John Clark, Senior Minister; Joe Wisley, Family Life Minister; Jeff Thompson, Associate Minister; Jordan Delks,

Student Minister; Joy Elzinga & Becky Middlesworth, Children’s Ministers; Shane Tracy, Worship Minister;

Connie Percifield, Worship Minister; Pam Green, Kids Hope Director; Bethany Tinkel, Office Manager

“Helping people become Christ-Centered in their daily lives.”

Converse Church of Christ P. O. Box 413, 301 E. Wabash St

Converse, IN 46919 765-395-3361

www.conversechurch.org

NON-PROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE PAID Converse, IN 46919

PERMIT NO. 21

Volume 10, Issue 5 May 2019

Our next series of sermons will take us through the book of 2nd

Peter. I love this book. And I really like Peter. He gives me courage, because of his impetuous nature. You recall he was the one who wanted to climb out of the boat and walk on the waves to meet Jesus. He’s the one who said they ought to put up shelters on the Mount of Transfiguration to honor Moses, Aaron, and Jesus. He’s the one who pulled out a sword to defend Jesus when the soldiers came to arrest Him in the Garden of Gethsemane. He’s the one who said he would go to prison and death for Jesus. He’s the one who answered Jesus’ question, “who do you say that I am?”, with, “You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God”! He also gives me hope, because he had to be corrected so often. When he climbed out of the boat and walked on the water to meet Jesus, He started to sink and had to be saved. And when he wanted to put up the shelters for Moses, Aaron, and Jesus, the Bible says he didn’t know what he was saying. When he pulled out a sword and cut off the ear of the of the servant of the high priest, Jesus told him, “no more of this”! Shortly after saying he would go to prison and death for Jesus, he denied Him three times. And 7 verses after declaring that Jesus was the Christ, he was told by Jesus to “get behind me, Satan”! Courage and hope are two good lessons to learn from Peter; but, he has many more direct and powerful lessons to teach us in the next four weeks! I can’t wait. I hope you’ll plan to be at C3 for all four sermons in the 2

nd Peter series!

Upward and Onward, John

“Time to change the filter!”

Proverbs 16:25 English Standard Version (ESV) 25 There is a way that seems right to a man,

but its end is the way to death.

Proverbs 14:12 English Standard Version (ESV) 12 There is a way that seems right to a man,

but its end is the way to death.

I find it very interesting that Solomon found it important enough to write this same exact verse twice! This reminded me of when Courtney and I parent Grayson our two year old son. We have a kitchen table that sits next to our stove. When we cook he loves to climb his curious little self up the chair then onto the table to watch us cook. We tell him “Grayson this stove is very hot!” He then gets a mischievous little grin and acts like he is going to place his hand closer to the hot pot or pan on the stove not “filtering” what we said. We then repeat ourselves and say “Grayson this stove is very hot!” this time we say it with a little more intensity in our tone of voice to show that we really mean what we say and that we are trying to protect him! He then “filters” what we say and steps back safe and then eats his nutritious meal his mother cooked for him!

This is what I feel Solomon is doing here in Proverbs 16:25 and Proverbs 14:12. He is saying this

twice to show how important this verse is and to protect us just as my wife and I try to protect our son when he climbs up on the table to watch us cook. As humans we think our way is right because it feels good. However; we are vulnerable to thinking in a selfish or arrogant way and deceive ourselves. Self – deceit is very blinding and leads to many wrong decisions. In the end it can ultimately lead to death and destruction.

In 1 Samuel 15:1-35 King Saul of Israel had an idea that most definitely seemed right to him. Instead

of killing and wasting all the good animals of the Amalekites, he allowed the people to keep them for an offering to Jehovah. However, the Lord had already made his command. Jehovah had stated they were to be slaughtered. In this case Samuel the prophet condemned King Saul and his thinking as witchcraft and idolatry. In Acts 26:9 Saul of Tarsus thought to do many things contrary to Jesus. Notice that he tried to do things on his own. This is the sin of this proverb, because he had no internal check or “filter”.

We all need a “filter” that is perfectly right to correct our carnal and sinful thinking. God’s will in the

Bible is perfect. Let’s change our filter from our own thinking to the perfect, flawless, God – Breathed Scriptures!

Jordan

CCC Attendance & Giving

3/24/2019 3/31/2019 4/7/2019 4/14/2019 4/21/2019

Worship 394 437 514 510 804

Life Groups 250 191 262 269 313

General Fund, Missions & Building Fund $ 5,072.05 $ 8,442.32 $ 11,841.10 $ 24,092.00 $ 14,685.00

Designated Missions $ 6,229.00 $ 4,290.00 $ 2,193.00 $ 3,513.30

Ark Christian Ministries $ 1,451.00

Easter/Thanksgiving/Other $ 100.00 $ 23,760.00

Total $ 11,301.05 $ 9,893.32 $ 16,131.10 $ 26,385.00 $ 41,958.30

Remembering Our Military

As in years past we will be remembering, honoring, and

recognizing Converse Church of Christ and Oak Hill community

military members – past and present on Sunday, May 27th.

Information requested is:

Name____________________________________________

Service___________________________________________

____Deceased ____Retired ____Active

Rank______________ Date of Service_______________

Theater__________________________________________

A picture of the service member - preferably in uniform - would

be appreciated. Please have this information to the church

office by Friday, May 10th. Forms are available at the

Welcome Center and the Church Office. If information has

already been shared, thank you.

Have a student graduating this spring?

Please contact the church office so this

information can be shared with the CCC

family. Information needed is: Name of

Graduate, Graduating from, Degree

Obtained, Future Plans, Parent/Spouse

name. Hosting an Open House for your

student? Please provide the

office with the Date, Time and

Location. Please bring your

information to the Welcome

Center or the church office.

Parish Nurses will be taking

Blood Pressures in the foyer

(8:15-10:30am)

Sunday, May 19th

Prayers & Praises Glenna Smith—Marion General Hospital, Room 274

Continue to Prayer for: Bo Castanon, Jean Cooley, Tara Dieterman, Mary Jane Dill, Ryder Dodson, Leeanna Fansler, Rich Gamble, Tyler Hagan, Brad Harts, Beth Holt, John Hueston, Chuck Lawson, Susie Middlesworth, Cynthia Mullinix, Jim Needler, Paul Rennaker, Joan Schaaf, Kellee Slaughter, Kathy Wyrick, Terry Anderson, Angie, David Bowman, Grace Braun, Mike Cassidy, Steve Dazzell, Nancy Floyd, Ronda Garrett, Ron George, Jeff Graf, Betty Guy, Lori Haalck, Harley, Katie Harrison, Lowell Harter, Heidi, Mark Horner, Ruthie Sommers Horner, Dana Hudson, Kim Jentes, Jillian, Cooper Johnson, Evan Johnson, Mark Krabbe, Cindy Linn, LouAnne, Ken Machala, Sarah Matthews, Paul McGuire, Leo Melle, Hadlea Mendenhall, Michelle, Nancy, Nici, Susan Phillips, Ann Pond, Bob Preusz, Teresa Ratliff, Laudi Reffett, Fred Richards, Betty Richey, Jean Rohrer, Gina Rolfs, Scott, Michelle Scrafton, Kristy Sellers, Jerry Smith, Judy Smith, Dawn Staggs, Debbie Vance, Heidi Vance, Suzanne Werner, Stephanie Walls, Jan Waters, Will & Julie White, David Christian Wittrock, Terri Zimmerman

Miriam Circle—will meet on Tuesday, May 7,

1:30pm in Room 22. The lesson is Ruth 2:5-13 and

the lesson leader is Wendy Ross. Nancy Phillips

and Carolyn Johnson are hostesses.

Kids Hope Mentor Meeting

Sunday, May 5th 4:00-4:30pm

Pam’s home

7885 W 400 N, Converse

Important Info for the End of the Year Party

The 2019 Haiti Mission Team invites you to join our team by supporting

us on….

Sunday, May 5th—Bake Sale in the Gym Monday, May 6th—Gravity Zone in Kokomo, 3-8pm Tuesday, May 7th—Moe’s in Marion, 5-9pm Thursday, May 9th—Pizza King in Converse, 11am-9pm You can help support the 2019 Haiti Mission Team by visiting the above businesses and mention “Haiti Mission Team”. The team will receive a percentage of that day’s receipts.

Thank you for supporting us!!!

MOVE UP Sunday, June 2nd

Each class/grade in the children’s and

student ministries will MOVE UP to the

next age group.

Senior Saints Wednesday, May 15th 11:30am—Luncheon

12:30pm—Nearly Departed Trio Reservations required

Sign up in Life Groups rooms, at the Welcome Center, bulletin boards or church office.