Snow Hill News Blog

Swallowing Death

Pastor Todd put together some thoughts around the Scriptures for Sunday. You may listen to them here.

What Is Your Story?

As a follow-up to their recent Justice Now, our youth produced a video in keeping with the theme - What's our Story?

Take a look -

Christ Our Life

Pastor Todd and Nathan have often made reference to Dallas Willard. One of the challenges Dr. Willard often gives is to memorize Colossians 3. We recently discovered this sermon by Tim Keller, pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in New York City. We would encourage you to take some time to listen and reflect on Dr. Keller's sermon on Colossians 3. You may listen by clicking here.

Psalm for the Week ... And More

Earlier in the week we posted something of a "false start" regarding the Scriptures for the coming Sunday. We overlooked "All Saints Day." Since we generally get the question, "Why would a Southern Baptist Church participate in such a commemoration?", a quick note would be good.

Rather than follow traditional Roman Catholic theology regarding All Saints Day and All Souls Day, we would find ourselves reflecting on this day as something of a Christian Memorial Day. Historically, Memorial Day gave Americans an occasion to remember those who gave their lives in service to our Country. Over time celebrations were broadened to remember not only soldiers but also family members who died.

In this sense All Saints Day, for our consideration, is a day to remember those in our local congregation and in the wider church who have died. We look at this day with hopefulness as the Scriptures given for the day point to the end of death. We understand the end of death, as John Owen put it, in the death of Christ. We would add that death ended in the resurrection of Jesus. 

So when we read  Psalm 24 we know it is the King of Glory who defeated our enemies of sin and death. The illustration of the power of Jesus over death shows up in the raising of Lazarus. Isaiah gives an eschatological picture of the "swallowing up of death forever and the feast that accompanies the end of grief and reproach. Revelation 21 signals the fulfillment of the Kingdom of God as "Heaven comes to earth." In the re-created order the prayer of Jesus finds ultimate fulfillment - your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. God's dwelling is with people. Death is no more. It is done.

What are your thoughts around these texts? What memories do you have of someone in our community of faith who has died in Jesus? What thoughts do you have about someone you know in the wider church who died in Jesus? Leave your thoughts for us to share in the comments.

Shaping Us Toward Sunday

Pastor Todd offers some thoughts on the Mark 10 passage for this coming Sunday. Join him by reading and reflecting on how this week's text may be understood when set against last week's story of James and John.

You may listen here.

UPDATE: After School Program to Begin October 28 November 3

Nathan announced Sunday we would begin our "After School Program" on Wednesday, October 28, November 3rd. The initial scope of this year's program will center on 2nd graders who need homework and tutoring assistance. Each week students arrive to an after-school snack and then begin working on their homework and any attending skill enrichment at 4 p.m. for an hour.

If you would like to build confidence and learning skills into a young person contact Nathan or Tiffany. You may email Nathan at nstreber@gmail.com or call the Church Office at 392-4753. You need not have a college degree. We are looking for people to invest in children with love and care for who they are and with an interest to help them learn.

Psalms for the Week ... And More

Psalm 126 is among the Songs of Ascent. Annually many would journey to Jerusalem. Along the way in preparation for worship the people would sing songs. "Ascending" to Jerusalem they would reflect on life and the activity of God. Here sorrow turned to joy may reflect any number of experiences by the wood be travelers. Not the least of which would have been the hopefulness in the "great things" God would do making his name great among all the peoples of the world.

You may want to read the Mark 10 passage (46-52). It would be interesting to reflect on the "tale of two stories." In the previous event in Jesus' travels James and John tell Jesus they want him to do what they ask. Here Jesus asks blind Bartimaeus what he wants Jesus to do for him.

Other possible reading connections for the week. Consider Psalm 34:1-8. Read Job 42 and Jeremiah 31:7-9. See how these Scriptures intersect in theme and intent.

As you have time, leave your thoughts in the comments.

Shaping Us Toward Sunday

Pastor Todd offers some thoughts on our Scriptures for Sunday. You may listen here.

Update on the Massons

Jonathan and Kari recently posted this on their website,

Guess which fifth-year osteopathic student will be doing an internship while we're in Senegal next February?

I'm going to assume you all know the answer to this one. :)

Yesterday we moved one step closer to the dream. I say 'we' because it's our dream, but I'm not the one who actually did anything. Many moons ago Jonathan researched osteopaths in Dakar and decided he wanted to try to do an internship during our visit in order to get more experience, but also to glean as much information as possible.

You will want to click over and read the entire story. We are excited for them and will continue to participate in the journey Jesus has called them into.

Psalm for the Week

Take some time this week and read Job 38 and Psalm 104 together. We tried to find an audio or video of Fernando Ortega's musical expression of Psalm 104 but the powerpoint with the audio was just too cheesy.

Lay these two texts side by side and reflect on the way the relate.

What are your thoughts?