Victory in Jesus. Who Wants To Go To Heaven? What is the Connection between Jesus and the Jewish Feasts? Blessings Memorial Church Volume 8, Issue 9

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1 James Keller Blessings Memorial Church Volume 8, Issue 9 Victory in Jesus 1 Corinthians 15:57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. September 2014 Who Wants To Go To Heaven? By Pastor Jim Philippians 3:20-21 I begin this message with two statements that I believe to be almost universally true: Everyone wants to know about heaven and everyone wants to go there. Recent polls suggest that nearly 80% of all Americans believe there is a place called heaven. I find that statistic encouraging because it tells me that even in this skeptical age there is something deep inside the human heart that cries out, There s got to be something more. I. Where is heaven? There are three things I can tell you in answer to this question. The most important fact is that heaven is a real place. Listen to the words of Jesus on the night before he was crucified: Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. 2 In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. (John 14:1-3) Twice in three verses Jesus calls heaven a place. He means that heaven ( my Father s house ) is a real place, as real as New York, London or Chicago. The place called heaven is just as real as the place you call home. It s a real place filled with real people, which is why the Bible sometimes compares heaven to a mansion with many rooms (John 14:1-3) and sometimes to an enormous city swarming with people (Revelation 21-22). (Continued on page 2) Let your light shine! Inside this issue: Brother Eyer 7 A Lively Church 8 Word Search - Jesus Clears the Temple 9 What is the Connection between Jesus and the Jewish Feasts? By Pastor Jim Deacon Jeb 9 Birthday Calendar 10 This is a very brief study of the way Jesus fulfilled the Jewish feasts. In the Hebrew Scriptures, the Jewish prophet Amos records that God declared He would do nothing without first revealing it to His servants, the Prophets (Amos 3:7). From the Old Covenant to the New, Genesis to Revelation, God provides picture after picture of His entire plan for mankind and one of the most startling prophetic pictures is outlined for us in the Jewish Feasts of Leviticus 23. The Hebrew word for feasts (moadim) literally means "appointed times." God has carefully planned and orchestrated the timing and sequence of each of these seven feasts to reveal to us a special story. The seven annual feasts of Israel were spread over seven months of the Jewish calendar, at set times appointed by God. They are still celebrated by observant Jews today. But for both Jews and non- (Continued on page 6) Malachi 3:16 Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another: and the Lord hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the Lord, and that thought upon his name.

2 Who Wants To Go To Heaven? (Continued from page 1) The Bible also tells us that heaven is the dwelling place of God. His throne is there, the angels are there, and the Lord Jesus Christ is in heaven. Philippians 3:20 says very plainly that our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ. That s why Jesus told the thief on the Cross, Today you will be with me in paradise (Luke 23:43). Third (and I find this fact fascinating), the Bible hints that heaven is not as far away as we might think. Because heaven is a real place, we sometimes think it must be outside our present universe-which would mean that it is billions and billions of light years away. However, it s very clear that the early Christians understood that they would pass immediately from this life into the presence of Christ in heaven. How can that be possible if heaven is beyond the farthest galaxy? Hebrews 12:22-24 tells us something amazing about what the gospel has done for us: But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, 23 To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, 24 And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel. The writer is here comparing Mt. Sinai with Mt. Zion. Under the old covenant no one could come near God except under very strict conditions. That s why the mountain shook with thunder and lightning. (Note: three Page 2 times the writer of Hebrews uses a Greek word that means to come near or to approach closely. ) But now in Christ we have been brought near to heavenly realities. Think of what he is saying: We re not that far from heaven. We re not that far from the angels. We re not that far from our loved ones in heaven. We re not that far from God. We re not that far from Jesus himself. Heaven is a real place, it s where Jesus is right now, and it s not far Heaven is a real place filled with real people. away from us. II. What is heaven like? I would answer by saying that the Bible doesn t give us a great deal of information. What we have are images and pictures of heaven and comparisons with life on earth. What is heaven like? Here are some biblical facts about heaven. It is God s dwelling place (Psalm 33:13). Where Christ is today (Acts 1:11). Where Christians go when they die (Philippians 1:21-23). The Father s house (John 14:2). A city designed and built by God (Hebrews 11:10). A better country (Hebrews 11:16). Paradise (Luke 23:43). Most of us have heard that heaven is a place where the streets are paved with gold, the gates are made of pearl, and the walls made of precious jewels. Those images come from Revelation 21-22, which offers us the most extended picture of heaven in the entire Bible. If you ask me if I believe those things are literally true, the answer is yes and no. Yes, they are literally true but no, heaven won t be anything like we imagine. It will be much greater. When John writes about a street paved with gold, I do not doubt his words. He simply reports what he saw in his vision. Thus his words are literally true. They are also meant to tell us that the things we value so highly in this life will be used to pave the roads in heaven. Heaven is a real place filled with real people. The Bible pictures it as a great city filled with all of God s people. What would such a city look like? It would be a city with No pollution because the skies would always be crystal clear. No crime or violence for no criminals would ever enter. No greedy politicians, no drug pushers, no child molesters. No potholes and no power outages either. It would be filled with abundant parks, rivers, rolling meadows, and flowing streams. Lining the streets would be flowers in constant bloom, fruit trees of every kind, every species of plant life growing free from pestilence and disease. The gates (Continued on page 3) Victory in Jesus

3 Who Wants To Go To Heaven? (Continued from page 2) would be made of pearl, the walls of jasper, the streets of gold. Precious stones would lie on the ground like playthings. On every hand there would be children laughing, bright conversation, music floating from every direction. In the city that God builds, there are no tears, there is no sorrow no regret no remorse. Bitterness gone forever, failure left far behind, suffering redeemed and rewarded. There are no eyeglasses, no braces, no wheelchairs, no false teeth, no bald heads, no hearing aids, and no crutches. There are no more hospitals, no more nursing homes, no paramedics, no CPR. Doctors have to find a new job, they aren t needed anymore. Aspirin gone, accidents over, cancer disappeared, heart attacks banished. In heaven no one grows old and feeble. (I like that one!) There is one other thing you won t find in heaven. There are no cemeteries in the city God builds. Why? There are no funerals for in that glad city no one ever dies. If you make it to that city, you live forever, never to die again. Either you believe in heaven or you don t. It s either a real place or it isn t. This is heaven-where all our best dreams finally come true. III. Who is in heaven right now? This question is not difficult to answer. God is in heaven because heaven is his dwelling place. The Lord Jesus has been in heaven ever since he ascended from the earth shortly after his resurrection (Acts 1:9-11). The Bible tells us that angels are in heaven. In fact there are myriads of angels-uncountable numbers of heavenly beings-all of them serving the Lord in various ways. And the saints of God who died on this earth are in heaven. This includes the Old Testament Saints who by faith trusted in God s Word and looked forward to God s redemption at Calvary (which they did not fully understand). It also includes every true believer from every continent and every denomination. Everyone who has genuinely trusted in Christ as Lord and Savior will be there. I also think that children who died before the age of accountability go to heaven and I would also include those born with such mental limitations that they cannot understand the gospel. The saved are those who trust Jesus Christ as their eternal Savior. The Bible teaches that the moment we die we go directly into the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. Paul spoke of this in 2 Corinthians 5:7-8 and Philippians 1: But I do not want to be unclear on this point. Not everyone is in heaven now. Some people won t make it. The Bible speaks of the saved and the lost. The saved are those who trust Jesus Christ as their eternal Savior. The lost are those who do not trust Christ as Savior. This is the great dividing line of humanity-you are either saved or you are lost. And there is no middle category. You will either spend eternity in heaven or eternity in hell. The saved of all the ages will be there-and that vast throng will no doubt include many people who would surprise us if we knew it now. Certainly heaven will be more wonderful than our imagination and its population more diverse than we expect. But I am sure of this one truth. No one will go to heaven except by the grace of God and through the merits of the blood of Jesus Christ. If a man says No to Jesus, he has no hope of heaven. IV. Will we know each other in heaven? This is one of the most frequently asked questions about heaven. I would like to give an answer from the Apostle Paul: For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. (1 Corinthians 13:12) How does God know us? Answer: He knows us completely, intimately, thoroughly, inside and out, with nothing hidden but everything seen as it really is (Psalm 139:1-4, Hebrews 4:12). When we get to heaven we ll know each other as God knows us because all the imperfections of this life will be removed. In this life sin causes us to cover ourselves-not just physically but emotionally and spiritually. But when sin is finally lifted from us, then we can be ourselves with no shame, no pain, no embarrassment, and no covering up. We will know every person in heaven and (Continued on page 4) Dwight L. Moody Volume 8, Issue 9 Page 3

4 Straight and narrow path Who Wants To Go To Heaven? (Continued from page 3) all of them will be friends and loved ones to us. In his very helpful book on heaven, W.A. Criswell makes the additional point that individual personality survives into eternity. I ll be the same person then that I am now - only with all the imperfections and limitations of sin finally removed. This is a wonderful thought-that the essence of who we are will remain throughout eternity-yet vastly improved by God s grace. He also says that in heaven we can eat all we want and not get fat. I certainly hope he s right about that. (W.A. Criswell and Paige Patterson, Heaven, Tyndale House Publishers, 1991, pp ) That reminds me about a related question that people sometimes ask: How old will we be in heaven? I once heard a preacher say that we will all be 33 years old because that s approximately how old Jesus was when he died. Of course there is no scriptural support for that statement. The truth is, there won t be any age in heaven in the sense we speak of age on the earth. Growing old is a function of the decaying effects of sin. I do not believe that babies who die in infancy will be babies for eternity nor do I believe that people who waste away of cancer will appear withered in heaven. It will be something else entirely, which I can barely explain and certainly do not understand. In heaven we will know each other intimately. That s why Peter, James and John recognized Moses and Elijah, even though they had been dead for hundreds of years, on the Mount of Transfiguration (Matthew 17:1-9). I don t think they had nametags on. I think there was something about those two men that made Peter, James and John recognize them even though they had never seen them before. That s why a wife whose husband died when she was young will be able to pick her husband out of a crowd of billions of people, even though she hasn t seen him for 50 years since he died on the earth. In heaven she will say, Sweetheart! I knew it was you. And he will know her. How this can be, I do not know, but I believe it to be true. In heaven there will be no strangers. V. What will we do in heaven? I had a person ask me this question: Worshiping God forever in heaven sounds boring-is it wrong to feel this? Is heaven going to be fun? Again, the Bible doesn t tell us everything we would like to know, but of this we can be sure: Heaven won t be boring and it will be more fun than the best party you ever attended. So what will we do for all eternity? The answer is, we re going to help God run the universe. Do you remember the story Jesus told about the man of noble birth who gave his servants money to invest? One servant had doubled his money so the man said, You will rule over ten cities. The next servant had seen a 50% increase so his master said, Rule over five cities. And the man who hid his money had even that amount taken from him in punishment. (Luke 19:11-27). The story is a picture of what heaven will be like. We will use our gifts to administer the new heaven and the new earth. I can guarantee you this: No one will be sitting around on a cloud eating grapes and polishing his halo. No, we ll all be too busy for that. Here are five things that will occupy us in heaven. We will Worship without distraction. Serve without exhaustion. Fellowship without fear. Learn without fatigue. Rest without boredom The best part of heaven will be seeing Jesus himself face to face. We will worship the Son of God and celebrate his great victory over sin while the endless ages of eternity roll on and on. The best music you ve ever heard will pale compared to the music of heaven. The most awesome worship you ve experienced on earth is but a dim reflection of the praise we will render around the throne of God. VI. How can I be sure I am going to heaven? This is the most important question of all. Here is a wonderful truth: God has made it easy for you to go to heaven. He did the hard part when he sent his Son to die on the Cross for you. He paid the price for your sins so that you could one day stand before God in heaven. Jesus said, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. (John 14:6). He also said, (Continued on page 5) Page 4 Victory in Jesus

5 Who Wants To Go To Heaven? (Continued from page 4) I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. (John 10:9). Jesus is not only the way to heaven, he is also the door to heaven. If you want to go to heaven, you ve got to go through the door marked Jesus Christ. There is no other entrance. Several years ago Dr. D. James Kennedy, pastor of the famous Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church in Fort Lauderdale, FL, joined other evangelical leaders in a meeting with President Ronald Reagan at the White House. During the meeting Dr. Kennedy asked the president this question, Suppose you were to die and found yourself standing at the door of heaven. If God were to say, Why should I let you into heaven? what answer would you give? Before I tell you how the president answered that question, let me ask how you would respond. Picture the scene. You are standing at the very gates of heaven. It s more beautiful than you ever dreamed possible. This is where you want to spend eternity. This is where you belong. But before you enter, the Lord himself asks what possible reason you have to claim admission. You pause, knowing that all eternity hangs on your answer. What will you say? Back to the White House. The President paused, thought for a moment, then replied, Well, I guess I d have to answer with John 3:16, For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life. That is indeed a good answer because your only hope of heaven is through the Lord Jesus Christ, but there is more to it than just believing. The Bible tells us that the Devil believes and trembles at the Word of God, but he certainly is not going to heaven! Let me make this very personal. If you were to die tonight, do you know for certain that you would go to heaven? This is too important to say I think so or I hope so. If you re wrong, you re going to be wrong for all eternity! What we need is solid ground on which to stand. And we have it in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Our entire hope of heaven is wrapped up in what Jesus did when he died on the cross for the sins of the world and rose from the dead on Easter Sunday morning. Jesus also said: Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. This born again is a spiritual birth into the family of God. You were born physically into your parent s family without your permission. But you must be born spiritually into God s family and it can ONLY happen with your permission. This is so vital with God that he restated it in verse 7 of the Gospel of John: Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. Here is how you can be born again spiritually into God s family: (1) Repent (Acts 17:30) - And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men everywhere to repent. This means to be truly sorry for your sins, sorry enough to want to quit sinning. (2) Believe (John 3:36) - He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him. (3) Confess (I John 1:9) - If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. This means that we are to admit that we have sinned. (4) Receive (John 1:12) - But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: This is the key to this whole business of going to heaven! Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. In these verses we see that Repent is being sorry you have sinned. That s a good start, but can t stop there. We must move on to Believing that Jesus is Who He says He is and can do what He says He can do. This will lead us to Confess or finally admit that we have sinned. But that does not mean that we are going to stop sinning. What we do next is VI- TAL for our salvation! We must Receive Jesus into our hearts as Lord and Savior. John 1:12 says that if we receive Him, He will give us the POWER to be a Christian. Jesus cannot lie! (Titus 1:2 - In hope of eternal Volume 8, Issue 9 Page 5

6 Who Wants To Go To Heaven? life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;) So if we receive Him, He MUST give us the power to live the Christian life! But how do we receive Him? (5) How to Receive (Revelation 3:20) - Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. To all who are reading this, Jesus is standing at your heart s door and is knocking. If you will invite Him in to be your savior, He said I WILL COME IN! Not might, or sometimes, but every time! (John 6:37 - All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.) Would you be willing to say a prayer and invite Jesus to come into your heart? The choice is yours. Do you want to go to heaven? One final word and I am done. No one goes to heaven by accident. Heaven is God s prepared place for prepared people. We prepare for heaven and then God prepares heaven for us. I ve already told you that most people believe in heaven and most people think they are going there. But are they on the right road? Are they building their lives on Jesus Christthe solid rock? Too many, I fear, are standing on sinking sand and do not know it. What is your hope for heaven? Mine is Jesus Christ. I ve staked everything I have on him. If he can t take me to heaven, then I m not going there. What about you? When the dark night falls, the lights go out, and the waters of death swirl around you, what will happen to you then? If you know Jesus, you have nothing to fear. Put your trust in Jesus. Run to the Cross. Stand with your full weight on the Solid Rock of our salvation. May God help you to trust in Jesus Christ and him alone for your salvation. And may God grant that we will all meet one day in heaven. Safe at home. In heaven at last. I ll be there. What about you? What is the Connection between Jesus and the Jewish Feasts? (Continued from page 1) Jews who have placed their faith in Jesus, the Jewish Messiah, these special days demonstrate the work of redemption through God s Son. The first four of the seven feasts occur during the springtime (Passover, Unleavened Bread, First Fruits, and Pentecost) and they all have already been fulfilled by Christ in the New Testament. The final three holidays (Trumpets, The Day of Atonement, and Tabernacles) occur during the fall, all within a short fifteen-day period. Many Bible scholars and commentators believe that these fall feasts have not yet been fulfilled by Jesus. However, the blessed hope (Titus 2:13) for all believers in Jesus Christ is that they most assuredly will. As the four spring feasts were fulfilled literally and right on the actual feast day in connection with Christ's first coming, these three fall feasts, it is believed by many, will likewise be fulfilled literally in connection to the Lord's second coming. In a nutshell, here is the prophetic significance of each of the seven Levitical feasts of Israel: 1) Passover (Leviticus 23:5) Pointed to the Messiah as our Passover lamb (1 Corinthians 5:7) whose blood would be shed for our sins. Jesus was crucified on the day of preparation for the Passover at the same hour that the lambs were being slaughtered for the Passover meal that evening. 2) Unleavened Bread (Leviticus 23:6) Pointed to the Messiah's sinless life (as leaven is a picture of sin in the Bible), making Him the perfect sacrifice for our sins. Jesus' body was in the grave during the first days of this feast, like a kernel of wheat planted and waiting to burst forth as the bread of life. 3) First Fruits (Leviticus 23:10) Pointed to the Messiah's resurrection as the first fruits of the righteous. Jesus was resurrected on this very day, which is one of the reasons that Paul refers to him in I Corinthians 15:20 as the first fruits from the dead. 4) Pentecost (Leviticus 23:16) Occurred fifty days after the beginning of the Feast of Unleavened Bread and pointed to the great harvest of souls and the gift of the Holy Spirit for both Jew and Gentile, who would be brought into the kingdom of God during the Church Age (see Acts 2). The Church was actually established on this day when God poured out His Holy Spirit and 3,000 Jews responded (Continued on page 7) Page 6 Victory in Jesus

7 Jesus and the Jewish Feasts (Continued from page 6) to Peter's great sermon and his first proclamation of the Gospel. 5) Trumpets (Leviticus 23:24) The first of the fall feasts. Many believe this day points to the Rapture of the Church when the Messiah Jesus will appear in the heavens as He comes for His bride, the Church. The Rapture is always associated in Scripture with the blowing of a loud trumpet (I Thessalonians 4:13-18 and I Corinthians 15:52). 6) Day of Atonement (Leviticus 23:27) Many believe this prophetically points to the day of the Second Coming of Jesus when He will return to earth. That will be the Day of Atonement for the Jewish remnant when they "look upon Him whom they have pierced," repent of their sins, and receive Him as their Messiah (Zechariah 12:10 and Romans 11:1-6, 25-36). 7) Tabernacles or Booths (Leviticus 23:34) Many scholars believe that this feast day points to the Lord's promise that He will once again tabernacle with His people when He returns to reign over all the world (Micah 4:1-7). Should Christians celebrate these Levitical feast days of Israel today? Whether or not a Christian celebrates the Jewish feast days would be a matter of conscience for the individual Christian. Colossians 2:16-17 tells us Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ. Christians are not bound to observe the Jewish feasts the way an Old Testament Jew was, but we should not criticize another believer who does or does not observe these special days and feasts (Romans 14:5). While it is not required for Christians to celebrate the Jewish feast days, it is beneficial to study them. Certainly it could be beneficial to celebrate these days if it leads one to a greater understanding and appreciation for Christ s death and resurrection and the future promise of His coming. As Christians, if we choose to celebrate these special days, we should put Christ in the center of the celebration, as the One who came to fulfill the prophetic significance of each of them. Brother Eyer Trouble in the Amen Corner as recorded by Archie Campbell It was a stylish congregation: you could see they d been around, And they had the biggest pipe organ of any church in town. But over in the amen-corner of that church sat Brother Eyer, and he insisted every Sunday on singing in the choir. His voice was cracked and broken; age had touched his vocal chords, And nearly every Sunday he d get behind and miss the words. Well, the choir got so flustered the church was told in fine that Brother Eyer must stop singing or the choir was gonna resign. So the pastor appointed a committee, I think it was three or four, and they got in their big fine car and drove up to Eyer s door. They found the choir s great trouble sitting there in an old armchair, The summer s golden sunbeams lay upon his snow-white hair. Said one, We re here dear Brother, with the vestry s approbation to discuss a little matter that affects the congregation. Now, it seems that your voice is interfering with the choir, So, if you ll just lay out, or...are you listening, Brother Eyer..? The old man raised his head, a sign that he did hear; and on his furrowed cheek they caught the glitter of a tear. His feeble hands pushed back the locks as white as silky snow, and he answered the committee in a voice both soft and low: I wonder if beyond the tide that s breaking at my feet, in that far-off heavenly temple where my Master and I shall meet: Yes, I wonder if, when I try to sing the songs of God up higher I wonder if they ll kick me out of singing in Heaven s choir? A silence filled the little room, the old man bowed his head; The committee went on back to town, but Brother Eyer was dead. A few church-goers watched the door, but the old man entered not. The choir missed him for a while, but he was soon forgot. Far away his voice is sweet, and he sings his heart s desires Where there are no church committees and no fashionable choirs. Volume 8, Issue 9 Page 7

8 THE difference between fear and worry lies in the realm of choice. Fear is an automatic physiological response to a situation in which we feel threatened. Worry, on the other hand, is a conscious straying of our thoughts to a particular situation that troubles us. While fear energizes and primes us for action, worry spins its wheels endlessly without moving forward, draining us of all energy and creativity. Yet, worry is actually something we can control we can choose the object of our thoughts. A Lively Church... A lively church has parking problems; a dead church doesn t. A lively church has lots of noisy children and young people; a dead church is fairly quiet. A lively church often changes the way things are done; a dead church doesn t. A lively church often asks for more program and mission money; a dead church tries to keep plenty of money in the treasury. A lively church asks people to open up and risk involvement; a dead church plays it safe and never risks. A lively church sees challenges and opportunities; a dead church sees problems and dangers. A lively church apologizes, forgives, and seeks forgiveness; a dead church never makes mistakes. A lively church uses its tradition and facilities to serve people; a dead church uses people to preserve facilities and tra ditions. Quoted by Steve May in "The Story File" A lively church believes in God s future and lets go with faith; a dead church believes in the past and holds on. A lively church is filled with committed givers; a dead church is filled with tippers. A lively church dares to dream great dreams for God s kingdom; a dead church has night mares. Submitted by Chuck Eaton Page 8 Victory in Jesus

9 Jesus Clears the Temple Find the underlined words from John 2:12-19 in the puzzle After this he went down to Capernaum, he, and his mother, and his brethren, and his disciples: and they continued there not many days. 13 And the Jews passover was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem, 14 And found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting: 15 And when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers money, and overthrew the tables; 16 And said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not my Father s house an house of merchandise. 17 And his disciples remembered that it was written, The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up. 18 Then answered the Jews and said unto him, What sign shewest thou unto us, seeing that thou doest these things? 19 Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up. D C D S H E E P F Z M I M A S D K B O S L A M O T H E R M F C I U I P O S C O U R G E Q P C S A M O D O H D C R L Y A Z E R E U U R V J H X A E S N D S T C V D A Y A B S N S D I E T F H S O C N L U O O Q S A S T C A B S D A R M V X C T E T H L N D I E E N E R I E L L R K F G S Z J E R R P N B N W O D J E W S T T I L L A D M O Y O B R E T H R E N T Y C P T U Y Y S I R C S R S G O L H J M T H R E E D A Y S O I T V S A W W W A U G D T E O X S H D A From World s Greatest Bible Puzzles Volume 8 Word Search, published by Barbour Publishing, Inc. Used by permission More Wisdom From Deacon Jeb Since light travels faster than sound, some people appear bright until you hear them speak. You're never too old to learn something stupid. Don t feel discouraged - even the sun has a sinking spell every night, but it rises again in the morning. Patience is something you admire in the driver behind you and don t understand in the one ahead. A traffic policeman recently stopped a woman for exceeding the posted speed limit. He asked the driver her name. She said, "I'm Mrs. Chadivaler Zuminskagia Ragretumunga from the Republic of Uzbetikan visiting my daughter in Columbia." As she finished speaking the cop paused for a moment and then put away his summons book and pen, and said, "Well... OK... but don't let me catch you speeding again." On a rural road a state trooper pulled this farmer over and said: "Sir, do you realize your wife fell out of the car several miles back?" To which the farmer replied: "Thank goodness, I thought I had gone deaf!" Volume 8, Issue 9 Page 9

10 September 2014 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Teen Night 6-8 pm Annual Church Picnic Rising Park David Holtz Don Ogg Ava Henry Wennie Wiseman 14 Johnathon Niklas Tammy Swisher Audrey Vanover Teen Night Mike Truog 6-8 pm Men s Prayer Breakfast 8:30 am Makenzie McGee Annual Church Picnic Rising Park (East Shelter House) Sat. Sept. 6th 10:00 am - 1:00 pm Blessings Memorial Church Jim Vanover, Pastor 980 Woodland Avenue P.O. Box 652 Lancaster, Ohio Services: Sunday School 9:30 am Sunday Morning Service 10:45 am Sunday Evening 6:00 pm Thursday Evening 6:00 pm Let me come in where you are weeping, friend and let me take your hand; I who have known sorrow such as yours; for I can understand. Let me come in, I would be very still beside you in your grief; I would not bid you cease your weeping, friend, for tears do bring relief. Let me come in, I would only breathe a prayer and hold your hand, For I have known a sorrow such as yours, and I can understand. Author unknown