Volume XXI Number II February, 2016

Transcription

1 from the Ogunquit Baptist Church, 157 Shore Road, Ogunquit, ME Volume XXI Number II February, 2016 Pastor s Page Wal-Mart has the Valentine s Day candy out already. So does Hannaford. In fact, I noticed they had it out last week. So Valentine s Day must be coming sometime soon. Whenever Valentine s Day rolls around again, our thoughts turn toward love, especially the love of that special someone and we think about how we might spend the special day with him or her. Romantic love is a wonderful thing, but the Bible has a lot to say about love far beyond the romantic type. In this space this month let s take a look at some the Bible s teaching concerning love, not comprehensively, but with three questions in mind: Who does God want us to love? What is Love? And what is God s great example of love? Who does God want us to love? Well, everyone, right? Yes. But the Lord breaks it down throughout the scriptures and gives us some specifics: 1. Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. Deuteronomy 6:5 (NIV) a. We are to love God. b. This is something God desires all human beings to do, to discover Him, trust Him, follow Him and LOVE Him and Jesus His Son. For God desires a relationship with us and He wants to be first in our hearts! 2. Likewise, teach the older women to teach what is good. Then they can admonish the younger women to love their husbands and children. Titus 2:3 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her Ephesians 5:25 (NIV) a. God wants us to love our families, our spouse, our children and make sacrifices for them out of love. 3. "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. John 13:34 (NIV) a. The One Another whom Jesus is commanding us to love in John 13 is other people in the fellowship of believers. b. Yes, we are to love our fellow Christians with the same kind of love with which Jesus loved us! 4. The second [great commandment] is this: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no commandment greater than these. Mark 12:31 (NIV) a. We are to love our neighbors but who are our neighbors? b. Jesus made that clear in the Parable of the Good Samaritan. We are to love all people even those we might think are our enemies! 5. But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you Matthew 5:44 (NIV) a. This is where following Jesus really starts to get difficult, doesn t it? It s one thing to love your spouse, your children, your friends and church and even that guy you see at the grocery story.

2 But to love your enemy?!? To pray for the one who is persecuting you and trying to harm you!?! Wow! That is quite a commandment! b. But that is what God does, isn t it? He loves those who hate Him and does good to those who sin against Him. He pleads with those who refuse Him and chases after the lost! He gives free forgiveness to all who go astray from Him, again and again, 70 times 7 times. Ephesians 5:1 says, Be imitators of God What is Love? 1. Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. John 15:13 (NIV) a. Love is sacrifice. It is the opposite of selfishness. b. Love means giving without worrying about receiving. And love is more than just a feeling; it s decision and action. 2. Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. 1 Corinthians 13:4-8a (NIV) What is God s great example of love? "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. NIV John 3:16 Yes, God loves this tired old fallen world and all of us the imperfect people who inhabit it. He loves us in spite of our sin and selfishness and He sent us His Son, to pay for sins on a cross and to lead us into a better way the way of true Love. So this Valentine s Day, don t forget your loved one! But let us vow also to be people of love who follow a God and Savior of Love, on February 14 th and every day of our lives. In Christ s Love, Pastor Jeff Beacon by Please let me know if you would be willing to receive the Beacon by e- mail. There is a sign up sheet on the table outside the Pastor s office, or you may notify me (Hilda Wynne) at obc157@myfairpoint.net or Contact information: Office Hours: Mail: PO Box 874 Pastor: Rev. Jeffrey Patnaude Ogunquit, Maine Tuesday, Thursday, & Friday 9am-noon; Wednesday 12:30-3:30 pm Telephone: (church) pastorobc@hotmail.com (Pastor s home) Secretary: Hilda Wynne (Pastor s cell) Wednesday 12:30-3:30 pm & Friday 8:00-11:00 am obc157@myfairpoint.net

3 IMPORTANT REMINDER If you or a loved one requires hospitalization, it is important that, in addition to informing the hospital that you would like your church notified, that you personally see that notification is made. Call the church office with your information, or have a relative or friend call. Prayer Chain Requests If you have a prayer request that you would like to go on the prayer chain, please contact Pastor Jeff or Hilda Wynne. OBC office: Pastor Jeff -- home: ; cell: Hilda Wynne -- home: February Birthdays 2 Brandon Wong 8 Mary Beth Patnaude 22 Rachel Peters 6 Warren Huntsman 9 icholas Audet 23 George Swallow 7 Jeff Smith 18 Tim Cashman 24 Sharon Ponte Change to 2016 OBC Directory Ann-Marie Johnson New land line phone # is WOME S FELLOWSHIP There were seven ladies and one guest at our luncheon at Fogarty's Restaurant and Bakery in South Berwick on Thursday, January 14, It was a nice sunny day but quite chilly with a high of 26 degrees. Fogarty's has the best liver and onions around for those of us who like liver. There were three of us that had it and they give you so much that we had to bring some home to have for another meal. The others had a good selection from an extensive menu and were happy with their choices. We had a nice visit with many subjects for discussion. It was decided that for the February 11, 2016 luncheon that they will go to Johnson's in orth Berwick on Route 4. I will be gone for two months visiting two of my daughters and one son so the next two luncheons the ladies are on their own unless they can decide among them for someone to do the booking, etc. I am sure someone will organize it and my thanks to whoever does it. Hope everyone has a good winter. Blessings, Audrey Woodard

4 Library News: WAR ROOM: PRAYER IS A POWERFUL WEAPON by Chris Fabry This fictional novel is based on the Motion Picture of the same title by Alex and Stephen Kendrick purveyors of a series of uplifting marriage affirming movies such as Flywheel, Fireproof, Courageous, and Facing the Giants. In similar style, the story centers on the floundering marriage, and family life of Elizabeth and Tony Jordan and their talented young daughter, Danielle. On the outside, they appear to have it all, a perfect family, fabulous careers, a big house and fancy cars. Bubbling just below the surface however, is the fruit of Mammon: a couple who puts the pursuit of money first in their lives, temptations associated with spending too much time apart, partnership frustrations due to perceived inequitable contributions of each, and the anguish of a child inadvertently put aside for lack of time available. This all comes to a head when God introduces Elizabeth to an experienced Prayer Warrior by way of her new potential Real Estate Client. Miss Clara is a force to be reckoned with, spunky and determined with Satan in her cross-hairs, she becomes the mentor that Elizabeth needs to fight the battle of a lifetime. God brings a family to their knees and lifts them up for the battle and ultimate victory. This book will touch your heart and your soul. The Characters are well developed and engaging, so much so that you may feel that you know them personally. Once begun, it is hard to put the book down. Quote Miss Clara: Give me another one, Lord. Guide me to who you want me to help. Raise up more that will call on Your name. Raise up those that love You and seek You and trust You. Raise them up Lord, Raise them up. Highly recommended along with WAR ROOM is The Battle Plan for Prayer (available from Christianbook.com for $9.49) which begins with prayer s core purpose, its biblical design, and its impact throughout history. Readers will be guided scripturally through the fundamentals of how effective prayer works, inspired towards a closer, more intimate relationship with God, and shown how to develop specific prayer strategies for each area of life. Prayer can accomplish what a willing God can accomplish. It should be your first plan of attack in all of life s battles, not your last resort. If you want to experience the joy of mightily answered prayer, then it s time to engage with God at another level. February 2016 selection respectfully submitted by Val Gunn for the Library Board Shelter Appeal The York County Homeless Shelter in Alfred is sending out an appeal for pillows to give to the many residents who come to the Shelter for housing during these cold winter months. The pillows can be any size or type, but they must be new. Last year, OBC members and friends donated 60 pillows. Just the sight of the lovely new pillows brought joy to the staff, volunteers, and especially the residents of the Shelter who received them. If you are able, please bring new, wrapped pillows to church during the month of January, and we will make sure they are delivered. Thank you, Ellie & Bill Andrews

5 2015 eighbors Helping eighbors York County Shelter Programs To OBC The Board of Directors and Staff of York County Shelter Programs would like to wish you a very happy holiday season. This is the time of year that we reflect on the past year and make plans for the coming year was an amazing year for YCSP; we will soon be known by a new agency name - The Donald H. Gean Center for Human Services (Gean Center, for short); and, last week we signed to purchase the property on Shaker Hill that houses the HUB of our programs, thus ensuring that our services will exist, in the most perfect place, for a long time to come. The best part of 2015, though, is the great number of people we were able to help because of supporters like you. Without you, we could not do this great work. Without you, none of it would be possible. As we head into 2016, we reflect on just how thankful we are for you -- enabling us to do the work we love so much. YCSP Board of Directors & Staff The following is a list of some of the items that members and friends of OBC donated to the York County Homeless Shelter during the year Thank you for your compassion and generosity. Ellie & Bill Andrews Pillows: 60 Blankets: 76 Diane McRoberts Children s Quilts: 67 Diapers: 2,322 Flip-flops: 69 Men s Underwear: 48 pair Socks: 69 pair Women s Boots: 4 pair Food: pounds, including: Tuna: 171 cans Peanut Butter: 71 jars Mac & Cheese: 72 boxes Thanksgiving donations: Instant Mashed potatoes, stuffing, yams, gravy, cranberries, vegetables, brownies. Toiletries: Pounds & pounds, including: Toothpaste: 186 tubes Toothbrushes: 112 Shampoo: 51 bottles Razors: 920 Shaving Cream: 61 cans Soap: 110 bars + 35 bottles of liquid soap Cash donations: $960.00