Sunday Services: 10:30 AM
505 South Sixth St. Burbank, CA
91501

FaithView, For Storm Riders:
“But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.”—Hebrews 5:14

The thing we’ve gone after in a verse like this is, “solid food.” It makes sense; it’s easy to understand how we all need to mature and start digesting the meatier/heavier/deeper aspects of the Scriptures.

There are two key words in this passage we should focus on: “Trained” & “Distinguish”

Trained can easily be read as disciplined.

Distinguish can easily be read as discernment.

The meatier/heavier/deeper aspects of the Scripture give us the ability to discern good from evil. By the way, don’t sell the Holy Spirit short on this. The Spirit combined and confirmed with the Scriptures give us the ability to see what is good, what is appropriate and what is the wise path to take.

We also know if we don’t smoke, avoid drunkenness, stay away from drugs our health will be better. We know if we eat right, we’ll feel better physically. We know if we exercise the better shape we’ll be in and the more we will be able to do.

But to avoid smoke, drink, drugs, cholesterol and atrophy, we have to discipline ourselves. We consistently have to say, “yes” to what is healthy and say, “no” to—for example—pastrami from The Hat after midnight.

It’s not any different spiritually. We have to discipline our spiritual life—Bible reading, prayer and consistent obedience.

The dividend of this discipline will be the ability to discern what is good from what is evil. One of the most amazingly/unbelievable/incredible things to witness is a believer who is struggling with a moral dilemma.

I’m not talking about choosing a career path, moving, debating between Dish or DirecTV…But a moral challenge when there shouldn’t be a challenge or a question. If we are disciplined, if we are dining on the meatier/heavier/deeper aspects of the Scriptures there will be no confusion.

The dilemma then is not about what to do…But whether or not we have the will to do it.

Discipline.

Ever workout when you didn’t want to workout? Ever clock in at work when you didn’t feel like it? Ever sacrificed something you wanted to do for the sake of someone else? Ever got up in the middle of the night when you heard your child crying?

Folks, that’s discipline.

Have you worked yourself into a place spiritually that you would sooner abandon your morning cup of coffee rather than your prayer & study time? That’s discipline.

Have you ever felt sick and ill at ease because you haven’t prayed for your son or daughter that day? That’s discipline.

Is there a compulsion to be at church when the sun comes up on Sunday morning? That’s discipline.

Is there a sensation of chaos in your day when you haven’t been in contact with Lord? That’s discipline.

Have you never felt any of these things? If so then you’ve yet to develop discipline and probably are not ready for solid food…And your ability to discern spiritual matters is severely handicapped.

Boom!

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Department Leaders: Be sure to get your year-end reports to Jackie K. for the church report coming out at the end of this month. Matt, Bill, Seana, Pastor Joe T., etc. etc…

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A VBS Unlike Any Other:
You can sign up your child and their friends here on our website. Look the button up top, click, and follow.

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Burbank Faith now has a Twitter account. You can follow us at; @BurbankFaithNaz

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Eric Canto has created a Burbank Faith channel on YouTube and has placed all of our recent services there. Go check it out.

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Note:
VBS Goes to Rome: The theme for Vacation Bible School this year is “Rome: Paul & The Underground Church”
The dates are June 26-30…Look at your calendar…share with your friends…Pray for Seana Zilbert, who is directing…Make plans to volunteer.

July is Camps Month: Remember July is camps month…Junior High, High School & Kids will all have separate camps at Granite Ridge.

District Assembly is July 12-14
(It is one month later this year due to General Assembly (Indianapolis) being held June 21-30.)

SrHi Camp: July 16-21
Kids Camp: July 23-28
JrHi Camp: July 30-August 4

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Did You Know?
On this date…

…In 1529, in Germany at the Diet of Spires (Speyer), a document signed by Lutheran leaders in fourteen cities lodged a “protest” which demanded a freedom of conscience and the right of minorities. Henceforth, the German Lutheran Reformers were known as “Protestants.”

…In 1930, American pioneer linguist Frank C. Laubach, while serving as a missionary in the Philippines, wrote in a letter: ‘Fellowship with God is like a delicate little plant, for a long nurturing is the price of having it, while it vanishes in a second of time, as soon as we try to seat some other unworthy affection beside Him.’

…In 1941, Robert F. Wagner, Sr. introduced a resolution in the U.S. Senate stating that U.S. policy should favor the “restoration of the Jews in Palestine.” The resolution was supported by 68 Senators.

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Church Calendar:
April 19:
All Church Prayer Time: 7—to—7:30 PM
Worship Team Practices: 7:30 PM
Adult Bible Study—1 Samuel 18—7:30 PM
April 23: Sunday Service, 10:30 AM…Sunday evening “Prayer Hour” from 6-to-7:00 PM
April 24: “Riders On The Storm”—7:00 PM
April 25: Women’s Bible Study—7:00 PM
April 27: Board Meeting: 6:30 PM
April 29: March For Autism
May 6: Men’s Breakfast at Harry’s, 8:00 AM
May 13: Ladies Tea
May 14: Mother’s Day
May 21: VBS planning meeting, following morning worship.
May 29: Memorial Day
June 26-30: VBS Week

As believers, we have to remain in continual prayer for all of our first responders…all our leaders…not a political party but for those carrying the heavy burden of leadership in our country and communities.