LAGBC
MidWeek E-Newsletter
Issue: # 218                      
February 20, 2013
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SIN SAPS EFFECTIVENESS
In the amazing conquer of Jericho, God says, "Don't take any loot or any thing from Jericho!"  We find that behind the scenes, Achan took and hid some items in his tent. 

The nation of Israel had lots of assumptions about upcoming battles. They are puffed up and over confident. The next target is Ai--a small town. The spies say we can do this with a small deployment of soldiers.  They head out for battle and get resoundingly defeated and 36 people lose their lives!

Now Joshua turns to God and prays,"Why God?" Unfortunately, God was not consulted prior to the battle. He used this to teach them about doing things in His will and His way.

We, like the people of Israel, try to do the job without God's leading. We run out and try to make things happen on our own using our own judgement.  When we let God lead and guide, He has quite the way of getting things done.When we sin, it saps our effectiveness. In our own power, well, sometimes we get defeated badly.

God had to deal with the sin of Achan. There was a high price for it -- the lives of the Achan and his family. Israel, after this episode, will tow the line. They won't want to lose any more battles, nor do they want to end up dead.

When we come to Jesus, there is a lot of sin in our lives.  It's not good for us. God has to stand against selfishness and sin. The Holy Spirit wants room in our life, but we often haul around truckloads of baggage. Sin saps our effectiveness. God wants what is best for us. God made "confession" for the express purpose of "off loading our sin" and our baggage. Just unload it!

Listen to this message by Phil online or on iTunes

 

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Joshua SeriesCurrent Series on Joshua:

Introduction to Joshua
Entering God's Rest - Joshua 1
Rahab & Real Faith - Joshua 2
Crossing the Jordan - Joshua 3-4
Jesus Shows Up - Joshua 5
The Perplexing Jericho Story Joshua 6
Sin Saps Our Effectiveness - Joshua 7-8
PRAY FOR OUR WOMEN'S RETREAT THIS WEEKEND!  

This weekend is the annual spring retreat for our ladies...be praying for the Lord's work to get done in the lives of all who are attending.   

 

We have 30+ ladies going from the TLC Ministry and many of them need some extra financial help to get there. If you can help contribute to this transformational weekend, you can donate online now or contribute by check ("women's retreat scholarship" on the memo line)    

 

FEBRUARY NEWSLETTER NOW ONLINE!

This month's newsletter is one of our LONGEST ever!  

 

As we enter the month of LOVE, be challenged by how Jesus modeled for us to "Walk In Love" and then read on about how many of our missionaries are walking in love as well! 

 

Check it out online or you can download and print it too! 

 

Intro To Islam INTRODUCTION TO ISLAM  

During our normal 9am Family Bible hour on Sunday March 3

we will have our own workers Brad & Lisa L**ger with us to share from their vast experience with the Muslim people.   

 

This will be a "combined" class time, and we are inviting all classes and our whole church family to be part of this special presentation! 

 

Unknown For Protection MISSIONARIES OF THE MONTH-
Brad & Lisa L**ger    
Sowing the Gospel in dark places with Frontiers Mission 

Brad & Lisa are continuing a Sabbatical that started last year.  They are living in Pasadena and both are taking academic courses to further prepare them for their work. Brad is doing graduate work on-line in Agroforestry, and Lisa is in her second year of training in Spiritual Direction.   We hope to take an exploratory trip this summer to visit a few teams and projects, and then be redeployed  in the fall.

Here are a few prayer requests:
1. Please pray for our future plans, that we hear clearly from the Lord as to which team we should join.
2. Continue to pray for our studies, that we learn and prepare ourselves for the work He has for us in the future.
3. Pray for a boost in our financial support in order to finish our course work and travel in the summer.
4. Continue to lift up our daughters-- Anna as she looks for a full-time teaching job, and Mary as she studies at Biola.
5. Please pray for those we left behind in West Africa, especially "Lincoln" who is managing the barbed-wire project and sharing his faith in the villages.

If you would like to financially support the ministry of Brad & Lisa you are welcome to do so through your regular offering, or you can use the Donation button above to do so online! 
TEAM BORACAY CAR WASH & BAKE SALE  
Saturday March 16  from  8:30am - 11:30am
Come get your car washed and help support Team Boracay on their trip to the Philippines!
We will be accepting donations and will also have baked goods for sale! Please join us and be a part of this wonderful opportunity we all have to help the Philippines!
HIGH SCHOOL MINISTRY CALENDAR & CAMP Groundwork

In addition to our normal 9am Sunday and 7pm Wednesday times together, we have this coming up:

 

'SPRINTER' CAMP 2013
March 1-3 

We're doing a combined Winter Camp/ Spring Adventure in Palm Springs!

  • For a taste of winter... we'll go up the aerial tramway to cold weather and (hopefully) snow.
  • For a taste of spring... we'll lounge, eat, and swim at Desert Hot Springs.

The Cost??   $120  

 

Contact Erin Gobble with questions and to sign up! egobble@LAGBC.org  

 

Groundwork Schedule through April Online 

 
NEEDED SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHERS! 
The children's ministry needs a 1st-5th grade junior church teacher for the 4th & 5th Sundays of each month. 

Contact Cindi Stone for info and to volunteer 562-596-3358
Journal of Rememberance SPIRITUAL GROWTH IDEA:
 JOURNAL OF REMEMBRANCE 

 

Last Sunday during our gathering, elder Chuck Kirtz presented us with an idea he is implementing for his spiritual growth-- a Journal of Remembrance. It's a place where he is writing down things that God is doing in his life, so he has a place to go to remember it.   

 

This was inspired by our study in Joshua and how the Lord had the Israelites grab 12 stones out of the Jordan riverbed to craft a memorial. 

 

Let this be a sign among you, so that when your children ask later, saying, 'What do these stones mean to you?'then you shall say to them, 'Because the waters of the Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the Lord; when it crossed the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off.' So these stones shall become a memorial to the sons of Israel forever."  Joshua 4:6-7

 

We need to remember what our God has done! Maybe this idea could be useful to you!

 
WANT TO HOST AN EXCHANGE STUDENT? 
Nicole Ott was a foreign exchange student that lived with the Coders and met Jesus through the ministry of our church many years ago. Now she is looking for a church family to host an exchange student...

From Nicole.... "the exchange student is the daughter of a friend from our local church... it will be with an organization but if they know somebody, they can suggest that family to the organization... it would be for the time from August this year till June next year... she will turn 17 in May... if it was a family from Grace Brethren, I am pretty sure she would come to a good family... she would love to go to a family that has kids as she has like 3 siblings herself, if I remember that right... the poor girl just lost her grandmother and 19 days later her grandfather... thanks for your effort..."

Please contact the church office office@lagbc.org if you are interested in pursuing this ministry opportunity. We will connect you with Nicole to discuss the details.
OUR FOOD PANTRY NEEDS SOME FOOD!  

We are low on some items and could use your donations of:   

  • Canned goods
  • Personal hygiene items
  • Nonperishable food items
  • Household paper goods
  • Laundry detergent
  • Canned tuna & chicken
  • Lunchbox snacks
  • Canned spaghetti sauce
  • Pasta
  • Beans & Rice

Please put items in the Food Pantry basket on the church patio. If you have a need, please contact us in the church office (by email or 562-596-3358) 

 

GRACE BRETHREN OUTREACH WITH SKATERS!
A story worth seeing from Tim Park...one of our own who is loving his neighbors--at the skatepark!

Tim Park: Ministering at the Skate Park
Tim Park: Ministering at the Skate Park


O'Dells INTERNATIONALS OUTREACH WITH THE O'DELLS

Our own missionaries to the Japanese, Cecil & Debbie O'Dell, have been talking with us about bringing back an "Internationals Night" to our church family where we can encourage international students English abilities and build relationships!  If you are interested in this, please contact Mike Jentes for more info. 

 

Also the O'Dells have moved their personal ministry website over to http://CecilODell.com  You can see much more of their ministry online there.   

 

See their New Year's Email here 

 
 
Press on!

Los Altos Grace // Mike Jentes
Los Altos Grace Brethren Church