This week’s news!

16 Jun This week’s news!

Blessed Tuesday y’all!

I’m feeling particularly blessed since our new heater is getting installed today!
The old one decided to retire itself on the Queen’s Birthday. The Queen’s still going. The old heater…not any more.

So…Ruth chapter 1 this week. Especially pay attention to the names. We know Biblically names matter and tell part of the story. So…names.
AND…How do you see God at work in the really rotten season of life? Is that something we can learn?

Bible Study & Catch-up
Thursday, Jun 18, 2020 10:30 AM

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82914047214

Meeting ID: 829 1404 7214

A couple of other notes…
1. We are still not able to gather as a whole community in the Guide Hall.
The metres/person limit has us hamstrung. Hopefully another week or two and the restrictions will ease.
BUT…please take a minute to talk to your friends & remind them…not yet.
We had a couple of folks pop in last week and I don’t mind folks being in the building, but with the sketchy nature of sound in the hall & us being live on-line any extra accidental sound is heard all across the internet. So…a sneeze in Wagga Wagga is heard worldwide. Gesundheit!

2. Also…we are making some preparations for being back together…and our “together” may look a bit different than it did in March.
I’ve been praying that we come out of this season on a very missional front foot…really looking to take advantage of the curiosity I think the on-line nature of worship might be generating among the not-yet-Christian portion of our community. And as we celebrate being together 7 years…it’s time to think about the next decade and how we can truly reach this city in the name of Jesus.

A few weeks ago I made this point in a sermon:
Boldness is acting, by the power of the Holy Spirit, on the unshakable conviction that in Christ every enemy ultimately is powerless against his resurrection & his power in you. Boldness is trusting that in this circumstance, God’s hand still holds you & his love still sustains you. Boldness is living into the promise of the Father that nothing can separate you from his love & that the future he intends is brighter than any current darkness.

My morning devotional reading has been reinforcing that point in my heart…boldness in Christ as the defense & antidote against fear.
A few verses & then some thoughts…
Even though the people were afraid of the local residents, they rebuilt the altar at its old site. Then they began to sacrifice burnt offerings on the altar to the Lord each morning and evening. – Ezra 3:3
You haven’t received the spirit of slaves that leads you into fear again. Instead, you have received the spirit of God’s adopted children by which we call out, “Abba! Father!” – Romans 8:15
I replied, “The God of heaven will help us succeed. We, his servants, will start rebuilding this wall.” – Nehemiah 2:20

Ezra is sent to kickstart the life of a community that is stuck in the same old same old…and there is opposition to his work but “even though” fear is present (notice fear is never denied) they worship in obedience to God’s call & command & their faith & community is restored.
Nehemiah comes into a similar circumstance…Jerusalem is in ruins & no one seems to much care. So he determines that since God has sent him to rebuild the city beginning with the city wall, they will “start” in obedience and trust God to “succeed” in them.
Paul simply tells us who we are in Christ: “adopted children,” which means when fear is present we simply call out to the Father and live in obedient relationship to him.

I’m praying we allow the Spirit to shape us over these next few weeks into really acting with that sort of boldness & faithfulness…in spite of fear or human opposition for the sake of God’s kingdom & obedience to his call.

See y’all Thursday…when it will be lots warmer in my house!
I’m thankful in advance! And always thankful for you.

Peace,
John