Announcements
THANK YOU: COD family for all the prayers, cards, phone calls, and messages since my accident. To Pastor Rick & Carol Holbrook and Karen Memphis for visiting me in the hospital. To Pastor Campbell and the Senior Adult Visitation individuals who came to my home to read scripture, sing songs, and pray with me. I sincerely appreciate everyone’s prayers and can’t express how much this church means to me. I continue to experience God’s hand in my recovery every single day. Mark Jones
SUPER SIXTIES: Spectacular “Make Me A Blessing” will be an exciting day packed with activities for adults age 55 and older, on Thursday, October 26, from 8:00 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. It will include two meals (breakfast/lunch), special music, and guest speakers. To attend, please submit a registration form with payment of $25 to the Church by Monday, October 23.
GRIEFSHARE: will be hosting a one-night seminar entitled “Surviving the Holidays” on Tuesday, November 7, at 6:30 p.m. This is open to everyone. Sign-up sheets are located at the Welcome Desk. Please see Kathy Reed (adults) or Judy Hannah (children & teens) for questions.
From My Heart
Watching the news coming out of Israel is heartbreaking. The Hamas terrorists are brutal, cruel, heartless murderers! These disgusting terrorists are committing some of the most horrific atrocities against innocent people and it has made the Israeli army declare they are going to annihilate Hamas from off the face of the earth! The IDF (Israeli Defense Forces) has been bombing Gaza around the clock since Saturday afternoon. They are now planning to go into Gaza City, in huge numbers to go street by street and house by house to eliminate the terrorists, retrieve hostages (if possible), and destroy the rockets and guns they find. Prime Minister Netanyahu told the people of Gaza to get out of the way, but there is no doubt that the casualty numbers will be quite large if the Israeli Army goes door to door.
The thing that is the unknown factor in this: what if Hezbollah, which is the ruling Islamic military faction in Lebanon, decides to enter the fray! If Hezbollah gets involved that will be a major escalation of the war. I received an email from my dear friend in Beirut, Pastor Milad Khalid, last Monday to say he thought Hezbollah would join the battle! He also said Iran will have to weigh the matter carefully before giving Hezbollah the green light because they need to make sure Russia, Turkey, and China will stand beside them! They also need to weigh if the U.S., Great Britain, or the European Union will step in against them. Both Hamas and Hezbollah have gotten their finances, training, and weapons through Iran! And there has been a great deal of talk about Israel launching an attack against Iran in some form or fashion. I would think Israel would be putting together some kind of coalition before doing something like attacking Iran! But who knows for sure.
Two weeks ago, Israel’s Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, and the King of Saudi Arabia had agreed with one another on a peace and trade treaty! They were so excited about the prospect of working together, for the first time ever. However, when they sought approval and the blessing of the United States, the Biden Administration said “no” to the treaty because their agreement did not give the Palestinians the land drawn up in the failed treaty presented during the Obama years. You might remember that the treaty gave the Palestinians the bulk of what is today the nation of Israel.
But the Biden Administration wants to give the Palestinians the land and wants Israel to have such a small part of their own State, that they would only have a strip of land in the north that is 7 miles across. Well, Israel will never agree to that plan. They have been given that land by the Lord, and certainly have no intention of giving it over to the Palestinians.
Pray for the peace of Jerusalem (Psalm 122:6).
Pastor Norris
Hospitalizations
Joseph Bellusci - Sinai 6032
Evelyn Clemons - Shock Trauma 27
Art Garvin - CHC 8
Ron Ogle - Johns Hopkins 17
Robert Pennington - CHC
Kyle Taylor - CHC 208