STANDING STONE BIBLE

WEEKLY

July 1, 2024

A Point from pastor

This week is Independence Day.   A very American Holiday where we support China selling fireworks (to the tune of hundreds of millions of dollars annually).   They certainly are pretty, exciting, and fun.  Imagine lighting off something explosive with a label "made in China" and trusting that it will work the way it was intended!   And we hand our littlest kids burning sticks that "sparkle" as hot as 2,000 degrees F.    

Our history with fireworks on the 4th does go back to the beginning.  Even John Adams wrote that he hoped the holiday would "be solemnized with Pomp and Parade, with Shews, Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires and Illuminations from one End of this Continent to the other from this Time forward forever more."   The very first celebration was in 1777.  

It is good to celebrate national holidays such as Independence Day.  This was a significant world history event considering how democracy has since paraded around the world.   Our United States experiment is still in tact (albeit battered and scarred).   In just two years, we will celebrate our Semiquincentennial - a quarter of a millennium.  Quite amazing.  May your celebration this year be marked with gratitude to God for the great freedom we have in this country but, most importantly the freedom we have been given through Christ .  .  .

In Christ, we have freedom from guilt & shame (Rom. 8:10; 10:11).  We are free from the bondage of sin and the curse of the law (Rom. 6:14; Gal. 3:13).  We are free from Satan's power (Col. 1:13).   We are free from God's wrath (1 Thes. 5:9).   We can now freely approach God as a child (Heb. 10:19; Gal 4:7).  We are free to enjoy every spiritual blessing (Eph. 1:3).   We have freedom from the fear of death and to eventually enter heaven (2 Tim. 1:10; John 14:2-3).  

As Jesus said, "So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed" John 8:36).  We are free, free indeed!  

Church Notes...

The members approved funding for the elders to hire Jaime Farias as an evangelist.   He will be reaching out to the large hispanic population in the south Omaha area.   Realizing the daunting task of evangelizing many that think they are saved (large Catholic concentration), he will rely on the Holy Spirit to give the growth - may many come to hear the good news of Jesus and respond in belief!  

THIS WEEK

Here are the highlights of classes and events THIS week

18-26 - Young adults meet weekly during the summer - tonight at 7pm.   In addition, there is also a study this summer at the Zieg home discussing The War on Children by MacArthur (along with some hanging out time!).

Safety - The second safety training session is Saturday at 10am.  Attending a safety training is required for all who work with children or youth at SSB.   Without prior arrangements made, workers unable or unwilling to attend will be sidelined for some months.

Communion & Pot Trust - Sunday morning is our monthly communion service. Consider your walk of late with the Lord and come to the table with clean hands.  Afterwards, we will share in a meal together.  Bring a dish to share.  

VBS Preps & Training - Sunday evening is a preparation time and training for all who wish to help with VBS.  We encourage all high school and middle school youth to help (VBS is July 8-11 from 9:30 to 11:45 am).  A few adults would also be very helpful.  Please help and please encourage your youth to join in.  The training and setup time will be Sunday evening at 6pm (pizza served).  

upcoming events

Make note of the classes and events available in the near future

VBS -  Vacation Bible School (VBS) is next week, July 8-11 (mornings).   Learn more HERE (Registration forms are on this page as well).

SAFETY - Annually, SSB hosts safety training sessions.  Attending one is required for all who work with children (or might like).  VBS helpers (i.e. middle school and high school students) should also attend.  The sessions this summer:  June 24 @7pm.   July 6 @ 10am.  July 13 @ 1pm.

Info Classes - For those interested in learning more of SSB or pursuing membership, information classes will be held in July (July 14, 21, and 28) during the SS hour.   This is also a prerequisite for membership classes (which will take place in the fall).  

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.  

Creation Days Conference - August 10th will be this year's annual "Creation Days."  The format, this year, will be an all-day conference.   Matt Miles with the Creation Truth Foundation will be teaching at SSB (including breakout talks).  Food and childcare will be provided.  

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? 

- Romans 8:35

Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.

- 1 John 4:8

So that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

- Ephesians 3:17-19

the Lord's day

Youth were a big part of our worship service yesterday.  The fifth Sunday is a "youth led" service where our middle and high schoolers are more up front - you noticed a few greeting, ushering, and on stage leading our singing.  They were great!!

Pastor Tim brought the message from Joshua 4:10-24.  God was the one leading the Israelites into this new land.  He made His presence known.   Today, God still fulfills and keeps His promises; this gives us hope.  Parents are primary in discipling their kids to know God.  Thus, parents are to teach kids the basics of their faith.  Talk about His presence, His power, and His promise.  Take time to go deeper in discipling kids as well.  Give them opportunities to live out their faith and seek God, asking Him to use your children to bring others to Him.  

This Month in Christian History

Geronimo!!!   This is a cry by many paratroopers as they leap into the air.  The cry comes from the name of the Apache leader of the late 1800s, Geronimo.  Some are unaware that, on July 1, 1903, Geronimo was baptized in Medicine Creek, Oklahoma Territory.  Some are not convinced of his conversion.  Only God knows.  

Geronimo was a fierce Apache fighter who seemed bloodthirsty and cruel.  Eventually, the Apaches were conquered and Geronimo surrendered in 1886 (he’d already broken out of reservations three other times).  This time, he spent the last 23 years as a “prisoner of war.”  While at Fort Sill, Reformed Church missionaries arrived and several Apache were converted.  Geronimo initially would not listen to them but after an injury from falling off a horse, he admitted that he was “in the dark…not on the right road” and wanted to “find Jesus.”  It is said that he accepted Christianity, saying “I am old, and broken by this fall I have had.  I am without friends, for my people have turned from me. I am full of sins, and I walk alone in the dark. I see that you missionaries have got a way to get sin out of the heart, and I want to take that better road and hold it till I die.”  

He was baptized a week later.  Some noted changes in Geronimo but other biographies share how he would not depart from certain vices (gambling and drinking).  The reports vary on whether Geronimo was soundly saved.  He seemed to be concerned of his sin and lostness but only the Lord knows if was truly saved.

“You can't ignore discouragement.  It's like ignoring a flat tire.  Pray all you want to; drive all you want to; you never will get air back into it.  You've got to fix it.  That's the way it is with discouragement.”

- Charles Swindoll

Prayer Prods

  1. Kathie Pieper in rehabilitation 
  2. Ron Miller recovering
  3. Mike Nylin - surgery tomorrow (hip)
  4. Next steps for getting Jaime set up
  5. Cancer concerns: Peggy O, Ron M, Joyce N
  6. Phyllis (Danell's mom) as they determine next steps to help her
  7. McFarling's legal troubles
  8. Drew, Anderson's grandson, recovery
  9. Laurie H recovering from knee surgery
10.  Gerald's hospice care

General Calendar