Pastor Charles’ Guest Writer.

Our spiritual communities are as susceptible to disease as our physical bodies. But it is easier to detect whatever is wrong in our stomachs and lungs than in our worship and witness. When our physical bodies are sick or damaged, the pain calls our attention to it, and we do something quick. But a dangerous, even deadly, virus in our spiritual communities can go undetected for a long time. As much as we need physicians for our bodies, we have even greater need for diagnosticians and healers of the spirit. Jude’s letter to an early community of Christians is just such diagnosis. It is all the more necessary in that those believers apparently didn’t know anything was wrong, or at least not as desperately wrong as Jude pointed out. The primary Christian posture is, in Jude’s words, “keeping your arms open and outstretched, ready for the mercy of our Master, Jesus Christ. Watchfulness is required. Jude’s little letter as a whistle-blower has prevented many a disaster.
I, Jude, am a slave to Jesus Christ, writing to those loved by God the Father, called and kept safe by Jesus Christ. Relax, everything’s going to be all right; rest, everything’s coming together; open your hearts, love is on the way. I am begging you to fight with everything you have in you for this faith entrusted to us as a gift to guard and cherish. The scripture warned us that some have infiltrated our ranks who beneath their pious skins are shameless scoundrels. Their design is to replace the sheer grace of our God with sheer license - which means doing away with Jesus Christ, our One and only Master. Briefly, this is what God has done for His people. The Master saved a people out of the land of Egypt. Later, He destroyed those who defected. Sodom and Gomorrah, which went to sexual rack and ruin along with the surrounding cities that acted just like them, are another example. Buried and burning, they serve still as a stock warning. These men revile the things which they do not understand; and the things which they know by instinct, like unreasoning animals, by these things that are destroyed. These grumblers, finding fault, following after their own lusts; they speak arrogantly, flattering people for the sake of gaining advantage. But you, beloved, ought to remember the words that were spoken beforehand by the apostle of our Lord Jesus Christ, that they were saying to you, “In the last time there shall be mockers, following after their own ungodly lusts. These are the ones who cause divisions, worldly-minded, devoid of the Spirit. But you, beloved building yourselves up on your most holy faith; praying in the Holy Spirit; keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting anxiously for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to eternal life. And have mercy on some, who are doubting; save others, snatching them out of the fire; and on some have mercy with fear, hating even the garment polluted by the flesh. Now unto Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy. Joy that one day He will be able to present His glorious bride (the church) to the Heavenly Father. Jude was on target. Read the 25 verses and praise God for His precious Words to us. See you Sunday, if Jesus tarries.
In Jesus’ Grip, Pastor Charles

---

As you know, Bryan Bogue will be getting married to Allyson Kelly on June 5 and they will move to Fort Worth, Texas for Bryan to enter Southwestern Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas, to prepare for the Gospel ministry. We thank him for being with us and wish them well in the coming years. Bryan has recommended a young lady at Winthrop, Ms. Krysten Easler, for our consideration as our next Minister of Youth. Parents, youth and our Deacon Council interviewed her this past Sunday and will recommend her to become our Minister of Youth on Sunday, May 2nd.

We will have a church conference this Sunday, April 18th to consider a request from our New Facility Committee. You should have received a letter on this request. We ask you to come and consider prayerfully their request.

Wednesday, April 21st Quarterly Church Conference. We encourage all organizations to have a written report to give to the church in conference.

Thank God for providing a job for Ann Hunter, Shari Spears and Doug McSwain. He does and always will supply all our needs.

Our Week for the construction of our Family Life Center and work on our sanctuary will be July 8-17th. We will have 200 volunteers on our campus and we will feed them lunch. That is over 1600 meals to be prepared by our folks. We need your help.

Food for Thought
How far you go in life depends on your being tender with the young, compassionate with the aged, sympathetic with the striving, and tolerant of the weak and the strong. Because someday in life you will have been all of these. ~ George Washington Carver

Beth Moore Event on April 24th So far, I have only heard from 4 individuals interested in attending the Beth Moore simulcast at Fort Mill First Baptist on April 24th. Tickets are $30 and must be ordered by 04/16. Please contact Roxie at 230-4677 if you are interested in attending.

April YWOM Meeting Our April YWOM meeting will be held on April 18th at 5:15 pm on the patio at McAlister’s Deli on Herlong Ave. Please read our lesson and be prepared to discuss what God has revealed to you through this Beth Moore study. See you then.

Chavez/ Cromer Bridal Shower All ladies are invited to attend a bridal drop-in hosted by YWOM on Sunday April 25th for Miss Kallie Chavez. Kallie and Trent will be united in marriage this June in her Michigan hometown. We are so blessed to have her and Trent in our church family. Please come share in this joyous event as we wish her many years of wedded bliss. Her drop in will be held from 3 pm-5 pm in the Homebuilder’s Sunday School classroom.

Our 2010 Baccalaureate Service honoring our graduates will be on Sunday, May 23rd. We are aware of the following graduates for this year. If you know of others from NewKirk or if we have the wrong information on you, please call the church office. This year’s graduates are: Russ Trotter, Caroline Odell, Bryan Bogue, Allyson Kelly, Jamey McWaters, Hayley Smith, Hannah Gordon, Hope Marten, Sydney Heaton and Chad Smith. Pastor Charles has requested that you inform him of your plans regarding a job, or continuing your education, or military. If you plan to be PRESENT or NOT TO BE PRESENT for the service, please call the church office and let us know. There will be a luncheon following worship for the graduate and his/her family. We need to know your plans to allow us to prepare food for this occasion. Please plan to wear your robe.

Attention NewKirk Seniors: Our next meeting is to be April 26, at 6:30. You are asked to please bring your favorite salad, (chicken, fruit, tossed, etc.).

Would you like to go to White Oak Conference on Thursday, December 2, 2010 to hear Guy Penrod, formerly of the Gaither ensemble, and Jeff and Shari Easter? The tickets are $24.50 for reserved seats. There are two options: 1) Dinner at 5:30 and concert at 7:30 P.M. or 2) Concert at 5:00 and dinner at 7:00 P.M. If you are interested in going, please make your check out to Charles L. Tanner and give it to him by April 25th. He will order tickets on the 26th of April.

CHURCH CALENDAR
Apr. 18—9:45—S.S., 10:45—Worship, 5:00-Youth, 5:15-YWOM, 7:00-New Facility Comm.
Apr. 19—7:00—Finance Committee
Apr. 20—7:00—GROW (O)
Apr. 21—6:45-RA’s, GA’s, Acteens, Mission Friends & Adult Bible Study, 7:30—Choir Practice
Apr. 24—10:00 to 4:00—Beth Moore at Ft. Mill First Baptist