Subject: Rose Hill Herald – February 2009
From: Steve Comeans spcomeans@rosehillnazarene.org

Subject: Rose Hill Herald

 

From: Steve Comeans spcomeans@rosehillnazarene.org

 

A publication of Rose Hill Church of the Nazarene

May 1, 2009

Volume 2, Issue 5

 

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:

Isn’t it amazing how things are playing out in our world and especially our nation?  Retired folks are going back to work as some have lost up to 50% of their retirement funds, the Swine Flu virus is killing and putting people in the hospitals, wars and rumors of wars, earthquakes and on and on and on.  I read an interesting article today and thought I would share a portion of it with you.  The title of the article was:

Are Pestilences A Sign That We Are Living In The Last Days?

Matthew 24:3 - "And as he sat upon the Mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?   4 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.   5 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. 6 And ye shall hear of wars and rumors of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. 7 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.   8 All these are the beginning of sorrows.”

One of the things Jesus predicted would occur shortly before His return is pestilences (rampant disease). I am sure there are those of you who are saying, "Pestilence (disease) has always been present in the world, and we are better equipped today than ever to deal with them." True, God has blessed us with a wealth of technology with which to better diagnose and fight disease, but, "Are we really better off today than say, 20 years ago?”  I find it amazing that we are not hearing the outcry of HIV/AIDS as we were seemingly for so long.  Has it been cured?  No definitely not.  If a person is infected, the likely result is not good.  Here are some statistics from AIDS/HIV information from AVERT.org.  AVERT is an international AIDS charity.

 

HIV/AIDS around the world

The overwhelming majority of people with HIV, some 95% of the global total, live in the developing world. The proportion is set to grow even further as infection rates continue to rise in countries where poverty, poor health care systems and limited resources for prevention and care fuel the spread of the virus.

The chart above shows the distribution of people living with HIV around the world, according to 2007 data.

The latest statistics on the world epidemic of AIDS & HIV were published by UNAIDS/WHO in July 2008, and refer to the end of 2007.

	Estimate	Range
People living with HIV/AIDS in 2007	33.0 million	30.3-36.1 million
Adults living with HIV/AIDS in 2007	30.8 million	28.2-34.0 million
Women living with HIV/AIDS in 2007	15.5 million	14.2-16.9 million
Children living with HIV/AIDS in 2007	2.0 million	1.9-2.3 million
People newly infected with HIV in 2007	2.7 million	2.2-3.2 million
Children newly infected with HIV in 2007	0.37 million	0.33-0.41 million
AIDS deaths in 2007	2.0 million	1.8-2.3 million
Child AIDS deaths in 2007	0.27 million	0.25-0.29 million

More than 25 million people have died of AIDS since 1981.

And, now, we have the Swine Flu that some have called an epidemic.  I am quite pleased that the US government and world health organizations are taking this threat very seriously!  But in God’s Word we hear Jesus say, “When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near” (Luke 21:28).  Do you have your bags packed and ready for that final flight?  Folks, there are so many who are not ready!  Let’s take the time and go and ask!

 

2. Laugh a little:

A lady and her children moved to the city not too long ago and began attending church for the first time in their lives.  They particularly loved the singing and the Communion service.  One day while babysitting, their mother fixed the children their favorite lunch of burritos and apple juice.  As she left the room, she heard four-year-old Alisha begin to celebrate Communion with her lunch items.  She seemed to have memorized the words of institution quite well, except when it came to the cup.  She heard her say, “And Jesus took the cup and He blessed it, and He gave God thanks for it, and He said,” Fill it up with Folgers and wake ‘em up!’” What wonderful theology!

Two men were on an Alaskan bear hunt.  On opening morning a light snow fell, and one man stayed in the cabin while the other went hunting.  The one who went out to hunt found a huge grizzly bear, shot at it, but only wounded it. The enraged bear charged toward him, and the man dropped his rifle and started running for the cabin as fast as he could.  He ran fast, but the bear was faster and gained on him with every step.  Just as he reached the open cabin door, he tripped and fell flat on his face.  Too close behind to stop, the bear tripped over him and went rolling into the cabin.  The man jumped up, closed the cabin door, and yelled to his friend inside, “You skin this one while I go and get another one!”

3. Thought for the month:

We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.

Winston Churchill

4. Helpful websites:

Here is a free website that offers free translation of many written foreign words, sentences, etc into English or vice versa: http://www.freetranslation.com/

5. Nazarene websites:

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

South Arkansas District: www.southarkansasdistrict.org

Nazarene information: www.nazarene.org

General Assembly: www.nazarene.org/ministries/gensec/genassembly/display.aspx

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

 

6. Rose Hill News:

Sunday School ministries will be serving breakfast this coming Sunday (May 3^rd) at 9:00 AM.  May 3^rd will also mark the temporary change in our Sunday School and morning worship time.  Sunday School will move from 9:00 to 9:45 AM and morning worship from 10:00 to 10:45 AM.  The Sunday School bell will ring at 10:30 AM and morning worship will begin at 10:45 AM.  We are hoping that the additional time might give our families with children some added time to enable them to be at Sunday School. 

 

There will be a baby shower for Suzette Siegler on Saturday, May 9^th at 2:00 PM in the fellowship hall.

 

On Sunday May17th, Rose Hill will honor our graduates after the morning service in the fellowship hall.  Please have a card (with something in it) for Megan Marshall, Amber Siegler and Sarah Skillern.  Please bring finger foods for a time of food and fellowship.

 

George Bratton will be starting a small group in his home on Thursdays at 7:00 PM beginning May 14^th.  Faith’s group meets at the parsonage on Mondays at 6:30 PM.  Charles Casey will again be the facilitator of the Sunday night small group. Charles’ small group will meet at the church on Sundays at 5:00 PM and Sharon’s Beginning Conversational Spanish class meets at the church on Sundays at 5:00 PM.  I was impressed to hear this group closing their session time by praying the Lord’s Prayer in Spanish.  My understanding is that they will do this every week, plus have an assignment to memorize Scripture in Spanish. This group quickly filled up and they are learning Spanish with a Biblical flair!

If you have not tried a small group, Charles, Faith and George invite you to come and be a part.  Sharon’s class has surpassed the maximum attendance limit.

 

Ladies’ Bible Study meets each Tuesday at 10:00 AM.  The Men’s Prayer Breakfast is the third Saturday at 8:00 AM

 

Rose Hill birthdays include: Garrett Sharp (3^rd), Sean Skillern (4^th), Jim Moreland (5^th), Maxine Wallace and Hunter Montgomery (6^th), OD Smothers (10^th), Joe Richards (15^th), Pat Means (16^th), Cynthia Hayes (18^th), Kaylee Sharp (19^th), Lucy Crowe (21^st), Sue Ann Stephens (25^th), and Brittany Carter (26^th).

 

Anniversaries include: Bob & Pat Means (16^th), Don & Laurie Skillern and Greg & Suzette Siegler (24^th).

 

If we have overlooked your birthday or anniversary, we apologize and ask that you please bring it to our attention

 

Your Feedback:

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

 

Thank you

 

Pastor Steve Comeans