In this past week’s message in our Sunday series As We Gather, Rob Flood showed the importance of prayer in God’s gathered people as he surveyed Nehemiah 9.  To hear the full message, go to here.

 

Rob shared a very interesting quote from Tim Chester’s Biblical survey on prayer, The Message of Prayer, that highlights something that we all need to consider.

 

It is sometimes said that good private prayer is the foundation of good corporate prayer, but it may be more biblical to say that corporate prayer is the foundation of private prayer.  Our experience of God in Christ is corporate.  Western individualism has made the individual alone with God the centre of spirituality.  For the people of the Bible it is the relationship between God and his people that is central.  Personal prayer revolves around this common experience-not the other way around.  (Tim Chester, The Message of Prayer, p.153)

 

This is certainly not how I usually think of prayer.  To me prayer is a ‘me and God’ thing and praying with other people is kind of like a secondary option.  But my experience so often is that private prayer is fitful and distracted; yet when I come together to pray with my brothers and sisters my heart and eyes are lifted to God in faith to pray with boldness and fervency.  Rob gave some excellent examples of why corporate prayer is the fuel of private prayer.

 

When we pray with others, we hear things we never thought of praying for.  Perhaps we hear things that we’ve been praying for but thought we were the only ones praying.  There are even times when we’re moved at the passion someone has for a topic we’ve become indifferent to?  There is a unique grace that comes upon people when they are gathered with others in prayer.

 

Is there no wonder why folks in time of need throughout the Bible and throughout history gathered together in upper rooms and lowly catacombs, great cathedrals and flimsy tents?  They knew the need and the value of corporate prayer. 

 

Where are you gathering with God’s people in corporate prayer?  Have you ever attended a House of Prayer?  Or our pre-service prayer at the front of the auditorium.  If your personal prayer times are in need of vision, seek out others – pray with the church!

 

By Bill Patton

Funny, how old songs from long ago mysteriously gain buoyancy and arise from the depths of memory to break the surface of consciousness.  The songs surprise us when they show up.  Like a sunken buoy that somehow floats to the surface, the old songs bring up with them a tangle of memories of "back when" we used to enjoy that particular tune.  And they make us wonder what it was about the song that we liked so much. 

Back in the 70's we used to sing, "This is the day that the Lord has made, I will be glad and rejoice in it.”  Over and over again, we sang it, with clapping.  Well, that song suddenly showed up this morning, uninvited.  And it made me think.  Even though I came to sincerely dislike the song, why did I, and so many others, enjoy it as much as we did for a time?

Maybe it was because for us, growing up, church was not particularly joyful.  Church was sober, serious and somewhat on the somber side.  That particular chorus with its attendant clapping was refreshingly different.  Drawn from Psalm 118, the simple song seemed to make a single point.  Today has been created by God and that is reason enough to be happy and rejoice.  Yes, I remember now.  The joy of the Lord was an oft-sung theme during those heady, joyful, youthful years.

So I found myself this morning, praying in agreement with the old song's theme, "Yes.  Lord, let me rejoice today.  Let me rejoice in this day that you have made, if for no other reason than that you made it.  I am alive to enjoy it.  I seek your grace to be joyful while working, to be happily kind and merciful to others, to respond to difficulties which arise with buoyant faith, to exude the joy of the Lord to my family.  Lord I need your help today because my soul, left to itself, drifts away from your joy."

After praying I decide to glance at the text from which the song was drawn:  Psalm 118.  That Psalm is about the Lord hearing his people and becoming their salvation.  It’s about Jesus, the stone the builders rejected, who has become the chief cornerstone.  It’s about how all of this is the Lord's doing and how it is marvelous in our eyes.  The Psalm is about the Blessed One, the Savior, who comes in the name of the Lord.  It is about the steadfast love of the Lord in saving his people. 

I began to think that we probably didn't appreciate, at the time, how much that song was really about what Jesus did for us on the cross.  But then, suddenly, from out of nowhere, it happened again.  Another ancient tune broke the surface of consciousness and I found myself singing the 1969 Edwin Hawkins hit...just like I did when I was 17 years old...

O happy day, (O happy day), when Jesus washed...my sins away.

Is this what its like to be old?  If so, just let me not forget the things that matter most. 

By Rob Flood

 

So much of parenting is “now” work for “then” results; “now” sowing for “then” reaping; “now” investing for “then” dividends.  Yet we can so often be “now” people.  Wanting all of our results, reaping, and dividends “now.”

 

But that’s not how God has arranged our calling as parents.  We’re called to labor with grace, sow the seed, and invest in faith…leaving the outcome to Him.  Our “now” desires often run contrary to the life of faith and the task of patiently, joyfully, and trustingly parenting our children. 

 

While there could be many areas of our lives where we stumble into fear, the area of parenting is a big one.  And it’s a big one for many reasons.  We really do care how things turn out because we love our children.  We want them to be well-adjusted, well-educated, reasonably successful citizens.  We want them to love the Lord, serve in His church, and lead lives that honor Him.  These “results” matter, both now and for eternity.  It is good that we care.

 

Yet, there are a lot of reasons we care so much that are somewhat less honorable.  We realize the fact that children reflect on their parents and we want to be well thought of.  We want them to succeed so we can be perceived as good parents.  Mixed in with all of the selfless, loving reasons for our fears, we see a smattering of selfish reasons for our fears.  The good news is that the answer for both of these categories of fears is basically the same.

 

This past Sunday, I preached on the topic of prayer (here).  Praying through our parenting fears is essential to carrying out God’s plan for us as parents.

 

~It reminds us that He is the one conforming our children into His image…not us…and not our image.

~It reminds us that He alone has the power to change people…both in behavior and in heart.

~ It reminds us of our dependence upon Him.

~It provides a source of faith where we can cast our anxieties.

~It removes us from the center of our thoughts, (our desires and our goals) and replaces us with Him…His   desires and His goals.

~ It provides a review of God’s faithfulness thus far and faith for His faithfulness in the future.

 

And this is just the beginning of blessings available to us as moms and dads when we pray.

 

In fact, prayer in parenting is so important that praying with other parents is worth considering.  Gathering as parents, even if it’s just as moms or just as dads, and praying for your children (or for each other’s children) is a great way to share the burden of your fears with other brothers and sisters and go to God together for your families.

Above all, keep your eyes on the main character of your prayers.  It is easy, especially in the category of parenting, to make your children the main character in your prayers.  It is also easy to make yourself the main character.  But there is no faith to be had focusing on man.  Intentionally choose to make God the main character of your prayers (His character, His faithfulness, His plans, His power, His goodness) when you are praying through parenting fears.

 

By Ramona Doyle

Establishing a devotional habit…

If you are like me, it can sometimes feel like we live in Romans 7, “For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh.  For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out.  For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing.”  (Verses 19-20)  These verses provide all the more evidence that we need the Lord!  But, sadly, they can also describe the experience we have as we seek to set aside time to daily meet with him.

Though it can sometimes seem like our greatest daily challenge, establishing a fruitful devotional life is critical for the spiritual food and drink we need each day to live and walk in the hope of the Gospel.  You probably have many strategies that have helped you through the years …these are a few that have worked for me.

1.     Assume that God is for you: Don’t let condemnation over past failures keep you from meeting with him.  In Romans 8:1 Paul informs us, “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”  He fulfilled God’s righteous law and now dwells within us that we might walk not according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit, desiring the things of God.  And he promises help in our weakness (Romans 8:26)!

2.     Plan for success:  I find it helpful to develop habits that support my desire to have time with the Lord.  When I needed to supervise very young children, it worked better for me to get up before them in the morning—hence, an earlier bedtime at night.  In seasons of distraction, making a list of pressing needs before meeting with the Lord can help get them “off your mind” during your quiet time.  It also provides a wonderful list to guide your prayers to draw help from the Lord!

3.     Find a quiet place:  If everyone in your house has to walk through your chosen room on the way to the bathroom or kitchen, it’s probably not a great choice of locations.  Find a spot that will minimize interruptions and serve you as you seek to meet with the Lord…a basement room?  An unused guest room?

4.     Train your children to respect your time:  What a wonderful opportunity for your children to learn god-centered priorities as they see how important time with the Lord is to Mom.  Perhaps the children can practice piano, do their chores, or have a quiet play time while you steal away.  Explain the difference between an acceptable interruption and an unnecessary one and enlist their help to make your time successful!

5.     Have a plan B:  Life happens!  Days can be unpredictable.  If something interferes with your plans, try to grab the next available time…perhaps a nap time or during “daddy time” in the evening.  Even 10 minutes is better than no time at all!

Remember that the Lord is even more eager to meet with us than we with him.  We can count on his grace as we seek to establish a devotional habit!

By Andy Farmer

 

Jared has been on vacation so I’m guest blogging. 

 

A couple of weeks ago the pastoral team had the opportunity to gather at the Sovereign Grace Pastors College where we, along with dozens of other pastors from around the country, joined with this year’s class of PC students to study pastoral ministry.  Led by C. J. Mahaney, the class was not so much a seminar but a fellowship.  Men from around the country in various sizes of churches dialogued together on the call and responsibilities of shepherding the flock of God under the passionate biblical exposition of C. J. and other well tested pastors. 

 

One of the most soul-challenging and fear of God-stirring sessions was on dealing with criticism, an inevitable reality to all pastors.  But pastors aren’t the only ones who have to face this issue.  Everyone experiences criticism, just or unjust, at some point – from a spouse, child, parent, boss, co-worker, fellow Christian, neighbor – anyone one can turn a critical gaze and ungracious tongue in our direction.  C. J. shared two quotes in particular which I think can help us all when we face criticism.  Read the two quotes below in order.  Let David Powlison describe you in detail through his personal experience.  Then let Charles Spurgeon draw your eyes off yourself and onto the Savior who knows your sins better than any critic; and yet showers you with mercy and favor because of the Gospel. 

 

David Powlison: “…There was a time in my life where the heat—what I was facing—was a constant.  A man who was out to get me, a man who slandered me, who was trying to trash my reputation, and publishing all sorts of falsehoods about me.  And one effect was that wherever I would go and speak, it would be one of the inevitable questions—“What about what so and so said about you?”  It was just an onerous thing to have to deal with.  And the form of sin that came out was simply being preoccupied and brooding about it.  And I started to realize that when I woke up in the morning it wasn't wisdom who said hello to me, it was what was happening to me, and the fact that I didn't like it.  When I stand in the shower what am I thinking about?  I am constructing my own mental self-defense.  I am trying to defend my reputation in my mind.  I am calculating answers to give and what I should write to him and who I should get to help me and if somebody asks me a question what should I say to them.  And in that distractedness, that preoccupation, that brooding, that obsession with my own self-defense, sins of omission, I am not as attentive to my family.  I am not as attentive to students.  I am preoccupied with myself and the fact that this guy doesn't like me and he is out to get me.  Here is the heat: the slander, the continual questions being raised.  You see the thorns: preoccupation; sins of omission.  Not really difficult rocket science to figure out what is ruling my heart here, right?  It is my love of reputation.  It was my desire to be thought well of.  It was my desire to be treated fairly, my desire to be understood and not misunderstood and caricatured.  It was idealism, a romantic ideal of the unity of the Body.  This man was a professing Christian.  Why couldn't we all get along?  Why does this keep happening?...”  (Excerpted from 2007 Sovereign Grace Pastors Conference message)

Charles Spurgeon (on Psalm 37:5–9): “In the matter of personal reputation we may especially be content to be quiet, and leave our vindication with the Judge of all the earth.  Our strength is to sit still.  If we look to the Lord's honor, he will see to ours.  It is wonderful how, when faith learns to endure calumny (slander; defamation) with composure, the filth does not defile her.  Even in the worst cases, where a good name is for awhile darkened, Providence will send a clearing like the dawning light, which will increase until the man once censured is universally admired.  No shade of reproach will remain.  This requires much grace to carry it out.  To await in holy patience the time for clearing up the difficulties of Providence—this is what every gracious heart should aim at.  A silent tongue in many cases shows not only a wise head, but a holy heart.” (From the Treasury of David)

 

 

By Andy Farmer

One area of our Anniversary Museum that drew a lot of attention was our book table of Dave Harvey’s 25 Books That Built the Church.  A number of folks have asked if we could post the list and the descriptions from Dave about each book. 

The following is the list of books in no particular order, along with the descriptions of the books that were on the display table.  Please note that these are not the 25 books Dave would most recommend.  That’s another list.  These are just books that he felt played a significant role in our church over the years.  They say a lot about who we were, and about what we’re becoming.

Dave Harvey’s '25 Books That Built the Church'

 We asked Dave what 25 books have had the most significant impact on our church in its first 25 years.  An impossible question to answer.  One thing he reminded us of is that some books had significant impact on our church at a certain time in our history.  But they’re not books that would necessarily make it onto Dave’s ‘25 Books You Should Be Reading Now’ list.  That list will have to come out at a different time.

So this display represents books that have shaped us in as a church throughout our history.  Where possible we’ve tried to display the version of the book that was in print when it was having affect on who we were becoming as a church.

                                                                                   Clap Your Hands

by Larry Tomczak

Larry was very involved in helping this church get established and this book was a Christian best-seller at the time.  Many folks who would have come to the church in the early days would have either seen Larry speak at a conference or read this book about his life.

                                                                                      Knowing God

by J. I. Packer

Many say this will be one of the few books from our generation that will still be in print a hundred years from now.  Nothing says ‘all of life is doctrine’ better than Knowing God.  It formed a spiritual backbone in this church from the very outset.   

Money, Possessions and Eternity

by Randy Alcorn

Randy articulated and applied a New Testament view of life to the wallet, the retirement plan and the stuff we think we need.  He became a friend who counseled us in our building project and in our view of the mission of the local church.  His writing on social issues and works like Deadline and Heaven have continually reminded us that what we have here is not all there is to life.   

Trusting God

by Jerry Bridges

The church is a place where suffering people gather.  In our early days we found many folks coming from troubled church backgrounds – we called them ‘burnt stones’.  We needed a biblically sound and graciously written book on suffering and the sovereignty of God.  Jerry Bridges has delivered it because he has lived it.  We are indebted to him as an older brother in the Lord and as a friend to our church.   

Power Evangelism

by John Wimber

Wimber lived with evangelistic zeal and robust confidence in the dynamic role of the Holy Spirit in the spread of the Gospel.  To be influenced by Wimber is to live expectant that God will go before us to prepare hearts for the Gospel, and to be bold when the opportunity to share it occurs.    

The Holiness of God

by R. C. Sproul

This book ‘swept through’ our family of churches during the late 80’s spurred by a message C. J. did on Uzzah and the Ark of God.  This message and Sproul’s writing maybe did more than anything else to move us from a man-centered view of things to a God-centered view of life.  God is holy, we’re not.  That’s the point.   

The Body

by Charles Colson

In our early days we were casting around the evangelical world for some affirmation of the priority of the local church in the life of a believer.  This book helped us dialogue with other churches and ministries beyond our world and learn from them.

Temptation and Sin

by John Owen

To read Owen is to realize that our greatest enemy is not the devil, or the dude in the cubicle next to us.  It’s remaining sin in our hearts.  Coming from a charismatic theology and a therapeutic culture, we needed to hear that.  Fortunately there are ways to ramp up to Owen’s Puritan writing with books that could easily make this list, like The Discipline of Grace by Jerry Bridges and The Enemy Within by Kris Lundgaard.  But Owen is the real deal. 

The Peacemaker

by Ken Sande

Where there are people there’s conflict.  But conflict creates Gospel opportunities.  Unity in the church is not built through absence of conflict, but by pursuing the redemptive opportunities that come with conflict.  Ken Sande has served us with his writing and his personal counsel.  There’s still nothing like this book out there.

Spiritual Leadership

by J. Oswald Sanders

We’ve benefitted from a lot of great books on leadership over the years, but this one has been with us from the beginning.  Sanders takes us into the heart of New Testament leadership.  A must read for anyone considering the call to ministry but very helpful for anyone in any capacity of leadership in the church, the home, or in the world.

Desiring God

by John Piper

This book sets out Piper’s big themes.  God’s delight in Himself.  The need for strong affections rooted in biblical truth.   The joy and pleasure of obedience to Christ.  Finding true joy in the true joy of others.  Where would we be without these truths?   There may be no current pastor/theologian beyond our movement who has more affected us as a local church.

Surprised by the Power of the Spirit

by Jack Deere

The mid 90’s was a time when a lot of controversy was floating around about experiencing the dynamic activity of the Holy Spirit.  Jack Deere came along and brought biblical, theological and historical depth to our understanding of the power,  presence and work of the Holy Spirit in the lives of God’s people.

Systematic Theology

by Wayne Grudem

Grudem gets it.  The ‘big blue book’ sets out a thorough but readable systematic theology for the church.  Chapter 16 on God’s providence broke us.  And, thanks to the editorial work of Jeff Purswell, Dean of the Sovereign Grace Pastor’s College, we also have Bible Doctrine, which is not Grudem for dummies, its Grudem for folks who want to major on the majors. 

Experiencing God

by Henry Blackaby and Claude King

There was a time when ministry was all about finding and using your gifts.  This book exploded that by rooting ministry in throwing yourself into what God is doing and letting him give the gifts as He pleases.  That’s made a big difference in this church, beginning with the pastoral team.  

When People are Big and God is Small

by Ed Welch

This book redrew the map of our relationships for a lot of us when we read it.  There is not an area of life – marriage, family, ministry, friendship, outreach – that isn’t affected by the fear of man.  Ed helps not only identify this pervasive idolatry, but stirs a Gospel-centered fear of God in the fight against it.  This stuff will never get old. 

Religious Affections

by Jonathan Edwards

In the mid-90’s when the charismatic world was talking about how God would ‘offend the mind to get to the heart’, C. J. sent us to Edwards and the Great Awakening to learn some important lessons on what authentic experience of God’s power should look like.  This was a guiding light in chaotic times.  But it is a book for all times.

The Cross of Christ

by John Stott

I could fill this list with books on the cross but this one can’t be topped.  We learned that to be Gospel centered meant that we needed to move the Cross to the center of everything.  That’s what Stott does in a magisterial way.  C. J. recommends reading one book on the cross a year.  Make sure this one is on your list.

The Doctrine of Repentance

by Thomas Watson

Watson is one of the easier Puritan’s to read, and this little book speaks volumes about the heart and life change that occurs when true repentance takes place.  We thought we were pretty humble till we read this. 

The Cross Centered Life

by C.J. Mahaney

This book put what it means to ‘keep the main thing the main thing’ into words that folks can understand and apply.  C. J. put a whole lot of important biblical truth in a great small package.  All of C. J.’s inestimable influence on this church has had the goal and effect of putting the cross at the center of everything we do. 

Recovering Biblical Manhood and Womanhood

by John Piper and Wayne Grudem

How we understand the roles of men and women in God’s design is not a small issue.  It ultimately defines what kind of people, and church, we become.  The gender debate rages all around us, and this book (recently updated) still speaks with biblical clarity and force that cannot be denied. 

Shepherding a Child’s Heart

by Ted Tripp

In our early years we placed a lot of emphasis on the parent’s leadership and the goal of raising happy and obedient children.  Ted Tripp brought the Gospel into the center of parenting responsibility through this book and a seminar he did with us in the early 90’s.  This fits with his brother Paul’s book Age of Opportunity, which applies the same Gospel centered view to parenting teens.  I thank God for these books and these friends - as a pastor and as a dad. 

War of Words

by Paul Tripp

Paul is a dear friend and older brother to this church and his influence through writing and teaching can’t be overstated.  This book has rebooted a lot of mouths for the good – including my own.  God has spared us from the disease of gossip and slander that has plagued many churches, and I know this book has been preventative medicine. 

Spurgeon vs. Hyper-Calvinism

by Iain Murray

I had to have something Spurgeon in here and this might seem like an odd choice.  But as we’ve sought to understand and articulate what it means to be ‘essentially Reformed’, Spurgeon’s commitment to Gospel and Bible over any strict adherence to a theological system is worth following.  This book was read by the pastors and folks in leadership training, but would be valuable to anyone who wants to know how to humbly stand for truth.  Gotta throw in Beside Still Waters, The Power of Prayer in a Believer’s Life and Dallimore’s Spurgeon – A New Biography here as well.

The Valley of Vision

edited by Arthur Bennett

What a treasure!  A collection of Puritan prayers that exalt the Savior and survey the soul.  I’m one of many who always keeps this on my devotional table.  We’re displaying the old ugly paperback version that we were first turned onto, but Banner of Truth gets props for the small leather edition – unexpectedly brilliant marketing.

Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life

by Donald Whitney

I had to include a spiritual disciplines book and this one is the best out there.  Whitney makes both the ‘spiritual’ and the ‘discipline’ aspects of our devotion to Christ come together better than any book I’ve read.  And you should take it a step further and read his Spiritual Disciplines in the Church.

 

By Andy Farmer

We’re in the thick of the baseball post season, with visions of another World Series coming ever closer.  Today’s an off day for the Phils.  So to change things up this week in Take Five I thought I’d pass on a short video clip that I saw on the Kowalker.com blog.  You don’t have to be a baseball geek to get this.

http://kowalker.com/2009/10/01/the-call-of-the-baseball-year/

By Andy Farmer

Dwayne Bennett, who does a wonderful job (with his wife Toni) overseeing our Children’s Ministry, sent the following email to Mark Prater with their observations about some of our kids. 

This 8th Grade class has been very responsive to God's moving in their lives both at Youth Camp and at the Cross Culture meetings.  When Toni and I were discussing the 8th Grade response at Youth Camp she made the observation that this is the first class that has had God's Story in Promise Kingdom from Preschool through 6th Grade.  I don't want to take credit from God for their response to the Gospel...  I just want to point out that God may have chosen to use God's Story in their lives in the last 9 years of Sunday morning Children's Ministry.
 
While this group of kids were in the 6th Grade Promise Kingdom class, a few of the Teachers mentioned to me that this group had well thought out questions and rather mature answers to questions posed to the class.  Again, I don't want to try to take away from what God is doing in the lives of this class by pointing out that God's Story may have played a significant part.
 
Thanks,
Dwayne

Dwayne is right on when he cautions against seeing any particular program or leadership approach as capable of producing true spiritual fruit.  But God uses means to accomplish his purposes, and the God’s Story curriculum was developed as a means to show the riches of God’s grace in the Gospel as displayed throughout the entirety of God’s word.  God’s Story is a practical application for our kids of Paul’s words to the Colossians,

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.  (Col. 3:16)

So we can just as rightly give thanks to God for the curriculum (and it’s author, Marty Machowski), for the teachers and helpers who make it come alive each week for the kids, and for the parents who draw God’s Story into their families through the devotionals and in everyday conversation.  When Gospel centered resources are put in play, we should expect spiritual fruit over time. 

If you aren’t familiar with God’s Story and how it can serve your family, check it out on our web site HERE.

By Ramona Doyle

Most of us would never think of baking a cake without a recipe. Nor would our husbands tackle a major building project without a blueprint. Yet we are often comfortable with a haphazard approach to the most important area of our lives—our daily walk with the Lord.  Without the right motivation and a plan in place, our devotional times can easily fall victim to the daily stuff of our lives...a busy day, a late night, an unexpected interruption.

Scripture tells us we are like jars of clay—frail and weak. Let’s face it, we are a needy bunch; but that is not a bad thing. God intentionally made us this way in order to show us our need of him (2 Corinthians 4:7). We simply don’t have what we need in ourselves to live in the hope of the gospel each day. We need grace daily. We need strength daily. We need the gospel daily. And that is why we need a daily quiet time.

I find that how I think about my daily devotions is an important factor in my faithfulness to them. When I think of my quiet time as something I need to “get done with,” it takes its place among the other items on my to-do list that need to be checked off. I may get to it, I may not. When I don’t, it can become like a monkey on my back…I know I should “do it” but my guilt can make it harder for me to make the time.  I find it more helpful to think of my daily devotions not as an end in themselves, but as a means to cultivate a vital relationship with my Savior—a tool that the Lord has provided to draw me closer to him. When I think about it this way, my devotions become the greatest privilege and biggest opportunity of my day. And it’s much easier to make time for something I view this way.

Think about what changes in daily communion with the Lord: We experience God’s power in our daily need and are transformed as we behold his glory. We see the Lord’s loving heart behind his commandments and find all we need for life and godliness. We experience freedom from the power of sin and learn to rest in Christ’s righteousness. We grow in affection for fellow Christians and passion for the church for which Christ died.

We grow in love for others and develop a heart for the lost. We cultivate humility and obedience borne of love. We are liberated form self-love as our sin is exposed and dealt with. We gain perspective in trials and grow in prayer. We learn to walk in the good works God has prepared and to daily die to ourselves. We experience genuine hope and true joy. We grow in gratefulness and yearn for His glory.

Our focus shifts from God’s gifts to the Giver of those gifts. And we become bold for the sake of the gospel. This is a win-win proposition.

God has promised to draw near to us as we draw near to him (James 4:8), so let’s make time to meet with him.  Next week, I’ll offer some practical steps to get a devotional time up and running.  

 

By Jared Mellinger

“Doxological Evangelism” is Edmund Clowney’s phrase for what you and I do every week when we gather for corporate worship and exalt the name of Christ through our singing.  One of the aspects of evangelism that we can sometimes forget is the gospel-telling we do every Sunday morning in our public worship.  As we “sing to the Lord” together (Psalm 96:1), we “tell of his salvation” (v. 2) “among the nations” and “among all the peoples” (v. 3) through our singing.  It is doxological evangelism.  

Psalm 96 (Joseph’s sermon text from yesterday) is not the only passage on this theme.  The psalms frequently command us to engage in evangelistic worship.  We are repeatedly commanded to sing and praise God in the presence of unbelievers.  “Oh give thanks to the LORD; call upon his name; make known his deeds among the peoples!  Sing to him, sing praises to him; tell of all his wondrous works!”  (Psalm 105:1-2)  Singing praises to God is an important means of making his gospel known to those in darkness. 

This certainly doesn’t mean that this is the only gospel-telling we do!  Nor is this a case for ‘seeker-driven’ worship.  The main thing we are doing when we gather is not evangelizing the lost, but praising God and edifying the saints.  Yet when we do this, in our normal Sunday gathering, God intends our public praise to have a powerful influence on those who do not know him. 

John Dickson is right when he says “The Bible accords a significant place to the normal gathering of God’s people as a means of declaring God’s truth to the world.” (Promoting the Gospel, 128)

Sometimes we can think that our exuberant and expressive praises will have a negative influence on those who don’t know Christ, or that our singing and hand-raising is guaranteed to weird people out.  But more often than not, the opposite is true.  And I think this is the way God intends it.  

J.I. Packer writes, “The robust and exuberant praises uttered by God’s people, as they celebrate their certainties in Christ, has great drawing power for individuals who are spiritually adrift.  …Wherever the word is preached in an enlivening way, and everyone sings the praises of God from the heart, individuals will come in from outside and be affected by God, thus fulfilling within a Christian frame the psalmist’s anticipation of Israel’s magnetic outreach.” (Prayer, 113)

Bryan Chapell, in his new book on congregational worship, says the same thing.  “God’s people must recognize that their evident joy and peace in a dark world are a light to the lost.  Worship designed to enable God’s people to rejoice in God’s goodness will also, of necessity, attract those who need to learn to rejoice and rest in him – and we cannot neglect them.  Healthy worship is one of the church’s most effective evangelism tools; thus, we cannot forget the unbeliever even as we focus on enabling believers rightly to honor their God.”  (Christ-Centered Worship, 132)

Healthy public worship is one of Covenant Fellowship’s most effective evangelism tools.  It is one of the essential ways we carry out our mission to “proclaim” the gospel of Jesus Christ.  So next week, and every Sunday, remember that your singing is a powerful articulation and presentation of the gospel to those who do not know it.  And then lift your voice in exuberant, heart-felt, joyful ‘doxological evangelism’, singing the praises of God for all to hear. 

By Andy Farmer

Here’s one more look at some of the highlights of our 25th Anniversary Celebration. 

By Andy Farmer

This week we’re looking back on our 25th Anniversary Celebration.  The next two days will be reflections through pictures.  Today we’re going to remember our anniversary museum from construction through its brief but lively existence.

By Rob Flood

Several years ago, I was sitting at a table with Gina’s extended family following the death of a family member.  For hours…literally…they told stories about the loved one who had passed.  These stories happened long before I came on the scene…in places I had never been…and with people I had never met.  But something wonderful happened that night.  I fell in love with those people and relived their memories with them.  Though I was relatively new…I belonged there…and it was simply wonderful.

We have not just had a funeral, but a celebration of 25 years as a church.  However, when you look at this past week through the eyes of people relatively new, there are many similarities in what I experienced back then.

This past week, Gina and I heard stories from places we had never been…about events that occurred long before we arrived on the scene…and some were about people we had never met.  You know what happened…we fell deeper in love with Covenant Fellowship Church this week as we relived your memories with you.  Though we are relatively new…we belong here…and it is simply wonderful.

Yet, there is one glorious difference worth pointing out.  Many of the people from the stories so long ago are still here today.  We know you…we already loved you…and now we feel as though we know you more.  We tasted just a bit of what has made you the men and women of God you are.  The people who influenced you…the trials that shaped you…the sacrifices you made.

If our “new” eyes can serve you in any way, perhaps this is the best way.  Would you give us the privilege of pointing out something you may not know?  Thanks.

Your experience at Covenant Fellowship Church is an uncommon one.  Not uncommon from others at Covenant Fellowship Church, but uncommon in the broader experience of church that many have.  Following the celebration Saturday night, Gina and I mused over where we’ve been.  We’ve been to churches…too many churches…that have all loved Jesus and all been faithful to preach a pure gospel.  These have been good churches…but nothing like Covenant Fellowship Church.

There is an aroma here that is unlike anywhere else we’ve been.  It’s not the carpet or the HVAC system.  And, to be totally honest, it’s not even you…the people.  It is the aroma of Christ IN you.  It is the aroma of the Holy Spirit, who is free to roam where He may and do as He pleases in this church.  We’re convinced, in spite of the shortcomings of the pastors, that the aroma is just a sniff of the aroma of heaven.  There, the saints will gather, in unity, to glory in the Lamb who was slain.  To magnify the name of Jesus.  And to experience the goodness of godly fellowship.

We know a bit more about where Covenant Fellowship Church has been and what has made you who we are as a church.  We are also aware that there is much we don’t know.  We’ve just tasted snippets of the faithfulness of God to this place. 

But, this much we know…GOD HAS BEEN FAITHFUL.  We stood there Saturday night bouncing our eyes between the videos and you.  We bounced our eyes between the bands and you.  With the utmost honesty…our greatest joy in the museum and Saturday night was not in the artifacts or the videos or the music.  It was in watching you: your conversations, your faces, your tears and your laughter. 

Do you know what we saw when we looked at you this week?  We saw worship.  We saw gratitude.  We saw a people who know they are small but serve a God they know to be great.  We love the people of this church because we love the God we see manifest in the people of this church.

Happy Anniversary, Covenant Fellowship Church.  We are humbled to be counted among you.

By Cindy Campbell

I have been reflecting a lot lately about our 25th anniversary. Twenty five years is a long time – about one half of my life and nearly the entire lives of our adult children, which really do not know any other church experience. In many ways, the twenty five years have flown by.  In others, well you know how it goes, they passed slowly. As I have looked back and remembered the past twenty five years, there has been a lot that has transpired in our lives, in the world around us and in the church.

Twenty five years ago, our family moved here from Gaithersburg not because we were in love with Philadelphia, but because of the vision that the Lord had placed in our hearts. Our lives had been radically changed by the truth of the gospel through living our lives in a New Testament church called Gathering of Believers.  That church is now called Covenant Life Church. We belonged to a small group, served in the church, shared our lives with others and were learning to be God-directed parents to our small children.

It was hard to leave our church family and, to be honest, there were times during that first year or so that returning to our friendships and former church looked very appealing.  However, there was truth in our hearts about how the Lord had changed us, and we felt compelled to live and share it with those He would add here in the suburbs of Philadelphia.

It was a lot of work at the beginning with only 14 adults and our children. When there were meetings that needed to happen, chairs to be set up, children to be cared for, meals to be made, people to care for - it was all of us. In those first days, I distinctly remember that when Bill Patton dismissed everyone to “Children’s Ministry,” over half the room got up to leave. We met together to pray for the people the Lord was adding, we talked about how to reach out and share the truth of the gospel with those we were meeting in our neighborhoods and in our daily lives, and we began to share our lives over meals together.  “Love Feast, any one?” or perhaps spaghetti at the Redrup’s?

There are so many memories from those early years as the Lord quickly added people to the church. I think all of the original church planters would agree that no one was more surprised at the growth of Covenant Fellowship Church of Philadelphia than we were. We realized that we were not special or unique in what we were doing, but the Lord was blessing and using our efforts. He was the one who breathed life and truth into those early days. Did we make mistakes? You bet we did! But did we grow, change and learn to laugh at ourselves more? You bet we did! The one thing that remained the same during those early years and to this day was the unending and unchanging faithfulness of our great God. We experienced, lived, and witnessed the truth that He never changes and that all that He does is for our good and His glory.

Looking back, there have been many people added to our church family. Some have stayed for a short season and then moved on.  Many others are still around today. We have shared in the life of the church together, gotten married, added children, experienced the passing of time and some have gone home to be with the Lord. We all look a bit older, but hopefully we have been changed over these past twenty five years.  By God’s grace, we have just a little more wisdom from our life experiences and trials. Many of our children are grown now, some are married and have begun families of their own, but we are so grateful that this next generation has begun to step up and take ownership of this church; the baton is being passed. I see my own older children serving in the church, in love with the Savior and passionate about building their lives for the Lord. It doesn’t get better than that!

Twenty five years of His faithfulness is something to celebrate together. In the blink of an eye, we will be celebrating 30, 35, 40, 45 and 50 years together. We can count on the fact that God’s faithfulness will never change and, as we have seen, experienced, and celebrated, His grace and mercy will be what we can celebrate together on each and every anniversary to come.

You have always been faithful
And You will always be good
You’ll never let us go, We’ll never be alone
You have always been faithful

By Jared Mellinger

In preparing to celebrate our 25th Anniversary as a church, I came across an article by Alex Chediak on the theme of passing the gospel from one generation to the next.  The title of Chediak’s short article is “Don’t Retire; We Need You.”  It is a plea to the generation that has gone before us to not “retire” from the next generation but instead take full advantage of “the unique opportunity to reap eternal dividends by investing in younger Christians.” 

As I read the article, I couldn’t help but think of those who have labored long and hard at Covenant Fellowship – the generation that has gone before me.  I often thank God for these people because their labors over the years have made Covenant Fellowship the church it is today. 

It could perhaps be tempting for those of you who have labored for two decades to think that now you get to relax on the sidelines while the next generation does all the heavy lifting.  But the reality is that you are more needed now than ever. 

Listen to Chediak’s plea:
 
“Perhaps your children are out of the home or you’re at a place financially where you can afford to work less. As one a generation behind you, looking to your example and guidance, I entreat you: Give yourself structure so that hours aren’t frittered away in passive consumption of television. Fight the cynicism that often accompanies the loss of physical or mental acuity. Make war with the temptation to spend time entirely in a familiar, comfortable circle of same-aged peers.”
 
Why?  Because the next generation needs you.  We are looking to you for your example and guidance.  There is a unique opportunity for you to pursue and invest in those who are younger.
   
Chediak continues:

“Maybe you’re thinking this makes sense for pastors — after all, this stuff is in their job description. But you don’t have to be a gifted communicator to care deeply for those around you. Pray by name for the younger generations of Christians in your church, and let them know you are doing so. Authentic love is hard to hide, no matter how poorly you think you communicate.”

In other words, everyone has a part to play in transferring the gospel and preserving the gospel in the next generation.  “One generation shall commend your works to another, and shall declare your mighty acts” (Psalm 145:4).

I couldn’t agree more with Alex Chediak: Don’t retire from the next generation.  We need you. 

By Trish Donohue

Last night I walked through the museum and tried to take in the amazing displays of God’s faithfulness throughout our history.  What an incredible job the coordinators did in setting it up!  From all over the room I heard reminiscing about old Christmas plays, T-shirts, invitations, ministries, and many shrieks of horror at what we were wearing in the photos! 

The pictures of the Gauntlett Center showed it like it was—a medium-sized, not-so-clean, not-so-attractive room.  We all know of the legendary roaches and duct tape, and everyone can remember the 120 degree weird-smelling bathrooms.  But someone was commenting about how proud they were of it then, and I felt the same way.  I loved that place, and was delighted to lead family and guests past the dumpsters and into the doors of what I knew was the best place on earth.

So why the rose-colored glasses?  For many of us, this was the first church where we really met with God, where we pursued not just biblical knowledge, but God’s presence as well.  It was new and amazing to us.  We were young, didn’t know what we were doing, and cried out to him in desperation.  We expected him to answer and he did, faithfully and powerfully.  That’s why no petty inconveniences could deter us.

As I enjoyed my moment of nostalgia, I considered our beautiful building, clean bathrooms, roach-free corners, and air-conditioning.  Does God radically meet people who aren’t sweating and are sitting in comfy chairs?  Is he as passionate for his church when they are a little older, a little wiser, a little richer?

I’m so happy that no environment of blessing or challenge will affect God’s outpouring of grace on his church.  I’m so glad that he still waits for the cry of his people and sends his Spirit to encourage and strengthen and guide.  He still wants to meet with us! He still makes his Word come alive to us! He still wants to take our breath away with his glory and holiness and power.  He is still quick to come to our aid when we are desperate for him!

The “radical” experiences we remember in those earlier days weren’t tied to a place, or a time, or a season; they were tied to God, who is the same yesterday, today, and forever.  The question is, “Do I still walk into church expecting and yearning to meet with him?”  May it be so for all of us, in ever-increasing measure. 

As the deer pants for streams of water,
       so my soul pants for you, O God.
My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.
       When can I go and meet with God?    -Ps 42

By Rob Flood

 

When you think of a man’s man, what comes to mind?  Swagger?  Confidence?  Independence?  When a man’s man falls down, is he the type that can pick himself up by his bootstraps and get back on his horse?

 

There are several problems with this kind of man’s man.  First, most of us don’t wear boots, so there are no straps to pull ourselves up by.  Second, most of us don’t have horses, so there’s nothing to get back on.

 

But there’s another problem…one that hits a bit closer to home: this is not how the Scriptures define manhood.  If Christ himself is an example of godly manhood, we don’t see swagger or self-centered confidence or independence.  In fact, we see something altogether different.  We see traditional manhood turned on its head.

 

Christ was humble.  Philippians 2 lays this out for us in unmistakable detail.  God became man…need I say more?  But we all know that, too.  We’re taught well enough to know that we ought to be pursuing humility.  Yet, there’s something about humility that can feel quite unmanly. 

 

No, not the disclosure of our sin.  Everyone knows we sin…so that’s safe enough. 

 

No, not even keeping quiet about our achievements and drawing attention away from ourselves.  That makes enough sense to work its way into our lives.

 

The part of humility that can sometimes feel unmanly is the “needing others” part.  In our culture, as we understand manhood, individuality and independence are necessary ingredients.  And so, concepts like fellowship and structures like Community Groups don’t look all that appetizing.

 

But here are some hard but obvious truths.  Committing to swagger, confidence and independence, in actuality, keeps us much like boys.  Far from signs of manhood, these fleshly and worldly commitments keep us from manhood.  The don’t mark a man…they prevent one.

 

Real men…godly men…are men of community.  They are men of deep and meaningful relationships.  They are transparent men.  They are faithful men.  They are humble men.  They are men that have in them the same mind as was in Christ. 

 

They are men who sacrifice.  Men who serve.  They are men who are desperate for grace, committed to the savior, and needy each day for a fresh filling of the Spirit of God.  They are men who think little of themselves and much of their God.  They are real men…they are godly men.

 

So, will you join me in a group confession session.  Ready…repeat after me:

 

I am full of pride and love myself.  Behind my swagger is a man of fear. Behind my confidence is a man of doubt.  Behind my independence is a lonely man.  Yet my savior has died to rescue men like me.  He has lived the life of the perfect man.  And he invites me to follow him on the path of humility.  Even more so, he is committed to giving the power and wisdom I need to walk that path.  Father, forgive me for my pride…and thank you for your son.

 

So, when you think of a man’s man, what comes to mind?  When we’re willing to turn manhood on its head, we’ll find what a true man…what a godly man…really is.

By Rob Flood

I don’t want to be a perennial skeptic, but you’ll excuse me if I don’t leap for joy when I read a headline like “The Secret to a Happy, Healthy Marriage” from a news agency.  Yet, there it was.  An international news agency reporting on a report from the UK that has discovered the secret to our marital concerns and woes.

Right now, you may be hoping that the report has finally validated that one main area of change you’ve been for.  You know, the one you want to happen…in your spouse?  Or, you may be filled with fear that the secret…THE secret…is the one area you don’t want to change at all.

Could it be communication?  How about intimacy?  Maybe it’s a balanced diet or drinking filtered water?  What has this study in the UK found to be the secret to a happy, healthy marriage?

You guessed it:  separate beds.

Here’s what they say:

If you’ve ever wondered what the secret is to a long, happy and healthy marriage – the answer may be as simple as having separate beds, one sleep expert claims.

Not only will a couple escape arguments over blanket-hogging and non-stop tossing and turning — but they will have a proper night's rest and be healthier for it, Dr. Neil Stanley, the consultant who set up sleep laboratories at U.K.'s Surrey University, said.

"Poor sleep is bad for your physical, mental and emotional health," he said. "It increases the risk of stroke, heart disease and divorce."

Now, I’m all for a good night sleep.  I even encourage it.  But sheer common sense says that the solution to a happy, healthy marriage can’t be the same as the answer for a head cold.  And if common sense isn’t enough, perhaps the weight of Scripture might sway the dear doctor:

~ Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. (Philippians 2:3-4)

~ However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband. (Ephesians 5:33)

~ What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. (James 4:1-2)

Perhaps there are other redemptive behaviors that would help in addition to a good night sleep.  Activities such as praying together, confession, praying for each other, living before others, gathering together with God’s people in worship.

I’ve met many well-rested couples whose marriage was in a shambles.  But, a couple who is willing to do these things will surely be healthy, if not always happy.

So, in humility, might I suggest an alternative “secret” to a happy, healthy marriage?  By all means, get sleep.  But for a happy and healthy marriage, embrace the gospel and serve the God who gives us this good news.  And if the nighttime movement disturbs you, rather than two twins, consider a queen or a king bed.

By Trish Donohue

Well, it’s our day again, ladies, and I hope you’re reading this over a relaxed cup of coffee…but I’m guessing that’s not the case!  This morning, I thought I’d throw a lifeline out to you girls who read this blog occasionally and think, “Who are these people!  Here I am just trying to get the kids off to school and myself to work on time and they’re talking about family nights and modesty and all this biblical femininity stuff.  Where have these women come from?”

Great question.  I’m aware that when you’re new to the church, it’s easy to lump the pastors’ and leaders’ wives into one broad flat category (I know ‘cuz I did it). You can assume these ladies were baking cookies at 6, hoping to find and follow a husband by 17, and certainly only ever experiencing mini-muffin sized temptations.

Actually, I would love for that to be the case, but this sinner has had the overflowing casserole-sized temptations and, instead of quickly embracing God’s amazing design for men and women, I had quite a battle on my hands.

I had invested most of my mental stock into the world’s value system which said that powerful people who other people serve were on top of the ladder, and people who did the serving were on the bottom.  There were a few rungs in between, but I aimed to stay closer to the top than the bottom.  Words like submission and helper were getting dangerously close to the mat on the floor. 

But the intelligent, fun-loving, thoughtful women I met at church immediately began to mess up my nicely organized ladder.  These encouraging wives, loving moms, and selfless single women were really living out what the Bible taught—and were thriving!    I was scornful, curious, and impressed, in that order. 

Through many painful and helpful conversations, hours of study and soul-searching, and still surprising grace, my value ladder flipped.  I saw the wisdom of God in His design for men and women, and came to love it.  I’m not helping, encouraging, and laying my life down like I should, but those words are now beautiful to me.  They reflect Christ Himself, and I long for more of them in my life.     

Maybe, like me, you’ve come in these doors a little suspicious (What is with these women?) but also a little intrigued.  Hang around.  Not because the church is perfect, but because God is, and His plan is a wonderful one. 

By Jared Mellinger

Some of my favorite memories over the past few years are the times I have been able to spend together with the men on the Pastoral Team and their wives.  And all of the men on the team agree that it is far more enjoyable for us to be together in the company of all of our wives than it is to be left to ourselves! 

This last Thursday all of the men on the pastoral team, along with our wives, enjoyed a one-day retreat.  These are my closest friends in the world, and I still can’t believe that I get to work with them and serve the church alongside them. 

We are a very happy group of pastors (and wives), and I want you to know that this is because of the people in Covenant Fellowship Church.  It is a pure joy to lead and to be a part of this church.  One constant refrain I hear from men on the team is “Can you believe we get to do this?  Can you believe we have these jobs?”  We feel like you have made us the most blessed men in the world.  Our joy is explained by the quality of the people we lead. 

At the retreat, I did a teaching from Isaiah 40 called “Words of Comfort: Experiencing the Consolation of the Gospel,” and a teaching on the importance and priority of our partnership with Sovereign Grace Ministries.  The teaching on Isaiah 40 will probably be a 4 part sermon series in early 2010.  

In addition to the teaching, here are a few of the enjoyable things we did on Thursday:
  
1.  Joseph leading us in worship.  It is always good for us to sing together, and to be able to have the best worship leader I know leading us in worship is a great blessing.  

2.  Reflecting together on the 25th Anniversary.  Andy took some time to tell us about the 25th Anniversary Museum, and Marty shared about a recent trip to the Gauntlet Center (our old meeting place).  Others pitched in with memories of their own.  What a rich history we share together. 

3.  Hearing an update from Dave.  Dave shared about some of the things going on in his world in Sovereign Grace.  We asked him to tell us about his time at the recent Peacemaker Conference, where he was a main speaker, and to give us an update on the book he has been writing on ambition.  He also had plenty of stories to tell us about other travels.  Which makes me think – just having Dave and Kimm there with us was a highlight of the day! 
 
4.  Rob Flood singing for us.  Rob has a great voice, and we have had him sing in the past for our entertainment and enjoyment.  This time, I requested something 1) romantic, that communicates our affection for our wives, and 2) something with a lot of “wow”, that really amazes us all with his talent.  So Rob stood up and sang a Josh Groban song for us, and did a great job.

5.  Giving a few gifts.  I gave each couple a few gifts, among which were two books that I have enjoyed and benefited from: “The All-Sufficient God” by Martyn Lloyd-Jones is drawn from his sermon series on Isaiah 40, and “Following the Shepherd” is a book by Peter Jeffery on Psalm 23.  Giving away books is always fun. 

6.  Meals together.  Great fellowship happens over meals, so we always try to do lots of eating on our retreats.  These times of casual fellowship and laughter together are some of my favorite moments with the team.   

Thank you once again for bringing us so much joy!  We are humbled and grateful to be serving the Savior with you. 

By David Mayinja

What is the difference between orphan relief and orphan care?  In the answer to this question lies the heart of Covenant Mercies.

Orphan relief programs do good and worthwhile work.  They care for the physical needs of orphans: food, clothing, shelter, and medical care.  The goal behind them is to provide “relief” from their destitute circumstances.

So, what is an orphan “care” program?  Well, it can’t be legitimate care if the physical needs of the orphans are ignored, so the program must include that.  However, it can’t be legitimate care if all we do is care for their physical needs. 

With Covenant Mercies, we seek to provide both physical and spiritual care.  Essentially, we build all we do around the message of the gospel.  And God has given us His hand in blessing this priority.

The pastors of the local churches we have partnered with are ensuring that these children are exposed to the Gospel and are reminded of their need of the Saving Grace of God. As these pastors have faithfully ministered God’s Word to these little ones, some of them have been moved by the Holy Spirit to submit to the Lordship of our Savior Jesus.

I recently received the testimony of one of the children that gave her life to Christ after a sermon preached by Pastor Moses Nkwasibwe who manages our program in Western Uganda (Kiburara). Below is a summary of her testimony:

My name is Atuheire Evarini. I’m 15 years old, and enrolled in my first year of high school. I’m currently cared for by an uncle and live in his household. According to my uncle, I grew up without my parents. My father died of HIV/AIDS when I was one year old. Later my mother disappeared and left me on my own. I was taken in by my stepmother (my father’s second wife) who mistreated me.  When my uncle realized that I would not survive the harsh treatment and hardships I was faced with, he came and took me to his home. When I moved to my uncle’s home, I started attending services at Kiburara Gospel Center. When Pastor Moses Nkwasibwe realized that I was an orphan, he enrolled me in the orphan sponsorship program. What a joyful day it was when he let me know that I had a sponsor to help me get a high school education!  Pastor Moses has diligently cared for all the children in the program. He has constantly told us about Jesus’ love for us and why He died on the cross. One day after hearing him preach, I gave my life to Christ. Life has been hard for me, but now with my life in Christ, I’m confident about my future. I’m sure that my dream to become a registered nurse will be fulfilled. I am so grateful to Christ, my Pastor, Covenant Mercies staff, Sponsors and friends who are making my life meaningful. I, who had no smile, can now smile all the time. All glory be to God!

What a joy to know that the children we are helping are experiencing God’s grace at work in their lives…both physically and spiritually. Let’s pray that many may be moved, like Atuheire, to give their lives to the Lord even as they encounter His love among those that are serving them so faithfully day after day.


                                 

By Andy Farmer

This coming week we celebrate the 25th anniversary of Covenant Fellowship Church.  To get us primed for the event I thought it would be good to take us back 25 years to October 1984 and look at what was happening that month.  Here are some random factoids that may or may not get you in the mindset for our next week.  Remember, there’s still time to get the mullet going.

Big News:  Prime Minister Indira Gandhi was assassinated on October 31, 1984.  An attempted assassination of British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher by an IRA bomb fails.  Kathryn Sullivan becomes the first woman to do a spacewalk on a mission aboard the Space Shuttle Challenger.  For the first time the massive famine in Ethiopia is reported.  Americans are in the final weeks of the presidential race between Ronald Reagan and Walter Mondale (In case you don’t remember, Reagan won).

Economy:  The Dow Jones average for October 1984 is 1,207.  A gallon of gas is $1.10.  Movie tickets average $2.50.  The average mortgage rate for single family homes is 12.53%

Sports:  The Detroit Tigers defeat the San Diego Padres in the World Series.  The Phillies finished the season in third place in the division.  The team included Steve Carlton, Jerry Koosman, Tug McGraw, Mike Schmidt, Gary Maddox and Juan Samuel.  It probably didn’t help that they also had Steve Jeltz, Sixto Lezcano and the overrated Von Hayes.  The Eagles were in the midst of a 6-9-1 season under Marion Campbell.  They finished last in the division.

Other Stuff:  Stevie Wonder’s “I Just Called to Say I Love You” was number one for 3 weeks in October 1984.  Prince’s “Purple Rain” was the top album during the month.  Ghostbusters was the highest grossing movie and Dynasty was the top rated TV show. 

And to the best of my knowledge, George Orwell’s apocalyptic vision in his book 1984 didn’t come to pass.

Happy Anniversary!