El Camino Baptist Church

Tomorrow morning at 9 am in the Fellowship Hall.

Susannah Cahalan is a lovely, blonde reporter for the New York Post. At age 24 she awoke alone in a hospital room strapped to the bed and unable to speak. She had no memory of how she got there. She was labeled violent, psychotic and a flight risk. In time it was discovered that she had a rare disease, NMDA-receptor autoimmune encephalitis. Her body was destroying her brain. In time she shared a room with a black woman named Debra who was so heavy she was unable to lea...ve her bed to go to the restroom. But she was sweetness incarnate! In Susannah’s last night in the hospital Debra got news that she had colon cancer, but it was caught early and defeated. The nursing staff came to pray with her. Debra kept repeating, God is good! As Susan reached to turn out the lights she said, Debra? Yes, dear? God is good, affirmed Susan. God is good. After Susan got out of the hospital it was still a long road to recovery, but she slowly learned to walk that road. Whatever ails us we can walk that road by saying wholeheartedly, God is Good. Sunday I’m preaching on Walk with Thanksgiving from Ephesians 5:11-21. We will learn to 1) Walk in the Light (verses 11-14), 2) Walk Wisely (verses 15-17) and 3) Walk in the Spirit (verses 18-21). Much of our world is wallowing in the darkness of drunkenness, drug addiction, resentment and a meaningless existence, much like the people of ancient Ephesus. But the Holy Spirit can walk through us in the light of God’s grace. It makes the world beautiful and meaningful. Heaven comes down and glory fills our souls. Last Sunday afternoon I was invited to the anniversary of the Brazilian church that meets on our campus. The service, all in Portuguese, lasted three hours! I thought about the Mongolian and Hispanic churches that meet on our campus and our own Hispanic ministry’s worship and Bible Studies. I was reminded of John’s vision in which people from every nation, tribe and language stood before the Lord crying, Salvation to our God who sits on the throne and to the Lamb! (Revelation 7:9). The churches who received this letter were undergoing persecution, but God was teaching them to walk in thanksgiving with visions of heaven dancing in their heads. Let’s walk in that same manner! Happy Thanksgiving! Love, Jim Meek

THANK GOD IN THE FACE OF DEATH - John 11:32-44