From the Pastors

Our friends at Desiring God have put together a helpful resource for us as we head into Holy Week. Eleven pastors/leaders have written morning and evening devotions for us from Palm Sunday through Easter to help us process what took place that historically pivotal week and what it means for us today. David Mathis, Executive Director of Desiring God writes this in his preface:

In our world, particularly southern Ohio, we find very little literal wilderness. We are not surrounded by land that is dry, deserted, lonely, or lacking life. As I sit by the window of my home and look out I see rain, green vegetation, blooming flowers, birds, and a steady stream of cars passing by that remind me that people are never far from me. But despite the realities of life in nature, and a population of people nearby, most of us walk through the wilderness at times.

Yesterday we witnessed a very signigicant event in the life of our country. As you all are aware of, at this point, the Supreme Court's ruling regarding gay marriage, and the re-defining of marriage, will have significant implications on not only our country, but us as a church family (and individual Christians). There are, of course, many resources for us to consider and process online. The question is, with all that is being written about this event, it's implications, and what our response should be, what should we read? Who should we listen to? Of course, we want to consider first and finally the biblical perspective on these things and so I have included a short list of links that will direct you to articles that will serve to enable you to interact with friends, relatives, neighbors, and co-workers in a winsome and theologically informed manner. I could not urge you more emphatically to read these and work to understand what is being communicated.

Holly Sands had a wonderful post on the United in Christ Jesus website on June 1. I thought it had such specific connection and application to the sermon this past week that I wanted to encourage everyone to read it.

David teaches us that being discouraged is part of the life of faith but he also teaches us what do in those times of discouragement.

This past Sunday Steve preached on the Ascension of Christ. The glorious truth about Jesus being in heaven as my representative before the Father made me want to weep. The enormity of what Jesus had done, and is still doing for me, is so overwhelming. It can be easy to hear a sermon and then go on as usual afterwards without letting the impact of the word affect our lives. James calls this being a hearer of the word and exhorts us to also be doers.

Increasingly, today, we hear misinterpretations (and misrepresentations) of a variety of portions of the Bible being taught. At least one result of this is that it is causing no small amount of confusion, misapplication, and even a distrust of the very word of God to us. It is imperative that we grow in knowing how to read, interpret, understand, and apply the Bible to our lives. "Interpreting the Bible" is a seminar designed to help us do just that.

Daylight Saving Time begins 2 am, tomorrow morning - Sunday, March 8. Remember, spring ahead 1 hour.

Due to very poor road conditions we have made the difficult decision to cancel or Sunday morning services. We do this very hesitantly but agree that is the best route to take this morning. Blessings on you and your family's on this Lord's day.

Biblical Resources to encourage you in the task of mothering.