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Heritage
Bible Church Newsletter ~
July 2009 The
Declaration of Independence from England by our forefathers was
preceded by a declaration of dependence upon God. In obedience to
directives from the Continental Congress, the people of the American
colonies spent May 17, 1776, in fasting and prayer. This was just
one incident that revealed their commitment to the Lord and to His
word. God honored their faith and America was born. Throughout
the history of our country, our leaders have often demonstrated their
dependence upon God: during the Revolutionary War, during the tense
constitutional debates, during the Civil War, during the Great
Depression, during World War II, and the times in between these
crises. But
today it seems that most Americans, especially our political leaders,
ignore God's word. We do it to our own peril. I love my country as
do you. The best way that we can love America is to influence it to
follow God's will and God's way through His Word. No individual, or
nation, should expect to receive God's blessings while ignoring or
mocking God. There are moral absolutes, because God declares such.
Some things are right and some things are wrong. God rewards those
who do right and He punishes those who do wrong. I don't want our
country to be punished for doing wrong. But the Bible states, "Woe
to those who call evil good and good evil." -
Woe then to those who call righteousness naivety and wickedness
enlightenment.
-
Woe to those who condemn marriage as evil and "an alternate
lifestyle" as good.
-
Woe to those who condone what God calls an abomination.
-
Woe to those kill the unborn and call it choice.
-
But woe too to those who kill an abortionist and call it justifiable.
-
Woe to those who exploit the poor through the lottery and call it
support for education.
-
Woe to those who destroy families by promoting pornography and call
it freedom of speech.
-
Woe to those who misuse public funds for the sake of personal gain.
-
Woe to those who promote witchcraft, humanism, pornography, Islam,
Satanism, immorality, rebellion, vulgarity and such
like but censor the Bible in public schools and call it separation of
church and state.
-
Woe to those who despise Biblical morality and promote sin in
adultery or perversion.
-
Woe to those who redraft history because the truth doesn't fit their
agenda.
-
Woe to those who cry "child abuse" when parents try to
discipline their children according to God's Word.
- But woe even more to
those parents, guardians, foster or step-parents who do physically,
sexually, or verbally abuse children under their care. -
Woe to those who for personal gain betray the trust of those who need
their services, whether they be ministers, lawyers,
doctors, or public servants in the political arena.
Daniel
Webster, who participated in the founding of America, was prophetic
and insightful when he wrote in The Grapevine: "If we abide by
the principles taught in the Bible, our country will go on
prospering; but if we and our posterity neglect its instructions and
authority, no man can tell how sudden a catastrophe may overwhelm us
and bury all our glory in profound obscurity." In
1776, Americans declared their dependence upon God and their
independence from an abusive and invasive government. God blessed
them, and us, with freedom. But today, Americans are declaring their
independence from God and their dependence upon an increasingly
invasive government! We must get back on our knees before God or, I
believe, He will bring us to our knees through trials and
catastrophe. May God help us return to the faith of our fathers.
Econfina
Creek Canoe Outing
- Saturday, July 4th. It has been a while since we have had a church
canoe outing on the Econfina–it is a lot of fun!!!
If you want to
come, meet at the church on Saturday at 9:30 a.m. to drive up to
Econfina Creek together. We will canoe from approximately 10 a.m. to
3 p.m. At a park on the creek, we will pull over for a picnic lunch,
so bring lunch and drinks. Cost is $35 for a canoe or two person
kayak and $25 for a single person kayak which will be collected at
the church when we meet on Saturday.
Budget
Committee Meeting,
Tuesday, July 7th @ 7 p.m. @ the church
Youth
Meetings
for July: will continue on Sunday evenings.
The
Alliance Women
will be held at the church on Thursday, July 16th, at 6:30 p.m. We
will continue to watch the video series by Patsy Clairmont, one of
the founders of Women of Faith. She is delightfully funny with a
great message from God.. A delicious meal will be served at no
charge. Please sign up on the sheet at church by Sunday, July 12th.
Call Mary Pettis for more information.
Board
Meeting
July 19th following the morning service - everyone is invited to
attend.
Men's
Ministry Dinner
Tuesday, July 21 @ 6:30 p.m. We will continue our series on Robert
Coleman's Book "The Master Plan of Evangelism"! If you
would like to be challenged & instructed on how to reach your
world for Christ, please join us!! Sign up on the sheet at church!
"Young@
Heart" Lunch
- is scheduled for Thursday, July 23rd. This month we will again
meet @ the Church @ 11:30 a.m. For more info, and to RSVP contact
Fran Coyne.
We will have a
Farewell
Dinner for
the Park family on Sunday, July 26th following the morning service.
Please bring a dish for your family and to share.
Cesar &
Edie Vega
are a missionary couple we support who are working with The
Navigators in Miami. (The Navigator ministry emphasizes Bible
memorization and discipleship.) Edie ministers to women on a
national scale in Navigator conferences, summits, forums, and
leadership teams. She also serves as a mentor and coach to help women
in their Bible memorization, interpersonal relationships, and walk
with the Lord. Among other things, Cesar mentors men in developing
personal core values that enable them to focus on their mission and
calling in witnessing and discipling other men.
We also support
Paul
& Beverly Currin
who serve the Lord in Italy under the Greater Europe Mission. This is
their 21st year in Italy where Paul teaches at the Italian Bible
Institute in Rome. He also has a discipling ministry with men in the
Mentana Church where they attend. Beverly has just begun a new
ministry supervising the children's program of the Bible Study
Fellowship in Rome. Paul visited our church in 2005 and shared their
ministry.
Finances
as of June 30th
For
June
General
Operating Fund (GOF) Monthly Budget: $ 16,250.00
GOF Tithes &
Offering Received ( 4 Sundays): $ 14,196.97
General
Operating Fund Weekly Budget: $ 3,750.00
GOF Avg. Weekly
Tithes & Offerings (4 Sundays): $ 3,549.24
Building
Addition Fund Receipts: $ 655.00
For Year
to Date (based on 26 Sundays):
General
Operating Funds (GOF)Year to Date Budget(monthly basis): $
97,500.00
General
Operating Funds (GOF)Year to Date Budget(weekly basis): $ 97,500.00
General
Operating Funds Year to Date Tithes & Offering: $ 93,309.22
GOF Year to
Date Budgeted Disbursements and Transfers to Other Funds: $
(96,842.32)
Other GOF
Non-Budgeted & Board Approved Projects: $ (0.00)
GOF Balance as
of June 30th (74.02
% of monthly budget) $ 12,027.61
Average Weekly
Tithes and Offerings Received: $ 3,588.82
YTD Avg Weekly
GOF Budgeted Disbursements & Transfers: $ (3,7246.94)
Missions
Receipts and 24% of Tithes and Offerings: $ 25,868.83
Missions
Disbursements: $ (24,846.59)
Building
Addition Fund Receipts $ 18,693.43
Building
Addition Kitchen Finances:
Estimated
Building Addition Kitchen Cost: $ 30,000.00
Building
Addition Fund Balance: $ 2,482.44
Additional
Funds Needed to Complete Kitchen: $ 27,517.56