STIRRINGS AT BETHESDA
A Weekly Publication of
Bethesda Baptist Church
November 3, 2014
Upcoming Activities
1. Bethesda Academy, Monday, 6:30 p.m.
2. ELECTION DAY, Tuesday
3. Bible Study & Prayer Meeting, Wednesday, 7:00 p.m.
4. Deacons’ Meeting, Wednesday, 7:45 p.m.
5. Sunday School, Sunday, 9:15 a.m.
6. Worship Service, Sunday, 10:30 a.m.
7. Discipleship Training, Sunday, 5 p.m.
Operation Christmas Child
Operation Christmas Child continues through Sunday, November 16. Also, our packing party is Monday, November 17 in fellowship hall beginning at 6:30 p.m. Bring some soup and salad, enjoy some fellowship, and then help us pack the boxes!
Congratulations!
Happy Birthday to Noah celebrating a birthday this Thursday!
Deacons
Our deacons are meeting with the pastor this Wednesday evening in preparation for our business meeting next week. If you have anything you would like us to discuss, please let one of us know.
Happiness is a temporary condition; Blessedness is a permanent state.
Church Phone Directory
Our revised member phone directory will be available next Sunday morning. Thank you to everyone for reviewing the directory and providing updates.
The Bethesda Academy
Our study of the book of Revelation resumes this evening (November 3). We will conclude our study next Monday evening, November 10. Join us at 6:30 p.m.
November Election
Tuesday, November 4 is election day and our church fellowship hall is a polling place. I encourage every member to exercise your right and privilege and vote. But I also exhort you to study the issues and candidates as well as you can before you go to the polls.
There are individuals who vote for a candidate simply because they are affiliated with a specific party. My dad always voted …. The time for voting one party or the other is over. We need to use godly wisdom and elect those men and women who best reflect our Christian values and principles.
Vote but vote intelligently and wisely!
It is in the final analysis not faith considered by itself but the righteousness of Christ which is imputed in the sinner who, in genuine faith, has fled to God for refuge.
William Hendriksen
Pastor’s Postscript
Recently I received a tract titled Eight Lies You Hear on Campus and in the World. It is very well written and very brief in its length. I have heard each of these 8 used many times in both the business and education communities. I suspect many of you have as well.
While I do not have space to share the entire tract, here, in summary form, are the eight lies.
1. In order to believe the Bible, one must commit intellectual suicide.
2. Evolution is a reasonable explanation of the origin and present makeup of the universe.
3. Christianity is basically the same as the other religions of the world.
4. Money, power, pleasure, and prestige are the things that give real meaning and purpose to life.
5. Jesus never claimed to be God.
6. The accounts of Christ are not reliable since they were written long after His death.
7. Man is basically good.
8. God saves good people.
Notice how nicely lies 7 and 8 tie together. Also, my experience has taught me to be prepared for lie 1 if someone throws lie 2 your way. Many people in our society have been taught that if you do not believe in evolution then you are an idiot.
Lie 3 is seen throughout our land today, often expressed as political correctness. Furthermore, this lie is often accompanied by lie 5. You see, if you believe Jesus is God then lie 3 becomes more difficult to believe. Plus, if you attempt to debate lie 5, be prepared for lie 6 for your opponent will do whatever he can to disprove the Scripture.
May you and I be faithful servants and witnesses for Christ. When we are in the presence of one or more of these lies, may God grant us the wisdom, words, and will to stand up and share the truth.