Bering Today. Bering Drive Church of Christ. Isbells Last Sunday

Transcription

1 Sept/Oct 2009 Volume XLVI Bering Today Bering Drive Church of Christ Isbells Last Sunday

2 Table of Contents Enjoying God s Fruits 3 -Don Edwards The Isbells Leave for Abilene 4 BDCS Summer Update 5 -Joan Howard VBS Youth Group Pictures 8-9 Mystery Mission Trip 10 Our New Website 11 Fall Carnival Information 11 September/October Calendar 12 Administration Team Tony Brown, tony@bayoucityclinical.com Rod Lide, r.lide@comcast.net Rebekah Riddle, rebekah.riddle@fluor.com Larry Sims, Larry.sims@kbr.com Ginny Smith, ginny.smith@memorialhermann.org Randy Smith, rsmith0109@comcast.net Pastoral Team-Counselors Ann Bayliss, eask@netscape.com Mary Charlotte Elliott, elliotts@swbell.net Carol Johnson, cpjmsw@comcast.net Judy Lide, jlide@comcast.net Lynn Millikan, millikan.lynn@gmail.com Pastoral Team-Elders Ed Bailey, ejbailey@baileylaw.com Dale Elliott, elliotts@swbell.net Jim Harrod, jkharrod@comcast.net Terry Koonce, BAandKTKoonce@aol.com Paul Riddle, priddle@compassnet.com Staff Team Don Edwards, Administrative Minister Don@beringfamily.org Cynthia Michaud, Youth Resident cynthia@beringfamily.org Melanie Simpson, Children & Worship Minister Melanie@beringfamily.org Supporting Staff Antero Gutierrez, Custodian Stephanie Lang, Secretary Office@beringfamily.org Other Ministries Joan Howard Director of Bering Dr. Christian School School@beringfamily.org Dwelling in the Word II Corinthians 4:1-12 Therefore, since God in his mercy has given us this new way, we never give up. We reject all shameful deeds and underhanded methods. We don t try to trick anyone or distort the word of God. We tell the truth before God, and all who are honest know this. If the Good News we preach is hidden behind a veil, it is hidden only from people who are perishing. Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don t believe. They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News. They don t understand this message about the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God. You see, we don t go around preaching about ourselves. We preach that Jesus Christ is Lord, and we ourselves are your servants for Jesus sake. For God, who said, Let there be light in the darkness, has made this light shine in our hearts so we could know the glory of God that is seen in the face of Jesus Christ. We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure. This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves. We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair. We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed. Through suffering, our bodies continue to share in the death of Jesus so that the life of Jesus may also be seen in our bodies. Yes, we live under constant danger of death because we serve Jesus, so that the life of Jesus will be evident in our dying bodies. So we live in the face of death, but this has resulted in eternal life for you. 2

3 Enjoying God s Fruits By Don Edwards Let the land produce vegetation: seed-bearing plants and trees on the land that bear fruit with seed in it, according to their various kinds. And it was so. (Genesis 1:11) I enjoy a brisk early morning walk, so each day for about 45 to 50 minutes I walk on our neighborhood trails enjoying the exercise, speaking to God, and greeting other morning walkers. When I get home, I indulge in a breakfast which consists of a large bowl of Cheerios or Quaker Oats (good for my cholesterol) topped with some fruit. Joan has taught me to enjoy fruit at breakfast time: e.g. peaches, bananas, strawberries, blueberries or raisins. I truly enjoy all fruits but especially pineapple. Well, speaking of fruit, I am amazed at how many times the word fruit is used in Scriptures and how varied its meaning can be. For example, God made the trees and other plants that produce edible fruit and put them in the Garden of Eden. However, there was also fruit on a forbidden tree that stood in the middle of the garden. We don t know what the forbidden fruit was like, but Scripture tells us that it was pleasing to the eye and good for food. Years later as the Israelites made their exodus from Egypt, God fed them for 40 years with meat and bread, so it is not surprising that they were eager to enter the Promised Land. They sent out spies who returned with abundant fruit and declared that it was a good land that the Lord was giving them. They called it the Land of Milk and Honey. Scripture also calls one s offspring fruit. God told Abraham that he would be very fruitful and that his seed would be numberless like the stars of the heavens. God restated this comparison when he spoke to the Israelites about the fruit of the womb. God called the offspring of both man and animal their fruit and claimed ownership to their firstborn fruit. The firstborn were to be redeemed. In the New Testament, John the Baptizer labeled the deeds of man as their fruit when he said to the crowds gathered to hear him, Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. Then Jesus joined John by comparing one s deeds to either good or bad fruit. Like wise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. Thus by their fruit you will recognize them. Jesus even declared that bad trees would be chopped down and quickly. Paul wrote to the Romans and spoke of his actions and his teaching as producing fruit among you. Truly Paul saw newly converted Christians as fruit of the gospel. But Paul also went in another direction and spoke about fruit of the Spirit. The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. But in Philippians, Paul seems to combine the deeds of a Christian with fruit of the Spirit and calls it the fruit of righteousness. Finally, John closes out the Book of Revelation by giving us a glimpse of heaven and uses the idea of fruit; in particular the fruit of the Tree of Life. He describes heaven as a place with a river running through its middle containing the Water of Life. Standing on each side of the river is the Tree of Life which produces a new crop of fruit each month. That tree and the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil were once in the Garden of Eden, but because of sin man was driven from the garden and forbidden to eat of the Tree of Life. However in heaven we will enjoy its fruit forever. Tradition has stated that the forbidden fruit in the Garden of Eden was an apple. You and I don t know that to be true just like we don t know what kind of fruit is on the Tree of Life. But there is one thing I do know, and here it is: I know and hope that whatever fruits are in heaven they will go well with Cheerios and Quaker Oats. 3

4 The Isbells Leave for Abilene In 2004 after an extensive preacher search, the Isbell family came to Bering Drive from Grand Prairie, Texas. After five productive years, they have now moved to Abilene, Texas where Brent is now the Preaching Minister for the University Church of Christ. Brent s first message to the Bering Drive Church was on June 27, 2004 and his last remarks were on July 19, During their five year stay at Bering Drive, the Isbells went to China and adopted a new sister for their daughter, Jordan. Her name is Sarah. The entire Bering Family prays for the Isbells and wish the best for their family and future. 4

5 BDCS Update: Lazy Days of Summer Do you remember looking forward to the summer vacation when you were a child? My memories are of being lazy, reading, traveling, being hot, swimming, playing outside for hours, and picnics with the family. I would suspect many of you have similar memories. Today, children s summers a bit different than ours. They have days filled with classes of all kinds, vacations, and school or day camps. At Bering Drive Christian School we try to include a blend of the past while incorporating the best of the present. The children at BDCS do a little school readiness so they will not forget all they learned in the previous year, hear stories read to them, go to Vacation Bible school, learn nursery rhymes, have splash days, learn to ride bikes, have picnics, play inside and outside to their hearts content, and so many more activities that fill their days. But alas, the summer fun is winding down to get ready for the new school year. Classes begin August 24 th and the staff is already very busy getting ready to welcome the students back for a new exciting year. We ask your prayers for a wonderful new school year. By J O A N H O W A R D 5

6 Vacation Bible School Welcome to Crocodile Dock! Children check in with Kathy Harrod Gina Rebman prepares her preschool class for a morning of learning and fun! Becky Foster emphasized the daily Bible point through fun & Games! Our Bering preschoolers are always eager to learn! 6 Elementary students re-enact the Passover Story during Bible Drama class

7 (VBS) 2009 Sara Faye Fudge assists preschoolers with their daily Bible buddy Judy Lide & granddaughter, Nicole, provided thematic snacks throughout the week Lynn Millikan reminds us that the greatest hero is not larry boy, but Jesus! Our older elementary bayou crew poses for a group shot Kerense Harryman introduces the younger elementary bayou crew to their craft project 7 Another successful vbs! Thank you to our great volunteers!

8 BDCOCYG Activities Leaving Bering for Kadesh: Revolution Lock-In Fun: Our 10 foot banana split Group hug! Playing Twister at the Lock-In! The Revolution is everywhere...even Fazoli s! 8

9 The Youth had a great summer! In the River Dinner after SYS Bammel Our delicious dinner, cooked by Jonathan Paddleboating 9 Group Photo at Schlitterbahn

10 Mystery Mission Trip by Cynthia Michaud Our teens just completed the Mystery Mission Trip 2009 where they experienced and served the homeless of Abilene, TX. The teens began the week with a two day homeless experience. They ate at shelters, interacted with homeless, walked the streets, and served the shelter. Then they spent the next two days continuing to assist the shelter and the homeless community of Abilene. They served the shelter in many ways: sorting clothes, organizing food, making meals and sandwiches, cleaning the ministry building, and handing out food and cold drinks. Highlights of the trip include showering (especially after going without for three days!), singing with the homeless, and interacting with the less fortunate. They were blessed with many new friends, and encouraged by their love and trust in God. Our teens were shown once again that God s great love is for everyone, and that their role as Christians is to imitate that love to everyone around them. So grab a teen and ask them about their experience on this year s mission trip; you will be encouraged just hearing them talk about it! 10

11 New Website Bering Drive has launched a new updated website. To gain access, please continue to use the same address: Here are some new features about the website: Sermons: Now you can listen to or download any recent sermon. Contribution: Those who wish can now contribute by online check, debit card or credit card. Prayer Request: You can now submit a prayer request from the website. Register: You can now register online for children, teen and other events. Calendar: You can check the online calendar for the dates of future events. Directory Changes: You can now submit changes and updates for the church directory. (The church directory is not online.) 11

12 September 2009 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1 Psalm 88 2 Ps. 89: Psalm 89:20-4 Psalm 90 5 Psalm 91 6 Psalm 92 7 Psalm 93 8 Psalm 94 9 Psalm Psalm Psalm Psalm Psalm Psalm Psalm Psalm Psalm Psalm Ps. 105: Ps. 105:23-21 Ps. 106: Ps. 106:23-23 Ps. 107: Ps. 107:21-25 Psalm Psalm Psalm Psalm Psalm Psalm 113 October 2009 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1 Psalm Psalm Ps. 116 & Psalm Ps. 119: Ps. 119: Ps. 119: Ps 119: Ps 119: Ps. 119: Psalm Psalm Psalm Psalm Psalm Psalm Psalm Psalm Psalm Psalm Psalm Psalm Psalm Psalm Psalm Psalm Psalm Psalm Psalm Psalm Psalm 140 Fall Carnival & Trunk-or-Treat