Announcements
SOUL-WINNERS CLUB: The next Virtual Soul-Winners Club Training Session begins on Tuesday, August 24. These are Zoom sessions and those interested may sign-up online.
AMERICAN RED CROSS - ONSITE TRAINING: The American Red Cross is providing training for certification in Adult/Pediatric CPR and basic first aid. The course will be held at the church on Saturday, August 21, from 2:30 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. The cost for the certification is $85 per person. If you are interested in participating, please call the church office at 410-876-3838, x303. For more details, contact Steve Clemons at: 410-259-1228.
NURSERY WORKERS: are needed for the Sunday Evening and Wednesday Evening services. Please contact Anne-Marie Albaugh at 443-375-2078 or amagoingforth@gmail.com if you can help, and fill out a Contact Card and a Safe & Secure form at the welcome desk. Thank you all!
From My Heart
The Middle East is in such turmoil, and several pundits are wondering when a full-scale war is going to break out between U.S., Israel, and Saudi Arabian forces and Iran. Iran continues to attack ships in the Persian Gulf and use the extremist group Hamas to fire missiles into Israel. Iran does something and then Israel responds, and the fighting has been going back and forth for weeks now. Many folks are wondering what will be the spark that ignites the nations into a full-blown war.
The new Prime Minister of Israel is showing himself to be more conservative than Netanyahu, and most believe he will be even more hawkish than his predecessor. This last time Israel bombed Gaza, there was very little left of the city! But Hamas is determined to continue to do Iran’s bidding, and they feel they are succeeding in terrorizing the people of Israel.
Hamas is funded, equipped, and supported by the Iranian dictators. The Koran teaches Muslims that in the “end times” they will rise to defeat the Jewish occupiers. The land of Israel was given to Abraham’s son Isaac - not his son Ishmael. Isaac gave his son Jacob the birthright, not his son Esau. For thousands of years now, the Arab world has fought against the Jews saying, “The land is ours; Abraham is our father.” And the Jews have said, “No, the land is ours; Abraham is our father!” Both are correct, Abraham is the father of both the Arab and the Jewish people. But the land was given to the Jews.
The Muslims believe if they pick and pick and pick - eventually things will explode and that will spur their messiah to come to lead them to conquer the world in the great final jihad (holy war). The Islamic messiah is the hope they have of winning against the “Great Satan” (America) and “Little Satan” (Israel). In the Koran, and in the writings of their Muslim prophets, they believe their coming messiah will lead them to conquer the world for Allah, and that he will bring the nations of the world into Islamic submission.
Ironically, the Bible teaches us about an “Antichrist” who will rise to power in the last days. This Antichrist will have remarkable powers of persuasion and will deceive the world with his “power and signs and lying wonders.” He will come in the name of peace and convince the world he is the Messiah, but he is a deceiver and will turn on Israel and persecute them so badly they will have to flee for safety and God’s protection.
Could the things happening over in the Middle East be a prelude of the events the Bible tells us are coming? They very well could! Have a wonderful day and may the Lord bless you richly today.
Pastor Norris