April 3      8:00a      Team Mexico Group 1 Leaves

April 4      8:00a      Team Mexico Group 2 Leaves

April 4      8:00p      H.S. 5th Quarter

April 6     10:45a      Special Business Meeting

April 11     away      Women’s Retreat

April 13     3:30p      Elder Board Meeting

April 18     away      High School LA Mission Trip

April 18     7:00p      Friends in Christ Social

April 19     9:00a      Scrapbook Day

April 20     9:00a      Walk Thru the NT

April 27     5:00p      Quarterly Business Meeting & Potluck

The women’s retreat will be held at the Lighthouse in Big Bear April 11th—13th. Registration is still open. Visit the Flower Cart and pick up a brochure. Payment is due at time of registration. Cost is $110.

Special Business Meeting           

Walk Thru
the New
Testament           

“If I were the devil, one of my first aims would be to stop folks from digging into the Bible.”  - J.I. Packer

Learn and understand more of what the Bible has to say, and find out what the devil is so afraid of, at Walk Thru the New Testament  coming to TACC on Sunday, April 20th, from 9am to 4pm. Registration is open on Sunday mornings in the courtyard. Adults are $18.00 and all children through the 12th grade are free!

Team                    
Mexico                  

The first Team Mexico group heads south from the church Thursday morning, April 3rd, at 8am. The second group leaves at 8am on Friday, April 4th. They will return Sunday evening, April 6th. Pray for safety, work success, outreach to children, and opportunities to share about Christ. They also hope to be an encouragement to our Christian brothers and sisters at 'La Grand Commision' (The Garcia's home church). Call team leaders, Lee or Mary Beth Ramlo, for additional information at 714-633-1051.

SCRIP                  

OPEN, OPEN, OPEN! Order your Mervyns gift card from Julie on Sunday mornings and 6% will go into your camp account.

A home owner’s job is never done! Before your next trip to Ace, Lowe’s, Home Depot or OSH (Sears) for that home improvement item, order scrip first.

A Special Thanks            

We want to thank each one of you for the many years of prayer, love and support you have offered us and our family. Through the good times and the bad, you have been there for us and given us the kind of support and love that only the family of our living God can provide. We thank you for allowing God to use you in this way. Michael loved you all and so do we.

Bill and Carrie Williams

Work or Fruit?

At our regularly scheduled Thursday morning men’s study, we looked at the text in Galatians 5 that trims no difficult edges in talking about the fruit of the Spirit and the works of the flesh - nothing fancy, just straightforward Bible from the Apostle Paul.  Six a.m. comes early, but there is nothing like a cinnamon bagel, an ex-Pharisee, and hot coffee to cure that!  I’ll give the text and include my commentary in parenthesis. 

“Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: Immorality (which includes our thought life, entertainment choices, internet activity, cf. Matthew 5:28), impurity, sensuality, idolatry (anything in your life more central or important than God – remember the cube in the center of the cube on Palm Sunday), sorcery, enmities, strife (This includes anger - being mad at somebody and not forgiving or thoughtfully and carefully dealing with the issues.  Some people have operated in angry mode for so long that they are seemingly angry at someone all the time.), jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions (gossiping is one effective way to get others to agree with, and validate, your harbored anger and create factions), envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you just as I have forewarned you that those who practice such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God (we are not saved by not practicing them; however, those who are saved will not habitually practice these.  If this is a life-style of yours, you should reevaluate your calling to faith by God.  Paul isn’t trying to be ornery; he’s just stating what he has seen and warning the folks about flesh-ridden opportunities.).  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace (a happy countenance, a joyful approach to life), patience (letting the foibles of others go, refusing to harbor the sins of others), kindness, goodness, faithfulness (doing the right thing for a long time without complaining), gentleness, self-control (when you feel like losing it, you don’t, you entrust your soul to God – He will make everything right in the end); against such things there is no law.  Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.”  2 ways 2 live and 2 outcomes.  One is joyful, the other is frightful. 

A few verses later Paul gives the key to walking in the Spirit: boast in the cross, Galatians 6:14.   Boasting in the cross means that we are fully aware that everything good in my life – job, family, money, comforts, food – is the direct result of God’s work redeeming us on the cross and not the result of my intellect, abilities or hard work.  In fact, even my “innate” abilities are gifts from God purchased on the cross.  This is the most liberating, freeing, joy-giving truth on the planet.  When we begin to think we are something, that we deserve, that we are ________ (you fill in the blank), it’s a sign that the flesh has taken over and trouble ensues.  We can never make too much of Jesus and His work.  It’s the secret to contentment, joy, patience, love, peace, goodness, happiness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. 

“But may it never be that I should boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.”  Galatians 6:14 (NAS) 

Women's Ministries     

Women’s Retreat: We’ll be up at the Lighthouse in Big Bear April 11th—13th. Registration is still open. Visit the Flower Cart and pick up a brochure. Payment is due at time of registration. Cost is $110.

Youth
Ministry                

High School 5th Quarter: Friday, April 4th, 8-11pm.

High School LA Mission Trip: April 18th—20th. Missions trainings are scheduled for April 12th (time to be determined) and April 13th at 6:30pm.

Children's 
Ministries             

Soccer Camp Coming This Summer! Save the dates: June 17—20, 2008. Boys & girls ages 6-12.

When the Lord Jesus called people to follow Him, He didn’t dilute the message.  He told them to deny themselves, take up their crosses, and follow faithfully.  We may not yet understand all the implications, but when we come to Christ, we need to say, “All to Jesus, I surrender; all to Him I freely give.”  We praise the Lord that the missionaries we support have done just that!!!

George and Donna Warren (with Reach Global) find themselves being moved into new and diverse venues of serving which will involve networking with other worldwide organizations that stand on the same essential doctrines that we hold.  After thirty years of service on the field in Venezuela they were called home to care for family health needs.   As seasoned missionaries their ability to afford wise counsel and guidance to younger on-station missionaries has been invaluable.  God has widened their arena of service by calling them to participate in large conference settings to strengthen on-field ministries.  Last year they filled this role in Kenya.  George has just returned from Costa Rica and will soon be leaving for Asia.  His responsibility will be to provide member care counseling to attendees of the Asian World Relief Conference to be held in Thailand.  He asks for prayer support as he travels from April 13th – 28th.  Pray for safety, wisdom for unexpected contacts, any unforeseen disruptions, and great sensitivity for counsel and guidance to those with whom he conferences.

If you haven’t read Amy Williams’ last communication, you have missed a real blessing.  Although they discontinued the one high school English class Amy taught last year, Amy’s disappointment was eradicated when the Lord opened seven class room doors this year.  ALL adult members of the Montefiascone Church are 1st generation Christians, so the task here is not only to win souls for Jesus, but to also build Christ-centered homes and community.  Thus Amy has encouraged the church (adults and children) to memorize scripture verses; they have responded enthusiastically (Way to go-Amy!!).  The church has asked Amy to organize a one day church retreat on June 2nd.   She reports that God has given her success in planning many events over the years, but this is the first one that will be completely in the Italian language, so do be supporting her with your prayers because she is also organizing the 1st Italian GEM Missionary Field retreat to be held April 11th – 13th.  In addition, it is time for renewal of her Visa.  Praise God for her 2nd year as guest teacher at the local high school, the growing number of relationships that she is building, her more reliable internet connection, her weekly prayer group that has been meeting for almost a year, and the countless verses that children and adults are memorizing.

The Sheahan Family (Rama de Olivo Ministeries) is gearing up to go far beyond their ministry of serving the disenfranchised people of the Tijuana area – reconciliation in Africa, ESL USA planning, meeting with men, women’s retreats, raising a family.  Shaun, again, has the responsibility of directing the ESL camp that ministers to Asian kids from Taiwan, Korea, and China who come to learn English.  Jeremy & Josh Sheahan have been a valuable part of the overall activities these past two years.  The boys report that they will do all dad’s “dirty work” (move this, do that), but will also help lead worship, play games and be friends—but mostly just help “bridge the gap.”  They help the Asian kids get comfortable, make friends, and during this interaction, practice their English; and in the process accept Christ as their savior (the major reason for the camp).   However, to be on staff they have to raise $1100.00 each.  They are doing any job that becomes available to reach this goal.  Keep them all in your prayers.