Just a quick observation: you are a beautiful church that God is designing and building. This is an essay written by one of our church members connected to this series that we are in and I thought it worthy and timely for all of us:
Winning the Lottery
Winning the lottery is a big deal. Instantly you are a millionaire, and you have enough money to buy whatever you want. You can quit your job. Everybody treats you nicely or at least they want you to be nice to them. It is happiness. It is practically ultimate freedom.
I won the lottery. There was no money involved, but I got most of the other stuff. It is better than the money-lottery because this prize lasts forever. It is the eternity-lottery. I decided that Jesus was my Lord and Savior and that I would follow him. He said, “I will be with you always.” That’s a bigger deal.
After I accepted Jesus I noticed that I have enough money for whatever I need, and all those things that I want are not that important to my new goals. When I leave the house every day, I am not going to “my job”, I am going out into the world to do the work of the Lord. Whether that is in the basement of the VA hospital or being a high school teacher is irrelevant. I will never quit my job of serving others. I don’t plan on retiring from my job of serving the Lord. I treat everybody nicely. Sometimes they treat me nice and sometimes they don’t. I can’t control those who don’t, but I can forget about it and enjoy those who react positively towards me. I’m happy. Life is not perfect: my parents died, my friends are sick, and I’ve been sick. Adversity and death are certain. To ignore adversity is irrational. To look beyond it is reasonable. Jesus addressed this specifically: “God sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous”, Matthew 5:45, and “surely I am with you always, to the every end of the age”, Matthew 28:20. I am expecting the rain, and I am looking forward to the light at the end of the age.
I have practically ultimate freedom. “Everything is permissible, but not everything is beneficial”, 1 Corinthians 10:23. There are just two main rules in God’s book: obey God and love your neighbor as yourself. These two rules are really simple. They are described in detail in the Bible. However, they are difficult to follow, and they take constant practice.
The eternity-lottery is great to win. Unlike the money-lottery, it is available to every one to win. People decide to accept it or reject it. I accepted it.
TPD 9-2-07
This Sunday we’ll continue on in the ABC’s of financial success series talking about Choices.
Here’s some upcoming events and ministry that is about to happen:
· This Sunday we will begin taking family pictures for the church pictorial directory. If you haven’t signed up yet, please do so this Sunday. If you are signed up for this Sunday, the pictures will be taken in the Family Life Center.
· On Sunday, April 27th at 6:00 p.m. the Children’s and Bridge choirs will present “Good News Cruise.” This is an even the whole family will enjoy.
· Starting on Wednesday night, May 7 and running every Wednesday in May, our senior minister, Scott will being leading a month of Wednesday night Bible Adventures for grades 4 and 5. These will be a series of experiential, hands on type of lessons. Also, if you are a parent who would like to assist please e-mail him at scott@forumchristian.org. Time will go from 6:15-7:30. Watch the bulletin for more details.
We welcome Sophie Mashburn, who was baptized this last Wednesday night during Synergy, to the Forum family.
I look forward to worshiping with you this Sunday. Please keep our elders in prayer as we zero in on God’s person to serve as our children’s director. God is doing a great thing here – I’m glad you are on board for it all. Scott
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