Flight Report 1.16.2012
College Summer Missions. Sundays (12:45-1:15pm); in or near the Infant/Cry Room in the worship center. We're starting with prayer. Before we move forward, we're seeking God's direction for summer mission. Join us.
*Next Step Mission Assembly will be Jan 19. Hosted by the church mission team to describe other mission trips.
*If God is leading you to join your school's fellowship group on summer mission, let John Chow know so we may support you.
House-building in Mexico with Amor Ministries. Feb 17-20 (Fri-Mon) & Mar 24-27. Update: Each of the two trips will be capped at 20 participants, and both trips are open to collegians, young adults and adults. A delay in registering might leave you out. Register here:
Amor.2012.March (Registration ends March 11)
For a description of the trip, go here: AmorFAQs, or find fliers on the Flight Board. Build Homes. Bring Hope.
Center for Student Missions (CSM). Be part of this short-term mission and exploratory experience. Understand how our city needs God's grace. Fri-Sun, Mar 30-Apr 1. Stay tuned for details.
Passage. Sundays at 9:00am. H/Truth, 212-215.
Let's walk through that valley of shadow of death. Step One. Your beautiful, loving wife of 20 years dies as she gives birth to your child. You're "joyful" at the arrival of your son but the spouse whom you adore dies. Step Two. Your oldest son humiliates your authority by having sex with his step-mother, your "wife". Not only has he insulted your role as father but he's establishing himself as head of the household. You're belittled. Step Three. Your favorite son is attacked, killed and consumed by a wild animal after you send him off on an errand. Amongst all the rotten kids you have, the most upstanding is the one who dies. No chance for final words. No chance to see him. Guilt lays into you. Loss and grief consume you. Step Four. Your estranged father whom you haven't seen in 40+ years dies soon after you meet. The remorse you had through the years is never expressed directly to your dad.
When you have these experiences that leave you battered, bruised and hardly able to move, how do you view them? Just when you've "recovered" from one heartache, the next pain is waiting. Is it even possible to get up? How do you relate to God?
This was the life of Jacob for about 20 years. Hardship after pain. Heartbreak after grief. He admits that he lived "unpleasant" years (Gen 47:9), but at the end of his life, he still recognized God for His faithfulness: "The God who has been my shepherd all my life to this day; the angel who has redeemed me from all evil..."
To make it through these events and hardships, you have to trust the one in whom you've put your faith. It's trusting in God, who deeply loves you and cares for you. He says, "For I know the plans that I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans for welfare and not for calamity, to give you a future and hope." (Jeremiah 29:11).
Life's pains provide us the opportunity to be dynamically changed and shaped for the better, and to be drawn near to God. "Solutions" may not be short times of grieving or just favorable results but rather how we are changed in the duration of our pain. "We also exalt in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us." (Romans 5:3-5) In pain, our character has opportunity to be proven. In hardship, we receive the love of God as our hope is extended.
[This is a summary of Sunday's Passage: Gen 35:16-29, 37:1-36]
Car Break-ins. In the last few weeks, there have been car break-ins around Chinatown and in the church parking areas. Things have been taken. To avoid being a victim, do not leave valuables in your car or visibly in your car. If you suspect criminal activity in the neighborhood or in the parking lots, call for assistance.
*Next Step Mission Assembly will be Jan 19. Hosted by the church mission team to describe other mission trips.
*If God is leading you to join your school's fellowship group on summer mission, let John Chow know so we may support you.
House-building in Mexico with Amor Ministries. Feb 17-20 (Fri-Mon) & Mar 24-27. Update: Each of the two trips will be capped at 20 participants, and both trips are open to collegians, young adults and adults. A delay in registering might leave you out. Register here:Amor.2012.March (Registration ends March 11)
For a description of the trip, go here: AmorFAQs, or find fliers on the Flight Board. Build Homes. Bring Hope.
Center for Student Missions (CSM). Be part of this short-term mission and exploratory experience. Understand how our city needs God's grace. Fri-Sun, Mar 30-Apr 1. Stay tuned for details.
Passage. Sundays at 9:00am. H/Truth, 212-215.
Let's walk through that valley of shadow of death. Step One. Your beautiful, loving wife of 20 years dies as she gives birth to your child. You're "joyful" at the arrival of your son but the spouse whom you adore dies. Step Two. Your oldest son humiliates your authority by having sex with his step-mother, your "wife". Not only has he insulted your role as father but he's establishing himself as head of the household. You're belittled. Step Three. Your favorite son is attacked, killed and consumed by a wild animal after you send him off on an errand. Amongst all the rotten kids you have, the most upstanding is the one who dies. No chance for final words. No chance to see him. Guilt lays into you. Loss and grief consume you. Step Four. Your estranged father whom you haven't seen in 40+ years dies soon after you meet. The remorse you had through the years is never expressed directly to your dad.
When you have these experiences that leave you battered, bruised and hardly able to move, how do you view them? Just when you've "recovered" from one heartache, the next pain is waiting. Is it even possible to get up? How do you relate to God?
This was the life of Jacob for about 20 years. Hardship after pain. Heartbreak after grief. He admits that he lived "unpleasant" years (Gen 47:9), but at the end of his life, he still recognized God for His faithfulness: "The God who has been my shepherd all my life to this day; the angel who has redeemed me from all evil..."
To make it through these events and hardships, you have to trust the one in whom you've put your faith. It's trusting in God, who deeply loves you and cares for you. He says, "For I know the plans that I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans for welfare and not for calamity, to give you a future and hope." (Jeremiah 29:11).
Life's pains provide us the opportunity to be dynamically changed and shaped for the better, and to be drawn near to God. "Solutions" may not be short times of grieving or just favorable results but rather how we are changed in the duration of our pain. "We also exalt in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us." (Romans 5:3-5) In pain, our character has opportunity to be proven. In hardship, we receive the love of God as our hope is extended.
[This is a summary of Sunday's Passage: Gen 35:16-29, 37:1-36]
Car Break-ins. In the last few weeks, there have been car break-ins around Chinatown and in the church parking areas. Things have been taken. To avoid being a victim, do not leave valuables in your car or visibly in your car. If you suspect criminal activity in the neighborhood or in the parking lots, call for assistance.
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