JANUARY 4, 1982 – WATER, water everywhere, but not a drop to drink. So it was in our little home, located at Mission Springs Conference Center, when 20+ inches of rain in one day raised Lockhart Gulch to raging river status. Rivers crested and left their banks, mountainsides became bringers of death as they liquefied and carried away dozens of homes. Bridges were destroyed, and homes were flooded, and at least one church as well.
Yes, January 4th stays riveted in my memory. I was reminded that too much of a good thing, like water, can be bad for you. We need water to live, but water out of control brings not life, but death and destruction.
I am amazed, as I sit here typing out this Shepherd’s Staff, of how easy it is to recall the fear and destruction of that storm, and how much those memories can control my mind during the rain storms since. Gone are the days of just sitting and enjoying the rain pounding out its rhythm on the roof. Now when the rain pours in torrents my mind races back to those days 26 years ago, not to mention a similar flood we experienced in 1998. Such is the power of memory.
Yet, as I contemplate the arrival of this new year, I am sure that those memories are not what the Lord desires that I dwell upon. His desire is not for me to situate myself in past earthly crisis, but to live within the reality of His continual presence and the blessing which His presence brings. I wonder if this is what the Apostle Paul had in mind when he wrote,
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you. (Philippians 4:8-9)
When we are faced with fear and uncertainty, we are to think on Jesus. When our minds are flooded by unknown crisis, we are to dwell with Jesus. When we wonder about what tonight will bring, we are to rest in Jesus. When peace seems to evade us, we are to run to Jesus. For Jesus, who is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent and praiseworthy, is the Peace of God.
May we rest in Him throughout this new year.

THE COMMON RESPONSE FOR LEAVING the front door open at my home when I was young was, “Hey whadaya born in a barn?” I suppose if Jesus’ mother, Mary, yelled that at him (as I am sure most good Jewish mothers would) He would have responded, “Yep!”
It has been a rather cold day here as I write this edition of the Shepherd’s Staff, at least cold for our neck of the woods. This blustery weather has moved my heart in two directions. First, my heart is very grateful for the God-provided blessings of a cozy home, a glowing wood-burning stove, and steaming cups of tea, not to mention the warmth of family and friends. But second, my heart has been saddened by the thought of those I see wandering the streets without the comforts of home. The thought of their plight makes the cold even more biting to my spirit.
Jesus understands their plight. Not just from His position as the omniscient God, but also as the little baby born in a barn; a baby whose bed was the hay of a manger. The incarnation of God did not place Him within the halls of royalty, to find warmth before a raging fire, wrapped in blankets of fur. No, this little child knew firsthand the poorer side of life. In his earliest years He found Himself an immigrant in the foreign land of Egypt, and as a young man He would tell His friends and followers that He had no place to lay His head.
Where would our Jesus be born today? Where would a poor traveling couple find safety and solace?
In a seedy motel?
In the doorway of a church?
Under a bridge?
If the angelic host declared His birth to you this day, would you visit Him there?

A NUMBER OF YEARS AGO, Neil Anderson wrote a book entitled, The Bondage Breaker. One of the most powerful aspects of his work was his lists of who we are in Jesus Christ. They are great reminders for us during these days of uncertainty. I share some of them with you here:
I am Accepted
I am God’s child – John 1:12
I am Christ’s friend – John 15:15
I have been justified – Romans 5:1
I belong to God – 1 Corinthians 6:19-20
I am a saint – Ephesians 1:1
I have been adopted by God – Ephesians 1:5
I have been forgiven and redeemed – Colossians 1:14

I am Secure
I am free from condemnation – Romans 8:1-2
I cannot be separated from God – Romans 8:35
I am hidden in Christ – Colossians 3:3
I am a citizen in heaven – Philippians 3:20
I can find grace and mercy – Hebrews 4:16
God will finish His good work in me – Philippians 1:6

I am Significant
I am the salt of the earth – Matthew 5:13-14
I am God’s temple – 1 Corinthians 3:16
I am a minister of reconciliation – 2 Corinthians 5:17
I am God’s workmanship – Ephesians 2:10

So, be encouraged my friend, for even in these uncertain times we can be certain of God and His love and care for us and be at peace.

I DON’T DRINK COFFEE. Not that I wouldn’t like to, it’s just that it does not agree with my “sensitive nature.” I am more of a tea guy. Yet, I really feel that I am missing something in not drinking the “Cup-o-Joe.” I feel like I am being left out of an exciting part of life. Case in point? Take note of the new advertising at our local Starbucks.
On the placards before me are the clarion calls for their varieties of coffees from around the world. These coffees are “Familiar and Friendly” (Latin America), “Extraordinary and Enticing” (Africa/Arabia), “Adventurous and Assertive” (Asia/Pacific), “Sturdy and Powerful” (Dark Roast), “Interesting and Complex” (Multi-Region Blends). Wow, I never knew I could gain so much from a cup of coffee. Truth be known, I do feel richer just “being in the vicinity” of these all empowering beans.
So, Randy, where are you going with all this musing about roasted beans? I haven’t the foggiest idea, just thought it interesting. Just kidding, I do have a thought or two, so here goes.
All these adjectives of advertising should describe the life of the Body of Christ, the church. Go ahead, reread them. Can you picture a group of people that could be described in the manner of the coffees of Starbucks? I would suggest that there would be people lining up out the door to experience the flavor and drink in the aroma. And maybe, just maybe, this aroma would rise before the Lord, to be holy and pleasing in His sight.
So shall we put the coffee on?

THE RULE AROUND OUR HOUSE HAS BEEN (at least as interpreted by me) that if Dad didn’t get a “toy” for Christmas, well it just wasn’t really Christmas. Every year I expect some sort of toy with which I could play once all the presents were open, and most years I was not disappointed.
One of the blessings of having kids is that you can also play with their new Christmas toys. Though I wasn’t too keen about Barbie dolls, I do think some of my son’s Lego sets are pretty cool. In fact, one of the best parts of the Christmas day menagerie is getting to push aside all the discarded wrappings and play with my kid’s newest acquisitions. Linda retreats to the kitchen to care for the family Christmas feast and I move toward implanting batteries in a new race car, or reading through the instructions for the latest board game.
Yep, Christmas toys are cool!
And Christmas toys are for sharing.
In the afternoon sun of a California Christmas kids can be seen on the street with all the neighborhood kids, riding new bikes, bouncing new balls, and showing off the smashing new sweater from Grandma (well, one could wish ). It seems to be the one time when we love to share with others. It is the time to share what we have received, and to let friends and family in on the joy. It’s what makes Christmas, Christmas.
All this playing and sharing of course finds its foundation in the sharing God did with us. He shared His Son, more than that, He gave His Son. The loving heavenly Father desired to bring to our hearts and lives new joy; a joy that would move us from the doldrums and death of our lives, to the heights of His love and life.
This Christmas let’s take time to play and to share of the gifts of joy we have received.

SITTING IN THE SANCTUARY, our eyes trained forward, we lift our eyes and see before us a large empty cross. Empty, to remind us that Jesus, who died their for our sins, did not remain upon the Cross, or in the grave, but He rose from the dead and reigns today as the resurrected Lord. A grand reminder indeed, the empty cross that looms before our eyes.
As I contemplate that empty cross I realize that in many ways is emptiness, it’s “cleanness,” makes the cost of the cross somewhat removed. It is easy to forget the pierced body of my Lord Jesus, the Christ; the blood which flowed from His wounds, that blood which purchased my forgiveness. It is no longer an implement of death, but simply a symbol of the faith I call “mine.”
In some ways, this empty and clean cross makes it easier to think about following my Savior’s command to “take up my cross and follow Him.” It is easy to forget the cost of our salvation, and the cost of following. We see no pierced body of Jesus, we see no suffering Son. Our faith is clean. Our faith carries little cost.
But, today, on this day we have “set aside” to pray for the persecuted church throughout the world, I am humbly reminded that the Body of Jesus Christ still finds itself pierced. Today, around our world, our brothers and sisters who are part of the Body Christ, find themselves pierced, beaten, bruised, raped, imprisoned, murdered, because they have chosen to pick up the Cross and follow Jesus.
As we look toward the empty Cross today, let us not forget its cost, and let us pray for the Body of which we are a part.

THERE ARE LOTS OF INTERESTING programs you can install on your computer. Lots of them for free, expect for what they may rob you of in wasted time and crashing systems. This past week I installed a little program called Digsby. It allows you to “keep track” of all your friends who happen to be online, as well as your various email accounts. There, all in one cute little sidebar window, you can see who’s where and what they’re up too. The problem is being distracted by all the coming and going on your online friends, and the pull to actually open up a chat window to talk with them. Sure, you can “minimize” the window, but then what’s the point of having the program if you’re not “watching” it?
Needless to say, after a day of distraction, I unceremoniously uninstalled little Digsby. Sorry ol’ chap.
Sometimes distractions can be good. We all need a break from time to time, but being distracted can also lead to being unproductive, which can lead to frustration, and at last reading, frustration was not one of the fruits of the Holy Spirit filled life. In discussing distractions, Dennis Okholm (Professor of Theology at Azusa Pacific University) writes, “distractions not only divert us from routines like daily Psalter readings and housekeeping chores, in which we can find God’s presence, but also keep us from recognizing the spiritual impoverishment that results from such habitual scatteredness.”
There’s the worrisome part for me; I can be so distracted by the stuff that bombards my life that I don’t even realize how distracted I am. I have believed the myth of multi-tasking and in the process I am made poor.
Maybe it is time for all of us to check out the registry of our lives to see what needs to be uninstalled so that we can focus upon that which can truly make us rich. For as the Apostle Paul prayed, “… that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe.” (Ephesians 1:18-19)

LAST WEEKEND WAS A JOY! A couple of days of uninterrupted family time encased in the environment of the Happiest Place on Earth — Disneyland. It was a joy to have the whole family together. It was a joy to laugh and be crazy together. It was a joy to return to places of past memories and to welcome new memory-making moments. To all who made this trip possible, I give you thanks.
For a few moments I chose to forego enjoying a ride with the family (Splash Mountain, if you must know) and I enjoyed one of my favorite pastimes, people-watching. As I sat under the shade of a tree, in ear-shot of voices of Winnie-the-Pooh and Friends, I was often humored by what grown people were wearing upon their heads. From CEO’s to gang-bangers, they wore funny ears, bouncing stars, crowns, or pointed hats of a fairy princess. Now, I am sure, that many of these head-worn adornments would never be worn outside the safety of the ivy-covered fences of the Magic Kingdom, but here within these relatively safe confines, one is safe to be a kid. The very thing we were created to be.
Within Holy Scripture we are commended to become like little children. We are told that without our return to this simple state of faith we shall not see the Kingdom of God. Not unlike those who seek to experience the joy of the Magic Kingdom, yet choose to remain a cold and aloof adult and therefore miss the very essence that is Disneyland. The same holds true for those who seek to experience the reality of God’s Kingdom and yet refuse to step into child-like humility and faith. You will miss the very joy that is the Kingdom.
Now, where did I put those ears?

OVER HEARD AT STARBUCKS, “Oh, you’re studying the Book of Hebrews? That’s one of the best; it’s one of my favorite.” Now, truth be known, I have also said that about certain passages or books from the Bible, but can we really say that one part is better than another? If it’s all God’s Word, then there are no better parts than others.
I realize that there are portions of God’s Word that grab more powerfully at our hearts, or challenge us more deeply in our journey of faith, but if it is all God’s Truth, then it all must have importance, and life for us. The Apostle Paul writes that, “all Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:16-17) All of it.
You might be thinking, “Come on Pastor Randy, you’re just making a mountain out of a mole hill, what’s wrong with having a favorite verse?” Nothing is wrong with having a favorite verse; I have a few my self. The problem comes subtly. For when we begin to raise some portions over others we run the risk of lessening the importance of others. We can actually begin to pick and choose what we desire to listen to, and that to which we will turn a deaf ear. This reality can be so clearly seen when the preacher announces his new sermon series from the book of Numbers or Leviticus!
So, go ahead and hold dearly to your favorite verse or favorite book of the Bible, but let’s not forget that God, in His Word, has set a bountiful table before us to enjoy. All of it good for our nourishment. Give it a try.
Care for a Brussels sprout?

COMMUTERS, A BREED APART. This past week I entered the commuter life and drove to Fremont and back during the morning and evening commutes. Those who do this on a regular basis must be especially adapted to this lifestyle. I did it once and it took me a day and a half to recover. Maybe you have to build yourself up to it.
One thing I learned (again) is that if you’re going to obey the speed limit, you had better get out of the left lane! Actually, it might be better to get off the road altogether! I note that the speed limit on the “hill” is 50 MPH, and seeking to obey the law, and to not get stressed out, I sought to keep to the speed limit. Well, OK, the fact that I was driving my four-cylinder Toyota might have had something to do with it, too. 
Every so often, while seeking to pass a fully-load 18-wheeler, I would find myself in the “fast lane,” and a quick glance in the rearview mirror remind me to get out of there fast or that BMW would be in my trunk. It’s a stressful life indeed. So, what do you do when life is bearing down on you? Pull over and do the speed limit. Let the other guys go racing past. You’ll get to your destination in due time.
Speed limits, whether man-made, or God-designed, are given for our safety. God has designed His limits for our good, not to hinder our fun. God has created us to maintain a certain speed in life, exceed that limit and you are asking for trouble.
So, when you find yourself speeding through life and its pressures are bearing down upon you, it’s time to engage your turn-single, pull over to the “slow lane” and let life whiz on by. Or, in the words of Scripture, “Be still, and know that I am God.”

“IT’S MORE BLESSED TO GIVE, than to receive.” As a kid I had a problem with that old adage. I thought the blessing of receiving far outweighed the blessing of giving. Even when you brought a gift to a friend’s birthday there was the hope, dare I say expectation, that you would receive a “goody bag” and lots of cake, and maybe a prize or two if you won the infamous pin-the-tail-on-the-donkey game. When you gave it was always with the anticipation of getting something in return.
Isn’t it good that things change with age? Or do they?
Even as adults our giving is often shadowed with the hope of receiving. We help another person with a task, with the hope that some day they will help us. We lend a tool or our car, with hopes that it will come back in better shape than when we lent it out. We may even tithe knowing that we shall receive the blessed tax-deduction at the end of the year.
But, for those blessed by God, our response should be something a quite different.
God tells us that we are gifted to be a gift, and this all started with the One who is the Gift. (John 3:16-17) We are reminded in His Word that we love because He first loved us. (1 John 4:19) Our ability to love, and thus to give, comes from the One who gave all for us. (Philippians 2:6-8) As God told Abraham, we were blessed to be a blessing. (Genesis 12:1-3)
So, there’s the grand secret to discovering the blessedness that comes from giving; you, in Christ, are the gift. In living, and giving, as our Lord did, we find the true blessing. The best gift we have to give today does not come wrapped in a box, or written upon a check, but expressed in the full giving of ourselves.
You ARE gifted . . . so, give!

MCDONALD’S? NOT! Wendy’s, maybe. The middle of a five mile run? Nope. The completion of a five-mile run? Definitely. Escargot and caviar? Not hardly. Spaghetti and meatballs? You bet! Afternoon television talk shows? You’ve got to be kidding. Monday Night Football? Bring it on!
We all have our happy places, places from which we gain a certain amount of enjoyment. Each of our happy places are more often determined by our personality, upbringing, likes and dislikes. These places in many ways wholly situational. For example; if I arrive at Wendy’s only to find they are out of chili and ice tea, well then my happy place quickly becomes my sad place.
As situational as my happiness may be, I am comforted to know that my joy, a joy that comes from God Himself, is not based in my circumstances. The joy of the Lord, to which the Scriptures refers, is a joy that comes deep within. In reality, it emanates from the very presence of the Holy Spirit who resides in the life of each believer in Jesus. It is a joy that comes from God’s strength within us (Nehemiah 8:10). It is a joy that remains firm even as we battle trials (James 1:2). It is a joy which can remain secure even in the face of death (Hebrews 12:2).
This joy is not just some warm-fuzzy-feeling. It is not laughter in the face of pain. This joy is the deep abiding awareness that the Lord, the Creator, the Sovereign of Eternity, is our God and our friend, and has promised to never leave us, nor forsake us. (Deuteronomy 31:6). It is a joy that arises from the knowledge that even though we will walk through the valley of the shadow of death, even there He will be with us, to guide us, and to see us safely through to the other side.
So, then my friend, wherever your happy place may be, be sure that your joy comes from the Lord.

REUNIONS CAN BE TRYING EVENTS. They are often seen as events which mark the passage of time. A time to see the effects of time on those friends we once deemed ageless, much like ourselves. At reunions we face the frailty of our own lives. At reunions we weigh the success and failures of others. Whether we like it or not, reunions often become time of facing the judgment seat.
But it ought not to be that way.
This past weekend I have enjoyed many reunions. The reunion brought by Krista returning home from two and half years in Africa. Not a testing of age, or the judging of successes, just the sweetness of a family reunited. The reunion of friends from my youth, Don and Mark. No worries of the aging process, just fond, and often hilarious, memories of lives shared. The reunion of friends which was instituted by the retirement party of one of my key spiritual fathers, Ken Harrower. And of course, that reunion which takes place each week as the family of Felton Bible Church gathers to worship, pray, learn, laugh, and cry.
Yes, reunions can also be good things. They remind us of a greater reunion that will take place one day. A reunion of which the Apostle Paul writes, “Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope. We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. According to the Lord’s own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage each other with these words.” (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18)
There is another reunion coming. Ageless. True. Without judgment. Do you have your invitation?

MY FIRST PORTION of memorized Scripture came at an age when I did not even realize that I was quoting the Bible. Sometimes I knelt at my bedside, sometimes I was laying under the covers, but all the time my mom was there, making sure I said it correctly and covered all the bases. Of course I learned it in the ancient language of King James Bible (circa 1611).

Our Father, who art in heaven
Hallowed be Thy name,
Thy kingdom come,
Thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil:
For Thine is the kingdom, and the power
and the glory, forever. Amen.

I wasn’t too sure what “hallowed” meant, or who those people were that were trespassing on our property, but all that aside, it has been a prayer that has served me well.
It was not until years later that I saw this prayer within the context that Jesus taught it, and it was years after that I began to understand the deep implications of its words. Now, even today, I wrestle with this rather simple, unadulterated prayer which the Lord Jesus taught His followers. I struggle with the consequences of a Kingdom that comes and a will that is done. I am humbled by the amount of bread I have blessed to consume and the trespasses I have been forgiven. And I am challenged by the trespasses to forgive and the temptations to fight.
Yet, I am thankful for a Christ-given prayer that reminds me that I have a Father who hears. And so, whether on my knees, or wrapped in my covers, or strolling down a redwood shaded path, I still am given to pray, ”Our Father…”

BACK STORY, it is the part of the television coverage of the Olympics that grabs us maybe even than the spectacular finishes — those stories of Herculean effort that surround so many of the Olympic participants. The stories of troubled childhoods and tragic mishaps that give way to glorious over-comings which then produce the individuals we watch performing on our televisions. It’s not the event, but the journey, that makes the Olympic story so Olympic.
One of the signature events of the Olympics is the marathon and the ancient event which started it all was a battle caused journey. Phidippides, a member of the Greek army who were in battle against the Persians around 500 BC, was called upon to run to Athens (26 miles away) to carry the news of the victory over the Persians and the warning about the approaching Persian ships. And this 26 miles was preceded by his running between Athens and Sparta, about 280 miles round trip, just day before. Oh yes, the battle was fought on the plains of Marathon. See, the back story always adds to the event.
This year’s Olympics will no doubt be filled with many such stories. They will bring tears to our eyes, hope to our hearts, and most likely cheers to our lips. The story drives the event.
The Apostle Paul had an incredible “back story.” Of good training, schooling, prestige, but also of darkness, hatred, doubts. The Apostle used his story not as an excuse or hindrance, but as an opportunity to show forth God’s mercy and grace. Yet, Paul knew that his past was just that, his past. His eyes were always firmly set on the prize. As he wrote to the Philippians, “But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” (3:13-14)
May our stories push us on. May we run to win.

IT NEVER FAILS. There I am driving the 50 MPH speed limit on Highway 17, cresting the summit and I spy Mr. CHP sitting along the side of the road. Immediately I lightly depress my brakes, check the speedometer, and breath a sigh of relief…yes I am still doing the speed limit. Why is that whenever I see one of California’s finest, I immediately feel guilty? It must be something to do with my driving past.
I am sure that I am not the only driver on our roads that has this reaction. And truthfully, it does have some positive outcomes. First, it causes me to check my speed and slow down if necessary, and second, it leads me to prayer, “Dear God, please don’t let me get a ticket!” Or as a friend of my once prayed (while a passenger in my car), “Lord, You made blind eyes to see, how about this time making seeing eyes blind.” Actually, that prayer worked…at least that time! Anyway…
All this talk about driving and praying makes me think that since we are so good at driving and talking, and since we’re not supposed to talk on our cell phones while driving (praise the Lord for that law!), maybe we could pray for those men and women in tan rather than praying about them. We could start a new regimen. We could pray the C. H. P. prayer: Christ Help Please! Whenever we see an officer we could pray that the Lord would keep them safe, that He would help them do their job, and maybe (especially if we’re doing the speed limit) we could lift a prayer of thanks for those who seek to “keep the peace” in our world. Both far and wide.
So, let’s not only slow down, let’s pray up!

GROWING UP, SUNDAYS WERE SPECIAL. They meant Saturday night baths, and shoes shined. It meant tight collars and clip-on ties. It meant an interminable time of sitting quietly in the sanctuary and a raucous hour of fun with my friends during Sunday school. But most of it often meant going out for “brunch” at the Copper Penny.
I am sure that we went to this local restaurant at other times, but ah, the glorious Sunday brunch. Waffles, or my favorite, Pigs-in-a-blanket, yes, Sunday was a special time of eating-out. A time with mom and dad, and even my brother would show up for those times. Back in the day, Sundays were special, hey, even the newspaper comics came in color!
Sure, the Sunday “funnies” are still in color, (but what kid can understand them anymore? ) and we can still go out for “brunch.” But, sadly it’s often to the same places we frequent other times during the week (Ouch! I’m getting convicted! ) Sundays have changed. In many ways they are like any other day.
But, we can change that!
Maybe it is time to once again strive to make that day, a Special Day. Maybe we can start to get ourselves ready with anticipation for the Day. It may mean setting aside time the evening before to slow down and prepare our hearts (or shine our shoes). It may mean planning for some special things on that Day; a special meal at a special place. It may mean opening our hearts and homes to family and friends; a time to reinvest in our special relationships. And, of course, it will always mean taking time to be refreshed and renewed in the relationship that truly makes this Special Day, special.
How will you make today a Special Day?

REST IN PEACE. Why is it that we wait until a person is dead and buried to engrave that epithet over their resting place? I suppose it comes from the understanding that all that can interrupt peace has now been removed from a person’s life. It is now, in death, that one can truly be at peace.
This is not the life which the Lord, Jesus Christ, desires for us. He desires for us to live in a life of peace that was not just “there and then,” but “here and now.” The peace that the world brings is a peace that is at best transient and situational, and at worst never truly possible. But the peace that Jesus promises, and provides, is unlike that of the world. It is a peace that is always available and not determined by our circumstances. It is, as the Apostle Paul writes, a peace that surpasses comprehension. (Philippians 4:7)
The Hebrew word, shalom, best describes this peace which our Lord offers to us. It is more than just the absence of trouble, it is a well-being of our soul in the very midst of turmoil and trouble, and for this reason is transcends the world’s ability to understand it. Like Sabbath, this peace is a gift which the Lord graciously grants to us out of His abundant goodness. And, like Sabbath, it has at its basis, trust in the living God.
As we learn to trust God, we learn to embrace the greatness of His gifts to us. As long as we continue to endeavor in our own wisdom and strength we will miss the deep and abiding peace that comes from the Lord and we will be stuck with the weak peace of the world.
Trust in the Lord, and know peace.

WELL, OK, IT’S NOT AS SPECTACULAR as the signing of the Declaration of Independence, but we can say we were “far-away witnesses” to the re-visioning of what the Evangelical Free Church of America says it believes. And it should make us feel good that the 18 sermons on the Proposed Statement of Faith, were not wasted. 
The following is the email announcement I received from HQ. I share it here because we need to remind ourselves that we are part of something bigger than just the Felton Bible Church. It is also good to note that people can disagree and still move forward united for the furtherance of God’s glory and kingdom. Here’s the report:

HISTORIC CONFERENCE APPROVES
PROPOSED REVISION OF THE EFCA STATEMENT OF FAITH
President Bill Hamel began this historic discussion by asking two questions: would the Conference affirm a new Statement of Faith strengthening our commitment to evangelical, historic faith? And would we debate and vote with godly character? The answer to both questions was “yes.”
On June 26, 2008, delegates of the 124th EFCA National Leadership Conference approved the Proposed Revision of the Statement of Faith – 86% of delegates voted for the Proposed Revision.
Throughout the debate and decision, God’s presence was evident as delegates kept in step with the Spirit (Gal. 5:25), manifested the fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22-23), and left an aroma of Christ (2 Cor. 2:14-16).
The conference concluded with President Hamel leading the attendees in a strong and passionate confession of the new EFCA Statement of Faith. Here is a link to the Statement of Faith: http://www.efca.org/about/doctrine/
To God be the glory, great things He has done . . . and continues to do in the EFCA!

And may to God be the glory in all we do, by His Spirit’s leading and power, here at Felton Bible Church.

PENNIES, NICKELS, DIMES, QUARTERS, were dumped by the handful into our offering buckets during our week of Vacation Bible School. The purpose of their abundant giving was so that we could help purchase Bibles for the people of the Congo, in Africa. This giving was all part of our search for God’s Supernatural Treasure, the search for truth, and of course that truth was found in God’s Word.
Each morning Cordy Dixon, our Bible Story Lady, would tell the children great stories from God’s Word, and it was there that they discovered that God’s Word is to be not only listened to, but obeyed. We also learned that this Super Natural Treasure was something not to be hidden, but to be shared with the whole world, and thus our missions project to raise funds for Bibles.
While I was researching the Bible distribution project I came across some interesting information. Each Bible that we help supply costs about $9.00 to get into the hands of someone longing for the written Word of God. That $9.00 represents about 3.5% of their annual earnings. Now here’s the part that really grabbed me; using the percentage for our annual per capita income here in the USA, that same Bible would cost us about $735.00!!! You see why this project is so important? Even if the Bible was there for them to purchase it would be out of the reach of most.
The money which the children graciously gave this past week will help put God’s Supernatural Treasure into the hands, and hearts, of many who are desperately searching for it. Please join me in praying that their investment will yield a hundred-fold return. Amen!