STANDING STONE BIBLE
WEEKLY
April 15, 2024
A Point from pastor
A few of our folks traveled several hours last week to see the sun disappear. Come on! The sun gets "eclipsed" every single night by the earth as it rotates us away from it. Why the fuss?
Because a solar eclipse is quite rare to see and also quite mesmerizing. Frankly, it is one more way that God says, "See? I'm here . . . I'm in control. . . Do not trust in yourself, trust in me." As the heavens declare the glory of God, so does a simple eclipse. Back in 2017, an adventurous group of us drove south to a farm in the "path of totality" to observe the eclipse. It was a great event. See the picture below of those who travelled to take in this great event.
An eclipse puts us in the dark. May we, as Christians, not be in the dark on what is transpiring in our world. This weekend, Iran attacked Israel. Some would react with a "so what?" The "so what?" is that Iran does not attack Israel directly. They've always used proxies (Hamas is funded by Iran). Iran has stated after this attack that they are done with this retaliatory attack... nothing more to come. That is just not true. As a Muslim nation, they are not done. Know that when you hear the words "islamic extremism," that is a mislabel. What we hear as islamic extremism is true Islam. According to the Quran, "do not take Christians and Jews as true friends. They are only true friends of one another and they are forever the enemies of Islam." True Muslims that abide by the Quran and Islamic teachings understand there is not to be a world where Christians and Jews can live peaceably alongside of Muslims; Christianity and Judaism must be destroyed. We either convert to Islam or we are to die. May we not be in the dark.
This brings us to the southern border of the United States. May we not be in the dark about what is happening there. In most cases, these are not "refugees" coming across but illegal aliens. And also, it would be wrong to claim that those coming in are Mexican. Not all of them. It has been documented that over 100 different countries are represented in the illegals that have crossed the border these last few years. How many terrorists are already in the United States plotting the next 9.11? How many young children have been brought across to be trafficked? How many illegal drugs and weapons have been brought in? May we not be in the dark.
Those are just two areas where believers must shed some light to those in the dark. Be careful as well because we can easily get overwhelmed by world events. Don't do that. If you have a big dose of news, you must also be in God's word or you'll get disheartened. The news is often depressing. But God's word gives us light. God is light! "God is light, and in him is no darkness at all" (1 John 1:5). Only through God, by keeping in His Word, being in church, and letting Him illuminate the darkness can we make sense and bring hope (and His light) to this dark world.
Because a solar eclipse is quite rare to see and also quite mesmerizing. Frankly, it is one more way that God says, "See? I'm here . . . I'm in control. . . Do not trust in yourself, trust in me." As the heavens declare the glory of God, so does a simple eclipse. Back in 2017, an adventurous group of us drove south to a farm in the "path of totality" to observe the eclipse. It was a great event. See the picture below of those who travelled to take in this great event.
An eclipse puts us in the dark. May we, as Christians, not be in the dark on what is transpiring in our world. This weekend, Iran attacked Israel. Some would react with a "so what?" The "so what?" is that Iran does not attack Israel directly. They've always used proxies (Hamas is funded by Iran). Iran has stated after this attack that they are done with this retaliatory attack... nothing more to come. That is just not true. As a Muslim nation, they are not done. Know that when you hear the words "islamic extremism," that is a mislabel. What we hear as islamic extremism is true Islam. According to the Quran, "do not take Christians and Jews as true friends. They are only true friends of one another and they are forever the enemies of Islam." True Muslims that abide by the Quran and Islamic teachings understand there is not to be a world where Christians and Jews can live peaceably alongside of Muslims; Christianity and Judaism must be destroyed. We either convert to Islam or we are to die. May we not be in the dark.
This brings us to the southern border of the United States. May we not be in the dark about what is happening there. In most cases, these are not "refugees" coming across but illegal aliens. And also, it would be wrong to claim that those coming in are Mexican. Not all of them. It has been documented that over 100 different countries are represented in the illegals that have crossed the border these last few years. How many terrorists are already in the United States plotting the next 9.11? How many young children have been brought across to be trafficked? How many illegal drugs and weapons have been brought in? May we not be in the dark.
Those are just two areas where believers must shed some light to those in the dark. Be careful as well because we can easily get overwhelmed by world events. Don't do that. If you have a big dose of news, you must also be in God's word or you'll get disheartened. The news is often depressing. But God's word gives us light. God is light! "God is light, and in him is no darkness at all" (1 John 1:5). Only through God, by keeping in His Word, being in church, and letting Him illuminate the darkness can we make sense and bring hope (and His light) to this dark world.
2017 Eclipse Travelers
Church Notes...
Congratulations Tim and Katie! Jackson Timothy Yoder was born April 13, 2024 at 11:13pm, weighing 5 lbs, 13 oz. They should be heading home to rest today.
THIS WEEK
Here are the highlights of classes and events THIS week
Four the Master - The SSB gospel quartet will be ministering at Marquis Place in Elkhorn on Friday a 2pm. Also at Ridgewood Retirement Community in Bennington Monday (April 22) at 6:30pm.
Men's Breakfast - Saturday morning is the monthly men's breakfast at 7:30am. Prior to this is also a men's Bible study. You might come to one or both.
Grad Banquet - Saturday evening is a banquet honoring our high school seniors. Be in prayer for them and their families.
Men's Breakfast - Saturday morning is the monthly men's breakfast at 7:30am. Prior to this is also a men's Bible study. You might come to one or both.
Grad Banquet - Saturday evening is a banquet honoring our high school seniors. Be in prayer for them and their families.
upcoming events
Make note of the classes and events available in the near future
Final Gym Night - The final gym night for Wednesday night Kidz Club is Wednesday, April 24th. Parents, you'll want to drop the kids off at Gretna Elementary School after the meal (6:45) - the easiest access is to drive into the east parking lot and they can go into those side doors.
Christian Worldview Day - This free event, organized by Kingdom Sports and Providence Church, has something for each of us. This is on Monday, April 22nd. Speakers: ICR's Dr. Randy Guliuzza, Dan Woods, and a testimony from Lt. General Mark Shackelford.
Register for the morning session (9-11:30am) here.
Note: Morning is for homeschool children and parents.
Register for the evening session (7-9pm) here.
Summer Bible Camps - Glad Tidings is a camp ministry we have sent several kids to. They offer camps for pre-school age through High School (and a "wilderness" camp). Visit their web-page HERE and consider signing up the kids. Camps run end of May through July. SSB will help with money if that is a concern.
Christian Worldview Day - This free event, organized by Kingdom Sports and Providence Church, has something for each of us. This is on Monday, April 22nd. Speakers: ICR's Dr. Randy Guliuzza, Dan Woods, and a testimony from Lt. General Mark Shackelford.
Register for the morning session (9-11:30am) here.
Note: Morning is for homeschool children and parents.
Register for the evening session (7-9pm) here.
Summer Bible Camps - Glad Tidings is a camp ministry we have sent several kids to. They offer camps for pre-school age through High School (and a "wilderness" camp). Visit their web-page HERE and consider signing up the kids. Camps run end of May through July. SSB will help with money if that is a concern.
the Lord's day
Sunday school is an important part of a Sunday morning - an opportunity to go deeper into God's word and increase your knowledge of Him. We begin Sunday mornings in a rich time of study.
The worship service gave the youth an opportunity to serve us. We trust you enjoy their smiling faces at the doors, greeting and helping. The worship team was large and young! They were great! Energetic and excited and praising the Lord. I love seeing that. I trust you did as well.
The message from Isaiah 40 looked at us questioning God in times of trouble. Isaiah noted that "Even youths shall faint and be weary." In their great energy, our youth today are discouraged, many depressed. Isaiah gives us hope that "they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength." We also considered how to live this out - how to be those "who wait for the Lord" and we brought out an old friend in the 'three chairs.' Is our faith given to leaning into God and sold out to loving Him and loving His people or do we vacillate between the ways of God and the ways of the world. Those who wait for the Lord are "First Chair" people... they are the ones who "shall renew their strength... mount up with wings like eagles, run and not be weary... walk and not faint." Some need to move to that first chair.
The worship service gave the youth an opportunity to serve us. We trust you enjoy their smiling faces at the doors, greeting and helping. The worship team was large and young! They were great! Energetic and excited and praising the Lord. I love seeing that. I trust you did as well.
The message from Isaiah 40 looked at us questioning God in times of trouble. Isaiah noted that "Even youths shall faint and be weary." In their great energy, our youth today are discouraged, many depressed. Isaiah gives us hope that "they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength." We also considered how to live this out - how to be those "who wait for the Lord" and we brought out an old friend in the 'three chairs.' Is our faith given to leaning into God and sold out to loving Him and loving His people or do we vacillate between the ways of God and the ways of the world. Those who wait for the Lord are "First Chair" people... they are the ones who "shall renew their strength... mount up with wings like eagles, run and not be weary... walk and not faint." Some need to move to that first chair.
•How shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? - Romans 8:32
The full question is this… “He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?” Feel the weight of that question for a moment. A God that would give up His own son for us…. A God that would allow His son to be punished in our place… A God that would allow His son to be punished in the most brutal way possible to the point of death…. Why would a God that allows that not give us everything else? But what is everything else… what is the “all things” He graciously gives us?
This isn't saying that because God’s son died, we will get wonderful wealth, new houses, cars, jewelry and a travel expense account. Would that not demean the value of His son? How trivial that would make the death of Jesus. Shame on us for even thinking along those lines! Besides, the greatest amount of “wealth” we could ever get is truly what Jesus gave us in His finished work on the cross. We are debt free! We are freely given a crown! We are freely given a kingdom!
In context, the “all things” we are freely given is all that we need in this life. God knows. In fact, considering what God knows (consider vv. 26-30), we don’t always understand what we are given as we don’t even always understand what we should be praying for. But God graciously gives it anyway. Whoa!!! Are we loved or what?
This isn't saying that because God’s son died, we will get wonderful wealth, new houses, cars, jewelry and a travel expense account. Would that not demean the value of His son? How trivial that would make the death of Jesus. Shame on us for even thinking along those lines! Besides, the greatest amount of “wealth” we could ever get is truly what Jesus gave us in His finished work on the cross. We are debt free! We are freely given a crown! We are freely given a kingdom!
In context, the “all things” we are freely given is all that we need in this life. God knows. In fact, considering what God knows (consider vv. 26-30), we don’t always understand what we are given as we don’t even always understand what we should be praying for. But God graciously gives it anyway. Whoa!!! Are we loved or what?
Prayer Prods
- Magill's daughter, Jessica
- Gerald in a weak body but with a strong faith
- Joyce moved to rehab home - recovering from surgery
- Birdsell's mourning - Rick still recovering
- High school seniors
- Israel successfully defended Iran attack, their continued battle
- Others in cancer fights - Peggy, Joyce N
- McFarling in a legal battle
