Encouragement for the Weary,
Often I feel like we are scourged & chased through the fleeting checkpoints of time. Although, it's not an oppressive dictator that relentlessly forces us on, this taskmaster seems to reside within us. I believe that our propensity for extremes, either pointless business or mind numbing sloth, reveal the desperate need that we have for frequent breakaways with our maker. In either case, intimate worship & communion with God corrects and fine tunes our life's navigation, purposes, & priorities. As we get to know God, he brings balance (wisdom) to our work/rest/play, agendas. In Israel the call of gainful enterprise often eclipsed the command to take 1 out of 7 to get to know Jehovah; even the religious leaders blew it! Under the law Israel was commanded to keep the Sabbath holy. Now, in the church age we are encouraged to continually, draw near. 1 Pet 3:5 As you keep on coming, returning, to him, that amazing Living Stone, censured and brutally cut off by man, but precious and joyfully promoted by God! (Paraphrased LRC)
Jeremiah 17:19 This is what the Lord said to me: “Go and stand in the gates of Jerusalem, first in the gate where the king goes in and out, and then in each of the other gates. 20 Say to all the people, ‘Listen to this message from the Lord, you kings of Judah and all you people of Judah and everyone living in Jerusalem. 21 This is what the Lord says: Listen to my warning! Stop carrying on your trade at Jerusalem’s gates on the Sabbath day. 22 Do not do your work on the Sabbath, but make it a holy day. I gave this command to your ancestors, 23 but they did not listen or obey. They stubbornly refused to pay attention or accept my discipline.
My friends, PLEASE!!!
Take time to be holy, speak oft with thy Lord;
Abide in Him always, and feed on His Word.
Make friends of God’s children, help those who are weak,
Forgetting in nothing His blessing to seek.
Take time to be holy, the world rushes on;
Spend much time in secret, with Jesus alone.
By looking to Jesus, like Him thou shalt be;
Thy friends in thy conduct His likeness shall see.
Take time to be holy, let Him be thy Guide;
And run not before Him, whatever betide.
In joy or in sorrow, still follow the Lord,
And, looking to Jesus, still trust in His Word.
Take time to be holy, be calm in thy soul,
Each thought and each motive beneath His control.
Thus led by His Spirit to fountains of love,
Thou soon shalt be fitted for service above.
William D. Longstaff
MINISTRY NEWS
There is good news to share with you! we have had a full building for the past few Sundays. Our maximum capacity is 105, and at that point I believe we may even be breaking some fire code. We are challenged by having so many new people and young believers. Our five ministry leaders, are straining to keep ahead of the needs. This is really a good problem because it is causing us to break with some traditional ways that are less effective at producing growing believers that stick around, in exchange for some new solutions that are beginning to lead us to lasting results. This growth is also forcing us to seriously consider finding a new place to meet by January when our current lease is up. We are convinced that if we stay here, the building size will limit the growth the Lord is indicating for us.
Linda & I have been increasing our pastoral visits to help with those questions about our assembly and why some of our practices are a little different than other churches. I am working on a small publication that will summarize our Values, Doctrine, Practices and Thought. Please pray for us, the next 6 weeks are going to be very busy!
*Please pray for the Lord to provide the building/property to accomodate our growth,
*Linda & I are organizing Family Camp
*Two college students (Peter & Allison Thomas) will be living with us for a few weeks
*Linda & I have a heavy teaching and traveling schedule
