This Sunday
Ryan is graduating from The Los Angeles College of Chiropractic and everyone is invited to the party. Lunch begins this Sunday, 1:30PM at the Card's Residence. Please RSVP via email for directions and details.
We love the Woman's Club Garden.
There are few places better to hangout with friends after church then in the garden. It's a sweet setup and the club does a great job with it. A big shout out to the Woman's Club for allowing us to use it. Please remember to keep your children out of the landscaping. We have just one rule.
Stay on the bricks.
Pastor Eric recommended two books during his sermon last Sunday.
The Discipline of Grace: God's Role and Our Role in the Pursuit of Holiness by Jerry Bridges
“Too often, we say we are defeated by this or that sin. No, we are not defeated. We are simply disobedient. It might be good if we stop using the terms victory and defeat to describe our progress in holiness. Rather, we should use the terms obedience and disobedience. When I say I am defeated by some sin, I am unconsciously slipping out from under my responsibility. I am saying something outside of me has defeated me. But when I say I am disobedient, that places the responsibility for my sin squarely on me. We may in fact be defeated, but the reason we are defeated is because we have chosen to disobey."
“Most people spend their entire lives trying to make their heart’s fondest dreams come true. Isn’t that what life is all about, “the pursuit of happiness”? We search endlessly for ways to acquire the things we desire, and we are willing to sacrifice much to achieve them. We never imagine that getting our heart’s deepest desires might be the worst thing that can ever happen to us.”
Watching the Orange Plaza Car show from our church offices.
To be human is to pursue happiness.
Pastor Eric preached last Sunday from 1 Corinthians 9:24-10:13, adding to our study of the topic of Christian liberty. He said "This is the part of the conversation about our freedoms that is frequently omitted. We are champions of our favorite whatevers, but often neglect to acknowledge that our whatevers could become our next idols."
Our freedom requires more discipline, more caution, and more grace than we first realized. The most misinterpreted maxim in the life of Christian is often "For freedom Christ has set us free."
Plan on arriving early and staying late this Sunday. Our neighbors are bringing out their cool cars and the some of the streets will be closed. This is a great opportunity to enjoy our community and celebrate a little bit of what makes Old Towne Orange so fun.
Dustin Smetona (Pastoral Resident) will be preaching at Mercy Hill Community Church this coming Sunday. Please join us in praying that he would be a source of encouragement and refreshment during his visit. It's a privilege to partner with good brothers and sisters throughout our city.
Freedom is part of being a Christian.
Pastor Eric preached from 1 Corinthians 8 this past Sunday, answering the question "What do you do when your freedom leads another Christian to sin?"
Before his shearers silence sounds
From still lips of eternal Word
By sinful men his wrists are bound
as the Father whets his sword.
Traded once for silver coins
Now twice for murd'rous hands
The crowd in single voice rejoins
As the fool meets their demands
A strange hymn they sang before the one
In whom God was pleased to dwell
But it did not name His only Son
As "Barabbas!" on all ears fell
"Yet it was the will of the Lord, the will of the Lord!"
Rang from heavenly throngs above
And Yahweh braced that wrath out-poured
as His Justice kissed His love.
Delivered, beaten, mocked, and scorned,
into palms of wicked hands
Where in kingly raiment, blood adorned
The one who wind and sea commands.
O that day when skies were split
The moon turned red as blood
You walked your path to Sheol's pit
All for my greatest good.
Nailed upon that cursed tree
Hangs our lamb once slain
Before whom all men bow their knee
Who rises now to reign!
Yet it was the will of the Lord, the will of the Lord,
I sing now all my days
For by that silent, sovereign Word,
My sins were washed away