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Community of Joy Lutheran Church |
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Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.(1 Thess.5:16-18).
The Bible calls upon us to be optimistic. The passage written |
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9) On a scale of one to ten - your friends deserve a twelve!
10) Remember that life is not always fair, but God is always gracious.
11) Be the biggest picture window of the Gospel you can be! We are the “salt.” We can add the “flavor” of God’s love and make lives more joyful!
12) Things are not always as they seem. We see life through the cross and the Easter resurrection! St. Paul says it well in his letter to the people of the church in Rome. He says, “Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer” (Romans 12:12).
Remember - nothing can separate us from the love of Christ!
Cheryl and I wish you a wonderful summer and pray that you will remember your church during these “lazy, hazy days!”
In God’s Peace and Love,
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110 Balboa Road Hot Springs Village, AR 71909 501-915-9569 |
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above is optimistic, but just what does that mean? Optimism is defined as “the tendency to expect the best possible outcome or dwell on the most hopeful aspects of a situation” And an optimist is said to be “one who usually expects a favorable outcome.” All of my life - as a follower of Jesus - I have been very optimistic about life in general |
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and about the activity and ministry of Christ’s church here on earth. I always believe that the “glass is half full.” But, how can we maintain a positive, optimistic outlook in a world that contains so much violence and seems to be saturated with evil?
I came across a list of twelve faith/health thoughts that I believe can help us focus on optimism (on the love and promises of God).
1) Our hope is in the Lord! Even though we have considered all of the negative facts regarding this world - we believe there is hope in Christ! “For the Lord takes pleasure in those ... who hope in his steadfast love” (Psalm 147:11).
2) Ask for help. God’s gifts are in the people around us. Loving our neighbor translates into caring and sharing, in both directions.
3) Laugh out loud - at yourself, with others - and give people permission to laugh around you and with you.
4) Take care of your body (it’s the only one we will ever get).
5) Say “thank you” to people as often as you can.
6) Look for the troubled, the lonely, the sick, and the naked - all of those who think God has forsaken them. Then, reflect God’s love to them as you help and serve them. Remember - Jesus cared about the least, the lost, and the last!
7) Talk to children regularly. Get down at their level and really talk to them - and listen and learn from them.
8) Remember that your present mood is never permanent.
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Christian Education: Come one, come all!
Pastor Ross will present Christian Education classes two-times per month (1st and 3rd Sundays) in July and August. Starting in September they will be offered every Sunday.
Here are the titles of the upcoming classes:
July 1st - Shia or Sunni? July 15th - Billy Graham: On Politics, the Bible and Death. Aug. 5th - Mary Magdalene - Wife of Jesus? Aug. 19th - Religion: Real or Fantasy? Sept. 2nd - Mormonism: Christian or Cult? Sept. 9th - Looking at Judaism and Islam Sept. 16th - Consumerism: Where Is Your Treasure? Sept. 23rd - Liturgy, Worship, and Community Sept. 30th - ELCA Dissent: Who’s Leaving & Who’s Staying? Oct. 7th - What Seminarians Learn Today? Oct. 14th - The Dead Sea Scrolls Oct. 21st - The Crusades Oct. 28th - Rapture, Tribulation, and Eschatology!
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