Laurelbrook Academy



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Clarence Brown Talks About What God Has In Store for Us
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Sabbath services at the Laurelbrook Seventh-day Adventist Church on January 7, 2012 began with a Sabbath School song service led by Teresa (junior), Darius (9th grader), and McAlpha (sophomore), accompanied by Donna Kanna on the piano.   The opening song was “He Lives”.  Darius then had prayer.

The congregation then sang “Onward Christian Soldiers”. Nichishi Lee then welcomed everyone and then read Genesis 4:9 “And the LORD said unto Cain, Where [is] Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: [Am] I my brother’s keeper?” London Lee then had prayer.
Eilish (senior) talked about her experiences at the recent GYC meetings in Houston, Texas. On Friday the attendees went out to witness to various neighborhoods. Eilish found that most of the people in the mostly Catholic neighborhood were not interested in what they had to say. At one house, the lady was interested in Bible studies and wanted to go get a pen to record the visit. Pastor Lee gave Eilish the card, but Eilish lost the card so they had to go back to get the information again.  While there, Eilish had a chance to talk to the lady’s daughter.
 Everything at the GYC sessions was a help to Eilish. At one point, all the attendees started singing while waiting for the bus.

Eilish and Sammy (sophomore) collected the Laurelbrook Missions Offering, which helps with the expenses of those who go on Laurelbrook mission trips.  London Lee had a few superintendent’s remarks on being your brother’s keeper. London Lee had the closing prayer.

Following are notes on London Lee’s remarks:
  1. John 13:34-35 “34 “I give you a new commandment: love one another. Just as I have loved you, you must also love one another. 35 By this all people will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.””
  2. Christians who bear a testimony of unselfish love one to another are a witness to unbelievers that they cannot deny.
  3. Nothing will defeat Satan’s devices as Christ’s love shown in us.
  4. Those who don’t have love for others are not followers of Christ.
  5. There is suffering in love.
  6. 1 Corinthians 13:4 NRSV “Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant.”
  7. Love seeks to bring to mind some good qualities of the person concerned. 
  8. A Christian is sorrowful for the deficiencies of others and submits to whatever inconveniences that love for them brings.
  9. Discord and strife is Satan’s work and are the results of sin.
  10. If we collectively are out of harmony, then individually we are out of harmony with God.
  11. Our obligation to Christ for our salvation puts us under an obligation to forgive and work with others.
  12. This community should be the most loving and forgiving group.
The group then split up into two Sabbath School classes to study a lesson on the triune God. Clarence Brown taught the Sabbath School lesson in the church sanctuary.

At 12:50 Ron Oxentenko had the announcements. This afternoon there will be a hike at 2:30 if there is not too much rain. If it rains too much, there will be a special program in the academy auditorium. Services next week will be in the academy auditorium; there will be a communion service during the church service.

A crowded church service began with an introit by Donna Kanna. Clarence Brown had the opening prayer. Ron Oxentenko welcomed everyone and then announced the opening hymn - “The Lord in Zion Reigneth”. Ron Oxentenko then had the Morning Prayer and called for the offering, which was for local church budget.  Harry Winans and Daryll Ellis collected the church offerings. After the congregation sang the doxology, Rodney Herra prayed for the offering.  Rodney Herra then read Ezekiel 7:14 “They have blown the trumpet, even to make all ready; but none goeth to the battle: for my wrath [is] upon all the multitude thereof.”

Ron Oxentenko told the children a story about a little girl whose job was to clean the tableware. The cook came along and asked why the little girl was doing such a good job.  The girl insisted that she had to shine in her corner. The cook was inspired to cook a special dinner so she could shine in her corner.  One of the ladies eating the dinner decided to go to prayer meeting and sang nicely to fill her corner.  The pastor wondered why and was inspired to visit a sick man since that was his corner. The sick man was inspired to be cheerful for the boy who brought his paper. The boy folded the laundry because that was his corner. The mother was inspired to make a special basket for the new family who had just moved into the neighborhood because that was in her corner. That family included the little girl who had been polishing tableware.  What is in your corner?

Lisa (senior) played a flute solo for special music, accompanied by Donna Kanna on the piano.  Clarence Brown discussed the topic “I Hear a Certain Sound”. The congregation sang “Spirit of the Living God”.  Rodney Herra closed the service with prayer.



Personnel Other Than Students:

Clarence Brown – local church elder, assistant boys’ dean, works with restorative care at the Laurelbrook Nursing Home
Daryll Ellis – son of John and Barbara Ellis, local church deacon, works at nearby Majestic Stone Company
Donna Kanna – director of the Laurelbrook Band, teaches music lessons to Laurelbrook students and staff members
Dorka Ubiera - activities director for the Laurelbrook Nursing Home
London Lee – Laurelbrook campus chaplain
Harry Winans – works in the maintenance department of the Laurelbrook Nursing Home
Nichishi Lee – 9th and 10th grade English teacher, wife of London Lee
Rodney Herra – local church elder, former Laurelbrook staff member currently working for Majestic Stone Company
 
Following are notes from the sermon:
  1. The way we are educated could cause us to be saved or eternally lost.
  2. Ezekiel 7:14 “They have blown the trumpet, even to make all ready; but none goeth to the battle: for my wrath [is] upon all the multitude thereof.”
  3. How can we be made ready?
  4. Matthew 11:29-30 “29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 30 For my yoke [is] easy, and my burden is light.”
  5. The oxen would find this yoke a burden since they have to plow the ground.
  6. What is the yoke?  It is Christ’s lowliness of mind in regards to others. When we want things our way, will we pick up Christ’s yoke instead of our desires?
  7. When we hear the sound of truth, we should allow God to control our hearts and transform us. We cannot do this surrender in our own power.
  8. What sounds do we hear as we live our lives this year? 
  9. Does God want us to keep sinning and keep asking for forgiveness?
  10. What is God making us ready for?
  11. We often don’t trust Christ to rule over us.
  12. Since sin still exists, that means that Satan is still ruling.
  13. Christ’s burden is that there are people in the Last Days ready for translation to heaven.
  14. Christ wants to present us faultless before the presence of God.
  15. Education can disqualify us from giving the Loud Cry just before the Second Coming of Christ.
  16. God wants a whole group of people ready for translation to heaven.
  17. Jesus took upon Himself man’s nature to save man, giving up His power and glory in heaven to save man. Jesus couldn’t enjoy heaven while the world was lost.
  18. Satan kidnapped the human race with the lie that God doesn’t love us.  So Jesus came to demonstrate God’s true love for us.
  19. We make choices today that place us either closer to heaven or closer to eternal ruin.
  20. This year who are you going to listen to - God or Satan?  Does wrong seem so comfortable that we don’t want to let it go?
  21. Christ had to be born in sin since He took on human nature with its heritage of sin.
  22. Jesus came to eradicate sin.
  23. If sin is to be destroyed forever, why are we holding on to it?
  24. God has a broken heart for us since Satan stole us from Him. Satan causes us to war against our Savior and to doubt that God can help us to overcome present sins.
  25. There is nothing in this temporary life that would justify the loss of eternity.
  26. If we let the Spirit of God come into our lives, we are no longer in the flesh, living according to the dictates of sin.
  27. What are we willing to give up for eternity? Why are we still listening to Satan and not to God?
  28. Satan wants to get these young people and corrupt them as they develop their lives.
  29. To avoid this, all it takes is a surrender of self to God.
  30. We cannot pick and choose which sinful activities or holy tasks we want to accomplish or enjoy.
  31. If you choose to accept God’s grace and opportunity now, you can be freed from sin and its consequences.
  32. If we choose a wrong action, God has to let us make that choice.
  33. The only true preparation for Christ’s Coming is separation from sin. Right now that work of preparation is going on this earth.
  34. Each day we must separate ourselves from sin with God’s power and direction. If we do this, we will be freed from sin’s power.
  35. God needs our cooperation with Him so He can work in our lives.
  36. We can notice the signs of the times, but unless we surrender to God and let Him get rid of our sin our profession is false.
  37. Are you preparing to meet the Lord? Jesus will not let us see Him again with sin in our lives.
  38. Who are you listening to - God or Satan? Are you willing to trust Jesus enough to let Him work in your life?
  39. Isaiah 33:13-14 “13 ¶ Hear, ye [that are] far off, what I have done; and, ye [that are] near, acknowledge my might. 14 The sinners in Zion are afraid; fearfulness hath surprised the hypocrites. Who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire? who among us shall dwell with everlasting burnings?”
  40. God is only a consuming fire to sin.
  41. God wants us to see Him as a God of love and rightly represent His character to others. Are you willing?