BULLETIN FOR SUNDAY, JULY 13, 2014

The word of God says, “Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.” Thank God that we have the breath of life and that we can gather here today to praise His name. Welcome!

A recent Gallup poll on how Americans view the Bible, revealed that most Americans see the Bible as the Word of God. This remains true of 75 percent of the country. But New York Times columnist, Charles Blow, said he was shocked and fascinated by the religious literalism found by the poll. “What worries me”, he said, “is that some Americans seem to live in a world where facts can’t exist,” Others noted the poll’s hike in those who say, “The Bible is an ancient book of fables, legends, history and moral precepts recorded by man.

But the most shocking and fascinating thing the Gallup poll revealed was that 11 percent of non-Christians believe that the Bible is the actual word of God and is to be taken literally, word for word.” Gallup claims that their question touches on two ongoing debates in Christian theology. The first being, whether the words of the Bible came directly from God, using the writers as scribes; or whether they are the words of men, but guided by divine inspiration. The second question is, if the words of the Bible should be taken literally, or viewed as metaphors and allegories allowing for interpretation.
Whatever the case may be, it is encouraging to know that 75% of our country still believes that the Bible is the word of God. This offers some degree of hope for the future. We need to maximize on this by praying fervently for our nation.

SCHEDULE FOR THE WEEK

1. BOARD MEETING
Today, 6:00 p.m.

2. LUNCH HOUR & EVENING WARFARE PRAYER
Wednesday, 12:00 noon –Lunch Hour Warfare
Prayer. 5:30 p.m.—Evening Warfare Prayer.
This will also be a day of prayer and fasting as
we begin to focus on our return to Savan.

3. CHOIR PRACTICE
Thursday, 6:30 p.m.

4. PRAYER HOUR
Saturday, 7:00 a.m.

5. PRAISE & WORSHIP PRACTICE
Saturday, 5:30 p.m.

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

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE NEWLYWEDS!
On behalf of Apostle & Pr. Edghill and the F.E.A. family extend our congratulations to Michael and Julicia Hilaire who was married yesterday.

LIMITED BUT USEFUL

SUZANNE BLOCH, AN IMMIGRANT FROM GERMANY, OFTEN PLAYED CHAMBER MUSIC WITH ALBERT EINSTEIN AND OTHER PROMINENT SCIENTISTS. SHE SAID THAT EINSTEIN, THOUGH AN ACCOMPLISHED VIOLINIST, IRRITATED HIS FELLOW MUSICIANS BY NOT COMING IN ON THE BEAT. “YOU SEE,” BLOCH EXPLAINED, “HE COULDN’T COUNT.” EINSTEIN COULD PROJECT REVOLUTIONARY THEORIES ABOUT THE COSMOS, BUT HE HAD DIFFICULTY WITH RHYTHMIC COUNTING. DESPITE HIS LIMITATION, HE REMAINED AN ENTHUSIASTIC MUSICIAN.
DO WE SOMETIMES LAMENT OUR LIMITATIONS? WE ALL HAVE ABILITIES, BUT WE ARE ALSO AFFLICTED WITH INABILITIES. WE MAY BE TEMPTED TO USE OUR LIMITATIONS AS AN EXCUSE FOR NOT DOING THE THINGS GOD HAS ENABLED US TO DO. JUST BECAUSE WE MAY NOT BE GIFTED TO SPEAK IN PUBLIC OR TO SING IN A CHOIR DOESN’T MEAN THAT WE CAN SIT ON THE SPIRITUAL SIDELINES DOING NOTHING.
WHEN WE REALIZE THAT ALL OF US HAVE LIMITATIONS, WE CAN MOVE FORWARD BY SEEKING GOD’S GUIDANCE IN USING OUR GIFTS. SURELY WE CAN PRAY. SURELY WE CAN SHOW KINDNESS TO OTHERS. WE CAN VISIT THE LONELY, THE SICK, THE ELDERLY. WE CAN TELL WITH EFFECTIVE SIMPLICITY WHAT JESUS MEANS TO US. PAUL SAID, “HAVING THEN GIFTS DIFFERING ACCORDING TO THE GRACE THAT IS GIVEN TO US, LET US USE THEM” (ROM. 12:6).
—Vernon Grounds