Love From Your Pastor

The elder (Pastor) to the elect lady & her children, whom I love in truth, and not only I, but also all who know the truth, because of the truth that abides in us & will be with us forever: Grace, mercy, and peace will be with us, from God the Father & from Jesus Christ the Father’s Son, in truth & love. (see 2 John 1-3)

I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.  (3 John 4)
What powerful statements from the apostle John to those whom he considered his spiritual “children”!  As he wrote to them (though he desired much more to see them face to face), he expressed his love for them, as well as the vital importance of walking in the truth!  As a pastor, I feel the same thing.  I long for us to be a family of believers who represent Jesus Christ well, who came into the world “full of grace and truth.”  And I desire for us to live out Paul’s admonition about “speaking the truth in love.”  When I see or hear of our people walking in the truth, there really is no greater joy than that!  I also have similar thoughts as a parent.  We all want to see our kids be “successful” in whatever they do, but far more important to me is that they love the Lord & walk with Him!  There is no greater joy in my life than seeing and hearing evidence that my children are walking in the truth!
Last week I asked you to say a prayer for Caleb, as he turned 14 (!).  Well today, I would like to ask a similar thing on behalf of Micah, who is turning 12 (!) in five days.  Our desire for Caleb from day 1 of his life has been that he would live up to his biblical namesake in being a man of faith & courage.  Our desire for Micah has been that he would also live up to the meaning of his biblical name: “who is like the Lord.”  Someone replied to my email last week with a powerfully written prayer on behalf of Caleb – and it brought tears of joy!  Thank you for loving my family and praying for us!
HALLELUJAH!  Praise the Lord for answered prayers regarding our two special projects we were raising funds for!  We had a goal of raising $6,000 by July 1 for the purchase of a diesel powered welding machine for the Kibuye Hope Hospital in Burundi, and as I write this we have received $8,175!!!  Thank you for your generosity!  Also, we were raising funds for Thurman Falk’s summer mission with Cru (Campus Crusade) to East Asia.  His goal was $5,100, and that goal has been met!!!  Thanking the Lord for a generous church family!
FBC has also been know to have people who generous with their time and muscle.  This Saturday Rich & Mary Snead are having a moving party at their house from about 8am to Noon.  If you can make it, they live at 33964 Powell Hills Loop in Shedd.  Contact one of our trustees for more info on this Saturday.
Another thing to Praise the Lord for: Congratulations to Nick & Erika on the birth of Luke!  He was born May 26 at 4:41pm, weighing 7 lbs., 2 oz and was 19 inches long.  Thank you for praying for this young and growing family!
This Sunday’s message will come from Revelation 12, “A Great Woman & a Great Dragon.”  Please read that passage and be in prayer about this Sunday!  The evil one does not want people talking about his impending downfall!  But that’s what we plan to do this Sunday.  There is an intense spiritual battle going on, so please pray, pray, pray!!
As we walk together in the truth, I have no greater joy!
Love From Your Pastor,
Michael