Announcements
SYMPATHY: to Frank & Lee Alt at the recent passing of her brother, George Pletzer, Jr. No service is planned at this time.
VBS AND TEEN REVIVAL: are starting soon! Both take place July 14 through July 18. Please register for VBS at the Welcome Desk or through the Church website. To volunteer, you may also sign up at the Welcome Desk.
MANDATORY VBS TRAINING: All volunteers and bus workers must attend this training, which will take place on Sunday, July 7, at 5:00 p.m., in Baker Auditorium. Please see Pastor Josh Belcher or Jennifer Brown if you have any questions.
COOKIE DONATIONS NEEDED: We are in need of cookies (no nuts) for VBS. Please sign up at the Welcome Desk. Cookies need to be dropped off in the Church Kitchen by Sunday, July 14.
FOOD PANTRY DONATIONS: Would you like to be a blessing to a person or family in need? Our Food Pantry not only provides individuals and families with food but it opens a door of opportunity to share 'The Bread of Life' with them as well. A flyer with more information and items needed is available at the Welcome Desk.
From My Heart
Psalm 119 is the longest Psalm in the entire Book of Psalms.This Book of Psalms is the hymn book of the Bible. These 150 songs (Psalm means song) were sung by the Jews at various times and for a number of reasons throughout their illustrious history. King David, you will remember, was a musician long before he was chosen as Israel’s King! Each of these 150 songs had a tune and wouldn’t it be amazing to know the tune of each one?
Let’s get back to Psalm 119. This Psalm is divided into 22 sections. Each section is identified by a letter of the Hebrew alphabet. These are all in order, and at the beginning of each section, the first word of that section begins with the letter of the alphabet that identifies that section. They do not correspond with the letter once it is translated from Hebrew into English - but they do correspond in the Hebrew text.
Look at 119:45, “And I will walk at liberty: for I seek thy precepts.” David says he has liberty! Liberty is the state of being free. The point David is making is that as long as he stays within the boundaries of God’s law, he has freedom, but the minute he steps outside the boundaries of God’s Law - he risks losing his freedom!
Dr. Bob Jones Sr. used to say, as he would wave his arms around, “I have the liberty to swing my arms around as fast and as long as I want! However, my liberty ends where your nose begins!” If while swinging his arms, he bops you on your nose, he has crossed a line and there will be a price to pay!
Imagine a walled city with a powerful enemy outside the walls. You are inside the walls of that city and you have everything you need to survive! All you have to do is stay inside and everything will be fine - but if you go outside the boundary of the wall, you are going to find a world of trouble! The bottom line is to stay within the boundaries!
Now, look at this principle in the matter of sin! David said he had liberty because he stayed in the boundary of God’s Word! Someone says, “I am a free man, I can do whatever I want!” And then he murders someone! By committing murder, he has stepped outside the boundary and will now lose his freedom! Young people start smoking, not realizing that there is addiction connected to smoking! Being addicted is not freedom! The best thing for any person is to stay inside the boundary of God’s Word.
Pastor Norris
Hospitalizations
Keith Cox - CHC G13
Chris DeGasperi - Out of State
Daniel Harris - Johns Hopkins ER
Richard Mullendore - Meritus 3309
Joanne Ritter - Johns Hopkins 9
Nadine Roberts - Sinai 509