Worship

The final chapter of our story is an interesting one.

Up until this point, we have examined events that have already happened. This week's chapter deals with things to come.

Not only that, but the final chapter has two authors...you and God...and the part you write determines how the story ends.

Come, worship with us, and find out what that's all about.

"Disorderly" Worship

Police Call Church Music "Disorderly"

www.crosswalk.com

According to CNSNews.com, a Michigan church filed a federal lawsuit after police officers, led by a local prosecutor, entered the sanctuary at least twice without a warrant alleging the church's music was too loud and, in one instance, threatened to arrest church musicians for disorderly conduct.

Faith Baptist Church, with a congregation of about 10,000 members, is suing local officials in the Township of Waterford, Mich., in a First Amendment case a church attorney said could have national ramifications in establishing what local governments can do in regulating churches.

The suit - alleging the township violated the church's freedom of religious expression, freedom of speech and freedom of association - was filed earlier this month in U.S. District Court in Detroit after the church had been subject to what it describes as raids by the Waterford Police Department, led by township prosecutor Walter Bedell.

At least one of those raids occurred during a Sunday service, according to the suit. The church played contemporary Christian music that included guitars, drums, and other instruments.

Township officials contend they were simply trying to enforce local noise laws and that the church is being a bad neighbor.

Interesting

Adopt a Terrorist for Prayer Movement Begins

www.crosswalk.com

What should the Biblical response be to people who blow themselves up along with innocent bystanders?

The new web-based ministry, Adopt a Terrorist for Prayer (ATFP), helps Christians follow Jesus' instructions to love and pray for their enemies, ASSIST News Service reports. While agreeing the military needs to fight terrorism, Dr. Thomas Bruce, the founder of ATFP, advocates prayer as a counter-offensive that is off limits to generals and politicians. Bruce sees the war on terrorism as a spiritual struggle against fear.

"The terrorists are just the highest profile intimidators in Satan's arsenal," he said in a news release. "They think they are serving God." Bruce said he believes terrorists are vulnerable to an authentic word from God and to Jesus' forgiving love.

He referred in the news release to what God says through the prophet Ezekiel, "I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their ways and live."

Easter

Easter Schedule

Worship - 9:00 a.m.

Sunday School - 10:00 a.m.

Breakfast Served - 10:00 - 11:00 a.m.

Worship - 11:15 a.m.

Good Friday

But he was pierced for our transgressions,
he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was upon him,
and by his wounds we are healed.
We all, like sheep, have gone astray,
each of us has turned to his own way;
and the LORD has laid on him
the iniquity of us all.

Isaiah 53:5-6

Maundy Thursday

"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." (John 13:34-35)

Holy Week

Worship Opportunities

Maundy Thursday Service

March 20

7:00 p.m.

Sanctuary

Good Friday

March 21

Sanctuary open from Noon - 3:00 p.m.

for

prayer and meditation

Worship

Romans 5:8 reads, "But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us."

Behind the death of Christ is the love of God: God loved; Christ died.

It has been said there is a stark contrast between the tremendous worth of the life laid down and the unworthiness of those who stand to benefit from it.

Worship with us, this Palm Sunday, as we continue with Easter: based on a true story.

Coffee House Night

Friday - March 14

7 p.m.

Free

~ Free Starbucks Coffee, Pastries, Free WiFi Internet & More

~Live Music From: Treehands & Andy Walker

~ Check out Treehands music at:

http://www.myspace.com/treehands

DO SOMETHING NOW!

We will be collecting basic medicine items such as Advil, Tylenol, Vitamins, Tums, etc. for the Medical Clinic in Ft. Librete, Haiti.

Information will also be available on Child Sponsorship and other waysto get involved with the Friends of Ft. Librete.

http://www.haitifriends.com/

Interesting Stastistic

Study Shows 1 in 100 Americans in Prison

www.crosswalk.com

According to Baptist Press, more than one in every 100 American adults are in jail or prison. A recent study by the Pew Center for the States also found that about half of released inmates return to jail or prison within three years.

Mark Earley, president of Prison Fellowship Ministries, told BP the Pew report signals a significant social and moral crisis in the country that should be addressed in part by Christians heeding a parable found in Matthew 25. "Jesus said, 'If you visit a prisoner, you visit Me,'" Earley said. "So we have a mandate from our Lord to care for, to visit and to seek the transformation of those who are in prison."

John Robson, assistant professor of Christian ministry at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary's extension center at the Louisiana State Penitentiary in Angola, said the prison problem can be attributed to an amoral, postmodern society, and he said the solution lies in granting inmates access to a faith-based education.

Worship

There is a stir in Nazareth, because Jesus is coming home. He has made quite a name for himself teaching in synagogues throughout the region.

There is added excitement because, this Sabbath, he is going to be in his hometown synagogue.

The place is probably packed as Jesus gets up to read and teach.

However...to say things didn't exactly go as planned is an understatement.

Come worship with us, Sunday, and find out why.

Habits of Financial Freedom

Rev. David Bennett
Director of Mission & Development
Growing Healthy Churches

www.growinghealthychurches.org

In the last 14 years, I have consulted with individuals and couples who have made some very wise decisions with their money and some who have made some devastating ones. Many have over $40,000 of credit card debt, car payments and mortgage debt that steals too much of their income, making it difficult to afford food. Because these people are financially broke, money overwhelms them and comprises a majority of their thoughts. All of this has caused me to wonder how I can teach my children habits of financial freedom so that they won’t make the same mistakes, reaping the same miserable results.

Others have become very wealthy by the time they are 35 years old and some older. They have earned a large income, saved a portion of their income and generated a large net worth. Because of this, they spend a large portion of their time managing their resources and are concerned with the economy and losing what they’ve accumulated.

As a result, I’ve been concerned that my children would have financial troubles and then focus too much on money. I’ve also been concerned that my children would have too much money and focus too much on money. How can I be assured that money does not control them? What lessons do they need to learn? How can I communicate these lessons to a 12 and 14 year old so that they will accept them?

Years ago when I managed money at Merrill Lynch, I asked one of my affluent clients what the greatest struggles Christian men have. He said, “Girls, glory and gold.” Women can tempt men to not follow God’s ways. Glory from people affects our ego’s causing us to rely on our own abilities instead of God. “Gold” seduces us to change our focus from God to money. Then I asked, “How I could make sure money did not have its grip on me?” My client said, “Give it away and be willing to give God all of it if He asks you to.”

This is a lesson I can teach my children, the most important money management lesson – giving. When we give, we release the hold of money in our lives. When we give, we honor God. When we give, we become a blessing. When we give, we serve others as Christ did. When we give, God blesses us.

To teach giving to my children, I give them jobs to do, pay them and give them the opportunity to give at least 10% of their earnings to the ministry of their local church, so they can honor God, bless and serve others. Giving is the best way to unleash the power and hold of money in our lives.