February 2010

Vol. 11

And over all

these virtues put
LOVE, which
binds them
together
in perfect unity.
Colossians 3:14

In this Issue:

Healthy Notes ············· 3

Haiti...surprises to avoid · 6
Getting to Know ·········11
Church @ Work ··········14
Did you ever stop to think that the resurrection of Jesus
is the key to God's plan for the future? Unless Jesus was
raised from the dead, there can be no future kingdom
and no returning King! Unless Jesus was raised from the
dead, sin and death would still reign, and God's plan of
redemption would remain unfulfilled. But Jesus the
Christ has been raised!

I can just imagine as the disciples stood there watching

after Jesus returned to Heaven, the angels assured
them that the risen Savior would some day be the re-
turning Savior. Remember what they said: "Men of Gali-
lee, why do you stand gazing up into Heaven? This
same Jesus, who was taken from you into Heaven,
will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into
Heaven."(Acts
1:11)

We can rely on those angels' sure promise! Just as

surely as Jesus rose from the dead, He will return for
us! Are you looking forward to that day? Is there any-
thing you need to do so that His return will be a happy
day for you? Only you can answer that question! Yours
for a soon and happy return of the Savior, Pastor and
Sharon Webb

Page 2 The Church Courier

 Healthy Notes by Glenn Paul

This year we need to remember that GOD wants us to grow in

health as well as we grow spiritually, 3 John 2. For this reason
we have received instruction in how to manage our lives to
maximize what we have been given.

Let us start by reviewing what God expects from us:

Leaders, not followers, Deuteronomy 28: 13
Discipline our bodies, Romans 12: 1, 1 Corinthians 9: 27
Avoid things that are not beneficial to our health, 2 Corin-
thians 7: 1
Avoid stress as much as possible, Matthew 6: 25 – 34
Deal with unresolved issues promptly, Matthew 5: 23- 25
Keep a clean conscience, Proverbs 28: 13
Chose your friends well, 1 Corinthians 15: 33
Make life choices in prayer, Proverbs 16: 25
Be faithful to God with what is His, Malachi 3: 10
Give generously, Proverbs 11: 24, 25, 2 Corinthians 9: 7

These are a few of the many instructions given by our God that
will lead us to a better life, physically, emotionally and spiritu-
ally. May the blessings of our Lord and Savior continue to be
a reality in our lives.

Vol. 11 Issue 2 Page 3

 Adventist Christian Academy
Our School @ Spanish SDA Spring Hill Church

On Sabbath, January 9th, some of our school students visited the

Spring Hill SDA Church. There they sang and the school band
played three songs. The children did a great job under the direction
of Mr. Cruz.

In other notes, we want to thank all the parents, family and friends
that bought ads for the yearbook. Because of you we are able to
lower the cost of our Yearbook.

Now we are working on another fundraiser to buy more needed

goodies for our School, The Run-a-thon. Sponsor a child today!

Thank you for always supporting our school!

According to an Arabian proverb, “A friend is one to whom one may pour out
all the contents of one’s heart, chaff and grain together, knowing that the
gentlest of hands will take and sift it, keep what is worth keeping and with a
breath of kindness blow the rest away.”

That’s why it’s so important to have Christian friends. We can share the good
and bad, confident that our friends won’t judge us as a result. Instead, true
friends celebrate our successes and encourage us during disappointments.
As the Bible says, “A friend loves at all times” (Proverbs 17:17, NRSV).

Page 4 The Church Courier

Ever wonder what would happen if we treated our Bible like we treat our cell
phone?

• What if we carried it around in our purses or pockets?

• What if we flipped through it several times a day?
• What if we turned back to go get it if we forgot it?
• What if we used it to receive messages from the text?
• What if we treated it like we couldn’t live without it?
• What if we gave it to our kids as gifts?
• What if we used it when we traveled?
• What if we used it in case of emergency?

This is something to make you go...hmm...where is my Bible? Oh, and one

more thing. Unlike our cell phone, we don’t have to worry about our Bible
being disconnected because Jesus already paid the bill.
Email received

Think about it…

• “Faith doesn’t get us out of

trouble; faith gets us through
it.” —Anonymous

• Give of your hands to serve,

and your hearts to love.
-Mother Teresa

• I thank God for my handi-

caps, for, through them, I
have found myself, my work
and my God.
-Helen Keller

Vol. 11 Issue 2 Page 5

 Haiti...surprises to avoid...see Christ
by Juan Rivera

If God is touching your heart about Haiti, but, you’re not quite sure
how to respond, here’s a exercise you could do in the next few days.

1. Read Matthew 25 aloud. It is a good thing to force yourself to

slow down and hear a segment of God’s Word.

2. Notice that there are three segments: 2a. The parable of the Ten
Virgins; 2b. The parable of the Talents; and 2c. The final judg-
ment.

3. Reflect on the significance of each of the three sections. Do you

agree with these summary statements?
3a. Matthew 25:1-13: Only foolish people are not prepared when
Christ comes back. And, we can be sure that the Master will return
when many are not ready – - at which time it will be too late. Oh, can
you say you are ready, brother?
3b. Readiness looks like aggressively leveraging what God has
entrusted to us, not playing it safe. Matthew 25:14-30: Wise people
aggressively multiply the resources entrusted to them. We are to
shrewdly dream about the ways that we can shine the light of the
Gospel across the street and around the world (see also Luke 16:8-9).
3c. In particular, readiness means being mobilized to help hurting
people. Those who decline to help the hurting should fear for their
souls. Matthew 25:31-46: To ignore the least of these is to ignore
Jesus. Those who think they are His, but bear no fruit of compassion
– - these will have a surprise in front of them (Matt 25:46). Deeds of
compassion don’t save us; but, the saved feature deeds of compas-
sion. 2 Corinthians 13:5.

Let us see Christ by how we respond to our hurting brothers and sis-
ters in Haiti.

Page 6 The Church Courier

 We usually interview one
of our newest members,
but today we are going to
learn a little more about
how some of the couples
of our church met.
Diana & Louis:
Louis was in the city of Panama for business purposes. He went for a
walk to learn a little more about the people and their culture. I (Diana)
was very bored that afternoon and went for a walk too with a girlfriend.
My friend feared that someone would bump unto us and fall as the streets was
very crowed. What she feared came to pass. I was able to see it all from a short
distance. At that moment the crowd separated us so she (my friend) ended up
diagonally in front of me and I saw when this guy bumped into each other's way;
very soon I realized the guy was an American (you just can tell!) so I apologized
to the gentleman in his own language, he spoke back to me in English too; after
a while and of being introduced to each other he asked if it would be ok that he
could walk with us...and since then we have being walking together! We
are going to be celebrating our 3rd year anniversary on Feb. 26.

Michael & Joan

We met at Andr ne:
ews University
Rito & Aida: 1972. A couple in
, I was living on of my girlfriend
We were living in NY had pointed him s
in the third floor,
the first floor, Aida said he was the
out to me and
ming down the nicest, cutest gu
One day she was co around. I decid y
we talked and I ed to find out fo
stairs and we met, myself and agre r
e movies, that
asked her to go to th tired of his room
ed. Michael go
t
ing to do. After mate talking ab
was the standard th how wonderful out
g. We got mar- I (Joanne) was,
that we started datin decided to find and
e going to be cele-
ried in 1960, We ar We’ve been toge
out for himself.
niversary
brating our 50th an bad for our form
ther since. Too
er friends (just
kidding!) We ha
ve been marrie
d
for 33 years.

Juanita & Gary:

We met through my boss (Juanita’s boss), who was a friend of Gary. I
worked at that time at the Review & Herald and Gary at the Pacific Press. The
relationship was a long distance one for a year and a half. Gary came to visit
me at least once or sometimes twice a month. We got marry in 1985. It has
been a wonderful and blessed relationship, that will continue through out
eternity. We have been married for 25 years.

Vol. 11 Issue 2 Page 7

 Seventy years
By the time you’re 70 years old, you will have
spent nearly a quarter of a century sleeping.
The average person spends about 23 years of
his or her life in bed. Here are estimates of
how most Americans spend their waking hours
during those 70 years:

• 11 years working
• 8 years in leisure pursuits
• 6 years eating
• 5 years grooming
• 4 years being educated
• 3 years talking
• 2 years reading
• 6 months worshiping God

Perhaps Sabbath School isn’t as long as it seems.

In the last month Getting to Know we inter-

viewed Rebecca Monro and we misspelled her
last name. Her last name is Monro and not
Morro. So sorry Rebecca.

Ten Commandments in verse

Thou shalt have no gods but me.

Before no idol bow thy knee.
Take not the name of God in vain,
Nor dare his Sabbath to profane.
Give both thy parents honor due,
And see that thou no murder do.
Abstain from thoughts and deeds
unclean,
Nor steal, though thou be poor or mean,
Nor make a willful lie and love it.

Page 8 The Church Courier

 What merit has a kind heart
if kept to oneself;
What use are good intentions
if not acted upon;
what good does talent serve
if left unfulfilled;
What worth have possessions
if so many are poor;
What comfort is faith
if constantly questioned?

Loving kindness
A Sabbath school teacher asked her class, "What do
you think the Bible means when it speaks of loving
kindness?"
"Well," answered a young boy, "If I was hungry and
someone gave me bread with butter on it, that
would be kindness. And then if they put a spoonful of jam on it, that would
be loving kindness."

Some of our kids and youth were asked about marriage,

here are some of their answers.

What do you expect when you get married:

Myranda (12) “A big house, kids and a faithful and good husband.”

Blain Powers (17) The girl version of me.”

Markley (10) “Knowing the other person really good?”

Justin (10) “I don’t know, but as long as my wife cuts my pancakes in

small pieces, I’m good.”

Which is the secret for a good marriage?

Garret (15) “Trust and love.”

Vol. 11 Issue 2 Page 9

 Mark your
calendar for
Sabbath,
Feb. 13th, our
2010 Camp Meeting at Camp Adventurer
Kulaqua (March 4-7) will offer eight Club will have
informative seminars. its very own
Sabbath. Guest speakers will
These seminars have been prepared for
your physical, spiritual, and emotional be Markley Richard and
needs. Camp Meeting is free to attend. Dean Powell.
To reserve accommodations and pur-
chase advance meal tickets, call Camp
We thank you for praying
Kulaqua at (386) 454-1351 or go online for and supporting all the
at http:// fl ori da con fer en ce. com / Youth Ministries of our
campmeeting Church.

Men’s Ministry
This New Year presents us with new challenges and hard realities! The
men of our congregations, more than ever, need the encouragement
and reassurance that comes from God, and from meeting with brothers
confronting issues common to other men. The good news is that in
2010, March 12-14 and 19-21, the Florida Conference Men’s Ministries
Dept. will be conducting two Men’s Ministries Conventions at Camp Ku-
laqua. Men will be able to choose the most convenient date. The theme
will be: “Port of Call” Heaven. Brochures are in the church office

Bowling season has started

so come out Sunday’s at
5pm and enjoy great fel-
lowship, good bowlers,
Welcome back and bowlers who know
Martha Getlinger, the importance of clean-
we missed you! ing the gutters. See you
there. ☺

Page 10 The Church Courier

 From the Editors

We are all called to I will do more

serve. God designed you I will do more than belong

to serve Him. Let’s — I will participate.
I will do more than care —
serve Him and one an- I will help.
other in love, under- I will do more than be- This newsletter is
lieve — I will trust. published monthly
standing that we are the I will do more than dream
by the NPR SDA
body of Christ. — I will work. Church. If you
I will do more than teach
have any com-
— I will inspire.
I will do more than earn — ments to make
I will enrich. about the news-
And over all these virtues
I will do more than give — letter, wish to
put on LOVE,
I will serve. make a donation,
which binds them I will do more than live — or wish to submit
together in perfect unity. I will grow. an article, please
Colossians 3:14 I will do more than be send it to the
friendly — I will be a church or to us.
friend.
Love, Omayra I will do more than talk —
I will listen.
I will do more.

Contact Us
Alexander Ortiz Omayra Rivera
727-365-2892 727-372-0052

Email: nprcourier07@gmail.com

NPR Seventh-day Adventist Church

6424 Trouble Creek Road
New Port Richey, FL 34653
727-848-4567  www.nprsda.org

Vol. 11 Issue 2 Page 11

NPR Seventh–day Adventist Church
6424 Trouble Creek Road
New Port Richey, FL 34653