Romans 9:  ^10-13And that's not the only time. To Rebecca, also, a promise was made that took priority over genetics. When she became pregnant by our one-of-a-kind ancestor, Isaac, and her babies were still innocent in the womb—incapable of good or bad—she received a special assurance from God. What God did in this case made it perfectly plain that his purpose is not a hit-or-miss thing dependent on what we do or don't do, but a sure thing determined by his decision, flowing steadily from his initiative. God told Rebecca, "The firstborn of your twins will take second place." Later that was turned into a stark epigram: "I loved Jacob; I hated Esau."  ^14-18Is that grounds for complaining that God is unfair? Not so fast, please. God told Moses, "I'm in charge of mercy. I'm in charge of compassion." Compassion doesn't originate in our bleeding hearts or moral sweat, but in God's mercy. The same point was made when God said to Pharaoh, "I picked you as a bit player in this drama of my salvation power." All we're saying is that God has the first word, initiating the action in which we play our part for good or ill.  ¹⁹Are you going to object, "So how can God blame us for anything since he's in charge of everything? If the big decisions are already made, what say do we have in it?"  The Message Translation

Is God fair?  God is in charge of mercy.  All mercy comes from God.  

CTL NEWS and EVENTS

By Louis Haak, Associate Pastor, The Church at Tree Lake

CTL Website:  www.cbcwaco.org

• WEDNESDAY – Prayer and Bible Study at 6:45 pm
• WEDNESDAY – Youth activities 6:30-8 pm
• Rachel Stolle, daughter-in-law of Robert and Carol Stolle, has published a Christian Children’s book for children who have experienced abuse/trauma.  The book is titled "Why Did This Happen to Me, Aunt Lou?" and is available to purchase here:  http://www.publishamerica.net/product95017.html cost is $9.95 +S&H Rachel Jeanette Stolle credits her earliest foundations in Christianity to a wonderful woman named Louise Ritchie.  Aunt Lou, as everyone knew her, was a caring, Godly woman who devoted her life to service and the Lord.  Louise passed away in 2009, she suffered from Alzheimer’s disease.   “Why Did This Happen to Me, Aunt Lou?” aims to help children who have experienced hardships or trauma in their lives to understand that God is by their side. 
• We need servants to bring mowers and weed eaters to help keep the lawn area near the church building looking nice.  See Brother Jeff or Lynn Moss if you can take a week on the schedule.  
• Contact Lynn or Helen Moss if you have skills you would like to share with the church.  They will be matching people in need with the abundant skill set contained in our church to help our church family and those in need. 

LIFEGROUP INFORMATION

• FRIDAY -- Friday Night Lights will meet this week @ 6:30 pm.  We are on Lesson 16 of The Shack.   Contact Louis @ 715-9200 lhaak@wacoboom.com  
• SATURDAY --D&D Farms LifeGroup meets 2^nd and 4^th Saturdays near the C-Bar Ranch outside of Valley Mills; contact Robert & Carol Stolle cstolle@centralfreight.com    
• THURSDAY–Hey Ladies, are you tired of your chaoctic, frenzied and stressful life?  TULIPs, our women's groups at CTL, meets on Thursday nights at 6:00 at the Erath Building at church. We begin a new 8-week study on Thursday, July 29th. "Out of Control and Loving It!" by Lisa Bevere is for all of us who struggle with surrendering our lives - family, finances, jobs, ministry, everything - to God. Lisa Bevere shares her own journey of letting go of trying to manage and manipulate everything around her and finding a new kind of freedom. The book includes interactive study questions and testimonies from women who have learned how to stop letting their past dictate their future. Books are on order at Mardel's Christian Book Store and will be available there this Thursday, July 22nd. Leora Howell at jmhnelh@netzero.net

CTL PRAYER REQUESTS:  Mark 11:17 And as he taught them, he said, "Is it not written: 'My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations..."

• From Darlene -- Pray for Brandi (Heber) & Chuck Wilson and pray for healing for their new baby Chaz.   Tests on Chaz showed a problem on the brain.  They are waiting on results. 
• Pray for DeAnna Record who has a biopsy re-scheduled later this month. 
• Pray for Donna Premeaux Cody Wyers’ sister-in-law who is battling cancer.
• Pray for our pastor Brother Jeff and his family.
• From Gideon Randy Warren, I have been given a new assignment to work with the Gideon state leadership in the Philippines over the next year and a half! I would very much appreciate your prayers as I travel around the Philippines and for my wife Carol as she faithfully manages the home front. Many thanks for being faithful prayer partners.
• From Elizabeth Ober -- Please pray for Shelby Nicoletti had abnormal brain MRI
• Please pray for Danny & Doris Strahl.
• Rachel Stolle's mother Angie Hall is struggling with various health issues (one of which is lupus).
• Please pray for miraculous healing for Tammy’s family friend. Angela Marshall, a 32 yr. old mother of 2 small children who has been diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer.
• Pray from James Gilchrist’s mother.
• Pray for fifteen year old girl Hailey, in Lorena, who continues having health problems.  From Elizabeth
• DENISE COLEMAN OF CHINA SPRING WAS DIAGNOSED WITH RECTAL CANCER.  PLEASE PRAY from Bill Garrett
• Pray for a miraculous recovery for KyLeigh Roberts.  Praise God for the miraculous progress in her recovery so far.
• Pray for the Whitneys, our missionary friends who are back in the United States.
• Pray for our nation and community to turn to the Lord Jesus with all of our hearts.  Pray for God's hand to move mightily among US that we might be used to draw others into Him.  Pray continuously that God will, "Deliver us from Evil."