the EVANGEL
OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER OF FIRST FREE CHURCH
Hymn Spotlight: Be Thou My Vision
The detailed origins of this 8thcentury hymn remain a mystery to us. What we know for sure is that an unknown Irish poet wrote a prayer asking God to - you guessed it - be his vision and highest thought. What is highly likely is that Saint Patrick planted the seeds of this poet's faith three centuries before as a 5thcentury missionary to the Druids.
Most of what comes to mind regarding Patrick is mythology. For one, he was from modernday Scotland, not Ireland. Further, he didn't drive the snakes from Ireland. Researchers suggest that Ireland hasn't had snakes since the Ice Age, if not before. Likewise, there's no evidence Patrick used the three-leaf clover to explain the Trinity.
Moreover, Patrick wasn't even the first missionary to reach Ireland; Palladius preceded him to lackluster results despite apparently faithful ministry. Finally, St. Patrick isn't even a formally canonized saint! He's just plain ole' Patrick.
God is Always Right on Time
By Pastor Kevin Labby"For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly." Romans 5:6 ESV
It's sometimes difficult to get people on the same timetable. A friend once shared a joke with me on that theme:
Apparently, Steve had trouble getting up in the morning and was always late for work. Finally, after a few weeks of showing up late, his boss, Mr. Thompson, called Steve into his office and threatened to fire him if he didn't start getting to work right on time.
So Steve went to his doctor, who gave him a pill and told him to take it before he went to bed. Steve got a great night's sleep and woke up before the alarm in the morning. After a leisurely breakfast, he drove cheerfully to work.
"Mr. Thompson," he said, "the pill my doctor subscribed me worked!”
"That's all fine," said Thompson, "But where were you yesterday?!"
A wise man or woman once said, "God is never late, but seldom early." Whoever said that was keenly aware of one of our biggest
March 2024 | VOLUME 50 | ISSUE NO.3
Sunday Movie Matinee
Movie fun for the whole family at First Free Church! We hope you'll plan to enjoy this free showing of WALL-E along with movie theater candy and popcorn! Invite your neighbors, friends and family!
Sunday, March 17th 12:30 - 3:00 pm
Movie snacks provided!
(God is Always Right on Time, cont.)
God is Always Right on Time
By Pastor Kevin Labby"For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly." Romans 5:6 ESV
It's sometimes difficult to get people on the same timetable. A friend once shared a joke with me on that theme:
Apparently, Steve had trouble getting up in the morning and was always late for work. Finally, after a few weeks of showing up late, his boss, Mr. Thompson, called Steve into his office and threatened to fire him if he didn't start getting to work right on time.
So Steve went to his doctor, who gave him a pill and told him to take it before he went to bed. Steve got a great night's sleep and woke up before the alarm in the morning. After a leisurely breakfast, he drove cheerfully to work.
"Mr. Thompson," he said, "the pill my doctor subscribed me worked!”
"That's all fine," said Thompson, "But where were you yesterday?!"
Mark your calendars!
GOOD FRIDAY SERVICE
Friday, March 29th @ 7:00 pm
EASTER SUNDAY
Sunday, March 31st @ 10:45 am
There will be no Bible Fellowship Hour at 9:30 am.
A wise man or woman once said, "God is never late, but seldom early." Whoever said that was keenly aware of one of our biggest spiritual struggles: patience. We want God to act, and we want him to work on our timetable.
We get frustrated in prayer when the answers seem slow in coming. We feel anxious when healing takes longer than we expected. We want the people we love to come to saving faith in Jesus, but hearts seem to remain hardened toward God. We could go on and on.
God doesn't work on our schedules as much as we might want. So instead, he works on his timetable.
The Apostle Paul wrote these words, and notice what he said: Christ died for the ungodly at the right time. And it's to that time, the right time, that we need to hear God speak clearly.
There are two words used in the Greek New Testament to describe time. The first is CHRONOS. CHRONOS means time measured in seconds and minutes, minutes and hours, hours and days, days and weeks, weeks and months, months and years, years and decades and centuries and millennia. It is the ticking of a clock, the sound of your alarm, the sands of an hourglass. It is the word from which we get our word, chronology.
(God is Always Right on Time, cont.)
Child of God: God might seem late in answering your prayers and fulfilling his plans for you, but remember: though seldom early, he's never late. He's right on time. God is orchestrating all things for your ultimate good, working out more than you could realize or fathom. Persevere. He's working it all out for his glory, which always and invariably means your ultimate good because of Jesus. Hold on! It's coming - at just the right time. You're loved. Don't forget it.
(
Hymn Spotlight: Be Thou My Vision, continued)
Thankfully, the real-life story of Patrick is even more impressive than the mythology surrounding him. Kidnapped around 16, Patrick's kidnappers took him to Ireland and enslaved him. Serving as a shepherd slave for many years, Patrick returned to the Christian faith of his family (his grandfather was a priest, his father a deacon). Consequently, during long periods of isolation in the fields, tending sheep, Patrick developed a robust and mystical life of prayer. In his The Confession, he later recounted praying hundreds of prayers day and night, seeking God's protection and provision.
One night, deep in prayer, Patrick claimed to hear a voice speak to him, one saying that he would soon return to his home. Shortly after, he heard another voice saying that his ship was ready. Patrick escaped and traveled to the coast, finding a boat ready to depart. Frustratingly, the ship's crew denied him entry. Praying earnestly, God softened the crew's hearts, and they allowed him aboard.
Returning to his homeland, Patrick studied for the ministry and became a pastor. While ministering to his flock, he claimed a dramatic vision from the Lord in a dream, calling him back to Ireland as a missionary. He obeyed and led a shockingly successful missionary effort in one of the world's darkest spiritual corners.
Why was Patrick successful where his predecessor, Palladius, was not? It's a great question with an ultimately spiritual answer: the Spirit of God changes hearts wherever, whenever, and among whomever He wants. However, most note a significant difference between Patrick and Palladius regarding human agency. The former spent many, albeit horrible, years in Ireland. He knew the people well - their culture, customs, and structures - and leveraged his experiences in Ireland toward fruitful ministry.
Given his first-hand knowledge, Patrick knew that the best prospect for evangelization and social change would come through tribal chieftains. Through their conversions would come wider avenues for the work of the gospel. And the rest, as they say, is history.
If we learn anything from Patrick's experience and example, it is first the power of reinvigorating longneglected faith through ceaseless prayer. When we return to the Lord, He promises to hear us, just as He did for Patrick. Beyond that, it's reassuring to trust that while our suffering might be painful, it is never pointless. Patrick lived many years in a seemingly hopeless situation, but God used it to uniquely prepare him for a glorious and more enduring work. Could God be readying especially dark corners of our world to know the Light of Life today? Let our Lord and His glorious gospel be our vision as they were for Patrick.
SOURCES
https://www.christianitytoday.com/history/2008/august/real-st-patrick.html
https://www1.cbn.com/patricius-the-true-story-of-st-patrick
MARK YOUR CALENDARS!
Next Gen Prayer
March 3, following worship
AWANA Leader Mtg
March 3, following worship
Spiritual Recovery Workshop
March 5, 12, 19, 26
Griefshare
March 7, 14, 21, 28
Welcome Team Mtg
March 10, following worship
Student Ministry Sports Night
March 10, 6:30 - 8:30 pm
Senior Achievers Luncheon
March 12, 11:00 am
Sunday Movie Matinee
March 17, 12:30 pm
Palm Sunday
March 24th
Good Friday Service
March 29th, 7pm
Easter Sunday
March 31st
ANNIVERSARIES
Chuck & Sherry Turner 56 years
Dane & Faye Lloyd 68 years
MEMORIAL GIFTS
Paul Bezeck
Dave and Barb Badstibner
Keith Campbell Anonymous
Ron Pry
Bill and Carol Barnes
Diane Verdish
Laurie Bezeck Anonymous
Senior Achievers Luncheon
Tuesday, March 12
11 am - Social time
11:30 am - Lunch
Sign-ups: March 3, 10
Covered Dish or $8
Devotions: Pastor Kirk
Program: Movie
SYMPATHIES
Our Christian love and sympathy to the friends and family of Diane Verdish.
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