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Focus on Marriage Conference
We have received special permission from Focus on the Family and CCN to host this year's Focus on Marriage Conference on March 27th from 9:30 am to 3:30 pm. Please join us for this simulcast event. A generous donation has been made to cover the cost of every couple who attends. That's right, it's free! You can also sign up to join us for lunch at a minimal cost. If you need childcare then call the church office (932-5637) after registering and let us know what your child's age (s) and needs are so we can plan to have staff available. More information is below. To sign up click the register now button.
WELCOME…
We hear everyday that marriages are struggling, hurting, and broken. It’s no secret marriage is hard work, but a lasting marriage is worth celebrating.
Join thousands of couples all across the country as we celebrate God’s design for commitment. At this marriage strengthening simulcast we will tackle Christianity’s biggest challenges—empowering you and your spouse to stay faithful, committed and encouraged in your marriage.
With Focus on Marriage, you will receive wisdom, encouragement and knowledge from leading marriage teachers such as Gary Thomas, Kirk Cameron, Drs. Les & Leslie Parrott, Francis Chan and Dr. Gary Chapman, all of whom have a passion for seeing marriages thrive – specifically yours!
- Don’t hesitate, join the celebration today.
“My husband and I attended the marriage simulcast and were inspired and blessed by the messages from the speakers. It will inspire you to be (re)committed to the covenant of marriage as God intended it to be, a sacred, happy and blessed union.”
-Focus on MarriageTM 2009 Attendee.
The Peacemaking Church Message Series
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The Journey – Nolan Powell, November 28th
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The first thing the therapist did was wrap his foot to keep him from being able to let his toe drop down when he picked it up. Then he helped him stand up straight and Tall and begin to walk. He had to hold him but it was a start and we were praising God!
Later in the afternoon he decided to do the Occupational Therapy. He looked pale and just not right but he was determined. The Doctor sat him on the bed and placed a crate full of foam balls on the floor to his left and another empty crate on the bed out to his right. He had to reach down on the floor with his strong are (left) and pick up a ball then reach way over on the right and drop the ball in the empty crate. He cannot support the weight of his body with his right leg so his balance was off. The doctor pulled his right arm out to his side, positioning him down on the elbow and told him to think about asking the arm to support him. After the first crate of balls the arm kicked in and the muscle began to fire. Again we were praising God. He did this routine through three times before quitting.
Next the Doctor began working on the shoulder (which we were told would be one of the last things to come back. The arm is dead weight and just dangles down beside him. When he rolls over in the bed he has to physically take hold of the arm with his left hand and pull it over his body. If the Doctor let the arm go at this point it would fall hard and possible even hurt him, so we have to be very careful. I am not supposed to help him into the bed or wheel chair by supporting his weight holding under the arm for fear it might pull out of the socket.
Nolan Powell – The Journey Toward Recovery, Nov. 27th
THE JOURNEY
November 27
“FAITH DOES NOT GROW IN THE HOUSE OF UNCERTAINTY”
Prayer Update: Nolan Powell
Wednesday, November 25th
Nolan is doing well and the Dr. is optimistic that he got a vast majority of the tumor. The malignant part of the tumor was largely contained to the center (Praise!). Nolan has some residual right leg paralysis from the surgery. Let's continue to pray for Nolan as he begins rehab and recovers from the surgery. Pray for a restoration of movement to the right leg, for physical therapy, and for the upcoming radiation treatments. Also remember to keep lifting Marsha up in your prayers.
Thank you for praying!
The prayer request from Monday was…
Veggie Tales Premier
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VeggieTales’ new movie, Saint Nicholas, will be shown at the church. Bring your family and enjoy this unforgettable lesson on the true joy of giving to others —at Christmas and all year long!
Showtimes
Friday, December
11 at 6:00 PM
Saturday,
December 12 at 4:00 PM.
Admission
A donation of a can of food
that will be given to the local
food bank and a financial donation of any size to help kids in the Philippines get a better education.
Hosted by Montana On a Mission
7 Ways to say Thank you to God!
Here are some of the thoughts that came out of last weeks message! If you missed Sunday you can find the message under Resources and Sermons on the website.
Thanksgiving
- Spend time with Him (not just 1 hr a week)
- Forgive others
- Serve others ("when you do this, you do it for me")
- Witness
- Help those who are hurting or those who are in need.
- Give God the best of your time, talents, and tithe.
- In your praise and worship.
Our Thanksgiving should include:
- The Blessings of Life
- The Burdens of Life
- The Benefits of Life
Prayer Update for Nolan Powell
Keep Nolan Powell in your prayers!
On Tuesday morning I was able to talk to Marsha Powell about Nolan's upcoming appointment at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn. Surprisingly, Nolan's appointment was moved from after Thanksgiving to this coming Monday. Marsha called from South Dakota while on their way home to the Atlanta, Georgia area. So they will arrive home hopefully, today (Thursday) and then pack for the thousand mile trip to Minnesota to be there in time for the Monday appointment.
On Monday, they will check in and have their first appoint with the Doctors. On Tuesday Nolan will go in for surgery, for what kind of surgery, they won't know until the Dr.'s are actually in the surgery itself. It could be less intensive (like a debulking of the cell growth) or more intensive (the removal of a tumor) if necessary.
So how can we come alongside of Nolan (and Marsha) right now?
- Pray for healing. This is a potentially serious operation. Pray for God's healing hand to be on the whole situation and that God would touch the area of cell growth and heal whatever is happening. If it's necessary to do the surgery then pray for God to lead the surgeons as they do what God has equipped them to do.
- Pray for Nolan and Marsha as they seek God in the midst of a difficult circumstance.
- Pray for Marsha. Sometimes it just as hard or harder for the one who is watching their loved one go through a physical trial. Pray for God's leading and presence for Marsha.
The other day as I was talking to Marsha I had two verses come to mind. The one is "be strong and courageous" and the the other was "I will never leave you or forsake you."
Faith Begins at …………………?
Where does faith begin? Well, yes it begins when a person puts their trust in Jesus, but where does it begin locationally (Wow, what a word!)?
Where do we live out our faith?
Let me answer a little bit of the question for you by saying that its not a church. If faith is lived out only at church then what happens to our faith the other six days of the week? The number one reason why non-Christians struggle with Christians is because so many Christians have a one day a week faith (Sunday). The Church is not the place where you live out your faith, it is where you are encouraged in the faith and the people with whom you are equipped in the faith through worship, discipleship, fellowship and the other essentials of faith. So where should faith begin? If you really want to know read more here.
Do you have a home? Is your house full of kids? Are you married our single or living in the so called "empty nest?" If you answered "yes" to any of the above then I have news for you. The home–your home–is where faith gets lived out. It's where faith wears shoe leather. This is the way that author and pastor Mark Holman, one of the speakers during the the Focus on Parenting Simulcast describes it. The Biblical word that we use for where faith begins is incarnate, which means "takes on flesh." Otherwise as, the home is where a faithful person becomes a fruitful person. It is where the single person honors God in how they spend their time, the media that they expose themselves to, the things that they do when no one else is looking. Its where the husband not only does the same but also loves his wife "as Christ loves the church" and sets a Godly example for his wife and children. Its where the wife lives out respect for her husband and encourages her children to grow physically and spiritually. Its where children learn to honor their parents and make good choices. And so on…
It also where we are the most vulnerable because the home is the place where we are who we are, if you know what I mean. It is where we lose our tempers and say things that we wouldn't say in public. It's a lot more difficult to live out our faith at home than it is around the church because we can't put up appearance as easily at home.
So what can we do?
We can (You can) GET HELP FROM GOD.
- Find encouragement in his Word, the Bible. Read his word reflectively and with the purpose of applying it to your life. If you're a parent or grandparent a great passage to start with is Deuteronomy 6:1-19. Actually, its a great passage for anyone regardless of the situation.
- Spend daily time in prayer. Pray for each one of your family members (especially if they have not yet connected to Christ). Pray for daily wisdom and strength, that you can live out your faith at home, at work and in the public arena.
- Spend time in confession. In what ways have you fallen short in your faith. Confess it to God.
- Repent. (It means turn around) If you have gone the wrong direction, so to speak, then turn around and get back on track.
What about starting a daily time (personal) and or a family time (with your spouse and kids) of seeking God? Easy ways to do this:
- Pray before meal times. This is a 3 time a day connection time with God to thank him for both the food and friends he gives us. Families should try to eat together at least 1 time a day. Families can use the time to talk about daily events and parents can use these times to help kids connect with God.
- Activities. Plan a daily activity to help you live out your faith. What about sitting down with someone daily to talk about your work, life and or thoughts. How would you like to grow in your faith or lived out your faith in each of these areas? For those who are married talk about this together and then commit to praying for each other.
- Finally, get connect to a more extended group of believers through a small group. (We really need to kick off a couple more of these.)
If there is anyway I can encourage you in all of this please let me know.
In Christ,
Pastor Bryan
Upcoming Mission Trip
The First Planning Meeting for the January PHILIPPINE MISSION TRIP
Time is flying by! We will finalize project and travel plans for our 2010 mission trip to the Philippines.
This Tuesday, November 17th at 7pm at the church Fellowship Hall, we will provide information and be taking
names!
We are excited to have you go on this trip. The opportunity is here for you to help others physically and spiritually in a very tangible way.
Also you will experience another parts of the world you may have never seen. We hope you will be there Tuesday. For those of you hoping to come
on a future trip but willing to help us to prepare for this trip, please also attend.
Coffee and Cookies will be waiting!