The snow is LEAVING! We are down to BIG piles and patches here & there, then with a little more rain and a few warmer days they will be gone. Almost like sin, although it never disappears because of the world we live in, a little bit of God’s Word each day, some good relationships and fellowship with Christians, some regular attendance of church and a whole lot of prayers will help you avoid some of the sins we encounter in our daily walk with Christ. Let Christ do the power lifting in your walk with him and more joy & contentment will fill your days.
Why I Love Baseball
March is well-known in the sports world for being the time of “March Madness,” when over sixty college basketball games are packed into three weekends. Over the years, I have enjoyed filling out a bracket for fun and watching how most of my predictions turn out to be completely wrong. And I’ve grown an appreciation for the pace, tempo, and energy of that kind of game.
But nothing in the sports world compares to my love of baseball.
The Bible and Cosmos
Last year, many Christians – including me – were very excited by a new TV miniseries entitled “The Bible.” That miniseries retold the great stories of our faith through modern eyes. Another retelling of some fantastic stories is taking place in another new TV miniseries entitled “Cosmos.” And I am equally as excited about this series as I was about “The Bible” last year.
Christ in the Passover
On Monday, April 14, at 7:00pm, we will host a “Model Seder” meal presented by a representative from Jews for Jesus. This event is free of charge and is open to any who wish to come.
The “seder” is the organized meal which Jews have practiced every year for millennia. This meal commemorates the Exodus of the Israelites from captivity in Egypt during the time of Moses. It was this Passover meal that Jesus shared with his disciples just before he was arrested and crucified.
The “Model Seder” meal, presented by Jews for Jesus, is designed to reveal the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ through the sharing of the Passover seder. We will share in elements from the traditional Passover meal (note: not a full dinner) and see how the story of the Exodus is fulfilled in the story of Jesus. We will also celebrate the Lord’s Supper as part of this experience, which promises to be a moving, enlightening, and transformative moment in your spiritual walk!
Please come – and bring a friend!
Special note: We will give a love offering to Jews for Jesus at this event to help sponsor our presenter and the mission of this organization.
Sign up by completing this simple online form. Or you may sign up by calling LeAnn at 989-496-9148.
More information about Jews for Jesus:
Jews for Jesus is an agency that proclaims that Jesus is the Messiah of Israel and Savior of the world. The late Moishe Rosen, a Jew who has believed in Jesus for over 35 years, founded the organization. However, Dr. Rosen was quick to point out that he did not “start” Jews for Jesus. “Jews for Jesus began about 2,000 years ago, around 32 C.E., give or take a year. Jesus’ first disciples were Jewish, and there have been some Jewish people who have believed in him ever since.”
The organization has permanent branches in eight North American cities (San Francisco, Los Angeles, Boston, Chicago, Toronto, New York City, Washington D.C. and Fort Lauderdale) as well as over 127 volunteer chapters spanning some 41 states and five countries. The group’s international branches are headquartered in Johannesburg, London, Paris, Odessa, Moscow, Essen, Rio de Janeiro, Kharkov, Dnepopretrovsk, and Tel Aviv.
To the Jews for Jesus, believing in Jesus makes sense in light of the Jewish Bible and in light of their experiences as “believers.” For those who argue that Christianity contradicts the meaning of Judaism, the Jews for Jesus say there are answers, which their representative will be happy to discuss after the presentation. Call (989) 832-3570 or visit http://www.mthaley.org for more information. There will be no admission charge.
March Youth Update
Lamb or Lion? It has been a cold snowy winter and the long rides on Sunday and Tuesday evenings after youth meetings have been chilly. We are not only ready to have March come as a lamb, but to continue to put our trust in the “Lamb of God.” God has been GOOD!!
Our adventure to Guatemala was fantastic. After enduring weather in the 70’s for the week, it was hard to come home to another snowstorm. Because of weather, we were blessed with two extra days in Guatemala and some extra sightseeing. The whole trip was a “once in a lifetime” experience and blessings were flowing. Our team will be presenting a report to the Mt. Haley congregation on Sunday, March 16, in the morning Worship Service at 11:00 AM. Come and share in the blessings of the trip.
Let Them Come Up Here
Today, Tara and I sang in a choral concert at Memorial Presbyterian Church in Midland. The concert featured a 45-minute piece of music entitled “Requiem,” written by the 20th Century French composer Maurice Durufle. It’s a beautiful piece that is very familiar to me, since I sang it with a different choir a decade ago. Singing along with a hundred other singers, a small orchestra, and a recently installed pipe organ was a tremendous experience. There’s something about religious choral music that speaks to my heart in powerful ways.
Why I Can’t Read Matthew Henry Anymore
Matthew Henry, an English Presbyterian minister who died 300 years ago, is well-known for writing lengthy commentaries on every chapter of the Old and New Testaments. His thoughts are often very helpful to Bible students; he provides background information and insights on any passage of scripture you might choose. His commentaries are in the public domain and are free to read electronically; I have downloaded them as part of the Bible study software that I use on a regular basis. Occasionally, but not often, I have read Henry’s thoughts while studying a particular passage.
I’m going to have a much harder time doing that now.
February Youth Update
Brrrrrrr…..It’s COLD outside! But the Word of God warms our hearts as we count our blessings. It’s a big week for Connie and me as we lead our 7th Shack Attack Mission to Guatemala. The Guatemalan Team departs on Thursday, February 6 and returns to the US on Thursday, March 13th. We will NOT be having Youth Meetings during this week due to our mission, because we will be working with the hundreds of children in the community of the “Tracks” in Guatemala City. We will also be working on their Christian school, installing a school library, remodeling the pastor’s apartment and perhaps helping to install a new roof. PRAY for our team and we hope to bring fantastic stories of God’s blessings to share.
The Belong Blog
Today I would like to let you in on a little project that is growing among some friends of mine. Several of us went to seminary together and have remained in contact even though we are serving in different parts of the country (and world). You may recall that two of these friends pastor the churches with whom we sponsored Sudipta Nanda to attend last year’s Global Gathering in Anderson. We all care deeply about the Church of God, and we believe in what it stands for. And this year, we are starting with a new series of blog posts: each of us will take a turn explaining how we came to the Church of God and why we are committed to its future.
This blog is found online at www.mthaley.org/belong – it is hosted on our church’s website but is completely separate from our church’s online presence. Please take a few minutes to read the initial post of this series (written by my friend Gwynne Watkins from Dayton, Ohio) and my contribution to the series. And check back in regularly, because more stories will be posted in the coming weeks! Please do leave comments to let us know what you think, as well. We believe this conversation is important!
Pastor David
The Year in (P)Review
Today is the last day of 2013, and a new year is soon to dawn. In fact, I have a friend who lives in New Zealand, and at this moment she is already several hours into 2014! The future is always very nearly upon us.
At this time of year, we often look back on the year that has passed, and we consider what the upcoming year may hold. I invite you to take a few moments to reflect on the life of Mt. Haley Church of God with me.