We are looking forward to the fall season!  We anticipate the return of our college students, who will be returning to school in a few days.  These young people are a tremendous blessing.  Of course, they help us in the work of the ministry.  Their enthusiasm is contagious and their love for Christ is evident for all to see. 

We have a busy schedule for these next few months.  We have an afterglow planned for our college students on Sunday evening, September 18^th.  We also have a progressive meal planned for our adults on Saturday, September 24^th.  Our teens will once again be attending the Farmfest on October 8^th . 

Our goal is to know Christ and to make Christ known!  Every Saturday morning we plan to go soul winning.  We will knock on doors and tell many folks about our Lord!  Pray for us!  Also, we will be memorizing Scripture together on Sunday nights during the service. 

Some of you may not be aware that we have a daily radio program called The Voice of Gethsemane.  The program is broadcast on WTBI (91.5 FM) each evening throughout the week (Monday-Friday). 

May God bless you!  Thank you for your interest in this ministry and thank you for reading this message!

(Outline of the message preached by Pastor Gatlin on Sunday morning, July 31, 2011 after his daughter, Rachel, almost died from pneumonia)

Intro:  We learn 3 things from James 1:1-4:

1)  The Assurance of Testing (“when” not “if”).  John 16:33, II Tim. 2:12; I Peter 4:12

2)  The Attitude toward Testing (“count it all joy”). Phil. 4:4, I Thess. 5:18

3)  The Accomplishments of Testing (growth to maturity).  James 1:3

Three verses on Testing:

1)  Psalm 66:11-12 – God brings us through fire and water to a wealthy place (place of refreshment) – God brought this verse to Pastor in a special way this last week.

2)  Job 23:10 – God tries us through the fires of adversity to bring us forth as gold.

3)  Malachi 3:3 – God is watching us, even in the midst of trials.  God’s METHOD is the furnace, God’s MOTIVE is to purge and purify, God’s PURPOSE is His righteousness.

Five lessons to learn from the fire.

1)  God Cares about us in the fire.  I Peter 5:7

2)  God Cleanses us in the fire.  Malachi 3:3  Remember the three Hebrews in the fire of Babylon (Daniel 3).  This story teaches us three promises of God in the fires – 1)  As the furnace didn’t burn the Hebrews, and there was not even the smell of fire on their clothes, God has promised no lasting effect from the firey trials we face.  2) As the furnace burned off the ropes that bound them, God promises that the fires of adversity will brake off the shakles of sin in our life.  3)  As there were four walking around in the furnace, God has promised he will always be with us in the fire.

3)  God comforts us in the fire. 

4)  God is in control of everything, even in the fire.

5)  God knows our limits and when the work of the fire is done. 

Conclusion:  A gold refiner was asked when he knew the gold was done – his answer - “I take the gold out of the fire when I can see my reflection in it!”  Romans 8:28-29 – God brings all things into our lives for good and determines to conform us to His image through those circumstances!