May I Have A Word? Bro. Greg Hancock

This Sunday evening we will resume our study of prayer based on the

acronym, “PRAY.” In our initial study we considered the letters “P” (for

Praise) and “R” (for Repentance). Sunday evening we will approach “A”

(for Ask).

There is an old adage that goes, to the effect, “Be careful for what you

pray; you just might get it.” I do not believe God is comparable to a genie

who must grant us wishes, regardless of their intent. God responds to

prayer in an appropriate way, regardless of our ability to pray,

appropriately; so the point of studying prayer is not to develop techniques

by which we may compel God to grant us our wildest dreams but rather

that we may bring our requests – and our lives – in line with the will of

God.

Isn’t it fairly typical for us to pray that we might do God’s will; or that

God’s will might be done? In my experience, we pray that way when we

don’t know God’s will and we want God to make something obvious to

us. Also in my experience, as a minister and counselor, God’s will can be

as obvious as the dawn but still not seen by someone who is looking

somewhere else.

American author and humanist Kurt Vonnegut observed, “For some

reason, the most vocal Christians among us never mention the Beatitudes

(Matthew 5). But often, with tears in their eyes, they demand that the Ten

Commandments be posted in public buildings. And, of course, that’s

Moses, not Jesus. I haven’t heard one of them demand that the Sermon on

the Mount, the Beatitudes, be posted anywhere. ‘Blessed are the merciful,’

in a courtroom? ‘Blessed are the peacemakers,’ in the Pentagon?”

Many of my Christian friends and colleagues have no difficulty quoting

passages from Leviticus and Deuteronomy to prove a point (really to

prove their opinion) about some social issue; but they seem to balk when

the Sermon on the Mount and the subsequent teaching of Paul, “…

(T)here is no longer any condemnation” (Romans 8) implies that, in

Christ, the Mosaic Law has been rendered obsolete.

The secular world has every right to ask why Christian churches would

bother to preach Christ if the only ideas they want to hear are those of

Moses? Those who would learn to pray must be prepared to accept that

God answers prayer in the context of Christ. If we ask for His will to be

done, we might get something we never expected!

Brother Greg

Student Ministries Note Shawn Ingram

Jonah 1:1-17

We are told that the prophet Jonah bought a ticket to Tarshish in

an effort to escape from the presence of the Lord and thereby avoid a God-

given assignment. Probably none of us would book a flight to a distant land in

order to escape from God’s presence. Nonetheless, good people actually try

to run from God in many different ways and end up experiencing miseries

similar to Jonah’s.

While running from the Lord, the prophet overlooked some essentials

that we should all keep in mind. In the first place, he incorrectly assumed

that fleeing from God would release him from having to obey. He probably

never imagined how persistent the Lord can be when He calls us to a duty

station. Eventually Jonah found it is impossible to run from God

successfully—His love will pursue us, even to the depths of the sea in order

to conform us to His will and His plan for our lives. God simply will not be

deterred by our slippery disobedience.

Jonah had also overlooked the fact that the direction of

disobedience is always downward. Scripture tells us that the reluctant

prophet initially went down to Joppa. There he found a ship and proceeded

down into it. And the next thing you know, he is plunging down into the

depths of the sea—even down to the roots of the mountains -Jonah 2:6.

When you run from God, there is no hiding place, even in the bottom of the

sea. Our entire life is always visible to the Lord. So instead of trying to flee

from His presence, welcome it.

Shawn ____________________________________________________________

August is First Priority Month

HOPE "LORD, I hope for Your salvation" --Psalm 119:166a

Please be in prayer for our students, teachers, and schools this month. First Priority Heritage is inviting you to be a part of seeing the HOPE OF CHRIST in every student. City-wide school prayer walks are scheduled for September 1 at 6:00 PM. __________________________________________________________

Sunday School Teachers Needed

We are in need of teachers for our Nursery and K-1 Sunday School

classes. Please consider doing this for some of the most important people

in our church, our children. If you are interested, please contact Sheila

Underwood or Mike Tracy.

Operation Christmas Child

ABC's of Shoebox Packing

School supplies are now on sale signaling the beginning of the

Operation Christmas Child Shoebox shopping season. As space allows,

we will print the ABC's of shoebox packing. We begin this week with "A,

B, & C."

Accessories for girls (jewelry, headbands, ponytail holders,

barrettes, etc. )

Balls (tennis balls, bouncy balls, footballs, soccer balls, beach

balls, baseballs, whiffle balls, ping-pong balls, swimming pool

balls, Nerf balls, racquetball balls, hacky sack balls, . . .)

Crayons, Colored pencils, Coloring books, Cars, & Candy (no

chocolate)

Stanford Baptist is serving as a Relay Center for the OCC Shoebox

Ministry this year. This means that churches in the surrounding area will

bring their boxes here during collection week, Nov, 18-25, and we will

then transport them to Junction City. We are blessed to serve in this

capacity.

Connie Howerton, Carol Long, and Carolyn Horn are serving as

our OCC Shoebox Ministry Team this year.

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Welcome New Baby!

Jaxson Shane St. Lawrence

Born: July 17, 2013

6 lb. 11 oz. 20" long

Parents: Brettany Lester & Jeremy St. Lawrence

Grandparents: Paris & Liz Burke

Sisters: Janna & Kayla

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Musically Speaking

Stuart Underwood, Minister of Music

Thanks to the Adult Choir for a great job on "Feeling Fine". Also Becky's offertory of "Sunshine and Joy Medley" was beautiful. If you missed Sunday night you missed a blessing. It was wonderful to welcome Chase Moore back to present an entire service of sacred music. Not only did he play the piano (with Laura Lee at the organ) but also shared his vocal talents. This Sunday the Adult Choir will be singing a beautiful arrangement of the Dottie Rambo classic "I Will Glory In the Cross". Becky and Laura Lee will be playing our offertory. During the evening service Kayla Upchurch will be presenting our special music. Have a great week! Stuart

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Junior Miss Fundraiser

The Lincoln County Junior Miss/Distinguished Young Women will be

having their Fazoli's lunch in the CLC on Sunday, August 11 beginning at

noon and lasting until 2:00 PM. The tickets will be available the next two

Sundays from Joanna Stevens, and Sheila & Stuart Underwood. Adult

tickets are $8.00 and children 12 and under are $5.00. The proceeds will

go to the scholarship program.

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From the Mailbox:

Dear Church Family:

"I always thank my God for you...." 1 Corinthians 1:4

Thank you for all the prayers, cards, food, phone calls and visits

during my recovery from back surgery. As I continue my recovery, I ask

that you also continue your prayers for my healing and my patience for

the healing process.

--Christine Killen

SERVING THIS WEEK

Lady Greeter Deacon Greeters

Candi Hodges Joseph Hafley, Eric Jones, & Ward Hart

Children’s Church Van Driver

Jonathan & Donya Baker Paul Long

Susan Johnson & Shawna Ingram

Nursery Workers AM: The Upchurch Family

PM: Patricia Smith _______________________________________________________________

PRAYER LIST

Ricky Adams Marcey May

Cathy Beaumont Pat Reed

Kenneth & Sue Brewer Dorothy Robbins

Katelyn Brogle Nancy Roller

Darrell Caudill James Sims

Moonyeon Colville John Smith

Betty Jo Cook Shelby Thornton

Rebecca Cook Kenny Fitzpatrick family

Patty Coontz Lee Roberts family

Nancy Henson-Denham Our church

Ralph Denham, Jr. Pastor Search Committee

Ron Denham New school year/students &staff

Mike Fitzpatrick First Priority

Paisley Gay Our country

Gwen & Russell Gastineau Unspoken requests

Debra Gilliam

Donna Gooch Remember Our Shut-ins

Jim Boone Gooch Grace Blanton

Mike Hamm Glen Davis

Tuffy & Judy Hester Marjorie Gooch

Bob & Linda Holifield Bob Montgomery

Ann Hopkins Mary Smith

Lisa Johnson Golden Living Center

Paul Jupin Thelma Burton

Christine Killen Billie Sue Cornelius

Keisha Kirkland Bill Phillips

Bettye Long Lancaster Christian Care

Maddox family Lyda James

Eddie May Wilda Sweeney

The Pathfinder

PUBLISHED WEEKLY BY STANFORD BAPTIST CHURCH

Phone (606) 365-2178

Vol. 17 No. 30 _______ July 26, 2013

1st - Judy Denham 10th - Terri Green 1st - Bertha Ernst 11th - Brody Baker 1st - Bobby Wylie 11th - Jarred Johnson 2nd - Bill Rector 12th - Janie Lasure 3rd - Judy Hester 13th - Linda Gooch 3rd - Edith James 14th - Helen Johnson 3rd - Mary Morton 14th - Mark Rowe 5th - Janice Randolph 14th - Ronnie Whittaker 5th - Paula P. Smith 19th - Sheila Ray 6th - Craig Crain 19th - Donna Smock 6th - Candy Hill 22nd - B. J. Baird 6th - Royce Killen 22nd - Joe Johnson 7th - Devin Estes 25th - Trevor Godby 7th - Rita Noe 27th - Tim Smith 8th - Hannah Brown 28th - Joe Stogsdill 9th - Alex Bunch 29th - Billie Sue Cornelius 10th - Myra S. Munday 30th - Judy Whittaker

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Sunday School 9:45 AM

Morning Worship 8:48 & 11:00 AM

Evening Worship 6:00 PM