At the time of the writing of I Peter,

Christians were unfairly judged by their communi-ties as a potential dan-ger. How did the early Christians get tagged as mainly wrongdoers? It is thought that the Roman Emperor, Nero, initiated a plan to burn down the out-of-date structures in Rome’s central city simply because he wanted to rebuild the inner city with more mod-ern dwellings. Once Nero understood the outrage his fire caused, he shifted the

blame from himself to the Christians living in Rome. Persecution boiled against the Christians. Peter wrote to the believers sharing a simple, yet challeng-ing remedy. The message of October 15 is entitled Christian Citizen’s Duty.

Mark your calendars to be part of the Pathfinder Induction service set for October 1. The induc-tion service is a dedica-tion of the kids joining the Pathfinder Club this year. Please be aware that your

presence is essential for a successful Pathfinder Club. They need our prayers, our support and our financial help. I’m looking forward to this service with the mes-sage Character Building. Be sure to invite families with kids to this service.

The message of October 8 is Living the Good Life. Three times Peter urges us to develop self-control. He writes in I Peter 1:13, “Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope

continued on page 2

6 Weeks of Living in the World by Pastor Mitch

Seek to please

Shift your prayer life from “Please, God” to “Please God.” Take the comma out of those two words when you pray, and transition your praying from asking God for things to ask-ing God for the pleasure of God’s pleasure. —Homiletics

INSIDEI Can’t Wait is on page 3

Returnnig the Tithe is on page 4

Ginny’s Kitchen on page 5

What’s happening? see pages 6 & 9

A Fairy Tale Wedding on a Pauper’s Budget on page 7

Our Church Family page 10

Kid’s Page on page 11

For the members, family and friends of the Downey Adventist Church

Small Groups

It’s not too late join a Small Group. They will be starting up on October 8 for our

new series called Living in the World. This 6 week series is based on the book Caught Between Two Worlds by Karl Haffner.

If you are not currently in a small group, please sign up

in the foyer at church. This series, with its book, will help us all learn how Christians

can live in a world that seems stacked against them. You won’t want to miss out on this.

If you’d like to host a small group, please talk to Bill or Pastor and let them know. Thanks. =

THE LATEST WORD

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fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed.” When we live self-controlled lives, the benefits are beyond measure. Peter is calling all believers to live what they really believe. To put into practice the attributes they read in the Bible. We are to truly love one another through our actions and words. I Peter shares with us how to live the good life.

On October 22, the message is called Aim for Excellence. Peter wrote to those who were “slaves” to offer their best work each day to their masters. Keep in mind that while some slaves were house-

hold servants, others were teachers, doctors and musi-cians. Whether a slave had a graduate degree or not, all Christian slaves

were encouraged to strive for excellence every day. Now most of us don’t mind doing our best at work “if” our pay is com-mensurate with our efforts and production. But what about those stingy bosses who only pay “slave” wages? Peter is clear in his teachings. This mes-

sage might surprise some but all of us will benefit from knowing and imple-menting God’s word in our work-a-day world.

A Lasting Value System is the title of the message on October 29. At the time of writing 1 Peter, the Christians were challenged to keep their faith in a wildly sinful environment. Cultic

prostitution and drunken parties lasting days at a time was the background some of the newly bap-tized Christians once par-ticipated in. Once pagan friends caught wind of the new value system their Christians friends now followed, they thought of them as from an alien

planet and planted the label of “strange” on them. Peter caught the drift of the pagan culture’s attitude and wrote: “They think it strange that you do not plunge with them into the same flood of dissipation, and they heap abuse on you” (1 Peter 4:4, NIV). Peter’s advice, written 2,000 years ago, shows us how to enjoy lives with a lasting value system.

See you when the church gathers. =

WE

D

ID

IT

The Latest Word V 23 N 10

BILL AUMACKresponsible for this

LINDA AUMACKproof reading

TBDpaper distribution

MITCH WILLIAMSpastor

address mail to: Downey Seventh-day Adventist Church9820 Lakewood Blvd.Downey, CA 90240office: 562.869.6013fax: 562.622.1691 downeychurch@gmail.comwww.downeychurch.com

distributed monthlyissue date: Oct 2011 copyright 1992-2011

all Christian slaves were encouraged to strive for excellence

every day

“

”

Living in the World (cont. from page 1)

October 2011

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Webster says “antici-pation” means “a

prior action that takes into account or forestalls a later action . . . the act of look-ing forward. . . pleasurable expectation. . . visualiza-tion of a future event or state. . . .” (Webster’s Ninth New Collegiate Dictionary).

God says through the Apostle Paul, “. .

. I don’t think there’s any comparison between the present hard times and the coming good times. The created world itself can hardly wait for what’s coming next. . .. Meanwhile, the joy-ful anticipation deep-ens” (Romans 8:18, The Message).

At the moment I am writing this, I almost

feel like a child. Why? Because I am a couple of days away from two sur-prise parties, one for my mom and one for a dear friend at church. I have been involved in the plans for both these parties for quite some time, and I can-not tell you how much I am looking forward to see-ing each surprise unfold. There will be unexpected guests at both parties which will only add to the surprise element. But it’s so hard to wait, and I am bursting with anticipation! Every time I see these two people, I want to spill the beans. Children often can-not wait for good things like this and ask ques-tions like, “is it time yet?” Well, that’s exactly how I feel.

This morning I was reading the book of

Hebrews. In Chapter 2, the writer discusses the topic of angels. As I was reading, I noticed a study guide in my Bible about the ministry of angels here on earth. Their ministry includes protecting and guiding God’s people. Angels also prepared Mary and Joseph for Christ’s birth, announced his birth to the shepherds, assisted Jesus on earth and ministered to him in the wil-derness. The one entry that really caught my eye, though, was the paragraph that said, “Angels will assist Christ at his return. An archangel will announce the return of Christ. . . .” (Study Guide, The Open Bible NLT.)

Of course I already knew about the archangel. What does the Bible say? “For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the call of the archan-gel, and with the trumpet call of God” (1 Thes. 4:16 emphasis added). But the thought that occurred to me was this: I wonder if the archangel is filled with anticipation of that day. The angel does not know when it will hap-pen, because the Bible tells us that only God the

Father knows the day and hour. But do you think the angel may be bursting with anticipation enough to want to ask the Father, “is it time yet?”

Even as those thoughts occurred to me, I realized that the archangel isn’t the only one who gets to share

the good news. In fact, as believers in Jesus Christ, it is our highest calling to share that good news with others so that when it is time for the angel to announce Christ’s return, there will be lots and lots of people who will be saved and will be rejoic-ing. Angels will assist at Christ’s return, but how are we assisting God now by telling others? Christ died for the ungodly, Paul says in the book of Romans, and Jesus came so that whosoever believes in him may have eternal life. Who might unexpect-edly be in heaven because we couldn’t wait to share that good news and spread the word of the soon return of Christ?! =

October 1 Mitch Williams

Pathfinder Induction

October 8 Mitch Williams

Living the Good LifeWeek #1

October 15Mitch Williams

Christian Citizen’s DayWeek #2

October 22Mitch Williams Aim for Excellence

Week #3

October 29Mitch Williams A Lasting Value

SystemWeek #4

Worship Schedule

God, Webster & You

by Linda Bewley I Can’t Wait

THE LATEST WORD

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Before the Father

by Linda FernandezReturning the Tithe

As I began this vir-tual journey sev-

eral months ago, it was to revisit and reconsider my own core beliefs, reinforc-ing each one with a coun-try gospel song. As it turns out, Pastor Mitch recently finished a 3-part sermon series on tithing and I was hesitant about continuing that thread of thought, but I knew that tithing/giv-ing would fit in along the way somewhere and this is where it ended up.

One short newslet-ter article is not enough space to share the many stories which have brought me to the place of trusting Almighty God to provide for all my needs. I wish there was a sure-fire way to explain how He makes situations happen or turn around or money suddenly appear, but there isn’t one.

I can share, however that tithing has been an uphill battle for me. There have been more times than I would like to admit of not trusting and at best being only fair in obedi-ence to this command. I have Mr. Rockefeller’s quote posted on my fridge to this day, even though the practice is quite com-mon in our home now, I don’t want to go back to not fully trusting in God for our needs.

“Trust And Obey” is the song I chose for this topic. Its origin is not country, but is sung beau-tifully by Sierra Hull, a young bluegrass artist. The words of this song per-fectly cover any situation which may come before us in life and testing God as he invites us to in Malachi in

regards to tithing affects so many other areas of our lives than simply financial.

During the past ten years alone, our fam-ily has experienced tremendous medical, personal and financial dilemmas, at times one right after the other. More than once, it cer-tainly felt as if we were going through a Job-like experience. But as we look back now, there is no natural way to explain the various ways the Lord provided for us each and every

time; the greatest blessing of course being the gift of peace through it all.

We were visiting my mother-in-law one day at the nice little residential care facility where she lives now. She was telling us how much she enjoys it there, blissfully unaware of the emotional trauma the rest of the family suf-fered in having to make the decision to place her there. All she knows is that she loves Jesus and trusts that He will always take care of her. I don’t

want to wait until I am ninety to have that kind of trust in my Lord, do you? Let’s pray:

Father, help us trust in you more fully, “for there is

no other way, than to Trust and Obey.” =

“I would never have been able to tithe the first million dol-lars I ever made if I had not tithed my first sal-ary, which was $1.50 per week.” -John D. Rockefeller, Sr.

“Test me in this…” -God (Mal. 3:10)

October 2011

5

I do not believe one can settle how much we

ought to give. I am afraid the only safe rule is to give more than we can spare. In other words, if our expenditure on com-forts, luxuries, amuse-ments, etc. is up to the standard common among those with the same income as our own, we are

probably giving away too little.

If our charities do not at all pinch or hamper us, I should say they are too small. There ought to be things we should like to do and cannot do because our charitable expenditures exclude them.

—C.S. Lewis =

Old Fashion Tomato Soup

From Ginny’s Kitchen

1 ½ cups ripe fresh toma-toes

1 ½ cups of milk or soy creamer or half & half

1 handful of fresh chopped fresh basil

pinch of baking soda

2 T. butter

In a pot, boil tomatoes for about 3 minutes and peel the skin off each one.

Place peeled tomatoes into a medium size pot. Heat on low heat and smash tomatoes all togeth-er while in pot.

Add pinch of baking soda. Then add milk or soy creamer. Heat thoroughly but do not boil.

When it is heated, blend soup mixture all together with a mixer (on low). Reheat on low heat. Add the handful of fresh

basil on top of soup in the pot, place a lid top on pot.

Turn off heat. Serve in the next 5 minutes.

Optional: salt & pepper, but taste first!

This is my grandma Basinger recipe with my addition of soy creamer

and fresh basil. =

Americans enjoy an abundance of freedoms. From what we’ll pursue to what we’ll eat for lunch, we’re

constantly making decisions about what we want out of life. So it’s hard to find peace when our plans go awry and we lose control of our circumstances.

A wise person suggested, “For peace of mind, resign as general manager of the universe.” What if we stepped down and let God be God? He created the universe, after all. Shouldn’t we trust him to run it? =

Time to Step Down

A Guide for Giving

Autumn is here and that means one thing - the

Downey Adventist Church Annual Fall Party. The Fall Party is October 22nd at 5:30 p.m.

Each small group will plan two games to lead out

at the Fall Party. We need games for all age groups, from 3 to 100.

We will also be having-some good food! So bring your games and bring some food to share and we will have a great time. =

Fall Party

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

1

2 4 6 7 8

10 11 12 13 15 15

16 17 18 19 20 21 22

23 24 25 26 27 28 29

6:30 pm sunset

6:21 pm sunset

6:13 pm sunset

9:30 AM S.S.

9:30 AM S.S.

9:30 AM S.S.10:50 AM Worship Mitch WilliamsLiving in the World 2

9:30 AM S.S.10:50 AM Worship Mitch WilliamsLiving in the World 3

Visit www.downeychurch.orgS.S. - Sabbath School

5

10:50 AM Worship Mitch Williams Pathfinder Induction

10:50 AM Worship Mitch Williams Living in the World 1

3

7 pm Band Practice

9

Downey Adventist Church

7 pm Women’s Prayer Group

7 pm Women’s Prayer Group

7 pm Band Practice

7 pm Women’s Prayer Group

7 pm Band Practice

6:05 pm sunset

7 pm Band Practice

7 pm Women’s Prayer Group30 31

9:30 AM S.S.10:50 AM Worship Mitch WilliamsLiving in the World 4

5:30 pm Fall Party

Pathfinder Campout

Pathfinder Campout

October 2011

7

Everyone loves a wedding . . .almost

everyone! If the truth be told, there’s a little bit of romance in each of us, evidenced by the fact that millions of Americans were willing to get up in the wee hours of the morning to watch the wedding cer-emony of the century; the exchange of vows by Kate and William.

However, fairy tale weddings can be short changed by the cost of a wedding. The most expensive wedding dress in the world is a Beverly Hills creation entitled the Diamond Wedding Gown, worth $12 million. Beverly Hills also boasts the most costly wed-ding cask valued at $20 million, which has never been tasted or touched as it is sealed off by armed guards. With a train of 1.2 miles, the longest wed-ding dress is from China. Interestingly, the groom’s mother promptly called the dress “a waste of money in my opinion.” (Perhaps she should have kept her com-ments to herself since the bride’s parents paid for it.) And the highest priced wed-ding belongs to London–based Indian–born steel tycoon Lakshmi Mittal, who lavished $60 million

on his daughter Vanisha in Paris.1

Fifty to one hundred years ago, the average wedding was performed in the bride’s home church, where the groom wore his first and possibly only suit and the bride wore a

modest dress made by a family member or friend. The reception was usu-ally cake, punch, an assort-ment of nuts and snacks or hors d’oeuvres. The gifts were practical, such as bedroom linen, bathroom towels, and cooking pots. In contrast, the weddings of today are more likely to be performed in a garden setting, on a beach at sunset or in a Las Vegas chapel, with the couple’s gifts displayed on a boutique or upscale retailers website, and a catered reception in a hotel ballroom. However, a couple can still be married for $500 in their parent’s backyard with the reception provisions provided by the guests.

How to stretch your wedding budget?

1. Bridal gown. Borrow or rent the wedding dress. Remember, it is only worn for a few hours. If it’s going to be a keepsake, then

find an inex-pensive seam-stress (maybe a relative or friend who would love to donate their time and tal-ent as a gift.) Or look in a second–hand bridal shop for a reason-able deal.

2. Flowers. Purchase the flowers from a discount warehouse such as BJ’s, Sam’s Club, Costco or a flower market/nursery.

3. Music. Choose from musically talented friends or acquaintances, who would be glad to perform as their gift to the bride and groom. If you prefer a professional, contact your local community college for a senior music major who would be willing to play or sing for a nominal fee. One couple I know invited their church choir to be the spe-cial music for the wedding service.

4. Photography. Plan to have the professional

A Fairy Tale Wedding on a Pauper’s Budget

Stewpot

by Gordon Botting, DrPh, CHES

continued on page 8

“Getting married is easy. Staying married is more difficult. Staying happily mar-ried for a life-time should rank among the fine arts.”

— Roberta Fla

“In marriage, being the right person is as important as finding the right person.”

— Wilbert Donald Gough

THE LATEST WORD

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portraits taken at a beautiful location or in the photog-rapher’s studio a few days before of the wedding. If one or both of the bridal party’s family are unable to attend, ask your crazy photographic friends to take lots and lots of snapshots.2 In this current age with so many great digital cameras, your friends can give you a great record of your wed-ding. Or look for a profes-sional video photographer for the wedding.

5. Reception. Often the time of your reception will determine the type and cost of a meal. Three o’clock in the afternoon may call for just a cake, snacks and punch. If you choose a sit down meal, why not do what one church family has done for years? The ladies of the church chose to volunteer their time for each of their daughter’s receptions.

Why a Stewpot about weddings?

Many of the same prin-ciples that would apply to that special wedding day, a wise steward would apply to all aspects of life. The average couple will spend approximately 250 hours in preparation for their big day, yet many of us barely spend two hours a month planning, budgeting and implementing household money management.

1. Simplistic

Scale back on a vari-ety of items in your wed-ding planning like fewer attendants or fewer guests. Make it a family reunion in Hawaii. There is some-thing inherently elegant in simplicity. This principle applies to everyday purchas-es. Many appliances and other purchases are overly complicated. Nearly 50% of all Christmas gifts given to seniors are returned. Not because they do not

appreciate or need them, but because they were too diffi-cult to understand and oper-ate. Next time you purchase an appliance for your home, remember simplicity goes a long way if you expect your spouse and children to assist you in household chores. Washing clothes in a washing machine that has six complicated dials may prove to be intimidating.

2. Practical

Practicality should be the essence of your special day. Resist what others plan. You don’t have to have a superior wedding. Talk with your immedi-ate families about what’s

important to you on this memorable day. In the same

way apply practicality to all financial decisions. When purchasing a vehicle, ask yourself why am I pur-chasing this vehicle rather

than do I like its aesthetics. An example would be having a factory GPS which would cost hundreds of dollars more than a simple device which you can pull out of the glove box when needed.

3. Financial

Wedding planners suggest making a list of everything you would like for your special day. Then reassess the list by together deciding what items are

essential, which items you can cut corners on, and which you can do without. As a steward we are encour-

aged to follow the identical concept for every major

item we buy, a vacuum cleaner or a new automobile.

4. Relational

There is an often quoted say-ing, “After the wedding comes the marriage.” For all

the wedding wishes of your friends and relatives the two of you will continue to grow your relationship for the rest of your lives, through good times and not so good times. Part of good stewardship is nourishing and nurturing your relation-ship between you and God, family, friends and fellow members.

5. Spiritual

Marriage is one of the most spiritual events of life. It was blessed by the Creator in the Garden of Eden, acknowledged by Jesus as significant when he performed His first miracle at the wedding in Canaan, and finally, John, the Revelator describes the church as a bride adorned for her husband at the

Second Coming of our Lord. =References: 1. Swenson, Richard A. MD, (2010). NAVPress, In Search of Balance, p 110. 2. Hunt, Mary (2010) DPL Press, “10 easy ways to cut the cost of a wed-ding,” Debt–Proof Living Magazine, May 2009, p 1.

Fairy Tale Wedding - Pauper Budget (cont. from page 7)

“The average wedding in the United States hit it’s all-time high of $28,000 just before the Great Recession.” 1

“A $28,000 wedding does not get you any more married than a $800 wedding—it just raises your debt level.”1

October 2011

9

October Birthdays

Mario Rodriguez – 3 Lee Ann Harry – 6 Denise Macias – 7 Evan Aumack – 10 Martha Guerrero Patino - 12Virginia Duarte – 12 Natalie Michel – 12 Evelyn Garcia – 17 Chanal Red – 17 Annie Mendez – 23 Kahlil Meade – 24 Victor Acuna – 31

If your birthday is left out in the monthly newsletter, please contact the church office so we can put it in.

Upcoming EventsThursdays - 7 p.m. Women’s Prayer GroupFridays - 6:30 p.m. Band Practice

Oct. 1 - Pathfinder/Adventurer Meeting - 3pm Oct. 2 - Pathfinder Yard Sale, Car Wash & Food Sale - 8amOct. 15 - Pathfinder/Adventurer Meeting - 3pmOct. 16 - Pathfinder/Adventurer Meeting - 9amOct. 22 - Fall Party - 5:30pm Oct. 29-30 - Pathfinder Campout

The Latest Word deadline is the 5th of the month.

Coming Soon

November 5 - Friendship DayNovember 19 - Celebration SabbathDecember 17 - Community Christmas Program

THIS MONTH

THE LATEST WORD

10

The Latest About

Our Church Family Congratulations to

Mimi Gonzalez. She and Christian Andalon are engaged.

Congratu-lations to Abraham Guevara. He was baptized on Sept. 3 (his birthday). Also to his mother, Karen, who

was accepted into mem-bership by profession of faith. Be sure to welcome

them to fam-ily.

If you have any Church Family news, please contact the church office

so we can get it into the newsletter. =

Thank you to everyone who has been saving Box Tops for Education. That is greatly appreci-ated.

For the Box Tops for Education, please save the Box Tops coupon.

Please give your labels to Linda Aumack. Thank you for your support! =

Alton Wayne Lewis passed away and

was laid to rest on Sept 3, 2011 in the Inglewood Park Cemetery. He’s next to his wife Jean Lewis.

Wayne was born July 21, 1920. He fell asleep in the Lord on August 23, 2011.

Wayne served his country when it called. He

was in the Army Air Corp. Which is now known as the Air Force.

He and Jean were one of the founding families in the Downey Adventist Church.

We look forward to seeing Wayne again. =

6/2005

2004

1999

Some of our days seem very dark. Sickness, the

death of a loved one, the loss of a job or another struggle overshadows life. In our despair, it can be difficult to sense God’s presence. If God were here, we reason, surely he’d be shining his light on our dark circumstances.

When life is bright and joyous, it’s easy to sense God; the sun becomes a natural metaphor for God’s Son, Jesus, the Light of the world. But even on cloudy days, the

sun still shines, its pres-ence not bound by our limited vision. And in the darkest night, the sun remains; the warmth it gave before dusk lingers, enough to preserve us into the dawning of a new day. Sometimes we even catch its reflection in the moon.

“Weeping may lin-ger for the night, but joy comes with the morning” (Psalm 30:5b, NRSV). Trust in God; even in life’s dark times, the Son still shines! =

Living by Son-Light

October 2011

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October 2011

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Downey-Florence Seventh-day Adventist Church9820 Lakewood Blvd., Downey CA 90240

Return Service Requested

DATED MATERIAL

Ponder This...

= “Faith, like light, should always be simple and unbend-ing; while love, like warmth, should beam forth on every side and bend to every necessity of our brethren.” —Martin Luther

= “No man ever got very high by pulling other people down…. Don’t knock your friends. Don’t knock your enemies. Don’t knock yourself.” —Alfred, Lord Tennyson

= “God is in the business of taking old pieces of our lives, refinishing them and, at just the right time, surpris-ing us with newfound beauty.” —Susan Duke