Saturday, 21 February 2009
-
Catching up...
I wanted to update with a bunch of stuff that has been happening lately and then I'll try to stay on top of things. First, last week we had Friends Fellowship join us in our worship gathering. Friends Fellowship is a ministry for mentally handicapped adults. They learn and worship together and Sunday night they sang and lead worship for us. What a blessing it was. Many were familiar faces for those who been able to help out at GTI. We were so glad they joined us. Here are a few pics:
Today we also had a get together for our 3rd - 5th graders. We headed over to Wilderness Crossings for some bowling and we treated them to pizza as well. They really wanted me to ride the mechanical bull but that will have to wait until our adult bowling night (coming up on March 7th).
We've also had a great beginning to our Philippians study. We are just taking a couple verses at a time and really trying to capture all that we can. So far we have covered chapter 1, verses 1-6. Paul has greeted this church in Philippi. A holy people, saintly, called out to a unique way and mission. And as customary for Paul, he wishes grace to them from God the Father which leads to peace. Peace should always be the result of grace. And though we are called to be content and hopeful in the midst of chaos and struggle, the word peace is more than just being OK with the mess. Shalom, peace, is something working itself out in our world. The absence of pain, sorrow, war, disease, poverty...grace leads to a lessening of these thing. So, grace and peace to you as well.Last week we continued into his thanks for those in Philippi. As we have shared, Paul's relationship with the Philippian church is unique and close. Upon every remembrance of them, he thanks God and is always moved to pray with joy, a theme we will see more of. Why? Because they have been his partners in sharing the gospel. This word for partner is koinonia, or fellowship. So does Paul mean he is thankful because they always had the best potlucks? Or maybe they had an amazing Euchre club? No, partnership is a joint effort, a joint participation. Both are invested in one another and the task. They were in this together. And Paul says they've been in it with him from the beginning until now. This is not fading relationship. They are in it together through thick and through thin. I wish this could be said of all of us. That we start and continue. When it gets hard, which Paul will get to later, we stick it out. And Paul reminds them that God is faithful. What He started, He will finish. Ah, but the starting is so much more fun. It is exciting and new. But finishing is another thing. It is a God thing and Paul is confident, that despite the ups and downs, God is faithful. And we put our hope in that fact as well.
This week we will be looking at Philippians 1:7-8. Join us.
-
recommend
- recs 0
-
share
-
email
- sent 0
Post a Comment