Friday Fives

1.Preaching Series - This Sunday we will conclude our preaching series based upon the hope we have as Christians and disciples of Jesus Christ. This series is based upon the writings of N.T. Wright and his book, Surprised by Hope. Over these last several weeks we have looked to the hope we have for this world, the Resurrection, Heaven, Jesus' second coming, salvation, and the Church. I hope you will come, open your mind to the power of the Holy Spirit, and hear what is laid upon your heart. Bring a friend and join us for time of worship, celebration, and hope. For the sermon schedule, please click here. I hope to see you all there!





2. New Lenten Study Series - We have began our study entitled The Way. This video series, by Adam Hamilton, will take us on a journey to the Holy Land as we explore the life and ministry of Jesus Christ from his baptism, to the temptations, to the heart of his ministry, including the people he loved, the parables he taught, the enemies he made, and the healing he brought. We will visit places like the Jordan River, the wilderness where Jesus was tempted, the ruins of Capernaum, the Sea of Galilee, and the city of Jerusalem. This study will help prepare you for Lent as we talk about the importance of spending time with God through prayer, the reading of Scripture, and a deeper understanding of our Messiah.

The class will last for four more weeks; March 6th, 13th, April 3rd and 10th. It will be offered twice a day at 10 A.M. and again at 7 P.M. in the Fellowship Hall and it is never too late to join. For more information and to register please click here.

3. Meal Packaging Event - We are booked and we have a date to package our meals with Stop Hunger Now. On Saturday, April 26th from 10 A.M. - 12:00 P.M. we will gather in the Fellowship Hall to package 13,876 meals. Thus far 52 people have volunteered for this event, so we still can still use 18-25 more people to volunteer and help us pull this off. If you would like to package food for this ministry please contact the church office to sign up, sign up at the Connection Station, or you can click here to sign up on the website. Debbie, the boys, and I were able to be a part of the Annual Conference Event last year that packaged food and it was a great time! I hope you will make plans to be a part of this very special and important ministry event. If you have any questions let us know.





4. Spaghetti Dinner - We are once again hosting a spaghetti dinner fundraiser for the church TONIGHT! It will consist of spaghetti with meatballs, salad, bread, dessert and beverage. This fundraiser will help us continue to care for our campus and fund the ministries of this congregation. Again, it is tonight from 4:30 to 7 P.M. in the Fellowship Hall. The cost is $7 for adults, $4 for children. To-go orders are also available. You can purchase tickets at the door. This is sure to be a great time of fun, fellowship, and food. I hope you all can make it!





5. Children's Home - On Saturday, March 15th, our District has been invited to the Annual Day Apart at the Florida United Methodist Children's Home. This is our opportunity to tour the campus, speak to the volunteers, and see how our financial and prayerful support is being utilized. The day will begin at 9am on-site and will conclude with lunch on the campus at noon. I highly encourage anyone who is interested to attend. If you would like to carpool, please contact the church office and let us know so we can coordinate it. Six people have signed up so far. For more information, please click here.





Have a great week and I will see you Sunday,

Midweek Moment

Yesterday I had the privilege and honor of giving the opening prayer for the PACE Center for Girls Annual Luncheon. It is a time where PACE gives thanks to past donors and supporters and they also use this time to promote their mission and vision.

During our time spent together we had the chance to hear from several of the students. They shared with such authenticity and genuineness. They did not alter their stories to make it easier for us; they shared some of the pain they have experienced in their young lives. But through that pain of the past, you could feel their great hope for the future. They were determined and focused to not let the past define them, but rather to make their future that much better. It was so moving and emotional to listen as these life stories were shared.

As I listened though, there was one constant: the PACE Center for Girls. Through the compassion, the attention, and strength of the staff, the administrators, and the volunteers, these lives have been changed. PACE has committed to walk into these difficult situations, stand alongside these young ladies, and see them through to the other side of their situation. They do more than offer an education, they do more than give these young ladies another set of rules to deal with, they give them hope. They breathe an air of possibility into what seems, for many, like an almost insurmountable set of circumstances. Even though they do not have the word “Church” at the end of their organizational name, they are living out the second greatest commandment, “And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” (Matthew 22:39).

The staff of PACE Center, the teachers, the administrators, and everyone involved is sharing love, the way God intended, with these young ladies. There is no judgment for past lives lived, just love, acceptance, grace, and hope offered for their future. All day yesterday, and I am sure for the foreseeable future, I will carry the emotions I experienced that day with me.

I tell you all of this so I may extend you an invitation. During your quiet time with God this week, please pray for PACE. Pray in whatever manner the Holy Spirit leads you; just pray. Then if you feel that God is asking more from you, listen. But any action needs to begin with prayer.

If you would like more information about the PACE Center for Girls, Marion County please click here.

Have a great week and I will see you Sunday!

Our Hope - SalvationI Corinthians 15:21-28 and Romans 8:18-25

As a side note, the microphone dropped out about three minutes in, so you may need to turn up your volume for about three minutes, till it picks back up again.

Bible Challenge 02/23 - 03/01

Greetings All!

This week we finish up Hebrews, and read through James, I and II Peter, I, II and III John, Jude and begin the first chapters of Revelation. Here is a bit of background information to help with your reading.

James - Most believe the author of this letter to be James the brother of Jesus. Many people wrestle with this letter because it appears to contradict Paul's stance on justification by faith alone. James emphasizes works, but not in the sense of justifying oneself before God; rather in the sense that works are evidence of a person's inward faith.

I and II Peter - Attributed by its title to the Apostle Peter, this letter and its counterpart II Peter are some of the latest writings to be included in the New Testament. The first letter is the only one scholars really attribute to Peter; probably written while Peter was the bishop of the church in Rome. In this letter addressed to believers dispersed through five different provinces in Asia Minor (Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia) is a word of encouragement to those undergoing religious persecution. The authorship of II Peter is largely in question and was probably not the Apostle Peter - because it quotes a later letter extensively (Jude). But the main purpose of this letter is to identify Jesus with God and to correct a growing heresy since Jesus had not yet returned.

I John, II John and III John - These letters are attributed to the disciple John who also wrote the Gospel of John and Revelation. The first two letters were probably written in Ephesus between 95-110 AD to counter the heresies that Jesus did not come in the flesh but only as a spirit. The first letter is a general one and lifts up how Christians are to discern true teachers: by their ethics, their proclamation of Jesus and by their love. The second letter is a private one written to "an elect lady" and much speculation exists as to who this person is. The final letter is another private one addressed to Gaius to commend a party of Christians who had gone on a mission to preach the Gospel, to encourage him and to warn him of a group of other believers who are not cooperating.

Jude - This book is often attributed to one of Jesus' brothers. This 25 verse letter was composed as an encyclical letter - not directed at any one church but rather intended to be circulated and read in all churches. Addressed to Christians in general it warns about the doctrine of certain errant teachers. Many examples of evildoers and warnings about their fates are given in some of the most strongly worded language in the New Testament. The letter concludes with a doxology (short hymn of praise) one of the highest in quality in the Bible.

Revelation - Also attributed to John the disciple and probably written during John's exile at Patmos, this book is the piece of apocalyptic literature in the New Testament, a genre that relies heavily on visions and symbolism (like Daniel in the Old Testament).

Here is the schedule:

23, Sunday: Hebrews 9-12

24, Monday: Hebrews 13 - James 3

25, Tuesday: James 4 - I Peter 2

26, Wednesday: I Peter 3 - II Peter 1

27, Thursday: II Peter 2 - I John 2

28, Friday: I John 3-5; II John; III John

01, Saturday: Jude; Revelation 1-3
  
May God add his richest blessings to the reading, the hearing and most importantly the living out of His Holy Word. Amen.

Friday Fives

1.Preaching Series - This Sunday we will continue our preaching series based upon the hope we have as Christians and disciples of Jesus Christ. This series is based upon the writings of N.T. Wright and his book, Surprised by Hope. Over these next several weeks we will look to the hope we have for this world, the Resurrection, Heaven, Jesus' second coming, salvation, and the Church. I hope you will come, open your mind to the power of the Holy Spirit, and hear what is laid upon your heart. Bring a friend and join us for time of worship, celebration, and hope. For the sermon schedule, please click here. I hope to see you all there!





2. New Lenten Study Series - Yesterday we began a new study entitled The Way. This video series, by Adam Hamilton, will take us on a journey to the Holy Land as we explore the life and ministry of Jesus Christ from his baptism, to the temptations, to the heart of his ministry, including the people he loved, the parables he taught, the enemies he made, and the healing he brought. We will visit places like the Jordan River, the wilderness where Jesus was tempted, the ruins of Capernaum, the Sea of Galilee, and the city of Jerusalem. This study will help prepare you for Lent as we talk about the importance of spending time with God through prayer, the reading of Scripture, and a deeper understanding of our Messiah.

The class will last for five more weeks; February 27th, March 6th, 13th, April 3rd and 10th. It will be offered twice a day at 10 A.M. and again at 7 P.M. in the Fellowship Hall and it is never too late to join. For more information and to register please click here.





3. Meal Packaging Event - We are booked and we have a date to package our meals with Stop Hunger Now. On Saturday, April 26th from 10 A.M. - 12:00 P.M. we will gather in the Fellowship Hall to package 13,876 meals. Thus far 40 people have volunteered for this event, so we still need 10-35 people to be willing to volunteer to pull this off. If you would like to package food for this ministry please contact the church office to sign up, sign up at the Connection Station, or you can click here to sign up on the website. Debbie, the boys, and I were able to be a part of the Annual Conference Event last year that packaged food and it was a great time! I hope you will make plans to be a part of this very special and important ministry event. If you have any questions let us know.





4. Spaghetti Dinner - We are once again hosting a spaghetti dinner fundraiser for the church this month. It will consist of spaghetti with meatballs, salad, bread, dessert and beverage. This fundraiser will help us continue to care for our campus and fund the ministries of this congregation. The date will be Friday, February 28th from 4:30 to 7 pm. The cost is $7 for adults, $4 for children. To-go orders are also available. You can purchase tickets in advance or at the door. This is sure to be a great time of fun, fellowship, and food. I hope you all can make it!





5. Children's Home - On Saturday, March 15th, our District has been invited to the Annual Day Apart at the Florida United Methodist Children's Home. This is our opportunity to tour the campus, speak to the volunteers, and see how our financial and prayerful support is being utilized. The day will begin at 9am on-site and will conclude with lunch on the campus at noon. I highly encourage anyone who is interested to attend. If you would like to carpool, please contact the church office and let us know so we can coordinate it. For more information, please click here.



Have a great week and I will see you Sunday,

Midweek Moment

I remember my first Sunday here at Druid Hills. I saw these bright colored, children’s beach pails coming down the aisle. I was not quite sure what they were for, but I remember them being called the “quarter buckets”.

I asked around and was told of how these buckets came to pass as well as their purpose. One of our former members had this great idea of how we might be able to support the United Methodist Children’s Home in Enterprise, FL. He felt that if we collected a little bit of money each week, then we would be able to give a significant gift each year. He was right!

The Florida United Methodist Children’s Home is a ministry of the Florida Conference. It is a place where children and their families can find refuge when they face very difficult life circumstances. Their vision statement speaks to this: To be a place where children are safe and loved; where youth are given the opportunity to be healthy, self-sufficient adults; where families become strong; and where every person is treated as a unique creation of God.

Therefore, each congregation is asked to prayerfully and financially support this ministry every year. In fact, we are given an annual goal for our gift to the Children’s Home. Last year we were asked to raise $2,484. Our gift for 2013 was $4,524.16, 182% of our goal! Our quarter buckets play a wonderful logistical role in our gift exceeding our goal so significantly. By focusing on our commitment to the Children’s Home each week, by passing those buckets and collecting money each week, we are able to surpass our goal each year.

Many people understand and endorse our support of this vital ministry. However, many people also do not know very much about this vital ministry. On Saturday, March 15th, you have the opportunity to change that. Our district has been invited to “A Day on Campus”. You will have the opportunity to tour the campus, see inside the homes where the children live, see them perform during a short program, and share a meal under the tent. This will be your chance to see up close what this program is all about.

Several years ago we took a group to tour the campus and it absolutely left an indelible mark on me. I spoke with house parents, with the children, and was so moved by the love of Christ that I felt flowing through that place. These children come to the Children’s Home for various reasons, but they are always given the chance to experience the love and grace of Christ in this place.

I want to encourage each of you to seriously consider taking advantage of this invitation. I am planning to go, as is the rest of my family. If you would like to go, please let the office know and we can work on arranging a car pool. The gates will open at 9 A.M. with campus tours, the program will begin at 11 A.M., and lunch will be served at 12 P.M. If you would like more information please click here. I hope you all will be able to attend.

Have a great week and I will see you Sunday!

Our Hope: Jesus' Second ComingI Thessalonians 5:1-8 and Acts 1:9-11

Bible Challenge 02/16 - 02/22

Greetings All!

This week we finish up I Thessalonians, and read through II Thessalonians as well as I and II Timothy, Titus, Philemon and a good chunk of the book of Hebrews.

II Thessalonians - Directed again at the church in Thessalonica, this book was written probably only months after I Thessalonians. Apparently there was some misunderstanding regarding the return of Christ and the second shorter letter appears to deal solely with correcting that understanding. 

I and II Timothy - Paul found Timothy during one of his visits to Lystra where Timothy is mentioned as a disciple. From the Scriptures it seems his mother and grandmother were Jews who had become believers; the only thing mentioned about his father was that he was Greek. Timothy becomes Paul's traveling companion going to Phyrgia, Galatia, Mysia, Troad, Philippi, Veria and Corinth. Eventually around 65AD, Paul installs Timothy as the bishop of the church at Ephesus, a post he would hold for at least the next fifteen years. Timothy was evenutally stoned to death when he took a stand against a pagan procession of idols, ceremonies and songs. The first letter from Paul to Timothy seems deals mainly with forms of worship, organization of the church, the responsibilities of the bishops and deacons and keeping faithful amid surrounding errors. The second letter seems to be more of a personal goodbye as Paul is nearing the end of his life.

Titus -  Titus is mentioned in Galatians as one of Paul's traveling companions to Jerusalem. He was then dispatched to Corinth and later went to Crete as the bishop there. This letter mainly deals with the requirements for bishops and elders in the church.

Philemon -  Philemon was a wealthy Christian and leader (possibly bishop) of the church in Colosse. This is the shortest of all Paul's letters and deals mainly with the topic of forgiveness.

Hebrews - The author of this letter is not known or identified although many associate it with Paul or suppose it to be written in his style by one of his followers. The book provides a unique look at Jesus as both exalted Son of God and high priest of the people. Most believe the title to be a reference to its original audience: Jewish Christians of the second century who are apparently being tempted to avoid severe persecution by "shrinking back" in their faith. It is a letter written with hope and perseverance in mind.

Here is the schedule:

16, Sunday: I Thessalonians 3 - II Thessalonians 1

17, Monday: II Thessalonians 2 - I Timothy 2

18, Tuesday: I Timothy 3-6

19, Wednesday: II Timothy 1-4

20, Thursday: Titus 1-3; Philemon

21, Friday: Hebrews 1-4

22, Saturday: Hebrews 5-8

May God add his richest blessings to the reading, the hearing and most importantly the living out of His Holy Word. Amen.

Friday Fives

1.Preaching Series - This Sunday, February 16th, we will continue our preaching series based upon the hope we have as Christians and disciples of Jesus Christ. This series is based upon the writings of N.T. Wright and his book, Surprised by Hope. Over these next several weeks we will look to the hope we have for this world, the Resurrection, Heaven, Jesus' second coming, salvation, and the Church. I hope you will come, open your mind to the power of the Holy Spirit, and hear what is laid upon your heart. Bring a friend and join us for time of worship, celebration, and hope. For the sermon schedule, please click here. I hope to see you all there!





2. New Lenten Study Series - Beginning next Thursday, February 20th, we will begin a new study entitled The Way. This video series, by Adam Hamilton, will take us on a journey to the Holy Land as we explore the life and ministry of Jesus Christ from his baptism, to the temptations, to the heart of his ministry, including the people he loved, the parables he taught, the enemies he made, and the healing he brought. We will visit places like the Jordan River, the wilderness where Jesus was tempted, the ruins of Capernaum, the Sea of Galilee, and the city of Jerusalem. This study will help prepare you for Lent as we talk about the importance of spending time with God through prayer, the reading of Scripture, and a deeper understanding of our Messiah.

The class will last for six weeks; February 20th, 27th, March 6th, 13th, April 3rd and 10th. It will be offered twice a day at 10 A.M. and again at 7 P.M. in the Fellowship Hall. For more information and to register please click here.




3. Meal Packaging Event - I have contacted Stop Hunger Now and we are looking at a late April time frame to package the meals we will purchase as a response to our Advent Conspiracy Campaign. We need 50-75 people to be willing to volunteer about two hours of their time on a Saturday morning to pull this off. Once we have enough people I will let them know and they can finalize our date and time. If you would like to package food for this ministry please contact the church office to sign up, sign up at the Connection Station, or you can click here to sign up on the website. Debbie, the boys, and I were able to be a part of the Annual Conference Event last year that packaged food and it was a great time! I hope you will make plans to be a part of this very special and important ministry event. If you have any questions let us know.





4. Spaghetti Dinner - We are once again hosting a spaghetti dinner fundraiser for the church this month. It will consist of spaghetti with meatballs, salad, bread, dessert and beverage. This fundraiser will help us continue to care for our campus and fund the ministries of this congregation. The date will be Friday, February 28th from 4:30 to 7 pm. The cost is $7 for adults, $4 for children. To-go orders are also available. You can purchase tickets in advance or at the door. This is sure to be a great time of fun, fellowship, and food. I hope you all can make it!





5. Children's Home - On Saturday, March 15th, our District has been invited to the Annual Day Apart at the Florida United Methodist Children's Home. This is our opportunity to tour the campus, speak to the volunteers, and see how our financial and prayerful support is being utilized. The day will begin at 9am on-site and will conclude with lunch on the campus at noon. I highly encourage anyone who is interested to attend. If you would like to carpool, please contact the church office and let us know so we can coordinate it. For more information, please click here.



Have a great week and I will see you Sunday,

Our Hope: HeavenEphesians 1:7-10 and I Corinthians 15:50-55

Bible Challenge 02/09 - 02/15

Greetings All.

This week we finish the final chapters of II Corinthians, read all the way through Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians and start into I Thessalonians. 

Galatians - The book of Galatians is thought to be Paul's earliest letter, corresponding with the events of Acts 11:30. Here he addresses a group of churches in a Roman province known as Galatia, now in modern-day Turkey. This letter mainly addresses the question of whether the Mosaic law is binding on Gentiles.

Ephesians - Here Paul is writing to the church in Ephesus (now Selcuk, Turkey) while he is imprisoned in Rome (about 62AD) to address the unity of the church between its many Jewish and Gentile believers. Ephesus was the second largest city in the Roman empire in Paul's day and home to one of the seven ancient wonders of the world (temple of Artemis). Paul started the church in Ephesus as recorded in Acts 18 and eventually he would send his young protege Timothy to serve as their pastor.One of my favorite passages is Paul's admonition in Ephesians 6 to put on the full armor of God.

Philippians -  Philippians has a different tone than many of Paul's letters - it is written about 62AD to the church in Philippi (now Filippoi, Greece) which was one of the first church's that Paul ever started. From the tone of his letter, Philippi is often called Paul's "sweetheart" church. One of the more popular verses in Scripture is found here: I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me" (Phil 4:13).

Colossians -   Colossians is directed to the church at Colosse (now Honaz, Turkey) and was probably written during Paul's first imprisonment in Rome. Apparently, the church had been incorporating pagan elements into their practice including the worship of elemental spirits and Paul's letter declares Christ's supremacy over the entire created universe and reminds the believers to live godly lives.

I Thessalonians - This book and its counterpart II Thessalonians are directed at the church of Thessalonica (which still exists today in Greece) and are written probably only months apart around 52AD. Paul only stayed with this church for a few weeks after beginning it and seems to be writing the first letter to encourage them in their faith and remind them of some important doctrines of the faith.

Here is the schedule:

09, Sunday: II Corinthians 8-11

10, Monday: II Corinthians 12 - Galatians 2

11, Tuesday: Galatians 3-6

12, Wednesday: Ephesians 1-4

13, Thursday: Ephesians 5 - Philippians 2

14, Friday: Philippians 3 - Colossians 2

15, Saturday: Colossians 3 - I Thessalonians 2

May God add his richest blessings to the reading, the hearing and most importantly the living out of His Holy Word. Amen.

Friday Fives

1.Preaching Series - This Sunday, February 9th, we will continue our preaching series based upon the hope we have as Christians and disciples of Jesus Christ. This series is based upon the writings of N.T. Wright and his book, Surprised by Hope. Over these next several weeks we will look to the hope we have for this world, the Resurrection, Heaven, Jesus' second coming, salvation, and the Church. I hope you will come, open your mind to the power of the Holy Spirit, and hear what is laid upon your heart. Bring a friend and join us for time of worship, celebration, and hope. For the sermon schedule, please click here. I hope to see you all there!





2. Meal Packaging Event - I have contacted Stop Hunger Now and we are looking at a late April time frame to package the meals we will purchase as a response to our Advent Conspiracy Campaign. We need 50-75 people to be willing to volunteer about two hours of their time on a Saturday morning to pull this off. Once we have enough people I will let them know and they can finalize our date and time. If you would like to package food for this ministry please contact the church office to sign up, or you can click here to sign up on the website. Debbie, the boys, and I were able to be a part of the Annual Conference Event last year that packed food and it was a great time! I hope you will make plans to be a part of this very special and important ministry event. If you have any questions let us know.





3. Spaghetti Dinner - We are hosting a spaghetti dinner fundraiser for the church this month. It will be consist of spaghetti with meatballs, salad, bread, dessert and beverage. This fundraiser will help us continue to care for our campus and fund the ministries of this congregation. The date will be, Friday, February 28th from 4:30 to 7 pm. The cost is $7 for adults, $4 for children. To-go orders are also available. You can purchase tickets in advance or at the door. This is sure to be a great time of fun, fellowship, and food. I hope you all can make it!




4. Children's Home - On Saturday, March 15th, our District has been invited to the Annual Day Apart at the Florida United Methodist Children's Home. This is our opportunity to tour the campus, speak to the volunteers, and see how our financial and prayerful support is being utilized. The day will begin at 9am and will conclude with lunch on the campus at noon. I highly encourage anyone who is interested to attend. If you would like to carpool, please contact the church office and let us know so we can coordinate it. For more information, please click here.






5. Scout Sunday - This Sunday we are observing Scout Sunday. We will have members from our Boy Scout Troop and Cub Scout Pack, as well as their leaders and families in worship with us this week. I encourage you come on out and show your support, through your attendance and a kind word to the boys and young men, as we celebrate how important they are to us.




Have a great week and I will see you Sunday!

Midweek Moment

Night. I like the night. The quiet of nothingness. The opportunity to clear all distractions out of the way so I can listen to that still small voice that belongs to God. However, for some people night is not something to look forward to; it is something they fear. It is a time of darkness, of loneliness, or of isolation.

But nights can also be something else. John of the Cross felt “nights” were those moments of “wounding, failure, or darkness...that helped you move from state to state in life.” While certainly not pleasant, night can be a time of significant growth in one’s faith. It can be in those times, when we do not have enough of ourselves to get us through, where we are forced to rely purely on the strength of God, that we can experience a deepening of our faith.

You see, I do not believe that God ever wants any of us to experience these dark nights. I do not believe that God ever wants any of God’s creation to endure a moment of sadness. God simply loves us too much! But God understands that is not realistic. Either due to our own decisions, or for reasons absolutely out of our control and influence, we will each have seasons of night in our lives. We will each experience night, some darker than others, at some point during our journey here. But what God does promise, is that if we allow it, we will not walk alone. God will endure each and every one of those nights with us, right by our side. But there is more! Not only will God walk with us, feeling each and every emotion that we feel, but God will redeem those dark nights. While God does not want us to endure those nights, God will bring some good from the experience.

When I was running from my call into the ministry, I spent ten years in retail management. For a long time, I viewed that time away from God as wasted time. I rarely went to church, I never read the Bible or any kind of devotionals. In fact, the only time I spoke to God was in the midst of despair or trial and it was just mired with pleas for help. I never gave God the time to speak to me…I just cried to God. However, as I have reflected on that season of night, I have learned many things. It was not wasted time, I learned techniques and tools that have benefited me in my ministry. From Best Buy back to God. (Maybe there is a sermon in there somewhere).

One of the things that draw me to God, daily, is that power of God’s redemption. We have talked about that redemption a bit in worship recently. God does not cause bad things to happen to us, but God will bring redemption through them. God will take those nights of our lives and bring good out of them. God does not cause them in order to bring good, but God will bring good nevertheless.

I have no special prayers or advice to give you to avoid those dark nights in your life, they will come. But I do have encouragement to offer you. Stay close to God, stay close to your church family and your small groups. Allow God to speak to you through them so that you may feel the reassurance of God’s never failing presence walking with you. And trust. Trust that God will never leave you, but will redeem you, each and every time.

Have a great week and I will see you Sunday,

Our Hope: ResurrectionMatthew 28:1-10 and Mark 16:1-8

Bible Challenge 02/02 - 02/08

Greetings All!

This week we finish the final chapters of Romans, read all the way through I Corinthians and partway through II Corinthians.

I Corinthians was written from Ephesus (16:8), a city on the west coast of today's Turkey, about 180 miles by sea from Corinth. According to Acts of the Apostles, Paul founded the church in Corinth (Acts 18:1-17), then spent approximately three years in Ephesus. The letter was written during this time in Ephesus, which is usually dated as being in the range of 53 to 57 AD. Corinth was the meeting point of many nationalities because the main current of the trade between Asia and western Europe passed through its harbors. Paul's first visit lasted nearly two years and his converts were mainly Greeks. In the first epistle, he mainly concentrates on addressing some divisions in the church, some problems with immorality and teaching about marriage, Christian liberty, worship and resurrection.

In between I and II Corinthians, Paul visited Corinth another time (a painful visit) and wrote at least one other letter that is now lost. It would seem that the situation in Corinth was still complicated and Paul felt attacked. He defends himself with some of his important teachings - forgiving others, God's new agreement that comes from the Spirit of the living God, the importance of being a person of Christ and giving generously to God's people in Jerusalem and finally ends with his own experience of how God changed his life.

Here is the schedule:

02, Sunday: Romans 12-15

03, Monday: Romans 16 - I Corinthians 3

04, Tuesday: I Corinthians 4-7

05, Wednesday: I Corinthians 8-11

06, Thursday: I Corinthians 12-15

07, Friday: I Corinthians 16 - II Corinthians 3

08, Saturday: II Corinthians 4-7

May God add his richest blessings to the reading, the hearing and most importantly the living out of His Holy Word. Amen.