Shippensburg First Church Of God Blog Site: Sunshine & Shadows

Sundays Coming, and there's always Good News!

As we consider our Freedoms as we approach Independence Day, one of the things I love most about the USA is the freedom to travel and see the beauty of God’s Creation that is found across this land. Check out these photos from our first trip to Acadia National Park in Maine in 2005:

Not so beautiful or inspiring, right? But every trip features a little Sunshine and Shadow…

You’ll have to join us Sunday to hear more of the story, but consider how usually in life we share the Good, and Leave out the Bad. In God’s word we see that the Good News is really amazingly exceptionally Good, because of the Bad News.

This weekend we will read some Harsh Words from Scripture. Some words that might make us cringe or uncomfortable at first. We have been taking a look at a variety of letters that are found in the New Testament this summer. Just post cards, really, or snap shots of a much bigger picture. What we see in these letters is that they speak to both great theological concepts, and everyday details of life in the early church. They take a variety of tones, from highly encouraging, to harshly critical. They give us the good news and the bad news.

We will continue looking at a letter that Paul wrote to the Church in Rome. In Chapter 3, he lays some theological foundations about the extent of sin and the fallenness of humans everywhere. Not exactly a “feel good” topic, particularly as we look to celebrate freedom next week… But what we will see is that True Freedom is found in Christ Alone, and the reason the Gospel of Jesus is such Good News is because of the Bad News. It’s all part of one story—our story—The Story of God’s Holiness and His Righteous Love for All People.

“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.”

--Romans 3:23-24

What I hope we will see is that when we properly understand sin, it leads us to more freely love our neighbors as ourselves, and to properly worship our Holy God. We can join with Paul and say,

“Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!”

--Romans 7:25

We do have much to be thankful for in our Church!

Thanks to everyone who served and participated in Vacation Bible School This week! 50 children came to learn more about Jesus! Check out a few highlights:

And join me once again in welcoming and celebrating the 18 New Members we installed last weekend:

Here are some more things to celebrate, look forward to, and pray about next:

This Sunday we will be commissioning our Youth Missions Team. They leave on July 9^th to serve a community in Kentucky that experienced some devastating flooding last year. They will help with repairs and also provide a VBS to the children of the community.

We will celebrate Communion and Feetwashing on Sunday Evening, July 9^th at 6:30 pm

The Cross Roads Station renovation project is continuing, with new phases of the work projected to begin next week. Also be sure to thank our crew that has been diligently sanding woodwork to restore the stairway!

Wherever the roads of life may be taking you this summer, I hope the Lord Leads you into His Goodness and Truth, and reminds you of His Unfailing Love!

I hope to worship with you soon!

Pastor Rodney Bistline

Shippensburg First Church of God

seniorpastorbistline@shipfcog.org