If anyoneone would like to help send Ronisha and Jonathan Christie to Florida College summer camp see either Karen Turner or Amanda Drum.
Thanks!
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Monday, March 29, 2010
Two Responses to Sin
John the Baptist preached a message that attracted multitudes of people. Most of his work was done in wilderness areas but his message was so profound that people would leave their cities to hear him.
What was so special about John’s message? Certainly he preached about the coming of Jesus and his kingdom but he also preached about sin, not just sin generically, but the actual sinful practices of the people. Luke records that he preached about extortion and violence, false accusations and discontent with wages.
John did something else that was huge… he identified persons who were living in sin. Not just any person… he accused King Herod of sin. That’s a practice that no Pharisee in his right mind would engage in. John accused King Herod of violating Leviticus 20:21, he had married his brother Philip’s wife while Philip was still alive.
What happens when you publicly accuse someone of sin? Mark 6:14-29 records two different responses to that accusation.
Herodias, King Herod’s wife, responded by trying to have John killed. She was not sorry for her sin and she did not want it publicized. She tried to have John killed while he was in prison but she “could not” (Mark 6:19). Eventually she trapped Herod into beheading John.
Herod had a different response. When John’s accusation was made Herod, “heard him, was much perplexed; and he heard him gladly”. In addition, he “feared John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man” (Mark 6:20).
Herod was accused with sin and even though his immediate response was not repentance, he was listening and considering the charge because of his respect for John. Herod imprisoned John because of his wife’s fury but resisted killing him. After Herod was tricked into beheading John, he was “exceeding sorry” for doing it.
When Herod heard about Jesus’ preaching and mighty works he was convinced John had risen from the dead. Herod believed in the resurrection. I don’t know if Herod was relieved that the man he killed was alive again or if he was afraid… maybe both.
There are two responses in this text to the charge of sin; Herodias wanted to silence the accuser and cause him harm while Herod listened to the charge and considered it.
The one who identifies misconduct in our lives is not our enemy… he is our friend. We should always listen to the one who is brave enough to help us clean up our lives.
John the Baptist was a great preacher for many reasons, one of which was that he cared enough about people that he wanted to help them be right with God. We should be willing to travel even to a wilderness to hear that.
What was so special about John’s message? Certainly he preached about the coming of Jesus and his kingdom but he also preached about sin, not just sin generically, but the actual sinful practices of the people. Luke records that he preached about extortion and violence, false accusations and discontent with wages.
John did something else that was huge… he identified persons who were living in sin. Not just any person… he accused King Herod of sin. That’s a practice that no Pharisee in his right mind would engage in. John accused King Herod of violating Leviticus 20:21, he had married his brother Philip’s wife while Philip was still alive.
What happens when you publicly accuse someone of sin? Mark 6:14-29 records two different responses to that accusation.
Herodias, King Herod’s wife, responded by trying to have John killed. She was not sorry for her sin and she did not want it publicized. She tried to have John killed while he was in prison but she “could not” (Mark 6:19). Eventually she trapped Herod into beheading John.
Herod had a different response. When John’s accusation was made Herod, “heard him, was much perplexed; and he heard him gladly”. In addition, he “feared John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man” (Mark 6:20).
Herod was accused with sin and even though his immediate response was not repentance, he was listening and considering the charge because of his respect for John. Herod imprisoned John because of his wife’s fury but resisted killing him. After Herod was tricked into beheading John, he was “exceeding sorry” for doing it.
When Herod heard about Jesus’ preaching and mighty works he was convinced John had risen from the dead. Herod believed in the resurrection. I don’t know if Herod was relieved that the man he killed was alive again or if he was afraid… maybe both.
There are two responses in this text to the charge of sin; Herodias wanted to silence the accuser and cause him harm while Herod listened to the charge and considered it.
The one who identifies misconduct in our lives is not our enemy… he is our friend. We should always listen to the one who is brave enough to help us clean up our lives.
John the Baptist was a great preacher for many reasons, one of which was that he cared enough about people that he wanted to help them be right with God. We should be willing to travel even to a wilderness to hear that.
Sunday, March 28, 2010
Know Your New Parkway Members
Jack has been attending for sometime and has already been working with Don, Doc and RD at the building. Jack works for Nutraceutical Solutions Inc.
Jack E. Tichacek,jr.
4326 Biltmore
Corpus Christi,Texas 78413
tys1pp@yahoo.com
Monday, March 22, 2010
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Church News
Raul Christie has gone back to the islands to find work. Michelle and the kids will be moving in the next week or two to a new apartment. She will need some help with Raul being gone.
Why Moses?
Why did God choose Moses to deliver his people out of Egypt?
1. Moses thwarted Pharaoh in three important areas.
- As a baby he survived Pharaoh’s edict that all male Hebrew children be killed.
- He escaped indoctrination in Egyptian culture.
- As a 40 year old man he escaped Pharaoh’s effort to kill him.
2. God uses people of humble origins to defeat the mighty.
Until Moses was 40 years old he was raised and trained as an Egyptian. He was raised as the grandson of Pharaoh himself. The scriptures say Moses was a “man of power in words and deeds” Acts 7:22.
After he fled Egypt he became a shepherd in a far off land for 40 years. At 80 years of age, when God called him to return to Egypt, he was no longer a man of “power in words and deeds”, but as he describes himself, “slow of speech and slow of tongue” Ex. 4:10. He is an 80 year old shepherd better suited to talk to sheep than to address Pharaoh the King of Egypt face to face.
3. God uses rejects to defeat the mighty.
Moses prophesied that God would “raise up for you a prophet like me from your brethren”. That prophet would be Jesus Christ. So how was Jesus like Moses? He was rejected. The people rejected Moses at least twice, when the two quarreling Hebrews asked “Who made you to be a ruler and a judge?” Acts 7:35 and in the wilderness when they rejected Moses and wanted to return to Egypt, Acts 7:39.
Moses was the perfect man for God to use to deliver his people out of Egypt. From the time he was a baby he and his family thwarted Pharaoh. Although he once was a man of power he suffered rejection and was taught humility as a shepherd in the land of Midian. And finally, his life and experiences were used to teach Israel about the coming Messiah… Jesus Christ.
1. Moses thwarted Pharaoh in three important areas.
- As a baby he survived Pharaoh’s edict that all male Hebrew children be killed.
- He escaped indoctrination in Egyptian culture.
- As a 40 year old man he escaped Pharaoh’s effort to kill him.
2. God uses people of humble origins to defeat the mighty.
Until Moses was 40 years old he was raised and trained as an Egyptian. He was raised as the grandson of Pharaoh himself. The scriptures say Moses was a “man of power in words and deeds” Acts 7:22.
After he fled Egypt he became a shepherd in a far off land for 40 years. At 80 years of age, when God called him to return to Egypt, he was no longer a man of “power in words and deeds”, but as he describes himself, “slow of speech and slow of tongue” Ex. 4:10. He is an 80 year old shepherd better suited to talk to sheep than to address Pharaoh the King of Egypt face to face.
3. God uses rejects to defeat the mighty.
Moses prophesied that God would “raise up for you a prophet like me from your brethren”. That prophet would be Jesus Christ. So how was Jesus like Moses? He was rejected. The people rejected Moses at least twice, when the two quarreling Hebrews asked “Who made you to be a ruler and a judge?” Acts 7:35 and in the wilderness when they rejected Moses and wanted to return to Egypt, Acts 7:39.
Moses was the perfect man for God to use to deliver his people out of Egypt. From the time he was a baby he and his family thwarted Pharaoh. Although he once was a man of power he suffered rejection and was taught humility as a shepherd in the land of Midian. And finally, his life and experiences were used to teach Israel about the coming Messiah… Jesus Christ.
Sunday, March 14, 2010
Find The Feeling
Here is a letter that the congregation received from the Neubauer family…
It’s good to get a letter like this. It feels good and on some level it validates what we are trying to do at Parkway, but to be honest probably not everyone who attends Parkway feels the same. For me, I want everyone to feel about the congregation just like the Neubauers feel. So how do we get there? How do we find that feeling?
I’m going to let you-all figure that out. The answer is out there. You can have a great experience at Parkway. Use the Neubauers as an example.
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
This has been a very difficult letter for us to write. Although we spent a relatively short period of time in Corpus Christi, we quickly formed some very deep relationships and bonds. We certainly left family behind when we moved away. It would not be possible to ask for a better group of Christians to be associated with than those who worship at Parkway. The Christians at Parkway set a high standard of love for one to emulate. You have been and are a precious and unique gift to us. We thank you for the kindness and love that you showed our family. We hope to visit you from time to time and want you to know that our door is always open for any of you traveling west. We think of you and miss you daily.
Love,
The Neubauers
It’s good to get a letter like this. It feels good and on some level it validates what we are trying to do at Parkway, but to be honest probably not everyone who attends Parkway feels the same. For me, I want everyone to feel about the congregation just like the Neubauers feel. So how do we get there? How do we find that feeling?
I’m going to let you-all figure that out. The answer is out there. You can have a great experience at Parkway. Use the Neubauers as an example.
Friday, March 12, 2010
Church News
As most of you know the consensus was to have earlier services on Wednesday nights. So now we meet at 7 pm instead of 7:30 pm.
We no longer have an adult class in the auditorium on Sunday am and Wednesday pm. This is an experiment for us and does not mean that we will never have an adult auditorium class.
Here are our adult classes on Sunday am and Wednesday pm for the new quarter.
Messianic Prophecies (David Smitherman) in the large classroom.
Proverbs (Rob Perkins). Sunday morning only. Adult 2
Mark (Joey Vaughan). Wednesday night only. Adult 2.
Sunday night auditorium class – Old Testament Survey (Various speakers)
Sunday night (David Smitherman) Large classroom "Controversial Topics"
We no longer have an adult class in the auditorium on Sunday am and Wednesday pm. This is an experiment for us and does not mean that we will never have an adult auditorium class.
Here are our adult classes on Sunday am and Wednesday pm for the new quarter.
Messianic Prophecies (David Smitherman) in the large classroom.
Proverbs (Rob Perkins). Sunday morning only. Adult 2
Mark (Joey Vaughan). Wednesday night only. Adult 2.
Sunday night auditorium class – Old Testament Survey (Various speakers)
Sunday night (David Smitherman) Large classroom "Controversial Topics"
Sunday, March 7, 2010
Jairus' Daughter
There is a concept in the medical world called “triage”. In emergency rooms it’s not “first come first serve” doctors give priority to those who are the most critical.
Jesus did not practice triage when he healed the sick. Sometimes the critically ill waited while Jesus healed someone not as critical.
Consider, Mark 5:22-43 which records the accounts of Jesus bringing a 12 year old girl back to life and the healing of a woman who had a bleeding disorder for 12 years.
Jairus is the ruler of the synagogue, he’s an important guy. He comes to Jesus and states, “My little daughter is at the point of death: I pray thee, that thou come and lay thy hands on her that she may be made whole and live”.
I imagine he had run, not walked, to Jesus in great fear of losing his 12 year old daughter. I imagine his feelings were more like this, “Please Jesus my precious little girl is about to die… I love her. Help me please help me. Hurry we need to get going so you can save her.”
So, Jesus and the surrounding crowd start following Jairus back to his home. Along the way, with the crowd pressing in on him, Jesus stops and turns around and faces the crowd and states, “Who touched me?” The disciples are incredulous and state, “the crowd is pressing on us and you ask who touched me?”
And then unfolds the story of the woman with the chronic bleeding disorder and Jesus’ healing of her. In the meantime Jairus’ daughter dies.
Jairus is identified several times in this text as being “the ruler of the synagogue”. That’s not by accident. Jairus was a very important person. I’m sure the disciples realized how important the healing of “the ruler of the synagogues” daughter would be to Jesus’ ministry. That has to be part of the reason the disciples were distraught at the delay caused by Jesus stopping to heal the woman with the bleeding disorder.
Jairus had been afraid that he would lose his daughter. When the report of her death comes he is no longer afraid… he is sorrowful, and yet Jesus tells him to “fear not… only believe” and continues the walk to Jairus’ home and proceeds to bring Jairus’ daughter back to life.
An important concept is taught here, Jesus can not only heal… he can bring the dead back to life. Triage may be important for doctors but when you can bring the dead back to life… it’s not that important. The scriptures say that the “ruler of the synagogue” was amazed with great amazement. I guess so.
Jesus did not practice triage when he healed the sick. Sometimes the critically ill waited while Jesus healed someone not as critical.
Consider, Mark 5:22-43 which records the accounts of Jesus bringing a 12 year old girl back to life and the healing of a woman who had a bleeding disorder for 12 years.
Jairus is the ruler of the synagogue, he’s an important guy. He comes to Jesus and states, “My little daughter is at the point of death: I pray thee, that thou come and lay thy hands on her that she may be made whole and live”.
I imagine he had run, not walked, to Jesus in great fear of losing his 12 year old daughter. I imagine his feelings were more like this, “Please Jesus my precious little girl is about to die… I love her. Help me please help me. Hurry we need to get going so you can save her.”
So, Jesus and the surrounding crowd start following Jairus back to his home. Along the way, with the crowd pressing in on him, Jesus stops and turns around and faces the crowd and states, “Who touched me?” The disciples are incredulous and state, “the crowd is pressing on us and you ask who touched me?”
And then unfolds the story of the woman with the chronic bleeding disorder and Jesus’ healing of her. In the meantime Jairus’ daughter dies.
Jairus is identified several times in this text as being “the ruler of the synagogue”. That’s not by accident. Jairus was a very important person. I’m sure the disciples realized how important the healing of “the ruler of the synagogues” daughter would be to Jesus’ ministry. That has to be part of the reason the disciples were distraught at the delay caused by Jesus stopping to heal the woman with the bleeding disorder.
Jairus had been afraid that he would lose his daughter. When the report of her death comes he is no longer afraid… he is sorrowful, and yet Jesus tells him to “fear not… only believe” and continues the walk to Jairus’ home and proceeds to bring Jairus’ daughter back to life.
An important concept is taught here, Jesus can not only heal… he can bring the dead back to life. Triage may be important for doctors but when you can bring the dead back to life… it’s not that important. The scriptures say that the “ruler of the synagogue” was amazed with great amazement. I guess so.
Friday, March 5, 2010
Updated Prayer List
Prayer List – members
Jeff Carr (traveling and working in Romania)
Hickman Family (loss of Gertrude Hickman)
Vivian Meeker (loss of son-in-law Darrell Whiteley)
Emily Franks (recovering from ear surgery)
John Davila (traveling for job, 2 weeks)
Janet Bickle (loss of Bob)
Lois Gilliam (loss of Dave)
Vivian Meeker (Macular degeneration)
Virginia Lawler
Jean Cave (complications with pacemaker)
Syble Peterson (severe arthritis)
Becky Garcia (Her mom, Cyndi, requests prayers)
Dan Graf (Sarcoidosis)
Dwayne Murphy (Pemphigus vulgaris)
Liz Graf
Family and Friends
Donna Morgan's mother in Oklahoma (heart problems)
Don David (Courtney's father - back surgery)
Neubauer Family (loss of Eric's father
Geviene Roberts (Rob’s mother, intestinal surgery & complications)
Mildred Saunders (Jennifer Nuckels
Maggie Perez’s brother, George Cruz (hospitalized) and her mother, Serafina Cruz (Dementia)
Gennie Washington ( Bonnie Davis’ sister battling cancer and recovering from gall bladder surgery.
Craig Clanton (friend of the Perkins, chemo for pre-leukemia)
Darrell Hymel (work in China)
Jim Vaughan (Joey Vaughan’ father – aortic aneurism)
Eric Flindt (friend of Diana Shaw – loss of mother)
Lori Carson (Donna Morgan’s niece, breast cancer)
Raul Torres' mother and sister - cancer
Randall Chisamore (Graf friend - fell from a three story balcony. Massive injuries)
Serenity & Michaela (Arlie’s grand daughters – family problems)
Scott Perkins (ask God to help him find his faith)
D.L. Hutchins (spiritual - illness)
Elizabeth Robles (Her mom, Priscilla Guel, asks prayers for spiritual weakness)
Mike Garcia (Lucas requests prayers for his dad - spiritual illness)
Tim and Ben Bueno (Patsy requests prayers for her sons - spiritual illness)
Manuel Perez Jr. (parents ask for prayer - spiritual illness)
Ardelle Sumter (Arlie Cooksey's mom, dementia)
Valerie Yates (George Stan's friend - cancer)
Nelda Davila's mother (Alzheimer's)
Elna Walker (Donna Morgan's mother - Congestive Heart Failure)
Gene Mabry (Amy Torno's dad - liver transplant candidate)
Cyndi Garcia's dad (breathing problems)
George Stan (Julie's cousin)
Ofelia Guzman
Nora Phillips (Cindy Graf's mom at home on oxygen)
Jeff Carr (traveling and working in Romania)
Hickman Family (loss of Gertrude Hickman)
Vivian Meeker (loss of son-in-law Darrell Whiteley)
Emily Franks (recovering from ear surgery)
John Davila (traveling for job, 2 weeks)
Janet Bickle (loss of Bob)
Lois Gilliam (loss of Dave)
Vivian Meeker (Macular degeneration)
Virginia Lawler
Jean Cave (complications with pacemaker)
Syble Peterson (severe arthritis)
Becky Garcia (Her mom, Cyndi, requests prayers)
Dan Graf (Sarcoidosis)
Dwayne Murphy (Pemphigus vulgaris)
Liz Graf
Family and Friends
Donna Morgan's mother in Oklahoma (heart problems)
Don David (Courtney's father - back surgery)
Neubauer Family (loss of Eric's father
Geviene Roberts (Rob’s mother, intestinal surgery & complications)
Mildred Saunders (Jennifer Nuckels
Maggie Perez’s brother, George Cruz (hospitalized) and her mother, Serafina Cruz (Dementia)
Gennie Washington ( Bonnie Davis’ sister battling cancer and recovering from gall bladder surgery.
Craig Clanton (friend of the Perkins, chemo for pre-leukemia)
Darrell Hymel (work in China)
Jim Vaughan (Joey Vaughan’ father – aortic aneurism)
Eric Flindt (friend of Diana Shaw – loss of mother)
Lori Carson (Donna Morgan’s niece, breast cancer)
Raul Torres' mother and sister - cancer
Randall Chisamore (Graf friend - fell from a three story balcony. Massive injuries)
Serenity & Michaela (Arlie’s grand daughters – family problems)
Scott Perkins (ask God to help him find his faith)
D.L. Hutchins (spiritual - illness)
Elizabeth Robles (Her mom, Priscilla Guel, asks prayers for spiritual weakness)
Mike Garcia (Lucas requests prayers for his dad - spiritual illness)
Tim and Ben Bueno (Patsy requests prayers for her sons - spiritual illness)
Manuel Perez Jr. (parents ask for prayer - spiritual illness)
Ardelle Sumter (Arlie Cooksey's mom, dementia)
Valerie Yates (George Stan's friend - cancer)
Nelda Davila's mother (Alzheimer's)
Elna Walker (Donna Morgan's mother - Congestive Heart Failure)
Gene Mabry (Amy Torno's dad - liver transplant candidate)
Cyndi Garcia's dad (breathing problems)
George Stan (Julie's cousin)
Ofelia Guzman
Nora Phillips (Cindy Graf's mom at home on oxygen)
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
A Few Notes
Jeff Carr will be in Romania for the next month. We also found out he and Jana are expecting.
David Smitherman will be teaching the Wednesday morning Ladies Bible Class.
We’re considering changing our Wednesday night service time from 7:30 pm to 7:00 pm. We need your input.
In the upcoming quarter we will not be having an adult auditorium class. We'll have David's class and my class in the classroom building.
From Sandra Case…
My sister's father-in-law, Jim Howry in his 80's, a retired home builder, survived his triple bypass procedure this afternoon. Thank you for your prayers, and please continue to pray for his recovery.
If you haven't heard of Dr. Tavares, make a note for future reference. Corpus Christi residents are so blessed to have this talented, super fast surgeon. Some say that he is one of the top five in the nation;
Glenn Madden knows him well.
From Jennifer Nuckles…
Thank you all for all your prayers and concern for our family. It has been a crazy/unbelievable weekend!
The Dr's advised us to remove Mimmie's ventator and feeding tube in accordance to her wishes. This was a very hard decision of course, but the family decided based on the Dr's advise that she was just not getting better and not breathing on her own, once the vent is removed she would have at max 5 hours before she just couldnt breathe anymore and would pass away. Well 5 hours came and went, 10 hours came and went, about midnight she just WOKE UP! She is talking and wanting to get out of there. She is breathing completely 100% on her own!!! We just keep praying for God's will to be done and guess this was just not her time. She still has a long road of recovering ahead because of the major surgery and having had 17 feet of small intestine removed and a little infection they are still trying to get under control. She is eating (albeit mushed food)!
I can not thank yall enough for your prayers for us. This has been an emotional rollercoaster for the last two weeks and like I said, we arent in the clear yet.
On a less important note - we FINALLY closed on our house Friday morning and are working on getting unpacked and situated. AND LANDON IS 6 months old as of yesterday! Wow how time flies.
From Rob...
My mother, Geviene Perkins Roberts, is recovering from her surgery. Thanks for your prayers.
David Smitherman will be teaching the Wednesday morning Ladies Bible Class.
We’re considering changing our Wednesday night service time from 7:30 pm to 7:00 pm. We need your input.
In the upcoming quarter we will not be having an adult auditorium class. We'll have David's class and my class in the classroom building.
From Sandra Case…
My sister's father-in-law, Jim Howry in his 80's, a retired home builder, survived his triple bypass procedure this afternoon. Thank you for your prayers, and please continue to pray for his recovery.
If you haven't heard of Dr. Tavares, make a note for future reference. Corpus Christi residents are so blessed to have this talented, super fast surgeon. Some say that he is one of the top five in the nation;
Glenn Madden knows him well.
From Jennifer Nuckles…
Thank you all for all your prayers and concern for our family. It has been a crazy/unbelievable weekend!
The Dr's advised us to remove Mimmie's ventator and feeding tube in accordance to her wishes. This was a very hard decision of course, but the family decided based on the Dr's advise that she was just not getting better and not breathing on her own, once the vent is removed she would have at max 5 hours before she just couldnt breathe anymore and would pass away. Well 5 hours came and went, 10 hours came and went, about midnight she just WOKE UP! She is talking and wanting to get out of there. She is breathing completely 100% on her own!!! We just keep praying for God's will to be done and guess this was just not her time. She still has a long road of recovering ahead because of the major surgery and having had 17 feet of small intestine removed and a little infection they are still trying to get under control. She is eating (albeit mushed food)!
I can not thank yall enough for your prayers for us. This has been an emotional rollercoaster for the last two weeks and like I said, we arent in the clear yet.
On a less important note - we FINALLY closed on our house Friday morning and are working on getting unpacked and situated. AND LANDON IS 6 months old as of yesterday! Wow how time flies.
From Rob...
My mother, Geviene Perkins Roberts, is recovering from her surgery. Thanks for your prayers.
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