Christian Photographers Community

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Morning Devotional...


These things therefore the soldiers did.
John 19:24


They mocked Him and scourged Him.

They stripped Him and spat on Him.

They robed Him in purple and crowned Him with thorns.

They smote Him on His thorn-crowned head, and they buffeted Him, and, without finding fault in Him, they crucified Him.

These things the soldiers did, and like a lamb led to the slaughter, the Saviour endured it all silently, and uttered not one word of complaint.
--Jim Flanigan

WELCOME BACK!!!

STOOB (Boots)

The Spaghetti and Meat Ball dinner was filling and great!  Plus seeing people I haven't see for a long time was fun.  Even the High School Jazz Band played.  I couldn't keep Ivalou sitting still since they played Big Band music...her era.

I am all ready to go out the door for church.  Looks like it is cloudy and overcast out there today.  Might be a good afternoon for a nap.

What a beautiful day here in Nashville. I'm still rejoicing that I felt well enough to do the work at my home yesterday. What a blessing!

Boots - welcome home. We've missed you.

Hope all are well and that you and God will have a wonderful day of communion together.

Ruth Ann

Hi everyone.  We have a cloudy Sunday here but it is 61 degrees so really isn't cold since it isn't raining.  It is suppose to get up to 81 today. 

Janet, sure don't envy you all with the over 100 degree temperature.  That seems to be starting early this year.  It sounds like you all had a wonderful time at the graduation and then the party.  Was Mark happy with his album that you made for him?  Is he looking forward to starting college?

Ruth Ann, glad to see you had a day when you felt like getting some things done.  Hope you have another good day today.

Pat, glad you were able to handle mowing your yard and sure hope you won't have any lingering effects from the effort.

Boots, glad you were able to get back online.  It can be very frustating when you have a computer crash.  I keep all my signin and password information in a little book that I keep beside the computer.  I find it very handy. 

I think Pat is going to try to go to church with me today.  She really doesn't feel like doing it and am sure she will pay for it but is getting so tired of being confined to the house.  Don't know if she will feel up to going out to get something to eat after church.  If not, we will find something to eat in the kitchen.

Hope everyone has a good Sunday.

Good morning> Good to see Etta Sue and Larry here already this morning, it is 6:30 here on the West Coast and it has been raining during the night.

I pray that each one of you will be blessed with the grace of God today and that your churches will be full. I pray the Spirit will move upon each and every heart and that you will walk with the Lord in His light today.

TTYL

May 22 - The Comfortable Church

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"Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked" (Revelation 3:17).

This is the heart of Christ's rebuke of the church at Laodicea, the "lukewarm" church (v.16) of the last days. This is an evangelical church for its candlestick is still in place (note Revelation 1:20; 2:5), but it has become a neutral church, "neither cold nor hot" (3:15). The reason for its tepid witness is because it has become "rich and increased with goods," comfortable in a culture which tends to equate material prosperity with success and God's favor. It may have acquired large and beautiful facilities, developed special programs of many kinds, featured a variety of musicians and other artists, and even gained a measure of political power. Yet, Christ calls it poor and blind and naked!

Not all large churches become like this, of course, but it is always a real danger. The desire for large congregations can easily lead to compromising Biblical standards of doctrine and practice. "Woe to them that are at ease in Zion," the prophet warned (Amos 6:1).

Note that the Lord began His letter to the Laodicean church by identifying Himself as "the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God" (Revelation 3:14). This strongly suggests that a major reason for the development of such complacency in a large church (or a small church, for that matter) is neglect of these three doctrines—the sufficiency of Christ, the inerrant authority of God's Word, and the special creation of all things by God.

The letter to this church ends with the sad picture of Christ standing at its door, seeking admission (v.20). "He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches" (v.22). HMM

I forgot to tell y-all that I am the guest speaker in the youth class this morning and I need your prayers that the Holy Spritr will put the words he wants me to say in my mouth. I have felt impressed to give my testimony on domestic violence to the young people. However I have not prepared anything specific and had forgotten that I was speaking until  just a few minutes ago. I will let you know how it goes.

Good afternoon!  We had a really good service again this morning.  We love our new pastors!    It is surely a God thing, that they are here.

Yes, Larry, Mark liked his books, both the photo album and the album of his school papers.  Many people looked through them and reminisced about Mark's young life.  He is REALLY looking forward to college, especially the flight time!  His passion is to become a commercial pilot.  He was counting the money he recived as graduation gifts, and computing that to flight hours, as each hour of flight time costs quite a bit.  Dear ol' dad and mom will have to help him a lot, I think, but they don't mind.  They are very supportive of the kids' plans, hopes and dreams, as long as they are worthy things.  Great parents!

Marilyn, I don't think I would be able to forget it if I were to speak to a group.  I like to be well prepared for that sort of thing, then let the Spirit have His way.

Ruth Ann, I am rejoicing with you in your accomplishments, too, as I know it is so hard to let things go or to have to have others do them for us.  I pray your progress continues, and your strength grows and grows.  Blessings to you!

Larry, I hope Pat didn't get too tired or hurt too much for going to church today, and that you were able to eat out afterward, as I know you both enjoy doing that.  But eating at home is nice, too, and more restful.

Time to go see what's for dinner! 

My Dear Pat

Always the efficient one with the computer, thanks for the offer to re-establish me as Boots.  If you are able to use my email address and password  I am using with to stoob it would be great.  If we cannot do that, please advise me as to what I need to do.

As you surely remember, Pat, I am very very inept with the computer.

Thanks to those that remembered me and gave me a welcome back.

Our Church service had a visiting Pastor this morning as our Pastor is attending a 6 week learning situation at Oxyford.  This visiting Pastor attended our Church at one time and then he was off to learn "Preaching" in 1982.  He did a nice job and had a very good sermon.

The devotions today on this site are very nice.  I do appreciate all the effort you faithful members do in order to help keep the site going.

I know all who remember me Know I am not a Camera person, and cannot contribute much in that area.

The name "Christian Photographers" lets me qualify because being a Christian is number one in my life.    

stoob soon to return to Boots, if all works well.

May 22   
Preaching: Nibbling at the Truth
For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if
I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ. 
--Galatians 1:10
This is one of the marks of our modern time--that many are guilty of
merely "nibbling" at the truth of the Christian gospel.
I wonder if you realize that in many ways the preaching of the Word
of God is being pulled down to the level of the ignorant and
spiritually obtuse; that we must tell stories and jokes and entertain
and amuse in order to have a few people in the audience? We do these
things that we may have some reputation and that there may be money
in the treasury to meet the church bills....
In many churches Christianity has been watered down until the
solution is so weak that if it were poison it would not hurt anyone,
and if it were medicine it would not cure anyone!  I Talk Back to
the Devil, 30-31.

"Lord, don't ever let me be guilty of watering down the truth or
playing to the crowds, concerned about my 'reputation' or 'money in
the treasury.' Amen."
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I have a matter of praise this afternoon. My church is tiny, and needs desperately to have a new roof. We established a "new roof fund" over a year ago, and have steadily been building it. I think I mentioned recently that a close friend had died. Well, in lieu of flowers, she requested that donations in her memory be made to the church roof fund. Thus far, over $1,000 has been donated in her memory. Coupled with the regular donations my church members and friends, we are within $6,000 of our goal, now, Praise HIS Name!!!

Ruth Ann

I had thought much about what I would say to the youth class this morning and it all flowed very well. I knew what the Lord wanted me to talk about. I just forgot that today was the day as I haven't been feeling well all week long and still do not feel well, I am coughing a lot and it hurts my bronchial region every time I cough. I am blowing all kinds of stuff from my nose too.

The class was on the edge of their chairs as I spoke and there was only 1 boy who asked questions along with the teachers. Some of it was difficult for me to bring out buI know it all went well. There was a couple of subjects that I would preferred not to have mentioned but the Lord had me tell those ugly stories too.

There is much that even my family here on CP do not know about my testimony. I may or may not ever tell you all. Some of you have undoubtedly surmised since you know my past as a drug addict and understand that addicts will do anything to get the drugs.

Enough said now.


Welcome back Boots good to see you here.

TTYL

Marilyn:  Bless you my dear for giving of your time and talents to speak to the youth!  I know the Lord will have been so pleased.

I really don't think its necessary, or even  good idea to rehash over what all any of us did before we accepted the Lord.  I think Satan just uses that to bring us down.

Once we have been forgiven....then its over!  I know, I never think about my life before I was saved.  If I do., then its just to thank Him over again for what He has done for me on Calvary.

That's what I do, too, Judy.  Whenever ol' slimy reminds me of something I did in the past, I just turn to God and say "Thank you, Father, for forgiving me of that, too."  Then I use the reminder to praise God for even more things He has done for me.  That's a sure way to frustrate the enemy. 

This afternoon has been so loooong.  I can't seem to settle down to anything, and they canceled services tonight because of graduation here this afternoon.  So I have been restless.  Think I will go for a long walk.

I can't believe I can actually be here THREE times in one day!

Marilyn, that reminds me of something a friend of mine asked some time back. I was mentoring her in her faith as a new christian, and she asked about sexual sins prior to conversion.

My response was that, since ALL our sins are under the Blood, and since she has repented, God no longer remembers them. Although she may in later years deal with some consequences of her behavior, as far as He is concerned (to my way of thinking), if He DOES NOT remember our sins against us, then in His eyes, I believe she was "restored" to being as clean as she was when she was a virgin.

We cried, prayed, hugged each other, and she continued to live her life, one day at a time, in the knowledge of His love and forgiveness. I'm sorry I've lost touch with her, I would like to have followed her for many years.

Ruth Ann

Time to lock the door...

Tomorrow's NEM