Check out this video by John Piper, where he addresses the believer’s response to the current economic downturn. It has a very similar feel to our current “Adopted!” message series, and I trust will be an encouragement to your soul!
Archive for the 'By Aaron' Category Page 3 of 5
One of CNN’s lead stories today was “Heading to Church for Money Advice“, an article about a growing number of churches offering Financial Peace University and other money management courses and workshops.
Curious about how they covered the news? Click the CNN logo for the story.
Curious about the affect the Financial Peace course is having here? Ask someone in your community group what they are learning and seeking to apply. Want to share your own experience? Let us know how God is using it in your life or marriage!
Friday night the pastors delivered on their promise to fix dinner for their wives following their defeat in the gingerbread house competition.
We gathered at the Emerson home and the guys set about their tasks while the ladies enjoyed some fellowship together.
Our assignments were as follows:
- Gene provided hot and cold drinks and grilled the chicken.
- Doug marinaded the chicken and prepared the sea salt rubbed baked potatoes (some roughly the size of footballs)
- Steve prepared the rolls
- Matthew made oven broiled asparagus
- Ken…I’m not sure what Ken did, but he tried to give the appearance of looking busy
- Aaron made a chocolate cheesecake
- Sadly,
the Brewers were unable to join us in order to tend to sick children, but James did bring by a fruit tray that served as our appetizer…
Though we aren’t available for large events - due to the risk of being sued by a large number of people - we would be willing to consider smaller venues for the right price (and a signed waiver.)
On second thought, your best bet would be to just let us know if you want any recipes…
The pastors took Steve out to Buffalo Wild Wings for his last official day in the office last Friday. We each enjoyed spending time with and honoring our friend. Here are a few of the less significant highlights:
- While most of the guys satisfied their thirst with the usual waters, cokes, and diets, our Senior Pastor ventured onto the wild side with the pinkest drink available, “wild” lemonade.
- By Steve’s request, Matthew was required to eat a couple of wings before pulling the multi-multi-grain bread sandwich he brought out of his pocket. (He did try saying that he liked the parmesan garlic wings, but none of us believed him.)
- Aaron was declared winner of the “cleanest bones” award. He left the marrow intact but not much else. (Picture withheld in the name of taste, and the benefit of those preferring to keep their appetites.)
OK, so a cross in the yard doesn’t make us any more of a church than we have been for the last 20 years without one, (after all the church is people, a body, a family - not a building or a meeting), but hopefully it will serve to identify our peculiar building as a church’s building more readily and help partially answer the question, “So exactly what kind of church are you?” to those driving onto our property.
“It’s Not Fair!” by Wayne Mack
A couple weeks ago during fellowship group the guys were seeking to serve me in identifying some of what was gripping my heart related to a struggle I was having. One particular questions addressed how I saw the issue of fairness related to this issue. Following that discussion I came across this book by Wayne Mack. I was familiar with a couple of his other books including “Strengthening Your Marriage” which we have sometimes used in our pre-marital counseling and thought this one might prove helpful as well.
“It’s Not Fair!” examines that statement and the types of circumstances that often surround it, in light of several attributes of God’s character including His omniscience (all-knowing), wisdom, love, justice, and omnipotence (all-powerful nature). I found my self enlightened and convicted as I read the first couple of chapters and realized that I had been trying to separate the human agents from God’s activity. That left me unable to further justify my “frustration” with the situation while thinking that I was not grumbling and complaining against God.
By the next time our fellowship group met I was able to share some of the things God was showing me through the book as well as the difference those truths were making in my thinking and living. I’m so grateful for faithful friends to walk through the struggles of life, and for helpful, practical books like this one that point us to Scripture and seeing our circumstances in light of who God is.
OK, so it’s officially Valentine’s Season (the retail market makes that very clear).
I’d love to hear from some of the ladies on how your guy has done it right. Tell me about a time when your man got high marks in the romance department (it doesn’t need to be from Valentines and it doesn’t need to be from this year) and I’ll try to post a few stories that might particularly honor some of the guys (and give the rest of us some helpful ideas!)
Simply submit a comment to this post and I’ll try to publish as many of them as I can between now and the 14th.
I’m thrilled to be able to pass along the following info about a sale Sovereign Grace Ministries is having during the month of February at the online store.
From February 1–28, at the Sovereign Grace store, you’ll find these prices:
* 23 books (including Worship Matters, Worldliness, and Living the Cross Centered Life): $7 each
* all CDs produced by Sovereign Grace Music (including Together for the Gospel Live, Psalms, Come Weary Saints, and Valley of Vision): $6 each
* all books in our Pursuit of Godliness series (Why Small Groups, This Great Salvation, and others): $4 each
But wait…there’s more!
During February, we’re offering our normal free shipping in the continental US (library rate). But on all international orders we’re offering a discount of 50% on USPS First Class International shipping.
Why do we do this? Because we want to do whatever we can to make it easier for people to benefit from what we produce. We want to serve churches and individuals by providing biblically informed, gospel-centered resources at a low cost. We’d like to give it all away, but for now, that’s not financially feasible…
So we offer the February sale. Enjoy.
Wednesday evening Ken mentioned the online resources available on Dave’s website. If you haven’t yet had the opportunity to check them out, go here to log in. If you missed Wednesday’s class or lost your log in code, your group leader will be able to remind you…
We would greatly appreciate your prayers for our time with KingsWay’s Community Group Leaders and their wives this Friday evening and Saturday. These fine couples are an essential part of our life together as a church and the front line extension of our pastoral care for you.
Friday evening our only goal is to thank and honor them for their tireless efforts to serve our church family - what a joy and privilege it will be to do that! Saturday we’ll spend the day equipping them in counseling according to the Scriptures and imparting grace.
These couples are worthy of your prayers every day, but please join us this weekend in particular in interceding for them to be strengthened and encouraged. And may God be pleased to mercifully continue to advance the gospel and build His church in Midlothian!
