June 16, 2010 by Web Admin.

Matthew 28:18-20

In a life time, no one has learned everything there is to learn. There is so much wisdom to be learned, so many ways for us to grow; therefore, we continue to open our minds to learning until the day we die. Within this passage we find the words, “Teach them to observe all that I command you” Jesus gives us a job to do.

To receive the best out of bible learning, try these three steps.

1.       Step one is the gathering of knowledge. This is the “Learn it” stage. It involves the intellect and produces “head knowledge”

2.       Step two involves the emotions and produces “heart knowledge” that is why we call this the “love it” phase.

3.       Step three involves the will which produces “hand knowledge” and leads us to the “live it” stage. When the truth of God’s word is taken in, it brings conviction and manifests itself in the actions of a transformed lifestyle that is when we know that we are doing the job that our Lord has commanded us to do.

Rev. Barbara McFarlane

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June 16, 2010 by Web Admin.

Colossians 1:11-12

“God will strengthen you with His own great power so that you will not give up when troubles come, but you will be patient.  And you will joyfully give thanks to the Father who has made you able to have a share in all that He has prepared for ……you.”

In life’s journey many of us face times when nothing seems to go as planned and things just don’t  work out, but it is during these times that God promises to see us through. Let us remember that God’s strength is perfect!

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June 15, 2010 by Worship Director.

The Church of God in Angola continues the registration process with the Ministry of Justice in Angola. Completing this process will give the Church of God (Anderson, IN) recognition as a legitimate organization within the country and can then officially invite missionaries to work with the church in Angola. Recognition is finalized when the Church of God (Anderson, IN) is published in the Diario de Republica, the official document of the government of Angola. This should occur within the next couple months. We are anxiously waiting for this door to open.

Jim and Dulci Doty, who have worked in this area for many years, say, “We really appreciate your prayers!”  Let’s continue to pray for this mission as one family of God.

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June 14, 2010 by Web Admin.

Exodus 23:30

“ I will drive them out before you, until you have increased enough to take possession of the land.”

THE PLAN

Here we have a promise of deliverance by God in small increments, little by little. Have you ever felt that you are at the edge of a precipice, just hanging on, and you cry out to God for immediate help then become disappointed when He appears to be working little by little, rather than all at once?

THE PURPOSE

Our God is working for our eternal good. He is accomplishing His purpose in our lives in His own way, and in His own time. He knows that in some situations, little by little is the best way to go. He knows that we could easily be overtaken by adversity, if we experience victory too quickly.Even though there are no simple answers to lives perplex problems, this verse provides an important clue as to how God sometimes work on our behalf. Every now and then, we need to be reminded that He is going by His timetable, not ours, and His will for us is determined by what is ultimately best for us. One thing is sure, that is, the Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness, and He is just being patient with us. Like Paul with his thorn, perhaps you have a lifestyle that you know is unhealthy and you have asked God’s help, but the progress seem slow and insignificant, don’t throw away your project, be patient and work with God, so that He can work with you.Be encouraged when your prayer request reveal little by little progress, because while God is at work in your life, He is also at work in the lives of those around you, and when he ties-it-all-up, little by little will add up to major change.

Rev. Barbara McFarlane

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June 14, 2010 by Worship Director.

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.  - Matthew 5-6

We all want to do the right thing, but it never seems to be so easy.  We want to give our time, talents, and treasure to support God’s kingdom and our local fellowship, but things so often get in the way – emergency bills, work obligations, unexpected interruptions of life.  Jesus said that those who persevere, who meet obstacles and temptations and still make the right decision – will be blessed.

He didn’t mean only an eternal reward, but showers of blessings right here, right now.  Get hungry to support the kingdom, thirst for what is righteous, put God first in your life, and you’ll find the true meaning of satisfaction.

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June 12, 2010 by Web Admin.

If you would like to establish your own website, contact our Webmaster for a professional look and functionality.

Whether for personal or professional uses, your own website can be a useful tool for you and your family.

For more information, contact Lloyd Harrington at webmaster@austinfcog.org.

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June 12, 2010 by Web Admin.

Each of us has to struggle through some dense clouds in our lives on earth.  Read the Psalms and draw some comfort from the fact that the ancients felt the same way.  Those times are part of our journey and help us grow more than we might ever realize.

God has a plan for your life and He won’t let go of you.  Keep praying and keep checking to see if He’s near regardless of how you feel.  You’ll soon discover that He’s been with you all along.

God is waiting there to  help you and to heal you.  He is there standing in the light and will shine it on you to direct your path.

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June 12, 2010 by Worship Director.

Blessed are the gentle, for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.     - Matthew 5:5-6 (The Message)

The “have’s” and the “have not’s” existed even in Jesus’ time – just like today.  It seemed that only the powerful, the aggressive, or the well-connected, ended up with “the good life.”  Nothing came easy for the average family.  They knew the pangs of an empty belly.  They knew thirst in a dry land.  When Jesus spoke with them on that mountain side, He reached right into the heart of their pain and helped them see that the physical world could be transcended by the spiritual realm.

We have hope and a promise to take us through the hills and valleys -  that in the end – we will have it all.

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June 7, 2010 by Worship Director.

When Jesus saw His ministry drawing huge crowds, He climbed a hillside. Those who were apprenticed to Him, the committed, climbed with Him.                                                 – Matthew 5:1  The Message

In The Message translation, the words are, “…the committed climbed with Him.”  Two things stand out: 1) it takes commitment and effort to follow Jesus, and 2) He never asked us to go anywhere alone.  He lived the same life His followers endured - He had family responsibilities as the oldest son, He gave up His carpentry business to go about His Father’s business, He was enveloped in a sense of urgency to touch and teach as many as He could.

The mountains are high that we face today, but the committed, those who choose to take the trip with Jesus, will not only conquer the climb, but will find a treasure at the top.

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June 5, 2010 by Worship Director.

Arriving at a quiet place, He sat down and taught His climbing companions. This is what He said: You’re blessed when you’re at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and His rule. You’re blessed when you feel you’ve lost what is most dear to you. Only then can you be embraced by the One most dear to you.                                  – Matthew 5:1-4  The Message

This scripture begins the passages we know as The Sermon on the Mount and the list of “Beatitudes,” even though the terms are never used in the Bible. The word comes from the Latin word beātitūdō, meaning “supreme happiness.”  The people were living in hard times, under the oppression of the Roman government and the burdensome weight of their own Jewish laws.  Real happiness seemed to escape them.

Jesus showed them – and us - how to see the worst of circumstances with a new “attitude.”  He leads off with a focus on poverty and pain - poverty of the soul and the pain of loss.  Yes, there was much poverty of pocket, but it was their emotional response to situations that was His concern.  In the King James version of the Bible, they are beautifully referred to as “the poor in spirit.”  How is your spirit today?

He then turned to “those who mourn” - and there were many.  In the ancient world, the mortality rate of children was high, injuries easily became fatalities and lives of hard labor were often cut short.  These people were no strangers to mourning for loved ones lost, as was Jesus.  Throughout His life, we can see His heart break at the deaths of His own friends and His compassionate response to so many that came to Him with their dead or dying families.  He knew their pain and of what His own impending departure would bring.

These were tough subjects for Jesus to tackle, but He never shied away from hard issues, and never left us uninspired!  We will continue to discuss the beatitudes throughout this month and contemplate whether our own attitudes are what they should be.

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