Dear Friends,

This has been a grueling political season and I will be glad when the adds stop and we will have the ever brief hiatus from all the agendas and posturing.  Our government is a huge privilege and responsibility and I hope we will take seriously the call to be a citizen of this nation.  Our very good friend,  The Very Rev. Rick Lobs posted on his blog Ruminations
(http://ruminatewithrick.blogspot.com )  that for me gave me great focus and reshaped the discussion in a new perspective, resonating with that which I know to be true.   I post it here with his permission...

The Election of 2012

As you read Ruminations, I am leading a men's retreat in West Virginia. Nevertheless, I do have an important item for Christians as we ramp up to Election Day 2012.

With regard to the Election of 2012 - Please consider the following statement from The Rev. Mark Dever, Senior Pastor, Capitol Hill Baptist Church, Washington, D.C. These are words that Christian Americans would do well to read and reread.

 

"As Americans, it's often helpful to be reminded that the epicenter of Christ's kingdom is not located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. And the purposes of God have never been thwarted at the hands of men---a streak that's not about to end on November 6. Such a recognition isn't quietism or escapism---just biblical Christianity. 

 

President Obama and Governor Romney are, like you and me, feeble creatures of dust. They're worthy of our honor (Eccl. 10:20; 1 Pet. 2:17), but never our hope. 

  

So pay your taxes, choose your candidate, and cast your vote (politics does matter, after all), but do so as one whose trust is anchored in another world. As citizens of "a better country" (Heb. 11:16; cf. Phil. 3:20), we the people of the risen King await "new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells" (2 Pet. 3:13). 

 

Whatever comes of our quadrennial sojourn to the ballot box, we can rest in the sovereign goodness of a Father who sits enthroned in the heavens and, with majesty and mystery, does whatever he pleases."

 

Pray for our nation (see the prayer in the left column)

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Sunday, November 11th we welcome The Rev. Chuck Reischman as our guest preacher and teaching the Pastor's Class on Sunday morning. Chuck has been with us a few times over the years.  He is a gifted preacher, and anointed leader and someone who has been a constant encouragement to me in my journey of faith and to know Jesus more each day. You can check our his ministry at... http://www.joshuaforce.org

I am returning this week from a week of writing and a great visit with college friends "The Cabin Guys".  Many of you know what that means...  November 11th is also APPLE SUNDAY...
in the mission,

Fr. Jon+

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Join us for a Stewardship Pot-Luck Lunch

November 18th

following the 10:15am service. More details soon.