Concord Chronicle

This week, my longtime friend, sister, and I traveled to visit our mutual childhood friend in Maryland who works in the heart of Washington DC. She was able to give us a preview of the town before we were left on our own to explore for three days. It was a whirlwind tour of museums, memorials, and monuments. It made me think ... they are similar yet different or different yet similar:

A museum is a building in which objects of historical, scientific, artistic, or cultural interest are stored and exhibited. A memorial is a structure built to remember a person who died in an important past event. A monument is a structure, statue, or a building that is built to honor someone notable or a special event.

Monuments carry a lot of architectural values as they come in the form of buildings too. Memorials do not carry so much of an architectural value as a monument. While a monument may be built in memory of a single individual, a memorial can be built in memory of several individuals. (https://www.differencebetween.com/difference-between-monument-and-vs-memorial)

The range of emotions felt while at these various places depended on how much I knew of that particular person or subject or the event in history it was built for. Let's see how you feel just by reading these titles.

Museums:

• Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History
• Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum
• Smithsonian National Museum of American History
• National Museum of the American Indian
• National Museum of African American History and Culture
• United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
• National Museum of Women in the Arts
• International Spy Museum
• Museum of the Bible
• National Museum of Asian Art
• National Geographic Museum

Monuments & Memorials:

• Washington Monument
• Lincoln Memorial
• Titanic Memorial
• Air Force Memorial
• The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

• Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial
• Korean War Veterans Memorial
• Thomas Jefferson Memorial
• Vietnam Veterans Memorial
• Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial
• National World War II Memorial
• Iwo Jima Memorial

It's so important that we remember these individuals, peoples, cultures, and events in history that have shaped our country - the positives and the negatives. We learn from the decisions that were made - or not.

"Those who do not learn history are doomed to repeat it.’ The quote is most likely due to writer and philosopher George Santayana, and in its original form it read, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.”

This made me think of these scriptures:

"Only be careful, and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them fade from your heart as long as you live. Teach them to your children and to their children after them." Deuteronomy 4:9

"Be careful that you do not forget the Lord your God, failing to observe his commands, his laws and his decrees that I am giving you this day." Deuteronomy 8:11

"Get wisdom, get understanding; do not forget my words or turn away from them." Proverbs 4:5

"Do not forget the covenant I have made with you, and do not worship other gods." 2 Kings 17:38

Let's remember. Do not forget who created us. Seek His wisdom. Follow His commandments. And teach the next generation.

AnnMarguerite Jones

PS. I know being a mom is not an easy job, but I thank God for my children. To those moms out there, I see you. Thanks for all you do!

There’s a group of folks, dear friends of mine, with whom I worship every week, who are certifiably bonkers!

You’d never guess this by just looking at them — they are seemingly ordinary folks, young and old, married and single, male and female, students and professionals, but they are out-of-their-mind crazy people! I’m not going behind their backs in telling you this because I have explained their madness to them at some length, but their consistent response is just to try to evangelize me into joining their insanity!

In the past, I have invested a great deal of time and treasure to pursue a childhood dream of obtaining a pilot’s license and owning an airplane. I have enjoyed and shared that privilege by inviting friends and family to climb aboard and bore holes in the sky with me. I have taken great pains never to frighten anyone or cause them anxiety. All my training was focused on safety first and checklist upon checklist would be completed before loosing the surly bonds of earth. My 70-year-old mom climbed in with me and loved the whole experience!

You can imagine my shock and horror when these aforementioned friends of mine paid good money to climb aboard a plane, fly to a height of three miles above the earth (5 km if that is your measurement of choice) and then purposely abandon a perfectly good aircraft and entrust their lives to a flimsy film of fabric! What madness is this? The law of gravity is inevitably unforgiving and respects no one. Although the fall may be benign and even thrilling (if you enjoy an adrenaline high!), the required stop at the end can be abrupt, sudden, and fatally catastrophic! I have repeatedly pointed out that abandoning ship when there is no compelling reason to do so can lead to only a few outcomes, all of which are bad except one. They shrug off my advice and go back for more.

They tell me that there is an element of fear, but if you have faith in your equipment, the aforementioned flimsy film of fabric, it is more fun than any human should be allowed to have at one time. They believe that faith overcomes fear and leads to fun!

All this came to mind as I thought of the number of times, especially in the New Testament, faith was the key ingredient of a miracle. When a helpless, hopeless human in a dire situation was brought to Jesus, inevitably he engineered a miracle and attributed the outcome to the faith of the believer.

Except, of course, in the very sad commentary on his hometown of Nazareth:

“Coming to his hometown, he began teaching the people in their synagogue, and they were amazed. “Where did this man get this wisdom and these miraculous powers?” they asked. “Isn’t this the carpenter’s son? Isn’t his mother’s name Mary, and aren’t his brothers James, Joseph, Simon and Judas? Aren’t all his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all these things?” And they took offense at him.

But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own town and in his own home.”

And he did not do many miracles there because of their lack of faith." Matthew 13:54-58 NIV

Faith is a willingness to substitute and acknowledge self-effort as futile and instead place trust in another agency.

Notice that Jesus was always delighted to find people willing to trust in him, and they never left disappointed. Fear was always replaced by joy (I’d have loved to say “fun” but that would trivialize a life-changing experience.) Jesus sometimes used illogical and downright strange methods to amplify his teaching about faith, for example: putting mud on the eyes of a blind man, but it was always the recipient’s willingness to trust in him - regardless of how illogical his instructions might seem — that brought about the life altering change.

My free-falling loony friends tell me they are never the same after a successful skydive. I suspect the adrenaline experience just heightens their sense of invulnerability.

May I suggest the same will be true if you will bring the fearful circumstances of your life to Jesus. If you will follow his prescriptions, not trying to substitute your own understanding - no matter how illogical it may seem to you, no matter how slim the chances seem, no matter how flimsy the proposed solution — then he will give you beauty for ashes and turn your mourning into dancing.

Whatever caused you to fear, when exposed to faith in the creator, governor, and preserver of the universe who is focussed on your well-being, will be replaced by joy (and maybe even fun!)

Please put your trust in Jesus for every aspect of your life!

Please pray for the safety of my crazy friends!

Blessings on you and yours,

Jim Black

SUNDAY:

• 9:00 AM - Jr. Praise Team Rehearsal - Chapel
• 10:00 AM - Corps Cadets - Library
• 10:00 AM - Sunday School - Classroom 3
• 10:00 AM - Senior Soldiership Classes
• 10:15 AM - Prayer Time - Prayer Room
• 11:00 AM - Worship Service - Chapel
• 12:15 PM - Refreshments & Fellowship - Fireside Room
• 12:30 PM - Youth Music Rehearsals - Chapel
• 12:30 PM - Music Basic/Theory 101 - Classroom 2

TUESDAY

• 6:00 PM - Men's Bible Study - Fireside Room
• 6:00 PM - Women's Bible Study - Zoom
• 7:00 PM - Songster Practice - Chapel
• 8:00 PM - Musicians' Devotions & Prayer - Chapel
• 8:15 PM - Senior Band Practice - Chapel

WEDNESDAY

• 10:00 AM - CAMEO: Guest, Major Nancy Helms - Hybrid
  

FRIDAY

• 11:00 AM - Delegates leave for Women's Retreat

Our ladies have been invited to attend a Women's Day Retreat in return for attending ours:

As we witness the increasing instability of our culture, now is not the time for us as Christians to wring our hands and stick our heads in the sand. Nothing is happening that God has not already told us would happen. As women of faith, we are to be strong and of good courage. The Bible tells us repeatedly to not be afraid. We are in this place and this time in history because God has a particular purpose for each one of us. So, let's get together and try to understand what is going on in the world and focus on where we go from here!

• Coffee and muffins will be served in the morning.
• Lunch will be at no cost, however, donations are gratefully accepted.
• There will be a short prayer walk during the lunch break for those who are able.
• We will have a raffle drawing at the end of the day.
• We will have music and some entertainment.
• This is a FREE event!

Date: Saturday, May 21

Time: 9:00 AM - 2:30 PM

Location:

Bethel Baptist Church

3578 Clayton Road

Concord, CA 94519

Contact Patty Lim at (925) 323-4296 or email mailto:pattyklim@hotmail.com to register.

The deadline is May 14th.

Dates: June 3-6, 2022

Time: 8:00 AM - 6:00 PM

Location: Contra Costa County Fairgrounds (Antioch)

It has been two years since we've been able to participate in this service to our Veterans. Lt. Perfect Weeden headed up the team of volunteers last time. This year, Mike O'Reilly will be in charge of this event while the Majors will be out-of-town for the Commissioning events and Territorial Encore with the participating families. He will only be able to fulfill this commitment with the help of our congregation and other volunteers. We will have our canteen on site serving snacks and coffee. If you are interested, please let Mike know so that he can create his shifts. Thank you!

We have reserved spaces for two of the Summer Camp Sessions:

1. Sports Camp - June 20-25 - Cost $75
2. Music & Worship Arts Camp - July 2-9 - Cost $100

We are only asking for less than 1/3 of the total cost of camp. These camps are for kids ages 7-16. Informational flyers are included below. If you have any more questions or you would like to reserve a space for your child(ren), please let Majors Gwyn or AnnMarguerite Jones know.

NOTE: Vacation Bible School is scheduled for July 18-22 and 24. More information will be coming out soon!

HONG KONG & MACAU TERRITORY

Prayer requests:

1. For the covid-19 epidemic in Hong Kong - Pray that it will be kept under control soon and that no quarantine is required for the General when he visits the Command as scheduled this October.
   
   
2. For the urgent need of officers in the Command - Pray that God will continue to motivate and influence our salvationists to respond to the urgent call of the Lord to be candidates and be trained as officers.
   
   
3. Pray for the Officers Brengle Retreat Day Camp at the end of May - That the lives of all officers and their hearts be strengthened and resolved to serve the Lord and renewed and empowered by the Holy Spirit.
   
   
4. May God bless our Command’s Social services, Educational services, and Spiritual ministries, so that we could live out the Gospel of the Heavenly Kingdom and bring more people to receive the blessings of the Gospel.

Email: annmarguerite.jones@usw.salvationarmy.org
Website: https://www.SalvationArmyConcordCA.org
Location: 3950 Clayton Road, Concord, CA, USA
Phone: (925) 676-6180
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/tsaconcord