By David-A Baker
"Whatever you are doing, will bring you a harvest, good or bad"
Monday, April 30, 2007
"He Restoreth My Soul" (part 1)
“The Lord is my Shepherd—I shall not want-He maketh Me to lie down in green pastures. He leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul”
Even the largest, fattest, strongest and sometimes healthiest sheep can become cast and be a casualty. Actually it is often the fat sheep that are the most easily cast.They will lie down comfortably in some little hollow on the ground and may roll on its side to stretch out or relax. Suddenly the center of gravity in the body shifts so that it turns on its back far enough that the feet no longer touch the ground. Now it is quite impossible for it to regain its feet.
In the Christian life there is great danger in always looking for the easy place, the cozy corner, the comfortable position. The time when we think "we have it made," so to speak, is actually when we are in mortal danger of being cast.
During my own years as a keeper of sheep, perhaps some of the most poignant memories are wrapped around the commingled anxiety of keeping a count of my flock and repeatedly saving and restoring cast sheep.
Again and again I would spend hours searching for a single sheep that was missing. Then more often than not, I would see it at a distance, down on its back, lying helpless. At once I would start to run toward it--hurrying as fast as I could--for every minute was critical.
Within me there was a mingled sense of fear and joy: fear that it might be too late; joy that it was found at all.
(to be continued)
(Part 2) & (Part 3)
Excerpt from “A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23” by W. Phillip Keller
Even the largest, fattest, strongest and sometimes healthiest sheep can become cast and be a casualty. Actually it is often the fat sheep that are the most easily cast.They will lie down comfortably in some little hollow on the ground and may roll on its side to stretch out or relax. Suddenly the center of gravity in the body shifts so that it turns on its back far enough that the feet no longer touch the ground. Now it is quite impossible for it to regain its feet.
In the Christian life there is great danger in always looking for the easy place, the cozy corner, the comfortable position. The time when we think "we have it made," so to speak, is actually when we are in mortal danger of being cast.
During my own years as a keeper of sheep, perhaps some of the most poignant memories are wrapped around the commingled anxiety of keeping a count of my flock and repeatedly saving and restoring cast sheep.
Again and again I would spend hours searching for a single sheep that was missing. Then more often than not, I would see it at a distance, down on its back, lying helpless. At once I would start to run toward it--hurrying as fast as I could--for every minute was critical.
Within me there was a mingled sense of fear and joy: fear that it might be too late; joy that it was found at all.
(to be continued)
(Part 2) & (Part 3)
Excerpt from “A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23” by W. Phillip Keller
Sunday, April 29, 2007
Discussion starter:
"The covenant expressly states that the Lord has given a particular geographic land to the seed of Abraham. Christ is the seed of Abraham to whom the promise was given. Do we, being in Christ, have an inheritance in the particular land?"
Friday, April 27, 2007
Tollison to speak at First Christian
First Christian Church of Corning, 1421 Marin St, welcomes
Jeff Tollison to their pulpit this week.
He will be bringing the message and leading the singing at the 11 a.m.
worship service.
There is also Sunday School for all ages starting at 3 years old at 10
a.m. and this week, we are having a coffee hour following the service
to honor all of our April celebrations — birthdays and anniversaries.
Everyone is invited! The church extends its most sincere Christian
sympathy to Pastor, Rev. Richard Beach, and his family in the loss of
his mother this past week.
For more information, call 824-5739.
Jeff Tollison to their pulpit this week.
He will be bringing the message and leading the singing at the 11 a.m.
worship service.
There is also Sunday School for all ages starting at 3 years old at 10
a.m. and this week, we are having a coffee hour following the service
to honor all of our April celebrations — birthdays and anniversaries.
Everyone is invited! The church extends its most sincere Christian
sympathy to Pastor, Rev. Richard Beach, and his family in the loss of
his mother this past week.
For more information, call 824-5739.
North Valley Baptist to host Grand Prix barbecue
North Valley Baptist Church, 345 David Ave., will hold their 2007 Grand Prix and barbecue Sunday.
Schedule of events:
• 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. Lunch, car weigh in and registration
• 1:30 p.m. Awards ceremony (book awards)
• 2 p.m. Grand Prix
Food will be served: 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. Meal cost: $3 per person.
Sodas and snacks will be on sale throughout the day. There will be
activities for children of all ages. A giant blow-up obstacle course, a
jump house for the little ones, and if it’s a warm day, come prepared
to get wet on the blow-up water slide.
For more information, call 527-0543.
Schedule of events:
• 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. Lunch, car weigh in and registration
• 1:30 p.m. Awards ceremony (book awards)
• 2 p.m. Grand Prix
Food will be served: 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. Meal cost: $3 per person.
Sodas and snacks will be on sale throughout the day. There will be
activities for children of all ages. A giant blow-up obstacle course, a
jump house for the little ones, and if it’s a warm day, come prepared
to get wet on the blow-up water slide.
For more information, call 527-0543.
Signs of Life
If you come across one that you would like to add to the list, please send me an e-mail at sheep.pen@gmail.com
Discussion starter:
"Do all of the physical descendants of Abraham share in the covenant with Abraham today?"
Marriage and Family Bible seminar
The Seventh-day Adventist Church, 720 So. Jackson St., will hold its final relationship seminar, which is presented as a community service for Christians and non-Christians alike. Everyone is invited.
It is especially designed for busy people. Morning session begins at 10:45 a.m., followed by a free vegetarian luncheon.
Afternoon session continues at 1:30 p.m.
This seminar is free.
Ken Swanson, D.Minn., International Speaker, presents this Marriage and Family Bible Seminar in a dynamic crystal clear way that will thrill you. As a husband to Britt, and parents of two. Dr. Swanson draws from his experience and his relationship with God in His Word, the Bible. What he has learned and shares may help you strengthen and lengthen your marriage, improve your parenting skills and better your relationship with others.
It is especially designed for busy people. Morning session begins at 10:45 a.m., followed by a free vegetarian luncheon.
Afternoon session continues at 1:30 p.m.
This seminar is free.
Ken Swanson, D.Minn., International Speaker, presents this Marriage and Family Bible Seminar in a dynamic crystal clear way that will thrill you. As a husband to Britt, and parents of two. Dr. Swanson draws from his experience and his relationship with God in His Word, the Bible. What he has learned and shares may help you strengthen and lengthen your marriage, improve your parenting skills and better your relationship with others.
Wednesday, April 25, 2007
The Foundation of Discipleship
"We must be changed in the ordinary aspects of life; for if we are not, the failures in the ordinary will undermine all of our grand works. This is what we have been struggling with all along; it has not been in the extraordinary that we have failed usually, but in the ordinary parts of life. When we disciple others to seek the grand achievements, we are not only neglecting what they need in the ordinary, we are also inflating their pride. We can be doing more harm than good as we communicate a distorted image of discipleship.
The Sermon on the Mount is about discipleship in the ordinary parts of life. This is in contrast to most of what we think discipleship to be. We see discipleship in great actions, or in great experiences, or in great depth. But Jesus taught about the ordinary challenges of life. Our house must be built on a rock; the lowest level of the structure must rest on something solid."
Excerpt from "The Foundation of Discipleship" by Greg Whitten, [angiken@gmail.com] or Basic Christianity
The Sermon on the Mount is about discipleship in the ordinary parts of life. This is in contrast to most of what we think discipleship to be. We see discipleship in great actions, or in great experiences, or in great depth. But Jesus taught about the ordinary challenges of life. Our house must be built on a rock; the lowest level of the structure must rest on something solid."
Excerpt from "The Foundation of Discipleship" by Greg Whitten, [angiken@gmail.com] or Basic Christianity
Signs of Life
If you come across one that you would like to add to the list, please send me an e-mail at sheep.pen@gmail.com
Connect the Thots #18
Connect the Thots is all about determining the common thread that binds three seemingly unrelated clues. For example, what one idea ties together:
Baby in a manger, Death on a cross, & King of Kings
Thot =Jesus.
Easy enough?
Give this weeks’ quiz a try. We will post the answers next week along with a new quiz.
1. Ham, Japheth, Shem
2. a place called Haran, a woman named Sarai, a command to move
3. a valley full of bones, a man with a measuring reed, a wheel inside a wheel
4. son of Nun, successor of Moses, leader of Israel
5. Bathsheba, Abigail, Anna
6. "I am escaped with the skin of my teeth", "the Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away", "Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither"
7. a drinking party, handwriting on a wall, knocking knees
8. cucumbers, melons, leeks
9. Herod of Galilee, Philip of Iturea, Lysanias of Abilen
10. Abib, Adar, Elul
Answers to last week’s quiz:
1. Moses 2. Jonathan 3. places where wine was served 4. blood
5. wives of King David 6. tongues 7. high priests 8. pleasure 9. chariots 10.purple
(From Bible Trivia Challenge: Connect the Thots, published by Barbour Publishing, inc. Used by permission.)
Baby in a manger, Death on a cross, & King of Kings
Thot =Jesus.
Easy enough?
Give this weeks’ quiz a try. We will post the answers next week along with a new quiz.
1. Ham, Japheth, Shem
2. a place called Haran, a woman named Sarai, a command to move
3. a valley full of bones, a man with a measuring reed, a wheel inside a wheel
4. son of Nun, successor of Moses, leader of Israel
5. Bathsheba, Abigail, Anna
6. "I am escaped with the skin of my teeth", "the Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away", "Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither"
7. a drinking party, handwriting on a wall, knocking knees
8. cucumbers, melons, leeks
9. Herod of Galilee, Philip of Iturea, Lysanias of Abilen
10. Abib, Adar, Elul
Answers to last week’s quiz:
1. Moses 2. Jonathan 3. places where wine was served 4. blood
5. wives of King David 6. tongues 7. high priests 8. pleasure 9. chariots 10.purple
(From Bible Trivia Challenge: Connect the Thots, published by Barbour Publishing, inc. Used by permission.)
Signs of Life
If you come across one that you would like to add to the list, please send me an e-mail at sheep.pen@gmail.com
Signs of Life
If you come across one that you would like to add to the list, please send me an e-mail at sheep.pen@gmail.com
Saturday, April 21, 2007
A Woman After God's Heart
The Pentecostal Church of God will hold a Ladies Conference, "A Woman After God's Heart," April 26 through 28, at the Tehama County Fairgrounds.
The Keynote Speaker will be Kimberly Ming, Joplin, Mo., who has served in ministry for the past 17 years. She currently serves as the Women's Ministry Director for the Southern Missouri District, Pentecoastal Church of God. Donna Yeley from Arcata, and Zula Judd from Linden, will also speak.
Thursday, April 26, meeting begins at 6 p.m.; Friday, April 26, meetings begin at 10 a.m. and 6 p.m.; and on Saturday, April 28, meeting will begin at 10 a.m. There will be child care for 3 years and under.
Interested persons may call district office (916) 723-2467.
The Keynote Speaker will be Kimberly Ming, Joplin, Mo., who has served in ministry for the past 17 years. She currently serves as the Women's Ministry Director for the Southern Missouri District, Pentecoastal Church of God. Donna Yeley from Arcata, and Zula Judd from Linden, will also speak.
Thursday, April 26, meeting begins at 6 p.m.; Friday, April 26, meetings begin at 10 a.m. and 6 p.m.; and on Saturday, April 28, meeting will begin at 10 a.m. There will be child care for 3 years and under.
Interested persons may call district office (916) 723-2467.
Traveling to Honduras with MOST
Mary Clancy and Kerry Higgins are traveling to Honduras with Mission Opportunities Short Term, MOST, this April and participating in gospel outreach.
MOST is a Lutheran based mission organization. They set up short term mission trips all over the world.
Higgins and Clancy are members of St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Red Bluff. Their trip was partially financed by Lutheran Women's Missionary League and Thrivent Financial for Lutherans. The pair will be leaving this week for Olanchito Honduras, for an Eyeglass Clinic. There are 17 on the Honduras team and Higgins and Clancy are the only two from the west coast.
Their host will be Rev. Douglas Aguilar, a missionary from Nicaragua, who came to Olanchito a year ago and is working in a number of villages near Olanchito.
MOST organizes Eye Glass Clinics as a way of reaching out to the community in love to share the gospel through word and deed.
Pictured:Kerry Higgins (left) and Mary Clancy
Cowboy Sunday planned in Orland
The Orland Evangelical Free Church will hold Cowboy Sunday on May 6 at the Verboom Ranch, 6058 County Road 11. The tradition started by inviting people to dress in western attire and ride their horses to church. The event starts with people arriving early by horseback. The worship service begins at 10 a.m. with a gospel concert by Belinda Gail and Curly Musgrave and a short message by Pastor Scott Menez. A barbecue follows at noon.
The cost is $5 per person, kids under 6 eat free.
The cost is $5 per person, kids under 6 eat free.
Thursday, April 19, 2007
Power Principles
By David-A Baker
"A good sermon doesn't have to be long, and a bad one shouldn't be."
"A good sermon doesn't have to be long, and a bad one shouldn't be."
Wednesday, April 18, 2007
Signs of Life
If you come across one that you would like to add to the list, please send me an e-mail at sheep.pen@gmail.com
Wednesday, April 11, 2007
Puzzle Pieces
Have you ever bought a jigsaw puzzle at a garage sale? It’s kinda risky. With used puzzles, you can never be sure if all the pieces will be there. But…if you really like puzzles, it may be fun to give it a try.
Lets say that the puzzle pieces were simply in a plastic bag with no picture attached. Would you buy it then? Unless you are quite the adventurous type and you really, really liked puzzles, that sack of puzzle bits will stay right where it is.
Have you ever noticed that our lives tend to resemble a sack of puzzle bits? We have lots of parts and have to work frantically at times trying to piece it all together with out the benefit of a picture to go by.
Here’s the Good News: Jesus really, really likes puzzles. He is constantly checking out the ‘yard sales’ in hopes of finding another puzzle to put together. He even buys us with the full knowledge that some of our pieces are tweaked, tattered and torn. Some are missing. That’s okay, because if we are willing to be bought by the Lord it becomes His responsibility to fit all the pieces together.
Now, when I begin to work on a puzzle, I like to start with the outside parts. It seems to me that if I can get the outside finished, the inside of the puzzle comes together more easily. Jesus has a different strategy. He seems to know that the outside will take shape as the insides are worked on. And, since God has the finished picture for each one of us, He is able to work systematically in our lives putting all the right pieces in all the right places.
So, what does that look like from our point of view?
Read More
Lets say that the puzzle pieces were simply in a plastic bag with no picture attached. Would you buy it then? Unless you are quite the adventurous type and you really, really liked puzzles, that sack of puzzle bits will stay right where it is.
Have you ever noticed that our lives tend to resemble a sack of puzzle bits? We have lots of parts and have to work frantically at times trying to piece it all together with out the benefit of a picture to go by.
Here’s the Good News: Jesus really, really likes puzzles. He is constantly checking out the ‘yard sales’ in hopes of finding another puzzle to put together. He even buys us with the full knowledge that some of our pieces are tweaked, tattered and torn. Some are missing. That’s okay, because if we are willing to be bought by the Lord it becomes His responsibility to fit all the pieces together.
Now, when I begin to work on a puzzle, I like to start with the outside parts. It seems to me that if I can get the outside finished, the inside of the puzzle comes together more easily. Jesus has a different strategy. He seems to know that the outside will take shape as the insides are worked on. And, since God has the finished picture for each one of us, He is able to work systematically in our lives putting all the right pieces in all the right places.
So, what does that look like from our point of view?
Read More
Monday, April 02, 2007
Signs of Life
If you come across one that you would like to add to the list, please send me an e-mail at sheep.pen@gmail.com
Special Sunrise Service
Abundant Life Fellowsip,
21080 Luther Road, Red Bluff, 528 2499
Will be holding a Special Sunrise Service on April 8, 2007 at 6:45 AM.
Breakfast following the Sunrise Service
Resurretion Celebration for the Whole Family
Special service fo the children
21080 Luther Road, Red Bluff, 528 2499
Will be holding a Special Sunrise Service on April 8, 2007 at 6:45 AM.
Breakfast following the Sunrise Service
Resurretion Celebration for the Whole Family
Special service fo the children
Sunday, April 01, 2007
Discussion starter:
"The Lord made a covenant with Abraham through an unfamiliar means to us. What are we supposed to see in the animals cut in half, the error, and the smoking oven and flaming torch?"
"Is this particular means of making a covenant ever repeated by the Lord?"
"Is this particular means of making a covenant ever repeated by the Lord?"
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