UNCLE PHIL’S DINNER AT CHRISTMAS

Tickets are going quickly. Four performances December 12, 13 and 19, 20. For tickets and information call: 615.868.3360

YOU COULD HAVE HEARD A PIN DROP.

When in England , at a fairly large conference, Colin Powell was asked by the Archbishop of Canterbury if our plans for Iraq were just an example of ’empire building’ by George Bush. 

       

He answered by saying, ‘Over the years, the United States has sent many of its fine young men and women into great peril to fight for freedom beyond our borders. The only amount of land we have ever asked for in return is enough to bury those that did not return.’

        

 You could have heard a pin drop   

There was a conference in France where a number of international engineers were taking part, including French and American. During a break, one of the French engineers came back into the room saying ‘Have you heard the latest dumb stunt Bush has done?  He has sent an aircraft carrier to Indonesia to help the tsunami victims. What does he intended to do, bomb them?’

 

A Boeing engineer stood up and replied quietly: ‘Our carriers have three hospitals on board that can treat several hundred people; they are nuclear powered and can supply emergency electrical power to shore facilities; they have three cafeterias with the capacity to feed 3,000 people three meals a day, they can produce several thousand gallons of fresh water from sea water each day, and they carry half a dozen helicopters for use in transporting victims and injured to and from their flight deck. We have eleven such ships; how many does France have?’

        

 You could have heard a pin drop.          

 

A U.S. Navy Admiral was attending a naval conference that included Admirals from the U.S., English, Canadian, Australian and French Navies. At a cocktail reception, he found himself standing with a large group of Officers that included personnel from most of those countries.

 

Everyone was chatting away in English as they sipped their drinks but a French admiral suddenly complained that, whereas Europeans learn many languages, Americans learn only English.’ He then asked, ‘Why is it that we always have to speak English in these conferences rather than speaking
French?’

 

Without hesitating, the American Admiral replied ‘Maybe it’s because the Brits, Canadians, Aussies and Americans arranged it so you wouldn’t have to speak German.’ 

       

You could have heard a pin drop.

 

AND THIS STORY FITS RIGHT IN WITH THE ABOVE…

        

Robert Whiting, an elderly gentleman of 83, arrived in Paris by plane.  At French Customs, he took a few minutes to locate his passport in his carry on.

‘You have been to France before, monsieur?’ the customs officer asked sarcastically.

Mr. Whiting admitted that he had been to France previously. ‘Then you should know enough to have your passport ready.’ The American said, “The last time I was here, I didn’t have to show it.”

 

“Impossible Americans always have to show your passports on arrival in France!’The American senior gave the Frenchman a long hard look. Then he quietly explained, “‘Well, when I came ashore at Omaha Beach on D-Day in 1944 to help liberate this country. I couldn’t find a single Frenchmen to show a passport to.” 

      

You could have heard a pin drop.

 

 

Uncle Phil’s Diner At Christmas

Madison has a great drama program and another episode of Uncle Phil’s Diner is on tap for this years program. This is a dinner theatre and tickets are only 12.00. The dates for this year’s program are: December 12, 13 and 19, 20. Shows start at 7:00pm in the Fellowship Hall. Why not plan to join us!

A Word FOR Expository Preaching and Teaching

Early in my full-time ministry I ran into the dilemma that every preacher, at one time or another will face. What should I preach? Years have passed since I struggled with that problem, due mainly to the wisdom that a friend shared with me about preaching. It totally took that pressure off of me. He said expository preaching through books of the Bible allows God to meet the needs of His people without you having to decide what those needs are. While I still preached topically from time to time after that, the main method I have used for over 30 years of ministry is expository preaching and teaching. I can’t count the times people have come up to me and said concerning an expository lesson, “How did you know that I needed to hear that”? Or “That is exactly where I am at in my life.” There was no way I could have discerned that need of their heart, but God could and did.

 

Someone once said, “A scripture out of context is simply a pretext”. While I don’t think it is wrong to put together scriptures that support a conclusion or an opinion, I do realize that it is the weakest form of argument.

 

Video’s like the one above show a dependence upon more that the spoken, explained and applied Word of God. It is a shallow, emotion based approach to teaching and preaching. It is a part of our Christian culture that picks and chooses a verse here and there to teach a preconceived idea or argument. The “Health and Wealth” gospel is another example of this abuse of scripture, of using scripture as a pretext out of context.

 

Paul told Timothy to, “…devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, to teaching”. I Tim. 4:13. Nehemiah 8:8 says the exact same thing about how Ezra and other men of God preached:” And they read from the book, the Law of God, translating to give the sense, so that they understood the reading” So expository preaching entails: 1) reading Scripture; 2) explaining Scripture; 3) applying Scripture from and within in context.

 

Our tribe at one time was known for its knowledge of the Scripture. We can’t say that today. I think I know why.

AREWA AID’S BENEFIT DINNER ANOTHER SUCESS!

 

CLICK HERE TO READ ALL ABOUT IT AND SEE MORE PICTURES FROM THE EVENING.

“Star Wars” – An a capella tribute to John Williams

THIS IS SIMPLY AWESOME!

The Assurance of God’s Control In The Affairs Of Men

This past Wednesday evening I combined my class with the one that our Minister Phil Barnes normally teaches for a period of reflection and spiritual re-focusing. The purpose was not to rehash the election; no one needed more of that. We needed a time of healing and reassurance. This election like no other I have experienced was a mini-Civil War. What is even sadder is that that spirit spilled over into the Church. While I didn’t see this spirit so much at Madison, I knew it was happening in the Blog world and through social networking sites. Brother attacking brother, harsh words and in some cases an unloving spirit emerged.

 

Knowing tensions were high I though it might be good to just spend time talking about what we were feeling and then look at the scriptures that speak of God’s Sovereign Control in the affairs of men. As we began I ask folks to give me one word that described how they were feeling. Words like, fearful, anxious, frustrated began to come forth, just to mention a few. It was obvious that we were on target.

 

In times of uncertainty we need the reassurance from our Father that it is going to be alright. I remember the times when I was fearful as a child, that is was the knowledge that my earth Father had always been there for us that gave me assurance that everything was going to be ok. How much more do we need that same assurance from out Abba Father . The assurance that comes is not necessarily the removal of the challenge, obstacle or the event that has caused the concern. It is the knowledge that we are not alone and that what is happening has not some how escaped His knowledge. The Christians in New Testament times were not taken out of harms way, they were given the assurance that they would not go through the challenge alone.

 

And so regardless of whether you are elated or anxious about how the recent election turned out, we must accept the profound truth expressed by King Nebuchadnezzar after he returned to his senses and from a period of time living like an animal because he did not give honor and glory to the God of Heaven.

 

At the end of the days I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven, and my reason returned to me, and I blessed the Most High, and praised and honored him who lives forever, for his dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom endures from generation to generation; all the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing, and he does according to his will among the host of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth; and none can stay his hand or say to him, “What have you done?” Daniel 4:34-35

 

Nor should we ever forget the powerful truth expressed by Jesus to Pilot in John 19:11, “You would have no authority over me at all unless it had been given you from above”.

NATION OF ANGER. NATION IN DANGER.

By Terry Rush

(Borrowed and adapted)

I am very concerned about our nation. The threat of simmering unrest is nearing boil. I don’t think I’m exaggerating. The political scene is fire-red hot. Debate—bitter, rude, insulting debate—does not reveal information as much as it reveals skill. Millions of dollars are spent for a job which pays thousands. Office workers, church members, and neighbors are divided into camps of strong opinions backed by hard feelings.

Politics is only one front. The Philadelphia Phillies won the World Series last night. Was the danger and damage of rioters found to be in the losing city of Tampa Bay? No, it was found in the city which won! Whether victory or loss, some are filled with such anger they are anxious to find any excuse to create havoc.

Level-headed, quite responsible leaders of all fields are burnt over the shameful and unrepentant scandal of the Wall Street moguls. Congress’ volunteer blindness toward both the problem and solution exacerbates the thread-bare nerves of common man. Our nation is in a mess. I believe it to be so big, I couldn’t exaggerate it.

Therefore, rely on the Spirit of Christ. Lead your people to Him. Have them hide their wealth by giving it away. Lead them to save their lives by losing them. Teach them that our citizenship is in heaven; not on earth. Train them of the value and truth of the outstretched arms of both the Son on the Cross and of the prodigal’s Father back at the family farm. Adorn hearts with the news which is heard louder than Paul Revere’s; Our Savior Reigns ! Our Savior is King!