ZION TRUMPET - APRIL 2014glzbc.org/wpzion1/wp-content/uploads/NewsletterNov14.pdf3 Vanishing Grace:...

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1 In this issue FROM THE BOOK SHELF HAPPY VETERAN’S DAY MONTHLY DEVOTIONAL EDITORIAL THOUGHT HUMAN TRAFFICKING VERSE TO REMEMBER BIBLE WORD SEARCH PUZZLE HEALTH WATCH: THE BODY TEMPLE IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENTS TEST BIBLE KNOWLEDGE BIBLE STUDY Greater Little Zion Baptist Church ZION TRUMPET Vol. 4, Issue 11, November 2014 Editor: Deaconess Diane Reese [email protected] 2014 Vision: Vision With Expectation Hosea 6:1- Reaching the unsaved with the saving message of Jesus Christ. Matthew 28:19-20

Transcript of ZION TRUMPET - APRIL 2014glzbc.org/wpzion1/wp-content/uploads/NewsletterNov14.pdf3 Vanishing Grace:...

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In this issue

FROM THE BOOK SHELF

HAPPY VETERAN’S DAY

MONTHLY DEVOTIONAL

EDITORIAL THOUGHT

HUMAN TRAFFICKING

VERSE TO REMEMBER

BIBLE WORD SEARCH PUZZLE

HEALTH WATCH: THE BODY TEMPLE

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENTS

TEST BIBLE KNOWLEDGE

BIBLE STUDY

Greater Little Zion Baptist Church ZION TRUMPET

Vol. 4, Issue 11, November 2014

Editor: Deaconess Diane Reese

[email protected]

2014 Vision: Vision With Expectation Hosea 6:1-

Reaching the unsaved with the saving message of Jesus Christ. Matthew 28:19-20

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11-11-14 HAPPY VETERAN’S DAY!

MINISTERIAL LEADERSHIP Rev. Dr. James T. Murphy, Jr., Pastor

Rev. Estelle Chandler, Associate Minister

DEACON/DEACONESS MINISTRY Bro. Anthony Bazemore

Sis. Terri Bazemore Sis. Janie Doctor

Bro. Calvin Parson Bro. Alphronzo Moseley

Bro. Don Newton Sis. Diane Reese

Bro. James R. Reese, III Bro. Ned Roper

Bro. William Windley Sis. Geraldine Woods

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Vanishing Grace: What Ever Happened to the

Good News?

In his landmark book What's So Amazing about Grace?, Philip Yancey issued a call for Christians to be as grace-filled in their behavior as they are in de-claring their beliefs. He now returns to this vital sub-ject, asking why Christians continue to lose respect, influence, and reputation in modern culture.

Yet people everywhere still thirst for grace. How can Christians present truly Good News amid the chang-ing landscapes of our time? Why do so many people dislike Christians? How can we communicate faith in an appealing way to future generations?

Using his trademark journalistic style--story-filled,

compelling, accessible--Yancey explores how grace

can bridge the gap between Christian faith and a

world increasingly suspicious of it.

FROM THE BOOKSHELF

Author: Philip Yancey

Greater Little Zion Baptist Church offers tutoring in the areas of Math, Science, Social Studies, Read-ing, Writing & Business. Tutoring is held each Tuesday night at GLZBC, 6:30 p.m.—7:30 p.m. The tutoring team includes:

Dr. Al Moseley (Math, Geometry, Physics & Calculus); Dr. Jean Newton (Biology); Dr. Rosalind Blunt (English, Writing); Ms. Carol Ann Walker (English, Math, SAT Prep); Mr. John Rutland (Math, Science, Social Studies); Ms. Malinda Paige (Math, Algebra); Mrs. Lakita Jones (Business, Finance, Accounting); Mr. Mervin Fanfon (Math, Algebra, Pre-Calculus); Mr. Ed James (Math, Algebra, Physics); & Mr. Robert Clark (Math, Algebra).

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"Find enjoyment in... all the days which GOD gives." Ecclesiastes 5:18 (AMP)

Things Change, But GOD Doesn't

Over one hundred times in Scripture we read, "It came to pass." That's because most things in life aren't permanent. Things change, but GOD doesn't! Knowing that can help you to handle the bad times and stop you from clinging so tightly to the good ones.

Here are three important truths to keep in mind:

1) Enjoy today. It's a gift - that's why it's called "the present."

Solomon said, "To enjoy your work and accept your lot in life... is... a gift from GOD" (v19). Even though you are constantly moving toward another goal or objective, learn to live in the present. Don't put your joy on hold, or let it slip away while you're waiting for the next big event.

2) Learn to appreciate the little things. They're all around you - the love of a good friend, a kind deed, a fresh insight, a good night's sleep, the delight on your child's face. When you appreciate what you have, it multiplies. When you're grateful for the little things, GOD will give you more to appreciate (Matthew 25:23).

3) Each ending brings a new beginning. There are two myths you should never believe. The first is the "forever myth," which says your situation will never improve. The second is the "never myth," which says if things get any worse you'll never be able to handle them. Both are distortions. GOD's Word says everything comes "to pass." And while you're going through it, the LORD promises to "strengthen... and help you" (Isaiah 41:10).

Ultimately, a new beginning comes with each ending. So keep trusting GOD.

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"We should make the most of what GOD gives, both the bounty and the capacity to enjoy it, accepting what's given and delighting in the work. It's GOD's gift!" Ecclesiastes 5:19 (MSG)

MONTHLY DEVOTIONAL

Remember…..When you love what you have, you have everything you need!

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Editorial Thought

Being Thankful

I am still dumbfounded by the fact that Thanksgiving is seemingly non-existent-especially as it is defined by the commercials on television and the holiday movies that are on. On Octo-ber 31st, the Hallmark Channel started their lineup of endless Christmas movies. I tried to hold out and wait until black Friday to start watching these Christmas movies, but I needed some-thing to do on Halloween night, and it just seemed fitting to start watching Christmas movies! I sat curled up on the sofa to watch these Christmas movies, and as I began to experi-ence the change of the weather-hear the October winds usher in November and see the leaves develop a rhythm of moving about in the neighborhood yards-nostalgia set in. I began to think about the Thanksgivings of past years, and reflect on all that I was thankful for. Oh, my cup runneth over! Like the song says, “if I had ten thousand tongues…..” When you take a moment during this Thanksgiving holiday to reflect on what you are thankful for, you may recall a season where you were struggling with thoughts of fear, worry, helplessness, self-doubt, blame, anger, frustration, anxiety, depression, being overwhelmed, despair, and hopelessness. Then you remember GOD’s hand in your circumstance-the shift in the atmosphere when you felt your spirit lifted-things began to seem as right as rain! So, whatever your struggle-whether you have gone through or you are still going through, remember to be thankful because we should “Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His love endures forever Psalm 107:1). And even in our troubled seasons, we are commanded to “give thanks in all circumstances; for this is GOD’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” (1 Thessalonians 5:18). As you gather with family and friends to celebrate this Thanksgiving season, let your dis-cussions put you in a posture of “always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our LORD Jesus Christ. (Ephesians 5:20). And finally, as you see glimpses of Christ-mas overshadowing Thanksgiving, just relax and “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to GOD with gratitude in your hearts. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the LORD Jesus, giving thanks to GOD the Father through Him. (Colossians 13:15-17). Be blessed and

Deaconess Diane Reese

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Human Trafficking

Rescue the weak and the needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked. Psalm 82:4

Although slavery is commonly thought to be a thing of the past, human trafficking still exists today

throughout the United States and globally when traffickers use force, fraud, or coercion to control other

people for the purpose of engaging in commercial sex or forcing them to provide labor services against

their will. Traffickers use violence, threats, deception, debt bondage, and other manipulative tactics to

trap victims in horrific situations every day in America. All trafficking victims share one essential experi-

ence – the loss of freedom. They are young children, teenagers, men and women. Trafficking in persons

occurs throughout the world, including in the United States.

Many victims of human trafficking are forced to work in prostitution or the sex entertainment in-

dustry, but trafficking also occurs in forms of labor exploitation in urban, suburban, and rural areas. Vic-

tims of labor trafficking who have been identified in the United States include domestic servants, restau-

rant staff, hotel employees, factory workers and agricultural laborers.

Traffickers use various techniques to control their victims and keep them enslaved. Some traffickers hold

their victims under lock and key. However, the more frequent practice is to use less obvious techniques

including:

Debt bondage – enormous financial obligations or undefined/increasing debt

Isolation from the public - limiting contact with outsiders and making sure that any contact is moni-

tored or superficial in nature

Isolation from family members and members of their ethnic and religious community

Confiscation of passports, visas and/or identification documents

Use or threat of violence toward victims and/or family members

The threat of shaming victims by exposing circumstances to family

Telling victims they will be imprisoned or deported for immigration violations if they contact authorities

Control of the victims' money - e.g., holding their money for "safe-keeping"

Human trafficking does occur in Virginia, however the prevalence of it is unclear. Virginia does not

currently have victim or criminal case data specifically identifying human trafficking as a variable. Both

the Department of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) and the Virginia State Crime Commission have pub-

lished reports attempting to quantify human trafficking to some extent. Efforts to report human trafficking

data involve examining those offenses that may be most directly linked to human trafficking, such as

wage and hour violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act, solicitation of prostitution and other prostitution

-related offenses, sexual assault offenses, sexual offenses against children, and child pornography of-

fenses.

Data availability is likely to improve as targeted investigation and prosecution efforts led by human traf-

ficking task forces expand. Human trafficking task forces have increased throughout Virginia and are

proving to be successful in identifying and prosecuting cases under federal and state law. These task

forces are a collaboration of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies dedicated to combatting

human trafficking and related crime. The U.S. Attorney’s Offices in Virginia and the Virginia Office of the

Attorney General are key leaders in the work of these task forces.

Several cases involving human trafficking in Virginia have been profiled in various news reports and

press releases from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Eastern District of Virginia. As evident in national reports,

cases of sex trafficking in Virginia are often linked to gang activity. To learn more about this inhuman

and criminal activity, visit: http://www.polarisproject.org/human-trafficking/overview or

https://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/human-trafficking/what-is-human-trafficking.html. Pray for the victims of

this horrific crime.

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VERSE TO REMEMBER

It’s only when you live the prayer of thanksgiving that you live the power of trusting GOD. -Ann Voskamp

Psalm 100:4

Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His

courts with praise; give thanks to Him and praise

His name.

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BIBLE WORD SEARCH PUZZLE

GOD’s ABUNDANCE

M H I B R A S S S E N D O O G E O S Z A A G O L D S A S N L R P S E H I D U T L U E I E A C E A B T O F E E S O R L V D Y N C U A T L M C L E B V A N E I H L I S A Y I F T V E E E B M A U B C S Y F I H T R H S L A R N A I E U I R G C A A S A F O X E N S L R M I G L C H I D E J O G A R C A R R A T A R I C H N E S S A M N A I R J Y E R O M O C Y S E R C L U I S I L A T H P A N N L E E T L S A E R U S A E R T N V B H E

A E H P E S O J N O M O L O S Abiathar Famine Honey Oxen Assurance Firmament Hope Richness Assyria Fruitful Israel Righteous Belial Gladness Issachar Sacrifice Brass Gold Joab Silver Bread Goodness Joseph Solomon Camels Grace Longsuffering Sycomore Cattle Harvest Meal Treasure Cedar Heaven Mercy Truth Elijah Holy Naphtali Zebulun

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HEALTH WATCH: THE BODY TEMPLE

November is. . . . . .

National Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month and National Caregiver Month

Quick Facts

******************************************************************** National Diabetes Awareness

Diabetes is a disease in which the body does not produce or properly use insulin, a hormone that is need-ed to convert sugar, starches and other food into energy needed for daily life. The cause of diabetes is a mystery, although both genetics and environmental factors such as obesity and lack of exercise appear to play roles. There are three types of diabetes: Type 1, Type 2 & Gestational Diabetes

More than 18.2 million people (or 6.3 percent of the population) in the United States have diabetes. There are two main types of diabetes. Type 1 diabetes usually occurs during childhood or adolescence. Type 2 diabetes, which is the most common form of the disease, usually occurs in people who are 45 years of age or older. However, the rate of diagnosis of type 2 diabetes in children and adolescents is increasing.

For more information about diabetes, please call the American Diabetes Association at 1-800-DIABETES (1-800-342-2383), or visit the Web site at www.diabetes.org or http://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/pubs/statsreport14/national-diabetes-report-web.pdf.

More than 5 million Americans are living with the disease.

Every 67 seconds some-one in the United States develops Alzheimer's.

Alzheimer's disease is the 6th leading cause of death in the United States.

There are approximately 500,000 people dying each year because they have Alzheimer's.

Women are at the epicenter of the Alzheimer's epidemic.

In her 60s, a woman's esti-mated lifetime risk for de-veloping Alzheimer's is 1 in 6. For breast cancer it is 1 in 11.

Almost two-thirds of Americans with Alzhei-mer's are women.

There are 2.5 times more women than men providing intensive “on-duty” care 24 hours a day for someone with Alzheimer's.

. More than 60 percent of Alzheimer's and dementia caregivers are women.

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Missionary Opportunity: Help Restock the Food Pantry! For items needed, see Deaconess Geraldine Woods

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Mentoring Training

8-Week Training Dates October 5th, 12, & 26, 2014

November 2, 9, 16 &23, 2014 December 7, 2014

Location: David R. Pinn Center

Submission for Needy Families Window Opens: October 1st

Window Closes: November 7th (no exceptions)

Pick-Up Date & Time: November 22nd 9:30 a.m.-10:30 a.m.

(no exceptions) Missionary Ministry

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TEST YOUR BIBLE KNOWLEDGE

This month’s test of your Bible knowledge is focused on the Psalms. Answers will appear in the December edition of the Zion Trumpet! Enjoy!

Psalms 1.) Trust in the Lord, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be______

fed.

strong.

healthy.

wise. 2.) The fool hath said in his heart,______

I am sustained by mine own strength.

there is no God.

there is none that doeth good.

the world is mine, and all the fullness thereof. 3.) In thee, O Lord, do I put my trust; let me never be put to______

deceit.

the test.

the slaughter.

confusion. 4.) I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor______

the prosperity of sinners.

his seed begging bread.

his heart failing within himself.

his beauty to consume away like a moth. 5.) Wait on the lord: be of good courage, and he shall______

strengthen thine heart.

deliver thee from thine enemies.

show thee His covenant.

deliver thee out of all thy troubles. 6.) Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is______

hidden.

covered.

forgiven.

blotted out. 7.) Blessed is the nation whose God is the lord: and the people whom he hath chosen for his own______

covenant.

salvation.

inheritance.

blessing.

times of need.

conceive me.

8.) God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in______

trouble.

all the earth.

the work of His saints. 9.) Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother______

raise me.

bear me. 10.) Restore unto me the joy of thy______

everlasting love.

salvation.

forgiveness.

lovingkindness.

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BEYOND ACQUAINTANCE by Dr. Charles Stanley, Bible Study, taken from InTouch Magazine-November 2014

The LORD is eternal, immortal, and invisible, but it’s possible to have a very real re-lationship with Him.

Many Christians think of communion as simply the ritual of sharing bread and wine (or grape juice) in re-membrance of Jesus’ death on the cross. Yet it means far more than this single ordinance. Charles Henry Mackintosh, the 19th-century Irish theologian, wrote, “Communion with GOD is the grand se-cret of the believer’s strength, and it is, therefore, of all importance that he should clearly and distinctly under-stand what it means, and in what it consists; and, moreover, that he should carefully guard against every thing like a counterfeit of it.” READ: 1 Corinthians 1:9; 1 John1:1-4 Fellowship-or communion-with GOD is possible because He invites us into such a relationship. Scripture re-veals that ever since the creation of Adam and for the measureless extent of eternity, GOD desires and takes great pleasure in having fellowship with His beloved children.

But life in the 21st century is busy. Some people barely manage to make any deep connections with loved ones (at times subsisting on social media interactions). How, then, can we fellowship with a GOD who can’t be experienced through our physical senses? Here are several suggestions:

• Probably the most obvious way to connect with GOD is prayer. Hundreds of scriptures contain the word “pray” or a variation. Verses like Matthew 26:41, 2 Chronicles 7:14, and James 5:16 show prayer a powerful tool that lets us approach GOD in repentance, adoration, petition, and thanksgiving. A consistent, fervent prayer life also guards us from temptation and confusion.

• Fasting, accompanied by prayer, can effectively focus our hearts and minds on the LORD and on specific concerns that need immediate attention (Matt. 6:16-18).

• Reading the Bible is a way to listen for what GOD wants to tell us. Healthy relationships involve give-and-take; communication must be more than a list of requests for the other party to fulfill. By searching Scrip-ture as we talk to GOD, we invite Him to speak into our circumstances. A glimpse into someone’s heart and mind is a privilege in any relationship—but of immeasurable benefit when the other person is GOD. Knowing what’s important to Him helps us grow as Christians, learn obedience, avoid pitfalls, and become equipped witnesses (Ps. 119:105; John 14:23; 2 Tim. 3:16).

• Being still in GOD’s presence, especially when we feel anxious, may seem difficult because sitting quietly without doing anything is counterintuitive and countercultural. But in our silence, we can often hear GOD speaking (Ps. 46:10). And remember, the Holy Spirit intercedes on our behalf and helps us in our time of weakness (Rom. 8:26).

• Meditation is different from being still before the LORD, which has to do with hearing Him speak to us. Meditation is taking time to reflect on Scripture and letting it sink in, or contemplating the awesomeness of GOD and His works (Josh. 1:8; Ps. 119:27, 97, 148; 143:5).

• Corporate worship is a way for Christians to fellowship with GOD while simultaneously deriving the benefit of mutual encouragement (Heb. 10:24-25). In some churches, the term seems to have devolved to mean little more than the song portion of the service, but true worship has to do with heart attitude and a de-sire to connect with the LORD.

• Obedience and submission to GOD are not only a means to a deeper relationship with GOD; they are also a result of it (John 14:23; James 2:14, 26). Our works don’t save us, but they do bear witness to our faith in Christ (Matt. 5:16).

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The mission of Greater Little Zion Baptist Church is to lead everyone to a full life of development in Christ.

Luke 4:18-19. Reaching the unsaved with the saving message of Jesus Christ.

Matthew 28:19-20

Worship Times: 8 a.m. & 11 a.m. Sunday School: 9:45 a.m.

Prayer Service: Wed, 7 p.m. Bible Study: Wed, 8 p.m.

REFLECT What light do the Scriptures above shed on your own concept of the word communion? Are there areas in

your relationship with GOD that need more attention than you’ve been giving them?

It’s easy for us to get caught up in the whirlwind of earthly activities and responsibilities and relegate quiet time with GOD to any leftover minutes we have at the end of the day or week. It can be especially tempt-ing to justify this if what’s eating up our time and attention is ministry-related. The Bible, however, warns against letting fleshly concerns govern our minds (Rom. 8:7). Let Proverbs 3:9-10 and Matthew 6:33 be additional reminders that GOD blesses us when we put Him first in our lives.

RESPOND What are some practical ways you can immediately apply what you learned through this Bible study and

pursue deeper communion with the LORD? If the thought of carving out extra time for Him seems impos-sible or arduous, ask GOD to increase your hunger for Him and His Word.

Take a mental inventory (or a written one) of the priorities that battle for your attention. Resolve to elimi-nate any that hinder rather than enhance your communion with GOD.

REVISIT If you want a deeper experience of communing with the LORD, try spending some time with Psalm 119.

At 176 verses, this psalm can take a while to read, but it also lends itself to helping us go deeper with GOD. The chapter is divided into 22 sections. Over the next 11 days, read two sections each day. Read slowly, meditating on the words and making them your own prayer to GOD. Note any verses you want to memorize or reflect on later.

Brainstorm additional ways to have communion with GOD (other than those listed above), and be inten-tional about implementing one or more. If it would help, share your goals with a friend for accountability and support.