Letter from the Pastor
September 2011

Dear Church Family and Friends,

So why the big deal about the BIG DEAL? This is a question that some, perhaps many, are asking. But more importantly, why some are choosing to not to participate? I invite you to stay with me here as I seek to respond to the question. I will start with a very short story:

Once the Devil was walking along with one of his cohorts. They saw a man ahead of them pick up something shiny. “What did he find?” asked the cohort. “A piece of the truth,” the Devil replied. “Doesn’t it bother you that he found a piece of the truth?” asked the cohort. “No,” said the Devil, “I will see to it that he makes a religion out of it.” Klyne Snodgrass, Between Two Truths – Living with Biblical Tensions, 1990, Zondervan Publishing House, p. 35.

Here is a piece of the truth. We are told by Paul’s letter to Titus that because of God’s grace  salvation has come to us and we are to turn away from godless living and sinful pleasures.  We are to live in this evil world with wisdom, righteousness, and devotion to God. Christ has freed us from every kind of sin, cleansing us and purifying us to make us His own special people, totally committed to  good works (Titus 2:11-14).

We are God’s children (if indeed we have received the gift of salvation in and through Christ  Jesus), and as such are to be committed to show God’s love in practical and extravagant ways to those around us. These  “good works,” we are told, are good and beneficial toeveryone (Titus 3:8). Here’s a revelation for us: it’s beneficial to us as  well.

It comes down to this. As a local body (Church) we are commanded to GO and make disciples. The best way to do  that is to show God’s love to those who don’t yet know God personally. They will not listen to what we have to say until  they know we sincerely care. It will be uncomfortable for some to go out because of fear; others because “it’s not their  thing”; others perhaps have no interest in getting personally involved. No matter the reason, everyone is encouraged to  worship together, even on those Sundays we go out. So let me encourage each and every one of you to take advantage of  every opportunity to worship and serve God in Christ. Please do not allow the wonderful gift of this truth be turned into a religious act. Let it be what it is: God’s love expressed by God’s people through good deeds.

I will leave you with this  Scripture:

“And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of  ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching. Hebrews 10:24-25 (NKJV)

May God richly bless you as we worship and serve our Lord here on earth  together.

In Jesus,
Pastor Norm