STANDING STONE BIBLE
WEEKLY
July 31, 2023
A Point from pastor
Ah, that new website smell...
Just sit behind the steering wheel of the new SSB website, close your eyes, and take a deep breath. If only. . . if only there were leather, upholstery, and other parts combined to give a "new website smell." If you did take a whiff, it was probably, well, whatever you normally smell where you are right now. Our new website has no new smell attached to it.
There is something about certain smells that can capture us. You might find it interesting (and probably non-surprising) that there is a "new car smell" in a bottle you can purchase. Obviously, smell is powerful and significant or why else would there be so many fragrances, colognes, perfumes, candles, soaps, and incense packages - all sold in an untold number of different scent combinations.
You did not just evolve to a point where significant smells can have a dramatic impact on you. You were created by a Creator that understands the concept of "pleasing aromas" (note Gen. 8:21; Exo. 29:18; Eph. 5:2; Phil. 4:18 as just a few examples). We can detect billions of distinct smells, including the smell of fear and disgust in others. We each can recall specific events in our life when we encountered a certain smell. Those smells can then elicit an astounding emotional response and even bring back a memory instantly. Smell is not an accident. Those memories and emotional responses are not because of millions of years of evolutionary changes. God reveals Himself to us in our capacity to smell. So, take a deep breath and, as you are trying to pinpoint what you smell as you do, may that brief moment give you a pause to thank the One who gave you that ability.
Our sense of smell points to a creator. Join us this coming Saturday, Sunday, and Monday as we celebrate the Creator and seek to impact our community by pointing to Him at our Creation Days event. You may point any guests you invite to our Creation Days web-page for more information.
Just sit behind the steering wheel of the new SSB website, close your eyes, and take a deep breath. If only. . . if only there were leather, upholstery, and other parts combined to give a "new website smell." If you did take a whiff, it was probably, well, whatever you normally smell where you are right now. Our new website has no new smell attached to it.
There is something about certain smells that can capture us. You might find it interesting (and probably non-surprising) that there is a "new car smell" in a bottle you can purchase. Obviously, smell is powerful and significant or why else would there be so many fragrances, colognes, perfumes, candles, soaps, and incense packages - all sold in an untold number of different scent combinations.
You did not just evolve to a point where significant smells can have a dramatic impact on you. You were created by a Creator that understands the concept of "pleasing aromas" (note Gen. 8:21; Exo. 29:18; Eph. 5:2; Phil. 4:18 as just a few examples). We can detect billions of distinct smells, including the smell of fear and disgust in others. We each can recall specific events in our life when we encountered a certain smell. Those smells can then elicit an astounding emotional response and even bring back a memory instantly. Smell is not an accident. Those memories and emotional responses are not because of millions of years of evolutionary changes. God reveals Himself to us in our capacity to smell. So, take a deep breath and, as you are trying to pinpoint what you smell as you do, may that brief moment give you a pause to thank the One who gave you that ability.
Our sense of smell points to a creator. Join us this coming Saturday, Sunday, and Monday as we celebrate the Creator and seek to impact our community by pointing to Him at our Creation Days event. You may point any guests you invite to our Creation Days web-page for more information.
THIS WEEK
Here are the highlights of classes and events THIS week
LIGHThouse Girls' Pool Party - Tonight from 6:30 to 9:15pm is a girls' pool party at the Zieg home.
Creation Days Carnival – Saturday beginning at 1pm is the Carnival. Join us and bring neighbors, friends, coworkers, family, and lots of kids for a great afternoon of fun. There will be bounce houses, live music, facepainting, food, and the Semisaurus museum. The carnival runs from 1 to 5pm. If you have signed up to work, you will get a separate notice with details of that.
Communion – This Sunday we will share in the Lord’s Supper. Be in preparation and contemplation, for that time.
Creation Days Talks - Brian Young, with Creation Instruction Association will be speaking at the following times:
Creation Days Carnival – Saturday beginning at 1pm is the Carnival. Join us and bring neighbors, friends, coworkers, family, and lots of kids for a great afternoon of fun. There will be bounce houses, live music, facepainting, food, and the Semisaurus museum. The carnival runs from 1 to 5pm. If you have signed up to work, you will get a separate notice with details of that.
Communion – This Sunday we will share in the Lord’s Supper. Be in preparation and contemplation, for that time.
Creation Days Talks - Brian Young, with Creation Instruction Association will be speaking at the following times:
- Sunday, 8/6 @ 8:45 am (Sunday school hour): "Rethinking Adam"
- Sunday, 8/6 @ 7:00 pm: "Pharaohs of the Bible"
- Monday, 8/7 @ 7:00 pm: "'Super' natural Selection"
upcoming events
Make note of the classes and events available in the near future
Ladies' Pool Party – Friday, August 11th at 6:30pm is a Pool Party at the Anderson home. Gals, bring a snack to share and a friend. Pizza and drinks will be provided.
the Lord's day
It was youth Sunday - thus many of our middle and high school students were front and center leading at the doors and up front. The worship music was lively, exciting, and praised God.
Pastor Tim preached from Ephesians 4:17-24 about our pursuing holiness, knowing we resist along the way. Some points: 1. As we pursue holiness, we must understand what it means to cast off the old self. We confront sin and confess it along the way. 2. A non-believer follows the pattern of willful ignorance, acceptance, and then intellectual desire of sin. We are all born with a sinful nature. 3. A believer is transformed by the renewing of their thinking, resistant to who they were, and become a new creation. We continue to grow in Christ. How do we pursue holiness? We strive to get to a point where prayer is not a chore, avoid pursuing holiness alone, and give God our everything.
Pastor Tim preached from Ephesians 4:17-24 about our pursuing holiness, knowing we resist along the way. Some points: 1. As we pursue holiness, we must understand what it means to cast off the old self. We confront sin and confess it along the way. 2. A non-believer follows the pattern of willful ignorance, acceptance, and then intellectual desire of sin. We are all born with a sinful nature. 3. A believer is transformed by the renewing of their thinking, resistant to who they were, and become a new creation. We continue to grow in Christ. How do we pursue holiness? We strive to get to a point where prayer is not a chore, avoid pursuing holiness alone, and give God our everything.
A Joyful Heart
The philosopher, Tim Hawkins, once said, “The three things I want said at my funeral are: ‘He made the world better,’ ‘His family will miss him,’ and ‘Hey! He’s awake!’”
My Aunt Cindy had a dream years ago, before my grandma had died – she dreamed that my grandma died and, as my mom stopped at the casket to look down at her mom, grandma opened her eyes and said, “You’re late again” and then reached up and slapped my mom. It would be the ultimate practical joke to sit up in the casket at your funeral and say, “fooled you.” Of course, it might also lead immediately to a handful of other funerals after several die from a heart attack. Tim Hawkins might even agree: Know your audience.
I’m also reminded of the old remark, “When I die, I want to die like my Grandpa: peacefully, in my sleep. Not screaming like the rest of the people in the car.” Hopefully the jokes about death have not been
offensive. Truth be told, death is an enemy but it is an enemy that has been “swallowed up in victory.” (1Cor. 15:55). Those in the Lord need not fear death – it’s okay to even laugh at times when we consider it as an enemy – those in Christ can say, “for to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain” (Phil. 1:21). What joy!
My Aunt Cindy had a dream years ago, before my grandma had died – she dreamed that my grandma died and, as my mom stopped at the casket to look down at her mom, grandma opened her eyes and said, “You’re late again” and then reached up and slapped my mom. It would be the ultimate practical joke to sit up in the casket at your funeral and say, “fooled you.” Of course, it might also lead immediately to a handful of other funerals after several die from a heart attack. Tim Hawkins might even agree: Know your audience.
I’m also reminded of the old remark, “When I die, I want to die like my Grandpa: peacefully, in my sleep. Not screaming like the rest of the people in the car.” Hopefully the jokes about death have not been
offensive. Truth be told, death is an enemy but it is an enemy that has been “swallowed up in victory.” (1Cor. 15:55). Those in the Lord need not fear death – it’s okay to even laugh at times when we consider it as an enemy – those in Christ can say, “for to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain” (Phil. 1:21). What joy!
Prayer Prods
- Mike Nylin - back surgery today
- Joe and Elaine to Mayo
- McFarling family - attending to kids and legal authorities
- Larry Hoffman recovering from broken ankle - in care home
- Danna, gaining some strength - Jessica in radiation treatments
- Creation Days events (Carnival Saturday)
- Sue with eye troubles, needing possible surgery
- Ashland Bible Church... our next steps & considerations
- Jail ministry team's efforts
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