Last June was our 35^th wedding anniversary. As a family tradition, we try to go someplace special on the “fives”. We weren’t able to get away this past summer, so we decided to take advantage of the one year off from the National Leadership Conference (which will return new and improved next year) and take that anniversary getaway now. So, as I am writing this we are almost at the end of our 3 day escape and I’m sitting in a beautiful B&B high in the Rockies, looking out at powerfully blue skies and huge snow covered mountains. It is magnificent! You know how sometimes your plans go as expected, sometimes not as expected (worse), and sometimes beyond your expectations…well this has been glorious.

Marilyn and I treasure the time we can be alone together and get away from all, or at least some of the demands. We have had great fun together. It has been spiritually refreshing and rejuvenating. The Lord has been very kind to us in allowing us this time away. While I would like to stay a bit longer, I am looking forward to worshipping together this Sunday. I am very excited about the powerful truths of living by faith in our next section in Hebrews 11. So, I’m looking forward to seeing you Sunday, the Lord willing.

To our church family in particular, please pray for Doris Alamo and her daughters in light of the home going of Mike. Mike struggled long and patiently with cancer for many years. Doris has been so very faithful and Mike so very patient. As we visited together this past week in the hospital his spirit was high and hopeful. His suffering has ended. His unspeakable joy has begun. The viewing will be at 9:30 Saturday morning in the fellowship hall, with the funeral to follow at 10:30. Again, let’s all keep the family in our prayers.

In Him,

P. Tim

I had the opportunity this week to visit A.I. DuPont Hospital for Children this past week in Wilmington, DE. A close friend of one of the ladies in our bible study had just given birth to a baby girl. They quickly detected a severe heart problem requiring open heart surgery on the newborn. I stood beside her little bed in the coronary intensive care unit and prayed that God would not only spare her life, but let her live to know and love Him. Please pray for her. Her name is Brianna. As I had time to reflect on the situation, a number of things came to mind.

First of all, I was reminded again of the priceless privilege to go directly before the “throne of grace” to find the wisdom, kindness, and power from our great God and Savior. I was delighted with this opportunity to show His love to the baby’s mom and family. I was also impressed with the beauty and unbelievable qualities of that hospital. It is an amazing facility with amazing care. Although I wasn’t expecting it, I was also reminded of the many days and weeks I spent in the hospital as a little child. Hospitals were quite different places then. Parents could visit for a relatively short time and never were they allowed to stay with you. At DuPont I watched little children riding tricycles and being pulled around in little red wagons up and down the hallways with the assistance of aides. Frankly I felt quite happy that these many sick and hurting children could be cared for in such a beautiful place with such superior care.

This afternoon, I am planning to visit a different child in a different hospital. Once again, I delighted that in all of this “underneath are the everlasting arms” and that our God is “a very present help in time of trouble.” I’m delighted that no matter what the circumstances, as a pastor, as a friend, there is always something good to say, always are real reason for hope, because our God always has been and always will be good. Life isn’t always good, but God is good…always.

In Him,

P. Tim

Wow, what a week! Last Friday evening we had a great bible study with 3 additional new friends and a glorious opportunity to share the gospel…while the snow began to fall for the second “crippling” snow storm of this season. As the snow ended on Saturday afternoon we all “enjoyed” the challenge of digging out. Sunday was our first of a year’s worth of fellowship Sundays. I am really excited about setting aside the first Sunday of each month to focus intentionally and intensely on creating opportunities for building true fellowship. The snow threatened our day, but God blessed. People dug out and trekked through the snow. We had a great day of worship, a great fellowship meal with well over 500 people staying for lunch, and a good early “evening service” to complete the day. I went home quite out of gas, but filled with encouragement. I was tired, but it was a “good” tired.

Just yesterday I stood at the foot of the bed of brother Walt Dobrowolski, praying as he breathed his last and entered into glory. His passing was rather sudden, but God blessed in allowing the whole family to make it to his bedside. As you would expect there were many tears, but also great joy. Later we all braced for the third “crippling” snow storm of the season…a new record for significant storms in a season and for total snow fall for the season, already. Having cleared the snow in our drive and on our sidewalks, Marilyn and I spend much of the day 4-wheeling in my truck, seeing the snow up close and personal, while visiting family. It was beautiful outside and we had great fun together. Now, I’m sitting at home, blogging and getting ready to snow-blow the snow for a second time today. These past few days have been quite full and filled with unexpected challenges and blessings. I’m looking forward to our worship together again this Sunday. See you there, Lord willing.

In Him,

P. Tim

Speaking of “heart”, I’m right now sitting in Green Bay airport on my way home from Heart Conference. The theme of this year’s conference was prayer and most of the speakers I had never heard before. So, to be painfully honest, I was anticipating great fellowship, but not necessarily great preaching. However, while the fellowship was sweet, encouraging, and edifying, the preaching was greatly used of God in my own life. A number of things deeply resonated with my heart, having just passed through a time in my life when I was absolutely compelled to pray much for frequently, even constantly, much more passionately, even desperately, more than I can ever remember in my life so far. Clearly I have prayed like I never had before, because I absolutely had no other real choices, at least none that wouldn’t have made matters much worse. I am still being compelled to pray, but not just with desperation, but actually felt hope and joy.

Please pray for this coming Lord’s Day. I really believe it’s a very important day for us as a church. Pray that we all survive and successfully dig out of the impending snow storm. Please pray that God keeps all of our people safe. Pray that we experience pure, powerful, and passionate worship as we observe the Lord’s Supper together. Please pray for our “brown bag” luncheon and early afternoon service. Pray that you will meet one of our many visitors personally this Sunday and that God will give you the spiritual courage to step out of your comfort zone to please Him by faith. Pray that He will use you to welcome and encourage these people He loves and has brought to our church to be loved. Really, these are real and important issues to bring to the Lord together in prayer.

Well, I really am looking forward to our fellowship together this Lord’s Day. See you then, Lord willing.

In Him,

P. Tim