Heart To Heart
By Pastor Richard Wright
Amid the chaos of this world there is beauty that reminds us of God’s love to
us. I was sitting on the front porch of my cabin in Vermont a few weeks ago,
looking out over the hills. The colors were just coming in and they were
beautiful. I can look out my back yard here in Poland or ride around the
district and see God’s wonderful art work everywhere. When I come home late at
night and the sky is clear, or I go for my walk early in the morning before it
is light, I look up at all the stars and I just marvel at God’s creative power.
I pray to God and say, “If You can take care of all that, You can take care of
me.” Psalms 121:1, 2 says, “I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence
cometh my help”. My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth.”
This is a Psalm about God preserving us and meeting our needs. We have so much
for which to be thankful. We can praise God even though the world is in one big
mess. We know that if we place our hand in the hand of God, He will see us
through. Psalm 105:1, 2 says, “Oh give thanks unto the Lord, call upon His name,
make known His deeds among the people. Sing unto Him, sing Psalms unto Him, talk
ye of all His wondrous works.” We will be entering the holiday season soon and
it’s a time when we give more reflection on God’s goodness and His blessings to
us; something we should do every day, year round. May we always be thankful to
God for all He has done for us. Psalm 106:1 says, “Praise ye the Lord, Oh give
thanks unto the Lord; for He is good, His mercy endureth forever.” My wife and I
want to wish you all a happy Thanksgiving, and we thank God for the privilege of
serving you. May God continue to bless you all.
Who Am I?
1. I went to nine different schools but never graduated. I did however receive
my GED.
2. I learned a new sport this summer.
3. I love the feeling of being totally submerged in water (swimming).
4. I like poems.
5. My father regularly dunked at his high school basketball games and my mother
was always there to cheer him on.
Go to www.woodstockchurch.com for the clues to Last Month’s Who Am I!
Last Month’s Answer: Erlon Hadley
Are We Nearing The End?
By Gloria Fleming
Did God reveal to Ellen G. White in 1906, in a dream, what would happen in New
York city on September 11, 2001? is her dream, what do you think?
In the night I was, I thought, in a room but not in my own house. I was in a city, where I knew not, and I heard expression after expression. I rose up quickly in bed, and saw from my window large balls of fire. Jetting out were sparks, in the form of arrows, and buildings were being consumed, and in a very few minutes the entire block of buildings was falling and the screeching and mournful groans came distinctly to my ears. I cried out, in my raised position, to learn what was happening: Where am I? And where are our family circle? Then I awoke. But I could not tell where I was for I was in another place than home. I said, “Oh Lord, where am I and what shall I do?” It was a voice that spoke, "Be not afraid. Nothing shall harm you." I was instructed that destruction hath gone forth upon cities. The word of the Lord will be fulfilled. Isaiah 29: 19-24 was repeated. I dared not move, not knowing where I was. I cried unto the Lord, What does it mean? These representations of destruction were repeated. Where am I? "In scenes I have represented that which will be; but warn My people to cease from putting their trust in men who are not obedient to my warnings and despise My reproof, for the day of the Lord is right upon the world when evidence shall be made sure. Those who have followed the voice that would turn things upside down will themselves be turned where they cannot see, but will be as blind men.” Manuscript Releases" volume 11 page 361 [1906]
Ellen G. White was either used of God or the enemy. God and the enemy are not in partnership!! I believe she was used of God but everyone has to decide for themselves
Note
Adventist Book Center via the Book Mobile
Coming to Woodstock Church, Sunday, November 4th
Book Mobile Location will be Thurlow Hall
Time: 4-4:30 pm
Deadline to Order is October 31st at 5pm
You can contact the Adventist Book Center at 1-800-435-0008
This is a good time to be thinking about good books or music for your family and
friends as we near the holiday season
“Last Day Events by Ellen G. White “is very timely”. Excerpts are included
below.
dead line to order is oct. 31 at 5 pm
Take Courage. Do Not Be Afraid.
By Gloria Fleming
If you would like to read more of what Ellen G White says about the last days, I
recommend you read the book, Last Day Events and also The Great Controversy.
Here are only 3 of the many gems of encouragement from the book, Last Day Events. These have been a great blessing to me during this very trying time!
"The nations are in unrest. Times of perplexity are upon us. Men’s hearts are failing them for fear of the things that are coming upon the earth. But those who believe in God will hear His voice amid the storm, saying, "it is I, Be not afraid." [Mark 6:47] Last Day Events" page 19
The time of trouble, trouble such as was not since there was a nation [Daniel 12:1] is right upon us, and we are like the sleeping virgins. We are to awake and ask the Lord Jesus to place underneath us His everlasting arms, and carry us through the time of trial before us." ibid, page 12
"In the great closing work we shall meet with perplexities that we know not how to deal with, but let us not forget that the three great Powers of Heaven are working, that a divine hand is on the wheel, and that God will bring His purposes to pass."
Quote
Know God, Know Peace. No God, No Peace.
Does This Challenge Look Familiar To You? It Should.
Awhile back, the first newsletter I do believe, I submitted this challenge but
never gave the answer. This is pretty much the same challenge but I will
follow-up with the answers this time. You will also notice that there are 24
books of the bible to find this time. One appears twice. See how many you can
find. Keep in mind that each book name could span several words and disregard
all punctuation and spaces.
I recently made a challenging remark about the hidden books of the Bible in this paragraph. I asked if my friends could find all twenty-four hidden names. They thought this exercise was a lulu - kept them looking seriously for over an hour. Some became frustrated and began to act silly. But my friend Daniel found even the hardest ones quickly, as though they were revelations springing forth from answers - he said he found those after prayer. Yes, there are some really easy ones to spot, but some participants required judges to help them find the last few. Some got into a jam, especially since the names of the books were not capitalized. One got out of his jam, ostensibly by examining all the word gaps. Alms were given by some for assistance, for the truth is that numbers of participants found it to be a tedious and frustrating job. I will quickly admit it usually takes a minister to find one of them - and there will be loud lamentations when it is found. Some people look for the first letter of a book throughout the paragraph, say the letter "j." "Oh, nobody finds that one," we cried when Joel discovered his last and finished first. Jen said she brews an espresso for challenges like this. Can you compete? Relax, I'm sure you'll find all twenty-four books of the Bible in this paragraph. Whether you are from Guatemala, Chicago, Frankfort or Tel Aviv, this word search can be a most fascinating adventure. And biblical too, for NOTHING in the Bible is unimportant!
Favorite Bible Verse and Why
Sara Huston
God’s word is so very precious! Every verse is full of life changing
food. If only we will choose to eat it. I’m so thankful to have that choice. The
Holy Spirit has comforted, inspired hope and reminded me of God’s awesome power
in one of my favorite text in Proverbs.
Proverbs 3:5&6 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not unto your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.
My prayer is that God’s word will continue to challenge and move me to follow Him, and that I will be a part of that faithful team actively waiting and prayerfully watching for our Savior's promised return.
Forestdale School News
A favorite game at Forestdale for several of the children during recess one
Friday morning was to jump into a huge pile of newly raked leaves. As the
beautiful days of autumn arrive, lots of activity is seen inside and outside the
"Little Red Schoolhouse in the Valley."
All classes are practicing and receiving their scores and times for the Presidents Physical Fitness Program. This program progresses throughout the year as the students strengthen their skills and abilities. The final testing will take place at the end of the year. The addition of new playground equipment has enabled the students to work on upper body strength and we have seen tremendous gains in this area with many of the students.
Our Bible Labs Coordinators, Jim and Goldie Mason, have begun their program. This includes weekly activities throughout the year. They began their list of outreach projects by presenting a special chapel to the children. It is their goal to help the children at Forestdale show neighbors, family, and friends the love of Jesus by doing for others. Jim and Goldie encourage the Forestdale students by showing a special love for them and reminding them how special each one is. Watch for announcements and reports of Forestdale Bible Labs Projects.
November looks like it will be a busy month. The Northern New England Department of Education will arrive with a team within the next two months to evaluate Forestdale School. These evaluations are very extensive and include the areas of school philosophy, library resources, curriculum, physical plant, and finances. The process has already begun as different committees have met to tally present resources and form recommendations for improvements to the school program.
We ask you to stop by the school and catch some of the excitement as our young people participate in their many school activities. We have such a special group. Smiles are plentiful and even wide grins are frequent. Enthusiasm is ever present.
Thankful for all,
Linda Wiggin, Forestdale Staff Reporter
Note
May we continue to pray for the families of all those who perished on
September 11, 2001
PINE TREE CENTER FOR THE ARTS PRESENTS
Vegetarian Holiday Tasting Extravaganza
If you don’t eat meat, what’s left?
Everything else!!!
Date: Sunday, November 11, 2001
Time: Noon to 2:00 pm (Come and Go)
Location: On the campus of Pine Tree Academy
Cost: $6.00 adult, $3.00 child (ages 6-10), Free for children 5 and under
For More Information:
207-865-3665—Pine Tree Center for the Arts, Doris Krueger
207-865-4747—Pine Tree Academy, Nancy Robinson
In The Woodstock Area: Tickets may be obtained from:
Gloria Fleming (675-2570),
322 Perkins Valley Road, Bryant Pond, ME 04219
Features Will Include…..
*Over 30 vegetarian creations to taste
*Door prizes
*Holiday garnishing ideas
*Recipes available
*Physicians will be on hand for informal questions
*Musical selections presented for your enjoyment
*Seasonal table displays
*Fun, festive food—The Vegetarian Way!
Send your registration in today! Advance ticket purchase required. (Ticket Order Deadline: Wednesday, November 7th)
Pine Tree Center for the Arts
67 Pownal Rd.
Freeport, ME 04032
The Christian Sabbath?
By Lyle Wiggin
Question: Do we really know why God asks us to keep the Sabbath day
holy? What was God's purpose in giving mankind the Sabbath? Is it because He
created the earth in six days and rested on the seventh day? Does the Sabbath
have meaning for the Christian? All Scripture given below is from the New King
James version.
God's Creation?
Genesis 2: 1Thus the heavens and the earth, and all the host of them, were
finished. 2 And on the seventh day God ended His work which He had done, and He
rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done. 3Then God blessed
the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work
which God had created and made.
Exodus 20: 8"Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. 11For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it.
Exodus 31: 16Therefore the children of Israel shall keep the Sabbath, to observe the Sabbath throughout their generations as a perpetual covenant. 17 It is a sign between Me and the children of Israel forever; for in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, and on the seventh day He rested and was refreshed.
God's Salvation?
Deuteronomy 5: 12Observe the Sabbath day, to keep it holy, as the LORD your God
commanded you. 15 And remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and
the LORD your God brought you out from there by a mighty hand and by an
outstretched arm; therefore the LORD your God commanded you to keep the Sabbath
day.
God's Sanctification?
Exodus 31: 12And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 13"Speak also to the children
of Israel, saying: 'Surely My Sabbaths you shall keep, for it is a sign between
Me and you throughout your generations, that you may know that I am the LORD who
sanctifies you. “
Ezekiel 20: 12 Moreover I also gave them My Sabbaths, to be a sign between them and Me, that they might know that I am the LORD who sanctifies them.
Question: Has God forgotten, over the years, the reason for giving man the Sabbath? The answer lies, not in which Biblical reference is correct, but in what all these references together tell us. Ellen G. White explains as follows:
"Since He made all things, He made the Sabbath. By Him it was set apart as a memorial of the work of creation. It points to Him as both the Creator and the Sanctifier. It declares that He who created all things in heaven and in earth, and by whom all things hold together, is the head of the church, and that by His power we are reconciled to God. For, speaking of Israel, He said, "I gave them My Sabbaths, to be a sign between Me and them, that they might know that I am the Lord that sanctify them,"--make them holy. Ezek. 20:12. Then the Sabbath is a sign of Christ's power to make us holy. And it is given to all whom Christ makes holy. As a sign of His sanctifying power, the Sabbath is given to all who through Christ become a part of the Israel of God. "To all who receive the Sabbath as a sign of Christ's creative and redeeming power, it will be a delight. Seeing Christ in it, they delight themselves in Him. The Sabbath points them to the works of creation as an evidence of His mighty power in redemption. While it calls to mind the lost peace of Eden, it tells of peace restored through the Saviour." {Desire of Ages pp. 288-9}
(Continued on page 7)
(Continued from page 6)
Comment: From this we see that the Sabbath was given to mankind as a reminder,
not only of God's power to create, but to save and restore man to the image of
His character. It is a weekly reminder a God who has the power to create and
sustain man also has the power to regenerate man in the "New Birth" experience.
For this reason, the seventh day Sabbath is indeed a Christian Sabbath. When we
read the following promises God made to Ezekiel, the Sabbath was a reminder that
He has the power to accomplish what He has promised
Ezekiel 11:19-20 Then I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within them, and take the stony heart out of their flesh, and give them a heart of flesh, 20 that they may walk in My statutes and keep My judgments and do them; and they shall be My people, and I will be their God.
Ezekiel 36:25-27 Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean; I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols. 26 I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. 27 I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them.
It is a weekly reminder that when we plead, as did David, our prayers will not be in vain.
Psalm 51:10 Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me.
PLEASE MAKE THE FOLLOWING CHANGES TO YOUR CHURCH DIRECTORY
Add
Pipken (Verrill), Kyle 813 South Main St., Bryant Pond, ME 04219
Delete
Connell, Mary Jane
DePaula, Marcia
McCall, Christine
Silver, Zilla
Change
Glover, Frank (Add Jr.)
Glover, Frank Jr. (Change to III)
Hammond, Erlon—743-2766 595 Buckfield Rd., South Paris, ME 04281
Martinson, Lars & Dagney—209 Bethel Road, West Paris, ME 04289
Sica, Anna, Bradley & Bradley Jr.—81 Staples Hill Rd., Canton, ME 04221
Wheeler, Marilyn—PO Box 1215
In My Humble Opinion
Thoughts Expressed By Lamplighter Editor, Christie Hodson
As media coverage continues to saturate us with graphic images of New York City
and Washington D.C., I can’t help but think, when will it stop? How much can we
take? It’s as though we’re reliving things over and over again. I often think
that if another horrific terrorist attack were to take place once again on
American soil, will we be strong enough to handle it or will our emotional,
physical, and spiritual lives be so sapped of all the energy we originally
possessed? Fear has paralyzed some to the point that they don’t want to leave
their homes, others aren’t sleeping well. Media has saturated our minds so
copiously it’s often hard to think of much else. Having been raised in a
peaceful world, I’ve almost become immune to disruption and chaos. I lived the
Maine motto of “The Way Life Should Be.” Yet as Pearl Harbor was to older
generations, so the terrorist attack is to this present generation. An
incredible reality check. Idealism is certainly more fun and exciting, but
realism is more honest and revealing. Realism has a way of thickening our skin,
developing our character and strengthening our resolve. The reality of this
situation has left many of us feeling vulnerable. We’ve claimed to serve an
almighty God but our lives have depended on the security of ourselves and
others. We worship and acknowledge the authority of God as our Savior and our
Creator, but in times of chaos and crisis choose fear rather than faith, revenge
rather than forgiveness, hate rather than love. We cannot know what our future
holds. We cannot even measure our lives or control for the most part what
circumstances may enter them but we can choose to lay all our burdens, vent all
our fears, give all our worries to the Lord God, who created us. Just as we
would return a piece of equipment to its creator to be fixed, so we must give
our broken bodies over to the One who handcrafted each one of us with His own
hands. If we so acknowledge His sovereignty we MUST in turn trust that same
authority in times such as this. God is God. He knows the beginning from the
end. As Christians we’ve given Christ the reins in our lives. We must not ask
for them back in the first crisis that comes our way(Proverbs 3:5). God had an
angel in heaven named Lucifer that wanted to undermine the authority of his
creator. Heaven was a place of peace, true justice and love, but Lucifer
introduced jealousy, deceit and disrespect. Christ had to ask him to leave. Do
we want a heaven of love and peace or a place, such as earth, which has become
Satan’s playground of lies, fear and hate. The choice is ours. Which leader will
we choose when the going gets tough? In choosing will we give them our ultimate
respect and trust. For myself, I plan for my leader to be God who has been
straight forward with me from the beginning. For those things that still don’t
make sense to me, He’s told me He would tell me when it’s necessary (Jeremiah
29:12-13, Deut. 29:29). I know God is providing a place of complete peace, unity
and love (John 14:1-3). Where death will be no more. Where tears will cease to
exist (Revelation 21:3&4). Where the pain of hate would not dare to enter. I
pray we lean not on our own understanding for it is flawed but rather lean on
the faith of our Creator who knows His creations to the greatest detail. Whose
perfection covers any flaws making us blameless in His sight. May we honor Him
by using that special privilege given to us at the beginning of time called
“choice”. May we choose to follow our God who has promised a place where the
motto would forever be, “The Way Life Should Be.” Let God be God this day and
beyond. Trust in Him. Choose to give Him the reins in your life, knowing He has
already overcome the world (John 16:33). Choose peace rather than chaos, love
rather than hate, life rather than death. That true eternal life can only be
found in Christ Jesus. (John 14:6) I look forward to the day when this will all
make sense. When I’ll truly understand WHY. I imagine these feelings are not
mine alone. If they are yours, hold on. Time separates us from these answers and
from that eternal peace. Yet in our impatience may we not throw out our source
for this information. May we not ignore the Saviour of this world choosing
rather to battle the devil alone. If you choose God, let Him be just that. Trust
in Him. Don’t let fear stifle your faith in the supremacy and authority of God.
Just follow His lead and enjoy the ride of eternal peace, happiness and love
that will come at the end of our journey here on earth. I pray we all will let
God be God.
God Is God
by Steven Curtis Chapman
And the pain falls like a curtain On the things I once called certain And
I have to say the words I fear the most I just don’t know And the questions
without answers Come and paralyze the dancer So I stand here on the stage
afraid to move Afraid to fall, oh, but fall I must On this truth that my
life has been formed from the dust God is God and I am not I can only see
a part of the picture He’s painting God is God and I am man So I’ll never
understand it all For only God is God And the sky begins to thunder
And I’m filled with awe and wonder ‘Til the only burning question that
remains Is who am I Can I form a single mountain Take the stars in hand
and count them Can I even take a breath without God giving it to me He is
first and last before all that has been Beyond all that will pass Oh, how
great are the riches of His wisdom and knowledge How unsearchable for to Him
and through Him and from Him are all things So let us worship before the
throne Of the One who is worthy of worship alone
NOTICE NEW ADDRESS
Our New Home On The Web
www.woodstockchurch.com
Fear & Faith
Fear Imprisons - Faith Frees
Fear Troubles - Faith Triumphs
Fear Covers - Faith Empowers
Fear Disheartens - Faith Encourages
Fear Darkens - Faith Brightens
Fear Cripples - Faith Heals
Fear puts hopelessness at the center of life - Faith puts fear at the feet of
God
May you find peace this day in the Faith of the Almighty God
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