Salem Online

Thanksgiving Message from Children of Promise

8:18:17 AM

Salem sponsors 10 children from Children of Promise. If you family is interested in corresponding with one of our sponsored children or would like a photograph to place in your home to remember these children in prayer, contact Heather Bench.

Dear Sponsors and Friends of Children of Promise,

We want to wish you a very Happy Thanksgiving.

Guess what the sponsored children are thankful for.

Here’s what they said:

"My Sponsor!"

Thank you for giving so much of yourselves to your sponsored children!

Have a wonderful holiday weekend.

The Staff of Children of Promise

www.echildrenofpromise.org

Dr. Paul L. Maxfield

Executive Director

Children of Promise, Inc.

Serving Children in Need in 22 Countries

Blessing Sunday Video

9:59:02 AM

Adoption Day Video

9:49:23 AM

Think the Bible is irrelevant to our modern lives?

7:46:10 PM

Think the Bible is irrelevant to our modern lives? Find a book of science that is half as old as the Biblical texts that can assist our modern day approach to medicine. Find a book on physics from the first century that can offer any help with your cosmology. Find a map from the time of Caesar that could guide you on a global quest. Is it any wonder the Bible is called God’s Living Word? It meets us today with a message that applies to the place we are now. We tend to think that the message of the Bible was broadcast to the writers and then sent on a voyage through time to meet us in the present. Can we think so little of God that we don’t understand that His message was not broadcast to a certain time or people? God is not restricted to a time and place. God’s message was broadcast to all times and all people. His ability to broadcast a message that was written thousands of years ago but still applies to our modern lives is yet another way we come to understand that God is beyond our understanding and His Word will find us at all places along the path of this life.

Some thoughts after reading the book “The Preaching Life” by Barbara Brown Taylore – Rowman & Littlefield Publishing, 1993.

This Week at Sanctuary - October 25, 2008

11:04:58 AM

We would like to invite you to join us this Saturday at 5:30 p.m. for Sanctuary – our casual worship gathering. This is a great opportunity to meet our new Senior Pastor, Bob Moss and to worship with the Sanctuary band and family. We’re learning some new songs of worship as well as some great life lessons from the Bible. This week, Bob will be teaching from the book of Hebrews on the subject “Root Cause.” It’s a practical look at how hard feelings and bitterness can grow deep roots and affect every area of life. Plus there will be a fresh Kid’s Spotlight from Debi Lair.

I really hope you can join us. If it’s been awhile since you’ve been to Sanctuary, just remember that we love you and God loves you and you’re always welcome. Remember, this is a guilt free zone!

See you Saturday. You are loved!

Paul

THANK YOU!

5:16:00 AM

I would like to thank the Pumpkin Patch team for gifting me a wonderful evening with Philip, Asher, Anna & Yunjia. Jacob and Sam had a great time "volunteering" to ride on the hayrides all night, too.

I know many were blessed (~1900!) by your hard work & dedication. But most of all, we were given a great gift of smiles, hugs, joy & love! You gave the community a giant HUG from Jesus!

You are a great gift! Thank you for your leadership and example of teamwork!

Philip, Heather, Jacob, Sam, Asher, Anna Bench & Yunjia Lu

kids programs during church services

10:29:50 PM

First, thank you to Chris and Bob who responded to my post. :)

So, Sat. night sermons do or do not have kids programs? I am looking to hear a message while my 3 boys, ages 7 (2nd grade, will be 8 in Jan.), 4 (will be 5 in Apr., attends Salem Pre-School), and 2 (will be 3 in Nov.) are in their own class, learning about Jesus.

I'm thinking the traditional Sun. might be a better bet for me if I'm looking for structured classes for my kids?

Thx for your help.

Amie

Newbie

12:13:09 PM

Hello out there,

I'm new here. We are searching for a new church home. We previously attended Ginghamsburg UMC in Tipp City, which we LOVED. I love the pastor's messages, I loved the countless opportunities to get invoved, the bible studies and classes and especially the music. We're looking for something closer to home since we live in Clayton and also a church that has a dedicated children's program. As much as I love GUM, I feel that the kids programs could be greatly imporoved. I always got the sense that I was dropping my kids off at the babysitter when we attended church. I've only attended Salem church service once, on a Sun. about 4 yrs. ago. My 4 yo attends pre-school there. I am looking to join some women's bible studies and just get involved with my family in your church.

Amie

Everyone's Invited!!

6:28:46 AM

Join Us! All Families & Friends Are Invited!!

NATIONAL ADOPTION DAY CELEBRATION

This is not just for families who have experienced the miracle and joy of adoption, this is for everyone to show their love and support for

God’s Plan—Adoption of His Children

Friday, November 14th

6:00—8:00 PM in the Fellowship Hall

Jesus said “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow is the road that leads to life and only a few find it”. Are you focused on the narrow road that few find? Here’s the hard question to ask yourself and maybe even harder to answer: are you leading others to the narrow gate? Have you ever been on one of those horizontal people-mover things at an airport that are sort of like an escalator only it only moves you along a horizontal path and not upwards? Picture, if you will, that escalator as a representation of the narrow path. It moves you away from one point and toward another. While on it, you may pass people that are sitting still. You may pass by people that aren’t going to the same place you are. Think about that airport as this life with its many destinations. One look at the many video displays in the airport speaks of the many destinations possible. But that eternal, horizontal, people-mover is taking you to a specific destination. Will the sitters and wondering walkers see you on that mover and wish they were with you? Will you yourself stay on the mover or will you choose to hop the rail and take your own path that isn’t focused on what’s at the other end?

New Bible Study Group

6:00:01 PM

I would like to find a small group of people that would like to meet weekly or bi-weekly for a couple of hours for fellowship and Bible study at my home in Englewood during the day. The exact day and time would be decided once a group was established so that everyone's schedule and availablity could be considered. If you are interested please give me (Dave) a call @ 771-0337 or get with me at Saturday Night Sanctuary.

Support the Christmas Celebration

9:06:42 AM

The Worship Arts Ministry invites you or your business to partner with us as we work together to make a difference in our community through the 2008 Christmas Celebration – “Christmas in Our Town.” With your generous gift to offset expenses, all of the donations received at each performance will be given entirely to agencies and efforts in our community whose mission specifically supports and strengthens families. Your partnership will make a difference, not just in our community, but in the lives of men and women, boys and girls who so desperately need loving, nurturing family relationships. To become a partner, or for more information, please contact Pastor Paul at ext. 107 or Glenda Nelson at ext. 108.

Be A Part of Christmas Celebration

9:04:54 AM

Preparations are well under way for our 2008 Christmas Celebration - Christmas in Our Town. Here’s how you can participate:

Worship Choir

Ages 16 and up – no audition required. Join us for rehearsals on Wednesdays from 6:30-8:15 and Sundays at 8:45 a.m.. Contact Glenda at ext. 108 for more information.

Celebration Orchestra

Experience required and participation is dependent upon ability and an open spot for your instrument. Rehearsals Sundays at 8:45 a.m. and additionally as scheduled. Contact Glenda at ext. 108 for more information.

Junior and Senior High School Students

Opportunities available for dancers, gymnasts, skaters, skateboarders, singers and more. Join us for rehearsal in the Worship Center at 6:30 p.m. each Wednesday followed by Emerge and ensemble rehearsals at 7:00. Contact Missy at ext. 100 to sign up of for more information.

Elementary School Students

Children in grades 1-6 may be involved in the in the entire program or the opening song only – parents make the choice. Singing and movement will be involved. Join us for rehearsal in the Worship Center each Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. followed by Impact and Royal Rangers at 7:00 p.m. Children will also learn the music during their regular Sunday morning music times. Contact Craig at ext. 112 to sign up or for more information.

Pre-School Children

Children ages 3-5 will be involved in the opening scene only – limiting their need for extra rehearsals or late nights. They will learn the music during their regular Sunday morning music times and will only be required to come to rehearsals the week of the production. Contact Craig at ext. 112 to sign up or for more information.

Technicians, Ushers, Greeters, Attendants, Carpenters, Painters, Childcare Workers, and More

It takes hundreds of people to make the Christmas Celebration happen and we need everyone to pitch in and participate in some way. No matter what your gift or interest, odds are we can use you. Contact Glenda at ext. 108 to sign up or for more information.

Sermon Types

8:41:31 PM

So I was doing some research tonight I sermon types. I was neck deep in what I was trying to accomplish when I ran across this great list of sermon types from our friends in the Great White North. Think Canadian: It makes it funnier when you take off to the Great White North, eh. There's some truth to be found in almost all of these. The Maple Syrup: Boils source material down to about 1/50th its starting volume.

The Mountie: When it's most dressed-up, it doesn't arrest anybody.

The Igloo: Goes 'round and 'round until a final capstone is dropped in.

The Curling: Kind of incomprehensible, but everybody seems to have a good time.

The Lacrosse: Fast, hard-hitting, and it's hard to see the points as they're made.

The Hockey Fight: Staggers unsteadily, swinging wildly, but lands a punch or two.

The Canadian: Overly apologetic.

The Snowmobile: Loud and a bit obnoxious, but takes you places you otherwise wouldn't go.

The Maple Leaf: Has 11 points; always ends up falling to the ground.

1 person + 2 hours = Food for 1 child for 1 year

5:56:01 AM

19 individuals of all ages from Salem traveled to Liberty Township, Ohio to an empty Kroger store to be a part of the Cincinnati area "Kids Against Hunger Pack A Thon" for children in Haiti. Below is the report from our friend and outreach partner, Larry Bergeron, from A Child's Hope International:

The door on the loading dock closed late Sunday afternoon at the vacant Kroger Store in Liberty Township. As the last of the volunteers left, we locked the front door and then headed home. To be honest, it was hard to believe what happened these past few days. The Kids Against Hunger team started loading and preparing the “move in” on Thursday and did not stop until the “move out” on Sunday. No pay. No wonderful dinners served while working. No crowds cheering them on. No pictures on the front page of the Cincinnati Enquirer. But they understand the Treasure Principle well – their rest and rewards will come later. Here is what this team accomplished after many long hours of personal sacrifice:

Well over 1000 people of all ages came and packed Kids Against Hunger packets for the starving children of Haiti
14 tons of rice, 7 tons of soy, 1 ton of vitamins/minerals and over 50,000 cups of dried vegetables were used
There was nothing left to pack as of 7:30 PM Saturday night – the supplies were exhausted
Nearly 49 pallets of food were jammed into the shipping container – the goal was 40 pallets
As a result, the Northwest Haiti Christian Mission will receive 348,000 meals (the goal was 285,000)

348,000 life saving meals will leave today for Haiti – the day after He demonstrated another incredible miracle of multiplication – countless volunteers filling small bags with 22 tons of life saving food. If you were there, thank you. If you gave, thank you. If you prayed, thank you. If you sent a word of encouragement to the team, thank you. You were part of the miracle.

Blessings,

Larry Bergeron

It's not too late to sign-up for the Kids Against Hunger Pack-A-Thon

5:23:50 AM

Currently we have spaces available to help with the pack-a-thon this Saturday, September 27th. Arrival time is 12:30 and our packing shift is 1:00 - 3:00. If your family would like to be a part, please contact Heather Bench ASAP for further details!!

Christmas Celebration - You can Be a Part!

11:08:18 AM

Fireproof Movie Trailer

10:23:23 AM

Today is the Day

2:17:49 PM

Just walk across the room

1:45:56 PM

Bill Hybels wrote a book called “Just Walk Across the Room”. The very basic idea of this book is the effectiveness of simply walking across the room to introduce someone to the love of Jesus. Is this done by saying, “hi, I’m Chris, I’d like to tell you about Jesus”. Or, is it done by saying, “Hi, I’m Chris”. While the book is so much more than just a greeting, this is the basic idea. We build walls and often resist the idea of just sticking out our hand to say hello. There are many ways of “walking across the room”. It could be to simply say hello to the cashier at Kroger instead of just loading the belt and waiting for the goods to be processed. Another one is to provide more conversation to your waitress than just the normal “double cheeseburger, large fry and a coke”. Recently, when a waiter introduced himself, I introduced myself and those at the table. It changed the relationship between us because he either thought there was something wrong with me or he appreciated having his existence appreciated as something more than just as an order taker.

I think this approach works within the walls of our church as well as when we are out in the community. Do you ever find yourself walking from point A to point B without encountering anyone around you? We can be in the presence of hundreds of people (family members) on the weekends at Salem. But sometimes we are focused on the task at hand – i.e. getting from a class room to the sanctuary – that we don’t realize that we’re walking past (passing through) our family.

So have you walked across the room today?

Spruce Pine Video

7:00:20 PM

Sign-Up This Weekend!!

7:03:18 AM

Families are invited to participate in a Kids Against Hunger Pack-A-Thon on Saturday, September 27th. The goal is to pack 280,000 meals to send the children in Haiti. Stop by the God's Embroidery table in the lobby for more information and to sign-up!

Also - we need families willing to write letters to our sponsored children through Children of Promise, Church of God's child sponsorship program. Information will be available at the God's Embroidery table in the lobby this weekend.

Impact World Tour

11:26:24 AM

Have you heard about Impact World Tour(IWT)? It is more than an event, it's an interdenominational organization that is working with area churches, schools and organizations in an effort to reach young people with the Gospel. IWT will be hosting several events around the Miami Valley. If you know young people from 10 - 18 years of age, then have them get online @ www.impactMV.com to get all the dates, times and locations. All events are FREE and in all events they will hear the gospel.

FREE Tickets to all events are available at Salem in the Lobby, Attic, and Cafe. Get online and get informed.

Elijah Has A Family!

8:12:02 AM

Thank you God, for your faithfulness!! Our 2006 summer VBS students, along with the congregation, raised funds for eight-year old Elijah to receive life saving heart surgery in China.

Last night I received word that a family in the US has received preliminary approval to adopt Elijah as their son and give him a forever family!!

I had to share the news with all of you who have been praying for this special child of God! Thank you for your love & support!

China Outreach Trip 2009

2:31:06 PM

Informational Meeting October 5th, 12:30 PM, Room 106

I am preparing for an informational meeting about the trip to China members from Salem will embark on in July, 2009. In the past five years our family has become friends with so many in the world of adoption. Going through my saved information I came across this video. A lot of it was filmed at our partner's facility. I recognized the children from our previous trips and, as usual, the tears flowed. This time, though, tears of joy, as most of the children I recognized are now home with families of their own. God is faithful!!

David Bolt shared with our students last winter and very similar to our family's story a ministry was born after their family's journey to adoption. I hope the video touches you as much as it does me.

Family Outreach Opportunity - Kids Against Hunger Pack-A-Thon

8:28:20 PM

Join Us on Saturday, September 27, Noon - 5:00 PM

God's Embroidery, Salem's Global Orphan & Family Crisis Outreach Team, invites your family to be part of the solution for children residing in Haiti and eating mud cookies as their only meal.

We will work at least one 2-hour shift (occurring noon - 5:00 PM on 9/27) to pack meals to be sent directly to outreaches who will feed the children. Please sign-up at the Ministry Center by September 14th. Our exact shift time will be determined by the amount of people who sign-up. We need 20 to fulfill at least one shift...let's try for two!! Children can help measure and pack ingredients. This is a wonderful opportunity for your child to take a very active role in global outreach.

This event is sponsored by A Child's Hope International, partner with Salem in the Coalition of Care, churches from the Tri-State Region partnering together to address the plight of the orphan through efforts in adoption, foster care and humanitarian relief. Contact Heather Bench for more information.

Please read on to learn the facts facing God's precious children residing within Haiti:

Haiti is the poorest nation in the Western Hemisphere and just a few hours from the coast of the United States – the richest country in the world.

70% of Haitian people live in poverty on less that $2/day
15% of all children in Haiti are orphaned or abandoned
200,000 orphaned Haitian children live in institutions
The rest are in foster care, live with relatives, or live as street children
40% of the population is under the age of 15 (Source: UNICEF)

SOLUTION

For just 25¢ a serving, you can provide a child with a well balanced, nutritious Kids Against Hunger™ meal. For just 2 hours of your time, you can produce enough Kids Against Hunger packets to feed one child for one year.

We invite you to be a part of the solution for the children of Haiti at this special Pack-A-Thon. The Pack-A-Thon will be held from Sept 25-27 (Thurs-Sat) at the vacant Kroger Store in Liberty Township at the corner of Cincinnati- Dayton Road and Hamilton Mason Road.

Emerge Sept.3-Oct.1,2008

1:40:50 PM

Focus for EMERGE: Strength Training

September 3 through October 1, 2008

Physical strengthening and spiritual growth have some of the same principles in common. Just as we need endurance for running a race, we need endurance, perseverance and training for the Christian life. If you’re going to grow and be a follower of Jesus, you’ll have to invest time and discipline. Joins us on at EMERGE as we develop our spiritual muscles.

Christmas Celebration Preview - Sunday, September 21st

9:12:07 AM

Everyone is welcome to a pitch-in-preview of the 2008 Christmas Celebration on Sunday, September 21^st immediately following the 11:00 a.m. worship celebration in the gym. We’ll provide the drinks, paper products and program. Just bring food for your family to share and we’ll “pitch-in” together to serve a fantastic feast. While we fellowship, we’ll provide a sneak preview of the music for this year’s Christmas Celebration along with details for how you and your household can be involved. There is a place for everyone including Choir, Orchestra, Drama, Children, Students, Childcare, Free Ticket Distribution, Greeting, Parking, Platform Construction and Removal, Wassail & Cookie set up and servers, Decorations, Costumes and even more. For more information or to sign up to serve, please contact Glenda at ext. 108

Worship Choir Resumes Wednesday, August 27th

8:48:34 AM

Come join us as we begin the fall season together. Our regular choir rehearsals will resume on Wed., Aug. 27th at 7 pm in the choir room. We have some great new songs to learn and Christmas Celebration preparation is just around the corner. Everyone is welcome - no audition is required. Please come out and enjoy the music and worship with us.

Music Lessons are up and running!!

8:36:40 AM

You guessed it. Fall music lessons are already up and running. Call now to schedule lessons for you or for someone in your family. Don’t miss out on this great opportunity to develop a music skill now. Lessons are available for piano, french horn, trumpet or cornet, trombone, baritone, flute and clarinet. Please see the Institute of Fine Arts page for a list of instructors and their contact information.

Orchestra Rehearsals Resume Sunday, August 31st

7:58:00 AM

Please come out and join us as we begin the Fall season. We will meet on Sunday mornings at 8:30 am in the choir room. We were able to purchase more music stands to be used in the choir room for our rehearsals. This arrangement in the choir room will stay set up all week and will be ready for our rehearsals each Sunday morning. We are excited to start on our new "stand alone" orchestra charts. In a few weeks we plan to start rehearsing the new music for Christmas. See you all next Sunday morning.

Greetings from Pastor Bob Moss

5:10:12 AM

Greetings to Salem Church of God from Pastor Bob Moss

ACP Mission trip big time thank you!

8:08:04 AM

I just wanted to experiment with the website and make my first post. I thought it would be appropriate to once again thank everyone at Salem who made the ACP mission trip a success either through their donation of food, clothing, baby needs, or their donations to the missions budget. This was my first ever mission trip and it was a life changing experience for me as well as my wife Misty. Also it is important that I mention that this trip was about love. Our love for others because of God's love for us. I think we successfully demonstrated that message and Randy, the Western Carolina Church pastor said he made 9 new contacts to follow up with and share the Gospel!!!!! Most importantly I thank God for this oppurtunity and the impact it has had on me.

THANKS EVERYONE!!!!

The Hugs Project Continues to Support Our Troops

11:07:18 AM

We are excited about providing Hugs (cooling neckties), Kisses (cooling helmet inserts), Sand Scarves, and other misc. items to our brave men and women serving in Iraq and Afghanistan! So far this summer we have sent the following to 11 of our soldiers who then share the items with those who serve with them: 2 Bibles, 2092 Hugs, 1962 Kisses, 433 Sand Scarves, and 44 black wool stocking hats. We have sent 40 boxes weighing almost 309 pounds. We thank everyone who helps with this project!!!

Not sure of author...

11:18:21 AM

Freddy and the Lord stood by to observe a baseball game. The Lord's team was playing Satan's team. The Lord's team was at bat, the score was tied zero to zero, and it was the bottom of the 9th inning with two outs. They continued to watch as a batter named 'Love' stepped up to the plate. Love swung at the first pitch and hit a single, because ' Love never fails.'

The next batter was named Faith, who also got a single because Faith works with Love .

The next batter up was named Godly Wisdom. Satan wound up and threw the first pitch.
Godly Wisdom looked it over and let it pass: Ball one. Three more pitches and Godly Wisdom walked because he never swings at what Satan throws.

The bases were now loaded. The Lord then turned to Freddy and told him He was now going to bring in His star player. Up to the plate stepped Grace.. Freddy said, 'He sure doesn't look like much!'

Satan's whole team relaxed when they saw Grace...
Thinking he had won the game, Satan wound up and fired his first pitch. To the shock of everyone, Grace hit the ball harder than anyone had ever seen! But Satan was not worried; his center fielder let very few get by.
He went up for the ball, but it went right through his glove, hit him on the head and sent him crashing on the ground; the roaring crowd went wild as the ball continued over the fence for a home run!
The Lord's team won!

The Lord then asked Freddy if he knew why Love, Faith and Godly Wisdom could get on base but couldn't win the game. Freddy answered that he didn't know why.

The Lord explained, 'If your love, faith and wisdom had won the game, you would think you had done it by yourself. Love,Faith and Wisdom will get you on base but only My Grace can get you home.

'For by Grace are you saved, it is a gift of God; not of works, lest any man should boast.' Ephesians 2:8-9

'For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord will give grace and glory; no good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly.'
Psalm 84:11

I hope you all are blessed today!

Harvest Bazaar Workshop, August 4 - Scarecrow Candy Pots

9:11:03 AM

Everyone is invited to join us for our Harvest Bazaar workshop on Monday, August 4 at 6:00 p.m. in Room 314. We will be making Scarecrow Candy Pots. Leaders will guide you in each step of the craft project. Come and join us and meet some new friends! For more information, contact Judy at jaschell40@verizon.net

Friend in need

5:00:18 PM

I don't really know where else to turn with this information. I have a friend named Mikel who is only 21 years old. He was diagnosed with a rare blood disorder when he was a child. He has since devoted his life to serving the Lord and has worked in youth ministries for several years. This past year has been very hard on him and he has been in and out of the hospital. His parents have turned their backs on him, leaving him completely alone. This past month he was told that he is not going to live past six months. The doctors say that the only was for him to survive is through a miracle. I ask that you please include Mikel in your prayers. He needs several operations that are very costly, and he does not have the money to have them done. He needs all the help he can get right now.

Thanks,

Rebekah Ivie

Thank You!

7:14:56 AM

Thank you for being a part of the Appalachian Church Planting outreach trip to Spruce Pine, NC

Your donations will enable our team to supply needs for approximately 100 families. We could not do it without you!

As our team serves in Spruce Pine July 26 & 27, would you join us in prayer?

· For God’s protection as we travel and serve

· For a growing spirit of Christian family among our team

· For our open hearts and minds to the spiritual as well as the physical needs of those we serve

· For God’s blessing on our team and on the people and ministry of Appalachian Church Planting

· Below is a report from Myanmar. Thank you for your continued prayers.

We are excited to report the latest phone conversation between Dr. Paul Maxfield, Executive Director of Children of Promise, and the national leader of the Church of God in Myanmar (unnamed due to security reasons) on July 17, 2008. Direct communication was restored this week after several weeks of not being able to communicate either by phone or email.

Church members and leaders are overwhelmed by the response of the North American Church of God to the Cyclone Nargis disaster. The first item of discussion was to relay the following message to all those who prayed and donated toward the relief effort: “We are so amazed at your help and love toward us. It has been such a great comfort to us. Many people are coming to the Lord because of the generous outpouring of love through the Church of God. The churches in the Yangon area are packed. Thank you so much for your great compassion and love. We give God the thanks and glory.”

With regard to the $70,000 that arrived in Myanmar on May 23, we have the following report.

One hundred and fifty homes have been rebuilt, with sixty of these being for the Children of Promise children and families. Large distributions of rice, noodles, oil for cooking, medications, and clothing have been conducted in the communities where the Church of God has congregations.

Families are overjoyed with their new homes. Each time a home is completed, the church leaders hold a house dedication service at which the home is prayed over, thanks is given for the generosity and compassion of the living God, and the gospel is shared. Many conversions have taken place as a result of the construction of the homes.

In the past, children have always been the first to respond to outreach efforts by the church. Then, the mothers would come, but rarely the fathers. Now, church leaders report that fathers are bringing their families to church. One father said, “In the past, I opposed my wife and children attending the church. But their God is faster than our old god. We should worship him.” He is referring to the way the church was able to respond to the needs of the people in such a rapid fashion. Church leaders report that 30 new believers are already prepared for water baptism as a direct result of the ministry of the church in the wake of the cyclone. Again, they refer to Cyclone Nargis as the “blessed storm.”

Some of the children’s wage earners lost their means of support because of the storm’s devastation. So, the church has used some of the funds to extend loans to the sponsored children’s families to begin small businesses. Examples of small businesses include selling vegetables, making cakes and selling them, selling rice, selling vegetables with curry (hot dish), selling flowers, and selling fish on the streets. Each family was given $10-20 to invest in their new business. They have agreed to pay back the loan within a month and a half. If they do so within this time frame, the church will extend a second loan to expand their businesses. The church people are so excited about this venture. They are working hard to get their businesses up and running, and the leaders report good success so far. They also report that the families are working hard to pay back the loans, bit by bit each week.

The three churches in the Yangon metropolitan area have all been repaired, as have the office building and the girls’ dorm at the training school. The roofs have all been replaced, and the water tanks, toilets, pump, and additional repair work have all been completed at the Htaukyant church.

A medical team composed of a doctor who is a friend of the Church of God, along with the Bible School trainees and church members, conducted a medical clinic specifically in Saikpyoye several weeks ago. Over 100 people were examined and treated. The same was held at the church in Shwepitha where over 100 were also treated.

There continues to be a great need for rice and other food stuffs as many families are still in the process of rebuilding. Additional funds to be sent will be used for continued food distribution.

Leaders report that the government is making efforts rebuild in the areas around Yangon and Irwaddy, but not in the remote areas. The church has gone into these remote areas with relief items and support.

On July 26-28, 46 people from 15 Salem families will be on mission in Spruce Pine, North Carolina sharing the love of Jesus Christ in practical ways with the Appalachian people. As part of this effort, we are providing school supplies, groceries and baby supplies to over 100 families in public housing communities in and around the Spruce Pine area. The needed school supplies have been generously donated through Salem’s Vacation Bible School and the wonderful people of the congregation have made great contributions of food and baby items. However, additional supplies are required if we are to meet the needs of these precious people.

We would like to ask our Salem family to rally this weekend in response to the need. Please look over the list of items below and generously give what you can. Even one pack of diapers and a few cans of food can make a great difference. Donation centers will be available throughout the weekend in both lobbies for you to drop off your supplies.

This is the last weekend to donate supplies and we are trusting God for a bountiful blessing. Thank you so much for whatever your family can do to help other families in need.

Supplies Needed for Appalachian Missions:

· Diapers and wipes – any size

· Boxed macaroni and cheese

· Canned tuna and/or meat

· Canned spaghetti sauce and pasta

· Canned fruits and vegetables

· Peanut butter

This Week at Sanctuary - July 19, 2008

3:16:48 PM

It’s going to be a very special night at Sanctuary this Saturday as we welcome our new Senior Pastor candidate Bob Moss and his wife Renee. Join us at 5:30 p.m. for a free pizza supper (Cindy’s homemade pizza!). Then we will have a brief worship time, a special Kid’s Spotlight from Debi, and some Q&A time with Pastor Moss.

Please note – As Sanctuary “regulars,” we are the hosts for this church-wide event. The pizza is furnished but we’re asking everyone from Sanctuary to pitch in a dessert. Also, if you can come a little early and help to welcome our guests, it would be most appreciated.

Looking forward to this weekend …

Relationships: Children

1:05:26 PM

The foundation for relationship with our children is absolute, unconditional love. Although none of us have the example of a perfect parent here on earth, we do have the example of a perfect parent in the divine Fatherhood of God. We can trace the theme of a loving Father God throughout scripture from His creation to the fulfillment of His plan for redemption and reconciliation at the end of Revelation. We are called to love and accept our children as God loves us – to the point that we lay down our lives for them.

It seems to me that in our current culture there is a great deal of misunderstanding regarding our call to sacrifice ourselves for our children. This exists primarily because we cannot imagine sacrificing ourselves for anything. The highest value of our contemporary culture is self.

But our elevation of self to the detriment of our children is not strictly a secular issue. I fear we have embraced this rejection of God-given responsibility in our churches and Christian communities with an attitude toward personal spiritual development which abandons God’s creation of family as the primary context for discipleship. In the early pages of scripture, as God defines the nation of Israel as his chosen people and outlines His call for their obedience, He instructs them to know His words and to “teach them to your children.” (Deuteronomy 4:9-10) I am not referring to home schooling for education and I don’t believe God was either. I believe this is a specific instruction from the Lord for parents to be the primary spiritual disciplers of their children.

With few exceptions, it has become not only acceptable but preferable in our current Christian culture to segregate our children and youth in a spiritual “out of sight, out of mind” rejection of our parental responsibilities. Please understand, I do recognize the need for all of us to learn and grow in environments which can address our specific needs. There are most certainly times when adults need to learn with adults, youth with youth, and children with other children. However I believe with all my heart that the single best way for a child to learn to love and be loved by God is to personally observe a parent’s personal relationship with Jesus Christ firsthand.

A child will learn to worship by seeing and sharing a parent’s authentic worship. He or she will learn to trust God by watching parents trust God in their home in both great and small matters. They will learn that God answers prayer by praying those prayers with their parents and then sharing the joy and gratitude of God’s faithfulness.

Let’s learn to welcome our children in worship and even embrace their simple faith and creative expressions of love for the Lord. Let’s involve them in the practical expressions of our spiritual lives – Bible study, prayer, giving, etc. Let’s live out the love of Christ in our daily lives in practical ways and involve our children in the process. And if we have been lax in the practical expressions of our faith, perhaps it’s an opportunity to learn from our children. Remember the caution and the promise of Jesus…

"Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it." Mark 10:14-15, NIV

FAMILY FUN TIME AND FREE HOT DOG SUPPER

4:24:27 PM

FAMILY FUN TIME AND FREE HOT DOG SUPPER

On Saturday July 12^th from 5:30-7:00 p.m. we are going to have an evening full of fun activities, snacks, and music for all preschoolers and elementary children and their parents. There will be an inflatable moonwalk, sand activities, crafts, and other carnival style centers. Plus, we'll provide a free hot dog supper for everyone who attends.

Kids - grab your parents and join us at Sanctuary this Saturday in the gym. It’s a great time for families to have fun TOGETHER!

Where is your personal meditation place?

10:45:37 AM

I am a very distracted human being. Anyone who talks to me knows that -- I break off on tangents and often never make it back to my original point... or when I do, I forget what I was talking about in the first place. This is often the same with my quiet time with God, and it is frustrating. I recently had a thought, and wanted some thoughts from others. I have considered making a "meditation spot" where I will go and sit and read/concentrate/listen. I was thinking of a corner somewhere in my home where I can post some notes, pictures, verses, etc. And I was thinking about making it a spot where I could turn off the lights except for some candles, I was also thinking of some encense to help focus me, maybe some very soft music as well.

But as I was thinking about all of this, I couldn't help but think of some other religions that this seems to relate to, and I was curious to see if anyone saw anything "wrong" with setting this type of mediation area up. I mean, the purpose behind it is trying to get a place where I can focus on God, and being that I get so distracted so easily -- just finding a quiet desk somewhere, a chair, my computer (I have tried reading the bible from Bible Gateway and keeping my thoughts written down in electronic format) -- is simply not practical for me.

What do you think? I am looking for some suggestions/cautions/etc from those more wise than I.

Marriage

9:10:41 AM

Marriage is a unique and precious gift from God. Martin Luther said that “Marriage is God’s best way of explaining himself.” He was referring to the deepest possible level of intimacy which is the goal of God’s relationship with us as well as the relationship that exists between a man and a woman in marriage. Obviously we fall far short of that goal in our human relationships, but it is important to know that deep intimacy is primarily spiritual, rather than physical, in nature. God’s desire is to restore each of us to an eternal personal relationship with him through Jesus Christ. The goal of marriage is to establish and develop the deepest possible level of personal relationship between a man and a woman.

The tragedy is that we are inherently selfish creatures and love is distinctly unselfish in nature. The goal of love is to give rather than receive, and that must be the foundation of marriage. I believe the primary source of marital struggle is, first of all, a lack of understanding that giving rather than receiving is the primary goal of love and, secondly, an utter unawareness of exactly what each of us is required to give.

The key to a successful marriage is for a husband and a wife to make it the goal of their lives to give to their partner what they most need. We don’t have to guess what that is, God tells us plainly in what I believe to be the most centrally significant passage of scripture for successful marriage relationships.

However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband. Ephesians 5:33

The primary need of a woman in a marriage is the love of her husband. The primary need of a husband is the respect of his wife.

I find it fascinating that nowhere in scripture does God tell women to love their husbands, yet there are numerous instances in which God instructs men to love their wives. I believe this is because God created a woman with a capacity and a drive for love and he is well aware that she will respond with love to a man who loves her “as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her…” Ephesians 5:25

Likewise, God created man with a unique need for respect and he specifically instructs a wife to provide that respect for her husband. What so many women have difficulty understanding is the response mechanism that God built in to men to respond positively when they are treated with respect. This is a principle I have experienced firsthand in my own marriage. I find I am a better person when I am treated with respect, sometimes even before I have “earned” it.

Husbands, if you will love your wife actively and purposefully to the point that you will sacrifice your own interests for hers, she will not only love you in return, she will respect you.

Wives, if you will treat your husbands with respect, sometimes even before they have “earned” it, your husband is sure to respond with the love God created you to desire.

Here’s the catch… you can only be responsible for your side of the equation. You can’t demand to be loved or respected; you may only give it away – just as God so willingly gave all he had to us through his Son, Jesus Christ. That is the essence of love.

Connecting With China

8:41:00 AM

We will spend time building our relationships with our China partners while helping meet the needs of orphans with special medical needs.

Our planning team recognizes that this is an expensive trip. We are beginning planning one-year in advance to enable those who want to travel a chance to save and raise the funds for the trip. We estimate that the trip will cost approximately $3,000 - $3,500, which includes airline tickets, transportation while in China, our guide & interpreter, accommodations, some meals, travel to the Great Wall, Forbidden City, Summer Palace and spending money. If you would like detailed information about the trip, brochures are available at the World Map located in the hallway between the Worship Center and RAC or you may contact Heather Bench.

Traveling Dates:

Departure: Thursday, July 9, 2009. Arrival in Beijing on Friday, July 10

Return Flight: Monday July 20th or Tuesday, July 21, 2009

The name of God

8:44:27 PM

I passed by a car that had a little Tweety Bird sticker on the back window with the caption "God Bless". I then thought about the song "God Bless the USA". I then thought of all those singers that get up at awards shows and thank God. Busta Rhymes even made a parody video at one of those award shows a few years ago about this. The video was a mockery of all those people that get up and thank God during their speeches. Some could view it as a bit sacrilegious. Of course, this is the same guy that is A.K.A. "The god". At any rate, what I'm trying to point out is the secularization of God. It's all around us and we don't even see it because it's so deep in our American culture. How many people actually understand the theological implications of the song "God Bless America"? When we hear Lee Greenwood sing God Bless the USA, is it the Holy Spirit that we feel or is it just some programmed patriotic algorithm that moves inside us? I'll be honest, for me it's been more about the Red, White and Blue than the Spirit of our Lord in the past.

My hope is that every time we see or hear the word God, we truly think about the creator of the universe. Many of Jewish faith won’t even say the name of God or type it unless it is in the form of “G-d”. They so revere the name of God that they never want to misuse it. Some will even use the word Hashem which is Hebrew for the “name of God”. For most of us, the name of God has lost its reverence. How many makeover shows do we watch where the name of God is used over and over to express surprise. How sad is it that the best we can do is declare the name of God in surprise when we see new wallpaper?

So what do we do with this? I hope we all will make efforts toward restoring the revered name of God to its rightful place. We need to restore our reverence of the name of God. We need to realize that when say “God”, he’s listening.

Chris

Children of Promise Photos

7:39:42 AM

Our financial sponsorship will ensure that these children will receive nutritional, educational and health assistance, as well as spiritual nurture through the local Church of God congregations. Will you join us in praying for these children and their families?

Multiple photos have been posted on the God's Embroidery Blog: http://godsembroidery.blogspot.com/