The Insight. September 9, Volume 20, Issue 415

Transcription

1 The Insight September 9, 2015 Faith is visualizing the future. It s believing it before you see it. Hebrews 11:1 says, Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see (NLT, second edition). A lot of people say, I ll believe it when I see it! God says the exact opposite is true: You will see it when you first believe it. There are many things in life that have to be believed before they can be seen. In the 1960 s, the Russians sent the first cosmonaut into outer space. He circled the earth, and when he came back down, he did a press conference and said, I searched the heavens, and I looked for God, and I did not see him anywhere. Therefore, there is no God. The Communists, which was an atheistic regime, said, We now have scientific proof that there is no God. About six months later, John Glenn went into space, circled the earth three times on Gemini, came back down, and held a press conference. He said, I saw God everywhere! I saw his glory in the galaxy. I saw his splendor in the universe. I saw his majesty in the stars. Which one was right? They both were. Jesus said, Unless you are born again, you cannot see the Kingdom of God (John 3:3). Before there is spiritual transformation in your life, you re too narrow-minded to see the possibility of what God wants to do in your life. Wernher von Braun, the father of the nuclear movement, said, There has never been any great accomplishment in history without faith. It is faith that causes an architect to design a building because, first, he believes it can be done. It is faith that causes an Olympic athlete to practice and go to the Olympic trials because she believes she can achieve. It is faith that causes a sculptor or an artist to believe that he can paint a picture or attempt the sculpture. It is faith that causes the scientist to believe that we can put a man on the moon. Someone has to believe it before you see it. It is a universal principle of life. For those of us who walk by faith, who have seen God do small and great things, we know life is worth living when we walk by faith, living and trusting in God. Volume 20, Issue 415 Rev. Leon Gray Rev. Jessica Gray Bonnie Hutson Leann Ha Michael Turner Becky Cornett

2 STEWARDSHIP MOMENT The Six-Egg Sacrifice Booker T. Washington, the great American educator, personally raised over one million dollars for his famous Tuskegee Institute, Built for the Education of Colored People. His autobiography includes a chapter titled Raising Money. He gratefully acknowledges the weathly and generous benefactors who responded to his appeals. The chapter closes with the account of an old black lady, clad in rags and hobbling on a cane, who came to him one day after a meeting and said, Mr. Washington, God knows I spent the best years of my life in slavery. God knows I s ignorant an poor, but I knows what you is tryin to do. I knows you is tryin to make better men and better women for de col red race. I ain t got no money, but I want you to take dese six eggs, which I s been savin up, and I wants you to put dese six eggs into d edducation of dese boys and gals. During the time of our church s annual stewardship campaign, people often ask, How much is enough? If giving six eggs is a sacrifice for you, that is enough. But if you are giving $500 a week and that is not a sacrifice, that is not enough not in the eyes of God. He looks at the heart, not just the amount. Elders Meeting 5:00 p.m. Monday, September 14th Pairs and Spares Room Full Council Meeting Sunday, 12-1:00 p.m. September 20th Kenner Hall

3 LUNCH BUNCH Thursday, September 24th Meet at the church at 10:00 a.m. We re heading to.. Nick s Barbeque & Catfish Carlisle, AR. Come enjoy the fun and fellowship! CONGREGATIONAL MEETING Sunday, September 13th, 2015 following the Traditional Worship Service in Kenner Hall. Please make plans to attend! To Our Dear Friends of First Christian. Thank you so very much for all the many prayers and kind thoughts you offered up for Lugean during his brief illness. We are consoled knowing that he is with our Lord, David, Pam and his parents. Lugean loved his church and its members. Many thanks, also, for all of the kindnesses you have shown to each of us during this difficult time. With sincere gratitude, Clara and the Chilcote family ALL INVITED! Tuesday, September 29th, 5:00-7:30 p.m. Food, Games, Cake Walk, Mega Slide, Bounce House and Silent Auction! Come Join the Fun!!

4 Margaret Kenner Louise Satterfield Steve Swartz mother, Maya Araque Mike McCune Bernadine Glover Ida Pettit Joyce Haynes Earl Rhein Earl Beaver Wright family Jo Jo Lusk Ashley Hilliard (Syler) Lorea Williams Tip Nelms Carol Strong Wayland Roberts Barbara Bell Gene Osment Osment & Rice families Lynne Haubenreich Nora Stivers Chilcote family Jordan Gary Kay Morris Tammy Gregory Pam Ritchie Aguirre Mike Byler - (brother of Jenkins son-in-law) Lajeana Begler Joyce Miller Joye Henson Clara Chilcote s brother Fred Susan Leslie & Cheryl Leslie (friends of Mary Lou Chilcote) Charles Johnson Mike Mallory Creating Champions for the Future Begins Wednesday, September 9 Today, September 9th, is our first CCF session of the school year. This is our fourth year of serving middle school children and their families in our community. Last October we formalized our partnership with Forest Heights STEM Academy at the Little Rock School Board meeting. We are very excited about continuing to develop our relationship as Partners in Education with FHSA! We have an outstanding line up of 25 volunteers! Even more exciting news is 7 of these volunteers are serving in this ministry for the first time!! Thank you all for answering Jesus call to service through your time and commitment to our CCF afterschool ministry! It is not to late to volunteer. If you would like to know more about Creating Champions for the Future Wednesday after school ministry for 6th-8th graders, please contact Rev. Jessie Gray at jessicagriffith2@gmail.com or at As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace: 1 Peter 4:10

5 September 13, 2015 Preschool News Who likes a bargain? Next Thursday and Friday, you can get 55 tickets for Fall Festival Activities for the price of 50 tickets, 25 tickets for the price of 20, or 11 tickets for the price of 10! After Friday, September 18th, the regular prices will apply. Just come by the school on September 17th and 18th to take advantage of these great bargains! Fabulous things are already coming in for the Silent Auction. Restaurant gift certificates, a beautiful Doll House, wreath, an overnight at Red Apple Inn, including a room, round of golf, and golf cart are just a few of the great items that have been donated. Please join us on Tuesday, September 29th from 5:00 to 7:30. Brad Chilcote and the Scouts will be helping us, as will the Girl Scouts, Preschool Committee and many church members. Mainly, we would like to see you join us for dinner and fun! It s going to be great. We are looking forward to visits from the Police and Firefighters later this week, for our focus on Community Helpers. It will be exciting! Becky Communion Preparation Paula Morgan 10:45 Diaconate Nell Coleman Rusty Roberts Nora Stivers Sarah Spinks 9:00 Elder Madeline Cox 11:00 Elder Jim Hawkins Call to Worship Becky Keogh Counters Bob Wright Sarah Spinks Greeters Traditional Mike Spinks Lynne Spinks Morning Bell Ringer Bob Dudley September 20, 2015 Communion Preparation Zoie Griffith 10:45 Diaconate Steve Swartz David Chilcote Oscar Cox Dalton Cox 9:00 Elder Pat Bass BARGAIN TICKETS! FALL FESTIVAL EARLY BIRD TICKET SALES... Thursday, September 17th & Friday, September 18th Regular prices after that. Breezeway outside the Preschool. 11:00 Elder Lynn Penn Call to Worship Jim Hawkins Counters Sarah Spinks Mike Spinks Greeters Traditional Rusty Roberts Diane Roberts Morning Bell Ringer Marshall Driver

6 OPPORTUNITIES THIS WEEK Sunday, September 13 9:00 am Contemporary Worship 10:00 am Sunday School 11:00 am Traditional Worship 12:00 pm CONGREGATIONAL MEETING - Kenner Hall Monday, September 14 5:00 pm Elders Meeting 6:00 pm Scout Kickoff Tuesday, September 15 11:30 pm Staff Meeting 6:00 pm Girl Scouts 7:00 pm Boy Scouts Thursday, September 17 5:30 pm Football practice Friday, September 18 10:00 am Food Pantry Sunday, September 20 9:00 am Contemporary Worship 10:00 am Sunday School 11:00 am Traditional Worship 12-1 pm Full Council Meeting KH Wednesday, September 16 9:30 am Art Club 10:00 am Chapel 2:30 pm CCF 3:30 pm CCF-Gym 6:00 pm Bells 7:00 pm Choir 7:30 pm FCC-Gym THE INSIGHT First Christian Church 1500 N. Mississippi Little Rock, AR 72207