Everyone Welcome

Sabbath School and Church

Adult Sabbath School is meeting in the sanctuary at 9:30 a.m.. There is one adult class upstairs and all the children's classes will meet downstairs. Everyone is welcome!

Church In Person or On-Line

Everyone is welcome to attend the worship hour. It starts at 10:45 a.m.  

We broadcast Church live on youtube.com. Church will start at 10:45 AM.  Go to youtube.com and search for "greeley sda".  Click on the circle with the church picture.  You may need to choose the "Live" tab.

OR click on the "Sermons" link in the menu selections above to access the services. (On a phone or tablet the menu selections will be in a button that looks like three bars at the top of the screen.) Select "Live" in the tabs.

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Weekly Church Meetings

Wednesday - 1:30 p.m.  Midweek study 

Sabbath 4:00 - p.m.  End Time Events with Shawn Korgan

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Food for Thought

 

“God Was So Good” - 1 Thessalonians 5:18: “Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” (NIV)

After watching the damage and flooding from Hurricane Helene, especially to N. Carolina, I was reminded of the flood my family experienced when I was a child. But I never think of that time without also remembering my dad’s amazing attitude.

The year was 1951. I was five years old and very tired of rain. Nearly every day that Spring and into Summer it had rained – relentlessly. The rain came down and the Kansas River was coming up. Unfortunately, my parents and both sets of grandparents lived on the low side of the river in Topeka, Kansas. We also had a family-owned grocery store not far from the river. If the levees broke, we were told to expect a few inches of water in our home and a few feet of water in the grocery store. My dad put the major articles of our furniture on cement blocks. He and my grandfather worked feverishly at the grocery store trying to get as many things as possible out of the water’s reach.

Then in the middle of the night, the final warning came. There was a loud pounding on the door and a car was going down the middle of the street, loud speaker blaring, “Get out! Leave Now!” We heeded the warning, put a few things in our car, and we left for a friend’s house on higher ground. I remember lying in bed that night listening to the siren blow over and over again, signaling that the levees had broken and water was pouring into our home and business.

The authorities had been wrong on one point, however, -- the volume of water. Instead of the three or four expected inches, we had over five feet of water in our home and the water was over the roof of our grocery store! Of course, the store was a total loss and our home was not too far behind. My mother vividly remembered my dad chopping up her piano with an ax so they could get the front door open. When I was finally able to see our house for the first time, I remember stepping over the buckled wooden floors and then standing at the top of the basement stairs. The water in the basement had not yet been pumped out (for a reason I no longer remember) and I knew that all my dolls, dollhouse, and other toys were in that muddy, murky smelly water.

My parents were able to get low-interest government loans and with hard work, determination, and God’s help, over the next six months they put our home and business back. Through the years I’ve heard my parents talk about “the flood” many times. In fact, everything in their lives either happened “before the flood” or “after the flood.” My dad would always relate things in a matter-of-fact sort of way. There was never any bitterness, just a factual this-is-what-happened. But then he would always end by saying, “God was so good to us!”

I used to question that, but my dad would explain. “Yes, God was good to us. Business was so good at the grocery store after that, that within a few years we were able to pay back every one of those government loans. God was so good!” My dad is no longer living. But someday – before very long – he will be able to thank Jesus personally for being so good to us!

Sharon Oster

 

“Following” - “Then Jesus said to His disciples, ‘If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me.’” Matthew 16:24 NIV)

Jerry and I enjoy watching our little neighbor boy – maybe three years old – who lives in the corner house across the street from us. He loves to “help” his dad with yardwork. (I am sure his dad hopes this continues into his teen years!) When his dad edges the lawn, the little boy has his own play edger. He follows along, so carefully – so precisely – it really is amazing. His eyes never leave the edge of that lawn, and he follows all the entire way. Then comes the lawn mowing. The little boy has his own play lawn mower and again follows along closely behind his dad, back and forth over the entire lawn.

Jerry once mentioned to the dad how we enjoyed watching this. His dad said that sometimes he starts the yardwork when the little boy is taking a nap. But somehow the boy hears what his dad is doing, runs to the garage for his lawn equipment, and begins “helping.” As I was thinking about this, it reminded me of some Bible stories as well as our need to follow Jesus.

I have always enjoyed the story of Ruth. Because of a famine in the land of Judah, Naomi and her family went to live in the land of Moab. Naomi’s two sons married Moabite women, but before too long, both sons as well as Naomi’s husband died. When Naomi heard there was now food back in the land of Judah, she decided to return there, telling her daughters-in-law to go back to their own mothers’ homes. One daughter-in-law chose to do that, but not Ruth.

Ruth said, “Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee; for whither thou goest, I will go; . . . thy people shall be my people, and thy God, my God.” (Ruth 1:16) Because of her willingness to follow Naomi’s God, she later married Boaz, gave birth to Obed who was the grandfather of King David. (This Bible verse – Ruth 1:16) – was made into a song “Whither Thou Goest” and sung at our wedding.)

Mark tells us about Jesus calling some of His disciples and their willingness to follow. (Mark 1:16-20) Luke also says referring to the first disciples, “So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed Him.” (Luke 5:11)  Matthew did the same. “He [Jesus] saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector’s booth. ‘Follow me,’ He told him, and Matthew got up and followed Him.” (Matthew 9:9)

There is a hymn “I Will Follow Thee” and the first few lines say: “I will follow Thee, my Savior, . . . Where Thou goest I will follow; Yes, my Lord, I’ll follow Thee.” May that be the desire of each one of us.

Sharon Oster

 

Blindness - “For we live by faith, not by sight.” 2 Corinthians 5:7 NIV

I recently read a “feel-good” type of story in our not always nice world. It was told by a very busy businessman who had been on his hurried way to a meeting. He had to stop for a red light and while waiting, he noticed a young couple making their way across the street. The man was holding the hand of a small child, the woman clutching a baby sling to her chest. Each of them had a white cane extended – they were both blind.

At first, the businessman sat watching in amazement, then fear as he saw the couple veer off the crosswalk and right into oncoming traffic. Then all the cars slowly came to a stop. There were no screeching brakes, no horns honking, no loud shouting “hurry up!” – just silent, patient waiting. Suddenly a man jumped out of his car and shouted to them, “To your right, walk to your right!” They began walking back to their right, closer to the crosswalk and on to the other side. The businessman said he immediately sensed the sighs of relief by everyone stopped at that intersection.

Reading about this blind couple reminded me of something from my childhood. My dad owned a grocery store and many times people would phone in to the store their grocery order. My dad would fill the different orders and put them in his truck for delivery. A number of times I went with my dad. One family we delivered to was blind. After setting the groceries in the kitchen, my dad just spent some unhurried time in the living room talking to the people. The blind man in the family of several blind people would go into the kitchen to put the groceries away. He would take me with him to show me something special. He would pick up a can of vegetables, shake it, feel it, smell it, and then tell me what vegetable – a can of peas or corn or green beans, etc. I never knew his secret and to this day do not know how he could tell that.

Jesus had a number of encounters with blind people – some physically blind, some spiritually blind. It is interesting that Mark 10 records both. In both instances Jesus asks the question, “What do you want me to do for you?” (Mark 10:36 & Mark 10:51) Blind Bartimaeus said simply, “Rabbi, I want to see.” (verse 51) Jesus told him his faith had healed him and instantly he received his sight. (verse 52)

James and John wanted seats next to Jesus in His kingdom. (Mark 10:37) Their spiritual blindness did not receive immediate healing. Jesus simply told them they didn’t know what they were asking. (verse 38) They had lessons yet to learn and needed to spend more time with Jesus. The thing we all need – spending time daily with Jesus. Then like the healed blind man in John 9, we can say, “I was blind but now I see!” (John 9:25)

Sharon Oster

 

Coals of Fire - “If your enemy is hungry, feed him: if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.” Romans 12:20 NIV (Also Proverbs 25:21,22)

I remember reading a story years ago in the Bedtime Stories series of books by Arthur Maxwell about “Coals of Fire.” Someone at school was being mean to a little boy, so his dad suggested he put some burning coals of fire on the boy’s head. His son thought this was a great idea until his dad explained exactly what that meant. He soon learned he needed to treat the boy with kindness and burn the meanness right out of him. He tried it, and those burning coals of fire worked!

I thought of this story recently while listening to the news. The story was about a restaurant owner who has had three rocks thrown threw her front window. Rather than respond with anger and resentment, she has chosen a more positive, humorous approach. She has her “pet rocks” on a shelf, has given two of them names, and there is a contest to name the third. As she smiles, she says it “takes more energy to be angry” and so has chosen “a positive approach.” If the rock thrower sees the story and was hoping for a different response, I think he has had some burning coals on his head.

It reminded me of my dad many years ago and his garden. Across the alley in behind my parents’ house was a large vacant plot of ground that my dad rented for a huge garden. As things began to ripen, he would give away many vegetables up and down the street to his neighbors. But when the watermelon had grown big and began to ripen, someone in a car came down the alley and then drove through the watermelon patch, smashing many melons. But my good-natured dad chose a positive, generous approach. He continued giving away garden produce to ALL the neighbors – possibly the one destroying the melons – if so, putting some burning coals on his head.

Joseph, the favorite son of Jacob, was hated by his brothers so one day they sold him as a slave into Egypt. Years later when there was a famine in the land and the brothers came to Egypt for food, they did not recognize their brother, the now Prime Minister of Egypt. Of course, Joseph recognized them and after testing them to learn if they were now changed men, revealed himself. Then he graciously said, “It was not you who sent me here, but God, to save lives.” (Genesis 45:7, 8)  Complete forgiveness and a few burning coals of fire on their heads.

Remember the restaurant owner – three rocks and three smashed windows – but only kindness and coals of fire.

Sharon Oster.

 

A Simple Glimpse of Heaven - “So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” 2 Corinthians 4:18 NIV

This summer when our son and family and younger daughter and family were visiting, all the “able-bodied” members of the family decided to go for an early morning hike in the mountains. That left me at home with our two little grandsons, Jackson, 5 years and Gavin, 3 years. While Jackson was enjoying his third bowl of cereal, I went looking for Gavin who was not immediately visible. He came running up from the bottom of the stairs, clutching something in his hand. When I asked what he had, he opened his hand to reveal a fairly large spider! (The spider just sat in his hand – too stunned, I think, to move.)

When I later told his mother about it, she said, “Oh, he loves all creatures – anything. For his birthday he wants to go someplace where he can pet a lizard!” Imagine that for a birthday wish!

I have thought of Gavin and how much fun he would have in heaven. The Bible says: “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love Him.” 1 Corinthians 2:9  NIV  According to this text we can’t really imagine the wonders of heaven. But neither can I imagine that we would want to miss finding out!

We are told just enough about heaven that I can just picture Gavin playing there.  Isaiah tells us that “The wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the goat, the calf and the lion and the yearling together; and a little child will lead them.” (Isaiah 11:6)  I have no problem picturing Gavin being that little child! The text goes on to say “The infant will play near the hole of the cobra, and the young child put his hand into the viper’s nest.” (verse 8) Gavin would love doing that!

Isaiah goes on in chapter 65 to give us a few more insights into our heavenly (or possibly New Earth) home. He says we won’t remember the former things (verse 17) and “the sound of weeping and of crying will be heard in it no more.” (verse 19)  He says we will build houses and plant vineyards (verse 21) and we will long enjoy the works of our hands. (verse 22)  Jesus asks a good question: “What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Matt. 16:26  NIV)  What in this world would be worth exchanging for a home in heaven?

I can just imagine Gavin running to me in heaven shouting, “Grandma, grandma! I got to pet a lion!” In my opinion, so much more fun than petting a lizard!

Sharon Oster

 

Wholly Thine - “If you do not stand firm in your faith, you will not stand at all.” Isaiah 7:9 NIV

Jerry and I were recently loaned a book to read titled “American Black Widow” by Gregg Olsen. The front of the book tells a reader it is “the shocking true story of a preacher’s wife turned killer.” We were loaned this book because we had actually known and worked with this preacher many years ago.

In the book the names have been changed, but there were enough familiar details to let us know who the book was about. When Jerry was an associate pastor at a large church here in Colorado, this pastor came there as an associate as well. I don’t remember ever seeing his wife although Jerry remembers seeing her briefly a few times. What I do remember is when this pastor would bring his little girl to the Cradle Roll Sabbath School room where I was one of the leaders. She would be crying and clinging to her dad, not wanting him to leave her. But he had responsibilities elsewhere in the church so he would leave her with me.

As I stood in the hall trying to comfort that little girl, neither she nor I realized at the time the tears that would flow through the years. Her mother would abandon her pastor husband, the Seventh-day Adventist Church, the little girl (off and on), orchestrate the murder of two future husbands, and then serve time in prison. Well might this little girl cry!

While reading this book I had also been reading through the Desire of Ages by Ellen White. I had just finished reading about Judas, Christ’s disciple and betrayer. Again I realized to what extent a person will go when once he has abandoned Jesus and His love and saving grace.

Judas spent three years closely working with Jesus, observing His tender love and care for others. But Mrs. White says, “Judas did not come to the point of surrendering himself fully to Christ. He did not give up his worldly ambition or his love of money.” (Desire of Ages, p. 717) She says anyone who “persists in tampering with sin” will be “led captive at his [Satan’s] will.” (DA, p. 720)  The last words of Judas were simply, “It is too late!” He then went out and hanged himself.

Even the priests and rulers who had witnessed the mighty works of Jesus rejected the proof of His divinity and “had locked themselves in impenetrable darkness. They had come wholly under the sway of Satan to be hurried by him over the brink of eternal ruin.” (DA, p. 540)

As the hymn says, “I would be, dear Savior, wholly thine.” In other words, a complete and full daily surrender to Jesus is our only safeguard.

Sharon Oster