July 3, 2013
TRUE PERFECTION IS ONLY FOUND IN GOD
Part Two
God never calls us to be perfect—but He does call us to be holy. Holiness is messy. Holiness calls us into situations where what matters is our obedience, not our success rate. God doesn’t judge us with a performance chart or a strategic review. He looks at hearts, looks for our obedience and takes delight in that.
n his book East of Eden, John Steinbeck writes: “Now that you don't have to be perfect, you can be good.” Being freed from the burden of perfectionism releases us to focus on being holy, on being obedient to God and doing His work. Rather than simply looking at the end result, we focus on the journey and transformation that takes place along the way.
Abandoning the quest for perfectionism also frees us from seeking and gaining our affirmation from the world. Perfectionism is not a standard set by God, and so is not a standard by which we should live. Recognizing this, and turning ourselves away from this, frees us to find our worth and acceptance in God alone.
We seek to please Him by offering Him a willing and contrite heart, ready to learn from our mistakes and delve into the messiness that is the realm of holiness. True perfection is only—and will always only be—found in God. While we are called to be like Jesus, we must acknowledge that we can never be perfect as He was perfect. Attempting to be perfect is a vain human striving to play God, to bring things under our control, to maintain a vestige of power that we should otherwise surrender.
Does any of this mean we should cease to work hard at what we do? Not for a minute. Does this mean we need to realign ourselves so we no longer spend our days slaving away for unnecessary perfection and instead look to please God? Absolutely.
James Dwyer
Relevant Magazine
WHY?
I’m sure everyone has asked “why?” concerning some circumstance in life. A lot of mental energy is spent trying to determine the source of particular events.
My dear mother fell and broke her hip on the day I was to go to Tulsa for a meeting. She was in such horrible pain. Surgery was scheduled for Saturday. I was ready to cancel my workshop in Tulsa, but she urged me to go on. I did go on, had a good meeting, and Mother is doing well.
But a lady in Tulsa asked me a pensive question. She said, “Why do you think this accident happened?” She was trying to attach some interpretation to the event. “Was it an act of Satan to keep me from going to Tulsa? Or was it an act of God to test my faithfulness?”
I told her that I thought it was neither of the above reasons, but simply that my mother tripped over a telephone cord.
I don’t believe the valid question for most of the events of life is “why?” I do know that Satan has tormented people, as he did Job. I also know that God tests people as Hebrews 12 tells us. We call natural disasters “acts of God” and thank Him for everything from pay raises to winning ball games. And we go on looking at events and asking “why?”
But the valid question is not “why?” but “what?” “What am I going to do with the event?” Romans 8:28 does not say that God causes all things, but that He can bring good from all things if they are committed to Him. If a tragedy comes, don’t wonder about “why” it happened, but think rather about “what” you’re going to do with the tragedy. Commit it to God and He can bring good, even from adverse situations.
Silas Shotwell
(From the Files)
In Remembrance of
EEthel Naomi Flock
She was a tall, slender, long-legged farm girl from Caldwell, Idaho. Dad first laid eyes on EEthel Naomi Dart at a church meeting between the Eastern Oregon and Western Idaho Churches of Christ. Dad never shared with the family how many times he found an excuse to sneak away from the Harper farm and find his way to Caldwell, but over the course of a few months, Ellwood and EEthel nurtured a love that would last almost 60 years.
Though quiet and unassuming, EEthel was so committed to Ellwood that when he suggested they marry before he was deployed overseas during WWII, she boarded eastbound trains, traveled 3000 miles over three days until she reached Fredericksburg, Virginia. There they were wed in a small ceremony among some casual military and church friends.
Over the years from 1947 to 1961 Ellwood and EEthel were blessed with five children: Marlene, Beth, Ron, Kathleen and Gerry. The grand total of five children was one short of the half dozen that Dad had planned way back in the early years.
Through several careers living in Harper, Ontario, Pendleton, Klamath Falls and eventually Medford, their lives reached a long fruition of care, respect, admiration, leadership and committed lives. EEthel would work tirelessly toward whatever was needed to take care of the home as well as bring some additional income to the household by working in various jobs such as secretarial work at Ore-Ida Foods and becoming a successful Avon Lady. However, she believed her first duty was to provide a welcoming and well-run household. Guests were frequent and they often took in boarders for periods of time to help those swirling in life’s challenges.
Perhaps EEthel’s proudest times were when she stood beside her husband as he served as an elder here at West Main. EEthel’s ministry was hospitality. She served in whatever capacity she could, whether it be visiting a friend in need or serving a delicious homemade meal. This usually included her delicious yeast rolls, cinnamon rolls, or her wonderful pies – as long as Dad was able to carve his own piece! Mom also taught Cradle Roll Bible classes, assisted with VBS and was always seen at Dad’s side.
Mom would proudly display pictures and talk about her 13 grandchildren and 25 great-grandchildren. She loved to share about their accomplishments and their faith in the Lord.
Mom displayed service to both her father and Dad’s parents by taking them into her home during their later stages of deteriorating health. Her own father lived in their home and received loving and faithful care until his death. This example lived before me, led September and I to the position that we ought to serve the same by providing a home and care for Mom.
EEthel Naomi Flock has been a military wife, farmer’s wife, elder’s wife, strong mother, strong servant, faithful partner and woman who has walked with the Lord most of her 89 years on this earth. She passed from this life peacefully on Friday, June 28, 2013 and her legacy proudly lives on!
– Gerry Flock
Southern Oregon Christian Camp begins this coming Sunday, July 7. Please be praying for all of our campers and staff throughout the week. Pray that our campers will be receptive to God’s word, that they will be safe and have FUN! Pray also for our camp staff as they minister to the campers throughout the week.
Thank You Note – Thank you to the Parker Family and the CIA for coming to do my yard work. I appreciate them and also my Christian family. May God give them extra blessings. Connie Kennedy
Calendar of Events
July 7-13: CAMP
July 14: Ice Cream Social and Camp Highlights (6:00 p.m.)
July 17: Wednesday Night BBQ at Lewis Park, CIA (5:30 p.m.)
July 28: Friendship Sunday
July 31: CIA
August 17: Redding Water Slides
August 21: Set Up for the Clothing and School Supplies Giveaway
August 24: Clothing and School Supplies Giveaway, CIA Carnival & BBQ
August 25: Emigrant Lake Encampment
