Month: July 2024

By Joe Slater Via Bulletin Gold

Does God give you chances, or does He provide
opportunities? We sometimes treat those words as
synonyms, but their meanings are quite different! Chance
indicates something random, uncertain, even accidental -a
roll of the dice, as it were. You have no way to influence the
outcome. Opportunity, by contrast, implies that you play
a role in choosing a course of action. You may choose
wisely or foolishly, but it remains your choice. It is neither
random nor accidental.

Some things do, indeed, happen by chance. Solomon
wrote by inspiration, “Time and chance happen to them all”
(Ecclesiastes 9:11). Sometimes our plans don’t work out no
matter what we do. We didn’t plan to become ill or be laid
off from work, but it happened. Such is life.

But not everything is subject to chance. God can and does
provide opportunities. Paul urged the Galatians to do good
to all” as they had opportunity (Galatians 6:10). He
understood when material support from the church at
Philippi was delayed: “You surely did care, but you lacked
opportunity” (Philippians 4:10).

Our salvation depends not on chance, but on how we use
the opportunity God has provided in Christ. Acts 14:27
refers to it as God opening “the door of faith.” As one
chooses whether to walk through an open door, so we
choose whether to trust Jesus and obey His gospel. This is
neither random nor accidental.

Your eternal destiny depends not on chance, but on what
you choose to do with the opportunities God has given to
you.

By Jeff Arnette Via Bulletin Gold

Can you believe we’re already halfway through the year? It seems
like just yesterday we were celebrating New Years Eve and now, here
we are, six months later. As we move into the second half of our year,
I want to take a moment to reflect on where we’ve been and look
ahead to where we’re going.

The first half of the year has been a journey for all of us. We’ve had
our ups and downs, faced huge challenges, and celebrated victories.
Through it all, we’ve grown together as a church family. Each Sunday,
we gather to worship, learn, and support one another. It’s a beautiful
thing to see how our faith community has strengthened and
deepened.

But as we move forward, I want to challenge each of us to think
about how we can share this journey with others. There are so many
people in our lives-friends, family, coworkers-who might be looking
for the very thing we’ve found here: a place to belong, a place to grow,
and a place to find hope.

Inviting someone to church can feel daunting. We worry about
being rejected or making things awkward. ButI want to encourage
you to see it as an act of love. When we invite someone to church,
we’re not just inviting them to a building or a service; we’re inviting
them to experience the love of God and the support of a community
that cares.

Here are a few simple ways to extend that invitation:

1. Be Genuine: Share why church is important to you. Your personal
story can be powerful and relatable.

2. Be Casual: Sometimes a simple, “Hey, want to join me for church
this Sunday?” is all it takes. No need to overthink it.

3. Be Persistent: If they say no the first time, don’t be discouraged.
Keep the invitation open and let them know they’re always welcome.

4. Be Supportive: Offer to go with them, sit with them, and introduce
them to others, Sometimes, the fear of the unknown can be the biggest barrier.

As we journey through the rest of this year, let’s make it a priority
to reach out and invite others to join us. There’s no better time than
now to extend the love and grace we’ve found to those around us.

Let’s fill the second half of 2024 with new faces and new friends, all
growing together in faith. Remember, it’s not about growing the
numbers-it’s about growing the Kingdom and sharing the incredible
gift of God’s love.

By Clifton Angel Via Bulletin Gold

From 1980 to 2001 (and now brought back in 2023), the popular
recruiting slogan has been used to positively encourage that it is only
in the United States Army that you can “Be All You Can Be.” While
the U.S. Army is pertinent to our nation, it is not the army where one
truly can reach his fullest capacity. Rather, the Lord’s Army is the only
place where you truly can “Be All You Can Be.”

First, it is only in the Lord’s Army that the Captain of the Host is
perfect (cf. Josh 5:14; Heb 2:10). He’s been through the drills; He’s
passed every test. He has experienced every temptation that His
soldiers can experience, and yet remained without error through it all.
He “was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin” (Heb 4:15).

Furthermore, it is only in the Lord’s Amy that the Captain of the
Host has all power. No doubt, captains in the U.S. Army have great
authority and ability, but they do not have complete authority and
ability. In the Lord’s Army, the Captain has ALLL power. He is on
record as saying to some of his soldiers, “All power is given unto me
in heaven and in earth” (Matt 28:18). For this reason, Paul wrote,
“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his
might. Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand
against the wiles of the devil” (Eph 6:10-11).

Finally, it is pertinent that we understand that it is only in the Lord’s
Army that the Captain of the Host offers ultimate protection. The U.S.
Army is strong, but protection lacks in comparison to the Lord’s Army.
Even with the great strength of the U.S. Army, the faithful soldier can
lose and the entire nation can lose. Such is not so in the Lord’s Army.
For, He is the Captain of our eternal salvation from sin (Heb 2:10), and
He has guaranteed victory for the faithful soldier: To him that
Overcometh will I grant to sit with me in mny throne, even as I also
Overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne” (Rev 3:21).

Faith, repentance, confession, and baptism for remission of sins grants
you an entrance into the Lord’s Army. Are you in His Army? If yes, are you
endeavoring to “Be All You Can Be”? “Whatsoever ye do in word
or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God
and the Father by him” (Col 3:17). As we sing, “I may never march
in the infantry, ride in the cavalry, shoot the artillery; I may never fly
over the enemy, but I’m in the Lord’s Army.”

By Andrew Beaseley Via Bulletin Gold

On a number of occasions, the Bible depicts storms as
being a terrifying ordeal that can cause havoc in ones
life. One might think of Jonah’s ordeal before being
swallowed by the great fish, or the disciples as they
were tossed about while Jesus slept as a reference point.
While there are some in the world who teach that if you
are a Christian, then you will be blessed with an
abundance of wealth and good health. This teaching is
patently untrue. That is not to say that Christians will
not be blessed with health and wealth, but it is not a
guarantee. What seemingly is guaranteed is that every
individual, regardless of the safety of their soul, will
face storms in their life.

How will we respond? During those storms will we
become bitter like Jonah? Will our faith falter in the
way that the disciples did? Or will we reflect on the fact
that we have a Savior who can calm the storm (Lk. 8:22-25)?
Will we remember that we have a Father who
created all things and set them in their place (Psa. 19)?
Whether our lives follow in the footsteps of Jonah, the
disciples, or some other path one fact remains
unchanged. In the midst of storms, we have hope in Him.