APRIL 2007 VOICE
Pastor Propst's Ponderings
Do you ever wonder if your prayers have any impact?
Recently I was with a group of pastors up at Skamania lodge for a CB Northwest Board meeting. Our chairman asked that we pray for the wife of Pastor Bob Zachary. Bob passed away from leukemia a few months ago.
Apparently his wife is having a difficult time dealing with Bob's death. So we took time to pray for her. About a week later I met with a group of pastors in Hillsboro to spend some time praying. Pastor Rich Jones was relating how he had been up at OHSU visiting his mother, Vivian, who is dying. While he was there another pastor from our area dropped in to talk to him and pray with him.
After that pastor left, a woman came up to Rich and asked if the pastor was Baptist and if so, was he Southern Baptist or Conservative Baptist? Rich told her he was Southern Baptist. The woman related that her husband had been a Conservative Baptist pastor. Come to find out, it was the widow of Bob Zachary.
There in the hospital that day, God answered our prayer by bringing counseling, encouragement, and prayer to her through another pastor. It was such an encouragement to me to see how the Lord was answering our prayer without our knowledge.
How many other times does that happen but we don*t get the feedback? Never get discouraged over what seems to you to be unanswered prayer.
God is under no obligation to answer according to our timetable. It may be that long after we have forgotten about it; our prayer is still having its impact as God continues working in the life of someone for whom we have prayed.
I think that in eternity we will be so surprised at the way in which even our most feeble prayers have had profound influence on someone. We are so dialed into the instant gratification philosophy, that if we don't see the answer to our prayer in a short time, we assume that nothing has happened.
I am reminded of the people who patiently prayed day after day for years in the temple in anticipation of the coming of Messiah. Simeon said it best upon seeing the baby Jesus. Luke 2:29 "Lord, now You are letting Your servant depart in peace, According to Your word;Luke 2:30 For my eyes have seen Your salvation".
I wonder how many other people had prayed and gone off not really expecting their prayers to be answered. Luke tells us that "men always ought to pray and not lose heart."
Now I must admit that sometimes intercessory prayer is not a very glamorous pursuit. It takes time. You find yourself carrying burdens other than your own. You do not see instant response. And you can't hear angels singing in the background. Still, God has promised that those who will devote themselves to this discipline will receive great reward, in time. No, make that in eternity.
Pastor Jerry
New In The Library
Here is some fresh reading material for your enjoyment. Drop by the library and check it out.
Safely Home By Randy Alcorn
Irresistible Revolution By Shane Claiborne
Southern Storm By Terri Blackstock
We also have about 5000 other books for you to peruse. Come, see.
Caring and Sharing
Dear Church Family
We both want to thank each one who has prayed for us this year of 2007. Ron is on the road to real recovery and healing well.
Thank you, Pastor Jerry, Pastor Frank for coming to see Ron when he was in the hospital. That was so encouraging for both Ron and I. God has been good and faithful through all of this and has met all of our needs.
Thank you all who sent cards to Ron in the hospital and at our home.
Betty & Ron Berg
Dear Women,
Thank you for the beautiful cuddly blanket. Everyone comments on it and I love to show it off. Grant also likes to snuggle in it. We appreciate your generosity and your love of Christ. Keep spreading the joy.
Katherine & Family
Easter Celebration
It looks like some good things are coming together for Easter weekend.
At 7:00 p.m. on Friday, April 6, James has scheduled a String quartet and the choir to provide music appropriate to the occasion. We will have communion and some other very meaningful segments to the service.
From 8:00 * 9:30 a.m. on Easter Sunday morning we will be serving breakfast in the Fellowship Hall and, in the parking lot.
At 10:00 a.m. we will be celebrating the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. The theme will be, Ready For Resurrection. James has scheduled flute, saxophone, trumpet, and trombone as well as the choir for a great time of celebration. Bring your friends and family.
Missionary Corner
Dwight & Beckie Johnson
Morrison Academy -- Taiwan
"Just tell the girls how guys think."
With those instructions Dwight presents in Morrison*s "Women of Worth" high school Bible class each semester on the topic of how men and women are different.
One primary resource is "For Young Women Only: What you need to Know About How Guys Think" by Shaunti Feldhahn.
Later this semester he will be presenting to the seniors on the positive and negative influences of the Internet. Beckie watches 8-month old Julian a couple of days each week for a friend and works in the school health clinic every Wednesday. Thursday mornings she hosts "Moms in Touch" in our home to pray for our school, including staff and students. She also serves on the school's faculty housing design committee as we begin building a new staff apartment building.
Malia is loving school but is also looking forward to being home (stateside) this summer to see Stacie (big sister) graduate from SPU and to see family and friends. She has become an avid reader and continues to improve with her viola and school subjects. Horses remain her first love. She keeps life fun!
Coming Events
April
1 Palm Sunday
5 Scrapbooking
6 Good Friday Service
8 Easter Breakfast & Celebration service
15 Heritage Builders
17 Scrapbooking
22 Frank Carpenter Speaks
27 Kids' Drive-In Theater Nite
Frank Carpenter's New Position
As most of you now know, the man we have lovingly called "Pastor Frank" for over twenty five years is saying goodbye to Oregon and moving to Arizona.
He has taken a position with Center for Arizona Policy, an organization with ties to Focus on the Family. CAP seeks to bring a strong moral influence to the public life of the state of Arizona, much in the same way that Faith and Freedom Foundation is attempting to do here in the Northwest.
Frank will be working to develop prayer ministries among churches in Arizona, working with pastors and other religious leaders. He will be involved in the day to day operations of CAP and will be spending less time at the state capital in Arizona than he has in Oregon.
The political climate in Arizona is far more open to the kind of ministry that Frank will be involved in than is true here in Oregon.
Although we are disappointed to see him make this move, we understand and wish the very best for him.
Frank will be speaking on Sunday morning April 22nd and will be moving to Arizona some time in late May.
Please keep them in your prayers as they make this momentous transition.
SB2, What Does It Mean?
On Wednesday, March 21, the Oregon Senate passed Senate Bill 2. Now, most of the time, we wouldn*t devote space to a piece of legislation. But this law does have significant consequences for the church.
The bill provides homosexuals unique protection under the law as a special class. The law ostensibly provides them with further protection against discrimination in employment, housing, etc. The bill as it reads before going to the House for a vote does provide exemption for churches. But here are the concerns.
First, it gives no exemption for individuals who may have strong religious convictions. So a private party who would object to having two homosexuals cohabit in a rental he or she owned has no exemption.
Second, any operations run by a religious organization that are not central to their primary religious mission would not be exempt. So, a coffee house, bookstore, or other venture could come under scrutiny, depending on the circumstances.
Third, only bona fide religious organizations are exempt. But the bill does not define what "bona fide" means. According to testimony on the floor of the senate, legislators are relying on other government agencies to define "bona fide." But most of those define the term on the basis of administrative rules. For instance, if I understand the process correctly, the IRS can define a non-profit most any way it wishes without relying on legislation to do so. A change in administrative rule could change the criteria for what constitutes a non-profit organization. So, "bona fide" could be changed so as to require the church or religious institution to declare homosexuality a valid lifestyle or lose their tax exempt status. Those that did not would no longer be bona fide and so would no longer be exempt under SB2. That may be an extreme example; maybe not.
The point is, any definition based on administrative rule rather than on statute can be changed with little review and even less notice.
Furthermore it is not certain how para-church religious organizations such as Luis Palau Evangelistic Association or Pregnancy Resource Centers would be affected by this law.
Some are also concerned that this possibly opens the door for a flood of lawsuits. When someone is fired with cause they could claim that they were fired because of their sexual preference, thus leading to a further clogging of the legal system with litigation.
Lastly, Senator Bruce Starr stated that this bill is a solution looking for a problem. I tend to agree. Section 1 of the 14th Amendment to the US Constitution affords to all equal protection under the law.
Having said all that, I must reiterate that although certain sexual behaviors and lifestyles are condemned by Scripture, every man or woman who has not received Christ is to be treated with respect. Although the consequences of alcoholism, prostitution, drugs, promiscuity, theft, sexual perversion etc. are more obvious and abhorrent, sin is still sin in the eyes of God no matter how respectable the individual. Christians have no right to discriminate in sharing the love of Christ or in preaching the gospel.
Cherishing the Church Family
Call one of the flock once a week. Send a card to a church member once a week.Make enough dinner one night a week to take a helping to someone alone. Choose someone who lives close. That makes it easier. Have your kids help deliver. Letting them see smiles for serving starts a life-long idea. We all have microwaves so you could deliver it the next day.
Anonymous
Do you ever wonder if your prayers have any impact?
Recently I was with a group of pastors up at Skamania lodge for a CB Northwest Board meeting. Our chairman asked that we pray for the wife of Pastor Bob Zachary. Bob passed away from leukemia a few months ago.
Apparently his wife is having a difficult time dealing with Bob's death. So we took time to pray for her. About a week later I met with a group of pastors in Hillsboro to spend some time praying. Pastor Rich Jones was relating how he had been up at OHSU visiting his mother, Vivian, who is dying. While he was there another pastor from our area dropped in to talk to him and pray with him.
After that pastor left, a woman came up to Rich and asked if the pastor was Baptist and if so, was he Southern Baptist or Conservative Baptist? Rich told her he was Southern Baptist. The woman related that her husband had been a Conservative Baptist pastor. Come to find out, it was the widow of Bob Zachary.
There in the hospital that day, God answered our prayer by bringing counseling, encouragement, and prayer to her through another pastor. It was such an encouragement to me to see how the Lord was answering our prayer without our knowledge.
How many other times does that happen but we don*t get the feedback? Never get discouraged over what seems to you to be unanswered prayer.
God is under no obligation to answer according to our timetable. It may be that long after we have forgotten about it; our prayer is still having its impact as God continues working in the life of someone for whom we have prayed.
I think that in eternity we will be so surprised at the way in which even our most feeble prayers have had profound influence on someone. We are so dialed into the instant gratification philosophy, that if we don't see the answer to our prayer in a short time, we assume that nothing has happened.
I am reminded of the people who patiently prayed day after day for years in the temple in anticipation of the coming of Messiah. Simeon said it best upon seeing the baby Jesus. Luke 2:29 "Lord, now You are letting Your servant depart in peace, According to Your word;Luke 2:30 For my eyes have seen Your salvation".
I wonder how many other people had prayed and gone off not really expecting their prayers to be answered. Luke tells us that "men always ought to pray and not lose heart."
Now I must admit that sometimes intercessory prayer is not a very glamorous pursuit. It takes time. You find yourself carrying burdens other than your own. You do not see instant response. And you can't hear angels singing in the background. Still, God has promised that those who will devote themselves to this discipline will receive great reward, in time. No, make that in eternity.
Pastor Jerry
New In The Library
Here is some fresh reading material for your enjoyment. Drop by the library and check it out.
Safely Home By Randy Alcorn
Irresistible Revolution By Shane Claiborne
Southern Storm By Terri Blackstock
We also have about 5000 other books for you to peruse. Come, see.
Caring and Sharing
Dear Church Family
We both want to thank each one who has prayed for us this year of 2007. Ron is on the road to real recovery and healing well.
Thank you, Pastor Jerry, Pastor Frank for coming to see Ron when he was in the hospital. That was so encouraging for both Ron and I. God has been good and faithful through all of this and has met all of our needs.
Thank you all who sent cards to Ron in the hospital and at our home.
Betty & Ron Berg
Dear Women,
Thank you for the beautiful cuddly blanket. Everyone comments on it and I love to show it off. Grant also likes to snuggle in it. We appreciate your generosity and your love of Christ. Keep spreading the joy.
Katherine & Family
Easter Celebration
It looks like some good things are coming together for Easter weekend.
At 7:00 p.m. on Friday, April 6, James has scheduled a String quartet and the choir to provide music appropriate to the occasion. We will have communion and some other very meaningful segments to the service.
From 8:00 * 9:30 a.m. on Easter Sunday morning we will be serving breakfast in the Fellowship Hall and, in the parking lot.
At 10:00 a.m. we will be celebrating the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. The theme will be, Ready For Resurrection. James has scheduled flute, saxophone, trumpet, and trombone as well as the choir for a great time of celebration. Bring your friends and family.
Missionary Corner
Dwight & Beckie Johnson
Morrison Academy -- Taiwan
"Just tell the girls how guys think."
With those instructions Dwight presents in Morrison*s "Women of Worth" high school Bible class each semester on the topic of how men and women are different.
One primary resource is "For Young Women Only: What you need to Know About How Guys Think" by Shaunti Feldhahn.
Later this semester he will be presenting to the seniors on the positive and negative influences of the Internet. Beckie watches 8-month old Julian a couple of days each week for a friend and works in the school health clinic every Wednesday. Thursday mornings she hosts "Moms in Touch" in our home to pray for our school, including staff and students. She also serves on the school's faculty housing design committee as we begin building a new staff apartment building.
Malia is loving school but is also looking forward to being home (stateside) this summer to see Stacie (big sister) graduate from SPU and to see family and friends. She has become an avid reader and continues to improve with her viola and school subjects. Horses remain her first love. She keeps life fun!
Coming Events
April
1 Palm Sunday
5 Scrapbooking
6 Good Friday Service
8 Easter Breakfast & Celebration service
15 Heritage Builders
17 Scrapbooking
22 Frank Carpenter Speaks
27 Kids' Drive-In Theater Nite
Frank Carpenter's New Position
As most of you now know, the man we have lovingly called "Pastor Frank" for over twenty five years is saying goodbye to Oregon and moving to Arizona.
He has taken a position with Center for Arizona Policy, an organization with ties to Focus on the Family. CAP seeks to bring a strong moral influence to the public life of the state of Arizona, much in the same way that Faith and Freedom Foundation is attempting to do here in the Northwest.
Frank will be working to develop prayer ministries among churches in Arizona, working with pastors and other religious leaders. He will be involved in the day to day operations of CAP and will be spending less time at the state capital in Arizona than he has in Oregon.
The political climate in Arizona is far more open to the kind of ministry that Frank will be involved in than is true here in Oregon.
Although we are disappointed to see him make this move, we understand and wish the very best for him.
Frank will be speaking on Sunday morning April 22nd and will be moving to Arizona some time in late May.
Please keep them in your prayers as they make this momentous transition.
SB2, What Does It Mean?
On Wednesday, March 21, the Oregon Senate passed Senate Bill 2. Now, most of the time, we wouldn*t devote space to a piece of legislation. But this law does have significant consequences for the church.
The bill provides homosexuals unique protection under the law as a special class. The law ostensibly provides them with further protection against discrimination in employment, housing, etc. The bill as it reads before going to the House for a vote does provide exemption for churches. But here are the concerns.
First, it gives no exemption for individuals who may have strong religious convictions. So a private party who would object to having two homosexuals cohabit in a rental he or she owned has no exemption.
Second, any operations run by a religious organization that are not central to their primary religious mission would not be exempt. So, a coffee house, bookstore, or other venture could come under scrutiny, depending on the circumstances.
Third, only bona fide religious organizations are exempt. But the bill does not define what "bona fide" means. According to testimony on the floor of the senate, legislators are relying on other government agencies to define "bona fide." But most of those define the term on the basis of administrative rules. For instance, if I understand the process correctly, the IRS can define a non-profit most any way it wishes without relying on legislation to do so. A change in administrative rule could change the criteria for what constitutes a non-profit organization. So, "bona fide" could be changed so as to require the church or religious institution to declare homosexuality a valid lifestyle or lose their tax exempt status. Those that did not would no longer be bona fide and so would no longer be exempt under SB2. That may be an extreme example; maybe not.
The point is, any definition based on administrative rule rather than on statute can be changed with little review and even less notice.
Furthermore it is not certain how para-church religious organizations such as Luis Palau Evangelistic Association or Pregnancy Resource Centers would be affected by this law.
Some are also concerned that this possibly opens the door for a flood of lawsuits. When someone is fired with cause they could claim that they were fired because of their sexual preference, thus leading to a further clogging of the legal system with litigation.
Lastly, Senator Bruce Starr stated that this bill is a solution looking for a problem. I tend to agree. Section 1 of the 14th Amendment to the US Constitution affords to all equal protection under the law.
Having said all that, I must reiterate that although certain sexual behaviors and lifestyles are condemned by Scripture, every man or woman who has not received Christ is to be treated with respect. Although the consequences of alcoholism, prostitution, drugs, promiscuity, theft, sexual perversion etc. are more obvious and abhorrent, sin is still sin in the eyes of God no matter how respectable the individual. Christians have no right to discriminate in sharing the love of Christ or in preaching the gospel.
Cherishing the Church Family
Call one of the flock once a week. Send a card to a church member once a week.Make enough dinner one night a week to take a helping to someone alone. Choose someone who lives close. That makes it easier. Have your kids help deliver. Letting them see smiles for serving starts a life-long idea. We all have microwaves so you could deliver it the next day.
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posted by Jerry Propst | 4:12 PM
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