Subject: Rose Hill Herald
From:  Steve Comeans spcomeans@rosehillnazarene.org

 A publication of Rose Hill Church of the Nazarene
June 1, 2010

Volume 3, Issue 6

 
1. Pastor’s thoughts

2. Laugh a little

3. Thought for the month

4. Helpful websites

5. Nazarene websites

6. Rose Hill News

 

1. Pastor’s Thoughts

 The more I read the headlines, the more I am convinced that the earth is getting closer to that terrible period called the “Great Tribulation.”  We recently finished an in depth study on the Book of Daniel.  It was quite interesting to see how Daniel’s prophecies were all beginning to make sense.  We saw in Daniel 12:8 Daniel was quite perplexed by the prophecy he had just heard: “I heard, but I did not understand.  So I asked, “My lord, what will the outcome of all this be?”  He replied, “Go your way, Daniel, because the words are closed up and sealed until the time of the end.”  Poor Daniel!  This amounted to preparing to read the last chapter of a great “who done it” novel and as you turn to the first page of the chapter you read, “To be continued.”   Today, as we read the headlines we see that Nation of Israel is preparing for the return of Messiah.   The Temple Institute, known in Hebrew as Machon HaMikdash (Hebrew: מכון המקדש‎), is an organization in Israel focusing on the controversial endeavor of re-establishing the Third Temple. Its long-term aims are to build the third Jewish temple on the Temple Mount, on the site currently occupied by the Dome of the Rock, and to reinstate sacrificial worship. It aspires to reach this goal through the study of Temple construction and ritual and through the development of actual Temple ritual objects, garments, and building plans suitable for immediate use in the event conditions permit its reconstruction.  For many years the religious leaders of the Jews, called Rabbis, had a list of things that must happen before Messiah could come back.  Jack Van Impe has spent a good part of his life in studying end time prophetic events.  I ran across this article he wrote on “The Rabbis belief that when these three signs occurred the Messiah would come”:

 

 The Rabbis Speak

For decades, certain Orthodox rabbis have maintained that the Messiah would come when three signs were in evidence at the same time.

First, there must be speeding chariots in the streets of Jerusalem, fulfilling Nahum 2:4: "The chariots shall rage in the streets, they shall jostle one against another in the broad ways: they shall seem like torches, they shall run like the lightnings."

This interesting verse once prompted Sir Isaac Newton to predict that men would someday travel as fast as forty miles per hour.

Voltaire, an enemy of Christianity in that era, scorned Newton's statement, saying, "See what a fool Christianity makes of an otherwise brilliant man, such as Sir Isaac Newton! Doesn't he know that if a man traveled forty miles an hour, he would suffocate and his heart would stop?"

But Newton was conservatively correct. And today, in Jerusalem, as in other major cities, speeding chariots (automobiles) jostle one against another in the broad ways. At night they seem like torches and they run like lightning.

The second sign, the rabbis said, would be the protection of Jerusalem by men flying as birds. "As birds flying so will the Lord of hosts defend Jerusalem; defending also he will deliver it; and passing over he will preserve it" (Isa. 31:5).

No wonder Israelis are convinced they must retain air superiority in the Middle East. Already the accomplishments of their top-notch pilots are almost legendary. Jets over Jerusalem have more significance than in any other place on earth. And the sky over that city is seldom silent.

The third requirement of the rabbis was the blossoming of the desert. "The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them; and the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose" (Isa. 35:1).

Although the complete fulfillment of this promise is for a better day yet to come, the desert is blossoming in Israel. Near miracles have been performed in an area that once was barren and waste. The agricultural successes of the Jews in the final days are foretold in a number of prophetic Scriptures, some of which we will explore later.

The Messiah of Israel, the Savior of the world, has already come, but His return is signaled by numerous signs, including those proclaimed by the waiting rabbis.

 

 

Signs in the Heavens

"And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring" (Luke 21:25).

For all who have watched humans walking, driving, and planting a flag on the moon, this prophecy needs no explanation. Had someone predicted this at the turn of the century, he might have been placed under psychiatric treatment. But it has happened in our generation.

Christ also spoke of startling calamities in space. After discussing signs in the sun, moon, and stars, He said: "Men's hearts [shall be] failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken" (Luke 21:26).

Although he counts himself progressive and civilized, man still employs the best minds on earth to search constantly for more deadly weapons. After the bombing of Hiroshima, Charles Lindbergh lamented: "Hiroshima was as far from the intention of the pure scientist as the Inquisition was from the Sermon on the Mount."12 Nevertheless, the drive for more potent killers continues and their area of operation has now reached the heavens, another indication that closing time is near.

The World Stage

Perhaps most interesting in the study of future things is the fulfillment of prophecy concerning the movements of nations in the end time. On the world stage, closing scenes are being enacted.

The European Union or Revived Roman Empire is growing in size and global reach. For generations, Bible scholars have been awaiting this international coalition, from which they expect a leader to rise who will guarantee peace in the Middle East, especially to Israel.

China is able to field an army of two hundred million men. Napoleon said of China, "There lies a sleeping giant. If he ever wakes he will shake the world. Let him sleep." But the giant is awake! Will Napoleon's prediction come true?

Finally, Israel is back in her land. This is the keystone of all Bible prophecy concerning the end time. All other factors of the prophetic picture would be meaningless had not the Jews returned to the land of their fathers.

Although the history of her people is a story of incredible difficulties, Israel's most trying times are ahead. The world scene all of history has been moving toward is upon us. We are not confronted with a few facts manipulated by a self-seeking prophet in an effort to gain followers. Instead, we are witnessing an unfolding of divinely designed circumstances that encompass the entire earth and its inhabitants.

The stage is set for closing time, and all the world is the stage.

2. Laugh a little

Famous Last Words

“Don’t unplug it, it will just take a moment to fix.”

“What happens if you touch these two wires tog---.“

“We won’t need reservations”

“It’s always sunny there this time of the year.”

“Gimme a match.  I think my gas tank is empty.”

“Step on her, boy, we’re only going seventy-five.”

“Say, who’s boss at this joint, anyhow?”

“If you knew anything, you wouldn’t be a traffic cop.”

 

The following Sunday, Mr. Walters got up and walked out right in the middle of a pastor’s sermon. The Pastor asked the man’s wife if he had somehow offended him.

Her reply: “It was nothing personal, Reverend.  He was just sleepwalking”

 

At a huge gathering a female psychology student was rebuked when she stated that men were much vainer than women.  Naturally, she was immediately challenged by a fellow standing near her. In order to prove her statement, she said in a clear voice that carried through the room, “It’s a shame that most intelligent and sensitive men attach so little importance to the way they dress.

Why, right this minute, the most cultivated man in this room is wearing the most clumsily knotted tie.

Whereupon, as if on cue, every man in the room immediately put his hand to his tie.

 

3. Thought for the month

 

Many of life's failures are people who didn't realize how close they were to success when they gave up." -- Thomas Alva Edison (master inventor)

 

4. Helpful websites

Here are 100 incredibly Useful and Interesting Web Sites

Whether you need to find a home, share a huge file, or throw a wicked curve with a Wiffle ball, you'll find these sites indispensable.

http://www.pcworld.com/article/150897/100_incredibly_useful_and_interesting_web_sites.html

 

 

5. Nazarene websites

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

South Arkansas District: www.southarkansasdistrict.org

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

Nazarene Headquarters; www.nazarene.org

6. Rose Hill News

June is another busy month at Rose Hill.  The ladies had a great trip to Memphis last month.  Now it is the men’s turn to have some good fun and fellowship.  We will be leaving the church on Saturday morning, June 19^th at 7:30 AM for a fishing trip to Lake Conway.  Bring your fishing pole, bait, a sack lunch and something to drink.  Don’t forget your hat!  It will be hot.  If you have friends who aren’t in church, invite them to come.  What a great opportunity for outreach. 

 

Prime Timer’s meet on the first and third Thursdays at noon for a potluck lunch and a time of fun and fellowship.  If you are 55 are over, why not come and be a part of this fun group.

 

Ladies Bible study meets each Tuesday at 10AM.

 

June 13^th will be our annual Faith Promise convention.  Each year we ask congregation members and friends to make a pledge to support world missions.  I am constantly amazed at the amount of money the good folks of Rose Hill give unselfishly to world missions.  God sees your generosity and will greatly reward you.  We have a goal of $14,000.  Will you please be in prayer as to what He would have you pledge?

 

June 20^th is Father’s Day.  Donna Jordan will be directing a Father’s Day choir.  We will also be giving out restaurant gift certificates to 6 fathers. 

 

June 27^th is our annual homecoming.  We will be having special singing, an awards presentation, wondrous sharing, a baptism (if you would like to be baptized please let the Pastor know) and Ron Carter and helpers will be cooking hamburgers and hot dogs.  A sign up food sheet will be passed around to each of the Sunday School classes and posted on the front foyer.  Please be sure and sign up to bring your favorite dish. 

 

Choir practice is the first and last Wednesdays of the month at 6:00 PM.  If you ever had a desire to sing in a choir, why not give Rose Hill’s a try.  We have the best choir director in the Church of the Nazarene in Donna Jordan!  She has an uncanny ability to make it all sound so good! 

 

Rose Hill birthdays for June include: Ginny Rice (1^st), Sarah Skillern (4^th) and Belinda Carter (22^nd).

 

Anniversaries include: Greg & Cynthia Hayes (15^th), OD & Terry Smothers (18^th) and Pastor & Faith Comeans (21^st)

 

Rose Hill has two great small groups that meet weekly.  Check one of them out.

 

The Tribe of faith small group meets at the parsonage on Mondays at 6:30.   They will meet on Monday, May 31^st, at 4PM for a cookout.  Bring the meat you want grilled, a favorite dish and your own drink.

 

George and Bonnie Bratton host our other small group on Thursdays at 7PM at their home at 3101 Vanness Dr., Little Rock.

 

Your feedback:

 

Your response to the Rose Hill Herald is always welcome as well as any suggestions, articles or links you would like to submit.

 Thank you! 

 

Pastor Steve Comeans