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 Rodney Herra Preaches About Security  Services at the Laurelbrook Seventh-day Adventist Church on August 15, 2009 began with a Sabbath School song service led by Gabby (9th grader) and Ali Small, accompanied by Donna Kanna. The opening song was “Take My Life”. The Hughes family had the program this morning. Doyce Hughes then welcomed everyone. Esther had prayer and read Philippines 1:6 “Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.” Doyce Hughes then read a mission report about a girl in Hiroshima when the atomic bomb was dropped. She was temporarily blinded; eventually she made her way home to find her mother injured and her father helped rescue someone from a nearby building. A black, oily rain began to fall. She was severely burned, the doctors initially passed her by as one that would die, but her father took her to the hospital and applied an herbal remedy. She wondered why she didn’t die when others did. The family moved to the countryside, she got married and had a healthy child, and one day a friend invited her to Christian meetings. She became a Christian after she got permission from her parents to do so. Eventually her mother became a Christian late in life. Looking back, she could see why the Lord preserved her life through the terrible bombing and its aftermath.
Esther and Josiah collected the Laurelbrook Missions Offering, which helps students and staff members go on mission trips. Kiasi sang while Darius played his violin for special music. Both are elementary students from another family.
Robin Hughes concluded with a few remarks about George Mueller, who helped English orphans by praying for their needs and waiting for God to move on someone to provide for their needs. He also established ministries for the elderly and for Bible study. He inspired others to do the same. He died in 1898. He had read his Bible through at least 200 times, never took a salary for the last 68 years of his ministry, and never went into debt. He believed the Lord would withhold no good thing from those who followed Him if they would completely trust God, make requests, and wait in faith.
Doyce Hughes closed with prayer. The congregation broke up into two adult Sabbath School classes to study “Living as Children of God”; the students studied a lesson from the Young Disciples organization.
 When services resumed at 11:00, Rodney Herra had the invocation or opening prayer. Fred Douville welcomed everyone and made the necessary announcements. Vespers will be in the church at 7:30 and a hike at 3:00. Chelsea Briley’s mother is still drastically declining and wishes prayer. Everyone then sang “My Lord and I”. Fred Douville had the Morning Prayer and called for the offering, which was for local church budget; and Douglas (junior) and David (senior) collected the offering. The congregation sang the doxology, and Fred Douville prayed for the offering. For the scripture reading, Fred Douville read Psalm 23 “1 ¶ A Psalm of David. The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. 3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. 4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. 5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. 6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.”
The Ellis and Herra families played and sang “Who Holds My Hand” for special music. Brenda Herra told the children a story about returning from a family campout recently. It was pouring rain. All of a sudden, Rodney mentioned that she should hold on. Next thing they knew they had hit a tree. A lady came along and helped them call John Ellis to bring something to pull them out. Every car that came by stopped and the drivers volunteered their help. The men offered to haul the pickup and the camping trailer home. We had never known these people before. It was such a blessing.
Rodney Herra preached on security, the congregation sang “Blessed Assurance”, and Fred Douville had closing prayer.
Personnel Other Than Students:
Ali Small – 2009 Laurelbrook graduate temporarily working at Laurelbrook until Southern Adventist University begins classes next week
Brenda Herra – chef in the Laurelbrook Nursing Home kitchen
Donna Kanna – head of Laurelbrook’s music department, organist for the church service and pianist for the Sabbath School service
Doyce Hughes – C.N.A. in the Laurelbrook Nursing Home, currently studying for his L.P.N.
Fred Douville – Laurelbrook’s vice-president for operations
Robin Hughes – C.N.A. in the Laurelbrook Nursing Home
Rodney Herra – local church elder, former Laurelbrook staff member presently working at nearby Majestic Stone Company
Following are notes on the sermon:
1. Job 1:1-5 “1 ¶ There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name [was] Job; and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil. 2 And there were born unto him seven sons and three daughters. 3 His substance also was seven thousand sheep, and three thousand camels, and five hundred yoke of oxen, and five hundred she asses, and a very great household; so that this man was the greatest of all the men of the east. 4 ¶ And his sons went and feasted [in their] houses, every one his day; and sent and called for their three sisters to eat and to drink with them. 5 And it was so, when the days of [their] feasting were gone about, that Job sent and sanctified them, and rose up early in the morning, and offered burnt offerings [according] to the number of them all: for Job said, It may be that my sons have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts. Thus did Job continually.”
2. Job had wealth and security that we might envy today. He was always concerned about his family that they would be close to God.
3. Job 1:13-19 “13 ¶ And there was a day when his sons and his daughters [were] eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother’s house: 14 And there came a messenger unto Job, and said, The oxen were plowing, and the asses feeding beside them: 15 And the Sabeans fell [upon them], and took them away; yea, they have slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee. 16 While he [was] yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The fire of God is fallen from heaven, and hath burned up the sheep, and the servants, and consumed them; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee. 17 While he [was] yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The Chaldeans made out three bands, and fell upon the camels, and have carried them away, yea, and slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee. 18 While he [was] yet speaking, there came also another, and said, Thy sons and thy daughters [were] eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother’s house: 19 And, behold, there came a great wind from the wilderness, and smote the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young men, and they are dead; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.”
4. In minutes, Job had lost his earthly security. But the devil wasn’t happy with that.
5. Job 2:7 “So went Satan forth from the presence of the LORD, and smote Job with sore boils from the sole of his foot unto his crown.” Satan is not kind in any way – he took Job’s possessions and his comfort.
6. Job 2:9 “Then said his wife unto him, Dost thou still retain thine integrity? curse God, and die.”
7. The one family member left counseled him to turn away from God.
8. David understood a shepherd’s life and how dumb sheep were – just like us. A sheep cannot figure out what food is good for us and what food isn’t.
9. Psalm 23:1 “A Psalm of David. The LORD [is] my shepherd; I shall not want.” The Lord is a very good shepherd providing security that earthly wealth and possessions cannot provide.
10. Sitting in the El Paso ICU, I noticed that all these families crying because they had lost what they considered their security. Standing in Mireya’s room, I thanked God for Jesus as our security. Despite the doctor’s predictions, Cristina believed that God would heal her sister – God has shown this to be true.
11. There are rough times ahead of us. Each of us have trials ahead so where is our security?
12. The devil will be working harder as the end times come nearer. He doesn’t care what treatment he gives you as long as you depart from God.
13. As we begin another school year, who are we going to allow to guide us in our paths? Where’s our security?
14. As people, we fail each other, but Jesus will never fail you.
15. Right after our car wreck last Sunday 1:45 in the afternoon, I noticed that Brenda and I didn’t have a scratch on us. God must have been there holding our hands. Do you know who holds your hand?
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