“My dwelling place shall be with them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Then the nations will know that I am the Lord who sanctifies Israel, when my sanctuary is in their midst forevermore”–Ezekiel 37:27-28

Beloved Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

On this final day in August, another Monday that the Lord has granted us in His grace, we want to find our encouragement in the pages of the ancient prophecy of Ezekiel.

Of course, Ezekiel was a prophet of God during the horrible years of the Babylonian captivity of Israel. Israel had proven to be a persistently wayward and disobedient people, and this despite the Lord’s constant calls to repentance and almost inconceivable patience with them. Sadly, no repentance came, and the tragic consequence was the loss of literally everything that had once identified them as the Covenant people–their land, their temple, their language, and their culture.

Not only did the Lord raise up Ezekiel to preach to the exiled nation in a way that explained what had happened to them and why, the prophet was also to preach and prophesy about a glorious day of restoration and salvation that would surely come for Israel. While the book of Ezekiel is sprinkled throughout with images and promises of this restoration, the vision of chapter 37 stands out for its depiction of the spiritual resurrection of the once dead nation.

But in verses 24-28 of that chapter there is another remarkable image of salvation and restoration for the nation. A second and greater “ David” will one day come to reign over them as a sovereign, yet most loving, “ shepherd.” He will bring “ peace” to them, return them to their “ land,” “ multiply” them exceedingly, and will “ be their prince forever.” And then, we find in verse 28 this amazing promise: that the “ sanctuary” of the Lord will forever be “ in their midst”!

So how does this centuries-old word from Ezekiel encourage us today?

Well, let me begin by asking you a question or two:

Where is Christ our Lord now?

And, where are you, His child, and each of us who belong to His Church?

According to this promise, our Sovereign Lord is to be found in the midst of those whom He has redeemed! In fact, His temple, “ sanctuary,” or dwelling place, is among us right now! This Old Covenant Word has been fulfilled in our Savior, who now dwells with us by His Spirit until the day that He will come again in power and glory! We, the richly beloved sheep of His pasture, are His “ sanctuary”!

And then, as to where we are, the answer is that we are always in His presence! We are never left alone! He is always with us as our Shepherd, Provider, Protector, and Deliverer, and we are always under the shelter of His mighty love and power! We never do anything absent from Him. We never experience anything apart from His presence! And, with the echo of this Old Covenant Word in the background, our Lord has declared to us that He is “ with” us “ always to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20), and that He will “ never leave” nor “ forsake” us (Hebrews 13:5).

Whatever we shall face today as our Father’s will and purposes unfold for us, we will experience in the presence of Jesus our Lord! Be it blessings, tribulations, victories, pains, deliverances, or sufferings, they will come to us as our Savior and High Priest stands with us! We might even say that we will experience them while ‘in the sanctuary’! No place could be sweeter! No place could be safer! No place could be more fulfilling! For, as the Scripture says, “ in Your presence there is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore” (Psalm 16:11).

I pray that you will know the comfort, peace, joys, and security of being in His presence today. And may His amazing grace sustain you as together we sing . . .

“ Hallelujah! What a Savior!

Hallelujah! What a friend!

Saving, helping, keeping, loving,

He is with me to the end.”

I love you all so much!

Mike

Sermon Preview:

Dear Brothers and Sisters in the Lord,

We have two more sermons remaining in our current series on ‘ The Church Under the Cross.’ Our text for this coming Lord’s Day will be taken from 1 Corinthians 2:1-5, and our subject will be ‘ The Cross and our Message.’

As guided by this inspired passage, we will see how the cross of our Savior and the message we are commissioned to declare to the world are connected. And this link is so essential that Paul would even say that he “ decided to know nothing” with the one exception of “ Jesus Christ and Him crucified” (v. 2).

Once more, then, we will discover that there is no real Christianity, or Christian proclamation, apart from the fact of our Lord’s atoning death upon Calvary’s tree!

Some News

Looking ahead, we are very excited about Sunday School starting for all ages on September 13. In the next week or so, we will pass on more information about our classes. But I wanted to tell you about our Adult class topic for the fall.

Along with our Session, I will be teaching on the subject of ‘ Understanding the Times: An Introduction to the Major Ideas Shaping Our World, and a Biblical Response.’ I have based this title upon the book by David Noebel in which he explains some of the major religious and philosophical forces that are shaping our world today.

Each week (for 11 Sundays, from September 13 through November 22) we will consider these ideas, or worldviews, and how we may evaluate and respond to them as directed by Scripture.

Among the topics we will cover are:

• Marxism,
• Post-modernism,
• Naturalism,
• Critical Race Theory,
• Nihilism,
• and Narcissism

Our recommended textbook for the class will be James Sire, The Universe Next Door: A Basic Worldview Catalog (Third Edition, IVP, 1997).

RUF at A&M

I also want to pass on some very good news regarding RUF at Alabama A&M University.

As you know, we have been praying for a long time that the Lord would provide an RUF Director for the University. Well, while we still await a permanent director, I am thrilled to report to you that Mr. Amos Williams has accepted the part-time (non-ordained) position of Campus Ministry Associate for Alabama A&M where he will minister to the students, staff, and faculty.

Currently, Amos is a candidate for Gospel ministry and for ordination in our Presbytery, and has just recently completed his Master of Divinity degree at Beeson Divinity School. He also serves with Pastor Alex Shipman at The Village Church (here in Huntsville) in a part-time capacity as the Director of Small Groups & Community Relations.

Please remember to pray for Amos, his wife Jessica, and two sons Christian and Caleb as his ministry at A&M begins.

I love you all so very much!!

Mike

Announcements:

COVID-19 Message:

For those of you who are attending worship in person on Sunday morning, please practice social distancing as much as you are able and observe the pew markers so that we may keep a safe, 6-ft between families. During this time, we will not have nursery or fellowship time with food and drink. If any family member has been sick, or you have a pre-existing condition, please consider staying home and joining us by watching the recorded service when it is sent out. The Session has asked all congregants, out of love for one another, to wear a mask throughout our worship service if you are able. We hope and pray that if you have any needs, you will let a staff member or deacon know so that we can serve you well during this trying time.

Message from your Diaconate:

As we continue through this difficult time, if you have needs of any kind, please don’t hesitate to reach out to the Diaconate. We’re eager to help you or to find someone who can. This is one of the main reasons the church has deacons, to make sure that congregational needs are being met. Please remember that your Diaconate and Session are praying for you, and we’re here to help however we can.

Men’s Ministry:

The Men’s Morning Study Group will resume reading Calvin’s “Institutes” together at Panera Bread Company at Bridge Street on September 8 at 6 AM.

Ministry Updates:

Sunday School and other regular weekly ministries and Bible studies will resume under curtailed social distance practices during the week of September 13. Check this space and the calendar for updated times. Also Ashley will also be sending out the nursery re-opening plan before programs resume on the 13th.

Children’s Ministry:

A friend of mine is the director of the Lincoln Village Preschool Ministry. I asked about ways we could support them during the back to school weeks.

This is their wishlist from Amazon. If your family would like to donate one of the items on the list, please go ahead and purchase. They use some of these supplies to send home a “bible bag” during the first week of school with their new bibles.

https://smile.amazon.com/hz/charitylist/ls/2DMZKUQM1OCQX/ref=smi_ext_lnk_lcl_cl

Thank you for supporting this important organization and these precious children. To learn more about Lincoln Village, click HERE.

Career/Singles:

The career/singles group will resume meeting on September 13th at 5:30 at the home of Jim and Sharon Daughtry, for a time of fellowship and spiritual encouragement. More details to follow.

Prayer Requests:

Healing: Please pray for the health of the following individuals: Rich Bagdazian, Zig and Virdia Jastrebski, Ramona Edwards, Bill Dent, Jacky Haynes, Steve Terry, Bill Cowley, Larrabee Kirkland, Elizabeth Holton, and Nolan Osmer.
Expecting: Please pray for the Elys, expecting in September.
Ministries: Please pray for the following missionaries and ministries: Seth and Jessica Lewis (Ireland); Steve and Rita Williams (New Zealand); Noah and Karleigh Stephens (Thailand); Vinnie and Molly Athey (RUF at UAH); Amos and Jessica William (RUF at Alabama A&M); Ken and Angie Burnett (FCA); Franky and Alaina Garcia (church plant in Canada); Dieter Paulson (church plant in Scottsboro, AL); The Huntsville Pregnancy Resource Center.

Online Donations:

If you would like to give to Christ Presbyterian, you can do so at the following link:

Emails:

general inquiries: admin@christpreshamptoncove.org
benevolence needs: benevolence@christpreshamptoncove.org
counsel and ministry needs: matthew@christpreshamptoncove.org
men’s ministry: men@christpreshamptoncove.org
women’s ministry: women@christpreshamptoncove.org
children’s ministry: children@christpreshamptoncove.org
youth ministry: youth@christpreshamptoncove.org
senior fellows: seniorfellows@christpreshamptoncove.org

Address:

288 Old Highway 431
Owens Cross Roads, AL 35763

“ And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us”–Romans 5:3-5 (NASB).

My Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ our Lord,

Without any doubt, we have all experienced much disappointment over the last several months as we have tried our best to navigate the manifold disruptions, uncertainties, controversies, and troubles posed by the pandemic. I could easily come up with a rather long list of these disappointments. But to name only a few, we might include things like our disappointment with politicians, scientists, local government officials, the medical community, and certainly the media. And there are also disappointments related to the Church that we have all experienced in one way or another. After all, we are still sinners whose need for grace and mercy is made more evident when difficulties confront us.

While we recognize that disappointment is just one of the facts of life that affects all of us, there is yet a significant increase in our experience of this unpleasant feeling as we continue to slog our way from week-to-week, seemingly leaving one crisis only to face the next one. And, just a matter of weeks away now, we face another looming season of disappointment as we prepare to vote on our next President. As we approach November, we know we will endure the ever deepening cesspool of controversy, accusations and counter charges, and unfiltered hate into which our national elections have devolved. And even if our man wins, disappointment will surely pollute our celebrations as we are all but guaranteed four more years of dirty political warfare and its consequences.

Disappointment is an awful thing whenever it makes its unwelcomed and discomforting presence known. But what exactly is disappointment anyway?

Well to keep it simple, disappointed is what you are when things don’t work out as you had expected, or when people don’t do what you had hoped they’d do, or when something doesn’t work or function as advertised.

With this subject in mind, I have deliberately chosen today’s Scripture passage from the New American Standard translation. In verse 5 the Apostle Paul uses that word rendered “ disappoint” as he speaks of the rich blessings of our salvation. And he shows us something like a chain, or a sequence of things that happens in the lives of all those who belong to the Savior.

It goes like this: Because we have all “ been justified by faith” in Christ (v. 1), and have received God’s rich “ grace” (v. 2), we ever “ exult,” or rejoice, since we live “ in hope” of seeing the “ glory of God” (v. 2).

But there is more!

Paul explains that, all because of what God’s marvelous grace has accomplished for us and is still working in us even today, we also “ exult in our tribulations” (v. 3). And we do so because in them and by them our Father is transforming our character by producing in us the Christian virtues of “ perseverance,” “ proven character,” and “ hope” (vv. 3-4).

But then, Paul assures us that the “ hope” our Father is always birthing in our hearts through our sufferings and afflictions is a hope that will never “ disappoint” (v.5). And the reason there will be no disappointment for us is that His “ love has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit” (v. 5).

Well, that’s surely a glorious mouthful of truth to digest, so let’s try and say it again.

Here is what’s going on in your life, and in the lives of all who are redeemed:

• You are standing in the unchanging, never failing grace of God.

• Hope has been planted deep in your heart.

• Because of this, you may always rejoice, even in your afflictions.

• You rejoice in your sufferings and earthly disappointments because you know something most certain about them.

• You know that in them your Heavenly Father is transforming you from the inside out, and is now glorifying His grace in you while preparing you for an eternity in His presence.

• But you also may be assured that when the Lord returns, you will not be disappointed in the least!

• On the Day of Judgment, you will not in any way be put to shame! You will not be let down. Everything that you have been promised will be delivered, and even more!

• And, finally, the assurance that all of this is true is the fact that your Father’s love for you is in your heart, becoming richer by the moment as the Holy Spirit helps you to understand and embrace it!

The promise here is that, in the end, you will never be disappointed with your Lord and His gift of salvation! Not now! Not ever!

I believe I’m on very safe ground to tell you that this week, like all the others that have come before it, will be stained with disappointment. People and institutions will let you down, as they always do. That’s life on this side of Eden. But, one thing is certain: All that you are longing for as you think of your beloved Savior and Redeemer will be yours, and then some! Where Jesus is, there is no disappointment to be found!

So on this new Monday, let me encourage you to allow all of your disappointments with life to move your heart to rest upon the One who is never a disappointment! And remember this blessed promise:

“ Things which eye has not seen and ear has not heard, and which have not entered the heart of man, all that God has prepared for those who love Him”–1 Corinthians 2:9.

I love you all with all my heart, always!

Mike

Sermon Preview:

Beloved Brothers and Sisters in the Lord,

First . . . Some News

Before I introduce Sunday’s sermon, I want to tell you about what will happen this fall, after Labor Day.

During the summer, your Session has been meeting and praying about if and how we should conduct Sunday School and our other fall Bible teaching ministries in view of the COVID pandemic. We have arrived at the conclusion that we should go about our normal ministries as best we can.

This means that on Sunday September 13, Sunday School will resume for all ages. In addition, our Ladies Weekday Bible studies will also restart (look for upcoming announcements from Denise Scrip), as well as our Career Bible study (watch for announcements from Rev. Jim and Sharon Daughtry), and our Youth Bible studies (watch for announcements from Matthew Elliott and Ken Burnett as to dates and times).

The details regarding our Nursery, Church lunches and fellowships, and other ministries are still being worked out. But our hope is that we may get back to ‘normal’ as much as is possible.

Your Session is also very much aware that due to the continued risk of infection, some of our members may not yet be able to participate in these ministries in person. We understand this fully, and we would encourage anyone whose health is compromised, and those who do not feel safe attending, to stay away from crowds until things improve. We are so very appreciative of the faithful labors of Drew Thompson who is recording and editing our Sunday Worship Services for viewing on Monday mornings. . . thank you brother!!

There will also be an adjustment to our start time for Sunday School. We will begin at 9:30 AM and end at 10:15 AM. Worship will be as usual at 10:30 AM.

Thank you again for your patience, gracious spirit, and flexibility. And we are especially grateful to you for your faithful prayers for the Session! We feel loved and supported, and we rejoice in the privilege of serving you on behalf of our Lord and King!

Sunday’s Message

This coming Lord’s Day we will consider Colossians 2:13-15. Our subject will be ‘The Cross and Our Life of Victory.’ This is the ninth message in our current series, ‘The Church Under the Cross.’

In this passage, Paul will give us the assurance that our Lord has already conquered all of His enemies, and ours as well. And since this is true, we are all ‘walking in victory’ now.

However, this victory that we all now share in Christ is not exactly what we would expect it to be. In our daily experience, it often does not look nor feel very ‘victorious.’ So what are we to make of this? What is it to be a ‘victorious Christian.’ And how is all of this connected to our Savior’s cross?

I can’t wait to discover the answers to these questions as we come together under the Word this Sunday!

I love you all!!

Mike

Announcements:

COVID-19 Message:

For those of you who are attending worship in person on Sunday morning, please practice social distancing as much as you are able and observe the pew markers so that we may keep a safe, 6-ft between families. During this time, we will not have nursery or fellowship time with food and drink. If any family member has been sick, or you have a pre-existing condition, please consider staying home and joining us by watching the recorded service when it is sent out. The Session has asked all congregants, out of love for one another, to wear a mask throughout our worship service if you are able. We hope and pray that if you have any needs, you will let a staff member or deacon know so that we can serve you well during this trying time.

Message from your Diaconate:

As we continue through this difficult time, if you have needs of any kind, please don’t hesitate to reach out to the Diaconate. We’re eager to help you or to find someone who can. This is one of the main reasons the church has deacons, to make sure that congregational needs are being met. Please remember that your Diaconate and Session are praying for you, and we’re here to help however we can.

Senior Fellows:

The Senior Fellows began a new weekly Bible study on Tuesday, July 21 from 9:00 to 10:00 AM. We use the Zoom virtual meeting application to study Building a Christian Conscience by R.C. Sproul, and the topic is The Razor’s Edge. Church members are welcome to join us. For further information, email us at seniorfellows@christpreshamptoncove.org.

Future topics include:
Aug. 25 – “The Question of Conscience”

Parenting Conference:

The Conference has been postponed. Stay tuned for details about when this will be rescheduled.

Ministry Updates:

Sunday School and regular weekly ministries and Bible studies will resume under curtailed social distance practices during the week of September 13. Check this space and the calendar for updated times.

Children’s Ministry:

A friend of mine is the director of the Lincoln Village Preschool Ministry. I asked about ways we could support them during the back to school weeks.

This is their wishlist from Amazon. If your family would like to donate one of the items on the list, please go ahead and purchase. They use some of these supplies to send home a “bible bag” during the first week of school with their new bibles.

https://smile.amazon.com/hz/charitylist/ls/2DMZKUQM1OCQX/ref=smi_ext_lnk_lcl_cl

Thank you for supporting this important organization and these precious children. To learn more about Lincoln Village, click HERE.

Career/Singles:

The career/singles group will resume meeting on September 13th at 5:30 at the home of Jim and Sharon Daughtry, for a time of fellowship and spiritual encouragement. More details to follow.

Prayer Requests:

Healing: Please pray for the health of the following individuals: Rich Bagdazian, Zig and Virdia Jastrebski, Ramona Edwards, Bill Dent, Jacky Haynes, Steve Terry, John Baxter, Bill Cowley, Larrabee Kirkland, Elizabeth Holton, and Nolan Osmer.
Bereavement: Please pray for Michael Perry, whose mother died this week
Expecting: Please pray for the Elys, expecting in September.
Ministries: Please pray for the following missionaries and ministries: Seth and Jessica Lewis (Ireland); Steve and Rita Williams (New Zealand); Noah and Karleigh Stephens (Thailand); Vinnie and Molly Athey (RUF at UAH); RUF at Alabama A&M; Ken and Angie Burnett (FCA); Franky and Alaina Garcia (church plant in Canada); Dieter Paulson (church plant in Scottsboro, AL); The Huntsville Pregnancy Resource Center.

Online Donations:

If you would like to give to Christ Presbyterian, you can do so at the following link:

Emails:

general inquiries: admin@christpreshamptoncove.org
benevolence needs: benevolence@christpreshamptoncove.org
counsel and ministry needs: matthew@christpreshamptoncove.org
men’s ministry: men@christpreshamptoncove.org
women’s ministry: women@christpreshamptoncove.org
children’s ministry: children@christpreshamptoncove.org
youth ministry: youth@christpreshamptoncove.org
senior fellows: seniorfellows@christpreshamptoncove.org

Address:

288 Old Highway 431
Owens Cross Roads, AL 35763

“ Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things”–Philippians 4:8.

My beloved Brothers and Sisters in the Lord,

Perhaps a good many of us would list Philippians 4:6-7 among our favorite passages from the New Testament:

“ do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

It is in those two verses that we find our consolation in the times of anxiety that frequently come upon us. One of the things that makes these verses so remarkable is the fact that Paul was very realistic about the anxieties, fears, and episodes of great uneasiness that would frequently befall those who belong to Jesus. This certainly seems to go against the view of some that Christians are to be above such unpleasant seasons of life, or that a true faith in Christ means immunity from worry and apprehension.

Here we have the imprisoned Apostle counseling his Philippian friends on how they are to respond when things get difficult and worries flourish. His inspired and familiar recipe is this: assume the posture of prayer, give thanks to the Father, and then tell Him all about your troubles, sparing no details. Remember Peter’s comforting words in 1 Peter 5:6-7­–” Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.”

And when we do this, we can be assured that He will send His peace to us which will then stand watch over our hearts and minds through Christ our Lord.

However, as beautiful and reassuring as these sacred verses are, this is not all there to is learn about dealing with our anxieties. I would suggest that in order to know this incomprehensible peace from our Father, which we only have in Christ, there is a spiritual discipline that we must engage in faithfully and persistently. And this is the subject of verse 8.

A good while back I witnessed a popular TV ‘faith healer’ being interviewed by a national reporter. The reporter quizzed him on the specifics of his beliefs and practices regarding sickness and disease. At one point in their discussion, she asked him, “So tell me, what do you do when you get a bad headache?” Without missing a beat, he replied, “Well, I immediately pray for healing, and then I take two aspirin!” I almost laughed out loud when I heard this reply. But actually, this was one time when that ‘healer’ got his theology quite correct!

The Apostle Paul is telling us here that when we are longing for peace and for relief from our many anxieties, we must not only pray to our Father, we must also change the way we think. Or better, we must relocate the focus of our thoughts.

When I was a boy, about five or six years old, a tornado struck our little neighborhood in Cullman (apparently Cullman County is the tornado capital of the world!). By the Lord’s grace, there were no fatalities, but there was some extensive damage to several homes down the street. After the storm had ended, my dad and I walked outside to see what had happened. I remember looking at the downed power lines shooting sparks out everywhere. And there was debris all in the road, and bits and pieces of shattered trees scattered about. The more I looked the more afraid I became. And from that day on I experienced an almost debilitating fear whenever a dark cloud appeared in the sky. Even on days of beautiful weather, when the fair-weather cumulus clouds formed, I became afraid, even to the point of getting sick at my stomach. And for many years this was my troubling experience.

Ultimately, my anxieties about bad weather were slowly relieved. And I have to credit the wise counsel of my mom for helping me to find my Father’s peace. Mom encouraged me not to think about the weather or the big dark clouds, but to focus upon God’s promises. If I sat around all day and thought of thunderstorms, watching for their formation, and wondering if one would spawn a tornado, then I would surely be anxious, even despite my prayers. But, if I thought only of my Father’s love for me, and His great power that would protect me, then my fears would slowly subside.

I think this is what Paul is telling us to do here in Philippians 4:8. Indeed, we must pray, taking our cares and worries to the One who loves us more than we can imagine. But we must also think of and let our minds dwell upon the things that He has said are most deserving of our contemplation: those things that are “ true,” “ honorable,” “ just,” “ pure,” “ lovely,” “ commendable,” of “ excellence,” and “ worthy of praise.” And “ these things” are found in our Father’s Holy Word, which we have been taught (v. 9).

Practically speaking, this means that when opportunities to be anxious come to us, as they have in abundance over these last several months, we must not only pray, we must also restrict what we think about, what we allow our minds to dwell upon. We can’t focus upon the storms. We must let our minds rest upon the Lord who commands the storms! We must let our thoughts fall upon the greatness, glory, power, love, and mercy of the One “ who makes the clouds rise at the end of the earth, who makes lightnings for the rain and brings forth the wind from his storehouses” (Psalm 135:7).

And if I might speak a bit more plainly, it means that our view of the world must be filtered through the lens of our Father’s Word, and not the evening TV news. We must resolve to think only upon those things that the Lord has commended to us. Then, we shall have His peace.

My prayer for you on this Monday is that you will find rest for your soul in these words from Paul. Let us pray for deliverance with all our hearts. And then, let us ‘take a little aspirin’ too!

I love you all with all my heart!

Mike

Dear Brothers and Sisters in the Lord,

This coming Sunday, we will complete our look at 1 John 3:16-18 where we find these inspired and challenging words penned by the Apostle John:

“ By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him? Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.”

In addition to telling us that our love for each other in the body of Christ should be patterned after our Lord’s death upon the cross, John also calls us to consider the duty we have to love each other in this magnificent way. He says, “ we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers.” Someone has described this simple statement as a “ devastating” obligation placed upon us by the Lord’s Apostle.

It is most difficult, first of all, because it sets forth something that we all must do if we belong to the Savior. That is, it lays upon every Christian a heavy burden and a solemn responsibility. On initial glance, this word “ ought” seems to stand in opposition to the freeness of our salvation. It appears to suggest that our works are, in fact, intrinsically connected to the authenticity of our redemption (see especially 1 John 3:11-15).

And then, it is also a great challenge given our natural aversion to being told what to do. None of us finds any pleasure in some person, authority, or outside agency imposing their will upon us. We love our personal freedom. And yet John makes it apparent that if we name the name of Christ as our Lord, there is a command that must shape the very direction and attitude of our lives each day.

I look forward to what our Lord will teach us as we come together before Him on Sunday, and I love you all with all my heart!

Mike

Announcements:

COVID-19 Message:

For those of you who are attending worship in person on Sunday morning, please practice social distancing as much as you are able and observe the pew markers so that we may keep a safe, 6-ft between families. During this time, we will not have nursery or fellowship time with food and drink. If any family member has been sick, or you have a pre-existing condition, please consider staying home and joining us by watching the recorded service when it is sent out. The Session has asked all congregants, out of love for one another, to wear a mask throughout our worship service if you are able. We hope and pray that if you have any needs, you will let a staff member or deacon know so that we can serve you well during this trying time.

Message from your Diaconate:

As we continue through this difficult time, if you have needs of any kind, please don’t hesitate to reach out to the Diaconate. We’re eager to help you or to find someone who can. This is one of the main reasons the church has deacons, to make sure that congregational needs are being met. Please remember that your Diaconate and Session are praying for you, and we’re here to help however we can.

Senior Fellows:

The Senior Fellows began a new weekly Bible study on Tuesday, July 21 from 9:00 to 10:00 AM. We use the Zoom virtual meeting application to study Building a Christian Conscience by R.C. Sproul, and the topic is The Razor’s Edge. Church members are welcome to join us. For further information, email us at seniorfellows@christpreshamptoncove.org.

Future topics include:
Aug. 18 – “The Creation of Ordinances”
Aug. 25 – “The Question of Conscience”

Parenting Conference:

The Conference has been postponed. Stay tuned for details about when this will be rescheduled.

Psummer Psalms:

Psalm recitation is Sunday at 4:30 PM in the sanctuary. Please join us for this time of socially-distanced worship, even if you aren’t reciting!

Children’s Ministry:

Women’s, Career/Singles, and Youth Ministries:

Ministry activities have been canceled pending the virus quarantine. Check this space for rescheduled events.

Men’s Studies:

The weekly Men’s study of John Calvin’s Institutes is meeting via Zoom, contact Daron Drown for details.

Prayer Requests:

Healing: Please pray for the health of the following individuals: Zig and Virdia Jastrebski, Ramona Edwards, Bill Dent, Jacky Haynes, Steve Terry, John Baxter, Bill Cowley, Larrabee Kirkland, Elizabeth Holton, and Nolan Osmer.
Expecting: Please pray for the Elys, expecting in September.
Ministries: Please pray for the following missionaries and ministries: Seth and Jessica Lewis (Ireland); Steve and Rita Williams (New Zealand); Noah and Karleigh Stephens (Thailand); Vinnie and Molly Athey (RUF at UAH); RUF at Alabama A&M; Ken and Angie Burnett (FCA); Franky and Alaina Garcia (church plant in Canada); Dieter Paulson (church plant in Scottsboro, AL); The Huntsville Pregnancy Resource Center.

Online Donations:

If you would like to give to Christ Presbyterian, you can do so at the following link:

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general inquiries: admin@christpreshamptoncove.org
benevolence needs: benevolence@christpreshamptoncove.org
counsel and ministry needs: matthew@christpreshamptoncove.org
men’s ministry: men@christpreshamptoncove.org
women’s ministry: women@christpreshamptoncove.org
children’s ministry: children@christpreshamptoncove.org
youth ministry: youth@christpreshamptoncove.org
senior fellows: seniorfellows@christpreshamptoncove.org

Address:

288 Old Highway 431
Owens Cross Roads, AL 35763

“ Whatever the LORD pleases, he does, in heaven and on earth, in the seas and all deeps.” Psalm 135:6

My Dear Brothers and Sisters in the Lord,

Psalm 135, an anonymously penned psalm from an uncertain date in the history of Israel, is, like so many other psalms, a passionate summons to praise the Name of the Lord. If you have the ESV Study Bible, you’ll find the following note concerning the purpose and intent of this psalm:

“ This hymn calls for God’s people to praise him for his majestic power that he has displayed in his deeds on behalf of Israel. Each generation that sings this would strengthen their faith and loyalty to the Lord, and deepen their gratitude toward him for their privileges.”

Like other psalms, this one also appeals to Israel’s miraculous redemption from Egyptian bondage in 1400 BC, and subsequent entrance into Canaan, as the proof of the Lord’s limitless compassion for His people and His unequalled power to accomplish His gracious purposes (vv. 8-14).  But it is from that sixth verse in the chapter that we find our encouragement for this Monday.

This staggering claim, that our Lord does whatever pleases Him–whether it be in the vast expanse of space, on the earth, or in the depths of the sea–is meant to contrast His infinite wisdom and power with the lifelessness and impotency of all other supposed ‘gods.’ It is the proof that “ the LORD is great, and that our Lord is above all gods” (v. 5).

As I write these words on this new Monday, it is very early in the morning and the sun is yet to arise. When I step out onto our deck, I can see a very bright moon and a host of stars glowing in the dark sky. I am always amazed at the sheer size of the universe that our Father has crafted with His own hands.  Astronomers measure distances in space in terms of light years. Now, that metric doesn’t mean quite as much to some as it does to others. We could also measure and quantify the size of the universe in something a bit more familiar (and down to earth!), like  miles.

How vast is space? Our universe is some 93 billion light years across. Stated in miles, that would be 93 billion x 6 trillion miles (the distance traveled by light in one year)! I’ll let you do the final math!

And then, we are also told that the surface of our earth is 196,900,000 square miles! The earth’s oceans contain an estimated 352 quintillion gallons of water and cover almost 140 million square miles of the earth’s surface! Consider your mind blown!

The psalmist tells us in verse 6 that throughout the heavens, all over the earth, and in the seas and oceans the God who has saved us does whatever gives Him pleasure and accomplishes His good purposes. Whether it’s an exploding supernova deep in the unseen recesses of space, an earthquake somewhere on the globe, or even the migration of whales in the ocean, our God is doing it! Nothing happens anywhere, literally anywhere, that violates His good pleasure and unfailing plans!

Verse 7 adds further confirmation to this amazing claim:

“ He it is who makes the clouds rise at the end of the earth, who makes lightnings for the rain and brings forth the wind from his storehouses.”

Everywhere there is a ‘where’ our God reigns and is at work!!

Now, let’s take a moment to reflect upon what this means for us today.

Contrary to what we may sense or feel, our nation and our world (including each of our individual lives) are not spiraling out of control.  While many things going on around us and happening to us are, indeed, out of our control, the gracious God who has delivered us, and has become our Father in His Dear Son,  is even this very moment doing as He pleases in all of creation!

Just think about that: He is doing as He “ pleases” according to the psalmist.

What is it, then, that gives Him pleasure?

Well, first and foremost, He takes pleasure in bringing glory to His Son! So this means that on this Monday, like every other day in human history, our Father will be glorifying His Son all over this globe, and even to the very edge of the universe!

But, as Scripture tells us, our Father also takes pleasure in displaying His endless and immeasurable compassion to those whom He has chosen and redeemed through His Son’s precious blood!

Even this very instant, our Heavenly Father is working all across every square mile of creation to bestow His love and mercy upon the bride of His Son! What others see only as disruption, disaster, plague, turmoil, and evil occurring in our world, we recognize as the plans and intentions of our Father taking place “ according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved” (Ephesians 1:5-6). And all these things, the good, the bad, and the ugly alike, will not only bring glory to that Name above all names, they will serve as vehicles for the delivery of our Father’s tender mercies to all who belong to Him!

I want to be the first to tell you that there have been many, many moments in the last six months in which I have been very afraid. And, frankly, I have found no consolation in any truth but this one: that my Father, and yours, does whatever pleases Him.  And I know that one of the things that brings Him pleasure is being compassionate and ever merciful to someone like me.

No matter what happens in our world this week, we know one thing for sure: our God reigns everywhere and in everything! He does whatever pleases Him! And He is merciful and full of love!  And in this alone we can find our peace and comfort.

I can’t even begin to express to you how much I love each of you! And I pray for you constantly, and delight in being your pastor and brother in the Lord.

In His grace,

Mike