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04/05/2025
Good morning church family,
GIVING THANKS:
* Thanks in advance for your understanding as we coordinate this weekend’s newsletter which will be sent in the new computer program that Pat has developed. Hopefully it will come through without any issues. Thanks to Pat Keller for ALL of the time & energy he puts forth to help us all get up to speed.
* Thanks to all who provided items for the Umbrella Center for Domestic Violence and to Eyoko for leading this effort.
* Nadine Keller’s uncle is home and doing well. Thanks to all for your prayers.
* Thanks to all who came and brought food, fellowshipping for our potluck lunch last weekend! Fellowshipping with each other offers so many blessings! Look at our proud Grand-Fathers!
PRAYER REQUESTS:
* Prayers for all who are enduring intense storms throughout the country. We prayed for Molly’s family on Wednesday night and thankfully they all made out well.
A beautiful way to evangelize!
Our sister Eyoko makes hand-made cards and is sharing them with everyone. The cards are beautifully done and are a great way to evangelize by passing them out to others. The cards are located on the table in the back of our auditorium. Take a card and pass it on…
NEW AREA EVENTS:
DANBURY CHURCH OF CHRIST is hosting an Area Wide Hymn Sing on
Sunday April 27th 3:30-5:30
Please bring refreshments for the Fellowship to follow
AREA EVENTS:
MEN’S RETREAT:
June 13th & 14th
Men are encouraged to sign up soon for the upcoming Men’s retreat in June.
 [JULY]
TIDAL RIVER CHRISTIAN CAMP:
tidalriverchristiancamp.com
TRCC is fast approaching. They are always looking for members to help out in many capacities. Please see Pat Keller if you have interest in helping out at camp this summer.
OUR IN-HOUSE CHURCH FOOD PANTRY CAN USE A BOOST!
Canned goods (soups, ravioli, non-perishable foods, pasta’s, cereal, etc. are needed for our in-house food pantry. Those willing to donate grocery store gift cards please see Ron.
2 Corinthians 9:6
“Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.”
Thank you all!
CINDY HOLLY is one of our former long-time members whose grand-son Ben Baxter is raising funds for some mission work.
Here is Ben’s letter:
“Friends and Family,
My name is Ben Baxter. My parents are Ray and Jennifer Baxter. My Mom and I are going on a mission trip with our church to Honduras this summer and need help raising funds. If you would like to help send us to Honduras, I would really appreciate it. We have set up a GoFundMe, but if you would prefer you can also mail a check or Venmo to my mom.
Our address is:
Ray & Jennifer Baxter
207 Corey Drive
Franklin, TN 37067
Thank you!
Ben Baxter
Ben is 13 years old, is hoping to go on his first mission trip with their church to Honduras to help build a house, help with Vacation Bible School and share bible stories with the local children. They attend the Brentwood Hills Church of Christ in Tennessee and Ben is trying to raise enough money so he can go with his mother Jennifer.
NEW CONVERTS CLASS – Sunday morning at 10:00 a.m. for any newly baptized members, or those considering baptism. Please see Ron if you have interest.
TORI SARACINO has her junior recital at the chapel at Sacred Heart University – Sacred Heart APRIL 10th at 8:00 p.m. (approximately 45 minutes long) and it is free. Tori would like to invite her church family, so all are invited.
The next Saturday Ladies Bible class will be on Saturday April 12th from 10:00 – 12:00 noon at the church building. We’ve had to switch up the teachers a bit due to scheduling issues, so this class will be taught byMargaret Rizzio who will lead us in a lesson on the fruit of the Spirit on “Self Control”.
Tuesday April 15th is the next Ladies Bible study via zoom at 9:30. The study of Revelation is underway and is such a great study. Thanks to Lisa and Mary Lou for leading the mid-week ladies study. Please see Mary Lou if you would like a book.
DEEPER LORD, DEEPER LORD, …IN YOU
The Veryovkina Cave in Abkhazia Russia is one of the deepest caves in the world. It’s approximate depth is 7,208 feet (2,197 meters). It reaches into the bowels of the earth farther than any other cave there is.
The cave has a relatively small entrance of only 10 by 13 feet which is quite deceiving since this entrance leads to passageways that pierce deeper and deeper into the limestone of the earth’s crust. In fact, one might not even notice the entrance to this deep rich cave which brings one to the depth of the earth.
The cave wasn’t explored all at once, but in stages. The first expedition in 1968 reached a point within the cave of 377 feet down and gave the cave it’s original moniker of 115 meters deep (which is about as deep as the Empire State Building). This was only 5% of the entire depth of the Veryovkina cave.
It causes one to wonder what would possess anyone to gaze at an unknown hole in the ground and go down into it to see what might be there?
In 2018 explorers touched the bottom of the Veryovkina Cave marking it to be 7,257 feet deep. Several intrepid explorers over the decades making death-defying climbs, to keep on exploring these world-record depths and cave- map them, encountered injuries and fatalities.
Exploring caves is not for the faint of heart. A journey down to the depths of the earth are for the bravest and best, those who will return alive to tell the tale.
Exploring deep within uncovers wonders that will take our breath away!
Sights never seen before of God’s magnificent creation!
The scriptures admonish us to grow deeper in Christ. That means day by day, trial by trial, we are on a life journey of love, humility and faith. The more we explore God’s word in its deepest form, the more treasures await us!
Matthew 13:44-46
“The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in the field,
which a man found and hid again;
and from joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.
“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking fine pearls,
and upon finding one pearl of great value,
he went and sold all that he had and bought it.”
To grow closer to God is a journey of humility, faith and love, where we embrace His love and seek His guidance in all aspects of our lives. To thirst for the living water, means that we yearn for it, and seek it!
What would be our motivation to go deeper in order to come closer to God?
When we draw near to God, the GOD of creation will come CLOSER to US!
When we humble ourselves (in relationships, in serving, in growing in Christ), HE LIFTS US UP!
The effort still has to be made to make that happen.
There are many advantages. of going deeper in the things of God. If we go deeper in God, we will find our ourselves enjoying a much greater dimension of our LORD JESUS CHRIST.
Jeremiah 33:3
“Call to me and I will answer you,
and I will tell you great and hidden things
that you have not known.”
God promises to reveal profound truths and secrets that are beyond our current understanding!
This should not be a casual search, but a passionate, intentional pursuit, a desire to know Him intimately!
Cave explorers needed to bring all of the necessary tools to be able to accomplish their journey safely. They need a caving suit, boots, flashlight and back up light source, knee pads, plastic jar, medication, loud whistle, caving gloves, rigging and climbing rope, rappelling slings, cave map (if there is one!), radio or walkie talkie, and MORE!
Without sufficient knowledge, preparation and equipment, cave exploring can lead to serious injury or death.
Our spiritual journey to go deeper in CHRIST, requires the same for us! We need the proper tools to embark on the journey to come closer to GOD!
To go deeper in Christ means to cultivate a more intimate and meaningful relationship with God through Jesus Christ, characterized by Faith, dependence, and a life that reflects His teachings and values.
DESIRE GOD ….THIRST FOR THE ADVENTURE
Our soul must desire to go deeper into the faith.
Psalm 27:4
“One thing have I asked of the Lord, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to inquire in his temple.“
Luke 19:3–6
Zacchaeus was a chief tax collector and was wealthy….
“And he was seeking to see who Jesus was, but on account of the crowd he could not, because he was small in stature. So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way.“
We know the story well, and after Jesus went to Zacchaeus’ home, Zacchaeus experienced inward change.
vs. 8 “But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the LORD, “Look LORD! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.”
vs. 9 “Jesus said to him, “Today, salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and save what was lost.“
To learn more about GOD’s LOVE FOR US, we MUST LOVE OTHERS (demonstrating action)
The two most important Commandments are found in Matthew 22:37-40…
“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment.
And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.“
vs. 40 “All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
In order to LOVE GOD, we must demonstrate our passion and desire to be obedient to HIM.
James 2:17 “Faith without works is dead.“
Luke 10:25-37 The parable of the Good Samaritan illustrates faith in action. The Samaritan’s compassionate deeds exemplify love for one’s neighbor. His actions which were driven by compassion, serve as a model for us all to follow.
1 Peter 4:8
“Above all, LOVE each other deeply, because LOVE covers over a multitude of sins.”
Serving others with a loving heart is a powerful way to experience His love for us and grow closer to Him. When we serve others, we are serving God.
GOD’s WORD provides us with the LIGHT we need to navigate to deeper spiritual depths!
John 8:12
“I am the LIGHT of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.“
GOD’S WORD will guide us!
Allow His Word to nourish your soul and reveal His character and plans for your life. Let His Word take you deeper in the faith.
John 1:14
“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.”
LIVING OUT OUR FAITH
Christians who follow Jesus on their life journey, should be striving to be more like HIM. Striving to reflect His love, compassion, and justice in our words and action.
Jesus loved us so much that He gave His life for us, we need to do the same for others.
This requires journeying deeper into our relationships with each other.
SACRIFICE.…Romans 5:8
“But God shows His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
Mark 10:45
“For even the Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.“
COMMITTMENT…
Galatians 2:20
“I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.“
TRUSTING HIM…
Proverbs 3:5
“Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge HIM, and He will direct your path.‘
HUMILITY AND FAITH
Humble heart –
Luke 14:11 “For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.“
Matthew 11:29
“Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”
God is always guiding us, leading us & protecting us!
Proverbs 16:9
“A man’s heart plans his way, but the LORD directs his steps.“
FORGIVENESS –
Lastly, embracing God’s grace and forgiveness are essential for a deeper relationship with HIM.
Colossians 3:13
“Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the LORD forgave you.“
Giving God thanks, Praising HIM all the way!
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
“Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.“
Our FELLOWSHIP IN CHRIST is a BLESSING!
Making an effort to connect with our fellow believers, brothers & sisters in Christ, brings us to a MUCH DEEPER level of our faith. Sharing our stories, sharing our testimonies, spending time with each other, growing closer to one another, is a blessing beyond blessing and a true gift from GOD. We grow closer to God, by growing closer to others. Praying for one another, serving one another, learning about what others’ needs are, encouraging others, and lifting one another up.
Making every opportunity to worship & fellowship, allows us to communicate with each other! Learn about one another, and KNOW your brothers and sisters in Christ. Expressing gratitude and adoration for God through worship, praise and thanksgiving is a vital part of us having a deeper relationship in Christ.
The Body of Christ celebrates with each others’ JOYS, and grieves with each other’s heartaches.
If someone is not feeling JOY or SORROW with a brother or sister in Christ, there is simply no connection. No growth.
The Apostle Paul labored for the church in the book of Colossians.
Colossians 1:24
“Now I rejoice in what was suffered for you,
and I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ’s afflictions,
for the sake of his body, which is the church.
I have become its servant by the commission God gave me
to present to you the word of God in its fullness —
the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages
and generations but is now disclosed to the saints.
To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles
the glorious riches of this mystery,
which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.”
We look forward to the hope of glory….
Kevon recently led the following song to our congregation which says it all.
As a deer pants for the water, so our soul longs after YOU.
We must thirst for the water and for the Living God.
Let’s SING and go deeper LORD, Deeper LORD in YOU!
DRAW ME DEEPER LORD
As the deer (as the deer),
thirsts for the water, Lord (thirsts for the water, Lord)
longs after You (longs after You),
thirsts for the Living God. (thirsts for the Living God)
Yes, my soul (Yes, my soul),
longs after You. (longs after You),
And I pour out my soul deep within me,
deep within me I pour out my soul.
Draw me deeper, Lord, deeper Lord, in You.
Draw me deeper, Lord, deeper Lord, in You.
As the deer (as the deer),
thirsts for the water, Lord (thirsts for the water, Lord),
longs after You (longs after You),
thirsts for the Living God. (thirsts for the Living God),
Yes, my soul (Yes, my soul),
longs after You. (longs after You),
And I pour out my soul deep within me,
deep within me I pour out my soul.
Draw me deeper, Lord, deeper Lord, in You.
Draw me deeper, Lord, deeper Lord, in You.
“I I go up to the heavens, you are there;
If I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
If I settle on the far side of the sea,
even there your hand will guide me,
Your right hand will hold me fast.”
verse 23
“Search me, O God, and know my heart;
test me and know my anxious thoughts.
See if there is any offensive way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting.“
Going deeper in our faith brings us to the foot of the cross, looking up to Jesus.
Going deeper in our faith means sacrificing, learning & growing, and sometimes it hurts.
Going deeper in our faith will help us to SEE THE LIGHT & HIS GLORY!
When we come closer to GOD, he molds us and shapes us to BE THE LIGHT for all to see. Matthew 5:16
TO GOD BE THE GLORY, GREAT THINGS HE HATH DONE!
In Him,
Bruce & Paula
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