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The BeaconThe Beacon April 2016 / A Newsletter of Clearview ChurchApril 2016 / A Newsletter of Clearview Church
LIFE IS A VAPOR “You do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away.” (James 4:14)
Monday afternoon two weeks ago I got a phone call that I have received before as a pastor but I never imagined whom it would be about. “Sylvia Edwards died.” I thought I had misheard the name and so I asked – “Who did you say again?” I heard it right the first time. It was Sylvia. I couldn’t believe it…I saw her the night before at church! We talked about her singing at the coming Fourth of July program. She wasn’t feeling well but she was still excited about picking out the songs and getting started with the prac-tices. If you knew Sylvia, you would know that she loved to sing and she wasn’t one to sit still very long! Now, two days later we were standing by her graveside – “Ashes to ashes, dust to dust…”
Life is indeed a vapor, a mist. It’s like breathing on a glass window on a cool day. You see the condensation for a couple of seconds and then it’s gone. Such is life. The Bi-ble repeatedly warns us about the brevity and unpredictability of life – 1 Chronicles 29:15 “...Our days on earth are as a shadow, And without hope.” Job 7:7,9
“…my life is a breath!...As the cloud disappears and vanishes away, So he who goes down to the grave does not come up.” Psalms 102:11 “My days are like a shadow that lengthens, And I wither away like grass.” In spite of all such warnings, many still live as if they have all the time in the world. 2
Listen to what the Bible says – “Instead you ought to say, ‘If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that.’” (James4:15) This does not mean that God is against plan-ning. He wants us to plan but He also wants us to acknowledge Him in all our plan-ning. He wants us to remember that our life is a gift from God. It means much more than saying –“Lord willing I’ll be at church Sunday.” It means living life knowing that our every breath, heartbeat, and brainwave is on loan from God and can be taken away from us any moment. Sylvia knew that and so lived her life. How about us?
Many of us waste time on the trivial and miss the important. “One of these days I am going to spend time with my children.” “One of these days I am going to take my wife on a special date.” “One of these days I am going to bake that pie for my hus-band.” (Ladies – I know that seems trivial but not for us!) “One of these days I am go-ing to stop by and see my parents.” “One of these days I am going to make things right with my brother.” “One of these days I am going to call my sister.” God wants us to stop procrastinating and start doing what is good – “Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.” (James 4:17) Did you know that procrastina-tion is a sin?! It is especially when we delay with God. “One of these days I am going to turn my life around.” “One of these days I am going to church.” “One of these days I am going to read my Bible.” “One of these days I am going to give my life to Christ.”
Unfortunately, that day never comes and we keep sliding away from God. We’re like the fool who said –“Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; eat, drink, and be merry.” But God said to him, “Fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?” (Luke 12:19-20)Make it right with God today…not because you might die tonight…but because you have to live tomorrow.
April At A GlanceApril At A GlanceApril At A Glance
4/1-3 Illuminate D-Now Retreat
4/5 New Book-Ladies Book Club
4/6-13 Book Fair
4/8-9 Art of Marriage Conference
4/15-16 24 Hour Prayer Vigil at Church
4/17 Men’s Prayer Breakfast
4/19 JOY @ KLN&R: Note week change
4/20 Awana - Tacky T-shirt night
4/24 Informational lunch for M-Fuge
Students and Parents
4/27 Awana - Store
4/29-5/1 Women of Joy - Myrtle Beach
Coming Up
5/5 National Day of Prayer
5/8 Mother’s Day
5/10 JOY Ministry to KLN & R
5/11 LAST Awana-until September 7th
5/15 Men’s Breakfast
5/15 Clearview 101 Class/Potluck lunch
5/18 Sports Camp begins
5/30 Memorial Day
3485 Hwy 158 Business Henderson, NC 27537
252 438-8433
clearviewbc.org Office Hours: 9 - 5 Tuesday - Friday
www.facebook.com/ClearviewHenderson
@ClearviewTweet
Church Supper Wednesdays 5 pm Fellowship Hall
$4 ($3 for 10 years or under $17-Family cap) Sign up in the foyer.
Each class and ministry takes a turn once every 8-9 weeks with serving
and clean up of prepared food. Please consider helping when your leader
asks for volunteers.
Ladies Bible Study Converge Men’s Ministry Kindle
4/6
Bourbon St.
Chicken
Rice
T. Greens
Y. Squash
Rolls
Brownies
4/13
Pot Roast w/
Vegetables
Cabbage
Lima beans
Rolls
Cup Cakes
4/20
Pulled Pork
Cole Slaw
Red Potatoes
Rolls
Pie
4/27
Fried Chicken
Mac & Cheese
Green Beans
Rolls Cobbler
What are some of the world’s ideas on marriage? Some that I can think of quickly is “marriage is 50/50,” “If we are struggling in our marriage, we must not be compatible”; “Why get married? Romance dies when you do;” and last, “My husband/wife is not meeting my needs so something is wrong.” How many of these have you believed over the course of your marriage? I know I have believed all of them at one time or another. Let’s refute these one at a time. Marriage can never be 50/50. How could you ever know if you’re meeting your spouse halfway? You will always be looking over your spouse’s shoulder to see if he/she has done his/her part. All marriages go through struggles. The commitment level that people have in marriage today is very weak. Many people go into mar-
riage with the idea that if it doesn’t work out they can just get a divorce. People’s relational skills are very weak also. Many couples individually grew up in homes where no relational skills were taught or acted out by their parents. Romance in marriage takes work on each person’s part. We have a skewed view of romance because of novels and movies that show a false view of what romance really is. Romance does not have to be flowers and chocolates, it can be a thoughtful deed such as cleaning up the kitchen for your wife or cooking your husband’s favorite meal just to show him that he is special. Many people believe that living together before marriage can ensure that they can make it in marriage. Studies have shown that couples who live together before marriage have a higher divorce rate than those who did not. We all have needs in marriage, but it is impossible for one person to meet all of another’s needs. If you expect your mate to meet all your needs, you will find yourself in a state of constant state of dissatisfaction. Your mate will never measure up to your expectations. You will both be constantly frustrated with each other. We can combat the world’s ideas on marriage by renewing our minds through God’s Word. As you read and learn and obey God’s Word, you cleanse your mind of the lies you have believed and replace the lies with the truth of the Bible. Strive to have a personal devotional time along with a devotional time with your spouse. Abidan and I have seen a marked difference in our marriage by doing our devotions together a few times a week. - Nicole Shah
Conference April 8th and 9th.
Fri. 7-9:30 pm Sat. 9 am - 4 pm.
For couples - married or about to be married
or singles planning to be married someday.
Hosted by Mike & Liz Jones in Fellowship Hall.
Contact: Liz Jones 252 915-6010
Clearview 24 Hour
Prayer Vigil Noon Friday April 15th-Noon Saturday April 16th
Give a half hour of your time to pray at church during the vigil to set
aside a time of extended prayer for our church, community and nation.
Sign up form located in the Welcome Room near the front doors.
Prayer guides will be provided.
Men, please consider signing up especially during the night hours.
Pastor Shah, Ryan Hill & John Galantis will rotate being at church throughout the night also.
Lead Pastor - Abidan Shah Blog: abidanshah.com
Email: [email protected]
Worship Pastor - John Galantis [email protected]
Pastor of Assimilation & Youth - Ryan Hill [email protected]
Pastor’s Secretary - Sue Kisgen [email protected]
Flowers are blooming, birds are chirping, pollen is making people sneeze left and right. You guessed it; spring has sprung! Bust out the Allegra or Claritin, my friends. In all seriousness, though, I am glad to finally start seeing the sun more and that beautiful blue sky. One of the things that always
makes me pause during spring is the flowers. We have this world of grays and browns during winter, maybe a little white thrown in there as well. But when spring comes, it doesn’t happen gradually. There is an explosion of color! Blues, greens, purples, vibrant hues everywhere you look. It’s especially fun to watch my kids point out all the colors that they see. Without a doubt, spring is a time to watch life begin anew. I am so grateful that our Heavenly Daddy created such a stunning masterpiece for us to enjoy and one that points to a powerful spiritual truth. We were once like the dead, lifeless plants of winter. We were frozen in sin with no hope or desire to be free. It wasn’t until the Lord began to work in our hearts that we began our new life in Christ! Because of what Jesus has done, we are made in alive in Him, just like those beautiful colors bursting forth in spring. We’ve been talking a lot about being made new in youth. From Sunday school to Sunday night, this theme seems to keep creeping into our lessons. I’ve learned that when this happens, the Holy Spirit is trying to tell someone something (and it’s usually me). This is a powerful concept for your students and the teens in your life. Sometimes, they can feel like they have been labeled a certain way or that their place at school or in their group of friends has been determined without their consent or control. They might feel like the poor choices they’ve made will follow them for the rest of their lives. Share with them about what it means to be made
new in Christ. Be open and honest about your own experi-ence and how this concept of new life has impacted your spiritual walk. Your teens are hungry for the Truth, and it will be even more powerful coming from your lips. I’m praying that God blesses your conversations with your students.
—Ryan Hill
Ryan, Elizabeth, Hartley, Noah, Evie & Joanna
YOUTH CORNER
843 270-7247
Illuminate Students attending M-Fuge in July and Parents. There will be an informational luncheon for parents and students Sunday April 24th at 12:30 in the Fellowship Hall. This will be a time to answer
questions, students will fill out forms, etc. If you are planning to attend M-Fuge in June, plan on attending this meet-ing! We will have a notary present to notarize forms.
D-Now If you are attending the D-Now Youth Retreat April 1-3, meet at Clearview Friday April 1st at 6:00 pm with all of your gear for the weekend. The retreat will end at Clearview Sunday School on the 3rd.
Robbie Hanford Sara Belville Jeff Walthall
Congratulations to our newest
members who joined Clearview
through baptism in March.
Please contact Pastor Shah if you would like to be baptized.
Book Fair at Clearview!
Elizabeth Hill will host an Usborne Book Fair to benefit our Nursery and Awana Ministries from April 6th-13th.
She will be set up before and after Services in the hallway near the Nursery.
The books are geared for babies through teens. You may purchase books for the Nursery and Awana
from their wish lists or the purchases/orders you make for yourself will benefit these ministries.
Thank you for participating to help our youngest Clearview attendees!
For more information, please contact Elizabeth: [email protected] or 843 345-7839
Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday
1
Jennifer Meeks-
Birthday
Seth Newbern-
Birthday
Illuminate D-Now
Retreat
2
Sue Boyd Birthday
Kathy Brown Birthday
Mike Etheridge
Birthday
Harleigh McNulty
Birthday
Illuminate D-Now
Retreat
6:30 IGNITE Worship
Service
3
Illuminate D-Now Retreat
8:00 Rise ‘N Shine Café
8:15 Worship Service
9:30 Worship Service
9:30 Sunday School
10:45 Worship Service
10:45 Sunday School
5:00 Illuminate & Converge
4
5
Josh & Angela Towne
Anniversary
10:00 Ladies Book Club
11:00 Ladies Prayer
Group
12:00 Out to lunch
6:00 Praise Team
Practice
6
Book Fair
5:00 Church Supper
6:00 Ladies/Men’s
Bible Study
6:00 AWANA
7
6:00 Praise Team
Practice
8
The Art of
Marriage
Conference
9
Book Fair-before/after
Service
The Art of Marriage
Conference
6:30 IGNITE Worship
10
Book Fair-before/after Services
8:00 Rise ‘N Shine Café
8:15 Worship Service
9:30 Worship Service
9:30 Sunday School
10:45 Worship Service
10:45 Sunday School
5:00 Illuminate/Converge
11
12
Kelsey Conner Birthday
10:00 Ladies Book Club
11:00 Ladies Prayer
Group
12:00 Out to lunch
6:00 Praise Team
Practice
13
Book Fair
5:00 Church Supper
6:00 Ladies/Men’s
Bible Study
6:00 AWANA
14
6:00 Praise Team
Practice
15
Bailey Walthall
Birthday
Noon - 24 Hour
Prayer Vigil
begins
16
Evan Stinson Birthday
Noon - 24 Hour Prayer
Vigil ends
17
Vicki Faucette Birthday
8:00 Men’s Breakfast
8:00 Rise ‘N Shine Café
8:15 Worship Service
9:30 Worship Service
9:30 Sunday School
10:45 Worship Service
10:45 Sunday School
5:00 Illuminate & Converge
18
Robin
Chacko
Birthday
19
10:00 Ladies Book Club
11:00 Ladies Prayer
Group
12:00 Out to lunch
2:00 J O Y @ Kerr Lake
Nursing & Rehab. Ctr.
Note week change
6:00 Praise Team
Practice
20
5:00 Church Supper
6:00 Ladies/Men’s
Bible Study
6:00 AWANA -
Tacky T-shirt
Night
21
Tonya Jones
Birthday
Jeff Goode
Birthday
6:00 Praise Team
Practice
22
Dorieen Kearney-
Birthday
23
Jason Wiard Birthday
24
Presley & Deborah Tuck
Anniversary
8:00 Rise ‘N Shine Café
8:15 Worship Service
9:30 Worship Service
9:30 Sunday School
10:45 Worship Service
10:45 Sunday School
12:30 Luncheon M-Fuge
Students and Parents
5:00 Illuminate & Converge
25
Shannon
Newman-
Birthday
Todd
Cottrell
Birthday
26
Camdyn Simmons
Birthday
ChandlerSimmons
Birthday
Cyril Stokes
Birthday
10:00 Ladies Book Club
11:00 Ladies Prayer
Group
12:00 Out to lunch
6:00 Praise Team
Practice
27
Nicole Munn
Birthday
5:00 Church Supper
6:00 Ladies/Men’s
Bible Study
6:00 AWANA - Store
28
6:00 Praise Team
Practice
29
Ladies to
Women of
Joy
Conference-
M. Beach
30
Patrick & Jennifer
Newcomb Anniversary
Ladies to Women
of Joy
Conference-
M. Beach
