Praise the Lord for another Sunday; another opportunity for
corporate worship. We are commanded in the Word of God
to assemble ourselves together and worship God. Oh how
thankful we are for this privilege!

America’s largest Presbyterian body voted recently to
change its definition of Christian marriage and permit
individual churches to perform same-sex marriages. The
new “authoritative interpretation” of the Presbyterian
Church (U.S.A.)’s Book of Order gives individual pastors
discretion to perform same-sex ceremonies where the
practice is legal.

The assembly also voted to change the definition of marriage
in the denomination’s constitution. The proposal changes
language referring to marriage as a “civil contract between
a man and a woman” to marriage as “a unique commitment
between two people.” Some at the meeting were concerned
that this decision would encourage a continuing exodus of
conservatives from the denomination. This is something
that has been ongoing since the denomination proposed
the ordination of clergy in same-sex relationships in
2010 and approved the change in 2011. An estimated
350 congregations have left the denomination since then,
according to the Post-Gazette. However, the Associated Press
puts the total at 428 congregations.

As children of God, let us continue to take our stand on the
Word of God and for the Word of God in these crucial times.
Let us bear in mind that we are fighting for our children, our
grandchildren and the generations yet unborn.

SCHEDULE FOR THE WEEK

1. MUSIC MINISTRY MEETING
Today, 5:00 p.m.

2. APOSTOLIC TEAM MEETING
Today, 6:30 p.m.

3. NO WEDNESDAY SERVICE DUE TO FUNERAL
Wednesday, 8:30 a.m. Viewing. 10:00 a.m. Service for Sis. Idalia Leonard.
(First Viewing is on Tuesday July 1st, 5:00 -7:00 p.m. at Turnbull Funeral Home.)

4. CHOIR PRACTICE
Thursday, 5:00 p.m.

2. PRAYER HOUR
Saturday, 7:00 a.m. – 8:00 a.m.

3. NEXT SUNDAY
Worship & Ministry, 9:00 a.m.

Health Walk, 6:00 p.m.
HEALTH WALK

FEA KINGDOM MEN WILL BE SPONSORING A FUN AND
FELLOWSHIP HEALTH WALK ON SUNDAY AFTERNOON, JULY
6, 2014. WE WILL MEET PROMPTLY AT 5:30 IN FRONT OF
WALKER’S BY THE SEA, ON THE AIRPORT ROAD TO DO SOME
STRETCHES, IN PREPARATION FOR THE WALK. COME LET’S
GET MOVING AS WE REPRESENT OUR KING. ALL ARE INVITED.
LIGHT REFRESHMENTS WILL BE AVAILABLE.

WHITEWATER EXPERIENCES

I WAS ENJOYING THE START OF MY FIRST WHITEWATER RAFTING
EXPERIENCE—UNTIL I HEARD THE ROAR OF THE RAPIDS UP AHEAD. MY
EMOTIONS WERE FLOODED WITH FEELINGS OF UNCERTAINTY, FEAR, AND
INSECURITY AT THE SAME TIME. RIDING THROUGH THE WHITEWATER
WAS A FIRST-RATE, WHITE-KNUCKLE EXPERIENCE! AND THEN, SUDDENLY,
IT WAS OVER. THE GUIDE IN THE BACK OF THE RAFT HAD NAVIGATED US
THROUGH. I WAS SAFE—AT LEAST UNTIL THE NEXT SET OF RAPIDS.

TRANSITIONS IN OUR LIVES ARE LIKE WHITEWATER. THE INEVITABLE
LEAPS FROM ONE SEASON OF LIFE TO THE NEXT—COLLEGE TO CAREER,
SINGLENESS TO MARRIAGE, CAREER TO RETIREMENT, MARRIAGE TO
WIDOWHOOD—ARE ALL MARKED BY UNCERTAINTY AND INSECURITY.

IN ONE OF THE MOST SIGNIFICANT TRANSITIONS RECORDED IN OLD
TESTAMENT HISTORY, SOLOMON ASSUMED THE THRONE FROM HIS
FATHER DAVID. I’M SURE HE WAS FILLED WITH UNCERTAINTY ABOUT THE
FUTURE. HIS FATHER’S ADVICE? “BE STRONG AND OF GOOD COURAGE,
AND DO IT;…FOR THE LORD GOD—MY GOD—WILL BE WITH YOU” (1
CHRON. 28:20).

YOU’LL HAVE YOUR FAIR SHARE OF TOUGH TRANSITIONS IN LIFE. BUT WITH
GOD IN YOUR RAFT YOU’RE NOT ALONE. KEEP YOUR EYES ON THE ONE
WHO IS NAVIGATING THE RAPIDS. HE’S TAKEN LOTS OF OTHERS THROUGH
BEFORE. SMOOTH WATERS ARE JUST AHEAD.

–Joe Stowell