Dear Friends,

Today as a nation we pause and remember Dr. Martin Luther King Jr..  A friend posted this and it seems that Dr. King's wisdom is essential for us today...

 "We have bowed before the god of money only to learn that there are such things as love and friendship that money cannot buy and that in a world of possible depressions, stock market crashes, and bad business investments, money is a rather uncertain deity. These transitory gods are not able to save and bring happiness to the human heart. Only God is able." 

These have been difficult days for many people.   I know folks who have lost their homes to foreclosure.  I know other people who have been unemployed for over two years.   This world will be filled with calamity you could read the following words of Jesus from John 16:33 and hear a promise of hard times...  

""I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.""  (John 16:33 NIV)  

We will have highs and lows in our circumstances.  Some times we will advance with ease and other times it will be two steps forward and one step back.  The promise Jesus gives us is that in Him we will find peace, in Him is our refuge, in Him we find strength. He alone is our HOPE!   

Pastor Robin spoke of Tim Tebow and his faith in her sermon (Click Here)  A microphone was picking up his comments during a football game and in his kneeling he prayed, "Win or lose, let me bring honor to you Jesus"  This is the attitude we should have, in all things to honor Christ.  

So whatever your trial or tribulation, whatever the obstacles or hurdles, hills to climb and rivers to cross in every step of the journey be of good cheer, take heart for Christ has gone before us and pioneered a path for us to walk and His promise is He is with us always and in all things.   

May God grant us grace in the journey and may He find us faithful in each moment...   

in the mission,

Father Jon+   

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Some Links of interest...

A couple of articles by some dear missionary friends in Haiti, two years after the earthquake  

     Article 1  -  Click Here 

     Article 2  -  Click Here 

An article on Tim Tebow's piety...      Click Here

A reflection about church... Click Here 

A simple, profound and great commercial...

John 3:16 commercial

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"Fan into flame the gift God has given you..." (2 Timothy 1:6). As we enter the season of Epiphany, we will we exploring spiritual gifts and calling in the Pastor's Class beginning this Sunday, January 8th.  Each of us have been given gifts and talents that are to be exercised for the fullness of our life and worship together in the Body of Christ.  Join us in the living room of the main Folwell building as we gather by the "fireplace" between services at 10:00 am.