Rose Hill Herald

January 1, 2011 – Volume 6, Issue 1

 

1. Pastor’s thoughts

 

Well, I hope you had a great Christmas with your family and/or friends.  We spent Christmas in Colorado Springs.  No snow, in the 40s and pretty nice weather for Colorado in December.  I understand that some of you had a white Christmas.  I do enjoy seeing a white Christmas as long as I don’t have to drive in it.  I found it amazing to see the blizzard conditions in our country’s northeast.  Wow!  And to think we lived in Plattsburgh, NY in the early 70s.  I have become quite spoiled living in the south.  I was reflecting back to the way we celebrated Christmas over 40-50 years ago in Ohio.  We usually had snow and cold weather.  It was a time of going to grandma’s house to exchange Christmas gifts; a time to have fun and a wonderful Christmas dinner together.  Our black and white TVs, on all 3 channels, were continually wishing us a Merry Christmas!  Our churches had
Christmas programs, our schools celebrated Christmas and we all knew that Christmas was all about Jesus.  Today with over 200 television stations we are greeted with “Happy Holidays” on the air.  Retail merchants often had manger scenes in their store windows.  And just about every city had a manger scene in front of the city office buildings.  The television networks played numerous Christmas stories, both religious and secular.  Santa Claus had his own TV program Monday through Friday on right after children got home from school.  My understanding is that now the television networks have to be “politically correct” so as to not offend someone who doesn’t celebrate Christmas.  The schools are not permitted to have the traditional “Christmas” programs because of possibly offending someone who does not celebrate Christmas.  I must be totally honest with you:  “I miss the America that was when I was a child.”  I have often wondered what God thinks of our country, the one He has blessed so much!  We must really sadden His heart.  I don’t make too many New Year’s resolutions: but here is one I am making and I challenge you to also make for 2011:  I resolve to read my Bible more, pray more than I have in past years, support my church in attendance and tithes, and do my best to share my faith with those who do not have a personal relationship with Christ!  Will you join me in this New Year’s resolution?

 

 

2. Something to think about

 

“There is so much about my fate that l cannot control, but other things do fall under my jurisdiction. l can decide how to spend my time, whom to interact with, whom to share my body and life and energy with. l can select what l can read and eat and study. l can choose how I'm going to regard unfortunate circumstances in my life - whether l will see them as curses or opportunities. l can choose my words and the tone of voice in which l speak to others. And most of all, l can choose my thoughts."
Elisabeth Gilbert --- Submitted by George Wachirah --- Kenya

3. Á cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones” (Proverbs 17:22 NIV).

 

Three friends were having lunch together-Jack Benny, George Burns, and Edgar Bergen.  Jack Benny had a reputation for being very tight.  George Burns said Benny had a “reach impediment” when it came to picking up the bill, so Burns was therefore surprised to hear Benny ask for the check.  On the way out he complimented Benny.  “That was good of you to ask for the check,” he told him.  Benny replied, “I did not ask for the check, and that’s the last time I’ll have lunch with a ventriloquist.”

 

A man went on a ski trip and was knocked unconscious by the chairlift.  He called his insurance company from the hospital but they refused to cover the injury.  “Why is the injury not covered?” he asked.  “That makes you an idiot, and we consider that a pre-existing condition.”

 

A police car pulled up in front of Grandma Bessie’s house, and Grandpa Morris got out.  The polite policeman explained that this elderly gentleman said that he was lost in the park and couldn’t find his way home.  “Oh Morris, “said Grandma, “You’ve been going to that park for over 30 years!  How could you get lost?”  Leaning close to Grandma so that the policeman couldn’t hear, Morris whispered, “I wasn’t lost, I was just too tired to walk home.”

 

A substitute teacher was teaching a certain class for the first time.  She noticed a boy in the front of the room who was moving his jaws in a chewing fashion.  So she asked the boy, “Are you chewing gum?”  The boy answered, “No ma’am, I’m Bobby Jones.”

 

4. Nazarene websites

 

Rose Hill Church of the Nazarene:  www.rosehillnazarene.org   

South Arkansas District: www.southarkansasnazarene.org

Nazarene headquarters: www.nazarene.org

Nazarene Bible College: www.nbc.edu

Southern Nazarene University: www.snu.edu/home.asp

 

5. Rose Hill News

 

We will once again, be hosting “The Needhams” in concert on Sunday, January 9^th at 10:00 AM.  This is a wonderful Southern Gospel/Bluegrass family group.  We have hosted them for 5 years now on the second Sunday of January.  Please invite someone to come with you and hear this group.  They live what they sing!  We will have a potluck lunch after the concert.  So bring your favorite foods. 

 

On Sunday, January 16^th, Dr. Terry Toler of SNU will be singing and speaking to us.  Dr. Toler has served the church as a music minister and senior pastor and is currently VP of Church Relations and University Advancement at Southern Nazarene University.  He is an accomplished pianist and singer.  You won’t want to miss Dr.Toler.  Invite someone to come and hear him.

 

Ladies’ Bible study will resume on Tuesday, January 3^rd at 10:00 AM and the Men’s Prayer Breakfast is scheduled the third Saturday of the month at the church at 8:00 AM.

 

Rose Hill birthdays for January include: George Bratton (4^th), Trevor Burnett (6^th), Wally Pollich & Collin Pollich (16^th), Kristy Pollich (30^th).  Anniversaries include: Terry & Stefania Baldwin (10^th), Riley & Katherine Gill (11^th), and George & Bonnie Bratton (17^th). If we have missed your birthday or anniversary, it was not intentional.  Please let the church office know.

 

Could 2011 be the year that Jesus comes back for the church in the Rapture?  Only God knows.  But even non-Christians know that something is about to happen.  I had the opportunity to watch parts of the movie “2012” at my son’s.  I find it amazing that Hollywood thinks and believes our world, as we know it, is about to end, yet we Christians, seem  so unconcerned, so lackadaisical, and so full of a “whatever” attitude it can’t help but make the world wonder “What is wrong with these Christians?  Don’t they even believe their own Bible?”  Let’s covenant together to live as if tomorrow could be the day that the Rapture takes place.  Let’s go on the offensive!

 

Your response to the Rose Hill Herald is always welcome.  If you have any suggestions, articles or links you would like to submit, please do so.

 

Thanks for reading the Rose Hill Herald.

 

Pastor Steve Comeans