STANDING STONE BIBLE

WEEKLY

June 23, 2025

A Point from pastor

Psalm 83         A Song. A Psalm of Asaph.
1 O God, do not keep silence;
    do not hold your peace or be still, O God!
2 For behold, your enemies make an uproar;
    those who hate you have raised their heads.
3 They lay crafty plans against your people;
    they consult together against your treasured ones.
4 They say, “Come, let us wipe them out as a nation;
    let the name of Israel be remembered no more!”
5 For they conspire with one accord;
    against you they make a covenant—
6 the tents of Edom and the Ishmaelites,
    Moab and the Hagrites,
7 Gebal and Ammon and Amalek,
    Philistia with the inhabitants of Tyre;
8 Asshur also has joined them;
    they are the strong arm of the children of Lot.   
Selah

Asaph continues but the question for us today is "How do we think about and handle this new conflict with Iran?"   Saturday evening, the United States bombed three sites in Iran.  Some will say "it was unprovoked" (an act of war).  Good intel has shown they were close to having completed nuclear weapons.  But, does that require a response like this?  I would argue "yes - we needed to act" for various reasons that I will not include here.  Yet, the question at hand now is "how do we handle this going forward?"

We pray... we discuss...  we protect.   There may be "crafty plans" at foot.  I would argue with a very open border from 2021 to 2024, there are already hostage "sleeper cells" inside of the United States.  It was very easy to cross in the past four years.  Only God can protect us - if He is willing.   The United States is on a time-table. . .   we are not mentioned in the final revelation of Scripture.  .  .  gone or not a world power.    Yet, for the time being, I am prayerful that God might move to protect His people in the US.   That He might help us to be righteous (including the US leadership) in decision-making for the days ahead.   And, prayerful that God will use this current situation for His glory.  

As Asaph nears the end of the Psalm, he prays to God:  
16 Fill their faces with shame,
    that they may seek your name, O Lord.
17 Let them be put to shame and dismayed forever;
    let them perish in disgrace,
18 
that they may know that you alone,
    whose name is the Lord,
    are the Most High over all the earth.


"That they may seek" and "that they may know..."  May those in Iran know that God is the Lord, the Most High over all the earth and may they seek His name.  May we pray that for Iran, for Israel, and for the United States.  

Church Notes...

SAFETY TRAINING

•  Annually, we make available "Safety Training" sessions
•  Safety training is for anyone at SSB who regularly works with children and teens.   This includes those who may only help with VBS, Creation Days kid's activities, as well as ushers and the security team.  
•  To be eligible to work with children/teens after this summer, you will be required to attend one of the sessions.  
• The 2025 sessions this summer will be Saturday, June 28th at 10am  OR   Monday evening, June 30, at 7pm
• If you realize neither date will work, please let the church office know.  

THIS WEEK

Here are the highlights of classes and events THIS week

Good News Club -  CEF Summer Good News Club begins this afternoon.  It runs this week, from June 23-26  Each day is 90-minutes, 3-4:30pm, for kids ages 4-12 at church.  The kids will hear a Bible story, play games and hear a clear gospel presentation.   No advance registration needed.  They may attend a few if that is all their schedule will allow.

TLT, Teen Life Truths - This 10-week study of basic life principles for those entering 6th grade continues Wednesday night, from 6:30 to 8:00pm.  Older grades may also join in.  After TLT, they will join with the LIGHThouse.

Safety Training - The first safety training session is this Saturday 16 10m.  Anyone at SSB who works with children and teens must attend a safety training session.  This is also a necessity for ushers, security team, those who might help with VBS and is just generally good for all.  The other session is Monday evening at 7pm.  

upcoming events

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

VBS - Vacation Bible School will run from July 7-10 in the mornings.  You may learn more and find the registration form HERE.   Plan now for  your kiddo to attend.   We will also need a good-sized crew of middle to high school students to help - or even a few of you "older than high-school" folks (hint-hint).  Talk to PKW for more info about helping.  

Bible Memory - A Knowing the Word class will be held during Sunday school in July - talk to Ken Begg for more information.

Information Class - Those interested in learning more about SSB, her history and future, as well as learning more of membership may join a 3-session information class beginning July 13 during the SS hour.  

Parenting Class - Parents, we will work through Tedd Tripp's updated "Shepherding Your Child's Heart" on Saturday mornings beginning on July 12 (9-10:30am).  This will be a great benefit to aiding  you in parenting with a focus of leading your children to Jesus.  

July Business Meeting - July 27... more details to come.

Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity!

- Psalm 133:1

I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment.

- 1 Corinthians 1:10

Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind.

- 1 Peter 3:8

the Lord's day

Coffee, Sunday school, Worship, and an overnight temperature in the 80's.  Yep, Sunday mornings in late June.  Summer is here!  I was told once after church out front that it was time to "shed the jacket."   Whew.  We serve a great God who gives us seasons.   No matter how cold we get in winter, we will eventually have the heat of summer to "enjoy."   He changes times and seasons; he removes kings and sets up kings; he gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding (Dan. 2:21).  Go God!  

We engaged with some upcoming "kid" events and thoughts and then engaged with a couple of young men that returned from the Summit conference in Colorado.  They reported of some impact through hearing about worldview and how to connect biblically with culture.  May they do well in their witness and their faithfulness these next few years!  

The message was from Luke 15.   Two lost sons and a glimpse at what God the Father is like.   We saw a younger son, reminding us of the sinners and tax collectors drawing near to Jesus, who "came to himself" and began to return to his father.  God's redemption.  The father ran to the son.  He restored him.  If you are in rebellion, far from God, come home!  Just start coming.  The older son, reminding us of the bitter Pharisees and scribes, could not see a God who would accept these sinners.  Dutiful but resentful.  Close to the Father's house but so far from His heart.   Seeing the father as a taskmaster.  If you've been resentful or just doing to earn favor from God, joyless, begin to celebrate His mercy in other people's lives.  Look for His grace and know that God is calling you in!  Into joy and celebration.  

Who is Worthy?

Hosea, the son of Beeri, was the first of the minor prophets.   He preached probably beginning around the mid 700’s BC and prophesied for over 50 years.  At God’s command, he took Gomer, a harlot, as his wife.  They had two sons and a daughter.  Yet, Gomer was unfaithful.  She became an object lesson to Israel illustrating their infidelity to God.  Israel’s relationship to God was like a marriage and Israel had been unfaith to Him - an adulteress.  Hosea calls Israel to repentance but it is clear he knows there will not be a positive response.  Judgement will come!   God’s punishment would certainly fit Israel’s crimes but, in God’s mercy, each punishment was disciplinary – God’s desire was to turn Israel back to Him.   Just as Hosea could be reconciled to his wife, so can Israel be, ultimately, restored.  God is willing to take back even the most wayward one… Yes, this includes you and I.  He has loved us with an everlasting love.  God is worthy! 

“The problem is not that an unbeliever cannot see how Christianity is relevant to him, as a result of some inadequacy in Christianity itself or of the way it is proclaimed.  The problem is that a man cannot see Christianity's relevance after deciding that he will not seed its relevance...  When a man is blind, we don't speak of making potentially dangerous obstacles in his path relevant to him.  They are relevant to him!  A neighborly thing to do would be to tell the blind man what he's about to walk into.”


- David De Bruyn

Prayer Prods

  1. Mary T - as she recovers, hospital then care home
  2. Several with cancer concerns:  Joyce, Ron, Kathie, Peggy, Joe, Tami, Kathy, and Joanie
  3. Laurie H as she works that new knee
  4. CEF Summer Club at SSB this week.  VBS planning for July

General Calendar