What Do You Follow?

Watching, listening and talking to people the last several weeks leading up to the election has been a real eye opener for me.  Don’t worry, I’m not going to espouse the virtues of one candidate or the other.  I’m not going to try and tell you which party to support and vote for.  But what I have found interesting is that a lot of people base their beliefs on preconceived notions that are in no way based on fact.  

These notions are many times fallacies generations old and sometimes planted in us by our parents, a friend, mentor and/or the media, or maybe it’s simply just what we want to believe.  But when people are told fact, and it contradicts those preconceived notions they either react w/anger or just simply turn a deaf ear. 

It doesn't matter how much proof is presented.  I have found this in politics as well as in the church.  In my few short years in church leadership, it has disappointed me to see people walk away from a church, from close relationships, even family, because they were told something they did not want to hear.  It is human nature to gravitate towards the things that “Tickle our ears”.  Things that make us feel good.  “Please tell me what I want to hear!”  But how can we expect to grow if we are following falsehoods? 

Hosea 4:6 “Is God’s charge against the nation of Israel…:“my people are destroyed from lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also reject you as my priests; because you have ignored the law of your God, I also will ignore your children.” 

I truly believe we are a people, a nation, a world that is being destroyed due to a lack of knowledge.  The truth is not always palatable, but I would rather swallow a bitter medicine and be saved than feast on candy (or Taco Johns) and die. 

I need to add here that we are given the task of studying so that we know what and why we believe.  We are not to blindly trust.  Question everything.  Take it to the Word of God.  Take it to Him in prayer.  The Bible says that the enemy will appear as an angel of light.  We can be so easily swayed by the “pretty music” others share, but don’t get caught swallowing the hook.   

John 8:32  “Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” 

God loves us.  He wants us to be healed, set free and saved.  Open your hearts to God’s truth.

-Koze

Solomon's Temple

By Angela Noble

Dear Church Family,

 

I usually receive a daily bible verse via email and a couple of days ago it was 1 Kings 9:1, "Now it came about when Solomon had finished building the house of the LORD, and the king's house, and all that Solomon desired to do."  This verse inspired me to Google Solomon's Temple and try to find the verses that held the description of the temple itself.  This led me to 1 Kings 6, where the physical characteristics of the temple are described and the building process.  With God’s instruction, Solomon had built a grand and lavish temple, filled with floors of gold, grand cherub statues and intricately carved designs on huge olive wood doors.  This magnificent structure took seven years to be built, each item handcrafted and then brought to the location.  As a lover of historic buildings, how awesome it would have been to see such grandeur and splendor.  A temple designed by God, but hand-crafted by men. 

 

We, at Central Christian, also have a temple.  It is our building just east of town on Highway 30.  Now….it doesn’t have gold over-laid flooring…it has carpet…. and it doesn’t have any intricately carved designs on the walls or doors.  I’m pretty sure the walls are mostly made of drywall and probably factory wood doors.  However, it is still God’s house….a place where we come together and worship and learn to be better followers of Christ.  How grateful I am that we have a building to come to on Sundays and other days of the week.  For those members that have been here for over 4 years, you know that it wasn’t always the case. 

 

As the church continues to grow and the building is used more and more for various outreach ministries, it is going to become increasingly important to maintain it properly.  The Church Cleaning Ministry is an important part of making sure Central’s temple is maintained and is able to continue to support the children, adults, members, attenders and guests that will be coming and going throughout the week.  I would like to ask if there is anyone out there who would be willing to spend a couple hours a month to dedicate towards maintaining the building’s interior.   I need a couple of individuals, families, or groups to commit to clean for 1 week a month for next 6 months.  Tina Boell and I clean the first full week of every month and will continue to do that.  The total time I spend that week cleaning is only 2-2.5 hours.  If anyone is willing to do that…..please email me at anoble227@yahoo.com so that I may get a calendar together for the next 6 months.  The time commitment is small and I have to confess that I probably spend more time a week watching TV than it takes me to clean the church!

 

Thank you in advance for your help…..I really, really, really need it!

 

Angela Noble

anoble227@yahoo.com