CALL UPON GOD HIGH PRIEST DEAN FALCONER

Transcription

1 The Ensgn Zarahemla Branch APRIL 2016 CALL UPON GOD HIGH PRIEST DEAN FALCONER SEVERAL YEARS AGO WHEN I WAS WORKING FOR THE MARRIOTT CORPORATION, I WAS SENT FOR NINE MONTHS TO BAYLOR MEDICAL CENTER IN DALLAS, TEXAS TO PERFORM MANAGEMENT CONSULTING. I COULD COME HOME EVER OTHER WEEKEND, BUT THE WEEKENDS THAT I WAS IN DALLAS WERE USUALLLY LONG AS I HAD NOT MUCH TO DO. DURING THE WEEK IT WAS A MUCH DIFFERENT STORY. ON THIS ONE PARTICULAR WEEKEND I DECIDED I WOULD GO TO A PARK THAT WAS NOT FAR FROM MY APARTMENT TO ENJOY THE BEAUTIFUL DAY THAT WAS BEGINNING TO UNFOLD. AS I GOT TO THE PARK FAMILIES WERE ALREADY THERE TO ENJOY THE DAY ALSO. I FOUND A COMFORTABLE PARK BENCH, SO I DECIDED I WOULD SIT AND SOAK IN SOME OF THE REFRESHING SUN RAYS. AS I RECALL THE TEMPERATURE WAS A VERY COMFORTABLE 80 DEGREES, AND A SOFT GENTLE BREEZE WAS BLOWING. I FOUND MYSELF IN SUCH A WONDERFUL POSITION, IT WAS AS IF GOD WERE CRADLING ME IN HIS ARMS. THE BIRDS WERE CHIRPING IN THE BACKGROUND. THE LAWN WAS A SPLENDID CARPET OF GREEN, AND TWO MAGNIFICENT MAGNOLIA TREES WERE BLOOMING. AS I LOOKED UP TOWARD THE HEAVENS, NOT A CLOUD WAS IN THE SKY. BUT THEN SOMETHING GRABBED MY ATTENTION. ABOUT FORTY FEET ABOVE THE CARPET OF GRASS WERE LINES OF CABLE WIRES LACED TOGETHER IN CONDUITS SWAGGERED FROM TALL POLES. THE NETWORK OF WIRE CONNECTED TO OTHER CABLES ON OTHER POLES AND TO NEAR-BY HOUSES AND FROM THERE TO OTHER POLES AND MORE HOUSES. I HAD BEEN TO THIS PARK BEFORE BUT HAD NEVER NOTICED ALL OF THIS CIRCUITRY BEFORE. AS I THOUGHT ABOUT IT, I REALIZED ALL THESE MASSES OF WIRES MAKE IT POSSIBLE FOR US TO TALK TO OUR FRIENDS VIA TELEPHONE, , FAX AND TELEGRAPH. (THIS WAS BEFORE SMART PHONES) BECAUSE OF ALL THESE LINES, WE COULD HAVE MONEY WIRED TO OUR BANK ACCOUNT, WE COULD RECEIVE INSTANT NEWS ABOUT PEACE TREATIES AND THE WEATHER AS IT HAPPENS. WE HAVE ACCESS TO COLLEGE STUDIES AND HOME DECORATING; COOKING AND REMODELING; THE SYMPHONY AND THE THEATER. IT ALL HAPPENS THROUGH THESE WIRES THAT CRISSCROSS THEMSELVES FROM ONE POLE TO ANOTHER. BUT THEN I THOUGHT, WHAT HAPPENS WHEN IT STORMS AND THESE CABLES ARE DOWN, AS JUST RECENTLY HAPPENED FROM A WIND STORM THAT WENT THROUGH THE AREA? WE CAN T CALL FOR HELP FROM A LAND LINE PHONE. WE CAN T SEND A MESSAGE IF THE INTERNET IS EFFECTED. WE HAVE LOST ELECTRICAL POWER. WE FEEL OUT OF CONTROL AND ISOLATED. WHAT WE HAVE TAKEN FOR GRANTED IS NO LONGER A SOURCE OF CONTACT FOR US. HAVE YOU EVER ATTEMPTED TO GET IN TOUCH WITH GOD AND FOUND YOURSELF DOUBTING HIS ABILITY TO HELP YOU? DO YOU FIND YOURSELF WORRYING ABOUT THINGS YOU SHOULD TELL GOD ABOUT INSTEAD? DO YOU FEEL ASHAMED TO TALK TO GOD BECAUSE OF WHAT YOU HAVE DONE? DO YOU FIND YOURSELF SEEKING OTHER PEOPLE S OPINIONS RATHER THAN RELYING ON GOD S GUIDANCE? DO YOU THINK YOU HAVE TO USE A CERTAIN POSTURE OR LANGUAGE TO GET GOD S ATTENTION? DO YOU THINK YOU VE DONE SOMETHING SO AWFUL YOU CAN T TELL GOD? (Pastor s Corner contnued on next page)

2 (Pastor s Corner contnued) IF YOUR ANSWER IS YES TO ANY OF THOSE QUESTIONS, YOU RE CREATING UNNECESSARY INTERFERENCE BETEWEEN YOU AND GOD. NOTHING CAN KEEP YOU FROM BEING DIRECTLY CONNECTED TO GOD IF YOU WANT TO BE. IT DOESN T MATTER WHAT TIME OF DAY OR NIGHT IT IS; WHAT DAY OF THE WEEK IT IS; WHO ELSE IS TALKING TO HIM; OR WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. HE IS ALWAYS AVAILABLE TO LISTEN AND TO HELP US WITHOUT STATIC OR INTERFERENCE. HIS OMNIPOTENCE HAS BLOCKED OUT ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING THAT WOULD KEEP HIM FROM HEARING AND ANSWERING US. WHEN YOU NEED TO MAKE DECISIONS AND NOBODY ON EARTH UNDERSTANDS, CALL UPON GOD. WHEN YOUR PROBLEMS SEEM UNBEARABLE, CALL UPON GOD. WHEN YOU WANT TO PRAISE HIM AND SHOW YOUR APPRECIATION FOR HIS WONDERFUL WORK IN YOUR LIFE, CALL UPON GOD. WHEN YOU WANT TO COMMUNICATE WITH SOMEONE WHO WANTS TO COMMUNICATE WITH YOU AND WHO HAS ALL THE ANSWERS TO YOUR QUESTIONS, CALL UPON GOD. IT DOESN T MATTER IF THE TELEPHONE LINES ARE DOWN, SMART PHONES ARE NOT WORKING, THE INTERNET IS A BLANK ALL OVER THE WORLD, GOD IS ALWAYS AVAILABLE. THE ONLY INTERFERENCE THAT CAN HINDER OUR COMMUNICATION IS OUR OWN REBELLLION AND DISOBEDIENCE. EVEN THEN, HE IS READY AND WILLING TO FORGIVE US AND TO ACCEPT OUR CALL. HE IS ALWAYS NEAR TO COMFORT AND CHEER US JUST WHEN WE NEED HIM MOST. AND THIS IS THE CONFIDENCE THAT WE HAVE IN HIM, THAT, IF WE ASK ANYTHING ACCORDING TO HIS WILL, HE HEARETH US. AND IF WE KNOW THAT HE HEARS US, WHATSOEVER WE ASK, WE KNOW THAT WE HAVE THE PETITIONS WE DESIRED OF HIM. 1 JOHN 5: Would you beleve that Ursala s really 90! Come on n and help us celebrate wth Ursala as she really does turn 90. Saturday Aprl 9, :00pm - 5:00pm Zarahemla Branch 502 Southwest 17th Street n Blue Sprngs Jacob Smmons: Aprl 23-2 PM - Open house to celebrate elementary school graduaton - Outreach Restoraton Branch S. Crysler Ave., Independence, RSVP to Jenny f you can stop by; lght snacks and cake wll be served. Haley Norman: YOUTH ACTIVITIES Soccer Games (CPRS team) - See Haley for locaton detals: Aprl 12-4:30 PM - Home game Aprl 14-4:30 PM - Away game Aprl 15-5:00 PM - Away game Aprl 19-4:30 PM - Away game Aprl 21-4:30 PM - Home game Aprl 26-4:30 PM - Home game Aprl 28-4:30 PM - Away game Women s Department Aprl 13 Zarahemla women responsble for cleanng women's rest room at Conference. Zarahemla women responsble for refreshments (type of food to be announced) Aprl 23 Fellowshp and goodes at Sally Smmons at 1:30. Come for the fellowshp, stay for the goodes!! ****************************************************************** General Conference Informaton General Conference begns wth a Sacrament servce at- Zarahemla Branch. Conference contnues Monday mornng at the Remnant Conference Center on Hghway 291. The conference concludes on Saturday, Aprl 16th. Lndsay McMlan: Track Meets: Aprl 5-4 PM - Summt Lakes Mddle School (n Lee's Summt) Aprl 7-4 PM - Kearney Hgh School Aprl 11-4 PM - Pleasant Lea Mddle School (n Lee's Summt) Aprl 13-4 PM - Lee's Summt West Hgh School Aprl 19-4 PM - Summt Lakes Mddle School Aprl 21-4 PM - Ray-Pec Hgh School Aprl 25-4 PM - Campbell Mddle School (n Lee's Summt) Aprl 29-4 PM - Blue Sprngs Hgh School (double check wth Lndsay about ths one) Muscal events: Aprl 15-6 PM - Jazz n the Courtyard - Lee's Summt West Hgh School Aprl 26-7 PM - Parade of Chors - Lee's Summt West Hgh School

3 APRIL BIRTHDAYS DEVOTIONS APRIL Mary Lou Bartrow Joy McKay Kase Patterson Ursula Bel Jane Curts Haley Scott Marlyn James Mary Stlwell Mka Elle Chnnery BayLee Yazell Dylan Bronson Joy Moore Joshua Heyl Jeremah Trahern Sarah Smmons Fred Pement Steve Rdeout Zon s League On March 12th, the Zon's League hosted the Zon Bulders. Our theme for the day was about beng a Dscple of Jesus. We had a lesson n whch we talked about how we can be a dscple of Jesus, ncludng thngs we could do that afternoon. We learned a song about followng Jesus. Then we added some bell playng to the song. The kds sounded great! After that, we had some colorng/craft pages. We made them nto a qult that s hangng n the south wng of our buldng. We ended our mornng wth some games and snacks. We all had a good tme and hope that more kds (for both Zon Bulders and Zon's League) wll jon us for future actvtes Aprl 3rd Bob Gertz Famly Aprl 10th Tm Canfeld Famly Aprl 17th Bonner Davs Famly Aprl 24th Duane Newman Famly Pctures below are from the March Zon s League event If you have anythng to submt for the MAY newsletter, please call Marlyn OR e-mal t to me (marlyn.counts@gmal.com) OR (gve t to me at church). PLEASE JUST SHARE WITH US IN THE May 2016 NEWSLETTER Thank you for supportng the congregatonal newsletter. Marlyn James, Edtor Deacon Schedule Aprl 2016 Aprl 3rd Aprl 10th Aprl 17th Aprl 24th Mornng Lloyd Stlwell Mornng Jerry Gerber Mornng Kyle Norman Mornng Rudy Leutznger

4 Muscal Schedule APRIL SOCIAL EVENTS Aprl 3rd Devotonal Servce - Jll Moore 10:30 am Servce - Jll Moore 6:00 pm Servce - Lndsay McMlan Aprl 10th Devotonal Servce - Kevn McMlan 10:30 Servce - Kevn McMlan 6:00 pm Servce - Conference 2 11:00am Dstrct Kte Flyng and Cookout at Buckner Park. 4 7:00 pm Presthood meetng at the church. 9 3:00 5:00 pm 90th brthday party for for Ursala Bel at the church. 10 6:00 pm General Conference begns wth a Sacrament Servce at Zarahemla Branch. Aprl 17th Devotonal Servce - Jer Gault 10:30 Servce - Jer Gault 6:00 pm Servce - Kevn McMlan Aprl 24th Devotonal Servce - Ashley Gault 10:30 Servce - Ashley Gault 6:00 pm Servce - Ashley Gault 11 General Conference wll contnue from the 11th to the 16th at the Remnant Conference center on Hghway Today after the 10:30 am Worshp Servce wll be our monthly Potluck. 19 6:00 pm Young Adults wll Mn Golf at the Famly Golf Park n Blue Sprngs. 20 5:30 6:30 pm Lamplghters wll meet at church and wll be workng on ther Nutrton and Expermental Cookng badge. Aprl 3rd Aprl 10th MINISTRY OF MUSIC Sacrament Patrck Jr & Joy McKay 23 10:00 11:30 am Zon s League wll be meetng at church and plannng for the May actvty. Aprl 17th Aprl 24th Katy Johnson Patence Vckery 24 6:00 pm wll be our Relgeo servce. Please plan to attend and brng a snack for fellowshp after the servce. 29 Dstrct Women s Retreat. A Pattern n All Thngs. 6:30 pm regstraton at Zarahemla. 30 Saturday Women s Retreat contnues. 8:30 am regstraton.

5 ACTIVITY CALENDAR Zarahemla Branch APRIL 2016 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thur Frday Saturday :00 am Kte Flyng and Cookout at Buckner Park D & C 3: :15 Mornng Worshp 7:00 pm Brthday Party for 10:30 Worshp Servce Presdng: Patrck McKay Preachng: Dean Falconer Presthood Meetng 7:00 pm Prayer Servce Presdng: Bob Moore Assstng: Wayne Smmons Ursala Bel 3:00-5:00 pm at the church 6:00 Mssonary Reports 10 9:15 Mornng Worshp 10:30 Worshp Servce Presdng: Dean Falconer Preachng: Gary Whtng 6:00 pm Conference Sacrament Servce at Zarahemla 11 General Conference Begns at the Remnant Conference Center III Neph 10: :15 Mornng Worshp 10:00-11:30 am 10:30 Worshp Servce Presdng: Bonner Davs 6:00 pm Young Adults Meet at Famly Golf Park n Blue Sprngs 5:30-6:30 pm Lamplghters wll meet at church. Workng on ther Nutrton and Expermental Cookng Badge Zon s League wll meet at the church Preachng: Frank Frye POTLUCK 7:00 pm Prayer Servce Presdng: Patrck McKay 6:00 pm Resttuton Class Bob Moore Assstng: Kyle Norman D & C 5:3d :15 Mornng Worshp Independence Dstrct Women s Dstrct Women s Retreat contnues. 10:30 Worshp Servce Presdng: Rex Curts Preachng: Phl O Camb 7:00 pm Prayer Servce Presdng: Dean Falconer Assstng: Phl O Camb Retreat at Zarahemla Wll end by 9:00 pm 8:30 am regstraton Wll end by 3:00 pm 6:00 pm Relgeo Presdng: Doug Trahern

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