Encourager. Restricted. By Josh McDowell, Student Minister

Transcription

1 Encourager The February 2017 Restricted By Josh McDowell, Student Minister RESTRICTED What does that word mean to you? First off, think about it s meaning. To give it a quick definition it means LIMITED. Some synonyms for RESTRICTED are: blocked, closed, confined, controlled, deprived, restrained, bound, chained, cramped, decreased, diminished, inhibited, obstructed, prevented, stopped, and suppressed. As you were reading this list, what did you feel? Now, these words are not positive words. When we look at these words we probably do not think very happy thoughts. In fact, you probably felt uncomfortable reading them. In addition, as you read those words, did you feel that any of them were describing you? Did you read any of those words and think, Yep, that s me? Many of us just want the simple life, but is that attainable? What exactly is the simple life? Well, it is a life that isn t BUSY. How busy are we all today? What are we leaving room for? Do our schedules define us? What if we were given a task to do yet we notice that we are RESTRICTED when trying to get it accomplished? Frustration sets in along with hopelessness.especially if this happens every day. We live in the land of the free.but how much freedom are we really enjoying? We, as God s children, do not like to be RESTRICTED. So, what do we do? We seek after freedom. 2 Corinthians 3:17 says, Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. So how do we attain the Spirit of the Lord? John 8:36 tells us, So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. That Son is Jesus. Anytime you read within the Gospels, He was helping set people free. They were burdened with sin, with pain, with agony, with hatred, with demons, with sadness, with bad decisions, with their past, and the list keeps going. We were called to be free, not busy. Yes, we have things to do but is it restricting us from doing what we were created to do? Galatians 5:13-14 states, You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: Love your neighbor as yourself. Love.love will set us free. Love came to set us free. Remember? That whole crucifixion event? That was love. We are trapped because of our sin and it binds us. Love is what freed us. We are supposed to carry that love with us and give it to others. Are we RESTRICTED from loving others? That is the question we need to look at within ourselves. If you are having a hard time loving others during your daily life, then, my friend, you are RESTRICTED. If that is the case, then right now would be a good time to ask for help from the only source that can give freedom. Acts 13:38-39a says, Therefore, my friends, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you. Through him everyone who believes is set free from every sin Our goal is to be able to love others without restriction.

2 Giving Receipts If you would like a receipt of your giving in 2016, please send the church an at countrysidechristian1@gmail.com and let us know. Thanks! Does anyone know who this cute little boy is? This picture was found in the church building with our Christmas Tree box. We would like to return the photo to the owner. Wednesday Activities Wednesday Activities are in full swing again! Join us! Family Supper 6 pm We have a variety of meals planned. Please let us know if you will be eating with us! KidCity-Wednesday All children Kindergarten to 5th grade are welcome to come and learn about Jesus while playing games, singing, doing activities and more. Ignite - MS and HS students don t want to miss this. We grow closer to Jesus through teaching, music and just hanging out with each other. Choir - 6:45 pm Choir is for all adults! If you like to sing, join us! We will be starting to practice for the Easter Cantata soon! Join us! Larsen s Larsen s is up and going again! They are meeting on Thursdays at 7 in the Larsen home. Anyone is welcome to join them. They meet in the Larsen home. If you need directions, please contact Jim or Denise Larsen. Feast on the Fourth Everyone is welcome to bring a dish to share and join in food, fun and fellowship on Sunday, February 26 th. What a great way to get to know each other! Can t wait to see you there! Please keep these requests in your prayers *Deb Bruntz, Tim Dycus sister *Crystal Stocks *Kelly Stopkotte, Greg Linn s sister - cancer *Stella (a 3 year old grandchild of Christie s friend) incurable, inoperable cancer *Vicky Sharkey *Orlin Wentz *Rod & Teresa Dorothy s daughter and family *Countryside Church Leaders *Senior Minister search *Our Nation s Leaders *Those without Christ in our community

3 February 2017 Server s Schedule Sound Booth Techs February 5 February 12 February 19 February 26 Ron Wymore David Aaron Cudaback Brian Vavra Ron Wymore Casey Hollis Aaron Cudaback Casey Hollis Instrumentalists Guitar-Nathan Cudaback Drums-Kevin Shedd Piano-Nancy Schanbacher Guitar-Aaron Weinberg Drums-Carter Hollis Piano-Caleb Hollis Guitar-Aaron Weinberg Drums-Chad Anderson Piano-Jan Wymore Guitar-Aaron Weinberg Drums-Kevin Shedd Piano-Ben Kinnison Vocalists Max Richardson Hannah Baker Susan Weiler Jan Wymore Heather Schmidt Ceara Hollis Lynnea Isaacson Lillian Smith Katherine Smith Shaelyn Cudaback Lynnea Isaacson Heather Schmidt KidCity-Sunday Teacher Communion Thought Chad Anderson Art Apple Nicole Hoffman Josh McDowell Tim Erickson Chad Anderson Greg Linn Ron Wymore Servers Roger Watson Nate Oberg Brian Vavra Scott Hoffman Terry Weinberg Ray Shields Jeff Collison Joe Warner Mert Feikert Colby Roach Tom Silvers Chris McClemens Brent Hollis Caleb Collison Lonnie Allison Dewayne Brand Jeff Baker Greg Smith Mark Loseke Kevin Shedd Carter Hollis Ben Kinnison Max Richardson Don Burwell Bryan Chase Jim Larsen Casey Hollis Greg Swinney Nursery Alisha Cudaback Volunteer Needed Volunteer Needed Sarah Cudaback Communion Prep Charlotte Schnacker

4 February 2017 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 5 5 pm Souper Bowl Party 6 6 pm Todd Becker Foundation Banquet Teresa Dorothy Collette Kinzie 7 1 Kid City Ignite 8 Kid City Ignite 2 7 pm Larsen s Scott Seger 9 7 pm Larsen s 3 Kyla Weinberg Nancy Schanbacher 4 Tony Lunbery Shaelyn Cudaback Orlin Wentz 12 5 pm Valentine s Banquet 13 Jeff and Annette Collison Kid City Ignite 16 7 pm Larsen s Jay and Lisa Bolin Sharon Bochart Laurie Swinney Suzette Hoffman 19 Leadership Meeting 20 Nathan Cudaback 21 Josh McDowell 22 Kid City Ignite 23 7 pm Larsen s Orion Silvers Nate Porter 26 Feast on the Fourth 27 Travis Pawley 28

5 We have a lot of children within our church and there will be more coming as time goes on. With that said, we have so many opportunities to bless them. To keep things simple here we would just like to ask you to give us a hand, if you would like. We have opportunities within our Nursery, Pre-school, Sunday School, Children s Church and Wednesday evenings. We want to have the best children s ministry around, yet what we need are people to help provide that ministry by being a part of it and loving on the children. You don t have to commit to every time it is offered, nor do you have to be a part of everything within the ministry. We would just like to have volunteers help when and where they would like to. If we all come together and show that our children are precious, then what a community we can have! Please be encouraged today to lend a hand. We have signup sheets at the Welcome Center and as always you can talk with Josh or Christie to get plugged in. Thank you for your service! Wednesday Family Meal - every Wednesday at 6 pm! Everyone is welcome! MS/HS Ministry News I have officially completed my first year here. I have to say that it has been a good year, yet there have been many challenges that have come my way. It seems that on several cases I was stuck between a rock and a hard place. Many people might think that full time ministry seems easy. But there are always challenges that face every minister. See there is this enemy of God. He doesn t like me or you at all. He wants us to fall, get depressed, feel like a failure, lose our hope, get angry and just want to walk away. Sometimes, all he does is get us busy and overwhelmed, then sits back and watches us live a TV show, laughing as we struggle. He does not want us.or me to succeed. This year I have faced challenges that no one would want to face coming into a new position for them. Being hired last year, I was given a certain amount of responsibilities. Through certain changes my responsibilities grew immensely and my time shrunk. I wrote the newsletter article about being restricted. That s what I have felt gradually grow more and more each day since last summer. I look back at some things now and realize I haven t been able to perform well. I haven t been able to show my true passion. I let way too many things come in and halt me from loving others. It took me several months to realize this. It took several families to leave for me to understand that I am not living up to expectations. For that, I am sorry. I want to say that I did the best I could, but that would be wrong.because I could have done better. I want to say it was all the other things that were dumped on me that are to blame, but I am the one who chose to accept them. I am still learning as we all should be. No, I still don t have a definite grasp on everything yet. But, I am headed toward that direction, more focused and determined than ever before. I don t want the enemy to get me down, nor do I want to be restricted like I have been. I truly desire to help develop disciples. I truly want to love people where they are and to deepen the relationships I have with people. I am expecting this year to get better in many ways. I look forward to what this year will become. Thank you for your prayers and patience.

6 th Ave Kearney NE countrysidechristian1@gmail.com Souper Bowl Party Sunday, February 5 th at 5 pm Bring a crock pot of soup, games and cash. Vote on your favorite soup with your cash. The chef of the soup with the most cash will be awarded the Traveling Silver Ladle at halftime! All cash donations will go to The Todd Becker Foundation. There will be food, games, fun and football! Everyone is welcome! Annual Valentine s Day Banquet MS/HS Student Ministry Fundraiser Sunday, February 12 Doors Open at 5 pm Supper Served at 6 pm Supper will be provided but dessert will cost you! There will be several dessert options as well as silent auction items. If you are planning on attending, please sign up at the Welcome Center. If you would like to donate a dessert or silent auction item, please sign up at the Welcome Center. If you have any questions, please see Josh. Childcare will be available for $3 per child. Childcare will NOT be provided by Countryside Youth.