I wanted to share some pictures of the work being done around the church this week. We have had electricians, carpenters and other workers here making needed improvements. Here are some pictures:
Also, notice how nice the fountain looks when you drive by. Thank you trustees for taking care of the church. Thank you church for giving so that we can take care of God’s house.
“Men are God’s method. The church is looking for better methods; God is looking for better men.” - EM Bounds, foreward, Hudson Taylor’s Spiritual Secret
“The whole transaction of religious conversion has been made mechanical and spiritless. Faith may now be exercised without a jar to the moral life and without embarrassment to the Adamic ego. Christ may be “received” without creating any special love for Him in the soul of the receiver. The man is “saved,” but he is not hungry nor thirsty after God. In fact he is specifically taught to be satisfied and encouraged to be content with little.” – AW Tozer, The Pursuit of God p. 12-13.
I am exhausted with the superficiality of so-called Christians. It amazes me the sad lives people live - without spiritual growth - without spiritual victory. And then I look in the mirror, and realize that I am asking so little from God. I am so unwilling to make the sacrifices necessary to be the man of God that He calls me to be. My exhaustion comes from my pride instead of service. My lack of compassion comes from a selfish attitude.
God, please send a renewing of your Spirit. We ask for a fresh wind of grace upon your church.
I thought it was interesting to note the comment by Pastor Warren, when he said:
“We believe in separation of church and state, but we do not believe in the separation of faith and politics, because faith is just a worldview and everyone has some kind of worldview.”
I would encourage you to hear the full interview of the two candidates if you have not heard it already. I am not publicly endorsing any particular candidate. I will, at times, speak on issues. I believe that the church has a moral mandate to be “salt and light” to the culture around us. There may come a day when our government, like Canada’s, will imprison me for making comments about ethics (”right and wrong”). I pray that never has to happen.
MSN is conducting an online poll to see what public opinion says about removing “In God We Trust” from our money. You can vote your opinion at this link:
Thank you President Bush for taking a stand for religious freedom in China. In an interview with Bob Costas on Sunday Mr. President said:
THE PRESIDENT: …[I]f you’re a religious person, you understand that once religion takes hold in a society it can’t be stopped…
COSTAS: [D]o you find Hu Jintao… receptive [to Western ideals]?
THE PRESIDENT: It’s hard to tell. I mean, it’s-all I can tell you is that it is best to be in the position where a leader will listen to you. I went to church here, and I’m sure the cynics say, well, you know, it was just a state-sponsored church. …[A]nd that’s true. On the other hand, it gave me a chance to say to the Chinese people, religion won’t hurt you, you ought to welcome religious people. And it gave me a chance to say to the government, why don’t you [recognize] the underground churches and give them a chance to flourish? *
Thank you for going to church while at the Olympics. Thank you for calling for religious freedom in China. (And, thank you for standing amidst the onslaught of Bob’s misguided questions. Maybe he should stick to sports.)
*transcribed by Family Research Council www.frc.org
This week as the Olympics begin, we celebrate many of the wonderful achievements that will take place as the world comes together. However, during this Olympic season, make a commitment to pray each time you hear news from Beijing. Pray that our brothers and sisters there would be given freedom to worship without hindrance. Pray that they would flourish in faith and boldness.
I sent in the first three chapters of my doctoral dissertation last night! “What does that mean?” You might ask. It means that, if approved, I can move ahead with the 12 week project in September. (So, pray that it’s approved). I think, when all was said and done, there was about 125 pages total so far. That’s 80 pages of writing, 40 pages of appendices, and then the bibliography. The title, you ask?
IMPROVING THE PERSONAL APPLICATION OF SERMONS
Keep praying!
UPDATE: Here is a copy (1.5 meg) in .pdf form
We had a great time this weekend at children’s camp for our 3d through 6th grade. I did the missions sessions. We had some wonderful adults help us take 14 kids to camp. It was very fun!
