February 10, 2019
Our church office will be closed on Monday to honor President’s Day.
We sang “Happy Birthday” to Jill Moore and Lee Lusk who were born in February.
Pastor Ken and I attended a barbeque dinner and award ceremony honoring Dr. Rodney Schneider, Dublin ISD Superintendent, last Saturday night. The Dublin Masonic Lodge presented Dr. Schneider with their “Community Builder Award.” This award is presented to persons that are not Mason’s but live a life exemplifying how a Mason should live.
Laura Leatherwood served as Worship Leader and Jaxson and Joe Salinas were our acolytes.
Our congregation extends deep sympathy to the friends and family of Tommy Sperry and Bobby Williams.
Laura Leatherwood gave the children’s lesson. Laura brought a clear plastic bag with a chicken egg and a lemon in it. She asked the children “what do these two things have in common?” The children gave several answers, but Laura said the items are hard on the outside and soft on the inside.
Laura said that people can be like that, they can act mean or tough and uncaring, when they really feel different on the inside. She asked, “why would people act that way?” The children had excellent answers for her. They said they could have no food and be hungry, or someone might have been mean to them, or someone in their family passed away.
Laura told the youngsters not to let unhappy things harden your heart and to read the Bible.
The scripture lesson was from Isaiah 6:1-8, Luke 5:1-11, and 1Corinthians 15:1-11.
Rev. Ken Lunsford preached about three men changed by God.
Isaiah saw God sitting on a high throne and the edges of God’s robe filled the temple. He saw winged creatures stationed all around God. They had six wings, they used two wings to cover their faces, two wings to cover their feet, and flew about the temple with two. Then Isaiah heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? Who will go for us?” And Isaiah answered, “Here am I. Send Me!”
Jesus was preaching on the shore of Lake Gennesaret. He got into Simon’s boat and asked him to push Him out a little so he could speak to the crowd on the bank. After Jesus finished preaching, He told Simon to “put out into deep water and let down the nets.” Simon did not want to but did because Jesus said to. Two boats put out and drew in nets so full of fish they almost sank. Peter fell at Jesus’ feet and said, “Go away from me, for I am a sinful man.” Jesus told the fishermen to not be afraid, from now on you will be fishing for people.”
St. Paul wrote in a letter to the Corinthians reminding them, I passed on to you as most important what I also received: Christ died for our sins in line with the scriptures, He was buried, and He rose on the third day. Paul said I am the least important of the apostles. I don’t deserve to be called an apostle because I harassed God’s church. I am what I am by God’s grace, and God’s grace hasn’t been for nothing.
Not everyone is going to have an experience like Isaiah, Simon Peter, or St. Paul had. But we can, in our way, experience God and be transformed into something more beautiful. We need to pray that God will help us to undergo His amazing grace and power.