April 15, 2006
"Christ is the wisdom of God; and in the knowledge of this Christ there is wisdom for you. Not wisdom only, but life, forgiveness, peace, glory, and an endless kingdom! Study Him! Acquaint yourself with Him! Whatever you are ignorant of, be not ignorant of Him. Whatever you overlook, overlook not Him. What ever you lose, lose not Him. To gain Him is to gain eternal life, to gain a kingdom, to gain everlasting blessedness. To lose Him is to lose your soul, to lose God, to lose God's favor, to lose God's heaven, to lose the eternal crown!" —Horatius Bonar
Answers to Prayer
"O Thou Giving God,
    May I always know
        that a clean heart full of goodness
            is more beautiful than the lily.
    that only a clean heart can sing by night and by day,
    that such a heart is mine when I abide at Calvary."
Like that crowds that adored Jesus in His day, how often do we cry, "hosanna" (please save us) for selfish reasons? Most incredible is that, regardless of their motives or ours, He still went to the cross, not as a martyr for a cause, nor to prove He was right. He died for us. What wondrous love is this that caused the Lord of bliss to bear the dreaded curse for my soul?
The Spanish congregation have been engaged in a special outreach with one of their missionaries, Daniel Bustamante. There have been some saved and others making fresh commitments to the Lord. Give praise to the Lord for His work, and keep praying as He perfects Himself in these who now have new life.
The Korean congregation presented an instrumental concert Saturday evening. Those playing are part of the church. I'm sure we will hear more about how the Lord used this for His glory in the days to come.
Requests for Prayer
Please continue to pray for our troops.
- Marvin Funkhouser
- Coleen (Blalocks)
- Bryan Miller (Cosgroves)
- Jonathan Kirkwood (Ken and Jean's son)
- Chris Shelton (Cosgroves)
- Jeremy Mullens (Cosgroves)
- David Edwards (Bill and Juleen's son)
- Sam Im (Korean congregation)
- Ryan Davey (Stella Rogers' grandson)
- Russell Perry (Cosgrove)
- Steven Henning (Cosgrove)
- Sara Parmenter
Arrah Wannah Kolb, a long-time resident of Bell Gardens (she ran a catering business), and one of the pillars at the Bell Gardens Church of God died a week ago. She was 97. Remember Arrah Wannah's family and friends in prayer.
Steve Prettyman asks prayer for a coach at Bell Gardens High School. This coach's mother died Monday from cancer.
Don and Edna Kiser ask prayer for their family. Tuesday, their 23 year old grandson, Chris Kiser, died in a car accident in Texas.
Francine Covington's brother, Damian Nakamura, drowned Wednesday while surfing. Would you please pray for Francine, her parents, and family?
Donna Banks has an interview for an elementary music director position on Monday at 2:30 (CDT) in the Fort Worth area. Please pray.
Stella Rogers' granddaughter, Kathy, has a reoccurrence of cancer. Surgery is scheduled for Wednesday. Would you please pray?
Steve and Eida Irwin should be home in El Paso by now. Last week Steve was in Florida for meetings regarding future projects in translation. Eida was with her father in south Texas, where he was to have surgery. A lot of traveling and much work to do. God's guidance is needed.
Don Kiser, in Rosarito, Mexico reports that even in the midst of all their heartache over losing their sweet grandson, God was merciful in giving a good report from recent tests that show his cancer is gone. Praise God with Bro. Don!
Sergio and Miriam Ramirez report that the special gathering in memory of our Lord's death in Santader, Spain on April 14th was blessed by God. The actors who represented the play of the Seven Words were well prepared. There was good attendance. The Word was preached and the Ramirez's trust all were encouraged, edified and convicted.
Pastor Yoon made a whirlwind trip to Korea for a funeral. When he arrived home, one of the older members here also died. Her son is Bro. Woo.
Pastor Tony Núñez is entering a critical time in his doctoral program. Begin praying as he prepares for his comprehensive exams the first part of June.
Pastor Carlos and Elvira Castellanos left for a Caribbean cruise through the Panama Canal. They return May 4. Before they left, Carlos' work van blew up.
Pastor and Donna Rigsby will be visiting Donna's mom and family in Tucson this week. Ask God for His blessing, rest, and safety.
May we rejoice or pray with you? Others will intercede with you on your behalf before the throne of grace.
Happy Birthday!
April 17, Dennis Vanderwall
Israel Report
This week's notes are a special lesson the Jesus Christ's resurrection from Matthew 28, "Do You the Good News?" They can be opened here.
Study the Scriptures Systematically
The books of Isaiah and Micah are being explored this quarter. The notes for Isaiah 32—39, "Do you take your burdens to the Lord?" can be opened here.
Hear God's Word Expositionally
Listen to (or download for later) these two sermons in preparation for Jesus Christ's resurrection preached by Pastor Rigsby:
"Hosanna, Please Save Us," Matthew 21:1-11.
"He Died For Us," Matthew 27:32-56.
Read the Bible
Continue with us as we read this beloved book of God's Word, the Gospel of John. Here is April's reading schedule.
Use the Internet Constructively
"The resurrection of Jesus Christ has been called the central teaching of the Christian faith, the heart of the Gospel, the cornerstone of our theology, and the basis of our hope as believers. Perhaps that explains why the truth of the bodily resurrection of Christ has been under attack since the very day the tomb was discovered to be empty (Matthew 28:11-15)." Read the rest at BulletinInserts.org.
"Our Salvation: God thought it, Jesus bought it, the Holy Spirit wrought it."
