For many people, the passing of an old year, and preparing for a New Year is like passing a milestone on the highway of life. This becomes the time of “pre-planning” your life. Which projects should we take on? What hazards exist? How can I escape my old, worn out problems and turn them into projects? How can I be different? In the Scriptures, Ephesians 4:22-24 provides essential help for pre-planning your New Year. I want to encourage you to listen to the audio file here:

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Success in This New Year

This Sunday morning at 9:30 a.m., Pastor Dickson will deliver a message from John 15:7-8 to show you how to have success in 2009. The message will concentrate on the way believers should use the Word of God. So many passages in Scripture show us how to experience God-given success. In this new year, we are placing a challenge before the entire congregation: memorize Ephesians 4 and 5 over the next 52 weeks.

Over the last year, we have worked through Ephesians 1 through 3 in the morning messages. As we begin the “practical section” of Ephesians, we want to encourage you to hide these words in your heart. In so doing, you will learn how to feast on the meaning of God’s Word.

11 a.m. Brunch

Please bring a casserole or salad, enough for your family plus two more people. Beverages will be provided.

12 Noon Second Service

At noon, we will reconvene in the church auditorium for a blessed new year celebration together. Our Laotian members will be joining us for this service which will include both baptism and the Lord’s Supper, as well as the singing of Christmas hymns. This will be our last service of the day.

Peace? Joy? Harmony?

It’s the Christmas season, right? So how do you handle the hostility that some will face over the holidays? In fact, where does this cursed hostility come from anyway?

We live between two gardens: the garden of enmity and the garden of eternity. And we will have to wrestle with this for the rest of our days. But over the holidays? Sure. For some, it’s a forced family reunion. Or revisiting old, painful relationships. Or trying to satisfy someone who simply cannot be placated. How should you respond when “Mr. Potshot vents his spleen?”

Ephesians 4:1-3 confirms the Christian’s calling for the holidays: humility, gentleness and patience.

Just a few verses later, in Ephesians 4:22-24, you will discover Three Steps to Permanent Change. If you find that you are getting sinfully angry, it is not enough merely to stop the anger. There are two more steps to spiritual success. If you would like to learn more, listen to Three Steps to Personal Change at this link.

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The Winter Rose

This Sunday, December 21, 6 p.m.

Candlelight Christmas Eve Service

Wednesday, December 24 at 6 p.m.

From Dominica to Venezuela, Martinique to Trinidad, and St. Lucia to Tobago, the Christian radio ministry of Harbour Light of the Windwards ministry reaches listeners all over the southern Caribbean and in South America. We are glad to be supporters of John and Karen McPherson who labor at the Harbour Light. Our radio program, Glimpses of Calvary, airs twice daily on Harbour Light radio.

In recent years, our mission teams have worked on the mission house, erected a new tower, and refurbished the transmitter building at the Harbour Light. If you would like to listen to the Harbour Light radio online, you may do so by clicking here.

The Harbour Light of the Windwards is planning a special week of broadcasts. That Christmas week schedule is available here.

On Sunday evening, December 14, we enjoyed a great mission report about the Cambodia medical missions trip. We would like to thank Will Long, Rick Meadors and Lane Ward for their excellent work!

As team reported, Operation Renewed Hope is beginning to plan a return trip to Cambodia, probably for 2010. This trip will take them near the border with Laos.

If you would like to hear an audio interview with Rev. Jan Milton, please click here and click the radio icon.

Operation Renewed Hope is beginning to plan a trip to Peru for May, 2009. For more details about this trip, please click the icon below.

In this coming new year, we would like to help you build a personal plan for success. God’s plan is for each believer to enjoy a rich, fruitful life  — and this is the mark of a true disciple.

But what will be necessary to bear such fruit?

John 15:7-8 holds the answer for us. Abiding in the Lord (continual prayer) and retaining Scripture (memorizing, meditating on the Lord in the Word) are the essential steps. This brings honor to God the Father and makes us into fruit bearing disciples.

Sunday, December 28

On Sunday, December 28, I will be delivering a special message from this passage as well as Psalm 1 and Joshua 1:8. In each of the teen and adult Sunday School classes, we now have leaders to help you to carry through on the steps of John 15:7-8.  Our goal is to memorize Ephesians chapters 4 and 5 during 2009.

We have laid the groundwork to understand these verses with the series of messages from Ephesians chapters one through three. Now, it is time for us to “walk” in an appropriate manner – fruit for the Lord’s glory. “I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;” (Ephesians 4:1-2)

Will Long just called from Detroit. They have all arrived safe and sound! We are looking forward to their report on Sunday evening. Will says that they have many stories to tell, so make your plans to be there.

Operation Renewed Hope has already begun to discuss another trip to the northern end of the Mekong (near Laos) in 2010. Are you ready to sign up?

Two scenes from the life of King David, recorded in 2 Samuel 7 and 2 Samuel 11, portray a remarkable contrast in the life of one man.

This study in contrasts can help you understand how to use your time wisely. In one scene, we find Israel’s king earnestly desiring to honor God — and making a remarkable recommendation for which he would receive God’s everlasting covenant. But four chapters later, we find this man whose very heartbeat was for the Lord giving himself over to the “heartbeast” of lust.

God has given us His Words so that we may pre-plan our obedience to Him. Listen to this message about the wise use of time and plan for the holiday ahead. [display_podcast]