Text Box: Dear God, It is interesting to read through the Bible to see how many times the word "thorn" is included. It starts in Genesis and goes all the way through, with many references to how painful and irritating they are. Thorns are everywhere, when Adam and Eve are chastised by God, He tells them thorns and thistles are a curse because of their disobedience. In Numbers, the Lord tells Moses, if the people don't drive out the inhabitants of Canaan they will be as "barbs in your eyes, and thorns in your sides." Thorns are irritating, they serve as a reminder, they are used to make a crown to put on Jesus before he is crucified. Whenever we think of thorns, the vivid picture of our Lord on the cross comes to mind, a crown of thorns pushed over his head. We can feel the pain. Thorns are everywhere. Sometimes they are people who continue to irritate, and jab at us. Other times thorns are circumstances that poke as a reminder to bad choices, wrong decisions, mistakes we’ve made that haunt our being. The most beautiful rose in my garden has the most thorns. It is an English rose with a strong sweet smell that fills the house when I pick it. I love the smell because it reminds me of the one that was growing on our front porch when I was a child. I would sit in the swing and the fragrance filled the whole front yard. Now ,whenever I pick the rose in my garden, it brings back good memories of my childhood. But with the beauty comes the thorns, and that too reminds me of pain, pain when I was little, and pain now. I have a thorn in my finger that has been there for a few days. I know that sometime soon it will come to the surface and I can pull it out. That will be easy. But some of the thorns we carry through our life are not that easy to remove. They will forever be a reminder, a poking by God, that some times is needed. 2 Corinthians 12: 7b " Therefore, to keep me from being too elated, a thorn was given me in the flesh…...." Love, Judy P.S, I urge you to continue reading the above scripture, ending with: "for whenever I am weak, then I am strong.” Text Box: We are invited ……. “Sing Out For Peace” Tour Sunday, August 26th—12:30 p.m. First Congregational UCC—36363 Center Ridge Rd. N. Ridgeville The PEACE BUBBLE GUY, Jerry Leggett, a UCC Minister is performing and sharing his passion for peace in each of the 50 states. Festivities start at 12:30 and will include Jerry, Jungle Terry and his wild animal show, bubble performances, free food, drinks, and much, much, more for the ENTIRE FAMILY and its FREE. Text Box: Camp Christian We had lots of kids go to camp this summer! Camp Scholarships-half the cost of camp-were covered by a Fair Grant. Our thanks to all who worked at the fair last year to make the grants available. Partnership Camp (3rd-5th Grades): Nine youth Chi Rho Camp (6th-8th Grades): Two youth CYF Conference (9th-12th Grades): Six NECC youth and two friends Chi Rhoers —–Learned about the Holy Spirit CYF—— Studied the Will of God and the book of Job. Text Box: The following is part of a letter from Rev. Ken Hopkins, whose son was killed by a drunk driver. Ken is pastor at Champion Christian Church in Warren, Ohio ( copies of the letter are available on the table in the Narthex). On June 7th we took 50 people to present testimony on Senate Bill 17, along with 9,000 letters of concern. We have been assured that lawmakers continue to work on legislation during the summer and that S.B. 17 will be a top priority when the House Criminal Justice Committee meets again in the Fall. I invite you to be proactive this summer by visiting this website: www.co.summit.oh.us/Prosecutor/index.htm. to answer a public opinion poll question: Should repeat offenders be required to comply with a breathalyzer test? Approximately 20,000 drivers charged with DUI in our state refuse to submit to a breath or blood alcohol test each year. Do we really want to continue allowing these people to endanger our loved ones? Rev. Ken Hopkins