Just a Few More Family Christmas Pics

Family Christmas Pics

Here are a few photos from the Dyer-Meadows Family Christmas in Spring City.

A few pics from our Christmas Banquet

That's My King

I heard this message by Dr. Samuel M. Lockridge on video a couple years ago, but I just found the text online. It's a wonderful message, and I thought it would be good to share it with you here.

My King was born King. The Bible says He’s a Seven Way King.
He’s the King of the Jews – that’s a racial King.
He’s the King of Israel – that’s a National King.
He’s the King of righteousness.
He’s the King of the ages.
He’s the King of Heaven.
He’s the King of glory.
He’s the King of kings and He is the Lord of lords.
Now that’s my King. Well I wonder if you know Him. Do you know Him? Don’t try to mislead me. Do you know my King?
David said the Heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament show His handiwork.
My King is a soverign king.
No means of measure can define His limitless love.
No far seeing telescope can bring into visibility the coastline of His shore of supplies.
No barriers can hinder Him from pouring out His blessing.
Well, well, He’s enduringly strong.
He’s entirely sincere.
He’s eternally steadfast.
He’s immortally graceful.
He’s imperially powerful.
He’s impartially merciful.
That’s my King.
He’s God’s Son.
He’s the sinner’s savior.
He’s the centerpiece of civilization.
He stands alone in Himself.
He’s honest.
He’s unique.
He’s unparalleled.
He’s unprecedented.
He’s supreme.
He’s pre-eminent.
Well, He’s the grandest idea in literature.
He’s the highest personality in philosophy.
He’s the supreme problem in high criticism.
He’s the fundamental doctrine of proved theology.
He’s the carnal necessity of spiritual religion.
That’s my King.
He’s the miracle of the age.
He’s the superlative of everything good that you choose to call Him.
Well, He’s the only one able to supply all of our needs simultaneously.
He supplies strength for the weak.
He’s available for the tempted and the tried.
He sympathizes and He saves.
He’s strong God and He guides.
He heals the sick.
He cleanses the lepers.
He forgives sinners.
He discharged debtors.
He delivers the captives.
He defends the feeble.
He blesses the young.
He serves the unfortunate.
He regards the aged.
He rewards the diligent and He beautifies the meek.
Do you know Him?
Well, my King is a King of knowledge.
He’s the wellspring of wisdom.
He’s the doorway of deliverance.
He’s the pathway of peace.
He’s the roadway of righteousness.
He’s the highway of holiness.
He’s the gateway of glory.
He’s the master of the mighty.
He’s the captain of the conquerors.
He’s the head of the heroes.
He’s the leader of the legislatures.
He’s the overseer of the overcomes.
He’s the governor of governors.
He’s the prince of princes.
He’s the King of kings and He’s the Lord of lords.
That’s my King. Yeah. Yeah. That’s my King. My King, yeah.
His office is manifold.
His promise is sure.
His light is matchless.
His goodness is limitless.
His mercy is everlasting.
His love never changes.
His Word is enough.
His grace is sufficient.
His reign is righteous.
His yoke is easy and His burden is light.
Well. I wish I could describe Him to you, but He’s indescribable. He’s indescribable. Yes.
He’s incomprehensible.
He’s invincible.
He’s irresistible.
I’m coming to tell you, the heavens of heavens cannot contain Him, let alone a man explaining Him. You can’t get Him out of your mind.
You can’t get Him off of your hands.
You can’t outlive Him and you can’t live without Him.
Well, Pharisees couldn’t stand Him, but they found out they couldn’t stop Him.
Pilot couldn’t find any fault in Him.
The witnesses couldn’t get their testimonies to agree.
Herod couldn’t kill Him.
Death couldn’t handle Him and the grave couldn’t hold Him.
That’s my King. Yeah. He always has been and He always will be. I’m talking about He had no predecessor and He’ll have no successor. There’s nobody before Him and there’ll be nobody after Him.
You can’t impeach Him and He’s not going to resign. That’s my King! That’s my King!
Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever and ever and ever.
How long is that? And ever and ever and ever and ever.
And when you get through with all of the evers, then, Amen.
—Dr. S. M. Lockridge

Funeral Arrangements

I am sad to report that Sister Ada Norris passed away on Thursday. Sister Norris was first acquainted with Sonbright Christian Center during the tent revival back in 1952. It is believed that she was one of the charter members when the church was organized.

Sister Norris has been a faithful slodier of the Cross for many years, and we honor her life of commitment to Christ.

The family will receive friends at the Four Oaks Funeral Home in Oneida on Sunday evening from 6 to 9 p.m., and the funeral service will be at Sonbright Christian Center on Monday morning at 11 a.m.

Please lift up the Norris family in prayer.

IF

I came across this poem not long ago and thought I'd share it here.

IF

If all lips spoke the truth

All pride was cast aside

Greed was packed and sotred away

And jealousy subside

If love could rule the universe

Kindness was sown to every race

Then one could glance into a mirror

And view God in his face.

--written by a 16 year old girl on the street

Are you going in the right direction?

Surely everyone who has ever picked up a bible or attended a Sunday School has heard the story of Jonah. This Old Testament prophet had received word from the Lord to "Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry against it; for their wickedness is come up before me" (Jonah 1:2).

Jonah was a prophet of God whose duty it was to bear the Word of the Lord when He spoke. Jonah’s response, however, was to go the opposite direction. He knew he could not get away from the presence of the Lord, but he was determined to get away from his new field of duty! He set out to Joppa planning to go onward to Tarshish. He wanted to get as far away as he could from Ninevah.

We are all called to be ambassadors for Christ, and sometimes the work to which we are assigned is less than exciting. There are times when we know we will be criticized and castigated, and we are loathe to place ourselves in that position. We may be so brave as to try for a time, but when our suspicions are proven correct, we make our move. Off to a place better suited to our personal comfort.

Jonah, in refusing to do what God commanded him to do, found it easy to get away. When he arrived in Joppa he found a ship ready to set sail to Tarshish—the place he intended to go. He had the money to pay the fare, so all seemed to be going well. Surely he would be able to continue his ministry in a new location. After all, Ninevah wouldn’t be easy!

God had different plans. God had placed Jonah in Ninevah and he would be successful nowhere else. In fact, he was going nowhere else, and God would see to that!

Out on the sea, a great storm began to brew and the ship was going to sink. The other men on the ship feared for their lives and began to call on their gods. When they found Jonah, he was fast asleep below. He was so comfortable in his disobedience that he didn’t even notice the storm. It took "unbelievers" to awaken him to this fact. But he did wake up!

At his own request, Jonah was thrown overboard and the others were saved as the storm died down. Jonah was also saved, but he spent three days in the belly of a great fish. That doesn’t sound too exciting to me. After three days, however, he was vomited up on shore. By this time he had been convinced that the best choice he could ever make was to simply obey.

The things God requires of us may not always seem comfortable, but the alternative will surely be worse. It’s God’s way of convincing you to do what He asks of you.

Where does God want you?

Are you going in the right direction?

Don't Remove the Thorn

"For though I would desire to glory, I shall not be a fool; for I will say the truth: but now I forbear, lest any man should think of me above that which he seeth me to be, or that he heareth of me. And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me" (2 Corinthians 12:6-9).

This morning during my time with the Lord, I began to think about the apostle Paul and his comments about the thorn in his flesh. As I pondered this, the Lord began to speak to my heart, and I thought I’d share it with you. I hope this will be a source of encouragement for you as it is for me.

Being human, we all face difficult and challenging things in life. Sometimes these situations bring such pressure that we loose our excitement for the purpose to which Christ has called us. We begin to withdraw out of fear and/or anger. We build up our walls of defense in an effort to protect ourselves from further hurt, then we "lay low" and hope for the best.

Speaking from the flesh, this is natural. After all, none of us enjoys the difficulties in life. None of us enjoys being hurt. None of us enjoys being misunderstood and rejected.

The apostle Paul said "…there was given to me a thorn in the flesh…." As I pondered that phrase, I wondered why in the world would he consider that it was given to him? Then I re-read the preceding words, "lest I should be exalted above measure."

Even with the knowledge that there was a reason, Paul prayed three times that this thorn would be removed. Like all of us, this great apostle didn’t enjoy the pain. He didn’t enjoy the limitations imposed upon his ministry as a result of the thorn, so he prayed.

Although this man had an extraordinary relationship with the risen Christ, His prayer was not to be answered, as he desired. He wanted the thorn removed, but after three earnest prayers, the
Lord responded by saying, "My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness."

We don’t know exactly what this thorn in the flesh was for the apostle Paul. All we know is that it was not pleasant. But God’s grace was and is sufficient!

Clearly, the flesh desires certain results when we pray, but the flesh must be subject to the Spirit. Rather than allowing the flesh to respond to our challenges and difficulties, we should trust in the grace of God. He will see us through!

So, don’t try to remove the thorn. It may be there for a reason. It may be that the Lord is trying to teach us humility. Remember, God’s grace is sufficient for YOU!

Who Cares

Have you ever felt that if you were to fall off the face of the earth no one would notice? I sure have. It sometimes seems as if the troubles and cares of this life are so overwhelming that we can't see the forest for the trees. We struggle to maintain the joy only to see it slowly slipping away. Sadly, our response sometimes is to just give up. I've been there!

The writer of the Hebrew letter understood the struggles a believer goes through. We are encouraged to "...keep a firm grip on the promises that keep us going. He always keeps his word" (Hebrews 10:23 MSG), and "Remember those early days after you first saw the light? Those were the hard times!" (Hebrews 10:32 MSG)

Remembering all the Lord has done for us in the past should serve as an indicator of what He will do for us in the future. He has been faithful, and there is no need for us to entertain the notion of giving up. In fact, the writer goes on in verse 35 to say, "So don't throw it all away now. You were sure of yourselves then. It's still a sure thing!" (Hebrews 10:35 MSG).

Our heavenly Father has given us what we need to get through this life victoriously! "Trust ye in the LORD for ever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength" (Isaiah 26:4 KJV). "Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths" (Proverbs 3:5-6 KJV).

Who cares? God cares. So, keep on following Him.

Don't try to distract me!

The Bible talks about old men dreaming dreams, and young men seeing visions (cf. Joel 2:28). I must be right on the cusp of being old and young, because I have dreamed dreams, and I feel I have had visions. I am convinced, beyond any shadow of doubt, that GREAT things lie ahead for those of us who will trust in the Lord—walking in faith and obedience to His Word.

Clearly, there will be those who will continue to question this vision and the direction in which this church is being led. I understand that this is very discouraging to those of us who are striving to achieve in actuality what we are working for with vision, but let me encourage you today!

There will always be people to challenge what we are doing, and where we are going! Noah had them, Moses had them, Elijah had them, Nehemiah had them, Paul had them, and even Jesus had them. These are people who want to lead, but have no idea where they are going. They are people who don’t want to do the work (ministry), but they want to control anyone who is doing it. They are people who are jealous of what God is doing in others. They are people who allow other spirits to control their actions and behavior, but they will not interfere with the work of the Lord when the Spirit of the Living God is doing the leading! They may try, but they will not succeed!

I am on a mission. I don't have all the answers, but I know who does! So, don't try to distract me with petty squabblings. I'm not going to take my eyes off Jesus just to please men!

Pressing Forward!

Sonbright Christian Center is a vibrant, growing body of believers pressing forward with the vision in the power of the Holy Spirit!

Many who have visited with us have chosen to make SCC their home church, and in the past year, we have added nineteen (19) new members to the church both by transfer and by covenant.

It has been said that a church without youth is a dying church. With this, I wholeheartedly agree. We rejoice, however, to see our youth and children’s ministries growing! Jesus placed great importance on children: “And they brought young children to him, that he should touch them: and his disciples rebuked those that brought them. But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God” (Mark 10:13-14).

The fact that we are growing necessarily requires adaptability! Adaptability simply means an ability to adjust to changes and new conditions.

For example, Sister Lynn Human, our Children’s Ministry Pastor, has requested volunteers to assist in the nursery. As our children’s ministry continues to grow, it will be necessary to add more volunteers. The same applies to every other ministry operating at SCC.

As we continue to grow and adapt to accommodate growth, the enemy will surely continue to fight against our efforts! It is imperative that we know his tactics and diligently seek to model Jesus’ example in order to defeat the enemy.

I am committed to press on by the grace and strength of the Lord, and to make the necessary changes to accommodate growth. We may, at times, need to change our structure, our methods, etc., but never will we compromise the fundamentals of the faith! Together, we will overcome every obstacle and see victory on top of victory as we press forward...together!

It is my prayer that the Lord bless and strengthen everyone of you as you submit to His way and His will!

Lord Teach Us To Pray

"And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive" (Matthew 21:22).

All too often we have heard people preach and teach that all that is involved in effective prayer is that we believe (have faith in) God. His promises are true, and when we truly exercise faith, we have what we ask.

This, I believe, is only half truth! Yes, Jesus did focus much of his ministry on teaching about faith, but equally present in His ministry is the requirement and example of charity (giving).

In the infamous "Lord's Prayer," Jesus said that when we pray we must understand that we receive as we are willing to give! "...forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors...." The apostle Paul said that we receive from the Lord so that we may be able to give to others (cf. 2 Corinthians 1:4).

Effective prayer is not focused on MY needs alone! Effective prayer seeks from the Lord with a willingness--evan an eagerness--to give to others. As someone has said, "...with one hand [prayer] reaches up to heaven with the other down to earth; in it, faith prepares to receive, what charity is ready to dispense."

Effective prayer=Faith+Charity!

Appearances Are Changing on the Campus of SCC

Again this morning at 8 a.m. several people gathered at the church to pour another section of concrete for our north parking lot. This has been an ongoing process for at least a year now, beginning with two long, uphill (or down hill?) driveways.

I want to express my sincere appreciation to Brothers Phil Sannon and Byrl Jones for taking the initiative to spear-head this project. Many others have assisted in the pouring of concrete, and we appreciate their hard work and willingness to give of their time! Of course, this couldn't have been done without money! And our ladies have worked equally as hard making home made fried apple (and other flavors) pies, etc. Thanks to everyone!

In fact, this is a project in which the whole congregation is involved in one way or another, and we are thankful to the Lord for strengthening and enabling us to improve that which He has entrusted to us.

Something Good Is On The Way!

I am convinced that we are on the brink of a powerful outpouring of the Spirit of God here at Sonbright Christian Center. Last night I spoke with several people from this congregation at length, and the common theme each one brought up was a desire to see the glory of God once again. To see the Power of the Holy Ghost working in us. As I spoke with each of these individually, the Holy Ghost seemed to move inside me. There was a Holy anticipation. As I moved from one conversation to the next, my spirit became more excited and I felt an overwhelming assurance that God IS in control, and this work shall not fail!

As I write this article, I am overcome with a sense of joy. My heart almost leaps within me as I ponder what God has in store for us.

Two passages of Scripture com to mind: “O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out”
(Romans 11:33)!

“Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen” (Ephesians 3:20-21).

Sonbright Christian Center, let’s Fan the Flames—victory is ours through the power and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ!

The Vision Continues

Sonbright Christian Center is preparing for it's 53rd Anniversary Celebration and Homecoming on August 14. We are pleased to announce that Bishop Fred S. Fisher, Sr., General Overseer of the Church of God of Prophecy, will be our special guest speaker.

We will honor our past by focusing on the vision that led to the organization of this congregation and motivated it to move with the Spirit of God. We will celebrate the present, giving praise to God for all He is doing in the here and now. Finally, we look forward with great anticipation to the future, knowing that greater things lie ahead. The Vision Continues, and we are committed to press on into the harvest!