*IN TIMES OF CRISIS*: - BY NORM RUSSELL 07-19-20 Based on Isa 2:1-4: A masterful lesson in which Norm teaches about what is special about the church: How it helps you gain perspective, and although Evil will always be around - because Satan is alive and well. We MUST realize that Satan and Hell are real. Its when we want to think that he is not is when he does his greatest work! People want Power, riches, and control and Satan will let you believe you can get it. We will never eradicate the world of evil, only God can do that.

Special things about the church: 1: it is here to help you gain perspective. 2: There are GOOD PEOPLE, and good people often do things secretly. Its not a bother to them to do GOOD things. They do good things quietly, not seeking recognition. Disciples of Jesus live IN the world, but are not OF the world.
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      "Work of the Gospel" VIDEO SERVICE: June 14th, by Bryan Johnston has been posted on here, on YouTube and our websites. Based on Phil. 2:12-30, Paul encourages his readers to continuing growing more into the likeness of Jesus as God uses your life for his good purpose. The work of the gospel is showing genuine interest in others, meeting needs, and giving your life for others to know Jesus.
      To watch this on YouTube, click the link at the top of the screen or this one:  https://youtu.be/ofSW9bN9whU .You can also watch (ad-free!) or download the lesson as an MP4 standard video from our SERMON DOWNLOADS link above. Hundreds of other lessons are also available there. Details on how to download videos (for newcomers) are in each of the listings.

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In-Person Church Service Video: *Worthy of the Gospel* by Bryan Johnston, based on Philippians 1:27. Description: Paul is encouraging the Christians in Philippi that they have what it takes to carry the life and love of Christ in their lives. He knows they have what it takes to remain unified in their time of struggle. And he knows they have what it takes to suffer in service to others over themselves. Paul is confident because Jesus is worthy which makes them worthy of the gospel." (MP4 Video,Run time:44 minutes)

To watch the service, click the "ONLINE SERVICE 6-07-20" link at the top of the page. If you have any issues with it, copy/paste this link to your browser: https://youtu.be/z2To-tN8eUc  -- You can also download the file in our "SERMON DOWNLOADS" section along with hundreds of other lessons.

     What is it that you fear the most? Is it crowds, heights, elevators or snakes? All of these, and a long list of other fears, are very real to some people. Everyone has a fear of something. It may be unspoken or even unknown, but rest assured we all have our fears. There is one fear however that is deep within us and we stuggle to conquer it. It is the fear of failure. We attempt to hide it by ignoring it or avoiding something we do not feel confident about. The fear of failure will keep us from enjoying some of the greatest adventures of our lives and will keep us incarcerated until we decide that failure is nothing compared to not trying.

      How do we overcome this fear? 1) First recognize what it is. 2) Don't attempt to avoid it. 3) Regard it as a challenge that you can overcome. 4) Realize too, you may fail, but use that experience as a learning tool and 5) Try again. Success never comes by quitting.

Norm

(Norm wrote this in 2012,  it's since been read by visitors over 3,000 times - so here's a re-run!)

     In Thomas Merton's auto biography, he relates an incident in his life in which he was heading to the hospital to have his appendix removed. He had been quite ill and had an appointment with a surgeon for the operation. As he was on his way he came across a man who had been overcome with his addiction to alcohol. He was lying prostrate in the middle of a turnstile at a subway station. People were stepping over him, pushing on him to get him out of the way, and were telling him to move. But the man could not get himself on his feet in order to get out of the way.

     Merton decided to help the man get away from the turnstile. Merton was taking a chance, his appendix could burst from the strain and he would be in serious trouble. He could not however simply leave the man there helpless. He went over and managed to help the man move to another location. As he left, he turned around and watched as the person he just assisted crawl back to the turnstile where he would once again be subjected to abuse by those he encountered. Sometimes in our effort to .... (continued)

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