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The

Monthly Newsletter of Williamstown Christian Church

April 2015 VOLUME 18, ISSUE 4

Spring 2015 is in full swing with the blooming of

flowers and trees. And even though it is just the begin-

ning of April, the month of May has several big events in

store for Williamstown Christian Church.

First, Graduation Recognition Sunday will be on

Sunday, May 3 during the Fellowship Breakfast. Tables

will be displayed with memories of each graduate

through their school years, and baskets will be in place

for cards or special notes. A list of WCC graduates will

be listed in the near future.

Second, The National Day of Prayer will be on

Thursday, May 7. There will be special events in our

community throughout the day. More information to be

posted soon.

There are several other events here at WCC, but

they are still in the planning stage. A complete timeline

list is posted on page 4 of this publication. Make sure to

grab a bulletin each week to find out the latest happen-

ings!

From the Minister’s Desk Spring has sprung, by the time this paper is

released Easter will be behind us and this year’s

graduation season will be right around the corner. Life

seems to fly by, and so do those moments when we have

the opportunity to effect the lives of our children not only

for this life, but for all eternity.

One of the inspirations in my life as I was growing

up was Abraham Lincoln, our nations sixteenth President

and the man who led us through one of the most difficult

times in American History.

When I was a boy he was held up as a model of

achievement and the embodiment of “The American

Dream”. Regarded by many as the greatest President of

the United States, Lincoln’s Second Inaugural Address is

one of the noblest political speeches ever given, and his

Gettysburg Address was studied and memorized for years

in grade schools around our nation.

Yet Amazingly, Lincoln had only four months of

formal education, and that in a one room schoolhouse

where students ranged from age five to twenty-five. His

only teacher probably had no more than an eighth-grade

education, if that. Lincoln was held up for years as an

example of the fact that anyone could grow up to be

President.

One day a father was reciting all of Lincoln’s

achievements to his son when he suddenly stopped and

asked the boy, “Where else but in America could this

happen?” And then hoping to instill a little more ambition

in his boy, the father asked, “Do you know what Lincoln

was doing when he was your age?”

To which the boy replied, “No, but I know what he

was doing when he was your age.”

We need to be careful when suggesting that others

be like anybody but their own best selves. They may just

remind us of the errors in our own ways.

A wise man once said, “Men are like fish. Both

could avoid a lot of trouble if they learned to keep their

mouths shut.”

Solomon reminds us in Proverbs 21:23: “He who

guards his mouth and his tongue keeps himself from

calamity.”

Have a great week, and we’ll see you on Sunday!

Gary Swick

Senior Minister

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Hey guys,

A few weekends ago I had the privilege to travel up

to Columbus, Ohio for a weekend conference on spiritual

disciplines.

Disciplines? Sounds like a tough word. Usually

used in a negative, or punishing manner. But in this con-

text disciplines means exercises and practices. In other

words, spiritual disciplines are simply the things we do as

Christians.

The classic 12 spiritual disciplines include: prayer,

fasting, study, meditation, worship, service, submission,

confession, guidance, simplicity, solitude, and celebration.

This list is not a to-do list. This list is not a check-

list. This list is not a self-help guide.

These spiritual disciplines are simply activities that

Christians participate in, whether naturally or otherwise.

Most importantly, spiritual disciplines do not earn us favor

with God or measure spiritual success. They are exercises

which equip us to live fully in God now, while on earth.

1 Timothy 4:8 says: “For physical training is of

some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding

promise for both the present life and the life to come.”

A relationship with Jesus is more than just a belief.

A relationship with Jesus changes who you are and ulti-

mately changes what you live for in life.

1 Corinthians 9:24-27 says: “Do you not know that

in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize?

Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who com-

petes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to

get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown

that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like someone

running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the

air. No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so

that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be

disqualified for the prize.”

Whether you need “strict training” or just need to

take a step back and review your time with God each day,

I’m asking you to evaluate your spiritual disciplines. Your

time each day with Jesus.

Pray. Spend time in His Word. Praise and worship

Him. Fast. Get away in alone time with Him.

Intentionally make time for God in your daily lives.

Whatever is on your heart today that you feel needs more

attention in your spiritual life, do it. Begin with a small

goal, and start!

TV. Internet. Phone. You make time in other are-

as of your life.

Make time for Him.

-Will

www.facebook.com/WilliamstownCCYouthMinistry

Will Dusing

Youth Minister

Youth NOW pag

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Church Events

• April 10 — Youth Event

• April 16 – Senior Saints Trip

• April 24 – Youth 30 Hours

of Famine

• April 25 —Men’s Prayer Breakfast

• April 26 —Grant Manor Service

• May 2 — Ladies Tea

• May 3 — Graduation Sunday

• May 3 — Awana Final Program

• May 7 —National Day of Prayer

• May 8 —Youth Event

• May 10 — Mother’s Day

and Baby Dedication Day

• May 17 — WCC Picnic

• May 21 — Senior Saints Trip

• May 31 — Youth Sunday

Subject to change - check your weekly

bulletin for updates!

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On March 19, the Senior Saints

enjoyed a wonderful visit with Ruth Odor in

Mason, Ohio. Ms. Ruth eagerly awaited our

arrival and gave us a grand tour of Mason

Christian Village. After a few gift exchanges,

we enjoyed fellowship time at the Rusty

Bucket.

Our next Senior Saints Trip will be

to Ikea in West Chester, Ohio in April, and

during the month of May we will travel to

Louisville to Farmington Historic Plantation.

Make sure to check your weekly bulletin for

the latest information, or contact Lorrie in the

office.

And remember, you don’t have to be

a senior or a saint to attend!

Have you ever felt the urge to pray for someone

and then just put it on a list and said, "I'll pray for them

later."? Or has anyone ever called you and said, "I need

you to pray for me, I have this need."? This story may

change the way that you may think about prayer and also

the way you pray.

A missionary on furlough told this story while

visiting his home church in Michigan. "While serving

at a small field hospital in Africa, every two weeks

I traveled by bicycle through the jungle to a nearby

city for supplies.

This was a journey of two days and required

camping overnight at the halfway point. On one of these

journeys, I arrived in the city where I planned to collect

money from a bank, purchase medicine and supplies,

and then begin my two-day journey back to the field

hospital. Upon arrival in the city, I observed two men

fighting, one of whom had been seriously injured.

I treated him for his injuries and at the same time talked

to him about the Lord Jesus Christ. I then traveled two

days, camping overnight, and arrived home without

incident. Two weeks later I repeated my journey.

Upon arriving in the city, I was approached by the

young man I had treated he told me that he had known

I carried money and medicines. He said, "Some friends

and I followed you into the jungle, knowing you would

camp overnight. We planned to kill you and take your

money and drugs but just as we were about to move into

your camp, we saw that you were surrounded by twenty-

six armed guards.'"

At this I laughed and said that I was certainly all

alone out in that jungle campsite. The young man

pressed the point, however, and said, 'No sir, I was not

the only person to see the guards. My five friends also

saw them, and we all counted them." It was because of

those guards that we were afraid and left you alone.

At this point in the sermon, one of the men

in the congregation jumped to his feet and interrupted

the missionary and asked if he could tell him the exact

day that this happened. The missionary told the congre-

gation the date, and the man who interrupted told him

this story: "On the night of your incident in Africa, it was

morning here and I was preparing to go play golf. I was

about to putt when I felt the urge to pray for you. In fact,

the urging of the Lord was so strong I called men in this

church to meet with me here in the sanctuary to pray

for you. Would all of those men who met with me on

that day stand up?" The men who had met together to

pray that day stood up. The missionary wasn't concerned

with who they were, he was too busy counting how many

men he saw. There were twenty-six."

This story is an incredible example of how the

Spirit of the Lord moves in mysterious ways. If you ever

hear such prodding, go along with it. Nothing is ever hurt

by prayer except the gates of hell.

If we all take it to heart, we can turn this world

towards Christ once again. As the above true story clear

illustrates, "with God all things are possible" and more

importantly, how God hears and answers the prayers of

the faithful.

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Jesus looked at them and said, Jesus looked at them and said, Jesus looked at them and said, Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, “With man this is impossible, “With man this is impossible, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” but with God all things are possible.” but with God all things are possible.” but with God all things are possible.”

Matthew 19:26

318 North Main Street

P.O. Box 7

Williamstown, KY 41097

Phone: (859) 823-2041

www.williamstownchristian.com

What We Believe � That the Bible is the inspired and totally reliable Word

of God: II Timothy 3:16-17. � That Jesus Christ is the only begotten Son of God:

John 3:16.

� That Jesus was crucified for our sins, died, was buried and arose physically from the dead on the third day: Romans 5:8, I Corinthians 15:3-4.

� That to be saved a person must: 1. Recognize that you have sinned and cannot save yourself: Romans 3:23. 2. Believe that Jesus paid a death penalty for your

sin through His death on the cross and rose on the third day victorious over death: Romans 6:23.

3. Confess your belief in Jesus Christ as the Son of God and your personal Savior: Luke 12:8.

4. Repent of your sins and turn back to God: Acts 2:38. 5. Be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the

forgiveness of your sins, and to receive the gift of the Holy Spirit: Acts 2:38.

6. Live your life following all that Jesus has commanded us: Matthew 28:20.

� We believe that Jesus will return again to take His church to live in His Heavenly home for all eternity: John 14:1-4.

Just for Laughs

Copyright © 2011 The Zondervan Corporation. Used with permission