April 12

How the Virus Tried to Steal Easter

By Kristi Bothur

With a nod to Dr. Seuss

T’was late in ‘19 when the virus began

Bringing chaos and fear to all people, each land.

People were sick, hospitals full,

Doctors overwhelmed, no one in school.

As winter gave way to the promise of spring,

The virus raged on, touching peasant and king.

People hid in their homes from the enemy unseen.

They YouTubed and Zoomed, social-distanced, and cleaned.

April approached and churches were closed.

“There won’t be an Easter,” the world supposed.

“There won’t be church services, and egg hunts are out.

No reason for new dresses when we can’t go about.”

Holy Week started, as bleak as the rest.

The world was focused on masks and on tests.

“Easter can’t happen this year,” it proclaimed.

“Online and at home, it just won’t be the same.”

Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, the days came and went.

The virus pressed on; it just would not relent.

The world woke Sunday and nothing had changed.

The virus still menaced, the people, estranged.

“Pooh pooh to the saints,” the world was grumbling.

“They’re finding out now that no Easter is coming.

“They’re just waking up! We know just what they’ll do!

Their mouths will hang open a minute or two,

And then all the saints will all cry boo-hoo!

“That noise,” said the world, “will be something to hear.”

So it paused and the world put a hand to its ear.

And it did hear a sound coming through all the skies.

It started down low, then it started to rise.

But the sound wasn’t depressed.

Why, this sound was triumphant!

It couldn’t be so!

But it grew with abundance!

The world stared around, popping its eyes.

Then it shook! What it saw was a shocking surprise!

Every saint in every nation, the tall and the small,

Was celebrating Jesus in spite of it all!

It hadn’t stopped Easter from coming! It came!

Somehow or other, it came just the same!

And the world with its life quite stuck in quarantine

Stood puzzling and puzzling.

“Just how can it be?”

“It came without bonnets, it came without bunnies,

It came without egg hunts, cantatas, or money.”

Then the world thought of something it hadn’t before.

“Maybe Easter,” it thought, “doesn’t come from a store.

Maybe Easter, perhaps, means a little bit more.”

And what happened then?

Well....the story’s not done.

What will YOU do?

Will you share with that one

Or two or more people needing hope in this night?

Will you share the source of your life in this fight?

The churches are empty - but so is the tomb,

And Jesus is victor over death, doom, and gloom.

So this year at Easter, let this be our prayer,

As the virus still rages all around, everywhere.

May the world see hope when it looks at God’s people.

May the world see the church is not a building or steeple.

May the world find Faith in Jesus’ death and resurrection,

May the world find Joy in a time of dejection.

May 2020 be known as the year of survival,

But not only that -

Let it start a revival.

COVID-19

In order to comply with AZ state guidelines of limiting the gathering of 10 or more persons, the leadership of the Community Christian Church has agreed to limit our church service to online church at 
communitychristianchurch.sermon.net

You are welcome to contact me anytime at 

520-723-2952 (Leave a message.) 
E-mail pastorbill@westriv.com.  May we never neglect to pray for one another.  Pray for our nation, pray for our community, pray for our church.

                     Dr. William Perry, Senior Pastor

Isaiah 55:6, “Seek the Lord while He may be found, call upon Him while He is near."

 

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LEST WE FORGET!!! 

READ THIS!

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TO BE CHRISTIANS, WE MUST CONFESS AND AGREE WITH GOD THAT SIN IS SIN! KNOWING THAT GOD HATES SIN! THE SINNER MUST CONFESS, REPENT AND TURN FROM THEIR SINS, TURN TO JESUS AS LORD AND BE SAVED!

WE ARE!

CHRIST CENTERED

                                                   FAMILY FOCUSED

                                                                                                    LIFE CHANGING

Remember: As Christians, we have a New Nature that is Constrained by the Truth of Scripture!

Knowing that; Truth is always Truth, from Eternity past, through Eternity Future.

SO REMEMBER! If it's True, it's NOT NEW- If it's New it's NOT TRUE! 

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PRAY FOR THE THE COMMUNITY CHRISTIAN CHURCH. 

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Responsibility of the Senior Pastor

As the Senior Pastor of this church, called by God to oversee His Church in Valley Farms, it is my responsibility from God to seek the meekness of humility in obedience to Him as I care for, His little flock; To be God honoring; Saint loving; Reaching out to the lost; While Teaching His Word Without Compromise.

A POWERFUL TRUTH:
The Word of God is alive and Powerful! When truly heard, this Word is Powerful enough to awaken the spiritually dead.  His Word, when accepted as Truth; will save men from their sin, therefore... “How can they hear without a preacher?” – Romans 10: 13-15.

Should you have any questions, feel free to talk with me.

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PLEASE JOIN US SUNDAYS AT 9:30 A.M. HERE IN VALLEY FARMS, AND BE A PART OF OUR MINISTRY OUTREACH, AS WE BROADCAST THE GOOD NEWS OF JESUS CHRIST THROUGH OUT THE WORLD, WITH MORE THAN 2,100 WEEKLY VIEWS. 

OR, YOU MAY WANT TO TUNE IN FOR TODAY'S MESSAGE, VIA OUR WORLD WIDE WEB CHANNELS, JUST CLICK ON THE GOD TUBE CHANNEL, OR SERMON-NET CHANNEL AND BE A VITAL PART OF THIS MINISTRY.

NOTE:  Hearing from you will be very encouraging to us.  Please leave a comment on our blog.

http://perrysperiodicals.blogspot.com/2020/04/april-12.html#comment-form

Or you may send us an e-mail at PastorBill@westriv.com

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THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION

Article [I] (Amendment 1 - Freedom of expression and religion)

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

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IS THERE A BIBLICAL PRESCRIPTION TO MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN? YES! ONE, AND ONLY ONE. IT'S FOUND IN 2nd CHRONICLES 7:14; "IF MY PEOPLE WHO ARE CALLED BY MY NAME WILL HUMBLE THEMSELVES, AND PRAY AND SEEK MY FACE, AND TURN FROM THEIR WICKED WAYS, THEN I WILL HEAR FROM HEAVEN, AND WILL FORGIVE THEIR SINS AND HEAL THEIR LAND." 

THE ANSWER IS: TURN BACK TO THE LORD GOD-TO FAITH-FAMILY! 

WHY REACH OUT AND MINISTER TO MEN?

• When a child is reached for Christ, 3.5% of the family will follow.

• When a mother is reached for Christ, 17% of her family will follow.

• When a father is reached for Christ, 93% of his family will follow.  (Per the Heritage Foundation)

• THE LORD S CALLING FAITHFUL MEN TO LEAD THEIR FAMILIES!

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   CHRIST JESUS - HE IS RISEN FROM THE GRAVE!

THE OLD RUGGED CROSS MADE THE DIFFERENCE

LIFT HIS NAME ON HIGH!  

As a pastor, as a minister called by God, I am to trust Him, to believe Him, to teach His Word; the Bible, in all Meekness, with Humility, yet, Boldly preach that every Word in the Bible is true; not merely only what I may want to be true; but, that every word is true; and teach it without compromise!

"How can they hear without a Preacher!"

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Last week we said goodbye to our Winter Visitors.  They have returned to their Summer homes in the North a little earlier this year because of the Corona Virus.

BREAKFAST AT THE CHURCH - FEBRUARY 16th

Sunday Lunch at Church

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The Saga of a Local Church

And Four of Its Members:

Everybody, Somebody, Anybody, & Nobody

Each time there was a job to be done

Everybody was asked to do it.

Anybody could have done it, but Nobody did it.

Somebody got angry about that,

Because it was Everybody’s job.

Everybody thought Anybody could do it,

But Nobody realized that Everybody wouldn’t do it.

Consequently, it wound up that Nobody told Anybody,

So, Everybody blamed Somebody.

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PRAYER REQUESTS AND PRAISE REPORTS

PRAY: FOR WISDOM AND HUMILITY FOR PRESIDENT TRUMP AS HE MAKES DECISIONS THAT ARE SO COMPELLING IN OUR SITUATION TODAY.

PRAY: WE NEED A VACCINE- PRAY; HELP US JESUS!!

PRAY: This COVID-19 virus seems to be very serious.  Many of us have friends and loved ones in VERY SERIOUS areas.  Please be in continuous prayer.  THIS IS VERY SERIOUS AND MORE SO EACH DAY!

PRAY FOR:  Pray that we, as Christians, will learn through this virus situation to trust the LORD.  Pray for our nation during this Corona-virus crisis.  Pray that a cure will be found. (Proverbs 3:5-6)

PRAY FOR:  Pray for Phyllis as she is having some pain in her good arm.

PRAISE FOR:  Eric for answered prayers.

PRAY FOR: Glenn & Carole Mollette and their staff as they start their preparation for the June Graduation. 

PRAY FOR:  Continue to pray for Todd (personal matters).

PRAY FOR:  Keep Ric in your prayers.

PRAY FOR: The many that are unsaved, in and around Valley Farms including those who are trapped in the ungodly cult of Mormonism. They have turned their backs on the true Jesus, and there-fore are not saved, and are on their way to an Eternity in HELL! 

PRAY FOR:  OUR PRESIDENT and VICE PRESIDENT.  

PRAY THAT: All who claim to  know Jesus as Lord and Savior would start to live as if He is Real in their lives, and  will be willing to pay the one debt we all owe for our Salvation; that is the debt of LOVE to the Lord Jesus (Romans 13:8)! 

PRAY FOR ALL CONCERNED: As Pastor Bill teaches God's Word (1 Timothy 2:2). As he teaches the Truth of God's word, and rebukes all false gospel. Pray that many would respond to the Truth of God's Word in love and truth.

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FILL IN THE BLANKS!

(Check answers below.)  NOTE! Filling in the blanks each week, could give a serious student of the Lord Jesus Christ and the Bible, an education equal to a Theological degree within two years.

                                          

"DEATH, CONFINEMENT AND INJUSTICE FOR ALL!"

John 19:1-16

           1.     Pilate was a weak, ______________ politician, breaking his own laws to            appease the unruly Jews. (John 18:36)

2.     Jesus was proclaimed _________ and according to Roman law He should have been set free, but Pilate ordered Jesus to be flogged to quiet down the unruly Jews.  This was entirely wrong and ______________________l.

3.     Rome was an empire that ______ itself on its law and justice.  The figurine of Janis with its two faces was to remind the judges to look at both sides of a question.  When Rome took over a people, they promised them good roads, law and order, ________, and peace.

4.     Jesus’ trial was the greatest ______________ of justice in all of human history.

5.     Many of the soldiers beat and abused Jesus before He was crucified.  Jesus had been beaten within an inch of his life and, as was prophesied 500 years earlier in Isaiah, he was so ________________ that he was unrecognizable. (Isaiah 52:14)

6.     It was Pilate’s job to administer ________ and by doing nothing he was ______ of sin.

7.     Jesus is completely in the hands of an ___________ judge.  Pilate, afraid of the Jewish crowd, allows his political position to overrule his righteous ________. (John 19:6)

8.     The ______________ from the standpoint of God is the mercy seat from where God can now extend mercy and reach down to save sinners.

9.     The crucifixion from the standpoint of ______ is truly a sacrifice.  Jesus is the Savior who willingly makes Himself an ___________ for sin. (Philippians 2:8)

10. The crucifixion from the standpoint of believers in Christ was truly a ___________.  Jesus was the sinless one suffering for the sinner. (1 Peter 2:24)

11.  Satan thought the __________ was a triumph for him, but in reality it was Satan’s defeat.  At the cross Satan’s head was crushed.  (Genesis 3; Hebrews 2:14)

12.  The crucifixion from the standpoint of the _____ was nothing more than a brutal ______.

13. Pilate had a notice prepared and fastened to the cross that read, “Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews”, written in Hebrew, ________, and Latin.  It was written to the whole world.  (John 19:19-22)

14.  The Good News is to be _______________ to the world.  (1 Corinthians 15:3-4) 

SALVATION: Not only to Eternity in Heaven, but from Eternity in Hell! You MUST, first of all: Humble yourself and Admit You Are a Sinner in Need of a Savior:

•James 2:10 “For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles on one (point), he has become guilty of all.”

•Romans 3:23 “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”

•Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Accept God’s Love through the/Sacrifice in His Son Jesus

•Romans 5:8 “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”

Turn to God in Repentance

•Acts 20:21 “I have declared to both Jews and Greeks that they must turn to God in repentance and have faith in our Lord Jesus.”

Trust the Fullness Jesus Christ!

•Romans 10:9 “…if you confess with your mouth Jesus as  Lord,  and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved;”

•Romans 10:13 “For whoever calls on the Name of the Lord shall be saved.”

•Romans 10:14 “How then shall they call on Him Who they have not believed?  And how shall they believe in Him of Whom they have not heard?  And how shall they hear without a preacher?

•Romans 10:17 “So then Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God.”

•Jeremiah 29:13 “You will seek Me (God) and find Me when you seek Me with all your heart.”

It may not be easy to give up your old sinful ways, and turn in faith to Jesus Christ; but it is the only way to  SALVATION,  AND IT IS WORTH IT! 

 CALL UPON (THE FULLNESS OF) THE NAME OF JESUS AND YOU WILL BE SAVED!

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To find the answers to “fill in the blanks”,

Click here to view on God Tube TV 
or here for Sermon TV.

For discussion on this message leave a comment on this BLOG.

http://perrysperiodicals.blogspot.com/2020/04/april-12.html#comment-form

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WE LOVE TRUE TEACHERS OF THE WORD!

CHUCK SWINDOLL, JERRY FALWELL, DAVID JEREMIAH, WILLIAM PERRY, TIM LAHAYE, ERWIN LUTZER, SUSIE LARSON, GLENN MOLLETTE, KAY ARTHUR, ADRIAN ROGERS, ALBERT MOHLER, JOHN MACARTHUR, CHARLES STANLEY, ROBERT JEFFRESS...

AS A PASTOR I AM ADMONISHED BY GOD TO INFORM ALL OF THE DANGERS

BEWARE!     BEWARE!     BEWARE!  DANGER!  

BEWARE OF THOSE WHO CALL THEMSELVES, 

THE WORD OF FAITH!

          REMEMBER: SATAN MISS-USED SCRIPTURE!

JOEL OSTEEN, KENNETH HAGIN, KENNETH COPLAND, JOYCE MEYER, BENNY HINN, PAT ROBERTSON, FRED K. C. PRICE, ROBERT TILTON, MARILYN HICKLEY, DAVID CHO, DENNIS LEONARD, JERRY SAVELLE, PAUL AND JAN CROUCH, T.D. JAKES, JIMMY SWAGGART, PAULA WHITE...

                   "BEWARE OF FALSE PROPHETS/TEACHERS" -- MATTHEW 7:13

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Weekly Church Services

We were blessed with a visit from Randy King sitting next to his mom, Carrie.

 

  

Praise the Lord, He continues to build His Church.

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THE COMMUNITY CHRISTIAN CHURCH
TRANSFORMING LIVES
WITH THE TRUTH OF GOD'S WORD
SINCE 1997

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These  books are available at online through  Barnes and Noble, and Amazon.com, also check at your local book store.

Look for Pastor Bill's latest book 

Now Available through Amazon.com.
Click here to order.

Dr. William Perry is a prolific writer of outstanding books. His titles for Newburgh Press thus far are Christians Helping Christians, Christian Counseling for the 21st Century and Theology for the 21st Century. Each book is a must for every reader of solid Christian material.
I am happy to endorse Dr. Perry’s latest treasure, “A Journey Through The Gospels.” Every student and preacher/teacher of the Bible needs this book for the desk or the bedside table. You will enjoy reading insights and valuable lessons that many casual readers of the Bible will miss.

While this book is not lengthy you will find a delightful study of each gospel that will make you appreciate the wonderful gospel stories and love Jesus even more.

To God be the glory!

Dr. Glenn Mollette, President

Newburgh Theological Seminary

Newburgh, Indiana

Click on book covers for more information.

  

                               
These books are all available through Amazon.com.

Video files of our worship services are available on the Internet. This week’s viewings 1,235 on God Tube TV and 755 on Sermon TV for a grand total of  1,990.   We pray that you were blessed by this week’s message and look forward to hearing from you.  To view the message click here for God Tube TV or here for Sermon TV. 

If you are one of our viewers of this week’s message we would love to hear from you.

A Reminder!!! Come visit us and learn the truth! 

Our Church Service starts at 9:30 a.m. Sunday, followed by a time of fellowship.
     CH_ _ CH, What’s Missing? U R!  You’re Welcome!

Continue to pray for us as we seek to serve the Lord here in Arizona.

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