Hello, everyone!  I hope you and your family are doing well.  🙂

      Our relationship with God begins with a prayer.  A prayer expressing our faith in Jesus Christ as our savior.  We usually cal it “The Sinner’s Prayer”.  

      “The Sinner’s Prayer” will be the subject of my Sunday sermon.  What should a Sinner’s Prayer contain?  What should it say?  What does the Bible tell us?

       Join me at 10:00 AM this Sunday morning as we explore this interesting subject!  
See you there!
-Pastor Jeff Carico

      Thank you to everyone who helped with our Community Service Night on Wednesday, May 18.  We were able to prepare 200 boxes of food for our Blessing Ministry Food Pantry to distribute.  Thank you for your act of kindness and compassion.  

“What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.”
‭‭James‬ ‭2:14-17‬ ‭

      Hello, everyone!  During the next few weeks we will be planning ministry events that are designed to “get us outside the church walls”.   Our motto for Spiritual growth is “Commit…Grow…Serve”.  We commit to God and his work, we grow in the knowledge of the Bible, and we serve God and others.    Wednesday night our congregation will be packing 200 food baskets for distribution.  I’m asking everyone to participate.  There will be plenty of jobs and work for all who come.  This is an opportunity for you to do something for someone other than yourself.  To serve!!!!  
​     See you Wednesday night.  

Community Service Night
Wednesday, May 18
7:00 PM
Packing 200 Food Baskets For Distribution

Sunday, May 1
​Theme:  “From One Generation To The Next”

​40 DAYS FOR LIFE PRAYER WALK
-Saturday, March 19
-11:00 AM
-Begins at 17 24th Street, Bristol, TN

NCAA TENNESSEE VS MICHIGAN
-Saturday, March 19
-5:15 PM
-Church Felliwship Hall
-Friendship and Fun, commercials are blocked   and devotion at halftime 

“LAZARUS, COME FORTH!”
-Sunday, March 20
-10:00 AM
-First Assembly, 120 Millard St, Bristol, VA
-Infant Nursery and Children’s Church through age 12

     Not bombing, but balming.   Every day we hear constant reports of bombs being dropped.  Death, refugees, violence, horror and unimaginable sufferings are all results of these bombings.  It’s hard to watch the news and see the pictures.  But there is something else falling upon the earth.  Not bombs, but balms.  God’s balms.  God is balming the earth!!!!!
       Say what?  Well, let’s define the term balm:  ”A fragrant ointment or preparation used to heal or soothe the skin”.   We’ve all experienced the relief that a balm can provide.  Itching, soreness, irritation, infection, rash, flaking all can be relieved through a correctly prescribed balm.  Wow, that makes me feel good just to think about it!
       Right now the world needs the Balm of God!  People are hurting (hurting each other!), suffering, tense, uneasy, and violent.  Oh, how the people of the world need a balm.  A balm to soothe, heal, relieve from pain, and to give comfort.  
       The balm of God’s love is what we need.  My Sunday sermon will be entitled “God’s Healing Balm of Love”.  Some points of interest will be…
-A love that will not stop
-A Godly love, not a human love
-A love that unconditionally gives…and hopes for a return
-A love that eternally works
       I hope you will join with us this Sunday, 10:00 AM. In the sanctuary, facebook, or church website.  The balm of God’s love!  Amen!
-Pastor Jeff Carico
        

      What do you think of the events of the last week?  Have you found yourself watching the news channels on tv, listening to radio reports, checking your online news sources?  I bet you have.  The whole world is probably doing the same.  It’s been a troubling week for the world, especially the residents of Europe, not to mention the residents of Ukraine.   Urgent prayers are needed for the residents of the nation of Ukraine. 
      For many years we have heard teachers of Biblical prophecy tell of their interpretation of “end time” events, especially in the books of Revelation and Daniel.    We would often hear the mention of nations such as  Russia, China, Iran, Iraq and Israel, just to name a few, and the role that each will play in the “end time” equation.  What are the names we are hearing mentioned now?   Very interesting, isn’t it!
       I believe this world is set on a predetermined course of events leading to the Second Coming of Jesus Christ.  When will this event occur?  No one knows for sure.  Yet, events such as those of this past week remind us that we are clearly moving in that direction.  And quickly.  The Second Coming of Jesus does not seem to be an event set in some far distant future, but one that seems increasingly reasonable and believable.
      As we move toward the coming of Jesus I offer the following advice:
-LOOK UP.   Remember that God is in control.  The news is bad, but God is good.
-GATHER TOGETHER.  Make sure you gather together for regular worship.  If you cannot gather in-person in sanctuary worship then gather online, but make sure you gather together in worship.  We need the power and presence of regular corporate worship.  We need God and we need each other.
-PRAY, READ AND STUDY YOUR BIBLE, BUILD A STRONG RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD.  We are too close to the end to fall away now.
-UNDERSTAND THE TIMES.  The Bible tells us these things will come to pass.  Don’t be surprised, expect them, be prepared for them.   Understand the times and keep your faith in Jesus because he’s coming again and you want to be ready for his return.
      What will happen next week?  Who knows!  I guess we will just have to wait and see.  But one thing I do know:  next week we will be one week closer to the Second Coming of Jesus.
        I will look forward to gathering with you in worship this Sunday at 10:00 AM.  In-person Sanctuary Worship or Online Worship (Facebook, YouTube or Church Website).  Make sure you gather!
My love to you all,
-Pastor Jeff Carico


         
       
      

      On one of the warmer days last week I did some outside “clean up” work around my house.  It was really good and therapeutic to feel the warm air and sunshine as I cleaned up some of the debris that had gather in my lawn over the winter season.   It picked up my spirits and did me good!  As I cleaned up the mulch areas next to my house I came upon a very pleasant surprise:   Both the crocus and tulip plants in our flower beds had sprouted and were an inch-two inches above ground!  My wife and I also noticed some beautiful birds had returned form their winter exodus and were feeding in our lawn.   You know what that means!  Spring is coming.  It’s very near.  It’s time to begin transitioning from winter and planning for Spring!  👌👍🙂👏

       I’ve noticed the transition has already occurred in stores.  Winter displays are gone and spring displays are up.  Lawn equipment, lawn fertilizer, outdoor patio furniture and grills, spring fashions, are all on display with bright colors and pictures of friendly smiling faces!  Winter merchandise is in a small area of the store marked “clearance”.  (Not a bad time to buy some of that winter merchandise at discount prices for next year!).   Even though winter is still officially with us (and bad weather is still a possibility) the transition from winter to spring is in full swing.  

      The earth and it’s four seasons are an evidence of God’s infinite creative ability and genius.  Who but God could create such a magnificent world.   The colors, the smells, the sky, the seas, the mountains, and so much more.  Wow!  Praise God our creator!

      Spring also brings us another annual season:  Easter season.  Easter will be celebrated this year on Sunday, April 17.  Easter is a season of transition.  A transition from death to life.  Jesus made that transition with his resurrection from the dead.  With his new life he has given those who believe in him, and accept him, new life also!  Hallelujah, I can testify to that!  So can you.  Have you accepted Jesus as your Lord and savior and found new life?  He will do the same for you!

      I invite you to join us this Sunday at 10:00 AM as we worship this risen savior.  We do this every Sunday and would love to have you as a part of our worship family.  You can join us in the sanctuary, or join us online (Facebook, YouTube and church website).  I’m looking forward to being with you this Sunday in worship!

-Pastor Jeff Carico
    
      

      

     Is everything going to be ok?  Do you ever ask yourself that question?  Sure you do.  Maybe every day!  Anyone living in 2022 asks that question.  
      I’ve heard it said by some that the world has never seen a time as bad and troubled as this.  Actually, people have seen harder times than this on several occasions.  But that does not take away from the reality of the many crises that we face.  And it leads to the question,  “What’s going to happen next?”.   As Christians we know the Bible tells of a time that will come upon the earth that will be unequalled in crisis and trouble.  We know that with each passing day we grow closer to those Biblically prophesied events.   Only God knows when they will fully come to pass.
      How do we deal with the events of each passing day.  The uncertainty, stress, unrest and unpredictability?  I recently came upon a scripture that gave me great comfort:

“When the earth totters, and all its inhabitants, it is I who keep steady its pillars.”
‭‭Psalm‬ ‭75:3‬ ‭

       Everything is on God’s timetable.  Nothing will happen too quickly or too slowly.  I can’t tell you what’s going to happen next, but I can tell you who keeps steady the pillars of this earth.  God.   🙂

       See you Sunday morning at 10:00 AM for worship.  In the sanctuary and online.  

-Pastor Jeff Carico