Susquehanna Valley Church of Christ

Posted August 4, 2010 http://dailyitem.com/obituaries/x1936219948/Gordon-L-Kallenberg-95-Selinsgrove

Gordon L. Kallenberg, 95, Selinsgrove

SELINSGROVE — Gordon L . Kallenberg, 95, of Lori Lane, passed away on Tuesday, Aug. 3, 2010, in ManorCare, Sunbury, where he recently became a resident.

Gordon was born June 21, 1915, in Lynnfield, Mass., the son of the late John L. and Beatrice (Graves) Kallenberg.

On Jan. 17, 1943, he married the former Olive L. Condon, who preceded him in death exactly one year ago.

Gordon was a graduate of Lynnfield area schools and then entered the Navy. He served during both World War II and the Korean War.

He retired with the rank of lieutenant in May 1955.

After retirement from the military, Gordon began employment with First National Bank of Boston, now Bank of America, where he worked in the tax department until retiring again.

Gordon was a faithful member of Susquehanna Valley Church of Christ, where he served as an elder and taught in various classes.

His hobbies included outdoor activities such as golfing, which he also loved to watch, camping and fishing. Gordon and Olive also traveled much of the country together.

He is survived by one son and daughter-in-law, Gordon Paul and Anna Kallenberg, of Katy, Texas.

He was preceded in death by one son, Kenneth Kallenberg, and two sisters, Ruth and Betty.

Friends and family may call from 10 to 11 a.m. Friday at Susquehanna Valley Church of Christ, 200 Roosevelt Ave., Selinsgrove, where the funeral will begin at 11 with Pastor Bill D. Dilks officiating.

Burial with military honors accorded by American Legion Victory Post 25 and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 6631, of Selinsgrove, will be in Northumberland Memorial Park, Stonington.

Arrangements are by the V.L. Seebold Funeral Home, 6 01 N. High St., Selinsgrove.

Last update: 05-08-2010 12:59

Congregational Prayer Meetings

We started the monthly prayer meetings April 19th. I must say that the first meeting was not so impressive in numbers but Jay, Bill, and I had a very good prayer session. I would like to strongly encourage everyone to be at these meetings if you can. We are fighting some very nasty battles in the spiritual realm dear brethren and we can only achieve victory through humility and prayer. Please review the verses that are mentioned below and give it some consideration.

We meet each Sunday afternoon that the Elders/Deacons meetings are scheduled (usually on the 2nd Sunday of the month - this month's will be postponed 1 week due to Mother's Day).

I am still in need of a female to coordinate any of the ladies that will be meeting together. Please let me know if you are interested! Thanks! (I believe that when the men and women pray separately, both groups can share in more gender specific, personal issues. This also limits the temptation to cross "headship" boundaries as prescribed in 1Corinthians chapter 11 and 1Timothy chapter 2.

I want to encourage every member to be involved in these meetings. Jesus had a very disciplined prayer life - alone, with his disciples, and in public. The early church met often to pray and they made it a priority to pray together before any major undertaking. I don't see how we can do any less. There are more biblical examples for the church praying together than many of the other programs and activities that congregations get involved in. Think about it please.

A few relevant verses:

Luke 22:46 Then He said to them, “Why do you sleep? Rise and pray, lest you enter into temptation.”

Acts 1:14 These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers.

Acts 2:42 And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.

Acts 4:31 And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness.

Acts 12:5 Peter was therefore kept in prison, but constant prayer was offered to God for him by the church.

Jms 5:16 Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.

Thanks, Mike Sullivan

Last update: 12-05-2009 12:27

Last update: 24-10-2007 12:36

Footnotes: Offering King-Sized Prayers

Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. – Ephesians 3.20-21

I recently read of a story that reportedly happened when a world-famous professional golfer was playing in Saudi Arabia. Apparently, the Saudi king was so impressed with this man's playing that he said to him, "I'd like to give you a gift of appreciation." Now this renowned golfer told the king that no gift was necessary; he just appreciated the opportunity to play in his country. But the king was insistent, not only that the golfer receive a gift, but that he could name any gift he wished.

Well, after just a brief moment to think about it, he just said, "A golf club." You see the golf pro collected golf clubs and thought maybe the king would give him one that had some gold or maybe even a jewel in it. Well, a few days later, a representative of the king came to the hotel where the golfer was staying to present the king's gift – an object that was only about a foot long, carried inside a leather pouch. Now, apparently this was going to be a fairly small golf club. Then the golfer opened the pouch only to discover inside a deed – a deed that made him the owner of a golf club, as in the hundreds of acres that made up the beautiful golf club he had been given!

Now this famous golfer had one observation to make after this overwhelming response to his request. He said, "In the presence of a great king, you do not ask for small gifts!" How right he is!

Read these words from Scripture about the King who made all the other kings! "This is what the Lord says, He who made the earth, the Lord who formed it and established it – the Lord is His name” – (Jeremiah 33.2-3) Those are our King's awesome credentials. Now, based on who He is, God says, "Call to Me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know."

Last update: 06-05-2010 14:38

A Family of Equals...   

"For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died; and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again. Therefore, from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation." (2 Corinthians 5:14-19)

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."  Second Paragraph of the Declaration of Independence.

   Yours truly forgot to mention a key text during Sunday's sermon.  It's in the outline, but I wanted to reemphasize it so that we all are "on the same page" or "up to speed" on the issue of equality in the church, the family of God. 

   Paul explains the why we are equal in 2 Corinthians 5:14-19. First, Christ died for ALL, thus ALL died (to sin and self) to live for Christ in verses 14-15.  All have sinned (Romans 3:23).  God's love and grace has been demonstrated through Christ to all (I think that the term "world" in John 3:16 cover everyone).  All need to respond (see Acts 17:30 - "all men, everywhere, to repent...").  We are on equal footing before we are saved (Romans 3:23) and after we are saved (see Galatians 3:28 - "neither Jew, nor Greek," etc.).

   Paul next mentions that we regard (literally "know" or "recognize") no one according to the flesh in verse 16.  When we grasp this vital truth, then prejudice dies.  When we apply this fact, then the main cause of division ceases.  Notice the quote given above from the Declaration of Independence.  Our founding fathers acknowledged this fact, but forgot to make total application on this.  We fought a Civil War over some of the principles that concern this and are still trying to apply the concept in America's social and cultural landscape.  The same holds true for the church - we still need to work at applying the principles of equity in how we deal with each other.  Note that Paul mentions this: " Therefore receive one another, just as Christ also received us, to the glory of God." (Romans 15:7).  When we forget or forsake this concept, the church will dissolve from a fellowship to worship society.

  The reason for the what Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 5:14-16 is that everyone has been made new and have been reconciled to God (and to each other) through Christ in verses 17-19.  Next time we assemble together, take a look around at your brethren.  We are lost in sin without the blood of Christ, yet we all are saved by the grace of God.  Are we different?  Yes!  But we are united by the common bond of Christ!!!

From Bill in love...

Last update: 29-04-2010 11:19