We will be voting on Pastor Search Committee on March 1st in the morning services. Every church member will have the opportunity to nominate 5 church members to serve on the committee. This should be a prayer led decision. I would recommend that you nominate people from multi-age groups.
We will have a prayer meeting on Wednesday February 25th before the vote is taken. This is an important step in the future of the church. I am giving you a description of characteristics that you should look for as you pray about your nominations.
Good candidates for the Pastor Search Committee are characterized by:
1. Continued spiritual growth
2. Spiritual discernment
3. Knowing Bible truths and practicing them
4. Faithful attendance and support of the church
5. Skills as a team player
6. Willingness to maintain confidentiality
7. Freedom to attend meetings and occasionally travel
8. Priority commitment to seeking and doing God’s will
9. Absence of self-serving agenda
Additionally members of the committee should represent all segments of the church.
Sunday, February 15, 2015
Kitchen Korner (Survival Soup) - By Dolly Lawler
If you are a friend of Barbara Durall, you know she would never do you wrong. She certainly didn't do me wrong with this recipe. It is DELISH! It is now on my top 10 list of favorite homemade soups. I know some of you may be thinking you don't like cabbage, but once you try this soup, you'll be changing your mind, take my word for it. The cabbage is what made me want to try it. I love cabbage any way you fix it.
SURVIVAL SOUP
3 Cups Cabbage, cut up
1 Cup Carrots, cut up
½ Cup Celery, cut up
1 Large Onion, chopped
1 Can French Style Green Beans, drained
4 Cups Water
2 Cubes Beef Bouillon (or 2 tsp. of Beef Bouillon Granules)
12 Oz. Can Tomato Juice
SURVIVAL SOUP
3 Cups Cabbage, cut up
1 Cup Carrots, cut up
½ Cup Celery, cut up
1 Large Onion, chopped
1 Can French Style Green Beans, drained
4 Cups Water
2 Cubes Beef Bouillon (or 2 tsp. of Beef Bouillon Granules)
12 Oz. Can Tomato Juice
½ tsp. Salt (to taste)
¼-½ tsp. Pepper (to taste)
If using a slow cooker, combine cabbage and other vegetables and place in cooker. Boil water in sauce pan on range and dissolve bouillon cubes, then add to cooker with vegetables. Add juice, salt and pepper and cover. Cook on "low" for 8 hours.
This can also be cooked on stovetop for approximately 45 minutes or until vegetables are cooked through.
When I made this, I substituted home canned green beans and tomato juice. If you like meat in your soups, you might want to try adding a pound of browned Bob Evans Hot Sausage. I love to experiment with recipes and I think I might try that next. To me, the title of this recipe suggests using whatever you have on hand. Good luck.
Please submit a favorite recipe to:
lawlers@windstream.net
If using a slow cooker, combine cabbage and other vegetables and place in cooker. Boil water in sauce pan on range and dissolve bouillon cubes, then add to cooker with vegetables. Add juice, salt and pepper and cover. Cook on "low" for 8 hours.
This can also be cooked on stovetop for approximately 45 minutes or until vegetables are cooked through.
When I made this, I substituted home canned green beans and tomato juice. If you like meat in your soups, you might want to try adding a pound of browned Bob Evans Hot Sausage. I love to experiment with recipes and I think I might try that next. To me, the title of this recipe suggests using whatever you have on hand. Good luck.
Please submit a favorite recipe to:
lawlers@windstream.net
Centered On God - By Sharon Graham
I have been reviewing one of my old Bible studies called “Anointed, Transformed, Redeemed; A Study of David.” In week one of the study, I read in 1 Chronicles 13 about how David made it a priority after becoming king to return the ark of God to Jerusalem. The ark of God would be located in the center of the nation as a daily physical reminder of God’s presence in the lives of the people. This made me think about how I must daily, moment by moment, be mindful of God’s presence in my life, so that my thoughts and decisions will be centered on my Lord. Priscilla Shirer, one of the co-authors of the Bible study said the following: “Once we begin to live aware of God with us in everything, we find that He really does have something to say about everything in our lives—not just the ‘Sunday morning’ part but every other part as well…Recognizing and acknowledging God’s presence and perspective will alter your decisions and ultimately change outcomes.” (pages 17 & 18)
Father, God, please help me to be constantly aware of Your Presence in my life. Lord, I trust that this awareness of You will shape the decisions I make so that YOU will be glorified.
Here are some verses to remind us of God’s presence.
“But as for me, God’s presence is my good. I have made the Lord God my refuge, so I can tell about all You do.” - Psalm 73:28 (HCSB)
“You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.” – Jeremiah 29:13 (HCSB)
“Yahweh your God is among you, a warrior who saves. He will rejoice over you with gladness. He will bring you quietness with His love. He will delight in you with shouts of joy.” – Zephaniah 3:17 (HCSB)
Father, God, please help me to be constantly aware of Your Presence in my life. Lord, I trust that this awareness of You will shape the decisions I make so that YOU will be glorified.
Here are some verses to remind us of God’s presence.
“But as for me, God’s presence is my good. I have made the Lord God my refuge, so I can tell about all You do.” - Psalm 73:28 (HCSB)
“You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.” – Jeremiah 29:13 (HCSB)
“Yahweh your God is among you, a warrior who saves. He will rejoice over you with gladness. He will bring you quietness with His love. He will delight in you with shouts of joy.” – Zephaniah 3:17 (HCSB)
Angels - By Ken Lawler
The word angel appears numerous times in both the Old and New Testaments, in three different languages: Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek. In all three languages the definition is "messenger." They are spiritual beings (Heb. 1:14), superior to humans with superhuman power and knowledge (2 Sam. 14:20; 2 Pet. 2:11), but they are not all-powerful or all-knowing. Artists generally portray them as winged beings, and I suspect they are, but that cannot be confirmed in the Bible, except for certain types or classes of angels that I'll describe later.
Angels were created by God (Ps. 148:5) and were present when He created the world (Job 38:4-7). They were originally all holy, but sometime in eternity past some of them rebelled against God. The leader of this rebellion was an angel named Lucifer (morning-star) (Isa. 14:12) who was cast out of Heaven and became the devil, also known as Satan, the serpent, the dragon, etc. When Rev. 12:3-4 describes an event in Heaven where a great red dragon (Satan) "drew the third part of the stars of Heaven, and did cast them to the earth," it is believed to be a reference to a third of the angels who followed Lucifer in his rebellion. Those angels are the "fallen angels" Jude 6 tells us are "reserved in everlasting chains" awaiting judgment. The rest of the angels are known for their reverence for God and their obedience to His will.
Only four angels are named in the Bible: Michael, Gabriel, Lucifer and Abaddon, also known as Apollyon. Michael is the only one called an archangel (chief angel), but Dan. 10:13 calls him "one of the chief princes," so there is at least one other, and most Bible scholars think it's Gabriel, and it's possible that Lucifer was one in the beginning. Michael is the guardian of Israel (Dan. 10:21; 12:1), the commander of the angelic army (Rev. 12:7). Gabriel, who describes himself in Lk. 1:19 as one who "stand in the presence of God," communicates special messages to God's servants, and is considered to be in charge of the angelic messenger corps. Lucifer was probably in charge of the angels whose primary function was praising God and serving as His throne attendants. He is usually described, jokingly or not, as the choir director. The fourth named angel, Abaddon (in Hebrew) or Apollyon (in Greek) is the king of the demonic beings locked in the bottomless pit of Hades (Rev. 9:11). These four names are all male names, and there is no hint in the Bible that there are any female angels. Most of them are just called angels, but on one occasion Daniel uses an Aramaic word that is translated "watchers" in the KJV (Dan. 4:17), then there are the angels called cherubim, seraphim, living creatures, and living beasts/beings.
Ex. 25:20 describes cherubims as having wings, and their prominence in Moses' Tabernacle and later in Solomon's Temple shows them especially associated with guarding the Mercy Seat at God's throne. The first time these angels are mentioned in the Bible is Gen. 3:24 where they are stationed as guards (with flaming swords) to keep Adam and Eve from going back into the Garden of Eden.
The seraphim are described in Isa. 6:2 as having six wings; two covering their face, two covering their feet, and two for flying. They are standing above God's throne praising Him; "And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of hosts: the whole earth is full of His glory." These may be the same as the living beings below.
Ezek. 1:5-14 describes angelic beings called "living creatures" that have the "likeness of a man." Likeness (resemblance) must mean they stand erect and are shaped like a human, because all resemblance stops there. Their head has four faces on it; a man's face on the front, a lion's face on the right side, an ox's face on the left side, and an eagle's face on the back of their head. They have four wings that allow them to fly forward, back, left, or right without turning their bodies. They have a man's hand under each wing, cloven feet like a calf, and they sparkled like burnished brass.
In Rev. 4:6-8 "four beasts" (living beings) are reported to be around God's throne saying, "Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come." They do this day and night, without rest. These "beasts" have six wings, and are full of eyes, front and back. One of them has a face like a lion, one a face like a calf, one a face as a man, and the fourth a face like an eagle. These may be the same as the seraphim.
When angels have been visible on earth they have consistently appeared in human form (Gen 18:2, Dan. 10:18, Zech. 2:1); they protect God's people (Dan. 3:28, Matt. 26:53); and can deliver us from danger (Acts 5:19). When you read "The angel of the Lord" (i.e. Gen. 6:7-11), it's usually a reference to Jehovah, The Lord Himself before He came as a baby in Bethlehem.
Many believe the "sons of God" who took human wives in Gen. 6:1-4 were angels, or what Daniel calls Watchers, sent down to assist the humans. They took human wives and their offspring were called "Nephilim" in the Hebrew Pentateuch. They were wicked and had so corrupted the human blood-line that God sent the flood in Noah's day to destroy them. I believe the spirits of these Nephilim are the demons talked about in the Bible. These disobedient co-habiting angels are also possibly those referred to in 2 Pet. 2:4 and Jude 6. In Matt. 22:30 Jesus said "the angels of God in Heaven" do not get married. This could mean they don't reproduce (they are eternal so they don't need to reproduce) or it could mean they are not capable of reproducing because they are all males. Notice He said "those in Heaven," possibly implying there was a time when those not in Heaven could reproduce. This has been pondered about 2,000 years with no answer yet.
Angels were created by God (Ps. 148:5) and were present when He created the world (Job 38:4-7). They were originally all holy, but sometime in eternity past some of them rebelled against God. The leader of this rebellion was an angel named Lucifer (morning-star) (Isa. 14:12) who was cast out of Heaven and became the devil, also known as Satan, the serpent, the dragon, etc. When Rev. 12:3-4 describes an event in Heaven where a great red dragon (Satan) "drew the third part of the stars of Heaven, and did cast them to the earth," it is believed to be a reference to a third of the angels who followed Lucifer in his rebellion. Those angels are the "fallen angels" Jude 6 tells us are "reserved in everlasting chains" awaiting judgment. The rest of the angels are known for their reverence for God and their obedience to His will.
Only four angels are named in the Bible: Michael, Gabriel, Lucifer and Abaddon, also known as Apollyon. Michael is the only one called an archangel (chief angel), but Dan. 10:13 calls him "one of the chief princes," so there is at least one other, and most Bible scholars think it's Gabriel, and it's possible that Lucifer was one in the beginning. Michael is the guardian of Israel (Dan. 10:21; 12:1), the commander of the angelic army (Rev. 12:7). Gabriel, who describes himself in Lk. 1:19 as one who "stand in the presence of God," communicates special messages to God's servants, and is considered to be in charge of the angelic messenger corps. Lucifer was probably in charge of the angels whose primary function was praising God and serving as His throne attendants. He is usually described, jokingly or not, as the choir director. The fourth named angel, Abaddon (in Hebrew) or Apollyon (in Greek) is the king of the demonic beings locked in the bottomless pit of Hades (Rev. 9:11). These four names are all male names, and there is no hint in the Bible that there are any female angels. Most of them are just called angels, but on one occasion Daniel uses an Aramaic word that is translated "watchers" in the KJV (Dan. 4:17), then there are the angels called cherubim, seraphim, living creatures, and living beasts/beings.
Ex. 25:20 describes cherubims as having wings, and their prominence in Moses' Tabernacle and later in Solomon's Temple shows them especially associated with guarding the Mercy Seat at God's throne. The first time these angels are mentioned in the Bible is Gen. 3:24 where they are stationed as guards (with flaming swords) to keep Adam and Eve from going back into the Garden of Eden.
The seraphim are described in Isa. 6:2 as having six wings; two covering their face, two covering their feet, and two for flying. They are standing above God's throne praising Him; "And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of hosts: the whole earth is full of His glory." These may be the same as the living beings below.
Ezek. 1:5-14 describes angelic beings called "living creatures" that have the "likeness of a man." Likeness (resemblance) must mean they stand erect and are shaped like a human, because all resemblance stops there. Their head has four faces on it; a man's face on the front, a lion's face on the right side, an ox's face on the left side, and an eagle's face on the back of their head. They have four wings that allow them to fly forward, back, left, or right without turning their bodies. They have a man's hand under each wing, cloven feet like a calf, and they sparkled like burnished brass.
In Rev. 4:6-8 "four beasts" (living beings) are reported to be around God's throne saying, "Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come." They do this day and night, without rest. These "beasts" have six wings, and are full of eyes, front and back. One of them has a face like a lion, one a face like a calf, one a face as a man, and the fourth a face like an eagle. These may be the same as the seraphim.
When angels have been visible on earth they have consistently appeared in human form (Gen 18:2, Dan. 10:18, Zech. 2:1); they protect God's people (Dan. 3:28, Matt. 26:53); and can deliver us from danger (Acts 5:19). When you read "The angel of the Lord" (i.e. Gen. 6:7-11), it's usually a reference to Jehovah, The Lord Himself before He came as a baby in Bethlehem.
Many believe the "sons of God" who took human wives in Gen. 6:1-4 were angels, or what Daniel calls Watchers, sent down to assist the humans. They took human wives and their offspring were called "Nephilim" in the Hebrew Pentateuch. They were wicked and had so corrupted the human blood-line that God sent the flood in Noah's day to destroy them. I believe the spirits of these Nephilim are the demons talked about in the Bible. These disobedient co-habiting angels are also possibly those referred to in 2 Pet. 2:4 and Jude 6. In Matt. 22:30 Jesus said "the angels of God in Heaven" do not get married. This could mean they don't reproduce (they are eternal so they don't need to reproduce) or it could mean they are not capable of reproducing because they are all males. Notice He said "those in Heaven," possibly implying there was a time when those not in Heaven could reproduce. This has been pondered about 2,000 years with no answer yet.
Book Review on “The Friendships of Women” - By Wanda Hess
Snow days are great for catching up on some reading. My Book Review this month is called “The Friendships of Women” by Dee Brestin. This book is a recommended reading by Dr. James Dobson. This book is also in the church library collection.
A Friend Loveth at all times……Proverbs 17:17 as we go through life you might have encountered this not to be true. This Book makes reference to the beautiful friendships shared by Mary and Elizabeth , Ruth and Naomi also David and
Jonathon. After reading this book I got my Bible out and read more about these Bible characters and to try to understand their friendships, it made for some good additional reading.
There are many points from this book you read such as:
Women are natural nurturers.
Men don’t have real friendships they have pals, chums, buddies (now don’t jump out of your chairs men there are exceptions to all of this!
When you have friends you love with the heart and women are designed by GOD to do that.
Women are quicker to make friends they reach out to another woman.
They find a mutual subject, concern, territory to find a friend.
Men have friends by golf buddy, basketball playing,etc.
This book also can be used as a group study. At the end of each chapter is questions or study points.
Chapter 9 talks about friendships: Roses and Alligators Which one are you?
Most women are like roses. When you draw near to a woman she will open to you petal after petal of fragrant loveliness.
The difference between a rose and an alligator: a rose may never hurt you but an alligator is likely to destroy you. And as we go through life we all have come in touch with those “Roses” and “Alligators”
Ephesians 4:32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ GOD forgave you.
GOD knows our needs for friendship better that we do. In Genesis 2:18 says And the Lord GOD said, it is not good that the man should be alone, I will make him a helpmate for him. Was this the first ever friendship?
This book discusses Mentor Relationships. God brings persons into our lives that we can mentor. Elizabeth was Mary’s mentor. And if you think about that statement did you figure out how? Risk taking is essential in finding friendships. Ruth, Jonathan and Mary took tremendous risks.
I feel so happy when I hear someone say “I married my best friend” and that friendship is the best ever. But when that person hurts the other deeply it is hard to overcome.
So I leave this thought with you to have a friend you must be a friend. And the closeness of that friendship depends on how much you are willing to risk.
God Bless you and your friendships
A Friend Loveth at all times……Proverbs 17:17 as we go through life you might have encountered this not to be true. This Book makes reference to the beautiful friendships shared by Mary and Elizabeth , Ruth and Naomi also David and
Jonathon. After reading this book I got my Bible out and read more about these Bible characters and to try to understand their friendships, it made for some good additional reading.
There are many points from this book you read such as:
Women are natural nurturers.
Men don’t have real friendships they have pals, chums, buddies (now don’t jump out of your chairs men there are exceptions to all of this!
When you have friends you love with the heart and women are designed by GOD to do that.
Women are quicker to make friends they reach out to another woman.
They find a mutual subject, concern, territory to find a friend.
Men have friends by golf buddy, basketball playing,etc.
This book also can be used as a group study. At the end of each chapter is questions or study points.
Chapter 9 talks about friendships: Roses and Alligators Which one are you?
Most women are like roses. When you draw near to a woman she will open to you petal after petal of fragrant loveliness.
The difference between a rose and an alligator: a rose may never hurt you but an alligator is likely to destroy you. And as we go through life we all have come in touch with those “Roses” and “Alligators”
Ephesians 4:32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ GOD forgave you.
GOD knows our needs for friendship better that we do. In Genesis 2:18 says And the Lord GOD said, it is not good that the man should be alone, I will make him a helpmate for him. Was this the first ever friendship?
This book discusses Mentor Relationships. God brings persons into our lives that we can mentor. Elizabeth was Mary’s mentor. And if you think about that statement did you figure out how? Risk taking is essential in finding friendships. Ruth, Jonathan and Mary took tremendous risks.
I feel so happy when I hear someone say “I married my best friend” and that friendship is the best ever. But when that person hurts the other deeply it is hard to overcome.
So I leave this thought with you to have a friend you must be a friend. And the closeness of that friendship depends on how much you are willing to risk.
God Bless you and your friendships
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)