Hello Aspen Grove Church Family!

               I pray this finds y’all well. It’s hard to believe that it is October! September seems like it has flown by. September 14, 2025, we had our homecoming service, and it was a good service! We remembered sister Kay Grifffin, sister Liz Gay, sister Kathleen Warren, and brother George Moore, all who have graduated on to Heaven this year. On September 15 through 17 with had our fall Revival service with Pastor Tony Parrish. On September 15, Pastor Tony spoke on “Even the Dogs Qualify,” coming out of the Matthew 15:21-26. On September 16, 2025, Pastor Tony spoke on “None of us are Perfect,” and came from the Book of Proverbs 3:5-6 and Isaiah 55:8-9. On September 17, 2025, Pastor closed out our Revival services with a message titled, “The Cost of Salvation,” from the Book of Matthew 27:36. What a great encourage for this day and time.

               On September 7, we spoke on Matthew 26:321-57 with a Message titled, “Go… No… Oh?” We covered 4 areas that the Disciples suffered with, and to be honest, the modern church in America is repeating the same issues. The First problem we addressed was that the Disciples were Boasting instead of Listening (vs. 31-35). Peter is a prime example of this when Jesus was telling the Disciples that all would leave him when HE was betrayed and Peter boasted that he would rather die than to run away. Jesus calmly told Peter that he would deny him 3 times before rooster crows. Next issue we encounter is we see the Disciples were Sleeping instead of Praying (vs. 36-46). Before Jesus was betrayed, Jesus took three Disciples with to go with HIM in the garden. He asked them to sit, watch, and pray with HIM. However, as the night wore on, the disciples grew tired and kept falling asleep. Then when Jesus was betrayed by Judas, we see the Disciples were Fighting instead of Surrendering (vs. 47-56). As the head guard came forward to seize Jesus, Peter drew his sword in defense of his Master, and we see the last miracle that Jesus performed was healing the Priest’s ear, well at least before the Cross. As guards took Jesus to the head priest’s home, we see the Disciples were Following instead of Leading (vs. 58). Peter, for whatever reason, decided that he would follow them to see what was going to transpire… but he kept his distance, as to not draw attention unto himself. How often do we, as the church, do the same thing? 

               On September 14, 2025, we had our Homecoming Service and spoke from the Book of Daniel 12:1-3, with a message titled "A Tale of Two Homecomings.” The first Homecoming is that of the believer. In verses 1-2a, we see Daniel prophesize about the resurrection and the rapture to come.  We encounter for the first time the Role of Michael the Archangel. We see that when he shouts out, the dead in Christ will rise up first, and then those who are truly Born-again will be raptured. We all will have new bodies! No more “Snap, Crackle, or Popping!” How awesome is that? On top of all that, we’ll get to share the Bridegroom’s Supper with the KING of kings, and the LORD of lords! But then Daniel addresses a second homecoming and that is for the nonbeliever, for those who reject GOD’s greatest gift. In vs 2b, Daniel is speaking about the final judgment when the second resurrection comes, and all will be judged for their rejection of GOD’s will. In Dante’s Inferno, he imagined that hell would have a sign above the entry way. And in his book that sign reads: "Abandon all hope, ye who enter here." The folks who are in the second resurrection have no more hope, no more chances to repent, forever bound in the eternal pits of hell. And before we closed the service, we travelled down the Roman’s Road of Salvation.

               On September 21, 2025, we preached a message titled, “Are you prepared for Winter?” from the Book of Genesis 1:14, Ecclesiastes 3:1, and II Timothy 4:13. The Apostle Paul was scheduled to be executed, but he didn’t know when. He knew that the season of Winter was coming, and he wanted to be prepared just in case he was going to live through it. From the very beginning, GOD was preparing us for our season of “winter.” When Jesus was born, GOD was already preparing for the end. The Magi brought Gifts, Gold, Frankincense, and Myrrh. Gifts and Gold were gifts for royalty, as were the Frankincense and Myrrh were ointments used for royalty funerals. All throughout Jeus’ ministry, HE was preparing the Disciples, as well as us, for the oncoming of season of winter. Jesus went through the seasons of life just as mankind does, yet unlike mankind… he did so sinless. Jesus said, “Come, Follow Me.” In other words, He was saying to us to be like Him, forsaking our imperfect lives and embracing the perfections of His Grace. Are you prepared for the coming of the Lord?

               On September 28, 2025, we came from the Book of Hebrews 6:11-20, with a message titled, “The Hope of All Christians.” Some people are, by nature, optimistic. It is their natural temperament. Others are, by the same token, pessimistic, and you often get what you expect. One man sees a rose bush as in terms of thorns; another sees only the roses. One man sees the dark side of every cloud, while the other looks for the silver lining. As we dug into the Word, we learned that Christian Hope grows out of Faith. Hope is said to produce full assurance that in turn stimulates eager discipleship (6:11), but faith is the mother of hope. For example, the woman who had a bleeding condition, had enough faith in Jesus, to place her hope that if she could only touch the hem of his garment, that she would be completely healed, and it was so. Christian Hope is the Anchor to which our Faith relies on. Because Christian Hope is a person… and that person is Jesus Christ. But this living hope must be claimed. It is set before all men, but possessed only by those who, forsaking all other offers of hope. That concludes the month of September for us. I love each and everyone of y’all, but more importantly, GOD loves you so much more! Have a great day. May the LORD bless you and keep you; May HIS face shine upon and bring you peace… the peace that surpasses all understanding. 

 

Pastor Sonny