holy Spirit to break through those barriers. The history and industry of the community may also provide insight regarding spiritual strongholds.
- Ask God to show you how to reach the people who live in the homes that you pass.
- Ask God to prepare people's hearts to receive His Word and draw them to Jesus Christ.
- Ask God to reveal a person of peace as you move around the area.
- Ask God to help you understand how you can meet practical needs in the community and show the love of Christ.
Go here to learn how to download mp3 audio of the English Standard Version Bible for free.
I don't think it works with the Max McLean audio, though. Also, you can't add too many verses together in one file or the end verses will be left out. Three to four chapters usually works for me.
Crossway, the publisher of the ESV, seems to be cool with this.
Want to get a good deal on your groceries? How does over $40 worth of groceries for only $16 sound?
Check out the Help Yourself program at the United Food Bank in Mesa (near Baseline Road and Mesa Drive).
For $16 cash or food stamps, anyone
can purchase a preassembled food box with 5 different frozen meats, 4 kinds of fresh produce, and 5 kinds of dry goods. There are no restrictions or qualifications for this program, anyone can purchase a food box.Boxes are offered on most Fridays and one Saturday each month at 358 E. Javelina. For more information, call the United Food Bank at 480-926-4897.
