Good Friday morning from the LPD.
Happy Thanksgiving! With this greeting, we mean well, but when I think of it, this is a rather strange greeting. What does “happy” have to do with Thanksgiving?
“Happy,” to our understanding is usually associated with, “life is good,” health, plenty and no problems. Perhaps “Joyous Thanksgiving” is a more appropriate greeting. Scripture reminds us that real joy is not dependent on the same things as “happiness.”
James reminds us in James 1:2-4:
Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.
Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. (James 1:2-4).
Paul, who has learned to be content in all circumstances, exhorts the Church in Thessolonica (and us) to, “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus, “ (1 Thess. 5:16-18).
Such words are easy to quote, but sometimes more difficult to apply. May we be encouraged by the perspective that Scripture gives to us in our circumstances and also may we be an encouragement to others in theirs. Some of my best lessons and times have been born out of difficult and painful circumstances. Even when I have felt overwhelmed or that I have been treated unfairly, God has always brought good and has been faithful. As Joseph writes, But Joseph said to them, “Don’t be afraid. Am I in the place of God? You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. So then, don’t be afraid. I will provide for you and your children.” And he reassured them and spoke kindly to them.(Genesis 50:19-21).
In everything give thanks – let’s encourage one another to this!
Also, on the thanksgiving theme, in the midst of this election campaign, we witness the criticism of political leaders daily. While we might long for teamwork in our leaders, we are served a constant barrage of misleading claims and unrealistic promises. In such a context, it is easy to become cynical of leaders in general. Let’s remember those who faithfully serve day by our day – as pastors, staff and volunteers in our churches. None of us are perfect, but may we all seek to be faithful. Here is a short blog that I ran across – may it be an encouragement to you and a reminder to encourage others in this, Clergy Appreciation Month.
Thanksgiving for Faithful, Small-Church Pastors
Posted on November 28, 2013 by Pearson Johnson
This being Thanksgiving, I wanted to express my thanks to all of the faithful pastors that are opening their hearts to people—upholding them in their hearts through prayer, pouring out their hearts in preaching, and exposing their hearts in counseling. It is a great privilege to serve as a shepherd and it is also a grave responsibility, but men all around the world do it gladly with grace, in the Spirit’s power, in large and small places, and we can be thankful for them!
I particularly want to thank a faithful pastor I had as a child, Pastor Oddos Morris of the Poplar Run United Baptist Church. He hasn’t written any books or blogs or tweets that I know of. The church doesn’t even have a website. But he did play a vital role in seeing the Gospel written on my heart.
Poplar Run, then Philadelphia United Baptist, is a small country church that sits literally on the corner of an Indiana cornfield (alternatively a soybean field) in Farmland, Indiana. After church in the summers, we boys would run races around the building and throw the few parking lot rocks we had at the dilapidated barn across the street. Babies would crawl under the pews during the service, and, occasionally, a very elderly lady named Edith would bring tears to our eyes, shouting “Praise the Lord, and Praise Him, and Praise Him, and Praise Him!”
Pastor Morris, or “Brother Oddos” as most people would say, was a kind and quiet man outside the pulpit, but bold in it. He preached the gospel to me personally and publicly. I remember when he first sat down with me in one of the small side rooms, looked me in the eye and asked me if I was saved. I am sure he prayed for me after that. I just as plainly remember the Sunday morning a few months later in April when he preached “Let Him who is athirst, come, and take the water of life freely”—the Sunday that the Lord graciously saved me. His faithful personal and public ministry had reaped a harvest!
To all those like Pastor Morris ministering in seemingly small places, you have a big place in my heart, and in the heart of God. Though the harvest of your ministry is not concentrated in one place, it has been distributed into places of which only the Lord fully knows. Thank you for your faithful ministry!
Please note:
Pastor Nathan (Amber) Kinsey, of Quadra Island Bible Church, has been invited to join with a team from a MB church in Campbell River on a mission to India in late October. I am glad for this opportunity for Nathan to serve overseas and also to experience God’s work in another culture. For our information, I have attached a copy of a brochure describing the mission. If you are able, and it is on your heart to do so, donations to assist Nathan on this mission can be sent can be sent directly to him, or if you wish a receipt, send them to Discovery Community Church, with a note regarding India. The address is 250 10th Avenue, Campbell River, BC, V9W 4E3. Let’s pray for Nathan on this mission, and for Amber and family as he is away.
If you haven’t done so already, please check out the new LPD website with new photos each week. There are resources for you and your church, information on sister churches and LPD Churches of the Week. We also have introduced the PayPal option for giving to the ministry of our Lower Pacific District. Please see our new LPD website
Please also see the attached Five Minutes on Friday, with news and prayer items from the LPD. Also remember Nanoose EFC, our LPD Church of the Week.
Please note the following dates:
Here are some topics to be covered:
Dr. Christopher Yuan teaches the Bible at Moody Bible Institute and speaks around the globe on faith and sexuality. He speaks at conferences (such as InterVarsity’s Urbana, as well as the Moody Pastors’ Conferences and Men’s Conference), on college campuses and in churches (such as Saddleback Church and Willow Creek Community Church). He is featured in the award-winning documentary “HOPE Positive: Surviving the Sentence of AIDS,” and has co-authored a memoir with his mother – Out of a Far Country: A Gay Son’s Journey to God, A Broken Mother’s Search for Hope. Christopher graduated from Moody Bible Institute in 2005, Wheaton College Graduate School in 2007 with a Master of Arts in Biblical Exegesis, and Bethel Seminary with a doctorate of ministry in 2014.
Please see this link for all the info and a brochure with instructions for registration.
Please note Islanders: We are planning to provide a simulcast at Central EFC in Courtenay. Please watch for details in the weeks ahead, and contact Pastor Ben Crumback of Sointula Community Church for details! (ben.crumback@gmail.com)
May God bless and keep you as you look to the Lord, trust him for his good work through the week ahead.
In Jesus,
Rob
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This year, as our Lower Pacific District assists in the birth and revitalization of churches, we also step out in faith with local churches through providing financial support and seed money. To this end, we appreciate the gifts of many district churches and also of individuals. You can participate through both cheques and online through PayPal at our website. See LPD website for more info.
