A LDERSGATE U NITED M ETHODIST C HURCH
Experience
At times faith means that we have to "bite the bullet.” The phrase "bite the bullet" comes from the old west. John Wayne, who was a student of history and contemporary affairs, said that the phrase "biting the bullet" was literal in its meaning. People would place a bullet between their teeth and bite down on it to distract them from pain, in an age where there were no pain killers. Faith is our keen ability of bearing the unbearable by "biting the bullet." One pastor visited a victim of a shooting, which had left the victim a paraplegic. His eyes were glazed with drugs, that he had become dependent upon, due to his condition. He was enormously wealthy and lacked nothing that money could buy, but over him hung a cloud of darkness and doubt. He had made a decision to be a cynic and an unbeliever.
the earth. He lost his money, family, friends, health and social status, but he still trusted in his God. He told God that, though He seemed to be allowing some harsh things to happen, Job was sure that God had a better view of things. Job was what I call a "before thinker." He walked and talked with God. He had built up his daily relationship with God in such a way that he was prepared for the hard times. He knew that the nature of the one He had known in the good times had not changed because tides had shifted in his own experience. One boy saw the sign "God loves you" on his grandfather's weather vane on the barn as the directional arrow was pointing to the north (with the wind). He asked his grandfather if God loved him only when the wind was blowing to the north. He told him that the sign was a symbol of God's unchanging love. He said, "God loves us no matter which direction the wind blows." Homer E. Morris, Senior Pastor
Job, at that time, was one of the most powerful men on the face of "Though He slay me, yet I will trust Him." Job 13:15
J UNE 2016 C ONTENTS Council of Bishops Letter Birthdays 3 UMM Durham Bulls 3 Children’s Ministry 5 Adult Ministry 5 Stephen Ministry 6 Financial Peace 6 Music Notes 7 Music Notes/ 8 VBS/Oxford Manor 9 CONDUIT 9 Sunday AM Worship 10 Festival of Wisdom & 10 Grace 10 Weekday School Camp 11 Moms Morning Out 12 Women’s Retreat 12 Sharing God’s Gifts 13 Ways to Give 13 June Lay Assistants 14 Our Graduates 15 Nursery/Acolyte/Altar 16 Guild and Trustees 16