HUMILITY, THINKING
ABOUT YOURSELF LESS
Monday, March 15, 2010
Saturday, March 13, 2010
Complete & Perfect
Some Christians in the ancient church in Colosse thought they needed something more to complete their Christian life than what the Apostle Paul's coworker Epaphras helped found and build in Christ Jesus. Paul's letter gives us hints as to what more they thought they needed:
- powers, rulers and authorities, 1:14
- circumcision, 2:11
- religious festivals, 2:16
- angels, 2:18
- regulations, 2:23
Scholars debate the exact meaning of the sum total of this list, but Paul diagnosed the problem: for some of the Colossians, Jesus was not supreme (1:18). And if Jesus is not supreme in the believer's life, that believer will look to fill the void.
Paul's argument is that believers have all they need in Christ alone. "Christ in you, the hope of glory" (1:27) is the start and end to our spiritual lives. Anything else is a weak substitute. Paul states that he and Epaphras's purpose among the Colossians is to "present everyone perfect in Christ." (1:28)
Christian perfection is attained as Christians live in "the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge." Again, Paul stresses, anything that tries to do the work of Christ is a weak substitute, an ineffective interloper. As Dr. Ben Witherington writes, "Jesus outshines the competition."
Paul encourages the Colossians not to be seduced by any message (2:8) other than Jesus Christ, for "in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and you have been given fullness in Christ..." (2:9). We are already full, complete and perfect in Christ IF/AS we stand firm in him (1:23; 2:6-7).
The Colossians had their temptations to add to Jesus. We do too.
Friday, March 12, 2010
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
February Financial Report
February General Giving $7,632
February Rent Income 1,762
TOTAL: February General Budget Contributions 9,444
Total Expenses for February 11,454
Difference -2,010
General Giving, Year to Date 78,566
Rent Income, Year to Date 12,250
TOTAL: General Income, Year to Date 92,963
Total Expenses, Year to Date 92,215
Difference 748
Faith Promise Missions Giving for February 1,555
Faith Promise Missions Giving, Year to Date 10,796
Total Designated Funds 9,185
Total Cash Available 4,239
Congratulations, Shayne and Stephanie!
On the birth of your beautiful baby boy!
(Details and photos during the Sunday worship service.)
What is Social Justice?
Scot McKnight's Jesus Creed blog has a post taking commentator Glenn Beck to task for his comments on churches and "social justice".
But what's fascinating is the comments that follow, as Christians from across the spectrum debate the meaning of social justice and how to achieve it. Click here to read.
Enjoy.
But what's fascinating is the comments that follow, as Christians from across the spectrum debate the meaning of social justice and how to achieve it. Click here to read.
Enjoy.
Monday, March 8, 2010
Billy Lewis Remembered
Email from the EFCSW Office:
Friends
We just received word that Billy Lewis passed away early this afternoon. Services are tentatively scheduled for this coming Saturday, March 13, 2010 [now confirmed for 2:00pm at Garden Grove Friends Church] - but the family is still finalizing the details. Please pray for the family during this season of grieving, and give thanks for the wonderful life that Billy lived and shared with all of us. Thank you for praying.
I met Billy Lewis in 1990, early on in my ministry as pastor of Midway City (CA) Friends Church. He and wife Marie were members of Garden Grove Friends Church, located a short distance from Midway City Friends and our closest-in-participation sister church. Billy was the chaplain at Quaker Gardens, a Friends-founded multi-level care facility in nearby Stanton. Billy would often invite me to speak at either the Quaker Gardens midweek chapel service, Sunday vespers or Good Friday service, gracious acts considering my youth and inexperience as a pastor. He sort of took me under his wing, answering questions and providing encouragement. He and Marie were a kindly couple, warm and friendly. Billy had a big smile, resonant voice, and thoughtful disposition.
Billy was Friendly through and through, a fixture at Yearly Meeting events and meetings. Known as "Mr. Quaker Meadow", after our denomination's Sierra Nevada church camp, he pastored several California Yearly Meeting (now known as Evangelical Friends Church Southwest) churches, including Azusa Friends, now Glendora Friends Church. I pulled the following from our history archives:
I met Billy Lewis in 1990, early on in my ministry as pastor of Midway City (CA) Friends Church. He and wife Marie were members of Garden Grove Friends Church, located a short distance from Midway City Friends and our closest-in-participation sister church. Billy was the chaplain at Quaker Gardens, a Friends-founded multi-level care facility in nearby Stanton. Billy would often invite me to speak at either the Quaker Gardens midweek chapel service, Sunday vespers or Good Friday service, gracious acts considering my youth and inexperience as a pastor. He sort of took me under his wing, answering questions and providing encouragement. He and Marie were a kindly couple, warm and friendly. Billy had a big smile, resonant voice, and thoughtful disposition.
Billy was Friendly through and through, a fixture at Yearly Meeting events and meetings. Known as "Mr. Quaker Meadow", after our denomination's Sierra Nevada church camp, he pastored several California Yearly Meeting (now known as Evangelical Friends Church Southwest) churches, including Azusa Friends, now Glendora Friends Church. I pulled the following from our history archives:
BILLY and MARIE LEWIS served with us THREE years, 1968-1971.
We had 3 fine years with Billy and Marie. The spiritual tone of the church was good, the quality of our Sunday School improved with their help, they were good for the vocal and instrumental music. And Billy knew how to improve the business administration of the church.
[Written by Charles and Hallie Gilmore.]
When [Pastor] Ron Crecelius moved to Oregon in December 1967, Ed Peterman, with the assistance of Sheldon Jackson, served as interim pastors until April 1968, when Billy and Marie Lewis came as full time pastors. In the Lewis’ first summer, the church launched an annual month-long series of Sunday evening services “Under the Stars” on the church lawn. It was part of an effort to reach out into the local community. Homes were visited and people invited to come for good music and a rousing Christian film on a large screen set up for the occasion.
In 1970, Azusa Friends Church joined the other churches of the city of Azusa, including St. Francis of Rome Catholic Church, in distributing to the homes of Azusa copies of Good News for Modern Man bible. In June 1971, Billy Lewis resigned as pastor to join the officials in the Yearly Meeting Office, with responsibilities for the work of Christian Education and Youth. [Written by Sheldon Jackson.]
The following appeared in the July-August, 1959 issue of California Friend:
WILL START NEW WORK IN SAN FERNANDO
California Yearly Meeting Evangelistic Board has extended a call to Billy and Marie Lewis to move to the San Fernando area to begin the work of establishing a new Friends church. The Lewis family plan to begin their work about September 1, leaving the Dayton Friends Meeting in Ohio in the middle of August.
Born in Van Wert, Ohio, Billy Lewis spent his childhood in Van Wert County. After attending two years at Ft. Wayne Bible College, he attended Goshen College and Earlham College in Indiana.
He served as pastor of Penn Friends Church in Cassopolis, Michigan, for three years, then became the evangelist for Indiana Yearly Meeting for one year. For 13 years he and his family have served Dayton, Ohio, Friends Meeting.
Positions he has held in Indiana Yearly Meeting include chairman of the Executive Committee, chairman of Book and Tract Committee, and chairman of Pastors Quarterly Retreats.
Billy and Marie Lewis have a son, Paul, who is 15 and a daughter, Martha, who is 12.
When [Pastor] Ron Crecelius moved to Oregon in December 1967, Ed Peterman, with the assistance of Sheldon Jackson, served as interim pastors until April 1968, when Billy and Marie Lewis came as full time pastors. In the Lewis’ first summer, the church launched an annual month-long series of Sunday evening services “Under the Stars” on the church lawn. It was part of an effort to reach out into the local community. Homes were visited and people invited to come for good music and a rousing Christian film on a large screen set up for the occasion.
In 1970, Azusa Friends Church joined the other churches of the city of Azusa, including St. Francis of Rome Catholic Church, in distributing to the homes of Azusa copies of Good News for Modern Man bible. In June 1971, Billy Lewis resigned as pastor to join the officials in the Yearly Meeting Office, with responsibilities for the work of Christian Education and Youth. [Written by Sheldon Jackson.]
The following appeared in the July-August, 1959 issue of California Friend:
WILL START NEW WORK IN SAN FERNANDO
California Yearly Meeting Evangelistic Board has extended a call to Billy and Marie Lewis to move to the San Fernando area to begin the work of establishing a new Friends church. The Lewis family plan to begin their work about September 1, leaving the Dayton Friends Meeting in Ohio in the middle of August.
Born in Van Wert, Ohio, Billy Lewis spent his childhood in Van Wert County. After attending two years at Ft. Wayne Bible College, he attended Goshen College and Earlham College in Indiana.
He served as pastor of Penn Friends Church in Cassopolis, Michigan, for three years, then became the evangelist for Indiana Yearly Meeting for one year. For 13 years he and his family have served Dayton, Ohio, Friends Meeting.
Positions he has held in Indiana Yearly Meeting include chairman of the Executive Committee, chairman of Book and Tract Committee, and chairman of Pastors Quarterly Retreats.
Billy and Marie Lewis have a son, Paul, who is 15 and a daughter, Martha, who is 12.
A Tale of Two Brothers
No, not Cain and Abel, or Isaac and Ishmael, or Jacob and Esau, or even Joseph and Judah. But having those sibling stories from Genesis in mind while reading this article by Peter Hitchens about his relationship with famous atheist-brother Christopher Hitchens was a bit of a fun exercise for me. It also speaks to the condition of our own sibling relationships.
Enjoy.
Enjoy.
Satisfy Your Inner Cartographer's Sweet Tooth
I discovered this link to a 90 second map tour of biblical/world history on Dr. Ben Witherington's blog.
Enjoy.
Enjoy.
Thursday, March 4, 2010
The Glorious Silence: A Good Friday Gathering
the glorious silence
...a Good Friday gathering for
silence, reflection, meditation and prayer
Good Friday, April 2
from 5:00-8:00pm
5:00 - 6:30pm Personal prayer, reflection and meditation
...to begin we will gather in the sanctuary
6:30pm - A light supper will be served in the Fellowship Hall
($3.00 donation for the cost of the meal)
7:30pm - Closing benediction in the Sanctuary
If your schedule does not permit you to come at 5:00,
feel free to join in at any point in the evening.
R.S.V.P. on the back of your Sunday morning worship card
or to Lizz in the church office, (626) 963-9423, or Lizz's email.
For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness
and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves
in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
Colossians 1:13-14
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Biblical Archaeology Does It Again
A wall built in King Solomon's time is unearthed.
http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/136130
http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/136130
The Perfect Church
Scot McKnight in his Jesus Creed blog posts on Criticizing Church, Defending Church.
Monday, February 22, 2010
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