At The Core for July 25, 2010

“Bill’s Weekly Reflection”

Jesus Wept.  These words from John 11:35 are famous for being the shortest verse in the English Bible.  They concisely tell of the love and compassion that Jesus felt for a friend and his family.  The tears of Jesus evoked two responses:  vs. 36 “See how he loved him”, and vs. 37  “Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man have kept this man from dying?”  It never ceases to amaze me how people can witness the same event and walk away with such different understanding as to what happened and why.  John 11:37 makes two points I would like to share.

Number 1.  God/Jesus does not always do things the way that we think they should be done or how we would do them if we were in charge.  Lazarus’ sisters, Mary and Martha both tell Jesus when He finally arrives and finds Lazarus already dead, that Lazarus would not have died had He been there.  Jesus    received the message that his friend was sick in time to have made it to his bedside, but he stayed where he was two more days and then headed back to Judea (Jn. 11:6-7).  Sure Jesus could have healed him.  He could have made it in time, but we know that Jesus didn’t even have to be present to heal people if their faith was strong.  Jesus chose to allow the events to transpire in this way, “so that God’s son may be  glorified through it (Jn. 11:4). ”  God’s plan is different than our plan.  Sometimes things happen that we don’t like, but the goal is not for our glory but for the Glory of the Father.  When things don’t go our way, we must trust that God understands the big picture.

Number 2.  John 11:37 reminds us that you just can’t please everybody.  Even Jesus didn’t.  Jesus has just raised a man from the dead.  A man whose body had already begun to decay to the point that it was giving off a foul odor and some of the Jews questioned his methods and motivation.  Pleasing everyone was not Jesus’ mission.  His mission was to do His Father’s will.  

Before Jesus ascended to heaven, he commissioned us to carry out His Father’s will.  In so doing, our goal is not to please everybody or to make everyone comfortable, our mission is to seek and save the lost.  Remember, Jesus made so many people uncomfortable that they killed him. 

God Bless
BP

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RECORD FOR JULY 18, 2010

Welcome New Members!  

Wednesday Summer Series  

            All adults are to meet at 7:00 p.m. in Room #136/138 for our Wednesday Summer Series that began on Wednesday, June 2^nd.  Our speakers for the months of June-August are as follows:  

July 28 - Goodness - Rory Ghant - Centerville, TN

August 4 - Faithfulness - Tim Woodroof - Nashville, TN

August 11 - Gentleness - Devin Pickard - Centerville, TN

August 18 - Self-Control - Todd Loyd - Columbia, TN

August 25 - Spiritual Fruit Salad - Bill Perkins

 

 

Youth Led Service  

            Our young men of the congregation will lead our evening worship service this Sunday, July 25^th, beginning at 5:00 p.m. in the auditorium.  Braley Chambers will be our speaker.  Come and support these young men as they grow to be our leaders of tomorrow.

“Dinner and Pottery”  

            All ladies are invited to “Dinner and Pottery” on Saturday night, August 21^st.  Dinner will be at 5:30 at O’Bryans in Madison with pottery painting to follow at “Pottery By You” on Hughes Road.  Please see Amanda Speegle for more details.  Look for the sign-up sheet on the Ladies Ministry bulletin board!

Money Tree Baby Shower  

            There will be a Money Tree Baby Shower for Summer Goode in Room #138 on Sunday, August 8^th, 1:30-3:00.  Summer is expecting a baby girl on September 4^th.  Money may be given to Elizabeth Anderson or Mitzi Anderson.  

Friends and Family Day  

            Friends and Family Day is scheduled for Sunday, August 29^th.  After worship, we will have a combined adult class in the auditorium for Sunday School and a church-wide potluck in the Church Life Center following the class period.  We will have the Kiddie Carnival that evening, 6:00-8:00, for our children.  Remember to ask your friends and family to attend on this special day.  Also, please ask those that you know who have attended Central in the past to join us.  Soon we will have invitations available to mail out if you need them. 

Central Family Retreat  

            Please mark your calendars for our Central Family Retreat on Friday through Sunday, September 17-19, at Camp Meribah in Centerville, Tennessee.  More details will be provided soon. 

August Calendar  

            Additional copies of the calendar for August are provided on the table in the church foyer.

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