STANDING STONE BIBLE

WEEKLY

July 15, 2024
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A Point from pastor

Saturday, July 13, 2024 will be remembered as a significant date in US history.  It is comparable to March 30, 1981 when Ronald Reagan was shot.   Former President Donald Trump was shot in an attempted assassination at a rally in Pennsylvania.  In Trump's words, "It was God alone who prevented the unthinkable from happening."  He is right that God spared him.   My prayer would be that God uses this event in a way that spares the United States. May this near death experience that forced Trump to fall to the ground, cause him to also fall on his knees before God as well.   Also, it is extremely sad to hear about the man that died protecting his wife and daughters.   They will bear perhaps the greatest scar from this tragedy.    Pray for our country and these people as this may become more about fodder for each side's election campaign and less about uniting our country.  

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Considering yesterday's sermon, as we pray for our personal finances at times, how might God answer our prayers if we do pray according to His will?  

  • God will often provide for us in tangible ways… perhaps not the way we think He might or should.   Yet Philippians 4:19 says “my God will meet all your needs” (not wants... needs).

  • God will give wisdom and discernment in financial decisions. As we pray, we commit to the Lord and He establishes the plans. He will also give us contentment and peace if we’ll let Him (Philippians 4:  Paul says “I have learned to be content…”).

  • God will give you opportunities for generosity.  We read in 2 Corinthians 9:8 that we are abundantly blessed so we can abound in blessing others.  

  • God may answer your prayer with conviction leading to repentance.  He may not be pleased with your current money habits.   (Hint:  this may be why most people don't pray according to God’s will because they already know what God might say and require).  

  • God might just answer you in ways of earning money:   promotions, more work, and ways to increase income.  He might even bless you from the provision of your church community.  On the other side, God may start showing you ways to stop spending and wasting money.  Note: Don’t  take money from your family at SSB and then waste it on bad habits.

  • God might answer your prayer to teach you or grow you. Hebrews 12:11 tells us that discipline doesn't seem painful, not pleasant at first.  But it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those been trained by it.

  • Finally, God can also answer those prayers by putting up walls of protection.  E.g. help you avoid scams, bad investments or bad financial situations.  

Church Notes...

Creation Days volunteers will be needed for food, setup, cleanup, security, parking lot help, and the Creation Days Kids  Klub.   HERE IS A LINK for you to sign up and help out.   This will be for Saturday, August 10th.    

You may also register to attend the conference on our website.  Click on the "Register Now" button through these two spots below:  
Sign up for middle school through adults is here....  ADULT REGISTRATION
Sign up for children (newborn through 5th grade) is here....  CHILD REGISTRATION

THIS WEEK

Here are the highlights of classes and events THIS week

18-26 - Young adults will meet at SSB tonight at 7pm.

Men's Breakfast (postponed) - The monthly men's breakfast will be pushed back one week - so, NOT this Saturday.  Men, join in on July 27th for a time of fellowship, breakfast, and a speaker.  

Info Class - Sunday, during the SS hour (8:45 am), will be a second of three sessions providing information about SSB's history, leadership, and doctrine.  Helpful for any who want to learn more of SSB and also a necessary step for membership.  The final two sessions are July 21 and 28.  

upcoming events

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

Annual Cookout & Fireworks - The final Friday in July is Gretna days.  Join us at SSB on Friday, July 26 at 7pm for a cookout - bring your own meat to grill and a side dish to share.  We'll have the table service, condiments, drinks and dessert.  Fireworks begin around 9:45.  

Axe Throwing (Youth, 7-12 grade) - An axe throwing event for the LIGHThouse will be on Thursday evening, August 1st.  More details to come.

Summer Bible Camps - Glad Tidings is a camp ministry we support and send our kids to.  The final "wilderness" camp is July 21-28 for grades 7th to 12th.   Visit their web-page HERE to learn more.

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.  

Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

- Ephesians 4:32

He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?

- Micah 6:8

So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.

- Galatians 6:10

the Lord's day

We shared an update on VBS - several kids pondered "Why Jesus?" for the week and learned about Jesus being king, Christ, human, savior, and Lord.  We were blessed with great kids, great staff, great weather and so many other little blessings - it was a good week.   We talked of the assassination attempt on President Trump.  We also shared the good news of Pastor Ken and Janet Buttermore's 50th wedding anniversary.  Happy anniversary!!!  

Ken Begg shared on the importance of memorizing God's word by sharing many verses that speak of "salvation" (with audience participation).  There is an opportunity for you to take in a class in the near future with Ken to better know God's Word and make hiding it in your heart a practical habit.  Let him know if you are interested in attending a future Sunday school class for this.  

The message brought us to another "anything" prayer from 1st John 5:14.  We talked of praying for finances.   We want to understand God's will when it comes to money.  First, God owns everything!  We need to be mindful that the "earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof" (Ps. 24:1) - He owns it all!   Second, our focus must be on God and God's kingdom.  "Do not love the world or the things in the world" (John 2:15).  Third, we are to be good stewards of all that we have been entrusted with.  We can enjoy creation, and enjoy things that cost money but, ultimately, we want to hear "well done, good and faithful servant" (Matt 25:21, 23).  Our prayers should be based on God's will for money.  We also discussed some ideas on how these prayers might rightly sound.   
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The Moral of the story

These were actual excuses for missing school turn in by students reported to a magazine a few years back:

  • “My son is under a doctor’s care and could not take P.E. yesterday.  Please execute him.”
  • “Please excuse Cynthia for being absent.  She was sick and I had her shot.”
  • “Please excuse Tom for being absent on Jan. 28, 29, 30, 31, 32 and 33.”
  • “Please excuse Danny for being.  It was his father’s fault.” 
  • “June could not come to school yesterday because she was bothered by very close veins.”
  • “Richard had an acre in his side.”
  • “Please excuse Timothy for being absent last week.  He could not talk because of Larry and Gitus.”
  • “Please excuse Nancy for staying home.  The doctor said that her lungs are too full to be outside.” 
  • “Please excuse Margaret from Jim yesterday because she is administrating.”
  • “Please excuse Robert for being absent.  He had a cold and could not breed well.”

People are pretty good about making excuses even if the excuses are not always great. Some are acquitted of crimes nowadays for being handicapped (a teenager in Washington murdered another student and was granted freedom for being “morally handicapped”).  Life should not work that way.  We all have to take responsibility for who we are and our actions – we can't keep making excuses.  We are all accountable to God for our actions; we will stand before His judgment seat.   In that day, we will not be able to hand him an excuse from our mother.  Without Christ, all “have no excuse for their sin” (John 15:22).   But, with Christ, He becomes our excuse, the “note” that gets us off the hook.  His disciples are released from their guilt and, at the judgment seat, He will stand on our behalf so that we can be excused from punishment.  

“God wants the church to be the one institution that loves authority.  He wants us to be different, a strange group of people who actually love having a King and are grateful for His commands.”

- Francis Chan

Prayer Prods

  1. Kathie P as she recovers and they seek treatment help and housing
  2. Cheri V having surgery today to take care of a mss on her colon.  
  3. Jerry M - heart surgery scheduled 7/22
  4. Gerald & Joanie as he continues in home hospice
  5. Wedding Saturday - Grace & Jacob.  Marriage to follow... 
  6. Mike N & Laurie H as they recover from surgery
  7. Next steps for getting Jaime situated
  8. Danell's mom (Phyllis) and their care for her
  9. McFarling family as they continue the legal battle
10.   Baby Isabelle Gonzalez as she grows

Weekly Prayer Prods

General Calendar