West Main

 

 

 

The eyes of the world are on Egypt. Within the nation there are hopes of a population that longs for freedoms denied by decades of suppression. Aside from the national, international, economic and political aspirations, there is the greater concern for the spiritual plight of the 85,000,000 Egyptians.

Until now, becoming a Christian was not an easy choice for the 90% Muslim population. It was a national crime, punished by death, to convert. A similar punishment faced anyone trying to convert a Muslim. It has been difficult to rent a meeting place for Christian worship. Building permits to build or buy a Christian place of worship are not allowed. Non-Muslim religions consist of 10% of the population but are deeply traditional and hard to reach. A missionary of the church of Christ is boxed in by all of the difficulties imposed by the Islamic committed government and the deeply rooted, religious traditions of the Coptic and Catholic churches. What can our missionaries do in Egypt? We have an aggressive translation and distribution work of religious materials, correspondence courses and study guides. We have an Internet program by which all Egyptians can study freely. We have active churches worshiping and teaching in Cairo and Alexandria. We have young missionaries in training outside of Egypt.

What can we do from so far away? Prayer is our major resource. Pray for religious freedom: the freedom of assembly, the freedom of choice, the freedom of public communication and propagating the faith, the freedom of training religious workers and the freedom to hold property. Pray earnestly that the nation does not fall into the grips of a militant, Islamic rule. We can contribute financially to the printing and distribution of materials, support of training and sending young Egyptians back to their own people and developing a contingency fund to seize new, exploding opportunities.

A strong, vibrant church in Egypt, which is the cultural center of the Arabic world, can be the key to reaching into many, even more restrictive Islamic nations. In the present crisis in Egypt there is hope for a better day for all of the Muslim nations of the Middle East.

– Truman Scott

 

 

The Reality of the Unseen

In recent years, cosmologists have had a problem.  The final solution has been to believe in the unseen.  This remarkable story is the subject of this writing.  We will first try to spell out the problem they had encountered in trying to understand why the universe has not collapsed due to gravity nor blown apart by expansive forces they have recognized.

The raw material of their problem was Edwin Hubble’s finding that the universe was expanding at an increasing rate with increasing distance from the earth.  The evidence was solid, and based on the increase of Doppler shift of incoming light waves with the increase of distance of their origin from the earth.  This required a force for which they could not account.  Their solution was that of believing in “dark energy.”  This energy could not be sensed nor measured directly, yet they were forced to believe that it was real.

With this realization the problem was compounded.  In response to this dark energy, why then did the universe not blow apart in a sudden puff?  The only way to balance the scales was that of also believing in “dark matter” which could not be seen but added an inward pull of gravity.  Final estimates of the amount of such unseen matter are now near 95%.  That is, that only about 5% of the universe is actually visible.

Although we have just spelled out the problem in words, it was really identified by mathematical equations that could not be balanced without inserting energy of unknown origin and unseen matter.  The logic of mathematics is demanding and can identify problems that we would like to sweep under the rug.  The gist of the story is that in order to explain what was actually happening out there in space, men had to look to the unseen.

The above problem and its solution were not new to science.  Years before, when physicists were trying to account for the sub-particles that make up atoms, the evidence for the existence of electrons and protons was indirect, such as vapor trails in cloud chambers.  Later, when researchers were forced to recognize the reality of even more basic particles, quarks, they moved even more deeply into the world of the unseen.  Logic and mathematics took over from direct observation.

To further complicate matters, man’s best understanding of matter today is that it is made up of matter “waves.”  While such a view might seem ethereal, cancers are now treated by beams of protons that can be focused on a target using the wave properties of that particle.

One final heavyweight can be added to the list of things unseen.  “Black Holes” that become captors of anything that comes near them, including light, are surmised to be responsible for holding galaxies of stars together.  Current efforts are being proposed that may identify a disk around them - or halo - of spinning matter being swallowed.  For now, they are invisible.

How is all of this pertinent to the Christian world view?  Followers of Christ have always insisted that they, too, are unable to understand the natural world without including the unseen.  We see the fingerprints of an all wise, loving Creator as we observe the details of how this world is put together.  He has made himself and many of his creations invisible.

Regarding the reality of the unseen, apostle Paul put it all in still stronger words, “So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but what is unseen.  For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” II Corinthians 4:18.  In other words, there is a big invisible world out there that will eventually take the place of things that we can now see and touch.

In the days ahead, science may discover more direct evidence of dark energy and dark matter.  This will likely make them feel more secure about the reality of what is now unseen.  At the same time Christian scientists are also accumulating evidence that points to purposeful design in this world, and a benevolent God behind it all.

But that is not the end of the evidence on which Christians base their lives.  Our everyday activity does not hinge on understanding matter that cannot be seen.  Rather, our peace and security in this life has everything to do with how we deal with our neighbors, our fellow workers, and our loved ones.  For guidance, our God has given us a model, his Son, Jesus Christ.  The truths that he taught become self-evident as we put them into practice.  And the grace that is at the heart of his gospel gives us the strength to stay the course.

-- James Gibbs

 

 

WHO WANTS TO BE LIKE JESUS?

Starting this Saturday evening, February 26, Truman Scott will begin a seminar on Spiritual Development. Beginning with a dinner prepared by Thadd Flock, at 5:30 p.m., seminar participants will draw a picture of their development of personal traits.  The following Saturday evening, March 5, an explanation of the trait-picture will be given.  Then, for the four Wednesday evenings in March (9, 16, 23 and 30) growth plans will be studied for each of the traits being examined.  The Saturday sessions will start at 6:30 p.m. and the Wednesday sessions will start at 7:00 p.m. Each session will last one and a half hours.  Children’s classes will be available.

Being like Jesus – feeling how He feels, thinking how He thinks and doing how He did  – should be the longing of every follower.  This seminar will promote the development of the Christian traits that reflect the person and attitudes of Jesus.  It will help the participants remove obstacles to growth that have hindered becoming like Jesus.  It will set people on a course to be free to grow toward the “stature of the fullness of Christ” (Ephesians 4:13). The seminar regularly costs over $100.00 but is given FREE to the first fifty participants reserving a place. **Contact Truman Scott or Terry Christopher if you were unable to sign up for the class and would like to participate.

 

 

Camp Yamhill Men’s Retreat is March 3-5.  The speaker will be Reg Cox from Lakewood, Colorado.  He will be speaking on “Incarnation, Transformation and Inspiration.”  The cost this year is $78.00.  You may pre-register at www.campyamhill.org.

 

 

Prayer Requests . . .

Merlin Ragsdill requests prayers for the family of Keith McLean who passed away last Friday ... Cooper Albright will begin his chemo treatments on Monday ... Larry Albright’s cataract surgery went well.  Thank you for your prayers ... EvaLoy Knight as she continues her struggle with recovery from lung cancer ... For Cody Smith who was shot in the stomach while serving in the Army in Afghanistan ... Connie Kennedy fell and broke her arm between the shoulder and elbow.  At this time she will not be having surgery ... For Zach Kirk to get over possible food poisoning ... For our President and all of our military men,  women and families.

 

 

 

2011 Church Directory Updates

*Photos – Sandra Cummings is taking pictures of all our new members or families that have had babies this past year.  Please call her to set up your appointment.

* Listings – Please proof your directory listing posted in the hallway by the stairs.  Make any necessary changes or initial if all is correct.  If you would like your cell phone number or email address to be printed, please add them. *If your name is not on the printout, there is a sheet next to the listings for you to write down your information.

*Prayer Chain  – For those who would like to be added to or removed from the prayer chain, please check the listing posted by the directory.