We will celebrate Fathers Day on Sunday, June 21. Please invite your fathers (or invite your children if you are a father) to attend with us. We will have a special gift for each father who attends.

Henry Sitarski died at 600 AM on May 28, 2009. Henry had been bedfast for two years in his home with a rare form of cancer. He died from complications with pneumonia. The date for the memorial service has not been determined. We will send an announcement with the details at a later date.

On Sunday, June 14, Johnny Mayes will be presenting a bible study, The Stuff Inside. Do you have peace of mind? Do you have peace of heart? The study, centering on John 14:15-30, will address Jesus promise of the Holy Spirit. Do come early as the study begins at 1230 PM in Building A.

Hello from Community Christian Fellowship, Why would God make a statement to us about leaving our parents' right after He created Adam and Eve? In Genesis 2:24 God stated, "For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh". Some traditions take this literally and state that man and woman should procreate and have a family. Others say it has to do with them growing up and leaving their families of origin and becoming a family of their own. And still, some say this is where marriage is ordained and created by God. All of these appear to be true and relevant. But we find an even greater explanation when we read what Paul has to say. In Eph. 5:31-32, Paul talks to men regarding their marital responsibility by using this very verse. Why would he do that, and call it a mystery about Christ and the church? Well men, when you chose the woman you are now married to, what did you look for? Was she pretty, did you get along with her and her family, did you have a lot in common? Of course we hope the answers to these questions was yes; if not, your marriage has been very challenging!

Now, scripture calls the church the "bride of Christ". What was this bride like when Christ chose her? Rom. 5 says while we were still sinners Christ died for us. So, how many of us as men want to go out and find a potential bride who does not even know we're going to marry her and who has openly committed and is still committing the greatest sins she could possibly commit? It would be like choosing an unfaithful, unpredictable prostitute. Imagine bringing her home to "mommy"!!!! This is the example we see in the story of the prophet Hosea, and it is exactly what Jesus did for us. He chose us as his "bride", and through His selfless sacrifice of unconditional love called grace, He has made all of mankind, men and women, righteous in Him-to be presented as his beautiful "bride" to the Father.

Paul uses the verse in Genesis to show the profound love a husband should have for his wife, but even more importantly, Paul uses this verse to show the unconditional love Jesus had for all of us as human beings. It is in this love and grace that we find our true identity. Then and only then, will our minds begin to be changed (Rom. 12) to begin to fathom the immense love that has been grated us. This love is something to rejoice over, to celebrate everyday in the way that we share it with others we encounter; husband, wife, child, friend or stranger. Until next time, Pastor Mark