Pastor Mike’s Paper Pulpit First Christian Church Elder & Contact Information CONNECTING POINTS FIRST CHRISTIAN CHURCH Elders Brett LeTourneau—706-2192 Mack Jones—267-3090 Moses Rodriguez—217-4786 Leo Trzepkowski— 673-4388 Secretary Amanda Stutsman—559-674-5203 Pastor Michael G. Stipe—559-259-6879 (2015 Shepherding lists are posted. Call your elder when there is a need.) PAUSING TO GIVE THANKS Harry Allen Ironside was a prolific preacher, author and professor. He has somewhere in the realm of 65 different volumes. The following illustrates his heart of thanks to his God. The restaurant was very crowded and just as Ironside was about to begin his meal, a man approached and asked if he could join him. Ironside invited him to have a seat. Then, as was his custom, Ironside bowed his head in prayer. When he opened his eyes, the other man asked, "Do you have a headache?" Ironside replied, "No, I don't." The other man asked, "Well, is there something wrong with your food?" Ironside replied, "No, I was simply thanking God as I always do before I eat." The man said, "Oh, you're one of those, are you? Well, I want you to know I never give thanks. I earn my money by the sweat of my brow and I don't have to give thanks to anybody when I eat. I just start right in!" Ironside said, "Yes, you're just like my dog. That's what he does too!" While I chuckle at his pithy retort, I realize that at times I am chuckling at myself. It appears to me that I too often are very much like that man … or my dog. Saying a prayer at the start of a meal is not a requirement. The food is just as nutritious with or without a prayer. What is different is my awareness of the provision and the Provider. It allows me the chance to once again be reminded that all that I receive in this life is a great gift from God. In Genesis 22 Abraham called God, Jehovah-Jireh, the One who provides. Let us be better than our dogs and recognize the great gifts from our Provider. Let us give thanks and even use a pre-meal prayer if that is what it takes. I will see you Sunday, Connecting People To God - To Each Other & To The World NOVEMBER 2015
Transcript
Pastor Mike’sPaper Pulpit
First Christian Church Elder & Contact Information
CO
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TIN
GP
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TS
FIR
ST
CH
RIS
TIA
NC
HU
RC
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Elders
Brett LeTourneau—706-2192
Mack Jones—267-3090
Moses Rodriguez—217-4786
Leo Trzepkowski— 673-4388
Secretary
Amanda Stutsman—559-674-5203
Pastor
Michael G. Stipe—559-259-6879
(2015 Shepherding lists are posted.Call your elder when there is a need.)
PAUSING TO GIVETHANKS
Harry Allen Ironside was a prolificpreacher, author and professor. Hehas somewhere in the realm of 65different volumes. The followingillustrates his heart of thanks to hisGod.
The restaurant was very crowdedand just as Ironside was about tobegin his meal, a manapproached and asked ifhe could join him. Ironsideinvited him to have a seat.Then, as was his custom,Ironside bowed his head inprayer. When he opened hiseyes, the other man asked, "Doyou have a headache?" Ironsidereplied, "No, I don't." The otherman asked, "Well, is theresomething wrong with your food?"Ironside replied, "No, I was simplythanking God as I always dobefore I eat."
The man said, "Oh, you're one ofthose, are you? Well, I want youto know I never give thanks. I earn
my money by the sweat of mybrow and I don't have to givethanks to anybody when I eat. Ijust start right in!"
Ironside said, "Yes, you're justlike my dog. That's what he doestoo!"
While I chuckle at his pithy retort, Irealize that at times I am chuckling atmyself. It appears to me that I too
often are very much like that man… or my dog. Saying a prayer
at the start of a meal is not arequirement. The food isjust as nutritious with orwithout a prayer. What is
different is my awareness ofthe provision and the Provider. It
allows me the chance to once againbe reminded that all that I receive inthis life is a great gift from God.
In Genesis 22 Abraham called God,Jehovah-Jireh, the One whoprovides. Let us be better than ourdogs and recognize the great giftsfrom our Provider. Let us give thanksand even use a pre-meal prayer ifthat is what it takes.
I will see you Sunday,
Connecting People To God - To Each Other & To The World
Two are better than one, because they have a goodreward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up the other;but woe to one who is alone and falls and does not haveanother to help. Again, if two lie together, they keep warm;but how can one keep warm alone? And though one mightprevail against another, two will withstand one. A threefoldcord is not quickly broken. – Ecclesiastes 4:9-12
This passage is often interpreted to be speaking of marriage,but it also has an application to friendship. In my little world, Isee this truth demonstrated every day through Jacques andMaisey. When I first got Jacques, I stressed out every dayabout being at work for eight hours and leaving him at homealone. We later adopted Maisey, and the two doggies wereimmediately Best Friends Forever. When I’m not home,Jacques and Maisey keep each other company. When theyhave excess energy, they romp and frolic together in the backyard. When it’s cold, they curl up together and keep each otherwarm. When Maisey gets stressed out, Jacques nudges her to
calm her down. When Jacques hearssomeone outside who could be apotential threat, Maisey runs rightbehind him to be his backup.
We as believers often underestimate ourneed for friendship. We really do need each other, andevidence of our need is found in Scripture. We were notcreated to live solitary lives, but to live as a community; to liveas the body of Christ. When I am stressed out, I reach out tofriends who I know will give me perspective and support. WhenI am shivering from the chill of the world, I count on the warmthof my friends to envelope me. When I’m anxious about theunknown, I find strength to face any situation knowing that Ihave other believers standing behind me as my backup.Needing other people does not minimize our need for God.Rather, He works through each of us in order to meet eachother’s needs and demonstrate His unfailing love. This monthas we celebrate Thanksgiving, let us not forget to thank ourGod for the gift of Christian friendship.
~Melissa
PRAY FOR OUR MISSIONARIES
Greg & Vicki SyversonCMF International — Mexico
Scott & Anelle PriceCMF International — Tanzania
Vince & Gretta PaynePanama Mission Foundation
Dr. & Mrs. Yoon Kwon ChaeKorea Gospel Mission
Champions For TomorrowClovis, CA
American Indian Christian Missions
Doors of Hope
Madera Community Food Bank
Madera Rescue Mission
Madera Love INC
Discover more information on themissions we support on ourwebsite: www.maderafcc.org
Attention all Middle School to High School Aged Students
This has been a great year so far and I thank God for all he has doneand all he continues to do in our lives daily. I'm so thankful for the youthwho are able to come and even those who are not because Romans8:28 says; And we know that in all things God works for the good ofthose who love him, who have been called according to HIS purpose.
I may not know Gods purpose but I sure do know whatever it is, it ismuch better then something I could think up. If you are or know some-one who is in middle to high school invite them. We would love to meetthem.
Our class is relaxed (we got couches too). We are currentlyreading 10 minute stories about true life events or situations. Wethen relate it to a passage in the Bible asking questions rising frothe story or Bible. It’s a great way to get to know each other!
J O I N U S W E D N E S D A Y S 6 : 3 0 - 8 P M &S U N D A Y S 9 : 3 0 – 1 0 : 3 0 A M
C O N T A C T D A N I E L O R D E V I N A W I T H A N Y Q U E S T I O N S( 5 5 9 ) 9 9 4 - 5 1 7 7
There are now four emphases in prayer that are opento you as a part of our church family.
The FCC Prayer Team meets each Sunday morning inPastor Mike’s office at 8:45 to seek God and prayerwalk the church facility.
Prayer Hosts are available during the service to prayspecifically with you and for you.
The Intercessory Prayer Ministry meets Tuesday even-ing from 6:30-7:30 to lift up our church family.
House Of Prayer is aninter-church groupwhich meets Thursdaymornings from 6:00-7:00.
The only thing missingis you!
from ramona . . . I don’t see the wind, but I
see the effect it has on trees and grass and flowers. Ihave never seen God, but I have seen the effect Hehas on me and those around me.
This season of giving thanks affords us time to reflecton our different journeys through this life and seethe fingerprints of God. When you find strength toface great tragedy or challenges, when you movetoward light as darkness threatens to smother you,when you hold on to your last shred of faith as fearmakes your whole body shake, when you are filledwith joy, when your heart is moved with compassion,when you laugh with your friends, when you think‘today was a good day’; all those times and more arethe effect of God, the Father, loving you, His child.
Reflect on your life as the psalmist did and givethanks to the Giver of all good things.
Psalms 77 NIV
11 I will remember the deeds of the LORD;yes, I will remember your miracles of long
ago. 12 I will consider all your worksand meditate on all your mighty
deeds."
“When I cannot pray I
lose my view of
God’s work in my
life.”~M.G.S.
Pastor Mike finishes his sermon se-ries from 2nd Peter. Here’s where weare headed.
November 1st—“Real or Not Real” — PT 1
November 8th—“Real or Not Real” —PT 2
November 15th—“Take A Breath”
November 22nd—“A Practical Plan for Living”
Men’s BreakfastSaturday Nov. 7th
7:30 AM @ Perkos
HARVESTDINNER
November 22ND
at NoON following the serviceJoin your church family for a Day of Thank-fulness and a great time following the Sundayservice. Look for the sign-ups in the foyer aswe draw closer to the day.
This year’s HarvestOffering will go to helpbuild a village church inPanama.
The 2015 Annual Meeting is November 8th follow-ing the Morning Service. Sample Ballots andProposed Budgets are in the hallway.
Advent begins November29th. Join us as we seekanswers to the
