WEEKEND DOWNLOAD

Great day at TVCC!

Here's some of the facts...

• We had a great rain that cooled things off and beautiful sunshine for the picnic.
  




• Many, approximately 250-300 attended Lake Fest 2008.
  




• What we thought was bad (losing the main pavilion to car show) was a blessing (having it at pavilion in the woods) instead. Everyone said, "Let's do it here next year too!"
  




• Nine people were baptized.
  




• The food was awesome! Way to go Drew and team!
  




• I ate just enough! (If you believe that then...)
  




• Carlton and I wore speedos... (Ain't happening)
  




• We had great fellowship as family & friends
  of TVCC.
  
  
  
• We finished up our backpack drive with 326
  backpacks (Family Resource Center was elated!)
  Way-to-go TVCC! Great job!




• And MOST IMPORTANTLY, there were 5
  people who indicated salvation in Sunday
  services.

GOD'S ANTIDOTE FOR DAMAGED EMOTIONS

As we continue in part 3 of Stressbusters, we're going to look at a very timely subject; Damaged Emotions. So many people are bound up by the damage that has occurred in their lives. It may have been self inflicted, or by someone else - it really doesn't matter because the results are the same. The only thing left to do is to break free of the self-imposed prison we find ourselves in. Again, it doesn't matter how you got there, the way out is the same. We'll teach you how to let God:

• Remove your guilt
• Relieve your grief
• Replace your grudges

If you'll let Him, this will be the very weekend God sets you free!

"To all who mourn ... he will give: beauty for ashes; joy instead of mourning; praise instead of heaviness. Isa. 61:3 (LB)

Don't miss week three of Stressbusters and another powerful personal story. This weekend you'll hear Barbara as she shares her story of loss, pain, and regret as she...well, you know the drill! Be here this weekend and get the complete story.

ARE YOU A BASKET CASE?

Don't let your worries get the best of you;

Remember,

Moses started out as a basket case.

If we'll be honest, we've all been a basket case at some time in our lives. As a grown man, Moses was worried about something he could not do in his own strength. Yet he tried to do personally what only God could do miraculously (See Exodus 2:14). The safest time in his entire life was when he was riding the currents of God's divine decree and plan. Maybe it would be best if we would simply learn to trust God for the journey and admit our own weaknesses and need of His "Stressbusters" in our lives. After all, the only way Moses was saved was to be pulled out of "De-Nile!" (Sorry, couldn't resist.)

So, what are you a basket case about today? Could it be God designed it that way to get you to where you need to be? Trust Him and you'll see!

God's Stressbusters!

Guest Blog - Ken Wells

Why?

This past Sundays sermon was great. If you will recall during the service Pastor Steve made a reference to a pencil and how the eraser was for correcting our mistakes. As I wrote this on my bulletin, I ask myself this question. “Why is the eraser so small?” This average pencil is 7 1/2 inches long which includes the eraser. The eraser makes up a very small part of the overall length, with only ¼ inch usable. What is the pencil manufactures trying to tell us? After spending some time with my question this is my conclusion.


I’m to learn from my mistakes and not repeat them. This is a biblical principle that we need to apply to our lives. The pencil is a picture of my relationship with Jesus, when I ask Him to forgive me of my sins, He does; He writes FORGIVEN, and erases my sins but there’s more! Remember the story in the book of John about the women that committed adultery, Jesus forgave her and then said these words; “Go and sin no more.” Read all about this in John 8:1-11. Jesus’ part is to forgive us; our part is to sin more.


So the question to you and me is, are we learning from our mistakes?

Doormat Devotion

"Well, what do you believe about...?" That's how many so-called "spiritual discussions" begin. But you'll never get the right answer by asking the wrong question. Too many of us are devoted to an organization or our "Christian service" rather than devotion to Christ as Lord.

Doctrinal belief is important for sure, but it must never replace our devotion to Christ or before long we'll be devoted to a cause instead of to Christ Himself. Carlton made a powerful statement last Sunday as he taught when he said, "Many people believe the Bible is true, they just don't know what's in it!" Wow! What a powerful statement. So that says to me, that many people believe in something they know nothing about, therefore they believe in nothing because their lives never match up to the "Bible" they believe in.

Oswald Chambers said, "...people are offended by Jesus Christ who only want Him as Friend. When Jesus is Lord of our lives our relationship is based on who we are to Him, not what we do for Him. Our Lord's primary obedience was to the the will of His Father, not to the needs of the people - the saving of the people was the natural outcome of His obedience to the Father. If I love Jesus personally and passionately, I can serve humanity even though people treat me like a doormat."

A doormat doesn't mind getting dirty and being scrubbed on. It never forgets its purpose - to be used to clean the soles of feet preparing to enter the house. I'll be a doormat for Christ! Will you? What greater life could we live than touching the "souls" of others God is preparing to enter into His "House" and Kingdom.

The right question is always, "To you, who is Jesus?" All else will rise or fall on the answer to that question.

Later,

Pastor Steve