Brother Nate

Hey Nate,

 This is your big brother. I am not good at saying goodbye. I don’t like saying goodbye especially when I am a long ways away. Until this moment, I never understood how hard it was to lose something until you have lost it. You are not supposed to die before me.

 I got the call at school to get to the hospital as soon as possible. When I heard you were not doing well, I broke down and cried in the hallway. My friends prayed for you.

I had the whole school of Moody praying for you.

 I am so glad that I was able to get here in time to see you before you passed away.

As I was thinking back I remember all the conversations we had about fishing, hunting, and of course sports.  You loved them all and I will miss those conversations.

One thing I can say for sure, you had a love for people.  You made everyone feel welcome.

When you did something, you put your whole heart into it.  You were passionate!

I really appreciate your awesome attitude through this difficult time.  You had a great attitude and a tenderness about you that I have never seen from you before. I am glad you are spending eternity in Heaven.

THE BROKEN CHAIN

Little did we know, that on Sept.22^nd,

God was going to call your name,

In life we loved you dearly,

in death we do the same.

It broke our hearts to lose you early,

but in God you have put your trust,

In times as difficult as these,

faith is a very must.

You have left us great memories,

How you were so kind,

And though we cannot see you anymore,

you will be always in our minds.

Our family chain is broken,

and nothing seems the same,

But as God calls us one by one,

the chain will link again.

Bye brother and I will miss you.

Joel Stutzman

Leadership Training and disciplining by Boyle and Toregeson

Christ spent 3 years with the disciples

They ate with him…walked with Him…served with Him…learned from Him

8 hours a day x five days a week x 52 weeks x 3 years = 6,240 hours of time with Christ.

What’s the average time a person spends at church?

Average 2 hours a week…maybe 3-4 at best-only 32 weeks year!

5 hours x 32= 260 hours per year

6240 divided by 260=24 years to duplicate the training!

The only way that ministers are trained today in the same time span is at seminary! (three year span)

Seeing the potential to fly is leadership development

What do we develop?

Being…Who am I supposed to be?

Knowing…What do I need to know?

Doing…What must I learn to do!

There is one more item that is often neglected!

Emotions…what must I learn to address?

·        Spiritual Formation

·        Character Development

·        Ministry Competency and skill Development

·        Theological Integration and Reflection

·        Ethics

Suffering

Christian believers are not immune from suffering. In fact, sometimes it seems that sincere Christian believers suffer more than others! God has promised us many things, but He has not promised us immunity from suffering in this life. "Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all." (Psalm 34:19). "Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution." (2 Timothy 3:12). Suffering will be a reality for us in one form or another until Jesus returns. The issue of suffering is a complex one, since there are many kinds of suffering, many possible reasons for each kind, and often many perplexing mysteries. Our faith in the goodness of God may be tested through sufferings, and our responses to suffering in this life have the potential to make us or break us.

How convenient it would be for us if God somehow guaranteed that we will never be severely tested in this life - that all will be sweetness, comfort and prosperity! It is a false teaching, sadly often found in charismatic circles, that says that if we are in covenant with God we will escape serious suffering - either by simply rebuking it in Jesus name or by calling upon God, our covenant partner, who will immediately come and rescue us. No, God will rescue us, but it may well be that deliverance will not come about quickly as we would like. God has his reasons for this, and the answers are generally not simple, nor can we always know them while we are suffering.

There is sweetness, comfort and prosperity in the gospel, but there are also fiery trials, afflictions, sufferings, persecutions and rejection. Paul knew what it was to be abased, and he also knew how to abound -  sometimes he had more than enough, other times he suffered need and hunger (Philippians 4:12). This was not because he lacked faith, but because he had faith. True faith takes us out of the comfort zone into areas where we enter into conflict with Satan's kingdom and must demonstrate both patience and faith in the face of delays and difficulties. The person who has it as his goal to enjoy an easy life here and now is not following after love, but is living selfishly. God calls us to combat with a real enemy. Yes, He has given us power to overcome, but not without a fight (see teaching on spiritual warfare).

Our Response to Suffering

When we suffer, our response is very important. We need to remember that God still loves us, and while there is life, there is hope.  Don't allow discouragement and bitterness against God to enter your heart. Learn from the experiences of the children of Israel. Also try to get as many as possible to pray for you and your situation. This will help, but you still need patience.

Praise God!

Do not yield to discouragement because of suffering. This is one of the greatest battles we will ever face - the battle to stay encouraged and joyful. PRAISE is a major key to making it through trials. If offered sincerely, in faith, to God, it will help you get out of troubles faster than anything, and you will get stronger and feel less pain in the whole process, because God dwells in the praises of His people. Just consider how quickly God delivered Paul and Silas from the jail in Philippi when they praised Him in the middle of the night (Acts 16) ! This is a good example for us. Here is where major spiritual battles are won or lost. Praise God instead of grumbling. It will make the world of difference.

Michael

IN THIS QUIET PLACE- MUSIC-

Ryan Thom Lyrics-Fred Pratt Green

Verse 1

Here Master in this quiet place

Where anyone may kneel

We also come to ask for grace

Believing you can heal

Chorus

If pain of body stress of mind

Destroys our inward peace

In prayer to you LORD

May we come and find our faith increased

And find our faith increased

Verse 2

If our flesh upon its sickness feeds

And turns our lives to gall

Let us not fret about our needs

But simply tell you all

Chorus 2

You never said you ask too much

To any troubled soul

We long to feel your healing touch

Will you please make us whole (repeat)

Verse 3

But if the thing we most desire

Is not the way of Thee

May our faith when tested in the fire

Prove its integrity

Chorus 3

We ask You LORD our Great High Priest

Make our faith fully grown

Lord disbelieve our unbelief

You’ve claimed us as your own (repeat)

We thank You LORD that by the cross

You’ve claimed us as your own (repeat