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Prayer List, Events and Announcments:
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Please keep sister Donna S. in your prayers and she continues her rehabilitation.
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Sister Charlotte M. is still recovering from knee replacement surgery at home.
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Please remember all of our troops serving at home and overseas.
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PLEASE CHECK THE EVENT CALENDAR ON THE MAIN MENU FOR MORE UPCOMING EVENTS.
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Last Updated on Thursday, 24 June 2010 20:25 |
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Written by Paul Pryor
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Discontent often has its roots in our neglect or forgetfulness. The old cliché that says “I complained about having no shoes until I saw a man who had no feet” is a sober reminder to us that we are, indeed, blessed above and beyond what most people in this world could expect or even imagine.
This was illustrated to me very vividly Monday night. We had company visiting with us from out of town. Our guests were from Louisville, KY. Naturally the climate and scenery is much different there. They have just come out of a hard winter. We went out to supper and then I drove us all down to Fort Desoto Park at about the time the sun was setting. You can imagine their delight, being from “up North” to spend a pleasant evening on the Gulf of Mexico, feeling the breeze and watching the beautiful sunset.
I was struck by the fact that we live here and could drive down every night to watch this beautiful scene if we wanted to. These gorgeous landscapes and seascapes are right in our own backyards and we often don't appreciate them. We were all reluctant to leave the pier, feeling the breeze, smelling the sea air and listening to the sea birds. As darkness fell, we walked over to the fort and climbed the stairs to the top. The stars were out and awe inspiring. We stood silently gazing at the sky for several minutes.
Whenever we start to feel discontent, it is often helpful to start counting your blessings. God has been very good to us all. Let us not neglect to recognize this and thank Him every day. |
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Is One Church as Good as Any Other? |
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Written by Paul Pryor
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It has always been very interesting to me that some will take a position regarding their religion or their “church” which they would not take in any other area of their lives. One will say, “I know I am saved because of this wonderful feeling I have in my heart.” What if you were driving down a road and someone asked if you knew where you were going? Would you say “I know this is the right way because I just feel it in my heart”? Of course not. You would say that it is the right way because you have consulted a road map and confirmed it with the road signs. One might respond in that situation, “Well you might think your going the right way, but that is just your interpretation of the right way.” When it comes to any area of life apart from religion, these types of reasons would be seen as irrational, but when it comes to religion it is acceptable.
This type of thinking has given us slogans, such as, “attend the church of your choice”, “We're all going to heaven but we're just taking different roads” or “One church is just as good as another as long as you are sincere in what you believe.” How would one who makes these types of statements regarding religion respond if we were to say similar things to him about sports teams, schools, doctors, brands of cars, etc... Some will get very exercised about things that are of lesser importance than the salvation of their souls but when it comes spiritual matters, Biblical matters and religious matters they exercise very little or even no discernment.
If one church is as good as another, then one founder is as good as another.
Jesus said in Matthew 16:18, “And I also say unto thee, that thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.” Jesus promised to build His singular church, not hundreds of denominations. He built one church. Denominations were not founded by, nor built by Jesus. If you are a member of a denomination inquire as to its founder and you'll likely find a name like John Wesley or Martin Luther or some man than Christ.
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