Fasting Increases Our Compassion
 
       Thanks for taking a moment to review your commitment to the biblical practice of prayer and fasting.  Thank God this practice is beginning to spread across numbers of denominations and church associations. Recently someone sent me an e-mail from Bill Hybels, pastor of a large church on the west side of Chicago.  Willow Creek had been challenged to practice a "5 day food and water fast." 
 
       One purpose of fasting is to identify with and deepen our concern for the needs of the poor around the world who are less fortunate than we are. 
Bill Hybels writes, "This is a very special day for thousands of Willow Creekers who are completing a 5 day food and water challenge.  It will be a huge relief to be able to have a normal dinner tonight, won't it?  For me the toughest part was only drinking tap water...And then I realized that my drinking water was crystal clear, absolutely safe and unlimited.  It poured instantaneously out of any faucet in my house.  If it had been polluted, or if I had to walk 2 miles to get it...well, I can barely imagine.  Others of you mentioned that the beans and rice diet just about put you over the edge.  Imagine eating that restrictively for a lifetime."

       The prophet Isaiah reminds us: 
 "Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice...to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter - when you see the naked, to clothe him...?" Isaiah 58:6-7  Fasting increases our compassion. 
This is a universal principle and eternal truth: 
Prayer and fasting is the key to spiritual breakthrough.

 

 

Dealing with Anger is difficult for a child or for an adult, especially after abandonment.

Here is a "parable" about a little boy and his grandparents that touched my heart...

Ron, a 9-year old boy, was being raised by his mother who didn't know how to cope with his uncontrollable temper.

She knew he was angry that his father had abandoned him and she tried professional counseling, but nothing seemed to work.

So she sent Ron to spend the summer on his grandparent's farm.

When he came home, he was a changed boy.

His mom asked him what happened and he told her that every time he got mad or said anything unkind, Grandpa made him go outside and hammer a big two-inch nail into a two by four. It was hard, and he wasn't allowed back until the nail was all the way in.

After about 20 trips to the shed to get the tools, he decided it was easier to control his temper than hammer those long nails.

"Did you change because you hated the consequences so much?" she asked.

"Well, that was part of it," he said.

"After I'd nailed in all the nails and was behaving better, Grandma took me outside and made me pull them out.

That was even harder.

When I was done, she gave me this note."

He showed it to her, and this is what she read:

"Pulling out the nails is like saying you're sorry. But the holes still remain in the board.

You can't fix things by being sorry,

but you can stop making new holes.

 

Remember, every time you do something mean and nasty, you're making a hole somewhere in someone.

 

That's what your dad did to you.

Please don't do it to anyone else.

You're better than that."

In His Grace,

Pastor Mark Green

 

A Sunday Altar Call with 2 young men making Professions of Faith in Jesus Christ!!

Let's continue to

"Make Disciples of Christ in Belle"

 

 

"Older" Youth Group from

Belle Church of the Nazarene!

The Glory Days!

Matthew Chapman, David Chapman.

Cathy Seabolt Taylor, Carrie Seabolt Friddell, Bonita Chapman Knapp

 

 

Our Memorial Day!

We honor our faithful members who have passed on to glory!

Evelyn Elliot

Margaret Armstrong

Ortha Seabolt

 

 

Graduation Day for Olivet Nazarene University!

Pastor Mark and Marcia are very proud of

 Ian, Hillary and Lauren.

Thank God for a great Nazarene University!

Two Sets of Twins Graduated that Day!

 

 

Children's Quizzers go to Mt. Vernon

 The East Central Regional Quiz was held at MVNU on May 2, 2009.  Four of Belle's local quizzers qualified to go.

Holly Fields was on WV South Team 3 and received a Bronze Trophy.

Mallorie Mize was on Team 1 and received a Silver trophy. Kalissa Bannister was also on Team 1 and received a Gold Trophy. Their team received 10th place.

Emily Holmes was on Team 2  and received a Gold Trophy.  Her team received 4th place.

Congratulations to all the quizzers!

 

 

Work Week this week at Summersville

is to prepare the grounds for the children's camp, teen camp, and family camp.

 

Here are our willing workers at the new site one mile from the old campgrounds!

Dr. Smith and Charles Boggs are holding the ladder for Bob Gunno as we build another section onto the storage shed.

PRAY for our new site as the district needs $500,000

in order to pay for this lovely piece of property on the top of the hill!

 

PRAY for a generous gift in someone's estate, or

PRAY for 500 people to give $1,000.

We wish Campmeeting to GROW.

Rain Delay for the crew.

 

 

 

A SUNDAY PRAISE

Praise the Lord!

Within 8 days of each other we have had 2 men profess Christ as Personal Savior!

Tim Nelson at 73 years of age

Jerry Morris at 74 years of age

Some say the odds of accepting Christ after 60 years of age are huge!

However, with Christ all things are possible!

Praising Him,

Pastor Green

 

Can Christians Shape Secular Culture?

Nazarene behind Hallmark Hall of Fame

Kansas City, Missouri

Friday, May 1, 2009

From his roots and family history, one might think that Brad Moore was destined to be a pastor, district superintendent, or denominational executive. The son of a college president, district superintendent, and World War II hero Mark R. Moore, Brad knew the inside scoop on the Church of the Nazarene.


Brad Moore is president - Hallmark Hall of Fame Productions, a subsidiary of Hallmark Cards, Inc. In this role, he is responsible for the development and production of the Hallmark Hall of Fame, the most-honored series in U.S. television history. 

Moore has led the Hallmark Hall of Fame for 26 years. It was at Hallmark that Brad Moore found his true calling. In this setting, he has used his talents in ways that have influenced millions of people. Moore has profoundly shaped the character of the unmatched television series, the Hallmark Hall of Fame. 

Under Moore's leadership the Hallmark Hall of Fame has produced more than 80 movies and received 31 Emmy awards (5 for "Best Picture"), plus 7 Golden Globe awards and numerous other honors. Those films have included the single most honored program in U.S. television history (Promise, 1985) and the four highest rated movies on any television network over the past 20 years.

Moore said, "People in the church can make a difference in their secular lives, and not just their 'church' lives. I've often said I'm fortunate to have the best job in the entire entertainment business. After all, my assignment at Hallmark is to produce movies that enrich lives, have constructive intent, and truly reflect quality and good taste.

Moore also serves as chairman of the board of trustees of his alma mater, Southern Nazarene University (SNU), chairman of the board of Nazarene Publishing House, secretary of the board of Nazarene Theological Seminary, is a member of the SNU Foundation board, and a member of Board of General Superintendents Thought Partners, an advisory group to the general superintendents of the Church of the Nazarene.
--NCN News



Nazarenes recovering from Swine Flu in Mexico
Mexico City
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
The Swine Influenza outbreak continues to affect citizens of North America and now world-wide, but the overwhelming majority of those affected reside in Mexico. 

According to Rene Guzman in Mexico City, there have only been a few cases on the 10 districts on the Mexico and Central America Region's North Field where people have presented the indicated symptoms. However, they have recovered with medication and rest.
 
Nazarene officials continue to take precautions and follow the recommendations of the government.
 
Guzman states through a spokesperson that many things have been closed down throughout Mexico, including schools and public venues. Last Sunday, April 26, a number of the churches in Mexico City were closed and it is very likely that churches throughout the country will be closed this Sunday, May 3, to avoid further spread.

Tea Time with Pastor Mark

The Morning Star by Michael Card

I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star.
Revelation 22:16

In astronomy, the morning star is not a star at all, but actually the planet Venus. For a portion of the year, Venus appears early in the morning, just before sunrise, only to be overcome by the light of the sun as it moves behind our star in its orbit. During this time, it is referred to as the “morning star.” Later, it can be seen just before sunset, going down early in the evening, hence the term “evening star.” Venus is unmistakable, the third brightest object in the sky. Only the sun and moon outshine it.

“It is always darkest before the dawn,” Thomas Fuller wrote in 1650. Nothing could be truer. While Venus is known as both the evening and the morning star, in Scripture the term “morning star” is the only one used in reference to Jesus. This is because it is in the morning that we most need light. Despite the growing light of dawn, many times mornings can be the darkest time of the day.

Sometimes it is not easy to find the courage to embrace all that lies before us in the new day. So many worries and fears can assail us in these early morning hours. We can find ourselves living in dread of the hours before us. To face the new day with joy requires a courage that must come from outside ourselves.

If this is a dark morning for you, if you feel in need of light in your life, begin with this passage from the prophet.

It represents a small flickering flame:

I see Him, but not now,
I behold Him, but not near
A Star shall rise out of Jacob.
--Numbers 24:17

Then listen to the simple words of the Morning Star, the true Light Bearer, and allow them to transform the darkness into a new morning for you:

I am the Light of the World.
He who follows Me will not walk in darkness,
but will have the Light of Life.
--John 8:12

 

Tea Time with Pastor

As I drink my Chai Green this morning, I have read from "Quiet Moments with God" by Lloyd John Ogilvie, the holiness author of devotional prayers.  I liked this prayer so much I had my secretary type it up for US:

O Lord, my Strength and my Fortress

                 -Jeremiah 16:19

 Lord, I need Your help.  I am feeling the strain of stress.  My body is agitated by worry and fear.  I confess to You my inability to handle it alone.

 

I surrender my mind to You; take charge of my thoughts.  Think Your thoughts through me so that I might respond to my circumstances with peace and patience.      I don’t want to have a divided mind fragmented from Your control.

 

Forgive my angers rooted in bad-tempered self-will.  Make me a channel, a riverbed, of Your love to others suffering as much stress as I.  Help me act on the inspiration You give me rather than stifling Your guidance.

 

I dedicate my tongue to You so that it will become an instrument of healing.          Make me a communicator of love and encouragement as I cheer others on to their best.

 

Help me to know and do Your will.  I commit my schedule to You.  Slow me down before I break down.  Set me free of the tyranny of materialism and security in things.  I thank You in advance for giving me strength to conquer stress.

 

Sheetrock is ready to go up at the Knapp's.

Can you help? 

Greg Cain in a tight spot!

The Knapp Project Continues to Progress.

Do you Dry Wall?

Let us Know to help this special family!

 

 

JUNIOR  BLAST

is a competition of our WV So.District for Talent.

Thanks to Mark and Matthew for representing Belle church at Elkriver!

Singing

Art

 

TWINS!

 

 

Tea Time with Pastor

I love tea.  I start the day with a cup of peppermint, green tea or earl gray with Bible in hand and God moves close to my heart. 

This post-resurrection week, my prayer is that our church may have "God close at hand". 

You too can pray for His presence: 

We wish to know You, Lord, in the power of your resurrection and in the depth of Your love.  We want to experience Your amazing grace that the choir sang about on Easter.

For more input of God's Presence, see the Bible Study Link at left:)

 Next Sunday morning's sermon is the beginning of a series on "Amazing Grace".

KEY VERSE

2 Peter 3:18 "Grow in grace and the knowledge of our Lord Jesus."

 

Grace is free.

All you have to do is accept it. It's free to you.

But it's not cheap. It cost Jesus His life.

   Remembering His Resurrection,

Pastor Green

 

 

EASTER MORNING

 

HE IS RISEN INDEED

 

 

 

 

Jacob Daniel Bays

7lbs  7oz - 20 1/4 inches 

Healthy and Happy!

Praise the Lord!

Proud Parents:  Cindy and Craig Bays

 

 

Good Friday Devotional

by Michael Card 

He Shed His Blood
So I Can Be White As Snow

Jesus also suffered outside
the city gate to make the people
holy through his own blood.
Hebrews 13:12

The love of Jesus washed Golgotha in cardinal hues. Darkening to terracotta, and then to nearly black, His blood left a mark on thorns, iron, wood, and soil.  

And it stained the hands of His oppressors.

But here is an enduring mystery of the cross:      When you kneel there, the dark stains on your hands disappear. By the miracle of grace, the blood of Christ cleanses you completely. “The blood of Jesus…purifies us from all sin,”   1 John1:7.

According to Revelation, the miracle of Jesus’ blood will be one of the grand hymns of eternity:

You are worthy…because you were slain,
and with your blood you purchased men for God
from every tribe and language and people and nation.
(Revelation 5:9)

Even in heaven, Jesus will appear “dressed in a robe dipped in blood” (Revelation 19:13).

But if you have let His blood stain you, you will be as white as snow.

Prayer
Jesus, You who bled and died for me,
Bring me now to the foot of Your cross.
Let me see Your wounds.
Let me hear the sound of Your blood
crying out to the Father…for me.
By Your grace give me to understand,
as much as I am able, that it was my sin
that brought such violence to You,
and Your love that allowed it.
I fall before You in thanksgiving for
the grace of cleansing through Your blood.
Praise You, my Savior!
Praise You for all Your have done!

Amen

 

Easter Egg Hunt 2009

Click on photo to enlarge

Ready 

Set

GO

 


 

Billy Graham's Testimony & Prayer

for Full Surrender in the Christian Life 

Now, in life we surrender to things all the time.

When we fly in airplanes, we surrender to the pilots and the airplanes.

When we have surgery, we put our trust in the doctors that they will do the right things.

 

1. God Asks Us To Surrender: Our Minds

 

First, we are to surrender our minds to God.

That means not only what we think but also how we think.

Some people believe that when you come to Christ, you have to leave your mind behind.

But the Christian faith is not irrational.

 Jesus will stand the inspection of any scientist, any mathematician or any other intellectual in the world in answer to any question.

Many teachers today ask,

"Does it work?"

rather than,

 "Is it true?"

 

And both of these questions must also be asked of the Christian faith:

 "Does it work?" Yes.

"Is it true?" Yes.

 

Our minds are more than computers. Computer programs don't get stronger the more you use them. That's not true with our minds.

Whatever we see and hear, when it is repeated, it is reinforced in our minds.

And whatever is in our minds, whatever we remember, influences what we do.

The Bible says,

"As [a person] thinketh in his heart, so is he." (Proverbs 23:7, KJV) 

What do you think in your heart?

What are you like deep down inside?

 

The Bible says,

"Whatsoever things are true and honest and just and pure, think on these things."

(Philippians 4:8)  I

s that what you think about--good things?

Or do you think about things that you know are not right?

 

The Bible says,

"You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you." 

(Isaiah 26:3, NIV)

Get your mind on Christ every day all day because the devil is fighting for your soul.

You see, there are two forces at work...

One is God, and one is the devil.

Don't let the devil corrupt your mind.

The Bible says, "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus.”  (Philippians 2:5, KJV)

 

2. God Asks Us To Surrender: Our Bodies

 

Second, we are to surrender our bodies to God. One of the great debates today is over who owns the body. Doctors, lawyers, clergy, judges, juries, all are debating the moral, ethical and legal sides of this issue. And the questions that surround suicide and abortion and euthanasia center on issues of who owns and controls the body.

 

Who controls your body?

The Bible says that we are "the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in [us]."  (1 Corinthians 3:16, KJV) Your body is God's Temple, so if you are a Christian, your body belongs to God.

 

Young people today, and older people as well, face a lot of temptations when it comes to sex. God created sex.

He made us to be sexual human beings, men and women.

 

Dr. Eugene C. Kennedy wrote in his book

"The New Sexuality, Myths, Fables and Hang-ups," that sex is being used for a whole host of reasons for which it was never intended.

And that's true.

 

There's no such thing as free sex or free love. The price tag is broken relationships and broken hearts and broken bodies and broken families.

From the beginning God planned that the full expression of sex is to be within marriage.

 

The Bible says, "Do not be deceived:

Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers will inherit the kingdom of God."

(1 Corinthians 6:9-10, NIV) 

If you have already made a mistake in that direction, ask God to forgive you and to change you and to give you power to resist temptation. He will do that.

The blood of Jesus Christ His Son will cleanse you from all sin.

 

God cleanses away the sin in our lives so that we can start over. That's the reason Jesus said, "You must be born again." (John 3:7, NIV) 

You can start over with a new life.

 

Your heart can be changed.

It's changed through prayer.

It's changed by reading the Bible.

It's changed by listening to the Holy Spirit.

The Bible says, "He will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment."

(John 16:8, NIV)

 

But conviction is not enough. The Bible also says, "If you confess with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved." (Romans 10:9, NIV)  Christ died for you to give you a new heart, a new direction, a new power.

 

3. God Asks Us To Surrender: Our Wills

 

Third, we are to surrender our wills to God. Our wills are powerful. Before Jesus healed or helped anyone, He asked, "Will you?"

 

And I'm asking you, "Will you let Jesus Christ come into your life and dominate your life and be the Lord of your life?"

 

"Will you?"--that's the question Jesus asks you. The Scripture says, "Let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely."  (Revelation 22:17, KJV)

 

 

When you come to Christ, that's just the beginning, and now you need to live for Him.

That means that the dominant feature of your life will be love--love for people next door to you, love for people who live on your block.

Whatever the color of their skin, you love them. You go out of your way to be friends with people of other races.

That's how you love.

 

Have you surrendered yourself unconditionally to Jesus Christ?

Have you given Him your mind and your body and your will?

 

You just need to pray,

"Jesus, You have forgiven me of my past sins at my new birth, but now I want You to fill up this empty place in my life.

I want You to give me a new direction in my life.

I receive Your Spirit in fullness into my heart.  Dominate my thinking in my mind. 

 Be the LORD of my heart’s desires. 

 I give you my future, to your perfect will. 

I give my time, talent, and treasures to your leading. 

Sanctify me by the truth, your word is TRUTH…

I ask for your sanctifying power in my love,

my witness to others about You,

and in my service. 

In Jesus’ Name I pray.  Amen."

 

 

 

A Message from the Board of General Superintendents

Keeping the mission of the Church of the Nazarene “to make Christlike disciples in the nations” as the highest priority, the Board of General Superintendents is providing this update to the denomination on the very serious challenges facing the World Evangelism Fund (WEF) and

church-sponsored ministries.

The Board also acknowledges the great need of our churches and compassionate ministry centers to continue their outreach to people nearby. Providing food, clothing, and hope to people

who have lost their jobs is what it means to be a New Testament church.

Giving to others is what it means to be Nazarene.

Responding to increasing financial pressure brought on by global economic conditions and a 10-percent decrease in year-to-date WEF receipts, the Board is moving ahead with cost reductions (just as churches, districts, and colleges are doing) of at least 10 percent within the

Global Ministry Center (GMC) and regional offices.

Planning is underway to address this situation for the short- and long-term. This effort involves the Executive and Finance Committees of the General Board along with GMC staff.

The Board has received scores of emails from Nazarenes around the world offering

prayer, support, and ideas as to how this situation could be addressed.

Throughout our history as a church, Nazarenes have been generous when financial crises have threatened our mission endeavors. We prayerfully anticipate that this will be the case once

again.

The general superintendents will continue their communication with the church to let you know the latest information about funding for GMC ministries.  On behalf of the church, we

express our deep appreciation for the continued sacrificial giving of Nazarenes around the world.

We want to hear from you as well.

Please write us at bgs@nazarene.org.