Concord Chronicle

I realize that many of my younger readers might never have experienced the terror or thrill of the letters “QED”. I’m not sure our education system considers them to be as important as they once were. They are a contraction of three Latin words, “Quod Erat Demonstrandum”, which translates literally as “that which was required to be proved or shown”.

However, I do know that teachers still require students to “show your work”. It’s not acceptable to just write down the conclusion of someone else without actually going through the steps yourself. It’s the working out that solidifies the learning.

When I was in school, “QED" was what you put at the end of a proof in geometry or algebra when you had (successfully) “worked it out”. “QED" signified the inescapable conclusion of the logic employed to reach that conclusion. Getting there was often a thing of beauty, but not knowing the logical steps to get there could be terrifying!

It is interesting that Paul, writing to the church in Philippi, asks them to get to “QED”!

You’ll find Paul’s words in Philippians 2:12-13

“Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.” [NIV, emphasis mine]

I feel obliged to point out what these words don’t mean, since some people have misinterpreted them in the past. There is no hint here in the Greek that Paul is saying you can be saved by your good works - if you have any doubt or inclination about that, read Ephesians 2:8.

Those to whom Paul was writing were already saved, but he feels it is important that they take the next step to “work out” the consequences of their salvation to their logical conclusion. In other words he wants them to get to QED!

As you probably know, Paul started and established the church in Philippi. While he was there his parishioners could look to him for an example of the power of the Holy Spirit working in his life. But now that he has been taken into captivity they will have to “paddle their own canoe” and work it out for themselves how to live as citizens of heaven. Paul knows they will have trepidation about this — “fear and trembling” indeed. But you should not stop reading mid-sentence!

Paul points out that it is God working in us that allows us to work out our salvation!

God will work in us so that our will will be conformed to his good purpose and our actions will fulfill that purpose. The end result, or inescapable logical conclusion of this working in by God, and working out by us, is explained by Paul in his letter to the Roman church — “And do not be conformed to this world [any longer with its superficial values and customs], but be transformed and progressively changed [as you mature spiritually] by the renewing of your mind [focusing on godly values and ethical attitudes], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His plan and purpose for you]”. [Romans 12:2 Amplified Bible]

So go ahead and give your salvation a good workout! It may take a little sweat! There may be pain in the gain!

But — Let’s all get to QED!

Blessings on you and yours,

Jim Black

SUNDAY:

9:30 am - Combined Sunday School - In-Person, VBS Bible Classroom

11:00 am - Worship Service - In-Person and Facebook

TUESDAY:

6:00 pm - Men's Bible Study - In Fireside Room

THURSDAY:

10:00 am - CAMEO: Bible Trivia with Susan Edward

Send praise reports and prayer requests or concerns to Marion Black.

• Pray for the Jones family as they are on vacation.
• Pray for Edward Fuel and Brunell Gugelmann who will be attending the National Seminar on Evangelism at Glen Eyrie, Colorado Springs, CO.
• Pray for those with health and housing concerns.
• Pray for all the children who made commitments to follow Jesus at VBS.

6 - First YouthForce Meeting (see flyer attached)

6 - Western Youth Institute (online)

6-8 - Walmart Stuff the Bus Campaign - Martinez Location

13 - Western Youth Institute (online)

14 - Back to School Event & Boy Scouts' Yard Sale (see flyer attached)

16 - Registration for Divisional Youth Retreat DUE

20 - Western Youth Institute (online)

27 - Western Youth Institute (online)

28 - Divisional Band & Songsters Rehearsal

Hello, everybody!

My name is Steve, and I am working with Major Ann to create a youth group that will be meeting once a month on the 1st Friday. I am sending this message to invite you to a Facebook group so that you can stay up to date with news and activities as we move forward. Please accept the invitation if you wish for yourself or your child to be a participant in these activities. You may need to request to join the group.

The first activity will be August 6th at 6pm at The Salvation Army Concord Community Church and we will enjoy some pizza and games. Moving forward we will try many different types of activities, all aimed at good kid fun and fellowship.

We will also be looking for a few chaperones to help out! So, if you are interested in any of the upcoming activities, just let us know. You can respond to the events on the Facebook group and let us know if you plan to attend.

You may have already received an invitation or accepted it. Thank you, hope to see you or your wonderful kids at the YouthForce.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/186438320125056/?ref=share

God bless,

Steve Spicer

ANNOUNCING….WYI Lite!!

Get your youth group or group of friends together and join us for WYI Lite!

WHO:

Teens & Young Adults across the USA Western Territory

WHAT:

WYI Lite is a series of 4 FREE virtual services. Each service will feature a message, worship, small group questions, and activities for your group to do together. Our scripture for the week is based on 1 John 1:5-9. One of our priorities at WYI is cultivating community so we strongly encourage groups to meet together for each service when safe and possible.

WHERE:

6:00pm (PST) on the Saynetwork Facebook page. Corps Officers will also be sent a link to download all services & activities directly.

WHEN:

Each Friday in August (August 6th, 13th, 20th, 27th)

SPECIAL GUEST SPEAKERS:

• Colonel Kelly Igleheart (Chief Secretary of the USA Western Territory)
• Lt. Colonel Lisa Smith (Territorial Program Secretary of the USA Western Territory)
• Captains Emmanuel & Jennifer Masango (Territorial Youth & Candidates Secretaries of the USA Western Territory)

We do have quite a collection of school supplies from local stores already. We have also purchased some backpacks. However, if you would like to purchase a few more backpacks, we could add that to the collection.

We will also have a collection bin at Walmart in Martinez. Feel free to bring supplies down or order online from our registry: https://www.walmart.com/registry/registryforgood/6dee4d89-c65d-4559-be76-a5b7f9cf807c/view.

If you would like to assist with the packing and distribution of the supplies, please let Major Ann know.

The Del Oro Divisional Senior Luncheon will be Friday, September 10th, at the Concord Corps. Registration and activities start at 10:00 am, lunch will be at 11:30 am, and the event will end approximately at 1:00 pm.

The cost is $10 per person and the deadline to send in our registration is Monday, August 30th. Please let Major Ann Jones if you would like to attend.

The theme is, Mary Poppin’s “Jolly Holiday.” We encourage wearing costumes or attire to go along with the theme.

After enduring 2020 and adapting to 2021, we feel it is a perfect time to help our teens reset by encouraging them to “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past because God is doing a new thing!” (Isaiah 42:18-19). Our team is preparing an exciting weekend with fun activities, but most importantly opportunities for the youth to ask questions, pray, find answers, and draw closer to God and know that he makes a way through our wilderness.

DYR NOTES:

• Cabins will be assigned in the order in which completed registration forms are received. (So, let's get our registration forms in early or on time!)
• Delegates and chaperones must complete the delegate form.
• If teens are soldiers, please have them bring your uniform for Sunday worship.
• Registration is DUE by August 16 (Late submissions may not receive t-shirts.)
• Cost $75 (The total cost is $150 per delegate, but the church will subsidize half of it.)

Stay connected on our social media through http://linktree.com/deloroyouth leading up to event, as we reveal guest speakers, guest worship leaders and much more!

Registration forms can be downloaded using this link. Please complete form and hand to Cindy at the office. She will give them to Major Ann upon her return from vacation. She will also be one of the chaperones for the weekend:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1wCQPSVubHbEb4NIglFP8P-MbqokTvJoI/view?usp=sharing

Blessings,

Captain Javier Castro

Divisional Youth & Candidates Secretary

& California State Capital Liaison

Email: annmarguerite.jones@usw.salvationarmy.org
Website: https://www.salvationarmyconcordca.org
Location: 3950 Clayton Road, Concord, CA, USA
Phone: (925) 676-6180
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/saconcord