TRANSITION

Today we spent our last Sunday at Baker City Christian Church. It was a wonderful day celebrating what has been accomplished over the last 12 1/2 years, and looking forward to what God is doing as everyone looks to the future of the church. It was sad, but there was also great joy in loving, hugging, and celebrating our friendship with so many people.

Of course it was also a wonderful celebration of baptisms for Emma and Dallas Hardesty, Jasmine Fillebrown, and Joe Boyd. Also the dedication by Father and Mother, Clay and Lynette Simpson of their new (only 2 week old) baby daughter Susan Louise Simpson.

It is definitely not a "woe is me" attitude at the church. Jesse Whitford was recommended to the congregation by myself, the Elders, and the church board. When Jesse was announced to the congregation he got a standing ovation in both services. Nothing could please me more than to pass the leadership of BCCC over to Jesse, and I was so pleased to see the positive reception.

Now we begin our trek and transition over to leading Myrtle Point Christian Church. What a challenge! But God is all about stretching us and challenging us to new heights. I know He is with us as we begin our new ministry. We will spend some time dreaming and resting, as we make our way to Mytle Point, and in a week we will hit the ground running. What a Joy serving the Lord God Almighty!

Love you all, and thank you for your faithful love and support in return.

Roger and Sherrill

Are You Listening?

"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom." Proverbs 9:10

Only the foolish would not desire wisdom. Yet this verse has left many wondering what it is to "fear the Lord."

God, whose desire it is to bless us with all heavenly blessings, does not ask us to be afraid of Him. No, that is not the kind of fear that King Solomon wrote of. Rather, this fear is one of "holding in extreme awe."If you think on that idea, it should be easy to hold in awe such an awesome God. More than that, God desires that we have an awesome relationship with him -- a personal relationship with such a loving, blessing God.

"Awesome,"the youngsters among us will say with ease. "Awesome."Try saying it with the reverence that comes when you know the One True and Ever-Loving God. This week as we begin counting down toward our National Day of Prayer in May, pray that our President, leaders and nation will sincerely fear God and seek His wisdom, longing to know Him and understand His awesome ways.

God Bless and have a great day and week!

Roger

Additional Reading: Proverbs 9:7-12

This article adapted from PrayerTeam@Presidential-Prayer-Team.org "Vantage Point" Devotional April 12, 2010

Easter Sunday

On Easter Sunday, the women visited the tomb (Luke 24:1-8), the disciples gathered (John 20:2-10), and the resurrected Lord appeared (Matthew 28:5-10).

Easter — Resurrection Day! The silence of a Saturday, and then, like a sunrise or the beauty of a freshly blooming garden, it is Easter!

In truth, there is a time for everything. Solomon's words ring loudly to all of us this Easter season: "A time to be born and a time to die" (Eccl. 3:2). That one phrase sums up the human predicament. We will all, in His time, move from this world into eternity.

Yet, what about the afterlife? Is that not one of the major messages of Easter? What if we gain the whole world in life, but lose our souls in death? To those who believe in Christ, "Death has been swallowed up in victory" (1 Cor. 15:54). Paul wrote, "And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. ... If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied ... But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead" (1 Cor. 15:17,19-20).

It is estimated that 40 percent of those who will sit in church on Easter do not have a personal relationship with the resurrected Lord. We must offer life to those who live in death. "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?" (John 11:25-26). What a privilege to show the way to eternal life. People need to remember that Easter was and is for them. [Yet, sadly only 42 percent of those contacted in a recent Barna survey link Easter to the resurrection of Jesus Christ.]

"The angel said to the women, 'Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples: "He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him"'" (Matt. 28:5-7).

Be Blessed, and Be a Blessing

Roger