FORT DES MOINES CHURCH OF CHRIST Love God Love People Serve Everyone WWW.GODSFORT.ORG Office: 515-285-1254 Fort Connections Service Times: Sunday School 9 AM Worship 10 AM Mike Demastus June 2015 The Whole Counsel I believe at the root of all that is wrong in society now is the very thing that pastors have been called to do something about. What is at the core of the rebellion and the problem in our culture today is biblical ignorance and biblical illiteracy. I guarantee you that most of my fellow pastors believe that they are preaching the Word of God. My question would be how much and by what method? Because I maintain that what the risen Lord Jesus did on the road to Emmaus as it is written, And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself. (Luke 24:27) It is in fact our job to explain, the KJV uses the verb expound. Expounding from the Scriptures, from ALL the Scriptures the things concerning Jesus. That is what pastors in the pulpits of America need to return to. I maintain that we are following a tradition that developed during a time in American history when people WERE biblically literate and the primary book from which their whole family learned to read from was the Word of God. And in such a time like that topical sermons made good sense. But they don t now. I would say what the Lord Jesus did is what we need to return to. To expound beginning somewhere beginning at one end of the Bible and working through what Moses wrote and all the Prophets said concerning our Lord Jesus. Paul said to the Ephesian elders in the book of Acts: For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God. (Acts 20:27, KJV) All the counsel of God. The very same thing that Jesus did on the road to Emmaus was continued by the apostles. The Word of God is powerful! It is the very thing that changes the world! It is the very thing that created the world! It is the very thing that right now in this dark time in which we live must be made known. All of it! The whole counsel of God. Justin and Lindsay Hunerdosse have been asked to be part time youth workers at The Fort!!! They will be working with the CIA on Wednesday evenings, teaching Sunday School for the CIA kids starting in September, and planning special events. Justin and Lindsay are a much needed and very welcome addition to our youth program! Please encourage them by praying for them and their ministry. To remove your name from our mailing list, please notify us by e-mail secretary@godsfort.org or call 515-285-1254. 1
Book Look Where is God When it Hurts? is a thoughtful examination of the Problem of Pain: it s blessings as well as its cruelty; Message from God? Punishment for sin? A change of life for ultimate greater blessings? Result of long term punishment of the body? Phillip Yancy explains the mystery of pain as God sends it to man. Using examples from the Bible, personal experiences, and talking with people whose lives have been shattered and then greatly blessed, this book of physical and spiritual exploration is a comfort and encouragement to the thoughtful reader. By MargE DeRuyscher Missions Ministry Update By MargE DeRuyscher The Missions Committee received this letter from the Executive Director of I.D.E.S., Rick Jett. Please continue to pray for this very important ministry! If you would like to learn more about I.D.E.S. you can go to their website at www.ides.org. Dear Prayer Partner: The psalmist wrote, Be still and know that I am God (46:10). Paul exhorted the Philippians to be anxious for nothing (Phil. 4:6). And Peter instructed his readers to cast all their cares on God (1 Peter 5:7). How can someone stop worrying and be still? Only through prayer and trust in the loving God (Phil. 4:6-7). Those who cast their cares on Him can set aside the noise and confusion of the world, ambition and strivings of self, and enter into the peace of God (v.7). Recently, a major earthquake shook Nepal. Indications are that more than 8,000 people have died, and to date 17,000 people have been injured though these numbers are expected to rise. Half the population of Nepal has been impacted. We are thankful that none of our mission partners died, but many of their homes were destroyed. The pain and suffering is overwhelming. Anxiety builds when we get reports like this, and see that the requests for help are beyond the resources we have available. But God reminds us in His Word that we are not to anxious about anything. Instead we are to pray and trust God to meet the need. Would you please pray with us about this situation? Please pray for God to remove any confusion, apprehension and despair. Pray for us to cast our cares on Him and to radiate peace to everyone around us. Words fail me as I try to express how vital your prayers are for this ministry. Thank you for your faithful partnership in praying for our staff, board of directors and field associates. Prayerfully yours, Rick Jett On June 6th, there will be a FREE Christian music festival in Norwalk! Building 429, About a Mile, Bread of Stone, I am They and many more bands will be there! The gates will open at 12:30 and the bands will play rain or shine! For more information go to www.connectionmusicfestival.com. 2
Fort Facts Total Income for April: $18,973.24 Total Expenses for April: $11,335.72 Mark your calendar now The dates for VBS are July 10th-12th! We would LOVE to have 20-30 kids attend! Please pray about who YOU can invite!! 3
Birthdays: Anniversaries: 6/2 Hunter Abel 6/6 Kevin & Mary Rowedder 6/3 Levi DeYoung 6/9 Nathan & Melissa Shanks 6/3 Sue Keller 6/10 Terry & Bev Heuton 6/5 Floyd Fluharty 6/12 Harold & Myrna Fluharty 6/6 Luther Abel 6/15 Shawn & Lori Kinman 6/6 Jacob Demastus 6/30 Lonnie & Jennifer Hoodjer 6/13 Cameron Ohnemus 6/18 Benjamin Hoodjer 6/19 Peyton Ohnemus Special Dates to Remember CIA will CONTINUE through the month of June! 6/9 VBS Meeting 6/11 Elders/Deacons Meeting 6/14 Board Meeting Server Schedule 06/07/15 06/14/15 06/21/15 06/28/15 Greeters Dan/Cathy Kirk/Ashley Cameron/ Shannah Nathan/Deanna Scripture Ramona Lindsay Diane Mary Praise Team Mary/Bob Nate/Demastus Abel's/Hoodjer DVD/Demastus Offering Meditation Nathan Jim Nate George Meditation Lonnie Ramona Richard Luther Server Russ Doren Forrest Jacob Closing Prayer George Richard Lonnie Bob Stewardship Nate/Jim George/Miles Terry/Lonnie Doren/Austin Nursery Jacob/Shan Cameron/ Shannah Justin/Lindsay Kelsey/Ben Jr. Church Justin #36 Kelsey #37 Shan #38 Jennie #39 to the Sick Richard Kirk Nathan/Deanna Jacob Prep Doug/Sue Doug/Sue Doug/Sue Doug/Sue Security Doug Forrest Jacob Kirk Mowing for June: 6/5 Bruce Peterson 6/12 Austin De Young 6/19 Nathan Ohnemus 6/26 Forrest Glick 4
June 2015 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 VBS Meeting @ 7:00 10 11 Elders/Deacons Meeting @6:00 12 13 14 Board Meeting 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 Father s Day! 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 5