The Bangor Liberty Bell

Sharing the News and Views of

Bangor Liberty Friends Church

February/March 2016   Volume 37, No. 2/3

  

“Starting The Day With Obedience”

           Recently, Admiral William McRaven, gave the commencement speech at the University of Texas.  The key to success in the future, he told the graduates, is obedience. Obedience is the beginning of a life of success.  By being obedient in one thing, one is attaining success.  One success piled on top of another success eventually leads to a great deal of success.  By being obedient in the simplest things one sets the stage for greater obedience in the future.  During his speech he encouraged the audience to start every day with a success.  His idea was typical of a leader in the military. He told the student they should begin the day by making their bed when they got up.  Now I can’t remember the last time I made my bed.  As a matter of fact after more than 20 years in the military I refuse to make my bed.  However, the idea of tying obedience and success together is equally important to our relationship with God.

           In John 14:15, Jesus says, “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.”  Later in verse 21 of the same chapter he says, “Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me.  And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him.”

In chapter 2 of John’s Gospel, Jesus and the disciples along, with Mary his mother are at a wedding in Cana.  This miracle like all the others in John’s Gospel are present to demonstrate Jesus divinity. 

           If you look closer, though, the message of “The Wedding” is about obedience.  John’s account tells us that after the wine ran out, Mary said to Him, “They have no more wine.”  Jesus’s answers, “What does this have to do with me?”  This seems to imply that he has no intention of getting involved.  Perhaps it was a mother’s intuition, or a look or the inflection of his voice, but we are told that Mary next went to the servant’s and said, “Do whatever he tells you.”  Jesus instructs them to fill the vats with water, and the rest as they say is history. 

When the master of the banquet tasted the new wine, he was amazed, because usually the cheaper wine was served to guests after they had had a few.  In this case Jesus provided the best wine after the servants had obeyed Jesus’ command.

           C.S. Lewis wrote, “Obedience to the will of God make men happy, and that disobedience makes them miserable.”  Realistically considered, the measure of our happiness is almost always in direct proportion to the level of our obedience to God’s commands. 

The problem with obedience is that it is a doctrine more often talked about than actually done.  Christ is the model for our obedience. He reminds His disciples that “the world must learn that I love the Father and that I do exactly what my Father has commanded me”  Love is the key to obedience.  Romans 5:19 reminds us, “through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous.”  Like the guests at the wedding, mankind received the benefit of the good wine.  In Luke 6:46, Christ asks a hard question of the disobedient, “Why do you call me, Lord, Lord, and do not do what I say.”

           If we go back to the Admiral and the idea of beginning the day with a success to build on.  We should see our daily communion with God as an opportunity to be obedient and begin our day with a success to build upon in the coming week. 

 

                       

Upcoming Easter Services

            We serve a RISEN Lord!! As Christians we celebrate the life, death and resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

            Easter is always a special time, one of the most holy “seasons” in our lives.  It is a day that marks the amazing power and promise of God who sent His son to die on the cross to save us from our sins.  Because He lives, so do we here on earth and eternally.

            Please join us on Good Friday, March 25 @ BLFC meeting as we pause together and consider His death on the Cross.   Our service will start at 7 pm and will have music and a message.

            The Ministry & Counsel is also excited about the 6:30 am Sunrise Service at the Royal Ranch on March 27, Easter Sunday.   After that we invite everyone to enjoy our traditional Easter morning breakfast with your church family. 

            Remember we will have Sunday school @ 9:30 am and our Regular Service @ 10:30 am on Easter Sunday

            We look forward to seeing you!!!

                        In His love,

                        BLFC Ministry & Counsel

 

 

HOC Soup Bowl Luncheon

Sunday, March 13, from 11:30-1:30 the House of Compassion will have a joint fundraiser with the art students at MHS.  St. Henry Catholic Church will host the event at 221 W Olive St. For $10 you’ll be given your choice of homemade soup and allowed to keep the bowl crafted by MHS students.  Extra bowls and bowl "cozies" will be available to purchase.

"What's a bowl cozie?" you might ask. Soup cozies help you transfer your bowls to you table or you can just leave you bowl in them while you hold it and eat your soup.  Volunteers are making cozies in beautiful coordinating prints.  They are reversible and a great accessory to your bowl collection.  Be sure to mark your calendar for this event on March 13th.

 

 

Closet Competition

          Get ready for a little “Friendly” competition this month!!  March is one of two months when our church helps to fill the supply closet shelves at the House of Compassion.  As in 2015, we again will have a competition for all ages between the men (and boys) and women (and girls) to see who can bring the most items for the closet.  There will be a pink box and blue box in the fellowship hall for your items.  Guys can bring items specifically used by men and gals can bring items for women. 

Each item will each be worth a certain amount of points (since some are more expensive than others).  The team with the lower score at the end of the month will prepare, serve and clean-up for the winners at our next potluck meal!  The men won last year.  Will they reclaim their title or will the women move ahead??  We need everyone to participate!  Let’s get the shelves stocked and have fun at the same time!  Competition deadline will be Sunday, March 27.       

Guys: dish soap, disposable razors, deodorant, tube socks, Axe body wash/shower gel, size 3,4,5 diapers (20 or more).  Gals: dish soap, disposable razor, deodorant, lotion, sanitary pads/liners, size 3,4,5 diapers (20 or more).

 

 

Children’s Easter Party

BLFC Saturday, March 26

10:00 a.m. to 12:00

All children 4th grade & under are invited

Activities around the Easter story

Crafts, Games, Egg hunt

Child friendly lunch

 

 

Dear Friends,

Please post the AMO Field Staff position in your monthly newsletter.

http://friendsunitedmeeting.org/assets/amo-programme-officer-job-description---february-2016.pdf

-Thank you,

Kim Schull, 'Friends U

 

 

 On March 30th we will have a game night instead of our Deeper Classes. We will have Little Ceaser Pizza for all. Please bring a snack or side to share. We will eat at 6:15 pm with games to follow. Bring board games for all ages that you would like to play.  We will conclude or evening at usual time, 8 pm

 

 

Matt is looking for pictures from further back of the interior of the church building.  He will scan them and give them back and make a CD with them.

 

 

LIBRARY LEDGE – Lots of Books, come see…

 

Just Give Me Jesus by Anne Graham Lotz, Undaunted: Daring to do what God calls you to doDangerous Wonder: The adventure of childlike faith,Not a Day Goes by Without HIS Unfolding Grace by Eugene Peterson, Stories from the River of Mercy by Sheila Walsh – True Journey of two women who find grace & mercy, 3458 Bible People & PlacesThe Epistle to the Hebrews and more!

           

Dear Bangor Liberty,

Thank you so much for your recent donations to the House of Compassion supply closet (clothing).

Our donations have been “down” recently so we particularly appreciate you thinking of us.

Supply Closet Team,