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22 | May 4, 2017 | The Mokena Messenger faith
mokenamessenger.com
Robin’s Nest
The gift of new life after rejecting sin
Robin Melvin
Contributing Columnist
Hello, my friends.
Spring is blooming,
and it’s time to soak
up some Vitamin D. Sunshine
heals and strengthens
body, mind and spirit.
I believe God speaks to us
in the breezes and birdsong.
Take time out to be still, be
quiet and be loved by your
Heavenly Father.
Last time, we talked
about “co-crucifixion” with
Christ. Today, let’s look at
“co-resurrection.” After we
make the decision to kill
sin in us, His resurrection
life penetrates our human
nature. We are rescued from
sin’s control and raised to
new life with Him. What a
deal. We give Him what’s
broken, and He gives us the
ability to have new life.
Galatians 2:20 reminds
us, “My old self has been
crucified with Christ. It is no
longer I who live, but Christ
lives in me. So I live in this
earthly body by trusting in the
Son of God, who loved me
and gave himself for me.”
And in Ezekial, we read,
“… I will put a new spirit
in you. I will take out your
stony, stubborn heart and
give you a tender, responsive
heart.”
Jesus’ spirit replaces our
spirit. Our heart is now
God-centered, not selfcentered.
“The Holy Spirit cannot
be accepted as a guest
in merely one room of the
house — He invades all
of it,” Oswald Chambers explains.
“And once I decide
… my heredity of sin should
be identified with the death
of Jesus, the Holy Spirit
invades me. He takes charge
of everything. My part is to
walk in the light and to obey
all that He reveals to me.”
When we become aware
of wrong mindsets and
behavior, we’re responsible
to nail them to the cross
where they belong. Sin has
no power over us anymore.
We choose to do die daily
to anything keeping us from
fully knowing our Godgiven
design. In so doing,
we not only live a full life,
we also pass it to others.
God doesn’t dump all our
stuff in a heap and leave us
to sort it out. He continues
to reveal it until we’re ready
to deal with it. Not to condemn
us. The enemy of our
soul does that. The guilt we
feel — sometimes a gentle
nudge, sometimes a swift
kick — is information to
steer us. It’s our road map to
freedom, and He walks the
whole journey with us.
Our Father is not only
patient in our process of
becoming, He delights in
watching us grow out of
ourselves and into the person
He created.
So, we ask: What’s still
hides my God-given design?
Some mindsets and actions
that belong to our old nature
are sneaky. They’re so comfy,
we wear them like smooth
skin under silk sheets. In
reality, they are itchy, wool
blankets waiting to be dug up
from a moldy basement.
Yes, my friend, we don’t
always feel so new, brave or
empowered. But we are. We
don’t live by feelings, we
live by faith. It’s not always
easy, but we pray, we read
Scripture and trust that our
new, resurrected life leads
us on a path to holiness.
Holiness? Now there’s a
churchy word. Join me next
time as we bring a lofty
word down to earth.
Courage and joy for your
journey, my friend.
The thoughts and opinions
expressed in this column are
those of the author. They do
not necessarily represent the
thoughts of 22nd Century Media
or its staff.
In Memoriam
Wayne Kenneth Carlson
Wayne Kenneth Carlson,
68, of Mokena, died April 24.
He was previously employed
by EJ&E Railroad and was a
nuclear station operator at Exelon’s
Braidwood Station. He is
survived by his wife, Carolyn
M. Carlson; daughters, Michelle
M. Carlson and Lauren A. Carlson;
grandson, Charles A. Junod;
siblings, Judith S. Fronek,
Kathleen J. Carlson and Jeffrey
M. (Colleen) Carlson; motherin-law,
Esther Jungles; and many
nieces and nephews. Visitation
and funeral services were held
at Markiewicz Funeral Home.
Interment Mt. Vernon Memorial
Estates. In lieu of flowers, donations
may be made to the family
for future memorials would be
appreciated.
Faith Briefs
Mokena United Methodist Church (10901 LaPorte
Road, Mokena)
Service and Sunday School
10:15 a.m. Sundays. Church service
and Sunday school will be held.
For more information, call (708)
479-1110.
Susan E. Macis
Susan E. Macis nee Jaminski,
of Mokena, died April 21. She is
survived by her husband, Michael
Macis; children, Daniel and Joseph;
parents, Joseph and Eileen
Jaminski; siblings, John (Mary),
Thomas (Lisa), Mary Kay (Paul)
McKendry and Patricia (Mariusz)
Lugowski; and sisters-in-law,
John (Mary) Macis and Kathy
Janicki. Visitation was held at
Vandenberg Funeral Home. A funeral
Mass was held at St. Mary
Catholic Church. Interment Good
Shepherd Cemetery.
William G. Simnick Jr.
William G. “Bill” Simnick Jr.,
59, of Mokena, died April 23. He
is survived by his wife, Karen
(nee Rutz); daughter, Kathryn
(Jason) Burcham; son, Matthew
(Colleen) Novander; and grandchildren
Eli, Hazel and Miles.
Visitation and services were held
at O’Neil Funeral Home chapel.
Interment Good Shepherd Catholic
Cemetery. In lieu of flowers,
memorials The MSA Coalition
(9935- D Rea Road #212, Charlotte,
NC 28277) would be appreciated.
Do you have someone’s life you’d
like to honor? Email Editor Tim
Carroll at tim@mokenamessenger.
com with information about a loved
one who was a part of the Mokena
community.
Bible Study
7 p.m. Tuesdays
Breakfast
9 a.m. every third Saturday of the
month
Walking Club
7 p.m. Mondays
Weight Watchers Wednesday
Weigh-ins take place at 6:30 p.m.,
while the meeting is at 7 p.m.
St. John’s United Church of Christ (11100 Second St.,
Mokena)
Traditional Service
8 a.m. traditional mass, 9:45 a.m.
contemporary & traditional music
in a service of praise and reverence.
Supervised childcare available. For
more information, call (708) 479-
5123.
Garden Club
8 a.m. Tuesdays. For more information,
call (708) 479-5123.
Cards for a Cause
7 p.m. the second Monday of each
month. Bring your tape, scissors and
colored pencils — if you have them
— and plan for a creative evening
with lots of fun.
Bundles of Love
7 p.m. the second and fourth Monday
of each month. Enjoy fun and
fellowship while making baby quilts
for infants baptized at St. John’s and
lap quilts for shut-ins.
Marley Community Church (12625 W. 187th St.,
Mokena)
Church Service
10 a.m. Sundays. Childcare is provided
Sunday School
9-10 a.m.
Men’s Group
6 p.m. Sunday nights in the church
basement. All men are welcome.
Senior High Youth Group
7-8:30 p.m. Wednesdays. For more
information, email marleycommunitychurch@gmail.com.
Junior High Youth Group
6-7:30 p.m. Fridays. For more information,
email marleycommunitychurch@gmail.com.
Immanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church (10731 W. La
Porte Road, Mokena)
Contemporary Worship
5 p.m. Saturday
Worship
9 a.m. Sunday
God’s Kids Club
10:15 a.m. Sundays. This club is
open to ages 4-17.
Adult Bible Study
10:15 a.m. Sunday
Have something for Faith Briefs?
Contact Assistant Editor Amanda Stoll
at a.stoll@22ndcenturymedia.com or
call (708) 326-9170 ext. 34. Deadline
is noon Thursday one week prior to
publication.