Monday Memo

Hi Five Oakers,

I have a few things I want share with you today:

Here’s the video from the weekend. The last kid pictured, stacking the plastic eggs, is my mentee! We’re in our third school year together.

[FOR] - KidsHope USA from Five Oaks on Vimeo.

Here are most of your comments, observations and questions from the weekend Communication Cards.

• Great worship set.  The harmony was incredible. [I said the same thing this weekend.]

• Love your metaphor Tim.

• Very impactful Tim! I never thought about forever in that way before. Thank you!  [Yes, very powerful sermon!]

• Thank you Tim for the very powerful message you brought today. My prayer is that many people will give this message some real and careful thought. 

• The whole service from opening set, to Dan, to Tim so well done and comfortable and understandable. Loved the music, as usual, thanks. Worship team, excellent job. Great closing set! [I loved hearing Tim’s explanation of the stations. Fresh.]

• Awesome, awesome worship praise time. [Great job, Jeremy and team.]

• That was really good Tim. 

• Great opening set with readings. Music – wonderful preparation Tim. We always appreciate your practical illustrations. I was really moved by your prayer, and music came in on cue. Wow!

• The flashlight stops touching the wall when the batteries die. 

• Shout out to Pastor Henry and Pastor Tim for Pastor Appreciation month. Thanks for all you do!  [Thank you!]

• Before faith, death and forever were scary. After faith, my body still fears death, but I rejoice in forever. [Well said. Thank you.]

Thanks for all your comments and questions.

Blessings,

Pastor Henry

Thursday Memo

Hi Five Oakers, 

The weekend's coming and there are a few things I don’t want you to miss:

#1- This weekend you will learn how to add infinite meaning to your everyday actions. Nothing you do is mundane. Simple routine things can be done in such a way that God notices and blesses. Sacrificial action and suffering can bring deep joy to your life. That’s what we’re talking about as we continue our FOR [   ] series.

#2- Here are some links you might find helpful:

• Breakpoint had a couple of great commentaries this week. Eric Metaxas addresses how much religious freedom students have in the public school classroom and how to educate educators about it: “Faith-Friendly Public Schools: We Can Make a Difference.” The other commentary is about how so many young pop stars who once professed faith have abandoned their convictions on the road to stardom: “Don’t Let Your Babies Grow up to Be Pop Stars: The Celebrity Trap.” In his commentary, John Stonestreet affirms what I believe and was driven into my psyche by the late Chuck Colson—that we need to encourage more Christians to pursue the arts. But he also makes a huge distinction between artists and celebrities.

… we need more Christians in all these fields, pointing people to Truth and beauty through their work. But there’s a world of difference between being a celebrity and being an artist. The celebrity draws attention to himself, the artist to his work. The celebrity thinks success is being famous. The artist knows success is being faithful. The celebrity chooses style over substance. The artist knows looking good is never as important as being good.

• Right along those same lines you might want to check out a post summarizing a talk by Andy Stanley called “Surviving Your Appetite for Being Known.”

#3- One year ago yesterday Justin Schaap and I went out to lunch and he told me of his plans to seek a new position in another church. He loved us and we loved him, but God was leading them on an adventure. I was sad that he was leaving and very anxious for our church. So the next morning Lois read the day's reading to me from Jesus Calling. It was so perceptive and powerful that I started using it in my devotional times. I read that reading again today, one year later. Let me share a portion of it with you. It calmed my heart that day, and it’s been amazing how God has worked things out for Justin in his ministry pursuits and for Five Oaks. So I leave you today with this:

“Anxiety is a result of envisioning the future without Me. …If you must consider upcoming events, follow these rules: 1) Do not linger in the future, because anxieties sprout up like mushrooms when you wander there. 2) Remember the promise of My continual Presence; include Me in any imagery that comes to mind. This mental discipline does not come easily, because you are accustomed to being god of your fantasies."

See you on the weekend and blessings to you, Pastor Henry