So, here we are looking at the start of another summer. Obviously, our view differs dramatically from when we were kids, when our view could be largely summed up in one word, fun, or its synonym…no school! Still, summer offers us a bit of hope for a change of pace, a bit of rest, and some long need extended time with our families. For most of us at least, it offers opportunity to do something different, something more, or something that’s been needing doing for some time. So, what are you planning on doing different or more or that it’s time to finally get around to doing? Plans are just that, plans. We don’t always get them completely done and rarely do they go exactly as we plan, but we still plan and should.

Let me encourage you to make specific, intentional plans to spend more time with your husband/wife in unhurried conversation. Let me encourage to make plans (not just plan on) creating some long needed opportunities for unhurried conversations with your children. Most importantly, let me encourage you to make personal, specific, and REAL plans to have more and more extended unhurried conversations with God. When we were kids fun wasn’t planned…it just happened, but now for fun, for rest, or for unhurried conversations to “happen” we must make specific plans, work those plans, and protect those plans from the many inevitable demands and obstacles that “stole them away” last summer and the summer before that.

A specific opportunity and challenge for this summer is to join your pastors and friends in the church wide challenge to read the whole Bible through in 105 days. This will take planning and commitment and 30-40 minutes a day, six days a week. This will give…extended time personally hearing God speak to you, wonderful occasions for us to share what He is showing us and doing in us through His Word, and certainly a life changing time of His powerful and personal influence in our lives. I’m looking forward to what it will do to me and what it will do to us. Hey, it’s a plan.

I’m really looking forward to our next study in Hebrews this week. I’m finding this portion of scripture uniquely clear and powerful in my life. I’m looking forward to our fellowship around our Savior. See you Sunday, Lord willing.

In Him,

P.Tim

So don’t faint, but this is twice in one week for me to blog! I was reminded this week by a colleague of the great benefit of getting “out of the building” from time to time to find uninterrupted time to study the Word in an undistracted way. I have often done it over the years, but lately I’ve been so absorbed into and by everything that I hadn’t done it for quite a while. So Tuesday morning, after an early bible study and prayer meeting I grabbed my stuff and found a place of quiet and coffee! Having focused on a few special themes in our services over the past few weeks, it was good to get back into my study of the book of Hebrews, actually it was great. It was greatly refreshing and invigorating to get so absorbed by the Word that I lost track of time. A part from an occasional break for coffee, I enjoyed 7 straight hours of study. Equally amazing is that while I have always hated “studying” in school, I have always loved studying His Word. I was powerfully reminded of a favorite verse on mine.

Psalm 119:162 I rejoice in your word like one who finds a great treasure.

So, I quickly made it a point to work through my schedule over the next several weeks to be sure to intentionally schedule more of the “off site” or “out of the building” seasons of study. I’m really looking forward to them! I’m really looking forward to worshiping together this coming Sunday. Obviously I’m a bit “pumped” about beginning our study of chapter 12! See you there, Lord willing.

In Him,

P. Tim

Deuteronomy 33:26-29 “There is none like God, O Jeshurun, who rides through the heavens to your help, through the skies in his majesty. The eternal God is your dwelling place, and underneath are the everlasting arms. And he thrust out the enemy before you and said, Destroy. So Israel lived in safety, Jacob lived alone, in a land of grain and wine, whose heavens drop down dew. Happy are you, O Israel! Who is like you, a people saved by the LORD, the shield of your help, and the sword of your triumph! Your enemies shall come fawning to you, and you shall tread upon their backs.”

With all of the ups and downs, promises and predictions, optimists and pessimists, and conflicting forecasts for just about everything, it genuinely refreshed my soul to read these verses early Sunday morning at the start of my day. Certainly Moses knew more of these ups and downs than I have or ever will. What a grand reassurance of God’s presence and power in our day to day lives. This wonderful encouragement was followed up today as early this morning I was reading Joshua 1-6.

Joshua 1:5-7, 9 “…Just as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you or forsake you. Be strong and courageous, for you shall cause this people to inherit the land that I swore to their fathers to give them. Only be strong and very courageous, being careful to do according to all the law that Moses my servant commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may have good success wherever you go…Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”

One last passage for the day, Psalm 150:1-6 “Praise the LORD! Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heavens! Praise him for his mighty deeds; praise him according to his excellent greatness! Praise him with trumpet sound; praise him with lute and harp! Praise him with tambourine and dance; praise him with strings and pipe! Praise him with sounding cymbals; praise him with loud clashing cymbals! Let everything that has breath praise the LORD! Praise the LORD!”…for those who were wondering about that tambourine thing Sunday morning!

In Him,

P. Tim

Well, I didn’t forget to blog this past week, it just felt like I didn’t have anything to say. In coming off of a series of the most challenging months, (maybe even years), of ministry, well, I was tired…really tired. Strangely enough, I thought of an old “Jordanism” that my dad used every now and then. He would say “I’m so tired my tired is tired.” I don’t know if I’m THAT tired, but it did come to mind. We had a great Sunday last Sunday with the theme “Partnering Together in the Gospel” as our new missions team under the leadership of Pastor Troy organized a wonderful day of services. Rob Clarke did a most excellent job handling God’s Word and passionately calling us to consider our part in God’s great work in the world.

This morning, with a reversed service order, Pastor Frank along with the music and media team, planned a powerful and exciting service. Taking the whole service for the Lord’s Supper is our long standing tradition. However, doing the morning service first and combining it with a baptismal service as our service, wasn’t my idea, but it was a great one! It was a glorious morning. We enjoyed the company of many guests, the Lord’s Supper was wonderfully sobering, and the testimonies of those baptized were exhilarating! Wow, what a powerful morning! It’s just about an hour until our special Sunday evening ABF “mixers” take place, where our ABFs will be mixed together cross generationally for fresh and stimulating fellowship. I’m looking forward to it. I am reminded of the second half of powerful verse in Colossians 2:19, “… the whole body, nourished and knit together through its joints and ligaments, grows with a growth that is from God.”

In Him,

P. Tim