This week we begin a brand new study in Psalm 119. We are going to introduce this Psalm by considering the following thesis statement, really the underlying theme: love for God always without exception manifests itself in love for God’s Word.

Exalting God is synonymous with exalting God’s Word. Exalting God’s Word is synonymous with exalting God. When a man truly loves God, he loves His Word and takes it a step further—he obeys God’s Word.

Looking forward to our Lord’s Day worship, Word, Communion, and pot-luck fellowship.

In grace,

Pastor Bob

Time: Wednesdays 6:15

Ages: Preschool – Junior High

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Just ine Emerson, the Southeast Coordinator, sent me this information to pass on to each of the Ketchikan area coordinators:

Boxes – Our SE boxes will go to California for procession again this year. They could go to any of 90+ countries. Please encourage people to pack a regular size shoebox (mens shoe size 8 is the standard) or use a 6.5 qt size plastic box rather than large boxes.

Shipping Donation – People can give the $7.00 donation for shipping on-line rather than including it in the boxes at www.samaritanspurse.org. If you pack multiple boxes you can use the EZGIVE on-line option for all of them with one credit card billing.

Follow Your Box – This is a REALLY cool new feature. If you use EZGIVE you can print out a label to put on your box(es). When your box is about to be shipped, they will scan the label and send you an e-mail letting you know to what country your box is going and it will also include things to pray about for that particular location.

Website – Check out the www.samaritanspurse.org website for all kinds of info about OCC.

Did you know that boxes are given out through local churches whenever possible and that a booklet that is like a condensed picture Bible in the language of the country goes with each box? Even more wonderful is that each booklet is read by an average of 27 people. There is a follow-up Bible Mailbox Club for the children. Since 1999 over 3 million children have completed the 10 lessons of this discipleship program.

Stories – Erin Forsythe, a Northwest US OCC Coordinator told these stories when she was in Juneau in July. Both of these stories are from what she saw in Peru . Erin said that both of these stories showed her that God really does orchestrate who gets what box and He knows what will bless a child and his or her parent(s):

At one distribution at the edge of a huge garbage dump where the children lived in shacks surrounding the dump and spend their days combing through garbage, a girl of about 7 came with her mother. The shoebox she was given was all pink with pink wrapping paper and a cut out picture of “Strawberry Shortcake” on the top. When the girl opened the box there was a Strawberry Shortcake doll and her pink clothes, toys and accessories. The mother left, indicting that she would be back. When she returned she had in her hand a filthy cardboard cut out of Strawberry shortcake, which she had found in the dump several years before. She had given it to her daughter and told her that some day she hoped and prayed that she might be able to have such a doll.

At another distribution place there was a boy of about 5 who wanted to sit on the lap of his mother while the boxes were handed out. Erin was dismayed that his box contained only a Costco size bundle of socks and 4 pencils, nothing else. (If a box is full, nothing will be added to it. This is also true if it has a note from the sender in it. Otherwise companies donate stuffed animals, toothbrushes, etc. that are added to some boxes at the Processing Center ). His mother started crying when the box was opened and Erin thought she was unhappy with her son’s box compared to those of the other children. But then his mother told Erin , through the interpreter, that her son’s feet had been burned badly when he was younger. He only had one pair of socks, which were like filthy rags. His mother had prayed that he might someday have nice socks to protect his feet and so here they were. Also, he had recently received a notebook from his church to write in, but he had nothing to write with, so he was delighted with those 4 pencils.

You may want to share this information with your church family, school children, etc.

This week we will continue our study in Psalm 86:6-11 by looking at 3 very practical and powerful real life principles so that God would teach us His ways and that we would walk in His truth.

This message is important for all of us because it begins to answer questions so many people have about the will of God for their life. And often people wonder why God is not leading or guiding them; some ask why is God not answering my prayers? And in this passage we learn lessons about prayer, God’s answers to prayer, and the will of God.

And when we talk about prayer and the will of God we are not talking about some Sunday morning theology lesson that is divorced from living. We are talking everyday practical decisions we all face regarding finances, work, using our spiritual gifts, raising children, etc… not to mention what we do when trouble comes upon us.

In grace,

Pastor Bob

If you are not coming out for Sunday School ( 9:45-10:45 ) or bringing the kids, why not get in the habit this fall? It will do wonders for your spiritual life and the lives of your children.

This Sunday we will study Psalm 23, “The Lord is my Shepherd.” Psalm 23 is perhaps that most well known text in the whole Bible. And Psalm 23 is not just for the dying and grieving. Psalm 23 is a word to the young and the strong and the healthy and those who are in the prime of life, living each day in the sinful world. God is our comfort in death. But God is also our comfort in living. And Psalm 23 is for you wherever you are in life. Psalm 23 is really more about God than us. And that is important because until we understand God and His character, we will not make sense of ourselves or our circumstances; our earthly present or eternal future.

In grace,

Pastor Bob

This week we will conclude our study in the book of Romans by looking 16:21-27. In v.21-23, Paul will again greet friends and fellow workers. In 25-27, we will finish our study of this book with a gloriously profound benediction that exults God. We will break this up into 4 parts. First, the gospel establishes men v.25. Second, the gospel reveals God’s mystery v.25b-26. Third, the gospel produces obedience v.26b. And fourth, Paul’s final words give God glory v.27.

Don’t miss the conclusion of this most important New Testament book.

In grace,
Pastor Bob

This week we will study Romans 16:17-20 and the Bible will warn us concerning false teaching, remind us of the victory that God has won over Satan, and encourage us with God’s grace. In this final section of Romans, Paul is dealing very personally with the believers. His ultimate goal as he concludes is their protection and encouragement.
Also, this passage provides a wonderful transition into the communion table as we ponder the grace of God which makes our salvation possible through faith in Christ.

In grace,
Pastor Bob

Don’t miss our potluck lunch immediately after the morning service. And don’t miss the 6:00pm service as Joe Nollmeyer teaches on the Sermon on the Mount. 4-11

Just a reminder—no men’s discipleship group this week—we will use our time to do some cleaning on the church property. Starting at 9:00 a.m

This week we will study Romans 15:22-33. In this passage, Paul talks about his own life and ministry in an extremely personal way so that we would learn about God’s will in our own lives and ministries.
The key to this passage is the phrase, “By the will of God” v.32. Remember, it was Paul’s personal desire to visit Rome but he was not able to make the trip up to this point. Paul was teaching the believers that God’s will was more important than his own plans, passions, or desires.

Many other practical life and ministry lessons emerge from this fascinating section of God’s Word.

In grace,
Pastor Bob

Don’t miss the Sunday night service at 6:00 p.m. as Sam and Donna will give a report from their trip to visit Jim and Millie Moore in Belgium