Community Brethren Church- Mishawaka, Indiana

06/07/2026

From this week’s bulletin:

"The peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus" Philippians 4:7

Watching the evening news can be downight depressing. But if we don't listen, thinking what we don't know won't hurt us, we are hiding our heads in the sand. Most of the world's alarming events are the result of someone's sinful actions, and the innocent are often filled with anxiety and suffer as well.

When trouble hits personally, some turn to alcohol or another addiction. Their attempt to block out problems is short-lived, and soon the solution is worse than the original problem.

The good news is that, though we can't change the immoral, dishonest behavior of others, if we have faith in Christ we can neutralize its effects on us. If we accidently ingest poison, we are instructed to drink lots of water. The Bible is often referred to as the water of the Word. When taken in large doses on a continual basis, its truth will neutralize our fears and worries. God wants us to know that when we trust Him, He protects us. He reminds us in Psalm 23, "The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want."

I have the habit of reading God's Word early in the morning before I watch the news, and again as I go to bed at night after watching the evening news. I can drift off peacefully with God's Word instead of the latest violent crime on my mind. No matter which book of the Bible you read and meditate on, you will find God is sovereign, and with God in control, there is no need for worry or fear. "I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, LORD, only makest me dwell in safety" (Psalm 4:8).

Paul J. Twist

05/25/2026

05/10/2026

From this week’s bulletin;

Mom

My mother passed away almost 25 years ago, but every time I read Philippians 2:3, I'm reminded of her: "Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves."

Coupled with a gregarious nature, though, humility did not define her. She turned it into self-deprecating humor that, together with her faith in a sovereign God, carried her through severe trials in her youth and endeared her to almost everyone she met. While in her 20s, she spent her wedding day in a hospital bed following a car accident, both of her parents passed away, and her brother was killed in a farm accident. But she was encouraged by a Bible verse on the wall of her hospital room: "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose" (Romans 8:28).

The fruit of the Spirit- love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance- was evident in her life. She personified Romans 12:18: "If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men." She loved to invite friends and family to our home, but if the guest list included someone of a different religious or political persuasion, we were counseled ahead of time to avoid those topics of conversation.

Mom was not perfect, of course, but I could write pages about her godly attitudes and how they influenced my life. As long-time church pianist, for example, she was willing to practice with any-one, any time, anywhere, regarding their time as more important than her own. She calmed our childhood squabbles, because she could not bear for her loved ones to be at odds with each other. The joy of the Lord was her strength (Nehemiah 8:10).

K.E. Horsley