Dear Friends,
I love going on a journey! Denise and I have had the good fortune to travel to many different places and explore amazing sites. Some trips have been better than others, but each journey has been special and leaves us with many wonderful memories (not to mention many, many photographs!)
There is a journey that all of us are on once we accept Jesus into our lives as Lord and Savior. It’s the journey of faith, and it takes us to many places – some joyous, some troublesome – but all provide an opportunity to grow as children of God and followers of Jesus. This journey is exciting and challenging, and I am so glad that you and I are on it together!
This journey of faith we are on is continuous. The journey takes us deeper into knowing and understanding God, as well as discovering who we are as children of God and what that means as we live here on planet earth. This journey doesn’t end at a certain age, or after we have achieved certain goals in life. Rather our journey is a life-long experience of enjoying God’s grace and taking advantage of opportunities to mature and grow as Christians.
Each of our journeys is different. We may share similar paths, but God takes each of us to different places along the journey. My personal journey is taking me on a new path beginning this month. I am enrolled in an eight-week course (over the next two years) at the Academy for Spiritual Formation. The Academy (which is held in Sinsinawa, WI, - on the border with Iowa,) will provide me opportunities to study about Spiritual Formation from a variety of perspectives such as: Spirituality in the Hebrew community (a study of the Psalms,) Traditions of Christian Spirituality, Spiritual Disciplines, Spiritual Leadership, and so forth. Over the course of this program I will be required to read twenty-eight books! (As much as I enjoy reading, this will be a challenge.)
I look forward to learning more about myself in relationship to God, and to see the ways in which God wants to work in me to further His purposes. I am also looking forward to how my participation in the Academy will impact my ministry at our church. I will better understand how this will happen towards the end of the Academy as I will need to ask and answer these two questions: “Where is Christ leading me with all that I have come to learn and know through the Academy? What new ways may I be invited to risk and offer leadership to others?” My prayer is that the Academy will be a great benefit to not only my own personal journey, but for our journey and ministry together as God’s people at Whiting Community Baptist Church.
God Bless,
Pastor Jim
P.S. Should you need to contact me during this week, you can call me at 920-450-7680. Please leave a message and I will get back to you.
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Vacation Bible School
VBS is here! It will begin, Sunday August 3rd, beginning at 6:00 pm. However, there are some things you might want to know about that are happening prior to the start of VBS. Here they are:
· If you would still like to help with VBS donations, contact Denise to see what is needed.
· After Sunday worship on August 3rd, we will put the finishing touches on set-up for VBS. If you can stay after worship to help, it would be much appreciated! (We will also be setting up for VBS on Thursday, July 31st at 6:30 pm. Come and join us.)
· Keep praying for VBS all week long! We anticipate a great week of VBS, fueled by your prayers.
· A VBS Kick-Off Dinner will be held on Sunday, August 3rd, beginning at 5:00 pm. All are invited. This means you!
· From 5 to 6 on that day we will be receiving registrations. If you know kids who are coming, it would help us immensely if you would encourage them (and their parents) to register before Sunday.
· VBS “Power Lab” begins officially at 6:00 pm on Sunday, August 3rd.
· Come anytime during VBS week and see what the kids are up to!
· You are invited to our closing celebration of VBS, which will take place on Thursday, August 7th, beginning at 7:45 pm.
· Remember – keep us in your prayers!
· If you would still like to help with VBS donations, contact Denise to see what is needed.
· After Sunday worship on August 3rd, we will put the finishing touches on set-up for VBS. If you can stay after worship to help, it would be much appreciated! (We will also be setting up for VBS on Thursday, July 31st at 6:30 pm. Come and join us.)
· Keep praying for VBS all week long! We anticipate a great week of VBS, fueled by your prayers.
· A VBS Kick-Off Dinner will be held on Sunday, August 3rd, beginning at 5:00 pm. All are invited. This means you!
· From 5 to 6 on that day we will be receiving registrations. If you know kids who are coming, it would help us immensely if you would encourage them (and their parents) to register before Sunday.
· VBS “Power Lab” begins officially at 6:00 pm on Sunday, August 3rd.
· Come anytime during VBS week and see what the kids are up to!
· You are invited to our closing celebration of VBS, which will take place on Thursday, August 7th, beginning at 7:45 pm.
· Remember – keep us in your prayers!
Compulsive Gambling
Compulsive Gambling (Source: The Samaritan Counseling Center of the Fox Valley)
Compulsive Gamblers will answer “Yes” to at least seven of these “20 Questions” from Gamblers Anonymous:
1. Did you ever lose time from work or school due to gambling?
2. Has gambling ever made your home life unhappy?
3. Did gambling affect your reputation?
4. Have you ever felt remorse after gambling?
5. Did you ever gamble to get money with which to pay debts or otherwise solve financial difficulities?
6. Did gambling cause a decrease in your ambition or efficiency?
7. After losing, did you feel you must return as soon as possible and win back your losses?
8. After a win, did you have a strong urge to return and win more?
9. Did you often gamble until your last dollar was gone?
10. Did you often borrow to finance your gambling?
11. Have you sold anything to finance gambling?
12. Were you reluctant to use “gambling money” for normal expenditures?
13. Did gambling make you careless of the welfare of yourself or your family?
14. Did you ever gamble longer than you had planned?
15. Have you ever gambled to escape worry or trouble?
16. Have you ever committed, or considered committing, an illegal act to finance gambling?
17. Did gambling cause you to have difficulty in sleeping?
18. Do arguments, disagreements or frustrations create within you an urge to gamble?
19. Did you ever have an urge to celebrate any good fortune by a few hours of gambling?
20. Have you ever considered self-destruction or suicide as a result of your gambling?
If you need help dealing with a gambling problem, call 1-800-GAMBLE-5 or The Samaritan Counseling Center (886-9319.)
Compulsive Gamblers will answer “Yes” to at least seven of these “20 Questions” from Gamblers Anonymous:
1. Did you ever lose time from work or school due to gambling?
2. Has gambling ever made your home life unhappy?
3. Did gambling affect your reputation?
4. Have you ever felt remorse after gambling?
5. Did you ever gamble to get money with which to pay debts or otherwise solve financial difficulities?
6. Did gambling cause a decrease in your ambition or efficiency?
7. After losing, did you feel you must return as soon as possible and win back your losses?
8. After a win, did you have a strong urge to return and win more?
9. Did you often gamble until your last dollar was gone?
10. Did you often borrow to finance your gambling?
11. Have you sold anything to finance gambling?
12. Were you reluctant to use “gambling money” for normal expenditures?
13. Did gambling make you careless of the welfare of yourself or your family?
14. Did you ever gamble longer than you had planned?
15. Have you ever gambled to escape worry or trouble?
16. Have you ever committed, or considered committing, an illegal act to finance gambling?
17. Did gambling cause you to have difficulty in sleeping?
18. Do arguments, disagreements or frustrations create within you an urge to gamble?
19. Did you ever have an urge to celebrate any good fortune by a few hours of gambling?
20. Have you ever considered self-destruction or suicide as a result of your gambling?
If you need help dealing with a gambling problem, call 1-800-GAMBLE-5 or The Samaritan Counseling Center (886-9319.)
Camp Tamarack Celebration
You’re invited to Camp Tamarack’s 50th Birthday Celebration, August 8-10 at Camp Tamarack. It all begins with a campfire on Friday the 8th at 8 pm. Saturday the 9th is filled with all sorts of activities: breakfast, flag raising, worship, cookout, silent auction, guided tours, wagon rides, crafts, canoeing, swimming, dinner, vespers, and a campfire with s’mores. Sunday the 10th includes a breakfast and a worship service. Come for the day or come for the weekend! (Reservations are needed if staying overnight, or if staying for a meal.) For more information, see the bulletin board in the hallway, or contact Jeff Steffen or Pastor Jim.
Brat-Fry Fundraiser
Scott, Sharon, Amber and Anna Fesko are heading up a Brat-fry Fundraiser. The purpose of this Brat-fry is to assist our refugees, Moo Khu Htoo and his family. It will take place on Saturday, August 2nd, beginning at 11:00 am, at the Wal-Mart on Winneconne Ave. Come and support this effort by buying a brat or two!
Habitat For Humanity
It has been 15 years that HFH has been building houses in the Fox Cities. HFH’s impact on individuals and families in need of decent and affordable housing has been tremendous! Of course, they have been blessed with the contributions of businesses, churches and individuals who have shared their vision.
The Greater Fox Cities Area Habitat for Humanity is about to dedicate its 100th house in the Fox Valley. On Saturday, August 16th, at Douglas Park in Neenah, a joyous celebration will be held, and you are invited! From 11 am until 2 pm there will be games and activities for children and adults, a free corn roast, food and beverages to purchase, and plenty of music and fun. The actual dedication of the 100th house, which is located down the street from the park at 137 Douglas Street, will be at noon.
The Greater Fox Cities Area Habitat for Humanity is about to dedicate its 100th house in the Fox Valley. On Saturday, August 16th, at Douglas Park in Neenah, a joyous celebration will be held, and you are invited! From 11 am until 2 pm there will be games and activities for children and adults, a free corn roast, food and beverages to purchase, and plenty of music and fun. The actual dedication of the 100th house, which is located down the street from the park at 137 Douglas Street, will be at noon.
Congratulations!
To John Bowers, who will be marrying Leighton Aycock on Saturday, August 16th.
To Barb Bell, who will be baptized on Sunday, August 17th.
To Barb Bell, who will be baptized on Sunday, August 17th.
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