CPC THIS WEEK
JUNE 30, 2010
THE E-NEWSLETTER OF CHRIST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
**HALFWAY HOME**
By Tom Stein
You are receiving this newsletter on the final day of the first half of 2010. As Pastor Bob says often, “Wow! Where has the time gone?”
Not long ago, we were cleaning the house, and I dusted the two Christmas ornaments on the mantle over our fireplace. We had placed them there when Christmas decorations came down, after Bob encouraged us to do this, so we could remember the themes of his sermon that day.
It worked.
I saw the school bus, and I was reminded that God calls us to honor him every day, no matter what our calling may be.
Then I saw the dancing moose (mooses? meece?), and I was reminded of God’s call to demonstrate his joy, no matter what our circumstances may be.
Those are good reminders - and they are also a reminder of the value of visual reminders. The “experts” say we are more and more visual in this culture. If this is true, then we need to be thoughtful about reminding ourselves visually.
This is a practical truth. Sometimes people praise or hassle me about the neatness of my desk in my office. But I have a list of to-do reminders on the desktop of my computer. I look at them, and I know what I have to do.
This is also a spiritual truth. For example:
* I have encouraged you to post a note on the mirror in a bathroom, to remind you to pray for the particular country mentioned in each week’s newsletter.
* What if you are memorizing Scripture? Put it on a card in a prominent place.
* Has God really worked in your heart on a life issue lately? Why not find an object that represents the truth, and place it where you will see it?
* If your Christmas ornaments are accessible, dig them out and use them to remind yourself of the truths Bob gave us.
Have you ever read all of Psalm 78? We pay lots of attention to the first part - the part about telling the next generation. But the rest of the Psalm is about the forgetfulness of Israel. We tend to forget. Let’s use our eyes to remember.
THIS SATURDAY - CPC GARAGE SALE!!!
Come buy something you didn’t donate!
PLEASE PRAY DAILY FOR...
* Seth Bumbalough - serving in Germany with MTW this summer.
* The Lummi, Washington Mission Trip - July 10-17
* Youth Summer Camp - July 18-24
PRAYING FOR THE PERSECUTED CHURCH: PAKISTAN
Voice of the Martyrs reports:
“Rehmat Masih (73) was jailed and imprisoned on accusations of blasphemy for allegedly insulting the Prophet Muhammad in Jhandewali village, Punjab province, Pakistan on June 20.”
“A 14-year-old Pakistani Christian girl from Mohalla Raja Sultan, Rawalpindi has been returned home after she was kidnapped and raped by five Muslim men.”
For more information and other stories of persecution: voiceofthemartyrs.net.
THIS WEEK’S FRIENDLY REMINDER
If you are able, please sit toward the front, especially if you arrive early.
This will enable later arrives to fill in at the back with less disruption.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO:
July 1 - Kathy Holm
July 2 - Judy Ford
July 3 - Haley Owens
July 7 - Jon Ford, Stephanie Oldham
THIS SUNDAY’S SERMON TEXT: LUKE 12:13-21
JULY VERSES TO MEMORIZE: PHILIPPIANS 2:1-11