West Main

Peace in Space and Time

The Apostle Paul says, “If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all” (Rom 12:18). What happens though when you have gone as “far as it depends on you” to make peace, but the one you are in conflict with refuses? The simple answer I suppose is that you “shake the dust off your feet” and move on. After all, you have done all that depends on you. However, Paul further encourages us, “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good” (Rom 12:20-21).

In order to have the kind of peace that our Lord desires for us to experience, we must have proximity to the one(s) we are in conflict with. You have to see that your “enemy” is hungry or thirsty to be able to provide them an act of kindness. Such acts of kindness imply that God does not want us to abandon our relationships to one another, but rather desires the good of unity to overcome the evil of division. Obviously, there are times when peace is not possible and you cannot be in the presence of one who does not tolerate your presence. Yet, we are to be looking for those opportune moments when the enemy is in need, and are able and prepared to provide for such need. Therefore, we must not hope for our enemy to fall, but look to uplift the enemy when they fall.

The hope we ought to be longing for is an opportunity to create a different experience with the one(s) we are at odds with. Instead of a remembered experience of hate and division, we seek to create an experience of love and unity. We want our enemy to see us offering them a hand in care, not a hand in spite. However, herein rests a major problem in our contemporary western culture. Today, we are a mobile society. We are capable of packing up and moving not just across town, but across the state, country, and even continents! How then can we see our enemy is thirsty or hungry when those we are fighting with are literally out of sight? Take for example congregational conflicts. Often when members experience conflict within a congregation, they can simply move away and attend another congregation in town.  We do not have to worship with or see the one we are in conflict with and so our trouble seems out of sight and out of mind.

We can avoid loving our enemy all too easily today. However, not everyone in our world can avoid their enemies so easily. Recently, I watched a documentary about the 1994 Rwanda massacre titled,  As We Forgive. The film follows the experience of two Rwandan women, Rosaria and Chantale, who come face-to-face with the men who killed their families. What struck me in particular was how the issue of reconciliation was a necessity for these women and their enemies. The Rwandan situation due to cultural, economic, and tribal factors meant that the killers of the families of Rosaria and Chantale would be coming back after their prison terms to live in the same small village. The documentary follows how the process of reconciliation is worked out as victimizers and victims come face-to-face.

As I watched this film, I kept thinking how such a situation would be virtually unheard of in our society and culture. As Americans we would simply move away, whether we were the victimizer or the victim. Yet, as Christians united to one another at the foot of the cross of Christ, can we really do less than what these two Rwandan women were compelled to do by cultural and societal necessity? Should we not as Christians be compelled to reconcile with our enemies, not by physical necessity, but by our choice to pick up our cross and follow Jesus—the Prince of Peace? Chantale and Rosaria were granted about ten years apart from the murderers of their families, but in time, the space and time between them collapsed, and they needed to negotiate how they were going to be in each other’s presence now and for the foreseeable future.

My heart aches when I see brothers and sisters in Christ divide and leave each other over doctrinal, personal, and/or petty reasons. We are so quick to move away from each other in space and time. Let us heed the words of Paul, and be inspired by Rosaria and Chantale to not use space and time to remain enemies, but to find peace in the space and time God has granted us to share with one another.

– Terry

A SPECIAL CORPORATE BUSINESS MEETING will be held this Sunday, August 7, 2011, to amend the bylaws of the congregation.  The meeting will be held in the Fireside Room following morning services at noon.  Copies of the Proposed Bylaws, our Relational Commitment Booklet, and Children’s Protection Policy are available on the tables in the lobby or on the information desk in the courtyard.  If you have any questions or comments regarding the bylaws, please contact an elder before August 7.

WEST MAIN BIBLE INSTITUTE will begin classes on September 8, at 7:00 p.m. Bible Study guides are located on the information desk for  information on price, course times, and classes. All students must complete an application form and applications need to be received by August 19.  Applications are also available online at http://www.extensionschool.com. If you have more questions, please contact Dan Beeks.

Our Second Annual Summer Worship Encampment at Emigrant Lake will be held on Sunday, August 21. We will have worship services beginning at 10:00 a.m. followed by lunch and activities.

Please bring your lawn chairs, games, and a potluck dish to share.  We will have a sign up sheet for food that you need to bring.

If you need a ride to the lake, please let Terry,  Brian or the office know.  We will have a shuttle service leaving the parking lot at 9:00 a.m.; otherwise, please drive yourself to the lake.  We will have more information to come with all the details.

Services at the building: We will have our worship service at the building beginning at 10:15 a.m. We will have NO BIBLE CLASS that day.  We will have evening worship services at the building at 6:00 p.m., but no fellowship time following services.

NO NURSERY will be scheduled this day.

Thank You Note . . .

Dear Family: Thank you for the many expressions of love shown to Dad these last few months.  Your prayers, cards, calls, visits, flowers and baked goods were all appreciated.  We are very grateful to those who baked cookies and served lunch after Dad’s memorial.  Love, The Strawn, Heffner, and Dukes families

Prayer Requests . . .

Sharon Englert is doing well and is at home now ... For Ethan Jostad, a nine-year old boy who has cancer ... For Connie Kennedy who will have surgery August 12 ... For Vicki, the daughter of Mandy Breithaupt, who is very ill and on chemo ... For Jesse Page who has been in a lot of pain lately and is asking for less pain ... For Russ & Marissa Gann and the Black Tornado team as they travel and play softball in Normal, Illinois ... For David, a friend of Sally Zielke, who will be having cancer surgery on Friday ... For Diane Liles as she travels to South Korea on Thursday to be with Nick and Danielle Morgan for the birth of their daughter - please pray for safe travel and for an easy delivery for Danielle ... For Jenny Way- that she can make progress from her brain injury ... For our President and all of our military men, women and families.

Transportation Needed:  Sharon Englert needs transportation to her physical therapy appointments on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.  If you can help her with one or more days a week, please giver her a call.  Thank You!!

Mark Dickison will be leaving for Navy Seals boot camp on August 17^th.  If you would like to send him a note of encouragement and support, please use the note cards that are located in the lobby in the colorful round box.  We will be giving all of the notes to him on August 15.

June  Financial Statement

INCOME:

EXPENSES:

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AUGUST SERVERS

Coffee Servers: Laura Drew

Nursery: Aug 7 & 14: Debi Robbins; Aug  28: Crystal Holm (Nursery Help needed for September 4.)  Please contact Diane Liles if you can help.

Greeters: Louis & Clara Arnold;  Kent & Sandy Watson

Coffee Servers are needed for September. Please sign up on the list posted by the stairs.

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JULY   ATTENDANCE

1^st Sunday    243 ; 2^nd Sunday   225; 3^rd Sunday    270;

4^th Sunday     200; 5^th Sunday    253

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

Aug 5-6: Ladies Prayer Retreat

Aug 21: 2^nd Annual Encampment at Emigrant Lake

Aug 27: Clothing & School Supplies Giveaway