Impact Northwest Student Conference is fast approaching and I am excited to be a part of the mix this year.  During this past week I spent time talking with Buddy Bell and Randy Harris about their part in our program.  Both of these guys are inspiring teachers who will encourage you to be strong as you “get your game on.”  We will also have “Unbound” a Christian Drama troupe from OC.  Once again Impact will be held at the King Oscar Motel on Hosmer.  The dates are March 9-11.  The registration fee is $25.00, and the registration form can be found below.

 

February 5^th – Praise Session in the Teen Room.

February 10^th – Rescue Mission

February 12^th – Teen Committee Meeting

February 24-25 – Ladies’ Enrichment Weekend – Teen Girls are welcome to be a part of this.  Pick up one of the info sheets that will tell you what you need to know and sign up as soon as possible.

March 3^rd - Snow Trip to Mt. Rainer (cost is $5.00)

March 9-11 - Impact Northwest Student Conference

 

One of the elements of Christian living that draws people as communicated in Matthew 11.

 “Come to me, all of you who are tired and have heavy loads, and I will give you rest. Accept my teachings and learn from me, because I am gentle and humble in spirit, and you will find rest for your lives. The teaching that I ask you to accept is easy; the load I give you to carry is light.”

~ Matthew 11:28-30, NCV

 It is a profound element because it seems there are few places in our world that offer peace, rest and perspective.  Most everything that our days consist of is demanding.  So demanding that in many cases, busyness creates health and emotional problems.  These words of Jesus break into the chaos and offer a place to rest.  Not a place of escape, but a place of rest, a place to recharge and a place to remember.  The place that Jesus calls us to is perhaps what inspired Tolkien to create Lothlorien, the fairest of the forested Elven Realms in Middle Earth.  To all, it was a land that provided a space 'out of time' for the people who both live and visit there.  For the Fellowship, it was a refuge and a place of safety.  When Frodo and his companions arrived, Galadriel welcomed and encouraged them.  When they were done talking, she said, "Go now, and rest, for you are weary with toil and much sorrow. Tonight you shall sleep in peace."  These words make me think of those of Jesus.  We often are weary with toil and much sorrow and it seems we can't go on.  But that is the reason Jesus calls us to Himself.  When we feel like we can't go on, we again turn to Jesus, lay our burdens down and take up his yoke…for His yoke is easy and His burden is light.  It is not so much a physical place, but a lifestyle.  To come to this place means to believe (Acts 16:31); to receive (John 1:12); to eat (John 6:35); to drink (John 7:37); to look (Isa. 45:22); to confess (1 Jn. 4:2); to hear (John 5:24, 25); to enter a door (John 10:9); to act (Acts 2:38); to touch the hem of His garment (Matt. 9:20, 21); and to accept the gift of eternal life through Christ our Lord (Rom. 6:23).  In short, it means to walk by faith.  To be able to face life and live life the way it was meant to be lived.  May we all find rest for our souls in the year that is upon us.  May the peace that fills our life be something that draws others to the Jesus that gives rest.

 

What do we hope to accomplish with acts of compassion? 

Some people have referred to these efforts as carrying out social justice or preaching a social gospel.  True followers of Christ think little about either of these.  The concept of social justice has been claimed by the political left as a way to take from the "haves and give it to the have nots."  The social gospel tends to ignore the spiritual needs of people.  Our actions are practice…learning how to love the way Jesus did.  Many aspects of society actually divide us by race, gender, status and abilities.  We don't have to go out of our way to judge those who are different.  But it is a challenge to create opportunities that bridge those gaps.  A video I will show during the sermon illustrates the principle of understanding the struggles that people face and determining to help where you can.  We can't do everything, but we can learn to do something.  The next opportunity to serve others that we are organizing is on November 25th, which is the day after Thanksgiving.  We will go to the Tacoma Rescue Mission to Sing and Serve…I am working on getting it arranged, but we hope to serve food, serve coffee, sing and hand out socks.  I always am grateful for those who help in this ministry effort and who are learning the love our neighbor as ourselves.  Pray that as we work at the rescue mission, we will be safe and that God will lead us to some people who are looking for Him.  Please donate socks or money to buy socks and plan to help on the 25th.  We will also be partnering with YWCA in caring for women and families stuck in the cycle of domestic violence.  We have "adopted" 20 families for which we will provide a Christmas meal, and gifts for the kids and mom.  (Thanks to all who have helped with the Thanksgiving Baskets).  The effort for the YWCA will begin on December 4th. 

When You're the Best of Friends...
It will take place on December 4th, beginning at 3:00 pm and ending at 7:00 pm.  There will be no LTC activities on this day, we will have Bible study, Games, and Encounters. A meal will be served at 5:00 pm, and we will participate in the evening devotional at Lakeview, which starts at 6:00.  Be sure to invite your friends to be a part of this.

 

 

 

Our time at the Rescue Mission of Friday, September, 30th was time well spent.  We handed out the Backpacks the Ladies Ministry put together, and served food and coffee.  It is always humbling to be told thank you for something I didn't really do.  I am impressed by the way the teens and adults carried on their ministry and the respect and dignity they communicated by their actions.  While we were there I was able to set up an opportunity to sing at the feed on October 14th.  I realize this is quick notice but I want to invite those who feel they have to gift of song and want to share, either teens or adults.  Talk to me sometime today if you want to help.  We plan to direct some of our efforts toward the Rescue Mission, and I hope we will be able to go on the second and fourth Fridays of each month.

Thanks to all those who made the Youth Ministry Committee Meeting a priority and participated in the Brainstorm Session.  A lot of good ideas were submitted and the concern for a strong youth ministry was expressed by all.  We also had an Idea Sharing time with the Teens on Wednesday and several good ideas were given there as well.  These are being compiled and will be sent to the homes and passed out in Bible Classes and you will be asked to prayerfully consider the activities that you would support.  We will begin to build our calendar and establish activities at our next Teen Committee Meeting on October 16th.

 

Thanks for those who have and still can contribute to the work we are going to be doing at the Tacoma Rescue Mission.  The idea is to see if, by showing and demonstrating the love of Christ, we can make a contact with individuals who might want to make some real changes in their lives.  Learning to serve the least of these enables us to look at one another differently, with love and compassion.  These are character traits that God can use to expand the borders of His Kingdom and Rule.  We will be going as a group on Friday, September 30th…meet at the building at 6:00 pm.  Usually done sometime between 8:00 pm & 9:00 pm.  We will then return to the building. 

Serving on October 8th…One of our sisters will be moving and she could use a little help.  If you want to help and are available, please let me know.  Helping those outside the Body of Christ shows how much "God so loved the world."  Helping those within the Body of Christ shows how much we need one another and demonstrates the Family element of the Kingdom.

 

Today's LTC quiz questions will be taken from Genesis 3-4. 

There are also several other LTC activities happening, as well as some involvement with the KidMin Bible Hour.