Well, I am getting a Newsletter out on a more frequent basis, that much is a blessing. This does not mean that life has slowed down, not by any stretch, but it does mean that my commitment to complete the task has increased. Praise God for that!
I am sitting here, facing my keyboard, thinking about this newsletter, and looking out the window at the snow gently falling. I can not see the house next door because it is falling so heavily. For many who read this it's ho hum time. What's a little more snow? But for those of us in the Puget Sound region this is big news. After all it is March 9th, just about two weeks from the equinox and the official start of spring. So much for global warming. Tresa and I worked out in our garden this past week. The weather was wonderful. I got the area plowed once and rototilled twice. We planted out new blueberry plants and some rows of strawberries. It felt good to be outside working. And now we have about three inches of 'global warming' on the ground and it is accumulating rapidly.
This reflects our own lives in some ways. We may be in a season of life, and it's getting old. We want to change but the season remains with us, it hangs on. Suddenly we see new opportunities arise and we get excited to get on with the new. But the old keeps coming back to visit, just like this snowy weather.
Just remember that God has the seasons of your life already worked out. They will change when He is ready for them to change. In speaking to His people God said, For I know the plans that I have for you, plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope. [Jer 29:11] We need to keep in mind that as part of His people we are also part of His plans. This can get difficult for us as the seasons change, as we look forward to the spring and want to leave winter behind. We get anxious to put away the old stuff. I am reminded here of the text in Romans, And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. [Rom 8:28] Keep in mind that God is working for your good and the good of His people. However that turns out it will help you to endure the changing seasons in your own life. Be sure to bring your anxieties and fears to Him. Ask for His support and guidance. He will help.
We have been considering whether or not to continue offering a guitar class as a community outreach. This affects me personally because I love to teach this class. I have witnessed, through Christian music, to about two hundred people in the past seven years. What a praise this is! But in all of that we have seen only two people become more actively involved in the life of the church.
Here's my conundrum; is this class the barest beginnings of ground clearing and seed planting, or has it failed at some elemental level to honor God properly? I usually host three classes a year but currently have put this on hold until I can attain some sort of further guidance and clarification from God. One of the pertinent issues in all of this is venue. Given the changed understanding of our rental agreement it seems unlikely that we will be able to offer the class on campus, at least for the foreseeable future. If a different venue were to open up I would consider that to be an answer from God. Other twists and variations may arise that constitute "an answer".
We would appreciate your prayer on our behalf. Do we, or don't we, keep offering guitar classes? May we get clear guidance from You, O Lord?
There are many and varied opinions concerning seeker oriented activities in the church. Often these activities take on a life of their own with little relation to the things of faith. This can be a diversion at the least, or a danger at the most, for a church organization. But many times they allow easy entry into that scary world that is Christianity. Is that not what seeker friendly activities are all about? For those that are already in church, change can be equally scary. Your favorite Bible study may have new people in it! Gasp! All kidding aside, we want to proceed prayfully, taking care that it is God's will that we seek, that it is His glory that we desire.
I heard this from John Loeffler [Steel on Steel] the other day, February was the fourth month in a row in which over five-hundred thousand jobs were lost. That's over ten thousand jobs per state per month on average. That may not seem like much but it boils down to this; everyone of us likely knows someone that has been laid off. But, as the economy spirals down into deep depression everyone of us will know someone that has been laid off. What's a church to do?
This may seem superficial but family budgeting classes come to mind as a good beginning. Or possibly job hunting & resume writing services and classes. Maybe we can add spiritual counseling for emotional depression in the midst of the economic depression. One of Loeffler's suggestions involved forming neighborhood or church groups to bulk buy and store extra food supplies. Growing gardens. Canning. Drying food. The reasoning is that extra food supplies purchased and stored now may help meet needs later on. Getting neighbors and friends involved also will help in our Christian witness and fellowship departments. Not a bad combination of efforts.
Tresa and I have talked about opening up our spare bedrooms [we are empty nesters] to individuals and families out on the street due to economic problems. This may or may not be a solution for everyone. The same Steel on Steel report I mentioned above also stated that extended families are increasingly coming back together in these tough economic times. So if nothing else good comes out of all of this except that more families are together? Praise God in His wisdom for that!
Please remember to pray for your family, friends and neighbors who have fallen on the rocks of this economic crisis.
A Monthly Newsletter
This month's E-Connection features:
- Completion of DHF Facility
- Taxing the Church in Retribution
- Atheist Returns to Christ
- Gay Agenda at the White House
- Sermon by Disciples Leader Watson
- Plus much more
