Month: August 2022

Good Afternoon Church Family,

In 1960, an American physicist with Hughes Aircraft Corporation constructed the first working laser from a ruby crystal rod. Since that time, the laser has revolutionized every realm of modern life. The word LASER is actually an acronym for “Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation.” (I think I prefer LASER!) With an ordinary beam of light, the photons vibrate and scatter in every direction, whereas a laser beam is a tightly focused and perfectly aligned beam of light. 

A laser beam is produced when light bounces back and forth between two mirrors with a special medium, like ruby crystals, between them. This causes all the photons, particles of light energy, to vibrate in exactly the same synchronized phase, like soldiers in a troop. 

Today lasers are used in virtually every field, from communications and industry to medicine and military. Many modern devices, including bar code readers, DVD players, and printers, use lasers. These powerful beams of light can also transmit voice or data via fiber optic cables at much improved speed and capacity. Lasers have also been used to determine very precise measurements with great accuracy. 

The distance between Earth and the moon was measured with lasers to within one inch. In medicine, conventional eye surgery has almost been totally replaced by the miracle of lasers. In industry, lasers are used to cut, align, and measure with great precision. 

Incredibly, lasers can also produce extreme cold. Normally, when you shine light at something it heats up. But under the right conditions, laser light will actually cool atoms! In laser cooling, the laser is tuned to such a frequency that atoms traveling toward the beam get slowed down. A number of criss-crossing laser beams create a trap for the atoms, which get slower and slower, and therefore colder and colder. With this technique, researchers have used lasers to reach temperatures of nearly absolute zero. 

The extremes of heat and cold produced by laser light remind us of the words of Jesus to the church of Laodicea. “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot” (Revelation 3:15). When the laser light of the Holy Spirit shines on our hearts, we will either be energized for Jesus, or turn away in coldness and desolation. 

For God, who commaded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

2 Corinthians 4:6

In The News

This Sabbath’s message will be brought to you by Elder Carl Ashlock. I hope God will speak to your heart through Brother Ashlocks sermon.

AYA – Come join us this Sabbath evening at 7:30 p.m. to close out the Sabbath with music from Dan Sanford / Ole Timey Musical. It is encouraged to bring your own instrument to play along. It will be a rich blessing, and we hope to see you there! 

Mid-Week Prayer Meeting – Wednesday night prayer meeting will be on ZOOM at 7:00 p.m.. We will be studying Mark 4. The Phone Number is 1-646-931-3860. The meeting ID number is 781 549 3992, and the passcode is 37743 for those using a home/cell phone.

On the church’s website there is a link to the mid-week Bible study, I will also send out an email with the zoom link. 

ABC Bookmobile – Place your orders ASAP ABC Bookmobile will be here on Sunday, August 28^th from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. They will setup behind the church building. If you need information about the food specials please contact church office. 

North-East Tennessee Campmeeting – It’s that time of year again for our Annual NE TN Campmeeting. This year’s Campmeeting will be September 16-17 at the Oaks Retreat Center. DON’T FORGET to register and let us know you’re coming. Lodging information and pricing are available on the registration form. Contact Heidi at (706) 629-7951. For weekend schedule and more information on what to bring, visit  https://www.gccsda.com/northeast-tennessee or click the link. For the luncheon, bring your food prepared in a cooler or warming bag, water bottles, and lawn chairs. Dress is casual. 

There will be no services here at the church for Sabbath School, Church or AYA for the weekend of September 16-17.

GCC Women’s Ministry Day Retreat: October 29, 2022, | Occasions on the Square | 10 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Cost: $15/person. Retreat includes lunch, worship, and fellowship. Please visit https://www.gccsda.com/events/100767 to register and find more information.  Registration deadline October 6. 

ENGAGE LEADERSHIP CONVENTION: September 30 – October 1, 2022. New in Ministry?  Veteran Youth Worker?  Come to our annual training event for Youth Leaders, Youth in Ministry (ages 16+) and Pastors Breakout sessions offered for everyone at Cohutta Springs. Keynote Speaker – Andres Palacios, Associate Pastor of the Calhoun, GA SDA Church. Registration deadline noon on Thursday, Sept. 22.  For more information or to register, go to: https://www.gccsda.com/events/engage2022.  Questions? Contact Alyse: 706-629-7951 or alyse@gccsda.com.

Ministry In Motion

This week we had a chance to help our sister, Sheryll Morrison, clean up a fallen tree in her front yard, due to a storm that passed through. If it wasn’t for Larry Boughman and his jeep and chainsaw it would have taken us more than a day to clean up! Praise God for the right tools to use for the right job.

Week At A Glance

Sabbath, August 27      

9:15 a.m.       Sabbath School/Rhoda Kanna

11:00 a.m.       Church Service – Elder Carl Ashlock

  2:30 p.m.       Adventurer Meeting

  5:30 p.m.       Adventurer Induction Service

  7:00 p.m.       AYA – Dan Sanford / Ole Timey Musical

SUNDAY, August 28

10:00 a.m.       Adventurer Meeting

  1:00 p.m.       Osvold/Hastings Bridal Shower

 WEDNESDAY, August 31

   7:00 p.m.      Prayer Meeting via ZOOM

THURSDAY, September 1

  6:00 p.m.       Pathfinder Meeting

SABBATH, September 3   

  9:15 a.m.       Sabbath School/Larry Boughman

11:00 a.m.       Church/Pastor Nate

                                   NO AYA          

Dear Church Family,

I wanted to share these helpful quotes as they pertain to what we studied last week and you will find them in the series from Pastor Ivor Myers which I am sharing in today’s Grapevine.

Then I saw the Mother of Harlots; that the mother was not the daughters, but separate and distinct from them. She has had her day, and it is past, and her daughters, the Protestant sects, were the next to come on the stage and act out the same mind that the mother had when she persecuted the saints. I saw that as the mother has been declining in power, the daughters had been growing, and soon they will exercise the power once exercised by the mother.

White, E. G. (1916). Spalding and Magan Collection (p. 1). Leaves-Of-Autumn Books.

In different parts of the earth, Satan will manifest himself among men as a majestic being of dazzling brightness, resembling the description of the Son of God given by John in the Revelation. [Revelation 1:13–15.]

GC88 p 624

Notice he won’t be able to immitate Christ’s appearing but will travel about the earth. Thus the warning, don’t go out to see him.

Through spiritualism, Satan appears as a benefactor of the race, healing the diseases of the people, and professing to present a new and more exalted system of religious faith; but at the same time he works as a destroyer.

White, E. G. (1911). The Great Controversy Between Christ and Satan (Vol. 5, p. 589). Pacific Press Publishing Association.

Notice that Satan is working through spiritualism to decieve the world which is based on the false teaching of the immortal soul. Thus we are told that through the false teachings of the immortal soul and Sunday sacredness, Satan leads the world astray.

One effort more, and then Satan’s last device is employed. He hears the unceasing cry for Christ to come, for Christ to deliver them. This last strategy is to personate Christ and make them think their prayers are answered. But this answers to the last closing work, the abomination of desolation standing in the holy place.

4LtMs, Ms 16, 1884

So we will see the fulfillment of Revelation 13:13-14 when it says that it will be “by those signs” that he will decieve and cause to be set up the image to the beast. But note that it will be Satan that leads the World to make an image to the beast. Satan, as the false Christ, will lead the world to unite in keeping Sunday. Remember the warning given:

The Protestants of the United States will be foremost in stretching their hands across the gulf to grasp the hand of spiritualism; they will reach over the abyss to clasp hands with the Roman power; and under the influence of this threefold union, this country will follow in the steps of Rome in trampling on the rights of conscience.

White, E. G. (1911). The Great Controversy Between Christ and Satan (Vol. 5, p. 588). Pacific Press Publishing Association.

The Lord has shown me clearly that the image of the beast will be formed before probation closes; for it is to be the great test for the people of God, by which their eternal destiny will be decided.

White, E. G. (1958). Selected Messages From the Writings of Ellen G. White, Book 2 (p. 81). Review and Herald Publishing Association.

the wicked . . . declared that they had the truth, that miracles were among them; that angels from heaven talked with them and walked with them, that great power and signs and wonders were performed among them, and that this was the temporal millennium they had been expecting so long. The whole world was converted and in harmony with the Sunday law, and this little feeble people stood out in defiance of the laws of the land and the law of God, and claimed to be the only ones right on the earth.

White, E. G. (1980). Selected Messages From the Writings of Ellen G. White, Book 3 (pp. 427–428). Review and Herald Publishing Association.

To be clear: Satan appears first, then later Sunday law, then later probabtion closes.

Just imagine what it will be like when all the world is united, converted under the deceptive power of the false Christ, when the dead are supposedly raised, and sick are healed. Imagine the arresting influence this will have upon the world. Imagine when Aetheists, Buddists and Muslims are converted under this false Jesus? This will be what brings the world together. And all the world wandered after the beast. May we follow the Lamb lest this overmastering delusion ensare us. Let us herald the Three Angel’s message until He comes.

In the news:

1. This Sabbath we will conclude our mini-series on the 3 Angel’s messages. The title of the message is “In Conclusion: Part III – The Call.”

2. Please bring a dish and join us this Sabbath, August 13 for a special church-wide farewell luncheon as we share our last Sabbath with you.

3. You are all invited to a farewell reception this Sunday, August 14 from 1-4 p.m. in the church fellowship hall as we say goodbye to our dear church family.

4. We are excited to announce that the school has 106 students currently enrolled! What a blessing!

5. The church board voted to postpone the selection of a Nominating Committee. Anyone having a position will remain in that position until the new pastor has been selected. If you choose not to continue in your position, contact Kevin Rojas, Board Chairman, or a member of the church board.

6. The church board voted this week to purchase and distribute 15,000 Great Controversies to our community next year. The CSC will distribute another 10,000. We are purchasing these through the conference who is heavily subsidizing these in an effort to distribute at a minimum of 100,000 next year across the conference.

7. I wanted to share with you the series I referenced in my last two messages. The series is called Back to Basics with Ivor Myers and it’s a series I found very helpful. His primary point is that we must remember that the final events will be spurred on by Satan appearing as Christ, not climate change or a vaccine or, well you get the idea. Scripture and Spirit of Prophecy is very clear upon this point. It’s a 10 part series and I believe it is worthy of your time. I found it refreshing and hope you will too. Here is a link for the series and below is presentation number one.

Thus concludes my last Grapevine post. I understand this Grapevine blog will continue at least for now with Pastor Nate. It has been a pleasure sharing with you from week to week and while it’s served primarily as a place for keeping you informed regarding the happenings at church, I have also enjoyed sharing personal tidbits and resources with you. In this last post and in my last messages at church, I have chosen to share with you the urgency of staying true to our mission and message. Distractions come in many forms and may we stick to what we know to be true from God’s Word and the Spirit of Prophecy. As the song goes, Oh be careful little eyes what you see, oh be careful little ears what you hear . . .

May we stick to truth and not sensationalism. May we stay together as a remnant and not fragment into independant factions. May we share from God’s Word and Spirit of Prophecy and not from conspiracists. May we hold fast to Jesus, keeping our eyes fixed on Him, sharing by word and life His love and His Word until He comes. Come Soon Lord Jesus!

In His Service,

Pastor Jeremy

Dear Church Family,

We had a great time at this year’s church camp out. While it rained at night, the days were great and God blessed. At worship Sabbath evening I shared a handful of Scriptures that quickly establish our story as a remnant in history. It was requested I share the outline with you for easy reference so here goes.

Our Story

1. Revelation 10 – Here we find an Angel (Jesus) who has a little book that was closed but later opened. When it was eaten it was first sweet but then bitter. Question: What is the little book?
2. Daniel 12:4 – The little book is here referenced and refers to the book of Daniel which the text says is to be closed UNTIL the time of the end. Question: When is the time of the end?
3. Daniel 8:17 – The verse says the vision refers to the time of the end. Question: What vision refers to the time of the end?
4. Daniel 8:14 – The verse says the sanctuary will be cleansed after 2300 days which a day in prophecy equals a year. Question: When does the vision begin so we can determine when it ends and know when the time of the end is so we can know when the little book will be opened?
5. Daniel 9:24-27 – Here we find that the 70 weeks are cut off from the previous vision of the 2300 days and that it begins with the decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem which history attests was in 457 B.C. Therefore the 2300 days began in 457 and add 2300 to this and you come to 1844. Now we know when the time of the end is, 1844. (Note the time of the end began in 1798 but the vision referred to this time period which in this case was in 1844.)
6. Revelation 10:11 – Based on what we have read, this bitter-sweet experience would occur around 1844 when the little book was opened. History attests to how all around the world, people expected Jesus to come in 1844, and yet because they thought the sanctuary in Daniel 8:14 was this earth, they misinterpreted the passage. But after the great disappointment (bitter-sweet experience), a few who later would become known as Seventh-day Adventists went back and learned the true meaning of the text which was that the judgment of God’s people began in 1844. Thus Revelation 10:11 says they were to prophesy again and verse 11 uses the same language as what we read in Revelation 14:6 which introduces the messages of the 3 Angels.
7. Revelation 14:6-12 – Thus we find our story in Revelation 10 and our mission here in chapter 14 verses 6-12. Truly the judgment has come as Daniel 8:14 predicted and as Rev 14:7 states. We must now herald these 3 Angel’s messages as urged in Rev 10:11.

In the news:

1. This Sabbath we will continue our series on the 3 Angels with a message entitled, “The Warning.”

2. The Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner program for Sabbath has been canceled. Thank you to those who did sign up but due to not enough participants, the social committee elected to cancel for this Sabbath. If you signed up, please make other arrangements for Sabbath.

3. This Sunday at 8 AM, the school will have its annual work bee. We are excited that there are last I heard 103 students registered to attend this year. The work bee will help get everything spruced up for the first day of school on Tuesday.

4. Men’s ministry will have their breakfast and Bible study this Sunday at 8:30 AM at the church fellowship hall.

5. Shirley Walter’s Memorial will be this Sunday at 4 P.M. at the church. The family will receive loved ones and friends from 2-4 P.M.

6. We are sad to announce that Dr. Paul Green passed away peacefully in his sleep this past Wednesday morning. There will be a private service in NC at a later date.

7. Adventurer registration is this Monday evening (Aug. 8) at GAA during Parent night. If your family homeschools, please contact Katrina Robinson at 423-747-2007 to register.

8. Pathfinder registration packets will be available to be picked up at the GAA registration on the 8th. The first meeting is Thursday, Aug 18 at 6 PM in the Pathfinder room – this will be an orientation meeting for parents as well, so a parent needs to attend.

9. Church Finance Committee will be this Tuesday evening at 6 P.M. at the church fellowship hall.

10. Church Board will be this Tuesday evening at 7:15 P.M. in the church fellowship hall.

11. Please bring a dish and join us next Sabbath, August 13 for a special church-wide farewell luncheon as we share our last Sabbath with you.

12. You are all invited to a farewell reception next Sunday, August 14 from 1-4 p.m. in the church fellowship hall as we say goodbye to our dear church family.

13. I wanted to share a resource called Masterpiece Bible with you that I have found helpful. The gentleman producing these videos is an Adventist and has some very helpful insights into Scripture and Bible study. I have been blessed by what I have seen. Here is a sample video.

14. As I shared above, we had a wonderful church camp out at Cades Cove last weekend. Here are some pictures taken by some of those who came.

In His Service,

Pastor Jeremy