Pastor Paul's Paragraphs

      I have recently been reminded of the brevity of life. Scripture reminds us of this fact in James 4:14. "Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away." It is now just over a year ago that my father passed into the presence of the Lord. Although I miss his playful smile, I find great comfort in the Word of God which reassures me that dad's struggles are over and the joys of heaven are his for all of eternity. This past Christmas our youth staff took several of the teens around town to sing Christmas carols to many of our shut-in folks. I remember with joy the smiles on the faces of those whom we visited. Those kinds of experi-ences have a way of redefining the holidays for you. Already this year, two of those whom we visited last December are now in the presence of the King of Kings. I find great comfort in the Word of God which reassures me that their struggles are over and the joy of heaven is theirs for all eternity. Recently, while out of town for a few days, I read two more books in the "Left Behind" series. Although a fictional story account of future prophetic events, the books reminded me of a great conflict yet to play out some time in the not-so-distant future here on planet earth. As I write today, it is April 1 (no fooling). One quarter of 2007 is now history.

     It seems like we just celebrated New Years and already some 90 days are gone in this New Year.

      I find myself surrounded with reminders of the brevity of life. Maybe that is why the Scriptures speak to us in simple and practical principles that should govern our lives on a moment by moment basis. Matthew 5 speaks of being poor in spirit, mourning, meekness, a desire for righteousness and mercy. It also speaks of being salt and light in our world. John 13 describes the actions of Christ, our servant leader. Matthew 6 includes the model prayer that the Lord gave to the disciples, a prayer so full of meaning, purpose and prac-tical application. Revelation 21:3-5 describe the new heaven and new earth which reminds me that my struggles too will one day come to an end. Life is short; the clock is ticking, 86,400 seconds in each 24 hour period. And with each tick of the clock, something of life is gone and cannot be reclaimed.

     Philippians 3:14: "I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus."

     Hebrews 12:1-2: "There-fore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God."

     Micah 6:8: "He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?"

      Something to think about... as we move on through 2007 together.

      Pastor Paul

No More Night

Presented by

Grace Baptist Church Worship Choir

Easter Sunday, April 8
10:30 AM

A Woman's Friend

A Woman’s Friend plans to publish a community Mother’s Day/Father’s Day greeting in the Appeal Democrat giving us an opportunity to express our thanks to God for the gift of life, motherhood and fatherhood. If you would like to participate, see the sign up sheet in the church foyer. There is no fee, but donations are accepted. Please make any checks payable to A Woman’s Friend and place in the offering plate.

Help Bridge the Gap!!!

"His Lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord’".
Matthew 25:21

We need volunteers for our Children’s Ministry. Please "Help Bridge the Gap" so we can maintain our regular programs. Where can you help? We need support in Children’s Sunday School, Children’s Church and Wednesday nights. If you are interested in helping, please call the church office.

Focus on the Family

Family Bulletin

A Well-Seasoned Congregation

• A congregation needs the spiritual maturity, wisdom, and humility of older seasoned believers. Here are a few key ways that this occurs:
• Worship and Witness: The praise and thanksgiving offered by elderly church members is important to the health and life of the church. Older adult Christians bring a depth of experience and a lifetime of answered prayers to their worship and witness.
• Personal Testimony: When seniors are able to give an honest, unsanitized recounting of their lives and share a testimony of God’s faithfulness, it adds meaning to their own lives and leaves a spiritual legacy for others to follow. It inspires us to show the same diligence as we "imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised" (Hebrews 6:12).
• Service: Older Christians who have walked with God throughout their lives have a mature perspective that young believers don’t.
• Prayer: Many older people, including those who are not able to attend church services regularly, find prayer a significant part of their spiritual life. If your elder is a believer who cannot get to church, make sure specific prayer requests-and answers to prayer-are being delivered to him or her on a regular basis.

Church and Your Child

• The church can be your greatest ally in helping you pass on your Christian faith to your children. Church attendance and participation are basic to a family’s spiritual growth. There are many things you can do to take full advantage of what your church offers. Here are a few keys to success:
• Pray together. Help your children build an expectation that God will teach them during Sunday school. Pray with them in the car on the way to church.
• Follow up. After church, reinforce what your children learned by asking them about it. Look at their take-home papers. Review the Bible stories and work on their memory verses together.
• Be patient with children in church. If a young child has to sit with you during the church service, there will be times when he or she is not engaged, especially during the sermon. Bring along paper and crayons if your church does not have children’s bulletins.
• Get involved. Sit in on a Sunday school class and observe what is being taught and how. Or better yet, get involved and teach a Sunday school class yourself.
• Say thanks. Most church volunteers are overworked and underappreciated. Make a point of thanking and encouraging your children’s teachers-and teach your children to do the same. Thank you notes or a small gift at the end of the year are a good way to show your appreciation.

Missionary News April 2007

HAVE YOU HEARD?

• These missionaries have plans of coming home this year:
• Ken and Julie Vaughan – this summer until December to Yuba City (They need a place to rent.)
• Randy and Joan Pollard – After July 15 to Roseburg, OR
• Ruthe Burton – hopefully November 2007 through May 2008

DID YOU KNOW?

1. Rich and Joann Davis are back in Lima, Peru, just settling into a new apartment.
2. The Bardons in Utah are planning another evangelistic outreach the third week of June with volunteers coming from all over the U.S.
3. In July Bob and Margaret Mundy will celebrate 25 years of service encouraging churches in their Faith Promise Programs.They will be in Eureka, CA,May.
4. Ruthe Burton and her co-worker, Claudia, are writing children's lessons and training teachers for 11 churches in Brazil.
5. 21 young people trusted in Christ's redeeming work at a recent Basketball Marathon that was organized by Steve Gledhill with Word of Life.
6. A young man who stumbled into a Word of Life event looking for mandated community service found Christ, reports Chris Finchum in Florida.
7. All our missionaries are listed in the church directory.

April Events

GCA 1st Annual Shrimp & Crab Feed

Eat all the shrimp/crab with all the trimmings at our family friendly feed!
April 21st, 2007 from 5:00 - 8:00 PM
Grace Christian Academy Gym
Adults $40.00 and Children $10.00
(chicken nuggets available to kids)

Tickets are available call the school office for more information.

Let's Play Ball

Interested in playing softball? The men’s team will be practicing on Mondays at 6:00 PM. Games will be on Thursdays. First game will be on April 12th.

If you have any questions, call Bill Craig at 671-6906.

OUTREACH OPPORTUNITY

A Woman’s Friend Pregnancy Resource Center and Medical Clinic is celebrating it’s 20th Anniversary of outreach in our community! They will be offering volunteer training for in-Center receptionist, client advocates and nurses (must be LVN’s or RN’s) beginning April 16, 9:00 AM to 12:30 PM. If you would like to attend or need more information, please call Barbara Mejia or Becky Reimer at 741-9136.

Eight Ate Together Sunday

April 22, 2007

Church families host a meal for eight in their home. No evening service so the meal may be lunch or dinner. The format is up to you: provide a meal, bring a dish, or potluck. The E.A.T.S. ministry is a way for the church family to get to know one another. It is a wonderful opportunity to make some new friends and renew acquaintances!

Calendar of Events

Click on the highlighted dates - the events are shown on the right.