Traditionally for Christian Churches, the days leading up to Easter have been set aside as a time of repentance and reflection.  For the past two years as a congregation we have united in prayer, using a simple devotional booklet to guide us.  These devotions have been written by many in our congregation. Each year, the people of PBC remark how encouraged they were by the writings from such a variety of their Christian brothers and sisters.  We hope that you can join with us in this daily discipline and that it will be spiritually encouraging to you as you prepare to celebrate Easter.

Copies of the Prayer Guide are available at the church office and each Sunday morning at our information table.  You may also download a copy here.

There may not be a Red Carpet, but there will be lots of excitement at the premier of the VeggieTales latest movie “Robin Good and His Not-So-Merry Men.”  You will want to be there on Friday, March 2, 2012 at 7pm in Pascack Bible Church’s Fellowship Hall for this family friendly movie event.

Admission is free and there will be free veggies, fresh hot popcorn and drinks.  You will be able to make your own “Robin Good” hat to take with you.  There will also be door prizes and goodie bags.  Come with your family and friends and share this wonderful movie together and learn the wonderful lessons it has to offer.

Any questions you can contact Pam Osterhus at 201-664-7809.

Check out this…Robin Good Movie Sneak Peak

Jesus went further when He said in Matthew 6:14,15

“For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you,but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”

We see here that we really must forgive – and we know this to be true from experience, too, since we’ve seen unforgiveness damage people, and bitterness destroy people.

But how?
When we experience an offense and then look within ourselves we find that the power to forgive is not in us. What to do? Are we trapped in unforgiveness with no hope?  It seems as if forgiveness is not humanly possible.  Is the Lord God asking too much of us?  Well, He’s asking too much of ordinary mortals, that is, people operating in their own strength.  Martin Luther wrote:

“Did we in our own strength confide, Our striving would be losing,”
(From the hymn:  “A Might Fortress”)

Alas…

“O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?”
Romans 7:24.

Well we know who will. Hallelujah!

How does this deliverance work?
There’s an old song I love: “Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in His wonderful face, and the things of earth will grow strangely dim, in the light of His glory and grace.”  It’s true.

So the first step is to “turn your eyes (the eyes of your heart) upon Jesus”.  Then ask Him to save you from your prison of unforgiveness.  Ask Him to wash you clean.  Ask Him to enable you to repent, that is, acknowledge that you (we all) are needy people and that your pride, greed, fear, and unbelief must be renounced (crucified, if you will).  Jesus is a savior and a redeemer, not just from hell, but from all that binds and torments us.

But what will keep us free?
Will we just slip back into our old habits?  Oh, Jesus will save us yet again, but this is no way to live.  We desperately need to be operating in the power of the Holy Spirit. And to be operating in this power, we must be baptized in and filled with the Holy Spirit.  Mark 1:8 says that Jesus is the one that baptizes and fills with the Holy Spirit.  So, pray to the Lord and ask Him to baptize and fill you with the Holy Spirit.  He will do it.

Notice that the word baptize is used here, as it is with water baptism.  Is there any connection?  Well, water baptism signifies to all that we’re totally in, no turning back.  Same thing with being baptized in and filled with the Holy Spirit.  He’s totally in us and we’re totally in Him.  This is not just a Sunday morning activity anymore, this is life itself.

Now forgiveness is not just a hurdle to get over occasionally so we can get on with life – it is a core element in life itself.  Does that sound depressing?  Well, then turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in His wonderful face.  Paul and Silas sang praises to the Lord God in the Philippian jail.  Why?  They were aware of God’s presence.  In the same way, you can do things that are humanly impossible, too.

Larry Carroll
Note: Larry just finished his sixth continuous year ministering as a PBC Elder and as mandated by our constitution is on a year of sabbatical from that ministry.  We are appreciative of his service to PBC and his ministry in Spirit and Truth.

Calling All Parents!!!

Starting January 15^th at 9:00 AM, Ben and Corrine Nelson will be hosting a special Sunday School class called, Loving our Kids on Purpose.  The class will be using materials created by Danny and Sheri Silk.

The class is designed to help discover what our true goal as parents needs to be, and how to effectively bring our kids into solid, healthy relationships with our families and with the Christ.   You will explore techniques you can use when:

• Your 17 year old lies to you
• Your 4 year old won’t go to bed
• Your 13 year old  won’t  get out of bed
• Your 8 year old doesn’t do their homework

The class includes of 6 ½ hours of video which will be broken up over the twelve weekly classes, so that there will be plenty of time to discuss what has been taught and brain storm together about our kids.  The class will also include time for prayer together for our families.

Since the class deals with foundational principles of parenting it really will apply to any age child or parent.  You will actually find it encouraging to other relationships in your life as well.  You will learn how to create a heart connection between you and your child and rebuild the culture of your family so that it is a place you want to be.

This class will meet weekly on Sunday mornings in the Annex, from 9:00-10:15am, for 12 weeks beginning January 15^th.

Imagine what your life would look like if you were completely debt free.  Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace University is designed to help you beat debt, build wealth and live like never before.  If your New Year’s resolutions include getting a better handle on your finances, then FPU is where to start.

This is not a sales pitch to buy life insurance, stocks, bonds or other financial investments. No one is going to try to sell you anything or have you invest in their latest hot tip product. No, this thirteen week course is about teaching you the basic steps you can take to get control of your finances. Dave’s approach centers around practical step by step things you can do to move out of debt and into financial freedom by changing the way to handle the money you already have.

Each week you will watch a video lesson from Dave and then spend some time discussing with others what you’ve learned and how to put it into practice.  These sessions will last for two hours (7:00pm-9:00pm). You are going to have a little bit of homework to do each week so that you can begin to immediately put into practice what you have learned. For additional information on the course, check out the Financial Peace University website.

Pascack Bible Church is pleased to sponsor this important training and along with absorbing the administrative and other expenses with hosting this, we are also offering a special discount on the course materials.  For a limited time, Pascack Bible Church is offering the course materials at a 25% discount, $75 instead of the usual $100.  We only have  a limited number of these specially priced kits available and they will be offered on a first come, first serve basis.

To register for upcoming January 25th course and receive the 25% discount on course materials, please complete the following form:

Beginning Again Sunday, January 15th at 9:00-10:15 am
The Adult Sunday School ministry at PBC is designed to be a place where people can grow in the knowledge and love of God through studying the Bible. Additionally, these small group classes are the perfect place to meet other people and develop significant friendships. The variety of classes is meant to offer choices for individuals and couples that best meet their needs. Check out winter/spring line-up:

New Class

“Loving Our Kids on Purpose”
Hosted by Ben and Corinne Nelson
Annex Room # 301-2

In this class we will discover what our true goal as parents needs to be, and how to effectively bring our kids into solid, healthy relationships with our families and with the Lord.  We will learn techniques you can use when:

Your 17 year old lies to you;
Your 4 year old won’t go to bed;
Your 13 year old  won’t  get out of bed;
Your 8 year old does not do their homework.

You will learn how to create a heart connection between you and your child and rebuild the culture of your family so that it is a place you want to be.  The class consists of 6 ½ hours of video which we will break into 12 pieces so we have time to discuss what has been taught, and brain storm together about our kids, and then pray together for our families.

Download PDF format: KidVenture Scripture Memorization Tips