P2

Nice work, kids and folks. Thanks for your donations and for the tireless work of the volunteers. We raised about $600, and had fun and good fellowship doing it – probably more important than the money. God is good.

Bless you.

My dad was a pastor, and many years ago he wrote a tract used by a Lutheran evangelistic tracts producing group. I had it in my Bible for a long time, and wanted it passed on…

Blessed Three Times

For a number of years I have carried a metal tag upon which are inscribed the words of Psalm 46:1 “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”

These words have reminded me of the three things that God, in Jesus Christ, is to all who trust Him.

1. God is a place of REFUGE for the sinner. It is literally true that in these days of the awesome atom there is “no hiding place” where we are safe from attack. And yet there is a place of refuge! That is why the poet can write:

“Rock of ages, cleft for me,
Let me hide myself in thee.”

Shortly after World War II ended, I heard a young Finnish pastor tell this story:

During the war a painting contest was conducted in Finland to determine who could best portray true peace. The final decision was made between two paintings.

One portrayed an idyllic scene on a beautiful lake in Finland. Shimmering birches and pines encircled the lake. Not a ripple marred the water’s surface – a dark blue as it reflected the cloudless sky. Birds sang. All was beautiful and peaceful.

The other painting showed a contrasting scene on the rocky shore of the Gulf of Finland. A storm raged. Black clouds were criss-crossed with lightning flashes. Waves leaped high. Near the edge of the painting was pictured a huge rock. In an opening of the rock a little bird nestled safe and dry. This painting, portraying true peace in the midst of a terrible storm, won the prize.

By trusting Christ, our Saviour, we can have peace and refuge in stormy days. His cleansing blood gives freedom from the burden of sin.

2. God in Christ is our STRENGTH. How weak we are! How easily we fall for the temptations that beset us! We need a source of strength to carry us through, to keep us from backsliding from Christ.

Jesus Christ wants to give us strength to meet our everyday problems, temptations and trials. First, let us admit we are weak and helpless. Then let us call upon Christ to give us strength. We are saved by faith. We are also kept strong in Christ by faith. With Paul, the Christian can say, “I can do all things through Christ, Who strengthens me.”

3. God in Christ is also “ a very present HELP in trouble.” How those troubles do come! Things can go well for a time and then suddenly – bang! Up to our necks in trouble. What to do?

Jesus Christ wants to be our help in our everyday troubles. We may be trusting Him as our Refuge and Strength, but even then the troubles will come. Here is where Christ can be our very present help.”

Let us call upon Jesus in time of trouble. He will help us, give us the needed grace to pull through. With the Psalmist we may say, “Though I walk in the midst of trouble, thou wilt revive me” (Ps. 138:7).

In Christ, we can have Refuge, Strength, and Help. Let us trust Him for these very important needs of our lives!

Rev. Leslie G. Lurvey

Here’s a story from the golf world – not my usual place to hang out – that makes me suspect Jesus is risen from the dead.

http://sports.yahoo.com/golf/blog/devil_ball_golf/post/When-losing-a-golf-tournament-really-makes-you-a?urn=golf,238912

Soren Kierkegaard tells a parable of a community of ducks waddling off to duck church to hear the duck preacher. The duck preacher spoke eloquently of how God had given the ducks wings with which to fly. With these wings there was nowhere the ducks could not go, there was no God-given task the ducks could not accomplish. With those wings they could soar into the presence of God. Shouts of “Amen” were quacked throughout the duck congregation. At the conclusion of the service, the ducks left, commenting on what a wonderful message they had heard — and waddled back home.

Pentecost is God’s power for being. I know not who I am – a child of God, brother of Jesus, sinner-and-saint – without God reminding me, again and again and again. That’s through the Holy Spirit.

I am so tired of the advice to “look within yourself,” “be true to yourself,” “listen to the voice of your heart.” Look where that gets me! In trouble, in deep s**t, seriously f****d.

But God comes. The Holy Spirit – given to me at baptism, renewed, revealed, and revealing who I am, whose I am, where my source of forgiveness lies.

The wind, the fire…

by Meredith Mallwitz

http://www.mmallwitz.com/index.html

6 young people affirmed their faith in the Trinity today. God is good. We Christians are God’s Easter presents to the world – to be salt and light. New creation began with Jesus at Easter, and continues through us, God’ new creations sent to the world.

and we went to the Elmwood Cemetery and looked at graves. There were many flowers left on mothers’ graves.

My daughter said, “When you die, I don’t know where I’ll put you.” Hmmm… where will I be buried?

And before that she had said, “We get together in heaven when we die.” Nice to know she is absorbing the faith. “That’s God,” she said, pointing to a statue of Jesus with a cup and some bread, “and he’s doing communion.”

I am glad she’s not afraid of a cemetery, or of graves, or of talking about it all. God is good.

Beginning June 2nd at 6:25 pm, we’ll have Wednesday Worship. Sunday mornings just don’t work out for everyone – work, play, cabin, late nights. So, 6:25 Wednesday Worship.

I’ll play guitar, we’ll sing, pray, read, learn, come to the Lord’s Supper, no dressing up, kid friendly.

Come Wednesday and get centred on our Lord Jesus.

Could we do church on Wednesday evenings? 7 pm or so – maybe 6:45 so it sounds earlier. Contemporary music, kid-oriented…

Hmmm… Makes me wonder.

with a carrot in one ear, a banana in the other, and a sandwich up each nostril.

“What’s wrong with me, doc?”

The doctor looks at him and says, “I don’t think you’re eating properly.”