Lord's Day - July 24, 2005

Passage of the Week - 2 Timothy 2

Craig focused on verse 13, "If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful; he cannot deny himself" and emphasized that God is always faithful ... No matter what happens, this is the bottom line. He also talked about the "vessels" of verses 20-21 ... and the importance of being emptied of self and filled with Christ in order to become "a vessel unto honor ... fit for the master's use."

Following up on the theme of being a vessel filled with Christ, Mark pointed to Paul as an example of not being entangled with the "affairs of this life" (v. 4). Paul's letters are filled with nothing but Christ and the things of Christ ... which challenges us with the question: Am I merely interested in the things of Christ, or am I absorbed by them ... are they my hobby or my life?

Alan shared some brief gardening analogies based on verse 6: "The husbandman that laboreth...." John and Greg shared encouraging testimonies.

Prayer Burdens:

• Nelsons are expecting in February! (praise and prayer)
• Stephen R. was accepted to 4-day therapy (praise!)
• Eloise's Mom is in Lakeshore rehabilitation facility.
• Boy scout trip this week to D.C. and Gettysburg involving several of our families.
• Jeffrey F. attending Summit conference (Christian worldview training) in Dayton, TN the next two weeks.
• Moody family (that visited with us last week) -- God's direction, provision, and blessing.
• Molly K. -- ear ache.