Cadillac Church of Christ

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Cadillac Church of Christ

The church of Christ began on the first Pentecost after the resurrection of Jesus in the City of Jerusalem over 2000 years ago.

This congregation began meeting on a regular basis in August of 1969. On this day the Holy Spirit fell upon the Apostles and the gospel in its completeness was preached for the first time. The 3000 buried with Christ in baptism on that day became the first fruits of the harvest of souls. This great occasion culminated the work of John the Batpist and the miraculous life of Jesus. The promise of Ch

rist that the Aposltles would be filled with the Holy Spirit was fulfilled on Pentecost. Under His guidance the Apostles began to preach in languages they had never studied. This miracle had a varying effect on the audience. Some mocked and accused them of being drunk, but Peter explained that they were not. He then preached the death, burial and resurrection of Christ (Acts 2). He told the audience that the Jesus they crucified was the working out of God's plan according to God's determinate council and foreknowledge and that they should know assuredly that He was both Lord and Christ. The effect of the sermon was momentous. No doubt there were many in the audience who had been healed of diseases by the power of Jesus as He walked their streets. Lazarus of Bethany had been raised from the dead about a mile from where Peter stood. It was with the knowledge that such remarkable proofs of divinity were readily available as unimpeachable evidence that Peter bodly declared Christ raised from the dead and exalted at the right hand of God. So powerfully did the Apostles impress the people with their miracles and preaching, and so dedicated were the new converts, that they "had favor with all the people" and soon "the number of men came to be 5000." (Acts 4:4)
This number apparently refers to men only to signify the strength of the church. When the women and young people are estimated, there was perhaps in Jerusalem a congregation of 15,000. The number then continued to grow and "believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women." (Acts 5:14) This growth is what we would expect in the miraculous beginning of the church. The Apostles were true to their charge, "and every day, in the temple and at home, they ceased not to teach and to preach Jesus as the Christ." (Acts 5:42) Under such activity "the Word of God increased; and the number of disciples multiplied in Jerusalem exceedingly, and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith." (Acts 6:7)

In the Spring of 1969 the elders of the Highland congregation in Detroit met with four Christians from the Cadillac area in the interest of establishing a work in Cadillac. The property on West Division was then purchased. The Church began metting on a regular basis in August 1969. At that time two families were known to be members who lived in Cadillac. Three other families were living in Manton.

03/09/2024

B E T R A Y E R OF JESUS: Could it be me?

B E T R A Y A L
3) Then Satan entered Judas, called Iscariot, one of the Twelve. 4) And Judas went to the chief priests and the officers of the temple guard and discussed with them how he might betray Jesus. 5 )They were delighted and agreed to give him money. 6 )He consented, and watched for an opportunity to hand Jesus over to them when no crowd was present. (Luke 22: 3-6)
ME: When did I allow Satan to enter my heart for profit or for human approval –and betray my Lord . . .

B E T R A Y A L
18 )“I am not referring to all of you; I know those I have chosen. But this is to fulfill this passage of Scripture: ‘He who shared My bread has turned against Me.’ 19) “I am telling you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe that I am who I am. 20) Very truly I tell you, whoever accepts anyone I send accepts Me; and whoever accepts Me accepts the One who sent Me.” 21) After He had said this, Jesus was troubled in spirit and testified, “Very truly I tell you, one of you is going to betray Me.” (John 13:18-21)
ME: How have I caused my Lord to be “troubled in spirit” during the times when I was the one who betrayed Him by not following His commands, by not living my life fully for Him . . .

B E T R A Y A L
Jesus answered, “I tell you, Peter, before the rooster crows today, you will deny three times that you know Me.” (Luke 22:34)
ME: Have I ever denied Jesus? Did I allow an opportunity to pass by when I could have stood up for Him, but didn’t-and, thus, betrayed Him . . .

B E T R A Y A L
45) He said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Look, the hour has come, and the Son of Man is delivered into the hands of sinners. 46) Rise! Let us go! Here comes My betrayer!” 47) While He was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, arrived. With him was a large crowd armed with swords and clubs, sent from the chief priests and the elders of the people. 48) Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: “The one I kiss is the man; arrest him.” 49) Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” and kissed him. (Matthew 26:45-49)
ME: Has my love for the Lord ever been untrue? Have I betrayed His love for me?

B E T R A Y A L
Will Jesus ever say to me:
“Here comes My betrayer!”
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Let us be true to our Lord, persevering in faith, focused on Jesus with LOYALTY — FAITHFULNESS– DEVOTION.

cadillacchurchofchrist.com

02/18/2024

PRAYER VOICES TO GOD

Voices… praise, penitent, present, patient.
Voices…cries, complaints, compromise, consent.
Voices…soft, sincere, solemn, submissive.
Voices…articulate, academic, artificial, announcer.
Voices…inaudible, innermost, introspective, intentional.
Voices…rote, rigid, repetitious, recitation.
Voices…joyful, jubilant, joyous, joy.
Voices: thanksgiving, transparency, trust, truth.
Voices…unspoken, underneath, unconscious, unresolved.
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What prayer voices do we offer to God? Our tone, attitude, purpose, approach, language in prayer all indicate something about our relationship with God. We know that He can listen even when we don’t physically utter words, because He is omniscient and all-knowing. I AM—in present tense—is always present when we use our public voices, our inner voices, and even our unconscious voices for prayer. Yet, as David’s prayers indicate, God will not listen and hear if sin is “cherished” in our hearts.

Psalm 66:17-20
17) I cried out to Him with my mouth; His praise was on my tongue.
18) If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened;
19) but God has surely listened and has heard my prayer.
20 )Praise be to God, who has not rejected my prayer
or withheld his love from me!

Psalm 116:
1) I love the Lord, for He heard my voice; He heard my cry for mercy.
2) Because He turned His ear to me, I will call on Him as long as I live.

What voice should we present before God--that He will listen to and hear the prayers we bring to Him? What heart must we have that He will listen to what has been uttered and hear what is really being said?

Like any father, God desires communication with His children. We owe Him a respectful voice; we owe Him our utmost presence; we owe Him our praise, our submission, our gratitude; we owe Him joy for all He has done for us. We owe Him a voice and a heart that demonstrates our love for Him, our Father. Hallowed is His Name and hallowed is our time with Him. Our prayer voices must be appropriate for this special time spent with our God.

(cadillacchurchofchrist.com)

01/27/2024

"GO AND DO LIKEWISE."

WHO ARE MY MOTHER AND BROTHERS?

46 While Jesus was still talking to the crowd, His mother and brothers stood outside, wanting to speak to Him. 47 Someone told Him, “Your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to speak to you.” 48 He replied to him, “Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?” 49 Pointing to His disciples, He said, “Here are my mother and my brothers. 50 For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.” (Matthew 12:46-50)

WHO IS MY SON?

25 Now there stood by the cross of Jesus His mother, and His mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. 26 When Jesus therefore saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing by, He said to His mother, “Woman, behold your son!” 27 Then He said to the disciple, “Behold your mother!” And from that hour that disciple took her to his own home. (John 19:25-27)

WHO IS MY NEIGHBOR?

25 On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”

26 “What is written in the Law?” He replied. “How do you read it?” 27 He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” 28 “You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.” 29 But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” (Luke 10: 25-29)

Jesus answered the question with a parable of a man who was beaten, robbed, and left to die. Three people reacted to the man’s plight—two passing by on the other side of the road, one stopping and going the extra mile to provide assistance and healing.

36 “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?” 37 The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.” Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.” (Luke 10:36-37)

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My mother is the 85-year-old woman in the nursing home who looks out the window waiting for someone to come; my brother is the unemployed father of three who stands in line with 500 others hoping for a job; my son is the recently discharged soldier grappling with PTSD and depression; my neighbor is the child fleeing from a country where he is underfed and abused.
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Mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, nieces, nephews, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, family, neighbors. We tend to have a very limited view of family and neighbors. God’s perspective is much larger, broader, and inclusive. The bloodline of family with God is really from Christ, not from our great-great-greats…. down the lineage of personal ancestry. My neighbors are, also, my family, each one created by God.

In every person, I can find a common heritage, a common Savior, a common love. I should not see with eyes that only view similarity. I must, also, look into the differences and find commonality in them. The commonality is from that portion of God’s divine nature imbued in each soul. It is my directive as well to show acceptance, mercy, and love to others who are my “neighbors.” I, too, must “Go and do likewise.”

And what if everyone followed this directive in obedience to Christ?

(Posts on cadillacchurchofchrist.com)

01/08/2024

“Follow Me”: The Meaning of Love as His Disciple

Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be My disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow Me.” (Matthew 16:24)
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“Gotta go. Love ya.”
“Love ya back.” Turning.
“Love ya more.” Waving.

Has the use of the word “love” become more and more casual in our communications? What have we lost in the translation by possible overuse of this word that may result in the absence of true commitment in relationships?

The Cost of Love in Discipleship

12) Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” None of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord. 13) Jesus came, took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish. 14) This was now the third time Jesus appeared to His disciples after He was raised from the dead.
15) When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love Me more than these?”
“Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love You.”
Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.”
16) Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love Me?”
He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love You.”
Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.”
17) The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love Me?”
Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love You.”
Jesus said, “Feed my sheep. 18) Very truly I tell you, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.” 19 Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then He said to him, “Follow me!” (John 21: 12-19)

Master and disciple
Communicating
Three responses,
In so revealing
Love, Love, Love
Profound Depth
Beneath the words–
Follow The Master
With commitment
In shared sacrifice.

When we say to the Lord, “You know that I love You,”
We must remember His words of commitment,
“Follow me” And what they mean in love to Him.

For the Lord, who asked Peter three times if he loved Him, the meaning meant a deep commitment of sacrifice—even onto death.

(cadillacchurchofchrist.com)

07/28/2023

MEETING JESUS AT THE CROSSROAD

Choices. My choices. Your choices.
They are not separate and apart.
It is not about me; it is not about you.
My life affects you as yours impacts me.
Though our paths are different,
We meet at the crossroad
Where Jesus waits.

God gave us choice in this earthly life. We can be deliberate in trying to make the right decisions on our life journey as we meet others, or we can be selfish in choosing what we want as if we are on a solitary path, affecting only ourselves. Such a lone path does not exist. There is always a place where paths intersect, and even, at times, follow parallel lines, side by side, before truly joining at the crossroad where Jesus waits.

Let us carry Light with us on every path, every intersection, and every encounter. It is my choice. It is your choice. The choice we have is to meet Jesus and take Him with us on our path–or pass on by without Him. We are each at the crossroad daily, with every choice we make.

Meditations on God’s Word

04/24/2022

MEDITATIONS ON GOD'S WORD: cadillacchurchofchrist.com

PEACE IN CHRIST

“Peace I leave with you; My peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” (John 14:27)
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Peace is not the world’s offering--
Discord, violence, war, sorrow.
The menu of choice
For those without Christ.

He left His peace with His disciples. He gave His peace to us through the sacrifice of His life. He endured Gethsemane, the cries to crucify Him, physical torture, the cross. His time was not one of peace at the end of His life on earth. Yet He said, “Peace I leave with you. My peace I give you.” Where did this peace come from that He could leave it with His disciples and with us?

“My peace.” He was distraught at Gethsemane as He prayed fervently to God, asking to be spared from what was to come—but still yielded to His Father’s will. “My peace.” Did He have it in the garden? Is it what carried Him through the trials, the torture, the anguish? From what source through all this turmoil?

A peace from within--
The Son in the Father,
The Father in the Son,
Transcending peace.

6 )Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. 7) If you really know Me, you will know My Father as well. From now on, you do know Him and have seen Him.” 8 ) Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.” 9) Jesus answered: “Don’t you know Me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen Me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? 10) Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in Me? The words I say to you I do not speak on My own authority. Rather, it is the Father, living in Me, who is doing His work. 11) Believe Me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me; or at least believe on the evidence of the works themselves. (John 14:6-11)

Peace is God’s offering--
Love, purity, truth, hope.
The choice is ours to accept;
The choice is ours to decline.

4) Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5) Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6) Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7) And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 8 ) Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 9) Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you. (Philippians 4: 4-9)

Jesus knew the Source of peace intimately. He had this peace to give and leave behind for His disciples and for all those who believe in Him, accept His Word, and obey His commands. When we do the things that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable according to His Will, we have the peace inside from God who will be with us regardless of what is happening around us.

Changing perspectives
From without to within,
Accepting the peace
Jesus bequeathed to us.

God with us is that peace. We can find it in no other source. If we try to seek it elsewhere and find what we think is peace on this earth, it will not last, nor will it sustain us. We will keep looking at the menu of worldly choices only to find the cost too great—discord, violence, war, sorrow. God offers peace that transcends from within as we direct our thoughts, our hearts, our actions toward Him to become more like our Father and our Savior Jesus—so He is within us.

PEACE IN CHRIST

“Peace I leave with you; My peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” (John 14:27)

(Posts on cadillacchurchofchrist.com)

03/06/2022

"ONE"

MEDITATIONS ON GOD'S WORD

6 ) yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from Whom all things came and for Whom we live; and there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through Whom all things came and through Whom we live. (I Corinthians 8:6)

5) For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, 6 Who gave Himself as a ransom for all people. (I Timothy 5-6)

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“Just outside the city, turn east on Wandering Road. Continue east for ten miles. At the intersection, Wandering Road becomes a gravel road. Head south until you eventually reach a dead end and a gated entry. The gate will be wide open, for many pass through it. Continue down the widened, winding road ahead. Follow the tread marks of all those who have gone before --until you arrive. See you there!”

The path down Wandering Road is well-traveled, leading many lost souls astray.

Our tendency as humans is to wander, lose our way, follow the path many take, and think we can make it safely on our own--when, in fact, we have no idea where we are when we are not being led by the ONE guide we need to direct us on the right pathway.

God understands us. We need simple, specific directions. He gives us ONE. There is just ONE way to our Father’s house. Jesus declared that He is that way. We do not need landmarks or directives to turn here or there, south or east. We just need Jesus.

Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” (John 14:6)

We need the ONE who will help us enter through the gate to our eternal home with God.

9) I am the gate; whoever enters through Me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture. 10) The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. 11) “I am the Good Shepherd. The good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep. (John 10: 9-11)

The Good Shepherd will guide us to the restful pasture that He has prepared for us. His direction leads us to life—to the fullest. There is no other way, no other path, no other entry. Only ONE.

1)The Lord is my Shepherd, I lack nothing.
2) He makes me lie down in green pastures, He leads me beside quiet waters,
3) He refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for His name’s sake.
4) Even though I walk through the darkest valley,I will fear no evil,
for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
(Psalm 23:1-4)

With Jesus, we are never alone on this journey of life. We know the Good Shepherd is always there watching over us, and if we stray, He will help us return home. When He opens that gate or door of opportunity, we must recognize that we are lost and need His guidance.

Many will rejoice over the one who was lost but is now found.

3) Then Jesus told them this parable: 4) “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? 5) And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders (6) and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ 7) I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent. (Luke 15:3-7)

Are we yet roaming on Wandering Road?

Do we still fumble with east and south directions, hoping an open gate will appear so we can proceed down a winding, well-traveled road—where, surely, many others have arrived safely? Time is on our side, we rationalize, as we continue to wander, straying farther away from the ONE, true way.

13) “Enter by the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. 14) For the gate is narrow and the way is hard, that leads to life, and those who find it are few.” (Matthew 7:13-14)

The ONE path to follow is behind the footprints of Jesus, showing us the way. When we become closer to the Lord and strive to be more like Him, we try to walk more in His footprints, not just as a follower behind. That path is not an easy one, but it is the one we must take. Bearing our own cross, the imprints of our burden are evident in our footprints, much smaller and with less depth than His, on a path made easier to walk because of Him.

We must daily strive to move forward, keeping in step on the path with Jesus.

Time is not on our side.

13) Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and get gain”; 14) whereas you do not know about tomorrow. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. 15) Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we shall live and we shall do this or that.” (James 4:13-15)

Day-by-day,

Step-by-step,

Following Him

On the ONE path

To the ONE Father

Through the ONE Savior.

(Posts on cadillacchurchofchrist.com website.)

02/20/2022

MEDITATIONS ON GOD'S WORD: cadillacchurchofchrist.com

THE HOME OF NO GOODBYES

“Let not your hearts be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me.
2) In My Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? 3) And when I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to Myself, that where I am you may be also.
(John 14:1-3)

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Waving as we drove away,
My parents waving back,
From the front doorstep
Of my childhood home,
That memory held within,
Undisturbed by change.
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The house was then sold,
And they moved south.
I cannot let myself return,
The home does not exist,
New owners across time—
I never went back.
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Recently, I went to a doctor appointment in a city north of where I now live. I used to reside in that city for three years in the 1970s. It had grown exponentially since then when I would visit friends. Yet, on this trip, I saw empty malls and blank store front windows with no advertising or products displayed. Familiar businesses were gone with many closed stores, including the one where I worked those three years. I felt great sadness and loss with the changes. This view altered my former memories. I could not block out the newer perspective. I had gone back.

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Earth holds no treasures that endure,
Even memories fade with aging,
Yet, we long for some place secure
From birth to the very end of life,
Seeking always that changeless place
In a world where it cannot abide.
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"Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. 2 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be His people, and God Himself will be with them as their God. 4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” 5 And He who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also He said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” (Revelation 21:1-5)

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Looking beyond sight to faith,
Not back to memories that fade,
Jesus knocks at the door of our hearts,
Offering life eternal secure with Him;
The home prepared for us awaits,
Where goodbyes are never waved.
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14)For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city which is to come.
15) Through Him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge His name. (Hebrews 13:14-15)

Posts on cadillacchurchofchrist.com website

07/04/2021

MEDITATIONS ON GOD'S WORD: cadillacchurchofchrist.com

JESUS: OUR ABIDING, EVER-PRESENT FRIEND

“What a friend we have in Jesus.

All our sins and griefs to bear!

Can we find a friend so faithful
Who will all our sorrows share?

Precious Savior, still our refuge—

Take it to the Lord in prayer.

In His arms He’ll take and shield thee,
Thou wilt find a solace there.” 1
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There are friends who are there for a time of loss or a time of crisis for a season, and there are special friends who are there for seasons. But there is not one there for every grief and every sorrow as an ever-present, abiding refuge to listen, to care, to shield, to love. There is not one earthly friend/companion here who can take our sins and griefs and bear these in a personal sacrifice of his or her own life.

There is but ONE:
“Precious Savior—still our refuge”
STILL
Now
Always
Eternally
Faithful.
Amen.

12 “This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” (John 15:12-13)

Our Savior had the greatest love as He gave His life for friends and enemy alike.

“WHAT A FRIEND WE HAVE IN JESUS.”

The One who gave His life for every one individually.

Our FRIEND, Our SAVIOR, Our LORD.

1 https://www.hymnal.net Lyrics:Joseph Scriven Music: Charles Crozat Converse

(Posts on cadillacchurchofchrist.com website)

06/25/2021

Our brother, Allen Long, passed at 4am today and is now at peace with the Lord. His presence will be greatly missed, although he will always be present in our hearts. Please keep his wife and family in prayer, as well as all of us, his church family.
Allen would want us all to prepare to meet God.

Address

6202 W Division Street
Cadillac, MI
49601

Website

http://cadillacchurchofchrist.com/

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