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Spirituality
Oct. 17 - Nov. 6, 2015
Spiritual Reflections
The story of the unfrozen hand melted and her hand went out as she forgave her former enemy. During World War II, while spending What a powerful demonstration of several years in a German concentration God’s forgiveness flowing through an camp, Corrie Ten Boom was severely honest believer. We might call it the story humiliated and degraded. When she was of the unfrozen hand. But it was God who finally released she believed that, by did the unfreezing. Sometimes people God’s grace, she had forgiven will say, “But I can’t forgive! even the guards who had so The wrong done to me is mistreated her. She began too great.” But God doesn’t to share her story and the command His children to message of forgiveness all do something without also over the world. empowering them to do it. One Sunday after she had Maj. Ian Thomas, a Christian spoken in Munich, Germany, leader, used to put it this way: Corrie was greeting the “You can’t. God never said people when she suddenly you could. Jesus can. And He saw a man coming toward her always said He would.” with his hand outstretched. Perhaps your hand needs He said to her, “It’s wonderful Marc Drake. Submitted to be unfrozen today. The that Jesus forgives us all good news is that God can do photo our sins, just as you say.” it. Romans 5:5 says, “The love She remembered this of God has been poured out man’s face. He was one of the leering, within our hearts through the Holy Spirit lecherous, mocking Nazi guards who had who was given to us.” so humiliated her. Corrie’s hand froze by Our lives do not have to be hijacked her side and she found herself unable by an unforgiving spirit—something that to forgive. She thought she had forgiven takes us places we never wanted to go, everyone, but she could not forgive that doing things we never wanted to do, and guard standing there in front of her. She becoming people we never wanted to be. was ashamed of herself and prayed, “Lord, There’s a way out! Through Christ alone forgive me, I cannot forgive.” But as she we can be brought into peace, joy and prayed, something happened. Her hand true freedom. was suddenly unfrozen. The ice of hate
BY DR. MARC DRAKE, SENIOR PASTOR, FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH OF SUN LAKES
Spiritual Reflections Share your spiritual reflections The spiritual leaders of SanTan Sunarea churches, temples, mosques and other religious and spiritual gathering places are invited to contribute their Spiritual Reflections in essay format by sending their thoughts, enlightening insights and other writings of a spiritual nature to news@ santansun.com.
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WEDNESDAY: Bible Study 12 Noon & 7 p.m. SUNDAY: WORSHIP 10 a.m. 19609 S. McQueen Rd. • Chandler, AZ 480-899-LIFE (5433) • 480-343-0022 www.gospel4life.org
Open hearts. Open minds. Open doors.
Chandler United Methodist Church
Celebrating more than 100 Years in Chandler. Making and Deploying Disciples Who Put God First, Since 1913.
SUNDAY WORSHIP Traditional Worship.................. 8:30 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. SUNDAY SCHOOL For Children ............................. 8:40 a.m. and 10:10 a.m. SUNDAY SCHOOL FOR ADULTS ..................................................... 9:45 a.m. ADULT BIBLE STUDY “When Christians Get It Wrong” .... Wednesdays at 7 p.m. 480-963-3360 • www.chandlermethodist.org • 450 E. Chandler Heights Rd.
th 4-7pm November 14 FALL
Festival
ACTIVITIES FOR ALL AGES: Bounce Houses Games Raffles Live Music Burgers Amore Food Truck
D e ser t Palms Churc h
www.dpc-pca.org • 480.422.2499 • 4265 S Arizona Ave Chandler
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Sun Lakes Jewish Congregation lists upcoming events The Sun Lakes Jewish Congregation is learn. New attendees are invited to be hosting a meet and greet to introduce introduced at the service and members individuals to its organization of the congregation connect from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, with the attendees. Oneg Oct. 18. Shabbats are held immediately Participants will be able after the services at Sun Lakes to meet Rabbi Irwin Wiener Country Club. Everyone is and Cantor Rhonda Polesky, invited to attend. The services board members and committee and Onegs are great places to chairmen. The Sisterhood and meet members, ask questions Men’s Club will be introduced. and learn more about the The Sun Lakes Jewish congregation. Rabbi Irwin Wiener. Congregation is an established For more information, reform congregation that meets Submitted photo contact Doris Codkind at at the Sun Lakes Chapel on Randor55@gmail.com or (480) 883-1378, the second Friday of the month at 7:30 or Jeff Spear at Jeff.Spear46@gmail.com p.m. Services are opportunities to meet or (480) 556-1284. new people, connect with Judaism and
Hope’s Treasures Holiday Boutique returns The Hope’s Treasures Holiday Boutique returns this year with quality handcrafted goods Wednesday, Nov. 11, through Saturday, Nov. 14, at Hope Covenant Church, 1770 S. Dobson Rd., Chandler. The hours are from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday, which features free pictures with Santa from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday.
The boutique features holiday and home décor, decorations, gifts for kids and adults, stocking stuffers, jewelry, handcrafted apparel, comfort items and so much more. Shoppers are invited to bring a nonperishable food item to be donated to Matthew’s Crossing Food Bank. For more information, visit www. hopechurchchandler.com.