Jym Shorts

Jym Shorts - January 26, 2017

by Jym Gregory on January 26, 2017

And we’re off…to another book study, this time through the Old Testament book of Joshua. We’ve titled the study Presence. Courage. Action. for the fairly obvious reason that those three themes permeate this important work. God promises his presence with Joshua and the Israelites as they take the Promised Land, demands strength, courage, and obedience from Joshua and the leaders, and then calls them to action. And a brutal action it is. This Biblical book raises many questions about just war theory, land rights, the treatment of non-combatants in warfare, and who actually “owns” Israel, that are still debated today. And be aware, much of the current tension in the Middle East started with the Jewish war of conquest under Joshua – long before there were Syrians, Palestinians, Jordanians, etc., or Islam was even dreamed about.

I very much enjoy expository book studies. I’m not opposed to the more topical approach we had taken during the late fall and into our Advent series, but book studies allow us to dig in and dig deep a bit more readily, and are easier to follow in terms of theme. We’ll be in Joshua through the winter and into the spring, so my hope is that when the sun is far more frequent in our skies and the fields are planted around us (and we’re complaining about mowing grass and humidity), we will all be a little wiser and better equipped as a result of our study together.

Now to an information item of which I would like to make you aware. After much prayer and discussion over the past few years, the elders have decided to implement a deacon ministry. Currently, a few candidates for that ministry role are going through a training process. When that process is completed, we will introduce them to you and commission them as LifePoint’s first team of deacons. They will be tasked with overseeing practical ministry projects and caring for the flock. The role of the elders will not change; they will continue to provide teaching, shepherding, and overall leadership for the church family.

This Sunday marks the first 5th Sunday of 2017. That means we will not provide our typical Children’s Ministry programming either service on Sunday to provide an opportunity for parents to include their children in the “big church” experience. Childcare will still be provided for infants through kindergarten. Sunday evening we will gather again for our Prayer Emphasis, which includes a short time of worship followed by corporate prayer. As always, refreshments will be provided in the Commons following our time together to allow everyone an opportunity to spend some time together fellowshipping. We will meet at 6pm, finish our corporate time together at 7pm, and then eat some yummy cookies for as long as you like (or until we turn off the lights and invite you to go home). 

I’m looking forward to walking through the book of Joshua with you, and to another year filled with all the hope and challenges that will undoubtedly come our way.

Grace and peace,

Pastor Jym

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