Friday, May 11, 2012

5-11 E-News

Yes, it's a day late.  Sorry.  I got a bit distracted.  Long story.


Announcements

Men's BreakfastTomorrow at 8.

HubfestTomorrow from 11-4 at Heritage Park. Come and enjoy it, come and spend some time at New Hope's tent.

Sunday Evening Prayer ServiceCome check out a prayer service this Sundy evening @ 6:00 in the McMillan Building.

Food CollectionWe will continue to collect food for East Brainerd Elementary over the summer. Please remember to bring in individual size fruit cups during the month of May.


New Hope News

Kid's Musical—Sunday, May 20.

Sunday School—We'll explore 2 Kings this Sunday @ 9:45.

Pray for:

Christine Dyer, Gerai's daughter, as she recovers from surgery

David Smith

Madeline Sims—she went home yesterday

Links



Book Recommendation

If you've not read C.S. Lewis' The Screwtape Letters, they are a treat. It's an easy read, and Lewis gives wonderful imagery to the way the devil plays with our minds, distracting us from what truly matters, keeping us from drawing nearer to God.

Random Thoughts

I was thinking this morning about a relative of Rachel's who returned from Afghanistan with bedbugs in his gear. Soon, they infected the entire house, and the process to remove them was extensive, to say the least. It was a costly hassle, and the bedbugs were not easily rooted out.

I think sinful habits are the same way in our lives. We develop them over time, often slowly, but in order to root them out, we have to tirelessly seek them out, often requiring the assistance of others. We have to pursue them with focus—if we expect them to leave on their own, or to disappear with a half-hearted effort, they will only grow to play a larger role in our lives. If we relentlessly seek to avoid sin, developing a hatred for it, and replace our sinful habits with things that bring us closer to God, we will grow as a faithful people, coming closer to God's will for our lives while at the same time developing useful ways to work with those around you to help them root sin out of their lives as well.

Text for Sunday, May 13

Matthew 5:11-16

11“Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. 12Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

13“You are the salt of the earth; but if salt has lost its taste, how can its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything, but is thrown out and trampled under foot. 14“You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid. 15No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.






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