Sharing with Steve
Last week Phyllis and I were sponsors for three of our teens as we attended CIY Move at Cedarville, OH. CIY is a national youth organization that does summer youth conferences for high school students. This summer they are holding thirty-six conferences all over the United States. They also do retreats for middle school and pre-teen students. It is an excellent organization. This year is their 5oth anniversary. Over the years they have touched many lives. The theme for this year’s conference was “Contrast.” All of the topics were taken from the First Letter of John. I want to share some of what was shared with us.
The first idea was the contrast of light/dark. Do you live in the light or do you live in the darkness? John is very specific that living for Jesus is to walk in the light and to be wrapped up in the world is to be living in darkness. Too many of us try to live in the grey area. Because it is not totally dark we feel that we are still in the light, but John says that we are just deceiving ourselves. To walk in the light is to walk in the truth. When we walk in the light we have fellowship with Christ and with like-minded people (1 John 1:7).
The second idea was the contrast of believe/deny. Do we love God and Christ with all of our heart, mind, and soul, or do we often hedge our bets? How often have we talked about faith and belief and then tried to do things in our own power? We need to be more like the father of the demon possessed son who cried out to Jesus to strengthen his faith. He had faith, but knew that it needed to be stronger.
The third contrast was obey/rebel. Adam and Eve come quickly to mind. They were given free rein in the garden. Everything was at their disposal except the fruit of the one tree. And that is where Satan attacked them. Instead of being obedient they rebelled. John equates obedience and love. If we say that we love the Father then we will be obedient to His commands. We continue to be tempted to rebel. Even simple disobedience is rebellion against God. I must be obedient.
The fourth contrast was love/fear. When I saw this point my first thought was that it should be love/hate. Yet John does not say that perfect love casts out hate, but fear (1 John 4:18). Often the things that we “hate” are things that we loathe and fear. The love of Christ is able to stand up and say, “I forgive.”
These four contrasts should give us all something to think about. Take some time and read 1 John. It will not take long. Keep your eyes open for how John addresses these contrasts. It could change your life.
SERMON SCHEDULE FOR JULY
Sunday, July 1 – Chapter 17 – Spiritual Gifts
Key Idea – I know my spiritual gifts and use them to fulfill God’s purposes.
Sunday, July 8 – Chapter 18 – Offering My Time
Key Idea – I invest my time in fulfilling God’s purposes.
Sunday, July 15 – Steve’s Choice – taking a break from Believe
Sunday, July 22 – Steve’s Choice – taking a break from Believe
Sunday, July 29 – Chapter 19 – Giving My Resources
Key Idea – I give my resources to fulfill God’s purposes.
CHURCH PICNIC & WORSHIP SERVICE
The annual church picnic will be held on Sunday, July 29, at the Auburn Hills Civic Center Park. There will be maps in the foyer giving directions. There will be a shuttle service from the parking lot at the park to the shelter. There are sign-up sheets in the foyer for food. The church will supply the meat and the drinks. There will be activities such as volleyball, horseshoes, bean bag toss, and ladder toss. We are doing something different this year: we will be having our worship service at the park. We will not be meeting at the church building. The worship service will be at 10:45 am. There will be no Sunday School that morning. Please bring lawn chairs to sit in both for the service and the meal. In case of rain the service and the picnic will be held at our building. If you have any questions please see Linda Tingley or Andrea Schwartzenberger.
MOWING TEAMS
The grass keeps growing and our teams keep cutting. We appreciate the good work that you do. The Orange Team will be mowing the week of July 1. The Blue Team will be mowing the week of July 8. The Green Team will be mowing the week of July 15. The Red Team will be mowing the week of July 22. The Orange Team will be mowing the week of July 29.
Three of our young people have graduated from high school this year. Zachary Kapusta graduated from Oakland Christian School. He will attend Oakland University in the Fall. Kiersten Zaremba graduated from Macomb Henry Ford High School. She will be attending Oakland University in the Fall. Louis Krupa graduated from Oxford High School and will be attending Oakland Community College in the Fall. Congratulations to these fine young people.
Sisters-in-Service annual garage sale.
August 23,24,25 at Bright’s house, 2136 Oklahoma Ave. R.H. All proceeds go to support the agenda of Sisters-in-Service. Gather all donates and begin bringing them to Bright’s the week of the sale. For more info, see Lynn Ross or Elaine Bright.
LAKE JAMES CHRISTIAN CAMP
Meadowbrook will play a part in the Pre-Teen 2 week at LJCC. This week takes place July 15-20. Steve Martin will be the assistant dean. Brenda Cox will be leading the music. Kiersten and Matthew Zaremba will be going as junior faculty. This week usually had 80-90 young people attending. Please pray for the faculty and the campers that God will move this week.
KIDS ACTIVITY
There will be a rock painting party at Wendy Kapusta’s on Monday, July 2, from 11 am until 2 pm. You are to bring small flat rocks to paint. There will be extra rocks available. Lunch will be provided. For more information please see Wendy Kapusta or Phyllis Martin. Please let Wendy know if you are attending. That will give us an idea of how much food to prepare.
Missions Ministry: Focus on IDES
International Disaster Emergency Services (IDES) is an organization that seeks to give physical help and spiritual hope to suffering individuals around the world. In 2017, IDES accomplished 223 projects in 33 foreign countries as well as in several regions across the U.S. They worked with 125 different missionaries, 815 volunteers, and churches in giving shelter, food, medicine, water and the Gospel of Jesus Christ to so many. These are some of their accomplishments in their annual report:
- Over $1,127,370 collected for victims of Hurricane Harvey (Texas)
- Over $253,700 collected for victims of Hurricane Irma (Florida, US Virgin Island)
- Over $100,340 collected for victims of Hurricane Maria (Puerto Rico, Caribbean Island
- 1,662,800 pounds of rice, corn & beans for hungry families
- 66 food packing events with 4,386 participants, 1,108,174 IDES meals packed
- 6,184 volunteer hours to help 11,405 refugees
- $1,745,309 to provide emergency food, water, clothes, blankets, shelter, tools & materials
- 664 livestock & animals provided
- 4,261 boxes of medication & supplies
- $193,000 providing 15 long-term hot feeding programs
- 127 medical clinics hosted
- 5 U.S. Disaster Deployments
- 485 structures rebuilt or repaired
- 120 sheds built for U.S. Disaster victims
- 28,150 Bibles or Christian literature given
- 225 clean water initiatives
- 87 income generating programs
How did IDES accomplish all this? Through mission partners (foreign missions, stateside ministries, U.S. congregations in 34 nations), Christians in the field, volunteers, donations, capital campaigns, investments, endowments, the IDES staff and Board of Directors being good stewards of the gifts entrusted to them, and prayer. This year IDES is celebrating their 45th Anniversary year. Let us continue to support IDES with our gifts and prayers.
John Ciuba IV – July 8
Stefanie Kapusta – July 9
Harry & Kaye Thompson (Ann.) – July 12
Tim Howell – July 16
Carol Howell – July 16
Hector Urteaga – July 18
Ken Small – July 19
Sandra Krugh – July 21
Mike & Sue Rose (Ann.) – July 21
Mike Rose – July 22
Brenda Cox – July 22
Harry Thompson – July 24
Samantha Kapusta – July 25
Eunice Salminen – July 27
Marian Murphy – July 28
