Serving Among Midlife Singles (SAMS)

by Henry Webber

Join us Friday at 7 in the prayer chapel at church for a time of prayer.  Bring and any need - children, health, friends and family members, job, or whatever.  We will pray over each one.  Sunday morning was a great reminder that our Father hears and answers as we heard several great reports of answered prayer. 
Luke 18:
Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. He said: “In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared about men. And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, ‘Grant me justice against my adversary.’
 For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, ‘Even though I don’t fear God or care about men, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won’t eventually wear me out with her coming!’ ”

 And the Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says. And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?”

Here is the June SAMS calendar.  Come join us!

sams-calendar-2008-06-v2.pdf

Here is the SAMS calendar for May (updated version)!

sams-calendar-2008-05-v2.pdf

• Judy’s daughter,Theresa’s surgery went well & her tests were negative
• Steve, Ben & Alexa’s son, has finished training in his new job & will be moving to FL to begin a new era of his walk with the Lord
• Terry S is doing well in IN and will not be having surgery
• Karen F’s new job, she loves it!
• Paul Moore’s marvelous recovery! Praise the Lord!
• David M is going to be ordained by his home church in Atlanta, GA
• Will, Juanita’s new grandson, is growing & doing well, he & his mother , Julie & dad, Bryan will be going to church as a family on mother’s day.
• Will be posting more as they happen!

by Jon Walker

“I don’t say this out of need, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. I know both how to have a little, and I know how to have a lot. In any and all circumstances I have learned the secret [of being content]—whether well-fed or hungry, whether in abundance or in need.” Philippians 4:11–12 (HCSB)

*** *** ***

The Apostle Paul, who was blessed with great privileges – but also beaten and stripped of everything he had – taught that true contentment must be learned: “I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.” (Philippians 4:12, NIV)

He teaches that God gives us strength to be content. This is an important spiritual truth to learn because if wealth, good looks, or the seemingly perfect spouse brought lasting contentment, then Hollywood would be filled with some of the most content and happy people on earth. But it’s not.

What does this mean?

Don’t compare yourself to others – When you compare your life with someone else’s, the only place it can lead is discontent. There will always be people who appear to be better off than you, but you don’t know their real circumstances.

I recall counseling a husband many years ago, who said he wished his wife could be more like so-and-so, and he named a woman in our congregation. What he didn’t know was that the woman was an alcoholic who was causing awful heartache and stress for her family and her husband. That’s why the Bible says it is unwise to compare ourselves with others or even with ourselves! (2 Corinthians 10:12)

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from the Bulletin (David Montgomery)

April 13

Are you single and in your forties or fifties?  Do you want to grow spiritually?  Do you like teaching that is both Biblical and life-challenging?  Would you like to be involved in serving others both inside and outside the church?  Are you looking for a place where you can meet and make friends with other like-minded singles?  If your answer is “yes,” then you are invited to attend a special Pizza Lunch sponsored by the SAMS community group on Sunday, April 13th, following the 11:00 a.m. service, in Rooms 601-603.  SAMS meets every Sunday at 9:15 a.m. and, in small groups, at several times during the week.  Outside of those meetings, SAMS members regularly spend time together in different social and recreational activities.  COME AND JOIN US at this Pizza Lunch to learn more about SAMS.  No R.S.V.P. is required.

This month our normal Thursday SAMS schedule is changed.  These changes are summarized below.

April 3 - normally this would be a potluck supper.  Instead we are having another installment of our Evangelism series - “How to be a Contagious Christian.”

April 10 - instead of our normal meeting, SAMS’ will be helping with the prep work for the Mission’s Yard Sale (Saturday.)

April 17 - normal SAMS meeting -  ”How to be a Contagious Christian.”

April 24 - attending the Knoxville Day of Prayer at the Civic Auditorium - starts at 6:30pm.

Here is the 2nd version of the April calendar.  Let me know if you have any updates.

sams-calendar-2008-04-v2.pdf

On Thursday April 24, SAMS will be attending the National Day of Prayer in the Knoxville Civic Auditorium.  The event runs from 6:30PM to 8:30PM, and will also kickoff the Franklin Graham festival.  We will not have our regular Thursday night meeting on the 24th.

Those of us who attended last year (from Fellowship it was basically SAMS and Our Father’s Heart) will remember the spirited prayer, lively worship, and a sense of unity in the Christian community.  Please plan in advance to join us on this dedicated to honoring the One who holds our country in His hands.

Link for more info: http://www.knoxdayofprayer.com/

Newer version of the calendar!  Look for items of interest.

sams-calendar-2008-03-v2.pdf