Spirit-filled Life

MESSAGE. Without God we have no life. We are blind to the reality, demands, and glory of Christ. We are as deaf to the Holy Spirit as a corpse. “Abba, Father!” has no part in our vocabulary. Because of this, John Stott says, “We should not hesitate to reaffirm that a life without God (however physically fit and mentally alert the person may be) is a living death, and that those who live it are dead even while they are living.”
The journey from Death Valley to the spiritual heights of life is accomplished only by resurrection! “But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ” (vv. 4, 5). Self-help will not save those who are “dead in [their] trespasses and sins.” No one can crawl from the casket. We must be “made… alive together with Christ.”
Our Spiritual resurrection becomes possible only through the life-giving breath of the Holy Spirit. Tomorrow morning I start a two part sermon series entitled “The Spirit-Filled Life”. Please read through Romans 8.

OAKS. Last week I had the privilege to attend two OAKS graduations. Kindergarten on Tuesday night and 8th Grade on Wednesday. Those were absolutely awesome events. We have a great school and an excellent team of teachers. Thank you, Shelly and your crew for your leadership. Here are a few photos from both nights:

CHURCH LIFE. Last week I asked our church clerk Donna Corbit to help me with a list of all new members who joined our church in the last 16 months. When I received the list with names from Donna I was amazed by the numbers. We have almost 80 new members who either joined through transfer or baptism! Praise God, this is wonderful. However, my concern is that we may not have built close relations with all of them. I don’t want even one of them to feel left out. My plan is to have their photos and names in the next church newsletter. I’ll need your help in connecting with our new brothers and sisters. They need to be feel that they are loved and needed.

I know that many of you encourage our elderly or lonely members by personal visits. Thank you for doing that. If you would like to adopt one of our members who needs regular visits or help with transportation please talk to me or Pastor Aubrey in person or by email and we’ll be happy to help.

Meanwhile Jacquelyn Cantrell needs a ride to church to attend second service every Sabbath. Melinda Cranfield will provide her ride home. You may contact Jacquelyn Cantrell directly at # 322-5590. She lives at 5340 College View Drive, Ooltewah.

FROM PASTOR AUBREY: Tomorrow is the Youth Ministry Sabbath. We’ll be happy to see you join our Sabbath morning service on the lake.

Who: The Whole Church is Invited
What: Church Outside, then potluck, then canoeing
When: May 21st, youth meet at 9:15am, leave at 9:30am, 10am arrive,

Where: Harrison Bay Pavilion

InMemory. Roland Recchia, husband of Gloria and father of Jimmy Recchia, Dan Recchia, and RuthAnn Gilmore, passed away April 24. Visitation will be Sabbath, June 18, from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. at Chattanooga Funeral Home, East Brainerd Chapel. Funeral services will follow at 6:00 p.m. Burial with military honors will be held at Chattanooga National Cemetery on Monday, June 20, at 10:00 a.m. Memorial contributions may be made to the Wounded Warrior Project at http://www.woundedwarriorproject.org.

Sandra Otto’s brother, Jim March, passed away last Friday morning. He’s left his wife, two sons, a daughter and several grandchildren. Sandra and Larry travelled to Missouri last weekend. We are glad they are safely back. You’ve been in our prayers, Sandra and Larry.

Julian Oliver’s mother passed away Tuesday. Please, keep this dear family in your prayers.

See you tomorrow morning,

Peter