Canvassing!

Hey guys, it was great to see so many of you come out for canvassing this morning. Praying that your contacts will have eternal results (maybe you just planted the seed). Keep following Christ, digging in, and encouraging one another.

The 6 week Colossians studies should be in next week sometime! I think you will enjoy the study.

See you on the Lord's Day!

PJ

what to read next??

One thing that's hard for me is deciding what to read next in my Devo's... I read Daniel, then Esther, then Ruth, and now I'm not sure where to move on from there... Problem is, is I want to read the whole thing. Pray that the Lord will lead me to something that would really apply to me personally. And, if you have any suggestions that would be helpful too. =)
Pastor Jon, you got me reading psalms 37. I read it over and over again and get something new every time! I love that chapter especially verse 7.
Rachel

Valley Forge Discoveries

"Almighty God; We make our earnest prayer that Thou wilt keep the United States in Thy holy protection; that Thou wilt incline the hearts of the citizens to cultivate a spirit of subordination and obedience to government; and entertain a brotherly affection and love for one another and for their fellow citizens of the United states at large." "And finally that Thou wilt most graciously be pleased to dispose us all to do justice, to love mercy, and to demean ourselves with that charity, humility, and pacific temper of mind which were the characteristics of the Divine Author of our blessed religion, and without a humble imitation of whose example in these things we can never hope to be a happy nation. Grant our supplication, we beseech Thee, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen."

I was at Valley Forge this weekend and in the Washington Chapel I found this prayer that George Washington prayed and I found it interesting how he said "Without a humble imitation of whose example in these things we can never hope to be a happy nation" Wow! He prayed that a long time ago and we are living out what he prayed would not happen. America has tried to shut God out and because of that, Americans, in general, are extremely discontent, unhappy and live miserable lives. Without God in the picture there can be no true happiness and joy. Anyways, I just thought it was a neat prayer and wanted to share it with you.

In Awe of Him,
Chrystal

Prayer Request

Tonight we got word that a friend of our family committed suicide a week ago. He has a wife and three kids, two of which are in high school. As you can imagine it was quite a shock. We believe he was saved, in fact he worked in the ministry. But he had always dealt with issues of depression. So if you all could pray for his family during this very rough time it would be greatly appreciated. Their last name is Londres, and the kids names are Pamela (17), Zach (15), and Sarah (9).

Love in Christ,
Kristin Hanson

Coming Out!

I've been doing a six-week bible study on James, and it has been an excellent help in digging deeper into James. It's been pretty cool actually, with studying that book earlier this year and having Sunday School lessons and messages taught on James that there is still so much to learn. The past few days I've been studying James 2:14-26. Here is what it says:
What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.
Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?
And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only. Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way? For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.
Now obviously, I have heard and read this passage so many times before. But it made such an impact on me this time when I read it. I think it's because I've been realizing lately how true it really is. Being a Christian is more than just asking forgiveness for our sins and knowing that we're going to heaven someday. Jesus didn't die for me so that I could accept His gift of Salvation and then just sit like a wart on a witch's nose! I need to be living what I believe! And being a witness to those who don't know about the Truth. I'm sick of being lukewarm. I'm sick of being scared. Making sure I stay within my comfort zone just isn't worth it in the end. In fact, I'm just not comfortable being 'comfortable' anymore. And I thank God for that, but I have to admit that I haven't been able to get past the fear part yet. So pray for me. Because I'm really going to be trying to live out my faith - whoever I'm with and wherever I am.

Becca

Urgent Prayer Request

Hey Everyone,
This is Chrystal, typing for Katie Hefflefinger. (My talent as a secretary is getting around! =) She asked me to put up a post for her, since she isn't able to, asking you all to pray. She said tomorrow she is going to write her unsaved grandparents a letter and just write out the plan of salvation for them and let them know how much she cares for them and about where they will spend eternity. She said they have heard the plan of salvation many times but she herself has never told them how much it means to her. So she is asking that you all pray for her as she writes the letter; that God will give the wisdom to know what to say and the courage to state the truth clearly in a loving way. And she also asks that you would pray for her grandparents; that even now God would be working in their hearts and preparing them to receive the letter with an open mind.

Guys, this is our opportunity to help make a possible difference in someones eternity. Please, Please, Please, don't forget to pray!

C.F.D. -aka- the secretary- in behalf of Katherine Elizabeth Hefflefinger....=)

King Tut and Me!

I was reading Exodus 8 and I was comparing Pharaoh to Peter as I was reading over the sermon notes from pastors sermon on "living past the mountaintop"

Pharaoh
Did not want to let go of his sin.
God had to teach him the hard way.
He still would not listen.
Finally the plagues were too much.
He told them they could go, but they could not go far.
The plague is gone, and he hardens his heart again.
After God takes away his son, he submits.
As the Israelites are leaving he chases them again.
His life ends chasing sin.

Peter
Peter was a lowly fisherman.
Christ called him, and he followed.
He walked with Christ throughout His earthly ministry.
He denied Christ right after he had just had communion with Him, and told Him he would die for Him!
He got back up, and God used him at Pentecost!

-Peter wasn't perfect, but he refused to allow a defeat to hinder his relationship with Christ. Wow, what a testimony!
-Pharaoh spent his life holding on to his sins, and chasing after them. He made the right decisions a couple of times, but his heart was not in it. After the pressure had let up, he caved again. Wow, that is such a sad story!

-Me, I pray that I will be like Peter!!! Actually I pray I'll be like Christ, but what a great example.



This has been a very early morning thought by:


Striving for Excellence,
John P. Dierking

Such Colors No Artist Can Do!

"Each time I touch a rose petal and breathe the sweet fragrance it brings, I know theres a God up in heaven. No human could create these things!

The sunset in its golden splendor, such colors no artist can do! I know when I look on its beauty, each page in the Bible is true.

No picture or painting can capture the beauty of any of these. The handiwork of God is revealed in the flowers, the sunset, the trees."

God has been teaching me a lot recently. He has been teaching me new things through S.S., my personal time with Him, listening to old camp messages, etc. But He also has been reminding of a lot of things I have already learned in the past; to thank Him when my prayers are answered, to hand my willfulness/pride over to Him, to be continually praising Him for my salvation, to notice His power through Creation, and so many more things! It was neat to be reminded of what a strong God we serve during our family time at the ocean last Saturday. It had been a while since my last trip to the ocean and I had forgotten how salty the water is! =) It was a sunny day and also very windy which made for incredible waves! I didn't even need to use the boogie board. I would just position myself under a huge wave and it would crash over me and then I would be tumbling and spinning through the foamy water as it tossed me toward shore. The force of the waves as they crashed on the beach reminded me of how God created the waters and for Him it was no big deal. He simply spoke it into existence! And then as I picked up a variety of sea shells, watched the sea gulls eat bread out of Marks hand and built a huge sand castle with Jesse and Rachel, I noticed the tiny grains of sand and was once more reminded of Gods creativity in creation. God made each of the things I noticed, for us to enjoy and to serve as a reminder of what an awesome God He is! Ok, I could keep going but since I already shared some of this in S.S. I wont keep elaborating...=)

In Awe of Him,

Chrystal

Good message this morning...

I really enjoyed the message this morning! Thank you Pastor Walters. I liked when you said that you never fully understand the strength of the wind until you get out there and feel it's power. Same as with temptations.... you never really know how hard it is to resist until you try.... I had never thought that Christ knows even more than we do the hardship of temptations because he has never given into it! I just love being reminded that Christ knows what we're going through and loves to hear about it, and wants to help us! Hope you all were as encouraged as I was!
Rachel

Reply to John's email

Hey John, I couldn't reply by email because the computer won't send any emails. I wanted to let you know that I will be helping the Caputos on Wed, with the cookout they are having at Millersville. I might be there later, I'll have to see what's going on. If I don't make it on Wednesday, I'll just practice on Sunday. Hope you all are doing well, and see you all later Lord willing. Talk to you later man.

Your Friend,
Chris

Hey

Hello Everyone, I hope you all are doing well. I hope you all are experiencing God's magnificence. I would like to ask a favor. I know you all are busy, but I am finishing up with the Wilds clip, I've been working on, and I need some pictures. If anyone has some good pictures, could you send them to me. Whenever you get a chance, I know you all are busy. I would greatly appreciate it. Hopefully I'll have it finished soon I would have sent an email to you all, but my computer won't send any emails, but it will receive emails, weird huh. : ) Thanks guys!! Keep investigating God's magnificence.

In Prayer of you all,
Your Friend,
Chris

A slap in the face!

I had been reading earlier in the week about the Israelites defeating Jericho, then losing to AI.

It was interesting to see that when the Israelites defeated Jericho, the where depending on God, but when they when up against the little city of AI, they were defeated. Why? because they had not entreated the Lord.

A Lesson Learned

God wants us to go to Him; even if it is something small. He has an answer and a plan for EVERY circumstance! It's easy to go to Him for something big. "God, where should I go to college?" But, often times we think we can handle the little things.

It's the same thing with our sin! "God, I struggle with ____." But, the little sins, the ones we think we have handled are the ones we will be susceptible to if we aren't giving them to God daily.

"All Things Work Together"

It was neat because, in Sunday school yesterday, (yup, I was upstairs!) Mr. Ainsworth taught on the same thing!!!

Thank you God!




A late morning tidbit by,

Striving for Excellence,
John Dierking

P.S. I haven't posted for a while because (this is embarrassing!) I forgot the password!

What A Loving, and Merciful God

Good Morning Everyone!!! What a beautiful day God has given us today. I was reading in my devotions about God's love and mercy toward us. God loves us so much. I can't describe how thankful I am for His love and mercy. Jesus paid the price, so that you and I can be totally clean. We aren't perfect, but Jesus took ALL OUR SINS AWAY!! What love He has for you and me. Ohh how He loves you and me, He gave His life, what more could He give, Ohh how He loves you, and me. I'm praying for you all everyday. This week was very difficult, with school starting again, but God is faithful to us everyday!! What a loving, and merciful God we serve!!

In prayer of you all,
Your Friend,
Chris

Till the Stars Fall...

Wow! A month ago today we were at the Wilds and God was already working in so many of our lives! I am telling you right now, this is going to be long post! But I have a lot to share and dont want to leave anything out! Ok, to start with, read the words to this song and really think about them...

From the very start, have purpose in your heart
To do what's right, and never question why
Never count the cost though everything seems lost
The price for doing right is sometimes very high

Right is always right and wrong is always wrong
And we must learn to seperate the two.
If you love the right, the Lord will give you light;
So seek the right in everything you do!

Do right till the stars fall.
Do right till the last call.
Do right when there no one else to stand by you.
Do right when youre all alone.
Do right though it never known.
Do right since you love the Lord.
Do right! Do right!

I have heard this song before but it is starting to have a new meaning for me....I am beginning to realize how easy it is to slip up and to let yourself think it is ok, because its just something small or nobody will know. ..How easy it is to make excuses! This song says you should want to Do Right simply because you love the Lord! I found this verse in Proverbs that says, "For the ways of man are before the eyes of the Lord and he pondereth all his goings" I looked up the definition of the word pondereth and this is what it says "To weigh in the mind with thoroughness and care." In other words, God is looking at everything we are doing and thinking about it. When we do something, He is literally meditating on it. That really makes me think. Is what I am doing pleasing Him as He thinks about it or is He dissapointed? This is something the Lord has really been working with me about. It is something I would appreciate prayer for as well. It has been very easy for me justify wrong-doing or to be a coward when it comes to confessing the wrong.

"Sometimes life seems like words and music that can't quite become a song. So we cry inside and we try again and wondered what could be wrong...but when we turn to the LORD at the end of ourselves like we've done a time or two before. We'll find HIS truth is the same as it's always been and never will need more. It's not in trying but in trusting...it's not in running but in resting...it's not in wondering but in praying...that we find the strength of the LORD."

In Awe of Him,
Chrystal

Keeping On Keeping On

As summer ends and busy school/work schedules resume, let us not forget the importance of keeping our appointments with the Word. "One of the ways we can fight against the inclinations that lure us from the Word of God to computers or television or any other substitute pleasure is to remind ourselves often of the immeasurable and superior benefits of the Word of God in our lives. We must put the evidence before us that reading, pondering, memorizing, and studying the Bible will yield more joy in this life and the next than all the things that lure us from it." --John Piper

GOD IS SO GOOD!!!

I love the fact that I am able to rest in God's goodness no matter where I am or what I am doing. I have been learning so much lately! Pray for me as I am going to have a pretty hard semester in school. I am taking a lot of courses and will need to keep my mind open. Pray that I will always have that special time with God since that is the most important part of the day. Praying for you as often as I can!
Rachel

Matt Herbster Quote

this quote came from the Friday session, The Danger of Rock Music. Matt was actually quoting his high school Bible teacher who said, "Our thinking leads us to how we act which leads to our habits which leads to our lifestyles."

If we want our life to be God-honoring, we must start by having thinking that is God-honoring.

Praying that y'all are experiencing outrageous contagious joy!

Pastor Jon

I'd like to ask prayer for myself concerning my future. I am in my senior year, and would like to know what it is that God has for me. I am torn between jumping into full-time ministry, and doing something else, because of my belief that I would fail miserably at full-time ministry on my own strength, assuming that is is not His will. So, if you could pray that I would have the patience to wait on God to reveal His perfect will in His perfect time, I would appreciate it. Phredd

prayer requests

i have a couple of things that i need your prayers about. i ask you to pray that the Lord would give me courage to witness to my friend Steven. in past years i have not been a good witness to him, so that will make it harder to do. please pray that his heart would be tender and that the Lord would put me in a situation where the talk will lead into spiritual matters. also i have been struggling since the WILDS family camp week to keep from going back into sin. pray that the Lord would help me to get victory in this area and help me to avoid any situations that temptation might come to me. the testimony time was great this afternoon! we should do it more often.
in christ,
Ryan

exciting news

Hey,

I know I just posted but I just got an e-mail from my friend Hosanna who most of you know since she has come to many teen activities..and thought I would share with you a praise. Anyways, she was pretty excited because her little brother responded to an altar call and got saved today!!!!!! If you could remember to pray for him I know they would appreciate it...It is especially exciting for a person when family gets saved and I know I am going to try to remember him in my prayers. I love hearing when people accept Christ as their Saviour. It always reminds me to be thankful for my salvation and the work on the cross. With the message from this morning and the songs we sang at church about the cross and then getting that e-mail, my focus is being kept in the right place!

Chrystal

Thankfulness

I just wanted to say that I really enjoyed being able to catch up with everybody this morning at church. It was neat to hear what God has been doing in your lives and also to get some specific prayer requests. The time after the meal was cool because we got to talk some stuff through and then pray. We need to do that more often but next time we need more than ten minutes! (more like 5 hours! =) Biz and I were talking about how important it is to have friends to encourage you in the right direction. I mean, yes, with Gods help you can do all things, but with Godly friends growing along with you you can learn so much more and the accountability thing has really helped too. You all have been like that for me and I just want to say thanks. Please continue to keep me in your prayers and that I will learn to run to God with every decision I make. Whether it is as small as whether or not to do something cheerfully or something as big as what college to go to.

In Awe of Him,
Chrystal

P.S. How many of you miss the college kids? (sob)