May 2006

Pastor Propst's Ponderings

Waveland -- Why?

On the 30th of April John Sailors asked people to get up and tell why they wanted to go to Mississippi. I plan to go, the Lord willing.

Want to know a secret? Part of me really doesn't want to go. Why? I like my comfortable bed. I take no pleasure in seeing destruction and devastation. I have no particular attraction to human suffering. I don't like hot, humid weather and I certainly don't like bugs that bite.

So, the part of me that likes to be comfortable shrinks from the idea of immersing myself into someone else's troubles. But there is another part of me that feels compelled to go. The love of Christ. Paul speaks of privation and persecutions, beatings and imprisonments, shipwrecks and all manner of deprivation. And then he says, "I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake. 2 Cor 12:10"

Just as the love of Christ compels us to tell the good news, so the love of Christ compels us to go where there is need and commit ourselves to the care of others. We are the demonstration of Christ's love to people, some of whom have not yet understood who Jesus is. Jesus said, "And whoever gives one of these little ones only a cup of cold water in the name of a disciple, assuredly, I say to you, he shall by no means lose his reward." Matt. 10:42

A cup of cold water, something that quenches thirst and refreshes the body, given in the name of Christ is a powerful demonstration of God's love. How much more the efforts to help a person rebuild their shattered life?We will be serving as the goodwill ambassadors of the king of heaven. Money is something any of us can give, even a government agency. But the hand that wields the hammer, that cleans up the debris, that ministers to the person as a person does far more than any government grant can do.

As important as government aid can be in reconstruction, it typically lacks the personal touch. People need a friendly touch, a hand up instead of a hand out. We can provide that. The work we will be doing will not necessarily be ministering to Christians. We will be ministering to people of all stripes.

Here at home, I have the unpleasant task of assisting the police department in the delivery of death notices. I never feel good about going to someone's home and telling them that their loved one will not be coming home. But every once in a while Iam honored to touch the grieving person and help them carry a burden that might otherwise be too heavy for them. It is that same hope of helping that prompts me to go to Mississippi. I know that the others who are planning to go share this burden.You may not be able to go, but you can help those who will go. You can pray for them. You can help them financially. You can make it possible for us to deliver a love offering to the churches we are working with so that the work can go on even after we come home.
Pastor Jerry

*Unlocking TheDaVinci Code*
May 21 - 6:00 p.m.

Where does fact end and fiction begin? Is historical Christianity a fourth century invention? Was the divinity of Christ voted on at the Council of Nicaea? Were Jesus and Mary Magdalene married? *The Da Vinci Code* has grown from popular fiction to cultural phenomenon, inciting controversy on all sides.

On Sunday night, May 21 the CCN network, via satellite will be answering those questions. Lee Strobel, author of the *The Case for Christ,* Mark Mittelberg, Executive Director of Evangelism at Willow Creek Association, and Dr. Erwin Lutzer, Senior Pastor of Moody Church and author of *The Da Vinci Deception* will co-host the event.

Invite your friends. This is a great opportunity to get some discussion going with a person who is asking questions about faith.

Missionary of The Month

Dick Halas

Chaplain with Tuality Healthcare

Dick Halaas serves as chaplain to the patients and employees at Tuality Hospital. He also oversees an extensive volunteer program. For years Dick was a pastor in the Christian Church, but when Ray Holder retired as chaplain, Dick was called to take his place. With his friendly demeanor and quick wit he has been a capable encourager of patients and employees alike. So, when you are in the hospital, you not only can call your pastor to come visit you, you can also ask to talk with Chaplain Halaas. Please remember that under the new HIPPA guidelines, you have to let the hospital staff know that you would be open to a visit from the chaplain.

Colligan's Callings

The Battleship has left the harbor!

The youth group is now a Youth Ministry. You may think, "That's nothing new." Well in some ways you'd be right and in some ways--NOT. You see, we've been talking about the difference between Cruise Ships and Battleships. On these different ships people ask different questions. For example, on a Cruise Ship people ask: "Am I enjoying this?" "When is my next dinner?" "Do I like what I am eating?" "Am I having fun?" "Am I getting my money"s worth?" "What is the next thing I get to do?" These questions are natural and right on a cruise. On a Battleship, the soldiers (seamen) ask much different questions: "What's our mission?" "What's my role in this mission?"

The youth group has decided to go from cruise control to battle-mode.

First, and foremost, is the E-Team, a group of students who want to serve Christ and make our group of youth a ministry.

Second of all, there is the commitment that our gatherings get better and better and the GOSPEL is shared consistently with expectation that new ears will be there to hear.

Thirdly, the students are more and more taking up the role of Prayer-Dare-Share.

In this they pray daily for their friends, dare their friends to join them in pursuing God (via youth group, church, conversations, etc.), and sharing what it means to trust and follow Jesus Christ as they share the gospel with those friends. Sounds like the work ALL Christians have been called to. Oh yeah, great suggestion - youth travel on cruise ships. Great commission - youth accomplish much on battleships.

How does Heritage Builders fit into this concept? I am glad you are curious (or at least I am assuming you are). I have been pushing my agenda now for many months. We CANNOT raise our kids by accident Intentional spiritual growth through discipleship of our young ones is the ONLY way. And there is NO WAY to do it alone. We desperately need each other. Each family/household needs the strength of the others around us. The world "outside" desperately needs us to reach out to them. The lessons, homework, and sheer rhetoric of Heritage Builders' Family Nights is designed to get us off of cruise control Christianity and into battle for the spiritual heritage of our kids' kids and for the people God has put around us entrusting us as their ministers. Cruising creeps in through chaos, decisions, faulty thinking, struggles, and selfishness we all need the growth and challenge of HBN. Blessings to you all. Pray for your youth. Pray for your families. Pray for and join the mission!
Mark Colligan

COMING EVENTS:

May

7 Heritage Builders 5 p.m.
13 Mother/Daughter Tea
14 Mother*s Day Celebration (No Evening Service)
20 Cancer Society Brunch Fundraiser
21 Da Vinci Code Simulcast

June

3 Women's Ministry Bake Sale
18 Father's Day Celebration
21 Promotion/Graduation Sunday
24 Waveland crew leaves for Mississippi

FAMILY CAMPOUT

July 28-30
Beverly Beach, Oregon

Here's a great time to get away, enjoy your family, and enjoy the company of other brothers and sisters in Christ. Bring your trailer, RV, or tepee. Check with Pastor Mark for further details. Watch for future announcements.

WOMEN'S MINISTRY BAKE SALE
Saturday, June 3, 2006

The ladies of First Baptist will be holding a bake sale to subsidize their fall retreat. If you wish to assist by donating some of the ingredients that they will need, please contact Kelly Alvarez. This is a prime opportunity to make it possible for people go who might otherwise not be able. And, of course, purchasing the baked goods is very important as well.

MOTHER/ DAUGHTER TEA
Theme: *Treasures of The Past*
Speaker: Janelle Hoeffner

Janelle is the wife of Mark Hoeffner, Director of CB Northwest. Janelle and Mark have adopted a number of children over the years. Some of them have disabilities. God has used them in significant ways to touch many lives for Christ.

When: Saturday, May 13, 12 Noon
Where: Fellowship Hall
Tickets
10 years & Under -- $5
Over 10 years -- $10

Note: You don*t have to be a mother to come; being a daughter is just fine. Come and enjoy a great time together.

ISRAEL TODAY
NA-ALEH

"And Caleb settled the people before Moses, and said, Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it." (Numbers 13:30)

It was these words that inspired two dozen pioneering families to "go up" and establish a new
home on a barren hilltop in Samaria at the height of the violence of the first intifada in 1988. They named their new home, "Na-aleh" which means to "go up." Nestled on a beautiful hilltop on the Western slopes of the Samarian mountains, this pastoral community grew and prospered. From the peak you can see the runways of Ben Gurion International Airport and the Mediterranean Sea. Its proximity to the Modi'in region, near the Airport, attracted many families who worked at nearby Israel Air Force Industries.

Today the community numbers some 200 families, with over 190 young children. Na-aleh's diverse population grew very rapidly, with new homes and neighborhoods added to the landscape in a very short period of time. Infrastructure and public works projects struggled to keep pace. With the outbreak of violence in 2000, security needs took precedence and the community has been struggling to make up for lost time.

The community lacks public buildings, such as a synagogue and ritual bath. Children study in neighboring communities. Within the community is a kindergarten and daycare center.The community*s growth and development are a source of pride to the residents, and they wish to strengthen their community with permanent edifices that further stake their claim to the land and communicate their commitment. The residents wish to complete renovations to improve the building that houses their community center and local municipal offices building so that it is suitable for a variety of social and communal purposes, such as a library and classrooms, and comfortable to use throughout the year.