A Place To Grow In Faith
One summer day Old Bill was privileged to have a Moses kind of conversation with God. Bill was sitting on a bench at the local park he liked to visit. The place was usually teeming with people as Bill regularly put out seed for the pigeons. The park was mostly quiet even though the weather was sunny and warm with just a hint of a breeze.
Continue reading “Memories”One of the definitions of “jaded” from Merriam-webster.com says, “[M]ade dull, apathetic, or cynical by experience or by having or seeing too much of something.” Has that happened in your service to Jesus?
Continue reading “Are You Jaded?”
Trees and other plants line the edge of the property behind the church. A volunteer cut the branches from the trees that were encroaching into the area behind the church.
My wife mentioned the importance of the scripture about continuing to abide in Jesus when she saw the dead branches on the ground that are in stark contrast to the living branches still connected to the trees.
Jesus said in John 15:1-8 . . .
I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.
To make a point, please allow me to share with you a few details about what I remember learning about tree growth, muscle growth, bone strength and bone repair after a break.
You have probably seen small trees planted at new landscaping projects with guy wires holding them upright. Trees that cannot sway in the wind grow up weak. The wind causes microfractures to occur in tree cellular structure. The resulting healing fills in the damaged areas making trees stronger.
The same goes for muscles and bones. Muscles that bear weight get tiny little tears in the muscle fibers. The body fills in these damaged areas resulting in building muscle mass. So, those bodybuilders with the big muscles have gone through a lot of tearing and filling in. Bone density increases when microfractures occur as bones are subjected to stressors, such as weightlifting. The little microfractures fill in with strong bone.
Continue reading “Building You Up Not Tearing You Down”Introduction
I mentioned at our gathering that teaching on this subject was put on my heart months ago. Well, that was not the whole truth. I actually began to see the necessity of teaching people the biblical side of this very real problem years ago. I have a preliminary research file on my computer that dates back to May 9, 2014.
After an initial class teaching about the prevalence of obsessive-compulsive disorder behaviors I had noticed in Christians, there were no more classes. The behaviors continued to exist, but it was as if very few wanted a solution. People would tell me about their fears, feelings of depression and other things, such as their OCD rituals, but they seemed to look at the symptoms as just being part of normal life.
Continue reading “Panic and Worry and A N X I E T Y Oh My!”Due to the many illness within our church and those who are affiliated with our church, whether it be physical, mental or spiritual, our Pastor has called for corporate fast and prayer to bombard heaven to make our requests known to the Lord regarding this situation.
This morning during my fasting and prayer time with the Lord, He spoke to me saying, “The battle is in array (to set in order an impressive display), and your victory is at hand. Your future is not determined by what the enemy plans but what I do next!”
Continue reading “Pray, Fast and Fight!”Facebook livestreaming was not working for us on Wednesday November 6, 2019. That bible study was the first in a new series being taught by Pastor Frank Menhart on The Names of God. Christine Szakal prepared this introduction for those interested in the new series who watch by live stream in order to help them be ready for lesson two.
The Bible Study held on Wednesday, November 6, 2019, was the beginning of a new series titled: “The Names of God Series – Lesson 1 Elohim”. Each of God’s names reveals a wonderful aspect about His nature that can meet your deepest needs, comfort you in times of personal tragedy, and release you to new heights of praise in times of joy.
Continue reading “The Names of God Bible Study Series: First Lesson Introduction”Come on out to Blainesburg Bible Church on Sunday June 2, 2019 to hear a special message from Brother Dale Cowher.
Brother Dale is the CPA for our church, and he is a servant of our Lord who has a message for us. Pastor Frank had Brother Dale on his heart to be the one to speak to the congregation while he is away on the mission the Holy Spirit is leading him to accomplish.
Church starts at 9:30 AM with Sunday School. Come join us to worship God, learn his word and fellowship with brothers and sisters in the Lord.
These lessons are part of a series of bulletin inserts at Blainesburg Bible Church. The online versions contain minor edits for the expanded online audience. This is the final lesson in this series that was originally released on April 28, 2019.
Introduction
Please read lessons 1-6 before reading this final one in the series on Body Ministry. The prior lessons give all the background needed for the application of this one to be effective.
Serving in Body Ministry
Over the years I have been learning to do what is needed. It does not matter what it is as the Lord has built into me a measure of versatility. When I began to be under Pastor Frank C. Menhart Jr.’s leadership as my pastor again, I told him I would do whatever he needs done. I told him I would clean toilets if that was what was needed. It was not a false humility, I committed to do what was needed. Why? Well, I have the examples of Jesus, the godly leaders in the bible, and of Pastor Frank and other men of God to emulate.
Continue reading “Body Ministry Lesson 7”These lessons are part of a series of bulletin inserts at Blainesburg Bible Church. The online versions contain minor edits for the expanded online audience. This lesson originally released on April 21, 2019.
Introduction
You should read the prior lessons before studying this one. This is especially true if you missed lesson 5 or did not do what was asked. If you have been following along and have completed a very prayerful examination of your spiritual health and fitness, then it is time to move forward.
One does not have to look far to find examples of physical illness or disabilities in the church. Personally, I have been experiencing pain in my shoulder area. Diagnostics ranging from X-Rays to MRIs sought the source of the pain not finding a definitive answer. Each specialist leans toward his own specialty trying to figure it out, but none have provided a solution that takes away the pain.
Continue reading “Body Ministry Lesson 6”