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Location: Blogs Brad's BlogMid-Week Missive |
 | | Posted by: Brad Miller | 10/16/2008 8:28 AM | Greetings on the GORGEOUS day!
It is weeks like this past week that really bring some things into focus for me. It helps me to keep the important things in perspective. It helps me to remember what is truly most important. And it helps me to realize just how important this thing we call church really is.
I don’t need to tell you what a roller coaster the last week has been. When the Dow Jones Industrials closed in such low territory last Friday, the fear was palpable. It wasn’t helped by the fact that every newscast, news update and talk show over the weekend told us what bad shape our retirement funds were in! I even heard one of the announcers on the baseball game on Sunday night talk about it. C’mon, ya knuckleheads, I watching this to escape from the real world! There was very little evidence of a precious commodity that we all were craving: hope. When I realized that Monday was a federal holiday I thought, “Well, at least the stock market will be closed, so we won’t have to listen to that all day.” Well, I was wrong. The stock market was open and we DID have to listen to that all day.
But there was something different about Monday: there was a glimmer of hope. Early Monday morning, the leaders of the large industrialized nations of the world came to an agreement as to how to move forward. I don’t pretend to understand it all, but if all those leaders can come to an agreement that will serve to help their country and the world economy, chance are there is something to it. The stock markets opened up, and went up, and went up, and went up, until at the closing bell, the Dow Jones had it’s biggest one day gain in history.
On Tuesday I was thinking about what this all meant and I realized nothing had actually changed! Oh, my retirement funds looked a little better, but nobody had actually done anything. A large part of the gain came simply on the hope that something was going to be done…sometime…in the future! What a powerful force hope is!
Of course, we in the church have known this for a long time. The world needs hope, and we have it to offer. Whether it is the need for hope in these uncertain financial times, or the need for hope in a world where threats abound and nations eye each other warily, or the need for hope in the midst of the pain and suffering of illness, the church can meet that need. And because our hope is grounded on the promises of God revealed through Jesus Christ, it is not fanciful or fleeting: it is as solid as granite and as comforting as warm embrace.
No matter what the world throws at us, we can take comfort that the church doors are open and the fellowship of believers are ready to open their arms to all who would come. Offering hope and peace and love.
Now, more than ever, the world needs hope. Now, more than ever, the world needs the church. Now, more than ever, the church needs each of us. Because simply put, together, as the Body of Christ, we are the hope of the world.
For your calendars:
Don’t forget the board meeting this Sunday where we will recommend a budget to the congregation and hear the report of the nominating committee as to our leadership for 2009. All members are expected to attend, but all are invited. We will meet immediately following worship, lunch will be served. THERE WILL BE NO POT LUCK LUNCH THIS SUNDAY. If you are not a board member and plan on coming to the meeting, please let me know by return e-mail so we can plan for the proper amount of food.
This Saturday is a big day on the pumpkin patch: face painting, a moon walk, crafts and refreshments and the Garden Club is sponsoring a scarecrow contest for all the children at 2:00!
For your prayer list:
Please keep Zeb and Anne Morgan in your prayers as Zeb continues to improve following back surgery. Anne wants to make sure that the members and friends of BCC know how much they appreciate all the prayers, cards, calls and thoughts. They feel them all.
I hope you can make it to the BCC this Sunday as we once again celebrate the Lord’s Day together. The sermon title is “Josiah: The Restoring King” and the scripture is 2 Kings 22:1-13, 23:1-3. Have a great rest of the week!
Be peaceful,
Brad
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