We had another wonderful weekend and another very special Sunday in the country. We enjoyed beautiful weather, cooler, a good mixture of sunshine and rain, no stormy weather except for a little bit of wind, and plenty of fellowship together serving one another in Christ.

We all have been saddened by the reality of life and death. Two of our dear brothers in Christ; Buz Heffington and Leon Goodnight passed from this life to Paradise. We were privileged to share in the grief that comes with saying goodbye for a little while to these two brothers with their families. It was an honor and a blessing for me to stand before the family and friends of these two brothers and offer words from the Bible to comfort and strengthen them during their sorrow. God is our refuge and strength. He is a very present help in times of trouble. Psalm 47 is certainly a beautiful passage of Scripture to read, think about, and apply to life. Of course we know that God watches over us. He cares for us. He knows our needs and is ready, willing, and able to provide according to His purpose. Let us pray without ceasing with supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings (1 Timothy 2:1-4). Let us also remember our sisters in Christ, Laura, the wife of Buz and Louise, the wife of Pa in the coming days as they make adjustments to a new way of living.

This Sunday morning our series continues “Growing in Gladness.” We have looked at how we can grow in gladness through our assemblies together, the Lord’s Supper, prayer, and this Sunday, our giving. Jesus said it. Paul preached it. Luke wrote it. It is more blessed to give than to receive (Acts 20:35). Do we believe it? Our actions often speak louder than words. God is so good to us. We love Him because He first loved us. We give to Him because He has first given to us.

On Sunday evening we will once again consider that God is able. He is certainly able to save anyone who comes to Him by Jesus Christ, the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Additionally, He is also able to destroy both body and soul in hell. Whew! Remember. God is loving. He is also just. He is full of grace. He is also a God of vengeance. He will forgive. He will also chastise. He will help us. He will also test us. He will save. He can and will destroy. The Bible tells us that our God is a consuming fire, that vengeance is His, that it is a terrible thing to fall into the hands of the living God, that His Son will one day return in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God and have not obeyed the gospel of Christ. I hope you will be here this Sunday evening for this very special sermon.

Congratulations to two dear sisters in Christ; Brianna Breeding and Regina Hodge. Brianna came forward Sunday morning to ask for the prayers of the church and for God’s forgiveness and blessings. Regina came before the Lord and His church to confess Jesus as the Son of God and put Him on in baptism. Regina came out of denominationalism to the Lord’s church some time ago but did not fully understand the difference in what many denominational churches teach concerning God’s plan of salvation and what the Bible plainly teaches concerning God’s plan of salvation. She is now a Christian. Oh, how simple God’s plan of salvation is. Hear the message of Jesus Christ, the gospel (Romans 10). Believe what you hear (Hebrews 11:6). Repent of any and every sin (Luke 13:3). Confess the fact that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God (Acts 8:37). Be baptized to have your sins washed away (Acts 22:16). Rise from the waters of baptism to walk in newness of life. What a blessing it is to be a Christian!