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Some seniors no
longer have
transportation to
church. One thing
they would really
appreciate is a
ride to church on
Sunday. Ask
someone to spear-
head an effort to
have active
Christians invite
seniors to come
along to church.
The seniors will
love you for it!
FROM THE LIPS
OF A COOL DUDE
"I date this girl for
two years and
then the nagging starts: 'I wanna
know your name.
I wanna know
your name.'"
THE POWER OF
THE INVITATION
"One of the most
underestimated
reasons people
return to the
Church is that
someone simply
invited them back.
Overall, 41% of the
formerly churched
said that they would
return to the local
church if a friend
or acquaintance
invited them.
Younger adults
are even more
influenced by the
power of the
invitation. About
60% of those 18-
35 would consider
returning to church
if someone they
knew asked them
to come back."
Thomas S. Ranier,
Outreach Magazine
A WORSHIP
SERVICE
SUGGESTION
Ask a mature
and gifted
Christian layman
or woman to
open your
worship service
with prayer
(ex corde).
The Spirit of
God can
richly bless
this in the
hearts of
worshippers.
FIGURES THAT
STARTLE
The most recent Rasmussen report survey shows that
for the first time
that American's
approval of
Congress is a
mere 9 percent.
SAD!
And... church attendance in
England is
declining so
quickly that
within a gener-
ation more people
in that country
will attend a
mosque than
a church. -
The Times of
London, May 8,
2008
GETTING CLOSER
TO GOD
The Bible
tells us how!
A 20 lesson
course by Pastor
Ginkel on the
basic truths of
Scripture for
junior confirmands,
Christian Day
Schools, and
adults. In
catechetical form
with a strong
emphasis on the
forgiveness of
sins through Jesus
in each lesson.
7" x 10", 128
pages - $9.95.
at the first two
pages of
Lesson 1.
HOPE FOR
THE HUNGRY
Have a canned-
goods or food
drive in your
church. You can
set up a table
in a mall or in
front of a store
to solicit help
from a broader
spectrum.
It has been said,
"If you
give hope
to
someone
without
hope,
all of
a sudden
life
changes."
TONY SNOW
died July 12th of
cancer. He was
a remarkable
man in so many
ways. He openly confessed Jesus
as his Savior. Colleagues
say that when he
served at
the White House
he had a Bible
on his desk and
he was often
seen reading it.
Wouldn't it be
great if all our
public servants
were like Tony?
Wouldn't it be
nice if you
were?
HOW ABOUT
reading our
Bibles first thing
in the morning
each day
before or after
breakfast. Just
a chapter a day
will make all
the difference
in the world.
Start in
Matthew 1.
Shall we do it
tomorrow
morning?
A 2006 STUDY
showed that
premarital
counseling reduced
the divorce rate
by 31 percent.
Our 91-page
marriage manual,
is very
popular. Can be
used by just the
couple or in a
class setting.
#307 $9.99
SOUND MATTERS
"A string of
words that have
the same first letter,
the same sound,
or the same
syllabic cadence
is more
memorable than
a random
collection of
sounds. The
first five rules
in this chapter
do just that:
simplicity,
brevity,
credibility,
consistency, and
novelty
stand out
because they
all end with the
same sound."
- Dr. Frank Luntz,
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Good News
for The Loser
A homily on Mark
2:1-12 by Don Ginkel
As the sun sets over the town of Capernaum, a man coming
home from work senses confusion and excitement in the streets.
Everybody is running. He reaches out and grabs a friend by the
coat. "What's going on?" he asks. The man answers, "Jesus is
here, Jesus of Nazareth, and He's preaching at Peter's house."
This man's eyes grow wide open. He throws down his tools and
breaks into a run, only he heads in the opposite direction
from the crowd. He goes to the home of a friend, and the two
of them go to the home of a third friend, and the three of
them go to a fourth. Then, together, they go to a
shabby little house where another one of their friends lives.
This man has been sick, paralyzed for years. They tell him,
with eyes shining, "Jesus is here, you know, the Preacher, the
Prophet, the One who has healed so many people. We believe He
will heal you. How about letting us take you to
Him?" The man nods, and they pick up the pallet
on which he is lying. Running, hurrying, stumbling, they carry
him until they get to the street where Peter's house stands.
Imagine their disappointment as they look at the scene. The
room where Jesus is teaching is jammed full. The door and the
courtyard are packed. Hundreds of people are milling
around. [ Complete Article]
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 Out of the [Church]
Box
Why doesn't our pastor work harder to bring new
members into the church?
This question is frequently asked. It is really out of
order on two accounts: (1) the pastor's job isn't to do
ministry, but to equip God's people to do the work of ministry
- that which requires on-the-job training, like an apprentice.
In that sense, the pastor does ministry but is always
equipping another person. The ministry is the pastor's
secondary mission, while the primary mission is to equip
another - Jesus called this discipling. His purpose for the
church is to make disciples, not church members. (2) Equally
important is the notion that we should primarily focus on
"bringing" people into the church - meaning the building, the
membership, etc. The Great Commission is 180 degrees
different: we are commissioned (sent) to go where people are,
not to invite them to come where we are.
Focus
on these issues: [Complete
Article]
Dr.
Kent Hunter (LCMS) is nationally known as the Church Doctor.
You can contact him at (800) 626-8515, or visit his website at
www.churchdoctor.org.
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 Stack of
Stuff
"Imagine that you are
trapped in a large burning building in your
community. Both your legs are broken, all your ribs are
cracked (we're going to make this real bad), you can
hardly breath, you are pinned to the floor, fire is
everywhere, you are ready to give up and die, and
someone rescues you.
"Could you imagine later on one of your friends
saying to you, 'Hey, how did you get rescued?' And you
reply, 'I'm not going to tell you. It's a secret. Don't
embarrass me by having to tell.'
"Would you do that? Then why are you embarrassed to
tell about your biggest Rescuer who saved you from the
biggest fire, the fire of hell, who is your very, very
best Friend and Savior, to whom you owe your life now
and forever in heaven, Jesus Christ? My friend, it's
time for you to stop being embarrassed about Jesus! You
have a story to tell, and you know some people who are
'dying' to hear it! Tell it! Please?"
For your bulletin or
newsletter
If you know of anyone who will be hospitalized, has
a new baby, a death in the family, or a long-term
illness, please notify the church office at (phone
number). This will enable us (pastor, elder, and others)
to visit them, send a card, share their needs with the
Prayer Chain, or mention them in the bulletin.
Thoughtful changes in the
worship
service can greatly increase the meaning of it.
Example: After a heartfelt prayer of the confession of
sins sing -
My Jesus, I love Thee, I know Thou art
mine;
For Thee all the follies of sin I
resign;
My gracious Redeemer, my Savior art
Thou:
If ever I loved Thee, my Jesus 'tis
now.
Another example
Some of your members may think that the Benediction
is nothing more than a kind thought. Before the
Benediction next Sunday invite the worshipers to read
aloud with you the words of Numbers 6:22-27 from the
bulletin -
The LORD said to Moses, "Tell Aaron and
his sons, 'This is how you are to bless the Israelites.
Say to them: "'"The LORD bless you and keep you; the
LORD make His face shine upon you and be gracious to
you; the LORD turn His face toward you and give you
peace."' "So they will put My name on the Israelites,
and I will bless them." Then speak the words of the
Benediction.
Still another
Pastor, occasionally say from the pulpit:
"Please do not call me 'Reverend' because I'm not. I'm a
sinner like you. Ask my wife. Just call me 'Pastor' or
if you are slightly displeased with me say, 'Hey, you!'
I'll know you are talking to me."
"Man is one of Your creatures,
Lord,
and his instinct is to praise You. He bears about
him the mark of death, the sign of his own sin, to
remind him that You 'thwart the proud.' But still, since
he is part of Your creation, he wishes to praise You.
The thought of You stirs him so deeply that he cannot be
content unless he praises You, because You made us for
Yourself and our hearts find no peace until they rest in
You." - Augustine, Confessions
Three lists - no, make it
four
There are three lists of names that are essential
for a caring and growing congregation - these are a
must. 1. Membership list. 2.
Prospect list. 3. Inactive
members. August is the time to add a list:
4. New member class list.
Unless you have the names of people to invite to
your next new membership class this Fall, how can they
possibly be invited? Businesses are keen on
developing lists of present and potential customers. We
are in "business" for the Lord. "The first thing
Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him,
'We have found the Messiah.' And he brought him to
Jesus" (John 1:41-42). Pastor - be an
Andrew. Start developing this fourth list now. Ask your
people to assist you in making this a good list and a
large list. Everyone on the list should be contacted
personally - and send a letter of invitation.
A very timely Bible study
Government and politicians are not held in high
esteem today. We have a six-lesson reproducible Bible
study that's just what we need. It's titled,
Government - A Godly
Perspective. Lessons:
1. Government established by God
2. America designed to be Godly
3. The Christian and civil disobedience
4. The Christian's role in government
5. Church and state, agenda or fact?
6. Overview of today's government.
Order #259. Only $27.95. You may reproduce this
study as many times and for as long as you wish. Just
email us
or go to our website.
"Speak, O Lord"
by Keith Getty & Stuart Townsend - a very
beautiful melody and words of petition for the beginning
of worship or before the sermon. Verse 1:
Speak, O Lord, as we come to You
To receive the food of Your Holy
Word.
Take Your truth, plant it deep in us;
Shape and fashion us in Your
likeness.
That the light of Christ might be seen
today
In our acts of love and our deeds of faith.
Speak, O Lord, and fulfill in us
All Your purposes for Your glory.
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 BBQ
Season from Charlotte
Nutter
After many long
months of cold and winter, we are finally in summer and BBQ
season. Therefore, it is important to refresh your memory on
etiquette of this outdoor ritual, as it's the only type of
cooking a real man will do, probably because there is an
element of danger involved. When a man volunteers to do the
BBQ, the following chain of events is put into
motion.
Routine:
- The woman buys the food.
- The woman makes a salad, prepares vegetables and makes
dessert.
- The woman prepares the meat for cooking, places it on a
tray along with the necessary cooking utensils and sauces,
and takes it to the man who is lounging beside the grill -
drink in hand.
Here comes the
important part:
4.
THE.....MAN.....PLACES.....THE.....MEAT.....
ON.....THE.....GRILL
(This gets even more
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 The Long Road to
Forgiveness by Kim
Phuc
Do you
remember this famous picture from the War in Vietnam where the
little girl is running after having been burned by napalm?
This article is written by that girl who is now a middle aged
woman living in the United States. She is a Christian and has
learned to forgive the things that happened to her earlier.
Her organization, Kim Foundation International, aids children
who are war victims. Consider sending this article to a friend
who has difficulty offering forgiveness - it will have a
powerful impact.
From All Things Considered, June 30, 2008
(This I Believe) On June 8, 1972, I ran out from
Cao Dai temple in my village, Trang Bang, South Vietnam; I saw
an airplane getting lower and then four bombs falling down. I
saw fire everywhere around me. Then I saw the fire over my
body, especially my left arm. My clothes had been burned off
by the fire. I was 9 years old but I still
remember my thoughts at that moment: I would be ugly and
people would treat me in a different way. My picture was taken
in that moment on Road No. 1 from Saigon to Phnom Penh. After
a soldier gave me some drink and poured water over my body, I
lost consciousness. [ Complete
Article]
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What Kids Say
Here's how some kids responded to the question:
"The reason I like Kingdom Quest and Kid's Church
is..."
"You get to do fun things in all the activities of
Kingdom Quest." - Drew, 8 years old
"There are no strangers and I'm not scared and I have
lots of friends. I like Gordy, too." - Sara, 8 years
old
"I learn from the games we play after Kingdom Quest, and
I learn more about people and the Bible, and I meet different
people I normally wouldn't meet if I just went to church." -
Spencer, 10 years old
"We have great games and it talks about 'Meet the
God-Man'." - Trisha, 8 years old
"It was really fun and there are nice people here. I
really like doing the experiments and stuff." - Matthew,
11 years old
Kingdom Quest is for
Sunday School and Kids Church for worship.
Either program can be used for Wednesday evenings. Like to
know more? Call us at 888-772-8878 and ask for a free CD which
has sample lessons for both programs and a DVD. We invite you
to call us now or email
us.
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by Bob Tasler
The Olympics will soon be back again, this summer from
Beijing, China. This fall Carol and I will be taking a
cruise around the Mediterranean, flying first to Barcelona,
Spain. It will be memorable, seeing many wonderful
sites, some even of St. Paul's travels.
Barcelona was the site of the 1992 Olympics and
provided one of Track and Field's most memorable
moments. Britain's Derek Redmond was considered the
fastest man in the world in the 400-meters, a certain
contender for the gold medal. When the gun sounded, he
was running the race of his life, ahead of the field as he
rounded the turn into the backstretch. Suddenly he felt a
sharp pain go up the back of his leg, and he fell headlong
onto the track with a torn hamstring. [ Complete
Article] Rev. Bob Tasler (LCMS)
lives in Castle Rock, CO. He writes a weekly message like the
one above and emails it to hundreds of people around the
country free. You may subscribe by emailing
him. |
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Understanding How
People Change: How to Help People in Precon-
templation
by Craig Loving
When we last left our couple, both
had agreed that their marriage was in trouble. "Reverend, I'm
not sure why I need to be here; I'm not the one with the
problem," he drawled, rolling his eyes toward his wife." She
replied icily, "Isn't that interesting. I was just thinking
the same thing."
Our fictional couple is typical
of people who are eager for things to get better in their
lives, yet at the same time, don't see themselves as the one
who need to change. The technical term for this condition is
"precontemplation." Precontemplators are not yet ready to
contemplate change.
There are four pure
precontemplators: reluctant, resigned, rationalizing, and
rebellious. In real life, people in precontemplation will
exhibit characteristics of more than one type during their
journey into change. This makes helping them more challenging.
[Complete
Article]
Dr. Craig Loving is a pastor as well as a
therapist in private practice in the Denver area. You can
reach him at 303-349-7398 or by visiting his website. |
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by Darrel Deuel
Short-term mission trips
can have great impact on those who go away from what is
comfortable and cross over into other cultures. If the
short-term team is well-trained, they can also have a
great impact on those whose lives they touch in those
other cultures.
I just returned from a
trip to Ukraine, where our team of seven worked with
handicapped boys in a Boy's House, and also visited
stroke patients and disabled people in their homes. When
we arrived at the Boy's House, they would give us a
standing ovation - they were so thrilled to see us each
day. As Americans, we are really not used to being the
high point of a person's year, but we were to them! And
when we visited the patients in their homes they would
even say, "You came all the way from the United States
to visit me! People from Ukraine never visit me." On our
last day there, we provided the funds for our host
ministry's annual Picnic in the Park. We also spoke to
the group, and helped served them their meal. Over 250
people showed up in wheel chairs, crutches, braces or
canes! For some of them, it is their only day out of
their homes for the year, as very little is done for the
disabled in other countries. Over and over as we
moved around the crowd, they would say "thank you, thank
you." [Complete Article]
Rev. Darrel
Deuel, Director, The Sending Place. To contact us, phone
toll free (877) 3SENDING, or (917) 685-2331. Or e-mail
us at: thesendingplace@hotmail.com.
Find more information on our website at: theSendingPlace.com
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