Join Us

I do not do this often, but something is making this seem appropriate today. Last night Wednesday the 19th we had a really good Bible study on the fifth chapter of Esther. We had a few less participants than normal because some of us are quarantined from Covid. But we all wear our masks and some who have missed for that reason as well, have returned. God is doing something here and it's out of the ordinary. I can't explain it. It is a fellowship of like minded believers, older adults who are into God's word like never before. No books, no speakers, no video sermons, no sponsors Just Bible study and bible commentary, Q&A. If you would like to invest some time in the study of God's messages to us straight from the word of God, no books to buy, no commitments to sign up for, and no fees. Come join us on any Wednesday night between 6:30 to 7:30. No refreshments no coffee or any other sides, but if you want, it, bring it, that's OK too. We furnish the scripture study and the materials, all we need is you. And we are a coed group, we have singles and couples. We are not a men's study, or a women's study, We meet at Advent Church In the gym, in the Fireside Room. We do not do gossip, we do not discuss religion, nor do we discuss politics. We study God's word only. Sometimes it gets really serious, sometimes it gets really funny, but all the time it is God's word we discuss and study. We really would welcome anyone who may find an in depth study of the Word of God of some life changing value.

JUST BIBLE STUDY, No books, to buy, no speakers, no video sermons, no sponsors. Just Bible study and bible commentary, Q&A. No sign up comitments , and no fees. We furnish the scripture study and the materials, all you need is you and a willing spirit for biblical adventure. We are an adult coed group, we have singles and couples. We are not a men's study, or a women's study, We do not do gossip, we do not discuss other religions, or politics. We study God's word only. Just show up any Wednesday night 6:30 to 7:30 pm. We meet at Advent Church In the gym, in the Fireside Room, every Wednesday year round, (weather permitting), we do not meet on snow days, holidays, or during the thanksgiving and Christmas holidays, and time off is any time you may need. The study is emailed on the preceeding Saturday or Sunday If you are interested email me, miller5163@bellsouth.net.

A NEW RESOLUTION FOR 2022

 

A Christians resolution for 2022 

It is a new year, and a time when about 45% of the population make new years resolutions....and about 25% of those are not successful.

It calls to question….what do we want from life? Many people do not make new years resolutions….What is the Christian concept of new years resolutions….

God’s word does not speak for or against..... the concept of New Year’s resolutions.....

But the concept started about 4000 years ago.....With the Babalonians..... as a 12 day pagan event....where people made resolutions.... to please their various gods....to gain their favor

I personally do not make new years resolutions....mainly because I have tried..... and it never seemed to work out for me....

From John 1:35-38 we read this from God’s word....The next day John was there again with two of his disciples..... When he saw Jesus passing by,.... he said,.....

Look, the Lamb of God!..... When the two disciples heard him say this....., they followed Jesus...... Turning around....., Jesus saw them following and asked,...... What do you want?.....

So reading this scripture...Jesus asks these two men what they wanted....Gives me pause to ask myself....what do I want from following Jesus....Certainly a Christian needs no resolution to answer that question...

Isaiah 55:8-9 puts it this way “For my thoughts are not your thoughts,.... neither are your ways my ways,... saith the LORD.....

For as the heavens are higher than the earth,.... so are my ways higher than your ways,.... and my thoughts than your thoughts.” –

There are three things in life that determine our happiness or our unhappiness.... one is not getting what we want,.... the second is getting what we want.....Sometimes what we want is not what is best for us...

The third thing is getting what we deserve.... The question is if we got what we deserve,.....What response would we have?....Jesus has our answer....in fact Jesus is the answer....the Christian should aspire to be like him...

From Matthew 7:7-8....Jesus speaks these words....Ask and it will be given to you;..... seek and you will find;..... knock and the door will be opened to you.....

For everyone who asks receives.....; the one who seeks finds.....; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.......

There was a young office manager.....Chuck was his name and at his work he kept a legal pad....a to do list...It was a perpetual list.... of what needed to be done....

One day at lunch Chuck was in the park... when he was bitten by a dog that belonged to one of his co workers......the bite was not severe but it concerned Chuck and he asked that the dog be quarantined...

Then about three weeks later....during the office Christmas party....the co worker informed Chuck.... that the dog had developed rabies...Chuck immediately made a doctors appointment...

And was informed by the doctor...that he had rabies.... and there was nothing to be done to save him... Chuck then decided to prepare himself for the enevitable....

He went back to work the next day.....and was busy with his to do list ....when the boss came to him....and asked.....

What are you writing..... shouldn’t you be at home”?...“It’s my new years resolution” Chuck answered ..It’s a list of the people.....I am going to bite....before I die....Not a good resolution.....

What are we to consider.... when making resolution?....First.... it should be something that improves our knowledge...our health….or our station in life...something we want

Second it should be realistic.....something we are able to accomplish.... Then again..... it may be something in life....

that we are struggling with...or a fault that with God’s help.....can be overcome....something we do not want

And in Pauls letter to the Phillipians, chapter 2: 13-15.... For it is God which worketh in you..... both to will and to do of his good pleasure...... Do all things without murmurings and disputings:....

That ye may be blameless and harmless...., the sons of God...., without rebuke....., in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation...., among whom ye shine as lights in the world;.....

 a resolution is not about perfect....it’s about effort....and if you give that effort every day....success will follow.....

That is who we are....As Christians our goal is to brighten the corner where we are...Not only is Jesus our Savior...He is also out mentor...., our teacher...our leader.... the one we want to follow...The one we want to emmulate...

As a Christian we really do want to make a difference in this world.....That is why we follow Jesus.... So be resolved...let your light shine.... It is a good resolution....

And from Matthew 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works,..... and glorify your Father which is in heaven..

A Valentines Surprise

Good morning Adventurers….It’s good to see you here….Thank you for coming…..We have entered God's house …. Thursday the 10 th of February, 2022…., the day the Lord has made let us rejoice….and be glad  in it. 

Spring is now only 38 days away but Valentines day is next Monday only 4 days away. Are we ready for that? Valentines day is a day of great expectations. What might that be like you may ask? 

Surely we have not forgotten the romance that brought us together as young aspiring adventurers with our harmones raging and us seeking a life companion. 

Valentine's day is the day set aside as the day when prospective mates give flowers, and romantic notes and cards expressing their feelings for one another

                                                        Let us pray

We thank you Lord for this day of fellowship…..join us we pray as we rejoice in it…..lead us through it ….and keep us safe in  it….And we pray that everything we say and do on this day…. will be pleasing to You….. 

We Thank You now Lord …..for the salvation You have given us….  in your Son our Lord Jesus...and we thank you Lord .... not just for who he is..... but for what he means to us.... day by day...and in His name we pray….Amen 

From God's word we read this from 1 corinthians 13:1 thru 7.....If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels...., but do not have love.... I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal...... 

2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains,.... but do not have love, I am nothing....... 

3 If I give all I possess to the poor......and give over my body to hardship.... that I may boast, but do not have love...., I gain nothing.

4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud..... 5 It does not dishonor others....., it is not self-seeking...., it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs...... 

6 Love does not delight in evil..... but rejoices with the truth..... 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.....

and this from John 3:16....For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

Who was  “Saint Valentine....,”The official Roman account points to a man who died about 270 AD....., a temple priest beheaded by the Roman emperor Claudius II.... February 14—today’s “Valentine’s Day”—is said to be the day on which he was killed. 

This famous saint,.... an Italian doctor who later became a priest...., inspired the creation of the holiday of Valentine's Day...... He was sent to jail for performing weddings for couples

during a time.... when new marriages were outlawed in the ancient Rome...... Before he was killed for refusing to renounce his faith....., 

he sent a loving note to a child he had been teaching....., the daughter of his jailer.....Unrequieted love...., and that note eventually led to the tradition of sending Valentine's cards.

                                         A short story about love unrequited

John Houston was a bachelor living by himself..... And John had an ageing father..... Clark Houston...who was in failing  health...,and...he had a poor prognosis.....he would not live much longer 

John’s mother had passed years ago....and John visited his father several times a week....John’s Father was a very wealthy man,,.... worth some 20 million dollars....and John stood to inherit his fortune....

It was on new years day.....when John began to think about his future.... He was tired of the bachelor’s life.... and he made a new years resolution.... He would find a wife.....Someone with whom he could share his inheritance....

It did not take long.... one day as John went to lunch.....a beautiful woman caught his eye......she looked about John’s age.....and she wore no ring.....She was elegant...and poised.....and  John thought she might be the ideal answer to his resolution....So he decided to pursue her.....

John introduced himself...... and met this beautiful woman,...her name was Lenore.....He asked her to lunch.....She accepted and right away.....they hit it off....and they began to date.... and the romance began...John was pleased.... 

This woman was a delight to be with and John began to think of a future with her ....So it was not long..... before John took her to meet his father....both John and Lenore knew what this visit meant....The meeting went very well....

John’s father was impressed with Lenore....and she seemed to like him as well.....and valentine's day was just a month away.....So John thought he was ready to pop the question... He decided to buy the ring and ask for her hand in marriage on Valentine's day....

And three weeks later..... John’s beautiful prospective bride Lenore.......became Mrs Clark Houston  ..... John’s beautiful new....... step mother.....

But the real meaning of Valentine's day started with a pagan holiday around 

As Christians, we are called to love another. Romans 12:10 says, “Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.” Christians can use Valentine’s Day to show their love for one another.

Rom 15:5-7 May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had, 

so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God

Admittedly, this is hardly the case among most who celebrate the day, for the standards of the world are not the standards of our Lord. Whatever we decide about Valentine's Day, we must remember Jesus' words. We may be in the world, but we are not to be of the world John 17:13 - 20" tells us this. I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them. 14  I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. 15  My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. 16  They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. 17  Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. 18  As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. 19  For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified. 20  "My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 

When we seek love, earthly love can fail us. When we love imperfect broken people, the love is also imperfect and broken. But when we seek and find love with the creator of the universe, then we find a perfect selfless love that is eternal. The God that created us, is also that God that saved us from all of our sin and pain. And that love is available to us today.

1 Corinthians 13:4-5 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.

Psalm 143:8 has these words for us.  let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go,for to you I entrust my life.

The Timing is Perfect

 A young 19 year old man with his pants hanging low, and with the knees worn out, and a tee shirt with graphic pictures of violence, and  a ring in his nose and ear piercing studs, and ear rings , and a half inch thick gold chain around his neck; walked into the local welfare office to pick up his check.He marched up to the counter and said, "Hi. You know me, is my check ready? You know... ,I just hate drawing welfare. I'd really rather have a job. I don't like taking advantage of the system, getting something for nothing. It make me feel that the system is using me." The social worker behind the counter said "Your timing is excellent.  We just got a job opening from a very wealthy old man who wants a chauffeur and bodyguard for his beautiful daughter. You will have to drive around in his 2021 Mercedes-Benz CL, and he will supply all of your clothes." "Because of the long hours, meals will be provided.  You'll also be expected to escort the daughter on her overseas holiday trips.  This is rather awkward to say but you will also have, as part of your job, the assignment to satisfy her desire to party into the night. So there will be many late night forays, since she has just turned eighteen, and loves to party. The guy, just plain wide-eyed, said, "that is unbelievable, you must be kidding' me!"The social worker said, "Yeah, well... you started it." .....