Off to Synod

For the next week I will be attending the Christian Reformed Church's meetings of Synod in Grand Rapids, Michigan. This is my first time attending as a delegate. A colleague, calling to wish me well, said that he has attended six times and enjoyed every time. He commented that attending Synod is like feeling the heart beat of our church. He also warned me that it will be hard work and that some committees have been known to meet until one in the morning, and that, after a full day of meeting in session. If you would like to follow what is happening at Synod, check out the website:
http://crcna.org/pages/synod_front.cfm They even have a live webcast during those hours when Synod is meeting in full session. I will be away on Pentecost Sunday (June 12); Gareth Harker from Cambridge will be our guest preacher.

Spread it around

Francis Chan, in his book Crazy Love, writes that a friend once told him that "Christians are like manure: spread them out and they help everything grow better, but keep thim in one big pile and they stink horribly" (168). Christians have many gifts, but they all come from the same Spirit, many gifts, given for the common good. When we can say "Jesus is Lord," we know that the Holy Spirit is at work in us. With the Spirit's empowerment, everyone of us can be used by God, starting today. I Corithians 12: 1-11, Sunday, June 5. Join us live or catch the service on the web (see side bar for address).

Around the next bend

Francis Chan, in his book Crazy Love, says that "if life is a river, then pursuing Christ requires swimming upstream. When we stop swimming, or actively following Him, we automatically begin to be swept downstream" (95). Too many of us are floating downstream, oblivious to what might await us around the next bend. Jesus warns us against gaining the whole world, yet losing our lives (Luke 9:25). Think about it. Sunday, May 29, 2011.

God's math

In the business world we recognize the principles of profit and loss. We are prepared to lose a number of homes to the floods if that means many more are saved. Our God isn't quite so pragmatic. He will do anything to save even one of those he loves, at a price that is unthinkable. God does math differently than we do. Join us this Sunday, May 22, for an economics lesson from Luke 15.

A Father's love

Author Francis Chan, in his book, Crazy Love, has us picture a child on his father's lap (or, as this pic has it, a child on his grandma's lap!). And then he asks, "Does your prayer life look anything like this? Does your prayer life look anything like a child coming before his father in security, comfort, and intimacy?" God invites us into that kind of a relationship with him, our heavenly Father. Join us this Sunday, May 15, as we get closer to our Father. Matthew 7:7

The Voice

There's another new reality show out there (yes, another!). From what I've seen from the ads, judges on The Voice listen to contestants sing, but the judges listen with their backs to the performers. Only after hearing them, do they turn around to see the face behind the voice. The Prophet Isaiah heard God's voice, and then God turned him around to show himself to Isaiah-- and Isaiah thought he was going to die (Isaiah 6:1-7). We hear God's voice, but too often we lose sight of him. When we see God, we'll be awed and amazed that this God loves and cares for us. Join us this Sunday, May 8, 10 a.m.

More than 730 women!

Fifteen of us joined over 700 women at the Coffee Break sponsored Women's Conference in Burlington on Saturday. It was a great day - we laughed, we cried, we sang, we listened, we worshipped (and we ate!)