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My Castillo Talks About Unfair Events on Earth

The Laurelbrook Seventh-day Adventist Church service (Alumni Weekend church service) on April 7, 2018 began with Rich Sutton, Laurelbrook’s president, welcoming everyone, making a few announcements and observations.

 

• Pictures will be taken of the honor classes after the service.

• Bubba Herra, Sarah (senior), and Citlali (senior) rebuilt the wall at the front of the auditorium.

• Students and staff from Laurelbrook got experience doing drywall when helping people in Houston.

 

Sonya Kane Fickett (Class of 1993) played an introit. Heidi Heisey Stevens led the congregation in singing “Day by Day”. Ismael Castillo (Class of 1993) had the invocation.  The congregation then sang “O Brother, Be Faithful”.

 

Wanda Higdon Sarr (Class of 1973) then called for the offering.  Seniors Citlali, Sarah, Blake, and Josia then collected the morning offerings; the loose offering went to the local conference advance.  The congregation sang the doxology, and Wanda prayed for the offering. 

 

Michael Stevens told the children a story.  Mrs. Smith was a rich widow living in a fancy house on top of a mountain. She drove a Cadillac everywhere. But her eyesight weakened, and she advertised for a chauffeur. A man used to driving tour buses drove her on a demonstrative drive.  Another man was used to driving trucks superfast drove her on another demonstrative run. A third man was a NASCAR driver who was used to speed and drove her on a third demonstrative run. The last man didn’t have an illustrious driving career and drove her on a demonstration run notable for restraint. The last person got the job.  Some people will get you close to evil ways.  Others will give you what you need.

Sonya Kane Fickett (1993) and Heidi Heisey Stevens (1993) sang a vocal duet accompanied by Bonnie Cruz on the piano. Lester Carrero (Class of 1993) read Psalm 101:1-3 “1 ¶ « A Psalm of David. » I will sing of mercy and judgment: unto thee, O LORD, will I sing. 2 I will behave myself wisely in a perfect way. O when wilt thou come unto me? I will walk within my house with a perfect heart. 3 I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes: I hate the work of them that turn aside; [it] shall not cleave to me.”

Ismael Castillo (Class of 1993) discussed the topic “Even When Unfair”. The congregation sang “He Leadeth Me”.  The alumni choir sang “Joy in the Morning” under the direction of Charles Sarr. Ismael Castillo had the closing prayer.

Following are some notes on the sermon by Ismael Castillo:

 

1. Revelation 12:17 “And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.”
2. We live in a society in constant conflict but have to respond in a positive way.
3. Hebrews 11 lists Abel, Noah, Abraham, Jacob, Isaac, Moses, and others. Hebrews 11:13 “These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of [them], and embraced [them], and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.”
4. Hebrews 11:39 “And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise:”
5. Good people get bad things – not getting their rewards. How unfair!
6. In the midst of these bad things, these people knew the promises and were sure about those promises.
7. We believe in the Second Coming, the state of the dead, and other promises when we don’t see the fulfilment of these promises even beginning.
8. God knows it is hard at present to have faith.
9. God gives us back the love He showed by allowing Jesus to come and die for us.