spring/summer issuiuº 13 n table of...

email: o�[email protected] website: www.christschurchinbowlinggreen.com

continued on pg.2

Spring/Summer Issue•Nº 13

thians 11:14), and fills the hearts of men and women with his own presence (Acts 5:3). This is an en-emy who can look, to our modern society, perfectly normal.

So Satan whispers to Je-sus and tells him the task he has taken upon himself is too hard. One person can’t fight this battle. It is impossible for him to do anything that could res-cue humankind from the morass of confusion and deadly error into which it has fallen.

Satan works the edges of the crowd to get them to take up his chant against the Son of God. This Jesus can’t be who he claims to be. He demands too much or presumes too much or claims too much. Jesus – not Satan – is the real threat. Something must be done to get rid of him! Sound familiar?

Table of Contentspages 1Walk In The Light

pages 2Preachers PonderingsBill continued

page 3 & 4Family Connection

page 5Family continuedEvents

Bill Rhodes - EditorJack O’Hare - Publisher

Spring 2016 / Summer 2016

Bill Rhodes:Walk In The Light

We have devel-oped some strange and

dangerous ideas about Satan. In The Screwtape Letters by CS Lewis, for example, the archenemy of humankind exults in the idea that modern people don’t even think he exists. Thus he can work without effective resistance in the lives of most people.

Then there is the notion of the devil as a scary-looking red monster with horns, cloven feet, and pitchfork. If only he were that obvious?

And Hollywood’s typical representations of Satan are of a sinister, threat-ening, and overpowering “dark force” without spe-cific form (Think: Movie Ghost). He is brutish and frightening. His very pres-ence is malevolent and makes one shudder. His voice is shrill and foretells disaster.

But director Mel Gibson may have gotten it about right in The Passion of the Christ. Satan is so amor-phous that we are not even sure if he is male or female, having qualities and features of both so he can appeal to either. This Satan isn’t shrill or threat-ening, doesn’t menace or portend harm, and cer-tainly doesn’t announce a demonic presence by the smell of brimstone or some gaudy, outlandish attire.

The Satan of The Passion is the one I’ve encoun-tered and battled for all my life. This Satan blends into the background, speaks in whispers rather than with shouts, makes good sense, and blurs the line between right and wrong, good and evil. The Satan I have come to know is the one who incites others from the shadows (Luke 23:23), masquerades as an angel of light (2 Corin-

2email: o�[email protected] website: www.christschurchinbowlinggreen.com

Our Vision for 2016 “Glow In the Dark”

(You were formally dark-ness, now the Lord has filled you with Light, So live as

people who have Light)

The apostle Paul, in-spired by the Holy Spirit, wrote these words, “For once you were darkness, but now in the Lord you are light. Live as children of light”. It is clear to me from scripture that people do not shine the light of God on their own accord. No, we glow because something, or in this case someone, has made con-tact with us and changed our makeup, like fire to a piece of wood. We glow because Christ has come into our lives and set our hearts ablaze and the glow is a radiance of the transforming power of Christ in our lives. The transformative power of Christ in our lives is never on our behalf alone but always for the sake of others.

I implore you on Christ’s behalf to make this year the year you al-

low God to conform you into the image of His Son Jesus for the sake of oth-ers! This transformation will not happen over-night, but, will take spiri-tual growth, develop-ment, and formation that only God can provide as you mature in Christ! It is my prayer in 2016 and al-ways that Christ’s Church will be transformed into the image of Christ and be the light of Jesus to a lost and dying world that so desperately needs to see God’s people Glow in the Dark!

Christ’s Servant,

Doug

z z z

Spring / Summer 2016

Bill – cont. from pg 1

Doug McKinney:Preacher’s Ponderings

Worse than the beating Jesus takes at the hands of two sadistic Roman soldiers is Satan’s temptation for him to give way to despair. To abandon his Father’s plan. To leave the despicable humans to the fate they deserve.

As Easter approaches, we can be grateful that Jesus did not give way to Satan even for a moment. He went to the cross bearing the sin we deserved. He suffered pain and death and then rose from the dead which brought the hope we did not deserve. In this epic battle for the hearts, and the affection, and the adoration of mankind, Satan lost.

In the Twenty sixth chapter of the book of Acts Paul stands before King Agrippa and he quotes the words that Jesus spoke to him.

I am sending you to them to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.

This Easter, praise God for the victory. Walk in the Light!

– Bill

Morning Services Morning Services 8:00 to 9:00 Traditional SonRise Service

9:00 to 10:00 Continental Breakfast

9:15 to 10:15 Easter Egg Hunt, Fun and Games!

10:30 to 11:30 Contemporary Worship

with Multi-Media Presentation


The Rhodes FamilySince I edit this publication I almost de-cided not to profile Sherry and me. But, I decided to because I have already profiled all the Eders as well as Ministry Leaders and staff, and that only leaves us.

Sherry and I met in December 1968 in Marietta, Ohio. I had graduated from Columbus West

High school (Columbus, Ohio) in June of that year. My cousin lived in Marietta, Ohio and told me that there was a girl in one of his classes he wanted me to meet and her name was Sherry. Of all the girls in his school I wasn’t sure why he wanted me to meet this particular girl, but, I agreed and one day while visiting in Marietta, my cousin took me to meet Sherry. I still remember vividly the moment I laid eyes on her. Our future together, at the moment, was set in stone. I came to believe years later that it was a rendezvous planned by God.

I joined the Navy in June of 1969 and left for boot camp in late July. I spent 9 weeks at Great Lakes, and then went to Pensaco-la, FL for communications training. I was home for Christmas in 1969 when Sherry and I became engaged and then we didn’t see each other for more than 7 months, un-til 3 days before the wedding in August of 1970. I was stationed at Homestead, FL at the time and Sherry and I set up our first home there. Home-stead was an Air Force Base but we had a small contingent of Navy personal doing communications work at a site in the Florida Everglades. From there we would go to our next duty station in Nicosia, Cyprus. This was a journey that would for-ever change the course of our lives.

It was while in Cyprus, that God, through the agency of some wonderful Christian people and missionaries, would lead us to a faith in Jesus Christ. Cyprus was a difficult duty station to get, but, I believe it was no accident that we ended up there nor was it simply the will of the Navy. It was here that I, for

the first time in my life, came face to face with the resurrec-tion of Jesus and it was clear that it demanded a decision. It was here that Sherry for the first time truly accepted the hope He offered. She had grown up going to church, but, now it was time for her to let Him in. in the early morning hours of April 11, 1973 we drove Northeast from Nicosia in a van with people we barely knew and were baptized in the Mediterra-nean Sea, near the ancient town of Salamis (Acts 13:5). The coming years would take us to school, ministry, and missions in Louisiana, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Ohio, West Virginia, Florida, and many other places.

We have three children. Our oldest, Christina, born in Nicosia, Cyprus, is married to Shawn Williams. They live in Genoa and Shawn works for BP and they have given us 3 grandchildren. Caleb, 16, Savannah, 12, and Haylee, 9. Our second oldest, Kerri, was born in Marietta, Ohio, and now lives in Belpre, Ohio, with her husband BJ Sprague, who works for state of

West Virginia at a juvenile school for troubled kids as a guidance counselor. They also have given us 3 grandchildren. Bailey, 17, Brittan, 13, and our youngest grandchild, Blake, 5. Our youngest, Michael, was born in West Monroe, Louisiana, in 1977 and is married to Stacia and he is a youth minister with a church in Sugarland, Texas While Stacia teaches at the Christian School in their church. They have given us two grandkids, Melanie, 12, and Vance, 7.

After more than 35 years as a senior min-ister, I became an associate minister here at Christ’s Church in April of 2011. I work with and welcome new families. Sherry works for Aegis Science Corporation and works with drug testing at Renewed Minds in Toledo where they work with troubled adults and youth.

Sherry and I enjoy traveling, r e a d i n g , spending time together and with family. I love golf and

photography, and Sherry loves to cook (and I love for her to cook), as well as bike riding and walking/hiking.

y y y y


4

email: o�[email protected] website: www.christschurchinbowlinggreen.com

HappyMothers‘s

Day

The Altstadt Family Jeff and Terri have 3 children, a dog (Maisy), a cat (Hyde), 2 rabbits (Rose and Jack), and a turtle. They are a strong family and Terri stayed home with the kids, even cleaning their church building in Galion, so she could take the kids with her. She did this until Sarah was about 2 years old.

Their oldest is a son, Michael, who is 28 years old. Michael is married to Stephanie who is from Bowling Green. They met when he was a senior in high school and they both worked at Pagliais Pizza. They have been mar-ried for 9 years and have given Jeff and Terri two beauti-

ful granddaughters, Emma (3 years) and Lydia (11 months). Michael works at Thayer Toyota and

Stephanie is a stay at home mom. Their second child is Christopher, who is 23 years old and

also works with MT Business Technologies. Christopher is engaged to Emily and their wedding is planned for October 1. Emily is a graduate of Capital University with a degree in international studies. Their youngest is 19 year old Sarah. Sarah is a student at BGSU and is studying political Science. She lives in BG and works at Burger King.

Terri met Jeff when she moved to Crestline to live with her father when she was a senior in high school. Neither Jeff nor Terri was raised in a Christian home, but Terri came to Christ when she

was 12 years old, thanks to the influence of her Christian uncle and her cousins

who taught her. Such a reminder that we can influence the people

around us even those closest to us. Jeff came to Christ in his early twenties. Jeff enjoys

painting landscapes and target shooting, while Terri enjoys cross

stitch, reading and doing puzzles in her spare time. They love spending time to-

gether and have made plans for a vacation this summer to celebrate their 35th wedding anniversary. They also enjoy

camping, biking, and hiking.

I asked them for something unique about their family and this is what they told me. When Michael was around 10 years old they got involved in the Soap Box Derby. Anyone who has ever done anything like this knows that it is a family affair. Michael began racing in rallies in Ohio and Michigan. Then around 9 years of age Chris-topher began racing, and then around the same age Sarah joined in. So between April and May every year for about 10 years every Saturday was consumed with racing from early morning until late into the evening and even some Sundays.

Jeff and Terri have raised a wonderful family and the greatest thing I can say about them is that they are God loving people. They have given God charge of their fam-ily and their lives. We are thankful to have them as a part of this fellowship.

t t t


TEENSTEENSTEENSLock-in for grades 6th through 12th on April 1st. from 7PM to 7AM


http://www.christschurchinbowlingg

reen.com

LISTEN for CCBG

Sermons streamed

in HD on Vimeo.com

coming soon. Watch

the Sunday Bulletin

for more info.

Our body of believers help financially support the Life

Affirming ministry of

CCBG Missions

GARAGESALE

15 –16April 15 –16April

Community Good Friday ServiceThe Bowling Green community Good Friday

service will be held on March 25 at the First Pres-byterian Church, 126 S. Church St. The service will begin at 7:00 pm and will feature pastors and musicians from a wide variety of Bowling Green churches. The service is designed and sponsored by the Bowling Green Ministerial Association, a confederation of clergy from over twenty area churches.

All those interested in group singing are invit-ed to sing in a community choir which will be gathered for this service. The choir will form up and rehearse at the Presbyterian church on Sun-day March 20 from 7:00-8:00 pm. Those inter-ested in seeing the music in advance can call the church office 419-352-5176 or email [email protected].

Following the service, those attending are in-vited to a refreshment time in the church fellow-ship hall

Is Always Blessing Our Worship Services

Luke 24:1-6 On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. In

their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look

for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you

in Galilee:


Calendar of Events

Jesus Has Risen -He’s Risen Indeed!Wed. Mar. 9, Adult Study & Children’s Church

Sun. Mar.13, After Worship - Family Life Minsitry Roller Skating

Tue. Mar. 15, Redwood Ladies

Wed. Mar. 16, Men’s Lunch & Study

Wed. Mar. 16, Evening Study & Children’s Church

Sun. Mar. 27, Easter Son-Rise ServiceSun. Mar. 27, Easter Activites for the Kids (TBA)

Sun. Mar. 27, Easter Service

Thu. April 15, 16, Annual Missions GARAGE SALE

Office hours: 14455 Campbell Hill Rd. Mon-Fri - 10 am to 2 pm

Phone: 419-354-1176email: [email protected]

A NEWSLETTER OF CHRIST’S CHURCH FAMILY OF BELIEVERS IN BOWLING GREEN, OHIO

SEPTEMBER 2012

14455 Campbell Hill Rd. Bowling Green, OH 43402

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