Retired Lt. Col. Rucker Snead

How can we find sound, reliable information about world events? On Sunday June 3rd, Retired Lt. Col. Rucker Snead will meet with the Young Adult Sunday school class to discuss how we can stay informed about current events. Please come and enjoy what promise to be a stimulation conversation. We will meet in the weekday school building at 9:40 sharp.

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Above and Beyond the Call of Duty

Sermon Podcast
May 27, 2007
Above and Beyond the Call of Duty
Pastor Spike Coleman

Above and Beyond the Call of Duty



Click here to get your own player.




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God and Music: A Celebration of Song

The choir held a farewell concert for Mandy Keathley in celebration
of her years
of service to St. Andrew's.
They sang many of her favorite anthems and hymns.
We were graced by spirited soloists and scripture.

After a presentation for Mandy, a reception was held
in the fellowship hall for her.
We hate to see her go as
she truly has a special gift of music.
We wish her well on her new position.

Enjoy this podcast of the concert!

Click here to get your own player.

~BUILD FAITH~~NURTURE HOPE~~SHARE GOD'S LOVE~

When God is Not in a Hurry

Sunday Sermon and Service: May 20, 2007

Spike's podcast

Give it a listen!

When God is Not in a Hurry




Enjoy! -- Spike Coleman
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Hearing the Voice of the Good Shephard

Sunday Sermon Summary: Guest Pastor Mark Cooke

This is the fourth Sunday of Easter, when Jesus Christ declares to the Jews that he is the good shepherd. What does it mean to hear the voice of the good shepherd? To hear the voice of God? We need to embrace the idea that we are sheep. The shepherd psalms are

• psalm 78: ⁵² But he brought his people out like a flock;
  he led them like sheep through the desert.
• psalm 77: ²⁰ You led your people like a flock
  by the hand of Moses and Aaron.
• psalm 79: 13 ¹³ Then we your people, the sheep of your pasture,
  will praise you forever;
  from generation to generation
  we will recount your praise.
  
• psalm 80 ¹ Hear us, O Shepherd of Israel,
  you who lead Joseph like a flock;
  you who sit enthroned between the cherubim, shine forth
• psalm 100
• psalm 23

The common analogy is that God is our shepherd. Max Lucado says sheep are dumb and dirty. What does it mean to be a sheep? Dirty. Obstinate. Mob mentality. Max Lucado says that sheep are the least capable of taking care of themselves. Isaiah 53 ⁶ We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all. Also reference 1 Peter 2.

Can you pass the sheep test? You know you are a sheep when...

1. you can control your words at all times
2. you are at peace with all
3. you have no fears
4. you need no forgiveness

We can't pass the test. We begin to hear the voice. To understand who the Shepherd is and what he does lets look at psalms 23:1. ¹ The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. "LORD" is in all caps. Lowercase "lord" means lord as a title. "LORD" is YAHWEH. The good shepherd is Jehovah. The good shepherd is the lamb in Revelation. Over 29 times in Revelation 'lamb' is used. In John 10 and Matthew 2:6 the good shepherd is the risen Lord, also the coming king, lord, lamb and savior.

What does he do? Reference John 10:3-4 and 11:14-15. The good shepherd lays down his life for his sheep. He gave sheep eternal life. He gives eternal life so they will never perish. He guards and protects his sheep. He pens the sheep and calls each one by name. The relationship of good shepherd to sheep is that he knows hos own and his own knows him...knows his voice.

God calls us gently. The sheep follow him. The Lamb will guide us to the book of life. The sheep love Him. A sign of not being a sheep is unbelieving. When we get before the Lord there will be no denomination. We will be ONE flock with one shepherd. The 12 tribes become one flock.

We need to ask ourselves:

• do I belong to Him?
• do I recognize His right to me?
• do I respond to His authority and acknowledge His authority?
• do I find freedom and complete fulfilment in this arrangement?
• do I find deep contentment and a sense of peace under his direction?
• do I know and respond and belong to the good shepherd?

Listen. Listen. It is the voice of the good shepherd. In the words he is calling us by name. Won't you run to him? Trust him? Follow him? Know the joy? He is calling you by name. Hear h is voice and follow him.


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Velvet Elvis

God never changes, nor do the central truths of Christianity. But our understanding of those truths is in constant flux. Christians will always be exploring and discovering what it means to live in harmony with God and each other. Now in softcover, Velvet Elvis offers original and refreshingly personal perspectives on what Christianity is really about. Might be interesting reading. Check it out.

The book is written by Rob Bell. Robert "Rob" Bell (born August 23, 1970) is an author, Christian speaker, and the founding pastor of Mars Hill Bible Church located in Grandville, Michigan. He is also the featured speaker in the first series of spiritual short films called NOOMA.

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Internation Justice Mission

Founded in 1997, IJM began operations after a group of human rights professionals, lawyers and public officials launched an extensive study of the injustices witnessed by overseas missionaries and relief and development workers. This study, surveying more than 65 organizations and representing 40,000 overseas workers, uncovered a nearly unanimous awareness of abuses of power by police and other authorities in the communities where they served. Without the resources or expertise to confront the abuse and to bring rescue to the victims, these overseas workers required the assistance of trained public justice professionals. More of the history here.

IJM was established to help fill a void, acting as an organization that stands in the gap for victims when they are left without an advocate. They do have a four fold purpose:

• Victim Relief - Relieve the victim of the abuse currently being committed.
• Perpetrator Accountability - Bring accountability and just consequences under the law to the specific perpetrator(s) of abuse.
• Structural Prevention - Prevent the abuse from being committed against others who are also at risk by strengthening community factors that are likely to deter potential oppressors, reduce the vulnerability of at-risk populations and empower local authorities to stop such abuses.
• Victim Aftercare - Provide access to services to help victims transition to their new lives and to encourage long-term success.

~BUILD FAITH~~NURTURE HOPE~~SHARE GOD'S LOVE~