August 31, 2011
TACO BELL FAITH
If you’ve been to the Fred Meyer on the South side of town lately...you saw they completely tore down and demolished the Taco Bell. Last night I was at the store buying school supplies when I noticed they had begun to build a new structure there. Interested in what it may be, I read the sign. I was utterly confused! They are building a brand new……TACO BELL!!!!!!
What is that all about? Why would you tear down something only to build the same thing again? I was outraged actually. What a seemingly waste of time, resources, money! Everything about it seemed irresponsible.
I began to consider what I could learn from this. I thought of the book of Jeremiah where God says to the young man, basically, that he has plans for him to tear down one monarchy and to plant another. I of course thought of Ecclesiastes where we are told there is a time to tear down and time to build. I considered these and other thoughts but all I could really settle on was, THIS IS CRAZY AND SENSELESS.
But of course, I have NO IDEA what I speak of. I do not have ANY inclination what went into this decision. And since I don’t eat Taco Bell, I’ll probably never know.
Maybe the place was condemned because it was unsafe as a structure? Maybe the old building had asbestos and they are going through all of this in order to save lives? We will never know. All I know is that in a few months a Taco Bell will stand where a Taco Bell once stood. :) It is confusing.
This is very similar to a life of faith. When you think about it from a human perspective, often the things God does make no sense on the surface. How many times have you thought, “Well, I never would have done it that way?” :) In our limited perspectives, we cannot see the big picture that God is playing out. And to be brutally honest, it often seems that God is totally breaking us down and razing us to the ground in order to build us back up into a bigger, better, stronger person. Of course, this never makes sense when it is going on, and that is where faith comes in.
So we may never understand everything in this world. Especially when it comes to partial meat faux Mexican food restaurants. :) And surely we may not understand why God does things the way he does…but you can ALWAYS trust that God is smarter than any Taco Bell CEO and he knows EXACTLY what he is doing, and there truly is a time for everything!
– Pannell
SHEPHERD TALK ABOUT FINANCES
After reading the bulletin for months a member will have noted that expenses have been exceeding contributions. This is despite frugal expenditures and slashing ministry plans. This is despite drawing on all accounts to exhausting them. We started 2011 with $26,000 in the bank and now the account is at $500.00 with some expenditures being deferred to September.
Why did this happen? Families are being squeezed further either through underemployment or having used up their savings and other resources. Several families have left West Main who were extraordinary in their giving. In previous years some have given generously in lump sums when selling property, making wills or responding to a budget need. Some, apparently, have put supporting their church in a lower category to other commitments. Some receive many blessings, but give nothing in return in terms of supporting our ministries or helping in the care of others.
Your shepherds are putting all options on the table to confront this crisis. We are considering the consolidation of property loans, selling the Kings Highway property at a basement price, mounting a funding campaign among the members, scaling back or eliminating ministry commitments, etc. The elders are soliciting any ideas to address the situation.
We can all start on a personal level in examining our commitments and our priorities. This could result in increasing one’s level and regularity of giving. This could result in moving one’s participation in the grace of giving to a much higher priority in one’s budget of expenditures. This could result in some members who have not given while on vacations making up the missed contributions. This could result in making one-time gifts to better the financial health of the congregation. All of us should make our giving a matter of prayer and spiritual priority.
In some cases, some members have failed to understand both the blessings of generous giving and the expectations of God to each member of the family. God has always expected His family to support His causes. In Old Testament times he enjoined a tithe (10% of all resources – crops, earnings, etc.), plus the appropriate, commanded sacrifices and gifts amounting to 30% of all income. God has not so specially legislated in the Christian era, but what would make us think that He would be pleased with less commitment of ourselves and our means?
The analogy of the living, fresh Sea of Galilee and the Dead Sea with its arid, deathly and salty contents is explained by the Sea of Galilee being a source of water to many and the Dead Sea has no outlet – it gives to no one. God has always blessed an unselfish giver. God has always blessed a robust life of sharing our resources by granting greater benefits than when we turn all of our resources inward to satisfy our felt needs.
Please, let us meet this crisis in our giving ... together. By each of us doing something more and regularly we can get through hard times without closing the door on blessing so many, both in caring for those who hurt and sharing the gospel to all.
Your Shepherds / West Main
BIBLE CLASSES FOR THE FALL QUARTER
Beginning on September 18, we will have three new adult Bible classes. Our Ladies class will meet in the Fireside Room and we will be studying the topic of “Bible Foods.” We will have an adult Bible study in the auditorium with Terry teaching on the book of “Revelation.” We will have an additional adult Bible study in the upstairs adult classroom studying on the topic of “The First Principles of Living a Christian Life.” Lance Lake and Brad Holm will be leading this class.
***Promotion Sunday for our children will be this Sunday, September 4, except for those moving up into the Junior and Senior High classes - they will move up on September 11.***
CHILDREN'S WORSHIP will begin on Sunday, September 11. We are always in need of volunteers. Please consider helping out during this special worship time for our children. *Snacks are also needed. Please remember to read labels, as we do not want any foods with peanuts or peanut butter in them, or that have been processed on shared equipment. Thanks for your help.
WEST MAIN BIBLE INSTITUTE will begin its classes on September 8, at 7:00 p.m. If you have any questions, contact Dan Beeks.
LIFE GROUPS
Life Groups will begin meeting on September 11. Please contact Brad Olson or Dan Beeks for more information. Please check out the Life Group nearest you or that interests you and be a part of making West Main a place where unity prevails and where the doctrine of Christ is living and shared. Please be sure to pick up one of the “Life in the Body at West Main” pamphlets for a full listing of all the Life Groups that will soon be starting.
LEADERSHIP PICNIC/RETREAT
A West Main Leadership Picnic and Retreat is planned for September 24 for the elders, deacons, ministers and their families. This is a time that has been set aside for the West Main leadership to get to know one another better, to dream and plan for the future of West Main and to build each other up through prayer and fellowship. The picnic will start at 11:00 a.m. at Cantrall-Buckley Park, Area A. There is a $4.00 entrance fee for each vehicle. There will be a sign-up sheet for side dishes, activities, etc. Please see Dan Beeks to sign up.
PRAYER REQUESTS
For Ferne Scott as she recovers from her neck injury and that she won’t need surgery ... For Vicki Pearman - for her healing and relief of pain and that the medication will not make her sick ... For the preschool here at the church as Michele Michael and her staff minister to the children that attend and that this work will glorify God ... For the grandfather of Connie Ivey who suffered a stroke and is paralyzed on his left side and also for his wife who is caring for him ... For the parents of Eris Murphy who have to live away from here ... For Connie Kennedy as she continues to heal from surgery ... For Reed Barlow who is recovering at home from back surgery and is doing well ... David Mayes asks prayers for Cora Sawyer to continue to grow in God’s word and that her situation will work out; for Dett’s general health to improve and for David to have the spirit of Barnabas ... For our President and all of our military men, women and families.
TUPPERWARE PARTY
This is a fundraiser for the youth group at West Main! Mark your calendars for Saturday, September 17, at noon in the Fireside Room. The theme is, “Pasta Party!” and lunch will be served! Call hosts Nanette Murphy or Colleen Abbott to RSVP so they can plan for lunch. Have fun, stock your kitchen and support our teens all in one place!
OUR TUESDAY MORNING Ladies Bible Class will begin Tuesday, September 13, with a potluck luncheon at 11:00 a.m. in the Fireside Room. All ladies are invited to attend. Classes will begin September 20, from 9:45-11:00 a.m. We will be studying the Gospel of John. If you have any questions, please call Barb Viera.
***James II: Our pantry is in desperate need of canned goods, spaghetti, spaghetti sauce, dry cereal, soups, mac and cheese mixes, canned vegetables, pork and beans, etc. If you can bring a can of food, it would be greatly appreciated.
Coffee Servers are needed for September.
July Financial Statement
Income:
General Fund Contributions $20596.37
Non-Budgeted Contributions 2564.86
Development Funds & Rents 1437.00
Interest/Other Income .10
Total Income for the Month $24598.33
Expenses:
Administration and Payroll $12994.19
Youth on Fire 1488.29
Vision Ministries -774.55
Office 990.04
Nurturing Brethren 609.00
Operational Ministries 1208.92
Worship and Facilities 1401.76
Non-Budgeted Mission 2779.35
Development & Kings Hwy 2748.76
Total Expenses: 23445.76
August Attendance:
1st Sunday 228 3rd Sunday 262
2nd Sunday 238 4th Sunday 210
September Greeters:
Larry Denn; Russell Gann; Josh Johnson; Dorothy Trimmer
Nursery Attendants: Sept. 4 & 25: Help Needed
Sept. 11 & 18: Kristy Moreno
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
Sept 4: Sunday evening services at the building at 6:00 p.m. Please join us if your Life Group hasn’t started yet.
Sept 8: Bible Institute Classes Begin
Sept 11: Life Groups Begin
Sept 30-Oct 2: Women’s Retreat- please contact Jessie Pannell for information and to turn in your reservation forms.
