July 6, 2011
SHEPHERD TALK - JULY 2011
Most of what the Shepherds of West Main do is not always evident. For example:
1. The exciting service to install the new Elders and Deacons on June 29 came after many conversations, mentoring sessions and much praying over a number of years. We are already at work for future development of other leaders.
2. In a effort to protect the flock, many hours have been spent in developing three documents: The Child Protection Policy, Covenant Relations Documents and a new, updated set of West Main By-Laws. These first two documents will be presented again to the congregation, with the By-Laws being available for review.
3. Reviewing ministries are a part of every Elders’ meeting on Tuesday evenings: Safe Harbor and Children’s Worship will take the summer off. Children’s VBS, Bible Camp, PUMP, Youth Summer Activities and CIA will be fully active for the summer. Plans are under way for a 2nd Annual Emigrant Lake Worship, and the Clothing & School Give Away.
4. Regular reports are being evaluated: Prison Ministry, Bible Classes, Worship Services, Visitation, Missions, etc.
5. Personal and relationship problems in the fellowship are confidentially examined.
6. New proposals are frequently evaluated, though finances continue to be limited.
7. Prayer is a focus in every gathering of the elders.
8. Communication goes on regularly between the elders with e-mails, faxes and phone calls.
9. Hospital visits, visits in the homes and prearranged meetings with members are regular occurrences.
Know that we are in need of your daily prayers to lead wisely and well,
Your Shepherds (Lance Lake, Merlin Ragsdill, Mel Hamilton, Charlie Anderson, Truman Scott, Larry Denn, Gerry Flock, Dan Beeks and Ron Zielke).
To Tell the Truth
During our Super Sunday Nights we have begun a study on the Ten Commandments. Despite the antiquity of these ten words, or the Decalogue, as they are called in the Septuagint (Greek translation of the Hebrew text), they have and will remain relevant to human civilization. The relevancy of the ninth commandment in particular has been highlighted in my mind the last few weeks. In the ninth commandment God says, “You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor” (Exo 20:16). On several occasions recently I have heard individuals say to others, “Is that true?” What are we to believe when we live in a culture so prone to deceive? How can there be trust when there is no truth?
The truth and telling the truth in our contemporary society appears to be especially hard to come by these days. The sad reality is we as fallen sinners have all been guilty of the sin of lying. We live in a world captivated by Satan, whom Jesus says, “He was a murderer from the beginning, and has nothing to do with the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies” (Jn 8:44). Satan has been so successful with polluting this world with lies, that even though Jesus testified to the truth, Pilate’s only retort was, “What is truth?” (Jn 18:38).
Pilate’s question is being asked with what seems like ever increasing urgency. Stop and think for a moment about all the paper work that goes into signing for a house, leasing a house, buying a car, or taking out a loan. In the end, all the stacks of papers we sign are essentially coming down to a simple question: “Are you telling the truth when you say you will be responsible and pay what you owe?” Long gone are the days when supposedly a man’s word was his bond. Society can no longer expect people to mean what they say and say what they mean. Consider further how much money is spent on lawyers and trials. Who is telling the truth when called to testify? Who is a jury to believe? How many gazillion dollars across the world are being spent on trying to simply verify or prove that someone or some institution is telling the truth? Lying is expensive. The truth is priceless.
The ninth commandment contains such simple words, “do not bear false witness.” Yet without the simple truth we do not know how to rightly respond to individuals, facts, situations, or states of affair. Our responses and especially our relationships to others will be measured by what we believe to be true. However, when responding to what is in reality a lie, we do not respond to reality but a myth or a falsehood. In the book of Ephesians, Satan is referred to as the “ruler of the kingdom of the air” (Eph 2:2). While the precise meaning of this phrase is not entirely clear, I cannot help but think of air as empty or the appearance of nothingness. In the end, those who follow Satan’s lead will live in castles built of air standing on nothing. What a tragedy to throw away one’s life for nothing. Therefore, let us not be liars, but truth-tellers, for Jesus came to give us true life, and life to the full (Jn 10:10).
--Terry
It is amazing what kids can pick up. It is amazing how well they listen. Last Sunday night we were bowling, and my son was having a rough stretch. He looked over at me and said “Dad, bowling is my AGON.” J I laughed so hard and was so impressed that he had listened to Terry’s sermon enough to understand what that meant! I have heard many of your stories of the ways your kids learn. This year at VBS we had GREAT teachers and my kids came home with more retained knowledge each day than I can ever remember.
At Camp our kids will be taught all kinds of wonderful things. They will discover their identities in Christ Jesus. They will discover that while they are called to be OUTSIDERS in the world, they are INSIDERS in Jesus! They will listen. Many will renew commitments. Others will take on Jesus in baptism. It will be powerful.
All of this encourages me that our future is bright. I know and believe that the kingdom is God is NEVER in trouble. But at times, we tend to forget this. We worry about the state of the world and the church. But as I look around and watch these kids growing, learning and even leading, I am nothing short of encouraged!
The future of God’s church is bright. We will be in good hands. Today’s youth will be tomorrow’s leaders. And we are gonna’ be JUST FINE! So, the next time you see that kid in front of you in church, thank God for them!
----Pannell
EVENING SERVICE CHANGE
We will have NO evening services this Sunday, July 10, due to camp.
LADIES PRAYER RETREAT
Ladies, mark your calendar for a Prayer Retreat, August 5 and 6. Our topic will be “Living Room Intimacy” and will be Friday night and Saturday morning. More information to come or contact Crystal Holm.
BABY CARD SHOWER
Nick and Danielle Morgan are expecting a baby girl in August, named Jaeden Marie. Diane Liles will be traveling to South Korea (where Nick is stationed in the military) to be with Danielle for the birth of Jaeden. She would like to have cards to give to Nick and Danielle celebrating the birth of their daughter from their West Main family. Please give or mail your cards before July 24 to:
Mr. and Mrs. Nick Morgan
% Diane Liles (please call for her home addresss)
Please see the complete baby shower announcement that is posted on the courtyard bulletin board.
(If you would like to help Nick and Danielle with a shower gift for Jaeden, a monetary gift would be appreciated. Please give your gifts to Diane or enclose them in the card.)
PRAYER REQUESTS . . .
Sharon Englert is in Hearthstone Care facility, Room 59, as she recovers from surgery and receives further antibiotic treatment - visits would be appreciated....It was good to see Doris Sutherlin at services this past week - please continue your prayers for her full recovery....For Wydie Denn who was not feeling well last week....For Ethan Jostad - a nine year old who has cancer and is in New York for treatment....For Cooper Albright as he continues his fight against cancer.... for Pandora Davis as she travels by herself to Georgia for a leadership workshop for teens. (Pandora was the only winner in Oregon out of 300 kids entered)....For our President, military men, women and families.
Camp begins this Sunday, July 10. Please, No Camper Arrival at Box R Ranch before 3:00 p.m.
Please pray for our staff as they teach our 105 campers and for the safety of our staff and campers this next week.
July 10-16: Church Camp at Box R Ranch
July 20: Service Projects
July 23-29: Pump
August 5-6: Ladies Prayer Retreat
