// // () * * // //// If you are new to The Hills or are visiting us today, we encourage you to fill out an information card located on a seat back in front of you. Also, be sure to stop by the south Information Center to recieve your gift bag containing some materials and chocolate.
By Ed Daly When the Spirit of God opens our eyes to our sin problem we grasp the enormity of the offenses we have committed against God and we realize that we are utterly incapable of saving ourselves. With a burdened soul, realizing that no amount of good deeds could pay off the sin debt that we have accumulated, we cry out to God in humble dependence for salvation by repenting of our sin and placing our faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. We come to realize that God elected us from eternity past, sent His Son as the propitiation for our sins, drew us to Himself when we were not seeking Him, and opened our eyes to our utter depravity and need for a Savior to avoid the just judgment that we deserve. Simply put, we realize that we are completely dependent on God for eternal life. As we grow in the Christian life, our experiences confirm that we are entirely dependent on God for everything in our lives, even the breath passing through our lips. Not so with God. God is not dependent on anyone. He created everything (Genesis 1:1) and He alone declares the end from the beginning (Isaiah 46:10) because He sovereignly rules over everything. God s total and absolute sovereignty over everything is at the core of our faith. We trust His revelation to us, we trust that His will is good and perfect, and we trust that He is working out His purposes in our lives. But, do we always affirm this belief in our lives? How about when we directly experience sorrow, pain, grief, and/or loss? When we dwell in disappointment, despair, frustration, or anger over something that happened in our Page 2 lives, we think that we are entitled to different (and better, in our minds) treatment from God. We may not express it directly to God, but the message expressed in emotions, actions, or even rebellious thoughts is clear: God should do otherwise, and He needs to heed our counsel to do what is best. When we feel that our circumstances should be otherwise, do we fall into the trap of questioning God s sovereignty and purposes by taking matters into our own hands? We may disguise this attitude in super-spiritual language, but the ugly truth is that we sometimes presume that God needs our advice. At a time when Israel was on the eve of being sent into captivity and exile as judgment for their spiritual unfaithfulness, God prepared them for the trial they were about to experience by having the prophet Isaiah remind them that He was all powerful and thus fully in control of the situation: Isaiah 40:13 17: Who has directed the Spirit of the Lord, or as His counselor has informed Him? With whom did He consult and who gave Him understanding? And who taught Him in the path of justice and taught Him knowledge and informed Him of the way of understanding? Behold, the nations are like a drop from a bucket, and are regarded as a speck of dust on the scales; Behold, He lifts up the islands like fine dust. Even Lebanon is not enough to burn, nor its beasts enough for a burnt offering. All the nations are as nothing before Him, they are regarded by Him as less than nothing and meaningless.
The Israelites needed to be brought back to the fear of the Lord and trust in His good purposes even when the circumstances suggested otherwise. The inspired words of Isaiah should be a strong warning to us that God is not dependent on us and will not be conformed to our plans for the way things should be, especially when we face what may appear to be overwhelming and gloomy circumstances. This is a hard truth, but the blessings for those who learn this lesson are immense. God needs no human counsel, and we err grievously when we think and act otherwise and fail to submit to His sovereignty. When we understand that the Lord needs no counsel, we see how God s perfectly crafted plan for redemption exceeds any plan ever conceived by the human mind. Could there be a more perfect plan? Could there be a better reason to harbor deep suspicions of our own plans when we feel that God is not dealing adequately with our circumstances, and repent when we presume to tell the Lord what He should do? Will we affirm His sovereignty in the midst of the trial, trusting Him to work out His perfect will even if we do not fully understand what He is doing right now? Children Sunday School Visit the Sunday school coordinator s desk for class locations. Junior High (Grades 6-8) Studying Old Testament Team Taught Cornerstone House Senior High (Grades 9-12) Studying the Passion Week Jeff Harford Teaching Room 1430 Fundamentals of the Faith Gordie Coffin, Jeff Horn Teaching Room 1102 Alpha Omega (18 25) Studying 1 Corinthians Duane Nelsen Teaching Room 2311 EDGE Studying Hebrews Jimmy Pelton Teaching Rooms 2211 Common Bonds Studying Acts Jim Mooberry Teaching Room 1404 HIS Studying Deuteronomy Scott Bailey Teaching Room 1423 LOGOS Studying 2 Kings Greg Thomas Teaching Room 1422 180 Fellowship Studying Luke Bill Cooley Teaching Room 1100 (Chapel) One Heart Studying Matthew Dick Bergt Teaching Room 1112 LIFE Studying Gospel of John Jim Pelton Teaching Room 1419 The Father Knows Best Studying The Bible as a Contract Don Goertzen Teaching Room 1414 Standing Firm Studying Mark Ed Daly Teaching Room 1417 Classes begin at 8:45 a.m. but everyone is welcome to come at 8:30 a.m. for a cup of coffee and fellowship. For more information about any of these classes, contact Duane Nelsen at 402-483-4541, visit the class, or stop by the information center. Information Center We would love to meet you! Please stop by and pick up your visitor/newcomer gift bag. We re located across from Sound Words. Church cancellations or delays will be posted on our website: www.ihcc.org Page 3
By Dr. Jason Lisle Christian astrophysicist, Dr. Jason Lisle, will be speaking at the IHCC Men s Seminar on February 15 and 16, and at all three services (including Sunday School) on Sunday, February 17. The Cause of the Ice Age But what caused the ice age? What ended it? Interestingly, secular scientists do not have a consistent answer to those questions. Many people have the impression that a reduction in Earth s global temperature would naturally result in an ice age. But it won t. During the ice age, the glaciers were three times more extensive than they are today. But lowering Earth s temperature will not do this. A cold Earth would have cold oceans, which do not evaporate efficiently, and cold air cannot hold much moisture. This would tend to result in less snowfall, and therefore fewer glaciers. And of course, an increase in Earth s temperature will not result in an ice age either, because it will tend to result in the melting of glaciers that already exist. Most secular scientists invoke the Milankovitch theory to explain the ice age. This theory involves the gradual changes in the shape of Earth s orbit around the sun in conjunction with the precession of Earth s rotation axis. This supposedly results in various parts of the Earth receiving either more, or less sunlight, thereby affecting the temperature. However, it does not adequately resolve the aforementioned difficulty that a reduction in temperature does not result in more ice. Moreover, the Milankovitch theory is internally inconsistent since it relies on two contradictory dates for a given core sample. The problem remains. What physical mechanism could result in the Earth having glaciers three times more extensive than today? First, we require increased snowfall, so the glaciers can build up over time. Second, we require mild seasons: relatively cool summers are needed so that the ice doesn t melt as much, and relatively warm winters are needed since warm air holds more moisture than cold air, thereby allowing more snowfall. Warm oceans and cooler continents would be ideal for the formation of glaciers. Warm ocean water evaporates readily, and when the moist air moves over cooler land, the temperature drops, resulting in snowfall, since cooler air cannot retain much moisture. But what would cause these conditions? Was the world-wide flood conducive in causing an ice age? For more information, read The Ice Age, Pt. 3 by Dr. Jason Lisle in next week s newsletter. Dr. Jason Lisle is a Christian astrophysicist who writes and speaks on various topics relating to science and the defense of the Christian faith. While working on his Master s, and Ph.D. in astrophysics at the University of Colorado in Boulder, he used the SOHO spacecraft to analyze the surface of the sun, and made numerous discoveries, including the detection of giant cell boundaries. If you are unable to attend church on Sunday, worship with us through the internet! Go to www.ihcc.org or use the Sound Words app to stream services live! Page 4
This Week s Bible Reading Plan: Categories: Old Test. History Old Test. Poetry Old Test. Prophecy New Test. Narrative New Test. Epistles Mon // January 21 Genesis 26 Job 14 Isaiah 16 Matthew 17 Romans 12:9-21 Tue // January 22 Genesis 27:1-29 Job 15:1-16 Isaiah 17 Matthew 18 Romans 13 Wed // January 23 Genesis 27:30-28:22 Job 15:17-35 Isaiah 18:1-19:9 Matthew 19 Romans 14:1-12 Thur // January 24 Fri // January 25 Genesis 29 Genesis 30 Job 16:1-10 Job 16:11-22 Isaiah 19:10-26 Isaiah 20:1-21:10 Matthew 20 Matthew 21:1-27 Romans 14:13-23 Romans 15:1-16 Sat // January 26 Sun // January 27 Genesis 31:1-42 Genesis 31:43-32:32 Job 17:1-8 Job 17:9-16 Isaiah 21:11-22:9 Isaiah 22:10-25 Matthew 21:28-22:14 Matthew 22:15-46 Romans 15:17-33 Romans 16:1-13 2019 If you are unable to attend church on Sunday, worship with us through the internet! She Calls Him Lord February 22-23 Go to www.ihcc.org or use the Sound Words app to stream services live! Indian Hills Community Church Interpreted for the Deaf Speaker: Cory McGrew Three years old through Three years old through fifth grade welcome fifth grade welcome The Life of Faith Is a Life of Endurance Heb. 10; 2 Tim. 1,4 Gil Rugh GRM 1210 Questions and Answers, Part 13 Selected Verses Gil Rugh GRM 1211 Go to www.ihcc.org to listen to, view, or download all messages! Constantly changing stock available at Sound Words You may contribute to or make purchases of discounted and hard-to-find books. Page 5
Having trouble with the wonderful topic of Math? There may be help on its way. Email Tom Price at mathmanprice@gmail.com if you would be interested in attending a question/answer session on Tuesday nights at the church. Home school, public school, private school, and adults are all welcome. Any topic of math and it's free. Your 2018 donation receipt should arrive by February 1. Please notify the church of any discrepancies or if you did not receive a giving receipt. If you have an upcoming event that involves the Event Kitchen, contact Rachel Gould at church, 402-483-4541. She will reserve it for your group and give you an Event Sheet, which will help with the planning. Questions to Merrily Bailey 402-730-7617. Updated Information Directories are available in the south lobby and in the northeast (large canopy) lobby. If you d like to help, call Adam Flaugh, 402-310-2070. Singers are needed. We rehearse every Wednesday from 7:00-8:15 p.m. and sing every other Sunday. We will sing for Palm Sunday and Easter Sunday as well. High school age and older are welcome. Hear and Heed questions help us review and apply what we learned from Sunday s message. If you would like the thought-provoking questions sent to you via email each week, stop by the Information Desk in the south lobby and get signed up. Page 6 Meets Wednesdays at 7:00 p.m. in the choir room. We sing every other Sunday morning. High school age and older are welcome to join. Meets Wednesdays from 6:00-7:00 p.m. in the auditorium. Orchestra also rehearses on Sundays from 8:00-8:45 a.m. Meets Wednesdays from 5:00-6:15 p.m. in the choir room. Open to girls fourth through twelfth grade.
Meets Sundays from 10:25-11:30 a.m. The children will study 1 Kings 11-14 and learn about God punishing Jeroboam. The lesson goal is to enjoy the blessings of obedience. Meets Sundays from 9:00-9:45 a.m. Come and learn the fundamental beliefs of biblical Christianity in a class taught by Jeff Horn and Gordie Coffin. Meets in Room 1102. Meets Tuesdays & Wednesdays at 7:00 p.m. Bible studies for high school students are taught by Mike Little and Tim Pratt. All high school students are welcome to attend. Meets Tuesdays from 9:15-11:00 a.m. Interpreted for the Deaf LaVon Sperling will be teaching on Loneliness. A discussion group will follow. Peggy Cline with share on Health Emergency Preparedness during the second hour. Child care is provided. Meets Wednesdays from 7:00-8:00 p.m. Our study will not meet this week. Consider attending the Israel tour this week during regular class time. Meets Wednesdays from 7:00-8:00 p.m. The tour of Israel begins Wednesday at 7:00 p.m. in The Father Knows Best classroom. Tour guide, Scott Bailey, will provide biblical, historical, and archeological background on the sites you visit. Members of Issues in Our Contemporary World are invited to attend the tour of Israel. Meeting times & locations vary We have home Bible studies throughout the city primarily on Tuesday and Thursday evenings. These are smaller groups that enjoy fellowship together and are fertile ground for planting and growing relationships within the church body. Call the church for a complete listing of our many home Bible studies. Cherish Nuttleman is a patient at St. Elizabeth. Large hams became Christmas gifts for 21 members of our church family. One of our laymen asked Pastor Eddie and JoAnn Masters to deliver the hams a few days before Christmas. They were met with big smiles and grateful hearts. Please call the church at 402-483-4541 and notify Curt Kuster of hospitalizations or births. Page 7
" " "" Dr. Jason Lisle is a Christian astrophysicist who writes and speaks on various topics relating to science and the defense of the Christian faith. contactus.... // Editor: Gale Engle // Layout/Design: John Scholle